Chapter Four is finally finished! Sorry I didn't update sooner, I am just getting over a very unwelcome virus going around at work. I'm hoping to have the next chapter out sooner since I am no longer bedridden. Thank you for all your feedback on the story so far, I will be keeping all of it in mind going forward with each new chapter I write. Now, without further ado, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
"Speech"
Thoughts
Chapter Four: Cursed
(Seven Years ago)
Ozpin sat in his office waiting patiently as the elevator came up to his floor, Qrow stood beside him with his arms crossed over his chest in boredom. The door opened to reveal Glynda leading Viridian and Sinn Stroud out of the elevator with their fourteen year old son in tow, he looked around in awe of the office he stood in. Ozpin smiled at the boy's expression Such a bright soul... I'm unusually excited for him to attend my school. Perhaps he'll become even greater than Elise has proven herself to be he thought to himself, causing his smile to grow.
"The Strouds as you requested" Glynda said with a slight nod to Qrow in greeting, he returned it in kind.
"Thank you, Glynda. Viridian, Sinn, it's good to see you're both doing well" Ozpin greeted.
"We do our best" Sinn replied.
"I can only imagine" Qrow sighed thinking back to the loss of their son.
"Malachite wouldn't want us to sulk forever over him" Viridian said with a small smile "Slade here taught us that well enough"
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, young man. I've heard great things about you" Ozpin said smiling toward the boy.
"T-thank you, sir. It's a honor to meet you as well" he stuttered back in surprise at being addressed.
"Elise talks about you all the time you know, she's so proud of you and the progress you've made"
"I'm proud of her as well, I care for her a great deal" Slade replied.
"I can tell, she's been begging me to allow you to visit her here since she started. It's unfortunate she's unavailable at the moment, considering the mission she's on with her team"
"That's alright, there's always next time" Slade said politely.
"Was the something specific you wanted to speak to us about?" Sinn asked curiously "You don't call for us unless it's important"
"Quite right" Ozpin agreed "Glynda would you please see the young Mr. Stroud down to-"
"That will not be necessary" Sinn waved him off "Our son is going to be a Huntsmen someday and he needn't be kept out of meetings such as these"
"You're kidding right?" Qrow asked surprised.
"He never jokes" Viridian laughed.
Glynda looked to Ozpin uncertain of what she should do, he waved his hand lightly, signaling for her to allow him "Very well... I've received reports from Huntsmen in the field about strange disappearances around a town to the northeast called Foxworth. I sent a team to investigate a week ago and lost contact just after they arrived" Ozpin explained.
"Do you have any idea what's causing the disappearances?" Viri asked.
"Unfortunately no. I do however know the only people disappearing are Huntsmen" Ozpin answered "Something is abducting or killing Huntsmen and I want to know why. I sent a team to investigate not long ago but haven't heard back from them since they arrived in town"
"And now you're sending us" Sinn concluded "Something strong enough to overpower a team of seasoned Huntsmen must be pretty dangerous"
"That's why I'll be coming with you" Qrow announced "My Semblance could be of some use against something that strong, I urge you to be cautious as I cannot control who it affects"
"Understood" Viri nodded "Slade will be coming with us as well" she announced shocking Ozpin and Glynda, Qrow sighed in disappointment, already knowing why she would make such a decision.
"Are you sure that's wise?" Glynda asked.
"Something that can overpower Huntsmen is no place for a child with little training and no real combat experience" Ozpin agreed.
"Slade has more than enough combat experience to see him through something like this, trust me. I've seen him take on a whole pack of Beowolves with an empty gun for a weapon, he bludgeoned them to death since he had no other options" she bragged proudly.
"As impressive as that may be, that doesn't prepare him for something like this. We don't even know what it is-"
"The last time we left our son for a mission, Malachite died. I refuse to leave him by himself again" Viri explained.
"Taking him into a hostile environment to keep him safe is insane" Qrow replied.
