Hey guys! Back from break and ready to give this another go!
Not much to say except enjoy the chapter!
Burdens and Bloodlines
After Yang's match with Adam Kron flew until he landed at the top of a building.
It was good to see how Yang's progress was but he was disappointed to see that she couldn't pull off the win. Oh well, he'll just make sure she learns better for their fight. Three months should be enough to get her to fix that temper of hers.
Enough about her for now though, he needed to find a certain woman.
He then took out his scroll and made a call.
"All went well?" Roman asked.
"Yeah, I got Adam." Kron replied. "He's not talking though."
"That's alright, knowing Cinder he probably doesn't know where she is either." The theif replied. "So you can go ahead and kill him, he won't be much use."
Kron could have just kept quiet but he decided to be up front and be honest.
"He's not dead, he's being held."
"Huh?" Roman got confused. "Held? By you? Where?" He said in a confused voice.
The Saiyan wondered why he sounded concerned.
"By Ozpin, I gave Adam to him."
"Ozpin?" Roman asked. "You've talked to him? Wait! Are you working for him?"
Kron rolled his eyes.
"I'm working for no one, I just have a deal with him like you." Kron said.
Roman was silent for a bit like he wanted to figure out what to say next.
"Is that why you haven't been doing much for a month?" He asked in a slightly stressed tone. "I thought you were looking for Raven's daughter."
"I found her, but I'm not knocking her out yet." Kron admitted.
"What why?" He asked.
The Saiyan felt like he was angry saying that.
"I did some thinking, plans have changed a bit?"
"Plan's have changed?" Roman asked annoyed. "You need to knock her out, kill Raven right now! Even Ozpin shouldn't be able to stop you!"
Kron was annoyed being told what to do.
"No, killing Raven isn't my only goal anymore, I'll get to her when the time is right."
Roman gave a sigh on the other end.
"When the time is right? You found Raven's daughter! All you have to do now is knock her out, lure that Raven woman and kill her! You can't get a better time than this! Deal with her now!"
He was really getting annoying to the Saiyan. He took a breath, he's an asset, he needs to resist the urge to beat him to a pulp.
"Calm down, Torchwick, why do you want me to hurry anyway? It's not your business." Seriously, it wasn't his call to make.
Roman was silent for a few seconds likely to regain his cool.
"Because the sooner you deal with Raven the sooner you can focus on ending that Cinder woman!" Roman yelled. "I came to you because I wanted out, the longer that woman breaths the more likely I'm going to get burned." He replied. "Also your deal with Ozpin makes me feel like he's going to get me jailed while your doing his dirty work."
Kron can kind of understand that. Still he was really annoyed with the man's whining, begging to be protected. So pathetic. Reminds him of how most of the Branwen Tribe were when they were begging Raven to kill him for them. He couldn't wait to end his deal with him, after this he'll make sure he doesn't have to deal with him again. Suppose he should just tell him his intentions and hopefully calm him down.
"Look Roman, the thing is I found out I get a better prize if I wait, if I just kill Raven now it won't be any fun." Yang would gain the Maiden abilities, but right now she'll likely not be as fun as she can be in three more months. She needs more time. "And I'll do it when the time is right, and meanwhile I will fufill our agreement, by keeping you and your assistant alive and free. So until your either dead or in prison you can't complain right?"
Roman was silent for a few seconds contemplating what Kron had said. He wasn't wrong, not to mention he has been keeping his word so far. He didn't like that he was working with Ozpin but he didn't keep it to himself like he could have. Maybe he can use that.
"Fine, just keep your scroll handy in case I need you." He gave in.
"Good, then it's done." Kron replied glad to see that this annoying argument was over. "Now about Cinder, have you found anything out?"
"Nope, but I have an idea on how to lure her." He replied seeming to have been calm from his previous complaints.
That was good, maybe he can finally catch her and make sure she can't interfere with him again.
"Ok, how and when?"
"Can't be specific, but I know it'll be soon."
Kron growled.
"Hey come on, I've come through for you plenty of times now, thanks to me you got Adam right?" He asked. "Like you said you fufilled your side of the bargain I've been fufilling mine right?"
The Saiyan was silent for a few seconds.
"Fine, Roman, just make sure you let me know right away."
"Sure, just give me a few days to make arrangements."
Kron put his scroll down and shrugged. Guess he can try to train Yang more while he waits.
Wonder what the next exercise should be?
Beacon Academy
Yang had been brought into Beacon with a bullhead sent to her.
She was given some time off from her training with Kron. While she would be happy about that after going through a month of this extremely intense training.
But she wasn't relieved. She still had a confused look on her face.
She knew that her mother had done something awful.
But manipulating Kron into thinking Blake's mother betrayed him to make him loyal to her? She basically turned Kron against Blake's family. There's no way that could be true. She wouldn't do that.
And she realized that she never knew anything about her mother before she met Kron. Her father would talk very little about her, always tell her that he'll tell her everything when she's ready.
Which lead to her searching all over Vale for any information on her.
Then she met Kron, and now she's in this mess.
She still doesn't know why Raven left her, but she knows why Kron hates Raven. And the kind of person she is.
A manipulative one, who will use anyone to get what she wants and abandon those who can't.
If it's true.
She shook her head.
Until she hears Blake's side of the story there's no reason to believe him.
Though he has been fulfilling his side of the deal he made, making her stronger, and stopping bad guys in Vale.
No, she needs to stop. Find Blake and see if he was telling the truth. That's what she needs to do.
She can figure out the rest later.
Just then she looked up at the school, Beacon Academy, funny she always dreamed of coming here. But now since she came here she's faced more turmoil than she ever thought she would.
"Yang!"
A blur of red appeared and wrapped her arms around Yang.
Yang looked surprised but smiled as she wrapped her arms around her little sister.
Ruby looked up at her sister and sighed.
"I, was worried you wouldn't be able to catch up." Ruby replied as she let go. "Is everything alright? Did Kron make you do anything else?"
