GARO Saviors of Remnant
ESKK: New chapter at long last let's begin folks.
*Insert HOWLING SWORD Garo Vanishing Line Opening theme 2
The song began with the show of a silver sphere with a gold aura round it surrounded by darkness with Grimm and Horrors reaching to grab it. Then a Hybrid shot forth and chomped down on it before either spheres shot out ranging from the colors of red, white, black, yellow, gold, silver, ivory, and crimson whole they flew around each other.
The screen then showed Beacon with the Dragon frozen at the top before the eight colors shot out destroying the roof of the tower. It then showed the map of Vale as the white and silver lights flew to Atlas, the Ivory and yellow flew torts Vale, Black flew torts Menagerie, Crimson flew torts an unknown location, and red and gold flew torts Mistral.
The screen then showed Gold with his poncho and goggles as with him was a new kid named Oscar as he was wearing Eruba as they walked to his bike. The two then boarded it as they had there goggles on before starting up Madou Cycle Zaruba.
-Seijaku wo mushibamu machi tsukiyo ni umeku NOIZU no koe-
The screen showed a tri-split screen of Gold on Zaruba with Oscar, Ruby alone on Eclipse with JNPR, and Ollette riding her car as they rode from different locations to the same destination.
-Izanau itsuwari no EDEN-
The screen showed they were riding day and night on roads leading to Haven intent on locating something there.
-Hito shirezu nagareru hoshi-tachi nageki no namida ka inoribito ka-
The screen then showed a different angel on all three riders as they then followed it up by a close up on Gold and Ruby's faces as it then showed Oscar alone as he looked to Madou Ring Eruba before backing up for the next part.
-Kanashimi to zetsubou ni yogore nagara mo mada shinjiru yume negai-
The screen began to show the memories Team GARO and built with Team RWBY from there friendships to their battles before showing the Garoken and Yaiba Scythe in its civilian state.
-Kasaneta te no nukumori "kizuna" nakusanu you ni-
The screen then closed in on the Garoken symbol as it showed Raymond with Yang as he over looked Patch as Iris was with them as he saw how Yang was struggling with her depression. He also saw how Yang may be seeing things that aren't there as she tried to regain the strength and resolve she lost in Beacon.
-Hikari matoite sora wo aoi da...-
The screen then showed Aron arriving at Atlas before he revved up the engine on his bike as he drove to the Schnee Symbol where he knew Weiss was waiting for him so they can fight their way out.
-Kakenukeru sekai no hate de tsurugi furikazase-
The screen then showed Yaiba, Crow, and Gaia taking on Zex and Bolg as soon Ollette's car drove in as she fired what appeared to be a Maiden fueled bullet at Bolg knocking him back hard with its power. It then showed her stepping out and holding her gun at the ready with plenty more of them ready to be used.
-Mamorubeki mono sadame daita yurugi naki tamashii yo-
The screen then showed Gold and Ollette in their vehicles with JNPR and Ruby in theirs as they drove closer to Mistral as now Qrow had joined the ride.
-Nando taorekuchite mo ima mezasu asu wo egaku sono tame ni-
As the three vehicles rode to their destination it showed Salem and her group on their path as phantoms of sorts as it showed a burly man with his arms crossed known as hazel, The screen then showed Blaze with his twin sister Cinder scared and injured as she now had a clawed Madou Tool arm as she was followed up Akane as she held a Glyph in her hand as Ico stood next to her, then the Scorpion Faunus Tyrion was showed as he had a sadistic smile on his face, next up of Salem's group was Watts as following up on him was Solomon as he held his pike weapon and glared out, And to top it all off was a less injured Nexus with Salem as she glared out to the screen before the Knights of Salem's group summoned forth there armors and in turn Kiba, Zex, Zem, Bold, and Edel all took the stage.
It then followed up Gold taking on Tyrion as following it up as a three way battle between Akane, Blake, and Adam as Akane was attacking them both with Blake tried to avoid it. It then followed up with Ollette as she was training with her new power as it appeared Ollette may have actually became a Maiden. The scene then followed up with Weiss training with her summoning Glyph as in a split screen to Aron clearly crashing a party as he faced a large Horror that when the battle started had burst forth from one of the guests or hosts as it was the Horror Ring.
It then showed Garo and Kiba once more going at it only this time it was one on one as there blades clashed once more.
-Kagayaki mashi tsuyoku nare yami wo harai hoero GARO!-
The scene then showed the three vehicles driving off a ledge of sorts torts Mistral and with it Haven Academy as they're destination and answers waited for them there as the title screen then showed with Garo and Kiba glaring way from each other with Yaiba stuck between them surrounded by four lights.
GARO Saviors of Remnant
(Start Gold, Wolfe, and Raven)
Gold had set up camp as Raven was focused on healing Wolfe as she was at least obliged to help him heal up after the fight they were in. "So anyone going to start talking or am I going to have to wait?" Gold asked as he got the fire started and sat down on a log as Wolfe was resting on the ground.
"What do you want to know first brat?" Wolfe asked as he looked to Gold.
"Why was that guy after me and who was his boss?" Gold asked as he looked to them as Raven then sighed.
"Salem." Raven said as Gold heard that as did Zaruba as he remembered meeting Salem at Vale and how she, Solomon, and Nexus whipped the floor with himself, Ruby, and Jaune.
"Yeah but who is she?" Gold asked as Wolfe sighed to him.
"A Makai Alchemist older than anyone we know who had fallen so far into the darkness she could be considered more Grimm then human considering what she does to preserve her own life." Wolfe said as Gold heard this while sitting on his log with the bike nearby.
"And Nexus... he's her son?" Gold asked as Raven then sighed to this.
