A/N: For the last couple of days, I've been busting up and down with the next few installments of the series. The lack of proper combat situations is throwing me off a bit, but that leaves room for some good flashbacks here and there. Either way, I'm working up toward the canon story line of RWBY in a big way. But before that can happen, some important people gotta meet.
And that's gonna happen, right now.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A couple hours after their encounter earlier that morning. A fully dressed/armored Amber and John joined Qrow down in the tavern, the three of them sitting in a more secluded part of the establishment for privacy so they could talk.
The scythe-wielding huntsman had taken out a hip-flask and was taking an occasional pull from it, his sharp eyes glancing toward John every now and gain. The Doom Slayer leering right back through the visor of his helmet, the tension between the two of them nearly visible given how they met.
Amber looked between the two men, a bit of worry in the back of her mind while hoping they wouldn't try to kill each other.
"What are you doing here, Qrow?" the Maiden asked, deciding to be the first to start their little discussion.
Qrow took another drink from his flask before putting it away. "Ozpin heard a few things going around, sent me out to check up on you." he said to the young woman.
"Who's Ozpin? And what's his interest in Amber here?" John asked pointedly. He didn't trust the man, that much was apparent. Anyone who goes sneaking around, and had evidentally been following them for some time, didn't warrent such a privaledge.
"He's the headmaster of Beacon academy in Vale." answered the huntsman, "As for the reason why he's looking out for Amber, that's classified."
"He already knows the truth, Qrow." said the Fall Maiden. "I told him last night."
The huntsman sighed and rubbed his forehead, "You know, the purpose behind everything we do behind the scenes is to make sure no one knows about what you are, right?" he asked her with a raised eyebrow.
"She obviously trusts me enough to keep her secret." said the Doom Slayer, leaning forward on the table between them, "And speaking of 'trust', if this little pow-wow of ours is to have any effectiveness, then you better be explaining a few things. Amber might know you, but I don't, so as far as I'm concerned either you give me the details, or this get together is over."
Qrow glared at John for a few moments, deciding on whether or not to say anything. "Qrow." he looked over at Amber who gave him a meaningful stare. "You can trust him. He saved my life, we saved this town together from the Grimm and the White Fang. I told him the truth about me, you can do the same."
Sighing, the scythe-wielder shook his head before speaking. "Alright, you obviously know the story and why Amber is so important. But what you don't know is that there are folks out there trying to keep her and the other Maiden's safe."
"Back in the day, everyone knew about them and the power they wielded. But overtime, folks from opposing kingdoms wanted to use them as a means to make themselves stronger. The lives of the women who inherited the powers were in danger damn near constantly. That's when Ozpin and his pals stepped in."
"They all got together and formed a sort of brotherhood of his most trusted to keep the identity and well being of the Four Maidens a safely guarded secret. Overtime, the powers slipped into the stuff of legends and fairytales, and only a select few knew the full truth behind it."
Finished with his explination, the hunstman looked at the armored being across from him. "After I graduated from Beacon, the headmaster brought me in one day and gave me the full rundown of what he and his people did behind closed doors. We protect not only the Maidens, but all of Remnant from the threats they are unaware of."
Amber took control of the discussion from there, "A year after I got the Fall Maiden's power, Ozpin and Qrow approached me and told me of what they stood for and offered to help me whenever they could. Every so often, someone from their group would come and check on me to see if I was doing okay."
John soaked in all the information, filing it away just incase before asking the obvious thought on his mind. "If your so called 'brotherhood' was set up to protect Amber and the other Maidens, then where the hell were you the other day when she was attacked?"
Qrow pulled out his flask again and took another long pull from it. "I was on another assignment when I got the call that she might be in trouble. It took me too long to track down where she had gone, and by the time I arrived you were there carrying her off. Almost attacked you too until Oz told me to hold off and survey you at a distance to see if you were a threat or not."
A smirk played across his lips, "Imagine my surprise almost a day later when he told me to not only avoid attacking, but to have a little sit down and relay a message from the man himself."
"What kind of message?" asked the Doom Slayer, curious.
"Ozpin wants to see the two of you in Vale, at Beacon. There's a lot of things that need to be talked about that can't be done out in the open. Everyone else in his inner circle is going to be there as well." said the huntsman.
