The Raven's Truth

Mistral: Apartment of Team RNJR

"It's understandable that you wouldn't trust me right away," Said Drake as he sat in one of the chairs of the apartment, "But this seems a little excessive." He was of course referring to the fact that Nora, as he'd heard the others call her, was aiming a grenade launcher at him at nearly point blank range.

"I still think Nora should just go ahead and hit you with the hammer," Remarked Jaune as he stood off to the side.

"And I really think you guys are overreacting," Said May as she sat on the couch where Ren was keeping an eye on her, "I mean come on, we even brought a peace offering in the form of your groceries."

"Which is greatly appreciated," commented Ren, "But I'm afraid our lack of familiarity with you means we can't simply take your word for it."

"Oh course we can't take their word for it!" Exclaimed Jaune as he pointed at Drake, "That guy right there confessed to being the same guy who scarred Wayne's arm a few years ago, at the Vytal Festival where he was probably trying to kill him again."

"Looking back it's not my proudest moment," Said Drake, "At the time I believed a person like him and his brother shouldn't exist in this world."

"And what made you change your views if I might ask," Questioned Ren.

"Well Wayne Ursario kicked my ## again," Drake stated bluntly, "And then he questioned if I should be so angry with my place in life. At the time he didn't know I was in the White Fang, but it was enough to make me question my own beliefs."

"Ahem," coughed out May from her place on the couch. She was crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

"And of course meeting the most wonderful human girl I've ever encountered," Added Drake as he turned back to Jaune and Nora, "I'm surprised you haven't recognized her."

"I mean should we?" Questioned Nora as she glanced at May for a second.

"Of course," Replied Drake, "You remember right May, this is team JNPR, the ones you and team BRNZ-."

"Yes," said May. "And Nora here's the one who bombarded yo-."

"Yes," Interrupted May, a little more irritably this time. "And then you and the rest of your team got knocked out of the arena by her ham-."

"YEEESSS!" May interrupted a final time with a raised voice.

"Now that you mention it," Said Ren as he studied May a little more closely, "She does look familiar, and judging by your weapon I believe you were the one who immediately took up a sniping position at the beginning of the match."

"And I imagine you recall I had absolutely nothing to do with the White Fang then," Said May, "And I most certainly wouldn't be on friendly terms with anyone currently in the White Fang now after what happened at Beacon."

"As for me," Said Drake, "I renounced my own membership with the White Fang during the attack on Beacon, in fact you should be thanking me."

"Why on earth would we thank a member of the White Fang who helped plan the attack on Beacon, and don't try to tell me you didn't," Said Jaune, "I've seen enough White Fang to know that the extra skilled ones like you are the ones calling the shots."

"You should be thanking me because if not for me you may very well have lost your friend Yang and my old friend Blake," Drake pointed out. Everyone went silent at that as even Ren took his eyes off May to hear what the panther Faunus had to say. "During the attack I saw my former leader Adam Taurus about to finish off Yang and possibly injure Blake worse," He explained, "At that moment, I finally realized I'd been following a monster, no sane individual would be so obsessed with tormenting someone they once loved."

Drake paused as he took a breath before continuing. "I made my decision then, I drove Taurus back with a surprise attack then used my mist to cover our escape," He said, "After that, I made sure Blake got Yang to the airships and you know the rest."

A few moments passed before, surprisingly, Ruby spoke up. "You, you helped Blake save my sister," Asked Ruby.

"It's true," Said May, "I made him promise to tell me everything when he returned. To be honest I half-expected him not to come back."

"So what," Asked Jaune, "Are you saying we owe you now?"

"Any debt you may have owed me has already been paid," Explained Drake, "You can thank Wayne and Aegis Ursario for that."

"Well if this video is as legitimate as I think it is," Said a boy who'd been examining the video on Drake's scroll in the other room, "We should at least hear him out. After all, these two are the only ones who can tell us the whereabouts of the Ursario brothers." He's still speaking with that strange voice, thought Drake as a boy wearing the clothing of a farm hand walked in. His outward appearance of brown hair, tan skin and blue eyes was nothing special.

