V2E15: An Omen of Things to Come (V2 Finale)
Like every other day, it had come to an end as the clock struck midnight. Late-night workers bustled in their shops, only a few hours away from the end of their shifts. Students of Vale's many schools were still bumming around town, although they were running out of steam. Working adults got drunk in pubs, bars and taverns to celebrate another hard-worked day.
It was like every other day, until everything fell apart.
A loud crashing noise erupted as concrete crumbled and steel support sheared, a cacophony of destruction. One of the main intersections of the commerce district had been gouged open from below. A few civilians were caught in the blast but so far, none died. Concerned citizens called for help on their scrolls while the braver ones got close. One such brave one was the owner of a small but popular tobacco shop, who had gone out to get a late-night snack before closing his shop for the day. Usually, he waited for one of his more regular customers, who enjoyed smoking cigars during late-night strolls. He always enjoyed the man's company, he would even go as far as to call him a friend. Sadly, his friend had not come that day, strangely enough. The tobacconist was nearby when he heard the sickening sound of destruction. He waited until the dust settled, balking in shock at the sight of a train piercing the ground like a giant jousting lance. He approached carefully along with a few others until he heard a familiar voice.
The voice of his friend.
The tobacconist rushed in as his friend was coughing and hacking terribly. His blood ran cold once he saw his friend. Blood poured from his scalp and his body was horrifically bruised. He called for help as he tried to help his friend to his feet. His reward was a shove. His friend had pushed him away but something was wrong. His friend rose to his feet, shaking like his body was about to fall apart.
And screamed for him to run.
The train fell into the hole it made as a large Twin Taijitu bust out of the breach. The tobacconist froze in fear until his friend shook him out of it with yet another plea for him to run. He felt his heart rend and his eyes water before hitting the ground running. Despite abandoning his friend, he pleaded for the gods to keep him safe.
...
Hope kept panting heavily as the tobacconist ran to safety. Although in immense amount of pain, he was glad that he had listened. He froze as a serpentine shadow hung above him. He let out a shaking breath before focusing, grimacing furiously.
"BUMBLEBEE!" He bellowed.
A sickle flew from the dust cloud, wrapping around the taijitu's black head. The sharp point and the keen edge cut into the monster's throat before being yanked back violently like a felled tree. Hope glared at the snake as it was dragged into the dust to get pummeled by an angry Yang. He looked around as the civilians immediately ran away. It would take more than just running to save them but right now, that's all they have. Hope looked back at the breach, his frown turning sourer as it widened.
And like a sea of evil, the black horde began pouring in from the breach.
Blood dripped down soft, luscious lips as Cinder let her frustration come to light. The pain of biting into her lips distracted her from the boiling rage that was mounting in her heart. The moment her questioning of Hope was interrupted, she knew that the plan had gone awry. The breach only confirmed what she had come to see.
"Damned Torchwick!" She muttered with anger. "When I find you, you'll wish I had killed you when we first met."
She took a deep breath. No, it's not Roman's fault. He's perfectly capable despite his lackadaisical and cowardly nature. No, it's not his fault...
Hope.
Hope was the one who kept getting in the way. Hope was the one who kept finding ever-increasing ways to put a wrench in her plans. This man brought nothing but fascination and curiosity towards the half-maiden. His first name, Anon, was obviously fake yet it was oh so fitting. An enigma with no real name, yet he fights for his namesake; Hope. Like a nameless hero from the fairy tales of old.
In a sense, it was poetic if a bit hamfisted.
She couldn't help but feel a strange sense of attraction towards He called Hope. It wasn't affection, she knew that for sure. They barely knew each other yet she feels like there is a strange connection. It felt as if destiny brought them together, yet he fights to dismantle it. Cinder smiled at the thought. Defiance in the face of fate... So fruitless yet unfathomably admirable...
Her attention was stolen by a slight shake as the bullhead finally lifted off the ground. They flew over the city, the sound of sirens and blaring horns forming a symphony of panic. She took a long breath before smiling. The plan has gone wrong, but the silver lining remained. Panic was spreading and faith in those in charge will be damaged for not preventing this disaster. She looked to her teammates, her expectations for their reactions being met. Emerald winced as they flew closer to the epicentre of chaos that was the breach. Cinder stared dispassionately at her minty comrade as she looked away from a grisly scene of a man being torn to shreds by a Beowolf in the streets below. Mercury, on the other end, stared with grim satisfaction as the Beowolf got what it deserved. Which is to say, a blade to the neck.
A ping from her scroll made her look away from her comrades. Adam had sent her a text.
OneEye: 'The plan has gone to crap.'
Cinder scoffed.
Me: 'I've noticed, the whole city's on alert. Me and my team are going to "Help" them contain it.'
OneEye: 'Understood.'
Me: 'I assume you're at the crash site?'
OneEye: 'No, me and Neo escaped through a maintenance shaft before the train crashed.'
Cinder hummed to herself.
Me: 'Understood. Meet me at the usual spot. Bring Neo.'
OneEye: 'Roger. And Cinder?'
Me: 'Yes?'
OneEye: 'Neo might need some medical aid, I can only do so much.'
She cocked a brow. Did one of the interlopers almost kill her?
Me: 'What happened?'
OneEye: 'The raven came to save her daughter. She was not happy with what Neo did.'
Cinder's eyes widened as she reflexively bit her lips again. The raven?!
"Godsdamnit!" She quietly cursed.
If the raven was against her, then this could get awfully ugly. She fought her brother once and almost got killed. And if the rumours that she's even better... Her teeth sunk further into her lips, the soft flesh slowly tearing as she bit down. She took a deep breath before typing.
Me: 'Then we'll regroup later. Go to one of our safe houses and do what you need, we can't afford to lose her just yet.'
OneEye: 'Understood.'
Cinder set her scroll down and crossed her legs, bouncing the bottom leg in agitation. It seems yet even more unforeseen troubles have come. She felt a familiar cold breeze hit her neck. That breeze was always there the moment before she was struck with an idea. This same breeze was felt when she chose to use camouflaged gear and a voice changer during the CCTT infiltration and it came again when she thought of interrogating Hope. Once more, the breeze heralded an idea. She took her scroll back and texted adam one last time.
Me: 'And Roman?'
OneEye: 'He was at the front cart with Hope. If he's still alive, he'll be at the crash site. Same with Hope.'
Her bloody lips curled into a smile as the idea unfolded. She put her scroll away before taking another one out, this one connected to the backdoor Watts created in the CCT databank. Her smile widened when she brought up the schematic for an Atlan flying supercarrier, The Honourbound. Ironwood's personal flagship.
