RWBY is property of Roosterteeth! I only own my characters.
CHAPTER 31
"Sir," Alex stepped into Ozpin's office, his eyebrows rising in surprise as the soldier noticed the room was quite filled. Ruby, Weiss, and Luna sat beside each other on a trio of chairs. Blake, Firo, and Dimitri leaned against the wall beside the entrance. Ryland and Yang occupied a space in the center of the office, both occasionally sweeping broken glass away with their feet. Jerloh and Marcia were sharing confused looks beside Ozpin's desk, Lex looking around at the room's ceiling. Even Cinder, Arthur, Emerald, Pyrrha, Anise and Winter were present, standing in various locations around the office while Ozpin and Ironwood stood beside the elevator at the back of the room with their arms crossed patiently.
"What is this about?" Alex asked. "It looks like you called everyone here."
"Due to the day's events..." Ozpin started, "General Ironwood and I have come to the conclusion that we require outside assistance, and everyone is this room is someone we believe we can trust, even the children. Before I begin to supply you with specifics, tell me, do you all know the 'Tale of the Four Seasons?'" The headmaster noticed the confused looks that the members of the EDC and Guardians adopted. "I thought not..." Ozpin closed his eyes for a moment.
"The story tells of an old man, a powerful wizard that wielded great power. This man spent centuries secluding himself away from the world, locking himself in a small home far away from civilization. He slowly became bitter and cold. However, one day, he met four young women, sisters on a journey together. The first, Winter, taught the old man to find serenity and peace. The second, Spring, revitalized the wizard's garden. Summer thawed his frozen heart, helping him embrace the world. And the final sister, Fall, showed him how to be grateful for all that he had. In return for their kindness and lessons, the old wizard granted each sister a great power of their own, so that they could continue to help those in need. When these newly created 'Maidens' finally passed, their powers would find another 'worthy' to weild them." The headmaster looked at the people in the room around him.
"It's a good story, Sir," Alex said after a short pause. "But, what does it have to do with today?"
"I think I see where this is going," Jerloh stated. "Back on Earth, we had some time to dig into the origin of Auras. We found old stories that talk about an 'Immortal'. This being is the one who apparently granted power to the first Reaper and Esprit, the only two lines capable of creating additional Bloodlines as they saw fit. I'm guessing, much like our Bloodlines, the Maidens and the old wizard were real people."
"How very perceptive of you," Ozpin nodded. "Indeed, that assumption is correct... the Maidens are quite real... And in addition to that... we believe you have already met someone wielding the power of not one, but two of them..."
"You mean that crazy woman that showed up during the attack," Ruby guessed.
"Yes. James and I have spoken with the remaining members of our group... and we have decided that we require your help..."
"So you... what? Want us to hunt down that pale woman and put a bullet through her?" Marcia asked.
"We haven't decided on the proper course of action yet," Ironwood answered. "But we have something we would like to try first..."
"Yes," Ozpin added, taking a tired sip of coffee from a mug that had been sitting on the edge of his desk. "And for this, we require some help from Arthur."
"From me?" The blond Guardian stood straighter as his name was uttered. "Why?"
"First, all of you should follow me," Ozpin ushered the large group into the elevator. He held a unique-looking card emblazoned with Beacon's emblem. The machine uttered a quick beep, and the box which held them all began to descend into the depths. The elevator made a quiet "bing" noise and came to a halt. Its doors slid open to reveal an expansive complex, dimly lit by lights mounted on the walls.
"All this was beneath the school?" Yang wondered aloud, both her and Ryland scanning the dark walls. Ozpin and Ironwood move to the front of their group, and began to lead them through the facility.
"Four years ago," the headmaster began, "one of the Maidens, the Maiden of Winter, was brutally murdered. Later that same year, the Maiden of Summer was also killed in her home, but unlike the previous victim, her body was completely drained of its aura. Then, three years ago, the Maiden of Fall was attacked in the lands North of Vale. We found her stripped of part of her power and in critical condition..."
"And since that 'Shiro' woman so eagerly broadcast that her power was to absorb others' abilities..." Jerloh said thoughtfully. He placed a reassuring hand on Lex's head as the little girl stuck closer to him within the dark hallway.
"Yes..." Ironwood answered. "We believe that Shiro is the one responsible for the attacks... and we also think that the girl you met, Melody, is the one who inherited the Maiden of Winter's power. I regret to say that none of us looking for the culprit were looking in remotely the correct places. We expected the perpetrator to be making moves quietly, which brought our suspicion to Miss Fall..."
"So that's why you were trying to get Barnes to monitor me," Cinder said, a hint of anger seeping into her voice. "You still thought I might have been the one you were searching for."
