Chapter 18: Working towards the future (and understanding a bit of the present)
Pyrrha, Jaune, Nora and Ren all came cashing into the ground at the same time, and a second later a laugh could be heard from somewhere.
"You've gotta be faster" Luffy said as he suddenly appeared in front of them.
Team JNPR all looked up at him with looks that ranged from concerned (Pyrrha), to cautious (Ren), to baffled (Nora), and finally frightened (Jaune).
Luffy then bent his legs down as he looked at each of them, "You all have to train your bodies before you can be ready to learn anything from me" he said with a slight smirk.
And although Ren, Nora and Jaune looked defeated at this, Pyrrha instead gave him a stern look, "I will learn from taking you on at every chance available" she declared with a steely resolve, much to the shock of her teammates.
Luffy looked at her and then to the rest of the team, "I wanted to make it so some others can be on an entirely new level, but after just a minute of taking you guys on, I honestly don't think that this will be easy" he said.
"Then what would you suggest we do" Ren calmly asked as they all stood up and dusted themselves off.
Luffy gave him a confused look in response to this, but after a minute or two, he held up his index finger.
"Use your reason to fight to push yourselves" Luffy simplistically said as he also stood up straight and held his hands behind his head.
The four teens then looked at each other in confusion at this statement, "Is that it?" Pyrrha said in slight annoyance.
But Luffy just smirked at this, "Fighting for something is always the better option" he declared as he started to walk off.
"I've tested you guys, and all I can tell you is push yourselves over the next month, in everything you do, and after a month has passed, come back to me" Luffy said as he quickly turned around to wave goodbye.
Jaune expressed a pleasant smile at this, "I'm not gonna quit" he stated as small embers wafted from his hair.
"This is gonna be fun" Nora declared as she smashed her fists together.
Ren simply nodded, "We'll be seeing you in a month".
And Pyrrha just gained a determined look on her face.
Luffy smiled at all of them and walked off, but unbeknownst to him, Pyrrha started to walk after him.
"I'll see you guys later" she stated as she looked to Ren and Nora, and then she looked to Jaune, "He's still withholding something, and I want to find out what it is" she said as she shared a knowing nod with her leader.
"Well if you're gonna go after him, I would suggest one thing" Jaune said as he smiled at her.
"And what would that be?" Pyrrha calmly asked.
And Jaune chuckled at this, "Him, and his whole group are crazy, so don't try to tick them off" he said with a smile as he, Ren and Nora all walked off.
Pyrrha gave him a nod and started to run off after Luffy, "Sorry, but I couldn't tell you guys the real reason I'm actually going after him, but I need to be pushed, otherwise I will never be able to accept myself" she very quietly said with a very downtrodden tone.
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A large and unnerving ship suddenly appeared out of the clouds as it descended on the landing pad. And two Bullheads fly by as numerous ant-like swarms of people can be seen on the paths around Beacon.
From the top of a tower veiled behind clouds, Ozpin and Glynda can be seen through the window standing in Ozpin's office.
Glynda looked slightly annoyed at the ships that were present, "Ironwood certainly loves bringing his work wherever he travels" she stated.
And Ozpin nodded agreement, "Well, running an academy and a military makes him a busy man" he justified.
Three more bullheads could be seen flying over Ozpin's shoulder as he slightly sighed, "But yes, those are a bit of an eyesore" he then stated.
Beep
Beep
Ozpin turns his attention to the noise and views a holo-message which reads 'Access Requested', to which he replies, "Come in".
The doors of Ozpin's office then slide open to reveal James Ironwood, whom which Ozpin starts to approach to greet.
"Ozpin!" Ironwood cordially said.
And Ozpin stands at attention in response to this, "Hello, General" he respectfully said.
"Please, drop the formalities" Ironwood states as the two of them approach each other and shake hands.
Glynda then approaches them, "It's been too long" Ironwood says as he then looks to Glynda, "And Glynda, It has certainly been too long since we last met!".
"Oh, James!" Glynda expresses as she gives a personable wave and then drops the pleasant façade.
