RWBYond Vale
AN: So this is the last chapter of this arc. I'm taking a few days off from writing this so that I can do three more chapters in my other fic which I have been neglecting for too long. The reason being, this story is going to be much longer than the Old Huntsmen (It's already longer than any plans I have for the other). And because this fic got so much more popuar I want all the big twists and turns to appear in here first before my other story. But I need to knock out three more chapters because some of the players in that story are going to get name dropped hard in these next two arcs.
Chapter 52: Do you think your kids can win a war?
Ozpin sat at his new desk and stared at the screen. In all his years he never thought he'd see the day men refused to work together despite having a common enemy. Finding a common enemy is what ended The Great War. When the maidens and heroes of all the kingdoms united to stop a common monstrous threat that equally threatened everyone. The Faunas War ended when both sides realized they were being played by a rogue Atlesian commander who sought to use the war to gain more power. But this was different. Nobody trusted each other's motives. But at least back then they trusted their enemies' strength.
Ozpin was free from Isle of Storms but he still felt like he was imprisoned. He was never technically relieved of his position as headmaster. So he was still at the beck and call of the people in charge. And they deemed him irresponsible for not warning of this threat. A threat he knew was coming for decades yet despite all he did to stop it, he had nothing to show for it but failure. But his reputation, and the good will of governor Torres, did make him the perfect leader to take charge of Vale's militia. Thankfully Torres was able to successfully send his report to all the kingdoms before meeting his demise. Tethys had safe guarded him all the way across the kingdoms but the moment he stepped foot in his house he was assassinated. The assassin was sloppy and it was clear to all that he was killed because of his favorable reports on the situation. That mixed with the new CCT going online and Mr. Snappes spilling every secret that he had found from the defunct facility, led to the situation they were currently in. A situation that could have been worse.
Ozpin wasn't allowed direct contact with any of the huntsmen companies. But the Arbiter, Beowulf, kept him informed enough. Glynda was in command of the Green Knights and stationed here in Vale. Ironwood, as both headmaster and general, was called back to Atlas; but not before reporting that most of his men had "gone missing." It was a bold faced lie but there was nothing his superiors could do about it. Vale was grateful for the boost in their own milia.
Felix and April were back in their kingdoms as well. It was for the best. As it stood, the only capital with adequate defenses was atlas, and they were perhaps the most hated by the other kingdoms. There was also talks of dissention within their ranks. The majority of huntsmen who graduated there were also full military personnel. They were in a prime condition to take over the entire world should the others not have much luck in defending their borders. But that didn't seem to be the case. There was dissention of the highest degree within the Atlesian Specialists. Winter Schnee was no stranger to rebellion, having been born at a time of great change in Mantle, and rebelling against her father's wishes for her to become a shrewd business man like himself. Now she had renounced her rank and encouraged hundreds, if not thousands of others, to set up camp in the ancient fortress of Crete on the Minoan peninsula. The fortress hadn't been used for that purpose since The Great War. And for the last 60 years has been a combat school. She took the entire standing student body of Atlas with her when she did so, and refused to take anyone's orders but her own as the leader of the White Knights. There wasn't a lot of trust on those words. Her position as Ironwood's right hand led many to believe that Ironwood was using her for his own gain. Ozpin believed it, not the "his own gain" part but seeing as how he cannibalized his own army to give Vale a fighting chance, ordering Winter to lead the White Knights was just the kind of thing he'd pull.
The Blue Knights were being led by Tethys Azul and were stationed in Haven. They effectively made up the Huntsmen navy. The Gold Knights were station in Vacuo and being led by a young man named Suna Gull. Ozpin recognized him He had won the Vytle festival tournament just a few years back. He beat Beacon's own Rio Azul in the final match. It was a good fight, both men thrived from topographical advantages but in the final match neither of them had it. Considering where both these men were placed, they would have the biggest topographical advantages imaginable. That led to the Red Knights. Led by Qrow Branwen and stationed on the border. They would see the most travel of any of the companies. Ozpin only hoped that he had put his faith in the right people this time.
He rubbed his temples as he looked through the logistics of his own Valean Militia. When he looked up he saw a boy wearing a gas mask. He wore a black leather jacket underneath a white vest. His pants were torn and stitched up. Greasy Red hair fell in several strands across his masked face. A loud sound of the boys breathing rang in his head. Ozpin recognized the teen, but it was impossible. He'd be in his mid-sixties by now. The breathing got louder and louder.
"What do you want Mantis?" Ozpin said trying to yell over the sound of breathing. A red sphere appeared on his chest, pulsing with fiery power. It expanded until it engulfed the entire room. Ozpin found himself standing in an all too familiar place. The red and blue lighting of the massive crystal formation covered the land in a radiant light. The moon, shattered loomed over the skyline. In the distance were the ruins of the lost civilization. The kingdom that was wiped out at the beginning of the war. And standing on the cliff side was the object of his turmoil. White hair tied in elaborate knots. Cape bearing the symbol of truth.
"How long has it been?" The woman said. "How long has it been since we stood on this cliff side together."
"We've done no such thing Salem. Not in this life time at least."
"Oh Ozpin." Salem said turning. Her eyes fiery and a cruel smile crossing her face. "Don't be like that."
