A/N: Well been quite A LONG time since I've even done anything on fanfiction. Been busy with life and such, but actually I had this chapter done perhaps a month or two ago and was going to publish it. But I decided to find an editor instead, so after going back and fixing both the prologue and chapter one I now present chapter 2.
P.S: I still am displeased with Fanfiction's auto formatting.
RWBY: Ashes
Chapter Two: Guardians
Kingdom of Vale, Beacon Academy, Ozpin's Office...
Present day (Several days before the events of Vol 3 Episode 12)...
Hildegard stood in the middle of a room filled with familiar faces — the room's interior seeming as it had come out of a child's storybook. Almost as if one was trapped in the inside of a clock tower. A man who looked young, but held an aura of age and wisdom sat behind his desk contemplating the next thing to say to the huntress. On his right a woman with a stern expression and blonde hair and finally, a man roughly around Hild's age leaned against a nearby pillar. Despite the best attempts to hide it, everyone in the room knew he was drunk. Ozpin, Glynda and Qrow, all former allies a futile crusade Hild had participated in years prior.
"Hildegard I imagine you know why you've been summoned here?" Ozipin asked, his face deep in thought.
"And I can say you already know my response." Hild's reply was cold.
Ozpin sighed as he seemed genuinely worried. "Even in the face of a threat that could topple all of mankind, you'd simply back away?"
"Yes..."
Although her reply was short and low, everyone in the room understood why it was so.
Glynda who had been minding the conversation stepped in. "We all know you suffered a great deal during the last offensive but -,"
Almost immediately Hildegard slammed her fist into the wall behind her; the force causing the cogs and gears in the room to rattle.
"Suffered?" she stated in a tone that seemed too close to sarcastic. At that moment, rationality had escaped from Hild's mindset. "Were you the one who went to each and every family of those that died that day. Did you have to get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness? Did you hand Summer's blood stained cloak to her husband and watched as her family suffered?"
"Because of my twisted sense of duty! I sent thousands of soldier and countless friends to their deaths."As her outburst subsided, she realized her mistake and returned to a calm state of mind. "It's not just Summer's death that haunts me... It's the families of those that never returned... I've orphaned so many children..."
Ozpin noticed several student applications sprawled across his desk and picked the one on the very top. The name on the application caught Hild's attention almost immediately.
"From what I can tell you adopted one of those girls you orphaned" Ozpin said setting the file down."Don't you want her to grow up in a world without the threat of destruction."
The comment seemed appealing to Hildegard at first, but her final moments with the Xiao long family's grief and almost losing Ailyth snapped her out of any dreams of grandeur.
"I want nothing to do with Salem... you'll need to find yourself another guardian." Her reply shocked everyone in the room. As she turned towards the elevator, Qrow stepped up with his flaring red.
"Summer would've been ashamed to have sacrificed herself to save you!" Qrow's comment struck Hildegard hard as she backed into the elevator and quickly closed the doors.
"I will keep my promise Summer... As long as I live NO ONE will harm Ruby..." Hild thought to herself.
When the elevator door opened Hildegard's friend Jeanne was leaning on the nearby pillar in her hand was her scroll. Upon seeing Hildegard she quickly put it away and greeted her friend.
"Well how did the meeting with Oz go?" Jeanne asked noticing Hildegard a bit shaken.
"Just the normal they wanted me to return."
"Well I guess we should try to locate the little one."
Hildegard paused as she looked around almost forgetting the paperwork that Ozpin had showed her. The name on the application was Aiylth's, yet Hildegard hadn't allowed her to send one in.
"Jeanne... by any chance did you help Aiylth send in an application?" Hild hid back her anger.
"Heh... um... I may have or have not sent in an application form just lying around your house." Jeanne's reply seemed worried.
Hildegard sighed as she started walking towards the entrance, with Jeanne following close behind her. "Guess I'll just have to put Aiylth to the test and see if she's fully ready."
Outside Beacon Academy... Festival Grounds...
Ailyth continued to observe the festivities around her, this had been the first time she had ever heard of the Vytal Festival. It had been several years since that day in the forest and she was now 17 years old and had done much traveling with her mother and aunt. And like her essay she had written so long ago she wished more than anything to enter Beacon Academy, though today she was excited to see her old friend. In a flash of red and rose petals, Ailyth found herself pinned to the ground, yet she didn't mind as she hugged her friend Ruby.
"Good to see you Ruby how have you been?" Ailyth asked standing up and began dusting herself off.
"I'm doing fine! I've been in good hands." Ruby replied. "How are thing back in Patch?"
"Normal for the most part..."
