Sorry for the delay with this one, wasn't feeling well last week, and week before I was at a con and got to meet team RWBY :D
Ghira paced, reading, and rereading the speech he had written. He stopped, exhaling, pinching the bridge of his nose. He felt a hand caress his back.
"Are you ready?" He looked down at his wife. He nodded.
"I trust that our people will make the right choice. But it doesn't make this any easier." He said. He felt something rub against his arm. He looked down; Blake was rubbing her head against him. He smiled and patted her head.
He took a breath, taking off his glasses, and going to the door.
Blake squinted as she followed her father outside, the sun dazzling. She blinked as her vision adjusted, looking out at the huge crowd standing before their house. The air was abuzz with a multitude of conversations, several of the journalists running the local news interviewing others with their scrolls.
She stood off to the side, beside her mother as her father took his spot at the podium that had been set up. The talking quieted down, her father clearing his throat. His voice was booming as he spoke, no microphone needed.
"I would like to thank you all for coming here today. In light of recent events, I thought the people of this island deserved to know what was happening." Her father paused, looking over the crowd. The journalists were recording him with their scrolls. "Personal feelings about the humans aside, we can collectively agree that the Fall of Beacon was a tragedy. A tragedy that has brought great harm to the Faunus. The actions of Adam Taurus and his faction within the White Fang has dirtied the name of our people, and the White Fang."
"The leader of the White Fang, my sister-in-law, Sienna Khan has called Adam Taurus to the White Fangs headquarters in Mistral. He is going to stand trial for his crimes against the Faunus, and justice will be brought to him. But removing Adam will not solve the issue that we are facing. His dangerous ideology has poisoned the minds of his followers, and they are just as dangerous, with or without him."
Ghira reached into his coat, pulling out Ilia's scroll, holding it up for the crowd to see.
"One of Adam's followers was found spying on this house. My daughter and her friend attempted to apprehend this spy, only for her friend to become seriously wounded. They were able to recover this scroll, however, and the plans hidden on it." He lowered the scroll. "Adam and his follows are planning to stage a coup and usurp power from Sienna. I have sent the fastest messengers from Menagarie to warn Sienna. But it does not end there. Adam's followers are planning to attack Haven Academy two months from now, with aid from a group called the Children. It would be the Fall of Beacon all over again."
Murmurs filled the crowd, Blake's ears pinned back at the worried looks on their faces.
"I have sent word of the plans of the attack to the Mistral government, but I believe that we can do more than just sit and wait for the best." The murmuring came to a stop. "I believe that we, the Faunus of Menagarie, should go to Mistral, and defend Haven from Adam's followers and his allies. To join Sienna and her followers, and bring about an end to this splinter group, to show the world that the Faunus and the White Fang are not the violent, human hating monsters that they fear we are." Blake forced her ears to stand up as her father turned, motioning for her to take the stand. "My daughter, Blake, was once a member of Adam's group, and is a survivor of the Fall of Beacon. She has personal insight on this matter that no one else here does." She rubbed the ribbon around her arm as she approached the stand. Her father rested a hand on her shoulder. She glanced at him, seeing him mouth 'You can do this' before moving his hand, walking to Kali's side.
Blake's ears twitched, begging to fold down as she stared over the crowd. She swallowed, and opened her mouth-
"Traitor!"
Ilia shoved her way through the crowd, people gaping at her. Blake's ears twitched as she watched her come to the front of the crowd. Ilia sneered, pointing at Blake.
"You would ask us to fight against our own kind to protect a human kingdom?"
"Faunus live in Mistral, and go to Haven. What Adam is doing is putting the lives of every Mistralian at risk, not just the humans." Blake said. Ilia chuckled darkly.
"Ah yes, Mistral cares so much for the Faunus. That's why most of the stores still refuse our people service. Why so many of our people are forced down onto the Lower Levels, left to rot in the slums. Why so many of the Hunters there are humans." Ilia turned to the crowd. "They are asking you to leave your homes, and to defend a people who have done nothing but subjugated you. Treated you like slaves, butchered you just for being who you are, killed you just for who you worship. If you go to Mistral, it won't change anything, the humans will always hate us."
"The humans are capable of change; I've seen it myself." Ilia looked back at her.
"I bet you have. I remember seeing you on tv, Blake. A student of Beacon Academy. Fighting in the Vytal Festival." Ilia looked back at the crowd. "Fighting. Alongside a Schnee!"
Blake's ears pinned down, the crowd growing loud, accusatory stares and glances being shot at her. Ilia looked back at her, smiling.
