A/N: EDIT: Hey now, no need for flames and death threats. We're all here to enjoy a story.
...aren't we? T_T
This is a bit shorter than I'd like, but with all the running around I've been doing, it was damn near impossible to make it longer without rushing/forcing things.
Finally home. Leg's gotten a bit better; I'm on painkillers and I've gotten it wrapped. Bloody fracture...
Alright, here we are. I'm willing to take a stab at a second chapter, provided folks enjoy this.
Hopefully, they do. I really hope so.
*gulps*
As ever, the Embers rule Remains; sad as that may sound, its the truth. If folks don't like this story...well, it won't be continued. Most likely, I'll delete it if it comes to that. I haven't the time to write something folks don't like. Two jobs keep me terribly busy as such that I have barely any time to write.
I really can't write without feedback, sad as it sounds. Sorry to bother you...T_T
Q: I hate to be the one to ask, but how much is the timeline gonna change?
A: Yes. Why don't you read and see? Things have already changed well before his birth.
For instance, as stated by last chapter -and confirmed in the preview-Glynda's a maiden this time around, the details of which will soon be revealed. Consider this. Telekinesis coupled with Maiden powers? If you thought she was strong -and underutilized!- in canon, then you won't be disappointed here. Moreover, she's got a reason to train and grow ever stronger.
Don't mess with mama bear. You're like to get mauled.
Q: Can we get some Mama!Salem up in here? Like the one in Coeur's White Sheep?
A: Hey, I remember that one! Good times. I won't go so far as to say Salem is softer per se, but having a son has improved her mood...for now.
Q: Timeskip when?
A: Timeskip now. A few of them. We're jumping around a bit this chapter. Don't worry, their won't be too many jumps like that. Why six, you ask? That's deliberate.
Q: All the Jujutsu Kaisen references?
A: Yup. All of them. You don't HAVE to know of Jujutsu Kaisen to get them, but they'll make you laugh all the same.
Q: Will Naruto and Sasuke have Semblances in addition to all their old skills?
A: Yup, though I'll not say what up here for fear of spoiling things. Of course it helps that Ozpin literally gave Naruto some of his magic when he was (re)born
Q: Don't ruin the teams, plz!
A: Rest assured when initiation comes -not this chapter!- you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Alright, I've kept you long enough.
As ever, I own no references, themes, or memes.
And with that said...heeeeere we go! Hope this makes you smile.
As stated last chapter, "Domain" by Divide Music plays well into the next chapter.
"Nonsense, Glynda. He's only a baby. He can't possibly understand us...
'Yeah, about that. I understood every word. Every last bit.'
...why is he smiling?"
~?
Hush Little Baby
Ozpin had experienced many a warcry in his heyday.
Terrible noises to chill bone and boil blood alike. Shrieks that shattered your soul. Wails that would rend your heart. He'd heard and seen it all; lived as both soldier and poet and king alike. There had even been that brief stint when he'd ruled Vale's criminal underworld to great effect-no, no, he was getting distracted. Distractions wouldn't do.
"Is that him?! Oh! He's soooo adorable!"
Because now, Summer Rose was upon them. Or Naruto, rather. Ozpin froze at the door, not quite sure what to do until she ushered them over the threshold and out the cold. He let himself be led, trying to ignore Glynda's bemused smile as Summer cooed over the infant in her arms. Truly, he had no one to blame for his fiasco but himself. More fool he, keeping Naruto away this long, thinking she wouldn't want to see him.
"Come in, come in!" Summer ushered them over to a couch and all but pushed them into it. "Lets get you out of the cold. Can I get you anything? Tea? Cakes?"
"Tea, please." Glynda smiled softly as she sat.
Ozpin shrugged. "Water would be nice."
Their host chirruped happily.
"Coming right up!"
Ozpin chortled but a little as she darted into the kitchen. The Rose and Xiao-long home was much as he remembered it from his last visit; not quite clean, but not entirely messy, either. Well-loved, that was the word. Family photos rested above the mantle and a burning hearth, painting the room itself stood painted in soothing colors. It was every bit the retreat one might expect for hunters starting a family. Peaceful, even. He felt quite at his ease and this wasn't even his abode. But he couldn't lower his guard. Not fully.