A dark chuckle escaped her blood-red lips.
"I can work with this."
A claw swipe caught the blonde brawler off guard, carving a gash on the back of her clothes. Her burning red eyes flickered as the pain coursed and claw-like bruises formed. She whipped around, swinging her arms into a haymaker and pulverizing the monster that dared hurt her. She looked at her sister as she panted heavily, having just cleaved an Ursa Minor in twain. Ruby quickly glanced at her older sister, worry clear on her brow. Yang gave her a pained thumbs up before dashing into another fight, this time to give aid to her feline partner.
Ruby took a moment to look around her. The fierce fighting that surrounded her took second place to the carnage laying at her feet. Dozens of black corpses were slowly turning into smoke, their dark carrion mingling with the blood and gore of the innocents they couldn't save. She could make out a few bodies, maybe a half dozen, in the pile. She felt tears running down her cheeks as she made out a father, whose body was covering and protecting his unconscious daughter. Ruby's sorrow and guilt at not having been able to save these people turned into violent, righteous fury. With a hateful cry of vengeance, she leaped into the fray once more to avenge the fallen.
Weiss grits her teeth as she stood back to back with Blake. Surrounded on all sides, the pair did the best they could to cover each other. Luckily, Yang had come to alleviate their burden by forcing the Grimm to fight on two fronts. Ruby came in like a hurricane to aid her sister, her face contorted with anger. Weiss, seeing her leader's current state of mind, worried that she may lose focus. Just as the thought animated in her mind, A twin Taijitu hissed with fury. Its black head dragged limply on the ground, Its flesh slowly stripping and turning into a serrated, spear-like point. The serpentine foe lunged at an unaware Ruby, who was focused on tearing a Beaowolf to shred with her scythe. Weiss, acting on instinct, threw a black glyph at the snake to pin it in place, freezing it in the air mid-action. The glyph began to crack, Weiss being too overwhelmed by enemies to keep focus.
A laugh erupted from beyond sight and the sound of engines growing closer and closer.
Just as the glyph broke, a mighty warhammer cracked the Taijitu mask and sent it to the floor writhing in agony. Holding the hammer was the welcome sight of a familiar, ginger-haired friend
"NORA SMASH!"
From the skies dropped three more warriors who assisted the weathered heroes. Team JNPR came to the rescue.
"Nora, keep doing what you do best," Jaune yelled over as Nora stuck herself further in. "Ren, cover her."
"Roger." Ren nodded he ran after his girlfriend.
"Pyrrha, You and I will go help RWBY."
"Got it!" The gladiatrix confirmed as she unsheathed her spear.
"Ok then..." Jaune took a deep breath before unsheathing his sword. "Let's move!"
Nora batted away Grimm after Grimm like she was up against a baseball pitching machine. A Creep there, a Beowolf there. All the while laughing like a kid at the fair. Ren, of course, covered her from any hick-up that came to try and mess up her fun. Jaune ran in with a yell, cutting a path to his friends with covering fire from Pyrrha.
...
Hope sneered, ignoring the oncoming cavalry. Although glad that his friends weren't going to be overrun anytime soon, something else caught his attention. He dashed away from the breach as a plea reached his ears. His heart raced as fast as his legs, his mind narrowing as the scene came into view. The earlier pain faded from the adrenaline. An Alpha Beowulf, the biggest that Hope had ever seen, leered over a pair.
The monster savoured every moment, every tear and every cry. Every plea for help was like a jab in its pleasure center. It licked its chops its red and yellow eyes glowing brighter and brighter as it savoured its every slow, deliberate step. Such sweet distress, such delicious fear, such wonderous hopelessness.
Hope recognized the older girl, a woman with pale skin and purple snake eyes. The first person he had interacted with in Remnant. She clutched in her arms a young boy that looked like her, maybe her little brother or even perhaps her son. She cried fearfully as she crawled backward against a wall, making sure that she stayed between the monster and the boy. The boy screamed, begging for help, any help. Hope gnashed his teeth and went for his belt. He curse, remembering that Roman and Neo had taken his weapons for themselves. He scanned his surroundings, every second waisted weighing on his mind. A garbage can and a pipe.
Fuck it, making due!
He held the pipe in his mouth, its dirty and metallic taste going unnoticed by the focused Hope. grabbing the can, he emptied it and rushed towards the Beowolf. The sound of running steps alerted the abomination and as it turned away from its prey, its vision was taken over by darkness. Hope had jumped up and dunked the can on the Grimm's head. With a furious cry and aching limbs, he battered the canned Grimm over the head with savage strikes. With an upward swing, he batted the can off. The dazed Beowolf falling to its knees it was so disoriented and stunned. With one final swing, Hope cracked the monster's mask with an overhead swing, bending the pipe in the process. The beast fell back, twitching and gurgling. Anon let go of the pipe and ran to the pair.
"Are you two ok?!" He asked with distressed worry.
"I...I-I'm fine." The woman answered, still shaken. "My- My brother!"
She felt the clutching embrace of her little brother tighten, his sobbing muffled by her chest. She held him closer, letting out a short sob. They're fine now. The snake looked up at her saviour, her eyes widening.
"Wait... I know you!"
"Not now," Hope said, looking around nervously. "I need to bring you to safety."
As he turned to check his blind spot, a dark roar blared. The alpha Beowolf shot forward like a speeding train, grabbing Hope by the throat and slamming him down to the ground. Hope coughed violently as the air was knocked out of him. The alpha brought his face close to Hope's, its sick eyes full of hate bearing down on him. The beast bellowed its rage at such a high volume that Hope felt his ears ring. The alpha lifted his arms into the air and brought them down like a sledgehammer to Hope's chest. He screamed out in pain before being grabbed by the leg and thrown into a building on the other side of the street. Hope bounced off, feeling his bones flex painfully as their contacted the brick wall. The alpha stomped over as Hope tried and failed to get up. He looked at the sibling as they cowered, gasping in fear.
"Run. Please." He begged them.
Paralyzed with fear, the pair sat by as Hope was mauled and clawed by the dark beast. Its dread howl mixed with his agony ladened grunts and groaned. Hope felt as its claws dug trenches into his arms and its teeth bit down on his shoulders. The alpha shook its head as it clamped down its jowls, mauling him with the violence of a raging bear finding out that some asshole ate its porridge. The beast released its jagged grip mid-maul, sending him flying across the air.
