Sorry for the late upload, lots of stuff happened last week that ate into my writing schedule. Anyway here we go:
To my latest guest review: Training Montage? That sounds fun as hell but I've got different plans for Nova's Maiden power heh...
There's a couple things that might confuse you in this chapter if you didn't read the changes to Chapter 51, I have no idea what crack I was on when I wrote that. I blame it on the whiskey and metal music.
Chapter 53: The Taste of Blood isn't better than the taste of regret
After the chaos and happenings at Haven, with Onyx driven off and Team ASHNRWBYJNR reunited. They couldn't help but feel that their progress had opened up more questions than answers.
With the new additions of Adam, Bell, Elain, Sun, and the more prominent Oscar, it would seem that their dwellings at Qrow's friend's place were garnering to be rather… crowded. Ilya said that she'd been meaning to visit an uncle of hers who lived near Haven and would keep in touch while they were there.
"Anyone wanna explain to me how we're fitting seventeen people in here?" Nora asked quirking her eyebrow.
Yang raised her index finger to prompt a suggestion, "I think we should-," but Hex shushed her.
"No, we are not making our friends camp outside in tents… and before you ask, yes I do have spare tents in the compression storage but the idea is out of the question," Hex hissed, squinting her eyes at her blonde girlfriend.
"Camping?! Sign me up!" Sun jumped up elatedly.
Blake groaned and held him down, "Sun you will sleep anywhere that's not wet or slimy…"
"True! That's what makes me so adaptable," he replied, giving her a wide grin that made her blush from how close he was.
"Glad to see nothing's changed between you two since I last saw you… still acting like a comedy duo," Nova smiled as she looked on smugly, "Well… almost nothing…" the implication caused Blake to turn red.
"It's not like that!" she countered.
"Mhm, sure thing kitty, as for our sleeping arrangements… I propose a wonderful plan!" the dragon leader thrust her hand in the air proudly.
Everyone paled, "You know whenever she suggests a 'plan' I always get a really bad feeling…" Weiss whispered to Luna and Ruby who just nodded slowly in agreement.
"Oh don't be like that cousin! My plans are flawless, fool-proof and strategically sound!"
"Well… you put the fool in it for sure…" Luna pinched the bridge of her nose.
Nova waved her hand dismissively, "Guys seriously, we've been in Mistral. Who do we know here owns a rather large house and is insanely rich?"
Ruby's hand shot up, "OOO! I know this! It's Weiss!"
"Close but no cigar love, I'm talking about… THEM!" she spun around and pointed and Hex and Nitro who looked like a pair of deer caught in headlights.
"US?!"
"Yes, you! Your family owns the largest security firm in Remnant! I've seen your house damnit!"
"Nova that's…" Hex prompted hesitantly.
"We haven't… seen our family since we left Mistral…" Nitro finished.
"Then all the more reason to go see them now! Your parents were really sweet the last time I was there!" it was then Nova saw their dreary faces. "What happened?"
"We didn't exactly… part ways on agreeable terms…" Nitro explained, "When we left for Beacon, Hex and I left without really saying anything other than leaving a note at the door… look long story short I don't even know if they want to see us after the stunt we pulled…"
Nova's expression instantly softened and she placed a hand on Nitro's shoulder, "Hey… bro, listen… you need to face them someday, and I might not know your parents the way you do, but they don't seem like the type to reject their own kids… take it from someone who had to grow up without them… if there's even the slightest chance for you to make things right, then you need to take it… before you never get that chance again…"
Nitro and Hex shared a hesitant glance, "Well… there's no time like the present… right sis?"
Hex breathed a heavy sigh, "You only call me sis when it suits you… fine. I'm as ready as I could be…"
The large party made their way through Mistral in the dark of the night, if it were not for their wide variety of colours one would swear, they were a cult.
The endlessly inclining stairs twisted around the mountain through a series of paths until they crested the hell on the opposite side of Haven.
Sitting neatly in the side of the mountain like a master carved sculpture stood a large white mansion embedded into the mountainside. With grand pillars ordaining the entry, a wide-open courtyard with a fountain, all enclosed behind a thick dust infused metal fence with barbed spiked tops.
At the centre of its majesty stood a heavy metal gate chained together.
"This is your house?!" Weiss almost choked on air. "It's bigger than mine!"
"That's saying something…" Sun marvelled.
Adam and Bell just retained their silence while poor Oscar looked like he was about to pass out.
Nitro walked up to the gate and pressed the doorbell. Its ring echoed like a shrill cry in the dead silence of the night. Not a single light was on in the house nor were any of the outer lights.
Nova smirked and elbowed Yang, "Hey are you ready to meet the parents?"
Yang turned red and instantly began to fix her clothes and hair, "Oh shit! I'm still covered in debris damnit!"
Nova blinked, "Wait… you're actually nervous?!"
"WHY WOULDN'T I BE?! DO YOU SEE THIS PLACE?!"
Hex smiled warmly, "Yang, calm down. My parents are really chill… most of the time. Relax, you'll be fine!"
"That's strange… normally one of the guards would have answered by now…" Nitro said absently.
Hex's eyes narrowed, "Wait… why aren't the guard lights on? Or the lawn lamps? It's like no one's home…"
While none of them were paying attention, a figure began to emerge from the darkness of the Zephyr manor.
"Young Masters? Is that you?!" an old voice said.
They all peered through the night to see an old man dressed in a butler outfit walking toward them.
"Quinten?!" Nitro exclaimed.
"AH Young masters it is so good to see you!" the man known as Quinten said with glee. His old features brightening. They could see now, his grey balding head and a thick mustache. His old brown eyes behind a pair of rounded spectacles. "My word is that Miss Sapphire? What a pleasant surprise, though odd to see you without your brother."
Everyone fought the urge to burst out into laughter at the fact that Nova was looking rather annoyed at being dismissed.
"Q, where's everyone? The place looks like a ghost town…" Hex said.
"Well… that's… it's better if you and your friends come inside, I'll explain."
The inside of the manor was just as grand as the outside. Large endless hallways and rooms that one would need a map to navigate it. Oscar looked rather disoriented as he passed through, choosing to lurk at the back of the party.
They arrived at a large living room, a massive decorative rug sat at the center on the large tiled floor, black sofas and coffee tables lined around it like a meeting area. The dining room was connected to the living room by a space where one would assume a wall should go. It seemed that this was not the real dining hall, but more of a common room for small gatherings. According to Nitro, the real dining hall was in the east wing and was much larger than this.
Quinten came through after a few minutes with tea for everyone.
"Nitro this place is insane!" Sun whispered to his friend.
"You lived here, as in every day?" Jaune asked as well, looking a little nervous.
The red-head chuckled, "Well not really. Hex and I stayed at the dorms in Haven."
"Why? You have such a great house!" Nora rolled in.
"Yeah, it's nice… but we feel better in more… humble environments. After we spent so much time out in the slums together, it's a bit hard to live in this fancy place…" Hex explained, rubbing the back of her head. "I never got used to this place, even after I was adopted in."
It was then the butler chose to break his silence, "Now I don't believe we've been properly introduced. My name is Quinten Alucard, I've been serving the Zephyr family as the head butler for fifty-three years. To whom do I have the pleasure of greeting?" Quinten said as he introduced himself.
