Ozpin's last words almost seemed to echo into the distance as he finished the last of his coffee. He set his now empty mug to the side, and looked over the four teens that had listened to his tale. All of them were invested, though they all took these revelations in different ways.
Ruby looked intrigued and serious, but at the corners of her lips you could see a smile being held back. Weiss also looked serious , with no real other emotion showing throughout. Blake had been the most reactive throughout, surprised and intrigued with every twist of what she thought to be fact. And Yang has surprisingly been very focused throughout, if only for the occasional yawn.
Then again...they all looked to be beyond the point of exhaustion.
"...But I'm guessing you're all tired of hearing that one." Ozpin started again. "Hearing about how you've ruined some master plan. So I guess it's only fair to now tell you what they were actually planing."
Ozpin abruptly stopped, taking a moment to look at his watch. He checked the time, then proceeded to run a hand through his hair. He took a deep breath, then went back to meet the eyes of the teenage girls.
"So when-"
WWWWWWWW
"...can I expect to see you again?" Pippi asked, already halfway to the door.
"Very soon, I'm sure." Cinder answered happily, still remaining in her spot.
Hearing this, Pippi joyfully skipped over to the door. She didn't want to leave, and she certainly didn't want to go running off with her friends to train under a psycho, but now she truly felt like someone was watching over her. She now knew Cinder wasn't someone to fear, but to admire. She would look out for her; Pippi knew deep down she would. And with that in mind, she confidently went to go face the world. She felt ready to face anything!
That is until Pippi opened up the door to find someone already standing outside it.
Standing there, hand extending out to reach for the doorknob... was Roman.
His eyes had widened in initial surprise. Though once he spotted that it was Pippi, he manged to suddenly create a surreal look of both pure rage and sheer glee.
"Well, fancy meeting you here. Cousin." He said those last words like they disgusted him, which in all honesty, they probably did. Since Pippi first arrived at his doorstep and announced they had blood going back a couple of centuries, Roman only mentioned their connection when he was very angry with her.
"R-R-Roman... I uh, uh..." Pippi stuttered, beginning to cower back into Cinder's room.
Roman followed up by taking a step forward, his cane raised, preparing to play his favorite game of stress relief with Pippi. "Whack a Pip senseless".
"Roman." A stern voice called from behind Pippi. "Enough."
Roman's look of joy faded as he seemingly came back to reality. He straightened himself out, and went on walking past Pippi and towards Cinder. Though as he walked past, he whispered to himself; Knowing full well Pippi would be able to hear him.
"You'd think people would get that I could hit her harder if I really wanted."
Following Roman were a pair of White Fang soldiers. And behind them was someone else in tow. An older teenager that Pippi didn't recognize, being followed by two more White Fang soldiers and... Jasz.
"Hello darling. All finished up here?" Jasz asked as she walked by. She even had a hand pass atop Pippi's head, brushing past one of her Faunus ears and through her right pigtail. The sensation made Pippi's skin crawl in disgust involuntary.
Pippi didn't even answer the White Fang leader. She only turned back to Cinder for a brief moment; meeting those warm sunflower eyes that gave one last goodbye to her; before running out of the room and loudly closing the door behind her.
WWWWWWWW
As the door closed behind the young girl, Cinder's smile melted into a neutral line. The four Faunus soldiers had both criminal and beast stand side by side in front of her. And the snake came to lean against the wall near Cinder's window, hiding her fear exceptionally well.
"I didn't know you were good with kids." Jasz said, half laughing to herself as she leaned.
Cinder slowly rose to her feet. She gently slipped on her signature glass slippers before throwing Jasz a neutral glare.
"If you truly believe that, then you are as naive and gullible as that girl." She said, her usual tone returning. As she turned to look between the two failures standing in front of her, the warm sunflower glow faded from her eyes and they returned to their more amber shade.
She slowly walked towards the two men, stopping in front of Torchwick first.
"I can't trust you with anything important Roman, let alone making your own plans. Now do you see why I was skeptical on your ship? Haven't I said before that you-"
"Oh, let me guess." Roman cut her off; A combination of irritation and pure sarcasm following. "This is the part where you tell me how I shouldn't think, but obey. Right? Or are you going to come up with some brand spanking new piece of cryptic advice? I mean you seem to be really good at that."
The red dressed maiden only responded by staring at Roman in complete silence. The silence lasted so long, Roman began to show real signs of fear and regret for his words. Though he held his gaze. Not daring to blink. Not daring to blink as those eyes... those eyes... glowed... brighter.
Suddenly Roman couldn't help it. He blinked in less then a second, but that was all she needed. Cinder was already face to face with him. She grabbed him by his whole jaw in a tight one handed grip, holding and forcing his mouth to stay open. Her eyes and tattoos glowed brightly as a sudden and almost unnatural looking smirk formed on Cinder's face, as she settled Roman's cane with her other freehand into his mouth. She then flicked a switch, arming the weapon.
"Well if you insist Roman. I for one would recommend you finally learn when to hold your tongue." Her marks and eyes glowed even brighter for a moment, and the air seemed to become colder throughout the room as her voice mixed in with something... else. That same voice that she used on Roman's ship.
"We, are getting very tired of dealing with it. And the attitude that comes with it."
Cinder held Torchwick's frightened and surprise eyes for one moment longer, before releasing her grip. The glowing faded from Cinder, and the room started to warm up again. She pulled the dangerous walking aid from Roman's mouth, though she kept it at her side as she moved on. He didn't say a word about it.