It simply wasn't safe here in Patch; not truly, not when Salem knew of Summer.
He would try to impress upon her the safety of Vale once again. They couldn't lose her, too.
Glynda must've seen the frowned lingering on his lips; because she melted into his side and laid her head against is shoulder. "Something wrong?"
"Merely planning for the future." He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Naruto burbled in her arms. It almost sounded like a noise of sympathy.
In many ways Smmer was every bit the bright-eyed girl from Beacon. At least to him. Older and wiser perhaps, but still. At his age, it was so easy to see her as such -to pain many with the same brush- but in truth, that was his own doing. Glynda had stood out in that regard, she was vital, indispensable, quite possibly the second great love of his life. In many ways she reminded him of Salem- and didn't that just make him wince a little?-but sterner, more willing to fight for what was hers...and eviscerate anyone who dared harm them.
Summer returned with a tray, setting it down just a little too quickly.
"Soooo," she began, apropos of nothing...
"Miss Rose-
"Nope! Lemme seeeee!" Her silver eyes almost seemed to glow with wild light as she peered down at the baffled babe nestled in Glynda's arms. "How old is he? What's his name? Can I hold him?" The questions flew free and fast, such that the immortal had no defense. "Oh my gods, he is just sooooooh?!"
Her words piqued into a yelp as Glynda grabbed her with her Semblance, spun her about, and danged her upside down.
She held her weapon out at the lively girl. "Summer."
A squeak as she struggled with her skirt. "Yeah?"
She batted her nose. "Calm down."
"M'sorry...
Ozpin flicked a glance to the stairs as Glynda righted her. "Is Taiyang not in?"
Here at last, Summer winced and looked away "He's...on a mission."
Glynda jabbed him with an elbow.
Understandable. Raven's abrupt departure -even now he couldn't bring himself to call it a betrayal- had shaken their tight knight group to the core. Taiyang most of all. Raven maybe have been a sister to some and a surly teammate to others, but at the end of the day she was his wife; the mother of his child.
And she'd left.
No words, no argument, not even a letter. She'd simply left Yang in her cradle one night and fled, never to return. Team STRQ shattered in her wake. Summer still held out hope for her return; and in truth, perhaps it was better for Tai drown his anger in Grimm than the whiskey Qrow had grown so fond of these last few months.
"Can...can you put me down, now?"
Speaking of Summer, she'd just made a pitiful noise, drawing him back to reality.
Glynda took pity on the rowdy reaper and lowered her to the floor.
"You may hold him-
"Yay~!"
-however!" she spoke stridently over the girl's giddy cry, "You will be careful with him." Grave green eyes fanned with fierce flame, the power of the Summer Maiden made manifest. "If any harm befalls my son, the same will be inflicted upon you tenfold."
Summer gave a squeak, followed by a nod, and stood her ground. "R-Right. I'll be careful...
"You'd best!"
With great care, Glynda lowered little Naruto into her arms. This time, there could be no mistaking the annoyed noise the boy made. Summer cradled him close, almost reverently. Naruto glared at her; only to make a tiny noise of surprise when she held him close to her bosom.
"Oh, wow." she whispered. "Its like he's looking right at me...
Ozpin and Glynda shared a bemused look.
At the tender age of only nine months, Naruto had proven remarkably...aware for an infant. Perhaps there was more at work here than met the eye. There was a spark of intelligence in those baby blue eyes, a gleam of a keen wit he would no doubt develop in the coming years. He rarely cried unless frustrated, and seldom fussed otherwise. Truly they couldn't ask for a better child. At the rate he was developing, he'd grow to be a very tall child indeed.
"So freakin' cute..." Summer held out a finger and giggled when he grabbed it. "Can you say Summer, sweetie...?
"That's unlikely," Glynda put in. "He hasn't said any words yet...
Naruto's brow furrowed, little face wrinkling. And then:
"Sumah."
Glynda gasped.
Ozpin made a choking noise. "His first word...