A quiet hum began playing as he went through the air.
He landed in a heap, his face stuck in a shocked gasp. His whole body felt like it was falling apart with every second. He let out a long, drawn-out breath. Maybe even his last...
The hum became louder, turning into a cacophony of a thousand overlapping voices.
The pain was unbearable but this many-voiced song gave him the nudge he needed to get to his knees. He tended an ear as the Grimm slowly prowled towards him. Hope limped to his feet and walked towards the song.
He looked down as the song got louder. At his feet was his dagger, shockingly enough. Hope last saw it on the train but they were too far from the breach. How could it be here? It made no sense. He fell to one knee before grasping the blade in a reverse grip. The blade's song became its clearest, a focused melody once so broken and disjointed. Now, the thousand voices sang as one.
The alpha foamed at the mouth, its eyes fixated on this... This prick, this arrogant fuck who DARED to get in his way. Who DARED to interrupt his fun with the worthless sacks of screaming meat. It would have been one thing to fight back, but he broke his mask. This injury will take ages to heal back! His pack will think him weak for letting himself get injured. No... He is not weak... He is ALPHA! THE BEST OF HIS KIND! AND HE WILL NOT LET THIS SLIGHT GO WITHOUT MAKING HIM SCREAM AND GOUGING HIS FILTHY ORGANS FROM HIS WORTHLESS CARCASS!
Hope stared at the dagger with fascination.
"What..." He muttered. "Is your name?"
The frothing mad Alpha got on all four and galloped towards He called Hope. The Alpha leaped with mouth wide open to better bite his head off. Hope dragged one foot across the ground in an arc and lifted his weapon arm high.
The blade's shattered pattern glowed as all nearby heard its song.
"Thy name..."
Hope swung his arm down and back thrust it into the Alpha's belly. The monster roared in pain before Hope hoisted him above and over him, slamming it to the ground before ripping his blade out with a visceral squelch. The disembowelled beast fell in shocked silence then went limp.
Hope sighed, letting the pain wash over him before holding the blade up.
"Shatterslash. Thy name is Shatterslash, the song of hope."
He limped to the pair, the both of whom were stunned at his survival, neigh, his impossible victory. The boy looked at him with starry-eyed full of admiration.
"How'd you do that?!" He exclaimed.
Hope sniffed.
"Spite, luck, and a damn good Deamonsmith."
The girl let go of her brother and stood up, catching Anon just as he collapsed.
"Oh my gods!" She exclaimed, her hands drenched in blood. "Y-you need a doctor!"
Hope nodded weakly.
"I can't help but agree. Kindly lend me a shoulder and keep an eye on the kid."
The woman wrapped his arm around her neck, supporting his weight as best she could. the boy remained close behind, looking around nervously for any signs of trouble. Hope looked forward, Shatterslash at the ready.
Ready to protect.
More bullheads arrived to help relieve the vanguard of their Grimm problems. Glynda was the first out of her bullhead, her eyes twitching at the sight of the massive hole on the ground. She let out a frustrated sigh, thinking about the drink that Hope owed her. She is definitely cashing it this weekend.
Hope... She silently prayed for him to be safe.
The good witch marched towards the hole and threw her arms forward. Using her semblance, she created a safe space that engulfed a quarter of the breach, just enough for her to start slowly patching it. However, she needed all the pieces in order to properly patch the hole. She descended into the breach in order to fix the very foundations. Port followed her, jumping down and landing with a huff, his Blowhard levelled at a bunch of Creeps that clawed at the barriers.
"Target practice!" he chuckled heartily as he opened fire. "Take your time, Glynda dear, I'm in the mood for refining my aim!"
Glynda ignored the portly professor, focusing on reforming the supports. As she lifted a large chunk of concrete away from the train, a strange sound reverbed against the sheered metal of the train.
"Is that?" Glynda wondered in disbelief. "Is that a barking dog I hear?"
Port took a moment away from mag dumping into the dark mass to tend a curious ear.
"A dog, here?" Port chuckled. "That's ridic-"
A series of desperate barks resounded within the concrete halls, cutting through the ominous moans and growlings of the held-back horde. Port's eyes bulged out of his skull.
"Why is there a dog here?!"
Glynda floated herself over to the train. She tore the bent metal apart, her purple Aura glowing brightly as the metal sheared. She took a metaphorical step back when she came face to face with a small corgi. Her puzzled glare turned to concern when the corgi ran off. She followed the dog, thinking that maybe a civilian fell into the breach. Therefore, it came as a shock when she found one of her colleagues lying in a pool of his own blood.
Oobleck laid on the floor motionless, his glasses cracked and his clothes torn to shred. Deep gashes were clawed on his chest and back, one of his eyes swivelling absentmindedly in its socket. Said eyes was red and almost seemed like it was almost carved out before being jammed back in. One of his wrists was carved down to the bone, still connected to his arm with tendons and pure determination. His spiteful smile was broken with jagged, chipped teeth.
Glynda gasped, looking away. It wasn't the first time she saw a corpse, hell, she saw men being torn apart right in front of her. Even still, seeing one of her coworkers like this pained her to no end. She gnashed her teeth and approached Oobleck's body. The dog whimpered as he nudged Oobleck's head, begging him to get up. Glynda clenched her eyes shut. Now that's just painful to watch. She kneeled next to her coworker and slowly brought her hand close, about to confirm what she already knew.
Suddenly, Oobleck's chest puffed up and a gasp escaped his lip. the history professor rolled to his side and emptied his stomach, blood and bile exiting his throat. Glynda lurched back in shock, having thought that he was deader than dead. Once Oobleck was done vomiting, he kept breathing heavily, greedily gulping air. His one swivelling eye stared up at her as a glad smile spread across his face.
"Glynda." He huffed out. "Good to see you."
He talked so casually like his life wasn't in danger. He tried to get up but his legs remained limp. He sighed.
"I can't feel my legs, I'm afraid."
"Glynda!" Port yelled over from out the train. "Did you find that dog yet?"
Oobleck chuckled.
"Peter's here?" he asked Glynda.
"Yeah." She leaned away to yell Port over. "PORT! OOBLECK'S HERE AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE!"
The two heard an exclamation of surprise.
"Wait, Bartholomew?! Hold on, I'm coming!"
Glynda wiped some blood and vomit from Oobleck's mouth with one hand, sending an emergency message to Dr. Peach on her scroll in the other.
"Hold on," Glynda pleaded. "Help's on the way."
Oobleck let out a dry chuckle.
"I will, don't you worry..."