"Only because she took advantage of him." Raven said as Gold saw Nexus was a sore subject for her.
"Or you were just a shitty teacher for him." Gold countered as he may dislike Nexus but he knew Nexus wasn't naïve to be taken advantage of in fact it probably be the other way around.
"Anyway the reason she was after you was because of what your power as the Golden Knight did to Nexus as Kiba combined with the silver eyes of Ruby Rose." Wolfe said as he began to sit up after Raven tended to his wounds enough so he could move. "Alone you can cause an annoyance but together you two have the power to beat her for good with Nexus." Wolfe said as Zaruba was silent during this.
"But why come after us?" Gold asked as he was still lost here.
"Because you two can really do damage to all her plans, to herself, to Nexus, and to her Maidens." Raven said as she was going to take Gold herself but right now was not the time. "In a way you and Nexus are somehow an antithesis to each other and with Ruby's aid you can actually end him for good with enough mastery of that power." Raven said as she sat there with him.
"So she wants the maidens why?" Gold asked as he looked to the duo.
"Ever heard of the twin deities of Remnant?" Wolfe asked as he knew it was story time.
(Meanwhile at the same time with Ruby's Group)
Team JNPR plus Ruby and Ollette were around a campfire with Qrow as accompanying them was their vehicles as the pickup and Ollette's car was close by incase they needed something. Qrow has just finished telling the story of the Maidens. There is silence and Qrow takes a swig from his flask. He has a bandage wrapped around his abdomen over his clothing. Ollette of course rolled her eyes as she had seen the truth of it firsthand but considering her new power she shouldn't be complaining. Then again she didn't like how she had to get this power and her reasons why.
"Really? No questions?" Qrow inquired looking at everyone as Ollete looked away while working on some of her gear through her scroll.
Jaune narrowed his eyes. "Of course we have questions. This is just… a lot to take in." Jaune said as he looked to this whole thing.
Qrow sighed. "Sure, of course." Qrow agreed as they had to acknowledge the Elephant with what Ollette did to stop the Lost Soul Beast Yaiba.
"What's not to get or take in four chicks with magic to surpass a lot of veteran Alchemists and hunters without Dust or the like and something as simple as that doesn't sink in?!" Ollette countered as Ruby looked.
"Well your one of them now." Ruby countered as Ollette glared.
"Says the girl and boy who hunts Horrors at night." Ollette argued as Ruby looked to her.
"Touché." Ruby said realizing that this shouldn't really surprise her anymore.
"But the Night the tower fell you were trying to turn Pyrrha into one of them." Jaune said with a scowl as Qrow saw this.
"IT was either her or our Alchemist here." Qrow said as he looked to Ollette. "And she turned it down then and left after the tower fell." Qrow said as Ollette looked to him with a glare before he looked to the fire. "The previous Fall Maiden, Amber, had been attacked. She was young, inexperienced. And her assailant, who we now know is Cinder, somehow managed to steal some of her power, but not all of it. We were afraid that if we didn't do something, the rest would go to her as well." Qrow said as Ollette rolled her eyes a bit.
"And look what good that did." Ollette said as even though she's a Maiden now she didn't want the power but desperate times called for desperate measures.
"Yeah and somehow you located the Summer Maiden and Alchemist of the Order who went into hiding to help construct new Madou Tools and aid the order from afar." Qrow said as Ollette glared at him for that.
"You implying something Qrow?" Ollette asked as he glared at the Phantom Knight.
"I ain't implying I'm saying how did you know where she was and how did you get her power?" Qrow asked as Ollette glared at him on this.
"How about none of your business and butt out." Ollette said as she glared at Qrow.
"Ollette we need to know this and if you know where the Spring Maiden is because the fact you basically announced you were the Summer Maiden to Salem's two Knights there you put a huge target on our backs." Qrow said argued as this girl was impossible sometimes.
"Well if you must know I found her because before she went into hiding she entrusted her location to me told me if I needed it to come find her. I went for a Madou Tool to help tip the balance instead she tricks me into taking the power instead." Ollette said as she didn't want to become a Maiden to begin with considering the touchy memories it brought back for her. "So if you think I killed her I didn't she tricked me into helping her suicide." Ollette said as Qrow heard this.
"She's telling the truth." Orva said as Qrow heard her. "Besides she always hated the Maiden's power so why would she take it if she didn't want it." Orva said as Qrow saw her logic there.
"I'll be in my car." Ollette said as she stormed off as Jaune looked.
"I'll go with her." Jaune said as he knew enough that it was because of the Maiden Power Pyrrha was dead by Nexus hands.
But after some silence Ruby decided to speak up. "That guy, Tyrian - why was he after me?" Ruby asked feeling perturbed as she wanted some answers to this.
Qrow sighed not feeling like explaining this. "Well, you definitely painted a target on your back with what you did at Beacon. I told you having silver eyes is a rare trait. And the fact that you were able to use them seems to have upset some very powerful people. Not many people know about the silver eyes. Those that do aren't very happy that one has surfaced. That's why I've been keeping an eye on you in order to make sure you were safe. All of you." Qrow explained as he looked to all of them knowing Ruby was a major target.
"Plus the fact you used them with Yaiba and was able to have it work side by side with Garo and did a huge number on Nexus proved to those powerful people you're worth the notice." Qrow said as he saw how Ruby heard this and was taking it.
"Well, then, why not just travel with us? It seems like that would've been way easier." Ruby said as Eclipse knew why Qrow didn't do it or at least one of the reasons.
Jaune answers her loudly enough to be heard, but with his back still turned to everyone. "He was using you as bait." Jaune said as he glared at Qrow while sitting outside Ollette's car as she joined the glare.
