Authors Note.
*nervous chuckle * well this is embarrassing. So this story isn't dead, I just had a lot of trouble finishing this chapter, this was meant to be up back during season 5, but things got in the way. Anyway, for those who have been patiently waiting, here is the next instalment, be honest with your opinions of it and let me know what you think. Enjoy and again sorry for the delay
"But I'm bored!" could be heard from inside the hospital room. " Still so childish.", Ozpin thought to himself with a smile, having heard Ruby's complaint from the hallway. Deciding now was the best time, he stepped into the room waiting to announce his presence.
Sighing Weiss answered "I know you are bored, Ruby. If you promise to behave, I will see if I can sneak in a game scroll for you, but for now how about we just relax and enjoy this moment of peace?" Ruby gave her a big smile which warmed Weiss' heart.
A soft cough caught their attention and they noticed the headmaster standing near the door.
"I am sorry to interrupt your peaceful moment" Ozpin was sorry, guilt weighing on him, from this and several situations before. "I was passing by and decided to see how ms Rose was doing."
A small frown made its way onto his face as he watches Ruby struggle to sit up as she needs Weiss's assistance for something so simple. Pushing down his ever-mounting guilt, the ancient wizard slowly steps forward, raising his hand in a gently sign that it is unnecessary to do so.
"There is no need to move, ms Rose. This is not a debriefing. I truly wished to see how you were and anything involving the...mission can wait until you are healed fully and ready."
"T-thank you, sir. It is kind of you to do so" Ruby answers relaxing back against her pillows and Weiss's touch. While they had all come to view Ozpin differently during the war against Salem, she was thankful for his honest concern. "I'm sorry the mission was a failure."
"She...She thought she needed to apologise for what happened? No that, that was not right at all." he thought to himself as he cleared his throat. Ozpin looked at Ruby with kindness and resolutely began to speak. "Ms Rose...Ruby. You have nothing to apologise for. If anything, it is I that must apologise to you."
Now it was Ruby and Weiss turn to be shocked. They had not expected to get an apology from their old headmaster. They, however, remained silent as it was clear he had more to say.
"If I'd have taken the time to further check the information or perhaps assigned it as a team effort things would have gone differently. It seems I have let the lull brought on by Salem's defeat, affect how things are done." Letting out a sigh, and looking every bit as old as his soul truly was, Ozpin bows to the two young women making sure he sounds as heartfelt and sincere as he feels. "For that, you have my most heartfelt and sincere apology."
They were speechless, this was beyond what they expected and yet there it was, right before their eyes. After a moment, Ozpin stood back up "I'd best get back to work. Take care, Ms Rose, Ms Schnee. I shall let you get back to rest and recovery ." Turning around he walked towards the door.
"Thank you, sir. For your kind words" He stops, as Ruby's words fill the room "But you didn't need to apologise, this wasn't your fault and I didn't blame you."
Smiling lightly and with a small nod of thanks, he takes his leave.
Walking through the halls of the hospital, on his way back to the main school building, Ozpin felt the vibrations of his scroll. Taking the device out, he expected it to be Glynda but was surprised to see that the call is from Yang Xiao Long. Stopping in place, he quickly answered and brought the scroll up to his ear.
"Ms Xiao Long, this is a surprise. How is the mission going?" As she started to talk, Ozpins face took on a complete mask of indifference so that the outside world would not know of the storm going on inside his head. "I shall inform the transport that you are both to come directly to me. If anyone asks, you are to say that you found her in need of medical assistance while clearing out the village. No harm shall befall her, you have my word"
A few more details were hashed out before the call ended and Ozpin hastened the journey back to his office. Only after he was inside and new orders had been relayed did he allow himself to relax. Looking around at the trinkets and items he used as decorations, his eyes fell upon a slightly damaged, but still lovingly preserved plush of a dog. Closing his eyes, memories playing in his mind. She is at the forefront of them all.
"I wonder how you would react to what has been happening recently" talking to himself he turned his chair to gaze out the large windows "I'm sure you would find them all very interesting, Salem."