Zwei licked Oobleck's cheek, making him laugh.
"It's ok, Zwei. I'm safe now."
The sound of battles thinned on the air still thick with settling dust. Hope limped along, glaring menacingly at any Grimm that showed their ugly mug anywhere near him and his charges. Funnily enough, they cowered when his gaze fell on them. He smirked when he noticed.
They must have seen me kill their alpha. Good. Gives me some breathing room.
He looked to the people he was protecting. The girl occasionally helped him walk when the pain became too much for him. She would often ask him if he needed a break for the pain to settle. Other times, she would make sure that his wounds aren't reopening. She even went as far as to make him some makeshift bandages using his ruined clothes and even riping her own clothes. She was considerate but it was clear that she was sad at ruining her outfit. But, needs must.
The boy remained close to Hope, hiding behind him while keeping an eye out. Even though the strange huntsman was banged up, he was the only thing keeping them safe. His wounded appearance didn't deter the boy from looking to his protector with admiration. He killed an alpha, heck, he scares the Grimms away with a look! It was like he was a comic book hero!
Hope began groaning as the pain kept bothering him like a loan shark. The girl immediately noticed and helped him to a bus stop bench. The boy looked at Hope's wound, morbidly fascinated by the fact that he was still standing. He gets a scrape on his knee and it feels like the whole worlds gonna end. This was, like, a thousand million scrapes to the knee all over his body! Anon let out a sigh as he sat down, glad that he could take a break. He clutched his aching ribs with a sneer. He knew they weren't broken but it certainly felt like they were. Breathing was horribly painful, let alone walking. The girl gently stroked his arm, eyeing his wounds with deep worry.
"Do you think that you'll be ok?"
He groaned.
"Hell no, I'll definitely need surgery." He told her bluntly. "If I'm lucky, I'll be out of the hospital in time to see my friends compete In the tournament."
She slowly nodded her head, looking down. Hope held her chin, making her look into his eyes. He forced a confident smile.
"Chin up, miss. I'm still alive and kicking."
He began coughing violently, turning away as to not cough in her face. She gasped and held his shoulder, afraid that he might biff it right there.
"Hrk!" He spat. "Well, more or less alive..."
As he caught his breath, he noticed a splash of colour through the glass of the bus stop. Minty green and velvety chocolate. Through a nearby alley, Emerald stood around with her arms crossed. Hope frowned.
"What's wrong?" The girls asked.
Hope just puts a finger to his mouth, motioning her and her brother to stay quiet. With a grunt, he stood to his feet and left the glass box. He leaned against a wall, just at the corner of the alley.
...
Cinder, Mercury and Emerald all stood over as Torchwick sat against the wall on the other side of the alley. He had lost his hat, his coat was torn and he looked like a beaten dog. It looked as though Cinder just tore him a new one due to yet another failure. Cinder sighed dramatically.
"It's sad really. I had such high hopes for you."
"Yeah? Well, blame your little obsession. he's the one who keeps getting in our way."
"He's just one man." Cinder countered. "We can't blame only him."
Roman groaned.
"So what?" He asked dejectedly. "You're going to kill me?"
She hummed thoughtfully before clicking her tongue.
"No," She smiled ominously. "I have one last use for you."
Roman lifted his head, his eyes wide. Is she really going to?
"Plan A hasn't worked, but worry not, I have a backup."
No way...
"It just so happens that I came across some news regarding our northern brethren. The Honourbound, an Atlan Supercarrier, is on its way here."
She looked around her side of the alley over the corner and smirked.
"Speaking of which..."
Hope heard a gasp behind him. The boy looked in awe as the sky was overtaken by a mass of flying steel. Hope stared at the Supercarrier, its metallic majesty leaving all that gazed upon it breathless at its sheer size. Like a hornet's hive, it spewed soldiers out by the dozen. The Atlan Paratroopers descended, gunning Grimms down as they fell like avenging angels. Hope let a smile slip. He had hoped that Ironwood wouldn't have brought the big fucking gun platform that can level entire buildings but goddamn it, he was glad that said big fucking guns were here to save the day. Cinder's dark chuckle brought him back to the problem at hand.
"Looks like your ride has arrived."
Torchwick's eyes bulged out of his skull.
"What?!" He exclaimed.
Her smirk disappeared.
"This mission was your responsibility, therefore, you must take the blame." She crossed her arms. "And it just so happened that the Honourbound has its own jail..."
She took out a pair of cuffs from an unseen pocket.
"Which you will be transferred to."
Torchwick's gaze dropped. It's just as he said would happen...
The breeze.
The cold breeze that had saved him before returned, its cold caress fluttering against his neck. His eyes followed it, and revealed Hope to him. That's it, his ticket out of here! If he revealed Hope was there he might-
Cinder looked down on him, her eyes so full of contempt. The same gaze he got from everyone that passed by him when he was younger. The same look he got from his shitty bosses when he first tried to go straight. The same feeling of being considered lesser, the same as everyone from back then. Torchwick sneered, holding Cinder with the same bitter contempt as she did for him. He had made his mind and chose to go all-in.
"Fine." He spat, offering his wrists. "Just know that once we're done, We will never meet again."
Cinder snorted.
"I'd be surprised if you get that far." Her smile completely disappeared, replaced by a neutral frown. "Neo will tell you what to do next once you're aboard."
Roman scoffed.
"Whatever."
...
Hope's pain momentarily froze, replaced with pure, smug self-satisfaction. When Roman saw him, Hope thought it was all over. He wasn't in Beacon, he wasn't with friends. He was defenceless and worse, heavily injured. If Roman had sold him out, Hope would have been at their mercy yet again. But no.
Roman chose him and spurned Cinder.
He chuckled madly to himself as the girl and her brother looked on in concern. Has he gone mental?
A growl alerted the three of them. The alleys turned dark and malevolent eyes glowed. Even though the cavalry 2.0 has arrived, they weren't out of the woods just yet. He let out a breath as he walked to the entrance of the bus stop. He stood in front of it, his back towards his charges.
"Hey, miss."
The young woman looked at the back of her protector. The darkness crept closer, baring its bone-white teeth with clear intent.
"Keep your kid bro safe. I'll be right back."
The girl nodded, holding her little brother close to her.
"Please, don't die..." She begged.
Hope held out his off-hand in a thumbs-up before pointing Shatterslash at the encroaching horde. He stomped one foot on the ground, growling at the pain before the adrenaline slowly seeped into his bloodstream. He gnashed his teeth, glaring at the evil that bore down on him with spiteful bloodshot eyes.
