Chapter 22 – Conflict on the Seas
Oscar
He laid in the corner with his head rested against the wall, asleep… and his eyes started to move around behind his closed eyelids.
Inside… he was adream.
He sat upright in is dream and looked at his palms. For some strange reason it felt like he was not in his own body, but… he was. He uncomfortably scratched the back of his neck and looked around. Unlike the darkness Pyrrha was surrounded by, he saw a thick layer of purple mist in the air. He stood upright; his boots trudged into the almost glowing purple water in the floor. "Hello?" He called out with confusion, then a green light formed behind him. He turned and swiftly reached for his weapon, only to see Ozpin stood before him.
"Hello, Oscar." Ozpin greeted with his hands atop his cane, and he slowly approached.
"Ozpin? What… what is this?" Oscar inquired.
"Well… I guess you could call this my connection. Similar to the one the Branwens have, except unlike the Branwens… old friends could still be seen here." He explained, Oscar turned, and his eyes widened in awe.
A man, clad in armour unlike suit he had ever seen before, approached. He held a Sceptre with a glowing green crystal adorning the very tip of the elegantly crafted spear. He had a dark tanned skin tone and messy brown hair alongside brown eyes. He was a tall man with an impressive stature, yet despite all his strength – it was clear that he was a very humble man. "Hello old friend." Ozpin greeted.
"Who are you?" Oscar asked.
"My name is Ozma. I… am the original form of the man you know as Professor Ozpin. From a time long forgotten." He explained as he gently held his Sceptre in his hands. He sighed and closed his eyes with regret. "I am glad to finally make your acquaintance, Mr Pine. Although I must also give you my sincerest apology. This burden that has been unfairly laid upon your shoulders… I wish it were not the case. But as you know, it is not my choice."
"What is all this? Why am I here?" Oscar asked, and Ozma nodded his head as he walked to Ozpin.
"As Ozpin explained, this place is a realm made for all the incarnations of me. Where we all may come and go as we please, to help guide the next incarnation to help them defeat Salem." Ozma explained.
"How many are there?" Oscar asked.
"I believe you are the seventieth generation." Ozma answered. "Ozpin was your predecessor, and thus he is the one who shall directly guide you. And should you be unable to defeat her this generation, then you will guide the next. But as you can see, know that you will never be alone." Ozma explained.
Oscar turned to the mystical plain he was stood within, and he saw more of the Incarnations forming from the mist. An old frail man hobbled towards him, a larger man with glasses and a short stubbly beard. A tall man with a neatly made moustache, and another with a similar face as to Ozma, just with silver hair instead of brown, wearing what looked to be a Wizard's Attire.
"Of course, we can change the locale of our realm, to make it far less… dreary." Ozpin chuckled, tapping his cane against the floor. It all transformed around them, Oscar watched with wide eyes as a green energy rotated around the realm, and formed blades of grass, and towering structures. In fact… it formed what was once known as Beacon Academy. Most likely a location constructed from Ozpin's specific memories.
"You still haven't answered my question." Oscar commented as he walked with the many iterations of Ozma. "Why have you… summoned… me here?" Oscar asked.
"Ah yes, my apologies." Ozma chuckled softly. "You see, you and Ozpin have connected enough for your soul to become compatible with our domain. Through here, we will be able to teach you the arts of magic that are slowly becoming more capable through your body. You do not know it, but our presence is slowly gifting you with more and more skills."
"And through here, you will be able to learn spells and powers that in the real world would take months. Alongside… learning anything else you need to know." The Drunkard answered, his name was evident to Oscar from the bottle in his hand. Although he never seemed to drink it.
"Wow… that makes a lot of sense. Saves a lot of time too, I guess." Oscar agreed.
"Indeed. Of course, as the God of Light told me when I was reincarnated, the form would ensure that we would all be connected. To never be alone. A soul left alone will only decay and become weaker. Isolation weakens us, but by being connected? We will always be strong." Ozma explained as he walked with Oscar.
They approached a field together, the blades of grass rustled together. "What… what will happen to me? Will you just… possess me?" Oscar inquired.
"No, you have nothing to fear from us. Through reincarnation, we simply act as guides for you, and from time to time the predecessor can take control. This method will also help accelerate your capabilities with our powers and strength. But you will still remain who you are. Just as everyone who came before has been." Ozma explained, then Oscar looked at Ozpin.
"That's nice to know." Oscar said with a smile. "Wait, you said I was the seventieth generation… where are the others? There's only seven of you?" Oscar inquired.
Ozma, The Farmer, The Hermit, The Drunkard, The Settler, The Wanderer and Ozpin himself.
"They are always here, however only the seven of us chose to show ourselves to you today. Maybe some other time. You must understand, for the most part we are at peace, but can always reawaken our souls within you to help whenever you need it." Ozpin explained with a smile.