"Q, you know Sapphire already, rather her first name is Luna. The white-haired girl standing next to her is Alexandrite, or rather Nova. Luna's brother." Hex introduced Nova and Luna who waved their hands bashfully.
"Alexandrite?! As in the tall boy who was with you when you first visited with the small one? How in the world…?"
"Don't think about it too hard Mr. Q, it's a really long story," Nova said rubbing her head.
"Well, I certainly won't pry. If it is too much."
"I'm Elain Flareheart. Nova and Luna's mother. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Alucard." Elain said smiling warmly and extending her hand for a greeting.
At the mention of the name the man instantly bowed instead of shaking the hand, "My word! If I had known we were expecting royalty I would've brought out the good wine! My apologies for my rudeness your highness. And to you as well your highnesses," he said realizing who Luna and Nova were.
"Please, just call me Ellie and you can drop the 'your highness'," Elain said turning slightly pink from embarrassment.
"Forgive me your highness but etiquette requires my use of honorifics, and I do not stray from my code."
The queen regarded the decision with interest, "That is quite respectable… you're a good man, Mr. Alucard." Elain noted.
"These guys here are my team," Nitro said turning around and introducing Ruby and the others one by one each giving a small wave to notify who they were, except Nora who began to flex her biceps.
"Y-Yang Xiao Long, I-I'm… I-I'm…" Yang began to stutter when Hex chuckled and roped an arm around her neck.
"This is Yang, my girlfriend. Isn't she wonderful, Q?" Hex smiled cheekily and pecked Yang on the cheek.
Quinten pushed up his glasses and smiled, "Indeed young mistress, you certainly have a good eye." He bowed slightly before Yang, "Please do take care of her, she's quite the handful."
Yang felt her uneasiness wash away at his amiability, "Don't I know it!"
"YANG!" Hex chastised smacking her lightly.
Everyone burst into a fit of laughter.
"And well, these three are Sun Wukong, Bell and Adam Taurus…" he said that last one hesitantly.
At first, Quinten had a flash of anger and alertness at the mention of Adam but simmered down when he realized how casually Nitro was interacting with him.
"Associating with the White Fang is not a good idea young master…"
"Ex-White Fang. He's on our side now, Q. He's a good guy… at least Nova seems to think so, and I trust him, er… her?" Nitro tried to explain.
"Very well, but if he ever steps out of line…"
"He won't!" Nitro explained, then he turned to Adam, "Sorry about this man… Q's a little protective…"
Adam cleared his throat, "No… it is quite understandable." He turned to Quinten, "You have my word, Mr. Alucard, that no harm will come to anyone here under my watch."
"I certainly hope not…"
"Ugh, I am really sorry about this dude…"
"No, it's my fault really. It comes with the tagline of being a former terrorist. I can't change my past, I can only focus on what's in front of me." Adam said which was an incredible shift from how he would have acted had this been a year ago. Bell felt a sense of pride swelling within her at that.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, care to tell me where everyone is?" Nitro asked.
"Ah yes of course. Your parents have opened up a new facility for the company in Atlas. They moved there not too long ago with your older sister in tow. Without you two around they need all hands on deck for the large scale operation and temporarily moved to Atlas. I was left in charge of the manor until they return." Quinten explained.
Nitro almost felt a sigh of relief escaped him, but it was soon overcome with the feeling of regret, not being able to see his parents.
"I see… well, there's nothing we can do about that… we've come to ask you a question actually," Hex said.
"Oh, a request? Well, that is unusual."
"We'd like to know if we could use the manor to stay for a few days. We're kinda exhausted and need a place to crash that can fit everyone here…"
Quinten then gauged them realizing they were all dusty and covered in soot and ash and what was potentially blood. "I'm not going to ask what transpired to cause all of this… but you need to ask my permission young masters. This is your house after all. Do with it as you please. There are eight bedrooms available as all the staff have followed the masters to Atlas. It may not fit you all but you can divide amongst yourselves. Breakfast is at seven in the morning, I believe a tour is in order…"
"It's fine Q, we'll show them around. There is one thing that you can do for us, and that's…" *GROWL* was the simultaneous sound of Hex and everyone else's stomachs.
"Ah dinner, of course! I'll see to it at once. If I remember correctly, the highnesses prefer fish correct? Anything in particular for anyone else?"
"Tuna!" Luna, Nova, and Blake simultaneously shouted. Everyone else just deadpanned.
"We'll eat anything, Q," Nitro said proudly.
" I'll get the preparations ready…" he moved to go off to the kitchen while Elain and Ren followed closely behind hoping to assist the old man.
This left everyone else to their musings.
"Now that's over with… how are we dividing the rooms?" Ruby piped in.
"Well, there are seventeen of us and eight rooms, so that's two a room and one with three?" Hex proposed.
"We draw straws?" Nora offered.
"Nah, I think it's mostly decided right? I'll be bunking with Ruby, Yang, and Hex, and the rest of you can figure it out?" Nova tilted her head.
"Thanks for the planning fearless leader…" Luna facepalmed. "I'm bunking with my bestie!" she instantly latched on to Weiss who looked flustered.
"I'm bunking with Renny!" Nora squealed taking up her partner.
That left Blake, Sun, Nitro, Jaune, Adam, Bell, and Oscar. They all looked at each other nervously.
"Um… why don't Bell and I bunk together and the boys figure it out…?" Blake offered, her ears flattening against her head.
"No dice kitty, I think we should bunk with someone we know for a fact we won't try to kill in our sleep," Bell grunted, placing her hands on her hips, making her look like an angry pixie.
"What? I thought we were allies…"
"Comrades sure, but mind you, kitty cat, we are not friends." Bell squinted at her. In truth the butterfly Faunus was actually slightly jealous of Blake, though she would never admit to it. The fact that she was once close to Adam made her see Blake as a rival.
Yes. Bell 'Wings', had a crush on Adam Taurus. She didn't know when exactly it started, perhaps it was when she was first enrolled into team BLADE, her first time meeting the great and powerful Adam Taurus, or it could have been when he sat with her after her mission on Mount Glenn. She never knew when her feelings bubbled, and despite her training to operate without emotion, she couldn't quell her admiration, which had developed into a crush.
Thus, any opportunity to single him out from the cat was to be taken.
"I'll bunk with my buddy Jaune, right… Jaune?" Nitro said roping an arm around the blonde.
Sun wanted to protest he was his buddy too when he saw Nitro giving him a series of winks and head gestures to the Belladonna. Then it dawned on him.
"Ohhh, so if Adam is bunking with fairy wings over there then… that leaves…" he looked at Blake and Oscar.
"Nuh-uh, I'm calling dibs on the couch, I am not sleeping on the floor," Oscar said waving his arms in protest.
"Well, that settles it Blakey is bunking with me!" Sun said proudly.
"Wait! I DIDN'T AGREE….!" Blake was silenced when Nova clapped her hands.
"Great so we're all in agreement. I'm gonna take a shower and ask mom to fix my armlet." Nova said walking off, hoping she remembered where the bathroom was from the last time.
"I think we could all use a shower… how many bathrooms are there?" Jaune asked curiously. Knowing the members of his team, he'd rather not have to fistfight someone for a shower.
"One per room, and there's one down the main hall on every floor so you guys really don't need to fight over…" before he could finish the sentence, they were all gone at lightning speeds, leaving Oscar and Adam to stand there in disappointment.