"Seems just as dangerous as leaving him at home" Sinn countered "Whether you like it or not, our decision is already made"
They're so terrified of losing their Son they can't even see how dangerous this will be for him Qrow shook his head.
"Please reconsider-" Glynda tried before Qrow interrupted her.
"Seems your mind has been made up" he sighed "If that's the case I recommend we bring Glynda along" he offered.
"Agreed" Ozpin smiled "She can focus on keeping Slade safe so you can focus on the task at hand, while also gauging his combat capability. After all he does wish to attend Beacon like Elise doesn't he?" Ozpin asked with a knowing look.
"Then we're agreed" Viri smirked.
"It seems that way" Glynda sighed "Give me some time to prepare before we leave. I will be with you shortly" Glynda walked toward the elevator followed by the Strouds.
"It was nice meeting you Professor" Slade waved as he entered the elevator.
"The pleasure was all mine Mr. Stroud" he said back just before the door closed, sending them on their way.
I sure hope I didn't just send them all to their deaths Ozpin sighed solemnly.
"Taking the kid on this mission is suicide" Qrow pointed out.
"I know" Ozpin sighed once more "He is however much stronger than many of our students here at Beacon"
"I've seen him in action" Qrow smirked "Some of the older students at Signal tried to pressure him into doing something he shouldn't with the mindset that he could convince his way out of it since he just lost his brother. In response he kicked their asses without hardly even breaking a sweat"
"Slade's made incredible strides since his parents began officially training him themselves. His Semblance has yet to be discovered but that's not entirely uncommon for those in his family. Elise only recently discovered her own and Viridian and Sinn both didn't find their Semblance until just before their graduation"
"Malachite was the only one to find his early on in life... it's unfortunate that he never made it to Beacon in the end"
"He would've made a fantastic Huntsman" Ozpin agreed "You and Glynda both need to keep him safe"
"We will"
"I know..." Ozpin sat up straight as he looked Qrow in the eyes "I'm concerned about what you'll find out there"
"As am I"
"Salem could be behind the disappearances"
"Yeah, and we both know what she'd be after if that were the case"
"The Maidens" Ozpin cursed lightly under his breath "You don't think she's gathering Huntresses to try and find one do you?"
"There's one in each kingdom, Oz. It's not that unlikely to think she wants just one Maiden for their powers"
"I'm aware of the implications, Qrow"
"Let's hope it's something far less sinister" Qrow sighed.
"Like our team decided they deserved a vacation or something?" Ozpin asked in jest.
"Or they put themselves in an alcohol induced coma when they found out there was nothing to investigate" he chuckled.
"Be careful"
"We will be" Qrow assured with a determined nod.
"This town, Foxworth. What can you tell me about it?" Sinn asked Glynda as the Bullhead soared over the forest below.
"It's a rather unremarkable town with nothing setting it apart from the other towns around the city of Vale" Glynda explained "Before the disappearances that is"
"Last report we got from the team Oz sent spoke of a bunker just east of the town" Qrow explained.
"Sounds like the perfect place to start looking" Viridian pointed out.
"What about the town? Shouldn't we check there and find out if anyone knows anything about the disappearances?" Slade asked, surprising Qrow and Glynda.
"He's right, we should speak to the residents and see what they know" Sinn agreed.
"You and I can handle that" Qrow pointed out "Glynda and Viridian can scout out this bunker for anything unusual in the area, nobody goes inside until we've regrouped" he added.
"Sounds like a plan. Slade, stick by your mother and don't do anything without express permission" Sinn ordered
"Yes, Father"
"We're coming up on the bunker. drop us here!" Viridian yelled to the pilot. The Bullhead hovered just above the tree line opening the side door for them to exit "Remember what I taught you, Slade"
"I know, Mother. Landing strategy" he smiled up at her before dropping out of the Bullhead, his mother shook her head with a smirk.
