Chapter 8: Vytal Contingency
As the days passed, after Weiss's and Ruby's birthdays. Right now, most if not all of the School's Teams were either participating in the Vytal Festival or out on missions. As Team Prydwen was stuck on the proverbial shelf, for now, not having anything to do as they were barred from both those things. Though, if they were allowed to compete, they probably would have dominated the competition. Especially with Ruby practicing with Verstreut. Weiss's gift was well received as Ruby had begun to walk the line of near-constant training as she refused to put that blade down. She looked harsh as she made this new blade part of her identity like Crescent was.
As she danced around a few mats that were strung up, Ruby started to think, Just like mom, She thought as she remembered that her mom used swords, two of them. She sighed as she could never fully place her mom's semblance. Though to Ruby that was not important, what was, would be slicing these mats extra-fine she needed to break in her blade and her armor. She loved it, her cloak flaring behind her as black petals flew out. Though she was going on Autopilot with 'killing' these mats. She smirked as she remembered the vision, dream thing she had the night prior. She was fascinated by the energy sword she saw. She wondered how she would get such a weapon as the top of this mat hit the ground. Then the next slice took off another inch of material. Though the stand started to tip, and with a set of floral red Glyphs, it quickly got righted. Though she felt something as she used her Glyphs. She felt like someone was watching her, and that person had Malicious intent.
This was weird as the hair on her neck stood on end. It got her to look back at a person standing in a white suit, with a white mask covering his face. Obviously, he wasn't a student, so Ruby darted out of there as judging by the color and the recent events, this could be someone that needed to be dealt with. So she decided to take a chance and bolt out of the room. She had no idea what was making her feel like she knew that person was bad news.
She made it back to their room and looked at her teammates who were inside and Ruby looked to Weiss and asked, "Hey, Weiss, would you happen to know anyone that would have a white suit and mask, combo, and that likes to creep?"
"Oh, no, how many?" Weiss asked as the alarm in her voice told the other two who just heard this that they needed to get geared up. So Pyrrha and Nora stood,
"just one", Ruby said, though her eyes caught the glimpse of another masked figure looking at them through the Window and she pointed at them as Nora, chimed in, her lips twisting into a malicious smile.
"Like this goon?" Nora pointed as PRWN all looked at them and Weiss's heart skipped a beat, Yup he is pissed, but he sent one of Nacht's elite team after me! Weiss thought as she knew what her uncle specialized in, 'Asset Recovery.' The look on Weiss's face told the team to be ready for anything. Though a knock on the door told them they were probably surrounded. Weiss pulled out her Scroll and hit her SOS Beacon, the one thing she knew Nacht didn't have his jammer going for. Ruby went to the door and yelled.
"Go Away!" Ruby said her voice hostile as they could hear the lock being attacked by something. Though the door clicked open and one of the masked individuals opened the door and tried to throw something into the room, Ruby quickly instinctively pushed her hand in the air and the object was thrown back out of the room without any physical contact. Outside of the room, the thing popped flashing with a bright light. Ruby had no idea what she did but whatever it was, it worked. So Ruby drew her sword and opened the door and saw two of the masked goons and kicked one down and Pyrrha came out with Milo, pinning the men down. Though a string of rapid-fire of thuds. That battered the men even the one in the trees. though the one outside got smacked out of the tree by a certain Dusty Old Crow's scythe. Though another man I white was spotted, as Ozpin showed himself. This made the white-masked men surrender as Ozpin found out was a failure contingent.
"I see you were correct Miss Schnee," Ozpin said as PRWN was standing at the ready. Though these men were quickly arrested and taken away. Then later that day, with PRWN and Qrow present, Jacques was contacted by Ozpin stating Weiss was now an independent student at Beacon bearing her last name as only a name. He had no more say over her life, and the fact he sent this team to collect her, made him sick. This got Jacques to contact Ozpin via an audio call. Right as the phone was answered, the CEO started yelling, trying tried to pressure Ozpin. This made the headmaster smile, who told him with a smile, as he clicked the record button then spoke interrupting Jacques. "May I speak?" Ozpin asked as he broke the flow of the conversation, then he interjected with "Jacques, Weiss is an adult now, she can do this, you have no legal say in this if she doesn't want you to have any."
