Though vacuo was lost, and many died, a celebration was held the next day, as so many had been rescued. Despite this celebration, Many were depressed over the news of grims fate. None more so were upset by the news others then Ruby and nocturne. Ruby had locked and barricaded her self in grims room and cried on his bed, feeling weak and helpless. Nocturne meanwhile, was out at a bar drinking, when summer plopped down beside him.
" so you gonna tell me what's wrong. Nocturne groaned and took a drink, before looking at summer.
" nothing's wrong sum. Summer's eyes narrowed at this, and she leaned into nocturne to whisper in his ear.
" you can't lie to me nocty, I know all your weaknesses so you better start talking, or I'll make you scream. Nocturnes face turned a brilliant shade of red, and he fell off of his stool in response making summer giggle.
" oh did that get a reaction out of you. Nocturne blushed, and stood up quickly before grabbing summer and taking her out of the bar.
" what do you think your doing? Summer smiled as she tilted her head, and put a finger on nocturnes chest.
" I'm just trying to help you feel better nocty, you need some one right now don't you? Summer then cupped nocturnes chin, and Nocturne stared into Summer's eye as she did.
" i- yeah, I do, I've lost so much in so little time. Summer's face softened as she kept her eyes on nocturnes, and smiled before slowly kissing him in response. While summer and nocturne we're loving each other, team RWBY once again Tried to console their leader.
" Ruby please open the door we want to be there for you. Ruby didn't answer yangs plea, causing Blake to speak up as she knocked next.
" Ruby you can't just lock your self and your feelings away it won't help, and it certainly didn't help me. Silence was the answer once more, before it was Weiss who knocked on the door.
" now listen here Ruby rose you open this door this instant and let us help you! When silence answered Weiss, she scoffed and stomped away to sit on her bed while yang looked in between her, blake, and the door.
" what can we do to help her? As if hearing her question, Ozpin entered their room with a plate of cookies.
" I believe I can be of assistance. Ozpin then walked over to the con joining door and knocked on it before speaking.
" miss rose, may I come in I have cookies? Silence answered Ozpin for a moment, before the door was unbarricaded quickly, and Ozpin was dragged inside, much to the surprise of rubys team. When Ozpin looked around grims room, the first thing he found, was that Ruby was in her pajamas had tears on her face and was hugging grims scythe.
" you remind me of nocturne when your mom disappeared. Ruby wiped away her tears at this, and took a bite of a cookie before speaking.
" how so Mr. Ozpin? Ozpin chuckled as he pulled a picture out of his pocket, showing Qrow, taiyang and nocturne under a mountain of beer cans.
" it was hard for both of you to get over things, in fact if I'm not mistaken your mom is with nocturne as I speak comforting him. Rubys eyes widened at this and she smiled as she ate her cookie.
" well I'm happy she's cheering him up. Ozpin raised an eyebrow at this and tilted his head.
" then why won't you let your team make you feel better? Ruby frowned at this, and sat up against the wall before answering.
" I just- I promised him they would never take him from me again, and I failed, Mr. Ozpin, I failed grim and now he wants me to kill him, because Therist is controlling him, it's all my fault. Ozpins eyes narrowed at this, and he scooted over to Ruby to hug her.
" don't say that Ruby therists plan wasn't known we had no idea what Therist wanted with grim, how could you be to blame? Ruby stayed silent at this, as tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she spoke again.
" I don't want to kill grim. Ozpin smiled down at Ruby and rubbed her head before standing up and walking towards the door.
" you don't have to kill him Ruby his mind is just lost and scared in the darkness, and he needs a light to show him the way back. Ozpin then opened the door, and rubys team rushed in and tackled her in a hug making her scream and giggle as they began to tickle her.
" okay okay hahaha, stop I'm sorry I locked you girls out. Ozpin smiled at this and then went to leave the room, only for Ruby to call out to him.
