Hey everyone. Sorry for the late update. I wanted to make this chapter good- despite the unusually small length.
It certainly doesn't have anything to do with the holidays, wanting to finish off volume 7, the death of a close family friend, Team Four Star announcing they will not be making DBZA anymore, and having oral surgery… wow for once I have a legitimate excuse(s).
Chapter 21: The Morning After
William Beorthwulf was in hell.
His breathing was ragged and heavy. His lungs were screaming for the oxygen that just did not want to enter his body. His muscles burned and begged, straining for all their worth, for him to stop-content with the possibility he might not ever get back up. Throughout his life he had survived countless difficulties, pushing his body past its limits. Sometimes to the point that the damage he inflicted upon himself to survive was just as damaging if not more so than the danger he had evaded.
However, this was torture plain and simple.
"Run faster William or I will extend our run by another forty laps!" Ms. Goodwitch shouted, making sure she was close enough to William that he could really, truly hear it. His endlessly pounding head confirmed it. and then some. It honestly felt worse than the time a bounty hunter drove a sword through his skull. At least that stopped a few moments after he pulled it out.
Every student within hearing range doing their best to not attract her ire less they be made to join. One student even made himself invisible- that wasn't a metaphor for anything; he literally turned invisible. Probably a semblance.
Regardless.
Apparently, his ability to absorb the alcohol and heal himself did nothing against nausea, dehydration, and the headaches caused by it. Sure, it kept things like alcohol poisoning from killing him, but apparently, that was all. Everything else, he had to deal with the old fashion way.
He didn't even know he could feel this thirsty. The only thing that he could use to wet his mouth was his own sweat that happened to fall near his mouth as he ran raggedly. His legs refusing to work properly as his world kept trying to slant and tilt.
How does Ruby and Yang's uncle do this every day? The man was either immune to it via some type of semblance or he just wasn't human. The irony of him of all people saying that was not lost on the young Were-Grimm either.
It was one thing when his team and his…guests' team all but barged in- he may say it like that, but he was genuinely grateful to them as it helped save him from potentially losing an eye. Not only was the huntress in training, known as Gwen Darcy, very protective of her favorite outfit, but she was also quick to demand he pay for a replacement. AFTER trying to remove his eye with a knife.
As if forcing the onlookers out and trying to get dressed with a woman who didn't know how to stop yelling at you was bad enough- including the more than awkward, concerned, and confused feelings of the other three in the room- their argument apparently caught the ear of his guardian who appeared in front of his door just as he was holding it open for Gwen while cursing her to get out.
He really walked into that one. Which was the reason for his current torment.
You didn't need to be a Were-Grimm to know the Beacon rumor mill was running at full steam before he even left his dorm room. Every so often, he would sense the negative emotions of someone directed towards him or his ears would pick-up some bit of gossip regarding him and the girls. Some people were even believing that he had the ability to seduce any woman- his current situation dispelling that belief quickly enough.
The negative emotions and the hangover swirled violently in his head. Things were muddled, blurry, and difficult to discern the difference between one set of emotions and another. The two feeding upon each other growing progressively more migraine-inducing.
He had wanted to keep his Grimm senses peeled for Neo, but honestly, he couldn't focus enough to detect her if she was right in front of her. Both for his horrendous hangover and the scorching anger boiling from the huntress jogging behind him, encouraging him to run faster.
"I hope you don't plan on taking it easy. I will have no ward of mine talk to women like that!" Her riding crop cracked on a nearby bench ushering him forward. They had already been running for three hours. How could she only look a little tired?
Out of the corner of his eyes, he could catch glimpses of her. She was sweating, but not much. Her hair tied in a bun looked as prim and proper as though she just tied it. her workout uniform did not show much of any sweat. Could her semblance even manipulate heat or something?
Her hard and cold green eyes gave the same glint she had when she was lecturing her students who had made an obvious mistake. "If you want to drink, then I will make you sweat out that four hundred lien bar tab until the very thought of drinking makes you sicker than you feel now!" he knew this wasn't a threat, but a statement of fact. Much like the sky being blue or that he was going to suffer for this until death took him.
I wonder if it's too late to have Ironwood arrest me. Maybe if I piss in his coffee cup, he'll lock me in jail. Aw jail, such fond memories. As William's mind contemplated the euphoric bliss of prison compared to his current confinement, he briefly felt something off.
It was faint, but he was sure it had happened. It was like his body reacted to something. Two things. No, maybe three? No, it was less than that…maybe?
What were those? They came and went instantly as he rounded the dorms again. It was so strange. Especially since one of them seemed like it might have been underground.
His surrogate mother gave him little time to think it over as this time she forwent the bench and gave him a smack on the back- thankfully NOT with the riding crop. "Pick-up the pass William, if we aren't in front of the library in the next six minutes it's another ten laps!"
The library was on the other side of campus.
She. Is. going to. Kill me!
/-/
"So Heather, how did things go with William?" The fox Faunus asked taking a big spoonful of her chocolate breakfast cereal. Her master was relaxing in the "kitchen area" as she liked to call it. The freshly brought in folding table was covered in various documents. Some of which belonged to that whore Cinder.
Ever since they 'agreed' to work together at their leader- her master's master's behest, Heather had been made to assist Cinder with her plan. That included managing the logistics and bookkeeping for her 'secret' plan for Beacon. This included making sure that the White Fang grunts were maintaining their weapons and were using the right ammo.
