Thank you for the support
Now onto the fifth instalment of Praetorian Of Remnant.
Segmentum Solar
Sol System
101.42M
Imperial Palace
The Emperor sat upon his divine throne was healing, slowly, unimaginably so but the signs were showing. His skin was becoming less pale and the Custodes could clearly see scabs forming, he would one day return to the Imperium. Even the very planet could feel the shift and for the first time in millennia, a plant was growing on Terra. Defying all odds a plant was growing out of this Emperor blessed planet.
The world wasn't as grim as it used to be, more and more of the billions were voluntarily signing up to join the Astra Militarum and Imperial Navy giving it much-needed space.
However, this shift in demeanour was also felt by the Lord Commander of the Imperium, Roboute Guilliman. He was standing in the war council room, alone. His mighty form occupied a considerable portion of the room. His blue armour adorned with a plethora of symbols and artistic features. His head not being covered, revealing a stern face with short platinum blond hair, his blue eyes showing uncertainty and slight worry.
It concerned him greatly. What could possibly cause this change, he wondered if it was a false blessing by the Ruinous powers. However, how could a false blessing reach Terra? It was simply impossible, he racked his mind for a reason, a hint of logic. Well knowing the grimdark reality there wasn't much logic but still.
However, he then remembered the Imperial Fists that went out on a crusade, strange. The Imperial Fists, the mighty defenders of the Throneworld, of Holy Terra, sending out a company of space marines along with three Strike cruisers out of nowhere. It was suspicious, 'Gregor Dessian and I will have to speak.' He thought, he had to keep this Imperium together, he didn't need any surprises on top of it.
Beacon Academy
Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, was overlooking the city of Vale. It was a gorgeous view, the sun reflecting on the buildings. He was still in his armour, whilst bolter and chainsword were strapped onto his hips. No one was awake at the moment, all still sound asleep, well as far as he knew.
What he didn't know was that there was a dusty old crow looking at him from a tree and a certain headmaster looking through cameras. Those two were attempting to analyze his very being but failing miserably.
It was about 6:45 am, 'forty-five minutes before a Primarch has to attend schola classes, Perturabo would be having a field day.' Rogal thought he found it funny, he had survived thousands of years worth of battles but he was going to a schola.
'At least I know my sons are coming, I haven't seen them in years. I will bring this world into the Imperial fold before I depart. It will be the capital of the veiled region and a new world to get recruits from. However, it will most likely be a forge world due to the dust here. The Emperor knows the Adeptus mechanicus will find a way to bring this dust off-world and it will still be functional. Huh, maybe I'll grant them bases in Vacuo and Mistral. Yes, that will suffice for now.' He thought, planning the planet's distribution.
Rogal stepped back from the railing and began to walk back to the schola, his face bearing a scowl as it has done for millennia.
He walked to the changing rooms and put as much of his armour as he could into the locker and changed into his school uniform. He grabbed his books and all that he needed for the day and walked to his first class. He sat down and waited, he hoped the day would pass quickly, soon enough it did.
Unknown to team RWBY, throughout the day Rogal was thinking about them. He had all his implants returned, well except the progenoid gland, he couldn't find it. However, it also meant that he had gotten his Immortis gland back and now he would outlive the girls he adored. It brought a frown to his face and made him furious, he kept it inside but he did that with almost all his emotions.
However, this truly bothered him, whenever he saw the girl, the girl that brightened his day, the one that made him feel something in his heart. Something warm, was this love? He hoped so because they say that love is eternal.
Rogal passed through the day as if he was a robot, everything was spaced out to him, he wrote down notes automatically. He said hello and all but it was as if his mind, his emotions, weren't there. For everyone else around him, he looked like a robot and nothing short of it. He also looked a lot taller and a lot more muscular for some reason.
It scared some people, specifically his teammates, that girl he saved from Cardin and Cardin and the rest of his team. However, they tried not to push him or question him about it and decided he just needed space. However, things changed when they got to 's class, combat class.
Glynda had no idea what was going on with Eran, she was slightly concerned, her student looked absolutely out of place. He was also noticeably taller and more muscular and had this look on his face that never left his face once. What he did to be in the state he was in now she didn't know, she did, however, know that whatever this was, it wasn't healthy.
