Viewer Discretion Advised - Sexual Content

Chapter 7 – Building a Future

Ren

He looked up at the sky as the sun started to set, with Nora resting her head on his shoulder, her hand gently clutched onto his. It took them the rest of the day to make their way back to the Summit's Claim, and definitely making sure that there were no tracks left behind for their foes to follow.

But the Gates of the Summit's Claim were always such a welcoming sight when they opened and were always met with smiles and cheers from the people inside. Their cars slowly drove inside, and they moved them towards the shelter, protecting them from the cold snow. Nora stretched her arms with relief to be back home.

Ren turned to see Li Ren walking down the steps of the old Monastery, looking towards them. He smiled, knowing his son and daughter in law were finally back home. "Penny?" Sashaa gasped as she bounced down from the Gates, using her Prosthetics to soften the landing. Penny smiled to see her friend again.

"Sashaa!" Penny squeaked, immediately hugging her. Ruby turned and she smiled as she saw Taiyang and Zwei emerging from their Yurt, and the little Corgi barked with joy as he ran towards her.

"Hey, buddy!" Ruby cooed, catching the adorable dog and stroking him, getting licked relentlessly by the dog. Yang chuckled, crouching down beside her sister and giving the dog all the fuss in the world. Winter and Eryka both stretched as they stood there.

"I could use a nap." Eryka groaned.

"You're telling me." Winter agreed, the two of them left for their Yurt to get some well-earned rest. Taiyang walked past them and he immediately hugged his two girls, who held him close. Ren smiled at she saw Taiyang so happy to see his girls back home and safe, then he looked across to see Li approaching them as well with his hand always on that staff of his.

"Glad to see you have all returned safe and sound… and with Penny Polendina no less." Li said with a smile on his old, grizzled face. Penny gasped and turned when she heard that familiar voice, and a bright smile beamed across her face.

"Li!" Penny squeaked, giving him a warm hug, he gently put his free arm around her.

"Welcome home, my dear." Li said to her.

"I-I'm so sorry I ran… I'm so sorry I worried you all, I… I…" Penny stammered, but Li gently put his finger on her lips.

"No need for apologies, Miss Polendina. What matters is that you are back home." Li assured, which made Penny smile happily. Penny then stepped aside to let Ren and Nora embrace him. Li held them both close. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"Glad you didn't ruin the place when we were gone." Nora joked, making Li chuckle.

"I tried my best." He replied with a smile. The three of them walked through the Summit's Claim together whilst everyone got re-acclimatised to being home and safe. "So… anything interesting happen out there in Argus? Apart from finding Penny at long last?" He inquired curiously.

"Y-You could say that." Ren chuckled, which got a curious look from his father. "Let's just say things didn't exactly go quietly. It started off okay… but quickly got kinda crazy. But we managed to get out of there – thanks to Ruby. Maria really has made her one hell of a Huntress." Ren explained with a chuckle.

"She was the Grimm Reaper; I don't think Ruby could ask for a better mentor." Li stated.

"But… we did see an old friend die. Ruby, Yang and Penny were right there when it happened." Nora said with a sad voice, and the three of them stood by a beautiful blossom tree that overlooked the landscape of Anima, near the old house that Ren and Nora turned into theirs, renovating it to be a comfortable home. It took some time – and they even offered to let others live there with them, but everyone was happy with their Yurts or living in the other repaired structures here.

This house was theirs – and theirs alone.

"Who was it?" Li asked them curiously.

"Arslan – she was the last surviving member of Team A.B.R.N. We didn't know her… or her team… very well. But they were good people – looked like she was being hunted by them for years, I don't think there was anywhere left for her to go." Nora explained.

"She was shot in the head right in front of them. Ruby and Yang didn't even flinch." Ren stated with concern in his voice.

"You're worried about those two, aren't you?" Li asked.

"I'm worried about all of us, dad. What this world is doing to us? We kill without question anymore and whenever we see people die we don't even flinch. This wasn't the life we wanted." Ren said with sadness in his voice, and Li nodded his head in agreement.

"I know – I did let the bloodshed of the world override my morals once… and well… you know what happened because of that." He stated, gesturing to his eyes. None of them forgot his story, about how he was responsible for Icarus becoming the monster he was today. "But do not lose your faith in what you fight for." Li stated.

"I know… it's just hard to fight for people when they all want you dead." Ren said.

"It may be… but you can see it so simply from here." Li said as he held out his hand to the beautiful landscape. "From up here? You cannot see Salem… you cannot see the Black Gallows or the Feral Ones. Just the beauty of our world… and the possibility of what it could be. The people may hunt you… but do not forget what Salem is. And what she truly stands for – otherwise… when she wins? All of this will become nothing more than a Barren Wasteland. Claimed only by the Forces of Darkness." Li explained.

Ren chuckled. "You always know what to say." Ren said, which made Li smile. He gently hold the back of his son's head and pressed his forehead against his.

