Chapter 36
All Aboard
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Flashback
"Scroll Communications / Tv"
Location / Date / Time Change
The Next Day
The House
"Is this a joke?" Ryuko asked, packing a bag. "Weiss and I risked everything to get out of that kingdom, and now you want us to go back?"
"Hey, that's what Ozpin said we need to do." Qrow replied.
"Well, look at the bright side." Nora said from the floor next to Weiss. "At least we can finally get out of this house."
"Look, I don't like it any more than you two." Qrow "But with Vault on lock due to that fight, we don't have any other options."
"Speaking of Maidens and vaults, where's Yang?" Blake asked.
"She's still with Natsu..." Ruby answered. "She hasn't left his side since we got him back."
"Has he woke up yet?" Vergil asked, getting only a head shake.
"Atlas might be the safest kingdom, but the borders are also closed." Ren reminded. "General Ironwood called every one of his troops."
"Not all of them." Qrow pulled out his scroll and a map popped up. "The city of Argus is a bit north, but it's the primary trading post between Anima and Solidus. They've got the largest military base outside the kingdom itself. No chance they'd ever leave it abandon. If we play our cards right, they could escort us straight to Ironwood."
"Well, we do have the heirs to two of the largest companies in world." Blake pointed out.
"Ex-heiress." Weiss corrected, closing her case.
"I know you are displeased by this, but we must press on." Ozcar said, walking into the room with the relic on his hip. "While I know we all need more time to recover, time is not on our side."
"Right, as long as the Relic is out in the open, Salem's forces could get it." Blake said.
Jaune stopped sharpening his sword before looking up. "That reminds me, what does it exactly do? Qrow never really told us."
Ozcar turned to the group and nodded. "Of course." He pulled the Relic off and it began growing in size. "The Relic of Knowledge has a great and terrible ability. It's user can ask any question, and the lamp must answer it."He placed it on the table and everyone stared in amazement. "But, it has its drawbacks. The lamp cannot tell you of things that have yet happened, and it can only answer three questions every one hundred years."
"Well, I guess it's not so bad." Aerith said.
"Let's put it to a vote!" Nora shouted from behind, making the healer jump. "What should we ask first? Oh, can we ask for more questions!? Can we ask for more questions!?"
"Nora, they're questions. Not wishes." Vergil said, disappointing the hammer user.
Ozcar chuckled at the girls actions before speaking. "You wouldn't be able to ask it anything anyway. I used the questions before I sealed it away."
"Well, at least we know what it is." Ruby said, leaning on the table. "And we'll be able to keep it safe."
Mistral Central Station
Qrow stood in front of the mail box and chuckled before throwing it into the slot. Ruby bumped into him and he turned around. "Easy with the running, kid."
"Are you kidding me!?" His niece asked back. "Look around you!" Having never been in a train station before, the young girl was filled with excitement as she took off exploring every shop she could.
Yang and Vergil gently placed Natsu on the bench before the blonde sat next to him. Seconds later, Ruby stood next to them shaking in pure excitement. She pulled put a bag from the gift shop and the blonde smiled. "What an absolute waste of time." Weiss huffed.
"Can we just focus on the fact that we're taking the train to Argus!?" Nora asked in pure joy. "A northern coastline, and that means beach season!"
"Pretty sure it's just ice now." Jaune joked. "But it is closer to Atlas."
"Yes, nothing like going back after all the trouble we went through to get here." Weiss said.
"Don't worry, Weiss. Team RWBY won't leave your side for a second." Ruby said, making the ex-heiress smile.
"No one needs to worry about anything." Everyone turned to see two cocky huntsmen walking over. "Not with Dee and Dudley around. The Argus Limited's huntsmen. We'll be keeping everyone safe as we pass through Grimm territory."
"And for a very small tip, we can make sure your cart gets extra protection." Dudley added. "Incase things get dicey." He winked at the girls and they all just rolled their eyes.
"Here's a tip for ya; make like a bee and buzz off." Qrow said as he walked over. "Guess you two must be the bottom of the barrel if you got this job."
