A/N: EDIT: Real classy with all of those flames and death threats, trolls. At this point its just mean T_T
PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY? 'Tis but a quick one. Sorry~!
Hey! I'M BACK~! With a surprise double update for you all~! Naturally, I'll be updating this and...well...a surprise.
Turns out the arm was just a pinched nerve.
Team names were hotly contested for a bit there, but we've since smoothed that out.
Arm's gotten a bit better as of writing this, just need to be careful not to overwork myself like that again.
So lets answer a few quick questions:
Q: When are you going to reveal who Yin truly is. Stop dancing around her identity and tell us already?!
A: I'm tired of being asked this question over and over, of people saying I've thrust an OC in here. You know what? Imma reveal it now. Read the story.
Q: So why is Naruto the team leader and not Glynda? Is there a reason for that?
A: Petty spite on Ozpin and Yin's part, really. Team GRWN (Crown) is an exception the rule, and something of a cosmic joke. They were never meant to exist. Yin meddled. Shit happened.
I'm sure you all know who she is, but this chapter is going to set things in stone.
I DID make an error with Qrow as leader of Team STRQ, however. That roles falls to Summer, just as it did in canon. And yes, because I know someone will ask, Rumpole is a Book character, so I've had to work with what little description was given of her.
Q: Will Naruto ever unlock a semblance? He has his aura unlocked, so...
A: Naturally he'll gain access to his chakra techniques, but yes, he'll get a Semblance. Many have already guessed at it.
Q: Is that prophecy we saw a few chapters ago going to come true? Seems pretty dire.
A: Funny thing about prophecies; they're not always what they seem.
Alright, then. I've kept you long enough.
As ever, I own no references, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one. Alright then, here we go~!
Looking forward to your reviews, they're all that keep us going in this madness.
"Only the strongest will survive."
"Bullshit. By that very logic, we're weak. Together? We're strong."
"You're wrong. We don't need them. They're weak. Holding us back. You'll see."
...I see. Am I holding you back, Raven? You gonna cut me loose like the rest? Is that how it is?"
"What?! Now! Not you! Never you. I need you."
~An argument.
The Fifth Fracture
"Did you need something, old man?"
Ozpin's hand smacked against his forehead with an audible pop as an old friend plonked down on the corner of his desk. Old man. Boss. Pain in my ass. Yin's nicknames were a dime a dozen these days and by the gods, did she enjoy relish needling him. Even after all this time he'd never grown used to her passive aggressive behavior. It irked him. Infuriated him. Calmed him. He wasn't sure how to feel about that. Her moods seemed to shift with the seasons these days.
In hindsight, that might be his fault.
Yin had been under a fair bit of stress lately thanks in no small part to the task he'd given her. Or rather, the onus she'd placed upon herself. Here in the sanctity of his tower, they could speak freely without fear of anyone overhearing them. It was a rare opportunity. Such a shame they had to sour it with such foul news.
...there's been a murder in the dorms."
Atop his desk, the blond brawler went curiously still.
"Aw, crap." she leaned back and pinched the brow of her nose. "Don't tell me it was one of the kids...?"
"Worse." he slid a photo across the desk. Four faces stared up at her within. "A third year team."
Another photo joined the first. Yin peered down at the worn picture with a sigh of her own.
"Team S.L.V.R. huh?" Metal fingers traced a face. "Poor bastards. How did they die?"
Ozpin looked away. "They were strangled to death in their sleep."
Lilac eyes burned with pale flames. "Is that so."
He had to ask. "Do you have any-
-idea who it might be?" she finished his sentence with a sigh. "No. I don't. Never knew them in my day. Not sure if that's a good thing."
"And you're certain of this?"
"Future, remember?" she tapped a head to her skull. "Salem didn't start a murdering spree on my watch. I would've seen something like this in the news. No," the blond brawler shook her head, "This...I don't know what this is. It could be something new." her shoulders rolled in a slim shrug. "Could be it happened in your time. Or not. Dunno."
A silver brow quirked. "You are being...awfully blase about this."
"Kinda have to be, old man. I'd lose my mind otherwise."
That was the crux of the matter, wasn't it?
Time travel was a dangerous thing. An impossibility, some might say. The young woman sprawled across his desk wasn't Yin at all; rather, it was an alias she'd taken for herself. Her real name was Yang. She'd not given him her surname for...understandable reasons. Wouldn't do to erase herself from existence, after all.
And so a woman out of time and a man who could not die joined forces.
At first, he hadn't wanted to believe it. He didn't at first.