Since Ailyth started her training with Hildegard and Jeanne it had become her goal to enter Beacon Academy, a dream that grew stronger with Ruby's acceptance. Ailyth held a smile on her face before she came face to face with familiar golden locks - Yang Xiao Long. Ailyth went immediately silent until the rest of the group arrived, she hesitated for a moment before extending her hand to the golden beauty. Tensions were high until Yang reached in and snatched her hand.
"It's been quite awhile hasn't it Ailyth Soleil." Yang smiled as she pulled in the young woman. "You up for a rematch?"
Ailyth and Yang had never been on the best of terms, but before Yang left for Beacon the two fought each other to a draw, which ended in mutual respect for one another. Immediately Ailyth smiled back excitedly.
"Only if you're ready to get beaten." Ailyth's mood brightened.
There were two teens that stood watching, one held a aura of nobility with pale skin and long white hair, while the other held an aura of mystery; Weiss and Blake. The icy woman in Ruby's team looked astonished before realizing Ailyth's maiden name.
"Wait, Soleil? As in the daughter of Hildegard Soleil, the Shield maiden of Vale?" Weiss asked attracting the attention of several people.
"That's correct!" a familiar voice emerged from the crowd as two women stepped forward.
Hildegard would best be described as a timeless beauty, flowing ice blue hair, peerless silk skin, with a slim build and more than ample bust. The woman to Hildegard's side held a slender build, with flowing ice blonde hair and a smile that enchanted the men in the crowd - Jeanne; Hildegard's best friend and sole teammate.
"Mom, Aunt Arc!" Ailyth shouted running to her guardians.
Hildegard patted her daughter's head and gave her a warm smile, which coming from the widely known stern and cold shield maiden was rare. Jeanne hugged her god daughter tightly since it had been a few months since she had last seen her.
Ruby immediately approached Jeanne as if she had seen a resemblance before. "Umm... by any chance are you related to Jaune Arc?"
Jeanne simply started to break out into laughter. "Of course, he's my younger brother."
For a moment everything was silent until about half the crowd broke into hysterical laughter. Most of team RWBY couldn't tell if that was a joke or if the crowd had lost their mind. Amidst the confusion team RWBY had almost missed the trio leaving the area.
Atrium outside of Beacon Academy...
Despite the constant questions Hildegard was asked by a very intrigued Weiss, the huntress maintained her calm composure. But after awhile Weiss' questions were redirected to Jeanne, whom was currently locked into a conversation with both Ruby and Blake retelling tales of their adventures. Hildegard watched as her best friend tried to keep up a strong front. Yet Hildegard was more focused on her daughter that seemed to be enjoying herself.
"So Ailyth have you submitted your paperwork to get into Beacon?" Yang asked looking at Ailyth.
"Not yet... Hild wants me to pass one more hurdle before she'll submit the forms." Ailyth's reply sparked light bulbs for Hildegard.
The huntress stopped before looking at the Vytal Festival singles finalist in front of her. "Ailyth, I'll submit the paperwork if you can beat Yang in a one on one match."
Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing when Hildegard brought it up.
Beacon Training Arena...
A large crowd had gathered in the vicinity of the typically silent training arena. Ruby, Blake and Weiss were situated at the front of the stands, gazing at the two combatants at the center.
"So... who do you think going to win?" Ruby asked.
Blake's hand came up to her chin, her eyes examining that two figures below her. "I'm not sure since this would be Ailyth's first public match, no one really knows her fighting style. So she'd have a slight advantage there."
"But Yang fought and tied with Ailyth during their last fight." Weiss retorted before returning her gaze to the combatants. "If anything Yang's got the combat experience to overcome that."
"A lot can change in a year, look at us." Blake solemnly replied. "For all we know her fighting style could have completely changed."
Tensions between both Weiss and Blake began to rise as they argued over which of the two were better. Ruby relieved the pressure as she waved her hands in between them.
"Don't worry, Yang's got this match in the bag, hands down." Ruby's hands were slanted, before noticing her confidence got the better of her. "Well, Ailyth is no slouch either... besides she has more at stake than Yang."
"What do you mean?" Jeanne asked looking at her best friend confused.
"Exactly like I said. Ailyth needs to prove to me that she's ready, what better way than to fight the only person she's tied with." Hild's reply wasn't accepted by most of the group.
Weiss stepped in wanting to give her two cents. "Yang might have a match in a few days, I don't think we can risk her getting injured" she paused. "WE are representing Beacon after all."
Hildegard nodded in agreement before the normally quiet Blake stepped in. "But I think this might be a good way to get Yang warmed up for the match."
