"It was fun don't you think love ?" Amethyst asked her mate as she walked side by side with the Golden Lion as the two of them were going back to Beacon Academy. Just after leaving Team RWBY (who went to see their friends from Team JNPR fighting in the tournament), the two Lions were accosted by none other than Glynda who asked them to go to the Emerald Forest as a lot of Grimm had been spotted there recently. Of course they accepted the mission , having nothing else to do, and entered Simba's old territory to where the Dark Creatures had been spotted.
They didn't went far however as soon, they came face to face with a large group of Grimm constituted of Beowolves, two Boarbatusks and a large Cobra-Like Grimm, a King Taijitu. The fight had been difficult but in the end they won. Thanks to their tough skins, they received no injuries from the Dark Creatures but were completely exhausted. They wanted nothing more than to get back to their dorm and get some rest as dusk was coming.
But their home were kinda ruined when they arrived at Beacon Academy. Right there, in the middle of the courtyard (the same one Mufasa transformed Amethyst into a Lioness), was an airship and in front of this airship were a group of people. Among them, the Lions recognized their friends Ruby and Weiss who was talking with what looked like an older version of her. Curious the two Lions stepped closer to hear better and as they approached, the older White-haired woman dismissed her escort, some Atlas Soldiers and what looked like Robots.
The Lions glanced at the escort with suspicion in their eyes before looking back at the White Haired-woman whose face became warmer than earlier "How have you been ?" she asked Weiss in a soft tone " Oh, splendid! Thank you for asking. I'm actually in the very top ranking of our sparring class! And the rest of my studies are going wonderfully, too! I'm-" The Schnee Heiress was however interrupted by the older woman who slapped her on the head leaving behind a noticeable bump "Silence, you boob ! I don't recall asking about your ranking, I'm asking how you've been ! Are you eating properly ? Have you taken up any hobbies ? Are you making new friends ?" The young woman scowled Weiss in an almost maternal manner.
"Do you think the two of them are related Ame ?" Simba asked his mate with a raise-brow and she looked at him with a deadpan expression as she responded back "Of course they are ! This woman is Winter Schnee ! The eldest in the Schnee Family and the former Heiress… until she decided to join the Atlesian Military..." The Golden Lion nodded in understanding even if he was a bit shocked to hear that the Ice Queen had an older sister and couldn't help but comment "Look like being cold is running in their family~"
The comment caused Amethyst to snicker in amusement but then their attention returned back on Weiss, Winter and Ruby as the trio were still talking "I have business with the General and your Headmaster. But, seeing as I'm early, why don't you take me to your quarters ?" Winter inquired to her younger sister who looked back at her with happy wide eyes "Really ?" Yes. I wish to inspect them and make sure that they are up to my personal standards..." Winter responded as they began to walk toward Beacon, quickly followed by the androids.
The Lions quickly followed them while still making sure to not get caught but were of course listening their conversation "Of course ! Just so you're aware, the bunk beds only look unstable..." Weiss remarked to her sister in a hesitant tone and Winter looked at her with a frown "Bunk beds?" "I'll catch up...I mean, I will... reconvene with you both... at a later... " Ruby began to say before pausing as she thought about what to say next "juncture ! At a juncture ! Yeah !"
Simba and Amethyst shared an amusement glance as they shook their heads : Ruby was just to pure and innocent for her own good. However, Amethyst quickly lose her amused face to became stern "Simba… Look !" the reddish-browned Lioness called to her mate as she pointed at something. The Golden Lion followed her gaze and saw a strange man promptly decapitating one of the androids before sending the head toward the group with a "HEY!"
The pale-skinned man had dark spiky hairs and pale red eyes. In addition, he was wearing a gray dress shirt with a long tail, black dress pants and black dress shoes along with a red, tattered cloak. He also wore a ring on his right index finger, two other rings on his right ring finger and a necklace with a crooked cross-shaped pendant. " Yeah, I'm talking to you, Ice Queen !" the guy said to the group as he tossed the be-headed android aside.
