yo! Sorry I was gone so long. My editor got busy so he was being really lazy about doing that editing thing he claims he does. So hopefully we can start putting out chapters closer together now. I thank you all for your continue loyalty, and I hope you all review. Enjoy!
The sun had just crested over the horizon as the gang slipped from their dorms, and started making their way down to the airfield. Since teams RWBY, JNPR, And ENDD were so close to one another, It was easy for them to make their way down in unison. Once they reached the entrance to the temporary dorm, they were greeted by team SNNN.
"Alright good. You guys made it." Sun said.
"Of course, when are we ever late?" Allister asked. Everyone actually took a moment to consider the fact.
"Well shit." Neptune concluded, making everyone laugh.
"Forget it. We should get going." Pyrrha offered, getting everyone back on track.
"Right." They answered as they made their way across the campus. They had moved nearly halfway to their goal when they were frozen in their spot by a more than familiar, cryptic voice.
"Going somewhere?"Everyone turned to see Athena, and Ozpin slowly approaching.
"Mother! You're...still here." Allister said, both excited and nervous.
"Where do you think you are going at such an early hour?" Athena demanded, of Allister. Allister broke into a cold sweat as he tried to devise an acceptable excuse.
"Without saying goodbye to me." She finished, looking positively vexed. Allister sighed on the inside, and quickly walked over, giving his mother a quick hug.
"Sorry." He apologized, but she still looked rather annoyed.
"That goes for all my children…" She added, causing Zade and Max to follow Allister's footsteps, with no hesitation. Satisfied, Athena stepped back.
"Good luck on your mission." She smiled, sweetly. The gang started to turn around, when Ozpin decided to air his grievances.
"And why are you bringing along Mrs. Belladonna, and Mrs. Branwen?" Ozpin asked. Zade blushed lightly, the sound of that still new in his ears, and Weiss stamped her foot.
"It's Schnee!" She insisted. Ozpin smirked.
"Of course Mrs. Branwen, but I must protest you bringing these two with you. I have no doubt… no doubt at all that you are embarking on what will be another dangerous journey, and I do not want them, who were harmed so severely in their last mission, to face such a situation so soon. Therefore. I will not be allowing them to join you on this mission." Ozpin explained.
"What!" Blake and Weiss exclaimed.
"I'm sorry but this is for your safety." Ozpin added.
"We are more than capable of going and helping." Blake protested.
"Blake. It's cool. He just wants you to be safe." Yang added, gently holding Blake's shoulder.
"But!" Blake fought.
"Besides… you can look for Darron." Yang added. Blake grit her teeth.
"Fine. She reluctantly agreed, turning to face the group. Weiss looked as though she was about to speak up, but Zade teleported, right in front of her.
"You're staying." he said calmly, looking straight into her eyes. Weiss stared back for a moment, and finally relented.
"Fine. whatever." Weiss agreed, kissing Zade's cheek, and walking over towards Blake.
"Thank you for your understanding in this matter." Ozpin said, happy there wasn't more resistance.
"C'mon." Athena gently offered, while lifting the girls off the ground with ease, and carrying them back towards the school. Both Weiss and Blake, looked at the group with unhappy looks on their face.
"Well, with that resolved. Have fun." Ozpin smiled, as he turned to leave.
"The hell…" Allister muttered.
"Let's just go." Sun said, getting the group on to an airship, and into the air towards Vale.
The sun was now directly overhead as the gang waited on the docks, while Max went around inspecting each and every ship available. As he kept walking up and down the docks, Sun leaned over towards Allister.
"Are you sure he knows what he's doing?" Sun asked.
"Hell yeah." Allister confirmed, just as Max stopped before a boat. It was a modern boat, with two large engines on the back, and outfitted with plenty of equipment. 4 cannons peeked out of the side of each boat.
"Aye this be a ship which'll make me a fine furner. Ahoy ye scallywags, this be the ship which we will purchase to engage on that sweet trade on the high seas, and doom those enemies of ours to Davy Jones's locker." Max declared, turning towards his friends and unapologetically slipping into his, thought to be mythical, pirate voice.
"That's awesome!" Ruby cheered, being the first to approach Max, and the boat, as Max paid off the owner.
"She's a grand, mighty vessel. Hurry up ye Sprogs! We've got a matey to recover." Max said, climbing up to the deck as the rest of them approached the ship.
"This is what happens when we let Max on the water." Allister sighed.
"I like it!" Ruby exclaimed, clamoring up the later. At the top, Max was more than happy to help her onboard.
"Welcome aboard me vessel, lass. This is the Doubloon scavenger. One of the most feared, and respected ships on these here seas. It made the menagerie spice run in under 12 fortnights I dare say." Max said, showing an equally enthusiastic Ruby around the ship, while the rest of his crew slowly climbed aboard. Once Max led Ruby up the wheel of the ship is, he stood above the captain's cabin, and looked down at his friends.