Sabre batted at the light passing over her while Yang and Blake watched on with nervousness. Ozpin, however, smiled and played along with the child as he slowly moved his hand around her to scan her body.
"Well, I can happily say, that she is a perfectly normal young girl" The two breath sighs of relief as he gently picks up the infant and brings her back over to them. "However I advice we get her checked by an actual doctor, to make sure she is healthy."
Blake nodded in understanding while Yang seemed to be confused. "But you said?"
"I said she was normal, ms. Xiao long. No signs of any Grimm within her, apart from the plating" handing Sabre over to Blake, Ozpin focused on Yang and continued. "My magic was able to tell me that, but not if her body is equal to that of a child with a more, traditional birth."
"Oh...ok we, we can do that" Subconsciously, Yang moved closer to Blake, with Sabre. "We can do that before going to see Ruby and Weiss."
Blake nodded and smiled at Yang as she addressed Ozpin again. "That's a good idea. There was something else we were hoping you could do for us, sir."
"Would it happen to involve adoption papers?" Ozpin said and allowed himself to feel smug at the shocked look they gave him, even the baby. "Ladies, I've been around long enough to know. You both fell in love with her the moment you saw her and nothing short of death was going to separate her from you."
They both nodded slowly.
"I shall get the papers ready, but I get the feeling you won't need them. Now, if you'd like to follow me. We shall introduce this young lady to the joys of medical care." saying so as he and they left the room.
What followed was a fairly routine examination that revealed Sabre was the equivalent of an eleven-month-old child. She was in perfect health too. The first shock came when, at Ozpin's insistence, they performed a paternity test.
"So she...she really is...ours?" Yang asked in disbelief, despite the results of the test sitting on the screen before her.
"Indeed Ms. while the third anomaly can be contributed to her...unique conception, there is no denying that biologically, she is a perfect match for you and Ms Belladona" was the doctor's response, which prompted Blake to hug Yang tightly.
"You knew?" they asked looking at Ozpin, who shook his head and smiled. "Simply a hunch . That's all"
Sabre picked up on the joyful feelings coming from her parents and responded with a happy squeal and some lively arm waving. That however changed 180 degrees when it was time for her to receive the standard shots for a child her age.
What followed was a tiny bundle of claws and fury as the infant tried to claw the eyes out of the doctor who administered the injections, Fun times indeed.
After calming her down, and making sure she did not act up during the rest of the examination. Yang and Blake soon found themselves outside Ruby's room. Gently taking Sabre into her arms, Blake gave her partner a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"You go on in first. I'll wait here with Sabre until it's time to introduce her" Blake said while Yang frowned and asked, "You sure?"
"Yeah. Now go" Blake responded while shooing her in with a handwave. Sabre imitated Blake too.
Quietly as she could, Yang entered her sister's hospital room and smiled at the familiar sight before her. Ruby, who was propped up against a mountain of pillows, was listening quietly as Weiss sat beside her, reading a book to her.
It was like she had taken a trip back to their days in Beacon dorm. Before all the crazy and near world ending bullshit that they got dragged into. Back before…
"No, Yang. Don't think about it, not now" she thought to herself shaking her head to clear it of negative emotions, she knocked on the door just loud enough to get attention. "Knock Knock"
"Yang!" Ruby, in her excitement, attempted to free herself from the bed so that she could give her sister a long overdue hug. Weiss, on the other hand, was prepared for this reaction and firmly, but gently, pushed the young woman in place.
"Ruby, how many times do you need to be reminded that you are on bed rest?" Weiss commented as she turned towards Yang, giving her a playful glare "And you. Get over here before your sister vibrates the bed to pieces."
With a chuckle and a quick "Yes ma'am" Yang crossed the room and the two sisters embraced for the first time in weeks as Yang began to scold her. "Don't you ever scare me like that again. Do you understand me, Rubes?" The raw emotion in her voice nearly brought Ruby to tears as she tightened her hold on Yangas she continued. "I don't care if you are a grown woman and a trained Huntress. I was so scared."