"I'll be outside" she states as she walks away.
"Well, she hasn't changed a bit" Ironwood identifies as he and Ozpin watch her walk away, and as the leaves the room, the door closes behind her, and as it does Ironwood looks to Ozpin with a concerning look.
"How long has Monkey D. Luffy and his team been on your radar for" Ironwood said in a slightly concerned tone.
And this made Ozpin slightly falter in response, "You know about them?" he questioned as his posture became agitated.
"How much of their past do you know about?" Ironwood asked as the two of them hastily sat down and leaned against their chairs.
Ozpin gave Ironwood a look, ("I'm sorry old friend, but there are somethings I know about them that nobody else can find out") he thought as he sighed.
"They've had a shady past, but they've chosen to go down a righteous path, and they each have some past dealings and problems that would be better off not being brought to light, be they good or bad" Ozpin replied as Ironwood gave him a look.
"So you haven't told the young man how his grandfather truly died" Ironwood morbidly stated.
And this statement made Ozpin pale, and shake his head, "He know he died, but when I even hinted to talking about how he died, the young man told me he didn't care, and it wasn't a heartless statement, but more so, one of respect" he said.
"What about the Vinsmoke isles and what went down there" Ironwood said with a hallowed look.
Ozpin shrugged at this, "Garp's grandson didn't want to know, and the last known Vinsmoke doesn't give a crap, and that was a direct quote" he said.
"Garp managed to do something we only thought impossible, and since he only agreed to teach one person what he knew, that leaves us with a predicament, especially in regards to the fact that 'she' refuses to tell us who that is" Ironwood said as he hung his head.
"Winter Schnee may be your most loyal soldier, but whatever Garp told her, must have made her realise she couldn't tell anyone who the person is that was taught" Ozpin said quite cautiously, but then he allowed for a slight smirk to appear.
"But did you ever question if Garp taught those skills to his descendants?" Ozpin asked.
"You're welcome to track down Dragon and ask him" Ironwood sarcastically replied.
But then he silenced himself as realisation settled in, "His grandson, you can't be serious" he then stuttered.
And Ozpin shrugged in response to this statement, "According to the information he and his group had, those techniques and skills are known by in small and large amounts by a few individuals exactly" he said.
"Who?!" Ironwood abruptly asked.
"Well according to what they knew, at the least, six individuals" Ozpin replied as he held up all of the fingers on his right hand, and the index on on his left hand.
"There is something you can't tell me who all of them are, can you?" Ironwood asked.
Ozpin nodded at this, "Three of them are the main fighters from Monkey D. Luffy's team, one is somebody I only recently hired to teach, and the other two are unknown factors" he said as he lowered a finger as he stated each of the persons.
"You can't tell me anything about the unknown factor?" Ironwood asked.
"The memory queen and her older brother" Ozpin relied as he prepared himself for Ironwood's response.
"WHAT!?" Ironwood uncharacteristically screamed as he shot up to a standing position.
"Apparently her older brother has some of the techniques, but there is a chance she may know some, but they didn't interact with her long enough to know what she could and couldn't do, but she was somehow able to sneak throughout the entirety of my academy and hold me hostage until those boys came to talk to her" Ozpin said as he momentarily held his hand to his neck.
Ironwood looked on in a face of uncharacteristic shock, "And you didn't think to tell me, or Qrow, or anyone?" he blurted out as he eyed Ozpin.
Ozpin shook his head in response to this, "I kept quiet about it, because of one reason" he said as he held up a finger.
"And what would that be?" Ironwood said gruffly as he crossed his arms.
"She could be watching right now" Ozpin quietly expressed as his eyes darted around.
Ironwood raised an eyebrow at this, "A bit over cautious, don't you think" he said.
And Ozpin smiled at this, "Well, since her somewhat fiancée is here, she might be watching him right now".
"And let me guess, it's one of those boys that are part of Garp's grandson's team" Ironwood said sardonically.
"Yes" Ozpin said without an expression.
Ironwood sighed, "And I'm going to have find out who that is myself?" he asked.
And Ozpin just nodded.