"Alright, ye dogs. While we are on this voyage I am the captain of this ship. My word is law. If I say it it goes, or we all drown and you can kiss goodbye to your hopes of hitting the fiddlers green. Am I understood?" Max asked.
"Aye aye captain!" They answered back, Max's excitement for sailing, becoming contagious.
"Wait… We seem to be a man short." Max noted out, looking back on the docks, at a petrified Neptune.
"Nope." Neptune said quietly. Sun, Sage, and Max, all facepalmed.
"Lookee here. This landlubber is afraid of the water aint he. Say lassie, why don't you go and fetch some grog for when we be loaded to the gunwales ey?" Max suggested. Neptune kept staring at Max confused.
"Rum…" Max added, and Neptune ran off in search of what Max asked for.
"What's the rum for?" Pyrrha asked.
"I'm gonna make that landlubber drink until he can't stand, and bring aboard. Then we'll probably tie him up in the bilge." Max shrugged.
"Seems like a plan to me." Zade agreed
"This is so cool!" Nora exclaimed, no one noticing, or just choosing to ignore, her hyperactive search of the ship. We're real pirate now aren't we mateys." She laughed.
"Aye, but supplies we do be needing." Max added. "Me hearty Allister. Take ye wench and fetch some rations for the journey huh." Max ordered. Yang rolled her eyes, but quickly followed Max as the two of them jumped off the ship. The rest of the crew stood there, motionless, until Max turned his attention towards them.
"Now let's get this ship in sailing order why don't we." Max said, a devious smile on his face.
Back at Beacon, Weiss and Blake were sitting in their dorm, rather unhappy that they were being left out of all the fun.
"Why do we need to stay here?" Blake asked, pacing along the floor. "We're just as capable as fighting as the rest of them." Weiss shrugged her shoulders, and scooted up higher on her bed.
"I couldn't tell you. Though if I had to guess. I'd say that Ozpin is really concerned about our safety." Weiss suggested.
"But still, he let Yang and Ruby go." Blake pointed out.
"They weren't unconscious for as long as we were, and they are in much better physical condition." Weiss countered.
"We should still be able to help our friends." Blake protested, sitting down on her bunk.
"Well at least from here we can see if we can help Professor Ozpin look for Darron, or for some leads as to what happened to that woman from the video was." Weiss suggested, recognizing Blake's need to help in some way.
"I hear you're looking to help?" Ozpin's voice spoke through Blake scroll, giving the two girls quite the scare.
"Please don't do that?" Blake asked, holding her hand over her heart, feeling it's rapid beats pulse against her hand. Ozpin just chuckled lightly.
"My apologies, but I couldn't help but… listen in after you accidentally dialed my office." Ozpin explained. The two girls looked at the scroll quizzically, before realizing what had happened and being more than embarrassed.
"Whoops." Weiss stated.
"No need to worry. I understand your impatience. If you want to help, be in my office soon." Ozpin offered, before hanging up. Blake and Weiss looked at each other, happy that they'd finally be able to do something, other than wait for news from their friends. They raced out of their dorm room and up towards the headmasters office.
The two girls burst into the clock tower office, and were greeted by Professor Ozpin, Professor Goodwitch, Ironwood(like seriously… doesn't he have a country to run, a board to have two votes on or something), and Athena.
"What can we do for you?" Blake asked, barely hiding her excitement.
"We want you to investigate the disappearance of once of the men who you were tracking." Ironwood explained. Weiss and Blake looked at one another, puzzled.
"The ship that the two of you infiltrated was found,floating and abandoned off the coast of Vacuo. It seems that a large firefight took place there, and none of the passengers survived." Ozpin described, causing the two girls to gasp with horror.
"However, Oscar… his body was never identified or recovered, so we believe he might have survived. We want you to go into town and see if you can dig up some information." Ironwood finished.
"That seems like something we can do." Weiss nodded.
"I'll be your de facto chaperone, just to keep you safe." Athena stated, flashing the two girls another smile.
"Really? I didn't realize you were a fighter." Blake pointed out.
"Oh sweetie, everyone from where Allister and I come from fight. It's in our DNA. Beside, I won't allow anyone to harm my future and current daughter in law." Athena announced. The two girls rolled their eyes, but couldn't help at smile at Athena's insistence on adopting their significant idiots.
"Just let us go grab our weapons, and we'll be more than happy to do this mission for you." Blake agreed, grabbing Weiss's sleeve and dragging her out of the room. Ozpin smiled as he watched the elevator doors close.
"Are you sure we can trust her?" Ironwood asked, gesturing towards Athena.
"I trust her more than you." Ozpin answered, as Athena gave Ironwood a smug smile.
"I've got a reputation for being kind of a badass. I'm not the person who you should be messing with." Athena commented. "Now if you'll excuse me. I'll take my leave." Athena gave a slight bow as she confidently walked out of the office.
