RWBY: Return of Knightmares Past
Chapter 9
Everyone Has Their Own Entertainment
Enjoy
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Ozpin…was worried. Not about the council giving the job of security to Ironwood. No, that was something they had both talked about and felt that it was right. That man had an army after all. No, what Ozpin was worried about was the report that Professor Rhodes gave him after the incident the day before. The Grimm flooding into the city from the railway system that should have been shut down and sealed away was unsettling. But it was Team Ages, more specifically Naruto aka Ares Schnee that worried him.
Ironwood was protective of the boy, naturally given their background together in Atlas, but Ozpin was more…objective. Unbiased. He tried to be anyway, but dark memories conjured up by the pieces of information he learned deeply unnerved the man.
Oh sure, he had seen the column of lightning that his teammate had produced and he feared he saw a familiar image in that attack. But the fact that Naruto seemed to have predicted where one of the explosions would be from the train scared him…an old power that caused him and his allies no small amount of suffering.
Salem's oldest weapons…one he had hoped, were gone for good, ever since they disappeared so long ago.
It was with comfort that Naruto did not show signs of one of the monsters Ozpin feared. He was not the monster Ozpin feared. Not only for himself and the current Maidens but the world as a whole. For when Salem brought them out…Humanity would see their darkest days as they have always had in the past.
XXX
Ruby could be seen near the edge of a cliff. Why she was here was obvious if you knew her. She was here to have a chat with her mom. Even if it was always one-sided, she still enjoyed talking to her. Ruby stared down at the grave with a small but sad smile. "Hey mom, sorry I haven't come by in a while. Things have been…well things have been pretty busy."
As always, silence greeted her, but she never let that bother her before. After all, in her head, it felt like she was having a great conversation. "OH! Dad's here too. He's…you know…dad. He's still teaching at Signal, but he told me he's going to be going out on some missions soon! I think he misses adventuring with you. I miss you too." Ruby looked down at that. She may not have gotten much time with the woman, but how could she not miss her own mother, much like Yang.
Before she started to tear up, knowing that wouldn't change much, she changed the subject. "I haven't gotten kicked out of Beacon yet! So that's cool. I think being on a team Yang helps, I keep her in line. Heh, that was a joke. She's actually a really great fighter, you can tell she's learned a lot from dad. Well, so are Weiss and Blake. Oh! Those are my teammates, together we form Team RWBY….and yes before you ask that does cause some confusion. Anyways, I made a bunch of new friends and some…let's just say some odd teachers. But with their help, we stopped some bad guys too! I guess it is like they say, like mother like daughter."
As the wind blew past her and made her red cape flap, she felt that was her mother talking to her. In her own way. It felt nice. "OH! Remember when I told you Yang was always weird around boys…and sometimes girls, well she actually found someone…just like you and dad…but please don't tell him that. He is seriously not ready to hear that. Naruto is a good guy for her and he is Weiss' twin brother! So awesome! He can be weird at times, but I know he is looking out for all of us. His teammate, Ebony took me to the dance and helped me open up more. I really need to thank her for that."
"As for Ozpin, I still wonder why he let me into Beacon early. But eh, I guess he'll tell me one day. You know how he is. It is funny, the more I get to know him, the more he starts sounding like Uncle Qrow." Ruby pondered, wondering why that actually was. But her thoughts were interrupted when Zwei barked. Turning, Ruby saw her Dad and dog waiting for her at the tree line. "Look's like dad's back, I gotta go! He's dropping me off for the tournament before he next mission. Gotta cheer on Naruto and his team since they are up first. Wish us all luck!" Ruby put up her hood and turned to go before she smiled at the grave one last time. "It was good to talk….also, that thing about Yang and Naruto is our secret…heh."
XXX
Naruto had learned that the computer system was randomly generating which teams will fight one another and he couldn't help but smirk. He figured he could manipulate that system to some extent with Nyx possessing Checkmate for a time and he made it so his team was on a collision course with that of Cinder's team. He wanted to have a crack at her after all. Not to mention making it so Teams RWBY, JNPR, and AGES wouldn't fight each other too early. There would be no fun to these fights if that were the case.
However, there was one team he wasn't expecting the system to pair his team up with in the first fight. But it worked out as he felt that Ebony needed to mentally move on from Lower Carin. That place held too many bad memories for her. Not to mention they were as bad as team CRDL, or worse depending on whom you ask.
