Chapter 21
"Back up!," Ruby screamed, turning her sword to face the two men in front of her. Hadn't Ozpin left, and when did Professor Qrow arrive? Realization hit Ruby like a bolt of lightning, it had been a trap, and she had fallen right into it. Qrow stepped forward raising his empty hands, "Please Ruby, all we want to do is talk," Qrow said, taking another step forward, the two were about 5 meters away from each other, while Ozpin stood further back by the elevator, blocking any hope for escape.
"No, get away from me!" Ruby demanded, taking a slight step back with her weapon raised towards Qrow.
"Ruby I'm not going to hurt you, I'm trying to help you," Qrow promised, hoping his daughter would at least hear him out. "Yeah, you just want to help," Ruby said sarcastically, "I know who you people are and what kind of help you give people!" Ruby screamed, taking another step back out of fear.
"Miss Branwen, while I'm not exactly sure what you've been told, I assure you, it is far from the truth," Ozpin said, shocking Ruby with the use of her last name. "You know?" Ruby asked, "from the start," Ozpin answered, making Ruby grow pale. "Miss Branwen, please step away from Amber, and we'll talk."
"Liar!" Ruby screamed, getting more and more upset. "My mom told me the truth about you, all you are is a liar, manipulator, and a monster. You pretend to help people, masquerading as humanity's savior but in reality, you're just using them" Ruby said furiously.
"I may be a great many things, but a liar and a monster I am not. The truth in the matter is that Raven stole you away from a very loving family and then raised you with a skewed mindset." Professor Ozpin stated. "I know what's right from what's wrong, while you huntsmen and huntresses sit in your fancy schools and play hero, we're out there helping people," Ruby defended.
"Helping people?" Qrow questioned
"Yeah, we steal from people like you, the rich who don't care about others, and give it to those less fortunate, the people who need it," Ruby said.
"Like the village of Kachuna?" Professor Ozpin asked calmly. "Exactly, the kingdoms forgot about Kachuna, leaving them to starve and suffer, and they would have too if we didn't stop it," Ruby stated proudly.
"And did you help them? Did you personally see the gratitude on the people's faces, as you helped its people?" Ozpin questioned. Ruby was a bit confused, what did that matter? The point was that the Branwen tribe had saved the village, why would her attendance be of importance?
"No, I was needed elsewhere, what does it matter?" Ruby questioned. "As I expected, Raven doesn't let you go with her when she's helping people, does she?" Ozpin asked."I have duties that I must uphold," Ruby answered. "Maybe so, or maybe Ravens afraid," Ozpin suggested.
"My mom's not afraid of anything," Ruby defended, making Ozpin chuckle a little. "We're all afraid of something, in Raven's case I would have to guess, that it would be you, finding out the truth," the headmaster said
"The truth about what?" Ruby asked.
"About what really happened to the village of Kachuna, " Ozpin answered, pulling out his scroll, Ozpin displayed multiple images of a destroyed village. "Unfortunately, with only a few huntsmen, the village of Kachuna was unable to fend off the Branwen tribe's assault," Ozpin said sadly. "I don't believe you, you're trying to trick me, my mom wouldn't do that," Ruby denied, "Now back up!" Ruby demanded.
"Raven isn't your mother, Ruby she a murder, and a thief, your real mother's name, is Summer and she's been searching for you, for the past 12 years. So please put the sword down, and step away from Amber " Qrow pleaded. "You'd like that wouldn't you, get me nice and defenseless so you can hurt me, well guess what, it's not going to happen," Ruby said. "Look," said Qrow as he gently placed Harbinger on the floor, "I dropped my weapon, I'm not going to hurt you," Qrow promised, as he reached into his back pocket, and pull out an old picture, offering it to Ruby.
Ruby warily accepted the picture, keeping her sword trained on Qrow. The picture was torn and tattered, showing a young woman, that had a striking resemblance to her, in a hospital bed, a newborn baby held within her arms. Next to her stood a younger Qrow, a huge smile on his face.
"The day you where born, was the happiest day of my life, your mothers too," Qrow said
"I..I don't understand, you're...you're my father? But I thought...Tai...I...I don't understand," Ruby stated.
"I know honey, I'm sure you're scared and confused but I promise, I'll do anything I can to help you," Qrow said, slowly pulling Ruby into a hug. Ruby flinched at the contact, but otherwise did not react, instead, she just stared at the ground, attempting to organize her thoughts.
"No, no you have to be lying, you're making this all up!" Ruby screamed pushing Qrow away. Ruby ran forwards, turning into her raven form along the way. The only obstacle left, in front of her was Professor Ozpin and with some maneuvers, Ruby was sure she could get past him.
