RWBYond Generations

AN: The decision has been made. Nova gets to go first. I don't have as much for this chapter so a lot of it is by the seam of my pants. This is still going to sum up the whole point of the dance, which is the same point as volume 2 but this time it's Nova that needs to hear but not understand the lesson.

Chapter 38: A Night to Remember

Nova stepped to the back of the room. Topaz was dancing with Scott again. Ariadne had stolen numerous dances with Johnny. Citrine was dancing with Nephrite. Eiess was dancing with a brown-haired kid Nova had seen with the Atlas students. Probably an old friend.

Nova scratched her leg as she people watched. She still felt uncomfortable wearing the dress and heels. She had good enough balance for it but they were terribly impractical. Nova let out another sigh as her mind drifted to the battle field. If Ruby and Yang weren't busy, Nova would have spent this time training instead of standing here doing nothing.

"Not enjoying yourself?" Someone said. It was that teacher from Mistral. O-something. "Oscar Pine." He stuck his hand out.

"Nova Wukong." She introduced herself. "And no. I'm not one for dances. With the huntsmen games coming up, and my spot on Vale's team not exactly secured, I should be training."

"You can't spend your whole life on the battlefield."

"Tell that to my mom." Nova huffed and crossed her arms.

"Funny, Ms. Belladonna, I believe is currently spending quality time with her friends."

"And not her own daughter?"

"To my understanding, you're the one who shut her out."

"Who told you that was any of your business?" Nova said. Oscar nodded and looked on to the dances.

"You know, Ruby Rose wasn't a dancer either when she was your age."

"That's hard to believe watching Citrine."

"She gets it from her father's side. But when her parents started dating, Ruby took up dancing to have something else her and Jaune could share."

"That's so sweet." Nova rolled her eyes. "I guess you know them quite well."

"Well, I'm a professor. Us professors know everyone to some extent. For example, the young man Ms. Schnee is dancing with is Mavros Kane. He's a first-year student in Atlas with the highest marks in general studies, Grimm studies, and second in nearly every other huntsman specific class. His grandfather was a member of the Faunas revolution. He's only half-Faunas, and through chance, does not have a Faunas trait."

"Sounds like he was so lucky."

"Your generation has it lucky. Long gone are the days of the revolution or the White Fang. Of course, there's still a small group that says that what the Faunas have isn't enough and have proceeded to kick and scream for more. But the wider community doesn't take their views that seriously."

"I never cared about that. Human, Faunas, man, woman, rich, poor, all that matters is strength."

"Ah, the Vacuo motto." Oscar said. "It's no wonder that historically, Vacuo has been the most prosperous territory with the least amount of Grimm activity. Even during the Grimm War that threatened to swallow up all of civilization, Vacuo did fine and went without any major catastrophe in its capital. When every other major city was only to hang on by a thread and a little hope."

"Yep. We're that awesome.' Nova stretched her arms. "It's going to be really hard not to route for them in the games."

"Well, loyalty to friends only extends to one of five brackets."

"True. And I think I'll have to vote Vacuo in the professional brackets. If the council is picking the its champions, then they'll probably put my dad in."

"Wouldn't surprise me."

"Are you going to be in the tournament?"

"Oh, no, not for lack of pull in the council mind you. I am representing Haven Academy in place of Headmaster Azul. He wanted to be here and spend time with his son and granddaughter, but with Headmistress Schnee already adamant about seeing to things here…he passed it off to me. No need to have four of the five headmasters in the same city."

"Can I ask you something?"

"I'm a professor, it's my job to answer questions."

"How did you meet Ms. Ruby. What was she like?" He nodded.

"You've only known her as a legend and as a mother. Qrow or Yang or one of her teammates would be better suited to answer the question. When I met her, she was a hero." He smiled. "After the Grimm War, she spent six months traveling the world and fixing the damage done to the kingdoms. I was just a farm hand at my Aunt's on the outskirts of Mistral's capital. She, and those she was with, came there. They saw something in me and told me about the maidens."

"That stuff is common knowledge though."

"This was when it first became public knowledge. On the last day of the war, when the huntsmen drew the line at Crete, Ruby announced to the world what her plan was. She unveiled the secrets that had forged the world of yesterday. So now the maidens are common knowledge. But their identity, at least half of them, are secret. Only Ruby and that Cinder Fall woman are in public knowledge."

"Oh." Nova nodded.

"Anyway, they gave me some training, and when they saw my semblance they sent me off to Haven Academy. Since then, I've went on numerous missions with various huntsmen, including her."

"I wish I could see her in action. I mean like, going all out."

"I'd like to see that too. But I hope neither of us have to." He turned his attention back to the dance. "After she got back from her tour…Ruby spent the next year relaxing. She took no missions. She barely traveled. She rested and relaxed in her victory. Her…Happily Ever After. That's when she married Jaune."

"It's a charming tale. I've heard much of that before."

"t's not too dissimilar from tonight."

"How so?"

"Well, fighting and dancing aren't that different. Two people interlocked. Except, one wrong move on the dance floor merely leads to a swollen foot."

"Or a twisted ankle." Nova said. 'But you have to be a klutz for that to happen."