She moved to the Faunus boy next. His head was lowered, looking as if he was hanging it in shame. His mask glowed brightly red as she approached.
"Remove your mask." Cinder ordered.
The boy remained quiet as he obeyed and removed his mask. And when he did, the four White Fang soldiers backed away even before they saw the damage. They knew quite well what would be there anyway. All Corruptio users show the same symptoms, and knew that the boy could snap at any moment.
"What is your name, boy?" Cinder asked, unfazed by his new features.
"Adam. Adam Taurus." He answered bluntly.
Cinder began walking around Adam, inspecting him as she spoke.
"Well Adam... do you mind explaining to us, why you let a traitor go? Not once, but twice?"
WWWWWWWW
Ruby suddenly jumped up to her feet, raising her hand up high into the air as she shouted, " Oh I know! I know! I can explain!"
This sudden and loud outburst made everyone, even Ozpin, jump in their seats. No one had interrupted Ozpin during his lecture, and the room had become so eerily still that Ruby's shouting came off like an explosion. Though even after his initial scare, Ozpin now only smiled.
"By all means Miss Rose. Do tell." He encouraged.
Despite being undoubtedly exhausted, Ruby gleefully vanished into petals several times. When the petal storm cleared, she stood to the side of all of them wearing Yang's reading glasses again, a yellow tie for some reason, and her hair was now all messy. She also had a large pinboard behind her with dozens of photos pinned up and red yarn connecting them all; And she had even borrowed Ozpin's coffee cup to hold and pretend to drink.
Seeing this: Yang covered her face with both of her hands and groaned loudly, Blake started massaging her temples, and Weiss just looked completely confused.
"Wait, how did she-" Weiss started.
"Roll with it." The other two answered simultaneously. Ozpin meanwhile mentally chuckled to himself.
"Now," Ruby began, trying to talk as quickly as she could muster. "As we've gathered from Ozpin, Vale was to undergo a major attack against it. And through both last night and this morning's events, along with my own personal evidence, I can explain how the attack was to be carried out and all of our roles in stopping it." She paused, taking a pretend sip of coffee and quickly reappearing to the left side of the pinboard.
"This attack was carefully planned out; Evident by the strange activity with the Grimm for the last few weeks leading up to last night, leaving me to speculate that this 'enemy' has either control over the Grimm, or is at least manipulating them in some way. Most likely this is courtesy of the Torchwick clan, for obvious reasons, and my theory is that they are the ringleaders of this army and that the Grimm were going to be the actual bulk of the attack. "
Blake crossed her arms and glanced at the ground for a moment. When her eyes came back up, she noted Ozpin watching her intently.
That's when the realization hit her. How could she be such a naive fool! She's an ex-member of the White Fang, and despite helping stop this assault she wasn't even aware of, she's both a threat and an excellent source of information for Ozpin and this... "Last Light".
"Blake?"
Blake jumped at the sound of her name. She looked to her left to find Yang with a genuine look of concern for her.
"You okay?"
Blake's eyes jumped back over to Ozpin, finding him back in full concentration for Ruby's lecture. She then let her gaze drop back down to the floor again.
"Yeah. I'll be fine." Was all she said. Though privately, Blake was starting to become very tempted by Adam's parting gift.
"Ahem!" All eyes turned back to Ruby. "Thank you. Now as I was saying, I feel that the bulk of the army was to be the Grimm. But, as we all know, there are few cases nowadays where just an enormous army alone could even possibly have a chance to take a city. Even with good tactics, such as clearing a straight and easy path for the army,"
Ruby pointed to photos she'd taken from her private diary that showed long paths that had been mysteriously cleared in Forever Fall, and the entry where she'd wrote about the several reports of Ursa tearing apart Forever Fall trees.
"Or sending scouts," she added, pointing to her diary entry and some more of her bad drawings that alluded to the strangely large Beowolf pack she encountered on Summer's Peak.
"The Grimm would find getting past the city walls with formidable numbers and speed quite impossible. As such, they'd need more. And I theorize that our 'enemy' knew this."
Ruby took another sip of pretend Joe, then appeared in the middle of her "class", warping from one individual to the next as she continued her monologue.
"They would not only need a large enough army, but they would also need the emergency energy wall to be down, the wall itself demolished, and the element of surprise or at least a suitable substitute while getting the army to Vale and for the actual attack; if they wanted any chance at victory."
Ruby disappeared back over to her pinboard, took another sip of coffee, and then looked over her "class".
"Now, how do you think they could accomplish any of these things?" She asked, then began shifting her gaze between everybody.
The other three teens just stared at her blankly, though Ozpin didn't hesitate to raise his hand.
"Yes Mr. Ozpin?" Ruby called, pushing in her glasses as she said it and warping in front of him.
"The element of surprise is catching the enemy off guard. The enemy forces could accomplish the same effect if they were able to create a state of panic, giving them an advantage when they attacked and allowing them the time they'd need to accomplish any other goals." He reported confidently.
Ruby had vanished back to her spot. When she reappeared she beamed, "Stupendous Mr. Ozpin! Remind me after class to give you extra credit." Ruby then paused to take a long sip of her coffee.
"Oh my God. This is actually happening." Weiss groaned, now pinching the bridge of her nose as she felt a headache coming on.
"Welcome to the club." Yang chimed in.
Ruby, ignoring the groans and looks from her peers, continued on with her performance.