"He's your son alright" Sinn laughed.
Slade used the blade coming out of his right gauntlet embedding it into the branch of a tree as he fell swinging himself off of it toward the ground rolling into the landing as he did "Nailed it" he said standing up with a smile.
"Impressive work" Glynda said gracefully landing behind him.
"Thanks, Mother is a good teacher"
"Damn right" his mother laughed dropping from the tree's above them "You'd be lost without me now that Elise is always away at school or on missions-" she stopped suddenly unsheathing her blade ready to strike, Glynda got into a combat stance following this as she felt the Grimm's presence as well. Slade removed his gun from it's holster, leaping back to them as he awaited the Grimm to attack. The bushes parted as a particularly large Ursa came charging toward them, Glynda and Viridian both leapt over the beast as it came crashing toward them.
"Slade!" Viridian yelled noticing him charging the creature.
The Ursa leapt toward Slade with it's mouth open, ready to sink it's teeth into him. Slade dropped onto his side as it leapt, sliding beneath it and pointing his revolver at the Ursa's face firing once and coming back up to a standing position as he twirled the gun in his hand back into it's holster. The beast's corpse slammed into the ground.
"I'm assuming that's not the thing abducting Huntsmen" Slade joked "Either that or I have a serious problem with the current training regiment at Beacon"
"Most assuredly not" Glynda replied "You certainly took that one down easily though, most first years struggle against Ursa their first time due to their size"
"Guess I'm not most first years" he shrugged.
"Please don't scare me like that again, Slade. I'm already worried enough having you here as it is"
"Then why did you bring me?" Slade asked cocking an eyebrow questioningly.
"Because at least here I know I can oversee everything you're doing" she answered.
"Let's get moving, we need to finish scouting the area before Qrow and Sinn finish in Foxworth" Glynda pointed out.
"Agreed, we wouldn't want them to have to wait on us"
(Several Hours Later)
Qrow called Glynda on her scroll as they just finished scouting the area around the bunker, clearing out any Grimm wandering through.
"How'd it go Branwen?" she asked answering the call.
"Not so well, the residents here obviously know about the abductions but they're too scared to talk about them. Bartender said we should leave town before she gets us too" he reported "Sinn and I are on our way to you now, from the sound of it there's a woman behind the abductions that's intimidated the town into silence"
"I suppose we'll find out once we enter this bunker and see what's being hidden here" Viridian sighed.
"What's your ETA?" Glynda asked.
"Two minutes out. Bullhead dropped us south of your position " Qrow answered.
"We're on the north side of the entrance"
"Understood" Qrow hung up.
"Okay, once Qrow and Sinn get here we can head inside the-" Viridian began before being interrupted.
"Mom!" Slade called quietly "Someone's entering the bunker"
"What?" Glynda asked as they both approached to see the person in question. They watched as a hooded figure approached the entrance, nonchalantly pushing the door open with one hand.
"I can't see his face" Viri groaned.
"It's a woman" Slade corrected.
"He's right" Glynda agreed "She's got too small of a frame to be a man, and she has a very feminine style of walking"
"Some guys walk very femininely" Viri pointed out.
"Not with that figure they don't"
"Nail polish on her fingers and she's wearing heels" Slade pointed with his hand "Either a woman or a very strange man"
"Very astute. Looks like we've got ourselves a possible culprit" Qrow announced, alerting the group to his and Sinn's presence.
"What's the plan?" Viridian asked.
"We follow her in and find out what's going on down there, once we've gotten a good look we decide our plan of action" Qrow explained.
"What have you come up with so far?" Glynda asked curiously.
