Finished within the week.
It was late but then again his former students were taking on the best salem had to offer. Ozpins mug was pulled to his face and silently he took a small sip as his mind worked in overdrive. This was probably the first time in a very long time that he felt confident in his victory over his most hated enemy.
Salem unknowingly pushed a very important piece in their game back over to his side when she allowed infighting amongst her subordinates. A smile slipped over his face at the memory of the youngest arc coming to him for help in dealing with his enemies and promising what he knew in return. Of course he wasn't going to turn the poor boy down when helping would only solidify himself as a trustworthy and reliable ally in his fight against his kidnapper.
Since they had also been keeping a eye on the young Arc ever since his appearance in pharos, he was almost certain his plan to chain jaune down had worked. It didn't mean he could drop his guard down or anything but he felt things coming up rose's for once in a long time. Now if only he could convince qrow to allow miss rose to land the final nail in jaunes coffin then he'd be on cloud nine.
Ozpin had tried it once before with nicolas and summer, unfortunately nothing but their tight knit friendship came of it. Through the several life times it felt like the arc's and the roses were destined to never be more then just friends which frustrated him to no end as he tried to bring them together.
The Arc's vast amounts of aura and the rose's silver eyes coupled with their unflinching loyalty to humanity combined into one person would no doubt create the ultimate champion. It would work towards his goal but how he could achieve that result felt like it'd always be out of his reach.
It was with those final thoughts that he was broken from any planning when a portal appeared in his office. Two individuals he did not know were tossed through before several others he did know followed behind. Qrow leaned heavily against his wife and there was a few bruises and cuts on some of them but not nearly enough for any real concern.
Movement on the floor drew his attention before the green haired girl began to scream and rant about someone named cinder. Ozpins eyes flickered to the target of the young girls ire. Standing before her, the youngest arc child looked more then a little annoyed with their apparent captive.
"JUST YOU WATCH TRAITOR, CINDER WILL COME AND...ugh"! A loud crack and the green haired woman's head snapped back before she fell unconscious on the floor.
"JAUNE"! Summer looked completely appalled at what the boy in front of her just did. Jaunes foot retracted after delivering it's parting gift to the girls face. The blonde let out a satisfied sigh before turning to summer "what? She's been going on like that since she woke up".
From the side, ravens chuckle caught summer attention and earned her a fierce glare. "Sorry summer but I'm on the kids side for this one. Hearing that girl say cinder this and cinder that for as long as we have was about to end with my sword in her back".
Glynda rolled her eyes at the whole thing before turning to her boss "I'll be sure to put these two away until james arrives". Ozpin nodded and allowed his deputy to depart the room with the two prisoners in tow. "Allow me to formally congratulate you all on a successful mission and on returning in one piece" the headmaster said as he raised his glass slightly.
"Now as much as I'd like to press Mr arc for his half of our deal I'm aware we have injured who must be tended to". Ozpins eye's slid to the young woman currently being held up by lie ren. "Mr arc please take your friends to the infirmary to receive treatment while I see to acquiring a room for the duration of your companions stay".
Jaune wasted no time and led his friends to the elevator when it came back up for them. Ozpin waited till the young ones vanished with the elevator before turning to the members of team STRQ. "Anything to report before I dismiss you all as well"?
Raven mearly shrugged her shoulders while the others didn't feel the need to speak up, all except qrow. "The kids plan went off without a hitch, even down to the fact the white fang weren't going to be there. I don't need to tell you how that makes me feel oz".
Ozpin nodded grimly. No plan survives contact with the enemy or so the saying goes and yet, this one did with little effort. Was it a sign of how well the young arc knew of his foes or was it mearly a glimpse of the boys true nature and cunning? It was definitely hard to say but either way it would be a great boon in protecting the kingdom of vale in the coming days.
"I am well aware of your concerns qrow but trust me when I say we have everything under control and safeguards in place should anything happen". Ozpins assurance didn't have the desired effect cause a large frown spread over qrow's features. "If these safeguards happen to be our kids then I think you better come up with a better idea. I'm not saying I don't trust the kid but if he's anything like squall, friends and family feelings won't amount to much".
The implication drew a scowl from the other branwen sibling as she remembered squall tearing through the branwen tribe leaving none alive. Raven believed she would have met her end that day as well so she fought like all the others but was left alive and unconscious along with her brother. Their tribe was decimated while she and qrow were left among a broken camp and dead bodies when they awoke.
It was the worst day of her life and the worst part was that she didn't even know why her uncle had done it. "Ray". The sudden call of her name snapped her out of her memory and back to the present.