In the end, reality convinced him, that and ruthless pragmatism. Yang simply knew too much; and with that knowledge, answers Jinn couldn't possibly supply. The Relic of Knowledge could speak of many things past and present, but not the future. Everything this young woman said had come to pass. The Branwen Twins came to Beacon. Summer Rose -a girl with silver eyes!- was even now walking these hallowed halls. She had found for him other warriors of repute, even another silver-eyed warrior he'd not known of. To think, the Grimm Reaper actually existed...
Yes, Yang was his ally, if nothing else.
eShe'd ven gone out of her way to recruit those whom she claimed would be "enemies" in the near future. Others were allies, or at least she swore they would be. Ozpin wasn't entirely certain if that was a good thing, but he trusted her judgement. Thanks to her, the ranks of Beacon and the other academies swelled with future huntsmen; all the while Salem had been strangely silent. She'd not steered him wrong thus far.
"And your parents are here?"
"Definitely." she winked. "Can't really say anymore than that. Still wanna exist, you know."
The immortal steepled his fingers. "And you believe you will? Despite all the changes you've wrought?"
"Are are we doing this again?" she sat up with a growl, flames flickering from her eyes. "You already know my story." Lilac orbs narrowed upon him anew. "Salem took everything from me." her fingers creaked ominously against the desk. "My mother. My sister. My team. You know what we had to give up for this second chance." he did, and chose not to press her on it. "I could have gone anywhere; instead I came to you." her finger hit out against his chest, pushing against his scar. Because I trusted you." that metal digit dug in, pressing painfully against his skin. "Because Oscar trusted you."
"You do realize I still have no idea who that is."
"Yeah? Try dying in a decade or two." she flicked his forehead, drawing a wince from him. "I guarantee you'll wind up as him. Until then...
"Yes, yes, I know." he shooed her off his desk. "We've work to do. Off you go. Class will be in session soon."
"And the incident?"
"I'll have Maria and Oobleck look into it." he promised her. "Right now, you're needed here.
"Tch. Spoilsport." Yang sat up with a sigh and sauntered back to the elevator. "Fine, fine, twist my leg why don'tcha? I'm going."
She had altered things, to be sure. This would work. This COULD work. She was already so much more than she'd been now. Her skills were sharp. The Power was safe with her. Perhaps it had been a cruel thing to replace an old Maiden with a new, but he saw it as mercy. In her hands, the might of Fall would never fall into the hands of the enemy. Wait. Oh gods, he was making puns. She'd infected him. Regardless! Now that he knew what was to come, he could -and had!- make preparations aplenty. This was but another.
"Miss Yang."
She paused, one foot in the door.
"Do be careful. Our enemies have been quiet. Too quiet. You ARE our Fall Maiden after all. Which means...
Lilac eyes flashed with fresh flame. "Yup. When Salem wants this power...
Now it was Ozpin's turn to interject. "She will come for you, of course. She has to. She must."
Yang ground her metal fist against an open palm. Her smiled reminded him of a sunny dragon. "I'm counting on it."
(.0.0.0.)
Salem scowled.
The girl knew too much.
Time and time again she'd intervened, time and again, she taken useful allies from her.
Perhaps it was time someone remedied that.
"Merlot."
"Yes, my queen?"
"Bring me one of the prototypes."
(.0.0.0.)
"Time for class."
Naruto creaked an eye open in bed. "Nooo...
"You're team leader!" thin hands pulled at him. "Get! Up!"
He buried his head under a pillow. "You be team leader! Lemme sleep!"
By that argument along, it promised to be a...memorable day for Team Crown.
And no, Naruto still couldn't get over that name. He was petty like that. His sleepy mind clung to such thoughts as he curled up under the covers. Why Ozpin had gone so far as to name him the leader over Glynda, he had no idea. At this point he was sure the old man was doing it just to mess with the lot of them. It couldn't be anything less than deliberate. Or perhaps this was Yin's doing. She struck him as a meddler. That one certainly wasn't afraid to bend the rules when it suited her. Really, it was high time some gave her a taste of her own medicine; maybe even a proper pranking-
"RISE AND SHINE!"
"Aaargh!" Naruto yelped as reality snapped back; because Raven ripped the blankets from his grasp, exposing his warm body to the bitter chill morning air. Bereft of balance he tumbled to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs, hissing furiously "Cold! Dyyyyiiing!"
Glynda rolled her eyes. "By the Brothers, you are such a boy!"