She was considering putting him off for today but those plans came tumbling down when his name showed up on the screen as well as her name? Just as she was about to reload the selection app, she was interrupted by Ozpin's voice that came from the speakers on the ceiling. "Ladies and gentleman, I have sanctioned a dispute between a teacher and student. This is a one-time thing, I simply wish to view how much has improved since his enrollment in our school."
Rogal was already heading to the changing area, every step making tremors, whilst the gazes of team RWBY just grew in worry for their teammate.
With Rogal
He continued to ponder his thoughts while he put on his armour and inspected his weapons once more. He knew he wasn't acting as he would normally with the girls but every time they called him Eran, it made him more and more guilty that he wasn't telling them the truth. Sadly he would have to live with it.
Rogal knew he would have to tell them about who he truly was but wouldn't they just call him crazy or something along those lines? He didn't have proof, well until his sons got here but he didn't know how long it would take. He just hoped they would get here sooner rather than later.
The Primarch needed to figure out what to do about them, but he pushed the thoughts out of his head and proceeded to get out of the changing room and go to the amphitheatre.
Back with Team RWBY
The class waited for a few minutes in silence until they started to hear tremors and the ground vibrating slightly. Students were growing nervous but a door opened to reveal Eran in golden armour fit for a tank and menacing new weapons strapped onto his hips. Many gasped at the intricateness and detail both the armour and weapons had, they were gorgeous in their own way. Alongside everyone else team RWBY were all looking on in awe at the new weapons and armour and for the first time in a long time, Glynda Goodwitch was slightly apprehensive.
However it wasn't the armour, the weapons, it was his face that made her apprehensive. He had a slight frown on his lips but his eyes showed nothing, no feeling, no hesitance. It was a cold blizzard that sent ripples through her spine and made her knees weaken just slightly, in fear.
Glynda handed the tablet to Pyrrha and told her to count down to zero.
The class was anxious to see this battle but before Pyrrha could begin counting, Rogal pulled out Storm's Teeth and revved it. Its teeth cutting through the air and making the class rub their sides in anxiety and slight fear. When Pyrrha started to count Rogal stopped revving it, holstered it in preference to his bolter and allowed Pyrrha to speak.
"Three." She said the class was anxious as could be to what would follow.
"Two." It felt like an eternity everyone, even Ozpin sat at the edges of his seat.
"One." Glynda and Rogal got into their respective stances and looked each other in the eyes, it was obvious that Glynda was wavering slightly when looking into Rogal's eyes but there was something off about them. They weren't meant for a teen, they were meant for a war veteran, a war veteran who was itching for more.
"Zero," Pyrrha spoke and the class didn't have to wait anymore for the fight.
Glynda knew she would be on the defensive and immediately conjured up a storm above herself and Rogal. Hurling shards of ice at Rogal, who didn't even seem fazed. He allowed the shards to hit him as he walked to Glynda, hitting any that would hit his head with a flick of his hands.
He created his Death Stalker behind him without even looking or giving any sign of difficulty. Not even his aura bar moved.
Besides the glyph that he created, he made another, an Ursa, an Ursa major. He stopped walking and merely lifted his hand in a signal for his glyphs to charge. They followed his orders, like soldiers they charged with no hesitation, not batting an eye at the incoming shards. The Death Stalker went in for the kill and Glynda jumped out of the way, dodging the strike easily as she had before. Until the Ursa smacked her with his paw sending her flying through the air and onto the ground.
She immediately got up and used her telekinesis to bring up both glyphs and throw them away. What she hadn't been paying too much attention to was, where was her student.
Glynda's questions were answered when she felt a foot slam into her back and make her aura level deplete significantly from a hundred percent to ninety.
When she turned back to face him she was looking into the barrel of his gun and with no hesitation, Rogal fired it. She swore she saw her the bullet pass slowly through the chamber, luckily enough her aura took the damage and brought her down to sixty-five percent. She jumped back, facing Rogal who had holstered his gun and brought out his sword, before she felt the Death Stalker's stinger attempt to pierce straight through her back, slamming her into the floor.
She groaned in pain, her aura was now at forty-five percent. She once more jumped back and lifted the Death Stalker and threw it at Rogal whilst levitating the Ursa.
Only to see Rogal dodge it and jump at her with impossible speed driving his chainsword into her side. She dodged but Rogal was still on her, his hyper-aggressive fighting style helping him.
