A/N: Hello and welcome to the third chapter of EM:R. Reunions? Explanations? EXPOSITION?! All of this and more in this installment of "EM:R 2: Electric Boogaloo".
… I'm well aware this is chapter 3, but let me have my fun, okay? It's not everyday I get to make a joke like that- Okay, fine, jeez. You're right, I'm wrong, whatever. Just please read and review this one. I'd very much appreciate it. More than Ruby with her cookies.
Updated in March of 2022, originally written in 2021.
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It was a quiet day in the Emerald Forest...
"OHMYGOSHTHATWASSOCOOLHOWDIDYO-" Ruby was cut off by her cloak getting pulled back by Yang.
"Easy there, Rubes," the blonde teen said before turning back to the object of Ruby's outburst. "But seriously, how did you do that?" she asked, placing a hand on her hip as she approached Geo. Blake nodded along in silent interest.
"It's clearly his Semblance," Weiss scoffed, jumping down from the tree branch she had been on during the fight.
"Must be similar to your summoning, Weiss," Pyrrha noted, returning Miló to its Xiphos form and placing it along with Akoúo̱ on her back. Weiss flinched at the remark.
"I…" Geo started, turning to Tia. She simply shrugged. Directing his attention back to the eight other teens in the group. "Yeah, let's go with that," he sighed.
"It's so cool!" Ruby rushed up to him again, stars seemingly appearing in her eyes as she stared up at him. "Can I please have a look at your gauntlet? Please!?" she practically begged as her attention was now firmly fixed to his left wrist. He noticed Yang reaching out to pull her away, but he simply shook his head. "Go ahead, though I doubt you'll figure out anything," he grinned slightly. He rolled his eyes as his gauntlet was examined. Yang sighed and backed off.
"You gonna introduce me?" Mega asked, more growled out, through their mental link. Geo could feel the agitation growing from his AM-ian partner.
Not now, Mega. Tale for another time, or however that saying goes, Geo replied.
"Due to Geo here not feeling up to the task, I'll explain," Tia sighed softly. She pulled out a card from a pouch on her hip. Geo recognized it as a simple Cannon card. "We use special cards to allow us to summon weapons and skills via our gauntlets," she explained, putting the card away.
"That's so cool…" Jaune stared in awe. "I wonder what my Semblance will be. Hopefully something cool like that…"
"I'm sure it will be quite powerful," Pyrrha smiled at the blond.
"Wait, quick question," Blake called out. Tia nodded to her, as Geo was still dealing with the overly hyper Ruby. "Aren't semblances typically unique, or hereditary?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow. Tia's cheeks were dusted pink at that.
"I know for a fact that he and I are not related," the older woman said.
"It must be a coincidence. It's not unheard of for people who are unrelated to have similar, if not the same semblances," Ren announced his presence, somehow managing to hold back his short companion. "As to save you all from an overly exaggerated tale, I'll recount a time where Nora and I came across a Huntsman who was able to absorb electricity, similar to Nora," the boy winced slightly as the ginger bit into his hand. He pulled it away from covering her mouth. "Nora…"
While the group nodded along, Geo finally managed to peel Ruby away from his gauntlet. Said girl pouted in response but nodded.
"Ahem," Weiss cleared her throat, managing to get everyone's attention. "There is still an initiation to complete."
"Kid, what the hell did we manage to get ourselves into now?"
"Uh… initiation?"
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Glynda Goodwitch, as she was known in this generation, was someone who took pride in her self control. This pride flew out the window as she face palmed quite hard, an audible smack resonating from her now incredibly red forehead. "You know, I thought I remembered him being able to keep his mouth shut…" she sighed, causing Ozpin to chuckle.
"He usually was. I doubt Mega's influence on him helped, however. Though, another certain someone was always a loudmouth, too," he said, glancing over to Glynda. She folded her arms and grumbled something along the lines of "shut up" and "old fart". That caused him to chuckle once more, before responding, "You're only 20 years younger than I am. Not only that, but we've lived for thousands of years. You cannot possibly be using that insult seriously."
"I'll cut the funding for the school's coffee supply again."
"I am now silenced."
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"Y'know, the team names were kind of stupid," Mega grumbled as Geo and Tia clapped. "I mean, really? Team RWBY, like Ruby? There is a girl named Ruby on said team. That'll get confusing. Not only that but Cardinal? How lazy does this headmaster have to be with these names…" He continued to rant - something about a loud mouth blonde and an old fat guy - as the next few teams got called up, Geo continued to clap as to not stand out.
I seriously don't know what's happening… he thought to himself as the last team was dismissed off the stage. He was pulled from his thoughts as the Headmaster himself took the mic.