"Just give me their information, and I'll go and see them myself" Ironwood said with another sigh as he talked to Ozpin.
Ozpin nodded and then looked out the window as the rest of Ironwood's fleet landed, "And while it is nice to have an interesting conversation with you" he started to say as he quickly glanced to each of the ships, "that small fleet outside my window has given me slight cause for concern".
"Well a certain concern has given rise for their reason for being here" Ironwood replied as he slightly relaxed and sat back into his chair.
"Well, travelling between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult" Ozpin slyly stated as he looked back fully at Ironwood.
"You and I both know my reasoning behind their reason for being here" Ironwood exclaimed with a slight hint of concern.
Ozpin gained a relaxed look on his face as he looked to Ironwood and then to the ships, and then back to Ironwood, "Something like this does give off the wrong impression, would it be right do this in our current time of piece" Ozpin replied.
"But if what Qrow said is true..." Ironwood started to say, before he was interrupted by Ozpin.
"If what Qrow said is true, then we will handle it tactfully" Ozpin started to explain as he held his hands together, "It's the Vytal Festival. A time to celebrate unity and peace. So I suggest that you not scare people by transporting hundreds of soldiers halfway across the continent".
But Ironwood's expression di not completely relax at this statement, "I'm just being cautious" he explained.
"As am I, Which is why we will continue to train the best Huntsmen and Huntresses we can" Ozpin wholeheartedly declared.
And Ironwood's expression hardened as he responded, "Believe me, I am" he stated as he stood up and started to walk to the door.
He then turned back to Ozpin as he approached the door, "But ask yourself this, Do you honestly believe your children can win a war?".
"I hope they never have to?" Ozpin quietly replied as he looked back to the window.
"I will send you the information on those boys" Ozpin then quickly said before Ironwood left the room.
And Ironwood gave him knowing nod as he left the room, ("I do not think that it's going to go the way he thinks when he talks to those boys") he thought to himself as he prepared himself a mug and turned on his kettle.
.
Ruby shot up as she awoke, but Weiss was there to comfort her, "It's fine, relax" the Schnee said as she held a hand to Ruby's shoulder.
Ruby looked at her concerningly, "What happened?" she questioned as her eyes darted around.
Weiss sighed, and with a smile, explained Ruby's situation.
And a minute after the explanation, Ruby nodded, and then relaxed.
"Umm, do you have a mirror?" she asked Weiss.
Weiss nodded at this, and from nowhere she pulled a mirror out, and passed it to Ruby.
"Woah," Ruby stated as she looked at her now pure silver eyes, "So they won't turn back to normal".
"Yes, unfortunately" Weiss said as Ruby sat up and they sat next to each other.
"How long was I asleep?" Ruby asked Weiss.
And Weiss slightly shrugged at this, "Nearly over twenty-four hours" she said as she then passed Ruby a hot mug of cocoa.
"I said that I would stay back and watch over you while Blake and Yang went to class, as I am the only one would probably be the least affected by missing a couple of classes" Weiss said with a slight hint of smugness as she gave Ruby a side eye.
"So what did you want to do now, do you want to go to class now?" Ruby then asked as she looked down at the cocoa and took a quick sip of it.
Weiss looked at her and sighed, "You should still probably take it easy for now, so I think it would be best if we just stay here and let you relax" she said with a slight hint of regret.
Ruby, noticing Weiss's disappointment, spoke up, "Did you want to play a game or something, or did you want to study?" she asked.
But Weiss shook her head and smiled at her leader, "I think it would be best that if we just relax for now, so you can just pick a couple of games we can play today".
Ruby happily nodded as she shakily stood up, but after a moment, she regained her footing and walked over to a cupboard to pick a game.
"So do you think my eyes will stick out" she asked as she delved into the cupboard.
Weiss chuckled at this, and after she had neatened her bed that Ruby had been lying on, she walked over and looked out the window of the room, "I think there is a chance" she said as they both laughed.
.
As Luffy walked off on his own he allowed himself a chuckle, "So you don't have any more classes either" he said as he quickly looked back to see Pyrrha trailing behind him.