Yang smiled at the worry her younger sister was giving
"No rubes, he didn't he actually said I had some time off." She said to her.
"Really?" Ruby asked relieved. "How long? Are you finally going to come stay with us in the dorms?"
Yang chuckled, it's funny how the roles were reversed. She used to tease Ruby about being separated and how she kept saying she was fully grown. Now she didn't seem to want to separate from her.
Any other time she would've loved this.
She had a sad smile on her face.
"I don't know he just said I had free time to rest and that he'll let me know when we'll train again."
The blonde tried her best to smile to hide her feelings.
But her younger sister was always able to tell.
"Yang what's wrong? Are you ok?"
Damn, she thought she was good at smiling through the pain.
Not having the energy to lie she decided to ask. "Ruby, weren't you following Blake and Weiss?"
Ruby looked saddened and looked down.
"I was but I didn't want to leave without you." She said. "We got our team back together and now both Blake and Weiss ran off somewhere. Something got into Weiss and she got away using her glyphs, I could've followed but I wanted to see if you were ok."
Yang felt guilty, she couldn't help but think she was a terrible sister this whole month. She told herself that it was to save her mother and it couldn't be helped. But Ruby's been feeling alone ever since this whole mess started and she thought that she could have handled this situation better,
And if what she heard was true then it might not have been worth it.
"Ruby, I want to talk to you, but right now I need to talk to Blake, is that ok?"
Ruby can see that Yang was really struggling, she took a breath and nodded with a brave face.
"Yeah, come on let's go find them!"
After this, she hoped that she'd be able to lift her team's spirits.
Vale Prison
Ozpin had been waiting in an elevator and sighed.
This deal had been more lucrative than he thought it would be.
Not only is one of his students is learning Kron's ability, but they have gotten a name of one of Salem's biggest agents.
Cinder Fall.
And they have captured one of the most valuable cogs in her plan.
Adam Taurus.
He has always been known as one of the most dangerous members of the White Fang. Rumored to be the strongest fighter they have.
And not only have they captured him, but with Kron's help they have hopefully shown him that his plan is doomed and will cooperate for the sake of his men.
Though he has been around long enough to know that it won't be so simple, he knows a fanatic when he sees one.
If that is the case, it is fine, he has another way of finding out everything. And a way to neutralize the White Fang threat.
The elevator stopped and he walked out of the elevator.
"Headmaster Ozpin" A huntsman greeted him. "A pleasure to see you."
"And I you." Ozpin smiled at one of his academy's graduates. "How has he been?"
The huntsman shook his head and turned to the glass window.
Through it was Adam, wearing only half of his mask showing his eye that lacked the S-D-C scar, he was restricted to a table sat in a chair. His wrists were restrained in cuffs that were glowing red, indicating that they were restricting his Aura.
"He refuses to share what he knows." He spoke. "It took a while for him to stop shaking in his chains, and no matter what we offer he won't talk insisting that he will not be here for long."
Ozpin figured that was the case, he'll need to see if he can 'persuade' him further.
"Very well, let me speak to him."
The huntsman nodded and pressed a button.
With a beep the door to Adam's interrogation room opened.
Ozpin walked through with his cane.
Adam glanced up to look at whoever came next.
He glared at Ozpin wishing he could break free from these chains to show the humans that this man was not invincible.
The Headmaster sat down across from the prisoner.
"Good evening, Mister Taurus." He greeted politely. "I know you had quietthe day."
He was taken in front of his subordinates, used as a practice dummy, and captured by the humans! So pathetic! That boy! He did it so quickly!
With nothing good to retort with Adam stayed quiet and kept his eyes on his chains as if wondering how to escape.
Ozpin reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph.
"We found this on your person." He slipped the photo across the table to show Adam something.
The Bull Faunus glanced and growled.
It was a picture of Ravena and Sienna shaking hands. The picture that was going to get Kron out of Vale and take over as High Leader of the White Fang.
"I see, so you were going to use this to convince Kron to leave the city weren't you." Ozpin stated. "To ensure that he won't get in your way, correct?"
Adam again said nothing and focused back on his chains.
"I can't blame you, after all, I don't think he'd stay still, he likely would have thrown a wrench in your plans if you acted them while he was here."
He squeezed his knuckles in response.
"How?"
Ozpin rose an eyebrow at that.
"How is someone of his caliber, working for you?"
The headmaster decided to be vague about it.
"He offered me a deal; he'd make one of my students strong in exchange for allowing them to fight later." He stated. "He also offered to find and detain any threats to Vale."
Adam growled.
"He's the biggest threat here."
Ozpin can see why he said that, after all Kron may be helping them but it is only in exchange for something he wants.
"Just you wait, as soon as he finds her" He pointed to Raven in the picture. "He'll have no use for you, leave you, focus his sights on her, then the White Fang will be free to do as they please." He growled. "And I will be back to lead them to victory."
Interesting.
"I see so you think if he finds out she is working for Sienna that he'll simply end his deal with me and leave us to deal with your army."
Adam glared at Ozpin with killer intent.
"I know it."
So that's his hope.
Then he'll need to wager that.
"Hmm, how about you tell him everything and see if that theory comes to pass."
Adam's eyes widened. Was he serious? No, he wouldn't. Would he?
Ozpin can see that he's wondering if this were a trick.
He'll be wishing that it was.
Beacon Academy
Weiss sitting alone in one of the school's lounge areas.
She needed to clear her head for a bit, to calm herself of what she just saw.
Ever since she was a child her father was volatile pushing her mother to drink. Angry at his children over the smallest mistakes and screaming on the scroll in response to any news he heard of the White Fang stealing from the S-D-C.
How accidents in the mines always were portrayed as the human workers being given help while the Faunus were left to die as it would be a waste of resources to help them.
She was told that the S-D-C did everything they could to save everyone in those accidents.
She always thought that the S-D-C was an honorable organization and valued those they employ.
The girl sees the scar in her head.