"I believe we have three possibilities waiting for us in there. Firstly: There could be imprisoned Huntsmen down there for us to rescue, in which case we'll need to evacuate the facility. Secondly: There could be a lot of dead Huntsmen being fed to something or just outright killed for some ulterior motive, if that's the case we'll just blow the place, collapsing the facility upon itself. Thirdly: It's possible it's none of those options and we need to investigate further than the surface level"
"You've put a lot of thought into this" Slade said with a small smirk "All of those options sound like fun to me"
"I've had a lot of time to plan out our options"
"Well we should get to it then" Viridian said just before leaping out from the trees to follow the path into the bunker.
"Always on the move" Sinn sighed following after her.
"Stay close, Kid" Qrow called back to Slade following with Glynda close behind.
"Make sure nothing sneaks up on us from behind" she ordered, fully expecting to be handling this task herself despite her words.
"Understood" Slade complied following the group inside.
Once inside they found a small empty room with nothing but a large hole in the center, looking around the room they found nothing else of interest to their mission.
"There's nothing here but a massive hole in the ground" Sinn sighed.
"What do you think is down there?" Qrow asked crouching down to look inside.
"Let's find out!" Viridian yelled sprinting toward the hole from behind them and leaping inside.
"I hate it when she does that" Qrow sighed "C'mon, let's not leave her to whoever is in charge of this place. Whatever is down there probably isn't friendly"
The group quickly follows behind her falling down onto a metal slope leading down into the facility, as they slid down they came across some sort of growth looking to be made completely of pure shadow coming out from the walls.
"What in the world?" Glynda looked perplexed by the growth as she continued to slide until reaching the end and dropping onto her feet to find a massive corridor completely covered in these shadow growths, seemingly coming from everywhere.
"What the hell are these things?" Sinn asked.
"They look like something out of a nightmare" Slade pointed out.
Qrow pulled out a small flashlight and directed it at the growth, it quickly retreated from the light before lashing out and destroying the light in his hand. Qrow leapt back, removing Harbinger from his back "It's alive" he sighed in annoyance "Don't get too close to it and don't shine a light on it"
"It's almost as if it's made completely out of darkness" Glynda said as she curiously studied it from a safe distance.
"There's only one thing that can manipulate darkness like that... but it can't be-" Sinn began.
"We never should've come down here, we need to get out" Viridian said with fear clearly showing in her eyes.
"Mom?" Slade asked perturbed by her condition, not used to seeing his fearless mother filled with terror.
"Ozpin needs to know about this-" Glynda began
"Come closer" a voice whispered so low it was almost inaudible.
"Did anyone else hear that?" Sinn asked raising his shotgun to attack.
"I was really hoping I was going crazy" Qrow replied removing his scroll from his pocket and calling Ozpin.
"No... come closer..." the voice whispered again.
I really wish I didn't know what that was Qrow thought to himself.
"It can hear us" the voice said almost surprised.
"Qrow what's-" Ozpin began before he was quickly interrupted.
"Get out!" it whispered.
"Oz, I need you to shut up and listen" the group sat silently as they waited for the voice to return.
"Stay away" the whisper came more urgently.
"Tell me that isn't what I think it is" Ozpin said standing from his desk in shock.
"Just take a look around" Qrow replied showing the room to Ozpin.
"Dear lord" Ozpin gasped in shock "You need to get out of there, you cannot do anything-"
"AAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHH!" roared an angry voice in anguish.
"It hasn't been summoned yet" Qrow said aloud.
"Who?" Slade asked not understanding.
"They're not finished with the ritual! Stop them!" Ozpin yelled his voice gripped with fear.
"I don't think we have a choice" Sinn pointed out looking at the hole they came through having become completely covered in the shadowed growth.
"Quickly! Before she finishes the ritual!" Ozpin begged "If you don't stop her we're all dead"
"Then let's get to work" Viridian unsheathed her blade ready for battle.
"Lock and load, this is gonna get ugly" Sinn said pumping his shotgun.
"I'm always ready for ugly" Qrow replied chugging down his flask.
"You certainly are" Glynda scoffed.
"I don't know what's going on but we better hurry and stop whatever it is" Slade said removing his gun from it's holster with a single flip through his fingers.