"Do you want your school to no longer have any dust I will cut you off?" Jacques threatened though this got Ozpin to smile, he was happy to stick his neck out as he viewed this as a jab back at Ironwood for his folly handling PRWN.
"To the contrary, do you want, the world to know that you tried to attack students at beacon to get to your Adult daughter? hmm?" Ozpin stated as he heard Jacques grumble, "I mean, with all the bad press the SDC gets, I'm sure you can recognize that your daughter is not yours to abduct, also she renounced her claims, she owes you nothing, Jacques."
"No, I will have my daughter brought home or your school will be without dust." Ozpin sighed as he opened up a laptop and began to compose an email to the VNN.
"No, I will not let you harm my students Jacques, now one last chance, give it to your son, and let her go," Ozpin stated pinching the bridge of his nose.
"No," it was at that moment that Ozpin sent the video of the SDC team attacking Beacon and it immediately became headlines Then came the threats of force and violence against her team, which got reported on like wildfire. Ozpin in the coming days smiled as this scandal got Jaques Schnee kicked off the security council, and he was one of the major factors behind Atlas's deployment in Vale. Though once again PRWN was in the news, though in the gossip section, rather than the headlines, though the shock that a Schnee left the family completely was unprecedented. Winter was a massive help to the couple as well, informing them of the further aftermath of Weiss's departure from the family, from what they heard it wasn't pretty but Weiss's father had no more options and was seemingly giving up on Weiss. As if she disappeared it would be a scandal of even larger proportions.
With this, with a lack of family. Weiss was now someone who Taiyang was looking forward to meeting when summer break came. Though due to the Vytal Festival and Amity benign in town they had a bit longer to go. With all the new talk, it seemed PRWN all wanted to remain together over the Summer, Nora and Pyrrha just wanted to be with their friend as in grief they bonded closer together. From what they heard, once Amity was gone they were going to be back on the mission roster officially. Though they were keeping sharp through various spars they did. They fought against one another or against SSSN or CVFY. They practiced teamwork and did volunteer activities. Though one day as the Vytal Festival progressed. Team PRWN was trying to keep active with so little to do and Ruby was feeling its frustrations.
"This is so damn dull!" Ruby grunted, Flopping onto her bed waiting for Weiss and Pyrrha to come back from assisting professors, a hobby they had on the slow days. They all helped out around the school when they could as they waited for the White Fang to curl it lips again and bare its teeth. Her mind remembered that push, she remembered her mom did something similar but her train of thought was interrupted by Nora.
"Tell me about it," Nora Groaned from her bed, as she made a noise akin to a baby sloth, something she had been practicing since she saw a video of them on the internet, which she had shown to her team over twenty times by now. "With classes on over for Vytal, this has really made things a drag," Nora said slumping down opening up her scroll
"And we can't leave campus due to Ironwood's newest orders," Ruby said looking at Nora, contempt burning in her eyes "Damn it, I hate him!" Ruby cursed his name, once again wishing she had Crescent in the meeting with him. That's when the ring tone of Ruby's Scroll went off; it was Ozpin, who sent a message to report to his office immediately.
"I'll be back, Nora, Ozpin wants to see me," Ruby said getting up with a slight growl in her voice, Ruby after the incident had become very outspoken against Ozpin and Ironwood. She didn't hate Ozpin, she just didn't like him anymore, as he seemed to distance himself after the incident. Though, as of late he had been a great help and had been regaining some of Ruby's favor. Ironwood is the one she hated. To most, prior to the incident, no one could take Ruby seriously when she said she hated something, though everyone knew about Prydwen's grudge against Ironwood. Ruby quickly went from that kind, sweet-hearted girl that everyone liked, to a sixteen-year-old that could get Cardin Winchester to prostrate himself at her feet after Nora was through with his team. Though they did maintain a friendly demeanor in class and when dealing with others unless they managed to upset them, like Cardin.