As it turned out, they were indeed one of the first battles of the day. It was good to get all the 4 on 4 battles out in one day after all.
"WELCOME TO THE VYTAL FESTIVAL!" Professor Port shouted out boisterously throughout the entire stadium from his and Dr. Oobleck's studio. The stadium itself was rather huge and it needed to host all four academies after all. So, all four kingdoms used one stadium that floated in midair, using Atlas technology, so it held all the top-of-the-line technology. It was called Amity Colosseum and everyone was super hyped to be there.
"Broadcasting live from the Amity Colosseum, it is the Vytal Festival once more in the Kingdom of Vale!" Professor Port continued. "If this is your first time watching, allow us to break down the rules!"
"The tournament is divided into three distinctive rounds!" Dr. Oobleck started quickly in his hash and hyperactive manner. "Teams, doubles, and singles. Age and school year are irrelevant! The only thing being tested…is skill!"
"Correct!" Port laughed, hoping people would understand his colleague's rapid speech patterns. He only did so because he had years under his belt working with the man. To be honest, he wanted Professor Rhodes to commentate with him this year, but the introverted man vehemently refused. Too bad, the audience could have learned from his unique perspective. "The winner of this battle will elect one of their members to represent them in the doubles round, followed by the winners of that round choosing one member to advance once again. The remaining combatants will then fight their way through the final bracket in the hope of achieving victory for their kingdom!"
"And yes Peter, these certainly are some spectacular spectacles on which to spectate on!" Dr. Oobleck merry replied, throwing in a pun at their job and his own glasses. It was a surprising pun from the man. "And I don't think anyone around the world is going to disagree on that!"
"Ah….and why would they?" Port replied, a little off-put by the pun. Maybe Naruto and Yang were getting to the man. "Now, let's get to the first match of the day! The starting matchup is actually two teams from Vale this year! Team AGES vs Team TPAZ!"
"Ah! This gem of a battle should be remembered for ages!" Dr. Oobleck replied excitedly, already picking a favorite.
"That was a horrible pun." Port deadpanned.
XXX
"I can't believe it." Gwyn groaned from their place in the stadium arena. She held the bridge of her nose at the sight of the morons in front of her. "I still can't believe they followed us from Lower Carin and are attending this school as well."
"I can." Ebony replied tersely, her eyes narrowed on the team cheerily grinning at them.
"Sadly, I can too," Sid grunted.
"Well, they have never actually beaten us before," Naruto replied, unworried, but he still had a frown on his face. Being from Lower Carin, they knew Ebony too well. In place of her dead cousin, they began to torment her, even while they weren't around. He often saw to their punishment. Being at this school as well, he often caught them belittling his teammate. They had learned to be more discreet and catch her when her team leader was not around. But Naruto was always watching and they paid for it.
In a way, they were worse than Cardin and his cronies.
The first was Topaz herself. She was a skinny little blond dressed in white steampunk armor. Even had the top hat and everything. Her weapon of choice was oddly midlevel though. A huge lance that was twice her height and could convert into a steam-powered thunder cannon. Her semblance made it possible for her to even lift the damn thing. Super strength.
Next was Peridot. He was a white-haired cowboy wannabe that only sported a pair of six-shooter pistols. He…wasn't the smartest, but he had sharp eyes and was often seen perving on women. His semblance, Eagle Eye, helped him be a better sharpshooter.
After him came Amarillo, the bald beefcake of the group that sported curved katars claws on each hand. He often ignored his semblance of Vacuum Strike in favor of his superior strength.
Finally, was Zircon, the other blond of the group and brother to Topaz. He looked like your typical wired nut on a sugar high with his rockstar-like leather armor. Unlike a rockstar, he wielded no instrument and it would have worked if he did! No, he wielded a pair of yo-yos with hidden blades to work with his semblance of Wind Slice.
Topaz was the smartest of the group and took it upon herself to lead them like they owned the place. Looking to her follow resident of Lower Carin, Topaz gave off a sadistic and cruel smirk. "Lookie here boys, it's the Entertainment of Lower Carin!"
Ebony couldn't help from flinching at that before shaking with anger, something most of the male population of Beacon didn't like.
"Aw, does the little battery have anger issues now? What are you going to do, zap me?" Topaz laughed alongside her brother, barely paying any mind to the arena taking on grassy plains on one end while small mountains rose up on the other.
