Chapter 24
Travelling through mass Graves
standing behind Ozpin as he sat at his desk in thought, Hoshi looked up to Ironwood as he seethed.
"They were here..." Turning to James with a frown, Hoshi watched him hit the desk.
"Ozpin they were here!" James said with Glynda speaking.
"We're very much aware of that! Thank you, James."
"Fantastic! You're aware! Now are we going to do something about it or should we just stay the course and continue to ignore what's right in front of us?!" turning to Hoshi he spoke even more aggressively.
"You still haven't explained to us of what that thing was last night, it looked Grimm in origin yet spoke in full English!" James said with Hoshi narrowing her eyes that glowed purple before she sighed and waved her hand to the right side of the room, showing a ripple in reality to show a window to a black void, showing the same being sitting in wait, showing its body was now thicker and larger, the bone like armor mimicking the muscles of a grown man, sensing it was being observed it turned its horned head to the four, James paling as it's red eyes glowed.
"This is what remains of Loki's untapped potential, Senza Nome is Loki's violent nature embodied, only Loki will be able to hold its power and direct it" Hoshi said with James turning to her.
"You gave him this much power, He's a Faunus what makes you think releasing this onto remnant will do good" James said with Hoshi turning to Ozpin, who nodded with a sigh.
"The reason Loki hasn't lost to his anger is that Loki is not of Remnant… this beast, this poor being, was created from Loki's anger and sadness before Remnant" Hoshi said with the being lowering its head.
"What?" James said with Hoshi about to continue until there was a ping for the elevator.
"We'll speak of this another time" Hoshi said as she waved her hand to the portal, smiling slightly to the being as it nodded to her farewell, allowing her to stand beside Ozpin as the doors opened for Ruby to walk in.
"Sorry it took so long. Someone accidentally hit all the buttons on the elevator on the way up here." Looking around to those present she smiled as innocently as possible.
"It wasn't me"
"No need to be nervous little one" Hoshi said with a small smile, one Ruby returned back shyly, turning to the other teachers she stood at attention.
"Thank you for coming, Ruby. How are you feeling?"
"Okay, I guess. I'd feel better if my bad-guy-catching record wasn't O-for-three. And a scary monster protecting me from an attack kind of put me off" Ruby said with Hoshi speaking.
"I apologize for Senza's… default appearance, but his intentions are pure but… a bit extreme"
"And what are his intentions?" James demanded with Hoshi looking at him with a frown of annoyance.
"He fights for what he cares for, now we wanted to question Mrs. Rose of what she saw?" Hoshi said with the girl looking to Ironwood before she stood in wait.
"Now, the general here has already informed of the events that... transpired last night, but now that you've rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add." Ozpin said with Hoshi moving to his side as Ruby thought over the night before.
"I, remember her mentioning about a base to the south-east" Ruby said with both Hoshi and Ozpin sharing a glance to one another.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ruby. Why don't you go and spend some time with your team? You have a big day ahead of you." Ozpin said with Ruby nodding, leaving for the elevator Ironwood turned to Hoshi who stood calmly.
Waiting for the doors to the elevator to close James spoke.
"What are you really planning?"
"Nothing that would jeopardize the fabric of reality, clearly the opposite" Hoshi said with a stern voice that made Glynda have a double take on the kind woman's nature, making James glare.
"You're a Faunus aren't you, no person can have horns or pointed ears, you obviously have something planned"
"And what makes you think I'm a Faunus," Hoshi said with her eyes glowing, but not like Loki's did, hers instead had a fiery aura rising out, her horned halo glowing brightly with James stepping back.
"Unlike the Faunus and Humans here, I strive to only keep order and Balance in worlds I have been to, my time of being a guardian is driving to appoint where I cannot continue alone, each day and night a world is slowly falling to ruin, and Loki is the first I have chosen to help my quest for good, so if you think of throwing accusations at me, then you will gain no help from me" Hoshi said with the world around them distorting into ripples, the only ones not affected were Ozpin and Glynda.
It went like this for a minute before Hoshi cut off her power from Remnant, walking to the elevator she walked through the wall like it never existed.
"Ozpin, you can't possibly trust-"
"I trust her with my life, James, it was thanks to her that my many would be mistakes never happened with her guidance, a lot of lives were preserved thanks to her"
"She could be using you" Ironwood said with Ozpin giving him something he rarely gave out… a dark glare.
"She has done nothing but protect us all, James, so choose your words very carefully" Ozpin said with Glynda remaining silent. Too shocked to say anything about seeing Ozpin like this for the first.
Stepping back James moved to the elevator.
"I hope your trust is placed in the right person Oz" James said as the doors to the elevator closed, with Ozpin sinking into his chair, with Glynda letting out a breath of relief.