"This guy had a problem with Weiss it seems…" Simba remarked to his mate who nodded as they watched the scene : Winter had just ordered her soldiers to remain behind while Weiss angrily walked up the guy's face "Excuse me! Do you have any idea who you are talking to!?" The Schnee Heiress asked the man who placed a hand on her face to shut her up "Sssshhh... Not you…" the man began to say before pushing her out of the way to look at Winter, ignoring completely an irritated Weiss " You !"
"Hey no fair ! 'Ice Queen' is Weiss's nickname !" Amethyst grumbled in annoyance and Simba glanced at her with a grin as he replied back softy "We can always call her the Ice Empress~" The reddish-browned Lioness shot him a playful grin on her face before looking back at the confrontation when Winter was saying to the dizzy man " You realize you just destroyed Atlas Military property..." Simba then saw a strange raven circling the duo from the sky and looked at it with a frown as it wasn't the first time he saw this raven around.
But then he shook his head to look back at the confrontation "Oh, oh I'm sorry...See, I mistook this for some sort of... sentient garbage..." Both Lions could hear the sarcasm behind his fake apology and were wondering if he wasn't just doing this to create a conflict. Winter was beginning to became angry as she walked over to face the man "I don't have time for your immature games, Qrow !" she snarled to the man, whose name was apparently Qrow, who remained in-fazed by this.
" Wait, you two know each other ?" Weiss asked her older sister who was about to respond when Qrow interrupted them by saying with disdain "Geez, you Atlas Specialists think you're so special, don't you ?" "It's in the title !" Winter replied to him in growing anger "Well, you know what you really are? A bunch of sellouts. Just like your boss !" Qrow retorted back and this time Winter had enough "I'm not sure what you think you're implying, but I've heard enough..."
"Oh I heard, too. I heard ol' Ironwood finally turned his back on Ozpin..." Qrow replied with a grin and Weiss looked at the two of them with confusion "Ozpin ?" she asked out-loud still confused by what she was hearing but then her older sister shoved her aside " Weiss, it's time for you to go !" Weiss was about to ask what she was about to do when Qrow, the idiot, said something that enraged Winter " Listen to big sister, Weiss... She'll protect you... Just like Atlas is going to protect all of us, huh ?"
"If you won't hold your tongue, then I will gladly remove it for you !" as she said this, Winter was drawing her sword, ready to fight. With a grin, Qrown slicked his hair back " Alright then...Come take it !" The square cleared as Winter charged Qrow engaging a fight. As the crowd watched, Ruby approached Weiss "What's going on ?!" she asked the Ice Queen who retorted back "Some crazy guy just started attacking my sister !"
"Oh no! Who would do such a th-" Ruby began to say before saying the man in question causing her to gasp in both joy and surprise "That is my uncle !" "What ?!" Weiss asked her loudly in disbelief but her team leader ignored her as she yelled loudly "Kick her butt, Uncle Qrow !" Weiss quickly followed by yelling out her own encouragement "Teach him respect, Winter !" The Lions, for their parts, were looking at the scene with a deadpan expressions but then Amethyst said something that caught her mate off guard "Simba is it just me and she is deliberately missing his neck ?"
Blinking, the Golden Lion watched the fight with inquisitive eyes and Ame was right ! Each time Winter's sword was inches away from Qrow's neck, she would deliberately make it look like she missed ! That and if we looked closely, they could see the two exchanging soft grins as they looked at each other "You're right ! They are not fighting ! They are just showing off !" Simba said with a grumble and Amethyst nodded in agreement "Should we step in ?" The Golden Lion shot her a playful grin before asking "You take who ?"
Hearing this, Amethyst shot him a grin of her own as she responded "I will take the Ice Empress~" "I will take the idiot then..." Simba muttered to himself as he and Amethyst stepped closer. Just as Winter launched herself forward with a battle-cry, a chorus of roar echoed nearby and the two fighters didn't have the time to react when two forms jumped between them. "WHAT THE HELL ?!" Qrow yelled out in surprise when Simba roared in his face while Winter had her eyes wide open as Amethyst was looking at her with barred teeth.