"I'm so sorry, Yang. I didn't mean to worry you or anyone else" Ruby answered with tears freely flowing down her cheeks.
Wiping a tear from her own eye, Weiss smiled at the pair, However, her smile slowly faded as she noticed the absence of their fourth teammate. "Yang?" Waiting till she had the other woman's full attention before continuing. "Where is Blake? did...did something happen?"
Taking a moment to think how to respond, Yang settles on her usual method and just goes for it. "Yeah, something did happen" Feeling Ruby's sudden flinch and seeing the worry on Weiss's face, Yang is quick to add. "Hey now, Blake's fine. She is waiting outside. It's just she felt it better to give me time with Ruby first before we surprised you both."
"Surprise?" Both Weiss and Ruby looked confused and all Yang did was laugh before getting up and walking towards the door.
"You'll see~," She tells them in a sing-song like voice, leaving them even more confused.
"What do you think it could be?" Turning away from the door, Weiss focused on Ruby again. "I hope its Zwei" Silver-eyes sparkle with joy at the thought of seeing her beloved pet again. "Yeah it makes no sense, but I can hope." Weiss pats Ruby's head as she says that.
Yang soon returns. This time with Blake beside her. The blonde had the biggest grin on her face while her girlfriend had a smaller, but no less, bright smile. Nodding her head towards her friends, Blake's eyes flash downward for a second, directing them to the object in her arms.
Following the looks, Ruby and Weiss turn their gaze down and are met with the curious stare of a golden-eared mini mix of Blake and Yang.
"Ruby, Weiss. We'd like you both to meet Sabre Belladonna Xiao-long" Blake's ears twitch with happiness and her voice is filled with pride "Our daughter."
"D-daughter?" Floored. That's what Weiss was, absolutely floored by that information. "You were only gone for a few days! how is that possible?" Weiss imagining the weirdest scenarios as she spoke.
"OH MY GOSH! She's so cute!" Ruby was over the moon with joy "Can I hold her? please?"
"Yep, she is the cutest. But considering how good looking her mom is, was there any doubt?" Yang looked at Blake with nothing but love and admiration as she spoke, causing her to blush and fold her ears down.
"Yang!" Somehow, Sabre was able to sense her mom's embarrassment and copied her ear movements which caused another squeal of cuteness overdose from Ruby. "As for where she came from" Yang paused so that she could grab the sofa by the wall and pulled it over. "That is a long story"
As Yang and Blake recounted their story, another team was still in the middle of theirs.
"We have been up and down these canals for two days!" Dusk said in an irritated tone as she leaned against the wall next to a large barred water pipe that connected to outside of Vale's wall. "How do we know this is the right one?"
"Because this is the last one we need to check" Vyra replied while trying to get the service door to open. "And there was a report of an unknown creature filed a few hours after we began our search."
"What!?" Standing up from the wall, the hyena woman stomped over to her team leader "Than why did we not follow it up right away?" she asked frustrated.
A firm hand on her shoulder stalled the woman's anger and she turned to face her mate. Nova locked eyes with Dusk, an unsaid message passed between them before the shorter woman huffed and calmed down. Nova patted her head explaining. "Good girl. As for why the report came from some teens who'd been skipping school to drink. It was largely ignored until we asked for more information."
"Aha!" The three other members turned to see Vyra posing victoriously, having finally been able to unlock the lock. "Now we can proceed" She motioned dramatically to which her mate, sister-in-law and friend just rolled their eyes "Weapons out, ladies"
Dawn pulled a pair of goggles from her pack and handed them to Nova. "It's going to be dark in there."
"Ah, thanks" Putting them on and grabbing her lance, Nova took her spot next to Dusk as they prepared to move into the tunnels.
They moved in silence, the only sound to be heard was that of running water. It soon became clear that the man-made tunnels made it difficult to locate clues or even a trail. That is until the tunnel began to narrow.