"Watch it, pal." Dee said, getting annoyed. "You're talking to two-"
"Professional Huntsmen, yeah, yeah." The scythe user interrupted, pulling out his own license. "And I'm not the ones who left the staff entrance to the rear cart open. Be a real shame to lose this gig before it even started."
The two Huntsmen grumbled and walked away as Oscar chuckled a bit. "Sorry, just something Ozpin said." He explained. "Sometimes the burden of saving the world gets overwhelming, and then people like that come alone and make me happy that it's not their job."
Everyone nodded before Qrow turned to the group. "Okay, who's ready to go?"
"We still need to wait for Blake and Aerith." Ryuko said.
Up a level, Blake stood across from a nervous Ilia. "I still can't believe I'm getting this second chance." The chameleon Faunus confessed.
"You're just going to have to get used to that feeling." Blake smiled. "Saving Haven had a huge impact on the Faunus' reputation. Now, it's up to you and the others to make sure that progress isn't wasted."
"Right... The White Fang is still out there." Ilia mumbled. "But with your father starting a new movement, I've got more faith than ever before." Nervously, she ran over to Blake and hugged her. Blake merely smiled and hugged her back. "Thank you, Blake. For everything. I wish you didn't have to go."
"I know, but my team needs me." Blake replied as the two left. "We need to track down the people behind the academy attacks, make sure they can't hurt anyone else."
"Always trying to save the world." Ilia chuckled. "That reminds me I know you said good bye to your parents, but where are-"
"Sun?" The two girls turned around to see the monkey Faunus leaning against the ledge. "Right here." Ilia motioned and Blake walked over. "What, you didn't think I'd forget about your big send off?"
"No, he did." Sage said from behind, making Aerith chuckle. "Almost had to slap him awake. Now hurry up. Don't forget, we've got our own trip." Sun 'shushed' them both as Blake laughed. Sage pushed him forward as the other two went to talk to Ilia.
"So, you two plan to go back to Vacuo? Get Team SSSN back together?" Blake asked.
"Yeah, we need to get back into fighting shape as a team." Sun replied.
"That's too bad, I was really starting to get used to you." The cat faunus replied.
"I just did what any good friend would do." Sun replied. "Besides, you're with who your supposed to be now."
The two looked down at the team members below them, Nora pulling on Ruby's bag. "I don't think I'll ever be able thank you... for everything you've done. I hope this isn't the last we see of each other." She leaned up and kissed his cheek, making him blush slightly before Sage and Aerith came back over.
The two males walked away and down a stairway. "Trust me, it's best to do this." Sage said. "Remember, 'absence makes the heart grow founder'."
"It was never about that." Sun said.
"Yeah, that's why your face is still red." The swordsman chuckled.
"Just for that, we're taking a boat back home." Sun replied, making Sage enter a cold sweat.
The train took off down the tracks as snow flew around it. RWBY and NVAR sat in the formers room, Yang still by Natsu's side. Ruby grumbled at her game Ryuko flipped through a magazine. Blake just stared out the window before Ruby spoke up. "Alright, it's time for a cross-team team building exercise. Who's up for video games?"
"If you want me kick your butt, sure." Yang chuckled. "Let me grab my Scroll." She left the bed and walked over to the closet before Blake beat her and grabbed the bag for her. "Blake, you don't have to do that."
Her ears dropped slightly as her eyes darted about. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I know you feel guilty about this." The blonde said, motioning to her arm. "But you shouldn't. It was my choice to fight Adam, just like it was your choice to come back. And I am happy that you're back. It'll just take a while for things to get back to normal."
Her ears perked up as the other girls smiled. Vergil nodded in agreement before his eyes turned to the door, making everyone see Qrow in the doorway. "Oh, uncle Qrow. Care to play?" Ruby asked.
"And kick your butts? Sure." He agreed before the train shook.
"What was that?" Yang asked before a screech filled their ears.
"Exactly what it sounds like." Weiss sighed as Qrow looked out the window.
"Grab your weapons." He said before the teens nodded.
The teams grabbed their weapons as Yang laid Natsu on the bed. "I'll be right back. I promise." She said before running out with the rest of the teams. Qrow climbed outside the train and looked back as Manticores and a Sphinx flew at Dee and Dudley. The sphinx landed on the train and roared as the eight readied themselves.