One would imagine that would be common sense- but low and behold, she repeatedly had to inform the civilian recruits- turned terrorist- you can't up assault rifle ammo into handguns. Who knew? Say nothing for the common understanding of the fact assault rifle ammunition was too large to fit, some still tried.
Where did they even find these people?
Many of them endlessly pestered her for more information about the plan. It was after working with the White Fang had she learned that low-level grunts really weren't worthy of knowing too much about the larger plan.
Then again, it wasn't like anyone with a brain couldn't tell she's planning to cause a huge stir at Amity Colosseum. Using the fact that the entirety of Remnant watching to cause massive negative feedback to incite the Grimm on a global level. Easy enough to predict.
She still couldn't figure out why they hadn't canceled the festival. But hey, torturing stupid people could be fun.
If she had to give Cinder any credit, it was the fact she managed to obtain a lot of classified Atlas info. Some even regarding the general's sex robot. Why else make a robot designed to look and act like an innocent teenage girl. Creepo.
"Not as I expected," the tall woman said. Her voice neither happy nor angered by it. "…but it did not yield any undesired results. I had expected his Grimm side to have devoured him whole, consciousness and all, but our little boy managed to make prey out of his Grimm. I couldn't be happier." She chuckled.
"Does that mean he's one of your 'children' now?" Jack asked flipping through a magazine about weapons, sitting opposite of Heather. She honestly thought he could stand to at least try to be a little more useful given how much his shopping habits cost them.
"Unfortunately, no. William's body by itself is truly something special. My snakes have only bitten him twice now and he has already developed a way to resist my influence. Although, I would have to say his psyche is what I am truly interested in." her two underlings looked at her both with perplexed expressions wanting her to continue.
"These last ten years of resisting the influence of his Grimm and the negative emotions he was able to sense have given him a tremendous mental fortitude against outside influence. My hypnotic suggestions included."
Jack and the fox Faunus shared a nervous look before turning back to Heather. "Then does he remember you, the fight, or us?" Jack asked feeling a twinge of fear.
"I'm confident he remembers something. Though, only as a vague dream. I made sure of that myself." She smirked with the expression she had really gone all-in on this one and put in her best work. "I used team NDGO as a little extra insurance."
"Didn't they get knocked out in the first round?" the punk rocker wannabe asked on behalf of everyone else. "How could they possibly stand a chance against William?" Jack stressed the issue.
"Oh, no. I didn't use them to fight William, they wouldn't stand a chance. No, I used them in another way. Despite his maturity, William is still a teenage boy and what could be more distracting to a teenage boy than waking up next to four gorgeous naked young ladies singing his praise in lovemaking." she giggled.
The other two shared a look before Jack spoke up, "She has a point."
The white-haired woman tittered. "That Neon girl was so drunk I didn't even need to hypnotize her."
Patricia knew Heather was enjoying this. Heather loved the psychology of it all. Not so much manipulating people, as poking them certain ways to see how they react. "Was it really necessary to involve others like that?" she asked timidly. "I know it helped cover our tracks after we failed to brainwash hi-"
Heather raised a hand to stop the fox faunus. "I'll admit that we could have probably covered our tracks without them but utilizing them will help in the long run."
"It takes a special kind of mental fortitude for someone of such a young age to handle such trauma- or rather to entomb it so deeply. Most people would have given up years ago, but not William, no he will be my greatest challenge and my crowning achievement." She smiled as her face flushed with color. Both her subordinates knew she literally got off on this stuff, but still…
"He may have a strong will, but all of his life he has spent repelling negative emotions. Yet he has next to no experience with positive emotions. He clings to those who show him even the slightest affection- he's starved for it. This is why he is so responsive to those like Ruby Rose, Glynda Goodwitch, and Neopolitan."
"Rather than force him, I only need to give him a home and love to remake him into my child." She honestly looked like a kid on her birthday the second before opening her present. "If- When" she corrected, "Neo gives him that suggestion, it will all fall into place."
/-/
William's breath came out ragged as he slumped down in his hiding spot located in Beacon's garden. He couldn't even lift his head to look around. The wolf faunus laid against the brick wall praying that the tall shrubs were enough to conceal him.
Despite his best effort, he couldn't even move his legs. Literally.
Had he ever been this tired in his life?
Even if he could focus- which was arguably too tall of an order to begin with- his body was beyond even a prayer of moving. Not that he could discern whose negative emotion was who's.
To sum things up: he was screwed. Not only had the woman acting as his mother tried to kill him with exercise- who only let him go because she had to do something for the singles round later today. There was also the matter of his assassin girlfriend who in all likelihood going to make him be on the receiving end for a while.
Hopefully, she'll just stop by stabbing him. If she made good on her threat with that stuff in the bedroom, he might want to consider investing in a cushion.
Oh, and there was the whole trying to stop Neo's boss from killing everyone.
It's surprising how easy it is to forget things when you're hungover and about to pass out from exhaustion.
"Hello, William." A cold and calm voice said causing him to almost jump out of his skin.
He turned to look at the source, "We need to have a chat."