"Well… I guess we're showering after dinner then…" Oscar groaned as he collapsed on the couch. The feeling of the soft cushions enveloping around his tired body was like blissful heaven.
Behind closed doors, Adam stumbled to the bathroom sink. His vision was beginning to blur and his body was aching. Staring himself in the mirror he could see the pale skin, the bags under his eyes. He needed to rest his body, and fast.
*COUGH COUGH COUGH* was all that escaped him as he began violently rupturing with coughs into the sink, praying to Oum that no one heard him. After the coughing fit subsided, he looked at his hands, they were covered in his blood.
"ADAM!" Bell screamed as she barged through the unlocked door and rushed to his side, "What's wrong? Are you alright?!"
Adam swallowed and tried to stand, "I'm... fine..."
"BULLSHIT!"
"I take... offense to that..." he groaned.
"Fuck the formalities, what's up with you?" she asked concerned.
Adam grunted again and straightened himself, "You have to promise not to say a damn word about this..."
"But..." she wanted to protest but his face said otherwise, "Ok fine... now tell me."
"Remember those experiments we were subject to? That my blood carries the failed prototype nanomachines?"
Bell nodded, "Yeah... are they affecting you? Why now?"
"Because I'm no longer using the crystal. Anytime I use that power now, I'm running my body ragged. The cells are slowly corroding me inside, each time I have to call on that power..."
Bell was confused, "But... when was the last time you...?" then her face morphed into realization, "In that fight with Edan?! THAT WAS ALL THE WAY BACK AT MENAGERIE! Then you fought with Onyx... how... how long have you been suffering like this?"
"It doesn't mat-"
"Don't give me that shit. It fucking matters Adam. How. Long."
"Since the fall of Beacon, I've been feeling it. It got worse after the fight. Bell, I don't think I'm cut out for combat anymore..." Adam said solemnly as he slumped onto the bathroom floor.
The short blonde knelt beside him, "Then no more combat."
"But... they need my help... to fight the Fang..."
"No. In the state you are, you'll be dead before you know it. We're heading back to Menagerie. A couple of days of rest here, and then we're gone. No. More. Fighting." Bell said sternly.
"What if..." he wanted to protest but she shushed him.
"I... don't want to lose you. I know what you're thinking. You think the only path to redemption is a kamikaze blaze of glory that ends in your death, but some people out here actually like you alive, and would prefer it if you stayed that way." She said turning beet red.
Adam was taken aback, "Has the esteemed captain Wings, grown attachment to a person?" he said hauntingly.
"Shut the fuck up... you're the closest thing to a friend I have... so I don't want you to go dying on me, okay?"
He chuckled, and relented, "Alright fine... besides we might do more good on Menagerie anyway."
Nova sat in the shower for what felt like an eternity, letting the hot water soak into her weary skin, trying desperately to scrub away the pain that lingered. She felt awful, the guilt was eating at her, and now that she wasn't in the presence of her team that she could truly let it out. Her hands still felt stained with the blood and while she knew she did what had to be done… she couldn't escape the lingering feeling that it was a mistake.
There was a light knock on the door, "Hey… are you alright in there?" it was Ruby.
Nova instantly collected herself, "Yeah I'm fine… why?"
"Well… it's just that dinner's ready and everyone else is downstairs… and well… you were kinda talking to yourself…" Ruby said nervously.
Nova cringed, "You heard that?"
There was a pause of silence before Ruby's muffled voice was heard through the door again, "Do you want to talk about it?"
The dragon felt her breath hitch in her throat, "Just… gimme a minute I'll be out…"
Ruby sat in silence on the plush bed, admiring the room décor. When Nitro said they were rich she didn't expect the rooms to be all fitted with king-size beds and fully furnished with private bathrooms. It was like a giant hotel.
Nova emerged from the bathroom in an outfit that had Ruby choke in surprise. She was wearing an all too familiar long-sleeved dress with an open top and skirt that went to her knees. The ever-familiar white roses patterned along it was the biggest dead giveaway. It was her mother's old outfit.
"Sorry, this was the only clean girl clothes I had left and well… I figured it was as good a time as any to wear it…" Nova said blushing faintly. "I-Is this alright?"
"That's mom's…!" Ruby gasped looking almost tearful.
Nova instantly flinched, "Oh! Are you not okay with this? Yang gave it to me and… well…"
Ruby instantly felt bad, "No! Not that! You look amazing… I just… didn't expect to see it again…"
"Reopening old wounds. Sorry… I guess we both have some sore spots…" she replied rubbing her left arm.
Ruby got off the bed and took Nova's hand in hers, "Are you finally ready to talk about what happened?"
The dragon leader stared at the red leader with a look of pain, "In the vault. When I saw Cinder beating Raven, at the time… I thought it was funny. I know it's pretty insensitive of me to laugh, Vernal was dead but the only thing that could sink into my brain was the irony of the situation. Raven knew she was going to get double-crossed but the fact that she let it happen so easily, I just… I'm not sure what I was thinking."
"What do you mean?"
"Ruby, if I tell you… you might think less of me…"
She held the dragon's face in her hands and forced their eyes to meet, "Never."
Taking a deep breath Nova spilled it, "It's like… seeing the betrayal, my emotions were all over the place. Part of me wanted to kill Cinder, part of me wanted to laugh at Raven for having even the slightest faith in Cinder's faction to keep their word, but more than anything I just wanted revenge. For Pyrrha, for Weiss, for Amber, for the people who lost their lives at Beacon… all I saw was hate and I let it consume me. I fought without regarding Cinder as another person, she was almost like a Grimm to me at the time. Then at the last moment, before I landed the final blow… I hesitated…"
Ruby watched her ramble with shock, "Then why did you hesitate?"
"I… don't know. Call it momentary sobriety, when I was about to take her life, I felt it. The true weight of my actions, like a flash of clarity it came bearing down on me but I still followed through. I killed her Ruby. I can say all I want about her, that she was beyond redemption, but maybe…" Nova trailed off.
"No, there was no hope for her," Ruby said firmly, squeezing Nova's hands.
The dragon's eyes widened in shock, not believing that these words were coming from Ruby, "What…?"
"You're right. After what she did to Pyrrha, to Weiss and even Penny. The people of Beacon, hell even Ozpin. You heard her yourself, she'd go through anyone's blood be it, children or gods, to get power. Nova, I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe you did the right thing."
"But…!"
"Nova you can't change the past… it's just something you have to live with. I don't think any different of you, and while I'm not proud of what you did, I think maybe, it was what had to be done. If this is how you're feeling, just imagine how badly Weiss feels. Even Oscar! We all did things we're not proud of this time around, we just need to keep looking toward the future, to the bigger picture." Ruby held Nova firmly, squeezing her frame and trying to pour as much positive energy as she could. "Our team needs us to lead, so we need to always be on our best."
The dragon leader felt hot tears sting her eyes, it was times like this she was grateful that Ruby was the one by her side. The red reaper was a treasure, and her emotional lifeline in these chaotic times, no doubt she was the same for Ruby. They were dependant on each other for support, and by Oum, she was grateful to have it.
"You're right… we're fighting for a world where all of this is over and we can live happily… and maybe, the world is a slightly better place now…" she pressed her nose against Ruby's. "Thank you, Ruby… you just keep me falling in love with you a little bit more every time…"
Ruby leaned in closer, her eyes becoming lidded, "Maybe… I should have you fall some more…?"
"I'd like that…" Nova was slowly closing the distance between them.