Everyone was deep in thought except for Ruby whom had fallen into a slumber. Yang stood there nodding her head several times before turning towards Hildegard.
"Alright Ms. Soleil I'll fight Ailyth." she finally said energetically. "Just know I'm not going to go easy on her at all."
Hildegard glared back at the young huntress. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Ailyth stared at her opponent several meters across from her, a hint of excitement in her eyes. Yang Xiao Long was selected to represent Team RWBY in the singles round of the Vytal Festival tournament, yet none of that mattered at the moment as this match would determine her future. She took a stance as she grasped a glaive like weapon emitting a blue luminescent light, the weapon she had built at Signal Academy - Pandora. The two combatants stared each other down, tension building up until Hildegard gave a the signal to start the match.
In an instant Yang had closed the distance between the two forcing Ailyth back as she used her glaive to deflect incoming punches. It had been about a year since the two had fought and Ailyth could see the vast improvement in Yang's skills, she was barely leaving an opening for her. This left Ailyth with the only option to continue to block, Pandora's light slowly shifted to a darker shade of color. The color change caught Yang's attention, buying Ailyth a split second to shift into attack mode. A flurry of blue descended on the golden beauty as she tried to dodge, but ultimately couldn't evade them all. Before the glaive could inflict anymore damage Yang fired off several shotgun shells from Ember Cecilia repelling the weapon giving her enough time to back off. Yang looked that the young woman as she once again readied her stance.
"I see your skills haven't dulled." Yang said a grin spread across her face.
A grin appeared on Ailyth's face before she blasted off towards her. Yang replied with a similar approach as the two once again collided. Several minutes of fighting passed as the two seemed to be on equal footing with each refusing to give up to the another. Ultimately the match ended with the two combatants fighting until they literally collapsed from exhaustion.
Though this meant that Ailyth had failed to complete her objective. The young huntress forced herself up as Hildegard walked over to her. But much to her surprise there was not a look of disappointment on her face, but more of a sense of accomplishment.
"You fought well... little one." Hild said as she looked at her daughter.
"I failed..." Ailyth seemed upset, but Hildegard only chuckled.
"No Ailyth, you've proven to me you're ready for this. I couldn't be more proud of you."
The young huntress in training's face lit up as Hildegard held out the paperwork for enrollment. "THANKS SO MUCH MOM!"
Mother and daughter embraced as Team RWBY helped up Yang. As the embrace ended the training arena sounded with the applause of the crowd that had come to watch the training match. Yet amidst the cheering and excitement a sinister presence watched from on high in the stands. A woman with a single black pony tail, amber eyes and a dark gray uniform from Haven Academy. Next to her was a young man who if not for the school uniform could be mistaken for a mercenary.
"First the drunk, now two world renowned huntresses, should we be worried?" a woman with medium brown skin, crimson eyes, and mint green hair entered the scene.
"No, as long as stay under their radar we'll be fine, we just have to finish what we came here to do." the Amber eyed woman said with a smug grin across her face. "But... it would be interesting to take them out; Emerald... contact our informant."
Back on the arena floor Hildegard's eyes gazed at the spot the three figures once stood, sensing a malicious intent directed towards her and possibly Ailyth. She scoured her surroundings once more before noticing whoever gave off that murderous atmosphere had already left.
Beacon Academy, Ozpin's Office...
Ozpin sat in his chair, hands resting underneath his chin, his three colleagues bickering among each other. They had been arguing about not being able to convince Hildegard to join them. Qrow insisted that she was a coward and should have never been their first choice. Glynda argued back that they should have known better and she had too much to lose, while Ironwood pressured in bringing more troops to their cause. The aging man sighed as he closed his eyes and reached into a drawer pulling out a file. He placed it on the desk, the three figures turned to Ozpin their eyes wide.
"You can't be serious Ozpin!" Glynda said almost shocked.
Ozpin shook his head, he knew that, but what choice did they have. "We're out of time..."
His reply lingered in the room before Ironwood stepped in. "Surely there has to be another candidate, we could look through my Specialists -"
"Why? So Atlus can hold more power? The council has already given you authority over Ozpin." Qrow interrupted his face flaring red.
"No Qrow, everything I did was to ensure to the safety of the people. That is what is important here!" the general retorted.
Qrow's counter was silenced as a hand rose from near the desk. "No... Ironwood is correct we need to protect the people. Besides what we need now isn't an army. What we need is a guardian."
Silence swept across the room as each of the three nodded slowly in agreement. Each of their faces held signs of doubt as they stared at the name on the file - Pyrrha Nikos.