"Tell me again...he purred?" Ironwood asked.
"Yes sir, he had no ears or recognizable faunus traits. But we all saw it, he purred." Coco answered.
"How is this possible? He was human! Its doubtful the Fang could cause this..." The general sounded upset.
"Back up for a second. He said he knew no one here? He had no family?" Glynda asked, now present.
"It makes sense." Yatsuhashi interjected. "I observed him closer this time. He doesn´t look like hes from any kingdom if you ask me. Hes physic, his body, is just way to different biologically."
Coco nodded. "Yatsu is right, I noticed this as well."
"Sir, uh, sirs. Is he from here at all? From Remnant?" Velvet asked shyly. She knew it sounded dumb but that was the only thing anyone could think of. Ozpin, Glynda and Ironwood looked at each, Ironwood letting out a sigh.
"No, he is not." Ozpin said. "There are many things we do not understand of the world. One of them is him. He comes from a place we only theorized that existed. Earth. In the oldest of our legends and myths, Earth appears, various times. The legends speak of a time when the planets communicated with each other. The people, helping each other. But this broke long before any of us, or our descendent's existed. At the beginning of mankind's existence. As we fought Grimm they fought hardships of their own. No one has ever been able to communicate, much less travel, from one world to another. Yet someone must have, that is why Fall is here." The four hunters in training looked between each other, confused.
"Sir, what you are saying...it...uh..." Velvet began.
"Is impossible! How can this be possible at all?" Fox said, finishing for Velvet.
"It is a lot to take in. But it is the truth." Glynda said.
"We have tried several times to communicate with our lost allies. But so far have had no luck. We do believe they know of us and are trying as well. Last month we received a week signal, repeating itself for five minutes at each school. Its origin was untraceable. We believe they are closer than we are to contact." Ironwood said.
"This is...a lot. But amazing." Yatsuhashi said.
"So if Fall is from there, then why do people know him here?" Fox asked.
"That, i´m afraid, is something we do not know. I have seen him before this, then he disappeared. Now he is back. Perhaps he lost his memory traveling between worlds? We do not know." Ozpin answered. For once he looked a bit bothered by this.
"Yet." Ironwood added, earning a scowl from Glynda. "All this is, as before, classified. We are trusting you with Fall, so with this as well. Do not tell anyone. Ever." The four nodded, looking uneasy.
"Good work you four, more is known and next time we shall be ready." Glynda said, they nodded and exited.
"Are you sure you want him as Fall?" Glynda asked, turning around as they left. From the shadows a young, dark skinned girl with short, dark hair and brown eyes emerged. Wearing the Beacon Academy uniform.
"Yes, I sensed him here first. He is obviously strong and a good person. I know he can do it, I feel it. He is caring, passionate, determined, brave. Hes just gone through a lot. He needs help. Our help." She answered.
"He isn´t the right choice for a maiden, Fall. He is a boy. And calling him Fall doesn´t change that." Ironwood said, both him and Ozpin turning around.
"He can do it, I sense it." She answered.
"And if he doesn´t survive?" Ironwood asked. "You are our Fall maiden. Don´t try to replace yourself."
"If he dies, you can select whoever shall take my place. I trust you." She smiled at them.
"Very well, now go to class. You know how Oobleck feels about tardiness." The maiden nodded and walked out, leaving the three alone.
"I hope you know what your doing Oz, from what we´ve seen he won´t even survive." Ironwood said, turning to Ozpin.
"We just need to have a little faith." Ozpin replied, taking a sip from his mug.
"I hate to be pessimistic. But the general is right. If we cannot get him soon, who knows what will happen to him. Hes already suffered greatly, from what we´ve heard, if he survives...in what state will he do so? He may not be the same boy we once knew." Glynda said,
I just need to have faith. Alessandro said to himself. It was the day after his battle at the docks. He sighed as he thought of Velvet, a smile appearing on his face. That moment at the docks, Velvets kindness, her worry and even that of the other three, had reminded him.
Reminded him of who was good and who was bad. What had happened, what he went through, what he was. But as he remembered what he had turned into now, he also remember what he used to be. An image of himself appeared in his mind, at school with his big, enthusiastic smile, yelling his head off and always happy. He wanted that. He wanted to be his old self again. He never really thought of this before because he was to busy. First trying to learn how to fight, then trying to stay out of bad things, then doing those bad things and being tortured.
But not anymore. I´m strong, I can do this. I just need to have faith...like the old me...