"Ah but it's not everyday friends are able to come together like this." Oscar pointed to Ariadne and Johnny. Both of them were laughing with genuine smiles on their face. "Time has a way of testing our bonds." He pointed to Eiess, sitting with her aunt and that Ebony woman. "But it's nights like these that can help them be stronger than ever." He pointed to Citrine and Nephrite, who looked calm and collected as they twisted to the beat. "It's nights like these that we'll never forget." Oscar pointed to Topaz and Scott, who were both dancing with strangers.

Oscar walked off after that. Nova decided to join Eiess at her table. She wormed her way through the crowd but then bumped into a familiar face. Well, face was the only thing familiar. She wore a tuxedo top and a skirt. Anyone who didn't know any better would be puzzled at her complete disregard for gender roles. But her usual pink mohawk was combed back and the curly hair around it had gotten a bit long to where one could barely tell there even was a mohawk.

"Rasa?"

"Nova?"

"What's up girl?" The two girls fist bumped.

"Nothing much, heard you were going to Beacon. Didn't believe it for a second but here you are."

"I've been keeping my eye out for you." Nova said. "Où étiez-vous?" Nova was excited to ask where her friend had been.

"Pssh, I skipped the assembly." Rasa said. "I only came to the dance to see if there's any hearts worth breaking."

"Well, no one is around whose knees need breaking so I'm at a bit of a loss here."

"You going to try to fight in the games?"

"Chienne y'know it." Nova laughed. "Fighting like hell to make the cut."

"Same, we got a pretty tough class this year. I may make it if only just. You know Ramil Dadid?"

"Only by reputation." Nova said.

"Well, Headmaster Gull already picked her to represent Shade's first year team. Akhdir Eimlaq will probably nail a spot too."

"I saw him at the assembly. Is he really that good?"

"Yeah. He's crazy strong and though he's not exactly a strait A student but he's not an oaf either."

"Seems par for the course these days."

"Anyway, I got to get going. It was lovely seeing you again." She pulled out her scroll and Nova did the same so they could exchange information. "I'll keep in touch. Good luck out there." She walked away. Nova continued to make her way to Eiess but then the last person she wanted to get in her way did.

"Nova." The timid voice sounded so small.

"Go away." Nova stared her mom strait in the eyes. They were the same height if not for the older woman's cat ears.

"Nova please don't shut me out." Blake grabbed her arm.

"I can do whatever the hell I want."

"I know you're still mad at me and I deserve it."

"See, that's the problem!" Nova shouted at her. But it could barely be heard above the music. "If you didn't…if you didn't realize how messed up what you've done is…I could forgive you…I could show you that home is where you should be…that I…was where you should be. But you get it! You knew exactly what the hell you were doing and still ran. YOU. SHUT. US. OUT! So, don't you dare come crying to me asking for forgiveness." She felt tears run down her face. "I don't need you. I got along just fine when I thought I did. Kuso, and I was doing just fine without you here tonight."

"I'm so sorry." Blake's voice was shaky.

"You leave for moths at a time. When you were gone you never called or wrote. When you were home you just sat around and read. You never even tried to be a good mom. So, why should I think that, just because Ms. Ruby got all pissed at you, you're going to start now?"

"Because I can't run anymore?" Blake cried out.

"You'll find a way. You always do. Kuso Yowai!" Nova cursed. "You were so scared that you were going to be a terrible mother that you ran. That's what made…what makes you a terrible mother and you know it."

"Nova I literally can't run anymore." She pulled up her dress. "This…this is what happens when people go after Cipher." Her right leg was a sickly grey. The blood vessels radiated from beneath the skin. "You're right. I didn't think I would be a good mother. I didn't care. So long as I knew you were being raised well. I know it doesn't mean shit to you but I am so proud of you. These last ten years…and even a little bit before that I threw my life away to fight. To protect you. To make sure that you NEVER had to go through what I did."

"How did it happen?" Nova's eyes fixated on the now covered leg.

"Like I said…Cipher. It's why I couldn't get here sooner. The only ones that know about this are Yang and her mother. And you. Your father will know by the end of the night."

"Does it hurt?"

"All the time. I can still walk just fine. But that's all I can do. I…we did tests on it. If I were to use a Black Gate…one of the portals that the Arbiters use…it'd disintegrate." Nova bit her lip.

"Am I supposed to feel sorry?"

"No, Nova." Blake put a hand on her shoulder. Part of her wanted to slap the hand off. "I want you to believe me. I…I don't know how I could live with myself knowing my own daughter hates me."

'Well get used to it." Nova pushed her away.

"I'm not asking for you to put faith in me. Or to believe things will just be happy again. I'm just asking for some peace of mind." An idea struck Nova's mind.

"Peace of mind? I forgive you. If these Cipher guys are as bad as you say…then I'm glad you were at least doing something worthwhile. But I don't trust you. I will NEVER…trust you again. So, don't bother with promises. I won't expect you to keep them anyway." Nova turned her back on Blake and headed to the dance floor.

AN: I did not expect it to be that long. I extended the Oscar stuff a lot, just nail down the point that he's the next Ozpin in the actual show. His role will be a bit different here. Also, I don't think I'll ever have Nova fully forgive Blake. Not without some world ending threat bringing them closer together.