"I can't believe it. Not even half a day at the beach, and we're already back at Beacon. What a great holiday." Said Ray as he watched the wall of Professor Port's classroom.
"Would you just stop talking for one freaking moment?" Snapped Weiss as she sat a few chairs away. Ray looked at the white themed member of Team RWBY.
"Oh. You have nothing to say, Weiss. You spent the last two weeks at a fucking beach, enjoying the sun and chilling, relaxing from a school-year where you fought multiple enemies, mostly Grimm by the way. Me and my team were on the front of almost every battle, just like your team, but unlike yours, my team also had to study for wizarding tests, defend a comatose girl in a vault that almost nobody knew about, and to end it all we fought and prevented the fall of Beacon. So I think that team RAVN has deserved a little break."
They had arrived back at Beacon little that an hour ago, and were directed to Professor Port's classroom, where they were told to stay. To prevent anyone from calling their friends, Professor Goodwitch had activated a secretly developed protocol that caused all of their Scrolls to leave the Beacon network. In other words, They were in a classroom with their Scrolls suffering a total Black-out.
Of all the teams who were there, only team RWBY was incomplete, as Yang was in the hospital wing, getting checked out by Qrow, Ozpin and Goodwitch.
"Before you start to snap at all of us Ray, remember that we are just as curious about the whole situation." Said Blake as she sat next to Ruby, who clearly seemed nervous and afraid of her sisters welfare.
"I know that Blake. Believe me, I know that. But I can't help to think that somehow Ironwood will be involved with this. He and I were never that close and we even had a few disagreements. He may be an ally of Professor Ozpin, but I've yet to see what Ironwood will do. The present situation is slowly becoming dangerously unstable. Yang, possible being the new Summer Maiden might give Ironwood the incentive he needs to show his true colors."
Most of the teams looked at Ray as if had lost his mind.
"You can't be serious. James Ironwood has done nothing to warrant such behavior." Said Weiss as she started to look at the teamleader of Team RAVN. Ray held up his hand to silence Weiss.
"Explain then, why he did take so many knights with him, the first time he came to Beacon. The abysmal failure that he and his knights made, when Vale became under attack. We." here Ray pointed towards his team. "We tried to warn him, but he just waved our concerns away, like they were mere flies that needed a good squashing."
Ray wanted to say more, but at that time the door opened and several people stepped inside. Ruby looked up and used her semblance to reach the yellow haired person had missed more than anything. "Yang, Oh I'm so glad you're okay."
Yang Xiao Long, half-sister of Ruby Rose smiled a bit and gently placed her arm around her younger sister.
"So, you're here." Said Ray as he looked at the large form of James Ironwood, who had joined the group of Ozpin, Goodwitch, Qrow and Winter Schnee.
"Yes. I am." Ironwood replied and started at Ray for the briefest of moments, before he looked around. He could see everyone in the room looking at him. Some were looking at him with some form of respect, while others looked at him with frowns on their faces. Both Ruby and Yang were oblivious to the tension in the room as they were still holding on to each other.
Ironwood stepped forward. "James, this is not a good idea." Said Qrow as he placed his hand on James his shoulder.
"It must be done." Said James as he removed Qrow's hand. "I'm here to inform you all that Huntress in training Yang Xiao Long will come with me to Atlas for proper training." Ironwood wanted to say more, but was unable to do so, as Team's RAVN, JNPR and CFVY all started to shout about the decision, and how it was ridiculous to do so. Weiss and Blake looked at the headmaster of Atlas Academy with open eyes, unwilling to understand what the man had just said. Tearing apart their team? Removing Yang from Beacon, because she was something that wasn't even explained?
"Are you out of your freaking mind?" Shouted Jaune as his aura flared brightly, his anger palpable.
"Let's break his legs!" Shouted Nora as she pulled Magnhild from her back and transformed it into the war hammer she used to smash her foes with.
Lie Ren just stepped between Ironwood and Yang and took on a combat position, ready to strike at a moments notice.
Pyrrha stood there, her face filled with shock, unable to do anything. Her fear of becoming alone again, having no friends was becoming real. Out of fear, she was unable to move.
Both Fox and Yatsuhashi stood with Yang and Ruby, who held each other close. They would never allow this man to separate Yang from Ruby, after all that they had done.
Coco and Velvet were shouting at Ironwood, anger filling the room towards the Atlesian headmaster.
Weiss looked not at the Atlesian Headmaster, but at her sister. Winter stood a few steps away from Ironwood, a clear conflict playing in her mind. She was trained to follow orders, but this was one of the members of her sisters team. If there was one this that Winter believed in, then it was that Teamwork was the best way to survive.
