The popcorn lay untouched under Ray's bed as he held Pyrrha and Jaune close to each other.
They had just seen what the most possible future held for them. From the moment that Yang fought against Mercury Black, to the end where Jaune, Nora, Ren and Ruby left for Haven, leaving behind a worried Taiyang Xiao Long, a Yang Xiao Long who lost all fate because she lost her arm, Blake Belladonna, who ran over the Vale rooftops, searching for answers to questions unknown, Weiss who was forcefully being taken back to Atlas with her father, a mission in action Ozpin and a Dead Pyrrha Nikos.
Yes. The most possible future was bleak. The feelings of the people in the room self were also bleak. Nobody wanted to have this future trusted upon them, but nobody knew what to do.
Nobody, except for Team RAVN.
"Listen," Said Ray as he placed a crying Pyrrha and Jaune together on his bed. "There is still hope. We just need to make sure that the match between Yang and Mercury Black doesn't happen. I have a few idea's for that, but in order to succeed, we need to pretend that there is nothing wrong. That means that for all of Team RWBY, you need to do friendly to Emerald and Mercury."
"WHAT?" Ruby cried out. "They lied to us. We are at the beginning of the collapse of Vale, the battle of Beacon and you want us to make friends with those who betray us and our trust?"
"Ruby. It is important that they don't find out, until it is to late for them. Don't worry about what might happen. Worry about the tournament and when it's time to jump into action, I expect each and every one of you to do your duty as huntsmen and huntresses." Said Goodwitch, bringing the attention of Teams RWBY and JNPR to the deputy headmistress of Beacon Academy.
Jaune nodded, his face still wet with tears. "I promise you professor, I will stand for the defense of Beacon and Vale."
"While I admire your resolve, Mr. Arc, do not forget that these people have killed in the past. Hesitate with dealing the lethal blow, and you will find yourself resting forever, six feet under." The deputy said as she looked at the young knight.
"Professor." Weiss started, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "I know that some might forget it, but who was that young woman in the vault?"
Ozpin looked at Weiss, and the young Schnee heiress looked down as she felt Ozpin's gaze upon her.
"Do not be ashamed of your curiosity, for it is what makes you human, Weiss." Said Ozpin as he placed a hand upon the young Schnee heiress shoulder. "However," Ozpin said as he looked around the room, eying everyone. "While you all want to have an explanation, I cannot grand you your wish for that at the moment. While it is my secret to tell, I cannot tell you, because it is not time for the secret to be told."
Ozpin removed his hand from Weiss' shoulder. "Now, I think it's time for you to reflect on what you have seen. Glynda, if you would kindly stay here, I need to talk to my son. He's probably done with the testing of the Biomes of Amity. Good day." And before Goodwitch could respond, Ozpin had walked out the door and walked towards the docks, where he would meet with Harry and his team.
"I hate it when he does that." Said Goodwitch as she stared at the door. Her peace was short lived as she felt a heat covering the room.
"Blake, What the FUCK." Shouted Yang as her semblance activated, producing flames and turning her eyes red. "You left me. You FUCKING LEFT ME." The blond roared as she made a move to punch Blake. Blake was unable to dodge the incoming fist and Goodwitch wasn't fast enough to prevent Yang punching Blake. Blake closed her eyes and awaited the full force of Yang's fists. They never came. Opening her eyes, Blake found herself looking at the back of Ray Star, who used his semblance to hold Yang's fist from hitting her face.
"Yang. Calm down." Ray said as he forced more power into his semblance, making the shield between Yang and Ray more visible. The contact point between Yang's fist and Ray's shield started to crack, as Yang was slowly moving her fist forward. Then, she was bounced back of the shield and thrown upon a bed, just as Ray was about to take Yang's punch.
"Enough." Goodwitch shouted, causing every student to look at her.
"Miss Xiao Long, You will not attack any of your teammates. Miss Belladonna, you will calmly answer the question why you left, while it seemed that Miss Xiao Long needed your help." Goodwitch said as he pointed her riding crop at the Black and Yellow students of Team RWBY.
Blake nodded, took a deep breath and looked at the Y of Team RWBY. "Yang. I don't know why I would run away. It's just something that I have learned to do whenever things get to tough for me. Please, I ask you not to judge me on it. You've all seen Adam there, cutting of Yang's arm. I-I," Blake started as she fell on her knees and started to cry. Everybody looked at the B of Team RWBY, crying her eyes out for some unknown reason.