Ravens eye's met her husbands and saw the concern in his blue eyes. She let out a deep breath and turned away from him "it's alright, it's all in the past now". With how determined raven was to take squalls head, qrow wasn't so sure his sister was as over it as she claimed.
Ozpin finished off the coffee in his cup and placed the glass back on the table as he let out a sigh "I'll take your words under advisement" he answered after a moment's pause. "Now if there's nothing more I would ask that you all get some rest, come tomorrow I'll need you present to welcome our new ally to our inner circle".
"She's not going to be a part of anything ozpin" raven said as she glared at the old wizard. "The whole reason I brought saphron here is so she can hear the truth about everything from us so she won't get caught off guard in the future". Raven knew that with the growing members of salems faction in vale it would only be a matter of time before they discovered who saphron was related too.
Ozpin waved away her concerns "this discussion can wait for another day, in the mean time I still need to free a room for the new guest staying in beacon. Before you ask I'll make sure she'll be under guard and watched at all times".
The members of team STRQ nodded their thanks before deciding to retire for the night. Ozpin watched his former students take their leave, leaving him alone with his thoughts once more. His thoughts settled on raven and how she was normally not so emotionally involved with many people. It was nice to see but he couldn't help but feel it got in the way of his mission.
The war would continue long after this team would fall and there was always a need for new protectors. Saphron, jaune, ruby and many others were already perfect candidates for such a role at his side, which was why it boggled the mind why nobody saw this his way. They all knew salem could not be killed but they also knew she could be beaten back.
Ozpin rubbed the bridge of his nose as a frustrated sigh slipped passed his lips. His fingers spread out over his terminal as he got to work on the task at hand. There was one thing he knew as he worked away, salems plan to sow dissent within his group worked like a charm and people wondered why he refused to tell them the full truth.
It mattered little in the end because as time marched on, memories would fade and he'd do it all over again. After all this was the fate he was forced to live.
/
Vernal scream in pain as she cradled her right hand and fell to her knees. Jaunes aura crackled for a brief second before dying out "are you done yet cause I could do this all day, by which I mean stand here and watch you hurt yourself". It wasn't the first time she punched him in her anger, unfortunately for her the results never changed. Vernals aura was practically nonexistent at this point and without it's protection and her bruised and beaten body, it just hurt more each time she collided with his aura.
The blonde shook his head and moved over to his friends side before helping her up into the bed. "You damn idiot, what were you thinking? How could you join up with ozpin when you know what he's like" she asked angrily. Jaune set her on the bed and forced her to lay down when she refused to do so the first time.
"I was in a tough spot and wasn't planning to give myself up so easily, besides I couldn't leave you in their hands. Not for nothing but if this is how they treat their hostages I'd hate to see what would have happened if I had abandoned you to their brand of mercy".
The naked concern he showed brought a tinge of red to her face, not that anyone could have noticed with all the bruises she was sporting. "Fine, I get it" she forced out before turning her face away from him. Jaune smiled affectionately as his left hand moved a few strands of hair away from vernals forehead.
The gesture earned him a low growl that had him chuckling. Vernal always acted like she hated the kindness he showed her, it was too bad for her that he knew she secretly enjoyed it thanks to cinder. "Rest for a bit while I go and get you some food, something tells me you haven't had much to eat while you were imprisoned".
Jaune waited for vernal to nod before turning to the two others in the room "ren, nora, keep a eye on her until I get back and whatever you do don't let her get up and walk around". Vernal huffed from her position on the bed "they are my subordinates so they will do what I say". Jaune smirk at his injured friend "true but I'm nora's fearless team leader, and seeing as we are here in beacon she's obligated to follow my orders".
The blonde looked to his bubbly red headed friend and earned a nod of confirmation. "Alright, I'll leave things in your capable hands then Nora". The pink bomber gave her team leader a salute "aye aye captain" she crowed.
Vernal waited till jaune left the room before turning her attention to the red head "so...if I wanted to get out of here-"? Nora's hammer came free and she smiled viciously at her mistress "bed rest, doctors orders". Vernal grumbled angrily about dumb traitorous red heads as she rolled over to glare at the wall and ignore everyone else. It took her a minute to remember jaune wasn't a doctor but then again trying to understand nora led to madness and that wasn't what she needed.
This chapter really had me drawing up blanks and for good reasons too. I had to take a step back and look over what I was doing before I realized this story was become harder to keep close to rwby's original time line. I mean if we went through the major events of the original it was the docks first, then the breach and finally the fall of Beacon.
With these knew characters, motivation and reason for doing the things they do It's safe to say I might be in over my head. I know most people got a plan for the stuff they write but I'm not most people. With that in mind I will be doing things that are completely different from the original story, which means some of the characters are going to be taking a back seat to others. Case in point pyrrha.