/-/
While she, or rather her alternate persona Lacy Mintha, had arrived at Beacon less than a month ago, Neo had been secretly investigating the inner layout of Beacon for the last month and a half. Thankfully, her semblance granted her numerous advantages and there were more than a few people, teachers, staff, and students, that were close enough to her height to disguise herself as. She might have even accidentally gotten a short delivery guy laid because a cafeteria lady liked men who are the strong silent type.
She wasn't really sure if she should be proud of that or not.
Heather asked her to look into Beacon's research and development lab. Given that the main lab was blown up, they commandeered a rarely used weapon's forge underground. Emerald had found out about its location from the red squirt whose team Will was a part of. She had been staking it out since six in the morning.
If it wasn't for the fact, she promised her a chance to have Will all to herself until the start of their operation, she might have said no.
Well, might, she just couldn't say no to someone like Heather. There was just something about her that made you want to give it your all.
Her job was to either directly follow someone into the lab and steal the Grimm sword or at a minimum get the code to get in. If it was a normal scroll scanner, she could probably get in with that rigged scroll of Cinder's.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. There was a nine-character key lock. Furthermore, the people working in the lab were smart enough to wipe off the keypad. She managed to make out a few smudges. But not enough to make out a possible code.
So that left her in a deserted hall.
Waiting.
Nothing to do, but stare at a locked door, waiting for her chance.
Waiting for SIX hours!
What she would not do for a crossword puzzle. A FUCKING crossword puzzle. That was how DAMN boring this was.
Just as she had contemplated unscrewing every other screw of every door in the hallway just to kill her boredom… "Did you hear about oxygen and potassium going on a date? It went 'OK'." A man began laughing at his own joke.
The heavy-set man with the most impossibly purple tie she had ever seen was laughing so hard he looked like he might choke. She might have secretly hoped so, given how long she had to wait.
The intern next to him just humored him. He didn't look like he knew what the joke was either.
Still using her semblance to make herself invisible, Neo carefully moved behind the two of them. Angling herself so she could see the professor input his code.
As she watched the man punch in the code, she covered her mouth to stifle herself. She STRONGLY considered stabbing them and then banging her head against the wall when she saw that the passcode was '123456789'.
/-/
The air was thick and heavy, but not with tension, no it was more the fact Ozpin had the cafeteria staff bring food to his office. Enough for three grown men- or in actuality, one teenaged Were-Grimm. Qrow would have bet they wouldn't have delivered so much just for one student- at first, they said they would- until Oz mentioned William by name. Apparently, the cafeteria staff knew him by name- and his monstrous appetite.
Oh, how he wished someone had done that for him the last time he got drunk and confused James' office for the bathroom.
"Danks dor daving me." William gurgled while inhaling the food from the cart. A hearty breakfast and just as much water was always good for a hangover. Qrow could vouch for that. Summer knew how to make a one-man feast that could bring the dead back to life…oh, still too soon.
The Were-Grimm swallowed enough food to resemble a human head in his throat with one gulp. "I get she's mad, but what did I do to make her that angry. I thought I was going to die."
Beacon's sorceress might be the most pragmatic of the Beacon staff- not that that says much- but when she snaps so do people's spines. And probably the rest of their bones. She was scary like that.
Despite that, he didn't object to Ozpin saving him. Qrow Branwen was a connoisseur of all thing alcoholic. He knew what a hangover could do to a huntsmen's performance. Even the best of huntsmen can have trouble walking in a straight line after a binger. Let alone running for several hours non-stopped.
When Glynda wanted to make a point, she makes a point.
In these situations, it is best to let her burn off steam.
He wasn't entirely sure the kid could handle another few laps.
Ozpin was the one to answer his question. "William, Glynda cares deeply about you. She just doesn't want to see you pick up any bad habits."
"You mean like Qrow?" he responded with an almost deadpanned expression.
Ozpin returned an equal deadpanned "Yes.", while the man himself just shrugged and took a swig from his flask. He wasn't going to apologize.
"I still don't know how anyone can drink like I did last night and be okay afterward." The faunus replied rubbing his head. From the looks of it, he was in some genuine pain.
Qrow shrugged again, "Practice kid, practice."
the grey-haired man put a hand on his shoulder trying to comfort him, "Relax, the pain medication should take effect shortly."
"…though I would appreciate it if you don't make this a habit. I'd rather not have my students drink much if any to begin with."
"You don't need to tell me twice." He held his hand to his mouth like he might start blowing chunks. Even turning a little green. "I don't think I'll be able to drink again. It's just not worth it."
Heh, it really was sometimes.
The third man who had remained silent until now spoke, "Hopefully, this will teach you to not indulge in such behavior again."
The kid himself didn't seem to really mind him and continued eating. It went without saying that two of the people he had been drinking with were two of the cyborg headmaster's students. One of which took him to bed along with three others.
An old huntsmen buddy of his once told him that ladies love faunus with animal ears. At first, he thought it was just bar talk and bravado. Now…well, not much he could do, but he wasn't above wearing a pair of fake animal ears if it got him laid…not that he actually would.
"That reminds me- for whatever reason…" the kid spoke up. he looked at the three men, seemingly unsure of what to ask or how to ask it. His pause probably lasted longer than he intended before Oz gestured for him to continue. "W-when you have sex…do…do you remember it afterward?"
That was probably the most out of left field question that could have been asked. Qrow took a spit take into his own flask, coughing as a result. The two headmasters looked like they were somewhere between confused and not wanting to walk through a minefield.