"But the question remains, how? How, would this enemy cause the perfect incident to not only scramble Vale, but to also support any other goals? And how might they possibly continue it for the actual assault.?"
She started looking around the room with a sly grin, already knowing the answer for sure. Ozpin kept his hand down this time, waiting for the four teens to put all the pieces together. Weiss and Yang racked their brains for said answer, trying to recall everything and anything that had happened yesterday that could suffice.
"How about a military train full of explosives?" Blake called out.
WWWWWWWW
"Well it's true, isn't it?" Cinder stopped walking around Adam, stopping to once again stand in front of him. She lifted Roman's cane, resting the firing end on the teen's now peeling forehead.
"You let her escape on the train. Despite what you claim," He tattoos and eyes glowed brightly as that second voice returned for a moment. "We know differently. After all, it's hard to lie to someone who can see through your own eyes. Isn't it?"
Adam remained still and silent. He wasn't afraid. He had learned to not fear from their glorious leader, and from Blake... and from the mask. After all, can't feel fear when you're a monster.
"Fighters of the new order. The wilting blade and the vengeful shadow. You two were inseparable; like family even." Cinder lowered Melodic Cudgel back to her side. She turned away from Adam and began walking over to her nearby window as she continued to speak. "I even hear there were rumors of something more then friendship between you two."
"Rumors I assure you. We were partners, and mentors to each other. Nothing more." Adam finally spoke up, raising his eyes from the floor to meet Cinder.
"Oh, you misunderstand." Cinder gazed out at something through the window before turning back to Adam. "I do not care about your petty feelings. I only say it to make a point. It stands to reason that you both were close enough, that you would allow her to escape. Am I wrong?"
Adam didn't answer. Even if he did... it wouldn't change anything. He was knew at this point he was a dead man.
"Jasz. Take this and give it to Adam." Cinder didn't break her sight from Adam as she lifted the weaponized cane to the White Fang official.
Jasz's uninterested look was replaced with one of confusion; Though that quickly disappeared as she took the cane from Cinder's grasp, and walked over to Adam. He also took the weapon without looking away from Cinder.
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa!" Roman finally spoke out. "Uh, just what do you think you're doing?"
Cinder broke eyes with Adam to shift them to her pitiful servant.
"It is a test... and your punishment. I will not have failures in Our new army. And despite everything Roman, I feel our time together has come to its inevitable conclusion." She looked back at Adam. "Kill him, and you are forgiven. And I promise that I will help you repair the damage done to your soul by the Corruptio mask."
The four White Fang troops were now restraining Torchwick, who struggled and yell obscenities at everyone in the room. Though Adam wasn't even listening to the man's words. He slowly, almost mindlessly, turned to Torchwick and aimed the weapon at his head. His head felt foggy, and he didn't feel right.
Do you even think about what you're doing?
Adam hesitated for a moment. Words kept coming back to him, and they sounded familiar. But his foggy mind couldn't place them anywhere. Why did they sound familiar?
Don't be so dramatic.
Yes... they did sound familiar. And a face kept coming to Adam's mind. Why is this so hard to remember?
He couldn't be going feral... could he? Or was the corruption finally taking its toll?
...and when I finally got that, I turned cold and heartless.
A girl... yes, a girl said those words. He could remember that much.
Adam shook away these distracting and hazzy thoughts. He readjusted his aim back on Torchwick, Though much to the confusion of the whole room, he still didn't fire.
"I thought this was easy for you?" Cinder said, coming closer. It was obvious she was hiding something in her voice. Disappointment perhaps? Amusement?
That suits me just fine Adam.
The bullhorned teen dropped Roman's cane. He started to look over his shaky and jittery hands, not noticing Cinder had ordered the soldiers to release Torchwick.
Adam placed his hands on his face, feeling sticky blood around the white spikes growing through his cheeks as he tried to block out the voice inside his head; not noticing Cinder had ordered the soldiers and Jasz to leave, and the unbelievable sight of Jasz throwing a brief look of sadness his way.
He wiped his forehead with a quick swipe, finding his peeling skin sticking to his gloves; not realizing Cinder and Torchwick were having a conversation, ending with Torchwick still bitter, though relieved and laughing loudly.
What a fitting end.
Adam fell to his knees, staring at his bloody and skin covered hands. Voices could be heard, but they were starting to blur together. Adam suddenly felt like he was loosing his mind.
"This is your chance now. And don't make a big mess. I like this room."
"Hey, as long as I'm not cleaning it up."
A door was closed. Footsteps approaching. Scent... Human. Happy?
Adam raised his head, his now pupil-less red eyes meeting a white clothed man with red hair. A cane was being pointed at him.
"Oh don't look so pathetic. You never get attached to coworkers, that's just a fact! You only have yourself to blame for not doing your job."
A sight popped up from the cane, and the red haired man only smiled as he aimed down the sight.
"Look at this way, at least you won't know how we're going to kill her."
That face for the voice seemed clearer now. A scent... eyes...
"Blake..." The boy mumbled.
He never finished his thought. The last thing he ever felt was an intense heat hitting him, and a indescribable pain.
And then, everything went cold and dark...
WWWWWWWW
"My partner and I had a simple mission. We were to commandeer a train passing through the Forever Fall territory, dispose of the crew, take whatever seemed valuable, and arm the whole train with dozens of powerful explosives.