Does that mark mean that the true reason these Faunus were not rescued was the rumors that were spread? We're they true? Did they prioritize human life and not the Faunus?
Gods, what else was true?
Liars, thieves, killers, and terrorists.
That's what she was told that the White Fang were all her life. By her father, the media, and protesters.
Ever since Weiss was a little girl she grew up believing that the White Fang were a group of Faunus that held grudges against Atlas and blamed S-D-C, the richest Dust company in the world for all their misfortunes.
But these blames. They were all legitimate.
No, they couldn't be.
She sees the boy's scar.
Weiss put her head in her hands struggling trying to decipher what was fact and what was fiction.
As she was on the verge of having a mental break down footsteps were heard.
And the heiress was too preoccupied to notice.
"Weiss"
The heiress looked up wondering who found her.
She was surprised to see Blake.
Weiss thought that Ruby would be the one to find her knowing her, she calmed herself. And tried to focus.
"Blake, why are you here?" She asked surprised that she followed her.
Doesn't she hate her? Surely, she's seen that man's scar, they knew each other.
Blake noticed her tone.
"Weiss, did you see anything?"
Her blue eyes widened hearing that and she looked away.
The Cat Faunus sees that she's struggling and sat next to her while looking at her. When she saw her, she thought she was some spoiled Schnee, but now she knows that she didn't know the true nature of her company or of the White Fang's motives.
"Weiss, listen." Blake began. "What you saw, it has nothing to do with you, I know that." Never had she thought she would be comforting a Schnee. "Weiss, come on, turn around."
Weiss shook when she heard that, she kept thinking of how the burning felt. She did as she was told and turned to her teammate.
She sees Blake with her bow hiding her cat ears.
When she found out about Blake's connection to the Scourge the one who put her sister had some resentment towards her for being a part of the White Fang. The group that made her father angry, that made him take it out on her.
All she saw was a white fang mask.
Now though?
She sees Adam's face. The scar.
The letters of the company she would one day inherit.
Weiss looked down in shame.
"I didn't know."
Blake put a hand on her shoulder.
"I know."
Weiss turned to her still having a gloom expression.
Even though Blake didn't ask she felt like she had to explain herself.
"Before I thought the White Fang exaggerated, I thought they held a grudge against my family for accidents in the mines." She explained. "I had no idea that my father was doing… that." She closed her eyes as she imagined the scar.
Blake was silent for a bit taking in what she said. She really didn't know what was going on behind the scenes. She can see that she was wrong about the heiress. And needed to let her know some truths to help her cope.
"To be honest I don't know if your father had ordered that to happen, it was one of his employees that tried to have him work his debt that his parents failed to pay off, after his parents had died he was captured and put to work." She remembered how his parents died protecting him from Grimm, they were poor and borrowed money from the S-D-C and they were put to work. When they died, he was unofficially burdened with carrying his debt by the Schnee's mine operators. "So, I'm not sure if your father ever ordered that to happen."
She remembered when he saw him with that mark. It was horrifying, he wouldn't talk for months. It was only until he met Sienna that he found something to dedicate his life for and became someone she admired.
Little did she know that this spelled the end for the kind boy he used to be, and became someone just as brutal as Kron was later on.
Weiss shook her head hearing that, it didn't make her feel better thinking her father never did that at at all.
"Not sure if I'd be angrier if my father was ordering it to happen, or being ignorant enough to hire people who would do that without his notice." She said looking down. "What about the other stories, Faunus being put to work in horrible conditions, being underpaid, Faunus being captured for their parent's debt. Is all that true?"
Blake pained hearing that, she wanted to lie, wanted to tell her that it was exaggerated. But she knows where lying can take her so she became honest.
"Yes, it's all true."
Weiss sighed and thought of everything she had said throughout her life. She wasn't sure what to do about her father or the SDC but she needed to do one thing here and now.
She turned to her teammate and began to apologize.
"Blake, I'm sorry, I thought you, the Scourge, the White Fang were all senseless terrorist looking for excuses." The heiress said looking down.
The Faunus can see that she means it and wanted to be fair.
"Listen Weiss, like what I said about how the SDC has treated Faunus, there is some truth to what you said." Blake admitted sadly. "Adam, maybe a victim of the SDC, but it doesn't excuse all he's done." She admitted, remembering how he killed a human claiming it was an accident and then another time in self-defense.
"It's why I left." She said looking down and sighed. "So, you shouldn't think that the White Fang were innocent either, I've also done things I'm not proud of." No murders, but she has committed plenty of crime, crime that she thought was necessary for her people.
Weiss heard that and registered everything. What her grandfather's company has done, what her father has done. She squeezed her fists and decided on one thing, ignoring her other complicated feelings.
She looked at Blake with new found resolve.
"Even so, I don't know how but I'll find a way to make everything right." She said to Blake. "My grandfather always said that a Schnee always pays their debts, and I will do it."
Blake looked at her saddened eyes and smiled. "I know Weiss, and you don't have anything to make right for." She said smiling. "And I promise to do what I can to stop the White Fang from harming anymore innocent people."
The two young women stood up and shook hands.
Both making a pact to right the wrongs of their organizations.
Just Blake's scroll vibrated.
She took it out and sees a message from Yang.
She was asking for her to come to the dorm.
She smiled glad to see that her partner was in their room.
"Yang's at the dorm, come on let's go."
Weiss nodded and followed behind.
"About Kron" The heiress began. "Has my family ever done anything to him."
Blake turned to her surprised by the question and how vulnerable she sounded.
"No, I don't think he ever really cared about the SDC Weiss." She remembered how Kron would always just call the Faunus protesters whiners for not 'doing anything' about their oppression. He never really sympathized with the White Fang.
Weiss nodded as the two kept walking. Maybe she doesn't know herself. If not she'll have to find out.
Cinder's Hideout
Cinder had closed her eyes and organized her thoughts. She needed to persuade her lady to do something to help. Provide her with Soul Dust, anything that can help with her plans. For some reason, she was so passive with her situation, like she was enjoying some show.