"Shouldn't you ask Ms. Goodwitch about that kind of thing?" Ozpin asked, doing what he did best when it came to issues about his students that he wasn't able to handle- push it on Glynda.
The black-haired faunus just looked at him for a moment, his right eye tinging red for just a brief moment, "If you were me, would you ask Ms. Goodwitch that?"
Damn, the kid had Oz there. Glynda could handle just about anything. And he meant anything. But sex ed, well, he wasn't even going to look in the direction of that train wreck.
However, as the only person who had any experience raising kids- and he meant experience where he had to live with the kids and not tell them some bullshit story and leave it for the parents to straighten them out-, he knew the truth was better than lying. "That's just what happens when you drink too much. I've blacked out and woken up to far worse than four teenage girls in my bed". Oz and Ironwood immediately looked at him. "-all over eighteen, I swear." He quickly added.
"I was referring more to women who looked like flesh-colored Grimm."
"Really?" the incredulous tone of William's voice said it all. "But it was all so clear until I saw a tall woman, and there was a fox in a green hoodie, and pink snakes flying in the air that made me feel like I was completely relaxed, and…and… I drank too much." The faunus admitted wrapping his hands around the top of his lowered head, sounding more than a little dejected. Not that he could blame him, he'd had more than his share of crazed drunken adventures.
It happened to the best of them.
"Now William", Ozpin started looking like he was getting down to business. Said kid raised his head in response. "I know this might be hard, but regarding your report yesterday. Can you give us any more, details now that you have slept on it?" The wolf faunus looked at him with a deadpan face, "Metaphorically speaking."
William stopped shoveling food into his mouth and went deep into thought. He seemed to be mauling something over. Like he wasn't sure about something. He couldn't imagine reading emotions was easy. Probably easier for William, but what did he know. He couldn't even tell that that bar waitress in Mistral gave him a phony scroll number.
As Qrow was thinking of how he missed out the kid spoke up. "Actually, now that I think about it, I did sense something on my way out last night and my jog this morning."
"Really? Do tell."
"Hmmm, I think it might have been Mercury Black."
James and he shared a look behind Ozpin. "The student from Haven?" Oz asked for clarification.
"Yeah. I don't know why, but since the mission yesterday, I've been getting a vibe like he's watching me, but still trying to avoid me." That did seem odd.
Ozpin got up and strolled around the desk. Sitting next to the kid with a pulled-up seat. "Can you think of a reason for that? I'm afraid we can't do much without at least more insight." There was a man at work. After all these years, Qrow had come to learn that Oz was good at getting people to talk. Not out of coercion or intimidation, but more of the mentor-like air he likes to project when he isn't hiding from Glynda. A few students he kept in contact with told him he was almost like their grandfather
Taking the bait, William seemed to be thinking again. After about a minute he responded.
"I don't think I've done anything to him. I've only spoken to him a few times, counting the time we met. The timing j-just seemed too… coincidental."
"And how do you know it was him specifically? Couldn't you just be mistaking him for someone else?" The cyborg next to him asked. It was clear to anyone that he still didn't trust the kid.
William looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes. "I'll admit that is a possibility. However, I do not think so. Every person has their own suffering; their own pain they and they alone have felt." He was starting to bear his teeth a little. "When a person experiences a specific traumatic event or dwells on certain negative emotions enough it leaves a lasting impression. Like a distinct emotional scar somewhere in the psyche."
It looked like Jimmy was going to deny it, but then he continued. "Ruby feels sorrow for losing her mom and is afraid of losing anyone else. Winter feels guilty for leaving Weiss with their Father and regret she couldn't have done more for her- that's why she always pushes Weiss because she believes in her. Professor Oobleck feels guilt and grief for the people- his team- who lost their lives when the tunnel to Mountain Glenn was closed. And you-" He pointed directly at the general, making him take a step back. "You have no trouble turning yourself into a martyr. You'd rather die a thousand times than see others die. You're the most scared of anyone here. That's why you have trouble trusting others. A mix of stubborn pride and fear."
"I do what I must to protect the people of Remnant. Whatever personal sacrifice I have to make, I will." This had a blood vessel showing. Apparently, the kid struck a nerve.
Rather than continue, William just looked at him for a moment. There was no malice or anger. He almost looked a little sad. *sigh* "You wanted my opinion. If you choose to listen to it or not is your choice. I merely wanted to notify you of something strange. What you do with it is up to you and you alone."
Qrow knew that tone. It was the same tone Tai used whenever he 'wasn't mad, he was disappointed' with the girls. Apparently, so did Jimmy because he said something to William Qrow would not have expected. "I understand, thank you. I'll have my men look into it."
Ozpin placed a hand on his shoulder, "William, we appreciate your efforts. If you believe it to be a threat then we will look into it."
the Were-Grimm looked at Ozpin like he was studying him, before gently brushing his hand off his shoulder. "Thank you, Professor Ozpin. However,…. Never mind." William got up to leave.
"William."
The kid stopped after a few steps. He didn't look back. "I don't know what's going to happen. I really don't. I just know it will be soon and it will be bad. If you were smart, you'd stop the tournament or at the least, be on the lookout for an attack on Amity. Anyone will tell you if you want to cause mayhem that would do it. Just look at what happened with Pyrrha and Jaune." He let out a light chuckle.