"The plan after that was to pull into Vale, and sneak away undetected. Once we were far enough away, we were to check into a hideout the White Fang had stationed in Vale awhile back to restock ourselves, and then we were to head off to our actual target. By the time we would have reached our target, the explosives would've gone off; The charges being Mistral grade, infused with a heavy amount of Dust, would've caused an explosion large enough to take out an entire city block.
"The city and every knight would've been sent scrambling. It would've given us our chance to achieve what I thought was our main goal... to eliminate every, single, member, of the royal family. We were told to make it public, make it bloody, and to allow everyone to see it. Once that was done, we were to be pick up by undisclosed means."
Blake finally raised her eyes from the floor, looking between the other three teens around her and subtly taking in their scents.
Weiss's expression was dark, and her scent was terrifyingly calm. Yang had a look of both shock and... sympathy; this strange mixture made stranger to Blake thanks to a scent of pure sympathy as well. And Ruby, much to Blake's heartache, looked horrified; her scent rapidly taking on so many emotions, from shock, to sadness, confusion, and even anger... that it nearly made Blake sick. Now, her friend could see what Yang and Weiss and even Blake herself saw; a monster.
"Around that time, my performance was about to happen." Weiss spoke up, her face now hidden in shadows. "In an hour or so, give or take. That's were you would have done it. I would go on stage, the explosion would happen, chaos would erupt, and then you would've killed me in front of the whole world."
Weiss's piecing blue eyes appeared through the darkness, glaring at Blake. They were pure cold and seemingly filled with hatred.
"I suppose it wouldn't be the first time the White Fang has made things... difficult."
Weiss's face finally came out of shadow as she addressed everyone. "Just like last night, when my father told me there were reports of an air fleet barring the White Fang's emblem heading towards Vale. Had we both been killed earlier, that news never would have arrived to him. And they'd be upon a panicked city, where they could fire away at the city and the wall."
Dead silence filled the room. Blake's gaze had gone back to the floor, and her ears twitched under her bow as her head spun with this revelation. Yang meanwhile was now staring up at the ceiling; with a hand running through her hair as the weight of everything hit her like a punch and as she realized herself what would have happened to the emergency energy wall if she hadn't busted Junior, and stopped his boys from doing that "mysterious" job they kept talking about.
Ruby had set aside her things and props as she now slumped back into her chair, looking confused and defeated as she mumbled, "But I was sure..." and "But I thought that..."
"I don't know how they were going to get past a possibly ready fleet, or how they were going to get past the energy shield." Weiss went on. "But I'm sure that's how they'd let in the Grimm. This enemy wanted Vale destroyed. No survivors, and no possible leaders left."
Weiss leaned back in her chair. Her anger flaring as a flash tried to form. "The future main Dust supplier to the whole world; along with all it's people, culture, and warriors... gone."
A weak and unconvincing laugh came from the royal as she finished with, "They probably would've burned Patch to the ground too. Maybe out of spite."
Yang couldn't take it anymore. She got up from her seat, ignoring her depressed teammate's stares, and started raiding all the fancy cabinets and drawers around the room for something to drink. Hell, she'd honestly take anything that could help her go unconscious and feel good. This was all just... too much. Too much... to fast.
"Miss Xiao Long, if you're looking for alcohol then you're sure to be disappointed." Yang stopped in her tracks, turning to stare at Ozpin. He had serious look on his face as he lifted up his reacquired coffee mug. "The only thing narcotic we have here, and at Last Light, is coffee. It's a very strict policy. And one that we enforce quite vigorously."
Yang sighed while rubbing her eyes with her palms. And as she slowly fell to the floor to sit against a desk, she ran both of her hands through her hair.
"Great." She mumbled, pulling in her knees and holding them.
Ozpin stared at the despaired teen, sad to find what has happened to her over the years.
Taiyang... I will never forgive you for what you've done. They needed you... and you...
Ozpin shook away the bitter thoughts. He then looked around at all the other teens, who were all in similar states, before rising up to his feet.
"I understand this is all a lot to take in. I know you all would like nothing more then to pretend the last few hours were nothing but a dream, and head off to bed." Ozpin walked towards Yang, offering a smile and his free hand to help her up. At first she only glared at him with baggy eyes, though eventually she sighed and took his hand. Ozpin then led her back to her seat, and then sat back down in his own.
"And I would do anything to make that come true. But the fact is, there is so much more going on in the world, and unfortunately much of it is not in good intentions; and sadder still, you've all been dragged into it. Innocents that should be enjoying life... only playing the role of children."
Ozpin's eyes suddenly became very distant, and Blake was finally able to get some kind of scent out of him (A flicker of sadness and regret). Though before long, he was back to himself; now with a cheery smile on his face.
"But what's amazing about you all, is that you all didn't give up. Taking your own initiative, never surrendering, showing courage, and fighting for the ones you care about. That's amazing about what you four have achieved, and that's why I want to offer all of you a chance. A chance to help us fight for the world and everything we care about in it." Ozpin paused on the last note, noticing Yang looking at her wide eyed sister with sad eyes. "So, it would be my honor, if you would all attend Last Light."
All four teens only stared at Ozpin. Three of them were uneager to speak up, while the exception quietly asked,
"So, in essence... you want to whisk us off to your secret academy, to train us as huntresses, so that we can save the world?" Ruby asked disturbingly calm.
"That about sums it up" He answered with a smile, waiting for the inevitable Ruby outburst.