"I am not detecting any disruption in his heartrate that would suggest dishonesty." VEGA said in John's ear. "I am curious about how he can consume so much alcohol and still remain combat effective."
John looked toward Amber who was looking back at him. "We were heading toward Vale anyway, at least we'll get there much sooner." said the Fall Maiden with a slight shrug. "If Ozpin wants to speak with us directly, then it must really be important."
He couldn't help but agree. He could tell that she trusted the man across from them, and whoever this Ozpin was. And if she could trust them, then he could at least offer a sliver of his own...for now anyway.
"Alright, we'll go along." John said after along pause, "But just so that you're aware, the last man that double-crossed me had his arm torn off. I won't hesitate to do worse if this is some kind of trick, so you best be straight with what you say."
Qrow blinked, an involuntary shiver going up his spine. It wasn't so much the not-so-subtle threat in the Doom Slayer's words as it was the way he said it. His very tone promising pain the likes of which he only had nightmares about before bringing him to a very brutal demise.
For a veteran hunstman like him, he knew a dangerous being when he saw one. And the man across from him he knew was worse than any he had met before, Grimm or otherwise. And it showed with seeing how he fought.
'You better be right on the money with this one, Oz. This is one guy we don't want to be on the bad side of.' he thought while finishing off the contents of his flask.
X
Ozpin breathed out a sigh of relief after having read the message from Qrow. Despite the...unusual way they had met, at the very least it ended on peaceful terms.
Quickly sending a message to James, the headmaster also sent one to one of the bullhead pilots at the academy with the coordinates on where to pick up the trio. When he was finished, he closed down his scroll and set it ontop of his desk.
"I take it everything went well?" asked Glynda, making herself known as she entered the office.
"There was a small complication at first, but everything is resolved and they will be on their way." replied Ozpin, "James should arrive roughly around the same time when he reads the message I sent and will most likely bring Ms. Schnee along as well."
The huntress nodded before getting a better look at her friend and boss. The man had been in a deep state of thought for days now, all of it centered around what he had discovered not long after the Fall Maiden had been saved. "Ozpin," she said, getting the man's attention, "Are you sure about this? There is no telling what will happen after he arrives."
"I'm well aware of that, Glynda." the headmaster said with another deep sigh, "It has been many, many years. And from what Qrow has informed me, he doesn't seem to recognize my name. Which tells me something has happened since we last met, yet his skills in combat remain as sharp as ever."
Professor Goodwitch understood what he was saying before checking her scroll, "What do you have in mind for when they get here?"
Ozpin leaned his elbows on his desk, steepling his fingers with his chin resting upon them. "I have a few ideas on the matter, many that would prove beneficial. But only if he accepts them, I don't think any of us will be in any position to force him...not with what he is capable of."
His colleague paled slightly knowing the meaning behind his words, "Hopefully James doesn't overstep his boundaries this time. The last thing we need is Beacon to become a battleground."
"Agreed." replied the headmaster, "For now we will play it safe. If he doesn't remember, then there is a way to help him regain his memories. But we will have to earn his trust once again..."
X
Hours after the sit down with Qrow, John and Amber was in the town square where most of the town had gathered to see them off. Many wishing them well and thanking them once again for all that the have done.
"We will be forever greatful for the service you've done for us." Mick said shaking Amber's hand, making the Maiden smile.
"It was nothing. And we would gladly do it again without hesitation." she replied, looking over toward her companion who was kneeling down while a bunch of small children crowded around him.
"Do you really think we'll be big and strong enough to fight like you?" asked a little boy with dog-ears poking out of his hair.
John nodded, smiling widely beneath his helmet. "I really think so. There's nothing you can't do if you put your minds to it and keep trying. And I can see a lot in each of you."
A little girl with blonde hair, who had been hanging off his left arm, looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Do you and the nice lady really have to leave? What if the monsters come back?"
The Doom Slayer reached his other hand up and gently patted her head, "You'll be safe. The monsters will think twice about attacking this place again, and I'll be sure that other people come here and make sure you're all okay. And if not...then I'll come back and give the monsters something they'll be afraid of." he finished by punching a fist into his open palm. The children all cheering as their new hero stood to his full height and joined Amber.
"Making new friends?" she asked, both of them looking back at the kids and seeing them talking excitedly together.
