Chapter 16: Explanations & Reunions
Menagerie Landing Pad, 20:30 pm…
"Kanan!"
Kanan laughed as he descended the steps right as Blake came running towards him.
The two immediately embraced warmly, holding each other close after weeks apart.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Kanan…" Blake mused. "I… I was getting worried…"
"You shouldn't be." Kanan assured Blake. "I'm here. I'm okay. And by the way… Nathan told me to send you his regards and his love."
The look on Blake's face the moment Kanan mentioned Nathan had him unavoidably smiling. "Is… is he on board?" She asked.
Kanan shook his head. "Wanted to make sure everyone was settled in at our new base in Haven before coming to you." Kanan replied. "Otherwise you'd allegedly never forgive him."
Blake smiled. "Yeah…" She mused, slightly disappointed that Nathan was not present.
"Hey… you'll see him soon." Kanan added, wrapping an arm around Blake. "Just gotta wait that little extra bit longer…"
Blake nodded, before footsteps nearby drew their attention.
"I was hoping it was you." Ghira called out as he walked over, flanked by Kali and Ilia, the latter of whom rushed forwards and hugged Kanan.
Kanan chuckled as he hugged Ilia back before hugging his father and non-birth mother. "Why; not ready to deal with Nathan and Blake being horny teenagers again, yet?" Kanan asked jokingly.
"Kanan…" Blake chided gently from nearby, clearly blushing.
Ghira chuckled. "That, and it'd ruin my anticipation for when Nathan eventually shows himself before Sienna. I've lied and told her he failed his test, leading to you bungling the deal with Ironwood over it. I cannot wait to see her face when Nathan arrives regardless of Sienna's desperation."
"Or; we could expose it right now so we can watch the colour draining from Mom's face." Kanan suggested.
An evil grin crossed Ghira's face. "Kanan… you have been hanging around Nathan for too long." The Belladonna patriarch remarked.
Within the Belladonna Manor…
Kanan was expecting a lot of things when he entered the Belladonna Manor.
His angry mother in the living room was not one of them.
The moment he entered the room, Sienna Khan spun around, the picture of anger. "Kanan Belladonna-Khan; you had better pray for a good explanation of your behaviour during the meeting with Ironwood, or gods help me; I will make you wish you died in my womb!"
"Behaviour? What behaviour?" Kanan inquired, opting to play dumb.
"Don't be coy with me, mister." Sienna snarled. "From what your father has told me; you not only punched Ironwood in the face, but tore up the entire agreement document as well!" Sienna shook her head. "They may have needed us more; but we needed them as well! And all thanks to you; I am looking at having to defend Haven with the forces I currently have!"
"I would say it's more thanks to Nathan, but okay." Kanan pointed out.
Sienna's fists clenched. "Don't… mention him to me." Sienna said firmly.
"Too bad, Mom." Kanan said, folding his arms. "Because Dad lied to you. Nathan escaped. He's back in the fight. And believe me when I say he knows EVERYTHING."
The colour visibly drained from Sienna's face as she stepped back, her anger replaced by shock, and quite possibly fear as well at the realisation of Nathan being back in the fight.
"Be thankful he isn't here… yet." Kanan pointed out. "But I came here so I could organise his return. And subsequent reunion with Blake."
Sienna nodded, at which Kanan said:
"I was thinking the end of the week. Seems only fair. Gives Blake time to prepare herself mentally and emotionally… and gives you time to reflect on your actions."
Sienna wordlessly nodded, then took her leave.
Kanan watched her leave before looking to his father and Blake.
Ghira had a smug look on his face that was a rare thing for the Menagerie Chieftain, whilst Blake…
Blake had a smile crossing her face that would brighten up even the darkest of nights. The kind of smile one got whenever everything seemed to be perfectly falling into place.
And that was a sight that Kanan lived to see every single day of his life.
All that remained was for the reunion itself to finally take place, and all would be right and well within the world again.
Back in Haven…
"Did he age backwards?"
"He's possessed!"
"Or reincarnated!"
"Oh! Isn't it weird?"
"It is very weird, yes."
"Okay, okay." Qrow called out as he exited the kitchen, holding a mug of coffee. "Let's all just take a second and remember that this is very overwhelming for everyone." He added.
With that, the gang all stepped back, nervously chuckling.
"Thank you." Oscar said to Qrow as everyone sat down around the area.
Everyone soon looked on curiously, smirking as Oscar shared a brief look with Ruby, who giggled, making him blush.
"Ah, sorry!" Oscar said, briefly looking away. "It's just I've never really met Huntsmen and Huntresses before."
"Well, uh... we've never met a person with two souls" Ruby responded. "So, first times all around."
"To be honest, only place I've heard this sort of shit is within one of Blake's books." Nathan pointed out.