But as soon as Drake had brought up the video, the boy, Oscar he had heard him called, had switched his voice and personality somehow. Now he was walking and talking like a fully grown, and fairly wise, man.

"Tell me Ms. Zedong and Mr. Beller," Said Oscar, "Where exactly were they headed?"

"Well Aegis was headed for Menagerie," Answered May, "We got a pretty strong impression that's where your friend Blake would be. We'd hoped they'd be able to at least shake up the White Fang's leadership, and then head here."

"And what about his older brother Wayne," Asked Oscar, "I find it quite surprising that even given the circumstances they'd split up."

Drake gave a slight laugh at that. "Wayne Ursario went to Atlas," Said Drake, "His plan was to talk to your friend Weiss Schnee to see if they could contact the Atlesian military units in Mistral. As for where they are now."

Branwen Tribe Camp

"Owwww," Said Wayne as he rubbed the sore spot from the third whack on the head Yang had given him, "Could you at least switch hands at some point?"

"Maybe," Said Yang, "As soon as you finish explaining why you neglected to tell me that Weiss had been kidnapped by my MOM!"

"It's because she's your mother that I didn't tell you," Replied Wayne, "And you saw what that Vernal lady could do. If I had told you straight up that Weiss was a prisoner here you probably would've gone in gauntlets blazing."

"And you thought the three of us couldn't take 'em, is that it?" Questioned Yang, making a fist with her mechanical right hand.

"I was thinking that even if it was for sure that we could beat them, that it'd be a real shame for you to fight your own mother," Explained Wayne. "And if the conversation had gone the way I had hoped, I would have demanded that your mom bring out Weiss and send her to Mistral too."

"Well you clearly had my mother pegged wrong," Said Yang, "She doesn't seem to like requests from anyone, even family."

"And was it me, or did she recognize you," Asked Weiss, weighing in on the conversation.

Wayne sighed before answering. "You remember how I said I got inside your home in Atlas," Said Wayne, "It was with the help of one of Raven Branwen's portals."

"You've run into my mother once before!" Exclaimed Yang, practically yelling in Wayne's ear, "When were you gonna mention this?!"

"I couldn't tell you at the time," Replied Wayne, rubbing his ear, "I'd given her my word that I wouldn't mention meeting her. In exchange she spared me, Aegis, and a couple other friend's lives and sent me to Atlas and Aegis to Menagerie."

"Why on earth would she send you two to different continents?" Asked Yang.

"To find me," Said Weiss as she stepped in between Yang and Wayne, "And to find Blake." Yang looked questioningly between Weiss and Wayne. "You know how he is, he only gives his word if he intends to keep it. And he was able to help me get out of Atlas because of it."

Yang's expression softened a bit. "And while I do agree that he should've told you sooner, it's not like he was planning on keeping it a secret. Not like the secrets your mother's been keeping," Said Weiss.

"Which does remind me," Said Yang as she started heading for Raven's tent, "We still need to have that mother daughter conversation." Wayne and Weiss couldn't agree more as they followed her into the tent.

'I am getting the worst sense of déjà vu right now,' thought Wayne as he sat cross-legged in front of a short table. On his right hand side sat Weiss and next to her was Yang. And, fairly unfortunately, Raven Branwen was sitting on his left, currently getting her teacup filled by Vernal. Everyone else had a teacup as well, except for Wayne, tea wasn't really his thing. As soon as Vernal was done filling everyone's cups, Raven signaled her to wait outside.

"So what's this so-called truth," Asked Yang, her mood back to serious.

"Truthfully, tea is better when it's warm," Replied Branwen.

"Truthfully, you're incredibly obnoxious," Said Weiss with obvious irritation in her voice.

"Well the truth is," Said Branwen, "It's incredibly hard to come by 'truth.' Someone's story of victory is someone else's tale of defeat. And by this point I imagine your sister and her friends have heard plenty of stories from your uncle."

"Uncle Qrow's never given me a reason to doubt him before," Replied Yang.

"That doesn't mean there aren't reasons," Said Branwen as she sipped some of her tea, earning a glare from Yang. "You know you and your team are basically the poster children of academies like Beacon," She continued, "You all have varying reasons, but the one thing you do have in common is you're all trying to make the world a better place. It's adorable when you think about it."