Dawn held up her hand to stop the group and points to the ceiling. The rest looked up, searching for what she'd seen. Even with their night vision, it still took a moment for the others to see what had caught the tracker's eyes. In the ceiling above them, two narrow groves had been carved roughly into the concrete, as if something had forced its way through the gradually shrinking space.
"How deep is the water here?" Nova asked and Dusk was quick to move over to the edge of the walkway. Using her lance as a measuring stick, she dipped it in as far as it would go. "The water is at six feet" lifting her lance as high as she could and still not being able to touch the ceiling she concluded. "Where we're standing, it's about fourteen feet to the ceiling" Stepping back and thinking it over and saying out loud. "Twenty feet. That's a big Grimm."
"Not the biggest, but still something that size is dangerous" Nova responded as she adjusted her goggles to get a better look "the grooves continue straight for several more meters before turning right"
"Alright, we've got the trail again. Let's keep on moving."Vyra said with new vigour.
Picking up the pace, the four followed the path of the grooves down several more tunnels until they ran into a new clue.
"Oh fuck no!" Dusk began to panic and frantically looked over every inch of dark tunnel as Nova did her best to calm the woman down. While that was happening, Vyra and Dawn inspected what had set her off.
Thick strands of a white, silky material filled the walkway and spread over the water, though most of that section was ripped apart and shredded from something forcing its way through. Some of the broken strands had chunks of concrete attached to them.
"Seems our friend didn't give much care for the current inhabitants" Vyra joked as she inspected one of the broken strands, being very careful not to touch it. Dawn was also busy examining the organic wall in their way while also asking her leader. "Never seen it this dense before. Do you think it is from how tight the tunnel is?"
"Probably. Dawn, Nova, keep your eyes open for any side passages or large openings in the wall" Turning to Dusk, Vyra spoke harshly "Put your mask on, you are no good to us while you are freaking the hell out!"
Dusk took a few moments to calm down and with shaking hands, reached into her pack and took out a small visor responding. "R-right, sorry."
After she placed it on her head, it formed up into a helmet, covering most of her upper face and head while leaving her ears and mouth free. The display inside blocked out any normal vision and replaced it with only the colour of a targets aura.
Not even a second after the mask was in place did three sets of Faunus ears pick up the sound of multiple things moving towards them.
"Ah shit" Was their collective thought before several large objects fell upon them.
Gunfire, yelling, shrieking and the odd explosion could be heard growing louder until a large spider-like Grimm was blasted through a wall. The creature was reduced to ash before it even hit the ground. Following behind was Dusk, whose lance was glowing red hot and was releasing steam after she had used its railgun shot.
Vyra and Nova were next, both were on the defensive, in case of further Grimm. Dawn brought up the rear and quickly sealed the hole with a large explosion, sealing it and the rest of the Grimm behind them. "Alright" after a few minutes of collecting themselves, Dawn turned to the team saying relieved. "We're good."
Immediately Dusk ran over to a bush, ripped off her mask and emptied her stomach out. Nova moved to her side and gently rubbed her back and spoke soothingly to her. Doing their best to ignore the sounds of their puking teammate, Vyra and Dawn discussed the next move.
"We're not far from where the river enters the city. We should start there and try to pick up the trail." Dawn elaborated, nodding in agreement with her partner, Vyra's eyes slowly shift back to the sealed wall. "Don't worry, nothing short of an adult matriarch is getting through that," Dawn assured in a confident tone.
"I know. I trust you, I'm just thinking we're going to be the ones tasked with clearing out the nest when we report it." Both noticed the slight pause in Dusk before she resumed puking and they knew she had heard them.
"Once Dusk is ready, we will move. I want to get to a better location before nightfall." Vyra said as she took a look at the map on her scroll.
It took several minutes before they were able to move. But soon they were back on the hunt, arriving at the river just as the sky began to turn red, it didn't take long to locate tracks in the damp soil.
"Well, don't recognise these," Dawn said as she placed a hand inside the large three-toed footprint. "But they match up with our mystery Grimms description."