"I know what she could do sis." Zircon comment with his own smirk. "She is already popular amongst the boys here and her cousin is dead, I am sure she wouldn't mind…sharing, right doll?"
Throughout their taunts, Ebony's shaking grew worse until each of her teammates stood around her protectively. Then it stopped. She lifted her face to meet theirs and they were surprised to see a suave and seductive smile on her face. She figured this had to stop. She had to move on from her past. Lower Carin was gone. These fools just showed the world why that horrible place stopped existing. Why let that trauma continue to bother her? These idiots also proved time and again why they were less than a threat and humiliation was the only way to make them give up.
"Oh, you." She started with a giggle as she brought her axe near her cheek and sparks flew, giving her cheeks that red tint. "What makes you think you can even handle me." An all too creepy smile crossed her face. "Especially when the fool couldn't in the end." That made all the boys in team TPAZ pale considerably. They had forgotten that part.
Turning back to her team leader she smiled at him and batter her eyelids. "Follow my lead this time. These fools aren't worth much."
Naruto chuckled. "Yes ma'am." Oh, these idiots were dead! A sentiment that all of their team agreed on with their own amused smiles.
By now, the entire stadium was deathly silent. The world was reminded why Lower Carin stopped existing and they were now rooting for Team AGES. They all watched in anticipation as Ebony lifted her axe in preparation to attack, only to shift it into its guitar mode. "You want entertainment, I'll give you entertainment!" She loudly declared before she started strumming on her guitar, much to a lot of the audience's confusion, especially when Naruto started to dance in a marching band step, waving his sword's hilt like a conductor's baton.
(Please play YMCA by the Village People)
"Young man!" Ebony sang while making her guitar almost sound like trumpets. As soon as Sid heard that phrase, he chuckled a bit. This time, he didn't mind singing along for a crazy dance battle, smoothly following Naruto's lead a few moments after he started. And he could see that Gwyn had the same opinion. "There's no need to feel down."
A sudden gunshot knocked Peridot on his ass. Looking up, he saw Gwyn giving him that creepy and just downright terrifying smile that he swore he heard girlish screaming coming from one part of the stadium. "I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground!"
"I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town!" Ebony continued with a dark smile directed at all of them. The message was clear. They weren't in Lower Carin anymore. They could no longer keep her down! "There's no need to be unhappy!"
"Young man!" Sid sang, surprising many, including Blake when Sid uppercut Amarillo high into the air with his shield. "There's a place you can go. I said, young man, when you're short on your dough!"
"You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find…" Ebony sang again, this time right next to Topaz as she made lightning arc off the guitar much like a tesla coil, forcing the blond girl to dance for her life. "Many ways. To. Have. A. Good time!"
"THIS IS A BATTLE YOU WHORE! TAKE IT SERIOUSLY!" Topaz screamed in rage and full-on panic when her weapon was zapped from her hands involuntarily after a misstep.
Team AGES all gave each other a contemplating look before they all grinned, "NAH!" this of course made Team TPAZ panic even more while the crowd laughed and started getting into the song themselves, having heard this one before. They all thought, even the viewers at home, that this was the best kind of revenge. TPAZ truly failed to respond, when during the fourth beat bridge, as the song started up again, each member of Team AGES seemingly teleported thanks to a time-dilation glyph, in front of a TPAZ member.
"It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A!" Naruto sang out, making the crowd follow along to his alphabetical dance moves, as TPAZ was knocked/blasted away by powerful blows from AGES on the Y.M.C.A., Naruto-Peridot, Sid-Amarillo, Gwyn-Zircon, and Ebony-Topaz. A lot began to sing along as well. "It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A." Another time dilation glyph and the process repeated only the pairings to change on the Y.M.C.A.
"They have everything for young men to enjoy, you can hang out with all the boys..." Gwyn sadistically sang as she used her halberd to poke at the boys of TPAZ to 'dance' to her rhythm. "It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A." Another Glyph and switch!
"It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A." Port and Oobleck sang along from their box and not in perfect unison, but who cares, they were having fun. This time, AGES went long-ranged to snipe different TPAZ members, before being overwhelmed by another switch.
"You can get yourself clean," Naruto sang as he danced along to the music, using the beat to 'dodge' every single jab from Topaz's retrieved weapon, a highly embarrassed blush on her face after her team was given time to recover. "You can have a good meal. You can do whatever you feel. Young man, are you listening to me?" He finished by pointing right in her face, perplexing her before her anger rose.