"You are the best of us, the two of you." Li said, looking to Nora. "I am forever grateful you found each other that day back in Kuroyuri."

Nora and Ren looked at each other with adoring smiles, warmly holding each other's hands. Li left them together as they walked into their home together.

Hours passed… and the sun set behind the Horizon, letting the dark sky and shimmering stars stretch across the gorgeous sky.

Nora came out from the shower, her pink towel wrapped around her body, turning to see Ren sat on the bed. His hair was still damp after he just had a shower as well, seeing some of his scars on his chest as well. She was not the only one who had scars unlike six years prior – they all had scars on them. From Grimm and the many threats that they had faced out there in the world. She gently held her towel to her damp body and walked over to him. "Hey…" She softly said to him, walking over to him.

"Hey, honey…" Ren said to her as he rubbed his shoulder.

"You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah… yeah… think my shoulder took a hit back at Argus. It's fine, just aches a little." He said as he rolled his shoulder. Nora smiled and she continued to look at him with a smile. Ren raised a brow. "Uh oh…"

"What?" She giggled.

"Whenever you do that smile it usually means you're planning something – what's on your mind?" He nervously asked. Usually that smile meant she had done something chaotic; it was Nora Valkyrie after all.

"Oh, no! No…" She laughed, shaking her head. "No I… I have been thinking a lot lately. About what we talked about? The night you proposed to me?" Nora asked as she gently fiddled with her engagement ring. It was gorgeous, with a sapphire and diamond in the gold and silver metal that composed it. On the same finger as her Wedding Ring.

"That was a nice night." He said with a smile.

"It was." She giggled. "And… if you are… I am ready." She said to him with a smile.

"For what?" He asked her.

"You know…" She said to him. "You've always wanted to start a family – I was nervous for a while but… I'm ready." She said with a smile. "I want this." She whispered as she approached him and crouched down, pressing her head to his. She then felt his warm hands caress her cheek. He kissed her lovingly, and when they broke, their eyes met once more.

"Then let's build a future." He whispered.

Ren looked Nora in the eyes, and she held the back of his neck with both hands and pulled him to her lips. They shared one long and passionate kiss, Ren looped one arm behind her curved back and lifted her onto his lap as he kissed her again and again, gently pushing his hand through her long locks and braids of orange hair.

Reader Warning: Sex Scene Starts Here

Nora frantically began to kiss him again and again, her chest pressed against his. She then felt his hands move underneath the towel, and she smiled, feeling him push the towel from her naked body. It was nothing new to him – yet she always left him in awe at her beauty. The scars just made her more gorgeous in his eyes, beautiful lightning marks covered her torso, her arms and her legs, but they were faint – even looked like tattoos now. Nora continuously kissed him again and again.

Ren stroked her back gently whilst Nora lovingly kissed him, she sat upright and felt his hands caress her round globes, squeezing them. She sighed with pleasure as she felt his hands caress her body. She then reached down to his trousers and started to undo them, loosening them and pulling them from his legs, alongside his underwear. She sat over him and felt his manhood with her hand, smiling as she kissed him again. She gasped with joy as he entered her, before he kissed her, his arms embraced her close whilst her hands pushed through his long hair. She caressed his cheeks, and stroked his stubble, before her hands slid back down towards his pecks and she shoved him back down to the bed.

She held him against the furs, Nora looked down at him with a smile as she felt his arm hold onto her back and the other caressed her cheek. She kissed him, then started she rose up away from him and he closed his eyes as she rocked her womanhood atop his erection, his hands caressed her curves and her stomach as she panted with him, rocking back and forth. Nora arched her back as she gasped with pleasure, reaching her hands down to his manhood, holding his member inside of her. Ren reached his hands up to her breasts, holding them and then stroking her slender neck. Nora leant down to him and kissed him again and again, and Ren held the back of her head, stroking her soft orange hair. She continued to rock back and forth over his manhood, and he reached around her hips, holding her buttocks and squeezing them.

He rose up to meet her, and she wrapped her arms around his back as he kissed her. He anchored his arm around her back as she continued to rock atop his manhood, and he started to thrust deeper and deeper into her. Nora moaned joyfully into his mouth, kissing him relentlessly. Her hands stroked his stubble and gently held either onto the side of his neck or onto his shoulder as he thrusted inside of her over and over again. Her legs moved around his pelvis. One hand reached down to her buttock, holding her as she rocked on his erection, whilst the other held the back of her head. He squeezed her buttock and then stroked across her leg, before moving back up and tucking it down into her womanhood. Nora looped one arm around the back of his neck, and she stroked around some of his scars, moaning loudly into his mouth.

Nora panted excitedly into his ear as he pulled her closer, feeling her warm breasts against his chest, both their bodies started to bead with sweat from the excitement that was building inside of them. She stroked his cock with her other hand as he continued to make love to her. Nora pressed her head into his shoulder as she let out even louder moans of ecstasy, her nails starting to dig against his skin. The Valkyrie reared back, and she started to cry out with joy as Ren held onto her, and he kissed her breasts as she arched her back, one arm still around her back to keep her from falling. She held onto the back of his neck as he kissed her breasts, working his way down her chest, before rising back up to her lips.