"So… technically you could be at peace right now? You're choosing to stay with me?" Oscar inquired.
"That is correct." Ozpin assured with a smile; it was humbling to know that Ozpin cared enough to do such a thing.
"Has there ever been one you have… abandoned?" Oscar inquired, Ozma sighed and closed his eyes, then turned to the Wanderer. He bowed his head.
"There was… one…" He admitted.
"Come now, Mr Pine. I believe you must be curious to learn some of the incredible powers you are already capable of?" Ozpin asked as he walked around him.
"Uh, yeah… definitely." Oscar chuckled; excitement bubbled in his chest. Ozpin turned to the Hermit and the old man nodded, forming a glowing green version of a Beowulf. It was like one of Weiss' Summons, just green instead of White.
"Now, watch what I do." Ozpin instructed, he closed his eyes and held up his hand, then he swiftly moved his hand around, forming an ancient magical sign. It was like the Glyphs that Weiss used, but unlike hers, they could make an entire language of powerful spells by marking them out in the air. He made it seem so seamless, then once the sign was completed, with his other hand, he blasted his hand forward.
Suddenly a beam of glowing green lightning erupted from his hand, and completely eradicated the Beowulf. Oscar gasped with disbelief at what he just witnessed. "HOLY SHIT!" He laughed, which made the many incarnations of Ozma chuckle.
"I like him, he was quite the foul mouth, like me." The Drunkard chuckled.
"Oh sorry, I lived with Bandits for a few years… I guess their language rubbed off on me." Oscar chuckled.
"Worry not, we have heard far worse words. Now… repeat what I did." Ozpin said, so Oscar stood in the same position and feebly copied his movements, but not green magical markings formed. All he saw was that Green Beowulf stood there, staring at him.
"I… I can't… I don't even know what I'm…" Oscar sighed.
"Did you think we all figured it out on our first try?" The Settler asked. "I think it took me three real days to figure it out in these dreams."
"Learning the spells at first is hard, in fact it is the hardest part. Casting the signs is much harder than one thinks. But in time, you will not even have to draw the signs, you will be able to do it all immediately. But first you must understand them, like learning a new language." Ozma explained as he walked around him.
"Alright… let's try again…" He sighed and he raised his hand once more, and pressed his finger forward, closing his eyes and focusing. He moved his finger in the same ways that Ozpin did, but when he opened them?
Nothing.
Again.
He groaned in frustration. "Damn it." He sighed, sitting down on a tree stump. Ozpin approached him and tapped his cane on the ground, the sound drew Oscar's eyes to it.
"Tell me… why is that cane so important to you?" Oscar asked.
"How did you know that it was?" Ozpin inquired curiously.
"I… huh?" Oscar asked. "I dunno… I just…"
"You remembered that it is." Ozpin answered, that caught him off guard.
"What do you mean?" Oscar asked.
"Your connection to us goes both ways. Whilst we are aware of your memories and know who you are, you know things about us as well." Ozpin stated. "Well… glimpses, not full memories, and the same goes for our view of your memories."
"You… you all have used this cane, haven't you?" Oscar asked.
Ozma approached and held out his Sceptre. "This is the original form of his cane. We named it The Long Memory. Rather fitting… this weapon is more than just some stick."
"What is it?" Oscar inquired.
"It is an extension of us. It is a part of us, just as we are all a part of each other. The saying Our Weapons are an Extension of ourselves? There is truth behind those words, especially for this particular weapon. All incarnations are able to construct it with magic." Ozma explained, then he glanced to Ozpin and hummed.
"Hmm…" They all had the same idea. "Perhaps we were too rash with our lessons. How about we start there, this lesson will help you understand how to start using magic, but in a very simple way." Ozpin explained as he stood Oscar up and they approached the field.
"Ooooookay." Oscar softly said.
"Hold out your hand, Mr Pine, picture The Long Memory. Feel our memories of the Cane within your own mind, imagine the feeling of the grip, the many enemies that were struck down by it. And from these memories… call upon it. And it will answer your call." Ozpin instructed.
Oscar held out his right hand and closed his eyes. He started to feel memories start flowing into his mind, he could feel the engraved grip of the cane, feel the impact of every strike made.
Then his eyes opened… and he gasped in awe.
A bright green light formed around his hand, and he saw the metal materialise out of thin air, and it quickly constructed the exact same weapon that Ozpin once used. He held it tight in his hand and he moved it back and forth, chuckling. "Whoa… it feels like… I've had this for years… longer even." Oscar admitted.
"In a way… you have." Ozma assured with a smile.
"He's a fast learner." The Farmer chuckled with a smile, then they all heard the nearby crackle of thunder.