"That's what all huntsman and huntresses do," Said Yang, "Help make the world better."

"Not quite all of them," Replied Raven as she averted her gaze a little, "Some just want the fame and money, and then there are those who just want to become stronger. As for me and your Uncle, we enrolled to learn what it took to kill huntsman." Weiss and Yang gasped as soon as they heard that, as for Wayne, a look of absolute confusion crossed his face.

"It seems your father and uncle left that part out," Said Raven as she poured herself more tea, "Besides the Grimm, huntsman were the only ones capable of stopping our raids or coming after us. We needed a counter, and with me and Qrow being just the right age, we were chosen to enroll."

"It kinda looks to me like you went the other way on that whole issue," Said Wayne as he pointed a thumb at Yang, "At least for a while." Branwen sighed as she stood up, tea cup in hand.

"It's true, the entrance exams were nothing compared to what we'd grown up with. And as a team we were exceptionally good. But the one thing we didn't count on was the effect that others would have on us," Replied Branwen. "Your blasted father, Tobias was so irritatingly fearless, or dense, I'm still not sure after all these years. He was the only other man besides Tai to treat me without fear, and believe me I worked hard to make sure the boys there were too afraid to approach me. And then there was your mother Jen, iron-hearted, steely-eyed Jen."

If Wayne didn't know better, he would've sworn a sad smirk had just crossed her face. "She was one of the few students at Beacon besides Summer that I truly respected," Said Raven, "She was realistic, and made no apologies about the decisions she made. If something didn't turn out quite the way she'd planned, she'd press on instead of moping around like so many others. We agreed on so many issues until Tai and Tobias finally managed to melt our hearts. And then there was Ozpin."

Raven's features hardened once she said that. "He'd had his eye on us back then," She said, "At the time I thought he knew the truth, but what he was really paying attention too was team STRQ."

"What exactly was he doing," Asked Yang, "Giving you special treatment?"

"Extra attention, special training missions, and looking the other way if we just so happened to break the rules and get into extra trouble," Said Branwen as she turned back towards them, "Any of that sound familiar?" The three friends exchanged looks, thinking on what was just said.

"What exactly is your point," asked Yang.

"What is it you know about professor Ozpin," Asked Branwen, "Specifically his past?"

"He was hailed as a combat prodigy," Answered Weiss, "He became one of the youngest Headmasters in history."

"Because he planned it that way," Said Raven, "The man you know as Ozpin designed those schools in the first place. What's more, he has followers in every academy that answer only to him."

"But how," Asked Yang before rephrasing, "No better yet, why would somebody do something like that?"

"Because his enemy was doing the same thing," Said Wayne, "You remember how we were fooled at Beacon right?"

"You mean Cinder and her lackeys," Weiss answered.

"No, not just Cinder," replied Wayne, "As it turns out, she ain't the one truly calling the shots."

"What?" Questioned Yang, the anger on her face replaced with confusion.

"It was Oz's great and terrible secret," Raven continued for Wayne, "One he knew would spread fear across Remnant if it was ever discovered. He eventually entrusted me and the rest of STRQ with it, and from that point on there was no going back." Raven moved over to the map as she continued to explain. "I had to know more once I learned the secret, but the more I uncovered, the more terrifying the world became."

"Well what's the big secret then," asked Yang as she threw her arms up, "What's this insane thing that no one else knows?"

"The creatures of Grimm, as it turns out, are commanded by a master known as Salem. She can't be reasoned with, can't be stopped, and she won't rest until all of civilization lies in ruins before her."

"The Grimm have a what," asked Weiss, disbelief sounding in her voice.

"I notice you haven't even touched the tea in your cups," Quipped Branwen as she sipped out of her own cup.

"Why in the world should we believe any of what you're telling us?" Asked Yang as she stood up.

"Uh Yang," Wayne tried to explain, but was quickly cut off as Raven launched into her own explanation.

"Now you're finally starting to get it," Said Branwen as she turned back to them and set her cup down on the table. "Up to this point all you've done is just accept what everyone's told you, but you must learn to question everything." Yang's glare intensified at that moment, prompting Raven to turn away again before she continued speaking. "If you don't learn to do that, you'll wind up just as blind as Qrow, and that foolish father of yours."