"ARE YOU BOTH DONE ?! If you wanted to have a Lover-argument then Hotels are made for that !" Simba shouted sternly at the two fighters,who were shocked to hear them talking, and they blushed madly at this as they tried to look away in embarrassment "Are you both adults or hormonal teenagers ? Because right now I was thinking you are the latter !" Amethyst added with a hidden grin as those words caused the crowd around them to let out indignant cries like "HEY !" or "OY !" and Simba himself was retaining himself to not laugh.
In the crowd, Ruby and Weiss were standing there with shocked expression on their faces when Simba implied that Qrow and Winter were in a relationship and seeing that none of them were arguing to say the contrary was proof enough. However, before anything could happen, a loud commanding voice was heard in the courtyard "SCHNEE !" Winter looked behind her to see General Ironwood standing there with Penny behind him. "General Ironwood sir !" Winter addressed the man as she lowered her blade down.
"What in the world do you think you're doing ?" The Headmaster of Atlas Academy asked the white-haired woman in a stern tone as he approached her, followed by Penny "He started the altercation, sir !" Winter responded back as she pointed at Simba who was standing before Qrow who looked smug. Ironwood looked at the Lion with a glare and Simba growled at him before saying "Don't look at me that General ! I wasn't the one she was speaking off !" The word 'General' was said as if he was about to vomit and by the look of anger of the man's face, everyone could tell that he heard it.
The Golden Lion then he stepped aside to reveal Qrow who instantly putted his hands behind his head in a relaxed stance as he responded "That's actually not true ! She attacked first !" Which was true in fact. Ironwood, who was having a glaring contest with Simba, had turned away from the Golden Lion to look at Qrow when he spoke "Is that right ?" he asked Winter who looked down in shame. "And you !" Ironwood said as he looked at Qrow who pointed at himself in mock confusion. "What are you doing here ?" the General added sternly to which Qrow replied by asking back "I could be asking you the same !"
However, the moment Ironwood was about to answer, Ozpin appeared with Glynda walking beside him "Now, now, everyone ! There is a sanctioned fight happening just around the corner at the Colosseum , that I can assure you has better seats... and popcorn !" The Headmaster of Beacon said to the crowd before drinking his cocoa before Glynda added "Break it up, everyone ! We will take care of this mess !" then she glared at Ironwood, Winter and Qrow.
As Ironwood left with Winter, the General was glaring furiously at Simba who barred his teeth at him with anger. Since the day they met, Ironwood had harrassed him to become a test subject so he could create an army of Lions to 'better protect the people of Remnant'. Of course, Simba had refused at first politely but when the General asked him again and again, the Golden Lion lost his patience and one day had completely lost his temper. A grin appeared on Simba's face as he remembered how he had sent the man into one of the School's fountains, humiliating Ironwood in public. Since then, the two had been acting cold toward each other.
He was so focused on the retreating form of Ironwood that he didn't noticed the curious looks Winter was sending to both him and Amethyst or the ones she sent toward Qrow as he staid behind with them. Amethyst, however did, and internally grinned as she knew Weiss would surely won't be happy about this relationship but then she looked at her mate who was still glaring at the retreating form of Ironwood.
The reddish-browned Lioness sighed as she could understand why Simba disliked the General : seeing his failure to convince the Golden Lion, Ironwood had to persuade her instead but was harshly ignored, much to his anger. Thankfully for her, the man seemed to be more interested in her mate than her maybe because Simba was royalty. Then she heard Ruby's voice echoing behind her "Uncle Qrow !" Amethyst turned her head to see Ruby hanging on the man's outstretched arm "Hi. It's so good to see you! Did you miss me? Did you miss me !?" the Leader of Team RWBY asked Qrow with excitement (which was really cute by the way) only for the guy to smirk as he said back " Nope~" The two shared a grin before Qrow patted her head.
