I'm sure everyone knows by now about my business event killing my free time, etc. I'm supposed to have Wednesdays off (which is when I work on this fic), but didn't get it this week, or rather I had to give it up to get work done. Oh well, I still managed it. Can't wait for this period of work to be over, lol.
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Kegi Springfield
Chapter 52
He couldn't think.
There was a ringing in his ears that wouldn't go away, and the aftershock of the explosion directly under his feet had rattled his bones despite his impressive aura and even more impressive skeletal structure. He was battered, bruised, and exhausted.
But none of that was what kept him down.
It was the emotions… it was the wave of negativity. It was the fear and the terror, but also the rage and the anger, the thirst for vengeance. The inequality. The forlorn hope. The shattered dreams. The yearning, the crying, the shouting and the begging. His very body shook as another wave of it slammed into him and almost drove him onto his side.
Humans…
They were such destructive creatures…
By Salem, was this what they really felt? There was so much wrongness to it all, so much evil. Those that fled poured out their fear, while those that emerged from the tunnels below stank of death and aggression. Humans were killing one another, while others fled and yet more pushed their fellows to the ground in a desperate attempt to escape.
So much… there was just so much…
"Jaune…" Remy gasped. His voice wasn't faded like it was before, but it was weak. Overwhelmed. "You're not… losing… control…?"
He wasn't. Whatever Ruby had done seemed to be locked in place, at least for now. Even so, it wasn't like he was in control either. Blood dripped onto the ground before him and he touched his nose with one hand. It came away red and shaking.
"I can't… the people… it's too much…"
"Get to… safety," Remy rasped.
Yes, he did. The Grimm wouldn't kill him, but others might, like the White Fang who were even now pouring from the ground with weapons in hand. They must have expected harsh opposition, that or deadly murder, for they looked confused at the lack of people to kill.
When they saw him instead, several moved in his direction, weapons drawn. They didn't know he was Hentacle and there was no way he could fight them back – not like this. He staggered to his feet regardless, but blood continued to run down and over his mouth.
"Kill him and be done with it," one of the faunus growled.
"He's mine," the second hissed, dashing forward with a sword. "Die human!"
Human, him?
His hand flicked out and batted the blade away before it could strike true. He lashed out with his other fist, caught the man in the stomach, and then twisted the sword out of his grip as he doubled over. He made to catch the sword, but nausea struck him before he could, driving the hand over his mouth as he struggled not to vomit. The fear was overwhelming him once more. He wanted nothing more than to find and silence the one responsible. It hurt too much.
No…
Was that how the Grimm normally felt?
The hesitation cost him. Though the one he'd attacked staggered back, the second took the opening provided to rush in with a spear. Jaune saw it late, eyes widening as it came in for his chest. The masked faunus howled his victory.
It was cut off by a jaw clamping down on his head and shoulders.
The terrorist's arms went slack, the spear falling to the ground. The Beowolf which had clamped down on him pulled him back up and over, slammed the body down into the ground, then bit down with all its might, severing the head in one vicious motion. Blood splashed onto Jaune and the still surviving faunus, who began to whimper madly. It struck Jaune, too. The terror, that was, not the Grimm.
"Y-You're the one responsible," he gasped, staring red-eyed at the faunus. His eyes weren't just bloodshot. They had transformed, even if his body hadn't – couldn't. "How can you be so afraid when you're the one who did this?"
The faunus looked at him like he was mad. He didn't try to speak. He simply turned and fled, screaming at the top of his lungs.
Those self-same lungs were crushed a moment later as the Beowolf pounced.
The Grimm were angry. They were upset. They'd been drawn to a new place and didn't know what to do, and then – much like him – they'd been overwhelmed by all this fear and rage, driven mad themselves and left with nothing but a desperate desire to rip and tear, to stop the wild emotions roaring through the city once and for all.
They hadn't asked for this.
Other humans had brought them here. Other humans had made them do this.
Those self-same humans – or faunus, it meant little to the Grimm – were even now trying to slaughter their fellow humans in what was a never-ending cycle of negativity, one that whipped up and never faded, driving the Grimm even more wild.
Jaune fell to his knees and clasped both sides of his head. His body wanted to transform and join them, to do whatever he had to do, but something was stopping him. Ruby was stopping him. Left with no way to vent, no means of releasing what built inside him, it was all he could do to wait until it reached a boiling point and exploded.