Oscar turned and his hazel-coloured eyes widened… there was a storm nearby but was not getting any closer. The grass in that region was dead, and he saw flashes of purple lightning. Stood in this dead realm… was a figure… he was not facing them and kept his head hung down. "Wait… who is that?" Oscar asked.
"Do not mind him. He is nothing to concern yourself with." The Wanderer advised.
"No wait, who is he? You said only previous incarnations would be here… who is that?" Oscar asked, then the Wanderer stared at him.
"The one I abandoned… the one who betrayed us all. The one who spat on our name, and chose chaos, and a lust for power over doing what was right." The Wanderer explained.
"You must remember, Oscar. We do not make people become like us; we simply guide them along the right path. None tended to drift from it… but he did… and chose to leave a sea of blood in his wake. I pray you will not be the same." Ozma explained, gently holding his shoulder. They all turned when they sensed something, a cold feeling was in the air.
"Hmm… it seems you are going to be needed soon. We'd best not keep you here any longer than you need to be. We will see each other again soon, Oscar. Remember… we are always with you." Ozpin promised with a smile.
Oscar awoke with a sharp gasp, like he was thrown back to the real world… but he felt a cold metal sensation in his hand. He looked down and he gasped again… The Long Memory was in his hand.
He lifted his head and saw everyone staring at him with disbelief. "How… did you do that?" Yang asked.
"I… where do I begin?" Oscar chuckled, until suddenly the entire boat they were stowed away on shook. There was no time to give them that very complicated answer, but he immediately holstered The Long Memory and picked up his trustworthy Thunderous Deception weapons. The Chained Hammers were still retracted, the chains rattled as he ran with everyone outside.
The people on the boat were terrified, and they saw the huge beast swimming through the ocean. Huge sails of red spines cut through the surface, then it erupted. It was a Sea Feilong, and it was not alone. Syrens erupted from the water as well, climbing aboard the ship. Resembling beautiful women with scaly tails, they soon transformed when becoming aggressive. Their arms became razor sharp spikes that stabbed through the wood, eyes flushed red and similar spines with red webbing protruded from their back.
They shrieked at them, and the Sea Feilong roared with fury as golden electricity coursed across its body.
Oscar narrowed his eyes.
"It's never easy, is it?" He sighed.
"In my experience? No." Ozpin replied with an entertained chuckle.
Ruby
The Hover Sail effortlessly flew across the lapping waves, and nothing but a blue beauty surrounded them all. Gravity Dust kept the vehicle above the water, but it was just close enough that it kicked up the water in its wake. The sail was constructed from Hardlight Dust, and it shimmered brightly as it helped guide the boat where it needed to go.
Pyrrha elegantly sat along the broadside of the boat, and she ran her fingers through the salty water, watching as dolphins joyfully jumped through the water next to her. As the spray of seawater passed, rainbows refracted through the particles. Pyrrha could not help but chuckle as she sat there, getting their attention. "What's up?" Ruby curiously asked her.
"Oh it's nothing… just… remembering some fond childhood memories." Pyrrha said as she looked out at the beautiful sea. They could see land now; it was not long until they reached Sanus. This Hover Sail truly was a wonderful piece of technology, it could not carry much in the form of resources, but it was extremely fast. In merely a few hours they were already approaching another continent.
"What memory is that?" Penny curiously asked as she shuffled across her seat. Cinder was stood holding the tiller, keeping them in the right direction, her short black hair blowing in the wind due to their speed. Yet despite how fast they were moving, the ride there was extremely relaxing. They were approaching a collection of naturally formed pillars of salt, they were huge and utterly gorgeous, glistening in the hot sun.
Pyrrha smiled as she looked at Penny and Ruby, and she relaxed. "Back when I was little? Gods… how old was I then? I think I was only six, tiny little thing. It was when my dad first took me fishing. After days and days of constant training, he and my mom thought it was a good time to let me do something that was… relaxing." Pyrrha explained, Ruby raised a brow.
"You really have been trained ever since you were a little kid?" Ruby asked her, Pyrrha nodded her head.
"Every Nikos has been… every single Nikos has been a warrior. It's in our blood." Pyrrha stated.
"That's sad." Penny softly said.
"I guess… but I am grateful for my training. Not so much for all the fanfare I got, sure it helped me get into the Academies… but I wanted everyone to see Pyrrha Nikos. Not the Invincible Girl, honestly that was the only part of my constant training I disliked." Pyrrha sighed as she sat there.
"Well, you're more than the Invincible Girl now, aren't you?" Cinder replied, her kindness in that statement genuinely surprised Pyrrha.
"I guess… although that was kinda why I'm glad my mom and dad did things like that time we went fishing. It helped me take time away from all the fighting. Although that time? I still remember it like it was yesterday." Pyrrha chuckled.