He then took her and flipped her down onto the bed and started to thrust into her over and over again. Nora laughed and moaned joyously, feeling his hand sliding across her side and then down into her womanhood, tickling her below before stroking across her hip and down her leg which hooked around his pelvis again.

He held her hip as he pushed himself inside her, and Nora moaned into his mouth as they kissed, he then wrapped one arm under her back and she pushed her womanhood upwards, grasping the furs tight as she got closer and closer. Ren kissed her neck and went down her neck to her breasts, before making his way back up to her once more. Nora closed her eyes with a smile as she gasped louder and louder, her blue eyes widened as Ren took her hands and held her down against the furs.

They both panted and moaned together, getting closer and closer. Ren released her hands, grasping the pillow beside her, and the other went under her back, lifting her up slightly as he repeatedly thrusted. Ren then took his hand which was holding the pillow as stroked across her side, and caressed her leg, then moving back up to her cheek, fisting through her hair as he kissed her passionately. "I'm so close!" Nora cried out, and Ren held onto the headboard.

Nora's eyes widened as she moaned louder, and a pink glow slowly built up in her eyes and through her Lightning Scars.

And then… Nora could not hold on any longer and she climaxed with a laughing moan of joy, and Ren soon followed. Nora's eyes shone pink with her scars, and Ren kissed her scars as they finished, gently kissing the ones on the side of her neck again. Ren pressed his head to hers as they sighed together, exhausted and aching with their lovemaking. They both laid together on the bed, sharing passionate kisses together as Ren gently pressed his head down against her sternum.

Reader Warning: Sex Scene Ends Here

Nora smiled as she caressed his head, looking up at the skylight of the beautiful stars flickering overhead. "I love you… Lie… I love you so much." She whispered into his ear, and he caressed her cheek again, looking into her eyes.

"I love you too… Nora." He whispered, before kissing her again.

Ruby

Darkness…

… it was everywhere. Alongside a strange sound… the sound of cawing Corvid Birds. Ruby shook in her bed with Penny gently snuggled up to her as they slept through the night, but her dreams were nowhere near as comforting as the warm fur sheets that covered their bodies from the cold. Ruby found herself in yet another familiar nightmare, she drew Black Thorn with gritted teeth and shining Silver Eyes.

"Show yourself!" Ruby yelled as she looked for him, hearing the caws grow louder and louder.

"Ruby…" Qrow's voice whispered from the darkness. She stared into the shadows, seeing him stood there. Looking right at her, but Ruby gritted her teeth as she glared at him. "Ruby…" Raven's voice was the one who spoke this time.

Then a dark and familiar laugh emerged behind her, and she turned as the Fatal Feathers extended from his arms. "Hello again, my little one. Did you think we would not still be watching?" Jackdaw asked as he circled her. Ruby closed her eyes, pushing them away… until she heard the one she dreaded the most.

The Chimes…

… the whispers grew.

"Valravn… Valravn… Valravn…"

Ruby turned, as if her hairs stood on end. And he emerged from the shadows as if he were really there, eyes glowing blood red as he glared directly at her. "Child of Cursed Blood… you still wander yet aimlessly. Towards a certain doom you cannot escape… you will fall." Valravn snarled, his voice as dark and croaky as it ever was. Ruby glared at him with gritted teeth.

"Go away…" She snarled.

"You are wounded, Child. Filled with disease and rot… a rot that will spread and grow… until there is nothing left at all." Valravn whispered as he stare directly into her eyes.

"You're dead… stop talking to me… you're not real." Ruby mumbled, closing her silver eyes as she looked away from him.

"How long will you run until you face it? The end of your journey… it is coming." He whispered.

"Get out of my head." Ruby repeated.

"Your wound? You have to face it – or it will kill you." Valravn growled.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Ruby howled, her eyes ignited and Valravn vanished into the light, alongside Jackdaw, Raven and Qrow.

Ruby gasped, waking up suddenly from her nightmare, sweating and shaking. She stifled her breaths, closed her large silver eyes and breathing in through her nose. She turned to her side, seeing Penny still asleep beside her. Penny always was one deep sleeper, took quite a lot to wake her – perhaps she didn't actually scream when she woke? Ruby gently caressed Penny's shoulder as turned herself around, hands pressed to her knees. She reached over to the dressing gown, covering her up – since she was only in her underwear.

Before she reached the door, she stopped by the chest in their Yurt, and she saw tucked away in the corner – was the Letter. She closed her eyes, remembering when Taiyang found it in his pocket.

Hey Ruby… I found this in my pocket… he must have put it there when I wasn't noticing. He made one for both you… for you and Yang.

Who?

Qrow. I think… you should read what he said.