"Did you think I wouldn't recognize you? Wearing that little black ribbon wrapped around your ears? Hiding them from your human teammates. From that Schnee you were working with. That you cradled in your arms after running onto the arena when she got hurt."
The stares grew harsher, Blake's ears aching as they pressed down further.
"You got rid of that black ribbon, Blake. But what does that blue one mean? Why do you wear that around your arm?"
"That's enough!" Kali shouted. Blake felt her mother grab her arm, tugging her away from the stand. Blake heard the shouting of guards, and her father's voice as he took the stand. Blake could hear the crowd yelling after her as Kali led her inside.
"What does that ribbon mean?"
"What is she hiding?"
"Whose side is she on?"
Oscar fidgeted, Ruby and her friends staring at him in confusion. Qrow continued to giggle as he lay on the floor.
"Professor…. Ozpin? How…?" Ruby trailed off, cocking her head to the side, looking him over. He blushed, looking away from her. The man with long black and pink hair rested his chin in his hand, perplexed as he looked at him. The short woman in pink next to him scratched the top of her head.
"So like, is this a joke? Because Ozpin is dead, right?"
"He should be." The red-haired woman said.
They all looked aside at the sounds of footsteps. Oscar followed their gaze; an older woman with black, red, and gray hair walked into the room, carrying a tray of food and tea. She paused, looking at Qrow on the floor, and over at him. She laughed sheepishly.
"I think I'll go back and make some more."
The older woman turned and walked back down the hallway.
"When you say that you're Ozpin, what do you mean?" The man asked.
"He's in his head! He's back!" Qrow yelled, tossing up an arm. The red-haired woman cocked an eyebrow. Oscar rubbed the back of his head.
"I grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Mistral City, little past the base of the mountains, it's where most of the farmers here live. A little while ago, I was just going about my chores when I suddenly started hearing a voice in my head. It said I wasn't crazy, that my body was now sharing a soul with a person named Ozpin. He wanted me to come here, to Mistral, he said that it was super import-"
The world around Oscar plunged into darkness. He felt himself falling, sinking, his screams lost in the inky dark.
Sorry about this, Oscar. This task is too important for me to keep my word to you.
"What's happening?! Where am I?!"
You're safe, Oscar. You haven't left that room. You'll be able to see Ruby, and Qrow, and the others in a moment.
The darkness began to disperse, the brightly lit room returning. Ruby and her friends were staring at him in confusion.
"Hello again, students. It has been some time."
That's my voice? But…I'm not talking?
"Professor Ozpin? What just happened?" The black and pink haired man asked.
There names are Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha, Oscar.
Pyrrha? Like, Pyrrha Nikos?
"I'm sure that this all must be very perplexing. Oscar and I share a body, and a mind now. He's given me control over his body for the moment, but he is still here."
Given control? I didn't do that!
He looked at the group and pursed his lip.
"Where is Mr. Arc? Did he not accompany you?"
Ruby looked away, gripping the ends of her skirt. Pyrrha scowled. Ren and Nora looked at one another.
"Cinder killed him," Pyrrha said. "I couldn't stop her."
Wait, what? Who got killed?
"I see. That is disheartening to hear." He looked Ruby, Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha over again, noting the rips and grime in their clothing, the dents and cracks in Pyrrha's armor, the scars covering Pyrrha. "You all seem to have gone through a tremendous amount of hardships in the time that I've been gone. I'm sorry." Ruby shifted.
"It's not your fault, Professor. You couldn't have known all of this would happen."
"But I did. I knew that our enemy was after the Maiden and the Relic at Beacon. I should have prepared more, should have approached Ms. Nikos sooner."
I am…so lost.
Pyrrha said nothing. She crossed her arms, looking at the floor.
"Professor Ozpin? What… exactly are you?"
Visions flashed before Oscar's eyes, dread chilling him at the sight of a horrifying, gigantic being. Its dual voice rang through his mind, shaking him.
For thine sins, this shall be your punishment.
"I was a man once, long, long ago. I was cursed, to walk this world for thousands of years, living, dying, and reincarnating in the bodies of likeminded people. With every rebirth, my soul is joined to this new body, until we are one. Our memories and experiences melding together."
Wait, what?!
"I was cursed by God. For failing to stop-"
Four cocky Kings, standing before that gigantic being.
"-Salem. She has been working in the shadows of Remnant for thousands of years, and I have been fighting her since the earliest days of this world. I may have failed in my last life, but we must succeed in this one."
"And how do we do that?" Ruby asked. Oscar took a seat on the couch, stepping over Qrow. He crossed his legs.
"We can start by securing the Relic of Knowledge before Salem does."