"As for me, I'm going to walk around a little bit. This close the end of the tournament, they'll probably be getting a little antsy and will most likely be somewhere on campus." He turned and smiled. "I'll call you if I find anything."
This was wrong. So wrong. Something in his tone- his expression- made him feel clammy. It was so wrong. He'd seen it before- dozens of times. And each and every time was on the face of huntsmen who knew they were going on a suicide mission. They knew they were going to die, but also knew they still had a job to do.
This was not the expression he wanted to see on a kid's face. Especially not one his nieces' age.
The others must have felt the same, James moved to stop him as he began walking away, but Oz raised his hand to stop him. "Thank you, William. Please keep in contact and good luck."
"Thank you. Oh, and to all three of you." He probably sensed their emotions as the light in his eyes flickered for a moment. "Don't worry, I'm not going to die. I still have to rub my huntsmen's license in general Ironwood's when I graduate."
/-/
They waited until the Were-Grimm had left the room. Only then did Ozpin move from in front of Ironwood.
"Do you think he knows something?" Qrow asked.
"Of course, he knows something. But he's too busy playing mind games to help." The cyborg shouted. "The way he manipulates people. The way he pries open people's inner workings is… unnerving to say the least. We should go after him and question him further. Make him talk."
Ozpin returned to his seat. "I do agree. I get the feeling he was trying to get information out of us. Or more likely read our emotions."
"You don't think he's working for Salem, do you?"
The wizen old man took a drink from his coffee. "I do not believe so. Rather I think he believes little of us and will try to do this on his own. Qrow I want you to tail him."
"Okay. Anything particular to look for?" he asked taking a swig from his flask. "I don't like seeing kids that age have that look like they're ready to die."
"I still don't trust him." Jimmy interrupted. "I know he knows more than he's telling."
Qrow cut in, "Can't you just give him a chance? Ruby and the others trust him. Hell, even Glynda trusts him. I don't think she fully trusts me."
The cyborg couldn't refute that. Or so he thought. "Glynda is too close to him. Also, do you really expect me to take the advice of children when regarding a potentially dangerous threat?"
As the two huntsmen were about to start a cursing match the local headmaster interjected. "I believe he is not giving us the full story", the cybernetic dick smiled triumphantly, "However," his smile rescinded to its normal frown, "I believe he is either unsure or unable to tell us. But none the less is still trying to help us."
The two looked at one another as he continued, "Throughout his stay at Beacon, short as it may be, William has had several inconsistencies in his actions."
"You mean those thugs he took care of?" the drunken huntsmen blurted out as the iron general all but swallowed his tongue trying to exclaim "what?"
The grey-haired man just turned to him, "Yes, Qrow. Thank you for that."
"Why didn't you tell me about that?"
He looked at his old friend for a moment. "The same reason I couldn't tell you much more. You let your emotions rule you too easily. It would have revealed our hand to him. more importantly our enemies."
His face was a mix of hurt and anger. "Yet you have no problem trusting Qrow?"
"William admitted to Glynda that Qrow is usually too drunk for him to read his emotions." His words seemed to get caught in the general's throat. "Given everything so far, I'm inclined to believe it. furthermore, we have discovered he cannot even detect Qrow in his transformed state."
James looked like he was going to say something. Yet, he kept starting and stopping. Oz's words clearly made sense to him, just not his pride. For all his fighting with him, he at least respected that he wanted the greater good for everyone. Regardless of what he had to sacrifice.
With an exacerbated sigh, he finally admitted defeat. "At least tell me he isn't active in any crimes?"
"Thankfully no. Despite the deaths-"
"Deaths?!"
"Of four gang members wanted for rape, robbery, and murder." He answered him. "All of which was done with a rapier or similar weapon. A weapon William does not possess. Given that Miss Schnee was seen studying in the library that night, this most likely tells me it was the person he is protecting." Beacon's headmaster elaborated.
"Do you believe they are related to Salem and her forces?"
"I believe they are connected, yes. However, at the same time, they also wish for William to remain out of danger. His credit card transactions for meals for two and even a gift, coupled with his actions according to the GPS tracker in his scroll", Ironwood gave the man a glare, probably relating to how he had given him such a hard time about surveying William. "Have led me to believe that our young William has someone he fancies."
"Couldn't they just be using him?" Qrow asked. He of all people knew that it wasn't hard to use people. His tribe- former tribe- saw people as essential, but at the same time disposable.
Ozpin seemed to know where he was coming from. "I do not believe so. If it was a normal teenager, I might agree", he took a sip of his coffee, chewing on his words a little. "As you know William is by no means a normal student. Given his perceptiveness for negative emotions, I find it hard to believe he can be led around like that. Though the possibility does exist." he quickly added the last part.
Pressing a few buttons on his computer, the image of a cute young girl with pink, white, and brown hair appeared on his screen. The image was blurry like it had been taken by a scroll. Despite this and her innocent appearance, there was something dangerous in her eyes.
"This was taken by a huntress just the other day. She fits the description of several events this year involving theft, murder, and assault." Ozpin began explaining.
