Normally Summer Rose was always excited when it was time to train with her dad, even if he did end up wiping the floor with her more often than not, but lately he had been pushing harder and harder when they had them. After every one Summer would be exhausted and, during the bad days, would end up sporting more than a couple of bruises. "Small bruises now mean less deadly injuries later in life," her father always said at the end of those sessions and Summer knew he was right. The road to becoming a Huntress wasn't an easy one.
"Let's take a break," he told her one day during a training session, which Summer was more than happy to accept as she dropped the wooden sword on the ground, fell backwards and lay flat on her back to catch her breath and look up at the sky. Her dad moved to sit next to her and ruffled her hair beneath her hood, smiling and laughing at the petulant look she gave him. "Aren't you hot in this jacket Sum? You're always wearing it."
Summer's response was, naturally, to stick her tongue out at him and lightly bat at his arm.
"Alright, fair enough," he said with a laugh and lay down next to her, the two of them watching a couple of clouds float by. "You've improved a lot Sum. It won't be long before you're the one knocking me around the yard."
"No way, you're way too strong for that," Summer said and sat up crossing her legs. "Do you really think I can do it?"
Her father sat up and nodded, "If you set your mind to it, absolutely." He took a moment to look over his daughter, his gaze resting on her eyes for a few seconds longer than necessary, before grabbing his practice sword and standing up. "Let's do one more round for today and start getting ready for dinner. Does that sound good?"
"Mhmm," Summer nodded and jumped to her feet, picked up her practice sword, and held it in front of her.
"Take your jacket off first," her father ordered resting his sword across his shoulders. Summer rolled her eyes but did as she was asked, taking her white jacket off and running over to put it on the house's porch and ran back. Her father nodded and held his sword in front of him, letting Summer tap it with her own before she started swinging.
It was a simple exercise that was designed to help Summer get used to swinging a sword, which she definitely was used to by this point. She had memorized the pattern by now: left, right, overhead, right, left, overhead, thrust, each one blocked or parried by her father. Still the basics needed to be drilled into your head every day and she knew that too. The tricky part was when the real training would begin.
This time it was when Summer went for an overhead and felt the block, though this time her father grabbed the blade of her sword and wrenched it out of her grip. With her weapon gone Summer jumped away from her father, almost getting hit by his own weapon, and lost her footing and fell backwards.
"Too slow Summer," her father criticized and threw her sword to the side as he started advancing on her. Summer got to her feet, focused on the wooden sword, and ran to it, sparing her dad a quick glance. She felt a sudden surge of energy inside her and found herself at her sword in a blink of her eye. She picked it up and turned to her dad, who was staring at her in surprise.
"What in the-?" he started to ask when Summer rushed at him with a yell. She raised her sword and swung at him; left, right, thrust, the first two blocked and the last parried. She saw her dad raise his sword and swing it down onto her so she dodged to her right, feeling that same surge of energy. She landed a few feet away from her dad, who swung at empty air and looked at Summer in surprise again. Summer started running at him again.
"STOP!" He shouted holding up his free hand. Summer skidded to a stop and looked at him in annoyance.
"Why? I was doing good!" she said as she breathed a little more heavily than she should be.
"How long were you able to do that? You shouldn't hide something like that from me."
"Do what?" Summer cocked her head at him in confusion, which he returned and started rubbing his chin.
"You didn't notice?" he asked mostly to himself. He looked down at his wooden sword for a moment before nodding and tossing it to his right. "Let's try something different," he said taking a few steps back and pointing at his sword, "try and get to my sword as fast as you can. And I do mean as fast as you can. Whatever you just did, do it again."
"Um… ok," Summer nodded, still a little confused. She put her own sword on the ground and stared at her dad's sword, focusing as hard as she could as she lowered her stance a little and started running. She took a couple of steps before that surge came back and her next step was right on the wooden sword, which slipped underfoot and caused Summer to fall onto her back. She sat up and groaned out, "Ow…" and rubbed the back of her head.