"Why's that?" Penny asked.
"Well, at the time I always knew my dad as this… strong warrior. He was kind to me, but when I was little… I was always fighting against him in the courtyard. So I guess I never really connected to him, never saw him as a dad – until that trip. When we were out there, he just started telling me stories. Nothing to do with fighting, or Grimm… just happy stories. About his friends, about mom… and he told me that one of the greatest achievements he ever did… was me." Pyrrha explained with a small smile.
"That's sweet." Ruby smiled.
"Heh… it was calm… until this huuuuuge fish snatched up the bait and started dragging our little boat around the lake."
"Uh oh." Penny giggled.
"Uh oh is right. The thing was huge, and before we knew it, the boat capsized, and we were both in the water. I remember my daddy screaming, terrified I was hurt, but I was just laughing so hard I drank so much dirty water." Pyrrha giggled, which made the others laugh. "Then my mom comes running up to the lake, are you okay? Oh gods are you two, okay? Oh no my family's been eaten by a giant catfish!"
Pyrrha was beaming, she could not see him, but the Brother of Light watched her joy, though he had no face, he was definitely smiling. "Then she saw we were okay… and she was all like… What are you doing? You could've hurt yourselves! Going full protective-mom-mode, y'know?"
"That's my dad all over." Ruby agreed with a chuckle.
"But… when we're just floating there? My daddy just looked at her and said Don't worry honey, we're just swimming!" Pyrrha quoted, making them chuckle, even Cinder cracked a small smile. "That was always my dad… looked scary, being so big and strong… but deep down he is always just a big teddy bear who just loves people. I was sick for a week after all that dirty water I accidentally drank… but… I'd do it all again to relive that memory." Pyrrha explained with a bright smile.
"I liked your parents. I remember when they first came to Beacon after the Battle… they had such a presence about them. But once you got to know them? There was never any reason to be afraid. Hell… back at your home? He was making me cookies every day!" Ruby giggled.
"No wonder you like him." Penny teased.
"Hey, I know I'm predictable, don't judge me." Ruby chuckled.
Cinder looked ahead at the land, passing by the twisting towers of salt, and her hand gripped the tiller tighter. "Hazel taught me how to fish… how to swim…" She revealed, everyone turned their eyes with disbelief.
"Wait… seriously?" Ruby asked, and Cinder nodded her head. "He was still a new member to the Children of Salem then, different to how he is now. He still has honour, respect… but he's completely zealous to Salem now. But I still remember… only a year or two after I… killed my family… and Salem took me in. I was so scared, hiding most of the time… but in time they all helped raise me. Salem in a strange way was like a mother to me, Watts was a teacher, always made me do my homework… Tyrian sometimes played with me."
"Tyrian? Play?" Ruby questioned.
"He was a kid too, once. He was the second one Salem got her hands on… after his home was destroyed. She raised him like she raised me. But Hazel was always the kindest, always looked after me… and he once taught me how to swim. How to fish…" Cinder explained. "Seems like a different lifetime."
"I never pictured Hazel being like that." Penny said.
"I sometimes say the same thing… but… the other way around. I could never picture him being the monster Salem turned him into. But… I still like to remember the good times. The older I got the darker things got… and I realised it was just the same prison as my old home. But Hazel always looked out for me." Cinder stated.
"Is that why you joined Raven? For the chance to be… free?" Pyrrha inquired.
"Something like that… alongside the fact I have seen what she did to those who failed her… or disobeyed her. Salem is not the kind to broker failure… and I knew I would suffer a very horrible consequence for failing to acquire the Beacon Relic and fail to kill Ozpin." She explained. "I was gonna let myself die after you stopped me from killing Pyrrha." Cinder looked at Ruby, and the Silver Eyed Warrior lowered her head. "Then Raven opened a portal to save me… I guess she saw me falling and noticed I gave up."
"You miss her?" Ruby inquired.
"All the time… I know what she did to your mom, her and your Uncle. But… I wouldn't be who I am today if not for her."
"Not just her, Cinder. And not just Amber, either. Don't count out the changes you made on yourself… by yourself. You have come a long way from Beacon." Penny explained.
"Maybe." Cinder replied.
The Hover Sail continued to soar across the ocean, passing by the Pillars of Salt, Pyrrha looked at the beautiful natural formations. Seagulls and other beautiful birds were perched up on them, and they even saw some seals lazing about on the surface of the salt. Little pups rolling around adorably, covered in soft white fur. "They're so cuuuuute!" Ruby gasped with huge glistening eyes. "I wanna hold one and hug it so tight!"
"You can't steal a baby seal." Cinder sighed.
"Aww, c'mon! Lemme just… stroke one? Please?" Ruby begged.