BAAAAAAMM! Wayne scooted back a bit just as the table they were sitting at was destroyed by a round from Yang's gauntlet. "Don't you dare mock my family like that!" Yang yelled. Wayne might've said something if the tent's flap hadn't opened then. In an instant he was on his feet with his right Crescent Fang pointed at the newcomer, Vernal.

"You need to calm yourself," Said Vernal as she pointed her personal weapon at Yang. A ring-like weapon with blades on either side and a pair of gun barrels above the handle she was grasping.

"And you need to head back outside," Said Wayne, his finger on the trigger of his own weapon, "This is kind of a family matter now."

"Both of you please," Said Weiss as she grabbed Yang's hand, "We don't need this right now."

"It'd be best if you listened to your friend," Said Raven, "Your teams never let you down before."

"What would you know about my team?!" Exclaimed Yang, "Or even me for that matter? You were never there in the first place because you left us, and for what?!" Yang's temper finally subsided with those final words.

"I know far more than you realize," replied Branwen, "About you, but also about seemingly impossible things I've seen with my own eyes. I know about the Grimm's leader, people who can return from the dead, and I know that magic is no fairy tale. I can even prove it."

"Why don't you ask your right hand here to do that," Said Wayne as he and Vernal lowered their weapons, "I figure she's the more magical out of the two of you." Vernal raised her eyebrow at Wayne's statement, acting as if she didn't know what he was implying. "Come on after the whole healing hands and lightning display, I'd be stupid not to figure it out after everything I've heard."

"I think my demonstration will do well enough," Said Raven as she turned back to Yang. "You say Tai explained my semblance to you, but I doubt he ever mentioned what Oz did to your Uncle and me." Without another word, Raven Branwen exited out the other side of the tent.

"Go look for yourself," Said Vernal as she walked out the front entrance to the tent. Wayne put his weapon away as the three of them headed outside to where Raven should have been.

"Mom," Yang called as they looked around, but could find no trace of the bandit leader.

"Yang, are you alright," asked Weiss as she extended a hand to her teammate.

"I'll be alright once she finally sends us to Ruby," Replied Yang as she continued looking around for her mother.

"It's no big deal if you're not, you know, okay," Weiss said, trying to sound reassuring.

"Did you buy into any of that," asked Yang as she turned back towards Weiss, "All that stuff she told us?"

"Well I," Weiss thought for a moment, "I didn't believe all of it. I mean sure we have dust and semblances, but actual magic existing, it all sounds made up."

"She wasn't lying about the magic," Wayne finally spoke up as he poked his thumb behind him, "That Vernal woman back there, straight out of the story of the four maidens. But there's also the fact that Branwen's scent isn't on the ground anymore, it's up there." Wayne pointed upwards at a small black object coming towards them.

"A raven," Weiss said as the black bird came gliding past them.

"I know that bird," Said Yang as recognition entered her eyes, "I've seen it more than once."

"Do you think it belongs to your mom," Asked Weiss as they watched it circle around.

"I think it's more accurate to say, that is your mom," Said Wayne as the raven sped towards the trees. Just as it passed by the largest tree there, the bird disappeared and was replaced with the form of Raven Branwen as she came flying through the air and landing right in front of them.

"What was that," Asked Yang as varying levels of shock crossed everyone's faces, "How were you able to do that?"

"That certainly explains how you were able to make it to my parent's wedding," Commented Wayne, earning a look from Weiss and Yang. "Qrow once mentioned it to Aegis when he was extra drunk."

"I certainly could explain it," Said Raven as she unsheathed her sword and cut a portal open behind her, "Or you could just ask your uncle about it."

"So you're helping us after all," asked Yang, clearly confused.

"I'm presenting you with a choice," answered Raven as she sheathed her sword, "On the one hand you could stay here with me. I'll answer your questions and so much more, it'd be like a fresh start." Whatever else she might've wanted to say was cut off by Wayne stifling a laugh.

"Something you'd like to say Ursario," asked Raven with a frown.