A moment passed. And then, as expected, Ruby jumped to her feet with a huge grin returning to her face as she held back a squeal. She took in a deep breath, ready to make known to the whole world she was going to say-
"I'm in."
Ruby tightly closed her mouth, stopping dead. White eyed, she jerked her head over to see... Yang?
"Uh, say what?" Ruby questioned her now standing sister.
Yang gave a shrug. "Yeah, I know. This is me we're talking about. But things have change." She rested her hands behind her head as explained herself.
"Don't get me wrong, I have no desire to go running outside the wall and drop my whole life to go fight those... monsters." Yang gave a quick shiver at the thought of seeing more Grimm, through she quickly regained her composure. "But I know for a fact, like it or not, these guys won't just leave us alone. They were willing to kill everyone in Vale, for whatever reason. So even if Ruby and I just walk out now... they're not going to just let us go scot-free."
Yang put her hands down and walked over to Ruby. She took Ruby's hands in her own, and gave her sister a smile and winked as she added, "And if my sister and I are gonna have to fight these psychos, then we might as well run off together this time. I'm not losing my sister again."
The blonde haired brawler suddenly pulled her crimson sister into a bone crushing hug; causing her sister to try and scramble out as she cried, "YANG! STOP! YOU'RE EMBARRASSING ME!" Though this only encouraged Yang further.
Ozpin, shaking his head and smiling, looked over to the quiet monarch. She was staring at him, and when their eyes made contact, she suddenly stood up too.
Ruby and Yang paused their antics as they watched with the rest of the room. Weiss walked up to Ozpin, notably shaking. She took a deep breath, and then knelt before him.
"Great and powerful sir Ozpin, legendary Hunter and gentle headmaster. I would be honored to learn under thou, as was mine father's last request. I wish to learn how to mortal arbitrament mine enemies, and rid vale... nay, all of Remnant of this evil. And by mine oath, when this evil is fordid, I will lay-to all of mine power to help restore thy school and endue those guilty are brought to justice! This, I holidam." Weiss finished her vow, then bowed her head, awaiting the man's response.
The other three girls looked between each other briefly before looking to Ozpin. He stared at the kneeling queen to be, pushed in his glasses, then spoke out in the same official tone as Weiss had.
"Rise thy majesty. Thou owe nay holidam to me, though I am honored by thy words. I accept thy gage, and I look fia to finding thou on the hurlyburly, and seeing thou take thy thrown. You will be a fine ruler young maiden. A fine ruler marry." Weiss rose, curtsied, and stepped backwards to stand at attention next to Ruby and Yang.
"Oh and one more thing," Opzin added, catching the teen off guard. "Try to lighten up a bit Ms. Schnee. You'll be treated the same as any other student, so you might as well let the burdens of who you are now ease... as you take on these new ones." Weiss nodded in response, becoming more relaxed as she stood next to the Rose sisters.
The three standing girls now turned their heads to the last member of their group. Blake remained in her seat, her hands clasped together and supporting her head as she continued to stare off at the floor. She ignored the stares from the rest of the room's occupants.
"Before we get ahead of ourselves," Ozpin interrupted, catching the attention of the teens. "I've had a room prepared for you all to get some rest. I think it's fair to say you've earned it. In the meantime, I'll be taking care of obtaining your personal belongings for you, and we'll be heading on our way to Last Light. We'll talk in the morning on where to go from there."
Ozpin reached over the right side of his chair, pulling up his cane. He pointed it to the back of the room, behind the four girls' chairs, where a green door stood.
"Down the hall and to the left. The room has some used, though clean sleep attire you may change into and keep if you so wish. It also has a built in bathroom with fresh supplies to freshen up with." He lowered his cane to the ground, leaning forward as he rested against it, while he gave the three a warm smile. "Enjoy the rest, and goodnight."
Not a soul moved. The three teens only stared at Ozpin, unblinking.
"What about Blake?" Ruby questioned.
"She's going with us too, right?" Yang followed.
"Or is she still considered the enemy to you?" Weiss said sharply. With a hint of anger underneath her controlled tone.
Ozpin's smile melted, and he leaned back into his chair. His gaze shifted from the three to a figure still sitting behind them, whose bright amber eyes stared back in the shadows of her friends. The sight almost caused him to jump in his seat.
It's scary how similar they look to... Ozpin started to think to himself, though lightly shook away his thoughts again.
"I believe Ms. Belladonna has yet to give an answer. So until she does, I'd like it if she stayed here with me for moment so we may talk in private." He said calmly, not taking his eyes off those gems of bright amber.
"Well then you won't mind if we stay here with her." Weiss countered, starting to turn to take her seat again.
"No." A quiet voice came out.
The three girls looked toward Blake, each one with a different emotion ranging from surprise to confusion. Blake only briefly glanced bewteen each of them before completely focusing back on Ozpin.
"I'd also like to speak to Professor Ozpin... alone."
Eventually, the three girls decided to honor Blake's request. Weiss left without saying a single word, while Ruby looked looked heart-breakingly hurt as she followed her. Yang was the last to depart, following behind Ruby as the was closing behind them; The bounty hunter laying a hand on Blake's shoulder as she passed. Blake didn't bother to take in their scents as each of them left. She was focused entirely on Ozpin.
"So. Here we are." She opened neutrally.
