The next day at Menagerie, we go inside the Belladonna Family Home, we see Ghira Belladonna, wearing glasses, paces back and forth looking at a piece of paper in hands, while his wife Kali and his friend, Tukson waiting for him to be ready. Meanwhile, we see Blake and Sun talking to Alisa, Nana and Ciel.
"So that's what Ruby has been doing all this time." Blake muttered, "I guess she's finally living her dream of becoming a hero.'' she mused, "In or out of this world." she added.
"I'm quite surprised that Ruby, Jaune, Ren, Nora and Ruby's uncle are also part of the organization not from this world." Sun spoke, "An organization full of heroes nonetheless." he said in awe.
"Any others people from this world that is part of the Coalitions?'' Blake asked.
"We have Miss Ashley Plutia Iris Heart.'' Nana replied with a smile which made Blake and Sun cringed in fear, "And recently... the Coalition just recruited a young huntress named... Lunette Yaeger I believed.'' she said.
Blake's eyes widen, "Lunette... Yaeger?'' she muttered in surprise.
"Woah... Lunette Yaeger?'' Sun mused, "Isn't she the brooding fox girl from Team LUNA?" he asked, "Where her teammates are bunch of lunatics?!" he exclaimed while spinning a finger at his noggin.
Alisa nodded, "We never met Lunette but she was recruited days ago when a friend of ours went on a mission here." she explained.
"However... she's currently in a rehabilitation center.'' Ciel spoke, "And while there is nothing wrong with her, we heard that she's emotionally unstable, so she needs to do therapy before she does any training." she stated.
Blake nodded, "I see." she replied.
"Don't the two of you get along well?'' Nana asked.
Blake sighed, "We do... before." she admitted, "Lunette and I used to be good friends even after I joined the White Fang.'' she said, "But she got upset about me when I attended Beacon hiding my faunus heritage, calling me a coward in the process." she stated, "But I guess what she said is true... I am a coward... I wanted everyone to accept me for who I am but yet I hide who I really was.'' she explained as Sun placed a hand on her shoulders.
Ghira then stops pacing and takes one last look at the speech he has written down, before sighing as his wife places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Are you ready?" Kali asked with a smile.
"Yes." Ghira replied with a smile, "It won't be easy for the people to hear, but the truth often isn't. I know they'll do the right thing." he said.
Blake then comes up and places a hand on her father's arm, giving an affectionate snuggle. Suddenly, the three are taken by surprise when another hand pats on Ghira's back. He looks behind to see Sun.
"You got this." Sun said with a smile as Nana, Alisa and Ciel nodded in agreement.
The three give a brief look at Sun and the girls as he stands back and smiles.
"Let's get this started." Tukson said.
Ghira nodded as he then opens the doors as his family, Sun and Tukson(whom puts on a Darth Vader helmet) steps out of the home to greet the crowd gathering outside, Alisa, Ciel and Nana wisely decided to stay inside to avoid conflict. Some people in the crowd are wearing press badges and holding scrolls up to record the event.
Others in attendance include Corsac and Fennec Albain, who are bowing their heads. Corsac wears a red hood that functions partially as a cloak, made of two pieces held together by yellow buttons and string. He wears a black tunic with two sections extending farther down than the rest at his front, and a hole is cut out for his tail. Both the hood and tunic have white trimming. He also wears detached white sleeves, bound at the mid-bicep and the wrists. Black gloves serve that function and attach to his middle fingers. His white pants are pleated. He wears black open-toed sandals with fabric extending up to his knees. Fennec wore a red hood that functioned partially as a cloak, made of two pieces held together by buttons and string. Holes were cut in the top for his fox ears. He wore a black tunic with two sections extending farther down than the rest at his front. White trimming defined the shape of the hood and tunic. He also wore detached white sleeves, bound at the mid-bicep and the wrists. Black gloves served that function and were attached to his middle fingers. His white pants were pleated. He wore black open-toed sandals with fabric extending up to his knees.
White Fang Reprentatives
Corsac and Fennec Albain
Menagerie Guards led by Saber Rodentia. Saber has a brown skin tone, blue eyes, brown hair that is styled in a short mohawk and small facial hair. He also has a scar spread across his forehead to his right eye. He wears a Menagerie Guard Uniform.