"Hey, you wanna get your arm ripped off by its mother, be my guest." Cinder replied, Ruby continued to reach out for the adorable pups.
"It's tempting…" Ruby softly said.
"Ruby no!" Penny squeaked.
"Alright Fiiiiiiine." Ruby groaned, rolling her huge silver eyes. The Hover Sail continued its path through the canyon of salt, unaware of what was lurking behind one of the pillars. The lights activated, and the Gyrfalcon disconnected its limbs that kept it latched onto the salt, and the powerful roaring thrusters ignited. It banked around the pillar and pursued after them.
Cinder kept them moving, nearly not hearing them over Ruby and the others talking, until that familiar roar echoed louder and louder. Her amber eye widened, and she spun around, seeing the huge Gyrfalcon gaining on them.
She stared directly into the cockpit, spotting Emerald and Mercury inside. "Oooh, shit. EVERYONE HANG ON!" Cinder yelled.
The tranquillity of the sea was shattered as the Gyrfalcon opened fire on them, blasting bullets at them repeatedly, and it easily dodged the incoming Salt Pillars. Pyrrha stared at the Gyrfalcon as it kept coming after them, and she connected her two sorts together, making them transform into the Rifle Form, just as Milo did once before. Pyrrha opened fire, locking herself in position whilst Cinder skilfully kept them safe.
"How far are we from land?" Ruby called out.
"With that thing hounding us? Too far, try and give me some time!" Cinder yelled.
"You got it!" Ruby assured, drawing Black Thorn, and Penny activated Floating Array, and her thrusters blasted to life.
"C'mon… we can make it…" Cinder whispered to herself.
Blake
The Sea Feilong channelled lightning up its throat, causing its long tendrils coming off its snout to crackle as well. It bellowed out with a deafening roar, as did the Syrens. They lunged forward and Oscar slammed the head of one into the ground with Thunderous Deception. The hammer splattered its skull across the floor, black blood going everywhere.
Civilians screamed in terror, but Yang held out her Cybernetic Hand. "Stay back! We'll handle the Grimm!" Yang called out, charging towards a Syren. It slashed its sharp arm towards her, but she slid underneath its attack and proceeded to uppercut it with one hard punch. The creature shrieked in agony as it was thrown backwards, but it stabbed its arms down into the ground. A long serpentine tongue slithered through its jaws, and then it suddenly extended and wrapped around Yang's throat. "Ah! Gross!" Yang yelled, but she scowled and grabbed the creature by the tongue.
She pulled it forward with great effort, ripping the creature from its anchored position. Then Yang swung around and buried her fist straight through its gullet, firing her shotgun right through its head, blowing it to pieces. The tongue crumbled apart around her neck, and she massaged it. "Gods… that's just nasty." She shuddered.
The Sea Feilong snarled as it stayed upright, glaring directly at Oscar. "Why the hell is it staring at me?" He stammered.
"I think I know why." Ozpin answered, Oscar turned slightly as if Ozpin was over his shoulder.
"What? Why?" He asked.
"Salem must have the Grimm on high alert to sense our presence… I believe us being on this boat is why the Grimm have attacked." Ozpin stated.
"Damn it… then let's make sure we stop them before they hurt anyone." Oscar stated, turning to some of the Syrens that were getting aboard. Oscar sprinted forward and smashed his hammers into the face of the beast, crushing its skull. He then extended his hammer towards one of the Syrens.
Until the Feilong suddenly lunged forward and bit down on that chain and dove back into the water. Oscar screamed as it took him with it, and the two of them fell into the water. The Feilong vanished into the blue murk as Oscar floated helplessly, then he turned with wide eyes as the golden eyes shone through the murk. The Sea Feilong was headed straight for him with its jaws wide open. He gritted his teeth and smashed both hammers into the side of its head before it got any closer, breaking apart chunks of bone armour.
It swam past him, and Oscar launched the chains forward on one hammer, but then the Feilong bit onto the hammer and channelled lightning right through the chains and into Oscar. The entire weapon exploded, destroying one of his Thunderous Deception hammers, and the blast threw him out of the water and up in the air. The Sea Feilong coiled in the deep before blasting out the water to devour him.
Blake suddenly grabbed onto Oscar, throwing Gambol Shroud back to Yang who caught it, and swung them both around so they would return to the ship. Blake and Oscar both landed, the Huntsman groaned in pain as his green aura flickered, but he was also pained by the fact he lost one of his old, trusted weapons. He only had one of his Chained Hammers now… and that was not enough.
"Trust my memories…" Ozpin whispered in the back of his mind, then Oscar reached into his jacket pocket and held The Long Memory.
"I… I don't know how to use it yet." Oscar stated, since this was the first time, he had ever constructed it.