"Hey what's taking so long? Yang sent me to see if you guys were okay…." Oscar said as he rounded the doorway, upon seeing them he instantly turned bright red, "AH! I'M SO SORRY!"
Instantly Nova and Ruby split apart, red in the face, "Thanks a bunch there Oscar, I'll repay the favour someday…" Nova said slyly.
Oscar gulped, "I'm not sure what you mean by that…."
"You'll find out when you're older…" Nova said smirking, "OW!"
"Don't tease him! He's still innocent!" Ruby reprimanded as she pinched the dragon.
Dinner was a lot more lively than anyone would have expected. Adam, their most reserved party member, was at least open to jokes and even provided some entertaining stories. Blake was honestly surprised, she'd thought he'd be more silent and broodier than actively engaging with everyone, it was like watching a child grow up.
"Yo, mom, about my armlet…" Nova held up her right hand to show the broken device.
Elain almost choked, "How the hell did you break it like that?! That thing's nigh-indestructible!"
"Well, I did fall off Beacon tower and have it crushed by a rock in the vault…"
"Ugh, you know what? I'll just make you a new one… wait… that reminds me," she turned to Luna who was happily chomping away at her fish, while simultaneously stealing food from Weiss. "Luna, honey did you bring that thing with us?"
"Huh…?" At first, she was confused then it dawned on her, "It's in your bag, I watched you put it in there! How do you forget that?!"
Elain snorted, "Sweetheart do I look like I pay attention to what I shove in the bag?"
"Point taken."
Elain left the table only to come back shortly with a large block of translucent metal that looked like it was shining.
Everyone at the table choked, "My word! Your highness is that diamond?!" Quinten asked incredulously.
"Close, it's Diamond Incindium Alloy, the last of its kind. I brought it with me because I remembered a certain someone is in need of forging a new weapon." She looked toward Nova with a knowing look.
Nova instantly shot up from the table, "MOM I FREAKIN LOVE YOU!" then proceeded to squeal while clutching the giant mass to her chest.
Everyone besides Ruby deadpanned, while the reaper's eyes began to glow, "Oh… my… god… THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES!" she squealed.
"Hold on there hothead, if you want to forge that you're going to need flames of around four thousand degrees… Celsius…" Elain said dryly, "In other words, you're going to need to superheat it yourself. And you'll need a proper smithy, I don't even know where we're going to find…"
"About that…" Hex said.
After dinner they followed Hex and Nitro through the vast halls of the west wing of the Zephyr manor until they came across a pair of rather grand mechanical doors, locked by a keypad.
Hex punched in a series of numbers too complex to commit to memory and the doors opened to reveal a wondrous sight.
It was a massive machine workshop and laboratory, lined with as many tools and equipment as you would need. There was even a metal forging area with proper ventilation.
"Someone pinch me I might be dreaming…" Elain mumbled as she wandered in a daze.
"Welcome to the Zephyr Labs, it's where I made the majority of my tech in my spare time and where Q taught me how to properly code." Hex said proudly.
They all looked at the aged butler curiously. "Well, I may not look like it but I am quite technologically capable, though I believe the young mistress has surpassed me by now," Quinten said looking toward Hex.
Nova whistled, "With this place, I could forge a brand new Asura… hell, I could make it even better than before!" instantly she turned to Ruby and got down on one knee.
Everyone in the room gasped in shock, their eyes practically bulging out of their heads.
"Oh my god, what's happening right now…?" Luna looked on in static glee.
"They can't possibly be…?" Weiss looked about ready to facepalm.
"HERE?!" Oscar squealed.
"Ruby Rose, will you do the honours of…" everyone felt their breath hitch in their throat as they awaited the fateful words of… "Helping me design a new weapon?" instantly everyone fell over.
"That is the best thing you could have ever said to me! FUCK YES!" Ruby exclaimed in excitement.
The fact that she was so excited she even said 'fuck' made Yang choke.
Later that night after everyone had fallen asleep, Luna had tucked herself away with Weiss, the Schnee girl had taken a long time to fall asleep. At first, she couldn't sleep at all, her mind racing back to the blood-stained floors of Haven, the gruesome sight of Hazel Rainhart crawling on the floor with fury in his eyes toward her, the life fading as he moved.
Every time she closed her eyes the memories came flooding back and it was only until Luna sat beside her and held her hand until she finally calmed down, did the Schnee ex-heiress finally drifted off. The only problem now was, Luna couldn't bring herself to sleep.
The bed was too plush, and her body still felt on edge from her fight with Onyx. Her mind was plagued not by fear but by curiosity, for the words he'd said to her, the events that transpired, had begun to raise questions that she couldn't quite find the answer for.
She heard it, loud and clear, 'Your power is the same as mine...'. She too felt it, when their blades clashed, the conflicting elements, the battle for power over the directional forces, the reaction of the Fragment of Remnant around his neck. All her life, Luna had no clear idea as to what her powers actually did, or what her limits were.
Unlike her brother, her powers were much more confusing. Her birthmark was not on her left shoulder like all other Aspects of Remnant before her, it was on her lower back. It wasn't even in a distinct shape as indicated by the books in her family library. She'd come across several symbols, the flame symbol Nova bore, a symbol of light like a cross, one of darkness like the mist, a gust of air for the wind, but not a single thing about a mark that bore a resemblance to a swirling galaxy.
Carefully she detached herself from Weiss' grip and wandered downstairs in her ocean blue t-shirt and shorts to find the book she brought with her. There might be something she missed, anything that could give her a clue as to what it all meant...
The living room was dark, with the curtains on the window slightly drawn, slivers of moonlight streaming through like shining beams of silver, providing minimal illumination to a sole couch. Deciding not to rouse anyone, she took up a perch on the single-seater and opened the book, skimming through the pages she'd already covered, filtering through the book with detail as she encroached the middle. As she thumbed through the pages she saw the same symbols she recognized, until she realized, that one of the pages she was flipping was thicker than the rest. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a series of pages stuck together by dried moisture. Carefully, she pried them apart to come across an incredible sight.
The pages in between were written, not in English, but in some other language, she'd never seen before. It was like a mix of symbols and strokes that was completely foreign to her. The most interesting part, however, was the distinct line of separation, like a page had been removed... but who could have done such a thing?
"Hey...? You okay?" a voice said making Luna shriek and jump out of her chair.
"EEP!" She instantly shut the book and looked toward the sound that startled her, then took a sigh as she realized who it was.
Oscar Pine had been roused from his slumber on the long couch by the quiet steps of the short girl. Though, sleep was a bit of a stretch, as in truth his mind had been wide awake, flashing back to smell of blood and death. Ozpin had tried to reassure him it was completely natural, that it wasn't his fault, but the memories still plagued him. It was his first real combat experience... and his first time seeing death up close. Eventually, Ozpin gave up on consoling him and buggered off to the inner reaches of his mind, saying something about how even mental consciousnesses needed sleep.
"Oh... it's just you... um... new Ozpin guy?" Luna asked searching for a name. She'd heard her brother calling him kid, but the only thing that truly stuck was when Nova referred to him as Ozpin. "Should I call you Professor?"
Oscar deadpanned, "Please... don't. I'm not Ozpin, I'm supposed to be his reincarnation, but it's more like he's sitting in my brain talking to me. My name's Oscar Pine, I recently joined this team after finding out I was 'Ozpin' about a week ago." He moved to turn on the light before plopping back down onto the couch.