Following the tracks into the woods, the four were soon forced to call a stop, when night fell over the forest. They began to set the camp and traps up. "I and Nova will take the first watch" Vyra stated while they rested "At about two we will switch. We will continue tracking in the morning"
"Wait, why us two?" Nova asked confused by the choice "Normally it's with partners"
Dusk spoke up for the first time since the Grimm nest. "It is probably to prevent sexy time distractions."
"She's joking, right?" Nova asked looking at Vyra. Not wanting to call her partner a liar, but it did seem a bit far fetched.
Sipping her soda, Vyra nodded in confirmation of the rule before adding in "You can blame Arc and Nikos for that one."
Back at Beacon, Pyrrha released a silent sneeze while Jaune felt a cold chill run up his spine and evil intentions from several different directions.
"Damn horny fucks." Poking at the fire with a scowl Dusk grumbled. "Than again, Nikos is a good looking woman, I don't blame him for not saying no."
The others nodded in agreement. All of them frustrated they could not have fun anymore at night.
Soon the twins turned in for the night and their mates began their shifts. It wasn't until it came time for the change in the guard that something happened. The three Faunus froze and their ears stood at attention.
Seeing the reactions, Nova grabbed her weapon and readied herself. "What is it?" Moving closer, Nova scanned the clearing "What are you hearing?"
"An Ursa" They answered together, ears moving to try and get a better grasp of what they were hearing.
"Two of them" Vyra was quick to correct the twins "No, three"
"They are fighting something about two miles to the north, near the mountain" Whatever else was going to be said was silenced by a loud bellowing roar, coming from the same direction.
"E-even I heard that" Nova was wide-eyed as were her teammates "And that was not an Ursa!"
"Our mystery Grimm most likely. Sounded like something from one of those old monster movies." Dusk responded.
"Dawn, Dusk. Be extra careful on watch." Vyra said being on high alert. She didn't want to leave the twins alone on watch. But Nova and she needed to rest and it was too dark to go and investigate.
At first light, they broke up camp and headed for the location of the sounds. What they found was a battlefield. The earth was torn up, trees were shattered or overturned, claw marks were everywhere in the clearing and the mysterious footprints led away from the area. Once more they followed the tracks, these fresher than the others. However, the trail was finally lost when dirt gave way to the rock of the mountains.
"Well damn" Scanning the ground for any hint of the tracks, Dawn shakes her head in frustration. "it's gone"
"Fucking dammit!" Dusk was more vocal in her frustration "All that fucking work for nothing!"
Nova didn't try to calm her partner this time. She was in full agreement and was close to joining in with her own vocal frustration. Vyra though had pulled out her scroll and was contacting Beacon. While she did agree with her friends, several days of work all for nothing was aggravating, but she had to keep up the air of a composed leader.
"Beacon tower hunters department, what's your emergency?" The sudden voice snapped Vyra out of her thoughts. "This is Vyra Byakko of team VNDD. I'm calling to report that status of our mission" hearing the voice give the go-ahead to continue "We tracked a Grimm through Vale to the M19 water duct where we encountered a nest of terror webs"
The operator gasped in horror and quickly added that as priority information. Vyra waited a few moments, giving details when prompted, before being asked to resume her original report.
She went on to explain that after exiting the tunnels and sealing it behind them, they discovered the Grimm's tracks but had to camp for the night. During which they heard a conflict between Ursa and their mystery Grimm. In the morning they resumed the hunt, finding the location of the fight and more tracks, which took them into the mountain, only to lose them.
Taking all the information, the scroll operator told Vyra to remain on the line while she informed the huntmaster.
"How's it looking?" While she'd been on the call, Dawn had joined Vyra's side "New orders?"
"They have me on hold. She went to speak with a master" Seeing a frown on the shorter woman's face, Vyra quickly moved to reassure her, "Hey, everyone has a bad hunt."
"I know, but it doesn't make it feel any less like I failed, dammit" Dawn pouted since she took pride in her tracking skills.