"Sing for me, Shatterslash!" He ordered his blade. "Sing for me and only me!"
The crack-like lines on the blade glowed and the thousand voices let their choir be heard by all. Hope let out a raging breath, his heart beating slowly, coldly.
"Come on then..." he challenged.
Grimms began leaving the darkness, prowling towards him. One broke rank and stood over him, towering over him. Hope grimaced like a demon, that familiar black spark burning in his pupils.
"SHOW ME WHAT PASSES AS FURY AMONGST YOUR MISBEGONEN KIND!"
Atlan soldiers fell from the sky, scourging the dark horde back to hell where they belonged. they marched forward and towards the breach, driving the Grimms back and leading them into kill zones and cul-de-sacs. A pack of Beowolves, like many other packs, ran away from the ivory soldier, their survival instinct trumping their bloodlust. Now behind the nearly completely repaired breach, they stopped to think of their next move. Their instincts told them to fade into the shadows or jump back into the breach. The breach was a crapshoot, as it would paint a target on them since the breach was the centre of fighting.
Just as they wondered what to do next, they came across the corpse of a defeated alpha. The pack came close, sniffing the body and scrunching their snout in contempt. What should be the best of their kind was laid low. So weak... One of the Beowolves blew air out their nose at the corpse. He's not worth their time.
A clawed hand grabbed the disrespectful cur by the mask and began squeezing. The constricted Beowolf screamed in shock before whining like a dog in pain as its mask slowly cracked. With little effort, the supposed dead body of the alpha crushed the Beowolf's entire head with its massive hand. The pack took a step back before they too were torn asunder by the returned alpha.
The alpha breathed with a raging hitch. The PAIN! Its belly had been sliced open, its dark innards left in the open air. Its dark essence sizzled, turning into acrid black smoke. It limped towards a shop's window and looked at its reflection. It shook like a leaf, its pelage ruined, its ivory visage cracked. Ugly, broken...
Weak.
The beast shook with rage and let out a demonic roar as it clawed at its own ruined mask. It remembered who was responsible for all of its woes, the last words it heard seared into its mind like a white-hot brand. The beast threw a punch at its reflection, breaking the glass and shattering it into a thousand pieces. It howled at the descending moon, a haunting, dread call. The last word it heard before dying its first death.
"HOOOOOOOOPE!"
Guns blazed and shell casing hailed to the floor, the Atlan troopers laid down hatred upon the Grimms with extreme prejudice. The Grimms were helpless as Huntsmen and soldiers joined forces to rout and eradicate the menace. And it came at an opportune time as Glynda Goodwitch finally closed the breach.
Her brow was drenched in sweat and she felt like she was about to keel over in exhaustion any second. But she couldn't finish her job, not yet. A trio of soldiers were sent into the breach to set up incendiary bombs in the infested tunnels. It had taken longer for them to start due to Oobleck needing evacuation, which unfortunately had cost them a few more innocent lives. To fall here would be to waste their death.
And Glynda refused to allow that to happen.
With a scream of pain, she held the final chunk of asphalt needed to close the breach above where it needed to go. Her aura blazed like a wildfire as her semblance locked it in mid-air. She did not close it just yet, as they needed to purge the tunnels before finalizing the repairs. She waited, feeling something warm drip from her nose. She gnashed her teeth as her brain felt like it caught fire. Suddenly, Two of the Atlan soldiers climbed out the hole looking like they were thrown into a wood chipper. The third was nowhere to be seen.
"CLOSE IT!" One of them screamed before coughing blood and collapsing.
Glynda didn't have to be told that twice. With a yell of effort, she placed the final piece of the road down, closing the breach.
"Send it!" The collapsed soldier ordered his companion from the ground.
With a nod, the other soldier took out a detonator and squeezed the trigger. The ground shook violently as a purging charge cleansed the tunnels in flames. The foundations would be scorched but otherwise intact while the Grimms cook like turkeys in a stone oven. A fittingly grim end for the dark menace.
Glynda fell back, her legs failing her. She panted heavily as she laid on the ground. It was over... She touched her nose to find out what had been dripping. Was it blood? Had she really gone that far? The viscosity had immediately told her that no, it was just snot. She groaned in embarrassment, picking a handkerchief from her pocket and blowing her nose. She can't let people see her like this. That would be so improper!
R**Y and JNPR sat on the sidewalk as people buzzed about like bees. The day was won and the crisis was over. But at a grave cost. Ten civilians and one Atlan soldier had lost their lives in the pandemonium. Many, many more civilians were injured but otherwise alive. Some were in critical condition but most were just shaken by the sudden assault on their ordinary lives. Ruby looked as the girl whose father sacrificed himself to protect wept into one of her relative's arms. She gripped her collar as her chest tightened.
Her friends were in one piece, for the most part. Jaune took a hit to the head while covering Nora and Nora herself bit off more than she could chew, earning herself a nice scar on her lower back. Not that she cared, she had fun and if anything, the scar made her feel more badass. Her team wasn't much better, with Yang being the worse off. Bruised and battered, Yang was napping while wrapped in Ruby's warm cloak, snoring like a baby. The Grimms completely ruined her clothes and with how little she usually wears, she had to borrow Ruby's cape to avoid letting it all hang out. At least she still had her hotpants... Weiss and Blake meanwhile were busy giving their reports to Goodwitch but were mostly unharmed if exhausted. Ruby herself felt like she could sleep for a week...
Oobleck was in critical condition but he was in safe hands. Thank the gods for that.
Glynda sat on a bench drinking from a bottle of water. She was talking to a bunch of Huntsmen about what to do now. So far, clean up the remaining Grimms and see if they find any other survivors or at worst, their bodies.
Ruby scanned the crowd to find her teammates and found them wearing anxious frowns.
"Still nothing?" Ruby asked, joining them in their woeful mood.
The noises woke the atomic blond from her slumber, groaning tiredly.
"Did I miss 'nything?"
The monochrome duo shook their head.
"No one has seen Anon," Blake explained quietly, worried out of her mind. "We asked as many people as we could and no one knows where he could be."
The group hung their heads down. People got hurt and died, could Hope have... No, Ruby shook her head, refusing to accept that possibility.
"We need to find him!" Ruby declared. "He was with us, he can't be that far!"
The rest of her team gave an affirming nod and they dashed off.
...