"Guess so," John replied, his smile still present even though no one could see it. "Never thought I'd end up a role model. There really is a first time for everything." The duo looked to their other side and found Qrow approaching through the gathered townspeople, drinking from his flask again with a noticable sway in his steps from the obvious side-effects.
"Bullhead should be here soon." he slurred slightly, taking another drink.
Shaking his head at the drunken huntsman, John turned his head to the sky when he heard the sounds of engines humming. His visor zooming in on something moving through the air until it showed an image of a aircraft that resembled some kind of troop transport.
When it got closer, the engines on either of the wings turned downward so that it was hovering before it descended toward the ground and landed on the empty side of the townsquare. Hatch doors on either side opening up to reveal a troop compartment big enough to fit over a half-dozen people.
Qrow made his way toward it first, Amber and John soon following after giving one final goodbye to the people they had helped. The Fall Maiden gently coaxing Tundra into the bullhead and having her lay down on the floor, stroking her mane to keep her calm as the doors closed and the aircraft started to rise into the air again.
The small group sat on the benches inside the compartment and got comfortable as they were flown toward Vale. Everything quiet save for the hum of the bullhead's engines and an occasional snort from the white horse with them.
"So," Qrow said, breaking the silence and sounding a bit more sober than he had before take off. "I caught some of your fights, those were some pretty brutal executions." the statement being pointed at John who sat with his back to the wall behind him and his arms crossed.
"It's part of my style." replied the Doom Slayer. "The Grimm show no mercy, why should I show them any in return?"
"Fair enough." said the huntsman, "Is the same said for those who are not Grimm?" he asked, eyes locked on the visor across from him.
John tilted his head, "Depends."
"On what?" asked Qrow, wondering about the coming answer.
"On what they did to have me come after them in the first place." he knew that the man was fishing for a little extra information, and he wasn't falling for it. John already made the mistake of putting his trust in someone who supposedly wanted to 'help him', and it came back and bit him in the ass hard.
"Let me save you the trouble of you're little interrogation." John said strongly, holding up his index finger, "I don't trust easily, and if you break it you ain't getting it back." the next finger went up, "Anyone who attacks me is met with extreme prejudice, though I do pull my punches if the situation warrents it." a third finger rose, "And lastly, if you expect me to have any faith in what you told us, getting drunk will work against you."
Flask freezing an inch from his lips, Qrow rolled his eyes and brought it down before twisting the cap back on it and putting it away. "Fine, I get it." he said while crossing his own arms.
Nodding, the Doom Slayer rolled his shoulders and asked a question of his own. "Did Ozpin give anything as to why he want's us at his school? Amber I can understand, but what does he need to talk to me about?"
"You'll have to ask him when we get there." replied the huntsman. "The man's smart, but he can be pretty damn cryptic most of the time. Especially when it comes to something important."
"He's always had that way about him." said Amber, her hand still stroking in a soothing fashion along Tundra's neck. "But he is headmaster of Beacon for a reason, something not easily earned."
John decided to leave it alone for the time being and slipped into silence, allowing his mind to wander while waiting for the ship to reach its destination. Even though, deep down, he knew that Qrow knew a lot more than what he was admitting to . And as much as he wanted to 'acquire' said information before they arrived at the kingdom, the last thing he wanted to do was upset Amber given that she'd known him for so long.
Taking the time provided while they traveled, he brought up the codex on his HUD and started combing through the data that had been collected in the last few days.
There was a lot of useful information, but there were too many gaps for his intended on having VEGA tap into the information network when they reached Vale and collect as much useful data as he could. Even though Amber told him alot, it was mostly the cliffnote version and there was so much more he needed to know if he was going to adjust to things on Remnant.
All of that, and he'd learned to appreciate good intel before winding up in a hostile situation.
A few hours ticked by, the hum of the bullhead's engines vibrating softly through the passenger compartment and filling the silence. Qrow had nodded off, head bowed forward and eyes closed but remaining sitting up with his arms crossed.
Amber was reading something on her scroll, her horse asleep with her head in her lap. As for John, he felt his mind slipping more and more into itself. Not quite asleep, but not awake either.
The interior of the aircraft started to change, finding himself no longer sitting in the compartment with the huntsman and the Fall Maiden, but in a long metal corridor that went down several meters and ending at a massive, reinforced steel door that took up an entire wall at the opposing end...