"Of all of the know criminals connected to Torchwich and whoever is manipulating him. She", he pointed to the screen. "Is the most likely candidate. Despite the discrepancies in exact appearance, there aren't too many young women who fit her physical build. Coupled with the information we've gleaned thus far from eyewitnesses of the events at the Silver Guard Mall and the restaurants they ate at, this is the most logical conclusion."
"What do we know about her?" James immediately asked. He had already shifted gears into huntsmen mode. He may have still been an asshat during his huntsmen days, but it was still better than when he became a headmaster. He was almost tolerable back then.
"Sadly nothing. As far as records go; birth, criminal history, all except the name Neopolitan and her semblance, she is an unknown quantity. From what we have gathered, she does seem to possess at least two distinct abilities. One, being some form of physical illusion resembling a type of glass image and the other being able to teleport."
Qrow hummed as he gave his answer. Truth be told, that wasn't really news. A lot of people from outside the kingdoms didn't really have any written record of who was born or what semblance they had. Qrow himself hadn't even known that was a thing until he first tried to rent an apartment and register as a huntsman of Vale.
Ironwood coughed something under his breath about teleporters. "Typically, a semblance only includes one ability, even if it might be a versatile ability, it should still be a single ability. Do we know any more about the exact nature of her abilities?"
"Sadly no." he looked at the man through the image. There wasn't much that can be done. Huntsmen had to work with what they had. More information would be great, but if a lack of every detail stopped them, Remnant would probably be devoid of humans and faunus by now.
"In all likelihood, she is the person William has been in contact with. The huntsmen I've dispatched to watch her location have confirmed as much since William claimed he was going to the Forever Falls."
"Why are you telling me this?" Ironwood suddenly asked. Qrow was wondering that himself. Oz normally didn't work behind people's backs like this. Well, sometimes he did. But after going through so much to seem like he was fighting for the kid. Was it all an act?
"One, so I can convince you to do as I ask." He said directing his gaze towards the cyborg, "And I ask that you look into Mercury Black like William had suggested. While maintaining your distance. I want you to monitor things from Amity or your battleship. You will be safe from detection."
"Two", he held up two fingers. "While it might not have been intentional given the current flow of our conversation; I truly did wish to sway him to our side. His actions thus far, helping the students, fighting off Grimm attacking the train near the border, and even now, resolutely deciding to fight for Beacon. William is with us. Or more specifically our students. He is only being indirect because he does not wish to harm this young woman. Hardly the first young man to be in this position. Hence his warnings about the limited time we have left and the hint to investigate Mercury."
"And three, because I need you to know this so we can keep it secret from Glynda." On that last point, all three men agreed. She nearly lost it when they suggested having the kid walk around little Menagerie with a squad of trained soldiers for back-up. If she found out they were using him as live bait for one of Salem's forces…well, he couldn't be sure, but it would probably be safe to say they could count the number of bones they'd have left on one hand. Provided their hands still worked.
"Finally, if my hunch that this person and William truly care for each other than they will try to make contact with one another given his predictions of their schedule. That is when we will make our move."
/-/
A certain blonde brawler was in her workout gear hitting a punching bag in her yellow and black sports bra and matching bike shorts. There was a gleam of sweat on her body. Not enough to constitute her normal workout, but just bleed of her nerves and excitement. She couldn't sit still much longer. She had to do something. Weiss wanted her to try breathing exercises or meditation, Yang wanted to spar with someone. She knew she couldn't do that so close to the singles round. Yet, she couldn't sit down much longer. A compromise was a light workout. Every so often she felt her golden mane flare-up in a fiery yellow blaze.
There was a constant sensation running through her. A heart-pumping, blood-boiling sensation that drives her to keep going. The kind of sensation that blends excitement that comes with adrenaline and the confidence that can only come from someone who had rarely experienced true loss.
Since she could remember, she had always been an unbeatable fiery force of bombastic nature known only as Yang Xiao Long- discounting Junior's nickname of 'blondie'. No matter how difficult the fight, even against a handsy second year at Beacon while she was a third-year at Signal or eight students her own year at once, she would always come out on top. She graduated top of her class without a single defeat and even managed to get a draw on a teacher.
Simply put she was awesome.
However, Beacon changed that. Yang knew she was good, but she never for a second thought she was unbeatable. That day when she took a Ruby-filled wagon to a den of Beowulves had long since ingrained that into her. Despite this, she had always been confident in herself. Determined to never let anything like that happen again.
That still didn't take the sting off when she was given her first taste of what Beacon had to offer. There were older students like Coco who could enhance bullets to shred several giant Grimm- it took all of teams RWBY and JNPR working their hardest to beat a single one- to pieces like it was nothing. Teachers like Glynda Goodwitch who could snap a man in half with just a thought. Even among her own year, there was Nora who could match her blow for blow in strength, her teammate Weiss who could do a billion and a half different things with her semblance before adding Dust into the mix, at the same time there were those who grew into themselves at a pace she couldn't have believed such as Jaune and her sister.
Though on that last one she would lean more towards Jaune. Ruby was growing into an outstanding leader, but in terms of overall growth; Jaune went from tall, kind of attractive in a goofy sort of way, and pretty useless in a fight to being able to lead a team, fight alongside Pyrrha, and even planting the most world devastating kiss on said champion in front of the entire world. She had to give credit where credit was due.
