Julius had his hands clasped behind his back as he waited for the elevator to take him to his destination, the top of Beacon tower and the office of one of his oldest friends. Julius looked around the small elevator and spotted the hidden camera built into the monitor that designated the floor number. The elevator stopped with a ding as the doors opened up and he was greeted by a woman he'd not seen in person since his wife's funeral ten years prior. "Glynda!" Julius shouted with a smile as he pulled the woman into a hug that she eagerly returned.
"It's good to see you again Julius how are you doing? How is Arcadia last I heard you'd been expanding further into the Emerald Graves." Glynda stepped back and looked Julius up and down smiling at the fact that he appeared the same as he did since last she'd called him months ago. "Yes the expansion went well the grimm tried to overrun the forward camp but the guard kept them at bay long enough for the Pride to arrive and wipe them out. How are you doing young one have you finally claimed that man you've been chasing? I hope so Juliet was always waiting for you to finally start a family of your own like you'd talk about with her in your years as a student."
Glynda blushed with widened eyes and immediately tried to cover his mouth when they heard someone clear their throat. Both turned and were greeted by Ozpin who was smiling and Qrow who was trying and failing to hold his laughing in. Julius moved passed Glynda and picked his old friend up in a hug that the silver haired man groaned at. "Julius I'm glad to see you as well but please I still need to breathe." Julius set him down and turned to Qrow who put his arms up to keep him from hugging him. "I'm good on the hug old man don't need you breaking my back like Oz over there." Julius let out a chuckle and gave Qrow a pat on the back that sent the drunkard to the ground where he groaned and slowly got back up.
"It's good to see you're all in good health but where is little Amber? I haven't seen her since she visited Arcadia last year and I miss my little girl." Julius said as he looked around the room to see if Amber would hop out and hug him like always. The three other occupants glanced at each other, Qrow backing away from Julius slightly. "Julius follow me she's in a hidden chamber under the tower." Ozpin said as he walked past them and stood in the elevator waiting for him. Julius chuckled and followed along with Qrow and Glynda noticing Qrow was looking everywhere but at him. He kept Glynda and Ozpin between them the entire time they rode down the elevator.
When the doors opened Julius stepped into the room expecting to be greeted by his adopted daughter smiling at him, before jumping into his arms as like she always did since he'd saved her from some Villagers that were about to kill her because of her powers as a Maiden. When he saw was a chamber barren of anything but some sort of pod at the other end. It was so quiet he could hear his own heart beat as he stepped into the room and looked around. Ozpin and the others remained quiet as they stepped off the elevator and watched Julius observe the room. "Julius." Ozpin said as he gestured his friend to the pod at the other end of the room.
Julius looked at the pod and felt dread he'd not felt since he'd received the call that Mt. Glenn had fallen and his wife had perished. Each step echoed through the room as he slowly walked towards the pod that held his little Amber inside. He looked in and saw her asleep some sort of scarring marred her face, he pressed his hand to the window and turned to Ozpin asking the question they had all been dreading. "What happened?"
Glynda stepped towards him reaching to touch his shoulder but jumped back when he roared at Ozpin with his eyes a glowing gold. "What happened to my daughter!?" Ozpin looked to the ground and let out a quiet sigh. "Amber was attacked when she was travelling to Beacon to give me an update on her search for an apprentice she could transfer her powers to if anything happened to her. We don't know who did it but we believe they were working for Salem. We don't know what they did to her but from what her aura reading says, they stole half of her powers. The shock was too much for her body and her aura is barely keeping her alive, this stasis pod was given to us by Ironwood to keeper her alive and hopefully transfer her powers to another. We're still looking for ways to cure her but we must prepare for the worst."
Qrow went to speak but was silenced when Julius lifted him up by his throat and slammed him into a wall. "Where were you!" Growled out Julius as he let his aura leak out making it even harder for Qrow to breathe. A purple glow enveloped Julius as Glynda used her semblance and pulled him off Qrow holding him against the wall. Qrow fell to the ground and coughed as he took in big gulps of air as his aura healed the bruising around his neck. Glynda stepped back when she saw Julius do something no one had done before. He was stepping towards Qrow slowly step by step as his entire body trembled from the effort, the telltale purple glow of Glynda's semblance still surrounding him as she began to sweat from the exertion of holding him back.
The entire time this was happening Ozpin watched quietly before finally stepping between Julius and the shaking Qrow. Julius glared into Ozpin's eyes while the silver haired headmaster raised his hands in a placating manner. "Julius let Qrow explain himself, Juliet wouldn't want you killing him without giving him a chance to." Julius took a deep breathe and stopped letting his aura leak out, gesturing for Glynda to release him which she did with a tired sigh. "I forgot how monstrous you Arcs can be when you're angry." Said Glynda which earned her a sad smile from Julius who hugged her softly, which she returned. "Sorry about that young one."
