Chapter 7: Rest and Relaxation
The dinner table is abuzz as the currently present members of Team RWBY, Team CBRS, and the remaining members of Team JNPR all talk over each other indistinctly. The mood is quite cheery, with the children all smiling and laughing.
Yang: (laughs to Jaune) How do you lose your map at a time like that?
Cin: Yeah?
Jaune: Believe me, I've asked myself the same thing ever since.
Yang, Weiss, Cinnabar, and Ruby laugh, while Jaune smiles and giggles sheepishly.
Nora: Hey, but you made up for it, Mister Muscles! You shoulda seen this guy take a giant Grimm head on!
Jaune: I couldn't have done it without Ruby wearing it down.
Ruby: Uh, me? Did you see Ren during that fight? He was out of control!
Ren: I'm sorry, I may have lost my temper momentarily.
Ruby: No, no! Out of control as in "awesome"!
Ren: Oooohhh. (smiles) Thank you.
Everyone at the table bursts into laughter.
Cin: It's nice to finally meet your parents, Rico.
Rico: Thanks, Cin, and It's just great to see the three of you, again.
Yang: Thanks Rico.
As dinner continues, Weiss tells her story about how she accidentally summoned a Boarbatusk during the Schnee charity ball.
Ruby: (gasps) You did not!
Rico: There's no way, you did that!
Weiss has her face in her hands.
Weiss: Yeah, right in the middle of the party.
Cin: Oh Yeah! She did alright, It was pretty intense!
Yang: Please tell me you let that lady have it.
Weiss: Of course not! Even if I did really want to.
Nora: (crossing her arms, skeptical) No way, I don't believe it.
Weiss summons her Boarbatusk right next to Nora. The Grimm summon growls, causing Nora to yelp and fall to her side. Weiss, Yang, Jaune, Cinnabar, Rico, and Ren all laugh.
As dinner nearly finishes, Yang shows off her robotic prosthetic arm to the rest of the group. All of them react in awe.
Yang: It's not a replacement for the real thing, but I'll make sure to make good use of it.
Jaune: That's amazing.
Ren: Incredible.
Rico: It so sick!
Ruby gets all starry-eyed and quickly zooms over to her sister's side to admire her arm.
Ruby: (holding Yang's arm up) And it's just as strong?
Yang: Hm, sure is.
Suddenly, they hear a bang on the table. Nora has her arm out ready to arm wrestle.
Nora: Wanna bet?
Weiss: Nora, please, now's not the time...
Despite Weiss' protest, Yang and Nora arm wrestle. Jaune and Ren cheer on Nora while Ruby cheers on for her sister. Weiss looks on disdainfully.
Jaune: Don't let her beat you! You can do it! Come on!
Ren: You can do this! Show 'em what Team JNPR's made of!
Ruby: C'mon, sis! Aw, you can't lose to a girl in a skirt!
Weiss: You wear a skirt, Ruby.
Ruby: Weiss, you're not cheering loud enough! (she shakes Weiss, who is still frowning)
Cin: Come on Weiss, this is getting good.
Rico: Go for it Nora!
Nora: It definitely feels like the original, I'll give you that!
Yang: Yep. But, it does have some new features!
Nora: Heh, oh yeah?
A robotic sound is heard coming from Yang's arm, and suddenly Nora's is knocked back to the wall holding Yang's detached arm in her hand. Nora groans in pain while the others look on in concern, except for Yang, who has a smug grin on her face.
Jaune: Did she... win?
Cin: I think so.
As Nora comes to, she realizes she's holding Yang's robotic arm, causing her to scream and throw it away from her. Yang and Cin laughs while she catches her arm.
Later on, Jaune helps clean up the dishes.
Jaune: Gyah... We ate it all... (he picks up the pot holding all the bowls) Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick...
Yang: Easy there, Vomit Boy, I believe in you.
Cin: Oh yeah!
Jaune: (sarcastic) Oh, we're doing nickname throwbacks now. Wonderful. (walking away with the dishware in his hands)
Weiss giggles.
Nora: I mean, the Ice Queen seems to like it.
Weiss stops giggling, and Ruby bursts into laughter at Nora's remark. Weiss smiles nonetheless.
Weiss: (rolls her eyes) I so did not miss you people.
Nora: (gasps) Oh my gosh, she really does like it! What went and warmed your heart while you were gone?
Weiss: Hey! You make it sound like I used to be terrible.
Yang: Nah. Just a lot to deal with it once.
Weiss: Hmph!
Yang playfully sticks her tongue out at Weiss.
Cin: Well she'll always be a snow angel to me, Weiss.
Weiss: Ah! Thank you.