The group rushed through the large long corridor until they came to a massive mechanical door sealed tight where the shadowed growths were the thickest.
"How're we supposed to get this open?" Sinn asked.
"Like this" Glynda said before using her Semblance to force the door open.
"Excellent work, Goodwitch. Glad to have you with us for once" Sinn laughed.
"Shut up" Glynda growled in annoyance.
"There she is!" Qrow said pointing his blade to the hooded figure from before "Stop right there-"
"AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHH!" screamed the voice so loud everyone was forced to cover their ears in pain, the hooded figure quickly rushed past them toward the corridor.
"Stop!" Slade yelled chasing after her with Qrow shortly behind him.
"Leave her!" Ozpin yelled as a massive purple crystal with a shadowed figure inside it looking back at them with bright red eyes, shot out from what appeared to be the source of the shadowed growths surrounding the room, almost like a lake of shadow "Destroy that crystal!"
"You heard the man!" Sinn yelled.
"That crystal is using the souls of dead Huntsmen to fuel a summoning ritual!" Ozpin explained "Destroy it and you stop the ritual"
"How're we supposed to destroy that thing?" Glynda asked.
"With this!" Viridian yelled leaping toward the crystal with a massive arc of white light emanated from her blade slicing right through the crystal, a loud screech could be heard throughout the facility just before the crystal exploded, sending shards of it in several different directions.
"Everyone with me!" Sinn yelled slamming his fist into the ground, erupting a metal shield around them using the metal from the ground. The shield dropped to reveal the crystal had been completely destroyed and the lake of shadow stopped flowing and became stagnant.
"That's not creepy at all" Slade joked.
"Getting rid of this stuff isn't going to be easy" Qrow sighed.
"Good thing we have all of these explosives I brought along" Sinn pointed out "I've got enough in here to level this place a hundred times over"
"He's not joking" Viridian deadpanned.
"Is there anything left of the crystal?" Ozpin asked from the scroll.
"The shards are empty" Glynda answered using her Semblance to call all the shards to her, studying them curiously.
"No matter, bring them to me-" loud static began crackling through the device "-and we will destroy..." his voice cut off "Qrow?" his static voice called "I'm losing you" the last word crackled "Qrow can you hea…" the signal was lost.
"Oz?" Qrow asked "Oz are you there?" he asked before sighing "Shit"
"I think we've lost him" Sinn said slinging his shotgun over his shoulder.
"No... something's blocking our signal" Viridian concluded looking at her own scroll "How would we have had a signal all throughout that and then suddenly lose it otherwise?" she asked rhetorically.
Suddenly a massive shadowed image of a woman appeared before them where the crystal previously resided "INFECTION!" the voice matching the angry roar from earlier boomed with hatred "YOUR LIFE ENDS HERE!" it screamed as the very walls came alive and attacked the group.
"Move back!" Qrow yelled slicing through the tendrils racing toward them. The rest of the group rushed for the door exiting into the corridor only to find their path blocked "We're cut off!" Sinn yelled.
"SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO ME!" the voice boomed as her visage disappeared.
"I've got an idea!" Slade yelled.
"Shoot!" Sinn yelled turning to fire his shotgun at the tendrils racing toward them, they retreated momentarily from each shot and strike made by the group.
"Your explosives on a timer?" he asked.
"Detonator" Viridian yelled back holding it up to show.
"Drop the bombs in the center of the room and seal the door between us and it then blow it while we're safely out here.
"What good will that do?" Glynda asked not understanding.
"The image was shown above the lake in the center of the room, and that's where the darkness seems to be seeping out of. Blow that and no more darkness" he explained.
"It's as good a plan as any" Qrow offered "Let's do it!" he turned to find several more tendril's attacking them from behind, only to have Slade easily cut through them with the blades on his gauntlets. Slade used his revolver to fight off the ones his blades couldn't keep up with "Sinn and Viri plant the bombs while Glynda and I provide cover, Slade keep us covered from back here" Qrow ordered.