"Qrow !" Ozpin called out the man who turned around to face the Headmaster while Ruby get dropped off. "A word, please..." the old man inquired Qrow while Glynda repaired the courtyard with her telekinesis. Once she finished, she approached the two Lions while , at the same time, Qrow said goodbye to his niece to follow Ozpin to who-know-where. "How was your mission you two ?" the blond professor asked the two with a serious look on her face "It went good… there were indeed some Grimm there but less than usual… We didn't encountered any on the way there and back..." Simba responded with a somber look on his face.
The three of them along with Ozpin had all remarked a lack of Grimm recently and all of them were wondering if Salem wasn't secretly preparing something "Its true… We encounter a small pack of Beowolves, two Boarbatusk and a King Taijitu… Less than last week !" Amethyst added as she looked at the Blond Deputy Headmistress who was deep in thought before saying "Excellent work you two and thank you for bringing this to my attention… Now you should go back to your dorm… You look exhausted..."
There was a maternal tone in her voice and the two Lions nodded before pressing their large heads against Glynda who gently patted them before ordering gently "Now off you two !" "Yes Ma'am !" Simba said with a cheeky grin which caused the Blond Professor to shot him an amused glare as she turned around to go where Ozpin and Qrow disappeared. The two Lions watched her go before walking away toward their own dorms, leaving behind Ruby and Weiss who were too busy to talk with each other to see them leaving.
When they arrived in front of the building that served as their dorms, they met up with Emerald who upon seeing them smiled before greeted them "Hey guys !" "Hey Em ! How was your day ?" Amethyst asked her childhood friend after the two of them shared a small hug "Busy but not boring… Amber is a good teacher… But then she had been called by Ozpin and sent me back to my dorm to rest...How about you ?" Emerald asked the two as they entered the grange-like building.
"It was eventful… Professor Goodwitch sent us in the Emerald Forest… Again we didn't encountered any Grimm until we saw some in a clearing… A pack of Beowolves, two Boarbatusks and a King Taijitu… I don't know why but… There is less and less Grimm in the forest..." The reddish-browned Lioness explained with a frown as she crouched on the floor with her head on her forepaws. "After the fight, we came back to rest for a bit but something happened..." Simba added as he curled beside his mate who licked his cheek with affection.
"What ?" Emerald asked the two with curiosity as she pressed her back against Amethyst's belly " A guy named Qrow provoked Winter Schnee in a fight… We stopped them until Ironwood arri-" "Wait ! Did you say Qrow ?!" the green haired girl asked them with wide eyes of shock, interrupted Amethyst "We did… Do you know him ?" Simba asked her with a frown, wondering why she looked nervous all of a sudden.
"When me, Mercury and Cinder attacked Amber and tried to steal her power, he was the one who fought us out !" Emerald responded with panic and the two Lions looked at each other with worry " He is with Ozpin right now… Maybe he will tell him you are now on our side..." Amethyst said gently to comfort her childhood friend while Simba gave her a soft smile "Hey if he dare do something, we will be there to help you~" Emerald looked at the two with a tearful smile before saying with gratefulness "Thank you… I'm so lucky to have friends like you..." "We are as well Em !" The Lions replied at once before looking at each other in surprise and laughing a few seconds later, quickly joined by Emerald.
Ozpin at the same time was discussing with Ironwood, Glynda, Winter, Amber and Qrow about the latest development. The General had been furious to learn that the Lions had revealed Salem's existence to Sienna Khan, her Organization and the Chieftain of Menagerie and had loudly ordered to arrest the Lions. Glynda had shocked the General by defending the two promising to give him pain if he dared to do something against them.
Qrow and Winter listened with interest when the Headmaster of Beacon told them who were those Lions and what they did so far and Qrow had to admit he was impressed by their actions and Winter herself couldn't say the contrary. In the end, a large majority of them were in agreement with the Lions' actions except Ironwood who wanted nothing more than to arrest them so he could create an army of Lions to protect the civilians against the Grimm.
What none of them knew, was that trouble will soon fell upon them like waves on the beach as Salem and Scar were discussing their plan to take over Beacon. The Battle for Remnant will take place when no one suspected it : during the Vital Tournament.
(To be continue…)