" mr. Ozpin, thanks for having faith in me. Ozpin smiled at rubys words, and closed the door behind him as he left, leaving the team to talk over what happened. Meanwhile, grim had awoken, and was sitting in his room waiting for more orders, when Therist entered the room. Grim froze at this, and backed away as Therist stepped forward. Therist sighed at this, and snapped his fingers, causing chains of shadows to wrap around grim. Now that grim was secure, Therist walked around him and inspected him for damage.
" hmm not a scratch on you and yet you ran from battle what happened. Grim snorted at this, causing Therist to chuckle as he sat down.
" look I know you must think I'm evil, but you all don't have to fight me everyone could be a Grimm then we'd have true peace, can't you just see what I really want instead of what you think I want. Grim growled at this, and Therist once again chuckled, before frowning under his mask.
" didn't think you would, look I know I've done a lot of evil, and I'm not going to deny it, but you are my family, and I'll be dammned if I didn't just care about you a little bit, I won't forget anyone like my father forgot me, and I won't be called a monster anymore either. Grims eyes widened at this, and he frowned before looking down with a whimper.
Therist smiled at his reaction and laid a hand on grims head.
" I know you knew the same pain I did and I know it's my fault, I'm I'm sorry- you had to suffer. Grim tilted his head and opened his mouth to speak but before he could, Therist exited the room.
" what am I doing sharing my feelings with him, and god forbid caring about his well being, am I- am I becoming soft, bah it doesn't matter this changes nothing. Therist then headed to his throne room to think, however this didn't help as his mind stayed on grims reaction to the word monster.
" my god, have I really made you hate yourself as much as those racists hate us. While Therist pondered over his new emotions, nocturne and summer had returned to the school in a much happier mood, meeting Ozpin and the others in the lobby to plan.
" so Ozpin you guys came up with a plan while we were gone. Roman rolled his eyes at this and nodded as he showed his empty cigar pack to the couple.
" yeah I smoked my hole pack waiting for you two, and if that wasn't bad enough the rest of your team was off doing the same thing as you. Winter and Raven blushed at this, while Qrow and taiyang chuckled, making Roman shake his head before turning to ironwood.
" anyways metal head over here says he has a plan. Ironwood chuckled at this and Then frowned before speaking.
" we set up a bomb in mistral for when therists attacks, after we evacuate the town of course. Nocturne thought about this for a moment before smiling and nodding, making Glynda frown.
" we can't seriously be ok with blowing up a kingdom. Ozpin sighed and laid a hand on Glyndas shoulder.
" we're not ok with it Glynda but it is necessary to strike a major blow against Therist. Glynda sighed at this, and put a hand on her forehead.
" fine since we're all agreed now who's going to evacuate mistral and when are they leaving to do it. Ozpin sipped his tea at this and smiled.
" I have already sent team REAPER on the case, their large team will protect them from any threats they could face. Speaking of which, team Reaper had been traveling since Ozpin went to see Ruby in the morning, and had been just a few miles away from the ship yard that would give them a boat to mistral, when a figure stepped out from the bushes in front of them.
" evening all and what are you kiddies doing on such a fine night? Atrail growled at the sight of Victor, and quickly pointed his axe at him.
" the fuck are you doing here. Victor shrugged and twirled his knife around.
" well I was bored and wanted I fight so I figured why not stalk some random team and kill them, but when I saw you heading towards mistral, you intrigued me and I followed you. Atrail growled at this, and his tail patted the ground in anger as he blocked his team mates from interfering.
" you all go on ahead I have a score to settle with this asshole. Atrails team looked uncertain at this but they nodded, As they sprinted past Victor. Victor let this happen, and took out his second knife before walking towards Atrail.
" sending your friends away so you can hold me off, how gutless. Atrail tilted his head at this, and suddenly his vision was filled with the image of a skull, as victors fist hit him sending him to his knees.