"Look, I wouldn't put it like that - it's complicated." The Drunk Huntsman and Makai Knight said to him as he walked away a bit to clear his head.
Jaune turns back to face him. "What is all of this? Ruby and possible Gold are being hunted, the schools are being attacked, all for what?! What is the point of all of this?! Will you just tell us what's going on?!" Jaune demanded
Qrow stares at him, then slouches over with a sigh. "Would you sit down? You're stressin' me out, 'kid." Qrow countered as he knew this but also noticed how Eclipse had her eyes open instead of closed like she normally did when she slept. Jaune sits back down on his log and crosses his arms as Qrow starts to take another swig, but changes his mind before the flask reaches his lips.
"Not many people are super religious these days." Qrow caps and sets the flask down. "This world's been around for a long time, long enough that people have created dozens of gods. But if you believe Ozpin, two of them are actually real." Qrow said as he began to tell the story that needed to be heard.
(Story Time Start)
"They were brothers. The older sibling, the god of light, found joy in creating forces of life. Meanwhile, the younger brother, the god of darkness, spend his time creating forces of destruction," Qrow told the story as images in the shadow show the two brother of light and dark, as the brother of light had a dark body but a light inside of him, while the brother of darkness had a light body but a core of darkness.
"As you can imagine, they both had pretty different ideas about how things should go. The older one would spend his days creating water, plants, wildlife," Qrow said as the brother of light created life to everything around so other life can live, but the brother of darkness saw his brother's creation and seem angry at it as Qrow went on saying, "And at night, his brother would wake to see all the things that the elder had made and become disgusted."
The brother of darkness send forth his power of darkness across the land destroying the life around as Qrow went on saying, "To counteract his brother's creations, the god of darkness brought drought, fire, famine. All that he could do to rid remnant of life, but life always returned.
As trees and grass, along with animal that walks upon the land showing life is always returning until the scene gotten dark with the brother of darkness holding something as Qrow went on yelling the story, "So one night the younger went and made something. Something that shared his innate desire to destroy anything and everything."
AS the brother of darkness is shown creating something of his own, but it was no life... but death as Ruby said, "The creatures of Grimm." "You guessed it." Qrow told ruby as suddenly the shadows change as the brother of light came forth to stop his younger brother.
as the brother of darkness lay down before his brother, as it could have seem the brother of light could have ended their feud right there and then... but didn't but instead offer up his hand as Qrow went on saying, "The older brother had finally had enough. Knowing that their feud couldn't last like this forever, he proposed that they make one final creation. Together."
The younger brother took his older brother's hand and stood up with his help and now they stood as equals as Qrow went on saying, "Something that they could both be proud of. Their masterpiece. The younger brother agreed.
Soon enough the shadows show the brothers combining their powers to create something that stands without equal as the brothers soon vanish in a flash of light and something stood in the center where the brothers once were as Qrow went on saying, "This last great creation would be given the power to both create and destroy."
As a humanoid figure stood there as he created life and cause chaos before he raise his hands up to the sky as star shine down as Qrow said to this, "It would be given the gift of knowledge, so that it could learn about itself and the world around it, and most importantly, it would be given the power to choose, to have free will to take everything it had learned and decide which path to follow: The path of light, or the path of darkness."
AS the humanoid figure show a light on one side of it and darkness on the other side before it kneel down before a another figure came forth and soon more and more came forth as Qrow said to that, "And that how humanity came to be."
"But... what does that have to do with us?" Ren asked as he made a good point as it seems the gods created humanity as Qrow answer him, "Well, that's the kicker. See, the four gifts to mankind: knowledge, creation, destruction, and choice... aren't just metaphorical."
Soon enough four orbs of power are shown as it seem they were slowly trying to take a shape as Qrow's tells, "Each of them exists in a physical form, left behind by the gods before they abandoned Remnant, and each of them is extraordinarily powerful."
The image of a person holding all four orbs as they held it in the center of their beings before the Grimm are shown surrounding the person as Qrow said, "If someone were to collect all four, they'd be able to change the world. That exactly what the enemy wants."
"The huntsman Academies were created to train generations of humanity's protectors, but they also serve another purpose: Guarding the relics," Qrow told as the image of beacon is shown as many huntsmen and huntress are shown with sword and shield, staff, maxes, bows and arrow, and many more.
"When Ozpin's predecessor founded the schools, he built them around the relics to act as a fortress. Not only would they be easier to defend, but they would be constantly surrounded by trained warriors. The hope was that hiding the relics would keep mankind from using them against itself.
As image show in the shadows two groups of people standing against each other with their weapon raise as a dark aura surround the people as Qrow went on saying, "And, Of course, keeping them out of her reach."
The sound of thunder in the back ground make all the figure vanish as well the image of beacon soon vanish as well.
(End story)
"So yeah, there's that." Qrow continued as he sat on the rock as he looked to the group.
Ruby looks at her Uncle. "Her. You mean Salem?" Ruby said as she looked to the fire.
"That's right not much is known about her save for the fact Nexus and Solomon are both in her inner circle but that's not what matters." Qrow said as he sat on his spot. "What matters right now is that she wants the relics, and if she gets them, it's not going to end well…" Qrow explained as he looked to the fire.
"You know..." Jaune finally spoke as he sat down with Ollette and the others. "The way you described the Deities kind of reminds me of what Gold and Nexus has going on." Jaune said as Eclipse heard this.
"You have no idea." Eclipse said before going wide eyed at what she said out loud.
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked as she looked to her left hand where Eclipse was resting on her middle finger.
"Oh um... nothing at all." Eclipse lied as Ruby saw it as did Orva.