In the newly illuminated room, Luna was able to study him carefully. He was slightly taller than her, short brown hair and tanned skin, the most prominent thing were his multicoloured irises, and the cute freckles on his face. Then she noticed he was only wearing a pair of black shorts and a sea-green t-shirt that hung a little too loosely around him, giving her a subtle view of his toned chest.
She instantly felt her cheeks growing warmer, 'Curse you teenage hormones...' she swore in her mind. In truth, this was actually the first cute boy around her age that she'd seen that wasn't in their uniform/combat outfit, so being the hormonal teenager she was, became a little flustered.
"Hey, are you listening to me...?" Oscar asked tilting his head.
This roused her from her thoughts, "Huh? Sorry, I spaced out..." she blushed from embarrassment, rubbing the back of her hair bashfully.
"I asked, if you're the princess they all kept telling me about. Nova's little sister," Oscar said with a light smile, silently thanking his mind for keeping its composure. It was still slightly nerve wracking to talk to new people, but he was getting used to it.
Luna tucked a strand of hair behind her head and mentally slapped herself, she needed to get used to this if they were going to be travelling together from now on.
"Yes, I don't believe we've been properly introduced," She said rather formally, "My name is Luna Sapphire Flareheart, but you can just call me Luna, or Sapphire or whatever you want, just not 'your highness'. I have to deal with enough of that malarky back at Menagerie."
"It's nice to meet you, Luna, I know it's on short notice, but I hope we can work together in the future," Oscar said pulling on his mannerisms from Ozpin's memory. Despite what she said, Oscar still didn't want to seem rude to a princess, Nova was a different story since their first impressions weren't as formal.
Luna faceplanted on the armchair and groaned, "Ugh, too stiff! Dude, we're comrades now. You're being way too polite."
The action made Oscar chuckle and relax, she certainly took after her brother in some aspects, "Sorry, with Ozpin being part of my head it's hard to not adopt some of his mannerisms."
Luna perked up, "Speaking of which, I'm curious."
"As I expected you would be..."
"Is he like, you? Or you, him? Or is he like listening to us right now?" Luna began firing off her curiosity.
"Not right now, I actually don't know how he works. He says he can't access my memories and knowledge without my permission, and he can't take control over my bod without it either. I don't know if that's really a 'can't' or a 'won't'. Either way he's mentally put himself to rest so he can't hear us right now, at least I don't think so... it's confusing really..." Oscar explained feeling overwhelmed trying to put it into words.
Luna made a humming sound, "That's cool, it reminds me of this one book Blake let me read, about a guy with two souls in one body..."
An awkward silence fell between them after a bit, neither knowing what to talk about. Luna wanted an excuse to go back to her book but she figured she would be rude to just brush him off, and Oscar wanted to try to get closer to her, at least try to establish a friendship so their interactions would become less awkward in the future.
So there they sat, staring at random objects, time ticking by until Oscar let out a heavy sigh, "This is really... really awkward... you want to get back to your book right? I'll just leave you to it then..." he was about to get up from the sofa when she stopped him.
"Wait! Where are you going?" she asked looking concerned, hoping she hadn't offended him.
"To go sleep somewhere else, you look like you're doing something important so I don't wanna get in your way..." he replied looking embarrassed.
"No! Stay! I... ugh look, Oscar, you seem like a good kid, so why don't we talk some more. I already know Ozpin, but I'd like to know who Oscar Pine is." Luna said firmly, with a warm smile and an outstretched hand that made Oscar's heart skip a beat. She was beautiful, and though she did look like her brother, there were distinct features that set them apart, not that female Nova wasn't attractive but the whole concept made Oscar confused and he wasn't about to debate his own sexuality.
He smiled sheepishly and plopped back down, "Kid? You can't be that much older than me," he replied trying to thin the ice.
"Well how old are you? I'm almost fifteen, almost sixteen."
"Fourteen, almost fifteen. Alright you win, you're older than me, still, though, don't call me kid!" he retorted.
"But Nova gets to do it..." she pouted cutely.
Oscar felt a blush rising, "T-That's only because he's like an older brother figure... sorta... I don't know I barely know him... but he's been taking care of me in a way... they all have..." he said thinking about the team. He was actually grateful to them, had this been two weeks ago, sitting in the same room as Luna would've made him stutter and choke on his own words, but living in a house with five pretty girls for a week helped him at least keep his cool.
"Speaking of which, what's your story? You don't look like a fighter..." the blue dragon said trying to study him.
Oscar rubbed the back of his head nervously, "Yeah... I'm actually just a farm boy. I've never had any formal training and I didn't even have my aura unlocked until Ozpin did it for me a week ago."
Luna choked on air, "WHAT?! And you fought those guys? You're either insane, stupid or brave... I know this might be a touchy subject but, are your parents okay with you being out here?"
Oscar flinched, "Um... my mom doesn't actually know... She thinks I've gone to Haven to follow in my dad's footsteps or something like that... well, she doesn't actually know I'm on a mission to save the world. I don't know my dad, but he was supposed to be a really cool Huntsman."
She made another humming sound, "So... how does it feel to be living this life? Going from a peaceful farm life to crazy dangerous always living on the edge type of life?"
"Honestly? I've always dreamed about going on adventures and running with danger. I never actively sought it out because I thought, I just wasn't cut out for it. That I was just meant to be a farm boy, that tending to the cows was my purpose... until now that is."
"You didn't answer my question..." she said eyeing him.
"For how it feels, well, to put it mildly, I'm fucking terrified out of my mind and I don't know if I can do this, but this is the most alive I've felt in my entire life, and something just feels... right, I guess. I'm scared and fearful twenty-four-seven, but, I can't help but enjoy it. I might die tomorrow, but it definitely beats that dreary existence I was living in before." Oscar said, his eyes filling with an emotion she couldn't quite discern, "As the great Pyrrha Nikos always said, to chase your dreams, because you can't get anywhere without at first trying."
"You're a Pyrrha fan? Boy, you must be losing your mind knowing that Jaune's her boyfriend," Luna snickered, though a slight disturbance crept its way into her mind. Was it... jealousy?
Oscar waved his hands frantically, "I'm a fan of her, but not like in the way you're implying. I didn't have a crush on her, I just thought she was someone to look up to. Talented and hardworking, constantly out to surpass her limits. She reminds me a lot of Nova, though he seems more... eccentric."
Luna chuckled, not knowing why a feeling of relief washed over her, "You know my brother wasn't always like this. Before the fall of Beacon, he was a lot more reserved. We both were. I think that, after everything came crashing down, he was finally able to free his mind and express himself the way he wants to, without fear of judgment or persecution. That, and the fact that I think the fall scrambled his brain slightly..." she said feeling her sweat drop.
Oscar mused over an extremely serious Nova who was all work and no play, and given that he'd never seen the dragon leader in any other form than who he was now, the concept just didn't exist. One thing Luna said did stand out to him though.
"You said you were both reserved... I hope this isn't too personal but, what do you mean by that?"
Luna felt her breath hitch, "It's all water under the bridge now, so I guess it's okay." she took a deep breath, "Nova and I got ran out of our homes, and country by Onyx and the White Fang. They kidnapped our parents and we lived on the streets for a year before we got taken in by a man named Randolf Wulf, our first teacher and apparently our uncle as well. We adopted new identities and disguises to try and blend in with the world. We were forced to live our lives constantly on the run and in fear of being persecuted. All that changed when we made it to Beacon... team RWBY changed us... gave us a place to call home, for the first time."