" ah yes my semblance, the overwhelming sense of fear, sure it's not a good one to use against Grimm, oh but it sure as hell comes in handy when I'm killing kids, now Atrail tell me can you overcome fear. Atrail grunted as he gripped his axe tightly and thought of yang, while this was happening his fear made his aura unstable, and it fizzled in and out around Atrail, much to victors delight.
" see fear, fear is great fear can get people killed, it can make them weak, and fun fact it fucks with your aura, so Atrail are you ready to die?
Victor then punctuated his sentence, by poking Atrail in the back with his knife, causing his aura shield to waver. Atrail groweld at this and thought of yang, and the expression she had at the loss of her arm, allowing him to snap out of his fear.
" fuck you. Atrail then grabbed victors knife arm, and held him while he uppercuted him with his shotgun axe.
victor stumbled back and grasped his nose in shock as blood pored from it, before he smiled and licked it away.
" god i love it when they fight back come on stalker boy try and kill me. atrail growled, and began firing his shotgun at victor who dodged the shots with a frown.
" come now why use a gun blades are so much more fun and personal. As victor said this, he ran forward and jumped over atrail before kicking him in the back and pinning him on the ground after he fell.
" lets carve a smile onto that face. Atrails eyes narrowed at this, and he raised his tail to hit victor in the crotch making him gasp, and giving atrail enough time to jump up and choke slam him into the ground.
" the only one who gets to touch my face is yang you sick fuck. victor coughed and giggled at this as he layed on the ground.
" do you have to give her a helping hand to do that. atrail growled at this, and kicked victor hard in the ribs, sending him into a tree.
" shut your fucking mouth. victor chuckled as he leaned against the tree, and grabbed something from behind his back secretly.
" whh dont you make me bug boy? atrail grinned at this, and walked forward, dragging his axe shotgun in the dirt as he did. when atrail got close, victor threw dirt into his eyes, and knocked the shotgun from his grasp before knocking him to the ground and completley pinning him down.
" you lose kid. Atrail chuckled at this, as victor raised his weapon and shook his head.
" not yet. atrails eyes then glowed red as he snapped his fingers, and a skeletal nightstalker came out of the ground behind victor knocking him off atrail.
" thanks for the save Night remind me to feed you a pig later. victor stumbled from the blow night gave him , and glared at atrail.
" i will kill you here and now. Victor then charged at atrail, who merely snapped his fingers again, as a skeletal hand grabbed his axe that was behind him and tossed it to his out stretched hand allowing him to catch it and swing it forward as victor neared, slashing him across the chest, and causing him to fall.
" karmas a bitch violet. victor stumbled, and then smiled as he held his bleeding chest.
" tch dont get cocky kid, your lucky i didn't tell therist where I was going, I'll be missed but he won't find out about your little mission to mistral your safe with my death. victor then closed his eyes and broke into dust which flowed into atrails hand.
" i might bring you back later, but for now. Atrail then snapped his fingers, and night sunk into the ground before a skeletal nevermore rose from it.
" hey skybreaker how are you. sky breaker screeched at atrail, and laid down for him to hop aboard.
" good bird now fly me to mistral. Sky breaker roared in response, and flew towards the direction atrails team went. Twenty minutes later, and Atrail was met by his team at the gate to mistral.
" howdy all did ya miss me. Elijah turned around at this, and grabbed Atrail by the throat before slamming him against the wall.
" what do you think you are doing giving orders to abandon you I'm active leader of this team. Atrail coughed and frowned as he spoke.
" look he hurt yang and I just wanted payback okay. Elijah's face was unreadable behind his helmet, but he let Atrail go as he set him down.
" glad to have you back brother, don't do anything stupid like that again. Atrail chuckled and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could a lightning bolt struck him, leaving an imprint of his body in ash on the wall as he fell to the ground smoking.
" ow- Penelope was that really worth it for what I did? Penelope nodded, and slammed her war hammer into the ground, inches from atrails crotch.