"You have our apologies," Ozpin said, his tone suggesting that they drop the matter for now.
"So why have you brought us all down here?" Blake inquired. "If you only needed Arthur, why not just ask him?"
"Because," Ozpin answered solemnly, "as much as I hate to admit it, I am no longer the young man I once was, as are a great many of the organization I lead. Our duty is to protect the Maidens and all of Remnant from those who would seek to do them harm."
"Not to be an ass," Ryland narrowed his eyes, "but it sounds like you've kinda dropped the ball in that regard."
"Sadly, you would not be wrong..." the headmaster sighed. "In the last four years, we lost of three of the four Maidens, and did not even come close to finding the one responsible... It is a failure I am most ashamed of. But the point remains... there are too few of us left to effectively protect them now, let alone for the foreseeable future..."
"This is what you tried to recruit the General, Alex, and Ryland into before," Dimitri guessed.
"Yes," Ironwood nodded. "We were going to attempt to bring the EDC in to help us."
"But until that 'Shiro' woman showed up, you were trying to go about acquiring new members in secret," Luna finished the thought, to which the Atlesian General bobbed his head in affirmation.
"We've arrived," Ozpin said, causing the group to grind to a sudden halt. A massive pair of reinforced metal doors stood before them. "Before we step through this entryway, I have a question for each of you. Now that you know of what we do, will you help us? If not, I ask that you return to the elevator at once." Silence hung over the group for several moments. Alex suddenly took a step forward.
"May I answer your question with some of my own, Sir?" the blond soldier asked.
"You may," Ozpin nodded firmly.
"From what you've said so far, it sounds like you spread the Maidens out and secluded them, right?"
"That is correct."
"Then, knowing what you know about Earth, would you consider doing things differently if we helped you?"
"What?" the headmaster adopted a look of genuine confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I think Boss is trying to tell you that he thinks you're looking at the Maidens in the wrong light," Dimitri spoke up. "If we know that the Humans and Faunus of Remnant should be treated equally, what makes these four Maidens so different?"
"I think I see what he's getting at as well," Marcia cut in. "By isolating and keeping them away from the populace, you hide the Maidens from public knowledge, yes. But, what happens to the Maiden themselves? They're still human beings, and they're left vulnerable all on their own. I think Alex is suggesting you try to integrate them into society, instead of treating them like some sort of diseased rag. Especially if they have the power to do so much good."
"Barnes said it best," Cinder said, slightly glaring at Ozpin and Ironwood, "that you were becoming blind to the people that make up the larger picture..." The headmaster sat in stunned silence before chuckling to himself.
"I see. Instead of hiding them, you want to try getting the people to accept them. In hindsight, it seems like such a simple solution. The organization operated on the assumption that they would be feared for so long... Perhaps they would be safe if they were loved by all... I will give your suggestion some thought, Mr. Greene. Can I assume that this means you have decided to join?"
"If you really try to give those girls a better life, then yes. I'll help you," Alex answered.
"Well, if the Boss is in, so am I," Dimitri grinned and stood at his friend's side.
"I'll help as well," Luna said, stepping forward and grasping Alex's hand. Firo didn't say anything, but she also took several steps forward to stand alongside Dimitri with a look of determination in her eyes. Team RWBY and Ryland were the next to move up, all ready to support Alex. Winter shared a glance with Anise, and the two also stepped forward. Arthur, Emerald, and Pyrrha followed shortly after. Only Cinder, Marcia, Jerloh, and Lex were left standing back slightly.
"To be clear," Cinder said, joining the others, much to Ozpin's surprise, "I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do and it's what Barnes would have wanted." Her glare at Ozpin clearly showed she had no love for the aging headmaster.
"I understand," Ozpin nodded. He turned his gaze to the final three people, the newest arrivals to Remnant. "And all of you?"
"There's still a lot of things we need to do back on Earth," Jerloh said. "We can help, but I'm not sure how long we'd be able to stay."
"If you're willing to deal with that, though," Marcia added, "then I'll gladly help Alex."
"I believe that can be arranged." Ironwood nodded.
"Then count us in," Jerloh smiled. "We'll help protect your world from the Order and Shiro in whatever way we can."
"Thank you," Ozpin bowed his head. "It eases my heart to know I have your assistance. Now then, Arthur, if you would..." The headmaster beckoned the young Guardian forward as the doors behind him ground open. They revealed a small room housing a series of metal pods. A young woman lay in one, unmoving with her eyes closed. "This is Amber, the Maiden of Fall. She's been like this ever since she was attacked. We've been keeping her alive with state-of-the-art technology... but I thought that perhaps our machines aren't the answer in this case... Arthur, you possess a Secondary Ability of regeneration, yes?"
