Chapter 5: Ozpin's Origins Part 2
It had been a week since Ozpin and Jaune had made their home within the SDC mine. And as the huntsman in training went out with Clover to train and improve himself in the ways of combat; Ozpin and Ironwood along with a few key others were discussing plans to stop YandX.
However they were not the only ones making plans. Back in Atlas Willow Schnee, Robyn Hill, Cinder Fall and of course Salem; had been discussing plans to attack the SDC mine and take what they believed was rightfully theirs. Soon Ironwood, Ozma and Jaune would be theirs. However Cinder wasn't the only one after Jaune.
Already in Atlas there were three huntresses in training plotting how to find and capture the poor huntsman. Pyrrha, Yang and Ruby were growing increasingly desperate to find their lost knight. Punishment was far from their thoughts now, all they wanted, all they needed was him.
They all grumbled as they entered their hotel room. Services and businesses were just getting back on their feet and Mantle following the YandX riots. Fortunately the hotels had opened but a few days ago.
Yang collapsed on the bed, her long luscious hair falling behind her. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathed deeply, before shooting up and smashing her hand right through the wall!
The other two girls, who had collapsed on the rooms other bed and the chair, jumped in fright at their blonde's sudden violence.
"Yang! What the heck!" Ruby cried as Yang stepped back from the wall and fell onto the bed again. The blonde brawler started to sniffle, then fell into full blown crying as her half-sister and ally looked on in shock.
"I, I miss him. I miss Jaune so much, it hurts having to sit here while he and that son of a bitch Ozpin are out there! We've lost Jaune and I don't know if we could find him before some whore takes him first!" Yang screeched into the air as Ruby and Pyrrha looked towards each other.
Ruby tentatively approached Yang and slowly enveloped her older half-sister in a hug. Ruby hadn't seen Yang quite like this in a long time. Not since her own mother, Summer, had died. Pyrrha meanwhile wasn't sure of what to do so she merely hung back as Ruby held Yang.
"It will be ok Yang, we WILL find Jaune." Ruby muttered to her sister as they sat upon the bed.
Just then the door to their room was knocked upon. Pyrrha stood up and unlocked it, revealing a woman in an Atlas uniform. She was quite tall with caramel skin and a blonde and raven mohawk, she stood at attention before the door. The flag patch on her arm was different from the usual Atlas flag, a sign of the new regime.
"Is this the current living space of Pyrrha Nikos, Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao-Long?" The woman asked, to which Pyrrha turned to the half-sisters.
"Yes, that's us. Is there something you need?" Pyrrha asked. The woman smiled before pulling out a flyer and handing it to the champion. It was merely a bunch of words, of course however the words were quite important.
ATTENTION HUNTRESSES
Still trying to find the love of your life?
Why wait!
The CMAM offers the huntresses of Mantle and Atlas the chance to assist the government with the apprehension and elimination of former general Ironwood's resistance.
Those who assist CMAM will be awarded with the man of their dreams!
Stop by the nearest recruiting office for more details.
After Pyrrha had finished reading the flyer out loud to the benefit of the half-sisters she turned to them. They had come to the same conclusion as the champion did; Jaune had to be with Ironwood. After all Ozpin was seemingly friends with the man and must have decided to travel to the one spot the three of them couldn't reach on their own.
Pyrrha turned to the woman who merely smiled.
"The Prime Mistresses' daughters, Weiss and Winter Schnee, highly recommend you. Hence why I was sent here personally. We also know the man you want and not to worry, he will be yours."
Ruby squealed in delight as she shook Yang. Pyrrha and Yang also seemed quite excited, however the woman cleared her throat to catch the girls attention again.
"It seems you're quite willing to help us so I suppose I don't need to convince you anymore. Meet at these coordinates tomorrow and you will be updated on the situation."
"Thank you so much. Miss?"
"Harriet Bree, I hope to see you gals tomorrow."
With that the woman walked off leaving the three Jaune lovers shaking in anticipation.
The next day the three of them exited a bullhead and onto the Atlas Academy grounds. They were to then enter the campus auditorium and wait for further instructions. When they arrived they were surprised to see dozens of mostly young women and girls; Huntresses and huntresses in training who unfortunately weren't able to find the loves of their lives.
The stage was currently empty, as a result the crowd was conversing and socializing as they waited for someone of authority to show up. The three huntresses noticed the Atlas soldiers and guards lining the edges of the room. Their arms held behind their backs as they stood guard.
Then someone came onto the stage accompanied by two Atlas soldiers. The woman was fairly tall, with tan skin and blonde hair; While Ruby, Yang and Pyrrha had little reference to who she was, others in the crowd seemed to recognize her. Some began chanting "Robyn, Robyn, Robyn!"
The now named Robyn stepped towards the microphone while also waving her hands to signal the crowd to quiet down. When they did she cleared her throat and begun speaking.
"Welcome one and all. Now before we begin I must warn you, what we are about to do in the coming days will be dangerous. The men will unfortunately be unwilling to comply with us, so we must make them comply!"
"But that won't be easy, so we have had to turn towards someone who's interest aligns with ours. Know this huntresses' of Mantle and Atlas, if you wish to leave you may do so."
This got quite a few people confused. Were Robyn and Willow planning on working with the White Fang? The group had seriously fractured since the outbreak and the status of its many branches was unknown.
"With that mey I present, well I think I shall let her tell you herself." With that Robyn stepped away from the microphone and stepped off stage.
All at once the room became several degrees colder, darker and more sinister. The crowd and guards suddenly began to grow nervous at the sudden shift.