"How am I here? What do you want?"
"Mantis linked our minds. I am here but you are still safe in your new prison." Salem walked over to him with a sway of her hips. "It really has been too long since we've spoken face to face. I wanted to look into your eyes one last time before this war starts."
"Phone calls no longer sufficing?"
"How can a phone call ever compare with seeing the real thing. Even if you are just an image in my mind." She traced her fingers over his shoulder, tracing his visage. "Oh how I wish I could feel you again."
"You can still stop this you know. Even after all that you've done you can quit now."
"NO!" Her eyes burned in anger as the markings across her face wiggled in fury. "I've come too far to stop now. Even if I did believe you."
"This will only end badly."
"For you. But I don't want to talk about war right now. I know neither of us are exactly in a position to gloat. Not if we want to stay ahead."
"Then why call me here?"
"I missed you." She traced his face. "Remember all those life-times ago when we would run through the fields here? How we would laugh and play? Then as we got older we would spend hours on end staring up at the moon and contemplate what happened to it? We were young and in love and nothing would take that away. We knew everything about each other. We saw everything we had to offer and so much more."
"The only thing I remember was it not being enough for you. How you were consumed with your own conquest to achieve all powers."
"YOU betrayed me! I was so close to achieving that power and saving everything we cared about. I did it because I wanted to be with you forever."
"You tried to kill the maidens, and take their power."
"It would have worked!"
"Those women helped raise us. They trusted us. They trusted you."
"And you made sure I could never hold that power again. You and the one who made you who you are."
"I have lived many life times since then."
"But you are all the same. Just like me and my predecessors. We are made for each other and until one of us destroys the other, or you just accept you were wrong; I can't find peace."
"You are still consumed with that same desire. Is that why you treat that Cinder like your daughter? To make up for your inability to ever become a maiden again."
"You made me like this. I have lived hundreds of life times with these memories, do you have any idea what that has been like? Can't you see what it's done to me?"
"I'm in the same position as you but I have maintained my sanity."
"But you were made for it." Salem's voice was laced with more disgust than anger. "That old fool made you the specter of the maidens. And you in turned made me your eternal enemy when you decided to maintain the status quo instead of continuing to evolve."
"I have made many mistakes. But stopping you isn't one of them. I'll stop you again just like I always do."
"Do you think your kids can win a war?"
"They will have to. My guardian is strong and getting stronger. I believe just as I am the wizard and you are the witch, she is the reincarnation of The Rose."
"The spring maiden's argentware daughter? You thought the same about her last two predecessors if I remember correctly. Look where it got them."
"They won their wars before passing. I have faith that she will do the same."
"And I have faith that the reincarnation of Fall will lay waste to her."
"Cinder is more of another you, than she is the new maiden of fall."
"There's nothing wrong with that."
"We'll see."
"I grow tired of this talk of war." Salem traced a finger over his chest but neither could actually feel a thing. "I know it won't have any physical feeling but, as the first and last man I will ever love, you deserve one last kiss." Salem put her lips to his but as both were barely a step up from holograms, neither really felt anything. Salem backed away.
"You can't win this." Ozpin said. "Avarice has agreed to aid us. His Arbiters are aiding the huntsmen. Avarice himself is defending our new CCT."
"Avarice, despite all his claims of evolving beyond his origins, is still a creature of habit. Offer something he wants and he'll betray all who stand beside him to achieve it. What will you do if that…" Everything went silent as a hole burned in Salem's head. The whole image started burning away then shattered. The sound of breaking glass behind Ozpin and he was back in the office. Beowulf stood in front of him, rifle drawn and pointed at the window. He cocked the rifle back and holstered it.
"Hopper huh?" He said. "Guess we know who the Arbiter traitor is now."
"Mantis is an Arbiter?"
"Was. Avarice isn't going to be happy about this."
"Did you kill him?"
"No, he was sitting on the roof but ran off when I shot at him. So what did he say?"
"He, didn't say anything. He merely brokered a conversation between me and Salem."
"He does stuff like that sometimes." Beowulf stared out the broken window.
"If I may ask you something, where do we really stand, Avarice and I?"
"Avarice doesn't like you so I'm not inclined to like you either." Beowulf scratched his wolf ears. "But he REALLY hates Salem."
"Can we count on him?"
"As much as anybody ever could." Ozpin sighed in relief. Salem was a handful as is, Ozpin did not wish to add Avarice to his list of enemies.
"When can I expect to see him."
"Probably never. He wants to stay out of this war for as long as possible. We Arbiters are an extention of his will, thought and desire. But Avarice isn't one for public appearances."
"That makes sense."
"Careful Wizard. Salem is an immediate threat. But when all is said and done, Avarice will make sure you don't seize the power left in her wake."
"Let's focus on the task at hand before we talk about the future."
"Good, now how about we get something to eat. This noodle place down the street is amazing."
AN: So much set up in this. What do you think of my take on Ozpin and Salem's history? I'm excited for these remaining three arcs. I wish there were more Salem centered fics. I really like the theory that her and Ozpin were maybe lovers. I already explained how this arc is going to be structured so until then, review, follow, favorite and stay classy.