Weiss smiles at her boyfriend, and kiss him on the cheek, making him blush, as Ruby, Yang, Rico, and Nora sighed a "ah" at that their romance. Making Cin now feel bashful, as the girls now chuckle ay his bashfulness.
Ren: It's been a long time. We've all grown in our own ways.
Ruby: You really think so?
Ren: Well, think back to when we were all at Beacon, would you say you ever did anything foolish or embarrassing? Or do you think you were perfect?
Weiss: Oh gosh. (she buries her face in her hands again)
Yang: I may have been a little too gung-ho from time to time.
Ruby: Heh, you? I tried to 1v1 a Nevermore on the second day of school.
Jaune: (walking back into the room) Yeah, well... don't even get me started.
Ren: Well that embarrassment - that desire to go back and tell yourself not to be so stupid - that just proves you're not the same person you used to be. You're smarter, you're kinder, you're stronger, and you're not done growing yet. None of us are.
There is silence for a brief moment.
Ruby: Yeah, turns out Ren gets real deep when he feels like talking.
Everyone giggles.
Nora: Well, hold on, I thought I was pretty great in school!
Yang: Even at the dance? When you spilled punch all over yourself in front of-
Nora: Yes, especially the dance! Thank you, Yang!
Yang covers her ears from Nora's yelling, who has her scroll out playing "Shine". Ruby laughs.
Qrow: (off screen) How can eight kids possibly make so much noise eating dinner?!
Qrow Branwen and Oscar Pine are seen standing next to Jaune. Nora presses her scroll to stop the song. Oscar gives a small laugh.
Oscar: Oh. (finally stepping in as he looks at Ruby) You have silver eyes.
Ruby looks at him, a touch surprised. She turns to Ren and Nora, who shrugs again, before looking back at Oscar.
Ruby: Who... are you?
Oscar: Uh... Well. My name is Oscar Pine.
Qrow: Wait for it...
Oscar: But you probably know me as... Professor Ozpin.
Everyone except for Yang and Qrow, all gasp, and look confused.
Everyone relocates to the second-floor living room, Oscar Pine is seen sitting on a red armchair, nervously looking at seven of the eight the children as they fawn over him.
Nora: Did he age backwards?
Jaune: He's possessed!
Ren: Or reincarnated!
Cin: How could age that quick?
Weiss: Could it be his semblance?
Ruby: Oh! Isn't it weird?
Oscar: It is very weird, yes.
Qrow: Okay, okay. (he emerges from the kitchen holding a cup in his hand) Let's all just take a second and remember that this is very overwhelming for everyone.
They all step back together and nervously chuckle.
Oscar: (to Qrow) Thanks.
Qrow then takes a seat on the couch next to Oscar. Ruby, Rico, and Nora have taken a seat on the couch perpendicular to Weiss, Yang and Cinnabar's, while Jaune and Ren remain standing. Oscar then shares a brief look with Ruby, who giggles, causing Oscar to blush.
Oscar: Ah, sorry! (he briefly looks away) It's just I've never really met this many Huntsmen and Huntresses before.
Ruby: Well, uh... we've never met a person with two souls! So, first times all around.
Oscar smiles and chuckles at Ruby before he hears Qrow clear his throat.
Qrow: Not to break up the whole 'getting-to-know-you' game, but we need to have a talk. Mind showing us your little parlor trick, kid?
Oscar: (groans) Yeah, okay. Just so you know, I'll still be here.
The students look at him in confusion. Oscar then lowers his head and closes his eyes. Suddenly, a green and white aura shines from his body for a moment, Oscar opens up his eyes, which are now glowing, and he smiles. When he speaks, they all hear a familiar voice overlapping with a bunch of other voices, including Oscar's.
Ozpin: It is so very good to see you again, students.
All of students share brief looks of confusion.
Jaune: Wait, what just happened?
Ren: Professor... Ozpin?
Ozpin: Correct. And though I may be the one speaking, Oscar is still present mentally. He's merely handed over the control, so to speak.
Oscar: (mentally) Just don't make us do anything embarassing...
Ozpin: I'm afraid this all must be very perplexing.
Nora: And alarming, and bizarre, and just really kind of hard to believe overall!
Rico: Yeah... What she said.
Ozpin: (chuckling) It's good to see you children still have your sense of humor. (he starts to frown) I know you've all been through tremendous hardship already. I'm sorry.
Ruby: I mean, it's not your fault.
Yang crossed her arms, thinking otherwise.
Ozpin: It's all my fault. (as he continues to speak, Qrow goes back to the kitchen to get something) I told you once that I made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet, and I wasn't exaggerating. I'm... cursed. For thousands of years, I've walked the surface of Remnant, living, dying, and reincarnating in the body of a like-minded soul. The Professor Ozpin you all met was not my first form, and clearly wasn't my last. It's... an extraordinarily strenuous process on everyone involved.