With Adam captured she absolutely needs the help now.
Once she was alone she opened a box containing a sphere, which floated and sprouted tentacles.
She made sure to kneel hoping to coax her to finally help.
The eyeball opened revealing the image of her mistress.
"Cinder, so glad you called, I was about to contact you." She said with a friendly smile.
The half Maiden shook hearing that as she kept kneeling.
She needed to get the hard part out of the way now.
"My lady, Adam, my biggest asset, he's disappeared."
Salem kept her smile like she wasn't bothered.
"Hmm, shame did you at least extract the Scourge's weakness from him?"
Cinder fought not to grit her teeth, she was ashamed for stopping her pursuit of probing for the family the Scourge had stayed with.
"He insisted he didn't know, and was willing to fight if I tried to force the matter." She reasoned. "At the time it wasn't worth arguing further, if I challenge Adam the whole White Fang would react, it was a lose-lose situation."
Salem frowned and shook her head.
She sighed like a disappointed mother.
If she reacted this way to Tyrian he would likely cry.
"Honestly Cinder, you already were in a lose-lose situation." She said in a sad voice. "You lost not only Adam but a needed asset, the key to controlling the scourge."
The young woman was silent upon hearing that.
"If you had pressured him, sure you would have lost the White Fang's support, but the plan was already ruined, you might as well cancel your relations with them, if you had gone through with forcing the truth out of him you had a chance to control him to use a hostage to make him compliant with our side." She shook her head. "When I told you I thought you would have figured out that you needed to get that information at all costs."
Cinder's eyes widened hearing that, she was right. If Adam did know someone the Scourge was close to, they could have leverage over what is likely to be the strongest thing on the planet.
Salem continued in a condescending tone. "Forgive me, I overestimated your competence, I'll be sure to write down step by step on what to do from now on."
The young woman said nothing she was careful not to show anger to her. For now.
"Forgive me, your grace, I will be more diligent in the future." She fought down the words she truly wanted to say.
Salem looked at her and could tell that she was hiding her rage. She was fine with that, it'll motivate her to be more efficient.
"See that you do." The Grimm Queen said. "And I suppose you had called for my assistance?"
Cinder is not proud of admitting to her needs.
Salem smiled.
"Rest assured I've already sent help." She then chuckled. "As well as some Ripened Soul Dust."
The half Maiden's eyes widened.
"What? Now? Why now?" She could have used them early on in this situation.
Salem chuckled at her reaction.
"Like I said, we were testing them, Ripened Soul Dust has different rules than what Slate had used." She mentioned the champion that they tested it on. "See for one, Ripened Soul Dust requires time for the body to adapt to it, and I needed to find Semblances that I knew you would excel at, ones that mix well with yours and increase your efficiency."
Cinder was surprised to hear that.
"So then does that mean you're finished testing them?"
Salem nodded.
"Yes, I have two test subjects that have succeeded, and are beyond Slate or anyone who used unripened Soul Dust." She explained. "Whether they can match the Scourge or not remains to be seen, they will take you to a safe place to adjust to the Ripened Soul Dust and return to finish him."
Once she had explained Cinder fought to smile, she was finally going to have power, the power to wipe out the Scourge off the face of Remnant! Yes, finally she will have the power she needs.
"When do I leave?"
"As soon as you're new bodyguards arrive, they will be here in a few days, take the time to get your affairs in order, make arrangements to return safely, and keep an eye on the Scourge's actions." Her tentacles waved gesturing her to look behind her.
Cinder made a mental note of each one. It made sense, while she will happily gain power using the long-awaited Ripened Soul Dust, she still wanted, no needed the Maiden ability from Amber in Beacon's basement. Once she becomes a whole Maiden and with extra Semblances she will finally reach the level she needs to destroy the Scourge once and for all.
Perhaps enough to surpass even Salem.
She'll keep quiet for now, first, she'll need to gain that power. Then she'll see if there's anything she can do to change command.
With a smile she politely said.
"Thank you, your grace." Cinder truly did appreciate this, she'll have the power she always wanted and more. "But I must ask, who are these test subjects who will help me while I adjust to my new abilities? Anyone I am familiar with." She hoped to any god that she wouldn't be Tyrian. He is the last fool she wanted to protect her from anyone.
Salem rose a hand and black light showed and formed two images.
"These two are promising members of the Crown and have proven to be excellent hosts of my Soul Dust, it took months but they became the first true successful test subjects of Ripened Soul Dust."
One image was a man with a green mohawk and goatee.
"Bertilak Celadon"
The other was of a young woman with auburn colored hair and a silver streak through it.
"Carmine Escalados"
Salem introduced her future bodyguards.
"These two right now are the best bodyguards you can ask for, just make sure to avoid the Scourge's gaze," Salem said sternly. "If you are discovered, rely on them to get you out." She said with a smile. "If they have the time, they will even help your asset Adam escape, after all, he may still have the information we need for him."
She glared at her pupil.
"Understood?"
Cinder had a serious look and bowed.
"Yes, your grace."
Hopefully, at the end of this, weather she surpasses Salem or not, she will have the power to destroy that insolent meddler for getting in her way.
He will regret stepping into Vale.
Team RWBY Dorm
Blake and Weiss had arrived in front of their dorm room.
The Cat Faunus opened the door.
The duo sees their leader Ruby sitting on one of the lower beds of their makeshift bunk beds.
And to their relief they see Yang in the other.
Blake smiled and even Weiss seemed to as well.
"Yang" The cat Faunus said as she walked in the room. "It's good to see you back."
"Thanks" The blonde had a sad smile on her face and looked at Weiss.
"Are you alright Weiss, I saw you freak out a second back at the forest."
The heiress glanced at Blake, and she shook her head. Now wasn't the time to focus on herself.
She looked at Yang, the girl who had to endure being trained by Kron and being pitted against a dangerous member of the White Fang.