"Eclipse I think it's time we acknowledge the elephant in the camp." Orva spoke up as she looked to Eclipse. "Don't think it's escaped my notice that you, Zaruba, Eruba, and Ozpin have been hiding something and it seems to revolve around Gold, Ruby, and Nexus." Orva said as she looked to Eclipse. "So start talking I think we all deserve to know the full story at least as much as you can tell." Orva said as Eclipse saw even Penny had eyes on her now.
Eclipse then sighed as she knew there was no way out of this one now. "Please Eclipse." Ruby said as Eclipse understood this and knew if she continued to hide this... then Ruby will be put into even more danger.
"Sakuya made me promise not to tell the new Yaiba until she was ready... but desperate times call for desperate measures." Eclipse said looking to Qrow and the others.
"As you know... in the beginning the two Deities came to Remnant but they weren't alone when they came... see the human race we know today is in fact the incarnation of the previous human race when Remnant long ago went by another name... Earth." Eclipse said as she looked to everyone as they heard this. "Back then the Makai Order existed as well as Horrors were an eternal threat so long as their progenitor the Messiah continued to exist but in those times humanity didn't have Dust or Semblances only their wit, body, and courage." Eclipse said as she looked to the fire.
"One day the Messiah unleashed something that Garo and Kiba for the first time in history had to work side by side to undue it but in order to do this task they had to ascend to a new state of being and in turn they became reborn as the Twin Deities of old." Eclipse said dropping the bombshell on everyone.
"Wait you saying Gold and Nexus are gods?!" Jaune asked in shock as Eclipse sighed.
"No they are not see the armor gained that power as did Kiba but that is a story for another time." Eclipse said getting to the nitty gritty. "When they defeated the Messiah their rivalry was re-sparked in a similar manner as your story tells even after they had preserve the survivors of the Messiah's doomsday mankind was on the brink and the two kept battling each other... until one day SHE appeared." Eclipse said as she looked to them. "The third deity a female one who bore eyes of a silver light." Eclipse said as the story began.
(Story Start)
Ink blotches appeared and formed the twin deities once more as they had their war against each other. "The Third Deity was young and naïve and both believed if they can turn her to their side they may be able to defeat their brother. But with this naïveté due to her youth she became a curious creature looking to the world with wonder seeing both its good and bad life and death." Eclipse said as the images showed the third deity with eyes of silver as a butterfly landed on her waiting finger as she looked to it with curiosity.
"The Light Brother tried to convince her to side with him as they were kin but she used as similar argument as to why family should hurt family as in a way they weren't family by blood but by power the deity saw some truth in her words." Eclipse said as the image showed the Silver Eyed Deity speaking with her brother. "But when Night came the dark deity tried to deceive her to aid him but she saw a beauty even in death like a fire that would eventually go out and she saw that the dark deity was part of this beauty. Her brother's heart and mind was moved that for the two she became the inspiration they needed for their greatest creation." Eclipse spoke as the image showed the two deities talking to the third.
"So together the three created mankind to embody each of them as well as the beauty of the fire that can burn but like a candle would burn out and die joining its ashes with the earth itself." Eclipse spoke as the image showed the three deities creating mankind and the relics.
"But when the Deities were to leave Remnant the sister did not wish to go. As I have said she was a curious creature and she was curious and intrigued by humanity and the Grimm that hunt it." Eclipse spoke as the story showed the deities offering their younger sister to come with them but she looked to humans with wonder and curiosity. "The Sister declined them and in turn found a young man who carried with him the armor of Yaiba to return it to the Makai Order." Eclipse spoke as the story continued to the sister meeting this man. "In turn she granted Remnant her own gift and a gift to herself, she wanted to be a human being as well to understand and learn from them through their eyes and in turn shed her divine form to be reborn a human being. Unknown this act would be the seed that created the lineage of Yaiba and the silver eyes that champions her power." Eclipse spoke as she showed in her tale how the third deity abandoned her divine power to become a regular mortal being.
"The Deities seeing their sister happiness and joy granted her a boon they gave her the secret of their relics and in turn she gave it to Ozpins Predecessor who aided in creating the Huntsman Academy's that the Silver Eyes would always be championed as protectors of the innocent." Eclipse said as she was almost done with the story.
"But it didn't end there." Eclipse as she came to the nitty gritty. "The Dark Brother in later years felt cheated when mankind began to follow the light more than the dark that he confronted his brother about it." She explained as the ink blotch showed the two brothers arguing. "The twin deities made a wager that they'd choose a champion to decide who would carry their will and will wait lifetimes upon lifetimes to decide on such a champion." Eclipse said as the two brothers made their wager.
"In the end the two champions never appeared but it was said that they'd be done in a Golden Light and an Ebony Darkness and will decide the fate of Remnant." Eclipse explained as she ended her story.
(End Story)
"Wow." Nora said as Ruby heard this as Ruby was hoping Gold and Nexus weren't the mentioned champions.
"So I'm part God then?" Ruby asked as Eclipse sighed.
"No far from it you are a mortal being the sister sacrificed all her divine power save for her access to the Relics a sort of master control or a skeleton key which she passed to her daughter who did the same and so forth." Eclipse said as Ruby heard this.
"So... what happened to the other Silver Eyes?" Ruby asked as Eclipse sighed.
"Salem happened." Eclipse said with venom in her voice. "Salem attacked them out of nowhere and systematically began to exterminate them one by one leaving Sakuya and her sibling as the sole survivors. Sakuya with the previous Garo and Lord went after her... and only Lord returned from that battle." Eclipse said as Ruby saw there was more to the story but it was clear Eclipse didn't wish to talk about it sounding like an old war veteran.