"On it!" Slade yelled turning to continue fighting off the dark shadows. Sinn and Viridian raced into the room with Glynda and Qrow following behind them.
"Viri!" Sinn yelled throwing her his bag of explosives as he turned to fight off several tendrils with his Semblance, Qrow and Glynda protected her as she raced to the center of the room, throwing it into the center of the lake.
"Explosives placed!" she yelled before being knocked over by a large tendril of darkness.
"Viri!" Qrow yelled rushing toward her.
"Go! Make sure Slade is safe! I'll be right behind you!" she yelled to him as she picked herself up, Qrow and Glynda reluctantly did as they were told and raced toward the exit to find Slade easily defeating the tendrils attacking him with his gauntlet blades, nevertheless they assisted him in destroying the remaining few.
Suddenly, the corpses of Huntsmen and Huntresses possessed by darkness dropped from the mass of darkness above them. Viridian rolled out of the way of them as they dropped onto her previous position and rushed toward the door "Sinn, it's time to go!" she yelled holding her abdomen in pain as she leaned against the doorway with the button to seal the door, she looked out to see Slade standing triumphantly with Qrow and Glynda at the blockage.
"I'm coming-" Sinn was interrupted by being impaled on the edge of a tendril.
"Sinn!" she yelled in shock.
"Go!" he choked out "I'm not gonna make it!" he was slowly pulled back toward the lake of darkness. Viridian held the detonator close as she pulled out a locket with a picture of their family inside of it, she smiled lightly at the picture as a single tear fell from her left eye.
"I'm not leaving you" she whispered "I'm sorry... Slade... forgive us" she stood up straight and pressed the button next to the door as Slade turned to see the door shutting.
"Mom?" Slade asked causing Qrow and Glynda to turn in surprise at finding the door closing with her still inside, Viridian shook her head and held up the detonator with tears streaming down her face. Slade rushed toward the door as it continued to close "Mom!" he yelled just before it sealed shut and she armed the detonator, a fiery explosion tore through the room toward her as the door finished sealing shut just as Slade slammed into it with his full body weight "NO!" he yelled with tears in his eyes as he angrily slammed his fist into the door, sliding down to his knees weakly "No..."
"Look" Glynda pointed to the shadows quickly receding back to the sealed door until they disappeared completely from sight "Slade was right, it worked"
"But at what cost" Qrow sighed walking over to Slade and placing his hand onto his shoulder "I'm sorry, kid... I wish I could've stopped this from happening... all of it. You've already been through so much-"
"How could they die?" Slade asked looking up at him "Heroes aren't supposed to die, Qrow. They're supposed to win and survive... so why?" he asked again.
"Unfortunately heroes die more often than not, and not always in the way we imagined" Qrow lowered himself to Slade's level "Survival is not always a victory... sometimes the hardest part is placed upon those who survive"
"I... I..." he remained silent for a moment "What am I gonna tell Elise?" Slade asked choking back his tears.
"I don't know, kid... I don't know..."
"Hmm..." a voice from behind them snapped them back to reality "I understand now" it chuckled as they turned to look at the shadowed face from before staring back at them.
"You!" Qrow yelled stepping between Slade and her.
"You're the one who stopped my ritual" her face moved closer passing right through Qrow "Hmm... I can work with this" she grinned.
"W-work with what?" Slade asked.
"You'll know... in time" she answered "Enjoy your victory, Branwen. Savor it while you still can" she added as she vanished.
"Who was that?" Slade asked.
"You'll have to ask Ozpin, kid. It's not my place to say"
Ozpin sat in his office waiting patiently for Qrow to arrive in the elevator, he tapped his fingers against his desk in anticipation as the doors opened.
"Qrow" he greeted.
"Oz"
"How'd it go?"