Jaune: So who... what... are you?
Ozpin: I am the combination of countless men who've spent their lives trying to protect the people of Remnant. (Qrow walks back into the room and hands him a cup of tea) With every rebirth, my soul is eventually merged with another and I am changed, but my memories stay with me. This curse was bestowed upon me by the Gods, because I failed to stop Salem in the past. But we must stop her now.
Ruby: And how do we do that?
Ozpin: We start... by ensuring the safety of the Relic of Knowledge.
Weiss, Cin, and Yang looked at each other, curiously confused.
Weiss: The... Relic of Knowledge?
Cin: Would someone mind telling about it?
Qrow sighs as he, soon explained to the three, the story of the two brothers, the four relics, and the true purpose of the four academies.
Nora: This is perfect! We were stuck at a dead end, but now, we can just take little cute boy Ozpin to Lionheart and have him set things straight!
Ozpin: Please don't call me that.
Qrow: We're not sure that's the best idea.
Nora pouts and groans and goes back to sit down next to Ruby and Rico.
Ren: But I thought the Headmasters all took their orders from you.
Ozpin: That was the intention. Four lieutenants I can trust, especially during times of reincarnation. But Qrow told me about your meeting with Leonardo. (he gets up and walks towards a painting of Mistral) He isn't just behaving irrationally, he's disobeying specific instructions I had left him. Something's wrong. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I don't want to rule out any possibilities, either. No one outside of this room knows that I've paired with Oscar, and I think it may be best to keep it that way.
Qrow: Play things close to the chest until we get a better hand.
Ozpin: Precisely. Now, we have two steps ahead of us. (he turns around to face the rest of the group) The first is enlisting the aid of more Huntsmen.
Ren: But the Mistral council-
Qrow: Doesn't own every Huntsman in the Kingdom, and I've been here enough times to know where we can find some more.
Ozpin: So long as they're trustworthy.
Qrow: You can trust them to put up a good fight. I'll throw together a list tonight.
Qrow puts his tea on the table, but his Semblance causes one of the legs to break and spill his cup of tea.
Nora: Good luck with that.
Qrow groans as he cleans up his mess.
Ozpin: After that, we can move on to step two.
Nora: What's step two?
Suddenly, Ozpin has The Long Memory in his hand.
Ozpin: Getting you eight into fighting shape.
The student once again exchange looks of confusion.
Rico: Say what?!
Ruby: But, uh, we already know how to fight.
Ozpin: (points to Ruby) You can only fight so long as you have Crescent Rose, but you're still lacking in hand-to-hand combat.
Yang: I can definitely agree with that. (giving her sister a small grin)
Ruby: Well, uh, yeah.
Ozpin: (pointing to Jaune) Mr. Arc, I'm glad to hear you've improved, but sorry to say, you've yet to unlock your Semblance. All of you still have a-ways to go before you're ready to pose any real threat against Salem and her forces. And though Oscar can give me temporary control, he'll need to strengthen his body and his Aura.
Oscar: (mentally) Wait, what?
Ozpin: He'll inherit my muscle memory in time, but practice will expedite the process.
Weiss: I think Ozpin, might be right about improving ourselves, we've... kinda been lacking a bit, ever since Cin and I we're at Atlas, right Cin?
Cin: She's right, besides, I'll have try training with a new weapon I've got from Raven too.
Weiss: It'll be very strong and useful to with his semblance.
Ruby: But if Qrow's out looking for Huntsmen, then who's going to teach us?
Ozpin then propels himself into the air with his cane, spinning counterclockwise into a barrel roll before landing onto the seat of the armchair, twirling his cane.
Ozpin: Well, I believe I was the Headmaster of Beacon Academy.
All of the students have various looks on their faces.
Ozpin: We have approximately two weeks before classes resume at Haven. If Salem were to plan an attack, it would make sense that it would occur prior to students' return. It's not much time, but it's better than nothing. (he stops twirling his cane) Just don't expect me to go easy on you.
A while later, Weiss, Cinnabar, and Yang had just finished being filled in on with the rest of what everyone else knows so far.
Weiss: So, the Maidens. Magic. Salem. It's all true?
Qrow: Uh-huh.
Yang: You forgot something. You forgot to tell everyone what you did to Qrow and my mother.
Ruby gasps.
Jaune: What is she talking about?
Rico: Yeah, What?
Qrow: Oh, great.
Ozpin: Hm, that's not a secret I thought she would give up so easily. Your mother must trust you a great deal.
Yang scowls at him.