"That skill you have allows you to sense other people, right?" Pyrrha questioned as she walked up to him.
Luffy shrugged as they started to walk alongside each other, "More or less" he answered.
"I want you to train me the same way that Roronoa Zoro is training Weiss Schnee" Pyrrha then blurted out, and this made Luffy come to a stop and look at her.
"But didn't I say that I would see you guys in a month, and see if you were capable then" Luffy questioned with a confused look on his face as he tried to remember the conversation he'd had with team JNPR about an hour ago.
Pyrrha just gave him a confused look in return, "And why wouldn't you be willing to train me individually?" she asked.
Luffy gained a fearful look on his face as he looked down, "You don't want to get trained the same way I did" he stated.
"And why not?!" Pyrrha hesitantly asked.
"Do you want to truly know who we are?!" Luffy said as he sat down on the ground and looked up at Pyrrha.
Pyrrha responded with a slight look of hesitation at this question, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to" she stated.
But Luffy shook his head at this, "I've lost too much to act like I did when I was younger, now I have to understand who to trust, and right now, the only people from your team I trust are you" he said pointing at her, "and Jaune".
Pyrrha realised that Luffy had referred to Jaune and herself in a respective tone, and sat down and faced him, "And what about the other members of our team?" she inquired.
"The quiet guy, and the hammer girl are fun, but only time will tell if I can trust them" Luffy responded as he sighed and looked up at the sky.
"And how can you be so sure that you can trust me and Jaune?" Pyrrha then questioned.
Luffy looked back down at her and smiled, "Jaune ate Ace's fruit, and he now realises what that means to me, and as such, if anything bad were to happen, he would now that nothing would stop me" he said with an almost melancholic look.
"And me?" Pyrrha then questioned as she tilted her head the slightest.
"You didn't ask me to train you because you wanted to get stronger for yourself, but because you can't let your team down, right?" Luffy asked with a smile.
And all Pyrrha could do was blink in response, "I have to do it for them" she retorted.
But her answer just made Luffy chuckle, "And what about yourself?' he asked as he frowned at her.
"I believe that I could become a great huntress" she started to explain, "And I will protect this world".
Luffy whistled at this, "And what do you think that will take?" he asked.
"Anything and everything" Pyrrha whispered as she looked on blankly into the distance.
And then Luffy stood up as she stated this, "And what would you be willing to sacrifice to achieve that?" he asked.
But before she could respond, Luffy started to walk off, "Don't give me your answer, I don't need it, I'll come to you later and tell you the stuff I said I will, and I will help you train" he said as he continued to walk, "But don't be so willing to throw everything away".
He then disappeared, leaving Pyrrha alone with her thoughts, ("What is it he is trying to tell me?") she pondered as she continued to stare idly into the distance.
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Both Zoro and Sanji walked out of the class they had just had, and although neither of them gave it much care, they both knew something was off.
"You can sense it too, can't you pervert?" Zoro muttered as the two of them trudged down a hallway.
"My observation is better than yours, you lost mossball" Sanji quietly retorted.
"They're similar but different" Sanji then stated.
And Zoro just gave a gruff nod in agreement.
"You think we'll have to deal with them as well as everything else" Sanji exclaimed as he started to light a cigarette.
"Who's knows curly brow?" Zoro said with a smirk as they continued to walk.
"They're near Luffy's sister" Sanji then said.
"This could be interesting!" Zoro replied with a grin as they walked off into the academy.
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So it's been a while since I've updated this story with a new chapter, sorry for taking such a long time but I just didn't know how to properly write some things in this chapter, and I still didn't feel right with everything in it (for some reason), but I just wanted to upload it so I actually can write something proper for the next chapter.
Also, sorry for the relatively smaller chapter than usual, I just wanted to leave it at a point where I can then start the next chapter properly.
If anybody has any questions about anything in this chapter, I'll be happy to answer them, because I just feel like people will have questions (maybe).
Anyway, Comments, criticisms and questions are always welcome,
And besides that,
Peace Out