But Ruby never did – six years later she still never opened that letter to see what he said. He may have come back with Raven and Jackdaw and died fighting Valravn and even killing him. And killing each other… but she still could never forgive him for what he did. Not just in killing Summer – but for the lie. Nineteen years of her life – all of it was a lie. And now at Twenty-Five, she still could never open it.

Neither did Yang.

However Yang kept it close just as Ruby did, but they still refused to read whatever it was he wrote. And just like then… she ignored it and walked to the zipped-up door of their yurt.

Ruby quietly stepped outside and sat on the step of their Yurt, and she pushed her hand through her hair as she sat there. The cold breeze felt nice after waking up in such a sweat from that nightmare.

"Another nightmare?" Maria's voice popped up from out of nowhere. Ruby turned to see the elderly woman walking with her stick over to her.

"You can't sleep either?" Ruby asked.

"Heh… never could." Maria admitted as she walked over to Ruby and sat down next to her. "So… you want to answer my question?"

Ruby chuckled. "Yeah…" Ruby sighed.

"Valravn?" She presumed, and Ruby just nodded her head. "It's been a while since you saw him in your dreams."

"I know… I don't know why it's popping up again." She sighed.

"Well… it could be the anniversary affect." Maria suggested. Ruby looked at her with curiosity. "It's a side effect of Post Traumatic Stress. Sometimes you can go the whole year up to that point with hardly anything… but as soon as the anniversary of that event comes closer? You remember it… and you start to experience the symptoms again."

Maria clutched her walking stick tight; her mechanical eyes closed as she sighed. "Trust me." Maria assured, and Ruby nodded her head.

"I know he's dead… we went to where they died… found Qrow, Raven and Jackdaw. We buried them – but we also saw their wounds that they died from. None of them were done by Harbinger – yet it was covered in blood. And Valravn's weapon was broken and left behind… there's no way he'd be alive… but the fact I never saw his body? It still scares me to think he is still out there." Ruby explained, and Maria nodded his head. "I should have listened to you warning sooner."

"You couldn't have known, Ruby. Valravn… even I wasn't completely certain. But I heard the stories about what he was capable of. And at the end of the day I had no idea about Qrow and Raven." Maria admitted. "But – I think we both know that if Valravn was alive somehow? He would have found you by now. It's been six years… and he was here, and knew this would be your only safe haven. He would have come for you." Maria explained, and Ruby nodded her head in agreement.

Luckily – Ruby's fears were nothing for her to worry about, for Valravn was dead. His body may not have been found… but it was because his body turned into the Ravens and Crows in his final moment as he died. Who knows what happened to the birds… but with certainty… he was dead and gone forever.

He only existed in her mind now.

Maria then glanced at Ruby. "Have you read his letter, yet?" Maria inquired, and Ruby just shook her head. "Why not? It might give you the closure you need."

"I don't need closure, not from him. Jackdaw told me the truth – and he lied to me my entire life. How can I believe a single word written on that piece of paper?" Ruby questioned, still bitter – perhaps for the rest of her life. Maria could hardly fault her for her anger, it was quite the lie and betrayal he kept from her.

"It could help you, though. To just see what he wanted you to know." Maria said.

"No. I'm sorry, Maria – but I'm never reading it. I don't care about what he wanted to tell me… he should have told me a lot of things a long time ago." Ruby stated, and Maria nodded her head.

"Then why haven't you burnt it?" Maria asked, standing up and walking away from Ruby. Maria gently touched her shoulder as she walked away, leaving Ruby to ponder on that. She sat there and wrung her hands together as she thought about it. Her eyes closed and she bowed her head, until a gentle and warm hand squeezed her shoulder.

Penny sat down next to her and smiled. Resting her head on Ruby's shoulder. She did not have to ask – she knew exactly what was going on. The two of them could read each other like an open book.

They just quietly sat together outside their Yurt, just enjoying the view of the Night Sky.

Robyn

The Argus Limited sat still as the passengers both disembarked and embarked the huge train. Humans and Faunus alike were getting aboard, with great ease and with nobody giving them any second looks. And yet both sides felt a shade of concern as they sat down, as the Black Gallows were always aboard it, with weapons at the ready and constantly keeping an eye out for any recognisable faces.

However they did not even notice the Happy Huntresses who were in one of the suites. They didn't even need their hoods up; it would have raised more attention than not – the soldier looked at them but just continued. Robyn chuckled. "Dutch wasn't kidding, they really don't recognise our faces."

"Well Killian did throw you through the window of Ironwood's Office. Can't say I blame him for thinking you're dead. As for the rest of us? Well… Dutch made one hell of a convincing death for us all." Fiona said with a smile on her face.

She remembered exactly how it went down, as he set off explosives extremely close to them, and May swiftly used her Semblance to cloak them and they got aboard his Airship as fast as possible. The explosion was so powerful that the rubble itself melted and some of it was even vaporised, making it one hell of an impressive falsehood. Their names were nowhere to be seen, yet they still had to be careful. Just because they did not recognise them after Six Years… it did not mean that someone wouldn't notice them eventually.