"Glynda, go take a break, I wish to be alone for the moment" Ozpin said with Glynda nodding, moving to the second elevator.
Lying within his teams dorm room with Gabrielle on his chest, Odin lazed away their break from the days of Beacon with Yennefer sitting on her bed with a bowl of carp Soup Ren had made her, munching on a fish bone her ears twitched with Odin's at the distant bark of a dog, making the two stand and listen for any more barks, it was when they heard another bark that they went to investigate, with Odin carrying a sleeping Gabrielle as they followed the sound of happy barking to team RWBY's dorm room, approaching the door with a near trance like face Yennefer suddenly smiled excitedly.
"WHO OWNS THE ADORABLE PUPPY!" Yennefer said loudly with the four girls jumping as she had kicked the door open, seeing the black and white Corgi, she pounced at it with a small squeal of approval, lying on the ground to tickle the dog's belly Odin stood at the door before leaning in.
"Sorry about her, for a cat Faunus she gets excited about dogs and their little paws" Odin said with Blake looking at the sight with a confused look.
"This Goes against all logic of Faunus"
"Hey you and Nora got into a threesome with a Wolf Faunus, that say something to you?" Yang said with Ruby frowning.
"What's a-" she was cut off nearly instantly by everyone shouting.
"WE'LL TELL YOU WHEN YOUR OLDER!"
To say the sight of Ruby hugging Zwei for protection was hilarious.
"What's with all the yelling?" the voice of Loki broke the silence as he leaned in the doorway, showing Nora piggy backing him with a small laugh.
"Nothing you need to worry about" Weiss sad until Ruby hugged his chest for protection.
"They won't tell me what a threesome is?" Ruby said with Loki looking up from the petite to give an accusing look to Blake who shrugged with a blush on her poker face.
"Ruby… your too innocent to know of this so early" Loki said with Ruby puffing her cheeks out.
"Traitor" she mumbled with Loki raising an eyebrow.
"No cookies for that" the look he got from her made everyone smile as she began to apologize with Loki putting up a façade of ignorance, looking away from her worried/ panicked state until he broke it.
"Alright, I was just joking" Loki said as he looked down to the petite, startling him as she hopped up and kissed his lips before rushing to her bed, hiding her blush beneath her covers while Loki rubbed his nose at feeling her forehead on her way up.
"What did I do to get this reaction?" Loki muttered before he looked up as the intercom told all year students to head to the Ampitheatre, making him get dragged away by Odin and Gabrielle who still slept in his arms, followed by Weiss Yang and Blake, along with Yennefer, leaving Ruby with Zwei.
Standing with his team as the entire school and guests stood within the auditorium, Loki stood patiently as he saw the many teachers standing in wait for Ozpin, waiting for a minute longer he spotted Hoshi join the teachers, with him instantly hearing whispers about the possible Faunus, though most of it was directed to her Halo shaped horns.
Leaning to Emerald, Mercury spoke.
"She's that woman from the party last night" Mercury said with his eyes catching the slightest of twitches in her ears, making her narrow her eyes as she scanned the students.
"One with good hearing" Cinder said softly with Hoshi's eyes glowing briefly before she closed her eyes to calm down, making Loki frown in worry.
Looking around for anyone who'd put her on the defensive he spotted Mercury and Emerald standing with the Haven students… along with Cinder Fall, thinking back to Neo's warning he looked forward with a plan formulating until he spotted his father walking onto the stage with Glynda at the microphone.
"Quiet! Quiet, please. Professor Ozpin would like to share a few words before we begin." Glynda said loudly with Loki seeing Ozpin smiling to Hoshi who looked down to hide her smile before looking up as Ozpin thanked Glynda before facing forward.
"Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression. And as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither were the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond cannot exist without effort. Which is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it. As first-year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best" Ozpin said with his eyes turning to Loki who gave a smirk with a subtle nod, stepping away the students began to file outside.
Following his team outside Loki looked among the many students with a slight smile before his ears heard Ruby cheer.
Turning to his teammates he spotted team RWBY.
"This is perfect! All we have to do is shadow a Huntsman working in the southeast!" it was now Gabrielle's turn to look at Loki.
"Yeah! We'll follow them around by day and give them the slip by night!" now Odin and Yennefer were looking at Loki who turned to them with a look of betrayal.
"Why are you three looking at me?" Loki questioned with Odin shaking his head with a shake of his head.
"Let's check "search and destroy"!" Weiss said as team RWBY approached the mission boards, with Gabrielle following them, making the other three follow after her.
"Here we go! Quadrant 5 needs Grimm cleared out!" Ruby said as Gabrielle stood behind her unnoticed.