"Wow." Ironwood said, staring at the closed elevator doors.
"Put you in your place." Goodwitch noted. Ironwood shrugged, and turned back towards Ozpin.
"You think they'll work well together?" He asked.
"I can't imagine they won't." Ozpin answered, sitting back in his chair.
Back at the dorm room, Blake and Weiss had strapped on their combat gear, and weapons.
"You ready?" Weiss asked, looking across the room at Blake, who was staring intently at Gambol shroud. Blake soon noticed that she was being watched, and sheathed the blade on her back.
"Yeah." Blake affirmed, as the two girls started towards the door. As they approached the door was opened by Athena.
"Oh good, you're ready." She said, cheerfully. The two girls were struck with awe. Athena looked just like a war goddess(all puns intended) She wore shimmering silver armor, with a regally designed shield. On her waist a large sword was sheathed, it's hilt covered with fine jewels and silver. Athena calmly placed the shield on her back and smiled at the girls.
"Are you ok?" she asked, noting their silence.
"Nothing. You're just...wow." Weiss said, still awestruck by the beautiful way, her long, silken white hair draped over and seemingly blended with the white of her dress, and the color of her armor.
"Thank you." Athena said, politely. "Now we must be focused on completing our job, shouldn't we." Athena pointed out, snapping the girls from their trance.
"Now I know where Allister gets his looks." Blake muttered. Athena giggled slightly, and gestured for the two girls to walk out into the hall. The girls quickly followed, and they walked out to the airship, for their brief excursion into Vale.
Once they were seated comfortably on the airship. Blake decided it would now be a good time to try and get some more information on the mission that they were assigned.
"So why does Ironwood think that Oscar might be alive?" Blake asked, puiqing Weiss's interest as well.
"Well, we received reports that he was spotted in a town not to far out of the city, so we shouldn't get their until the evening. Which means I have plenty of time to discern what you know about my children." Athena smiled mischievously, placing her chin on her fist.
"Wait what?" Blake asked, taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation.
"If you are as close to my boys as you say you are, then there is no one better to to try and learn about them right?" Athena asked.
"Uh… yeah I guess." Weiss answered, instantly, and regrettably making her the first target. Athena turned towards Weiss and gave her a smile.
"So tell me about Zade, what's he like?" Athena asked. Weiss stuttered for a moment and tried to formulate a good answer. As Weiss searched for her answer, Blake couldn't help but giggle a little at her nervousness, grabbing the attention of Weiss, who shot a her a brief nasty look, and Athena's attention.
"Don't worry. You're next." Athena winked, mischievously. Blake clamped her mouth shut, and stared at the ground, blushing. Athena threw her head back, laughing, before continuing to grill the girls about themselves, and their partners.
Evening approached as the final preparations were made over the Doubloon Scavenger. As most of the crew ran back and forth, checking each of the supplies, and ensuring that they were ready for a potentially long voyage, Max and Allister were busy pouring rum down Neptune's throat, until he finally stumbled back and passed out.
"This be perfect matey. Bring him aboard." Max ordered, turning and moving back to climb the ladder back up to the ship. Allister leaned down and threw Neptune onto his back into a fireman hold, and followed suit. Once both of them were back on the deck, Allister headed towards the bottom of this as Max turned towards the bridge. As he approached it, Ruby jumped down off the roof and smiled at him.
"Everything is ready to go captain." Ruby said, giving Max a salute. Max laughed lightly to himself.
"Wonderful." Max answered, gesturing for her to follow him into the bridge. Inside, Max walked up and took a seat right behind the wheel as he started up the boat. Behind him, Ren was sitting at a small desk against the wall, keeping an eye on the map and other radars, while Sun sat off to Max's left, and kept an eye on communicating channels, a large headset over one ear. Ruby stood next to Max happily, as Max reached up and grabbed a small microphone to speak to everyone on the deck.
"Matey, batten down the hatches and we are off for an adventure, Into the sunset!" Max exclaimed, putting the boat and drive, and slowly pulling them out of the docks and into open waters of remnant.
Another night had covered the world of remnant. The shattered moons light i'll effective to pierce the darkness which nightly, consumes the world. Through the maddening monotony of black, an inferno from hell razed brilliantly. The building which served as the genesis for this flame cracked and burned as its structures gave way. Unfortunate residents covered their faces or screamed in agony, as they thrashed desperately to free themselves from this oven of despair. Walking away from the sepulchre of the damned, two dark figures looked back for not even a moment. Darron remained focused on his scroll, inputting directions to the next location which may hold his sword. Adam, on the other hand, shoved his hands in his pockets, and grit his teeth. Both men still straining their self control to prevent themselves from playing right into Minerva's designs. Their feet left soft crinkling sounds on the ground, which were overwhelmed by the roaring of their handiwork. They, like in their white fang days, disappeared into the night, leaving a nothing but vengeance, rage, and corpses in their wake.