May closed their door so then the Black Gallows couldn't glare at them. "So? What's the plan?" Joanna asked Robyn.

"Well… Dutch gave us that Contact of his. The one who wants to figure out what he is up to and what happened six years ago. We're gonna go meet her and talk with her. Hopefully, she is still interested in taking that son of a bitch down." Robyn explained.

"We sure she can be trusted?" May asked.

"Pretty certain. She has a pretty good reason for wanting to bring his ass down." Robyn stated.

"Did she lose someone?" Fiona asked with concern in her voice.

"Yeah… a part of her family." Robyn answered. "Jaune Arc."

"We're gonna go speak with Saphron Cotta-Arc?" Joanna sked with surprise in her voice.

"Not Saphron, her wife. Terra-Cotta. Killian's Foster Sister." She revealed.

"Damn… didn't you say she is the only family he really has? Well… apart from you? When you were Veronica?" May asked curiously.

"Yeah, her father's gone, and the mother is still in a critical condition. I don't think she has very long if I'm being honest. If Killian is gonna… crack… we need to take him down before he does. I can't imagine the level of destruction it could cause if he completely loses his mind. Losing his Foster Mother and his Foster Sister turning on him? He could completely fall off the deep end."

The Argus Limited started moving, headed straight for the Free City of Argus.

"Isn't that what we want? If he goes crazy then nobody can deny the threat he poses. Could be our first step to bringing down Salem." Joanna suggested.

"But what about the innocents that could die?" Fiona asked her.

"Nail on the head, Fiona. I don't want to risk any casualties – and besides, this is a delicate situation. I know how things work; I was raised in Mantle. And I know how ideologies work. We already saw the start of it with the Puritan Followers who believed in Killian's way of thinking six years ago. But those Followers are basically Salem's Followers now. People who follow her blindly, people like that are incredibly dangerous. I don't want this operation leading to wars in the future. Otherwise it is all for nothing. Salem will still be causing death on a cataclysmic scale. The truth needs to go out there – but we have to be smart about it." Robyn explained.

"I mean… let's be real here… what we want here? It isn't that different to what Salem has already done. Wanting new leadership in place, of course we don't want the Queen of the Grimm leading, but we don't want corruption either. But remember back when the Inhumane Necessity happened? The riots on the news? How many people died because of it? If we're not careful, even more people could die."

Joanna and May agreed, nodding their heads. "Fucking Politics… I hate it." May grumbled, which made Robyn chuckle.

"So? What's the best course of action?" Joanna asked.

"We need to gather as much intel about the enemy as we can. We already know Killian is on the brink of losing his mind thanks to Dutch and from when I was Veronica. But… the other Children of Salem are a mystery. We need more information on them, and on the Black Gallows itself. People are in the dark on a lot of things, if we are gonna get information out there – we have to be smart about it. Not all at once, and drip feed it."

"Not all at once?" May asked.

"We gotta water the truth down. We give them horrifying truths all at once, the public won't want to believe it. And the Black Gallows could easily fabricate a lie to replace it and everyone will decide to listen to the people in charge. People don't want to see what's behind the curtain, they like being in that shadow. But sooner or later – they have to see the truth." Robyn explained.

"So drip by drip… we quench their thirst." May said, and Robyn snapped her fingers. "Exactly. By interrupting their convoys we can learn as much intel as we can. There's gonna be conflict against Salem and the Black Gallows, that is inevitable. Nothing we can do to change that. But we need to be certain that after that conflict is over – it stays that way."

"That won't be easy. The people who believe in Salem's methods won't just disappear or suddenly change their whole way of thinking for ours." Joanna stated.

"Yeah… that's the part I'm trying to figure out. We would need a piece of information – a truth – that is completely undeniable. And we would have to release it at the right moment. I mean… too much information after we beat Salem could be dangerous as well. Could cause panic and start conflict between the two sides. It's a delicate situation." Robyn explained with a sigh.

"Yeah… as I said. I hate Politics." May stated, in which they all raised their glasses.

"I'll drink to that." Fiona admitted.

It took them a few hours of laying low on the Argus Limited – just in case – to get to Argus, but eventually they arrived. Robyn looked around with wide eyes, seeing the aftermath of Ruby's rampage against the Black Gallows and the Leviathan earlier today. With night fallen, they stuck to the shadows as they approached Terra's home, and they peered through the window, with hoods up.

They were eating dinner at the table – and Adrien was now six years old, no longer a tiny baby playing with toys. "How was work?" Saphron asked Terra.

"It was fine… I had to patch up a couple of soldiers. Did you hear it was Ruby Rose who killed that Leviathan?" Terra asked curiously.

Saphron couldn't help but laugh. "Of course it was her… that chick was always one to go a little extra." Saphron stated.

"You're telling me." Terra chuckled.