"I'm sorry it's just, you spent all this time telling us how naïve we are," said Wayne as he stepped forward a bit, "But I think you saying it'd be a fresh start is the most naïve statement I've heard all day."

"And how so," Asked Branwen as she tilted her head a bit, apparently interested in hearing what he had to say.

"You've had seventeen, going on eighteen years where you could've dropped by at any point and explain all of this to Yang. What's worse, thanks to that semblance of yours you don't even have the excuse that the journey would be too long or too far. Instead your own daughter had to hunt you down and nearly get into a fight with the rest of your tribe just to get this so-called choice."

"It's a better option than the alternative," Replied Raven as she stepped to the side and held a hand out toward the portal. "The other option is go back to Qrow and continue Ozpin's unwinnable war against Salem, and wind up like so many others. But I really have to wonder, can you all really go back to trusting someone who's kept so much from you?"

Weiss became worried at that statement while Wayne simply crossed his arms. As for Yang she narrowed her eyes and gave her answer. "All I care about is finding my sister and making sure she's safe," Yang said. Raven looked disappointed at that answer, but stood aside anyway.

After that, Yang and Weiss headed off to retrieve Yang's motorcycle from the woods, while Wayne grabbed the supplies he'd managed to salvage from the crashed airship. "You know I wonder if this is gonna ruin your rep a bit," Said Wayne as he stood by the portal with Branwen.

"And how would deciding to let my own daughter and her friend live, and sparing your life for a second time I might add, affect my reputation," Asked Branwen.

"You just gave me and Aegis the whole 'I have a rule,' speech the last time I walked through one of those portals," Wayne pointed out. "You said you would only help us once, yet here I am about to walk through another one of these portals."

"I'm not helping you by doing this," Said Raven as she turned towards Wayne, her hand gripping the handle of her weapon, "I am very likely sending you all to your untimely deaths by allowing you to walk through that portal."

"Maybe, maybe not," Said Wayne, "But one thing I do know for sure is that a number of my friends are on the other side of that portal. So imminent death or not, I'm going just the same as Yang and Weiss."

"Well then perhaps you can help me," Said Raven, "That way I won't be breaking my rule and you can still walk through that portal."

"What in the world could you possibly need my help for," asked Wayne as he shifted his footing and crossed his arms.

"I recall that once you give your word, you'll do everything you can to keep from breaking it," said Raven, "So I want your word that you'll look after Yang as if she was your own sister."

"Ruby and her are like sisters to me already, and while I severely dislike making an agreement of any kind with a bandit leader," Wayne said as he held out his hand, "You got my word, I'll look after her." Raven actually smiled a little at that as she took Wayne's hand and shook it.

"Don't think these means I won't still kill you if you ever get in my way," Said Raven as the sound of Yang's motorcycle approached.

"Of course," Said Wayne as he walked towards the portal, "Can't let your tribe think you're going soft or anything like that." Raven simply rolled her eyes as Yang pulled her bike up to the portal with Weiss sitting behind her.

"Yang," Raven called as they were about to enter the portal, "Should you side with your Uncle, I might be less kind the next time we meet."

"You weren't kind this time around either," said Yang as she drove through the portal with Weiss.

"Just throwing this out there one more time," said Wayne as he backed into the portal, "Family barbecue." With that, he entered the portal, fairly certain he was gonna regret that comment.

Mistral: Haven Academy

"What in the world's going on," Qrow thought aloud as he looked out over the balcony he was standing on, "A couple of huntsman gone is one thing. But how can they all be gone at the same time, there's got to be something else going on." His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a red and black portal opening behind him. "Oh great, Raven," he said as he waited for his twin sister to walk through the portal.

But instead of Raven Branwen walking through, three other figures exited the portal. "Oh hey, glad you could make it," Qrow said, "What kept ya?"

And at last, the three friends have finally made it to Haven Academy. Now they can reunite with team RNJR, and hopefully Wayne can straighten out the whole Drake and May issue. As for you my fellow readers, I hope you've enjoyed the story up to this point, and thank you for all of your reviews, critique, and views which help to keep this story great. Be sure to stop in next time as Wayne, Weiss, and Yang get caught up on the state of affairs in Mistral. 'Til next time.