"I said, young man, what do you wanna be?" Sid sang enthusiastically, pointing dramatically at Amarillo, who pointed at himself questioningly. "I said, young man, you can make real your dreams. But you got to know. This. One. Thing!"
"No man does it all by himself." Ebony cheered out as she danced up the small mountains with joy on her face. She was finally taking great steps into getting over her past…by humiliating it. "I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf, and just go there, to the Y.M.C.A. I'm sure they can help you today."
"It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A." The people at home sang happily to an awesome start to the Vytal Festival. It may be weird, but it was fun. And like the first time, AGES used a time-dilation glyph to great effort, only with Naruto-Topaz, Gwyn-Peridot, Ebony-Amarillo, and Sid-Zicron.
"It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A." Teams RWBY and JNPR sang from within the crowd. Even Penny was dancing and singing with her own team.
"They have everything for young men to enjoy, you can hang out with all the boys..." Gwyn sang along and hip bumped Peridot as he made to shoot her, throwing him of balance.
"It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A." James Ironwood sang, bobbing his head up and down with the rest of his men on duty, all with smiles on their faces.
"It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A." Ozpin and Glynda were singing good-naturedly as they lightly danced along. Off in their own little corner, even Team Cinder couldn't help but dance along.
"You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal," Sid sang and he put an arm around a disgruntled Zicron, who was not dancing along as well. "You can do whatever you feel..."
"Young man, I was once in your shoes. I said I was down and out with the blues." Ebony song solemnly as she jumped to the highest peak the small mountains could provide. Right where a small storm cloud was generating thanks to her guitar and powers. "I felt no man cared if I were alive. I felt the whole world was so jive."
Ebony smiled down at her leader for finding her and trusting her to do this. "That's when someone came up to me, and said, 'Young man, take a walk up the street. There's a place there called the 'Y.M.C.A.' They can start you back on your way."
"It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A." Her team all sang loudly before jumping away as she unleashed her final attack from the storm cloud. Four snake-like streaks of lightning shot out and blasted Team TPAZ out of the arena.
It was no contest; the winners were Team AGES.
XXX
"All that dancing and fighting made me so hungry!" Ruby complained after their own battle that they won. They had all agreed to meet up before Team JNPR's battle, so they went to the fairgrounds and were waiting for that last team. You'd think they would be the first ones there with Nora on their team.
"Gee, if only there was somewhere on campus to get food around here…oh wait." Weiss snarked.
"It is ok Weiss," Ruby commented with a small smile. "I forget about the fairgrounds too."
"I was being facetious!" Weiss moaned out. How could her partner be this dense!
"And yet you keep bringing this on yourself." Naruto teased his sister and he seemed to just appear behind her, making her jump ten feet in the air. Naruto snickered to himself as he caught his sister easily. Sometimes, she made his pranking way too easy.
"Not funny!" Weiss growled out while banging on his chest.
"It is always funny, right Yang?" Naruto snickered again.
"No doubt!" Yang replied with a shit-eating grin, having seen him sneak up.
"You are not helping!" Weiss yelled, totally missing a phone call from her father as she complained and kept on doing as yang led them to a small food stand with a familiar old man running the joint. Man, that old guy got around!
"HEY! Might be hard to eat without this." Emerald said from behind the group as she held up Ruby's wallet, making poor Ruby freak out that her pockets really sucked. "Good to see you, Ruby."
"Thanks, Emerald!" Ruby said, grateful that she had her wallet back. "Guess, I dropped it. Ugh, girl pockets are the worst."
However, none of Naruto's team was buying Emerald's act. When their leader said to watch out for Emerald's team, they followed his lead, knowing that something was up. Which was why Gwyn took it upon herself to watch their match, learning all she could on their fighting styles. What she learned was that they were holding back…and they were sadistic in their own ways. Seeing Emerald chat with the impressionable leader of Team RWBY, Naruto walked up to her with Yang.
"What's up, Em?" Yang asked good-naturedly as she put an arm around Naruto.
"Just got back from the stadium after watching your amazing fight! Heh, Naruto's team was pretty entertaining as well. You all were awesome." Emerald said, trying to butter them all up as the rest of Team RWBY came up with AGES hanging back a bit.