Oscar listened to her story as she rambled on about their adventures, listening with awe and admiration for the small girl before him, who'd gone through hell and back and come out stronger than she ever was before.
"Nova and I don't really know what the peaceful life is like. We did once, but it was so long ago that we've forgotten what it feels like to not have an end of the world crisis happening every day. So, that's why I'm asking about you, your peaceful life. What was it like?" she got up and walked around the sofas until she sat in one adjacent to him.
"Well, there's not much to tell. I grew up without knowing my dad, and my whole life was... to put it simply. Boring. There's no excitement, just the same mundane routine day in and day out. There was never a change. The only thing out of the ordinary would be the occasional visit from a relative... I know it sounds like I'm complaining about living peacefully, but the truth is... it was really relaxing compared to now. I miss those days, but I don't think I could give this life up either now that I've tasted it." Oscar breathed out.
Luna blinked in surprise, she wasn't expecting such a complex answer, "Well, it does sound relaxing, I'd like to try that someday. Just waking up and doing nothing, too bad the world has other plans."
"Isn't that what we're fighting for? To make it so that the world is at peace again? What do you think you'll do when you don't have to fight a war?" the tan boy asked, trying to make light of the mood.
Luna placed a finger on her chin, "Hm, well I think Nova and I would go back to Menagerie to look after things, try to fix the broken holes the White Fang left... and I think my brother has ideas about becoming an international diplomat to represent the Faunus nation, or something crazy like that."
Oscar would whistle if he could, he couldn't help but feel that he was lucky to be in the same room as someone destined to do such incredible things. She was different from him, she had plans, meanwhile he was just going with the flow. They were from two different worlds, after all, she was a princess, and he was a farm boy, and for a series of crazy circumstances, they were chatting together like good friends.
It was then he picked up something in her response, which gave him an idea, "That's actually... impressive. But, what do you really want?"
"Me...? There's nothing I... well... ugh you'll laugh at me if I say it..." Luna said a slight blush forming on her face. His question had startled her, she didn't expect someone to be able to pick out that she'd personally wanted something.
"Oh come on, we're friends, right? You can lay it on me, I won't judge," Oscar said holding up his hands in defence.
Luna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Well... I've... kinda always wanted to be a veterinarian, and open an animal shelter on the side."
Oscar fought every fiber in his body from spazzing, "WHAT?!"
"AH SEE YOU WANT TO LAUGH!"
"No! It's not that... I'm just surprised. Why a vet? And why an Animal Shelter?"
"Well, I've been learning medicine with my mom, and I love animals. While Nova and I lived on the streets, there were countless strays just like us, running around with no home. They needed medical care and a warm place to stay. Animals are much purer than people. They're innocent and will love anyone endlessly if they warm up to them. They deserve the world, and the world doesn't pay enough attention to their needs. I figured, if no one wants to do it, I might as well try." she said, her eyes filled with ambition and longing. They were earnest and brimming with resolve.
Oscar felt a pang in his heart, perhaps the princess wasn't as far above him as he thought. No matter how much he looked at it, she was just like any other person he'd met, perhaps more mature and down to earth than most adults. She was pure and earnest in her actions and words, and by Oum, he'd be damned if he didn't think she was adorable.
"Well, you know, on my farm we had a lot of animals, cows, horses, a few pigs here and there, chickens too. They were all very friendly, the only friends I had if you could call them that, except for that one goat..." Oscar said remembering his old life.
Luna giggled at his expression, "Well, Mr. Farm Boy, maybe after all the crazy shit is over, I could stop by your farm, I'd love to meet those friends of yours."
Their conversation spiraled from there until they were both too tired to continue, and before they knew it they were fast asleep, both leaning on the armrest of there sofas that were closest to the other, their heads close but not quite touching.
The team awoke the next morning feeling well-rested and, for once in his life, Adam Taurus did not have bags under his eyes. He didn't remember falling asleep that night, or when Bell had taken all of the bed and he'd somehow rolled onto the floor, but never the less, he felt good. He was prepared for a peaceful day until...
*CRASH*
"What was that?!" he exclaimed, running down the stairs at lightning speeds, ready to throw down with the first enemy he came across, but there were no enemies. There was just, the team, and their usual antics.
Most of them were calmly eating at the table. Well, calm was a relative term when Nora Valkyrie and Sun Wukong were involved. Jaune and Nitro were missing while Yang and Blake were still snoring away in their room. Bell was already there, the younger ones were watching something on the tv.
"What was that noise?" he asked raising the question.
Bell looked up from her food, and chucked a thumb in the direction of the west wing, choosing to slowly chew then swallow, much to Adam's lack of patience. "Came from the workshop. Elain and Nova have been in there for a while, surprised you didn't wake up sooner from all the noise."
"What? How long's this been going on?"
"Three hours? Maybe? I don't know. Butler dude said it's been a while."
Quinten chose then to come from the kitchen bringing out multiple boxes of Pumpkin Pete's cereal, "I do apologize for this but we did run out of ingredients after Miss Valkyrie made pancakes... I'll have to go out and grab some more, I hope this should suffice for breakfast." Even the great head butler of the Zephyr family was not prepared for the bottomless pit that was Nora Valkyrie.
Oscar and Luna had been happily watching the tv, a funny show about a muscular man wielding the power of personality-driven phantoms to defeat their enemies. He would have loved to pay attention had he not had the world's cutest dragon princess leaning against the sofa cushions mere inches from him, or the fact that a certain magical headmaster inhabiting his head wouldn't shut up.
'Your attraction to Miss Flareheart is quite the turn, young Oscar, what pray tell transpired while I was asleep?' Ozpin asked in his mind.
'I'd prefer to leave that to my personal memory Oz...'
'Ah to be young again... you know when I was your age I...'
'Please don't finish that story...' Oscar groaned internally.
It was then that Quintne had come out of the kitchen with the cereal. The sound of a familiar rattling of boxes roused him instantly, making Luna shrink back in surprise at his sudden eagerness.
"IS THAT PUMPKIN PETE'S I HEAR?!" Oscar was already at the table before the poor dragon girl had time to register what was happening.
"You were able to discern what cereal it was, just by the rattle of the boxes?" Weiss asked, sipping a cup of coffee. "And to think... you're the most normal person here..."
"Well, it is my favourite cereal... that and I may or may not have been obsessed with anything Pyrrha related..." the young boy bashfully replied.
"Don't let Jaune hear you say that," Blake said chuckling as she was drinking tea while trying to stay out of arms reach of the two rambunctious eaters.
Luna peeked her head over the sofa, "Nah it's not like that kitty, Oscar just looks up to her," she said trying to save the boy from embarrassment.
"Oh...? Defending him, are we? Since when did you two get so close?" the Schnee asked snarkily, shooting a half-grin at her cousin. She then leaned over so Oscar was out of earshot, "I saw you two passed out on the sofa this morning... mind telling me what that was about?"
Luna instantly blushed deep red, "W-We w-were just getting to know each other. New comrades and all..."
Weiss had a sly smile, "Ah but he is kinda cute isn't he?"
"Yeah... those damned freckles... WAIT I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!" she instantly shrunk down out of sight while Weiss laughed at her expense.