Ozpin: My ability to reincarnate, though a curse, isn't without a few key benefits. Much like the Maidens, I too possess a certain... "magical" power. (he stands up and walks next to Qrow) Using this power, I was able to gift the Branwen twins the ability to "see" more, to move freely and be unburdened by their natural bodies. I... well... gave them the ability to turn into birds. (chuckles) Rather ridiculous sounding out loud, isn't it?
Ruby: Uncle?
Ren: You turned them... into birds.
Nora: Alright, now you're just messing with us.
Jaune: (angry) What else is new?
Weiss: He's telling the truth. We saw it. Yang's mom... changed, right in front of us. (Cin nods his head, conforming it)
Yang: (to Ozpin) Why would you do something like that? I mean, what is wrong with you?
Qrow: Yang, that's enough! We made a choice. We wanted this.
Yang relents.
Ozpin: (to Qrow) May I? (Qrow nods) Granting this power to them was no trivial task, and I can assure you it was not done frivolously. I required assistance in gathering information on Salem's plans, as well as searching for Maidens when their hosts became unclear.
Ruby: Okay, so, have you done this with others? Like General Ironwood? Or Professor Goodwitch?
Ozpin: As helpful as that might be, unfortunately, it is not that simple. My power is finite, and if I'm being honest, dwindling. The amount that I gifted to Qrow and Raven was, all things considered, rather miniscule. You see, centuries ago, I sacrificed a great deal of magic to four young women, who I hoped would use my gift for good. They were the first Maidens. (everyone is silent for a moment) Miss Xiao Long, it was never my intention to lie to you. To any of you. There are just some matters that I prefer to... "play close to the chest". (looking to Qrow) I believe that's how you phrased it?
Qrow: (chuckles) Yeah.
Ozpin: Everyone has a choice. The Branwens chose to accept their powers and the responsibilities that came with them. And later, one of them chose to abandon her duties in favor of her own self-interest. Now, all of you have a choice. If anyone wishes to leave, now is the time. There's no shame or disgrace in abstaining, only in retreat.
Everyone is silent as they ponder Ozpin's words.
Ozpin: Very well, then.
Yang suddenly stands up.
Ruby and Cin: Yang?
Yang: If Ruby sticks around, then I will too. If there's one thing I know about her, it's that she somehow always knows the right thing to do. (she smiles at Ruby after saying that) But, if we're going to help, if we're going to keep risking our lives, no more lies. No more half-truths.
Everyone remains silent. Ozpin and Qrow exchange a brief look with each other. Ozpin ponders Yang's words for one last moment, before responding.
Ozpin: (smiling) Understood.
Yang sits back down, as she did, she'd noticed and felt of discouragement from Cinnabar's face, only for him to quickly dismiss it.
Jaune: So... what now? I mean, what can we do?
Cin: Good question.
Rico: Yeah.
Ozpin: Mm, that is a difficult question. One that I believe is best answered tomorrow.
Cin: What?!
Jaune: What do you mean?
Ozpin: The road ahead is undoubtedly filled with hardships and peril. However, it's been far too long since you have all been together. (he puts his hand on Yang's shoulder) Please, take tonight, enjoy this moment. (Yang smiles)
Suddenly Oscar's eyes glow, with Ozpin giving him control back to his body. Oscar realizes he has his hand on Yang's shoulder
Oscar: Geh! (quickly takes it off and nervously holds his cane in his hand.)
Yang, Cinnabar, and Weiss laugh at him, before hearing a noise from Nora.
Nora: (suddenly realizing) Oooohhh. Raven? Qrow? They're birds! Cracked it!
Ren and Rico shakes their heads at Nora being slow on the uptake.
At the Branwen Tribe camp's entrance, Shay D. Mann and two other bandits stand guard, conversing with each other. Suddenly, a voice calls out from the forest.
Mercury: Hey ugly!
With Shay and the bandits' attention drawn, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai walk out from the forest toward the camp's entrance.
Emerald: Is Raven Branwen home?
Shay: (sighs) Ya know, I've had a real bad week. So I think I'm gonna take it out on you-
Shay stops mid-sentence, hearing Tick Silver Crocodile's hissing, as he notices him, Cinder Fall, and Arthur Watts walk out of the forest and joins the two of them.
Mercury: Hmph, doesn't look like he wants to cooperate, Boss.
Cinder: (chuckles) Then make him.
Mercury: I was hoping you'd say that.
Cinder held back Tick, to minimize the carnage he'd surely make, as she let's Emerald proceeds forward. Shay and the other bandits hold their ground while Emerald unsheathes Thief's Respite, twirling them before they transform into their sickle forms. before the screen cuts to black.
End of Chapter 7
Author Notes
RWBY, its owned by Rooster Teeth.
Major thanks to the Transcripts and Battle Pages written on RWBY Wiki
Serene will surely the Simba to Mamba's Scar.
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