"Oddly enough," Raven tossed her hair. "On that, we agree. Get dressed already!
Naruto craned his head in vain, hoping to find the last voice of reason in the room. Instead he discovered an empty cot where Willow should have been. His right eye twitched. Traitor! Deserting him in his time of need!
"Wait, where's-
-Willow?" Glynda quirked a brow at him. "She got tired of waiting for you and left for class five minutes ago."
"Oh." His heart fell, then rose again as he felt a curious tugging sensation against his chest.
He looked down.
...why is there a note taped to my chest?"
Frowning, he plucked it from his night-shirt and frowned at the pale piece of paper. He noticed the Schnee insignia in the corner at once. Must've come from Willow's notepad. Figured she'd have her own stationery. She struck him as the type. Under Glynda's baleful glare he plucked it from his chest and read it aloud, for three lines of text awaited him within.
"I'll save you a seat. The others can go hang for all I care.
Warm regards,
~Willow Schnee.
There was a smudge of lipstick beside those words.
Raven saw it and sputtered.
Glynda flushed to the very roots of her hair.
"Has she no shame?! She barely even knows you!"
Naruto shrugged. If this was a prank, then it was a damned good one.
Things were looking up. Maybe little miss Schnee wouldn't be such a bad teammate after all. Class couldn't possible be that bad-
(.0.0.0.)
"Monsters, demons, prowlers of the night." Professor Port launched into his lecture. "Yes, the creatures of Grimm have many names. But I call them prey!
Naruto stiffened. No. Surely not. This was a joke. It had be a joke.
It was not. "Let me tell you a story of a dashing young lad-
Naruto's head struck his desk.
Raven's joined him a heartbeat later.
Willow, for all her patience, wasn't far behind.
To her credit, Glynda managed to last thirty seconds before she succumbed.
(.0.0.0.)
"Its gotta be a Semblance, right?"
"Gotta be." Naruto concealed a jaw-popping yawn behind the back of his hand as he stumbled out into the all. "Port weaponizes his voice somehow and uses it to hypnotize people. How else would we everyone fall asleep like that? There's just no way...
Qrow snorted. "Speak for yourself. Summer made me take notes. Couldn't make heads or tails of anything."
"Lucky you." Raven bit back a yawn, pausing just long enough to push open a door before she staggered. "My head still feels numb...
"Well, you are pretty dense-
"Brat!" she threw a mean right hook at his head and missed horribly.
The younger Branwen thumbed his nose at her. "Oh, you wanna go, do ya?! Fine by-
"Qrow, no!" A girl with striking silver eyes latched onto him before he could truly step in it. "Bad bird! She's your sister! Don't fight!"
"Aw, c'mon! Stoppit, Summer!" he struggled in her grasp, to no avail. "We do this all the time!"
Raven pounced. "Aw, does widdle Qrow need a girl to fight for him now?"
Glynda quirked a brow. "And suddenly everything makes sense...
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
Naruto smiled softly as the siblings continued to squabble, much to the consternation of their teams.
He caught the eye of a dark-skinned girl -Rumpole, was it?- and received only a shrug in return. At least she was civil enough. The blond boy beside her...was not. Striking blue eyes met his and glowered at him with such intensity that he found himself forced to look away. The hell was his problem?
Reluctantly, he looked away from Qrow's team and returned his gaze
All told...Qrow Branwen looked good. Better than good. Like he'd finally found his place in this wide wild world of theirs, so too his foster brother look more alive than he'd been in years. Good for him. If anyone deserved a bit of happiness on this life, it was Qrow. Gone were the dark circles under his eyes, replaced by a cheery grin. His telltale slouch was nowhere to be seen replaced by a spring in his step. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen him this chipper.
If anyone deserved it,
"I get to share a dorm with two hot chicks. Whats not to like."
Naruto winced. "Ain't all its cracked up to be, lemme tell ya."
Qrow concealed a smirk as they reached their destination.
"Alright, newbloods!" Alright, maybe not so chipper after all; because they all knew that voice. "Welcome to combat class! Otherwise known as the meat grinder! Step right up! Who's the first victim?!"
A collective groan passed through the first years as Miss Yin strode out onto the stage, grinning from ear to ear. Arms raised high, she seemed to bask in their suffering. Cheeky witch. He was just about to fling a taunt her way to that effect when he noticed something; or rather, the lack thereof. Blue eyes fluttered in a rapid blink. Once. Twice. Thrice.
Yin was missing her right arm.