"Eeeeeee!" Summer rose absolutely squealed. "Ohmygosh! You did it! Whose a good boy?!"
"Cease that drivel at once!" Glynda looked like she'd been shot. "He's not a dog!"
Summer paid her no mind. "That's right, darling boy! I'm your auntie!"
Glynda grumbled. "That's hardly fair...
As though spurred by those words, Naruto began to wriggle in Summer's arms. The silver-eyed warrior hummed and pivoted, presnting him as one might a national treasure. Ozpin didn't miss the smile on her face. Come what may, she'd hold this moment over Glynda's head for the rest of her days. Oh, gods. She'd be insufferable.
"Your son, m'lady~!"
Glynda took Naruto back just a little too quickly, Ozpin felt. Poor dear. She didn't feel threatened -not Glynda, never Glynda- but she didn't look much pleased by this development either. She'd ever been the competitive sort even back in Beacon.
Naruto patted her arm with a pudgy hand, almost as if he were soothing her.
Ozpin had a wild premonition of the next three second; he was proven right a heartbeat later.
Because Naruto, little Naruto, all of nine months old, looked up at Glynda and smiled as only an infant could. "Ma."
Glynda swooned, a faint. "Well, I suppose that's not so bad...
Ozpin felt those little blue eyes swivel toward him next.
"Da."
Even he couldn't quite tamp down the little flash of pride he felt. Urk. The little scamp knew what he was doing. He must...unless...surely it was a coincidence? He wasn't even a year old, yet he seemed adroitly aware of everything they said and did. Almost as if he were...
A faint, reedy cry came from the back of the room, cutting his thoughts short. An altogether unmanly yelp raced hot on its heels. He knew that voice.
"Summer?!" indeed, it sounded like an exhausted Qrow. "A little help here?!"
"Oh!" Summer perked up. "Yang's finally awake. I'll be riiiight back."
She shot up the stairs in a swirl of white silk and returned thrice as quickly, cradling an infant of her own. Ozpin spied a shock of blond hair and angry lilac eyes as the babe before the babe began squalling again. Ah. The daughter of Raven and Taiyang. Seemed she'd inherited the latter's lungs and then some!
"There, there," Summer cooed, rocking the babe in her arms to and fro. "You're alright, now. Mommy's here. Sorry about this," Silver eyes flitted upward with a rueful smile. "Yang's had a bit of a cold these last few days."
Qrow staggered down the steps after them, looking positively haggard. "Hey, Oz...didn't know you were comin' today...
Bleary blood red eyes locked onto Naruto.
...eh? You brought the kid?"
Glynda sniffed. "And you brought your stench, Branwen."
"Hey!" he staggered a little. "I'll have you know I've been sober for a whole..." he paused, counting off on his fingers, then managed a bleary grin. "Two months, now!"
She didn't even try to hide her smile. "Joy of joys...
"Yup." Summer nudged him, preening as only a mother could. "He's not allowed to drink until Yang's tenth birthday. I'll make a man out of him yet."
"Tch. Bloody slavedriver. You gonna treat the kid the same way?" before Ozpin could think to dissuade him, he peered at Naruto and waved a hand at him. "Heh. Hopefully he's nothing like his mother." blue eyes fixed on the wiggling fingers before his face. "Maybe he'll grow up to be a little scamp." he didn't see those eyes narrow. "Aw, look at him. He likes me!"
"Qrow, I wouldn't-
Naruto reared up and bit his ring finger.
The huntsman recoiled with a hiss. "Aaargh! Right through my aura! Why you little-
Glynda tilted her head just so. Green eyes burned with balefire. Maiden Fire.
"Harm my son, and I will harm you. Are we clear?"
...crystal. C'mon, I wasn't gonna hurt him...
Her point won, Glynda crowded closer to Summer. "How old is Yang now?"
She beamed, happy for the attention as Qrow flailed in the background. "About three months? Acts like it, too."
"A little younger than Naruto, then."
"That's right. Say hello, Yang!"
The little girl sniffled through a runny nose.