"I knew it!" her dad said behind her. Confused, Summer looked behind her and saw a trail of white petals floating in the air, her father catching one of them as he walked to her. Summer was entranced by the petals until they vanished in midair and she looked at her dad as he kneeled down next to her with a petal in between his fingers.
"Where…?" Summer started to ask as the petal vanished in her dad's fingers. "Where did those come from?"
"They came from you," he answered and poked Summer's forehead. "Summer, I think you just unlocked your Semblance."
"My… Semblance?"
"You know, a power that only you can use. It looked like some kind of teleportation but…" her dad shook his head with a smile and put a hand on Summer's head, ruffling her hair lightly, "Well, let's not worry about the specifics right now. It's not every day you unlock your Semblance, especially when you're only eight years old. I'm so proud of you Summer." Summer's eyes widened and she couldn't help but giggle at her father's affections and put her own hands on his. After a moment he stopped ruffling her hair and grabbed her arm to pull her up to her feet as he stood up.
"So what do I do with it? How does it work?" Summer asked looking down at her hands and up at her dad.
"You'll have to figure that out as you use it. Don't worry Summer, I'll be there for you every step of the way. In fact, let's make that the focus of your training for the next while, so we can figure out what exactly your Semblance is and what its limits are. Every Huntsman needs to learn that." Summer nodded and couldn't help the grin that crept onto her face. "Good. In any case, training's over for today so let's clean up and get dinner started." Summer nodded again and picked up the wooden sword at her feet and followed her dad as he went to get the sword Summer had left. She stopped as she thought of someone and unconsciously moved to grip the sword with both of her hands anxiously.
"Dad?" Summer asked. Her dad looked at her and she looked down at the grass, kicking it lightly. "Do… you think Mom would be proud of me? For… finding my Semblance?" The two of them were quiet for a moment and Summer looked up in time to see her dad walk over to her and pull her into a hug.
"Of course she would," he answered, his voice heavy with melancholy. "She would have been proud of you no matter what. Don't ever think differently, ok?"
"I know. I… just wish she was here." Summer felt her eyes start to burn along with her heart aching, all for the mother she never got to meet.
"Me too," her dad agreed. He carefully released Summer and gently pushed her back a step so she could see his face. He wiped away his own tears and added, "Why don't I tell you another story about her? Did you know she loved the ocean? She always loved taking me to the beach or anywhere she could see it. Do you want to know why?" Summer nodded and her father smiled wryly and tapped her nose. "At dinner then. I'll tell you what, it's quite the story. I thought she was just joking with me at first, but now I'm sure she was telling the truth."
Her dad stood up and tapped Summer's back with the wooden sword. "Go on Summer, wash your hands. I got another recipe I think you'll enjoy making tonight." Summer smiled and ran to the house, stopping to grab her jacket before going inside with her dad close behind. He paused for a moment to tap the necklace he always wore before going inside. "Yeah, you'd be so proud of Summer."
The next day had been a free day for Summer and as an eight year old with a new Semblance she took the day showing it off to everyone she could. Mrs. Grady had been surprised and offered Summer all manner of congratulations and praise for it (but no extra bread, to the girl's disappointment.) Her Dad's Huntsmen friends praised her in much the same way, though she was a little embarrassed when they and her dad just started talking about how she could use it as a Huntress.
The other kids, especially the younger ones, were amazed and wanted Summer to keep doing it. She did, mostly because it was funny to see them try and catch the petals she left behind, until she had to stop when she almost collapsed from exhaustion. That was the first thing she and her dad learned about her Semblance's limits and the rest would be made clear as she trained with it. She just wished that she didn't have to Blink right into a wall to learn she couldn't go through them. Even so Summer couldn't have been happier, even more so in that she was sure the occasional pranks she would pull would be easier with her Semblance.
Two weeks after she unlocked her Semblance that happiness came to a sudden end, in a roar of fire, claws, and Grimm. She had never ran so hard in her life, both on the ground and on the roofs. Even then Summer knew that she would probably be dead if it weren't for her Semblance and for Professor Ozpin. So now she sat in front of the central building of her dead village drawing aimless shapes in the dirt with a burnt piece of wood with her hood up that she hoped would help her not see the Huntsman as they brought body bag after body bag into the square, each one undoubtedly holding someone that Summer knew all her life.