"I'm fine, more importantly, how are you?" She asked. "He didn't make you train anymore, did he?"
Blake was glad to see that the girl was worried about her teammate despite going through what she saw on Adam's face.
Yang shook her head.
"He says I'm getting a break for a bit, not sure how long." She said smiling and focused on Blake with a saddened look.
The Cat Faunus was surprised to see her usual cheery partner with almost the same distraught look as Weiss had.
"Yang?"
The blonde didn't want to ask, she wanted to keep hope that what Kron had said was a lie. But she had to. She needs to know for sure.
"Blake, Kron" She stopped for a few seconds, she had to know, needed to find out . "He told me about Raven."
Blake's eyes widened she didn't see this coming at all. She knew that Kron wanted to keep it quiet as some sort of reward for her. She didn't know he would tell her now.
Ruby looked unsure what to say about this, Yang had told her a bit of what happened between the two. At least Kron's version of it.
Weiss looked confused, so now even when she's not being trained by him that boy is still causing her teammate trouble? What did he say to bring her of all people down. Maybe even more than she did from learning the nature of her grandfather's company.
Blake frowned and sighed.
She told the events of what happened between her family, Kron and Raven.
Once she was done Yang's face grew more discomfort from hearing it all.
Ruby held Yang in a hug trying to comfort her, learning what Raven had done. The woman she was trying to save.
Weiss looked shocked, she thought she was the only one with real family troubles in her team. And now Yang of all people might have even more.
Blake wanted to lie, she wanted to twist the story to not paint Raven in a negative light. For Yang's sake, but she couldn't, she has the right to know what kind of person Raven is, even if it was someone she wouldn't like.
"Oh my god." Yang shook her head. "I knew she wasn't a saint, I mean, she lead bandits, I don't even know why I'm surprised."
She put her face into her hands.
"Yang" Blake walked closer to her friend trying to comfort her.
The blonde looked back at her partner and sighed.
"Blake, I'm sorry for what my mom did, I had no idea she would do that."
The Cat Faunus shook her head.
"You aren't to blame for what she did." She wanted to try to comfort her. "And you know, Kron did have a choice in what he did, so your mother might not be completely to blame."
Although she wanted to put all the blame on her, she couldn't help but think Kron was responsible for a good amount of what happened. Still Sienna did say she had captured him once and left a horrible first impression for the White Fang on him.
So it may not be fair to give him most of the blame either.
"Still, what she did." She shook her head. "Turning him against your family, to get him on her side. The kid she raised."
She sighed as she sat down.
"Why am I even trying to save her?"
Ruby tried to hug her to help her cope.
Blake sees the state her partner is, why did he have to tell her? Didn't he know what kind of effect it could have on her?
She'll need to see what he was thinking when she speaks to him again.
Vale Prison
Ozpin stood outside of Vale's prison, waiting for a certain someone.
He made arrangements so only he and Glynda would be at this part of the prison.
This way the one to interrogate Adam will be someone else.
Someone most wouldn't want near him.
He was really pushing it with his connections with the council but the payoff maybe worth it in the end.
"I'm here"
The headmaster turned.
"Ah, good to see you."
It was Kron wearing his black jacket and white undershirt. No mask and even his Saiyan tail was hidden, wrapped around his waist.
"Whatever, what's this favor you want?"
Ozpin smiled.
"Thank you for accepting, I would like you to meet with Adam."
Kron looked genuinely confused, surprised at the suggestion.
"What?"
The headmaster continued.
"I want you to go and hear what he has to say." He said with a friendly smile. "And respond normally."
The Saiyan looked at the man weirdly.
"Ok, do you want me to interrogate him? Because I'm pretty sure if I try I'll knock him unconscious on accident." He explained. "What else? That can't be it."
Ozpin shook his head.
"No that's it, hear him out, and respond normally, as if I'm not here."
Kron felt like there was more to this than he's letting on. Though he remembered that he was promised something interesting, so he shrugged his shoulders.
"Fine, I was expecting something more annoying honestly, I'll see the bull, take me to him."
"Wonderful."
Ozpin nodded as the two entered the elevator leading to Adam.
Interrogation Room
Kron walked into the room with a neutral look on his face, once he was in he looked at the subject surprised that Ozpin had wanted him to 'visit' the prisoner he had just given him.
A man with red hair with a broken mask on his face sitting in a chair with Aura Restraints on his wrists.
Adam looked up his blue eye can be seen, he glared at the man.
Kron sat done in front of the prisoner and noticed the glare.
"Ozpin said you wanted to see me." Kron said to the Bull Faunus. "You just want to glare at me? I don't blame you considering all this." He almost felt bad for him, but he didn't care, he needed Yang to fight a strong opponent and Adam fit that criteria. It's his fault for being captured so easy.
Adam didn't respond to that he closed his eyes calming himself. He needed to play his cards right. First he'll try the original plan.
"First I have to ask." The Bull Faunus explained. "Why are you here in Vale?"
Kron rose an eyebrow wondering if he should tell him, he wouldn't mind sharing that info since he's locked up and theres nothing he can do.
But in the off chance he can break out it's to avoid explaining the true reason, instead he'll tell a half truth.
"Anima was getting dull." Kron answered. "I wanted to see what Vale was like so I came here."
It was true he had spent so much time in Anima that he knew it like the back of his hand. He's been everywhere on Remnant's largest continent, and it got real dull.
Adam grunted. "So you didn't come for the White Fang?"
He asked in an extremely bitter tone.
"No" Kron responded. "You idiots decided to pick a fight with me, so I needed to hunt you down for disturbing me."
Again not the whole truth.
"When did we pick a fight with you?" Adam asked. "We lost members over the past few weeks, we didn't do anything with you, it was only when we lost members that we even knew you were here."
A clever lie. He was trying to get him to spill his alliance with Roman.
But Kron had already experienced being manipulated by a far better liar.
So again he'll tell another half-truth.