"Ruby? Do you mean… Uncle Jaune's friend Ruby?" Adrien curiously asked. The two of them froze for a moment and Saphron squeezed her eyes shut with grief. Adrien was too young to really remember that much of Jaune, not enough for it to hurt like it did for these two. But it seemed to anger Terra more than upset, because it was her Brother who played a part in it.

"Yes, honey. Uncle Jaune's friend." Terra nodded with a smile. Saphron stood up and took their finished plates to the Kitchen, then she yelped with shock, nearly dropping them when she saw Robyn Hill stood there. But Robyn raised her finger to her lips, then raised her Scroll. Terra drew the knife left on the table and pointed it at Robyn.

She was about to speak until they read Robyn's Scroll.

Not a word, they could be listening.

Then they heard that someone was inside, searching through things yet they could not see them. After a few minutes, May revealed herself, holding something in her hand. Something that made the couple feel sick.

"Knew it… Salem had someone bug your house. Your relation to Killian must have been enough for her to be cautious, make sure nobody would try anything with Killian's only family he has left." May said as she crushed the deactivated Microphone.

"What the hell?" Saphron gasped.

"Looks like Killian's paranoia is getting worse by the day." Robyn shrugged her shoulders.

"You… you're Veronica." She gasped.

"Robyn Hill. That was just a character I posed as to try and get information from Killian. And it worked until Watts figured out who I really was." Robyn explained as they shut the curtains.

"The hell are you doing here?" Saphron asked.

"We're friends with the Man in the Mask." Robyn told Terra, her eyes widened and Saphron looked at her with confusion.

"Took him long enough." Saphron scoffed.

Fiona and Joanna revealed themselves as well, and Robyn raised a brow. "Yeah I told my wife, who do you think I am? Nathan?" Terra scoffed.

"You definitely have his bite." Robyn shrugged with a chuckle.

"Why come now? He contacted me years ago, then went silent and now he sends you guys here? Why?" Terra questioned, Saphron turned to little Adrien, gently stroking his hair as he hugged his mother's leg.

"Because we're not hiding anymore. We needed to keep our heads down after what happened in Atlas six years ago… but now we can't wait any longer. I know you want to know more, and you know your brother was involved." Robyn explained.

"Yeah… the fact the Black Gallows were involved kinda showed that." Terra stated.

"Well, we want the same thing. I know you're a detective, a damn good one too. If anyone can help us find answers it would be you." Robyn explained.

"Hold on… you ladies clearly know more about what happened than I do… so please… fill us in. I need to know what happened to my Brother-In-Law and what Nathan did. I know he works for Salem… but what happened? What part did he play?" She asked.

Robyn decided she would tell the truth. "He planned on getting rid of the U.G.R without destroying the Huntsmen Academies. I think Salem wanted to try the same thing, but as we all know – the Vytal Consensus was a failure. The U.G.R completely got rid of the thing because they knew it would have major changes to a system that they enjoyed. It left them no choice but to use the Inhumane Necessity." Robyn explained – honestly.

"No choice? Jaune was murdered. Pyrrha was murdered. So many men and women were murdered that night… children." Terra explained, her heart broke when she said the last one. She could still remember that night at Sanctum when those Raven Talons held guns at her head, demanding she leave. It was at that moment she knew Killian had done something terrible.

"Yes – Salem, Killian – all of them. They decided it was better to massacre them all after the Consensus failed. So they wiped out the U.G.R, and then the Academies. We were there in the Foundations of Sovereignty when the U.G.R were slaughtered. Your brother lost something that day… and I think he is getting worse. We need to stop him before he snaps." Robyn explained, and Terra paced around, pushing her hand through her hair. Saphron wiped a tear from her eye and crouched down to her son.

"Hey, Adrien… c'mon honey, let's go in your room. Let Mommy talk with these ladies, okay?" Saphron softly said to the scared boy who nodded his head. Terra gently held her wife's hand as she left, before turning back to Robyn.

"This… this is bad…" Terra explained.

"Yes… the issue is we have no proof to back up what happened. The only footage has been doctored to hell by Watts to make it seem real." Robyn explained.

"Oh I knew that from the second I saw that footage. Ruby, Jaune… Pyrrha… all of them. They would have never done the things that security footage showed. No that was the Black Gallows… and the Children of Salem." Terra agreed.

"We have a plan. We need to find good evidence we can use against Killian and start spreading it. We need allies against Salem, and I know there are plenty of despise her rule. We know this will cause a war… our job is to make sure we do not let this lead to wars following her defeat. Otherwise this is all for nothing." Fiona explained.

"And the best place to start is to go after the Black Gallows and all their secrets. Our Mutual Friend inside the Black Gallows can only do so much before he becomes a suspect of betrayal. Meaning we will have to find our own answers." Robyn explained. "So… are you interested in joining us? Because… I won't lie to you… it will be dangerous."