This broke her concentration on his glyphs and allowed them to enter the fray once more. However, Rogal ordered them to stay behind him and allow him to battle.
Glynda dodged another one of his attacks, she would have used her telekinesis but she didn't even have time to point her riding crop. One misstep would more than likely ruin her chances at winning and that is exactly what she did. She suffered for it, Rogal immediately took advantage of her mistake and used his chainsword to make another slash at her. Of which would have killed her had she not had aura.
She was on the ground, Pyrrha still hadn't called the match. Glynda was about to try to get up again before an armoured foot was planted on her abdomen and the whirring teeth of the chainsword were right beside her eyes. She could feel the metal dancing on her skin, she looked once more at the eyes of her student and she saw the absolute absence of emotion. No sadness, no regret, not even a hint of hesitation and for the first time in a long time. It was nothing but a freezing blizzard, eyes cold as the void that was space, no, colder and for the first time she was truly afraid.
Luckily for her, she wouldn't have to stare into those eyes for any longer when Pyrrha called the match.
Rogal turned off the chainsword, holstered it, took his foot off his teacher, dematerialized his glyphs and walked away. All this while the bell rang signifying the ending of school.
With Team RWBY
When team RWBY saw Eran's name pop up alongside 's, they immediately knew something was going on.
First, Eran was acting weird, he didn't speak, he didn't smile, he didn't act like himself. It made them uncomfortable, it was different seeing him like this, but they left it alone, they thought it was another PTSD attack he had during the night. So they left him alone, as much as it pained them to do so.
Secondly, they all knew Eran was tall but it looked like he grew a foot overnight along with larger amounts of muscle! Well Yang were complaining and it didn't stop Blake from having filthy images pop into her mind, but it still concerned the entire team.
Whilst they were waiting for Eran to get out of the changing area they suddenly heard tremors coming from one the entrances of the amphitheatre. It grew louder and louder until the doors opened to reveal Eran. There were gasps at the golden armour and new weapons strapped to his hips in awe and fear.
Yang looked towards Ruby slightly worried she would jump out of her seat and rush Eran to get a look of his armour and weapons. Well, Yang couldn't say she didn't want to take a look at his weapon but that was for another time.
When she turned her head to see Ruby, her sister was practically salivating at the sight. It brought a smile and chuckles from her and the rest of the team at their leader's antics. Team JNPR and the rest of the class were also looking in absolute awe at Eran's new armour and weapons.
Speaking of team JNPR, they also noticed Eran's change in demeanour and had questioned team RWBY throughout the day. To say the least they too were concerned.
When the battle was about to start they had gotten Ruby under control and after Pyrrha counted to zero they couldn't help but look in awe at Eran's ability. Even the invincible girl herself knew then and there she couldn't match up to Eran if push ever came to shove. Once the battle was over the two teams could practically feel the amount of gossip that was going to revolve around this.
However, Eran just walked off as the bell rang signifying the end of school. In an attempt to cheer Eran up they had decided to go out into the city of vale for a change. They also suspected that Eran needed some new clothes.
Rogal was merely breathing the fresh air that he had grown accustomed to, slightly missing the sounds of bolter fire, the cheers from his marines and just slightly his bouts with Leman Russ. He heard some people walking towards him, most likely his teammates, he pushed away from the thoughts he had and decided, 'I will enjoy this while it lasts.' He thought warmly as he turned around to see them.
Team RWBY caught up to Eran, he had walked to the outside of the school and was right behind the railing, behind the waterfall. It was Eran's favourite spot in Beacon. However, when they caught up to Eran, he turned his head towards them and made them smile that made Ruby and Yang's knees almost buckle. It warmed their hearts to see that smile, 'must have just been a bad dream then.' They all thought, removing the thoughts about the more distressing parts of the day away.
"Hey, Eran we're going to Vale to see the decorations for the Vytal festival, you coming?" Weiss asked her voice revealing the concern she had for Rogal's wellbeing, her eyes doing the same. To be honest, Rogal found his new sister adorable at times and this was one of them.
He simply looked at them and nodded 'yes', the rest of team RWBY had smiles growing on their faces, it seemed like the Eran they knew was back.
