It was the end of the school year finally. They had three days left until graduation and instructions for their third year. Summer and Roman had been hanging out once a week but she wanted to focus on finishing the year so she could spend half of her summer break with him. Her and Qrow's relationship wasn't improving much due to his increasing jealously.
"It's your own fault."
Qrow glared at Taiyang.
"Well, you decided to dump her over a stupid reason and now she has someone who likes and accepts the flaws that affects her."
Qrow looked down at the ground, "I don't want to see someone to throw their life away like that."
Taiyang sighed, "Did you ever bother to ask her why?"
"No. I just don't understand-
"Something makes her do it. She can't help it."
Qrow looked over at Summer's bed. She was on her scroll messaging, her fingers almost a blur.
"Quit staring dumbass," Raven said slapping the back of his head.
"Hey!"
"You think we'll have to wear a stupid gown and cap again?" Taiyang asked looking annoyed by the thought.
"No, they said we will wear our battle attire," Summer answered without looking from her phone, "We are distinguished fighters now."
"Yea we are after everything we've done these last two years," Raven said.
Summer set down her phone and looked at her best friend, "The fourth years walk first, then the third, second and first."
"It's about time you get off your scroll," Qrow snapped.
"Oh, I didn't know you wanted to talk to me," Summer said with an innocent look on her face.
Qrow glared at her.
"Well, we better get to the Emerald Forest launch site for the final test," Taiyang said.
Summer jumped up, "We get tested as a team today. If we pass, we won't have to the entrance exam for third years."
"Right?" Raven said, "I hope we do!"
"What is the test?" Taiyang asked as they walked down the stairs.
"Against Grimm."
Qrow paled a little but Summer looked unbothered by it.
X
X
Several teams had went before them and now it was finally their turn. There was only Ozpin watching as he wanted to judge the students himself. He sat in a lawn chair by the launch sight with a giant TV like device propped up on a rock. He greeted them as they came over the side of the hill. They smiled at him and stood before him.
"Hello ladies and gentlemen. Are you four ready for this exam?"
They nodded.
"We are testing team work. We want to see good interaction and I know with you four that isn't a big problem even for the siblings."
They laughed nervously.
"Are you guys ready?" Ozpin asked with a reassuring smile.
They nodded in unison.
"Here," Raven said handing Summer a blue bladed sword.
"What?" Summer asked taking it.
"I want to make sure… you're fine."
Taiyang looked worried, especially if Raven was handing Summer a weapon.
"What's wrong?"
Raven wiped the sweat off of her face.
"We will end up passing the exam but…"
Taiyang took her hand.
"But?"
Raven threw down her towel and looked him in the eye.
"Something wrong is happening to Summer. She is losing her power…"
"You mean her semblance?"
Raven smiled weakly, "She has never discovered her semblance. The flowers and thorns are because of her silver eyes. The power affects everyone differently."
"Can you see what her semblance is?" Taiyang asked.
"It's too fast for me to see."
Taiyang squeezed her hand.
"Things will be fine."
Raven nodded and smiled at her brother.
"Bad luck or not it's our luck."
They postioned themselves onto the launch pad. Summer smiled remembering the first time they did this. She never thought they would be back here again. The launch pads clicked and they went flying into the air. Summer was laughing despite her teammates fears of falling. It felt good to be reminded of the first time they were in the forest together. Before he broke up with her.
Qrow turned into a crow and landed on top of the trees. Taiyang went through the branches and tumbled onto the ground. Raven reappeared through a portal standing beside of him. She helped him up as Summer came running through the trees laughing. The couple smiled at her admiring how free she looked in the forest. They stood there waiting on Qrow to join them.
Five minutes passed by and he never showed up.
"Damn it! Qrow, you're gonna make us fail!" Raven screamed angrily making her teammates jump.
He was doing this on purpose and she knew he was going too but she had hoped he would change his mind.
"Is he mad?" Taiyang asked.
"Of course he is. He's mad because Summer is in a happy relationship and he's not in it."
Raven looked over at Summer. Her roots were blood red. She shook the horrible image out of her head.
"Let's just look for him. If we have to fight, we will. We have to find him."
They spend thirty minutes looking for him but for some reason there were no Grimm around. Even Summer looked confused as to why they weren't being attacked. They sat down on the ground unsure what to do. Taiyang drew pictures in the dirt as Raven looked so mad at her brother that the blood vessel throbbing on her forehead might bust. Summer felt worried he might have run off and gotten hurt.
"I'm sorry."
The couple looked at their leader.
"For?" the blonde asked looking confused.
"I feel like it's my fault he won't join us. We are going to fail because of me."