After a minute, Blake felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up, right in the green eyes that were behind a pair of glasses. Professor Glynda Goodwitch smiled gently at the young cat Faunus as she gave Blake a handkerchief. Blake accepted the handkerchief and blew her nose with it and dried her tears. "Keep it, Miss Belladonna." Professor Goodwitch said as Blake was about to hand it back to the professor. "Please, continue."
Blake nodded. "I was practically born in the White Fang, back when it was a peaceful origination. We protested against shops that refused to serve Faunus, those who used Faunus labor and all of that. Most protests were unsuccessful, as it was either the Schnee Dust Company or the police that removed the protesters. In one of those protests, I lost my parents, who were both members of the inner council of the White Fang. I was seven years old."
Several students in the rooms gasped at the revelation that Blake was an orphan. Yang and Ruby looked at the young Faunus and their friend and stepped forward, only to be blocked by Nova.
"What?" Ruby asked quiet as she looked at the pink haired girl.
"Watch and listen." Was all that Nova said.
"When the protesters were removed, and I lost my parents, I was wondering the streets when I was attacked by three humans. They were older than me, and they carried a collar with a chain attached to it. They also carried two baseball bats, one of them was smeared with blood. Blood, that I could smell was from a dog Faunus. I tried to run away from them, but they caught up with me in a alley. They first started to hit me with the bat, before they placed the collar on my neck and dragged me out of the alley. I must have had dozens of small wounds, but my aura wasn't unlocked, so I couldn't heal myself." Blake told them as small tears fell from her eyes again. Weiss was feeling quite queasy of hearing what Blake had to endure. She sat on a bed and accepted a bowl to puke in if she needed to from Angel.
"When I was dragged by the boys out in the open, a young Bull Faunus jumped between me and the three boys and cut the chain with his sword. Leaving me to recover my strength, the Bull Faunus charged towards the three boys, who defended themselves from the sword that the Bull Faunus wielded. In the end, the boys ran, each with no less that three scratches on their arms, spelling the letter A. The Faunus who rescued me came back and introduced himself as Adam Taurus, a member of the White fang. I'd never seen him before, but at that point I didn't care. I was just happy to be safe again." Blake took a deep breath, and continued with her story.
"Adam brought me to one of the many safe-houses that were scattered in Vale, and started to heal my wounds, both by unlocking my aura and placing bandages where they were needed. I must have fell asleep after that as I don't remember what happened directly after that. When I woke up from my sleep, it was three days after the protest and the boys who wanted to do whatever they wanted to do."
"Wow." Said Jaune as he looked at Blake. 'Didn't my uncle once said something about a mad Faunus with a blade?' Jaune asked himself.
"When I asked about my parents, Adam told me that they were either dead or missing in action. He took it upon himself to raise me, to become my older brother and who taught me everything he knew about the world. I told him early on that I wanted to make the world a better place." Said Blake as she dabbed her eyes again, removing her tears. "Adam told me that it was a foolish idea, that Human and Faunus could live together. He told me that a newer, stronger White Fang would create what was to be the future, where Faunus would rule the world. Slowly but surely, did the White Fang change, until five years ago, the old leader stepped down and a new leader took his place. Adam had trained me, and several others in basic and advanced combat to show the world that the White Fang would no longer sit down and be treated as second class citizens. What followed was five years of attacks to Shops who refused to serve Faunus, capturing trains from companies that used Faunus labor. And the worst was, that it worked. We were treated as equals by the humans. But not out of respect, but out of fear. Fear that they would be the next to receive the 'Faunus Wrath'.
So, I left. With the job done and seeing how Adam had changed from a gentle person who took me in to a m-m-monster, I-I-I" Blake said before she cried again, her tears falling on the floor of the dorm. Ruby went past Yang and Nova and sat down next to Blake, wrapping her arms around the distraught Faunus girl. Yang jumped in and did the same, forcefully dragging Weiss with her.
"You left." said Vixen as she looked at the group on the floor that was hugging Blake.
"Yeah." said Blake as she hugged her teammates back. "I didn't want to do those things, but I wasn't able to escape until that time.
"So, this Adam is the same as we have seen in the visions?" Asked Vixen as she pointed towards the Sphere that was still in the room.