Blake looked at Ozpin. She could clearly see the disgust that played in his mind for this decision, and for that she thanked him. Her anger had a target and as she stepped forwards to stand next to Ren, she unsheathed her weapon and held in towards Ironwood.
Before anyone could react to the tension in the room, A bright light erupted from Ruby's position on the floor, where she had fallen after the announcement to take Yang away from her.
"NOOOOOO" Ruby cried, as the bright light surrounded all of them.
Each and everyone in the room was blasted aside by the light. Desks and tables were torn apart, diagrams of Grimm were shred to tiny peaces and almost everyone collided with the four walls of the classroom. The only person standing, holding his arms out was Ray Star, as he used his semblance to create a shield to counteract the force of the light. Even then, Ray felt his feet slipping, as he started to loose grip on the floor. Then, it was all over. Lowering his protective shield, Ray fell to his knees, exhaling deeply.
"Damn. That was hard." Ray said as he took several deep breaths to gain some energy back.
Looking around, Ray saw that the entire classroom was wrecked. Seeing the origin of the white light, Ray smiled as Ruby Rose was cocooned in an embrace of her sister, Yang Xiao Long and her uncle, Qrow Branwen.
"Take her to the medical wing." Ozpin ordered as everyone was coming around again. "Glynda, James. We need to talk. Teamleaders, I want you in my office within an hour."
Without worlds to say to the rest of the teams, Ozpin turned around, followed by Goodwitch and Ironwood, who looked at the wrecked classroom with a slight fear.
One hour later saw Ray Star, Winter and Weiss standing in the elevator, moving towards the office of Professor Ozpin. After having fixed the Grimm studies classroom with his team, Ray had told everyone to stay together, or at least in groups of two and not to tell anyone what they had seen. Jaune and Pyrrha had left the room to meet with both Ruby and Yang, hoping to find out what happened, as well a bit of privacy for themselves. Coco and Fox had decided that they to would leave the classroom, so that they could discuss the recent happenings in more detail. Nora and Ren had decided that they would go the the kitchens of Beacon Academy for a 'few' pancakes, and that had drawn the attention of Blake as well, who was now trying to eat a pancake without Nora to snatch it away from her.
Yatsuhashi and Velvet had chosen to remain close to both Angel and Vixen, leaving Weiss, Ray and Nova alone to demonstrate some more magic to the white haired heiress. In order to 'protect' her sister, Winter had stayed as well, willing to put her distrust for Ray and his team aside as long as he was willing to do the same.
"Any idea what they have discussed?" Winter asked as they came closer to the top. Ray shook his head.
"No, I haven't heard anything from Professor Ozpin or Goodwitch. I guess that you haven't heard anything from Ironwood as well?"
Winter nodded. "While I've been a member of this group for a few months, most of the information that I've been reviewing has been the history and the legends surrounding it. So far, the Maidens begun to fade from human memory over five hundred years ago, when the death-count of those who could become Maidens rose dramatically. In the year before they went into hiding, seventy young girls and women were killed, because there was one who was believed to be the Winter Maiden." Said Winter as she remembered the report that forced the Maidens into hiding.
"Well, let's see what the big three have made up for us." Said Ray as the elevator stopped at the office of the headmaster of Beacon Academy. Ray stepped out of the elevator, followed closely by Winter and Weiss, just as a young boy with wild black hair in a small ponytail and emerald green eyes almost crashed with Winter.
"Ah look. You got a fan." Ray said jokingly, as he watched the son of the headmaster blush a bit before he entered the elevator and closed the doors.
"Ray." Ozpin called as he stood up from his desk. Ray looked at the headmaster, and nodded, before he pulled his wand from his sleeve and waved it around for a bit.
"There. Now nobody can listen to us.'" Ray said as he placed his wand back in his holster on his right arm. Winter and Weiss looked at each other before they turned to Ray and started demanding answers.
"Ladies." Ironwood called, bringing the Schnee sisters attention towards the others in the room. Both Schnees blushed a bit as they were looked at by Ozpin, Ironwood and Goodwitch, as well as Jaune Arc and Coco Adel.
"When you stop being so inquisitive about magic, let's begin." Said Ironwood. Both girls nodded, before they sent Ray a look that clearly said 'We're not done here.'
Ray focused his attention on the adults here. It seemed that they had discussed the matter through. "In response to the outburst of Ruby Rose, General Ironwood has decided that it would be better to leave Yang Xiao Long at Beacon Academy, under the guidance of headmaster Ozpin and her sister/teamleader Ruby Rose. To facilitate the communication between the two Academies, Beacon and Atlas, we've agreed that one of General Ironwood's top graduates will take a position here at Beacon Academy." Said Ozpin as he sat at his desk, looking at the team-leaders of the teams.