Ozpin didn't answer. In fact, he suddenly became very interested in his cane. He was examining almost every detail of it, and acting completely unaware of Blake's mere presence. As the minutes passed, Ozpin only continued to act this way; Leaving Blake unsure what he was playing at, or how she should proceed from here. Though as usual, her instincts only answered by screaming at her to either flee or fight. She ended up deciding to do neither.
Growing tired of whatever game he was playing, Blake raised a brow as she questioned bluntly, "What are you planning to do?"
Ozpin immediately stopped examining his cane. He glance over at Blake, then settled his cane back onto the floor. He leaned forward again, resting his weight on it once again.
"My apologies for seeming rude, but I'm not one for small talk or unnecessary chatter."
Blake seemed unfazed for a moment, though she closed her eyes and let a single soft laugh slip out. She waved her hand haphazard as she said, "Fair enough."
When she refocused on Ozpin, she repeated her question.
"So? What are you planning to do?"
"Well Ms. Belladonna, I plan to go get some more coffee. Afterwords, I'm planning on trying to contact my partner and see if she's still alive. I also need to answer a message I received earlier from a inside contact, and lastly I need to make arrangements on getting everyone's personal belongings."
Blake narrowed her eyes at the headmaster. A growing irritation seeping into her tone as she held back the forming of a growl.
"I meant, what about me?"
Only Ozpin's eyebrows raised up as he asked, "What about you Ms. Belladonna?" His tone coming off to Blake as mock confusion.
He's messing with my head! He has to be! He knows exactly what I'm talking about! Blake thought as anger began bubbling in her veins.
The feline Faunus pounced forward and onto her feet, pointing at Ozpin with every other word for emphasis.
"I'm a key and founding member of the White Fang's new order. I was to be an integral part in destroying Vale! I was to kill Weiss! I, am what you, consider, the enemy. So, for the last time, what the hell are you going to do with me!?"
"Ms. Belladonna-" Ozpin tried to interrupting, though Blake decided to keep going on her rant without waiting for an answer.
"I could've done whatever the hell I wanted you know! I didn't need to help Ruby. I didn't need to become her friend. I didn't need to get the shit kicked out of me by her sister! And I didn't need to go with my friends! Yet YOU-"
"Ms. Belladonna!" Ozpin sternly raised his voice, finally breaking though the raving teenager. Blake had stopped in her tracks, flinching, though she still looked ready to rant on if given the chance.
"Please," He asked more calmly. "Relax. Take a seat." He motioned for her to be seated again.
Blake just glared at him for several more seconds, though she obliged and sat back in her chair.
"Thank you." Ozpin said kindly. "Now, I can't exactly understand what you're thinking and how you feel if all you do is shout. But, if I had to guess... you're scared." He said that last bit as though it was a common fact.
Blake could feel herself already about to object, but stopped herself. She took in a deep breath, feeling her ears starting to unfold under her bow. When she felt calm and reserved again, she looked back at Ozpin and admitted her thoughts in a very somber voice.
"I don't think you believe me when I say I'm ready to start over. But I do know that we can both agree, I will never be forgiven. That I can never redeem myself for the things I've done, and the lives I've stolen. And now... I'm pretty sure all the others know that too."
Blake closed her eyes, starting to feel tears trying to form. She waited like that, expecting Ozpin to lecture on. Though he stayed quiet for a full minute before speaking.
"Blake..."
The Faunus teen opened her eyes, only now noticing the legendary hunter in front of her. He standing up and offering her his hand. She took it, and was now face to face with the headmaster.
"Many years ago, when we had our first encounter-" He started, walking over to a covered window.
"So, you remember that too?" Blake interrupted. Worried this was going where she suddenly thought it was going.
Ozpin moved aside the window's small curtains to reveal moving tunnels and arcs of purple light from the coils around the train.
When the brief shock subsided, Blake glared at Ozpin; crossing her arms as she stated, "What would have happened if we all said no?"
Ozpin smiled and shrugged as he walked back to Blake.
"I had faith in you all. Let's just leave it at that. Just like how I have faith in you now, despite how I do remember that nasty kick you delivered to the side of my head all those years ago."
A large sweat drop began to form as Blake's cheeks flushed. Her eyes falling to the floor as she mumbled, "That's what I thought."
She barely lifted her eyes to give a vain attempt at humor as she added, "You've gown up nicely. Hehe...he..."
Ozpin, unamused, only lifted an eyebrow in response; causing the rouge to quickly look back down to the floor in pure embarrassment.
"My point is Ms. Belladonna, people change. Back then, I surely would've thought of you as the enemy. But with age and experience, I've come to see that there is more to you underneath," Ozpin glance shifted to Blake's bow for moment. "The image."
Blake backed up a step, now looking Ozpin in the eyes again with a tight glare.
"I know really why you wear that bow Blake. And I don't blame you or Faunus kind for believing that humans will never accept you. I understand completely that you all want nothing more then to be seen for who you are, and not what you are."
Blake's glare soften with every word as Ozpin continued. "Perhaps you're right. You may never be forgiven, and there are people who may always see you for what you are and what you did.
"But I promise you... I will not be one of them. For I see in you, a good and regretful individual; and if you feel that you can find the answer to those regrets and to your individuality at my school... then I will provide all my help now and for as long as it takes."
Ozpin let a smile flow back onto his face as he gestured his head and eyes towards the green door.
"I also guarantee your friends are also not those kind of people."
Blake looked over to the door, then back at Ozpin.
"I wouldn't bet on it."