"Then allow me to give you some experience first-hand." Ozpin suggested, Oscar stared at the cane in his grasp, then stared at the Sea Feilong. Ren and Nora both were still focusing on the Syrens that had hijacked the ship. But the huge Leviathan-Class Grimm was arching itself upright, its webbed spines began to rattle and the flesh across its spine started to split. Bones cracked and the creature growled with pain and rage, then suddenly it sprouted a pair of large wings, making it even more dangerous.
Oscar sighed.
"Do it." He agreed, closing his eyes. His body jolted as the second soul took control, Oscar's aura regenerated thanks to the reserves Ozpin has within his stored soul. He stood tall and glared at the beast.
"Blake, Yang – I'm going to need your help if we are going to take this Feilong down." Ozpin said, they both noted it was Ozpin in charge now. They saw The Long Memory in his grasp, and they both nodded.
Nora roared as she launched Magni across the deck, smashing three Syrens directly off the edge and back into the water. She then twisted around and held her hand out, calling the Hammer right back to her. Another Syren lunged straight for her, but Nora bashed it across the skull with her short, handled hammer. The jaw broke apart and it screeched in immense agony, then she channelled lightning through her scars, powering up Stormur Skeggox. She aimed the head of her axe forward, blasting a thick beam of pink energy straight through the chest of two Syrens who were lined up, killing them instantly.
Ren slashed his Bladed Auto-Pistols across the belly of the Syren, then jumped up and wrapped his legs around her head, slamming her down against the ground. Then the two of them turned, hearing the Syren Song emerging from the see. Four of those sharp pincer arms dug into the deck, and a far larger and heavier Syren rose from the depths. It had two heads and it screeched to the sky with a bulging gut. Instead of a single tail, it had a vast array of muscular tentacles.
"Nora!" Ren called out, she beheaded the last of the Lesser Syrens with Stormur Skeggox, her eyes widened when she finished it off, seeing the huge one. "Queen Syren!"
"C'mon! Let's take it down!" She called out, launching Magni immediately, already charged with electrical energy, and it smashed straight into the side of the huge, heavy, beast's head. One of them anyway, it created a nightmarish shriek as it recoiled back. But the tentacles immediately swung towards them. Nora held up her arms and stopped the huge tentacle from hitting her, using her abnormal strength to her advantage.
Ren jumped and slashed straight through the tentacle, severing it clean, black oily blood covered the once pristine deck. The Queen Syren shrieked with pain as the tentacle retracted, but she did not retreat.
The Sea Feilong on the other hand flew through the air, blasting a column of electricity down upon the vehicle, burning into the decking, Ozpin formed a protective dome of magic around himself, Yang and Blake. The electricity was being focused on Ozpin who stared the creature down, then Yang prepared herself. "Now!" Ozpin called out, just as the beast ceased blasting at them. She then grabbed Ozpin by the arm and launched him up towards the creature.
He launched the chained hammer of Thunderous Deception up and it wrapped around the creature's throat, and he yanked downwards, forcing the beast to dive down. This gave Blake the opportunity to she needed to make this battle even, she threw Gambol Shroud up and swung up towards its wing. Ozpin casted a spell that allowed him to hover in the air atop a Glyph. He closed his eyes and held his cane forward, and suddenly multiple glowing green entities emerged.
They were former incarnations of Ozma, one of which was Ozma himself, and another that was recognisable was the Wanderer. The ten Ozmas all shot towards the beast. Yang stayed down below on the deck, firing explosive shots into the beast whilst Blake extended her sword. She drove it straight through one of the wings, yelling with rage as she cut straight through the red membrane that kept it in the air. And Yang focused on the other Blake could not target, blowing holes into it.
Then it began to fall, and Ozpin and his previous Incarnations all attacked at once, slashing and beating to pieces as it fell. They all roared in unison, all in different voices, but all in the same tongue. Blake landed beside Yang, and they watched with disbelief, seeing the full power of their Headmaster first-hand. He blasted up into the air as the Feilong plummeted towards the sea, and he shot down towards it with The Long Memory thrusted forward.
He was like a missile, smashing straight through the Feilong in one hard strike, bursting a hole through it, and landing on the deck with The Long Memory in his grasp. The corpse of the Feilong crashed into the sea, and he looked up towards Yang and Blake's shocked faces. "That… Mr Pine… is what you can do." Ozpin said, before he returned control to Oscar. The Huntsman was just as agape as they were.
"Holy shit…"
They turned to help Ren and Nora… but they had it covered.