Raven felt like someone squeezed her heart.
"Is it wrong I feel so happy with Roman? Is it wrong for me to be happy in general? It hurts him to see me happy, doesn't it?"
"Jesus Christ Summer," Taiyang said, his blue eyes tearing up.
Raven glared at him, "Quit being a sap. This is Qrow's fault. You will always be Summer regardless of who you love."
Summer pulled at her hair, "I hate myself! I should have never came to Beacon!" she screamed and the ground started to rumble.
Raven looked shocked and stared at Summer.
"Calm down!" Taiyang yelled grabbing her shoulders, "I'm glad you came! You are one of my best friends!"
"Why?!" Summer cried, tearing running down her face, "Why be glad some kind of monster is your team leader?!"
"You're right, you are some kind of monster," Raven said and Summer started crying harder.
"Raven-
"But, we love you regardless of what you are."
Summer stared at her.
"I'm a murderer. Taiyang is a human looking Faunus. Qrow attracts bad luck for himself and everyone around him. We are one fucked up group of people but…" Raven smiled, "We make it work."
"We made it out alive a few times because of you," Taiyang said with a smile.
"You can't mean that…" Summer said.
"You'll risk your life for whoever. You will literally jump in front of Qrow and save his life today regardless of how he feels about you. You love Roman but your teammates are important to you. They are your first friends in life."
"How do you know that?" Summer whispered, confused.
"Because. I see into the future for those around except myself. You will do it. That's why I gave you the sword. The events leading up to that maybe differ from what I saw… but the outcome is the same."
Summer looked shocked.
"I didn't want to tell anyone because I was afraid you all would depend on me to tell you how everything in your life will go. I don't enjoy seeing it but… I will always keep you safe like I did for Qrow."
Summer covered her face and started crying again. The ground shook again.
"What the hell is that?" Taiyang said standing up.
"Grimm… A Death Stalker, a Goliath and something… looking like ghosts?" Raven said looking confused, "I have never seen anything like them."
Raven held out her hands in front of her face and waited. Within a minute, a black crow flew right into her hands squawking like it was frightened.
"What happened?" Raven asked and Qrow poofed into a human being in her arms.
"There… there's Geists! Like in the fairytale books we use to read!"
Raven raised an eyebrow, "I think I would ignore you so I don't really remember."
"Here they come! Summer yelled.
Without warning some Grimm floated in surrounding them. They gave off an eerie feeling, it freaked them all out. Raven dropped her brother onto the ground and pulled out her red blade. They were shaking but what more could they do than to fight despite their fear. Summer pulled out the borrowed sword, ready to fight.
"Team STRQ!"
It was Ozpin's voice.
"We have speakers all over the forest. Listen, those Geists came from somewhere else. The Death Stalker and the Goliath was ours. Geists only come out when they want to curse someone or so legends say. Be careful."
"I'm already cursed," Summer said looking at Raven.
Raven frowned.
Was the curse receding?
"Summer… start running," Raven said, "I want to know if they are after you."
"She's the leader," Taiyang said.
"In this moment, it's not about school anymore."
Summer's eyes widened and she nodded agreement.
"Ok."
Summer started running and sure enough Raven was right. The ghost Grimm went after Summer. Raven nodded to her boyfriend and brother to follow behind. She wasn't sure what they wanted but it was for sure it had to do with Summer. Was it because of her hair turning red? They followed as close as they could but their presence made them afraid.
"I feel sick," Qrow said and Taiyang nodded in agreement.
"I feel it too but I wonder what they want with her?" Raven said looking confused.
Summer finally slowed down and tried to catch her breath. She was tired from running and those ghosts weren't slowing down. What did they want with her? Why did they wait until now to do anything to her? How come they never showed up at the school? She felt like her friends were in danger and it was her fault once again.
"What do you want with me!" Summer screamed at them.
They circled around her.
"Curse… curse…curse…"
Summer shuddered at their creepy voice, she covered her ears.
"GO AWAY!" she screamed.
She dropped the sword onto the ground and started crying.
"Somehow… you are beating my curse."
Summer looked up to see one of the ghosts standing in front of her.
"What makes you so special huh?"
It was a female voice filled curiosity and malice.
"Just leave me alone!" Summer screamed.
"I can't do that until the mission I bestowed upon the silver bloodline is finished."
"I don't even know what it is! No one ever told me what mission there was!" she screamed, shaking.
"I know that they love to abandon their children once they reach a certain age, fearful that they will learn of the mission but I need it completed. You have to do it."
"I just want to be happy!"