"Yeah. He's the one who trained me, cared for me and practically raised me." Blake said as she looked at Yang's face. "Yang. I cannot tell how much it hurts me to see you there, lying alone and injured. But I can't fight against my mentor." Blake said as she wrapped her arms around Yang's own body.
"Hey, don't worry." Yang said as she looked in Blake's eyes. "We'll change that future, we'll make sure that if and when you go up against your former mentor, you'll have at least one of us with you." Yang said as she motioned around. Blake looked around as well and blushed slightly as she saw both Teams RAVN and JNPR standing there, nodding.
"You will?" Blake asked, her voice betraying her feelings that they would abandon her, when and if she would meet with Adam.
"We will, Blake." Ray said as he stepped forward. "While I know that some things need to be done, I want to address one more thing. Pyrrha."
Pyrrha looked over from her spot next to Jaune. "Yes?" She asked with her friendly smile.
"Pyrrha, when that woman shows up, whatever you do, do NOT attack her. She'll be mine to handle." Said Ray as he looked at the spartan woman.
"And do you think you can handle her, Ray?" Asked Goodwitch as she looked at Ray. Ray's eyes started to glow a emerald green, more brighter than most. His whole body started to be surrounded by the same emerald green fire.
"I'm certain that I'll be able to give her a good match." Ray said as he powered down, before he covered his eyes again. "Damn eyes."
"Okay, while the future may seem dark and bleak, I'd like to point out that this is a possible future. The future is not set in stone." said Angel as she looked around. "Team RAVN is trying to find a way to increase the chance for everyone of us to escape with our lives intact. We know that Cinder, Emerald and Mercury play a part in this. We also know that Ray is at the moment the only person at Beacon who can stand a chance at fighting Cinder."
Angel looked at the huntsmen and huntresses in training. "You will find out every type of attack, every move, every combination of team attack that every other Team has. And you will learn ways to counter those attacks. We need two of you in the one on one finals. So make sure you win." Angel had wanted to say more, but Professor Goodwitch interrupted at that moment.
"I know that you are still young," She began, as she looked around the room. Each and every student looked at her. "And I know that there will be a lot to be placed on your shoulders. I ask you, to trust Team RAVN, like you trust the Staff of Beacon Academy, like you trust your own teammates. I know that you have many questions, and we can't give you the answers at this time. But I know that Team RAVN can and will guide us to a victorious ending of the Vytal Festival. All I ask is that you follow their lead."
After saying what she wanted to say, Professor Goodwitch left Team RAVN's dorm, leaving behind Teams RWBY, JNPR and RAVN in a uncomfortable silence.
"Vixen, Nova?" Blake asked as she looked at them. " Yes?" Nova asked as she looked up from Ray's bed, still holding her hand over his eyes. "Why did Ray's eyes turn green? Why did his entire body seem to be surrounded by a green aura?" Blake asked, as she looked at the Huntsmen in training that was laying in bed, his eyes covered by Nova's hand.
"Whenever Ray is 'powering up', so to speak, his eyes turn an emerald Green. It is a heritable power that passes from his father and mother to him." Said Angel. "I'd rather not talk about it, but let's just say that he can be very powerful."
Before they all could ask some more questions, several scrolls rang, distracting them from the subject of the future. "Oh, it's Harry. He wants to speak to us." Squealed Ruby. She looked around and nodded to her team before she disappeared in a flurry of rose pedals.
"Sorry to cut his short, but we need to get to Ruby before she does something stupid again with the son of the headmaster." Said Pyrrha, as Team JNPR and the rest of Team RWBY walked out of the dorm of Team RAVN.
"Angel, why did you told them that?" Ray asked, while his eyes were still covered by Nova. Angel looked at Ray. "It's because I had to think of an answer at the moment and they saw you glowing. Are you sure that they can be trusted with the secret of the fifth maiden?"
Ray moved to sit up, Nova's hand leaving his eyes. They were back in their original blue color. "They can. I learned a lot from those teams, and they learned a lot from us." Said Ray as he looked at his team. "We just have to explain everything to them, after the tournament."
Nova nodded. "We owe it to them. They have seen some weird stuff with us, and they need to know the truth."
"They will." Said Ray as he rubbed his eyes. "But they can only learn it from either Professor Ozpin, or from one of us." The rest nodded, and dispersed, leaving Ray alone in his thoughts.
'I wonder how they will react to the secrets that we've been keeping.'