Oh, she had a fair prosthetic there to be sure, all black and gold painted over the metal limb, but actually seeing it up close startled him. He'd not noticed it before. How? It seemed impossible to miss; she didn't so much as bother to hide her injury. If anything she seemed to bask in it, uncaring of the curious stares that passed over. It didn't last.
Yin caught him staring and quirked a brow. "See something you like?"
Qrow groaned. Raven joined him. "We lost to a cripple?"
"You bet." her grin grew. "And since you're so damn gung ho about it, why don't you come on up." it grew to shit-eating proportions." her eyes roved over them. "All four of you. Step right up, Team Crown." the false fingers of her metal hand crooked their way. "Lets see if you deserve that nickname of yours."
Naruto's smile fractured. "Devil, she's an absolute devil...
"I heard that, whiskers!" Yin rounded on him. "Just for that, you get to face...lets see...aha! Your team can fight Ghira's." she placed two fingers to her mouth and whistled sharply. "That'd be you, Team Gambit! Step right up, would ya kindly?!"
It wasn't hard to miss the eclectic bunch, three faunus and one human tended to stick out like a sore thumb...
...and oh dear, the scorpion over there looked like he wanted blood. Was Qrow's semblance rubbing off on him?!
Said Branwen gave him a hearty slap on the back to spur him forward. "Good luck."
Willow met him there with an elbow. "We'll follow your lead."
Naruto stabbed both hands into his pockets and tried not to sulk. He failed spectacularly.
"What does that make you my second or something?"
Raven all but squawked. "Hey! I call bullshit!"
"What, you told me you didn't want it...
Their Schnee preened. "I'll do my best to uphold this honor."
Raven seethed at her back as their opponents entered the arena opposite him. Something told him they'd be bitter enemies or fast friends by the end of this. He wasn't sure which. At least Glynda appeared calm enough; she'd not said a word since
Naruto took a deep breath for calm. Right. Orders. He could do this.
"Glynda," his gaze flicked to his fellow blond first. "You'll play support with Willow. Raven and I will handle offense."
...is that wise?" Goodwitch adjusted her spectacles. "From the look of them, Team GMBT is comprised of close combat fighters.
"Alright, runts." Naruto didn't have a chance to answer; because Yin stirred the pot. "Winner gets an automatic pass on the first test!"
Team GMBT perked up. Tyrian tittered. "Nothing personal...victims."
Yin whistled.
"Ready! Set! Go!"
Just like that, the battle was joined.
A/N: Aaaand we've got a good old fashioned brawl next chapter!
I really hate coming up with team names, they're always a pain...T_T
The plot thickens!
As ever, without reviews I cannot write. 'Tis a simple, yet painful truth.
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review Would You Kindly?
Oh, and before I forget. One last time!
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS BELOW!
BEWARE!
(Preview)
"Right, then. Big guns."
He reached around Prophecy's hilt and squeezed a hidden trigger between the hilt and handle. With a whirring click, the whip sword gave way, segments lengthening and condensing into something else altogether.
"Don't use your semblance again, Marcus." his keen ears heard Ghira's voice over the noise. "We've left that life behind us."
The silver-haired boy rolled hies eyes. "Yeah, yeah, don't twist my arm."
Kali looked to favor a ranged weapon,
"Can you?"
Willow drew what looked to be a simple shortsword from the sheathe at her side. At a glance, one could see it sparkled with dust. Not quite a sword then, but not a rapier either.
"I'll deal with her."
"Then I'll take Marcus." Glyinda opined.
His gaze swept out over them and alighted on one individual. For some reason, he couldn't help but peg them as a threat.
"Tyrian, then." he declared."
"Sure, leave me with the big brute."
"Why not? I know you'll win."
Raven dithered for a brief moment. Her eyes swept left, now right. Then she darted in like her namesake. Warm lips alighted upon a whiskered cheek.
Yin whistled.
Qrow absolutely gagged. Willow hummed in quiet appreciation. Naruto...was of a lesser mind on the matter.
"What the hell was that for?!"
"Making a statement." With a dark look at Glynda and Willow alike, she drew her blade and flounced away to meet her foe. Her hips swayed in a manner that just had to be deliberate.
He refused to believe anything else.
"Future ain't set in stone, kid. Have fuuun~!"
Naruto shook his head as "Yin" sashayed away. "Crazy lady...
"I heard that! Extra laps! On the double!"
"To our team! Drink up!"
"Aren't we a little young for alcohol?"
"Bah!" Naruto slapped her on the back. "Don't be a party pooper!"
R&R~!