Dee charged the massive Grimm only for a Manticore to tackle him off the train before the others charged the gunman. "What's the plan, Ruby?" Vergil asked, drawing Yamato.
"Don't let anyone else die." Ruby said, pulling out Waxing Thorn before the group charged the swarm.
Oscar popped a window open before a Grimm flew past him. "I've got this." He told Ozpin before bumping into JNR.
"What's happening?" Jaune asked before screams told him all he needed.
Dudley ran from the fight as Qrow sliced a Manticore in the face before turning around and impaled another in the head before thrusting into the first and slicing the other in half. Dudley ran past him before pulling out his Scroll. Seconds later, bars covered the windows and armor popped up. Turrets rose out of the roof before they started firing at the Grimm.
Qrow sliced at the Sphinx's serpent tail before charging and slicing at it's neck. The Grimm slammed its paws down only for Qrow to transform and fly around his target and slice its neck even more. Two blasts hit it from behind and the Grimm turned around before roaring.
The Manticore's flew past the larger Grimm before they started tearing apart the turrets, scaring the passengers in side. Ruby shot down an Manticore before Weiss slid behind her, impaling another Grimm on her ice. "Thank me, later." She raised an ice wall and both Ryuko and Vergil jumped off before decapitating the Grimm they were fighting.
Vergil then jumped of the scissor blades before pulling Rebellion off and slicing a Manticore in half. Blake jumped over another Grimm and threw her weapon as Aerith wrapped it around her staff. "Now!" Both pulled and the string went taunt before Yang blasted the chest repeatedly before it faded.
Further down the train Oscar and JNR climbed up to the roof before the farm boy ran down to Qrow. "Why is it always something!?" Nora complained.
"How can we help?" Oscar asked the senior Huntsman.
"Get that idiot to shut off the turrets!" Qrow replied as he shot another Grimm. "All he's doing is drawing the Grimm to the passengers."
Oscar nodded before running and jumping towards Dudley. He slid under a Manticore before reaching the shooter. "Dudley! You have to shut off the turrets."
"Are you crazy? No way!" The Huntsman replied before shooting another round.
"You need to lure them to the back!" Oscar shouted.
"Who cares about where they die!?" Dudley pushed him away only for the Grimm to fly off the train. "What are they doing?"
Oscar turned around and went wide eyed. "Tunnel!" He shouted, making everyone sprint towards the nearest ladder. Vergil was hit by a fireball and stumbled over the ledge of the train before string wrapped around his waist. He smirked up at his girlfriend before the two ran in tandom and entered the train.
The teens and Qrow ran into the cart Oscar and Dudley went into as the huntsman gripped his broken arm. Qrow wasted no time and pushed himself past the group. "I said turn those things off!" He demanded, slamming Dudley against the door.
"Those 'things' are keeping us alive!" Dudley shouted back.
Ruby looked out the window as the Grimm made a sharp turn over the mountain. A babies cry caught her attention as the next cart was filled with passengers. Vergil walked past and grabbed the remote from Dudley as Aerith took the broken arm and started healing it. "So, what do we do now?" The swordsman asked.
"Ren, can you use your Semblance to mask everyone on the train?" Nora asked. "With no guns and a lack of motion, they might lose track of us."
"I've never masked this many people before..." He replied.
"You don't have to." Ryuko said. "Back in Atlas, I studied my father's work on how to repel Grimm. If I can get enough people to listen, we might be able to help."
"That just might work." Qrow mumbled as Oscar's eyes glowed.
The farm boy walked forward and Ozpin spoked. "I'm afraid there's just one complication. The Grimm are also attracted to this." He motioned to the lamp and everyone seemed shocked.
"Why wouldn't you tell us that!?" Yang asked, making the boy nervous.
"That can wait." Ruby said, making the others huff. "The longer we stand around arguing the more we put everyone else on the train at risk." She turned to Ren, Nora, Jaune and Ryuko. "Get the passengers the front. Try to calm as many people down and use your Semblance sparingly. We can still kill the turrets, we just can't come with you.
"If we cut the back carts with the Relic, we can keep the Grimm away from the people. Just make sure the rest of this train makes it to Argus." Jaune turned to her with a concerned look on his face. "Don't worry, we'll meet you there."