She then started to walk to the door, finally following the others. Ozpin spoke as she was leaving, though she only looked back at him briefly as he finished.
"Something else to know Blake. I never bet on something I don't believe in."
WWWWWWWW
To: "Emerald".
From: Qrow.
"QUEEN HAS PAWNS"
To: Qrow.
From: "Emerald".
"KING HAS KNIGHTS"
WWWWWWWW
When Blake entered their guestroom, she was bombarded immediately with a flash of petals and questions.
"You're here! Oh thank goodness! Are you okay? What did he say to you?"
Thankfully Yang pulled her sister back from Blake, giving the Faunus room to breathe and quickly take in her surroundings.
The room they were staying in was small. It had four beds lined side by side, two drawers on either side of the room facing the beds, and a small bathroom off to the side.
None of the three teens had explored their temporary room yet; they were all waiting patiently for Blake's return. Weiss had been sitting on the edge of the right farthest bed (near the bathroom), Yang had been pacing the room from wall to wall, and Ruby had been standing anxiously in front of the door like puppy waiting for its owner to arrive. When Blake entered, the three had gotten up to surround her (with Ruby practically tackling her).
"I'll be joining you guys." Blake answered the hanging question. She shrugged, adding, "For better or for worse."
"Don't say things like that! We want you here!" Ruby exclaimed.
Blake's brow knitted as she looked between the three.
"But I thought-"
Blake was interrupted as Ruby warped in front of her again, placing a finger over her mouth to silence her.
"We've talked about this before, remember? You're my friend Blake. And I don't care what you did and what you were going to do. That's not who you are, and now we all know it."
Ruby happily stepped back from Blake again to stand by her sister. Though before either Yang could follow up or Blake could answer, Weiss suddenly came forward and stood directly in front of Blake.
"I've actually been taking the time to think about a great number of things, you included. And after everything, I've come to a conclusion about you."
A tense moment passed as the teens awaited the royal to answer her assassin. The former's eyes narrowing, and the latter astonishingly looking unfazed in waiting.
"I don't care." Weiss stated bluntly.
Blake's eyes widened in surprise as she immediately questioned, " You... don't care?"
Weiss crossed her arms and looked away as she repeated. "I don't care."
Her eyes came back to Blake as she said, matter of factually, " You've admitted that you're a killer, yet you saved Ruby's life for no real reason. I was told you were a nothing more but a villain; even going as far as to try and kill you, yet you still fought along side us when I personally thought you made an escape. And you even stayed around to come try and rescue me."
The to be queen closed her eyes, throwing her hands into the air to accompany a exaggerated shrug.
"You are all over the place. So, I've decided, I don't care. We are going to be combatants in arms, so I've decided to let future experiences be my judge for your character."
Weiss turned and walked towards the drawer that was near the bathroom. She dug around in it for moment before pulling out a faded bluish sleeping gown with short sleeves, and white trimmings. After inspecting it, she took it in hand and turned back to her starring teammates, and narrowing her eyes at Blake.
"Don't, disappoint me."
She turned from the others, making her way into the bathroom. And as Weiss closed the door, she could hear Blake call back at her.
"I won't."
Door closed, and unknown to the others... Weiss briefly half smiled to herself.
"Well... that was a thing." Yang joked, trying to break the awkward silence that had fallen between the group.
Blake smiled as she rolled her eyes. Playfully adding a sarcastic, "No kidding."
Yang also started smiling as she rubbed the back of her head, while Ruby started to lightly giggle to herself.
Afterwards, Blake and Yang went over to the opposite drawer to look for something to wear. It also gave Ruby time to change without being looked at (under her request). So far, neither of the older teens had found anything that stuck out to them.
That is until they found a particular old and folded up piece of sleepwear buried at the bottom of the drawer.
"Ooo! This is pretty." Yang said, pulling it out and unfolding it. It was a black Yukata with touches of gray and white.
Blake gave it a once-over before commenting, "It's okay I guess."
Yang looked at her, giving a wide smile... before offering the clothing to Blake.
"Here, take it. Think of it as a peace offering."
Blake looked back at the outfit again, seemingly deep in thought. She looked over and down at the nearby bed she was going to be sleeping in, the farthest left, noticing a similarly old small pillow with the face of a dog. She grabbed it off the bed, (careful not to look in Ruby's direction), and offered it to Yang with a just as wide smile.
"Likewise."
Yang's eye became like stars and her smile grew into a bigger, more open smile. The two exchanged offerings, and had a somewhat awkward hug. Yang nearly squeezed the life out of Blake, though it didn't bother her that much. She'd take hugs over fists any day.
"Awww." A child's voice squeed, causing the two girls to break off from their hug and look in Ruby's direction.
Ruby had changed into a black tank top with a heart-shaped Beowolf design on the chest, and a long white pair of pajamas covered in pink rose decorations. She also wore a Beowolf sleeping mask on her head, with her signature red hood hanging on the inner left bed's headpost. Her headphones also hanged on the opposite headpost. And her clothes and other ammo pouches were neatly folded at the foot of her bed.
"Wait, are those your pajamas?" Yang asked.
Ruby happily nodded.
Blake's eyes went to big white circles as she tilt her head and her right eye began to twitch. "Wait. When did you pack those? And where have you been keeping them?"
Yang sighed, closing her eyes. She started patting the poor rouge on the back as she shook her head.
"Just let it go Blake. You've had to deal with her all night. You should know what to do by now. No mortal can comprehend the madness."