"It seems history has a funny yet cruel way of finishing what it started both with the deities and Salem." Eclipse spoke finally as Ollette heard this.
"Yeah Gold is basically the Light guy, Nexus Dark Demon, and Ruby neutral silver of the modern age." Ollette said as Ruby looked to Eclipse.
"But why does Salem want to target me?" Ruby asked as Eclipse then sighed as this was her final answer to her.
"Simple... revenge." Eclipse said as Ruby gulped as she wasn't done. "And it's not with you alone she is willing to give you mercy simply because Nexus vines for you as an apprentice her vengeance is with Ozpin, the Golden Knight's lineage, the Scorching Heat Knight's lineage, the Makai Order, and humanity as a whole." Eclipse said as she knew what drove Salem and knew despite Nexus her rage had yet to vanish. "For now no more questions it's already painful and tiresome enough to talk about." Eclipse said as she dropped the subject for now.
"Fine." Qrow said as now he knew some new information Ozpin hid from them but possibly for good reason. But the way Eclipse talked about it sounded like long ago Ozpin, Salem, Solomon, the previous Golden Knight, and the previous Scorching Heat Knight weren't enemy but were in fact comrades and friends and a betrayal tor them all apart.
(Meanwhile in Menagerie the Belladonna household)
Blake Belladonna stands on a second story deck outside her father's office. The broken moon shines over the house. Blake stares at her father's door, beside which hangs an empty birdcage, when Kali Belladonna speaks, startling her.
"You know, you can always go in and say hi." Kali said with a smile as she carries a tray with a tea set on it.
"I don't wanna bother him." Blake said feeling unwanted by seeing her father.
Kali's smile grew a bit. "A father's never too busy for his daughter." Kali said as she looked to her daughter.
Blake had a small smile on her face. "Not all of my friends would agree with you on that." Blake confessed as so far she hadn't gotten much involving Akane.
Kali kisses her daughter on the cheek and hands her the tray. Blake accepts it, but is a bit taken aback by being handed it. "Here." Kali said handing the tea to Blake.
"What? Where are you going?" She asked her mother.
"You've never been very talkative, but that boy you brought home loves to run his mouth unlike the other one who just likes to stuff his mouth. I wanna hear more about the adventures of Team RWBY and Team SSKT." Kali said being excited about the adventures of Team GARO and RWBY as she walks away, her footsteps audible.
"Kali? Is that you, dear?" Ghira called from his office.
Blake gives a nervous start of surprise when she hears his voice. The tray shakes in her hands, and she lets out a quiet whine. Ghira straightens some paperwork on his desk. The porch door slides open and Blake steps inside.
"Uh, hey dad."
Ghira smiles widely. "Blake! Well, this is a pleasant surprise."
This was not what Blake had expected at all. "I…"
"Please, come sit." Ghira said enthusiastically as he stood up.
Father and daughter both move to the oversized coffee table and lounge furniture, and Blake sets the tea set at the end where her father sits.
"Don't worry, I've got it. Sit down, sit down." He said softly.
Blake felt that she didn't do enough for her father. "I don't wanna keep you if you're-"
"Nonsense, I've been cooped up in here all day." Ghira poured tea in both teacups. He puts a cube of sugar in the cup nearest Blake. "You still take sugar, right?"
Blake's eyes widen a bit in surprise. "Oh, actually, uh-" Blake tried to explain but that caused Ghira to get awkward.
Ghira pulls back nervously. "Oh! Sorry!" He said as he had put the sugar in without thinking.
Blake holds her hands out feverishly. "No, no, no; no, it's fine." Blake said as she wasn't trying to be rude here.
Ghira took a breath in relief. "Oh, here, take this one." He offered as he handed the other cup.
Blake takes her cup. "No, really. It's, it's no big deal." Blake said as he was ok with it.
"You sure?" Ghira asked as he hadn't seen his daughter in a long time.
"Positive." Blake confirmed as she looked to her father.
Ghira chuckles. "Old habits, I suppose." He said as Blake takes a sip of her tea and winces with a tiny exclamation of pain.
"Might wanna let it cool." He said with a small smile on his face.
"Right…" She said with a little pained voice as Blake sets the cup down on the table.
"So… is it… warm... in Vale?" Ghira inquired as he noted how Blake had dressed.
"Huh?" Blake asked in return to her father's odd question.
"It just… seems like your outfit doesn't cover very much." Blake's Father pointed out by observing his daughter's outfit.
Blake looks down at herself and crosses her arms as a blush covers appeared on her cheeks. "It covers plenty." Blake said as it was her outfit part of her identity after all.
"I mean, a little more armor might help. Don't you think?" Ghira asked as he was only worried for Blake.
Blake shakes her head slightly. "I'm fine. I don't need armor. I can look after myself." Blake said as she looked to her father.
"I…" He sighed. "I know you can. I'm sorry." He sets down his own cup.
Blake's expression saddens, and she looks away, bowing her head. "...Why?" Blake finally asked as it all came tumbling down for her.
"Hmm?" Ghira asked as he didn't know what she meant.
"Why would you say that?" Blake asked as after all the things she had done she wondered why her father even let her back into the house.
Ghira moves to be beside his daughter, going down to one knee and putting a hand on her back. "Sweetheart, what's wrong? What did I say?" Ghira asked as he thought he may have done something wrong.
Blake refuses to cry but the tears were coming. "How can you still love me after what I did?" Blake asked as she knew she should have left long ago. In fact she should have done something about Akane especially with... with how Adam had treated her in their youth.
"Blake…" He gets up and sits beside her on the couch, putting his arm around her. "Your mother and I will always love you." Ghira said as he knew despite how big Blake gets or what mistakes or choices she makes he knew that he would lover her regardless.