A distant tapping of footsteps was heard and everyone turned in the direction of the west hall to see Elain, Ruby, and Nova returning with a distinct air of change around them. Nova was the only one changed really, he was back in his male body, wearing his orange hoodie and jeans with a shiny new armlet around his right arm. It was semi-translucent with the previous clear diamond, now a fiery orange, as if the alloy itself had changed colour.
"Mornin' guys, it took a while, but I'm back. Hopefully, I won't undergo any spontaneous body changes in the near future," he said flexing the new armlet. He spotted Adam, "Sup tall, red and surprisingly not droopy, you sleep good?"
"For once... actually, I did." he curtly replied, trying not to show too much emotion but Bell saw through him.
Nova chuckled, "Cold as usual. So, what's for breakfast?"
"Pumpkin Pete's, your highness, I'll be heading out shortly to pick up groceries, hopefully, I can make up the lack of cuisine at lunch," Quinten replied with a light bow.
The dragon leader wanted to tell him to drop the 'your highness' but he doubted it would do any good.
"I'll eat whatever, right Ruby?" he turned to his right where Ruby once was... except now there was a trail of rose petals. "... uh... Ruby...?"
"MMPH MMM! MMMPH! MMMPHMM! (This stuff is amazing!)" the red leader said with a mouthful of cereal, and a face that spoke volumes for her given food.
"Love, I might be able to understand you, but not everyone else can..." Nova said dryly.
Weiss groaned, "Ruby learn to stop talking with your mouthful. It's gross..."
"I think it's cute," Nova replied trying to defend her.
"Of course you would. You do the same damn thing!" Nitro said as he and Jaune came back from wherever they'd been, looking slightly sweaty. Undoubtedly they'd gone for a morning workout.
"Well, I for one have never had Pumpkin Pete's cereal. So... first time for everything?" he sat down at the table and Oscar and Ruby were looking at him wide-eyed. "What...?"
Oscar took up a stance that looked oddly patriotic, "Pumpkin Pete's is the staple food of Huntsmen and Huntresses everywhere! It is the cereal that defines our society! HOW COULD YOU NOT HAVE TRIED IT?!"
"I just never saw the appeal...?"
"Nova, I love you, but I'm disappointed in you..." Ruby pouted, then shoveled a spoonful in his face, "Eat this!" she said while making a weird face.
"Um... what's up with your face...mph!" he was silenced when she thrust the spoon in his mouth.
He slowly began to chew until his face brightened, "Wait this is insane! I NEED MORE!" he poured his own bowl and turned to Quinten. "Hey, Mr. Alucard. Do me a favour and when you pick up groceries, can you buy a lot of extras? Mainly bread, lunch meats. Things that won't go bad and are easy to pack."
Quinten pushed up his glasses, "It is no problem your highness, but may I ask why?"
"I've got somewhere to be today. I don't know how long we'll be in town, but I doubt it's more than a day or two, so I want to take care of some business, that requires large amounts of boxed lunches."
Ruby tilted her head curiously, "I don't get it..."
It was then Luna felt it hit her like a truck, "Wait is today... that day?"
Nova nodded, "Yeah, it is. So we gotta prepare lots of food. It's probably fate that we're in Mistral at this time anyway."
They all wanted to ask more but the dragon leader had already returned to scarfing down his bowl of cereal.
"You know... it's kinda weird. The more I eat this stuff, the hungrier I get..." Nova said, shoveling down what seemed to be his third bowl.
"Slow done or you might choke..." Weiss tried to reprimand but she just went ignored. "HEY! Are you listening?!"
Nova looked up at her, "Sorry Weiss-cream. Did you say something?" his eyes were bloodshot red and he looked a little dazed.
They all looked at him concerned, "Hey... bro you don't look so good..." Sun pointed out.
"Wait? I'm finneeee, hey why are you using your semblance indoors?" Nova asked airily.
The monkey Faunus tilted his head in confusion, his tail following suit, "What? I'm not..."
"Then why are there three of you?" Nova began to become even more dazed. "Ohhh the sparkle cheese is making a whirl around the porcupine tree..."
Everyone almost choked, "What the fuck are you saying?!" Nora asked slowly chewing her pancakes.
"That's rich coming from you..." Ren pointed out dryly.
Nova suddenly got up from the chair and began spinning in a circle, "WHEEEE! I feel like cotton candy! I hear music, time to dance!" he then began to do strange series of motions that reminded Blake of a dying rat.
"Um... is he okay...? Ruby did he hit his head last night?" Oscar turned to the reaper who just shrugged.
"Flamebreath what the fuck is up with you today?!" Bell asked incredulously.
"Sugar Peter make my head go WOOP!" he said giggling like a little girl.
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!" Nitro screamed in dismay.
Elain pondered, "Wait... Sugar Peter? Does he mean the cereal?" she picked up a cereal box and began to read the ingredients. "Corn starch, sugar, artificial flavourings... nothing out of the ordinary... wait..." her face instantly morphed into horror.
"What is it, mom?! Is Nova having an allergic reaction?" Luna asked extremely worried.
The wolf Faunus shook her head, "No, well, kinda. It says here, one of the ingredients is Pyre Root. It's like a type of Ginseng that acts as a really good spice, but it's got a side effect that is very obscure... I wouldn't even know about it had I not married your father..."
"What's the side effect? Is he going to die?!" Jaune said looking panicked.
Elain deadpanned, "No, not even close. Pyre Root's side effect is it makes a certain species of Faunus experience a heightened state of mind, mimicking hallucinogens and deluding their thinking patterns."
"Explain it so the rest of us can understand!" Nora said waving her arm in the air.
"Well, the best way to put it is... it's like Catnip for dragons." Elain finished.
Everyone fell over comically, "So... he's not poisoned, he's just high?" Oscar asked.
"Essentially eating a bowl of that is like eating an edible. He ate... four bowls... ohhh boy..." Elain groaned. "He'll be fine I think. I mean, I've had way more drugs than that in one sitting this one time and I woke up in my pajamas, three feet deep in a lake with a bucket of fresh squid and a stolen car. Fuck I miss College..."
Again, everyone felt their sweat drop. Oscar leaned over to ask Luna about it but she just waved her hand dismissively, "Yeah... my mom just crushed the image of royalty for you didn't she? Classic Elain..."
"Hey! You tryna pick a fight with me?!" Nova said aggressively walking up to a standing lamp in the living room.
"Let's hope his body adapts to the stuff soon, so he sobers up..." Blake pointed out.
Their attentions began to pick up elsewhere as Quinten who'd been standing there horrified, decided to leave, "Well, I'll be off then... please do try to keep him from damaging anything."
"It'll be fine. Have a safe trip Q," Nitro said nervously.
The old butler nodded, "Yes I will, but I don't think that lamp will be safe..."
Suddenly everyone heard the sound of a piano, followed by the dragon yelling "THIS IS THE POWER OF REQUIEM!"
Nora instantly jumped on Nova, "LEAVE THE LAMP ALONE! WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU EVEN GET THE PIANO?!"
Eventually, Nova sobered up, whatever happened while he was high had faded to black. His memory a blank. To him, it was like no time had passed between breakfast and finding himself upside down on the third floor with Ruby and Oscar trying to keep him from falling off the staircase, but he sure as hell wasn't about to question it.