"Interested Winter?" Ironwood asked as he looked at the elder Schnee sister. Winter looked shocked. Here she was offered a chance to stay with the most important part of her family, her sister, and the General would make that possible. "I am. Sir." Winter responded as she saluted the General.
"Nice. Now that's out of the way, how about we get to the point of it all." Said Jaune as he watched Winter smiling at her younger sister. "We need to know what we can expect from Yang. Is she a maiden? If so, then what are the consequences for team RWBY and the other teams?"
"Jaune raises a good point." Coco said, as she nodded towards the leader of team JNPR. "Despite being only first years, Team RWBY has been in the spotlights for some time. Some of their members have actively worked together to subdue Adam Taurus. They also are frequently working together with Teams RAVN and JNPR. Plus, Yang is one of the most known first year students. If you take her away, you're going to raise some questions that you might not be able to answer."
"I think we're going a bit to far here. Do we even have conformation that Miss Xiao Long is a Maiden?" Asked Goodwitch. Personally, Glynda hoped that it was just something else that happened to Yang. While the blond haired girl was impulsive, Yang was actually one of the best students of the first years. Only Pyrrha Nikos, Ray Star and Yang's sister, Ruby Rose stood above her. While Weiss was much better at academics, Yang blew her out of the rankings with her fighting style.
"She is." Ironwood said as he showed several diagrams, as well as a secure report that read that the last Summer Maiden had died in Atlas. "Her power output has increases already by a factor of three, and in the end, she'll be many times stronger than even the most experienced huntsman or huntress ever."
"So, Yang is the new Summer Maiden. How does this change the team dynamics?" Asked Jaune as he watched the readings from the report from Ironwood's Scroll.
"We can't let Miss Xiao Long participate in the combat simulations against other teams. With the extra power, she'll knock each and everyone out. That's not to say that her power of the elements itself will probably manifest in some way with her semblance." Said Goodwitch as she pulled several records of Yang fighting against other students.
"I can see that." Said Winter as she looked over Goodwitch shoulder at the footage. "With the power she already displayed, it will only become greater before it's properly restrained."
"Restrained?" Ray asked as he looked at Winter. "Like when you restrained me to infuse these fucking crystals in my body?"
Ray pulled of one of his gloves and showed everyone the clear shape of a wind-based Dust crystal. "It was a necessary risk and I had full confidence that you were able to pull through. Besides, you can fly now." Said Winter as she stared back at Ray.
"We can talk about this another time." Said Ozpin, bringing everyone to the subject at hand. "We have an active Maiden in our halls. The last maiden who was in out halls was the former Fall Maiden Amber, who was killed during the Vale incident. If there is anyone out there, who is seeking the powers of a Maiden, the Maiden and her friends need to be prepared."
"So, what do we do?" Ray asked as he looked around. "We can't just beef up the training of Team RWBY, just because a member of that team became a Maiden? It would not be seen as training, but as favoritism. Students would complain that Team RWBY is getting special training and exercise because they are the teachers pets."
Everyone looked at Ray. "You'd think that will happen?" Weiss asked. She did see some advantages for advanced training for her team.
"I don't know. We know that both first year Team CRDL and third year team JKLL have made comments about the fact that both Ruby Rose as well as Team RAVN should not be here. Personally I'm grateful to be here." Ray said, as he thought about the mentioned Teams
"Well Ozpin. What are we going to do." Asked Goodwitch. Nobody knew what to say, or how to deal with this situation.
"How about we go back to the beach. We'll let things simmer for a week and we'll come back with fresh ideas?" Suggested Ray.
"Works for me." Jaune said as he looked around. Coco nodded as well.
"Well, okay." Said Weiss as she looked at her sister. Winter nodded her agreement.
"Are you sure about this?" Ironwood asked as he looked at the three students of Beacon Academy, as well as one of his best operatives.
"We're sure. Winter can come with us to 'watch' over Weiss to placate her father for not coming back and she can watch over Yang in a subtle way." Ray said as he conjured a magazine from thin air, before handing Winter said magazine. "I can temporally transfigure something for you, but eventually you'll need some summer clothes."
Winter nodded and started to look through the magazine, but stopped at the first three pages. "What are you expecting me to buy?" She asked, as she showed several skin showing clothes to Ray.
"Something like that. We're at the beach for Monty's sake. You're thinking about wearing your Atlas military uniform at the beach? You'll melt before we even have the time to relax." Ray responded, shaking his head at the antics of the Atlesian Special forces operative.
"Winter. You're on a working vacation. Pick some clothes and enjoy the party." Ironwood ordered.
Winter saluted her superior officer and started to look though the magazine, while she was being pulled to a couch on the side by Weiss, who wanted to see what her sister would wear, and probably give her some helpful tips on what not to wear at the beach.