Abruptly the lights suddenly went out, causing an uproar from the crowd. Just just as quickly as they went off they came back on; only this time there was something standing on the stage.
A woman with bone-white complexion and crimson eyes stood before the crowd. Her midnight black dress clung to her body tightly, exposing her curves extensively.
The sudden appearance of a demonic looking woman caused a new uproar or fright to permeate within the room. But the moment the woman waved her hands to quiet the room the room did just that. Petrified with fear the crowd had little choice but to do as the woman commanded.
"Now, let me introduce myself, I am Salem. Obviously you don't know me, but myself and my subordinate will be vital to the success of the coming operation."
At that another woman stepped upon the stage, sulfur eyes partially covered by ebony hair. Dressed in a tight fitting red dress highlighted in gold. She smiled sinisterly at the crowd as Salem cleared her throat.
"This is Cinder, treat us with respect and dignity and I promise you all that everything will go according to plan. Now where were we? Oh right, when we attack you will also be accompanied by a couple hundred grimm. Now do not be alarmed, they will not attack you, nor will they seriously injure our future lovers. But do NOT attack them, otherwise even I can't stop them from lashing out upon you."
The crowd began to grow ever more nervous and anxious at these words. Ruby, Pyrrha and Yang turned towards each other and gave each other the same look. Are Willow and Robyn nuts!?
With that Salem continued, now joined by not only Cinder but Robyn and Willow as well. They went over their plan on how to breach the SDC mine, how to incapacitate and capture the men and how they were to win without a single loss on their side. That of course counted on everyone doing their parts of the plan.
Of course a few huntresses did leave, their fear of Salem overwhelming their desires of finding a man for themselves. But for those who remained their opportunity was now a reality. Pyrrha, Ruby and Yang had by now forgone their fears and had welcomed this "Salem" as an ally to their goals.
A few hours later Pyrrha, Ruby and Yang were about to leave the meeting when they were stopped by Salem's subordinate Cinder. She paid Yang and Pyrrha little mind as she focused all her attention on young Ruby. Cinder smiled with a look of knowing as she initiated the conversation.
"Hello again, you may not remember but I and my team were transferred to Beacon a few weeks before this all began. Let me just say first off it's a pleasure to see you three again. However I am not here for pleasantries unfortunately; Ruby, Salem wishes to speak with you. You caught her interest and she is interested in conversing with you."
The three weren't easily shocked, but this certainly spooked them. What does this grimm queen want with Ruby? Both thought as Ruby herself audibly gulped, meanwhile Cinder was just smiling.
"Are, are you sure I have to talk with Salem now?" Ruby asked as Cinder took a step closer to her. Cinder's heels plus her natural height allowing the pyromaniac to tower over the little silver eyed girl.
"Oh she was quite insistent on this Miss. Rose. Run along, you don't want to keep someone like Salem waiting; I will stay here with your half-sister and friend." With that Cinder shooed Ruby along as the little speedster whimpered.
Ruby walked along one of the hallways up to the headmaster/mistress office. Cinder had informed her that was where Salem had taken up command from. The logo of the Atlas Academy still showed proudly upon the doors as Ruby knocked on the doors. To which the doors snapped open with such speed Ruby thought they were going to snap off their hinges!
"Come in." A soft, but commanding, voice beckoned as Ruby stood there. She audibly gulped before entering the office of the queen of the grimm. She took a few tentative steps into the office before the doors shut behind her! Ruby squeaked as she jumped into the air.
"Are you that easily frightened my dear, now how will you be able to fight alongside my minions if you get spooked by mere doors?" A playful chuckle resonated from down the hall as the movement of a chair was heard. Ruby looked on as she saw the witch seemingly glide across the hall in her direction. Salem's haunting beauty petrified the poor huntress-in-training as the immortal smiled a knowing smile at Ruby.
"You have silver eyes." Salem muttered. Almost too quiet for poor Ruby to comprehend, as she heard the words however Ruby perked up at that.
"Yes mam, headmaster Ozpin said that too the day I met him. Is there something special about my eyes? I mean, don't lots of people have them?"
"Grey eyes dear, some people have grey eyes. Now silver, well that's quite a unique trait indeed. " With that Salem turned and started to move towards the office, she beckoned for Ruby to follow her to which she did. Eventually they ended up in the office proper and Salem sat down in the chair.
"I wished to speak with you Ruby because I know who you are after, Jaune Arc. Willow's daughter is your friend correct? She seemed quite vocal in wishing you three luck in retrieving him. You see it's quite a surprise that not only you, your half-sister and the champion are after him; but that Cinder wishes to have him for herself as well."
Ruby growled like a rabid animal when she was told Cinder wanted her Jaune. She was about to turn around and rush back to that ebony haired whore. Already imagining her surprised expression as her head is lobed off it's neck! But before she could do anything her arms and legs were gripped by an unseen force. Ruby struggled but couldn't get out of the grip!
"Salem you big meanie let me go NOW!" Ruby wailed as Salem calmly stood up once more before rounding the desk to face her.
"Now Ruby dear I know you wish to do harm upon Cinder but I won't allow that. I am willing to release you but you must be willing to share him with just one more girl. That is partially why I sent her to socialize with your partners, so she could gain their friendship and trust so they would be more likely to accept having a fourth after their love. However someone still needs to break the news of the change of plans, that's where our little chat comes into play."
With that Salem stepped forward and cupped Ruby's cheek in her hand, smiled and opened her perfect lips once more.
"Now, let's get 'down to business' as they say, shall we."