He had done his best to formulate an escape plan on such short notice. Step one was to walk out of his room with no one noticing, step two was to get outside, step three was to run like hell to the city.
Yeah, he had really outdone himself in this plan.
He chose not to us a vehicle because it would attract attention, not to just head out in plain sight because, although slim, there was a chance of someone trying to stop him. If he ran into the forest he could lose them easily, and he knew Beacon was to the east, so get lost into the forest then run east.
Yeah, this plan sucked. But he had no other one. And he would not stay here another day. No way.
Ok, show time. Lets show these bastards who they were dealing with. He felt a bit odd acting as his old self. It felt weird, from another person different from him. He sighed. Before he could do anything Cinder barged in, followed by Neo, Mercury and Emerald, making him fall back on his bed in surprise.
"Did we scare you?" Emerald said with a chuckle.
"You wish." He answered. "Whats up? Another job?" This could be good. He´d have a free ride to the city.
"No, a test. Neo told us something...interesting from last time. Neo, if you would." Cinder said, looking serious as ever but curious. Neo sat next to him, her hand stroking his hair gently. He shifted uncomfortably from both the close contact and the attention, but didn´t stop her. She then began scratching his head, right where Velvet had. He frowned but then relaxed, leaning on Neo with his eyes now closed. Pleasure filled his body and he purred as Neo scratched. This time he didn´t stop it.
"Interesting..." Cinder said. Emerald seemed about to laugh and Mercury was smiling, quite amused. Neo stopped and giggled as she heard his softly sounded complaint. He the blushed and sat up straight, bright red and looking confused.
"What...what just happened?" He asked. Cinder sat next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"You won´t like this. You will find it...hard to believe." She said.
"What is it?"
She sighed, staring straight into his eyes. "Apparently as your body changed, your metabolism, it did much more than let you survive."
"Uh...ok?" He said, half asking. He didn´t quite understand.
"What I am saying is that it did a huge change. You are no longer human. You are a faunus."
"Cat." Mercury added, to which Emerald glared at him. "What? Just saying."
"Heh, ok guys. Nice joke. Now seriously whats going on here." Alessandro said, trying for a smile. His smile left as they remained silent, just staring at him. "God...wait. I don´t have cat ears!" He practically yelled.
"On a regular physical level, the way we and you see yourself. Nothing has changed. It is inside you that the changes happen. Tell me, how did you see so well in the darkness of the docks? How did you think your reflexes in fighting improved so fast? And then, there is the purring. Even without ears you react like a cat, or at faunus would.
He looked down, tearing up.
First my life, family, friends, things. Home. All gone. Then turning bad. Then torture. Now...i´ve lost my humanity to?
He held back a sob as Cinder pulled him in a hug, rubbing his back.
"Its ok...its ok. Don´t worry, we are here. As always." She said, whispering in his ear. Scary thing was: He believed it. He trusted Cinder completely, but...not the rest. Nor did he like what she was doing. But he set those thoughts aside and let her console him, let her words take effect and calm him down. Let her warm reassure him.
"Thank you...thank you Cinder." He muttered, hugging her back.
"Please...call me mother." She said, smiling in a creepy way which only he did not see. This is one of the things she wanted. Complete trust from him, love, she wanted him to always listen and believe in her. The child which wasn´t her child. Loyal till the end. This is what she had aimed for all this time with him. Her hard work had finally paid off, or so she thought.
"C-can I have a moment?" He asked quietly. Cinder nodded to the rest and, after Neo patted his head playfully, the four left. He took a shaky breath and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry...mother." He said. He did trust her and loved her, that would play to her advantage in the future, but he wouldn´t stay in this place one more minute even if Cinder was so good. He opened the door after a few minutes and headed out, determined to escape what he was now sure a living hell.
And that my friends was chapter 8! I hoped you liked it.
On other news, you guys deserve an explanation about me leaving for so long, coming back, leaving again. Whats happening is that me and my family are moving. Moving from one country to another so latey I have been busy either helping around the house with everything or seeing friends before I leave. Before that I was school the main reason I was off. Finals were a killer for me ;-;
Don worry though, I passed! Anyway, I am leaving this country the 18th of January, this Monday.
I´ll try to work more on this fic. But "Ice Queens Past" is on hiatus officially now, as is Team BRNN. I need to tune some stuff on my Whatpad account but soon there will be at least two original stories of mine there.
Thanks to all of you for bearing with me! :) Don´t forget to fave and follow, and especially review because YOUR opinion is always valued.