"You were right. I shouted at you and yelled at you." She said emotionally looking up at her father with tears falling. "But you were right. I called you cowards!" She cried out remorsefully, as she lowers her head closer to her father. He holds her close comforting his daughter despite her choices.
"It's okay."
Blake pulled back. "I should have left the White Fang with you and Mom. I should've listened to you, and I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." She looked away with shame.
Ghira turned her by the chin to look at him and then wiping a tear from her eye with his thumb. "Blake, its fine. We never held anything against you, and I never feared you would fail. The only thing I ever feared was that you would fall down the wrong path, and I am so proud to see you haven't." Ghira said as he looked to Blake.
"But I've only made nothing but mistakes even when I was younger I saw it I saw Akane and how she was treated by those around her and instead of trying to help her I just kept my head down and looked the other way." Blake said as she knew deep down she was part of the reason Weiss possibly now has a monster for a sister. "In the end I went down the wrong path and I-." Blake began but Ghira cut her off there.
"And you pulled yourself out. You came back. There aren't many who possess that kind of strength and even fewer that have the courage to face their demons again. Vale, Mountain Glenn, Beacon - you confronted the White Fang time after time." Ghira said firmly.
"I didn't do it alone."
"No, you didn't. Which is why I wanted to ask you… why did you leave Vale? Why did you leave your friends behind?" Her father asked.
"I…" She sniffled as she began to tell but then the screen door near them falls inward, Sun on top of it and yelping with Inuken as this made Blake turn around to see them.
"Sun and Inuken?!" Blake cried affronted as she stood there as she saw her bodyguard there.
Ghira is also standing while Sun gets himself upright and tries to recover from the situation.
Sun sweat drops. "D'yuh! Whoa! This isn't the bathroom! Uh, I'll just be going! Sorry to interrupt this tender family moment!" He lets out an awkward giggle.
"I tried to stop him." Inuken said as he got up not even bothered by this.
Blake and Ghira both glare at Sun, Blake's right ear twitching. Ghira takes a breath and closes his eyes for a second.
"I really don't like you." Ghira said with a hint of anger in his tone.
"Then he's the one for Blake." Doruba was heard with his joke as Inuken looked.
"I'll see you all later can't have a dog in a room of cats." Inuken said as the dog Faunus took his leave of them.
(With Gold, Raven, and Wolfe)
"So that's why Nexus is obsessed with taking me on, Garo and Kiba are instinctively drawn to each other as are their wielders the closer we are to each other added the more combat we are in the more we'll be drawn to each other." Gold said as he sat there.
"Yeah basically." Raven said as she looked to Gold.
"And you were using me as bait to find Nexus." Gold said as he looked to Raven.
"In layman's terms yes." Raven said as Wolfe flared at her for that. "Oh don't give me that look wouldn't be the first time your kind used humans as bait." Raven said as those stained with the blood of Horrors had always made excellent Horror bait.
"So history is repeating itself now we can only hope this time we can beat them." Zaruba finally said as Gold heard his partner.
"Of course we can." Gold said as he stood up tall. "I'm not going to abandon my duty just because of something like destiny as far as I'm concern we make our own destiny and if Nexus is still out there and wants to fight he better bring his A game!" Gold called out as it seems he was ready to take on Nexus.
"Don't even." Raven said as the two looked to her. "Nexus is my responsibility I need to be the one who puts him down." Raven said as she stood up as she basically created him.
"Yeah I mean he needed some parental figure not a task master." Gold said as Wolfe glared but silently agreed.
"I know... I only learned that truth far too late." Raven said as she wish she could take it all back and hopefully had save Nexus from his darkness.
"So Nexus was once good but..." Gold trailed off as he then smiled. "Well then if I find him first then that will be my lucky day!" Gold called out as he was clearly still optimistic about this.
"Well we better get some rest already took the Anti-Venom and had magic healing done on me for now I'm going to sleep." Wolfe said as Raven saw what he was doing. The poison was of an Alchemists creation and Raven was doing her best to deal with it.
"Well better rest then I'll be up and early tomorrow." Gold said as he looked to them.
"Yeah." Raven said as she knew she needed to stay here for a bit until Wolfe was fully healed up.
(With Ruby's group)
Jaune slams his fist into his hand. "Alright. So, let's say we believe all this. There really is this crazy evil being behind these attacks, not just some thugs trying to become powerful. Why doesn't the world know? Why isn't Atlas going after them? Or Mistral?" Jaune asked as it was made worse that it seems Salem wanted revenge for a crime the modern people of Remnant hadn't known about or committed.
"And why aren't we in more of a hurry to get to Haven? Shouldn't we be getting them a message? What if they're next?" Nora asked looking at everyone.
Qrow shook his head. "The headmaster over there saw what happened to Beacon. He's not dumb. He'll be on his guard. Besides, it takes time to mobilize forces like that. Do you really think they planned out that attack on Beacon overnight? And to answer your question, it's the same reason we keep quiet about the Maidens. If the whole world knew about the relics, about Salem, there would be chaos. There'd be another Great War on our hands, and this time, you'd have to fight hordes upon hordes of Horrors." Qrow explained as that got Jaune to go silent.
"Look, I had the same questions, too. But ol' Ozpin would always put his foot down. 'We can't cause a panic.' Heh, can't tell you how many times I've heard that. Salem's smart. She works from the shadows, using others to get what she wants, so that when it comes time to place the blame, we can only point at each other. She's trying to divide us - humanity, and so far she's done a pretty damn good job." He said drinking from his flask as Ollette looked.
"No kidding." Ollette said as she had seen the signs and knew things were getting worse for everyone.