Fifteen minutes have passed and the only trail they found was the remains of a fight. A battered trash can, a bent pipe, torn bloody clothes and at least two pools of blood. Blake picked the cloth, inspecting it with unease. The texture was familiar, she remembered the day Hope "took care" of her, the soft and well-maintained feeling of his shirt still vivid on her skin. The smell of his sweat and cologne, so sweet yet masculine, mingled with the complex and heavy smell of cigar smoke.
Tarnished with metallic and sour blood.
Her hands began shaking nervously.
"Hope was here." She announced. "He..."
The blood pools. Blake stared at the voluminous amount of fluid and paled. If this was Hope's, he was in terrible shape. The girls immediately understood why their feline teammate had gone silent.
"We need to move!" Weiss yelled.
"Look!" Yang exclaimed.
She pointed at a trail of blood going down the road. If the inconsistent dribbling was an indicator, then he limped a fair bit down.
"Hope must have gone that way!" Yang continued before going into a sprint, following the trail.
The others quickly caught up to their team's bruiser. Going down the streets and turning a corner led them to a shocking scene. Corpses everywhere, Grimms dissipating as their chests had been gouged out or their heads torn from their torsos. The group shook out of their shock as they hear a yell. At a small bus stop was a Faunus woman holding a young boy as a Grimm limped towards them. The Beowolf had its arm torn off and its lower jaw was split in half.
"Mister!" The woman yelled. "One's here!"
A furious war cry left an alley, resembling the cry of a savage animal more so than a man. A Grimm's mangled corpse tumbled head over rear out of the alley. Its head was split in half lengthways, its tongue lolling out of both sides of its mouth. Out of the alley burst out a figure from out of a nightmare, a mangled man clad in torn clothes and drenched in blood. The Grimm hadn't had the chance to reach the siblings before the man punched it in the face with such force that its mask cracked, earning a sickening crack. The monster flew back with a yelp and began crawling away. the man's hands shook with unrestrained wrath, the demon-like scowl animating his bright blue eyes.
"That's it?!" He raged, his voice raspy from screaming like a lunatic. "This? This is what your kind calls RAGE?!"
He spat, a bloody chunk landing in the ground.
"WORTHLESS!" He screamed as he stomped over to the Grimm.
The girl stared flabbergasted. They recognized the man's voice, shot as it was. Ruby was the first to utter his name questioningly.
"Anon?"
The Grimm whimpered as it tried crawling away before Hope's foot fell on its back. Anon mounted the monster's back, His vice-like grip locking around its mask.
"Let me show you what RAGE is, you worthless sack of shit!"
The Beowolf struggled, screaming manically like a tortured animal as Hope ripped its mask off of its head. Liquid darkness spewed out of the resulting cavity like a geyser, the Grimm's limbs quaking stiffly before going limp. Hope stumbled off his enemy's corpse, spewing blasphemies feverishly.
"A worthless beast from a worthless god!" he ranted. "IS THIS ALL YOU HAVE YOU HAVE, OH LORD OF SHADES? YOU TALENTLESS FUCKEN SHITTER!"
He heard a growl and his eyes darted to the source. The Ursa took one look at this absolute blood-drenched freak, whom it saw tear its brethren apart, and immediately lumbered off in a sprint. Almost ferally, Hope hit the ground running in a hunched charge, using his off and to almost gallop. He leaped into the air once he was close enough to the Ursa and slashed at its spine. The bear screamed in pain and fell to the floor. Hope stuck in and jumped on the Grimm's neck, slashing with wild abandon. Shatterslash sang with every swing, its choir growing more ecstatic with each flesh rending hit. The beast finally went silent but Hope kept chopping. He discarded his blade and dug his hand's into the gory wound. With a victorious grunt, Hope tore the beast's head off with his bare hand. He tossed the head aside contemptuously before sliding off and collapsing to the side.
Suffering was something that he had come to know very well. The adrenaline could only do so much. He felt his consciousness slip but before he would allow himself to go into the inky blackness, he would drag his broken body to those that waited for him.
Those he said he would protect.
He pushed himself to his knees, slipping a few times from blood-slicked hands. He heard running steps approaching and smiled. Even still, he forced himself upright and staggered to the bud stop. His feet dragged and with a singular snag, he tripped. The snake girl rushed out and held him as he fell into her arms.
"Mister!" She sobbed with horrified eyes.
Hope chuckled.
"Are you ok, miss?" He asked weakly.
"Y-yes." Her breathing quickened and tears began appearing in the corner of her eyes. "Oh my gods. Oh my gods!"
Hope moved a lock of hair away from her face and wiped away her tears. The girl's brother ran to join them.
"Don't cry... You're safe..." He said quietly. "Is your brother safe?"
She sniffed hard and nodded, her brother similarly beside himself that his saviour was at death's door.
"Yes, I-I'm safe too mister! Thank you!"
Hope smiled kindly.
"Good..."
The steps quickened. He could make out the familiar sound of heels. He felt too tired to turn his head but in a way, he knew who it was.
"HOPE!" Some familiar voices screeched.
Someone slid next to him and shakily supported his head. Anon smiled when he saw Ruby's beautiful silver eyes. His head swivelled, revealing to him that the whole team was there. They all looked mortified for obvious reasons. Ruby looked like she was on the verge of tears and the rest weren't too far behind.
"It's good to see you guys." He said softly.
His head swivelled to the siblings.
"You guys are in good hands... Stay close to them..."
Hope's eyelids became heavier and heavier. Everyone kept talking but their voice became more and more distant. He could make out that the siblings and Ruby began crying.
"They'll... Keep you..." He exhaled. "Safe..."
The darkness came to claim him as he finally let his consciousness slip.
Machines whirred silently, beeping occasionally. The white room and the smell of disinfectant betrayed the identity of the hospital room. The room was minimally decorated with a bed, a ton of medical equipment and a small table with two chairs facing a large window. A doctor and his trusted nurse were busy checking up on their patient, made all the easier with the top-of-the-line medical machines intended for focused intensive care. And the current resident desperately needed said care.
Hope was covered head to toe in bandages, even his head was partially bandaged up. His breathing often hitched but was otherwise regular. His wrist's bones had snapped and his ribs had similarly cracked. The flesh on his arms and torso were also badly damaged, some of it was hanging by the bone even. He had lost nearly a third of his blood, having just enough to not lose his life. A corpse he resembled, yet his still-beating heart disproved his appearance.