"Less than a month after my stay in Vale while you White Fang were running around committing Dust robberies, Slate, had gotten a power boost and tried to kill me." Kron pointed out. "And with my history with the White Fang it would make sense you people would use Slate as some sort of guinea pig to use for your new weapon." He explained. "Something that grants multiple Semblances, and it has a very high risk factor, doesn't it?"
Adam showed no reaction on his face, nothing that would give away any hint that what he said had some truth in it.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Adam responded. "We only found out you were in Vale when our members were disappearing! You are simply assuming that the White Fang were involved in that!"
Kron thought of the Menagerie incident where he assumed that Kali had tricked him.
"If we did have access to something like that, don't you think any of use would rather use it than give it to some human!" Adam reasoned. "Or that I would use some on myself?! Try to use some sense!"
The lie came to him naturally. And he even made use of Kron's reputation to make assumptions given his knowledge of what happened at the island. It was clever on his part, if it wasn't for Kron's informant, he probably would have bought it.
"Well this enhancement has some drawbacks, so it would make sense the White Fang would use a human as a guinea pig then one of their own don't you think?" Kron retorted. "Besides your loyal men have revealed that you were working with a woman named Cinder Fall, a human who I know works with Tyrian, a Scorpion Faunus who also has a problem with me, face it Adam you can't fool me."
Adam growled and squeezed fists. He wanted to lie but saw no use in that.
"It was her choice, she did that without discussing anything." He said giving in and telling some of the truth.
Kron can see that he was starting to be more open and spoke.
"Some advice when dealing with me Adam, I hate liars, if you weren't already captured, I'd break your arm for that little lie."
The Bull Faunus reeled himself in trying not to let his anger get the best of him.
"Fine, you want truth, then I have a reason why you should leave Vale."
Kron rose an eyebrow hearing that.
"I'm listening."
Adam reached into his cot pocket with his cuffed hands and pulled out a paper and placed it on the table.
"Here"
Kron took the paper and looked at the other side.
His eyes widened at the sight.
"What is this?"
Adam took note of that expression, good he didn't know about that. So Ozpin may have been wrong.
Kron was looking at a picture of Sienna, and Raven discussing.
"I'm sure Blake told you." Adam began. "Sienna discovered what had happened that night, she knows about Raven's involvement in turning you against the Belladonna family. And yet she started an alliance with Raven to bring you down."
The Saiyan looked at the photo and up at Adam.
"Why tell me this? Your siding with Sienna, she wouldn't want you to tell me."
Adam was silent for a few seconds, his one eye closed as if feeling regret with what he was going to say next.
"Sienna lately has proven that she's not fit to be High Leader of the White Fang." Adam admitted. "She had been more selective with our recruits, taken less necessary actions against the humans, and the final nail in the coffin is what you see before you, she made some sort of alliance with Raven without telling me any of it. And I have risen to lead the Vale branch of the White Fang, she is working with the human who caused the Menagarie incident to kill you. Someone who is willing to worj with a human who had used the White Fang in the past is not fit to lead. There are those in the White Fang who now want her to leave the organization, including myself."
Kron heard all of that and thought it made sense. He had taken Sienna's leg, no doubt she'd work with anyone to kill him for that. Even if it meant working with Raven, sure she did manipulate those events but he was the one who reacted the way he did with no real evidence.
"So you want me to deal with Sienna?"
"I want you to leave Vale." Adam replied. "All I want now is for my brothers and sisters in the Fang to be spared from you and Ozpin. And for Sienna to be dealt with even if I'm in prison, she is has sadly become a hunderance for our cause as well as our people."
He believed it was true, after all ever since Sienna had learned of Raven's involvement that night, Sienna seemed to have softened. Going for less lethal methods and even tried to control him during skirmishes with the humans.
But working with Raven Branwen? That crossed the line.
While Adam does share Sienna's need to be rid of Kron, he does not want to work with the human who caused those events to get there. He needed to take over the White Fang to bring them into the right direction. In time he as well as others can weild Soul Dust with Cinder's benefactors and bring the Faunus to their rightful place in the world.
Working with Raven will only motivate Kron to destroy the whole organization. Clearly she's too desperate for it. They needed her gone if she was not willing to go far enough and work with Raven.
He focused on Kron hoping that Ozpin was wrong and he'll go to deal with Sienna.
"I see, so you made it easy to find you didn't you." Kron said looking at Adam. "I thought it was weird that your henchman basically gave you away." Before he could hand him over to Neo.
"I was expecting you to do your usual speil of talking and get the opportunity to show you this."
The Saiyan chuckled at this.
"Hah, this a coincidence is so stupid." He smiled. "Seriously, sometimes I feel like all of us are characters in a story made by some hack, who doesn't know a thing about writing."
After Kron had said this, he looked at the photo.
He chuckled and shrugged.
"Deal with her yourself."
Adam was surprised to hear that.
"What?"
"I'm not interested in helping you rise the ranks, you want to take over the White Fang do it yourself."
Adam fought the urge to grit his teeth he calmed himself.
"She's plotting something with Raven, she'll have valuable information." Adam reasoned. "You can't afford to let her slip through your fingers, if you do you'll have even less of a chance of capturing the human who manipulated you!"
Kron heard that and chuckled.
"You clearly don't know Raven," Kron replied. "I know for a fact that if I did go after Sienna now, Raven would run and be even harder to catch. She'll leave Sienna in the dark about where she is and wouldn't have anything valuable to tell me."
She was cunning and ruthless, it was one of the reasons she lead the Branwen Tribe.
"Anyone around her is just a pawn that she'll throw away if she can't use them." Kron continued. "Besides if Sienna is working with Raven then she's already going to die, so I got no reason to go after her."
Kron stood up and started to walk away.
"So that was it right? I've got things to do."
Adam growled and then remembered something. He stood still cuffed to the table.
"Then teach me your power!"
Kron heard that and looked over his shoulder.
"What?"
"I remember what you said, you can teach me this power, if I learn it I'll be far stronger than that girl!" He referred to Yang. "You said she had a month of training, imagine how strong I'd get with a month of your training? I promise I'll provide a far better fight than she ever could."