"Ah, is this thing on? Oh, it is, excellent… Could Mr Stelar and Ms Tia join me on the stage?" the grey haired man called out through the mic. Geo sighed before turning to Tia and jerking his thumb towards the stage. She shrugged and followed him up to the stage. The blonde woman next to the Headmaster took the microphone.
"There are a few issues as of right now. One is that we are lacking in students to form a four man team. That, as well as the issue of Ms Tia's age," the woman pinched the bridge of her nose before continuing, "Therefore, Mr Stelar will be a free agent of sorts. A student that may join in any team that may require assistance during missions later on in the academic year," Geo nodded, not sure what else to do. The woman continued, though with somewhat grit teeth, "And Ms Tia will be taken under my wing as an assistant teacher due to her age as well as ability in combat," Tia's eyes widened at that, clearly shocked by this. Geo's did too, but not for the same reason. The blonde woman forcefully handed over the mic to the grey haired man once again, who accepted it with a smile.
"That will be all, children. Now, disperse. Your team room numbers and keys will be sent to your scrolls momentarily," He paused to take a sip from his mug. "Oh, and Ms Tia and Mr Stelar will be required to stay back," he finished, letting the students start to stream out of the auditorium. As the last of the teens exited, Geo and Tia turned to the two adults approaching them.
Suddenly, Virgo popped out of Tia's gauntlet and shouted, "I know you… You're that fat guy that worked for WAZA!" she pointed at Ozpin, "And she's the drill haired bimbo!" she screamed as her blue hand jolted towards the direction of Glynda. Tia tried to grab and hide her, but the damage had been done-
Wait… fat guy that worked for WAZA…? And drill haired bimbo!? Geo mentally shouted, snapping his attention to the now silent professors. Glynda stepped forward, her facial expression complicated.
"It has been a while, Geo, Bud and Zack missed you," she said with a polite smile, "I missed you." Ozpin placed a hand on her shoulder in support as he took a step forward himself.
"Geo, I'm quite sure Hope would be proud to see you like this," he said, shocking Geo and Tia even more. Mega then popped out.
"Been too long, old man Boreal," Mega said gruffly as he appeared next to the shocked duo. "Finally decided to lose some weight, I see," he then nodded towards Glynda. "And you still carry yourself like you own the room, Luna."
"I'm glad to see someone appreciates my talents," Glynda - Luna? - responded.
"I believe we are owed a conversation, Geo, Tia. Follow me to my office," he ordered, walking past the statue-still partners.
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The unlikely partners now sat in disbelief. Across from them, two immortal EM beings gazed upon them. Geo was the first to shake out of it, clearing his throat.
"So… You're saying that even though it's been thousands of years, all of which you lived through via reincarnation, you still managed to remember us?" He asked, rubbing his temples as he spoke. Ozpin simply nodded at that, a slight smirk on his face.
"And now you are some sort of puppet master controlling the world?" Tia asked.
"I'd prefer 'protector of humanity'…" Ozpin mumbled, pushing his glasses up. "But, essentially, yes. I am, and Luna - now Glynda - is alongside me," Glynda simply nodded in agreement.
"Okay, okay. Sure. Fine. I got a few questions, if you don't mind?" Geo started, getting another nod from Ozpin. "What the hell happened? Why is the Earth…well, for a lack of better terms, fucked? And how/why does everything radiate EM waves?" he asked in rapid succession.
"It happened in the 26th century, long past your disappearance, and presumed death," Glynda stepped forward to explain, "An EM Wizard based war erupted after Crimson shards began to land on Earth. This was the first world war since the 20th century, and much more devastating than any prior. It left the world broken, the Moon now shattered due to a stray missile," she looked up through the green glass ceiling, eyes wandering. "The population sank to roughly 7% of what it used to be. This was deemed the 'Calamity'. Since then, Earth has been known as Remnant, due to it being nothing but a piece of what life once was.
"Life slowly moved forward, and it was roughly 700 years after the Calamity that the Grimm started appearing. This was long after the age of EM technology, so people simply took to supernatural explanations of their existence. In actuality, these beasts were clones of Omega-Xis that had been slowly fusing with animals over time. Not only that, but our own bodies had been fusing with the fragments of the Wizards used to fight in the Calamity. This granted us what is essentially an eternal wave change, however it is one that needs to be unlocked. Once unlocked, the EM waves took to becoming a barrier against physical damage. The ancients decided that it must've been a manifestation of the soul when it was discovered, and deemed it the name 'Aura'. This 'Aura' also granted special abilities, ones that Ozpin later managed to coin as 'Semblances', as he saw that they resembled BattleCards and other EM abilities."