Afterwards, they all took an airship to Vale and started to walk around, seeing the new decorations that the people had arranged around the city. Rogal saw Weiss' smile grow, coming from ear to ear, it made him smile seeing her like this. However, he winced slightly as he knew what would come after, the seemingly endless lectures of planning and logistics. He shuddered.
As they walked through the city they caught sight of a wrecked dust shop, the dust shop Eran and Ruby had saved a few months back.
Weiss made the initial argument that it was the White Fang however even Eran didn't agree with her there. It simply made no sense, Eran proposed that it was probably the Torchwick character that Ruby and he tried to apprehend. It was a more agreeable statement and was accepted.
However Weiss still wanted to speak her part about the White Fang, she spoke about how they were a ragtag group of degenerates and heathens. Something they could agree on well except Blake that is.
"They're not heathens, they're misguided," Blake exclaimed a small fire of fury being lit in her eyes, gaining looks of disbelief from Weiss, anger from Ruby and Yang and a curious look from Rogal. "Really! They've killed thousands of innocent people, ruined hundreds of thousands of people's lives and their main goal is to wipe humanity off the face of the planet!" Weiss retaliated with fury, only to have Blake reply with, "Then they're very misguided!"
The looks of frustration, anger and disbelief Blake received were coming from her teammates made her avert her eyes. However she then felt a hand on her shoulder, a hand covered in gold armour, 'Eran!' She thought as her skin turned a shade paler, her palms started to sweat as she turned around to see Eran's face, it was blank showing no emotion. He looked straight into her eyes and started to speak, "Blake, you're not wrong." This brought looks of absolute shock from the rest of the team but before they could speak he continued.
"The White Fang are misguided, they were a peaceful operation that turned warlike, however, they are past the point of return. They are nothing but killers and maybe just maybe most of them are just looking for equality but then they're doing it incorrectly. A lot of them may just be racist, get that through your skull, the White Fang you knew is gone. Look at the reality, it's gone now you can either understand that and move on or you can deny it and live in your self-made idealistic world. Am I Understood." He spoke coldly, his tone revealing to everyone who heard that the words spoken would be the last.
Blake looked slightly reluctant but understood where they were coming from. She nodded towards Rogal half-heartedly but as they turned around and started to walk once more all of them wishing to put the conversation behind them she spoke once more. "They are misguided, not killers." She mumbled, still living her fantasy land adventure.
They continued to walk until they came upon the port of the city of Vale, a place of hustle and bustle, always moving. People moving fish, cutting fish, selling fish, buying fish, smelling like fish, it all revolved around fish. Well this area of the port at least, other areas revolved around machines, dust, etc.
However as they were walking there were constant comments about the smell coming from either Weiss, Ruby or Yang. Rogal had smelt things trillions of times worse and Blake loved every second she was here, surrounded by her favourite food. However, they had at least moved on from the previous conversation and they were now focusing solely on the Vytal Festival. It was a pleasant time.
These moments would soon be interrupted by a man shouting, 'Catch that faunus!' On a nearby ship, the faunus in question was a blond, monkey faunus. The faunus had jumped off the ship, landed momentarily and was seen hanging upside down. They could tell he was a monkey faunus due to the tail that he was currently using to hand upside down on. Plus the banana that he was about to eat sealed the deal.
A tan-skinned boy with short spiky light-blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore two red wrist bracers over black fingerless gloves and an open loose-collared white jacket with no shirt underneath, displaying his muscular physique. He also wore blue cargo pants tied up with a white belt. With white bandages on his legs and has a chain hanging from the belt loop on the right side of his pants. He also sported black and yellow sneakers and wears a twisted golden necklace around his neck.
From afar they heard the ship captain call him, 'A no good stowaway.' Only to have himself be retorted by the faunus' own words, 'Hey! A no-good stowaway would have been caught! I'm a great stowaway.'
The faunus was about to chomp down on his treat before being interrupted by the police who demanded that he come down from his upside-down position. The policeman in question only had a banana peel thrown into his face. The faunus then proceeded to laugh, twirl so that he was squatting on the lamppost and jumped away from the cops, landing and starting to run away. Being followed closely behind by the police.