And that point did not take long to arrive.
His eyes snapped open, his teeth bit so hard into his lip that blood poured from his mouth, and he threw his head back to scream at the top of his lungs.
"STOP!" he screamed – and the words cut through the battle, laden with an energy of their own. He slumped forward, spent, but still managed one last sentence. "Make… make it all stop. Make it go away…"
The world faded to black a second later.
/-/
They heard the explosion easily.
Six heads turned in the direction of it, while one remained resting in her sister's arms, oblivious to the noise and what it might mean. Pyrrha's mouth opened as she prepared to ask the question on everyone's minds, but the sirens, not to mention the frightened screams, answered it soon enough.
"Hentacle?" Nora guessed.
"Not unless he can cause explosions now as well," Ren said. "That sounded like something else… something far worse."
It didn't take long for them all to come to the same conclusion.
"I can't leave Ruby here," Yang shouted.
"Take her back to Beacon," Weiss instructed. "We'll investigate this and do whatever we need to. Get help while you're there, if they haven't figured out something is wrong already. Pyrrha-"
"I'm ready," Pyrrha said, standing and drawing her weapons once more. "Let's go."
The others nodded, and Pyrrha followed Weiss out of the newly made hole in the wall, Ren, Nora and Blake in quick pursuit. She'd have normally felt bad about leaving her partner behind, but she trusted Yang would see to her safety. Up ahead, the screams had grown worse, now mixed with cries for help, safety and the sound of stampeding feet and screeching tyres.
Worse, Pyrrha heard gunfire.
Torchwick? No, they'd seen Torchwick leave with the other Grimm, which meant that unless they'd been caught on the retreat, this was something far worse. Their small group reached the intersection between the high street and Crimson Street, where a number of civilians were fleeing in abject terror. They flowed around the five of them, but Nora managed to catch one.
"What's happening?" she asked.
"Grimm!" the frightened man gasped. "The Grimm are in the city!"
Pyrrha gasped. Had Hentacle summoned Grimm to distract them?
"Where?" Weiss snapped. "How?"
"In the main square – and there was an explosion, a huge blast. It tore up the ground beneath us and… and those terrorists came pouring out."
"Terrorists?"
"The White Fang!" he shouted. "They came first and that was bad enough, but then the Grimm came. So many of them. We had to run."
Blake gasped and looked toward the central square. Nora caught her shoulder before she could run ahead and put herself in danger. That action released the civilian though, who took his moment to flee, even as Bullheads tore through the air towards the disaster zone.
A noise shook the air before they could. It was a voice – a shout – and yet it seemed powerful enough to actually make Pyrrha take a step back.
"STOP!"
One word, or at least one that they could hear. Those fleeing obeyed it almost without thinking, but only for a second. They caught their senses and continued to flee soon after. That wasn't what she focused on, however. That voice had been familiar. Too familiar.
"Jaune," Weiss gasped, eyes wide. "He didn't arrive to the fight with Hentacle. What if he found this one instead?"
Pyrrha and Weiss shared a quick look. A second later they were both moving. It would explain everything, especially why Jaune had been so close but hadn't come to help them. It was a huntsman's job to protect people against the Grimm and it must have been that he found. As the four girls and lone male rushed up the hill through the thick crowds, they prepared themselves for what nightmares they would see.
Pyrrha was sure she would be fine. She'd seen things before.
But never anything like this.
"My God," Ren whispered.
Nora went pale.
Blake shook. "No…"
It was carnage. No, it was a massacre. Grimm were everywhere but mostly congregated around a huge hold in the ground, one that appeared to have been blown outward somehow. Of civilians there were none to be seen, but the White Fang that had been mentioned before were present. Just… she wasn't sure for how long that would be.
As they watched, one broke ranks and fled towards the buildings, only to be pierced through the stomach by the huge stinger of a Deathstalker. The woman was lifted into the air, screaming all the while, until she was flicked back and off, further into the mass of black Grimm. Her screams were silenced a second later. By the impact, Pyrrha prayed. The White Fang may have brought the Grimm to Vale, but they had not been able to get away from the point of impact and were now disorganised and groggy, not to mention surrounded by Grimm.
It was a bloodbath.