" shut your mouth, we already lost grim, I don't want to loose another brother. Atrail chuckled at this, and dusted him self off as he stood up.
" aw you do care. Penelope rolled her eyes at this, and walked into the city, before Evan who simply nodded at Atrail before following her. However, Remus waited behind, and took off his mask before speaking much to atrails surprise. Remus, skin was black, with what looked like fiery red veins under his skin.
" you faced some demons back there didn't you. Atrail stared at Remus for a moment longer, before speaking slowly.
" you could talk since we were children normally but you never did? Why. Remus stared at the ground for a moment, before he shouted, and a wave of magma bursted from the ground in the direction he shouted.
" if I speak to loudly or scream, my control over magma becomes unstable, and it jets from the ground. Atrail face palmed at this, and rubbed his chin.
" well that explains why you don't like talking but why tell me this. Remus sighed, and set his helmet down before beginning to speak.
" unlike the rest of you who were pretty much seen as monsters for little to no reason, I have a reason to be hated, when I was little I used to be hunted down by villagers every day and beat up, this lead to my semblance building up and eventually I let it go, destroying my village and killing everyone in it, then I was taken to the orphanage, and lived there until you and grim disappeared around where summer adopted all of us. Atrail frowned at this and laid a hand on Remus's shoulder.
" Remus bro what I went through just now was no way worse then what you did. Remus chuckled at this and shook his head.
" it doesn't matter what does matter, is that we are all here for each other now let's get inside shall we. The two then went inside the city together and the plan commenced. Over the next five months, mistrial was evacuated and vale had improvements built into it as more homes, and defenses were built for the civilians and refugees. Therist as well had spent five months collecting Grimm to use to transport over to mistral from his pyramid, and was now ready to attack the city.
" finally it took five months to rebuild a proper army five months and the death of one of my generals but no matter this war will still be mine, hmm perhaps I should leave grim at home for this attack though, cinder come here. Cinder answered her masters call quickly, and appeared before him with a smile on her face.
" yes my lord? Therist chuckled at her speed, and Stood up from his throne.
" watch over Grim while I'm gone would you dear. Cinder grinned at this order, and disappeared into the shadows to go see grim while Therist left the pyramid to go to war, with his new horde of Grimm following him. However to his surprise when he shadow traveled his forces to mistrial, he found the inside of the city empty.
" what? What is this. Therist then took a step forward, only to activate a pressure plate as he did, causing a video message to play, of Atrail.
" hey Therist by now your thinking what the hell is going on where is everyone well the easy answer is gone, we figured your plan out and planned around you, guess sitting and waiting for your enemy to make a dumbass move works after all, oh while your in hell send my regards to The devil will you, because I hope he makes you suffer. The video then ended on a countdown timer which was set to three seconds, making Therist roar, as the entire city blew up. Despite being in the middle of the city's explosion, Therist survived, and Walked out with his armor gone and his body on fire.
" cinder come to me - now. Therist then fell to the ground, as cinder appeared before him.
" my lord what happened. Therist groaned as the fires disappeared off of his body as he leaned against cinder.
" it- was a trap- fucking -Ozpin - it will take me almost a year to recover from this now, gah what did you do with grim? Cinder frowned at this, as she carried Therist back to the pyramid by shadow traveling.
" salems watching him for now, so I'm going to watch over you until you are better. Therist chuckled at this, and Groaned as he was put into his bed.
" you don't have to take care of me. Cinder tilted her head at this and frowned.
" why wouldn't I my lord, your like a father to me. Inside, Therist was surprised, and something changed inside of him outside, he just closed his eyes to sleep. Meanwhile elsewhere in the pyramid, Salem was talking to grim.
" so your my current Successor eh, not half bad for a secret Grimm, but I guess your a new Grimm now, since you have therists blood in you now, that may not change your body but that doesn't fully change your mind right. Grim nodded at this and Salem smiled before speaking again.