Rogal saw that the faunus came up the steps and about to pass by their team to which he only rose his arm. The faunus who was too busy winking at the Primarch's team member soon found himself on the floor and semi-conscious. He had run straight into Rogal's right forearm armour with a bang that would make the loudest of bells envious. The faunus in question felt like he was just stopped by an immovable object to which he was in a sense. People had seen Rogal as an unstoppable force as well but who said he couldn't be both?
The rest of the team only winced as they knew what had happened, a painful, painful tragedy had befallen the young faunus on the floor. They could only hang their heads in resignation, knowing that this poor soul would have a plethora of aches and pains when he woke up. However that didn't stop Blake from chuckling, an event that made the rest of the team, excluding Rogal, look at her and made them replay what happened in slow motion in their minds. Soon enough they were giggling like little kids who just heard the best pun in the universe.
The police eventually apprehended him and they were walking to the Emperor knows where merely enjoying their time with each other.
Once again to have it interrupted when Rogal unknowingly bumped into someone. That someone was a young girl, who due to the momentum that he carried with him was knocked onto her behind onto the floor.
She had short, rather curly orange hair that came down to her chin with a small ahoge on top, and she wore a pink bow on the back of her head. She also had bright green eyes, light skin, and freckles. She wore a whitish-grey old-fashioned blouse with short grey feminine overalls as well as a black and green collar with a matching pair of stockings.
Rogal apologised curtly only to have his apology being responded with, 'Salutations.' Along with a friendly wave, it truly made him a bit curious about the girl, any other would have most likely called him rude for not looking or be cowering away in fear of him. However, the weirdest thing was that she did it from the ground, not bothering to get up.
Ruby proceeded to respond with a nonchalant 'hello', whilst Yang proceeded to ask if she was ok. Again the girl only responded with 'Yes, I feel amazing, thank you for asking.' The female portion of the team merely looked at each other in confusion whilst Rogal stuck his hand out for her to get up.
She readily accepted and bolted straight up, "Nice to meet you, I'm Penny." She said in a warm voice.
Recalling the moments leading up to this moment Rogal chuckled and proceeded to speak with a warm smile on his face. "I'm R-Eran, Eran Schnee." Rogal truly hoped the others had not heard him speak. 'I can't slip like that again.' He thought internally with a tone of finality.
The rest of the team proceeded to introduce themselves and were all visibly anxious to leave. All of them except Rogal, who found this meeting interesting and Ruby, who saw the now named Penny as a reflection of herself, a socially awkward young girl.
They proceeded to say farewell, Ruby having said, 'So long friend' and Rogal 'Farewell compatriot'. Those two goodbyes being the unique ones.
However, what was to come to Rogal could wholeheartedly admit he did not expect.
As they were walking, Yang brought up Penny once more, commenting about her peculiarity. However, out of nowhere, they heard someone say, "You…" They all swerved their heads to see that the voice was coming from the figure of Penny who was atop Rogal's shoulders. This brought a jealous face from Yang because this Penny character was now somewhere she had never been on Eran and Ruby, who wanted that spot all to herself.
The girl named Penny proceeded to stand on Rogal's shoulders and bend over to a below 90-degree angle so she was staring into Rogal's eyes. "You." She said before energetically turning her head her eyes drifting towards Ruby. "and you." She said
The air in the group started to get more nervous, "You called me a friend." She said before turning her head back to Rogal's eyes "And you called me compatriot. Am I that to you?"
For the first time in millennia, Rogal was stumped so he followed his gut. "Sure." Ruby following right after. This was said after their friends and in Rogal's case sister were doing several signals meaning, 'don't fuckin do it.' However, when all was said and done they fell over comically.
Then the girl who was full of surprises, surprised them, even more, when she straightened her back and jumped on Rogal's shoulders saying, "Sensational!"
She finally jumped off Rogal's shoulders and stood in front of Ruby talking about all the girl things they could do. Ruby asked if this was what she was like to Rogal when Rogal and herself first met only to be responded with the following. "Yes and no. You seemed slightly less spontaneous." The Primarch said in a slightly teasing voice which made Ruby blush.
Something that Yang didn't fail to notice, but she changed the subject back to Penny. "So, what are you doing in Vale?"
Penny responded, "I'm here to fight in the tournament." Weiss then said, "You hardly look the part." To which Blake retaliated by saying, "Says the girl in a dress." Only for Weiss to defend herself by saying, "It's a combat skirt." Ruby slid beside Weiss who held out her hand in expectation of a low five which she received from Ruby with a snap. Both of them, clearly passionate about combat skirts.