"It's not your fault. The terrain turned against us" Vyra reassured Dawn and stroked her cheek. Noticing the operator return, Vyra once more went into leader mode.
"After reviewing your information, the master on hand orders you to return to Vale for a full debriefing" she took a quick look at her notes and continued "For now, your current hunt is suspended until further notice"
"Understood, VNDD shall return post-haste" Putting away her scroll, Vyra turned to her team saying . "We're heading back to Vale"
Turning back to the forest, the team set off. Unknown to them, if they had continued up the mountain, they would have stumbled upon a large body covered in white armour. Fighting the three bear Grimm had taken its toll on her and, after consuming one of them, she had found a secure spot to rest. Without warning, her armour began to crack.
Thick, dark clouds filled the sky and rain most likely to fall soon, as Ozpin looked out over the school grounds. Team VNDD had just left after giving their reports about both the hunt and their discovery in the tunnels.
"It was lucky they found that nest when they did" A dark look crossed his face at the thought of what could have happened thinking to himself." And yet, we are still no closer to learning anything about these unknown Grimm types."
A beeping from his desk alerted the ancient warrior that he had an incoming call on a secure line. Turning around he pressed the call button and just as the rain started to come down in heavy sheets, Ozpin was greeted with the sight of Qrow.
"I hope you have good news," Ozpin said while Qrow took out his flask and took a quick drink, Qrow shook his head. "It ain't good news, Oz, but it's something"
Ozpin raised and eyebrow interested while taking a sip of coffee before asking."What did you find?"
"Found an old shipwreck, close to the village Ruby encountered them. Did some investigating, it wasn't pretty. Not many bodies, but did find a few scrolls that held information as well as the ship's manifest and security footage." Qrow explained and paused to take a drink before finishing "Only one thing stood out on the manifest thought. A single shipment, from Marlot industries, sent by a doctor Henrietta Wu."
A flash of lightning illuminated the large cave she took shelter in, but she took no notice of it or the rain coming down heavily outside. No, she was to busy thrashing around, clawing at her own skin and slammed herself into the cave walls. The pain of her evolution was always intense, but nothing like this. She tore off massive chunks of her own armour, felt her skin rip open, her bones break and reshape themselves. The rain-soaked ground soon ran red with blood as the old was forcibly replaced by the new.
*omake *
the reason for the no sexy time on active mission rule
Ozpin: nineteen counts of disturbing the peace, twenty-seven noise violations, seven separate hotel rooms destroyed, late three times to the rendezvous point with your client, failed to react to the presence of an elder deathstalker, and two hundred reports of inappropriate state of dress
*Opzin slowly lowers the report to stare at the two youths seated before him. he raises an eyebrow at the sight of Jaune and Pyyhra dressed in each other's outfit and looking very embarrassed "
Ozpin: I see
Jaune: I...I know this looks bad, sir. But...um...I...I got nothing
Ozpin: and you Ms Nikos?
Pyyhra: *signs * I went through high school, death and your ex-wife to finally get my man, I am entitled to everything that comes with it!
Ozpin: While I understand that wholeheartedly, I'm afraid our insurance company and pr department do not. Which is why, effective immediately, I am placing a ban on all sexual activity during active missions
Pyyhra: *looks ready to protest *
Ozpin: I don't care what you get up to before or after the mission, but during it, you and every other huntsman and huntress are to behave like celibate monks, is that understood
Jaune and Pyrrha : *nod reluctantly*
Ozpin: *smiles *excellent. oh and it shall be known as the arkos act
Jaune and Pyrrha: *they look at him as if he betrayed them *
Ozpin: *grins evilly *oh? what did you think would happen when I discovered what you both did on my old desk, now get out!
Jaune and Pyrrha: *leave embarrassed *
Chibi ozpin: better change the office lock
Ozpin: yeah, don't want a repeat performance from anyone
Chibiozpin: more coffee
Ozpin: indeed *sips from his favourite mug *
*omake end *