Pyrrha saw a slumped figure off to one side and her eyes widened. His golden hair was unmistakeable. "Jaune!"
"What, where!?"
Weiss' words went ignored as Pyrrha rushed forward and skidded onto her knees beside the still figure. Her hand flew to his throat and her own could barely take in breath. He had to be okay. Please let him- A pulse! She almost died of relief then and there. Even past her panic she'd already been crying, certain with all sense and logic that her friend was gone. The fact that he was alive was nothing short of a miracle, especially close to so many Grimm.
"No," Weiss whispered.
"He's alive," Pyrrha panted, smiling through her tears. "The Grimm must have been distracted by all the people and ignored him when he fell unconscious." With so many bodies around it would have been an easy mistake to make, especially for mindless Grimm. "We need to get him out of here. We-" Pyrrha's eyes widened. "Weiss, behind you!"
The warning came too late and Weiss was thrown aside as a Beowolf's paw caught her midsection. The attack was so sudden that she didn't have the time to react, and it was all Pyrrha could do herself to reach for her weapon. The Beowolf reacted before she could, however, shoving its snout forward. On her knees and cradling her teammate against her body there wasn't much she could do. Pyrrha placed a hand behind Jaune's head and pushed it against her chest, hiding him from view.
"You won't hurt him," she whispered to the beast. "I won't let you."
The Beowolf paused. It was a huge thing, an alpha for sure, and its crimson eyes met Pyrrha's with a spark inside that – if she dared think it – might have hinted at some bestial intelligence. Even if she did have her weapon from her position on the ground she'd barely be able to wound it if it attacked. It could kill her for sure.
Which was why when it snorted and loped away, she wasn't sure what to do.
"Pyrrha!" Blake called, finally reaching her, Gambol Shroud at the ready. "Are you okay?"
"I… I'm fine…"
"It didn't attack you?"
Pyrrha could scarce believe it and even had to look down at herself to make sure. "No. I'm… I'm completely unharmed. It just left…"
Blake's confusion was clear, as was her own. The girl looked back toward the Beowolf, which still had its head turned in their direction, watching. It snorted once, and the muscles of its powerful legs bunched. It leapt back into the melee against the White Fang, ignoring them entirely.
"Unusual behaviour," Ren whispered from behind.
"Could they be more interested in the White Fang than us?" Blake asked.
"Speak for yourself," Weiss groaned, clutching her side. "Seemed pretty normal to me." She glanced down at Jaune and nodded, then looked to the ensuing melee before them. "Should we try to help them?"
"Can we?" Ren asked. "I'm afraid we'll be killed if we try. And besides," he said, looking upward. "It looks like the cavalry has arrived."
The Bullheads from Beacon swept over the battlefield, surrounding and taking positions at all the major roads and paths leading into and out of the area. Students and teachers poured out, some forming human barricades to prevent the Grimm from escaping, while yet more gathered together in preparation to assault.
Miss Goodwitch landed near them and hurried over, one eye on the battle and the other on Jaune. "Is Mr Arc okay?" she asked. "Are any of you harmed?"
"We're fine, Miss Goodwitch," Weiss said. "Jaune was unconscious when we found him, though. He might need medical attention."
The teacher nodded. "Get him on that Bullhead and yourselves out of the area. Quickly. You may leave the rest to us."
"The Grimm are acting strange!" Pyrrha suddenly called, bringing the older woman to a halt.
"What do you mean, Miss Nikos?"
"I… I don't know how to explain it but they're not acting like they normally do. They haven't even left the plaza yet, and they've ignored civilians in favour of the White Fang."
As if her words had revealed some great truth Glynda looked towards the mass of Grimm and terrorists, many of the latter of whom had already reached the lines of huntsmen and surrendered. Some must have escaped before they'd arrived, but Pyrrha was correct. No Grimm had attempted to break past the huntsmen, nor had they spread out to cause mindless havoc like they might normally have.
It was… bizarre.
The fight was also wrapping up. Many of the White Fang had fallen before they arrived and those that were left had no recourse or rescue. Even had Glynda felt confident in sending in students against the mass of Grimm, she doubted it would have been in time to save the unfortunate faunus. The last fell with a piercing wail, his upper body dragged back into the horde of black and silenced.