Terra stood there and she held her hands against the table. "My brother… helped the monster who killed my brother-in-law. Saph… she was heartbroken… she woke up crying in the night, I took entire weeks off work to be with her to make sure she was okay. And my baby boy has grown up in a household… confused to why his parents always seemed to be upset. All because of my brother." Terra growled with anger, slamming her fist against the table, turning to face them.

"So yeah – I'll help you. I want to make my brother face the music, and the punishment for what he did to my family. That is what I owe Jaune." Terra stated.

Robyn walked over to Terra and held out her hand. "Then it's high time we got to work." Robyn said, and Terra took her hand and shook it.

Ren

The loving couple laid together in bed, Nora in his arms – his little spoon. His arms wrapped around her as they slept, and Ren started to come to. He caressed her long copper hair, kissing her affectionately on the cheek, as he gently let go of her and got up out of bed. He opened the door to the private balcony, stood there with his hands against the railing.

He stared out at the beautiful landscape beneath him, that stretched on for miles. The glowing colourful lights of the Summit shimmered gorgeously above him. He tensed, grasping the rail of the balcony tighter as he closed his eyes – picturing Jaune and Pyrrha in his mind.

He couldn't get it out of his head… the fact that the last time he ever saw Jaune and Pyrrha… he and Nora were so angry at them. Nora was the person to say the last thing to Pyrrha… and it was…

Well… you have already abandoned who you were…

And the last thing Ren ever said to Jaune was…

I don't even know who it is I am looking at anymore…

Did he mean it? Or was he just angry about how they became so divided? They could be able to reconcile with Pyrrha if they ever met her again… but Jaune? There was no chance anymore, and that truth hurt harder than anything. It was why it kept on lingering in his mind.

All their sacrifices… everything they went through together… was destroyed in a single night.

Suddenly he felt a loving and warm comfort wrap around his chest from behind. He turned as he saw Nora, awake, behind him, gently holding him. "Hey… you okay?" Nora asked him with concern in her voice. He smiled as he turned around and gently held her close, caressing her hair as she pressed her head to his peck.

"Better now…" Ren assured as he held her close. She then took his hand and gently pressed it against her belly.

"We're gonna have a family… Renny…" She cooed with an adoring smile. "… if you told me ten years ago… we'd be married… and having a baby… well… I dunno how I'd react back then. Probably kiss you on the spot." Nora giggled, remembering how much she used to pine for him. "Then probably explode."

"Sounds about right." He then gently poked her little nose. "Boop…" He said to her, which made her smile brightly at him.

"I don't know what I would do without you…" She whispered, he gently held her and kissed her lovingly. When they broke their kiss he smiled.

"Probably would have destroyed half the Grimm-Kingdom." Ren chuckled, which made her laugh.

"Well hey… with all the little Noras and Rens that'll be running around here? Salem won't stand a chance." Nora giggled.

"How many you planning on?" Ren asked her with a smile.

"Hmm… how many is a Cavalry?" She wondered, which made Ren laugh again. They both laughed together, then she looped her arms around the back of his neck. "I love you, Ren…"

"And I love you – my little sloth." Ren joked, which made her giggle again, before they shared a long passionate kiss together.

Oscar

"Who the hell are you?" Oscar growled with anger, picking up a screwdriver and pointing it at the Professor who was now pacing around, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I already told you – Professor Ozpin." He answered.

"How did you get in here? And tell me why I shouldn't put this Screwdriver through your fucking face?" Oscar snarled.

"Well… it appears I have become bonded with someone with an upbringing of survival. From the Branwen Tribe… no less. Interesting… how things seem to always come back together." Ozpin said, sounding disappointed – not with Oscar – but with the Branwens after the Hunters informed him on what Qrow did to Summer.

"What?" Oscar questioned.

"You can try and kill me, Oscar. But I am afraid you will have extraordinarily little success… because I am a part of you now." Ozpin explained as he walked around the room, shimmering in and out from time to time.

"I don't… u-under-u-understand." Oscar felt like gravity was becoming heavier and heavier, dragging him to the floor. He fell to one knee, pressing his hand against his forehead.

"I do not intend to hurt you, or anyone you care about – you can be certain of that. I actually intent to help you… against Salem." Ozpin explained.

"Just… go away… whatever you are, just go away. Professor Ozpin is dead, he died at Beacon Academy." Oscar stammered.

"Indeed I did, by Salem's hand. I did not realise she had the Relic of Destruction, and my error has cost Remnant dearly. But I am not going to give up on my duty, Oscar Pine. And I know… from your memories… you will not stand for this either. This is not the world you wanted to live in."

"The hell do you know about me?" Oscar viciously growled, glaring at him.

"I know your Aunt and Uncle were slaughtered by my Former-Student, Jackdaw Branwen. I know Raven Branwen took you in alongside Cinder Fall after the first Battle of Beacon, and she taught you how to fight and become a survivor. And I also know that you and your family had to kill the last remaining members of the tribe to survive… and that this detail haunts you." Ozpin stated as he crouched down beside him, but Oscar yelled and swung around with the Screwdriver at Ozpin's eye.