"Well," Summer Rose had never been one for pleasantries. She spoke her mind now, just as she had four years ago. "At least she'll have a friend to play with. Won't she, whiskers?"
Ozpin tutted. "I'm sure he'd be delighted to...?"
He pivoted and found Naruto staring at her. Not at Summer, but rather, Yang.
The boy squirmed in Glynda's arms until, taking the hint, she brought the boy a bit closer. A pudgy arm reached out and touched Yang's forehead. Batted at it, really. No...he was actually patting her head. What madness was this?! He made a noise then; as if he were hushing her. Whatever it was it seemed to soothe the little lass. Lilac eyes opened, wide and startled, blinking into calm blue. None could tell what passed between the two infants in that moment.
Then, incredibly, Yang began to giggle.
Naruto made a noise that could only be smug.
Summer squeaked, even as Qrow guffawed openly.
Ozpin blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. Coughed. Cleaned his glasses. Blinked again.
"Wow." Summer blinked, somewhat taken back. "That's new. He just...calmed her down. Was that a Semblance or...?"
"No." Glynda murmured; even more at a loss. "That shouldn't be possible. He's much too young. We haven't even unlocked his aura yet."
Little Naruto made a noise that sound vaguely affront and squirmed anew. Glynda brought him back again.
"They'll be fast friends. Just you wait and see."
Had his son nodded just now?
No, surely not...
(.0.0.0.)
"He burned me!"
Salem rolled her eyes as Tyrian toppled back with a merry cackle, clutching his singed tail to his chest. The madman wasn't so much injured as startled; even then his merry laughter bounded off the tower walls, sending startled Nevermore shrieking for the rafters. Watts tittered in the background as Hazel looked on with a...was that a smile? Hmm. She'd not thought him capable of such.
"Come now," she chided the flailing Faunus, "I was only burping the boy...you'll survive."
"I shall bear this burn with pride for the rest of my life~!"
...yes, that sounded more like him.
Little Sasuke scoffed, a tiny trail of smoke leaking from his pursed lips.
Salem smiled. One day, her son would rule this rotten world.
Together, they would devour the very gods themselves.
But for now? He was just a child. Her child.
She was going to spoil him rotten.
A/N: Needed more of an intro chapter here. Next one will have timeskips galore, don't you worry!
We'll be jumping ahead five years next chapter...provided there is one.
That...depends on you.
As ever, the Embers rule Remains; sad as that may sound, its the truth. If folks don't like this story...well, it won't be continued. Most likely, I'll delete it and consign it to the void it comes to that. I haven't the time to write something folks don't like. Two jobs keep me terribly busy as such that I have barely any time to write.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly!
And as ever, Le warning!
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Granted, some are pretty far in the future, but still.
(PREVIEW)
"I come bearing gifts!"
Yang didn't so much leap from the sofa as she did vault it; physically lunging over the barrier to get at him. Five years old, and she still him like a meteor.
"You're back! Lets fight!
"What is with you and fighting?!"
She practically tackled him.
"Why're ya crying? You lost or something?"
The girl sniffled, rubbing at her scabbed knee. Dark hair. Golden eyes. Were...were those cat ears?
Naruto sighed.
"C'mon, up ya go."
"What're you doing?!
"Givin' ya a piggyback ride, silly."
Ruby tugged at his arm. "He's my friend!"
"Nuh-uh! I saw him first!"
"First is the worst, second is the best!"
"Nonsense. Third is the one with the treasure chest."
Naruto sighed.
"You're a failure of a daughter!"
Winter caught her father's wrist before he could strike her again.
"No." she rasped. "You're a terrible father."
A little girl's eyes should not shine with such hate. But hers? They burned with malice.
"The next time you lay hands on me...will be the last time you have hands."
Jacques yelped as his wrist splintered under her grip.
"I have to go on this mission. They need me."
"Ruby needs you more."
She whirled. "Wha-
Naruto's fist thundered into the back of Summer's head. She dropped like a sack of potatoes.
Sasuke pulled a face.
Girls fawning over him. Some things never changed.
At least Cinder and the others were capable fighters, unlike that lot...
STAY TUNED! R&R! =D