Kron looked at him silently, he only had a blank look on his face.
"All you have to do is break me out of here, we can begin the training right away. Give me some time and I will give you the fight you always wanted."
Kron turned completely around to face Adam.
"Hehe, interesting, you know I thought of teaching someone my ability a while back." He said remembering Sepia. "And at the time, when I thought of who to teach, you came to mind Adam, I couldn't help but think your Semblance would make you an interesting opponent with my power.
The Bull Faunus's eyes widened. He thought he heard that wrong. He wanted to teach him this power.
"I was hoping to offer this power to you if I could find you." He said with a smirk. "You might even get stronger than Raven in time."
Adam had him, he knew that. Blake had said that he was always up for a fight. Always wanting a stronger opponent. If he can convince him to weild his power he'd be unstoppable, he can lead the White Fang to greatness even without Cinder.
He knows that he wouldn't pass this up.
"But, now, not so much. My answer is no Adam."
Adam's eyes widened.
"What? Why?" Adam asked. "You know I'd be a better opponent for you than her, I kept up with her even after learning your ability! If I have it as well than I'd be the perfect opponent for you! Far better than that girl!"
Kron heard his reasoning and said nothing in thought.
"Adam, it's a possibility you'd reach greater heights than her with the same amount of time, but even then I'm not sure if you'd be a good opponent."
"Why?"
Kron began to explain.
"See I had a list of things I wanted before I decided to teach someone my ability." Kron didn't just want to teach anyone."You've got a reason to defeat me, got drive to get stronger, you almost have everything I'm looking for, but you have one thing that keeps me from thinking that you'd be worth teaching Ki."
He remembered during the fight between Yang and Adam.
"During your fight, I noticed that you lost grip of your weapon."
Adam remembered how he was looking for his sword after taking a beating.
"You looked so pathetic," Kron said in a disgusted tone. "I was really disappointed in you, your mask may have hidden it but I could tell that you were afraid, you wanted your weapon." He said. "I should've seen that coming since your Semblance needs a weapon, after all your Semblance is supposed to be a reflection of who you are. Right"
Adam growled and glared.
"I have destroyed many of the White Fang's enemies with my Semblance, that is who I am." He explained. "I am the power of the Faunus."
"As long as you have your weapon," Kron said. "They say the weapon doesn't make the man, but in your case it's the opposite, isn't it? If I taught you Ki, you'd be strong sure, but if you lose your weapon you become terrified, unlike the one I'm teaching, you NEED your weapon. I've met plenty of huntsman that relied on their weapons, but not quite as much as you do."
The Saiyan sighed as the Bull Faunus kept grinding his teeth.
"I mean all someone has to do to beat you, is either disarm you or break your weapon." Kron said with a bored expression. "Then, your pretty helpless to someone your equal, huh? Yeah, so not interested."
Adam growled remembering back when he was a child. How human children would beat him with sticks and rocks when they played Huntsman. He always had to play the Grimm because he was the one with horns.
When he learned how to wield a sword, his Semblance manifested. Moonslice. It was powerful, it's only requirement was a weapon.
But proud as ever he stood up and glared at Kron.
"Then prove it, get me out, teach me your power," Adam demanded. "And show me that your right."
"Stick to being a training dummy Adam it's what your best at." He said to I'm which made him angry. "Thank you again for helping me get Yang stronger, she's gonna be real fun soon."
He imagined his fight with her in four months and chuckled in delight.
The Saiyan then got up and walked away not caring for the Bull Faunus's blustering.
Adam yelled as he tried to break out of his restraints.
"Get back here! Kron!" He yelled as he tried to break free. "I will make you pay for this! You hear me!"
Kron said nothing as he walked out of the interrogation room.
Once Kron had gotten out he sees Ozpin.
The man wore a friendly smile.
"Bet you were nervous when he asked me to teach him weren't you."
"Not at all, I had a feeling how your conversation would play out." Ozpin replied. "Thank you for your time."
Kron looked at him strangely and glanced at the entrance.
"You knew he would ask me that? Why? Surely you know my highest priorities are Raven and training Yang to be my next opponent. How did you know I wouldn't take Adam's offer?"
Ozpin for the first time in a while took a sip from his mug. "From the month I've been observing you I have an idea of what kind of man you are, you are a man of your word, you want to uphold this deal to the end as we agreed, you even consulted me on a training method knowing it was dangerous, and you made sure to keep Yang safe as you said, and protecting the city from the White Fang."
He took another sip and looked at him.
"Is that not correct?"
Kron looked at him and crossed his arms.
"Like I told Blake, I am not a liar, not like Raven." He said to him. "I don't need to get what I want."
He then held his hand out.
"Now what you promised."
Ozpin reached into his pocket and pulled out another book, one that was dusty and torn.
"Here you go, 'The book of Vale's Kings' , the original copy and free of any political biases." He said to him.
Kron grabbed it and looked at it.
"You'll have to tell me where you get your collection from these days."
Ozpin shrugged his shoulders.
"When you get to be my age you have the time to find all sorts of things." He sipped his coffee mug as Kron examined the book.
"I do ask that you give Yang a few days before you continue her training."
"Why?"
The headmaster decided to be a bit vague.
"She's a bit bewildered by what you told her, please give her some time."
Kron rolled his eyes. Humans.
"Fine, I have something else to do anyway, Roman seems to think he can arrange for me to capture Cinder, I owe that woman for ruining my plans."
"Very well"
Kron began to walk away carrying his prize.
"One more thing," Ozpin said before he could leave..
Kron turned to him.
"It's clear to me that you will keep your word on making Miss Xaio Long as strong as possible, I will uphold my end of the agreement as well," Ozpin explained. "However Roman Torchwick does not share your distaste in deceit, if it suits him he will betray you. Just keep that in mind."
Kron chuckled.