Only for Ozpin to disappear.

Oscar stumbled to the floor with nothing for the screwdriver to impact but air. He grunted as he hit the floor, tasting the dirt in his mouth where the Airship was covered up. "It's going to take a lot more than a screwdriver to be rid of me, Oscar."

"What will it take?" Oscar barked, only to see Ozpin suddenly appear right in front of him. It was like he grabbed him by the back of the neck, staring directly at him.

"If you wish to be rid of me so badly then you might as well take that screwdriver and be done with it. Drive it right into your own head if you must. Go on then – if you are not the soul I am meant to be bound to, then free me from you. Or get off your ass and do something to help the state of the world." Ozpin demanded, he sounded angry – something that was rare from Ozpin.

Perhaps knowing what Salem did… had angered him badly. "Fuck… you…" Oscar growled as Ozpin paced around the room.

"She killed so many people I held dear. I watched helplessly as she slaughtered them all. Jaune Arc. Jaymes Ickford. Peter Port. Cardin Winchester. Sun Wukong. Neptune Vasillias. Everyone I promised I would help and bring them a better future… I failed them all. I will not fail those who are left." Ozpin stated as he looked down at Oscar, crouching down in front of him.

"I normally prefer the gentler treatment of introducing myself… but someone from your upbringing clearly needs a firmer hand." Ozpin stated, staring right at him. "But I would rather this bond we now share to be more than just arguments, Mr Pine."

"I… I don't understand… how is this even possible?" Oscar stammered, and he rose higher.

"I am not like most people, Oscar. I am closer to Salem than you can possibly imagine… but in time you will. I am cursed – cursed to constantly join with the minds of a soul. Likeminded or not…" Ozpin explained. "Only when Salem is defeated may I finally rest – and you will be free from me. We both are bound… set on the same course, Oscar. And with Killian's recent discussion with Cinder Fall… I imagine you know that very soon she will send someone else here. For… Pyrrha Nikos… a mystery even I do not understand yet."

"How many memories of mine do you… know?" Oscar stammered as he started to stand back up.

"I have been in your head ever since I died, Oscar. Only now has my curse allowed me to communicate with you. It is a strenuous and unpredictable process. I am always aware of whom I am bond… but sometimes it takes longer for me to really communicate with them. It took me six years for you… not the longest… but it is up there." Ozpin admitted, shrugging his shoulders.

"I… I don't want any part of this. I don't care if it is just bad luck that you bonded to me… or if it's something dumb like destiny – hell I don't even believe in that shit – it doesn't matter. I don't want any of what you're selling." Oscar stated, he walked towards the door, but Ozpin appeared in front of him. Oscar staggered backwards, but Ozpin held his hand up, his expression changing.

"Stop… listen…" Ozpin told him, so Oscar did so. They both listened and Oscar approached the crack in the Barn Door with wide eyes, hearing the sound of Airships and Trucks driving across the road towards their home.

"Who the hell are these clowns?" Oscar softly said, then the lead truck – a Hovering Tank – drifted across the road onto their front garden, and it opened up.

Adam Taurus climbed out from it with Wilt and Blush in his hand as he stared at the house, and Icarus dove down, landing on the turret next to him, massive Mechanical Wings folding back into his pack.

"Who the hell is that?" Oscar whispered.

"Adam Taurus… and Icarus…" Ozpin gasped. "Children of Salem…"

"Oh fuck…"

"CINDER FALL! GET OUT HERE WITH PYRRHA NIKOS!" Adam demanded, but as Oscar listened, his eyes widened to what he was saying to the Feral Ones on the radio. "Give 'em to the count of five then give 'em everything… actually… LET 'EM HAVE IT!" Adam yelled, and all the soldiers and vehicles opened fire on the Farmhouse.

Oscar gasped, staggering backwards from the door. "Do you believe in destiny now?" Ozpin asked curiously.

Author Note - Really cool to explore this new relationship between Oscar and Ozpin, where Oz isn't as gentle with Oscar here because at the end of the day, that won't work on Oscar. He is tougher and seen some scary shit, so therefore he needs a bit of a stronger hand than what he has been given in Canon. And... shit... Adam and Icarus are here at the Farm.

Adam really has lost his marbles, just opening fire like that.

This was a nice chapter though, loved the stuff with Ren and Nora. First sex scene of Eclipse, quite a sweet one. At least those two are happy and able to start a family together. Ruby and Maria was a great moment too - and I love this thing Ruby has with not just Valravn, but Qrow as well. How he wrote both Ruby and Yang a letter, but neither can bring themselves to read it. Can't say I blame them, he did lie to them their whole lives - do you think they should read it though?

Robyn and Terra, working together. The mission to bring down Killian has officially begun! Let's hope they will be able to, that son of a bitch needs to face justice for what he has done.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!

Stay tuned for the next chapter - Fleeting Joy

- Matt