"Yes, Professor," Arthur nodded, beginning to sense what the headmaster wanted him to do.
"As you all know, the auras of the people of Remnant grant us accelerated healing, but not on the same level as Arthur's ability. During the events of two years ago, there were reports of him even healing otherwise fatal injuries."
"That's because I need to control it directly," Arthur explained. "If I can't concentrate, healing more complex or larger injuries becomes almost impossible."
"Then it is good that there should not be anyone to disturb you here," Ozpin reached out and placed a hand on the young Guardian's shoulder. "Arthur... I would like you to try to heal Amber."
"Peleus," Eve spoke softly, but with a dark look on her face. "Do you feel that?"
"What?" the Senator lifted his head from the old map he was using to chart their course across Vacuo. They arrived in the airspace above the neighboring Kingdom the night before. "No, I don't feel a thing, why?"
"There's this..." Eve struggled to find the right words, "foul feeling in the air." She closed her eyes, and pointed to one side of the dropship. "In that direction."
"I'll tell Captain Aegeus that we should probably avoid that at all costs, then," Peleus said.
"No, we have to go towards it... even though it seems like a foolish plan," Eve replied adamantly.
"Why?" Peleus set the map down fully, offering the red-haired woman his full attention.
"Because I can sense three other presences aside from the one dangerous one... and two of them are people I know."
"Cherri?" Ignis shook the Maiden lightly.
"Wha-!?" she let out a small shriek and jumped from her slumped position in their transport's pilot chair. "Oh, Ryan. Did you need something? Are your injuries acting up?"
"Er, no," the Bloodline replied. "I was just going to suggest you find a better place to sleep. I know from experience that sleeping upright like that isn't comfortable."
"Oh..." Cherri blushed lightly. "Um... Thank you."
"You don't have to," Ryan waved his hand dismissively. "It's only a suggestion."
"Hey," Cherri said, noticing an odd look on the ex-Lord's face. "Is something wrong?"
"There's a strange feeling floating around, but I don't think-"
A blast suddenly rocked their transport, ripping an engine from the craft's side. The old bullhead began to spiral down towards the vast expanse of sand beneath them. Cherri and Ignis were thrown about the cabin of the aircraft as it left a trail of disturbed sand and burning debris in its wake.
"Cherri! Are you alright?" Ryan yelled as smoke and sparks filled his vision.
"Y-yeah," the Maiden's voice replied shakily. "H-hold on, I'll open the side hatch." There was a beep, and the flank of the old bullhead slid partially open before falling off completely into the sand. Both Maiden and Bloodline stepped out into the desert night. "Ryan, your shoulder!"
"Hm?" the ex-Lord asked, looking at his left arm. It took him a moment to realize it had been dislocated. "Oh." With one fluid motion, he pushed the bone back into its proper place and rolled the arm a few times. Cherri visibly cringed beside him. "What?"
"How can you just do that? It's kinda freaky," the Maiden said.
"Years of practice," he answered.
"Ugh." Cherri moved to inspect the bullhead, but suddenly found Ryan gripping her arm.
"We're not alone," the Bloodline glared into the darkness. Cherri squinted into the night, quickly catching sight of a Human woman walking towards them. The Maiden could make out bright white skin and hair. The woman stopped around twenty meters from them, a wide grin spread across her face.
"Found you."
Ozpin watched Arthur work nervously from several feet away. He couldn't deny that this was a massive risk. If his gamble failed and the young Guardian could not heal Amber, then the Maiden would most likely die shortly after. Light flowed between Arthur and the young woman in the now-opened pod. The Guardian had placed his hand across the Maiden's forehead and closed his eyes in concentration.
"This isn't working," Ironwood said quietly as to not disturb Arthur. The others in the large group that had been brought down had spread out. Some wore looks of worry and watched the Guardian tend to the Maiden, but most still had pain and sorrow clearly printed across their faces. Ozpin could understand their grief, he'd lost more than a few friends of his own over the years, as well as seen his fair share of destruction and death.
A series of violent coughs suddenly caught everyone's attention. Ozpin's head whipped around in time to see Amber weakly open her eyes. Arthur sat on the ground in front of the pod, looking utterly exhausted. The Maiden looked surprised at all the faces around her in confusion.
"Welcome back, Maiden," Ironwood greeted. "You've been asleep for a long time, so take things slow. If you need anything, just let us know." Amber still seemed to being trying to process the unfamiliar faces in the room.
"Um..." she croaked out, "could I... get some water?"
A/N: I was worried about this chapter. I think it turned out okay, but what do you all think?
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Stevealio163: Oh god, the shipping.