" listen grim I know how you feel, but Therist wasn't always evil, he's just had little to no affection is all, and plenty of betrayals. Grim stayed silent at this, and Salem sighed before standing up.
" look we both know your going to have to pick a side soon, and when you do and this is all over, just think about sparing him. Grim grunted at this, and a watching onlooker once again smiled before leaving to file his report to Ozpin.
" mission accomplished sir Therist has been delayed for ten months. Ozpin smiled at nocturne and sipped his tea.
" wonderful news nocturne with this we can build up and expand vales borders, and Make the city ready for war, everyone will have to fight in ten months time make sure this is understood please nocturne. Nocturne nodded, and went into the shadows to report this to the town while Ozpin sat drinking tea. After nocturne was done, he checked in with Dez, who was out of the hospital and settled in vale.
" Well I'm much better now thanks for checking in again. Nocturne chuckled and shrugged as he looked at his friend.
" No problem Dez I'm happy your alive, sorry about your horn though. Dez shrugged at this, and smiled.
" Hey come on now a horns just a horn, I'm just happy me and my daughter are safe. Nocturne chuckled at this and nodded.
" I can't believe she did what she did, that was pretty brave of her. Dez nodded, and smiled as he looked at a picture of his daughter.
" She's just like her mother and I love her so what are you doing next? Nocturne shrugged, and smiled under his mask.
"Probably going to go see how Summer's doing. Dez chuckled at this and shook his head.
" You two are inseparable. Speaking of summer, She had taken over grims job of training students, and was currently sitting with Ruby.
" so now that everything's calmed down and we've spent a couple months together are you feeling better? Ruby smiled and nodded in reply as she watched her friends and fellow students run laps or do push ups.
" yeah I guess, with the help of my friends,you, and nocturne I feel much better then I did. Summer smiled at this and rubbed rubys head.
" that's good to hear Ruby, so have you figured out how to convince grim to break out of therists control? Ruby frowned and blushed as she put her hood up to hide her face.
" uh I - well yeah I have an idea. Summer smiled at rubys reaction and took rubys hood off to see her face.
" and do you want to tell me what that idea is? Ruby chuckled, and played with her fingers before talking.
" I was thinking that maybe if I kiss him it will snap him out of it. Summer arched an eyebrow at this, and giggled.
" sounds like something you'd like to do. Ruby shrugged at this, and pulled out grims scythe from off of her back.
" Mom if I had these powers over the light why didn't they help me save grim?Summer frowned at this, and leaned against her arm before speaking.
" Ruby your new to your powers, and to be honest, you did save grim it's just that Therist Came to his hospital afterwords, and injected Grim with his blood. Ruby sighed at this, and once again combined her scythe and grims.
" Therist will pay for this. Summer smirked at the combined weapon and tapped Ruby on the shoulder.
" so you made your scythe and grims combine able huh? Ruby tilted her head and looked at her mother before looking at her weapon again.
" yeah why wouldn't I? Summer shrugged and smirked as she stood up.
" well it just seems like an intimate thing to combine your weapons since your weapon is a part of you. Ruby blushed at this, and stood up before Making an excuse.
" oh hey look there's penny I'm going to go talk to her. Ruby then zoomed over to penny to talk to her, causing summer to chuckle.
" she's so adorable. To Summer's surprise, nocturne came out of Summer's shadow and wrapped his arms around her.
" well you know she is a lot like her mother. Summer rolled her eyes at this, and put a hand on her hip.
" thanks nocty but what are you doing here, shouldn't you be out telling everyone the good news. Nocturne shrugged at this, as he took off his mask and smiled at summer.
" News travels fast in this city well be ready when Therist heals. Summer smiled at this and kissed nocturnes cheek.
" good I can't wait for this all to be over, this war has been hard on all of us. Nocturne nodded and Smiled as he sat down with summer to watch the students train.