Ruby blinked slowly as she peered into Anon's room, her eyes puffy with red edges. She kept checking the heartbeat sensor every other moment, almost afraid to hear it drone instead of beep. Weiss was busy chewing on her thumb's nail, her own anxiety coming to the surface. It wasn't every day that Hope got hurt but every time, he found a way to get in worse shape. First the docks, then Highway 17 and now this. Incorrigible... Blake leaned against one of the hall's walls, tapping on her arm anxiously and waiting for the doctor to come out and tell them that everything would be fine. Yang sat on the floor dejectedly, her mind busied with the night's events. She knew Hope was tough, but this was... Unbelievable. Hope went on a rampage and still got out alive if severely injured. Despite his grim state, she couldn't help but admire her friend.
The door finally opened, alerting the Huntswomen Team. They gathered around the medical professional, invading his personal space. They all looked at him expectantly, silently begging for him to tell them good news. Any good news. The doctor looked back inside the room with an uncomfortable, cringing grimace.
"It's..." He sighed sadly. "I'm not going to mince words, ladies. It's bad."
Their hearts fell.
"How bad?" Blake dared to ask, afraid of the answer.
"The external damage alone is shocking enough as it is, but considering the blood loss and the fact that some of his wounds reached the bones..."
The doctor inhaled deeply.
"But what worries us the most is the complete lack of Aura." He explained "Even with an Aura, I wouldn't recommend him leaving the hospital for at least six months. But without it? It'd take a miracle for him to fully heal."
The doctor shook his head grimly.
"If he's lucky, he'll be able to leave the hospital with supervision in a year. It's sad to say, but I doubt that he'll ever make a full recovery. His huntsman career is basically over, I'm afraid."
Cinder stared neutrally at a scroll in a lightless room. In front of her was a small table covered with strange objects, each of them emanating a strange sensation. Most of them were Grimm in origins such as a pouch of ground-up Grimm bones and a vial of Grimm Essence. Strangest of all was a sphere of pure obsidian. She muttered a soft incantation as she began her dark work. She uncorked the vial and let the essence meld with the bone dust. The mixture began moving, a twitch turning into a fluid swipe. The mass moved towards the sphere and began covering it like ferrofluid to a magnet. Cracking sounds reverted throughout the room as the mass penetrated the sphere. The ball went silent before glowing an ominous red, illuminating the room with a blood-tinged glow. A ghost-like pale figure clad in black smoke appeared within the ball. Her features were unreadable as if her face was distorted from the smoke. Cinder groaned in annoyance.
"This third-rate obsidian is driving me insane."
The figure hummed serenely.
"To make due with what you have available is a sign of craftiness, Cinder my dear."
The half-maiden closed one eye nervously.
"I understand that, my mistress. It's just that I would prefer to have better materials."
"It is ultimately of no consequence." The figure reassured. "I assume you have something to tell me."
Cinder exhaled then inhaled.
"Yes, your dark majesty. The plan has... Gone awry."
The figure stood silently but although she couldn't see them, Cinder was certain that her mistress was glowering down on her with scrutinizing anger.
"Explain. But do not make excuses."
Cinder swallowed the lump in her throat. Well, there goes the idea of blaming Roman.
"Our operations have been uncovered."
The figure remained silent but motioned her to continue.
"A group of students came upon our centre of operations."
"Have they stopped it?"
Cinder smiled.
"No, my mistress. However, the plan has not come to the wanted outcome."
"How so?"
"The Horde was smaller due to some of the carts not having been loaded. And instead of creating a breach at the centre of the city, it instead created one in the commercial district during down hours."
The figure's chilling silence returned.
"Although the plan has partially failed," Cinder continued. "It had the desired effect for the most part, if ahead of schedule."
The figure nodded slowly.
"I see. And... Ozpin?"
Cinder let a grin slip.
"The old fool has been demoted due to mounting frustrations from both the Vale Council and Ironwood."
The figure tilted her head.
"The tinman is rebelling?"
"Unfortunately, no. But something, or rather someone, has inspired him to be more... Proactive."
The figure held her hand to her chin.
"And this someone?"
"A mere interloper, your highness. But worry not, I'll deal with him personally."
The figure nodded.
"So be it. But remember Cinder: Do not let your eagerness spoil our designs. We are so close to ending Ozpin's reign of light and bringing forth my age of darkness. We cannot allow the plan to fail at this stage."
Cinder fell to a knee, her head bowed reverentially.
"Of course. I will not fail your expectations, Lady Salem."
Roman eyed his surroundings apprehensively. So this is where he'll die... The imposing figure of general Ironwood and his soldiers didn't help the creeping dread that was making its home in his head. He certainly looked off from all the TV appearances. He looked... kind of pleased, despite the dour frown on his face.
"Something good happened?" Torchwick asked, less out of curiosity and more to get his mind off of Hope's revelations. "Or are you always this hiddenly satisfied?"
Ironwood's blinked before hardening his features.
"That is not for you to know, scum."
Roman glanced up from his seat, unimpressed.
"If you're going to do the whole song and dance, please spare me it." The criminal sighed. "I... I really don't want to deal with that now."
Ironwood had heard many things about Roman Torchwick. That he was a cunning criminal with a taste for theatrics. But the man sat by him looked far grimmer and more afraid than his boisterous and flamboyant reputation let on.
"So be it," Ironwood said. "But I have some questions."
The tired criminal sighed again.
"I gathered."
The general noticed that Roman's eyes kept wandering anxiously, like there was a hidden threat in some unseen corner of the supercarrier. Ironwood kept that fact in mind.
"Why are you so nervous? If it is retaliation you're afraid off, know that my men aren't going to do anything to you lest you do something to give them cause."
The criminal shook his head.
"It's not your toy soldiers that I'm afraid off, tin man."
"Then what is it?"
Roman leaned forward, eyeing the flanking soldiers suspiciously. Ironwood, getting the silent message, motioned for his men to leave. His soldiers saluted before leaving the room and closing the door behind them. Ironwood glanced at the ever so slightly less stressed Roman.
"So?"
Roman slouched in his seat lazily.
"I don't know what to think anymore," Roman admitted. "I thought I could get ahead but..."
Ironwood's frown deepened.
"Speak clearly."
"...Your little seer's predictions came true."
The general's brow curved curiously.
"Everything that he said would happen has happened so far. And now I'm sitting in what might as well be my damned tomb."
Roman held himself with a slight shake like a scared child.
"Fate's a cruel bitch, I learned that young. I thought I could ride it out, but now? I'm stuck between doing what my boss wants and dying, Or try and avoid my fate. But if I do that, what stops her from coming back for me?"