Plasma rifle in hand, he ventured down the corridor. Muscles tense as he approached the sealed entrance, eyes scanning over the various locking mechanisms obviously designed to keep whatever was inside from getting out.
Adjusting his grip on the energy weapon in his hands, he stepped infront of the door, searching for a way to open it. Finding a small maitenance panel on the surface, reaching out, he tore off the covering to reveal a release lever.
Grabbing the handle, he yanked the lever down. Machinery coming alive as the locking mechanisms disengaged on the large door, the opening slowly coming apart-
A massive clawed hand with a stone-like blade suddenly forcing through the small gap and forcing it open wider. The creature it belonged to reaching out and grabbing him before John could fire a shot, hurling him into the room beyond where he slammed his boots to the floor, staying upright as he slid across the floor to the other side.
The lights above came on, illuminating the chamber and revealing the huge demon that had tossed the Doom Slayer through the air. Standing over 30 feet tall with stone-like armor covering its frame, its entire left arm a massive cannon, a beast that was the twisted conception of flesh and metal.
Four small, slanted eyes glowed a dull orange as it leered at John, a pair of large horns situated atop its head, one of which looked to have been broken in half. Neither combatant did anything at first, seeming to size each other up.
Then the Cyberdemon let loose a bellowing roar that shook the entire room, and perhaps even the entire Lazarus Facility itself. A maw filled with razor sharp teeth and a set of mandibles on either side flaring widely, as the creature took a stance and raising its cannon arm, the barrel glowing brightly as it primed to fire.
John was moving just as the first rocket launched from the large weapon, a barrage soon following that trailed after the Doom Slayer's path and exploding right on his heels. His plasma rifle letting loose a salvo of blue bolts that splashed along the creature's flank.
The Cyberdemon roared and jolted to the left, thrusters built into its back by the scientists kicking on and making it move even faster out of the path of most of the energy rounds. Coming to a quick stop and hunching down before a volley of mini-rockets launched upward from its back.
"Fuck." John cursed, his suit marking the trajectory of the ordinance as he sprinted out of the path of the coming explosions. Switching to his rocket launcher and letting loose his own explosive rounds that struck home in the beast's center of mass.
The two circled one another throughout the chamber, firing at each other at every possible opening. The Cyberdemon would occasionally raise its normal arm, a blade of fire extending from its forearm that it slashed through the air sending a flaming wave burning toward the Doom Slayer.
John gritted his teeth as he ducked under the attack, coming back up with his rocket launcher switching out and in its place was the familiar weight of his newly acquired BFG-9000. The powerful weapon charging to full in a matter of seconds before letting loose a green blast.
The Cyberdemon taking the shot full force and stunning it, arcs of green energy dancing along its frame as it dropped to a kneeling position.
Capitalizing on the beast's moment of vulnerablility, John took out his chaingun and pummeled the creature with slugs, the barrage continuing even after the demon got its second wind and stood back up.
Roaring at its enemy, the creature summoned its fire-sword and went into a full charge. The Doom Slayer bellowing his own battlecry, bringing out his combat shotgun and meeting the beast head on-
"John!"
John blinked, the memory fading away like a bad dream when he found Amber looking into his visor trying to get his attention. "Yes?" he asked, the Fall Maiden leaning back with a confused look on her face.
"You've been still as stone for several hours, I couldn't tell if you'd fallen asleep or not." she admitted.
"Sorry, been lost in thought." replied the Doom Slayer, unfolding his arms and rotating his shoulders, "We in Vale yet?"
Qrow grunted from his spot across from them, taking out his flask and taking a pull from it, "We entered the kingdoms' perimeter a few minutes ago, should be at Beacon in a few minutes." the huntsman stated.
Nodding, John leaned back against the wall of the ship again as he looked out the window of the compartment and saw the city passing below them. It was an impressive sight, given when he'd seen of this world so far he wasn't expecting one of the kingdoms to look so...normal.
When Amber had told him about the four kingdoms of Remnant, he half expected to see some kind of fortress-like structures surrounded by high walls to keep the Grimm out. But instead, it seemed that they were cities where people lived out regular day to day lives even with the dangers lurking in the shadows beyond their borders.