Menagerie Guard
Saber Rodentia
Ghira steps up to the podium and raises his hand to quiet the crowd down, "Thank you all for assembling here. I wanted to take time to address some of the rumors that have been circulating around our island. I believe that it is important for the people of this territory to understand the truth. No matter how you feel about the human race, I think we can all agree that the event now known as the Fall of Beacon was a tragedy. A tragedy that will set both man and Faunus-kind back. While the main aggressor is still unknown, we do have official confirmation that Adam Taurus..." he said as he glares at the Albains, "... the leader of a powerful splinter group working inside the White Fang, was partially responsible for these attacks. His actions not only tarnished the reputation of an organization originally created to bring peace and equality to all, but to our entire race. With each day that this man remains unpunished, it becomes increasingly difficult to condemn those that look down upon us." he said as the crowd starts murmuring among themselves. Ghira raises his hand again to quiet the crowd down, "Recently, a spy from the same splinter group set their sights on this very home. My own daughter, Blake, and her friend did their very best to apprehend this individual. While they were unsuccessful after being physically assaulted and seriously injured, they were successful in obtaining the assailant's Scroll." he said as je takes out the Scroll from inside his coat, "With this, we have been able to ascertain that Adam Taurus has plans to overthrow the current leader of the White Fang, Sienna Khan, and take over the reins himself." he claimed. At this, the crowd starts to loudly murmur in concern, "His radical plans do not stop there, the documents on this scroll proclaim his next target to be Haven Academy and its attached CCT Tower. Their plan is to strike on the last full moon before the beginning of the Fall semester, roughly two months from today. I have sent my swiftest messenger to the government of Mistral, but I believe we have a greater responsibility. My relationship with the White Fang has been... an interesting one. Years ago, I led the organization to help try and create a world where I, and every Faunus who wished, could walk alongside the human race. And while I believe we made great strides toward this goal, it was made clear to me that the people both in and out of the White Fang wanted faster results. So I stepped down, and Sienna Khan was appointed as my successor. It's true that I do not fully condone many of her methods. What I do condone is what Sienna fights for: the idea that the Faunus and humans are, and should be, equal. Adam Taurus does not seem to have that goal in mind. What he has done benefits no one but himself. I think it's time that the Faunus showed the world that we are equals! Time that we snuff out this splinter group, and restore the White Fang to what it once was!" he declared as the crowd begins to cheer at this remark, "To do this, I think the answer is clear, we must go to Haven and protect it at all costs!" he said. At this, the crowd suddenly stops cheering, showing some hesitance, Ghira sees this and clears his throat, "Before we proceed any further, I'd like to invite my daughter to come and share her story. Not only as a former member of the White Fang but also as a survivor of the Fall of Beacon." he said as Blake steps up to the podium and faces her father, "You can do this." he reassured.
Suddenly, a familiar voice yells out from the crowd, "TRAITORS!" Ilia shouted as she uncloaks herself, wearing her Grimm mask and clenching her teeth angrily. Blake gives a surprised look before glaring back at her.
Sun glares at her intensely, "Ilia..." he growled.
"What does the shrimp wants?'' Tukson asked indecorously.
"Cowards... After everything the humans have done to us, everything they've put us through, you're asking us to help them?!" Ilia exclaimed.
"I know we haven't been treated fairly..." Ghira tried to reason but was interrupted.
"Where was their help when the Dust companies treated our people like slaves?! Where was their help when Kingdoms hunted Faunus just for being who they are?! Where was my help when my parents were killed in a Dust mine?! WHERE?!" Ilia shouted.
"Young lady, progress takes patience and cooperation!" Ghira exclaimed.
"The Belladonnas are the worse kind of Faunus! They want us to work with the same people that are trying to hold us down! If you truly, truly want to help your people..." as she speaks, Sun sneaks through the crowd behind her, "... now is the time to support Adam, not the Belladonnas! He will bring about the future that you deserve. And if you are unwilling to fight, know that the White Fang will do it for you!" she claimed.
"SHUT UP!" Sun shouted as leaps out of the crowd toward Ilia, but she uses her weapon to get out of the way and flee. When Sun lands, he looks around to see where she has gone, but no sign of her is found.
"After her!" Saber ordered.
Saber and the rest of the Menagerie guards move to chase down Ilia, while Corsac and Fennec exchange evil smiles. Blake and Ghira angrily glare from the stage, while Kali has a worried look on her face.
Tukson took off his Darth Vader helmet and began to pick his nose, "If Adam thinks he can manipulate every faunus he wants, then he has another thing coming." he stated.
bzzzttt...