Ironwood's surprise was in itself unsurprising. The fearless Roman Torchwick was shaking like a leaf in the wind. All because of Hope. Ironwood's fascination with the displaced seer grew with every revelation. The criminal let out a shaky breath.
"General... Could you... Could you please leave me be? I need... I need to be alone."
The politeness was shocking in how out of character it was. Ironwood hesitated but ended up nodding, turning to leave.
"If you need anything, just knock on the door. My men will answer."
Roman nodded docilely before staring at the ground. Ironwood stared for a scant moment longer before leaving the room. Roman was now alone in his cell. His grey, cold, lonely steel room. His future tomb. Roman looked up at the metallic ceiling.
"Fate's a bitch... Ain't she..." He smacked his lips in disgust. "Even the air's metallic!"
Fate cast down judgement on him and he knew his future. But he remembered what Hope told him.
"I can help you. I can save you."
Roman chuckled dryly.
"Will you? After everything, I've done to you? I doubt you're that kind, Hero."
But he thought about it. Could Hope save him from his grim future? Could he really make that gambit? He'll just have to wait and see.
Another pained breath hitched out of Hope's throat. With a gasp, Hope's eyes bulged open and shot up into his seat. He gasped again as agony took over him. He clutched his sides while clamping down on the hospital bed's bar. He looked around in confusion.
Where? A... A Hospital?
He groaned before laying back down.
"I'm... I'm in a hospital..." He sighed. "Looks like I'm still alive. Somehow..."
He looked at the IV drip linked to his arm and the many medical machined he was hooked up to. He swallowed, feeling yet another intrusive rubber hose going down his gullet and through his nose. As well as a tube that was connected to somewhere... Uncomfortable. Hope methodically removed said tube along with the one going through his nose. He let out a relieved breath, only interrupted by the sound of something tapping against glass. Hope looked to the outside window. A certain person hanging from the other side of the window.
His late-night visitor was an older woman, maybe in her very late thirties. Despite her apparent age, she was still quite beautiful. The woman was the spitting image of her daughter, from her long wild locks that reached behind her knees to her curvaceous body. The main differences being her unkempt raven hair and her violent red eyes. Both exuded a savage kind of appeal akin to a beautiful barbarian who would be just as likely to kill you as she would ravage you. Wearing black and red, the woman exuded the same dangerous aura that her bone-white mask inspired.
Hope blinked at her unexpected appearance.
Why the fuck are you here?
He shook his head, already knowing why.
More fucking changes coming down the pipeline. Sigh, let's get this over with.
Hope waved her in lazily. The woman nodded, her expression hidden behind the mask. She opened the outside window and entered the room, her silent steps making nary a sound. The mark of a veteran huntress of both animals and monsters. She stood next to his bed, looming over him like a herald of death. Despite her intimidating appearance, her eyes were... Unfittingly kind.
"Raven." Hope greeted with a slow nod. "If you can find a chair, you're welcome to sit down."
The bandit queen nodded politely, taking one of the chairs away from the table to be at Hope's sides. She crossed her leg, poised like the properly raised child of a noble that she absolutely isn't. She took off the mask, revealing a mature beauty, and set it against the window. She looked at him intently before taking out of her pocket a pack of trail mix. She absentmindedly chewed on its content before offering some to her wounded companion. Hope declined with a wave of his hand.
"I don't know how long I've been here." He rasped out, his throat feeling somehow both congested with phlegm and uncomfortably dry. "I'd rather avoid refeeding syndrome."
Raven shrugged. More for her, I guess.
"You've been here for a few days." She explained with an uncharacteristically gentle voice. "You're wise to refuse."
"It's the gesture that counts anyways."
"Yup." She said mid-chew.
The silence was surprisingly comfortable, soothing almost. But Hope's curiosity couldn't be held back.
"I don't assume that you revealed yourself just to check up on me."
Raven finished the bag before stuffing it in her pocket.
"Indeed I haven't. Otherwise, I would have stayed as a bird."
Hope hummed affirmingly.
"Did you talk to Yang?" Hope asked.
The bandit queen looked down, casting her melancholic gaze to the floor.
"I... Have no reasons too."
"She's your daughter."
A bitter smile spread across her face.
"No. I don't have the right to call her that." Her smile turned regretful. "Summer stepped up when I couldn't..."
Hope's heart tightened in his chest. Looks like this Raven is not the Raven he knows.
Just like Adam...
"I'm sorry." He apologized remorsefully. "I shouldn't have said that."
Raven sniffed and let out a sober breath. She smiled softly
"Apology accepted, Anon Hope." Her smile disappeared. "But, as I said before; I didn't come here just to chat."
"What do you want then?"
"I have a few questions, mostly. Like how come you knew I was the bird back at the park?"
"I didn't," Hope admitted. "It was a fifty-fifty shot of it being either you or Qrow. Either would have worked."
"Which brings me to my second question: How come you know of us? Ozpin wouldn't have revealed this to you with how long you've been working with him."
Hope scoffed.
"More like worked in spite of him." His angry expression softened. "But to answer your question... I have knowledge of many people and events that have both occurred and have yet to occur."
"A seer?" Raven guessed.
Hope smiled blankly.
"Something like that."
"I see."
Raven held her chin thoughtfully, her eyes searching the void in front of her. She nodded to herself, having come to a decision.
"Anon Hope. I have a favour to ask."
Hope looked at her dubiously.
"What is it?"
"I need help. Help that only someone with your kind of insight can offer."
Hope stared at Raven blankly. The bandit queen needed the help of a complete stranger? He needed more info
"Why are you so ready to trust me?"
"Because Yang is a good judge of character." She answered immediately. "I've watched as the two of you worked together, worked out together, played together. The banter, The jokes and all the things you've helped her with. I've seen the way she looks at you with eyes full of trust and admiration. Yang is a hard girl to impress with a strong character, yet you've managed to go above and beyond her expectations."
Raven talked about her daughter with such pride and love that Hope couldn't help but feel endeared.
"If Yang trusts you, I trust you." Raven finished.
Hope had this big smile on his face.
"You really love her, don't you?"
The bandit queen looked away to hide her blush.
"I'm only stating facts." She said, a slight tinge of embarrassment to her explanation.
Hope let out a strained chuckle As Raven tried to hide her face harder.
"Ok then, Raven..."
Raven looked back at Hope. The seer looked into her eyes, his own orbs focused and full of determination.
"What can do for you?"
V2E15: END!
VOLUME 2: COMPLETED!
NEXT ON PLAYLIST: V3E1 - COMING SOON!