"I heard your team progressed to the next round too." Blake said, unconsciously standing closer to Sid as he walked up.
"You know, I feel like we never your other teammates." Weiss pointed out.
"Yeah, it is like they like to hide," Naruto commented offhandedly, making Emerald just a bit nervous.
"But how did they do in the fight?" Yang curiously asked.
Emerald put on a thinking face, eyed Naruto for a second, smirked, and said, "Really well."
"That's great! Why don't we all go out and get some victory food together!" Ruby suggested with a bit smile.
"Oh gosh, that so nice of you, but my teammates are all kind of introverted," Emerald said, looking to Mercury who was sniffing the inside of a boot on sale. "Really socially awkward."
Yang sucked on her teeth with a grimace. Maybe Emerald's team really would want to be by themselves. "Ooooh yeah. I can see that."
"So yeah, it looks like Merc and I will be moving on to the doubles round. What about you all?" Emerald asked.
That was a rather smooth Segway. Naruto had to hand that to her but is not like it was going to matter if Cinder's team knew who they were going to fight anyway. They would still win. However, it seemed Ruby had no issues letting anyone know about that info. "Well, as the leader of Team RWBY, I thought long and hard about this decision."
"We put it to a vote." Weiss deadpanned in a manner similar to how Ren translates Nora.
"Ugh, yes but I decided that we should put it to a vote," Ruby replied nervously, trying to sound like a good leader.
"Nice save," Naruto whispered, making the girl laugh nervously.
"We voted for Weiss and Yang." Blake answered for everyone.
"I will happily represent Team RWBY." Weiss replied with a graceful bow.
"YEAH! We're going to kick some ass!" Yang replied with a determined smirk while punching her fists together.
"Well, if Mercury and I see you down the line, don't think we'll go easy on ya." Emerald laughed before her attention went to Yang's boyfriend. "What about your team, Ares?"
"You looking at him." Naruto replied with a smile, but like usual, felt annoyed at his real name being used. But that was the point, to annoy and throw him off his game. "Sid and I can take off most of the competition."
"I see, then we are really going to have to work to win." Emerald laughed, knowing that Naruto and Sid were a formidable pair.
"Yes, you will." Naruto replied a bit ominously, not that anyone caught it as Emerald made to leave.
XXX
"How are the new 'friends?" Mercury teased his partner, knowing how she already felt about them.
"I hate them." Emerald deadpanned.
"Orders are orders." Mercury shrugged, but he was getting a kick out watching his partner struggle with this.
"I just…how have can they be happy all the time!? Then there's AGES' weirdness mixed in!" Emerald complained.
"Did you at least get what we want?" Mercury asked.
"It is the heiress and the bimbo for team RWBY." Emerald shot off. "Then we have the Bimbo's boy toy and the Shield Faunus.
"Hmm, at least now we know who we are working with." Mercury stated, "But you know, I'd love to take the heir down a peg or two."
Before Emerald could respond, there was a soft thump at the duo's feet, which had them on high alert before almost jumping out of their skins as a torrent of bullet-like cracks and pops resounded throughout the fairgrounds scaring everyone still present.
When everything calmed down, with Emerald and Mercury mortified at the attention they now had on themselves, looked down to see something akin to a canister on the ground next to them, with a string of now-spent firecrackers wrapped around it.
Before they could even think to ask, there was a radio-static crackle followed by a disguised voice stating, "Call my girlfriend a bimbo again and you'll be turned into one in less than a week…. This message will now alarmingly self-destruct in 5… 4… 3…."
In an attempt to get their discretion back, Mercury kicked the canister high into the air only for it to poof in smoke without any extra fanfare.
"… Dibs on killing this guy." Emerald and Mercury said at the same time while sharing narrow-eyed looks.
XXX
"I'll have a bowl of the 'regular,' please." Yang ordered the group sat down at the old man's food stand. Ruby, Weiss, and Ebony all got the same as well, even if Weiss asked for a low salt version that she wasn't going to get. As for Naruto, he asked for a bowl of Ramen, making the old man gulp, knowing the Schnee could eat that for days and not stop. As for the rest of them, they all got a bowl of fish, cooked or not, that was their favorite.
"I got this." Weiss replied, taking out her family card to pay for everyone. However, it was chucked back at her when the machine rejected it. "WHAT?! I was barely into my monthly allowance."