Neo stretched her arms as she walked, hearing the joints pop, feeling their stiffness wash away. It had been a long day at that stupid parlor; she needed to get away from it. If only for a little while.
Her nose wrinkled as the reeking odor from the black market wafted by. She quickened her pace; sucking in a breath of less disgusting air once she was past it. She went to the lifts, squeezing between the crowd of people. She tuned them out, rocking back and forth on her heels. The lift shuddered and began to ascend.
She felt her scroll vibrate, and pulled it out, rolling her eyes.
"Where are you?"
"im going to the mid levels. its boring at home"
"Be back before dark. Don't do anything stupid."
She rolled her eyes again, pocketing her scroll. The lift slid to a halt, the air sweeter tasting. Neo stepped off of the lift with the crowd, glancing at the various buildings. Most of them looked like homes; she shrugged, the stores and restaurants had to be further in.
She wandered the streets, looking at the buildings she passed. She slowed to a stop, cocking her head to the side.
A mother and daughter were walking by a large building. The mother had a long tail, the daughter fangs. The daughter laughed at something the mother said, some joke Neo couldn't hear. Neo frowned, stepping back, leaning against a building.
She tugged at her mother's arm.
"What, Neo?" Her mommy looked down at her. Neo hesitated, chewing on her lip before signing
"Why do you think I'm a monster?"
Her mom frowned.
"Because you hurt people, Neo. You shouldn't be stabbing your classmates; you shouldn't be hurting animals." Her mommy paused, sighing, resting a hand on her temple. "The world is already out to get you because of who you are. You shouldn't be giving them any more reasons to hate you. Just please, try to be normal." Neo looked down, her fingers shaking as she signed.
"Do you hate me?" Her mommy was quiet. Neo looked up at her. Her mommy wouldn't look back at her as she shook her head. Neo poked her hand, making her look back down at her. "Can I have a hug, mommy?" she signed.
Neo shook her head, frowning. She looked back at the mother and daughter and stepped off the building. The mother and daughter moved slowly from building to building, glancing in the windows of each of them. Neo glanced in the windows of the buildings when she passed them. She hesitated as she passed an arts and crafts store, easels, and expensive looking brushes displayed in the window. She shook her head, moving onto the next building.
NO FAUNUS ALLOWED
Neo narrowed her eyes, her lip twitching. She looked away from the window, focusing on the mother and daughter. They stopped at a building; Neo glanced above the door; a sign hung above it. 'Aka's Noodles'. The mother and daughter looked from the window to other parts of the front of the building. They said something to one another, the mother nodding, and opening the door for the daughter.
Neo followed them, entering the restaurant. She grimaced at the heat that washed over, the sound of so many laughing voices, clinking bowls, and-
"Hey!"
Neo looked over, a large man was scowling, looking at the mother and daughter.
"This is a human only establishment, beat it." He said. The mother frowned.
"There's no sign outside that says Faunus aren't allowed in here." The man pointed at a sign resting on the counter. 'NO FAUNUS'
"That's dumb! Why would you have it inside!" The daughter said. The man's scowled deepened.
"My restaurant, my rules. Now beat it before I call the cops."
The mother and daughter shoved past Neo, slamming the door behind them. Aka's scowl disappeared, a slimy smile replacing it as he looked at Neo.
"Sorry about that ma'am, how many are in your party?"
Neo flipped him off, and turned, and left, smirking at the surprised shouts hurled at her.
She looked around, pouting; the mother and daughter were gone. The sun was beginning to set. She glanced up at the sign, feeling a smile creep onto her lips. She walked down the road, shoving past people, heading back to the art store she had passed. She heard a bell chime as she entered. She ignored the greeter, going to the canvases, grabbing the cheapest one she could find, and a cheap pencil. She went to the counter, pulling out her wallet, and the credit card dad had given her. She tapped her foot, waiting for the cashier to finish processing the payment, and bagging her stuff. They finished, and she grabbed the bag of art supplies, pocketed the credit card, and left the building.
She went to the building next to Aka's Noodles, sitting on the curb, and beginning to sketch. A tall woman smiled contently, embracing a smaller woman. Neo hesitated, her pencil hovering over the canvas.
i….i dont look like that
She began to draw over the smaller woman, making her features harsher.
She looked up, watching people leave Aka's Noodles, disappearing into the twilight. She went back to her sketching, making the taller woman's features softer. She finished the sketch, noting the parts she would have to work over and fix. She set the canvas and pencil aside, running a hand over her pocket. Her knife was there, resting on top of her scroll.
would mommy want this?
She shook her head.
i'm bored, and he deserves it
Her scroll vibrated.