Julius turned to Qrow with a glare and quietly told him to explain himself. "I had gone ahead to scout the area because we had been told the tribe had been spotted in the area attacking travelers and convoys passing between villages. I ran into a small group of bandits who had been posing as them and took care of them, suddenly the weather started changing the sky got dark and I ran back as fast as I could. I knew it had to have been Amber using her powers but when I got to her she was being held by two people while a third used some kind of glove to steal her powers. I got Amber and the one with the glove attacked she used the powers she'd stolen from amber. I dodged and when I looked up they were gone. I called Ozpin and had him send a medical team on a bullhead to pick us up. I'm sorry Julius. I'm sorry I couldn't protect her." Qrow said with his head down and tears in his eyes not being able to imagine the pain he must have been feeling. Thoughts of the same thing happening to his daughter flashed through his mind.
Julius looked at Qrow and felt the murderous rage leave him as he pulled the drunkard into a strong hug. "It's ok Qrow, I know you tried your best to protect her like you always have. Amber would probably be fuming at me being angry over this happening and blaming you instead of the ones that actually attacked her." Julius stepped away from the small group and placed his hand on the glass watching his little girl sleep, not knowing if she'd wake up again and let the tears he'd been holding in out. He felt a pair of feminine arms wrap around him from behind and turned around returning the hug Glynda was giving him. Ozpin and Qrow placed theor hands on his shoulders in support as he silently cried for his adopted daughter. None of them knew how long they stood their nor did they care because their friend had felt the pain of losing another family member scar his heart.
When the tears finally stopped falling Julius wiped his eyes and began to slowly walk to the elevator stopping at the door and releasing all of his aura causing the room to briefly shake and unknown to them cause every animal near Beacon to flee and the few students still awake to involuntarily freeze for a few seconds. "Qrow I want the location of where Amber was attacked and a description of her attackers by morning. Joan's people should be able to find a few leads with that. Vlad will want the location for when he calls everyone in and inevitably goes with them to see if they can find a trail."
With that said he stepped onto the elevator while the rest watched him ride it alone back to the ground level. Ozpin turned to his remaining two friends and let out a breathe he didn't realize he was holding. "Glynda please make sure we have enough rooms open in the Teachers dorm for the Pride, and make sure security doesn't try to stop them when they show up wouldn't want any of the guards dying because they picked a fight with the wrong group. Joan will be moving her people into the cave system hidden behind the waterfall, the Academy is about to get a lot more lively it seems."
While the three discussed the coming days none noticed the slight smile Amber had let out at having felt Julius's aura envelope her.
The next morning
Julius awoke from his slumber feeling as if he'd been trampled by a herd of Goliaths. Climbing out of the bed in his hotel room he began started to get ready for his morning, mentally preparing for the discussion he'd be having with Joan and Vlad. Julius stepped into the busy streets of downtown Vale and spotted his son waiting for him outside a bar that had a closed sign out front. Vlad opened the door letting his father step through first before locking the door behind them when they walked to a table with Joan sitting in wait. She smiled when she saw the two but lost it when she saw the sad look in his eyes that she'd not seen since Mountain Glenn.
Julius took a seat and let out a heavy sigh. "What's this all about dad? You had Joan and I send the girls ahead to Beacon because you said needed to speak in private about what Ozpin called us in for." Vlad asked as he leaned back in his chair. Joan glanced at her husband ready to jump in if she had to calm him down. A man with red hair that reached down to his mid back stepped out from behind the bar and brought them all water before taking a seat next to Julius. "It's good to see you again Julius, Vlad and Joan mentioned you all were in town. How is Arcadia doing these days?"
Julius looked to the man and gave a sad smile. "It's good to see you as well Ignis. I just wish it was for a better occasion. Vlad Amber was attacked and is comatose. Ozpin told me they don't know if she'll ever wake up." Vlad slammed his hands on the table snapping it in half, before feeling his wife's hands on his chest. "Vlad you need to calm down and give your father a chance to finish before you start storming off fangs barred."
Julius smiled seeing the two act like he and Juliet had when they were young. Julius quickly explained to the three what had happened to Amber and sent Joan the description Qrow had sent him earlier that morning via scroll. Joan looked the description over quickly memorizing every detail before deleting it from her scroll. "I'll send for Leliana and a few of our other agents so they can start looking for clues here in Vale." Said Joan as she stood and looked to her husband. "Ignis call the rest of the Pride I want them here as soon a possible" Said Vlad as he began walking out of the bar followed by his wife and father. Ignis gave a bow with his fist over his heart. "It will be done"
Ok guys loved it hate it let me know in the reviews please. I do read every review and they do help make these. The little contest winners have sent me their OC's so look forward to meeting the rest of Bleu and Jade's team soon. Hawkeyes100 signing off.