The city soon gave away to a large body of water, and in the distance, seated utop a large cliff and surrounded by dense forest, was what could have been considered an actual castle. High towers and archways amongst dozens of other buildings of various sizes with courtyards separating them at various points.
"I have tapped into the bullhead's systems and got a better view of the academy we are approaching."said VEGA. "The school is half of the size the UAC facility on Mars was, and looks to be able to house thousands. A closer inspection will ensure my estimations are correct."
The bullhead reached the academy and slowly descended until it touched down on a docking port situated along the edge of the cliff. The doors to the compartment opened allowing the three humans and one horse to step off, all of them greeted by a group of four that looked to have been waiting for them.
John looked to each person with sharp, calculating eyes. Two of them looked like the standard military type; the man wearing an officers uniform with the insignia for General on it holding himself in a manner that showed his rank. The look in his eyes calm and cautious, but held the aura of someone who had seen combat in many forms.
The white haired, blue eyed woman standing beside him was also in an officers uniform, but had the patch for specialist on it. One of her gloved hands resting on the hilt of a rapier at her side.
Turning to look at the other two, the Doom Slayer met the gaze of a blonde haired woman wearing a white blouse with a black/purple cape and black leggings. A riding crop held in her hand while she adjusted the glasses she wore with the other.
And lastly there was the one in the lead of the group, looking to be the oldest with grey hair and wearing a green suit, a pair of glasses sitting over eyes that looked back at him with a level of curiosity that showed great intelligence.
Qrow stepped toward them with his hands in his pockets, "Brought 'em back in one piece, no problem."
"We can see that, Qrow." stated the General, who had yet to take his eyes off the new arrivals. "What kept you?"
"Had to do a bit of explaining about a few things or else they wouldn't budge." the huntsman replied, sending a look at John who leered right back through his visor.
Ozpin approached the duo smiling at Amber who smiled back at him in return, "Ms. Autumn, it is good to see that you are alright. I was worried when I got the information about a possible attack on your person, but I see that you were in safe hands." He turned his attention to the armored man beside her, having to look up given the size difference between them.
"You must be John Irons, I am Professor Ozpin, headmaster here at Beacon academy." he held out his hand to shake.
John looked down at the offered hand a moment before shaking it slowly, being mindful not to crush the older man's hand with his far stronger one. "Qrow said something about you explaining why you had us brought here?" he said, wanting to get answers and quickly.
"Of course," replied the headmaster as he motioned toward the academy's entrance, "Please, follow us. And everything will be explained."
X
Within her hideout, Cinder stood before a large desk in a darkened room. A few candles the only form of illumination and showing a large map of Vale spread out infront of her.
Receiving the call from Adam Taurus had been a slight improvment to the deteriorating mood that she had been suffering from. Knowing that the bull-faunus was willing to work with her would ensure their plans ran a bit smoother, even more so when she discovered that his people were killed by the same man that had attacked her, Emerald and Mercury.
They now had a common enemy, and one that they needed to watch out for if they intended on succeeding in the future.
Going over the map before her, being mindful of the wrapped stump on the end of her right arm, the woman double checked a few things regarding their operations in Vale. She messaged her contact within the kingdom, the criminal mastermind known as Roman Torchwick, and told him that it was time to start gathering resources for their cause.
The man may have been infuriating a good portion of the time, but he was the best at what he did and could be trusted to get the job done.
Satisfied with the recent changes she had made, Cinder stepped away from the desk and sat in a leather chair set up behind it. Her shoulders sagging as she leaned back and closed her eyes, taking deep, calming breaths as she did her best to clear her mind.
She had yet to hear from her mistress since their meeting, and it worried her to know end. The raven-haired woman had never seen the woman she considered like a mother and mentor look so afraid, yet when she saw the symbol on the armor of the man who attacked them she looked as though she'd seen the devil himself.
The man was strong, and skilled, of which Cinder could attest to, but other than that and the powerful suit he wore she couldn't understand why someone of such power like her mistress would fear him. What did Salem know that she did not?
Shaking her head, the woman turned her thoughts toward more recent things happening at the hide out. Emerald had woken up yesterday, head still aching from their fight but none the worse for ware.
The shot to her head had, however, caused her a bit of short term memory loss. The green-haired theif had no recollection of what happened the day they ambushed the Fall Maiden, Mercury had been more than happy to give her the details. The young assassin having gotten his new legs as well and was vowing to get back at the one who destroyed his last ones.