"Will you finally tell me what all these sandwiches are for?" Ruby asked as Nova and Quinten had finished packaging a solid thirty sandwiches.
Nova packed them into a large carry-on, "Follow us and you'll find out, you too, mom. I think you should come with us." he said as he and Luna began to make for the door.
Elain and Ruby shared a curious glance but followed in silence as Nova and Luna tracked through the upper areas of Mistral, taking the long and winding stairway down, crossing through the market district until the sky became progressively darker and cloudier.
As they graced the steps downward, Elain could visibly see the environment change subtly. The clean bustling streets became dirtier and more empty. The faces they happened to come across were not the smiling, cheerful picture they'd seen on the mid to upper levels, but they'd become grim and dismal.
The air seemed to reek with despair until the land leveled out, and the distinct smell of the ocean pervaded their nostrils, along with the unwelcome stench of decay and muck.
"Where...are we?" Ruby asked hesitantly, sticking closer to the others. The area made her feel uncomfortable and uneasy. It reminded her of the slums back at Vale, but much worse.
"Lower Mistral. It wasn't always like this. eight to nine years ago, this place was actually a lot cleaner, though that's not saying too much. The port city where only the selfish survive. Back then there were more rich apartments and active police officers. I think it's because of the Grimm activity, or the influx of White Fang, that the place has become as bad as it is today." Nova said as they neared the ocean, an inlet of oceanic water to a bay where fishing vessels and cargo ships were harbored.
"How do you know what this place was like?" Elain asked curiously.
Nova inhaled sharply, which was a mistake because he almost gagged from the smell of rotting fish, "Because, we lived here once."
"This is where it all started... this is where Nova and I landed after we escaped Menagerie." Luna finished for him.
Elain and Ruby gasped in horror, "So... this is..."
Nova pointed to a spot on the docks, it was empty save for a few fishing nets, "That's where we first landed. Found a smelly cloak in an old bin, wrapped ourselves in it, and made a break for the town. The rest you already know..." Luna instinctively clung to his orange hoodie. "Come on, let's not waste any more time than we need to."
They moved from the docks and began making their way upward again, climbing the streets until the area seemed a little nicer. There were at least a few clean shops, and a bakery, though they were closed. A series of alleyways stood two blocks down from the bakery.
"I used to buy food there whenever I managed to get some money, whether it be by begging or stealing. It wasn't much, but at least Luna never got sick from eating from the garbage." Nova said as he stared wistfully, remembering the only person in the city that would even entertain the idea of a street rat entering their shop.
They moved to the alleyway, it was between two apartment complexes, though one looked rundown. A few meters into the alleyway, Nova and Luna stopped. There, engraved on a small headstone behind a dumpster, were the words written 'In Memory of Davius Pelagius.'
"Who's David Pelagius?" Elain asked, studying the grave. "And why would his name be here? Behind a dumpster of all places?"
"Because this is where he died. This man gave his life trying to protect Luna while I wasn't here. I'd gone to buy some food when I came back to find a psycho murder trying to kill my little sister. I only managed to make it in time because Old Man Jitters, David Pelagius, died trying to hold him off... I got his name off a police report and put a headstone here. We come back every year to this spot to honor his sacrifice. We weren't able to make it last year because we'd moved to Beacon, but I decided it's high time we paid him one last visit before we never get the chance again." Nova explained, his voice choking as the memories came back.
Elain knelt down before the headstone, "Mr. Pelagius, we've never met, but I hope that you're in a better place now. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for protecting my children. I swear to honor your name, on my title as Queen and as a mother."
Ruby hugged Nova from behind, while Luna clung to her mother.
"Thanks, Mr. Pelagius... If it weren't for you... I might not have met Nova and Luna. It's because of you, that I'm able to stand by him today... so thank you..." Ruby said her peace. Nova's heart melted, a little. He'd originally wanted them to at least meet him, he didn't expect them to do anything more... and yet here they were, thanking the memory of someone they didn't know. It warmed him to know the end.
As they were ready to leave, Nova stopped them, "Um, before we go, we need to give these away..." he gestured to the bag he was carrying.
"Yeah... I was curious as to what that was for," Elain said.
"Follow me, you'll find out." Nova then began walking to other alleyways, finding people in rags, sitting on the floor with dead looks in their eyes, thin to the bone with no light of hope. As they passed by, Nova handed out sandwiches. Most people didn't react, some were scared and tried to run, but Nova's calm demeanor and smiling face were enough for them to eventually give in. Each time he saw the grateful look of a starving person, eating their first meal in what was potentially days.
"The homeless and forsaken. These people are out here, fighting to survive every day, barely scraping by to eat food. Most days they go hungry. I'd feed them all if I could... but we just do what little we can because we know what it feels like to be one of them. We do this once a year if we can help it. Most of the time I just buy food with the money I stole from the SDC and give it out, but it's a bit short notice and I didn't exactly have time to call in a catering order." Nova said rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
Elain felt the guilt squirming inside of her, compared to what her kids had gone through, her life was luxurious. The White Fang at least kept her fed, with workable living space. "Okay, I've decided," she said.
"Decided what?" They all asked her curiously.
"I've decided that once this madness is over, I'll work with the Mistral Council to fix this situation. As a member of the royal family, they can't ignore me." Elain said with determination.
Nova hummed, "Good plan, the problem is we need to get our enemies out of the way first. The sooner we save the world, the sooner we can clean up all of this."
"Speaking of which... when we head back, can we design your new weapon?" Ruby said bouncing up and down
"Sure thing love, Asura 2.0 here we come."
-Vale City Hospital-
The medical wards had been very busy since the fall, but slowly patients were leaving, one by one until most were gone. Only the gravely injured or ill remained, one such person, was the comatose Pyrrha Nikos. Her condition had stabilized over the last few weeks and she looked somewhat healthier. Still, the doctors weren't sure when or if she would ever wake up.
"A shame what happened to her. So young and full of potential..." a nurse said, as she changed the IV bags. The once glowing skin of the champion was pale and thin as a sheet. Her body not once moving an inch.
"Her condition is most peculiar, the glass in her system is..." the doctor started, but never finished as her eyes suddenly went wide. Pyrrha's body, where the glass had been embedded, was under constant watch, a scanned image updated every five seconds was streamed to a monitor in the event something occurred, and at that very moment, something did.
The glass that was around her arteries and spinal cord began to disappear, her wounds beginning to reopen and her heart rate picking up rapidly.
"SHIT! Nurse! Apply anesthetics, she's waking up! Her wounds are reopening inside, we need to stop before she begins to internally bleed!" the doctor cried as she instantly rushed to Pyrrha's side.
"But how is this possible?!"
"It doesn't matter! Right now her life is in danger! MOVE!"
There was a rush of movement as the doctor tried desperately to stabilize Pyrrha once more. It took a while, but eventually, her life was no longer in any danger. Pyrrha was still unconscious but her heart rate had begun to slowly beat faster. Her mind was rousing itself from its coma, as aura slowly began to heal her body.
"What should we do doc? If something like this happens again, we might not have the facilities to treat it... she needs a proper surgeon." the nurse said after studying Pyrrha's condition.
The doctor collapsed on her chair, "Exactly, she's stable now... so while we still have a chance, we need to move her. Prepare an ambulance, she's heading on the next flight to Argus!"
I tried to do a lot this chapter, mostly because I want to start volume 6 next chapter, until next time, stay awesome ^-^