"We searched the entire town and I believe this is everyone," the stern woman that had been with Professor Ozpin said. Summer could feel the woman's eyes on her and she tried to shrink deeper into her jacket. "I'm… afraid there were no other survivors."
"That's…" Ozpin said, pausing for a moment before letting out a deep sigh, "really disheartening. I called the airship and told them what happened. A second one is coming and we're to help with escorting them back to Vale." Summer glanced at the two adults and let go of the wood as she stood up and carefully walked over to Ozpin. The woman (Glynda, Summer remembered she was called) saw her first and turned to her, followed by Ozpin. They let Summer get a little closer before he asked, "Is something the matter?"
Summer looked up at both of them, then at the body bags, and wringed her hands together looking back at Ozpin. "What… what's going to happen to them? Are… are you…"
"We're going to take them with us," Ozpin answered and kneeled down to Summer's level. "When the airships get here we're going to take them back to Vale. When we get there, we'll give them all proper burials. We… don't know most of their names, but anything is better than being left for the Creatures of Grimm."
"Burials," Summer repeated. Ozpin nodded and was slightly surprised when Summer shook her head and started walking to the body bags.
"Summer, you don't want to go over there," Glynda said, gently putting a hand on Summer's shoulder. "It's-"
"I have to find Dad," Summer said struggling against Glynda's grip, her eyes still on the bags.
"We can help you find him when we're back in Vale," Glynda said and started pushing Summer away from the bags. "So please sit down and-"
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Summer shouted and shoved Glynda's hand off of her before Blinking away from her in a flurry of petals. Ozpin and Glynda couldn't hide the surprise on their faces as Summer pointed at the bags. "I have to find Dad! You can't bury him, he won't find Mom if you do! I made a promise to him! I… I don't want to break it. Please…"
"A promise?" Ozpin asked standing up. "What do you mean?" Summer, very much on the verge of tears, took a few quick breaths.
"My… my Mom is waiting for Dad, in um… the place we go when we die. That's what Dad said and he never lied to me. He said, 'when we die, we all eventually find our way to the same place. When we get there, everyone we love will be there and we'll be happy.' Both my Mom and Dad believed it, so I do too." Summer took another deep breath and looked Ozpin in the eye. "Dad said we all get there through the water. The… um…"
"Afterlife?" Ozpin asked.
"Yeah, that's the word he used. We go through water to the afterlife and if you're buried in the ocean, you can find the people you love faster. I… I want him to find Mom."
"Burials at sea. That's quite the request," Glynda said crossing her arms.
"I think I heard about that particular belief before," Ozpin said tapping a finger against his cane. "You promised your father that?"
"Well, more to myself. He told me about that a couple of weeks ago and… it makes sense. I… I just want Mom and Dad to be happy together, and that won't happen if he's buried on land. Please…"
"Summer," Glynda started.
"Do you know what he looks like?" Ozpin interrupted, getting a surprised look from Glynda and a hopeful one from Summer. "Or a defining trait, a tattoo or something?"
"Um… he's a Huntsman, so he's strong. He's got a phoenix tattoo on his forearm," Summer explained rubbing her left forearm, "It's… hard to explain, but I know what it looks like."
"Ok," Ozpin nodded and knelt down next to Summer, "Glynda and I will look for him. I want you to go back to the steps where I left you. We'll get you when we find him. Some of the people… they aren't…"
"I know what they look like," Summer said looking at the bags, "but I have to find him. It's important."
"It's also important to remember those you love at their best. Do you understand?" Summer looked up at Ozpin's stern face and nodded sadly. "Good. We'll get you when we find him." She nodded again and slowly walked back to where she had been sitting before, Ozpin standing up to watch her sadly.
"It never gets easier," Glynda said once Summer picked up the stick and started drawing again when she sat down.