"I'm aware, which is why if he does, he's dead." He frowned as he turned to Ozpin. "Just be aware the same goes for you, if you turn out like Raven and stab me in the back, I will kill you, even Blake, wouldn't be able to save you from me." He had a glare. "Got it?"
Ozpin showed no expression at that threat.
"I understand, but keep in mind my warning, a man like Torchwick is not to be trusted." He replied. "Maybe even less than Raven."
Kron was impressed that he didn't seem phased by his threat, either he had no intention of breaking the deal or he wasn't intimidated at all.
Either way was fine with him.
The Saiyan merely nodded and walked off.
Ozpin looked in the window to look at Adam who was angrier than ever.
It was close now, a bit more time and he'll either talk. If not he will resort to plan B.
But for now, he needed to take care of something else.
To take care of training a team he's been training.
To ready their next trump card.
Ozpin stood before a team of students he had been training for a while.
He had the perfect cover for why.
One of them was a celebrity, and one of these team members was rather... lacking abilities. Not in potential thankfully.
"Well done, all of you have shown significant improvement since the semester began." He glanced at one student. "Especially you Mr. Arc, I'm pleased to see how far you've grown."
A knight with blonde hair nodded while panting and holding himself on his knees. He seemed so happy to receive some praise like he wasn't used to it. Not in class nor in combat training. He stood tall and nodded.
"T-thank you sir!"
He started to fall over exhausted from the harsh training he clearly wasn't used to.
But a boy with a pink strand of hair caught him.
"I got 'em!" Nora yelled holding him up.
A girl with long red hair chuckled at the sight, her partner and leader sure had gotten stronger. She wasn't sure how she felt about Ozpin training her team, she didn't like the idea of special treatment, but her friends nudged her to do it. Also Nora and Ren convinced her that Jaune might needed it giving how he seemed to need the extra tutelage.
And it paid off from what they've seen.
Team JNPR was about to leave to get some rest.
"Miss Nikos, can you stay for a bit, I have something to talk to you about?"
Pyrrha looked to her friends and nodded as they left.
She turned to Ozpin and smiled.
"What is it, Headmaster?"
Ozpin smiled and held a hand up.
"Miss Nikos, I'm pleased at how you accelerated at your lessons." He said and focused.
Ozpin had told Kron that he would be monitored for Yang's safety. But there was another purpose to this. He wanted to see how his ability worked. How Ki worked and if he could implement it.
In what little free time he had, he tried many times in the past month, and it seemed to have paid off.
A green ball showed above his hand.
Pyrrha looked amazed at what she saw, she couldn't
"I like to offer even more, private lessons if you're willing."
This ball of light was not Aura, it was something he learned from observing Kron and Yang's training sessions.
Ozpin has become the second human to wield Ki.
And now intends to pass it on to someone who will become Vale's next guardian alongside Yang.
Ozpin has learned Ki! And he intends to pass it on to a young woman named Pyrha! Without Kron's knowledge! Does this mean that he is truly planning to betray Kron in the end? And if he does will Kron destroy him as he promised!
What of Cinder's incoming assistance? Will they be able to help Cinder gain the power to topple Kron?
And will Yang give up saving Raven now that she knows her true nature?
Find out next time on One's Own Path!
Hope not too many of u saw that coming.
Given how long Ozpin has been around and how valuable Ki will be I feel like he can and would pick it up after observing it enough.
Hope u look forward to what's next.
Review Responces.
toribot: Well he's gonna use one of his techniques like a weapon, I think you'll like it.
shadow-proclamation: Well I'll do it eventually when we're late into dealing with space stuff not when just dealing with RWBY level threats so no worries.
As for ur feelings on the pairings I basically agree.
I'm not gonna say Ruby's impossible, I just don't know how I'd make that happen.
keybladelight: Don't worry we'll see them all talk soon.
epantoja521: The whole story? I feel like if I did that, it would make those Kali kinda would've been kind of a waste of time. But glad u thought Ozpin was in character. Hope Kron getting more accepted by RWBY will warm up to u.
SSJGodKenny: I know I love the art to lol. Maybe someday.
So all I'm going to say is good job on paying attention to Kron's ship not being fully fueled. That will be important later, and interesting theory. Time will if your right.
Guest: So Sienna does know, and Adam. It's just Sienna sees Kron as the greater evil since he did show how monstrous he could be that night.
ThatSaiyaguy: Glad u liked the fight and hope u like the conversations so far.
I wonder why Roosterteeth didn't have Weiss see Adam's scar. I feel like that's a missed opportunity. You are 100% right, which is why Ozpin has a couple plans with ending Adam as a threat. If Plan b doesn't work, he;s a got plan, which isn't evil but almost makes me feel bad for him if he doesn't start talking.
Lol so about Kron staring at Yang. So in the chapter, Kron is looking for signs of fatigue. Because at the start she was always exhausted after every excercice, and was pleased to see that she wasn't and showing improvement. Yeah, Kron's only focused on making Yang as strong as possible and like some Saiyans doesn't get the concept of boundaries. If Kali raised him he might've.
Hope this chapter was worth the wait.
ZamasuAutonomous: Thank you! And you are right about that, glad u enjoyed.
Yeah Kron has a thing for people that stand up to him, like a lot of Saiyans.
So about hybrids, I have some ideas, but I haven't committed to anything like their potential yet, hopefully I can figure something out. We got a long way to ge before their a thing yet.
Bear925: And now Pyrrha will. Don't worry though Jaune will get Ki to, but I feel it makes more sense for Ozpin's first choice to be Pyrrha.
Also nice names, I might use them.
Lelouch of Zero: Lol glad you liked it and thank you. Also it's fitting for Yang since her song has Super Saiyan in it.
Runeion:Thank u. I haven't really, I don't think I can write comedy well enough for that.
tricscythe: We'll see! Let's get to space first.
TheJsmooth: Yep, and they still got issues right now. Thank u!
Well guess that's it. Thank u for reading hope to see u next chapter!
Have an awesome day! :)