Mad Max: Road to Salvation

Episode 23: As I want you to be PT.3

[Charles: Thanks man, and this chapter should fit the bill then. Bounty killer is alright in my book, it has its moments, but that's just me.]

[Review dude: Yes it does.]

[Hitler's Moustache: Thanks, and well I promised the readers a little somethin since Max was going to be with glynda, but it has yet to be solidfied so if you pay close attention you'll find I have some plans hidden for Max. He is going to marry Glynda that much is certain. But who knows what will happen along the way?:3]

[awsomrebel55: Interesting is one word alright, and the girls will definitely have varying opinions on Max. I know a certain kitty will have it rough, pun intended. They eventually will, but that will take time, the similarities are subtle.]

[EnriksD8: Not at all, in fact I should've done that! Ok, yeah, Imma do it now!]

[Old batman: Yes they will get hitched, but the matter of when eludes me for now, and yes it will be a boy.]

-Xiao-long Residence-

Ruby was a constant blur as she was busy taking care of her little sisters back and forth between all three of them. Each baby had their needs, one of them being diapers, which Ruby had to hold her nose when doing. If it wasn't Reyna crying, it was certainly either Talia or Mei. Ruby stopped for a moment to breath and wondered just how she had let Yang talk her into being the one to babysit.

"Come on Ruby, you know how much they like you." Yang tried to sweet talk her sister into being the one to watch the three little infants.

"Nope, I'll go get the food and formula, I'm faster!" Ruby tried to weasel out of it.

"Exactly, that means you can keep up with them!" Yang turned her words back on her sister.

"I can? Wa-wait a minute!" Ruby said in confusion.

"Glad to hear you'll do it sis bye!" Yang said as she disappeared through the front door and a bike revved outside.

"Yang!" Ruby shouted in vain as the oldest Xiao-long sibling was long gone. The babies had noticed the negativity in the room and began to tear up. Ruby tried to comfort them but it was too late.

"WAAAAAHHHH!" Mei was the first to start the cry-fest.

"Oh, here we go…" Ruby groaned as Mei whined which in turn caused the rest of the triplets to cry. She was brought from her thoughts again as more crying erupted from the cribs. At least Tali seemed to be slightly quieter and sweeter than Mei or Reyna. She was becoming Ruby's favorite since Talia was happy to sleep more often and seemed to love a teddy bear Ruby had gotten for her. The red speedster was really lucky when she found their binkies. In a great display of speed and care, Ruby stuck all three in their mouths and they magically stopped crying. She plopped down on the couch and breathed a sigh of relief at finally having some peace.

-Beacon-

The road warrior was watching his apprentice take to the field with flying colors and some dysfunction. He wasn't exactly happy with Bruz's behavior but he felt credit should be given where it's due. At least he was performing well in combat, that much Max could live with. He didn't really need to say it though, so he just kept silent and continued to watch the event unfold with all the others. Anya, Glynda, and Ozpin were standing beside him as well. The wise headmaster could tell Max's opinions despite how difficult he made it to do so.

"Go big brother!" Anya shouted as she watched Bruz kick some grim ass. Somehow as if in response to the little girl's praise, Bruz raised his fist in the air for a thumbs-up after he brutally punched in the face of a beowolf, shattering its bone mask. Sally cleanly sliced the head off of an Ursa with her 'Raid Buster' gun-sword. Back with Aurora and Titus, the two of them were rapidly approaching the temple, or at least they thought they were. They didn't exactly have intel on where it was but Aurora seemed to have an idea at least. Titus took point and held up his fist in the motion to hold their position. He spotted a lone beowolf and signaled for Aurora to take the shot. She unfolded her rifle and fired the round at the target, obliterating it.

"Nice spotting, you're really handy there, partner." The blue belle sniper thanked her partner.

"Aww shucks, well… you know the best snipers work in pairs. Besides, you're the marks-woman, I'm just a spotter." Titus replied bashfully.

"Well aren't you a gentleman, and don't sell yourself short by the way." Aurora smiled.

"T-thanks." Titus returned her sentiment.

"Shoot, it's no problem at all. If we're lucky we should get where we're going pretty soon, I think." Aurora answered politely.