"So, it is has begun." Naruto replied in a bored tone as he handed his card to the old man running the place, much to the fish lovers' happiness. He did find a way to get at the family fortune after all. That got his sister's attention in a raised eyebrow. "Did you really think running away from home to join a school for Hunters and Huntress and then not answer his calls was something you could get away with? I learned that from Winter's debacle when she joined the Atlas Military and then myself when the world thought I died. The man loves his version of control."
"I…I see." Weiss replied a bit shell-shocked. She did expect it, but not this soon. It wasn't long after that Team JNPR joined them, wanting something to eat before their own match.
"Not to worry, dear sister, I have my ways of getting around that. I'll help you get through this." Naruto offered, getting a small smile from his sister.
After a while of eating and them nearly done, Ruby looked up at Ebony happily munching on her food and sighed. She…had to know. "Hey…Ebony?"
"Yeah Rubs?"
"Why did Team TPAZ have such a beef with you and what did they mean by entertainment?" Ruby asked quietly, but the whole group heard. Her own team looked crossed between the shock of her actually asking that and curious themselves. Team JNPR had a variety of reactions themselves. Nora actually got serious, knowing how the damage of the past could affect someone with Ren putting on a sympathetic look while Jaune and Pyrrha had nervous looks. Team AGES, however, just froze up a bit as they refused to look away from their food. "OH! I understand if that is too personal, I am sorry!"
"No, it is fine." Ebony replied, looking down with contemplation with a bit of sadness. "If I am to move past it, I'll have to be able to share it one day."
"Are you sure?" Naruto asked, not wanting to hurt his teammate. Something Ebony just smiled at him for.
"Yeah, but where to start?" Ebony began as the others finished their food. "Let's see, Lower Carin was certainly known as a place without morals and I can certainly vouch for that. The only reason we weren't overrun with the Grimm sooner, due to all the negative emotions filling the place, was because a very sturdy wall was built, but at the cost of the builder's life."
"Sorry, what now?" Yang asked, wide-eyed.
"Yeah, the town practically forced my father into building the damn thing with his own semblance and made him work nonstop, scared that the Grimm could ruin their fun." Ebony replied through clenched teeth before calming down. "At least he is with mom now since she died on the road to Lower Carin. He was already suffering, but didn't put up much of a fight."
"Damn, I was not expecting that." Jaune replied sadly.
"But that wasn't the worst of it." Ebony interrupted, making them freeze. "I am pretty sure they planned for that to happen because my father would never have allowed what happened next. One of my remaining relatives, an older cousin was an aspiring Huntsman-in-training, and had recently unlocked his semblance, a lightning-based one not-too-dissimilar to my own. However, he had a perceived issue of having nothing to practice with and/or on." At that, Ebony clenched her fists so hard they turned white. She only calmed down when a horrified Ruby came to sit next to her, "that was before one day, when circumstances aligned enough for his twisted mind to register me as a training dummy and target practice for the ranged parts of his semblance. Of course, he eventually got an audience and that made added to his sadistic satisfaction."
"Oum damn, that is too much!" Yang growled out for a haunting thought caught her. "How old?"
"Younger than Ruby is now." Ebony replied with a stone face and didn't even flinch when she heard metal twisting on itself as Yang bent her fork with a murderous look on her face. Ruby gasped in horror before she flung herself into Ebony, hugging her tightly. At first, Ebony was shocked, but soon returned that hug with a small smile, knowing she was among friends. She wouldn't lose control of herself here. "It happened for such a long time that I lost track of the world around me until an event one day, destroyed a massive portion of my father's wall and brought in a massive horde of Grimm. Nearly everyone died, except for a few others and myself. Those that didn't participate in bringing me misery and suffering somehow survived and kept living there with me. Others like Team TPAZ survived and blamed me for their lot in life in the aftermath, saying I should have accepted mine. That was when my team found and basically saved me; I wouldn't be here without them."
"I am glad they found you." Ruby sniffed, hiding her tears for her friend. She barely paid attention though when team JNPR came in for a hug as well before they were called down to the area for their own battle.
XXXX
Heavy stuff at the end, I know. Trust me, that could have been more uncomfortable and hit closer to home. But as you have seen, Ebony is not afraid of men. Just the one asshole cousin that took advantage of her.
A bit short, but I didn't have a whole lot of time. Next chapter will be longer.
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