Speaking of which, then there was Pyrrha Nikos. A tournament champion of Mistral and the only person to ever truly deal Yang a defeat. She had speed, power, technique, and, from what Ruby and Weiss told her, the ability to literally control all things metal with her mind. Given that she was strong enough to fight team CRDL by herself on skill alone, disregarding the one semblance ninety-nine percent of huntsmen can be weakened by- if not outright crippled by- she was a beast of an opponent.
Something that she found kind of funny given how meek the girl seemed when it came to things like talking to people- actually talking, none of that smile and wave celebrity bullshit. She had a hell of a poker face for the paparazzi but fell apart when it came to being a… teenager.
P-Money was hands down one of the strongest people she had ever spared against. It was different than her dad, despite his best efforts, she knew he was holding back to not hurt her. But Pyrrha…that hurt for all the wrong reasons. She was forced not to just fight to win but to fight to entertain- and win. With her skills alone she could decimate most people. Or do what most people would do and use her semblance for an instant K.O. and go for drinks afterward. In one of her more open moments, though she suspected William was involved somehow, she told them of her disenchantment with the tournament circuit. Namely, her parents forcing her to fight for honor- Yang wasn't even going to entertain their bullshit, it was money and status plain and simple.
She told them that the day she left Mistral, without telling her parents, was the day she felt like she was finally free. That she could be Pyrrha Nikos- Huntress in training- not Pyrrha Nikos celebrity. She was doing this of her own volition. Her own desire.
It was for that very reason, Yang felt a burning excitement in her chest. She was going to give Pyrrha the fight she deserves. No titles, no battles of honor or duty. Just two huntresses giving it their all. The gym echoed as her fist struck the punching bag.
Minus the half dozen people in between, but that didn't really matter. This was going to be a fight where Pyrrha fought for herself and Yang fought to take her down.
The brawler felt her very core ablaze with anticipation.
Tonight was going to be the first step towards that. The singles round consisted of three days. Four matches tonight and four tomorrow night and the finals and semi-finals the day after.
Catching her breath, she took a drink from her nearby water bottle. The cool fluid revitalized her. It helped cool her body.
She went over to her bag and dug out her scroll. It was 5:11 pm. She could get in a quick shower and still have plenty of time to meet up with her team as they walked her to Amity. It was silly, but they had made it their tradition to walk the participating teammate(s) to the arena. Since William still wasn't allowed near Amity, he usually just text them a message of encouragement.
Suddenly her scroll pinged.
Speak of the devil. It was the wolf faunus himself.
Yang please be careful. I can't confirm, but something might not be right with one or more of the competitors. If something seems weird be careful.
/-/
After leaving the headmaster's office and texting Yang, William let out a deep sigh. He tried to give them all he could. He really did. It just wasn't enough. He didn't even know anything about what they were going to do so he couldn't just make stuff up. If he guessed wrong, then they would become even more difficult to accuse.
In the end, all he could do was make himself seemed determined and give them what little he could. His actions managed to strike a chord with Qrow and Ironwood. So that was progress. Still couldn't read Ozpin. The man either possessed some type of emotion suppressing semblance like Ren, or he had the best poker face in all of Remnant.
Not that any of that did him any real good. investigations took time. Time, it was a safe bet, they did not have.
So here he was. Walking around Beacon, aimlessly. Hoping that whatever god was watching would listen to his prayers and have the bad guys enact some evil deed right in front of him.
A faint chuckle escaped his lips as the futility of it all hit him.
Perhaps he should just go to the common room to watch the tournament. Even if lately the common room's TV was on the fritz. William felt he should be more surprised that things like ovens being shot with hollow-point bullets and TVs scorched with aura blasts were common, but honestly couldn't even fake it at this point- was that a good thing or a bad thing?
In truth, he had warned those he could. He wasn't sure what to warn them against, but at the very least he had managed to warn them about something. He knew Neo's team was dangerous, despite not having actually seen her the entire day.
Not entirely sure if that was a good thing or not either.
The mere thought had him power walking through the halls.
He had no idea who the puppet master was, but they had to be watching. If what he heard was true, then this was a massive operation. They had terrorists, criminals, possibly Grimm, someone who could infiltrate a huntsmen academy, a really smart computer person, and enough Lien to bankroll it all. There had to be someone managing it.
He was running out of time.
The way Neo spoke and felt, whatever they were planning was going to happen soon. Probably involving the Vytal Festival. She hadn't said much, but her emotions made her seem like she was anxious.
If only he could get into Amity. He could… he could…probably do nothing with the massive number of people and constantly flopping emotions swinging with each win and lose. He wouldn't be of any help.
He wasn't any help. His previous brisk pace was now a slow march. If he could slow this moment down for an eternity, just for the chance to come up with a good idea, he would. There had to be something. Some strategies he could enact to save everyone. Anything.
There was one, he knew it. Yet, the mere thought of revealing Neo's existence terrified him. He felt his blood freeze as cold sweat formed down his back.
It was in that moment of fear a question arose in his mind. What do I want?
A bit of an odd question given the circumstances, but not one he could ignore. He wanted Neo and his friends safe. That was about it. he might have also enjoyed punching general Ironwood in the face. But if he had to choose, the first two hands down.
Now that the thought entered his mind. Did he even care about anyone else? Well, he kind of did. Sure, it would be a tragedy if people died. There was no denying that. However, he didn't even have to think about it if it came to a thousand people, he didn't know against one of his friends. He would pick his friends first every time.