"Yeah, we're headed to some old ruin out here to find some artifacts." Titus replied tactically.

"I think that's it up ahead." The blue belle sniper pointed to an old circle of pillars and rocks.

"It's a ruin alright." Titus said as he inspected the area. "Are these playing cards?"

"looks like there's eight cards here. We have some aces, jacks, kings, and Queens." Aurora tallied the card count, but suddenly a loud boom echoed throughout the forest.

"Incoming!" Sally shouted at the top of her lungs as she and Bruz plummeted towards the ground.

"Look out below mates, we're coming in hot!" Bruz roared as they we're about to land on their cohorts.

"Move, move, move!" Titus said as he grabbed aurora and jumped out of the way. This made the lady sniper blush hard at the brave actions of her handsome savior. Bruz and sally just missed the temple and made a sizable crater in the ground.

"What the hell did think you were doing!" Sally chewed Bruz's ear off.

"Taking a short cut! There's nothing wrong with what I did!" Bruz replied crossing his arms.

"There's everything wrong with what you just did! You wasted most of my arsenal!" Sally growled at her partner.

"Oi, quit whining you're in one piece aren't ya?!" Bruz snapped back.

"You're crazy!" Sally spun her finger next to her head.

"Tell me something I don't know. I'm used to firecrackers going off in my face like that." Bruz said flatly.

"Excuse me?! Did you just call my bombs firecrackers?!" Sally said indignantly, going red in the face to the point where it looked steam was erupting from her ears. "That's it!" Sally snorted as she and Bruz broke into a barrelhouse scrap roll. The batty brat got on Bruz's back and started slamming his face into the dirt. They spun again, this time Bruz was on top and giving her a wedgie. It happened again and Sally was pulling Bruz's arm behind his back. Round again and Bruz was

"Time out both of you!" Titus ended the argument as he approached the two of them.

"He/She started it!" The two bickering partners pointed to each other.

"What the hell happened?" Titus started interrogating them.

"He stole my bombs!" Sally was quick to call out Bruz.

"I made tactical use of a resource you were reluctant to use!" Bruz spat.

"Focus! What happened, in short." Titus put his foot down.

"Fine, I didn't ask alright! I'm sorry, there I said it!" Bruz owned his 'mistake'.

"Do not touch my explosives again!" Sally huffed.

"Whatever." Bruz waved her off.

"Now that we settled the matter, let's focus on-" Titus shook his head and was cut off by the arrival of Coco, Velvet, Fox, and Yatsuhashi.

"Well this is a fine how do you do." Coco said sarcastically.

"Oh, thank Oum, It's you guys." Titus sighed in relief.

"Greetings." Yatsuhashi said cordially.

"H-hi." Bruz blushed at Velvet with a dumb look on his face.

"Hey." The bunny eared beauty blushed. The two teams then looked at the various relics on the numerous pedestals.

"Are those playing cards, seriously?" Coco said sarcastically.

-Back with Max-

The road warrior facepalmed at Bruz's latest blundering the field. 'When he get's back, there will be consequences.' He thought to himself. But then he started hearing familiar whispers, not the whispers of madness but rather something familiar in a good way. "I'll be back, there's something I have to do." Max told the others.

"Of course, but do hurry back, I don't think you want to miss this." Ozpin advised his associate.

"I'll watch Anya while you take care of your business." Glynda said with a small smile.

"Hurry back daddy." Anya said sweetly.

"Thanks, and I will sweet pea, I promise." Max said as he walked away. The whispers led him to a place on the edge of the campus surrounded by boulders and various large rocks. Upon said rocks were the various tribal markings that pointed to one entity Max knew all too well. He walked down the narrow path to see Griffa standing in the circle again, as per the norm with him.

"We meet again old friend. I knew the shifting sands would lead you back to me once more as they always do." The outback mystic said as Max approached him.

"Why have you summoned me?" The road warrior asked stoically.

"I came to inform you of something you have yet to learn for yourself. But then again, perhaps you are not ready for it, yet. This type of information is priceless to those who actively seek it or seek to create it. The things I speak of are some of the greatest treasures to the right individual, yourself in particular. It is a great matter of choice, fate, and even destiny." Griffa spoke ominously.