Meanwhile back in Mistral as the house, we see Oscar Pine is seen sitting on a red armchair, nervously looking at the members of Death City Squad Team RNJR as they fawn over him.
"Did he age backwards?" Nora asked.
"Did someone cursed him and got reverted back to a teen?'' Mina asked
"He's possessed!" Jaune exclaimed.
"He must a be shapeshifter!" Eijirou mused.
"Must be a drone or a puppet." Patty pointed out.
"Or reincarnated!" Ren exclaimed.
"Oh! Isn't it weird?" Ruby cheered while holding her hood tight over her head.
Oscar hung his head down, "It is very weird, yes." he replied meekly.
"Okay, okay." Qrow spoke as he emerges from the kitchen holding a cup in his hand, "Let's all just take a second and remember that this is very overwhelming for everyone." he said.
Both Death City Squad and Team RNJR all step back together and nervously chuckle.
"Thanks." Oscar said to Qrow in gratitude.
Qrow then takes a seat on the couch next to Oscar. Ruby and Nora have taken a seat on the couch perpendicular to Qrow's, while the Death City Squad, Jaune and Ren remain standing.
Oscar then shares a brief look with Ruby, who giggles, causing Oscar to blush, "Ah, sorry!" he exclaimed as he briefly looks away, "It's just I've never really met Huntsmen and Huntresses before." he admitted.
"Well, uh... we've never met a person with two souls! So, first times all around." Ruby replied as Jaune gave Oscar a suspicious look.
"Hello? Have you met Horace?" Nora spoke, "He's like... had nine souls inside of him." she pointed out.
"Oh yeah..." Ruby replied in realization.
Oscar smiles and chuckles at Ruby before he hears Qrow clear his throat, "Not to break up the whole 'getting-to-know-you' game, but we need to have a talk. Mind showing us your little parlor trick, kid?" he stated.
Oscar groaned, "Yeah, okay. Just so you know, I'll still be here." he said.
The members of the Death City(minus Kid and Brook) and Team RNJR look at him in confusion. Oscar then lowers his head and closes his eyes. Suddenly, a green and white aura shines from his body for a moment, Oscar opens up his eyes, which are now glowing, and he smiles. When he speaks, they all hear a familiar voice overlapping with a bunch of other voices, including Oscar's.
"It is so very good to see you again, my students." Oscar(?) greeted with a smile.
All of Death City(minus Kid and Brook) and Team RNJR share brief looks of confusion, "Wait, what just happened?" Jaune asked.
"Well... we see a green light and... Oscar suddenly speaks differently." Kiba stated scratching the back of his head.
"Professor... Ozpin?" Ren asked.
Oscar, now Ozpin nodded, "Correct. And though I may be the one speaking, Oscar is still present mentally. He's merely handed over the control, so to speak." he explained.
Former Headmaster of Beacon
Ozpin
"Just don't make us do anything embarrassing..." Oscar spoke in Ozpin's mind.
"I'm afraid this all must be very perplexing." Ozpin pointed out.
"And alarming, and bizarre, and just really kind of hard to believe overall!" Nora mused, "But with everything we saw back in Neo-City, so what's there to judge.'' she said.
Ozpin chuckled, "It's good to see you children still have your sense of humor." he said as he starts to frown, "I know you've all been through tremendous hardship already. I'm sorry." he apologized.
"I mean, it's not your fault." Ruby reassured.
Ozpin sighed, "It's all my fault.'' he admitted as Qrow gets up and goes back to the kitchen to get something, "I told you once that I made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet, and I wasn't exaggerating. I'm... cursed. For thousands of years, I've walked the surface of Remnant, living, dying, and reincarnating in the body of a like-minded soul. The Professor Ozpin you all met was not my first form and clearly wasn't my last. It's... an extraordinarily strenuous process on everyone involved." he explained.
"So who... what... are you?" Liz asked.
"I am the combination of countless men who've spent their lives trying to protect the people of Remnant.'' he started as Qrow walks back into the room and hands him a cup of tea, "With every rebirth, my soul is eventually merged with another and I am changed, but my memories stay with me. This curse was bestowed upon me by the Gods because I failed to stop Salem in the past. But we must stop her now." he explained.
"And how do we do that?" Brook asked.
"We start... by ensuring the safety of the Relic of Knowledge." Ozpin claimed.