"Which one of you is Blake?" Oscar asked curiously before Qrow cleared his throat.
"Not to break up the whole 'getting-to-know-you' game, but we need to have a talk." Qrow said, then looking to Oscar. "Mind showing us your little parlor trick, kid?"
Oscar groaned. "Yeah, okay. Just so you know, I'll still be here."
Nathan raised an eyebrow as he and the rest of the gang watched Oscar close his eyes.
At that, a green and white aura shone around his body momentarily as Oscar opened his eyes, revealing them to be glowing.
He smiled, before speaking, which now sounded like many other voices overlapping at once, including Oscar's own voice.
But the main voice that was speaking was one most of the gang would know in their sleep; one that they had never expected to hear ever again after the owner's death during the Fall of Beacon:
"It is so very good to see you again, students." Professor Ozpin said.
Nathan's jaw dropped, whilst everyone else shared looks of confusion.
"Wait, what just happened?" Jaune asked.
"Professor... Ozpin?" Ren inquired.
"Correct." Ozpin responded. "And though I may be the one speaking, Oscar is still present mentally. He's merely handed over the control, so to speak."
Nathan officially concluded that this was the weirdest shit he'd ever witnessed after a lifetime's worth of weird shit.
"I'm afraid this all must be very perplexing." Ozpin noted.
"And alarming, and bizarre, and just really kind of hard to believe overall!" Nora exclaimed.
"Um… yeah." Nathan said. "This… is officially the weirdest shit I've ever seen. And that's coming from a guy who's seen a lifetime's worth of weird ass shit."
Ozpin chuckled. "It's good to see you children still have your sense of humor." Starting to frown, he added: "I know you've all been through tremendous hardship already. I'm sorry."
"This time; it's not your place to apologise." Nathan said. "I should be the one apologising for bringing this war to Remnant. The Empire's only here because of me."
"Don't forget me." Jason called out from nearby.
"That is not why I was apologising." Ozpin stated, as Qrow got up and entered the kitchen for something. "I told you once that I made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet, and I wasn't exaggerating. I'm... cursed. For thousands of years, I've walked the surface of Remnant, living, dying, and reincarnating in the body of a like-minded soul. The Professor Ozpin you all met was not my first form, and clearly wasn't my last. It's... an extraordinarily strenuous process on everyone involved."
"Then what in the living name of fuck are you?" Nathan asked.
Snorting, Ozpin responded: "I am the combination of countless men who've spent their lives trying to protect the people of Remnant."
At this, Qrow walked back into the room, and handed Ozpin a cup of tea. "With every rebirth, my soul is eventually merged with another and I am changed, but my memories stay with me. This curse was bestowed upon me by the Gods, because I failed to stop Salem in the past. But we must stop her now."
"And how do we do that with the Empire on our ass?" Nathan asked. "Last I checked, they were working together."
"And I'm not sure if you're up to speed, but there's an Imperial army ready to march on Haven at a moment's notice, so… we're not exactly in the best position to be preparing to stop Salem; even if she's working with the Empire right now." Jason added.
"We start... by ensuring the safety of the Relic of Knowledge." Ozpin declared.
The gang all looked at one another confusedly before Nora once more broke the silence:
"This is perfect! We were stuck at a dead end, but now, we can just take little cute boy Ozpin to Lionheart and have him set things straight!"
"Please don't call me that." Ozpin asked.
"We're not sure that's the best idea." Qrow added as Nora pouted and sat down.
"But I thought the other headmasters all answered to you." Pyrrha noted.
"That was the intention." Ozpin elaborated. "Four lieutenants I can trust, especially during times of reincarnation. But Qrow told me about your meeting with Leonardo." With that, Ozpin got up and walked towards a painting of Mistral on a nearby wall. "He isn't just behaving irrationally, he's disobeying specific instructions I had left him. Something's wrong. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I don't want to rule out any possibilities, either. No one outside of this room knows that I've paired with Oscar, and I think it may be best to keep it that way."
Nathan nodded. "Me and Jason sensed something was off about him, professor. So you're not alone in suspecting."
Ozpin nodded. "Like I said; keep the knowledge I have paired with Oscar a secret for the time being."
"Play things close to the chest until we get a better hand." Qrow added.
"Precisely. Now, we have two steps ahead of us." Ozpin said before looking to the gang. "The first is enlisting the help of the White Fang in defending Haven from the Galactic Empire. The Atlas Military as well; unless James has been lax on his dealing with the Empire."
"Oh he's not been lax at all." Jason said. "He's been fighting the Empire tooth and nail for the past six months. We've even scored a victory over them in Vacuo. Only problem is that Ironwood let ego get in the way of the right thing, and now me and Nathan are pretty high on his shit list."
"That leaves only the White Fang, then." Ozpin remarked forlornly.