Weiss quickly went to ask her a question, "Wait if you come from a different nation do you know who the rapscallion faunus was?" Penny responded with a few words such as: what, who and huh?
However, Blake once more went to the defence of the faunus, "Stop calling him that!" What ensued was an argument that would not end, Rogal, Ruby and Yang said goodbye to Penny and left with their arguing teammates back to Beacon.
Beacon Academy
Team RWBY's Dorm Room
The two were still arguing, it was just drawing on and on, whilst the other three were having a pleasant conversation about Rogal's armour.
"You realise you are defending an organization that abhors humanity, don't you? The faunus of the White Fang are pure evil!" Weiss argued. "There is no such thing as pure evil! (AN: Sure, Grimm be like: I'm about to wreck this woman's whole career) Why do you think they hate humanity so much?! It's because of people like Cardin, people like you, that force the white fang to take drastic measures!" Blake argued
Weiss responded, "People like me?" Blake spoke back, "You're discriminatory!"
No here was the changing point in the argument, Weiss bit back, "I am a victim! My brother and I are victims! Do you want to know why I hate the White Fang? It's because of all the things they put my family through! They're going to war with us, my grandfather's company has always had a target painted across it's back. I've seen friends executed before I was ten, I've seen family friends, people I considered family executed and throughout those years Eran helped me go through with it, get things done. Then you know what, the White Fang almost killed him too! Do you have any idea what it feels like? To have a dying brother in your arms smiling at you even if he is at the brink of death? You don't!" Weiss had moved herself to the window, her speech being emotional, having tears flowing down her cheeks when she spoke about her brother's near death.
Rogal now in his pyjamas saw that his twin needed assistance and moved accordingly.
He got behind his twin and wrapped his twin in his arms as he had before, only for her to evade it and shout, "No!" Turning back to Blake, "I hate the White Fang because they're a bunch of thieves and killers!" She immediately couldn't hold back her emotion and started to cry uncontrollably, her hands being brought up to her eyes. Rogal seeing this was immediately at her side this time securely wrapping his arms around his sister kneeling to get to her eye level.
However, it seemed like Blake had one final piece to say, "Well maybe, we were just tired of being pushed around!"
The two other members of the team just sat back in shock, 'it's like a soap opera, but real life! Wow.' However they couldn't help but feel envious at Weiss being in Eran's arms, but they held back acknowledging the situation. It even brought Weiss out of her uncontrollably crying faze to semi-controlled crying faze. Everyone was staring at Blake intently, Rogal having a deep scowl on his face whilst the others stared in bewilderment.
Blake realising what she had just said, shrunk back and was about to make a run for it Rogal spoke up. "Blake, if you don't tell them now, I will."
The Veiled Region
101.42M
Strike Cruiser 'Titus'
The crusade now consisted of six Strike cruisers and a large number of space marines, Metrios thought about once more. He couldn't help but thank the Emperor for his luck.
They were currently in the war once more and about to exit it. They could see the exit, and soon enough they were out of the black and purple miasma. Once outside they saw a planet similar to that of Earth, it had large landmasses, the majority of it was covered in water. However, what caught the attention of many was the planet's moon, it was shattered.
He immediately felt the connection he had to his Primarch being the strongest it has ever been, it was suffocating. He looked on in absolute pride and joy that they had found their Primarch and he presumed that everyone on the bridge knew as well because of the look on his face. "Get me a vox-transmission to every ship in the fleet." He ordered the people on the bridge working immediately, once he received the ok he proceeded to speak.
Every Space marine was so silent it was strange, stranger than an ork who said that 'more dakka' wasn't the answer. They all listened, waiting for the words to come from their commanding officer. Soon enough his voice was heard.
"Imperial Fists and our successor chapters listen. I know you feel it in your hearts, the power of Dorn emanating from this planet, I feel it too. We will make preparations. For in the coming days we will find the Praetorian!" He spoke out giving the troops a rallying cry, they had found him! The Primarch! The Praetorian! The Vigilant! They had found Rogal Dorn!
Constructive criticisms are appreciated
Thanks for all the support I'll see you in the next chapter.