That was until a flying black object crashed into her, sending Ruby spiraling to the floor. Looking up Ruby was confused to find Qrow, standing above her, with a pleading look on his face.
Ruby quickly stood up, holding Rozu at the ready. "Please stop, I don't want to fight you," Qrow begged. Looking over Ruby noticed Qrow's weapon was still laying on the ground. Lunging forward, Ruby brought Rozu in a horizontal slash, but Qrow easily avoided the slash, ducking under the blade. Jumping back Qrow picked Harbinger up off of the ground and immediately blocked another slash from Ruby.
"Just let me go," Ruby demanded, igniting the fire dust crystal within her sword. Ruby made several slashes in the air, sending multiple arcs of fire at Qrow. Turning his large blade to the side, Qrow felt the heat, as the arcs of fire hit his blade. In response, Qrow sent a wave aura at Ruby, making her stagger back, as her aura crackled a dark red.
Rushing in, Qrow attempted to knock Ruby's sword out of her hands, only managing to slice through the air, as Ruby activated her semblance, dashing behind Qrow and jumping on to his back. Ruby started punching and scratching Qrow's face, all until Qrow grabbed her hand flinging her off of him.
Ruby had the wind taken out of her, as she hit the ground, moaning in pain Ruby slowly got up. Qrow fighting style was too fast for her if she wanted to escape, she would need something to even the odds. Pressing a button on the hilt of her sword, the side came down to reveal the weapon's fire dust crystal.
Ruby threw the crystal out, replacing it with a lightning dust crystal. Ruby held the sword up charging the lightning within it.
"RUBY WAIT!" Ozpin yelled but it was too late, Ruby launched the lightning at Qrow, Pulling his aura up, Qrow attempted to take the entirety of the blast, noticing where he was standing. Ozpin watched in horror, as bolts of lightning flew past Qrow, hitting Amber's medical pod directly.
Once Ruby's attack was over, she looked over, seeing Qrow gasping for air on the ground, smoke was coming off of the man, his arms shaking slightly, why did he just stand there? Ruby got her answer when Ozpin rushed passed Qrow, arriving at Amber's medical pod with a panicked expression. "No, no, no, no, no," Ozpin repeated, as Amber's medical pod started to shut off, fresh tears started to well up in Ruby's eyes, as Amber's heart rate monitor flat lined. An orange light left Amber, flying out of the vault.
Ruby's knees hit the ground, her sword falling to the ground, she had done it, she took a life, accident or not she had killed someone, and she was absolutely horrified with herself.
"WHAT!" Summer screamed, looking over to Raven for an explanation. "WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?" Summer yelled, "Hahaha, this sounds interesting, keeping secrets are we, Raven?" Tyrian giggled, watching the drama unfold between the two women excitedly.
"We'll talk about it later," Raven said sternly, turning towards the multiple snarling Grimm, quite literally turning her back on the smaller woman.
"HELL NO, DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME, WHAT THE HELL IS HE TALKING ABOUT?" Summer screamed, her eyes glowing a soft white. Summer was now completely ignoring the Grimm and the crazy scorpion faunus, her attention focused solely on Raven.
"I don't know what he's talking about, let's just focus on getting out of here alive," Raven denied, a tinge of fear in her voice.
"Oh come on Raven, what about the girl Cinder's always blabbing about, the one with the black hair that turns red at the tips, ha ha ha, does that ring any bells?" Tyrian questioned, attempting to drive a wedge between the two.
"Shut up," Raven growled, giving the scorpion faunus a death stare, that only served to make him chuckle.
Summer's weapon was now pointed towards Raven. "It was you, wasn't it? You're the one who took my baby girl away from me!" Summer shouted. At this point Raven could no longer deny it, Summer knew the truth, so In response, Raven just shrugged her shoulders, "So what, you took Yang away from me, so I took Ruby away from you, think of it as karma." Raven said, giving Summer a superior smirk.
Summer felt a rage, like never before, after all these years it had been Raven, someone who at a time, Summer had seen as a sister.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU," Summer screamed, as she rushed forward, spear ready to kill her old teammate. "Bring it," Raven challenged, raising her blade in preparation for Summer's attack. That was until a long scorpion tail blocked the attack. "Don't forget about me ladies," Tyrian chuckled, "I want to play too."
"Kill the silver eye, I'll deal with the birdy," Tyrian ordered, making the pack of Grimm rush Summer. With the blink of an eye, all of the Grimm were instantly evaporated. "That's cheating," Tyrian pouted, "Ohh well, it'll make this more enjoyable." Tyrian giggled as he crouched down, in his combat stance.