The blonde nodded before the plan went into effect. JNR and Ryuko guided everyone to the front cars as the turrets shut off. Blake severed the front cars and looked up only to jump back off at the sight of a hooded figure. She blinked and the man vanished, making her shake her head before jumping up.
Ruby looked at her Scroll where she saw Ryuko and Nora's signals fading. The last of the train pulled out of the tunnel and the Grimm started swarming again, this time focusing solely on the rear. Oscar blocked a chomp from a Manticore before forcing it back with stabs.
Yang grabbed another by its horns when ice shards erupted out of it and it dies. The blonde shook her head and her eyes stopped glowing before she punched a third in the face. Vergil jumped back from a stinger and then sliced it off before jumping over it. The Grimm roared before turning around, baring its fangs at him.
Ruby and Blake traded swings against their Grimm before the leader looked around at the mass swarm of Grimm. Oscar was almost blasted off the train by a Manticore before Ruby stabbed a second with Waxing Thorn and kicked it over, making the tumble into the forest.
She nodded at him before watching Qrow get hit with a fireball from the Sphinx. The five students raced over before Ruby opened fire on it. Vergil summoned his backpack and threw a quartet of spike at the wings before they detonated, grounding the Grimm. Yang slid under it as Blake threw her weapon before blonde punched it around the body and pulled it taunt.
The beast pushed against the wrapping when ice trapped its paws, making Weiss smirk at her success. Ruby and her uncle pulled their scythes back before bisecting it half. With its last breath, the Sphinx unleashed a fire ball that went high and hit the tracks. Weiss activated her gravity lock as Vergil stabbed his brothers sword into the train.
The carts hit the broken tracks and the train reared up before flying off the tracks. With ringing ears and sore heads, Qrow was the first to stand up. "Everyone okay?"
"Define 'okay'." Vergil said, hanging from one of the carts.
"I'm fine." An unknown voice said before everyone looked to see an old woman with cybernetic eyes and a cane walk right out of the train. "That was a close one, huh?"
"Okay... Everyone start looking for supplies." Qrow said. "Oscar, take care to help our unexpected guest."
Ruby started picking up spare rounds before glancing over to the side. "Well, this is just great." Yang complained as she pulled on Natsu's arm. "We're stranded in the middle of nowhere! We lost almost half of our party! And we gained a defenseless! Old! Lady!" She finally pulled Natsu free and the two fell into the snow when ice rose up in spikes.
"My name is Maria Calavera!" The woman shouted back. "And I am not defenseless. I'm just a bit hard of hearing... and blind without my eyes." The eyes started malfunctioning before they closed shut. "Okay... you may have a point."
"Yang, complaining about it won't change anything." Qrow said. "If we fall apart now, we're just inviting Grimm."
"Does that even matter?" Blake asked. "Apparently we've been attracting Grimm since we left Haven."
"Oh, and how could I forget about that detail?" She sarcastically added before turning to Oscar. "The hell happened to 'no more lies and half-truths?"
"Yeah... I think we're owed an explanation." Oscar agreed before his eyes glowed. "I did not lie to you."
"Well, what do you call not telling us everything about the Relic?" Vergil asked.
"Now is not the-"
"Now is the PERFECT time." Yang interrupted, her new powers making the blizzard stronger. "Start talking about why you still aren't telling us everything!"
Ozcar stared at the four teens as Ruby walked up from behind before sighing. "It is true that the Grimm are attracted to the Relics. I believe it has to do with their origins, but I'm not entirely sure. Regardless, I feared that informing you would only add anxiety and negativity. It seemed like the safest course of action."
"I'm getting real tired of people thinking they know what's best for me." Weiss said.
"Is that why you choose to tell everyone that Lionheart died fighting for Haven instead of hiding in his office?" Yang asked.
"Yes, it is." The spirit vessel replied, walking away. "I believed that the people of Mistral deserved better than the truth. And I believed Leonardo deserved to be remembered for his lifetime of achievements instead of his unfortunate missteps in the last years of his life."