The teacher took a deep breath and strode forward, crop at the ready. She nodded to Oobleck and Port, each in charge of a different section, and they moved forwards too, hemming the Grimm back against the hole they had come through. It would be a dire fight to sweep them aside long enough for her to seal the breach, but it was a fight they would have to take. If only James had arrived with his troops by now, it would not even be an issue, but those were still on route. This would be a job for Beacon and Beacon alone, but she would do her best to make sure as few students as possible fell when the Grimm attacked.
Which begged the question… why had they not attacked yet? The horde faced them with crimson eyes and ferocious snarls, and many were those who pawed the ground as though preparing to charge. None did, however. Even the King Taijitu she could see in the back kept its heads low, body coiled almost nervously about itself.
"What on Remnant is going on here?" she whispered.
"Glynda," Port asked, "shall we take the charge to them?"
She wasn't sure, but apparently Oobleck had an idea for he held a hand out. "No, wait. They've made no move to attack and time only buys us more opportunity to prepare. Wait a moment. I want to see where this goes…"
At any other time, she'd have called it a dangerous gambit, but time was on their side and only more huntsmen would be coming, some of them professional ones reacting all across the city. While more Grimm might come from the depths, they'd have trouble fitting up atop the ground. The area was already saturated.
"Stand back a second," Oobleck said.
"What is-?" Glynda's eyes widened when the man took a few steps forward on his own. "What do you think you're doing, Bart!?"
"Testing a theory. Worry not, I'm not so old that I can't retreat in a hurry." The huntsman took a few more steps forward but maintained a respectable distance from the Grimm – respectable for an experienced huntsman, anyway. He paused not six or so metres away and cocked his head to the side. At so close a distance it was all but unheard of for a Grimm to remain passive, let alone so large a pack.
A long howl penetrated the air, originating from the back of the horde. Oobleck reacted instantly, hopping back several feet and readying his weapon. Glynda and Port, meanwhile, rushed forward to take their spots alongside him, equally prepared.
They needn't have.
Slowly at first, and then with increased speed, the Grimm turned and began to funnel back into the tunnel from which they'd come. Deathstalkers crouched low and Ursae clambered over themselves, until at last it was but a single Beowolf that remained. It watched them belligerently and snarled once, before it too ducked its head and vanished into the depths, leaving behind three huntsmen, over thirty in training, and a stunned silence.
"Incredible…" Oobleck marvelled.
"You mean impossible," Glynda said, already using her Semblance to seal the breach. "What we just witnessed is without a doubt impossible."
"Then how did it happen, my dear?"
That was something she didn't have an answer to. She could only hope that Ozpin did, for she had a feeling a lot of important people would be asking it in the coming days. She also had a feeling she'd be the one playing personal assistant to him and fielding all those questions.
Damn it. She'd have rather wrestled with the Grimm.
/-/
"Where's my sister!?"
"He is my partner," Weiss snapped. "I demand to see him!"
"He's fine, Miss Schnee," Beacon's doctor, looking a little bedraggled, said. "And Miss Rose is perfectly okay as well. I've already told you this. I have an infirmary full of students in various degrees of ill-health, many of whom need their rest. Having you, your team, and your troupe of well-wishers come barging in wouldn't help with that."
Weiss paused to look behind her and sigh at the combined might of their two teams idling in the corridor. She hadn't the heart to tell them to leave while she went on ahead, and if anyone was going to go in it should probably have been Yang anyway. She was the one closest to her knuckle-headed partner. Not to mention Ruby.
Of course, it looked like none of them would be entering.
"Do you know what happened to him, Miss Tsune?" she asked.
"Not at this moment, no. I've looked over him and all his vitals show he simply needs rest. He has no injuries bar some scrapes and bruises. It's possible he was simply knocked unconscious by the blast."
"There was blood across his face."
"He could have struck his face on the ground when he fell. If he lost consciousness before that then he would not have been able to activate his aura to lessen the damage." The doctor sighed and crossed her arms, standing her ground against the six of them. "Either way I'll have to ask you to leave. Mr Arc is one of the least injured and I'll send him back to you the moment he wakes up. Miss Rose is resting but also shows no signs of ill-health. The chances of either of their conditions getting worse are less than none, so you can stop looking so frightened." That was aimed towards Pyrrha, she felt, since the two wore expressions more befitting a funeral.