"Quite the opposite, it gets worse with every child I meet. And I've met far too many." Ozpin and Glynda spared the girl one last glance before walking to the collection of bags and the Huntress guarding them.
"Is the kid ok?" she asked once Ozpin and Glynda were close.
"No. She wants to find her father and give him a burial at sea. He was one of the local Huntsman and has a phoenix tattoo on his left arm. Have you seen anyone like that?"
"I wasn't on collection sir, but I'm sure he's in here somewhere. I'll help you find him." Ozpin nodded his gratitude and followed her. "This is so fucked. No kid should have to go through this."
"…Agreed."
Ozpin felt worse with each body that he inspected, as carefully and respectfully as he could. Each one a cruel reminder of his failure in stopping the Generals; man, woman, old, and the unfortunately too young. After a few minutes of heart-wrenching searching Ozpin crouched next to another bag.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly and unzipped the bag. The man inside certainly had the physique of a Huntsman and wore a simple green shirt. He carefully reached in and pulled out his left arm, blinking at the striking image of a phoenix in flame on his arm. "There you are." Ozpin unzipped it a little more to see his face, only to gasp and sigh sadly and closed it. 'She doesn't need to see that.'
Ozpin gently set the arm down and walked to where Summer was sitting, his knuckles white from how hard he was gripping his cane. He stopped in front of her and tapped his cane on the ground twice to get her attention. She looked up at him and Ozpin sighed sadly and said, "I think I found him. He's this way."
Summer quickly scrambled to her feet and followed Ozpin as he led her back, Glynda moving to join them a few seconds later. Summer stopped a few feet away when she saw the tattoo and sprinted the rest of the way and fell to her knees. 'Damn, it is him,' Ozpin thought as Summer slowly reached for the arm and ran her fingers down the ink of the tattoo. Ozpin heard the sobs before he knelt next to her and saw the tears as she grabbed the hand and lifted it so she could press her cheek into the palm.
"Papa…" she whispered and sobbed louder as she pressed the hand harder against her. Gunfire filled the air suddenly and Ozpin and Glynda looked at the Huntress on guard duty who lowered her weapon.
"Beowolf," she called out, "It must have been sneaking around." Ozpin and Glynda shared a look and looked back at Summer. Ozpin quickly moved to grab her arm as she reached for the zipper.
"You don't want to see that," Ozpin said as Summer looked at him both sad and angry. "He's… he isn't…"
"I know what happened to him," Summer said to Ozpin's shock. He let go of Summer's arm and she moved to hug her father's arm. "He fought with his friends to save us from those monsters. He..." the tears renewed and she closed her eyes and nestled herself deeper into the palm. "I hate them."
"Do you… want us to leave you alone for a moment?" Glynda asked. Summer nodded in answer and the adults slowly walked away. Once they were a few feet away Glynda turned to Ozpin and said, "The airships should be here soon."
"Well then, let's make sure that it's safe for them."
While they walked away Summer gave her father's arm one last squeeze before she carefully set it back inside the bag. She looked around the square to see if anyone was looking and, once she was sure they weren't, carefully slipped an arm inside. 'Please don't let me feel it, please don't let me feel it,' she thought as her hand slid up her father's chest. She felt a small bit of metal, clasped her hand around it, and pulled it out. She opened her hand to reveal the small pendant she had seen her father wear almost every single day. "The last gift your mother gave me," he had told her once. Summer carefully examined the small rose pendant before lowering her hood and slipping the necklace around her neck and lifting the hood back up.
Summer reached for the zipper on the bag and grabbed it, thinking for a moment before closing her eyes and sipping it closed. She then lay her head on top of it and started crying again. 'Remember them at their best.'
Summer didn't leave her father's side once she had found him, afraid that he would get lost in the shuffle again when the airships finally arrived. The Huntsmen were kind enough to work around her as they loaded everyone in her village on board. Soon it was only her and her father left and she heard footsteps approaching and looked up at Ozpin.