Several popping sounds were heard not far from the small and cozy villa that was known as Ozpin's Villa. Eight persons stood at the beach, three of them falling on the ground throwing up their afternoon meal.
"That has got to be the worst means of transport, of all times." Said Qrow Branwen as he wiped his lips clean of the vomit that had came out of his stomach.
"Oh, I don't know. It's fun to see the great Qrow Branwen taken down a notch, even if it just for a moment." Said Winter as she checked herself over, before she looked at the kneeling Qrow.
Team RAVN had apparated from Beacon Academy's main gate, each member of the team taking one person with them. Ray had chosen to take Ruby Rose with him for side-along apparition, while Nova had taken Yang. Vixen had taken Qrow and Angel took Winter with her.
"When you are all standing on the ground like normal humans, how about we get the rest of the group here?" Ray asked as he helped Ruby standing up. The young girl and team-leader of Team RWBY was recovering nicely from the effects of side-along apparition, while being weak from the release of her mysterious powers.
Angel nodded and used her Scroll to call the rest of the teams. Suddenly, a pile of bodies fell from the sky, and was quickly growing, until Teams JNPR, CFVY, Weiss, Blake and Professor Goodwitch were dumped on the beach, right in front of the eight who were already there. On top of the pile of moving humans, a rope lay there, it's blue glow fading.
"I'm never taking a Port-key, ever again." Said Jaune Arc, as he tried to release himself from the pile of humans that was trying to stand up. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, one of Jaune's arms came in close contact with the breastplate of Pyrrha Nikos. Said breastplate had not been fixed proper, and with the Port-key's journey, it got loose. Loose enough that when Jaune was trying to get up, the breastplate slipped and Jaune found himself holding on to some very fine, very soft flesh. He squeezed in it rather firmly, causing Pyrrha to shout out a few chosen cuss-words, before she could suppress a sensual moan. Jaune's hand was away from her chest, faster that you could say, Beacon Academy. Pyrrha looked at Jaune, who was now blushing a remarkable red, and winked at him, causing Jaune to smile faintly at her, before he shook his head and stood up. Holding out his hand, Jaune pulled Pyrrha from the pile of bodies that was slowly diminishing, until only Weiss Schnee and Blake Belladonna were laying on the sand.
"Well, here are your things" Said Nova Heart as she pulled several shrunken suitcases and carry bags from her pockets. With a wave of her wand, The suitcases and bags increased in size, until they were their normal size. Nodding to the rest, Team RAVN disappeared with a quarter of soft 'pops'
Apparating in front of their vacation home, Ray banished his bags to his room, as well as several of his clothes, until he was wearing his swim shorts. Nodding to the girls, Ray sat down in a reclining chair and started to enjoy the feeling of the hot sun on his body.
While the sun was doing it's best to tan Ray's body, Ray's mind was hard at work to process the events that happened. Yang becoming the Summer maiden, Ruby's heritage showing itself, and Ray who was tapping deeper into the powers of the fifth maiden. Then there were the things that Ray noticed around Jaune and Pyrrha, how Jaune was becoming less clumsy and more becoming a huntsmen. Did team RAVN had something to do with this?
They hadn't told Teams RWBY, JNPR and CFVY about the escape of Adam Taurus. Ray was contemplating if and when he would have to tell the teams that, as he would have to bind Blake before he would tell them. And what was Team GOTH doing? Knowing that there were two Harry's walking around, Ray was wondering if he wasn't becoming more Ray Star, then Harry Ozpin. He knew who he was originally, but after living a year as Ray Star, the lines started to become blurry.
Ray's thoughts were interrupted by a soft hand touching his cheek. Looking up, Ray spotted his friend and lover, Nova Heart.
"Hey Honey." Nova said softly as she smiled at Ray from her position next to him. She was wearing her purple hair loose, letting it flow around her. Of the different ways that he had seen her hair, free of restraints was his favorite. Nova was wearing a silver colored two piece Bikini with golden edges, that actually displayed a comfortable amount of skin, while keeping her private parts secure and hidden
"Hey Yourself." Ray said as he used some magic to transfigure his reclining chair into a large two persons hammock, where he pulled Nova in with him.
"Enjoying yourself?." Ray asked as he held Nova close. Nova nodded and held Ray close to her as they enjoyed the feeling of the sun on their bodies, as well as the warmth of each other. Neither noticed that they were being watched.
Angel looked at her team mates and couldn't help but smile at them. Both Ray and Nova were looking so cute together. Snapping a picture of the two with her Scroll, Angel went back inside, trying to find something to do. That something to do became all to quickly a enjoyable cuddle with Vixen on their bed, while they sipped some juices that they had sneaked away from Beacon Academy.