Their grudge against Ironwood had been edging ever closer to the grudge they held against the White Fang. Mainly due to his attempt to 'convince' Weiss to reconsider her actions pertaining to her father as Jacques had one final plan, put the screws to the general. Something Ozpin himself stepped in on as did the media, as even in dark times focusing on celebrities or big names was still appealing to some. Though Ruby didn't want to continue down that lane of memories as they were still fresh and something that quickly made her want to rip ironwood's metal off.
Walking through the dormitory corridor alone was nothing new to Ruby as she often went out at night to look at the sky at night. She liked to watch the fractured moon when some horrible vision kept her up at night. When she reached the door, she was thankful her cloak was water-resistant, as a massive thunderstorm unlike any she had ever seen had been rattling the school for two days. As she opened the door she prepped to engage her semblance. Rushing, whipping, she felt the coarseness of the air on her face as she bolted, and it wasn't just the rain, the air was palpable, she had a very bad feeling about the days to come. She could feel it, there was darkness in the air especially as she heard what sounded like a labored mechanical breath after a large bolt of lightning struck nearby.
After reaching the main spire of beacon Academy she proceeded to the elevator to Ozpin's office. Entering this elevator just gave her very vivid flashbacks to that day. Considering, the amount of time between now and then, this is the first time she's entered this elevator since then. Her heart racing, she wondered what Ozpin could want, and that's when she realized she would know soon enough. She was only on the elevator for about forty-five seconds when it came to the top of the spire. Approaching the door she had another vision.
What she saw was unlike anything she had ever seen, everything looked high-tech, beyond the technology of Remnant. The hallway was angular and massive, with red lights in the corners, though despite the lights it was still dark. With that flash of a vision, her mind flipped back to reality and she entered the office, promptly ignoring the vision.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Ruby inquired her hood still raised, water dripping from the cloak onto the floor.
"Yes Miss Rose, could you please lower your hood?" Ozpin asked calmly, still feeling bad about all that happened to PRWN, despite all the time that had passed. He could never forgive himself for not doing more despite the fact he was incapable of acting against Ironwood.
"Why!?" Ruby hissed back at Ozpin, she found the request a bit personal and even more creepy.
"I haven't seen your face in a while," He said in a friendly manner that came off in a slightly creepy way to the leader of the PRWN Black Knights. This answer did make the young leader recoil slightly as she replied with.
"Fine" Ruby growled from under her hood, as she lowered it slowly. Ozpin looked at her with a pleasant smile, her face despite only being sixteen, looked angrier and her eyes looked a bit duller than he remembered. Though he decided to focus on the most obvious changes first, mainly the Aura merge changes despite their subtly.
"I will say the ice blue in your eyes looks out of place," Ozpin said bluntly, also noting the silver in her eye was tarnished with ice blue at the edges of the iris where it connected with the pupil and the sclera. "Though it is not harsh on the eyes," Ozpin continued not trying to offend the young rose.
"I like it," Ruby replied with a slight hostile growl in her voice. Ozpin had been trying to calculate how much irreparable damage Ironwood had done to this girl. He feared for what Ruby was capable of. Her mother was quite a capable warrior Ruby had speed and glyphs, and maybe even Summer's abilities. If this was the case Ruby could be one of the most powerful students at Beacon.
"Well that is good to hear, as you are somewhat stuck with it," Ozpin conceded bluntly, as his tone saddened a bit, as he cursed not keeping a closer eye on what Ironwood did with his students, considering the Atlesian military recruitment that was being done on his campus
"So what did you want?" Ruby inquired slightly annoyed with the Silver-haired man not explaining the purpose of this meeting to her.