Taking another breath, Cinder opened her eyes when a knock was heard at her door. "Come in." she said as she stood up from the chair. The door opened to reveal Emerald standing on the otherside.
"Ma'am," she said respectfully to her leader and teacher, "Your, um, prosthetic just arrived." the theif's red eyes strayed to the older woman's damaged limb for a brief second before quickly going back to her gaze.
"Thank you, Emerald." Cinder replied sternly, not missing her subordinate's glance at her deformity. "Tell Mercury that we will be moving to our second hideout in the morning, pack everything you can tonight."
Emerald nodded, "Yes, ma'am." with that she left the woman to her own devices. Cinder looked down at the map again, scanning over the marked locations throughout the kingdom before heading out as well.
Despite the hiccups, they still had a schedule to keep.
X
Beacon had been even more impressive on the inside. The outside may have resembled a castle, but the interior looked every bit like the academy Amber informed him about before they left the town they had saved.
John took everything in while they ventured through the main structure in the very center of the campus. The entourage that greeted them at the sky-dock leading with Ozpin at the front. He didn't know what to make of the man, or the people he surrounded himself with, but Amber seemed to be comfortable in their presense.
It was more than enough for him to at the very least keep a level head until he understood what they wanted.
The group entered a lift that took them to the very top of the central tower, the doors opening to a very large office with a series of cogs and gears working along the ceiling and walls. Ozpin approached the desk at the far end, layng his cane on the surface before sitting in the chair behind it.
Glynda standing on his left with the General, who's name was James Ironwood, and his specialist stood on the other. Qrow took up leaning against a pillar close to the elevator, flask in hand as he simply watched things from there.
"I can understand your hesitation." the headmaster said as he turned his attention to the Doom Slayer. "But you have to understand that in order for us to have this conversation it needed to be had behind closed doors. Qrow has already explained to you our reason for secrecy, has he not?"
"He did." said John, "And from what Amber told me, it's good to know that the Maiden's have people looking out for them. Though that doesn't change the fact that I'm still out of the loop as to why we're here."
The General was the one that spoke up next, "We needed to know if you posed a threat to Amber and her secret. Information that is quiet warrented, given the circumstances. And we have a right to know the truth."
"That type of information goes both ways." John said, sending Ironwood a sharp look through his visor. "Infact, if Qrow hadn't given me the rundown of what your organization stood for, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. No offense, but recent events have caused my ability to trust people in high-powered positions to drop to an all time low."
"Someone betrayed you." Glynda stated rather than asked.
The Doom Slayer turned to her and nodded, "Someone who led me to believe that he was doing what he could for the betterment of everyone. Never fully trusted him in the beginning, but I had no other choice at the time. So by the end, I wasn't surprised when he stabbed me in the back for his own selfish reasons. Though, I left him with a very clear reminder." he finished while cracking his armored knuckles.
Ozpin kept his gaze on John, eyes still calculating as if trying to read hiim through through the Praetor suit. "Perhaps you should tell us the full story, if you wouldn't mind, of course."
John wanted to argue, but a hand on his arm turned his attention to the Fall Maiden standing beside him. "John, if you can trust me, you can trust them." she said, looking up into his visor and locking with his eyes even through she couldn't see them clearly.
"It would be beneficial." VEGA agreed. "For us to gather proper intel on this world, then we need to make connections with those that can give it to us. Perhaps this is the chance to make those connections. It may help us greatly later on."
Sighing internally, realizing that both of them were right, he turned back toward the headmaster who was waiting patiently. "Alright, I'll trust Amber's judgement. But you better prepare yourself, it was a hell of a trip." with the attention focused on him, the Doom Slayer started his tale. "It all started when I woke up chained inside a cursed sarcophagus..."
A/N: Ozpin's group and the Doom Slayer have finally met, despite a bit of tension between him and Qrow, and he's willing to at least share his story with them despite his hesitance. But we all know how persuasive Ozpin can be, and if John his hoping to do some real good on Remnant, he's the man he has to go through to make it all happen.
But just how will Ozpin's group handle what John's been through, and what secret are they hiding that revolves around him and their world? Everything's going to be answered next time guys, so look out for it!