"What have you come to tell me?" Max calmly demanded.

Griffa: "I suppose a clue is not out of the question. It has been said that a legacy is what many hope to leave behind when they themselves cease to exist. Wealth, riches, fame, and even power, all mean nothing to someone who simply desires a legacy like most, be it one of good or evil. So many dream of enjoying a torchbearer to carry on that legacy. Some though, would not dare to do so out of concern to prevent their suffering. The masses suffer this terrible fate, those who are lost without guides. A rare few lost souls are saved to be given love and care in the light, even fewer though rise to do so again with good conscience, some simply turning to darkness and corruption that greed or weakness brings. Sadly, many others fade into the endless pit of existence to be tragically corrupted and or forgotten by an unforgivingly black-hearted world. Your potential for a legacy is stronger than you know, perhaps even far stronger than I can dare to say." The outback mystic paused for a brief moment before resuming his dispensing of knowledge. Max waited patiently while trying to ponder the riddle in his mind as the mystic paused.

Griffa: "The currently hidden full strength in that potential for your legacy could grow perhaps by one or two, but only one remains certain for now, while the other may never come to exist. It all depends on you and your actions, five are already in the world, the next one shall be forged in a bright, and elegantly powerful, yet loving cauldron, that much is certain. The other, could be sculpted from beautifully sparkling ice, so cold, yet so strong and magnificent in its honed gem-like grace. This is all up to you wanderer, choice can breed fate, and that fate itself may yield great destiny in the future. I know you will protect your legacy tooth and nail. But, perhaps this information will drive you on a quest to continue forging and strengthening it even further. Maybe even now your legacy could seek to strengthen itself, on its own accord, if the right connection is made. Of course, that could carry severe consequences if it even occurs at all with either one, two, or perhaps even all three paths of doing so. In the case of extraordinary luck, it could be done simultaneously."

Griffa: "That is all I have to say for now, but before I leave again, perhaps you need another gift. It is up to you to determine whether you use it or not, for this gift is a great power. One wielded by others you know in this world. But not as many as you think, for it is far different from the last one I bestowed to you, which you still have yet to activate. But it is otherwise similar, and a dusty old bird you know holds this type of power, but your result is entirely different, I can say that much. You must discover it of your own volition if you wish to do so, it is all a simple matter of possibility." The shaman finished his message, blowing a puff of dust into Max's face and disappearing as usual.

The road warrior found himself kneeling again on all fours before he hauled himself back to his feet. What Griffa had said this time was far stranger than the usual, but still cryptic nonetheless. Max sighed to himself on the confusing message and decided he would ponder it later as he walked back to the school to watch his adopted son carry out his mission. But as he walked away, a mysterious figure watched him move toward the school. Her eyes glowed their amber shade sinisterly with hostile intent. She had heard everything the mystic said, and with that information in hand, despite its cryptic nature, was nonetheless invaluable. Two more figures emerged from the shadows of the trees and looked to their leader. She turned back to them with a devious smile on her face that would make grown men cringe. On that unsettling note, they returned to the sinister darkness of the trees and their malefic dark queen.

Back with the two teams of young fighters, the eight young warriors were selecting their pick of the cards. Bruz picked up the jack of spades, while sally grabbed ahold of the ace of the ace of spades. Titus was the one to pick up the king of spades, and Aurora curled her lovely fingers around the spade's queen. Coco chose the queen of diamonds, and velvet latched on to the jack of diamonds, Fox selected the ace, leaving Yatsuhashi with the King. Then as they started patting each other on the backs, a loud roar erupted from the forest. It seemed the Grim had come for round two, and they wee playing for keeps. Each fighter equipped their weapon of choice, one by one.

"Bruz, take my extra sub machine gun." Titus quickly tossed his extra gun to the young mechanic.

"Oi, this is your other smg?!" Bruz barked as the grim surged forward.

"I got an extra, and you need it more than I do!" Titus shouted as he let loose with his heavy auto rifle.

"Just grab it and shoot you dumbass!" Sally roared while she sliced through a group of beowolves.