Facing Raven, Tyrian lunged forward, bringing his wrist blades down on Raven's blade. Seeing Tyrian turned away from her, Summer transformed her spear into its sniper rifle mode and started firing at Tyrian. Sensing the incoming danger, Tyrian whipped his tail around deflecting all of Summer's shots.
"Well, that's not going to work," Summer mumbled, transforming her rifle back into its spear form. Tyrian and Raven kept exchanging blows, sparks flying as the two attempted to overpower the other. Summer swung at Tyrian's feet, making the scorpion faunus jump over the swing.
While in the air Tyrian's tail shot out at Summer, making the woman roll out of the way. Looking over to her side Summer noticed Raven staring at her destroyed camp. "I don't have time for this, my daughter needs me, good luck Summer," Raven said mockingly. Ditching Summer, when she transformed into her raven form and flew away.
"No!" Tyrian snarled, the guns inside of his wrist blades folding out, as he started to fire at the retreating bird, it was a desperate bid, Tyrian's weapons were not made for range or accuracy but it would seem luck was on his side, as one of his shots clipped Raven's wing, sending her crashing into the woods.
"Ha hahaha hahaha," Tyrian laughed, "Looks like it's just you and me," Tyrian giggled. Twirling her spear through her hands, Summer looked at Tyrian with a grimace, she needed to catch up with Raven, even if she was hurt Raven wouldn't stay still for long.
"Tyrian lunged at Summer, his hands glowing a dark purple," Summer expertly dodged Tyrian's attacks, having fought many opponents like Tyrian, during her time at Beacon. "Stop moving!" Tyrian growled, attempting to do whatever he can to land a hit against the woman.
Summer in response just giggled, mocking the angry scorpion faunus, the angrier he got the more likely he was to make a mistake. Noticing a shadow flying over them Tyrian launched another assault, hoping to keep the woman distracted long enough for his new plan to come to fruition.
After a moment of fighting Tyrian shouted "Now," a large nevermore swooping down to swallow Summer whole. To Tyrian's annoyance, Summer jumped up, landing on the large nevermore's back. "See ya later," Summer laughed, as she rode on the nevermore's back.
Tyrian's eyes went wide, "No, no, no, no, no," he repeated, Tyrian rushed after Summer, following the shadow of the nevermore. Tyrian was desperate now, he couldn't fail his goddess, he wouldn't fail his goddess.
Ozpin checked over his injured friend, Qrow had been very brave to try to and shield Amber from Ruby's attack but in the end, it hadn't mattered Amber had passed and it was Ozpin's fault. He was supposed to protect the maidens but due to his negligence, one of them had been killed.
Now one of Salem's minions held the power of the fall maiden, tipping the scale in Salem's favor.
Transforming a small portion of his aura into Qrow, the man's internal wounds started to heal. "Oz?" Qrow asked shakily. "What is it Qrow?" Ozpin questioned, as he finished healing Qrow, he would still need to go to Beacon infirmary but Ozpin had made sure there would be no permanent damage.
"Where is she?... Is she alright?" Qrow asked, tilting his head up in a failed attempt to find his daughter.
Looking over, Ozpin watched as Ruby started to hyperventilate, he honestly felt bad for the girl, he knew that it was an accident, and that the girl was going through the horrors of taking ones first life. "We'll take care of her Qrow, don't worry," Ozpin reassured. A loud ding caught Ozpin's attention, as Glynda exited the elevator. "What happened!" Glynda yelled
"Amber's dead," Ozpin answered solemnly.
"Accident, she didn't mean it," Qrow croaked out. Glynda was about to ask Qrow what he meant and what had happened to him, until she noticed the hyperventilating girl. Without saying a word Ozpin walked over to the trembling girl. Placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder, Ruby didn't seem to notice, as she stared at Amber's lifeless body. Ozpin's aura started to glow a bright green. Ruby's aura started to glow a bright red, in response until Ruby's aura disappeared in a flash.
Ruby instantly fell unconscious. "What did you do to her?" Qrow questioned, as he, with help from Glynda, sat up holding his side in pain. "An old aura technique I learned a long time ago, it temporarily disables her aura and renders the recipient unconscious. Don't worry though, she'll wake up soon, but her aura might take a while to come back," Ozpin explained.
"Glynda, if you would?" Ozpin asked, motion towards the unconscious girl. Glynda sighed but accepted the headmaster's request, tapping into her telekinesis semblance, to lift the unconscious girl.