"It's after dark. Where are you?"
"im drawing. going to paint something in a little bit. be home soon."
She collapsed her scroll, pocketing it. She rested her chin on her knees, watching the last of the customers leave Aka's Noodles. The 'open' sign in the window flickered off. She put her pencil and canvas in the bag, grabbing it, and walking toward the back of the restaurant.
She peeked around the corner. Aka was smoking, the door ajar, light filtering out. She set the bag down, drawing her knife. She walked soundlessly toward him, staying in the shadows. He turned, taking a drag from the cigarette. He squinted, looking at her.
"Someone there?"
Neo smiled, and lunged forward, Aka screaming as her knife stabbed into his belly. He tried to grab at her hair, screaming. Neo smirked, stabbing again before yanking her blade aside, slicing through his stomach. She pulled her knife free, specks of blood splattering against her hands. Aka fell to the ground, his screams garbled, trying to grab his entrails as they spilled from him. Neo watched him, smiling as he struggled to push his organs back where they belonged, his movements getting slower, until ceasing.
She went to his body, pocketing her knife before grabbing a hold of his organs, pulling them free of his stomach, spilling onto the floor. She ran her hands over them, coating them with sticky crimson. She went to the wall behind him, her tongue sticking out slightly as she began to paint.
She stepped back, smiling with satisfaction at the two women she had painted. She glared down at Aka before turning to leave, flicking her hands, specks of blood dropping onto the ground.
She groaned, her head throbbing, her body aching. She opened her eyes, her vision blurred for a moment. She blinked, frowning at the ropes binding her hands. She looked from her hands, at the large metal cage surrounding her. She got to her feet, hissing, her chest hurting.
A multitude of tents surrounded her cage, she could see campfires burning in front of each tent. Hundreds of voices were talking over one another, shadows flickering against the sides of the tents. Her stomach growled at the scent of smoke, and roasted meat.
"Finally awake?" Weiss looked off to the side; a woman with a large phoenix tattoo on her arm was sitting next to one of the tents. Weiss scowled; Myrtenaster rested on the woman's lap. The woman picked up Myrtenaster, inspecting it, running a finger down its blade. "Fine bit of steel you had. I'll put it to good use."
"Where am I?" Weiss asked. The woman got to her feet, slinging Myrtenaster over her shoulder, waltzing over to the cage.
"Somewhere you shouldn't be, Schnee."
"Let me guess. You're going to ransom me off to my father, is that it?" Weiss asked. The woman shrugged.
"There was a lot of fine Dust on that ship you crashed. We'll be set for a while from that. And something Clan Branwen has always prided itself on is not trading in people. Too much dirty money, and we do have some sense of honor out here." The woman gave her a crooked smile. "Which is why come tomorrow night, we'll be handing you off to Clan Comhachag." The woman leaned in, her face nearly pressing against the bars. "I'm sure there are a lot of people down in the Fire Isles who would like to buy what's between your legs. Or get a chance to buy you and put your head on a spike. Hope you family has as much money as they say they do."
Weiss kept a straight face.
"I managed to get out of Atlas with its border closed. Do you think you'll be able to hold me?"
The woman laughed, stepping away from the cage.
"You got fire in ya! I like that." She turned toward the tents, cupping a hand around her mouth. "Sage! Scarlet!" After a moment two men staggered between the tents, standing in front of the woman. They were the same men that Weiss had seen after the crash.
"Yes, Vernal?" Scarlet asked. Vernal motioned with her head toward Weiss.
"Watch our guest until Dearg and his group arrive."
"Got it." Sage said.
Vernal looked back at Weiss, smirking. She tossed Myrtenaster to the ground, the blade imbedded in the dirt.
"Have fun, Schnee."
The radio was white noise to Thetis as she prepared the flowers. Red lilies, Pyrrha's favorite. She wrapped them, bundling them tightly into a bouquet. She lifted them up, inhaling their aroma.
She left the kitchen, walking past the glass cases full of Pyrrha's first place trophies and ribbons.
Her own second, third, and fourth place ribbons sat below Pyrrha's achievements.
She flipped off the radio and went to the door. A brisk breeze greeted her as she stepped out. The streets were lit, the stars hidden behind snow clouds, people bustling down the streets, trolleys snaking through the roads. Thin bits of snow covered the sides of the sidewalk.
Thetis adjusted her glasses, her breath a silver mist in the frigid night air. She made her way down the busy streets, stepping around the crowds, glowering at the theater as she passed by it. The streets began to thin of people, a few couples were sitting on the snow-covered benches.