"It's time," he said and knelt down to carefully pick up her father. "I'll be careful," he said when he noticed Summer's look of worry and stood up with her father. Summer stood up and followed Ozpin to one of the airships, stopping at the foot of the ramp to look back at her village.
'No more fresh bread, no more playing with my friends, no more training. All because of…' Summer thought slowly clenching her hands into a fist and feeling tears well up again as she let Glynda guide her onto the ship. 'I hate them.'
Summer sat next to where Ozpin had set her father down and quietly watched it as the ship rocked as it lifted up. Ozpin stood next to her and said, "I talked to the pilot. We'll divert over the ocean so you can do what you need to. It won't be for very long though."
"Ok…" Summer quietly nodded. As the minutes wore on Summer retreated into her thoughts, her eyes falling to the floor as she debated with herself over whether she really wanted to go through with it. 'Maybe I should take him to Vale. Tell them his name, get him a grave I can visit anytime. It would hurt but… that's not so bad right? But…'
"Listen Summer, sometimes Huntsmen and Huntresses have to make difficult choices," she remembered her father saying once during one of the smaller lessons he taught her. She can't even remember what it was about now. "There's never a perfect choice that makes everyone happy. More often than not, someone will end up unhappy when you make a choice."
"What do I do then?" Summer remembered her asking.
"Well… I would say try to make others happy as much as you can, even if it's at the cost of your own happiness. Not all the time mind, but enough that you can feel proud about what you've done. That's why Huntsmen exist, to protect those who can't protect themselves.'
Summer looked back up at her father and made her decision.
"We're over the ocean now," the pilot's voice sounded over the speakers, "I'll let you know when we're over deep enough waters. You'll have maybe a minute before we need to get back to our normal course."
"Summer…?" Ozpin quietly asked.
"I heard," Summer replied and crawled to her father, lying on his chest and placing her forehead on the cold fabric of the bag. The countless times Summer did the same thing with him in the past came to her and caused her to start crying again. "I… I really want you to come with me dad, but… I really want you to be happy too. I hope you'll find Mom and tell her all about me. I'll be a good girl and become the Huntress you always said I'd become. I'll be strong for you dad. I'll…" 'I'll kill those monsters, every last one of them! Especially…' Summer didn't finish the thought, shaking it away and hugging her father. "I love you."
"It should be deep enough now," the pilot said over the speaker again. Ozpin knelt next to Summer and put a hand on her back, the girl giving her father one last squeeze before slowly pulling away. The Huntress that had been guarding the plaza earlier opened one of the side doors letting the wind into the cabin. Neither her nor any of the others could bear to look at Summer as Ozpin gently moved her father to the door. Nobody really wanted to do this part.
Ozpin looked out of the door down to the blue waves far below them and then at the bag next to him. He placed a hand on it in another silent apology and looked at Summer. "Are you absolutely sure?" he asked her. She nodded silently and wiped away some tears before crawling to her father and put both hands on his legs. Ozpin grabbed the hem of the bag and the two of them flipped the bag out of the ship in one motion. Summer quickly scrambled to the edge, Ozpin getting a hold of her jacket, and watched as her father fell. Time slowed to an agonizingly slow crawl until he hit the surface and disappeared beneath the waves.
And then Summer screamed, agony and anger, grief and sorrow all rolled into one as Ozpin gently pulled her back enough for the door to close. She pounded a fist on the metal floor and cried loudly, feeling a deep loathing at herself.
Glynda quietly pressed the button for the intercom and said, "It's done," and looked back at Summer collapsing while Ozpin comforted her.
"I'm so sorry," Ozpin said while quietly stroking Summer's back.
"I hate them," Summer cried out through tears, "I hate them! Those monsters… I hate them all! I hate them…" Summer kept muttering those words until Ozpin carefully picked her up and pulled her into a hug. She froze for a moment before wrapping her arms around the man and crying into his chest, deep and heavy sobs for everything she had lost. She wasn't the only one crying in that cabin.
In that moment, a small seed of hatred was planted deep in Summer's heart.