"What about Amber? We can't just leave her," Glynda asked, as she followed Ozpin and a limping Qrow to the elevator. "We'll have preparations made for her funeral, until then she will remain here," Ozpin answered. "What do we do now Ozpin?" Glynda questioned, as she lowered Ruby, so that she could exit the elevator door. Qrow and Ozpin followed suit, exiting the elevator and entering the main lobby.
"Our first objective should be to find the new fall maiden, whoever she may be , and deal with her appropriately," the headmaster answered.
"What will happen to Ruby?" Qrow questioned
"I understand that it was an accident Qrow, but she still did technically kill Amber, I can't just sweep that under the rug. So for the time being she will stay in Beacon's detention center, after that the council will have to decide what to do with her." Ozpin answered.
"What does the council have to do with this?" Qrow asked, knowing they only dealt with the worst of the worst.
"Ruby killed a maiden, the council has deemed such a action within their jurisdiction," Ozpin explained.
"But she's just a kid, one who's so innocent that she didn't know what my bi#$h of a sister was up to." Qrow defended, he wouldn't let them lock his daughter up or worse kill her, for a mistake.
"I'll do everything in my power to make sure she's treated fairly, and that everything is looked at," Ozpin reassured, giving Qrow a small since of relief.
The group continued in silence, Qrow and Ozpin eventually breaking off to go to the infirmary. Glynda continued to carry Ruby's unconscious form to Beacon detention center, she too felt bad for Ruby, having taken a shine to the girl during class.
"She also held a small amount of distaste for the girl, Glynda and Amber had not been the best of friends but the two had shared some pleasant moments with each other, something Glynda was sad to see end., even if it wasn't really Ruby's fault.
Glynda entered one of the detention center's rooms, the room being a small cell, with a single bed. The room held to window the only light coming from a single bulb in the ceiling. The only good part of the room is that it gave its captives a fair amount of privacy, stone surrounding the walls instead if metal bars. The cell door was made of a thick metal with a tiny window built in.
Glynda gently placed Ruby on the cell's bed, giving the girl one last look before she locked the door behind her.
"Argghh," Raven moaned in pain, holding her bloody arm, Tyrian's bullet had torn through Raven's wing, making her crash into the nearby woods. Raven tore off the sleeve of her combat outfit, making a makeshift bandage. A soft grunt, escaped Raven's lips, as she tied the bandage around her arm. Once Raven's arm was properly bandaged, she attempted to get up, only to fall back to the ground in pain.
Raven knew she had to get out of here, it wouldn't be long before either Summer or Tyrian found her. A few moments later, a large shadow passed above her, a dead nevermore hurtling to the ground. "Crap," Raven muttered, as Summer gracefully landed on the ground.
"WHERE IS SHE!?" Summer demanded, her spear held at Raven's throat. Raven didn't answer, instead, she pushed the tip of Summer's spear away from her. "
"Where are you?" Tyrian shouted, alerting the woman to his impending arrival."You can take me to Ruby or you can deal with him, time to make your choice," Summer said
Raven looked between her former teammate and the woods, with her injured arm, she wouldn't survive a duel with Tyrian, even with the spring maidens magic. Tapping into her semblance Raven realized she couldn't even fell Ruby's aura and with most of her bandit tribe dead, she only a few people left, that she could teleport to.
"I can't feel her aura," Raven said with a hint of worry.
"Don't lie to me Raven, bring me to her!" Summer demanded.
"I'm not lying, I can't feel her aura," Raven said
"Where is she!?" Summer asked Raven stayed silent for a moment, hesitant to reveal her daughter's location. Another mad laugh from Tyrian broke Raven out of her thoughts, he was getting closer.
"Beacon," Raven muttered, gaining a shocked expression from Summer, her shock only lasted for a moment, when she gained a serious tone of voice "Take me," Summer demanded knowing the distance was too far for her own semblance.
"Fine," Raven muttered, slowly taking her sword out and creating a portal. "After you," Raven said, motioning towards the portal. Summer stepped through followed by Raven. The space they entered through was a void of deep red, a land that Raven had to pass through, to teleport. Before Raven could shut the end of her portal a loud shout came from behind, looking back Raven could see Tyrian charging forward. Pulling out her sword Raven patiently waited for Tyrian to attack, shutting her portal the second Tyrian's tail came through.
The severed appendage twitched violently before falling still, in the red dimension. "Are you done?" Summer questioned with an unamused expression on her face. With a sigh, Raven created a portal to Beacon Academy.
"Don't be a buzz kill," Raven muttered.
End of chapter 21
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