The young mechanic grinned his joker smile as he started firing wildly into the horde of grim with the reliably powerful old-school sub machine gun. He blew smoke off the compensator as he turned to face the direction of his friend. "Bloody rippa of you mate, I'll take care of it! By the way brat-girl, sod off!" Bruz thanked his partner's brother and flipped off the smaller girl with the giant sword.

"Lock and load boys and girls, it's time for a good old fashioned smackdown!" Aurora called out as she started firing her massive rifle at the grim that approached from a nearby open area.

"When this is over, I am definitely going to have to discuss the way some of you dress!"

"I've been thinking the same thing about them myself!" Aurora tipped her hat to Coco.

"Finally, someone who has a good sense of style!" The fashionista bellowed in agreement as she unleashed the power of her mini-gun. The massive horde of grim was barely showing any sign of thinning out, despite the valiant yet uncoordinated efforts of the brave and talented young heroes. Titus saw what was happening and took a moment to breathe as he watched the battlefield slow down to a crawl. Bruz was dual wielding the smg and his gunbow while a large explosion erupted behind him from one of Sally's remaining dust charges. The heavy machine gunner fired her raid buster at the horde with a smile on her face as she enjoyed the destruction raging around her. Titus's view drifted to the beautiful Aurora who had been lifted into a tree by Sally, was blowing the heads off of grim like they were practice dummies. Coco was firing her mini-gun at the advancing grim to hold them back, while Yatsuhashi was covering her by taking the grim that got by her. Fox was pulling acrobatic moves that would make event eh best performers drop their jaws in awe as he rapidly hit and dodged the grim that tried to gang up on velvet. The bunny eared girl was using a photo-copied version of Sally's raid buster to act as the third machine gunner of the group. The boy from atlas watched time speed back up as he grappled with a beowolf that was trying to bite through his rifle. He roared at the beast as he pushed it back and it fired the entire magazine into its mouth. Titus fell back, deciding to end this here and now.

"Sally!" Titus shouted to his sister.

"Busy bro!" Sally replied as she hacked apart an ursa major.

"Don't care, I want you to direct your strikes at the grim coming towards Aurora!" Titus shouted to the heavy machine gunner.

"Are you crazy?!" Sally shouted as she swapped her weapon to gun mode.

"Do it, that's an order!" Titus ordered to his sister and then turned his attention to Bruz. "Bruz, I need you to support Sally and Aurora!"

"On it mate, after all I wouldn't be a gentleman if I let the women do the work!" Bruz grinned and made his way over to the girls.

"Oh, now you're a gentleman?!" Sally growled.

"Aw, bite me!" Bruz snapped as he fired his gun bow towards the incoming grim and reloaded the smg. Coco saw what Titus was doing and started following his lead with the others. With their powers combined they started to push back the grim horde in an epic display of teamwork. As the horde thinned, the fighters grew even fiercer in their intense drive for victory. As the numbers fell into the single digits a rumble was felt underground as cracks formed beneath the valiant figheters. Suddenly a giant king taijitu burst out of the ground and started attacking them. The snake swung its other end at them in an attempt to crush its prey. Sally reacted quickly and levied a huge slice at the creature, causing it to roar in pain. The beast angrily knocked her away and tried to eat her. Bruz charged in to save her and punched the offending head while his semblance was active to redirect the attack.

He kneeled down and picked up the dazed and tired bat faunus. "Get your bloody arse up! I'm not letting you die on my watch, got?! Besides, your brother would have my hide for it!"

"Grrr… thanks." Sally begrudgingly accepted his gesture.

"Don't mention it, ever." Bruz said sourly as he went on to deal more pain to the snake.

"Everyone, focus your fire on this thing! We can do this!" Titus called out to his fellow initiates. The entire group followed his lead and the giant king taijitu was being bombarded on all sides by the invigorated team members who united in their fighting spirit. After enough of a brutal beat down, the snake had enough and with one last mighty roar, the grim snake collapsed on the ground and faded to ash. Bruz put his foot on the dissolving creature and raised his fist proudly. Everyone joined in the victory celebration, even Sally who lightened up a bit.

"WE RULE!" Bruz bellowed in victory.

-END CHAPTER-