Heavens save me from dramatic, suicidal, or stupid teammates, Weiss thought. If it wasn't Jaune getting himself knocked out before a Grimm invasion or Ruby falling into some kind of mysterious coma, it was Pyrrha somehow managing to feel she was to blame for both. "Thank you," she said, nodding to the doctor who – rude or not – deserved her gratitude for looking after him. "Please alert us if anything happens, and if there is anything we can do to help them recover you can send that information to my scroll."
"I'll do so. Thank you for understanding."
It didn't look like any of them were that bar her, and as Weiss turned to usher the others away she half-expected them to bowl her down and storm through the door. Cooler minds prevailed luckily, and Ren moved to take control of his team, whispering confident words and distracting Nora expertly with a suggestion they make a get-well card for Jaune. Weiss echoed the sentiment, even if it was a little puerile for her. Anything to get Pyrrha to follow, really. The procession made their way reluctantly from the infirmary through the corridors of Beacon and toward their dorms.
The school itself was still in something of a panic – even if the actual danger was all but over. Rumours flew thick and fast along with tales of derring-do or hurried questions as to the health of teammates and friends. As they passed the library it was to see large groups piled around computer terminals, watching news reports as they came in. Everyone wanted to know what had happened and why, and they were no different. The moment they were alone – all of them entering Team RYBN's dorm – the rambling began.
"How did they get into the city?"
"The White Fang led the Grimm here, but why?"
"The civilians-"
"Jaune-"
"Everyone calm down!" Weiss slammed a hand down on a wooden desk to bring the room to silence. As everyone turned to look at her she pushed ahead, determined not to lose the moment she'd gained. "There are things we know and things we don't know. Let's run through what we know as fact, okay?"
"The White Fang are working with the Grimm," Blake said. "Or using them, at least. They struck from underground and there was a tunnel in that warehouse we just attacked; a tunnel that just so happened to be guarded by Hentacle."
"You mean both Hentacles," Yang said. "I got a good look at the one we kicked around. It was shorter than the real one, weaker too. I think it was the one we fought when we were saving Jaune – the one who summed all those Grimm and ran away."
"That would make sense…" Weiss admitted, rubbing her chin. "If we assume that one is weaker then it explains why it didn't stay to fight. Hentacle always does and we know for a fact he's capable of holding us off. They both went for Jaune, though. Both have targeted him."
"You were with it longer than we were, Ren," Yang said. "You learn anything?"
The attention in the room shifted to the only male, so regarded them all with a cautious expression. "She was female," he said.
"Did have longer hair. You're sure, though?"
"She spoke to me. The voice was obviously female, and she referred to herself as such."
"What did she say?" Weiss asked.
"There was… none of it felt particularly relevant…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yang asked. "You're telling me they kidnapped you only to ask you nothing? Why even bother?"
"Maybe they took the wrong guy," Nora suggested. "She might have thought he was Jaune."
"Or they wanted to lure Jaune out," Pyrrha added.
Weiss hummed. "Maybe. What do you think, Ren? Does that sound possible?"
"I… it may be," he said. "She did hint that she wasn't enthusiastic about the White Fang's plans. She said she wasn't all that involved but seemed to realise she made a mistake afterwards and wouldn't say anymore."
That little snippet had them all sharing confused looks. In the end it was Blake who spoke, "Maybe it means Hentacle is the one involved with the White Fang and not her."
"But she was at a White Fang base," Weiss pointed out.
"But she wasn't involved with their plan to summon the Grimm – otherwise she'd have been in the tunnels with the White Fang. It could mean that she's focused on trying to capture Jaune and doesn't care much for the White Fang. We've only ever seen Hentacle – the male one – work directly with them."
Weiss nodded. It was a good point. "Was there anything else?" she asked Ren. "What did the female Grimm do to you? Were you harmed in any way?"
"She had hold of him when we came in," Blake said.
Weiss looked to Ren with some concern, waiting for an answer. The young man looked back, and then traded glances with the rest of the room. His lips thinned, and he even licked them once, before he shook his head and looked away.
"Nothing happened."
"She didn't hurt you?"
"No."
"Then what was she doing?"
"I don't know." He shook his head again. "Sorry, but I can't say anymore. I'm as confused as you are… maybe even more so."