"This is perfect!" Nora exclaimed, "We were stuck at a dead end, but now, we can just take little cute boy Ozpin to Lionheart and have him set things straight!" she cheered.
"Please don't call me that." Qzpin grumbled.
Kid crosses his arms, "We're not sure that's the best idea." he stated.
Nora pouts and groans and goes back to sit down next to Ruby and Ren, "But I thought the headmasters all took their orders from you." Ren pointed out.
"That was the intention." Ozpin replied, "Four lieutenants I can trust, especially during times of reincarnation. But Qrow told me about your meeting with Leonardo." he said as he got up and walks towards a painting of Mistral, "He isn't just behaving irrationally, he's disobeying specific instructions I had left him. Something's wrong. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I don't want to rule out any possibilities, either. No one outside of this room knows that I've paired with Oscar, and I think it may be best to keep it that way." he stated.
"Play things close to the chest until we get a better hand." Kid said.
Ozpin nodded, "Precisely. Now, we have two steps ahead of us." he replied as he turns around to face the rest of the group, "The first is enlisting the aid of more Huntsmen." he said.
"But the Mistral council-" Ren tried to point out but was interrupted by Qrow.
"Doesn't own every Huntsman in the Kingdom, and I've been here enough times to know where we can find some more." Qrow claimed.
"So long as they're trustworthy." Ozpin said.
"You can trust them to put up a good fight. I'll throw together a list tonight." Qrow claimed as he puts his foot on the table, but his Semblance causes one of the legs to break and spill his cup of tea.
"Good luck with that." Nora quipped as Qrow groans as he cleans up his mess.
"How about asking for help from the Coalition?'' Carol suggested, "Not a whole team in particular but a few available Solo Heroes.'' she stated.
Opzin nodded, "That will be appreciated." he replied, "We'll be needing all the help that we can.'' he said.
Kid turns to Shadow, "Shadow, contact the Coalition, tell them we need a few additional back-up for this mission.'' he ordered.
Shadow rolls his eyes, "Whatever." he replied as he brought out his tablet and began to contact the Coalition.
"With that done, we can move on to step two." Ozpin claimed.
"What's step two?" Nora asked.
Suddenly, Ozpin has his cane in hand, "Getting you four into fighting shape." he replied referring to Team RNJR.
Team RNJR once again exchange looks of confusion, "But, uh, we already know how to fight." Ruby reasoned.
"True.'' Ozpin replied in agreement, "I heard from Qrow about your training from the Coalition and the fact that the four of you are Blessed but..." he said as he pointed his cane at Ruby, "You can only fight so long as you have Crescent Rose, but you're still lacking in hand-to-hand combat even with that Gift that you received." he stated.
Ruby hung her head down, "True..." she replied.
Ozpin then pointed his cane at Jaune, "Mr. Arc, I'm glad to hear you've improved, but sorry to say, you've yet to unlock your Semblance. And your Gift... as impressive at it sounds doesn't actually help with your combat abilities." he pointed out.
Jaune facefaulted, "Gee... thanks for reminding me how useless my Gift is." he grumbled in annoyance.
"All of you still have a-ways to go before you're ready to pose any real threat against Salem and her forces." Ozpin pointed out, "And though Oscar can give me temporary control, he'll need to strengthen his body and his Aura." he stated.
"Wait, what?" Oscar squawked.
"He'll inherit my muscle memory in time, but practice will expedite the process." Ozpin stated.
"But if Qrow's out looking for Huntsmen, then who's going to teach us?" Ruby asked.
Ozpin then propels himself into the air with his cane, spinning counterclockwise into a barrel roll before landing onto the seat of the armchair, twirling his cane, "Well, I believe I was the headmaster of Beacon Academy." he claimed as Death City Squad and Team RNJR have various looks on their faces, "We have approximately one month before classes resume at Haven. If Salem were to plan an attack, it would make sense that it would occur prior to students' return. It's not much time, but it's better than nothing." he said as he stops twirling his cane, "Just don't expect me to go easy on you." he warned.
Suddenly, Opzin glows green and white again, switching control back to Oscar. He has a hard time keeping his balance on the armchair before falling backwards, "You've gotta be kidding me." Oscar groaned as Qrow and Team RNJR look on with various expressions again.
"Well... I guess we better get to work." Kid suggested.
A/N: Inspired from someonestupED, damnlastwords, Hope the Victor and Ace Neptune. All OCs and concepts not created by moi were given permission for me to use by it's respected creators.