"They'll be enough." Nathan said. "Now, what's step two?"
"Getting most of you into fighting shape." Ozpin declared, aiming his cane at them all.
"But, uh, we already know how to fight." Ruby pointed out.
"You can only fight so long as you have Crescent Rose, but you're still lacking in hand-to-hand combat." Ozpin pointed out. Looking then to Jaune, he added: "Mr. Arc, I'm glad to hear you've improved, but sorry to say, you've yet to unlock your Semblance. All of you still have a-ways to go before you're ready to pose any real threat against Salem and her forces. And though Oscar can give me temporary control, he'll need to strengthen his body and his Aura. He'll inherit my muscle memory in time, but practice will expedite the process."
"As it often does." Nathan said. "With that said… I have some friends here that can help with training." At this, he gestured to Jason, Ghost, Rex and Ahsoka. "If you'll have them."
Ozpin nodded. "They will do nicely."
Nathan grinned and looked to the gang. "Get ready for Clone Wars level training, people."
Jaune groaned, before finally, someone who had yet to speak did so:
"Before anything else… I have a question."
Everyone turned to look at Yang, who had done nothing but glare at Ozpin since he had announced himself.
"Go ahead, Miss Xiao Long." Ozpin said, though his expression indicated he had every idea what she was going to ask about.
"Before coming here… I spent three weeks with my Mom; Raven." Yang said. "And she told me things you did when I was a baby that I'm not sure I agree with."
Ozpin sighed. "Things that I now bitterly regret given the advantage of hindsight."
"Fuck hindsight!" Yang snapped, standing up from her seat. "You had no right to force her to abandon her family! A family she had no choice but to stay away from because you had to have someone looking for the Spring Maiden!"
"Miss Xiao Long; I understand your anger, but you have to realise that at the time-"
"It doesn't matter." Yang spat. "I just want you to know that my mother has hated you ever since. And I think I speak for everyone when I say that you had better not try anything similar with us."
"He already did." Nathan said, turning on Ozpin. "Remember the debacle with Pyrrha and the Fall Maiden powers? We may be past that, but that doesn't mean the blame isn't still on him."
"Blame me for my mistakes; that much I owe you all." Ozpin said calmly. "But we cannot allow grudges and lingering animosities drive wedges between us. Salem feeds off of division. If she sees a chance to further divide us; then she will."
"Ozpin's right." Jason said, stepping forward. "Hold him accountable all you want. But we can't let that get in the way of our main goal."
"Specialist Stone here speaks the truth." Ozpin elaborated. "I will say that I bitterly regret each and every one of the actions you rightfully accuse me of. They were mistakes that I cannot take back; only seek to avoid making again."
"Then promise me this, Professor." Yang said firmly. "No more lies. No more half-truths."
"Understood." Ozpin said, nodding in agreement.
Placated, Yang sat down again.
"So... what now? I mean, what can we do?" Jaune asked.
"Mm, that is a difficult question." Ozpin commented. "One that I believe is best answered over the next few weeks."
"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asked.
"The road ahead is undoubtedly filled with hardships and peril. However, it's been far too long since you have all been together." Ozpin answered as he placed his hand on Yang's shoulder. "Once Mr Belladonna Khan and Miss Belladonna have rejoined us… we will take some time to enjoy being together once again." With a cheeky twinkle in his eye, Ozpin added: "In more ways than one."
Yang giggled, whilst Nathan nodded.
Suddenly, Ozpin's eyes glowed and Oscar seemed to take over again.
Before realising he had his hand on Yang's shoulder. "Geh!" Oscar yelped, withdrawing his hand and nervously holding his cane.
The gang all chuckled for a moment or so before Nathan's scroll started buzzing.
Grabbing and answering it, Nathan smiled. "Kanan! How's Yang's favourite tiger?"
"First of all; only Yang gets to call me tiger." Kanan stated. "Second of all; I bring good news."
"Is it that Blake's secretly been planning our wedding?" Nathan joked.
"No; but it's Blake related." Kanan responded. "We've agreed on the end of this week as the date for you and her to reunite. Sound like a good idea?"
"Don't be fucking dumb, Kanan; that's an amazing idea!" Nathan said happily.
"Glad you agree." Kanan remarked. "I'll be staying in Menagerie for the time being, so send my apologises to Yang. But for now… I'll see you guys soon."
"Yeah… see you soon, Kanan." Nathan replied before hanging up.
Setting his scroll aside, he sighed happily.
I'm coming home, Blake…
Indeed he is.
And now the stage is slowly being set for Nathan and Blake's reunion.
That being said; thank you all so much for reading this chapter. If you enjoyed it; you all know what to do.
I shall see you all next week with chapters 17-18, which sees an Imperial breakthrough.
T-Rock14