Once Blake was done from being on the verge of tears, Yang went over to the inner right bed and sat down. She then began taking off everything from her scarf, gloves, and belt. All that was left by the end was her tank top and shorts, which she was happy to sleep in. Nothing in either drawer was probably her size anyway.
By then Weiss had also emerged from the bathroom. Blake had changed out, Ruby was getting tucked in, and Yang had gotten up to look out the room's one window as she hugged on her new pillow.
"I guess you can't hear or feel anything from the inside. I didn't even notice we'd already taken off." Yang siad to herself out loud.
"It's because this train is a luxury model." Weiss answered her, making her presence known.
Yang looked over Weiss, seeing that she was carrying her folded clothes with the tiara placed on top, though she kept her earrings and necklace on; her hair was now let down, flowing down like a waterfall of snow.
I can't believe I couldn't figure out she was royalty. Yang thought to herself, as she blinked at Weiss as a response.
"The bathroom's open if you girls want to freshen up." Weiss called out, heading to her bed. Though no one answered her, as she expected. All of them just wanted to get some sleep.
Since Weiss was already up and near, she set her clothes down by her bed and then went over to hit the light switch. Once the lights were off, darkness surrounded the girls. The only lights came dimly in from the windows; the purple light of the Tesla coils; and the eerie ember glow of Blake's eyes.
Weiss had made it back to her bed with little trouble. Though as she tucked herself in, she just laid there. She felt strangely stuck. Only able to stare up at the ceiling... with the same problem plaguing the others as well. A peaceful quiet just hanging in air as the weight of the past day washed away from each of them.
"... So, I don't know about you guys, but I wanna rebuild Crescent Rose tomorrow. She was due for a bigger update anyway." Ruby said aloud.
"Really? That's all you have to say? After everything that's happened to all of us?" Weiss answered her.
"Uh, yeah. I guess." Ruby said as she shrugged in the darkness.
"There'll be time to talk about it all tomorrow. We need to get to know each other better anyway. How about over breakfast?" Yang said, yawning.
"Agreed." "Sure" Both girls responded simultaneously, followed by yawning themselves. Blake on the other hand remained silent, having her back turned from the others to look at Adam's parting gift.
He must have attached it to her as she ran past him to attack the Deathstalker; Blake didn't even notice it was there until she, Yang, and Ruby went running after Weiss, and even then she kept the find to herself. It was a tiny metal device that that had a switch around it that needed to be twisted, and that had a light in the middle. A tracking device... that wasn't active.
Blake closed her fist around the device. She closed her eyes and brought it close to her lips, taking in the faint scent of her old friend that had clung to it.
"Goodnight Adam. Sleep well." She whispered into the darkness, before crushing the device in her hands. She then slipped her hand holding the device under her pillow, and let the pieces fall behind the bed. Once gone, Blake turned back over to her other side, closing her eyes as the scents of her new friends filled her nose and the very faint sounds of the train lull her in her victory.
And just like that, finally, after the longest night of their lives...
Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang let their thoughts and their memories go...
As they blissfully, finally, went to sleep.
WWWWWWWW
The darkness in the room was still. The only sounds came from the peaceful sleep of the three other sleeping females, and the loud snoring sounds of the silver eyed one.
The dim purple light among the room suddenly flashed a bright green hue, before returning to normal in less then a heartbeat. The shadows in the small sleeping quarters then started to move. A deep, yet soft chuckle came from the darkness; having no real origin to pinpoint.
"Sleep my champions. Sleep well."
A dark shadow began sliding across the ceiling, slowly making its way across the room. It's shape indescribable as it stopped for moments at a time above each female.
"For tomorrow... we will begin our journey... to destroy the darkness... and the light."
Once on the bathroom's side of the room, dark shadow slid down the wall, paused, then started gliding along the wall and stopping at the room's door. There, it began to take shape. A more defined shape.
It's shape became woman like. Horns began rising from the shape's head. And a bright, unnatural green glow emanated from where the eyes would be.
"Tomorrow... We will burn this world into true, Magnificence!"
To Be Continued...
watch?v=9Jy7ip-NWMI
Ruby:
"I won't give up on, this journey I've started"
Weiss:
"No, there's still so much to learn ahead"
Blake:
"I will conquer the uncharted,"
Yang:
"And travel to where I am led~!"
(Instrument break)
Ruby:
"I woke up from a dream,
"Still chasing after things not quite what they seemed"
"On narrow winding roads,
"Full of faces and people I had never known..."
Weiss:
"Don't get me wrong,
"I'm not naive enough to think that things
"Could ever be the same again"
"As they once were..."
"And though you're strong,
"You'll never understand the way I feel
"So give it up and don't pretend,"
"That you're so sure!"
Blake:
"Every sin might as well be eternal"
"This burden is infernal"
"Is there a way to escape the pain that threatens to seize my light?"
"I just wanna erase all the mistakes,"
"Write another story on a blank slate,"
"Hoping someday the truth I seek will finally come into sight"
RWBY:
"I wanna scream just to prove I'm alive!"
Yang:
"Cause I'm ready to begin and I'm ready to try!"
"No longer blind, I have finally opened my eyes~"
"Listen to my cry!"
RWBY:
"I won't play it safe! I'm going, I won't stay!"
Weiss:
"To repay the ones I love one day"
RBY:
"(I'm on the way!)"
RWBY:
"I'll fight to the end,
"I will be the one to rise again!"