"I have some information for a mission" Ozpin spoke calmly as he sat at his desk, his fingers interlaced in front of him and that elicited a smirk on Ruby's face, he knew it would.
"Disregarding Ironwood, are we?" Ruby said in a teasing manner as a Cheshire-like smile curled on her cheeks. This had her interests peaked.
"Damn Ironwood for what he's done to my academy," Ozpin growled through his teeth, Ruby had never seen him angry but she did like it. Ozpin then continued. "This isn't my idea, though."
"It was mine," spoke a calm voice emerging from the corner of the room as she emerged it was Winter, one of Ruby's personal friends, considering how she helped "The White Fang, we suspect could attack the Vytal Festival and hold it hostage or attempt to destroy it."
"I take it Ironwood, knows about this?" Ruby inquired, curious of the implications of Winter's suspicions. Something Ruby felt told her Ironwood knew already, which made her smirk grow if Winter was disobeying her superior.
"Yes though he is blinded along with the council, thinking they couldn't pull it off, that they don't have the resources," Winter said with malice in her voice. It was evident she cared about the security of the event something that Ironwood had been ignoring as of late despite his job.
"You think they do, Winter?" Ruby asked Winter curious about her sources and what the White Fang was planning if Winter knew herself.
"Absolutely," Winter replied calmly "They have stocks of Distortion dust and are most likely going to try to eliminate the arena with it, and Ironwood refuses to believe me."
"Why us?" Ruby asked legitimately curious.
"I figured you four would want to get some revenge, and your skills seem quite valuable," Winter explained with a wink, "Though I trust my sister and you more than any of the Atlesian military at this moment, considering what they tried to do for my father. Thankfully Ozpin intervened with that," Winter said giving the headmaster a gentle smile, though there was a hint of ambition in her voice.
"Then, you have my support," Ruby returned with a smile that looked more at home on a psycho's face than hers, "So how is this going to work?"
"When they attack you will be contacted, at which point I will brief you on the way there," Winter explained calmly, "Due to this, I've made a request with Ozpin that you may keep your weapons with you at all times."
"Awesome!" Ruby cheered like her old self though her cheer did have a hint of darkness, "we've been really training up for missions and if it is going to be against the white fang, we are in."
"I still don't know why Ironwood banned your team from the Vytal festival," Winter complained to no one in particular really wishing to see how Ruby was in combat.
"Their restriction was because Ironwood wanted to make them angry." Ozpin replied calmly, "He's trying to groom them to be soldiers, that man has betrayed everything we academies have worked so hard for." This sentence made Ruby want to puke, as she tried to picture herself in the stark white uniform of the Atlesian military. The thought was like garlic to a vampire to the young girl.
"Ah, well then, I will be glad when this comes to light, and I can take his place" Winter declared, ambition riddling her voice as she herself smirked. Ruby and Ozpin had no objections to the idea of Winter replacing Ironwood at this point.
"So you really want us to get involved?" Ruby inquired slightly curious if Winter was sure about this, considering if what she had planned went even slightly wrong she could face a court-martial.
"I feel you four have deserved it," Winter said with a slight scowl on her face, "and Ironwood needs to be put in his place, who better than your team to do it too," Winter saying this made Ruby smile as she extended her arm for Winter to shake as Ozpin nodded with approval with the agreement of this new alliance.
With that Ruby, was dismissed. She sent out messages to her teammates, telling them they might have a mission soon and are to remain on alert until then.
The walking man smiled as he heard the next line to this prophecy again, "Surrounded on all sides by deception and lies. On their world, there will be a cataclysm, great enough to destroy armies and doom that world for generations to come." This made it evident to the walking man that they would endure a trial by fire in which they would succumb to the Darkside.
A/N: Why did I add SDC goons? I thought Jacques wouldn't let his 'Investment' go so easily, looking at how a few things played out, I guess it works.