Leaning back, Qrow looks up at the broken moon and the visual pans to follow his gaze before returning to him, with an above shot at first, changing to a frontal shot when he looks ahead and sighs. "Plus with her ace being Nexus Atlas ultimate biological weapon Salem has a pretty good foothold once he's back to 100%. So far only you and Gold got the jump on him and forced him into a corner." Qrow said as they all knew this. "But he's smart so he won't make the same mistake a second time adapting is his strongest natural ability." Qrow said as through adapting Nexus evolves.
"Alright, so what should we do?" The inheritor of Yaiba asked him as she wanted answers as Qrow then chuckled a bit.
"Honestly... I have no clue save for the basic. Hunt down Horrors and Grimm and try to take down Salem." Qrow said as he knew Salem, Solomon, and Nexus together was a deadly combination.
"Ozpin has put a lot of trust in the headmasters. Like I said, the schools are an important part of stopping Salem. Atlas is going to be on high alert after the last attack, and Vacuo is - well, Vacuo. It'll be hard to hire thieves and scoundrels to fight against other thieves and scoundrels. Take that, add in the fact that Cinder and her crew claim to be from Haven, and I think it's likely the next target. So, we're on our way to the headmaster. Haven't heard from him in a while, even before the attack. I'm hoping he has the answers." Qrow said as he looked to the group as he stood up but held his injury from before.
"Alright, I think it's time you kids got some sleep." Qrow said as it was bed time for everyone here.
"Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked as she wanted some more answers.
"Yeah?" Qrow asked as he knew Ruby had a lot of questions both Orva and Eclipse knew this.
Ruby stands. "This is a lot to take in, and it all sounds crazy, but… I'm willing to do whatever I can to help because I trust you. But why couldn't you trust me? Why couldn't you just travel with us, instead of this secrecy, and, and-" Ruby began as she knew Penny was designed for this no doubt possibly to keep Nexus at bay or the other way around.
Qrow rose his hand signaling her to stop. "Look, this has nothing to do with trust. I- It's a long story, okay?" Qrow said as he knew Gold got the good part of the Semblance. Incredible Good Fortune to himself and his closest allies that it made Qrow envious of the kid.
Nora arched an eyebrow. "Seriously? Now you're tired of telling us stories?" He stares at the fire in silence before speaking. As he talks he kneels down, picks up a stick and pokes at the fire.
"Did you know that crows are a sign of bad luck? Old superstition, but it's how I got my name. See, some people can absorb electricity and some people can burst into rose petals and some people are just born unlucky. My Semblance isn't like most - it's not exactly something I do. It's always there, whether I like it or not. I bring misfortune." He chuckles bitterly as he looked to the fire burning on the wood of their campfire. "I guess you could call me a bad luck charm. Comes in real handy when I'm fighting an enemy, but it makes it a little hard on friends… and family." Qrow explained as Eclipse saw this a mile away.
"So that's why Nexus took a liking to you." Eclipse said as she looked to Qrow. "Your Semblance can cancel out Gold's and the same vice versa like an anti-thesis. Good Fortune is after all opposed by misfortune." Eclipse said as that made Qrow a target for Nexus ever growing collection. "Gold has Good Luck Charm... and you have Bad Luck Charm." Eclipse said as Qrow chuckled bitterly a bit.
"Yeah makes me envious of the guy." Qrow said as he sometimes wish he had Gold's life.
"Well, you are just a real bundle of help, aren't you?" Jaune asked sarcastically as Penny heard him.
"Jaune be nice." Penny scolded as Ollete, Ruby, and Nora all glared at Jaune for that comment.
"Yeah." Qrow said with a chuckle as he began to walk away from the campfire, slowly.
"Where are you going?" Ren asked as Ollette saw this.
"Taking a walk." Qrow answers as he walked away.
"There's nothing else you want to tell us?" Ollette asked with a glare as Ruby and Eclipse agreed minus the glare that they needed to know more in case they needed it.
"Not tonight." Qrow said as he noted a raven with red eye land on a tree nearby as he glared at it.
He continues his slow walk away, leaving the six teenagers to themselves for a bit. The log he had prodded earlier rolls out of the campfire. Ruby watches Qrow, concerned but Eclipse knew deep down the more secrets Ruby discovers the bigger the risk of seeing her turn and walk right into Nexus' clutches.
(Back with Blake)
Blake was heard growling as she glared at Sun with Inuken enjoying a small meal nearby watching the whole thing. Blake then proceeded to slap Sun as they all were outside Ghira's office. "Ugh! No concept of privacy," She slaps him again. "No respect for personal space!" She yelled as Sun
His hand goes to his face where she made contact the second time. "I'm sorry, okay?! Ow, I'm sorry!" Sun said as he did not want to be slapped again.
"Ugh!" Blake angrily, she turns her back on him and marches a few steps away.
Sun rose his hands in defense. "Look, I promise it was important! I needed to find you to talk to you!" Sun said as he had some important information to share.
Blake turns back exasperated. "What, Sun? What could be so important?!" Blake demanded as she looked to Sun.
"I was talking to your mom and she said something weird about the White Fang!" Sun said with urgency as he also had more information to share with her.
Blake holds a finger up and striding forward. "I'm stopping you right there." Blake said as that wasn't why she was here.
"But—" Sun began but Blake ended up cutting him off.
"I told you, I'm not here to fight the White Fang, I'm not here to fight anyone. I'm here to rest and train, to figure things out, and to see my family." She said sternly as she looked to Sun.