Well, that wasn't as much used as she'd hoped. Weiss could sense there was something hidden there, but she doubted Ren would go out of his way to put them in danger, so she'd have to trust him. Perhaps it was something personal, or maybe the White Fang had tried to force him to betray them, or worse, put him through some kind of terrible ordeal. She nodded once to him, offering her silent support while also promising not to ask any further.
"Whatever the case, we bested the female version," Weiss said. "Even if she was able to escape we now know we can defeat her. It's the real Hentacle I'm concerned about. He's as strong as ever. I still don't understand what happened between him and Ruby."
"Neither do I, but I intend to find out," Yang said. The girl's eyes flashed crimson for a moment. "I honestly thought he was going to kill her. She must have done something to him, but I've got no idea what. She didn't activate her Semblance."
"It was more like they stared at one another and he was hurt by it," Blake said. "Like it was some kind of psychic attack. Did everyone notice how fast he disengaged after that happened? Ruby was out of the fight completely, but he didn't stick around to chance it."
More questions, and still no answers. Weiss didn't like the fact all of it revolved around her team – not one bit. Is it possible Ruby will become a target as well now? I can't look after the both of them! Why does this keep happening to my team? She growled through her teeth. She was the leader of Team WJRP. It was the leader's responsibility to look after the welfare of their team, so no one was going to take that away, not even sentient Grimm.
"There's nothing we can do until Ruby wakes up," Pyrrha finally said. "She might know more, and since Hentacle didn't get to see Jaune, we dodged a bullet there as well."
"And Jaune was at the spot where the White Fang attacked," Yang said, stifling a laugh. "Trust him to be in the middle of it all, huh? At least he got a chance to fight some of them off before he was knocked out. Or I assume so, anyway."
"Jaune is nothing if not a stamina monster," Weiss said offhandedly. "I'm sure he gave as good as he received. We'll talk to both of them once they're awake."
/-/
Qrow stalked about the inside of the headmaster's office, his pace frantic, his arms rising and falling as he struggled to stay calm. Struggled and failed, as it were. He rounded on the only man capable of exuding any calm at all, who was sat behind his desk politely sipping from a cup of coffee.
"How can you possibly stay calm at a time like this!?"
"A time of relative peace, you mean? The danger is over, the Grimm rounded up, and while many are confused and frightened, the danger is null." He lowered the mug to the table and smiled. "I think this is as good a time as any to relax."
"You're not concerned about what this will mean?" Qrow asked. "The White Fang just led the Grimm into the city… not to mention they managed it right under our noses."
"And I shall be inundated with meetings about that all day tomorrow," Ozpin said, "and likely for the following week as well. You'll forgive me if I'd like to enjoy a cup of coffee and some peace now. I'll have precious little of either soon enough."
Qrow sighed and sat down on the other seat, resting one elbow on the desk as he drew out and took a long swig from his hip flask. "How bad was it?" he asked. "I got there as soon as I could but by that point the Grimm had already started to attack." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer, but it had to be asked. "How many dead?"
"None."
"What!?"
"None," Ozpin repeated, this time his smile taking an almost amused edge. "Though there were several injured, many of those were huntsmen, huntresses, or emergency responders. There were no civilian casualties."
The words meant something but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what. The reason for Ozpin's amusement was obvious now, even if the reality wasn't.
"How!? They attacked right in the middle of the city!"
"Yes, and at a time when people should have been about. I've only had a chance to read through the reports provided by the police, who interviewed many of those nearby. The blast first struck in the central square, but the civilians had already fled." The headmaster paused to give Qrow a chance to splutter in confusion. "Apparently they were warned away. Though the reports are garbled one thing that repeated was that someone knew the Grimm approached. Someone began to rant and rave about how they were `coming` and how everyone had to `run away now` or they would be killed. This was fortunate since it meant the Grimm had few targets to attack once they emerged, and as a result turned on the White Fang themselves. I have a feeling the White Fang intended to use the stolen Paladins for this, to remove that risk, but thanks to Atlas reclaiming it a week ago, the White Fang were on foot and unable to wreck as much destruction as they might have liked."
"That's… someone sensed the Grimm?" he leaned forward. "You realise that's impossible, right? The Grimm sense and hunt us, not the other way around."