"THEN BLAME YOUR ANCESTORS FOR WANTING TO BE MORE SPECIAL THAN EVERYONE ELSE AND FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME! I LOVED HER! I LOVED HER AND SHE HURT ME!" the voice screamed.
"I'm sorry that happened to you but I don't know what I'm supposed to do!"
"You don't know?"
"No!" Summer cried her face wet with scared tears.
The Geist grabbed her face and made it look at her.
"It is a tale as old as time… but she loved me so much… She did but she gave it up… I never knew why. I want revenge on the one who separated us! He still walks the Earth!"
"Why can't you just get over it?!" Summer whispered hoarsely.
"I WANT HIM DEAD!"
"I don't hurt people!"
"What do you mean?!" the voice shrieked.
"I'm not a killer."
The Geists surrounding her started to twitch uncontrollably.
"What do you think those Grimm are anyways?" the voice whispered, "They are the fallen souls of those who died in despair. The souls of murderers… Your friend… with the red eyes… she will end up as one of those and you will end up killing her anyways. You murder people they just don't look like people."
Summer pulled at her hair, "She's not murderer! She's my friend!"
"You come to the mountains. I will show you the truth. Your friend dreams of you hurting her every night but yet… she still hangs around."
"Tell me what you want!"
"He's a Grimm."
"Oh…"
"I am not the one who makes Grimm. I just control the silver bloodline. I just wanted her safe."
The Geist in front of her reached out and plunged it's claws into her body. Summer froze. She felt something squeeze her heart.
You're in love…
All love fails you…
You'll know when you see him…
He'll be the one you want to kill… you'll feel the anger.
Her Grimm died a long time ago…
Summer blinked and realized she was alone.
"Summer!"
She looked to the side to see her teammates running for her.
"Are you ok?!" Raven cried hugging her.
"I don't know."
"The Grimm are coming towards you now."
The Death Stalker showed up first. Then the Goliath came in after it. The three of them started yelling as they jumped into battle but Summer just sat there staring at the Grimm. Neither one of them were it. They weren't him. Who was he? She didn't know him but she felt like she knew his soul.
The Death stalker was becoming too much for Qrow by himself. Summer got up and felt like her body moved on its own. She watched as Qrow was slammed against a tree and the Death Stalker was going to kill him with the stinger. She raised her hand but no vines shot out of the ground to protect him. She watched as Qrow's aura fazed off and she was suddenly in front of him.
He screamed as Summer's abdomen was penetrated by the yellow stinger. Blood spattered onto his body.
"Sum-Summer!"
Summer had her hands against the tree for support and looked down at him with a smile. She coughed up blood onto the ground.
"SUMMER!" Raven screamed. Even though she had seen it, it was too terrible to bear seeing it for real.
"I can't die until I find him…" she whispered.
Suddenly her hair grew long like Raven's and it turned blood red. The Death Stalker pulled its stinger out of her body making a sickening noise. The hole started to seal up on its own freaking Qrow out even more than before.
"No matter how you feel about me… I'll still protect you," Summer whispered.
"Why?" he whispered.
"Because you're my teammate and my friend," she said and she shuddered.
She fell on top of him.
"Sorry, I just hurt a lot…" she whispered and fell into his lap losing consciousness.
X
X
"Is she ok?!" Roman screamed into his scroll.
"Yea. You want to come to Beacon?" Raven asked.
"I'll be right there!" Roman yelled and hung up.
Neo, Jinex and Brunneis stared at him like he was nuts.
"Summer got hurt!" he cried running out of the mansion like a mad person.
Brunneis got up to follow him but Neo grabbed the edge of his shirt to stop him. He looked at her funny.
[Calm down. He'll be back. He can't go without a car]
"That's true."
"Brunneis! I need a car!" Roman yelled running back into the mansion.
"Alright. Neo said she would take you."
Roman looked at him then her.
"You know how to drive?" he asked and she nodded with a smile.
"Let's go short shit!"
Neo glared at the name but got up anyways.
X
X
They arrived outside of Beacon and Neo parked the car into the lot. The had to walked a good half a mile to the school. The same black haired girl who had come with Summer to the docks and the one who was awaiting her return was standing by the gates. She was covered in dirt and blood. She looked scary dressed in red and black.
"Who's the red head?" Raven asked.
Roman turned around to see a red headed girl with yellow eyes.
[It's my semblance]
"Oh. Her name is Neo. She's the driver."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Yea, sure. Follow me."
After ten minutes, they arrived a normal brown door. Raven opened it up and there was two guys inside talking. One was blonde with blue eyes and he looked nicer than the second one. The other one was definitely Summer's ex-boyfriend. He remembered seeing them together. He had black hair and red eyes, looking a lot like Raven. The black haired boy glared at Roman with such hateful eyes that even Neo felt uncomfortable.