She reached the parks, walking by the snow-covered trees until she reached the center. A stone slab had been set up, frozen olive branches encircling the slab. At its center, the bronze statue of her daughter stood.
Thetis hesitated, gripping the flowers, before going to the statue. She bent down, leaving the flowers next to the ones she had left last night. And the night before. And the night before.
What would you do if I died?
"They got your armor wrong, Pyrrha." Thetis said. "They put bracers on both of your arms. Regional Champion for so many years, and they couldn't get that right." Thetis grasped her hands, looking up at the frozen bronze face of her daughter.
"I still think about when you called me that day. Right before your match. I had never heard you so scared. So terrified. Did you know what was going to happen?"
The snow drifted by her, dancing on the icy wind. Thetis wiped at her eyes.
"I thought you did really well in that fight, before you…um…" she inhaled, looking away, at the frozen vines. "After what happened, so many people flooded our house back in Mistral. Leaving gifts, flowers. Some came to threaten me, saying you were a cold hearted killer, and deserved to die during the Fall for what you did to that girl. When I got here in Argus, there were a few people who were upset with my idea of a statue for you. Why honor a killer?" She looked back at her daughter.
"I wasn't going to let them ruin your reputation though. You had worked so hard to become the Champion and stayed it for so long. I couldn't let them take that away from you. I won't let you go down in history as anything but the best fighter on Remnant."
Mom. Do you love me?
The statue looked down on her, ice coating the top of it. Thetis rubbed her hands together, her fingers chilled through her thick gloves.
"I'll be back tomorrow, Pyrrha." She said. She turned away, trekking back through the frozen park.
Nora took a seat on the couch, staring at…Oscar? Ozpin? She shook her head.
"So. What Qrow told us is all true? Gods, magic? It… it all really exists?" Oscar nodded.
"It does."
Nora looked over at Pyrrha and bit her lip. She exhaled.
"I'm sorry about what I said back there. I… I was really angry, and this…this is all still really hard to believe."
Pyrrha's face softened. She went to the couch, taking the spot next to her. Pyrrha wrapped an arm around her, resting her head against hers.
"I know. And I'm sorry for punching you."
Nora looked over at Oscar as he cleared his throat.
"Forgive me for interrupting, but I need to ask. Did you meet with Professor Lionheart?"
"Yeah, we did." Ruby said.
"And how did that go?" Ruby shrugged.
"He's glad that we know where the Spring Maiden is, but he's not going to help us find her. He said that he's lost a lot of the Hunters here, and that he can't spare any to help us."
Oscar scratched at his chin, appearing deep in thought.
"I see." He said. He drew his cane, pressing the lever on its handle, the cane extending from it. He poked Qrow, eliciting a drunken squawk.
"Qrow, I'm sure I'll have to remind you later, but I'm going to need you to gather whatever Hunters you can to help us find Spring." Qrow held up a thumb, his voice muffled against the carpet. Oscar looked over at them, resting his cane against his lap. "It might be some time before Salem attacks, but that is no excuse to grow soft. I want you four training as much as you can."
"And what will you be doing?" Ruby asked. Oscar smirked.
"I will be whipping Oscar into fighting shape."
Oscar's eyes flashed green, his body going limp for a second before his eyes returned to their normal hazel. Oscar grabbed his head, groaning.
"This sucks," he groaned.
Weiss rested her head against the bars, staring up at the starry skies. The camp had grown quiet, the fires nothing but embers. Sage and Scarlet were slumped against each other, an empty bottle of…. whatever they were drinking laying between them.
"Psst! Weiss!"
Weiss squinted; she could see something on the bottle. Mirror was waving at her. Weiss rolled her eyes, looking back at the stars.
"Okay, I get it, you can't really talk back. So just hear me out. The chances of a hot lady buying us and not abusing us worse than father are rather slim. And being tied up has always been more Blake's thing, so, I think we need to get out of here."
"Really? I never would have thought of that." Weiss whispered.
"Oh hush, I'm trying my best here." Weiss heard Mirror sigh. "And I mean, you managed to get out of Atlas, sooo." Weiss looked back at the bottle. Mirror gave her a sheepish smile, blue banners with Weiss' name sewn in white in the middles of them. Mirror waved them around a little bit. "If nobody else can do it?"
Weiss giggled. She turned away from Mirror, resting the back of her head on the bars, looking up at the ceiling. She turned her palm up, a glyph forming.
"Then I can."
And wanted to give an update on my original novel. I've finished the first chapter, and redid the prologue of it, and am currently working on its second chapter. The Myth of Sisyphus has been a great help with forming the themes of the book.