Sun groans gripping his head. "Your mom said White Fang members don't wear masks in Menagerie. But I saw one at the market yesterday! I even have a picture!" He pulls his Scroll out of his back pocket to show to her what he found. Actually Inuken had did his own investigation recently on Akane to try and peace her past together to figure out what drove her to such extremes. He had found her house and by the looks of it her father or guardian had received a regular care package for her upbringing with a good amount of money and such in it. But the state her house was in suggested it wasn't used for any of that save for the bare essentials.
He also noted old dried blood here and there and unless he had a matching scent he didn't and couldn't figure out who it belonged to. All in all Blake may have had a point of how her lack of acting during her childhood may have molded Akane to what she currently is. But then Inuken sniffed the air a bit and noted the scent of a reptile around here. 'We have company.' Inuken said as the fact the scent was trying to hide Doruba and Inuken both knew a fight was coming.
Sun tries to bring up the image. "Look, I'm trying to help!" Sun yelled as he knew Blake needed it.
Blake pulls his Scroll out of his hands and tosses it out into the trees. "I don't want your help!" She yelled as she tossed the Scroll out of her friend's hands.
Sun stares at his Scroll and turns to Blake, growling. The sound of the Scroll landing, followed by a feminine, gasping sound is heard from the trees where Blake had just tossed the device. Both Sun and Blake's eyes go wide for a second and they slowly turn, eyes narrowing. "Way to go Sun." Inuken said as he had his Zanga Blade ready. "You lead the White Fang right to us." Inuken said as he glared at the scene outside knowing they were in for a fight now.
"Come out I can smell you a mile away reptile!" Inuken yelled as he glared at the wood line as his eyes picked up the shadow of a figure in the tree. A dark humanoid shape with a white mask can just be made out, perched atop a palm tree as Inuken saw her. "There you are." Inuken said as Doruba saw it and both knew she was no Horror.
Of course Blake also saw her as she gasped at the figure as it was a female Faunus with thin, curved, dark gray horns and black, spotty skin. She is wearing a black, sleeveless stealth suit with a gold zipper and slightly lighter-black straps with gold buckles on it. On her face is a large, white Grimm Mask with elegant, curvy red markings. The woman leaps into the air, giving a better view of her. The legs of her stealth outfit are short, and she wears high-top boots. Her black hair is pulled back in a ponytail that curls up at the end. The Faunus soon disappears. On the porch, Blake steps forward with a determined look in her eye while Sun throws out his arms.
Inuken knew the girl saw them and knew they had to catch her before she got away. Sun's eyes widen. "A freakin' ninja?!" Sun cried out as he saw the ninja take off.
"A spy!" Blake confirmed as Inuken saw this.
Sun could barely grasp on what is going on. "But why would—" Sun began but he was then cut off as Blake and Inuken jumped off the edge as they chased after the spy in question. "Hey wait!" He called but it was too late as they got away.
Kali comes out from around the corner and inside the house. "What's happened?" Kali asked as she heard the commotion going on.
Sun backs up toward where Tails leapt from. "The White Fang is evil, I totally called it, and I'm bringing your daughter and her bodyguard back!" Sun called out as he went after the two as he jumped off the edge.
(Gold, Wolfe, and Raven that morning)
Raven and Wolfe were awoken to the sound of a motorcycle engine and saw just in time to see Gold on Zaruba driving off as they saw this. "Damn that kid." Wolfe said as Raven saw this.
"You should keep a better leash on him." Raven said as she saw this.
"I would if I wanted to, I swear that brat is to kind for his own good... then again better he's like this then an avenger or one of those moody edgy angry sort." Wolfe said as he hissed in pain a bit from Tyrion's poison which Raven has almost finished dealing with.
"I see well after what happened to him I don't find it surprising you raised him considering how close you were to both his father and brother." Raven said as Wolfe scoffed a bit.
"Don't look to deep into it I owed them one, his old man for training me, and his brother for being my best friend." Wolfe said as Raven rolled her eyes a bit and sighed.
"Don't make the same mistake I did Remnant needs more like Gold." Raven said as she saw this.
"Trust me... I won't." Wolfe said as he saw Gold drive off to head to Mistral.
(With Ruby's Group)
It is morning time at the campsite, and the birds are a-tweeting. All five teenagers are in their sleeping bags, the campfire burned out in the middle. Qrow sits up against the base of a tree, facing the group while Ren sits up with a sigh.
"We should probably get moving." Ren states as the Madous all agreed.
Jaune sits up. "Yeah, yeah." Jaune said as he sat up as Ollette stretched a bit.
"Yeah the faster we get to Mistral the quicker Team GARO and Team RWBY Can be back together." Ollette said as she clearly held high hopes the two teams will be reunited.
But before they could really get a move on they all turn at the sound of Qrow coughing, which grows louder and sounds worse with each cough. Nora and Ruby sit up, and Ruby quickly goes to her uncle's side. Purple staining is visible on Qrow's bandage, which he is holding his right hand over. He lifts his left hand to his mouth as he continues to cough. A cuckoo bird joins its call to the rest of the morning birds. Qrow pulls his hand away with a groan, and the whole palm, including up over the wrist and his fingers, is covered in the purple stain.
Ruby's eyes grow wide, and she gasps. Qrow looks at his hand. "Crow!" Orva called out shocked at how she didn't pick up on it before as Ruby ran over to her uncle and gasped at the violet stain on his bandages and in his hand.
"Their weapons must have been tipped with poison and since Ruby and Jaune were in their armor and lost soul through most of it they were both spared." Eclipse said as they all saw this.
"Well…" He looks up at Ruby. "That's unfortunate." Qrow said before with a groan, he lowers his hand and head before going still. The cuckoo finally stops as everyone knew they may be here a bit longer then they had originally intended.
(TBC)
ESKK: Well I hoped you all liked this and hope to see you all again real soon so until next time we meet I say ja-ne.