"Why the hell is he here?" Qrow demanded and his sister rolled his eyes.
"He's the boyfriend."
Neo grabbed onto Roman's white shirt in fear. It was easy to tell they were siblings. The hate in the room was thick in the room even the blonde looked scared.
"Qrow, remember what she did to you last time. Don't be an idiot."
"What happened?" Roman asked ignoring their quarrel.
"Even though we passed the exam something strange had happened. A bunch of Geists showed up and followed Summer. I had a strange feeling they were after her… I never seen it before then. They weren't after to harm her. Suddenly she just disappeared for a few minutes but we heard Summer talking to an angry female voice but it was hard to tell what they were saying.
"Qrow was almost killed by the Death Stalker after the Geists disappeared. Summer jumped in his way and he said she had said something extremely strange. Something about she couldn't die until she found him. Out of nowhere her hair turned blood red. We have no idea what Summer's semblance really is because her silver eyes always had the flower power. Did she ever mention looking for someone?" Raven asked and Roman shook his head.
"The night I found her, all she did was talk about her childhood in the woods, her feelings and you guys. Does… she remember anything?" Roman asked looking over at the bed with Summer in it.
"She was zoned out but… she was passed out by the end."
Roman walked over to the bed and pulled the sheet back to see the red hair on his girlfriend.
"I don't know anything about a Geist. I just know they are ghost Grimm but that's it."
Neo tapped on Raven's shoulder.
"Um yes?"
Neo started signing but Raven stared at her dumbfounded.
"Wait, Neo back up. Go slow I can't translate that fast," Roman said with a weak smile.
Neo nodded and started signing slowly.
[It's said Geists work for those with special abilities to communicate with the dead. They are considered witches or necromancers and they are usually shunned from society. They can live for centuries at a time without aging. I had heard there were curses that affected future generations until their purpose was fulfilled. Is Summer cursed?]
Raven scratched her head, "What about the silver eyes?"
Neo nodded.
[It's a type of curse. It's said those who are born blind are given the ability to see becoming cursed with Grimm attracting scent to fight. I have no idea why they were warriors or anything since history wasn't well taken care of… Maybe the witch behind the curse is still alive or that the mission that needs to be fulfilled is still ongoing.]
"That's so stupid," Qrow said.
Taiyang punched his arm.
[There are lots of legends out there and some are true but it's hard to tell which ones.]
"What should we do? Maybe she was visited by the witch's Geists and now the witch has control over her body?" Taiyang said feeling uneasy.
"Then we help her fulfill her destiny. It'll continue on through the children to come until it's done," Roman said.
Raven looked mildly surprised, "Do you even know how to fight?"
"No."
Neo nodded.
"Wait- you can fight?"
[I told you I wanted to go to Beacon.]
"Oh yea… I want to help."
Raven snorted and patted his shoulder, "You're a brave fool huh?"
"When she wakes up, maybe it would be best if I talked to her?" Roman asked.
"I say yes," Taiyang said smiling.
"You can try waking her up if you want," Raven said, "Let's go guys. I'm hungry."
"I don't trust him," Qrow hissed.
Raven rubbed her face, "For the love of god Qrow, he has already seen her naked. Let's go."
Qrow's mouth opened slightly but he said nothing. The rest of team STRQ walked out leaving Neo and Roman with Summer.
"Summer…" Roman said in whisper.
"Ugh…"
"It's me Roman…"
"Roman?"
Summer opened her eyes slightly and smiled, "Why are you here at Beacon?"
"Raven called me. You really scared everyone."
She opened her eyes wider, "I missed you so much."
She reached up stroking his cheek and Roman closed his eyes. Her hand was warm.
"I missed you too."
"I can't wait to graduate so I can spend my summer with you."
Neo sat on one the beds listening. They really cared about each other.
"Your ex hates me."
Summer's smile faded some, "I know."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," Summer said, "Thank you for saving me."
Roman leaned over and kissed her on the lips.
"You want to tell me what happened?"
Summer bit her lip.
"I need to go to the mountains. I need to know the truth."
Roman nodded.
"Are… you looking for someone?" he whispered.
"Yes and no. It's a Grimm. I… I didn't know Grimm were corrupted human souls."
Roman looked surprised and looked up at Neo who shrugged. It was the first either one had heard about it.
"It's the soul that did her wrong. I have… to find it. She hurts so much."
"I want to help."
Summer smiled, "Thank you Roman. Can…. Can you cuddle with me for a little while?"
He nodded, "I'd love too."