"Missteps!?" Vergil asked as the others followed him. "That's what you call sending Huntsmen to their deaths, or selling you out to Salem!?"
"What he did was reprehensible, but can you honestly say that you have all lived perfect lives?" Ozcar asked. "Does one lapse in judgement negate all of his good? You may have met Professor Lionheart, but you didn't know Leonardo."
"We're supposed to be in this together." Yang spoke up. "You can trust us, we aren't going to turn on-"
"Did you really think Leo was the first!?" The boy shouted before turning around. "That he didn't say those exact same thing to me? You must understand that I have reasons for what I say, the things I do, the secrets I keep. The reason I-" He looked down and found nothing on his belt. "Where is the Relic?"
"Right here." Ruby spoke up, holding the lamp. "It was scattered in the crash."
"Please, hand it over." He requested, holding out his hand.
"...So all those times you talked about having faith in humanity, you didn't actually believe it?" She asked.
The boy lowered his head before looking back up. "That is not what I meant. Miss Rose, the Relic is extremely dangerous and I feel that it is my burden to bare."
"But... you said it couldn't do anything." Ruby replied.
"Why does it matter who holds it?" Blake asked.
"I need you to listen to-" The boy suddenly seized up, much to Qrow's confusion. "Hurry!" Oscar spoke up. "He's... trying to stop you... He's afraid... of what you... might find what... he's hiding!" He collapsed to the ground as the internal struggle became too much.
Vergil pointed his guns at the farmhand when he reached up towards Ruby. "Her name is... Jinn. Say her name... to summon her."
"Her name?" The caped girl asked, holding the lamp to her chest. The wind picked up as she stared at the lamp before make a decision. "Jinn."
Instantly, the wind stopped and the snow in the air froze in place. The lamp started glowing brighter before it floated out of her hands. A blue fog began to roll off the Relic as it spun around until the mist erupted out of it. Everyone's eyes went wide as a blue skinned feminine being with golden jewelry materialized.
She stretched her arms wide before turning to the group. "Tell me, what knowledge do you seek?" Maria adjusted her glasses as the others stared up in shock of the wispy woman. "I am Jinn, a being created by the God Igneel to aid humanity in the pursuit of knowledge. I can answer any three questions every hundred years, and I am still able to answer-"
"ENOUGH!" Ozcar shouted, making everyone turn back to him.
"Two questions this era." The spirit finish, making him drop his head. Yang clenched her fist in anger as everyone sans Maria understood why he wanted to give the Relic to Raven. "It's so good to you again, old man."
"Ruby... please... Don't..." The vessel begged, looking up from the ground.
Qrow stepped forward and instantly Weiss and Vergil pointed their straight blades at him, Blake was about ready to draw hers, and Yang seemed ready to punch her uncle. He stared at the anger in their eyes before raising his hands in defense and looked at Ruby. "Do whatever you think is right, kiddo."
Ruby quickly thought over everything before making a decision. "Jinn..." She turned around and looked up at the spirit. "What is Ozpin hiding from us?"
"NNNNOOOOO!" The boy shouted before bum rushing her. Ruby flinched and braced for impact, only for it to never come. She looked and found herself in a blank void. She called out for her sister only for everyone else to call out as well.
"Once upon a time..." Jinn's voice echoed around them all as the void suddenly changed into a grassy noel with broken weapons scattered around. A single brick path lead to a ever expanding castle with a dull sky behind it. "..there stood a lonely castle. And it sheltered only a single girl."
A puff of blue mist blew past them and they followed it to see a girl sitting in front of a mirror doing her hair. She spun around and gave a defeated sigh before seeming to look at the group. "...named Salem."
I have a poll on my profile for another crossover. Please vote on it if you want to.
God damn, Volume six was so good. I loved nearly all of it, and that one bit you can probably guess. I have to confess, I didn't recognize Jinn as Erza until this year. So I'm pretty stupid.
Obviously, Yang isn't going to have absolute control over her new powers right away. Hence it going out of control every now and then. And if you don't get why she's staying so close to Natsu, remember she just got him back. She doesn't want to lose him again. Now I just have one question before I go: Should I do the fairy tale or would that be insulting your intelligence? Let me know.
Beta read by TheExcadrillComics.