"Indeed. Aura is the reason your acquaintances were able to tank such heavy damage from the Grimm during fights, but it also grants increased strength and healing," Ozpin continued off her speech, earning an 'oooh' of understanding from Geo. "Expanding on what Glynda said, Semblances seem to have derived from Noise that the earth has been generating on its own since the Calamity, combining with BattleCard data," Ozpin nodded thankfully in her direction. Tia brought her hand to her chin in thought, absorbing the information that was dumped onto her and Geo. Geo, in turn, opened and closed his mouth, unsure what to say. Tia simply shook her head at his antics.
"That is all well and good, Ozpin, but I wish to know what else we should know about the world around us - about Remnant," the raven haired woman said, leaning forward in her chair. The man chuckled.
"You'll be caught up with events in time, Ms Tia," Ozpin smiled, offering her and Geo two glass devices. "Take these, will you? They're known as Scrolls, and much of the interface is similar to the Hunter-VG's we used to have, so please keep that in mind," he stood up as she took them and passed one to Geo. "Now, it is quite late. Let us continue on the quick history another time, no?"
"Yeah… That would be nice, Ozpin," Geo finally spoke up, standing up as well. Tia followed their example. "If it's anything like back then, I'll be the one to save the wo-"
"I feel you're forgetting a very important someone…" a tired sounding Mega yawned from his gauntlet.
"We'll be the ones to save the world," Geo corrected, earning another smile from Ozpin.
"Let us hope it does not lead to such dire circumstances," Ozpin turned to Glynda. "If you'd be so kind as to show Mr Stelar and Ms Tia to their room, Professor Goodwitch?"
"Of course, Headmaster Ozpin," she accepted, motioning the time travelers to follow her, "Please do keep in mind that we are your superiors in the students' eyes. I'd rather not have to reprimand you for calling either of us by our first names."
"Yes, Professor Goodwitch," Geo sighed, "Still love control after all these millennia…"
"I will give you detention."
"Shutting up now."
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The door to their dorm opened, revealing a quite spacious room with two beds, one on either side. A window was placed directly in the middle of the back wall, a dresser to each side of it. A door to, presumably, the bathroom was on the right wall nearing the corner. Lastly, two desks were placed at the edge of each bed, attached to the walls.
"Huh, pretty nice room," Geo said, looking around.
"It's to be expected at one of the major Huntsman Academies," Glynda said haughtily. "That being said, I fully expect to see you, Ms Tia, at 8 am in my class. Any later and I shall assign you to be a sparring partner to whoever I wish to throw at you," she ordered sternly. Tia nodded, not at all phased by the threat. Glynda then refocused on Geo, "And I expect you to be on time to your classes, being late reflects poorly on Ozpin and I for allowing you in," she continued, with a slight coloring to her cheeks, "And i-it's not like I care if you're late or anything of the sort. I just do not wish to have to deal with detention on the first day, got it?"
"Yes, Ms Goodwitch," he responded with a faux salute. Glynda sighed.
"Alright, all the information for tomorrow should be on your Scrolls, and our school uniform should already be in your dressers. I also took the liberty of setting alarms for each of you," she explained, turning to the door. She paused, "I do hope you fit in well here," she said softly before leaving.
As she left, Geo and Tia sat down on their beds. "Tia?"
"Yes, Geo?" the woman tilted her head, the boy across from her looking a little worse for wear.
"I- I kinda miss my friends," he started, "I miss mom… I miss my dad," he looked up, eyes shut. "I finally got dad back and just a few years later poof, it's all gone, just like before. And now we're stuck. I guess it's only just now hitting me since I have a chance to actually think about it," he took a deep breath, trying to stop himself from crying. "I never made up with Sonia- I never managed to-" he was cut off as he felt a pair of arms wrap around him. "...Tia?"
"Sh… I'm here, Geo," she whispered, her head in the crook of his neck. "I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you."
"I- … Thank you, Tia," he returned her hug, some tears falling.
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A/N: Aaand done! Huh. More emotional at the end than originally intended, but I thought it fit more than anything else. Geo already had issues with loss, so this situation only exacerbates it. It's a character flaw I intend to delve deeper into later on in the story.
That being said, I do have to mention that I do not plan on stretching this story into Vol 4 and on, as it becomes too messy. That, and until RT gives Salem a good reason for being this big evil Grimm bitch, I won't even try. Also, Magic and Dust will be explained in time, I have the reason for their existence written, I just did not want to add another chunk of text to this already exposition heavy chapter.