The Queen Syren smashed one of its tentacles down to the ground, but Nora cut clean through it with Stormur Skeggox, destroying the tentacle immediately. But just as the Syren went to kill Nora, Ren shot forward and he threw himself into the tentacle, spinning like a circular sawblade, cutting the tentacle clean off. The Queen Syren roared in anger and its sharp forearms stabbed at him. Ren rolled backwards, firing his pistols repeatedly at the beast, breaking off chunks of flesh in the process. The huge forearms stabbed down at him over and over, ripping up parts of the deck, until Nora launched Stormur Skeggox straight through them, before calling it back to her.
She channelled lightning into her veins and nodded at her husband. Ren fired both grappling hooks into one head, and Nora rocked towards the other. They both spun through the air and sliced clean through the necks, killing both heads at the same time. As the huge beast fell from the side of the ship, Ren fired back to the ship, catching Nora and they both landed back on the ship.
The two heads crashed in the water, then the rest toppled back into the sea. Nora and Ren turned to each other, and they grabbed one another in a loving embrace, kissing passionately. Nora looped one arm behind his neck as she kissed him. "Gods we're badass…" Nora giggled.
"The best." Ren chuckled.
Oscar pressed The Long Memory down, his hands atop the hilt, but they turned as they heard the murmuring of civilians. "Are… are they gone?" One nervously asked.
"Yes…" Yang paused and sighed. "C'mon, we oughta get outa here before they turn us in."
"No wait." The Captain begged. They stopped and turned. "We know you're Huntsmen and Huntresses… hell we think we know who you are."
They looked at the captain and he smiled, revealing a photograph of his little girl. "She was a Huntress too… and lost her in the Inhumane Necessity. Those Black Gallows bastards murdered her… for wanting to help people. To be like you." He explained.
Blake looked at the man and he smiled. "Just know that not every person in the world wants the Huntsmen and Huntresses dead. So you don't have to worry… we remember who you all are… and what you fight for." He assured.
Everyone else on the boat was stood before them, and they were all in agreement.
It made them smile… happy to know that not everyone forgot everything their kind did before the Inhumane Necessity.
Ruby
The Gyrfalcon was still on their tail, flying low and strategically firing its machine guns and missiles at them. Mercury fired a missile into one of the salt pillars, causing it to explode and come crashing down right in front of them. Cinder swiftly banked to the left, and they kept firing at them, keeping them moving in that direction. Ruby, Pyrrha and Penny both were firing at the huge Airship.
Pyrrha kept aiming for the cockpit, but it was heavily armoured, and was still protected by Hardlight Shields. "Penny! Try and find the Shield Generator! It's gotta be on there somewhere!" Ruby called out.
"On it!" Penny assured, blasting off the Hover Sail and flying towards the Gyrfalcon. The machine guns started to fire directly at her, but she swiftly dodged the incoming gunfire, then flew straight up. She flipped through the air, then launched Floating Array down into the hull, yanking herself down onto it.
"Damn it! Merc?" Emerald stammered nervously.
"You got it, stay on em." Mercury said as she immediately ran to the ladders. He opened the airlock and climbed out, connecting a cable to his belt to keep him on the hull. Penny stared at Mercury as he approached, raising his fists with a smirk. "Hey there, robo-girl – maybe this time I'll get to tear you apart myself. I was hoping I could last time." Mercury snarled, Penny flinched at his words, feeling the pain of her previous death for a few moments, before steeling herself once more.
"That's enough! You will not hurt my friends!" Penny yelled, rocketing towards him, but Mercury flipped backwards, then kicked his cybernetic boot towards her. Projectiles erupted from Talaria. Penny spiralled Floating Array to block his projectiles, then held her hand out, forming two separate cannons that fired green bolts at him as she searched for the Shield Generator. "There you are!"
"Oh I don't think so!" Mercury yelled, blasting towards her, kicking her repeatedly in the face, before roundhouse kicking her off the side of the Gyrfalcon. She smashed against one of the wings, then launched one of her swords up to stop herself from falling. She blasted flames from her boots and threw herself towards him. She landed, then held out her hands. Some of her Floating Array swords transformed.
Some easily forgot that her weapons were now upgraded with the same Grave Dust system in place that Jackdaw had, and she formed a perfect replica of Jaune's sword. He fired more rounds towards her from his boot, but she blocked them all from hitting her with the shield. Then sending her swords forward, he flipped backwards but some clipped him, knocking him off the back of the Gyrfalcon. But his cable kept him attached.
Penny took her moment, and she rushed to where she saw the Generator, and drove her swords into the panels, ripping them open. There it was, the Generator, so she charged up her cannon to destroy it. Mercury suddenly appeared behind her once more, and grabbed her by the throat, smashing her down against the ground. He stomped down at her head so hard that the hull dented.
"Why are you doing this? I can tell you don't want to!" Penny yelled. "Why serve someone like Salem?"
"WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!" Mercury roared, Penny sighed and blasted a powerful beam of green energy straight into his chest, blowing him up in the air, and it destroyed his cable. He plummeted off the edge and Emerald gasped, swiftly running to the rear door and throwing Thief's Respite to him. It wrapped around his leg, and she pulled him right back in with all her might. She caught him and she looked into his eyes.
"Are you okay?" Emerald worried.
"Penny! She's going for the Shield Generator!" Mercury immediately yelled, Emerald swiftly ran to the controls, but she was too late. Penny fired her laser straight into the laser, destroying it and cutting off the charge of Hardlight Dust. As soon as she did that, Emerald barrel rolled the Gyrfalcon so fast it threw Penny off, and the wing smacked her downwards.
Dazed, she fell…
"PENNY!" Ruby screamed, that was enough to get Penny back in the fight, her eyes shone bright green and she rocketed back up in the air, just in time before she could hit the water's surface.
Penny flew alongside the Gyrfalcon, blasting a long beam across its hull, but the armour was still too thick for her to even penetrate. She immediately returned to the Hover Sail. "Are you okay?" Ruby worried.
"I'm fine! But the armour is still too strong!" Penny warned.
"Oh don't worry… no armour is strong enough to withstand a collision at this speed." Cinder assured, they looked ahead and saw that the Salt Pillars were far more frequent now. She went straight into the area, weaving between the many pillars, they looked back and Pyrrha constantly fired shot after shot at the thing. The bullets just scraped across the armour and thick glass, but Emerald was showing her immensely impressive piloting skills. "Damn, Emerald… when did you become such a good pilot?"
The Gyrfalcon roared viciously as it dodged every single one, the thrusters were moving constantly to make sharp adjustments wherever it could. Then it spun to the side, gliding straight through the gap between two pillars, before evening out.
"Land is right ahead!" Ruby called out, then… Cinder looked confused.
The Gyrfalcon suddenly stopped, its thrusters rotated, and it turned around… retreating. "The hell?" Cinder muttered then she turned. Everyone saw him stood on the beach…
… Watts.
It was like Cinder's vision zoomed in to see his face, slightly smirking as they got closer. "Ram him! It's Watts!" Ruby yelled with gritted teeth.
I know Watts…
"No… IT'S A DAMN TRAP!" Cinder yelled, immediately attempting to turn away from that beach, but it was too late. His moustache raised on one side as he smirked, then his golden rings lit up blue. He swung his hands up, and the Grave Dust burst from the sand into a pair of hands, smacking the underside of the Hover Sail so hard it threw it up into the air.
Team C.P.P.R screamed as they were thrown from the Hover Sail, Cinder fell into the water whilst everyone else crashed onto the sand. Cinder eventually washed onto shore, coughing heavily and wheezing, grabbing her chest and throat from how much it burned. She crawled over, soaking wet, to Ruby, Penny and Pyrrha.
Pyrrha immediately stood up, weapons in hand as she saw Watts before them. "Give up the Relic of Knowledge."
They all turned as they saw the Children of Salem surround them. Icarus flew through the air and landed down before them; mechanical wings splayed outwards. Tyrian jumped down from above, laughing maniacally as his cybernetic tail arched over his head. And Hazel cracked his knuckles, staring them down.
"I will not ask a second time." Watts warned, drawing his pistol in one hand, and lifting the other with a huge plume of Grave Dust behind him.
Pyrrha stood her ground, not even flinching at his words or being outnumbered. Then Ruby stood beside her, Black Thorn transformed in her hands. Penny stood tall, her Grave Dust forming into Floating Array, and so did Cinder, eyes igniting and forming her Obsidian Axe. "You'll have to pry it from our corpses." Ruby snarled.
Watts chuckled.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Author Note - I love writing stuff on the ocean, it's so fun XD
Had a lot of fun here, especially with Oscar, as you could tell. Lots of cool stuff revealed with him and his connection to Ozma, I really enjoyed having all the incarnations being with Oscar, and he can speak with them. In case you couldn't tell, all the incarnations we saw are in the show too. They were all the ones that we saw in The Lost Fable, since I love their designs. They were cool. And of course... I bet you are all wondering... who was the Incarnation that came before Ozpin? What did he do? Well... I guess we will see...
Also writing Ozpin take over and show his full power was AWESOME, having him summon previous incarnations was something I really loved the idea of. Plus... Oscar is gonna have to use The Long Memory now he only has one hammer. Time to start embracing your destiny, son!
And of course, the Gyrfalcon. That thing must be getting on your nerves as much as it pisses Team C.P.P.R off XD Constantly hounding the heroes, messing up their plans. But it's cool! Also they fell straight into Watts' trap.
Next chapter will be epic. Team C.P.P.R Vs The Children of Salem!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - The Children of Salem
- Matt