Then why did he need to stop Neo's boss? No, well at least not directly. Ruby and the others were training to be Huntsmen, they wouldn't shy away from danger. Especially if civilians were threatened.
So, what did that mean for him? He had to get them away from the city. But how? It's not like he could tell them he found out there was going to be an attack, or Grimm invasion, or - hell, he didn't even know what was going to happen. He just knew it was going to be soon and it was going to be bad.
At that moment lightning struck. He didn't know what was going on, but he did know someone who did. Someone who had expressed her desire to get him away from it all. Someone who probably would be willing to help get his friends out before the fallout if it meant getting him away from it all.
It might be a bit of stretch, but so was becoming a Were-Grimm or surviving disembowelment. Both of which he'd already pulled off. So maybe he could make this work as well.
He took out his scroll. It was 5:40 pm. Yang should already be at or heading to the arena. Since he still wasn't allowed in, he couldn't talk to her.
Making up his mind, he headed towards his dorm.
Passing through the double doors he quickly made his way to the common room on the south side of the second floor. Due to its decrepit and rather aged state, most students didn't use it. often preferring the recently renovated northern common room.
Looking around, no one was around. Despite the fact, he could hear people already getting ready for the big tournament on the other side of the floor.
He scanned the room again. No one. only a single large crow on the window seal eating a worm.
His lungs expanded as he inhaled as deeply as he could. There were going to be consequences, but he dialed the number in mind and held it up to his ear.
"I need to find a way to get me and my friends out of Vale before everything goes down." His voice came out dry as he felt his chest tighten. He knew the risks, but he didn't care. He needed to do this.
The other person on the line seemed to be caught off guard at first, but quickly regained her composure. She spoke quickly and laid out a simple, but plausible plan. One that might just work.
It wouldn't save everyone he cared about. He knew that. However, saving a few over none was still the better choice.
He now knew what to do. Even if he couldn't believe some of the details. Yet, he trusted the source and knew his role to play.
The wolf faunus hung up just as team CFVY entered the room. "How goes it, William?" Coco greeted. "Excited for the big match?"
"Y-yeah. W-what are you doing here?"
The gunner just shrugged. "The other common room was too full and Yatsu needs at least two seats to himself." She gestured to the large boy. As to prove her point, he sat down on the couch taking up half of it and dropping the snacks he had been carrying it next to him.
"I see. Do you mind if I-I watch with you?"
She just looked at him for a moment. "Of course, we've gotten drunk together, fought together, and you helped Velvet out. You're our friend- so yeah, we'd be happy to watch with you."
"Yeah", he sighed, "We're friends."
Well crap, things just get real.
Ozpin, at least for me was more the type of person to work behind the scenes. It gives him more room to work and lets him keep his secrets. Which we all know he did so from even his most trusted of aids.
* WARNING VOLUME 7 SPOILERS AHEAD*
As for how RWBY Volume 7 concluded…Where do I even begin? This volume was SO MUCH BETTER than the last three volumes. Just completely blew it out of the water. The fight scenes were better, the plot was better, the dialogue was better. The whole thing was just better than it has been for a long time.
I'm not saying it's perfect. The dialogue during the office meeting for episode 11 and onward, seemed a little rushed to me. The message clear, but they could have dragged the episode times out a little longer to make it more organic.
Also, they could have utilized Jacque Schnee more. Since Volume 1, we've been given every reason to believe he was a greedy, stereotypical megacorporation owning- could get away with inhuman treatment by throwing money at it- bastard. For lack of a better description. Yet, when it came time to arrest him, there was nothing really there. Neither relief from Weiss FINALLY taking down the man who tormented her family for so long nor any regret that she just got her father arrested. Possibly for the rest of his life, all things considered. There was just nothing.
That isn't even covering how the infamous Jacque Schnee, committer of numerous human- faunus- rights violations but still manages to get by scot-free, folds like a house of cards when someone presents any evidence against him. They were literally just talking about doctored footage. He could have claimed Ironwood, Robin, Weiss, Winter, or any combination of them were trying to set him up. That would have at least made Robin more useful story-wise. So far, her only claims to fame were opposing Ironwood and the second-worst party I've ever seen. Don't even talk to me about the fact she was "in need of medical attention" after the bullhead crash, but was perfectly fine the next episode after the fighting was over.
I do like how through all of this Watts was playing a bit of 3-D chess. Manipulating everyone as he did. Too bad his fight with Ironwood was so much more lackluster.
Remember, I said the fights were better, but not Monty Oum level. Sadly.
Finally, I like how the ending went- for the first time in three volumes. It actually got an emotional response- a positive emotional response- out of me and got my blood pumping again. I genuinely got excited to see what happened next. Ironwood's decent as he becomes the very thing he fights against, Maiden Penny, the feeling of neither Team RWBY nor the General is ever 100% right, YES I've missed stuff like this. Not forgetting this is ALL before a massive Grimm invasion!
My only gripe is that there just wasn't enough time in the volume. What they wanted to accomplish was there, and I loved it. It all boils down to execution. Either make the episodes longer or don't try to fit too much into a single volume. Truth be told, either one could work.
As always, please leave me a comment. Every little bit lets me make a better story for you to enjoy.