"Elise and Slade had their moment of grief, I think she's handling it better than he is right now. That's the second mission he's gone on and lost a loved one"
"It's unfortunate, but it happens to all of us eventually"
"Slade's beginning to question if he's cursed"
"Cursed?"
"Slade thinks his brother and parents both died because he was there when it was actually the opposite. Without Slade, none of us would've made it back today... and according to Elise, she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him two years ago"
"I'll talk to him, hopefully I can cheer him up a bit"
"Please do, I don't know what else I can do for the kid"
"Elise will be taking care of him for the time being, she's been given some time off and her school duties will be handled as needed given her situation now-"
"If Elise needs someone to take care of him while she's at school just let me know, Tai and Yang can handle taking care of Ruby while I am taking care of him until she graduates"
"Elise would be grateful I'm sure, and I know Slade will at least be comfortable around you... talk to her about it first before we make a decision"
"Understood" Qrow never moved from his position.
"What is it, Qrow?"
"Are you still planning on telling Elise about the Maidens?"
"I am still planning on offering her the opportunity to become a Maiden, yes" he answered "I will not force her to make this decision but I will provide the means"
"You know Slade will never see her again if you do this-"
"I will not be taking Elise from Slade afterward no matter what her decision is... that boy has been through enough without me adding to it"
"I'm concerned about that hooded figure we found in the facility"
"She got away while you were stopping the summoning ritual, correct?"
"Yeah, she also matched Elise's description of the hooded figure that escaped from her two years ago the day her brother died. Thanks to that information they obtained we were able to stop the attack planned on the town before it even began"
"I remember" Ozpin sighed "I'm concerned about her as well... we still don't have the faintest idea as to her identity. We know it's not Salem because that's who appeared to you in the facility"
"Thankfully we were able to put a stop to her ritual"
"Indeed, unfortunately we haven't stopped her permanently but we have greatly set back her plans"
"Slade certainly doesn't need to be part of this war with Salem, he's been through enough"
"That decision will be left up to him, once he has been properly trained here at Beacon should he accept our invitation next year-"
"Next year?" Qrow asked surprised "He's only going to be fifteen"
"I know, he'll be the youngest attendant at this school. I will allow him to remain a Huntsmen outside from my inner circle as to not know anything about Salem and the truth about me if he does not wish to become a part of our war"
"Slade's already seen Salem today, he's not an idiot. Eventually he'll figure it out"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. For now we shall allow Elise and Slade to grieve over the loss of their parents before anything else" Qrow stood silently, staring at Ozpin as he searched for the right words "Was there something else, Qrow?"
"After Viridian and Sinn were killed in the explosion, Salem appeared to us outside the room they died in" Qrow answered.
Ozpin's eyes shot open in shock "What? How? Did she do anything?" he asked perplexed.
"She didn't do anything specific, however she did address Slade. She said "she could work with this" before she disappeared with the most unsettling smile on her face. Slade asked what she meant and she answered he would find out in time... I'm concerned Slade will never have the choice you want him to have"
"You believe I should be straight forward with him and tell him everything?" Ozpin asked.
"Not everything, not yet. Slade's too young to fully understand everything but you could at least prepare him for whatever Salem sends his way. From the sound pf it, she's not done with him yet"
"Agreed" Ozpin sighed "I will inform Slade of Salem and what she's capable of doing once he accepts my invitation to attend Beacon. If he declines then I will tell him enough to defend himself but not tell him everything"
"Understood" Qrow nodded in agreement "In the meantime, I'm going to keep an eye on the kid"
"I understand" Ozpin nodded with a small smile.
"Thanks, Oz"
That's all folks! Yes, these next few chapters are going to be set in the past. I figured the best way to explain why Slade is the way he is, is with flashbacks! Well, whatever telling an entire chapter of a flashback is called anyway... prequal chapters? Whatever, you all get the point by now. Stay tuned for new chapters coming soon!