"Well, it's in the southeast!" Blake said while Weiss noticed a new function.
"Huh, seems they added joint team missions" Weiss said with Ruby just now noticing it.
"Huh, oh, who do you guys think will join us?"
"Obviously kitties new boytoy," Yang said with Loki rolling his eyes as Yennefer turned to him with a teasing smile.
"I'm right here you know?" jumping at his sudden voice the four turned to them, with Blake blushing as she had a slight nose bleed.
"And what's this I hear about joint team missions?" Loki said with his arms crossed.
"A function I had come up with after a fatal mission a team nearly perished in" turning to Hoshi as she stood calmly, wearing a robe a priestess would wear, having the same colors as her usual outfit.
With Weiss looking to her horns like a curious child, making Hoshi giggle as she turned to the screen, frowning the name GLOY came on beside team RWBY's, which counted as an automatic exception, turning back to the two teams she smiled.
"That and well, the number of Grimm in that sector has grown to dangerous levels that only fully licensed Huntsmen and Huntresses can handle, prove me wrong if you wish" Hoshi said with a playful tone, making team RWBY smile at the challenge.
While Team GLOY stood in wait.
"We won't let you down" Ruby said with Hoshi showing a smile.
"I don't expect you too, and you four…" it was this point team GLOY stood at attention.
"Make sure their safe out there"
"Please, it's us, what coul-SLAP!" whatever Odin was midway of saying, both Gabrielle and Loki had smacked their hands on his mouth.
"DON'T finish that sentence or thought" Loki said with a worried voice with team RWBY wincing at hearing Odin's muffled cry of pain within the vice-like grip his two teammates had.
Come on, let's go, before someone gives Odin an actual slap on the face" Ruby said as the two teams began to make their way to the airships, with Odin holding his face to ease the throbbing, with Gabrielle kissing him better while Yennefer silently laughed at her brother's agony.
"I can see where Ozpin's joy goes to" Yang said with Loki rolling his eyes.
"I don't get it" Ruby said with the others looking to her.
"What don't you get?" Blake questioned as everyone turned to Ruby.
"Why wasn't she here at the start of the year?"
"Maybe she was on an extended mission, Uncle Qrow is sometimes gone for months maybe a year, she's probably had the same situation like him" Yang said with Gabrielle nodding her agreement.
"I'm still trying to figure out what kind of Faunus she is, there has been no Faunus cataloged with horns like hers" Blake said as the two teams continued until they noticed a crowd moving to the right of them.
"Hey! Team CFVY is back!"
Hearing the random student, Loki's eyes widened in relief at hearing one of the teams he befriended return, jogging to them he saw Velvet following close to Yatsuhashi until they saw him approaching.
"Velvet? Are you okay?" Blake called to the Rabbit Faunus who turned to them with a smile.
"I'm fine. I had Yatsuhashi to look out for me." Gesturing to the big fellow he merely bowed his head in greeting before Loki brought her into a brotherly hug.
"You had the entire school staff worried when you guys didn't return last week" Loki said with Velvet struggling to free herself.
"Nothing happened. It was just ... there were just so many... Loki I can't breathe" Velvet said with Loki placing her down instantly and stood beside Blake who unconsciously leaned her head on his left shoulder, something Coco Adel took notice of.
"What's up, Fenris, that human not good for ya?" tensing up with blush's Coco frowned as the rest of team RWBY began to laugh nervously.
"Team RWBY and Nora have agreed to share Loki, Blake and Nora are currently due to dates" Yennefer said with Loki and Blake turning to her.
"You traitor" Loki said with a whine as Coco stood calmly.
"Just be sure to treat them all equally, polygamy may be frowned upon in Atlas, but just keep an open mind" Coco said with Loki giving a soldier salute before he smacked himself in the face.
"Right, keep forgetting Atlas are tight arses"
"Well, we better be off, Be safe, okay?" Velvet said as she began to feel her exhaustion catching up to her, getting a small hug from Loki the fourth year team left.
"We can do this. We've never backed down before, and we're not going to start now." Ruby said with team GLOY nodding to them.
"We'll be their to give you guys a second wind when you need it" Gabrielle said with a nod, getting one from Ruby she smiled thankfully as they continued towards the Bullhead.
"Besides, it won't only be us out there! We'll be fighting alongside a genuine Huntsman!" Yennefer said with a shrug, getting a wide smile from Ruby as Loki chuckled.
And that chuckle was joined by a forced smile as the two teams stared at Dr Oobleck as he had a large backpack for travelling.
"Why, hello Boys and girls! Who's ready to fight for their lives?"
"Of all people?" Odin said with a whine.