"And yet this individual managed to perfectly predict the oncoming crisis, and to alert the nearby people so that they could escape."
Qrow sat back and let out a long breath. It was… if it was true then it was insane. Madness, even. He still struggled to believe it but knew that Ozpin wouldn't have brought it up if it was mere hearsay. The headmaster would have done his own investigations first.
"Do you realise what implications this has?"
"I do, my friend. I do, indeed." He sighed and removed his glasses. "I need to hire a substitute history professor."
Qrow blinked. "Oobleck died?"
"Goodness no. At least not yet. He's locked himself in his office with every textbook on Grimm behaviour he can find. I doubt we'll see him for a week, and it'll be up to him whether he remembers to eat or not."
"I was referring to the implications of the ability," Qrow sighed. "Not school stuff…"
"School stuff is rather important, you know."
Qrow ignored him. Someone who could sense Grimm the same way the Grimm sensed humans/ He wasn't sure how it was possible, but such a thing might have been just what they needed in the war for humanity's survival, and for the war against Salem. It was the ability for those monsters to sense humans that made them apex predators. If humans could harness that same power…
It might be enough tip the balance at last.
"Who is it?" he asked. "Whoever it is we need to find them, keep them protected – and make sure Salem and her people don't find out." Qrow slammed his hands on the table and reared up once more. "Tell me who and I'll find them myself! You do know, right?"
Ozpin chuckled. "You already know him."
Him…? Qrow's eyes narrowed. There was a sense of unease inside him, compounded with a pit opening up in his stomach as he studied the smug look on Ozpin's face. An expression that wouldn't exist there if the headmaster hadn't had things fall directly into his lap. It didn't take a genius to figure out who it might be, not with all the shit that had been happening lately.
Even so, he dared to hope.
"Please tell me it's not the kid…"
Ozpin's smile grew.
"Anyone but him. Anyone but Raven's brat, who is still dating my niece, by the way! Not him. Please, Ozpin…"
No such luck.
"It seems Mr Arc holds more promise than we ever expected. Promise that Salem has taken notice of. At last we understand just why she was so determined to capture him, and just why she has sent such powerful Grimm to Vale to accomplish this very task. Not even the old legends have mentioned something like this, Qrow. Not even the oldest of them."
"Of course it's him," Qrow growled. "How did I ever think it would be someone else?" He shook his head and glared at Ozpin. "What are we dealing with, then? If this isn't related to the relics, the maidens, or anything else, then what is it?"
"Even relics and maidens did not exist once, Qrow. They had to be created, to come into existence. All legends begin somewhere."
"Is that what this is, a new legend?"
"Perhaps it is. There are more forces at work in Remnant than me. Some are even older than I am."
"Then what do we do?"
"We ensure that this legend goes as planned… and that Mr Arc does not fall prey to those who would see it snuffed out early." Ozpin stood from his desk and moved towards the window. He stared out over Beacon, even as Qrow came to stand behind him. "The maiden, the silver eyes, and now a new power reveals itself in a young man."
"And Ruby? She… I heard what happened with that tentacle monster." And those were words he never wanted to utter in the same sentence as his little niece. "Is it her eyes? This means Salem knows, doesn't it?"
"Leave Miss Rose to me," Ozpin said, crossing his hands before his face. "I shall try and explain things to her, even if it's a little earlier than I would have desired. This is not an eventuality I was unprepared for." The headmaster smiled. "It may soon be time to take the fight to the enemy once and for all. With everything coming to a head I believe we should look to a new maiden as well."
"So soon?" Qrow frowned. "Amber isn't even dead."
"You know as well as I that she will not awake."
"You're thinking the Nikos girl, right?"
"Among others," Ozpin mused. "There have been some particularly interesting candidates this year. In the meantime…"
"The kid's my responsibility," Qrow groaned. "Yeah, I get it…"
Just his bloody luck.
Well, that pushes things along I feel. Jaune's secret is closer than ever to being revealed and there are a barrage of new clues that several rather intelligent people have been given. Plus, silver eyes coming in a little earlier. Will it change things? Probably. Will it make a difference? Probably. What has Ruby done to Jaune? Something! Why am I asking myself questions I know the answers to? Who knows!
Don't find out next time on White Sheep!
Next Chapter: 1st February
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur