A.N: Hey everyone, enjoy this little blast to the past as we prepare for the new arc.
Check out Wild Hunt's TV tropes page if you want to add to it. Just search 'RWBY Wild Hunt Tropes' and you'll find it.
If you enjoy this or any of my other works and want to check out my own original content, check out my fantasy novel, Age of Heroes: The Hero and the Disciple on Amazon. My love letter to anime.
But for now, enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 48: Mother and Son
As the airship carrying four important Beacon Academy students and their teacher returns to Beacon Academy, let us once again turn the clock back eight years. To a time not long after the young Hansel Kobalt was taken under Professor Ozpin's wing as his apprentice. This is the tale of a budding bond between a boy in desperate need of a mother's love and a woman seeking redemption after failing her own family…
A week had passed since Hansel was accepted as Ozpin's apprentice (his pet project, as Qrow referred to it as when he heard the news). Since then, Hansel had become a presence that most of Beacon's faculty had gotten used to. However, having a nervous ten-year-old that struggled with self-loathing was also very awkward for the staff.
Harold Mulberry, Ann Greene and Thumbelina Peach all struggled with the new addition to Beacon. All three had voiced their concerns to Ozpin in allowing the child to roam freely and train under their headmaster when he had far more important duties. Furthermore, each of those teachers, after some stern prodding from Ozpin, acknowledged prejudices towards Hansel's family.
Mulberry was in charge of weapon crafting and upkeep at Beacon. While he did admittedly look forward to examining Wolf Fang after Ozpin brought it back to Beacon per Hansel's request, he admitted that he held a grudge against the Kobalts for being glorified arms dealers, with all their endeavors in weapons and military sciences.
"They were merchants of death, Oz. I know it's not fair to pass that onto the kid, but frankly, if they are dead, it's well deserved." Mulberry had said.
"Your expertise is in weapon crafting and upkeep, Harold. Do you really have any room to talk?" Ozpin had countered.
"I'm only trying to help people survive with what we've got. All they accomplished was bringing more death to the world."
Thumbelina had similar issues. As a professor of plant sciences, she considered herself a woman of science first. The Tragedy of the Flames was a horrid misuse of science in her eyes, and she hated the Kobalt Family for it. It made dealing with Hansel very awkward for her.
"I'll tolerate him being here since it's your wish, sir. But honestly, I'm glad the only survivor was a little boy. When he dies, the sciences they worked on will die with him." She had said with a look of genuine guilt on her face for thinking something so morbid and hateful of a ten-year-old boy.
Ann was the most neutral of the three. However, she was also pragmatic. "Professor, the Kobalts made a lot of enemies over the years. Did you even once consider that those enemies might try to finish the job? You're putting our students in danger by letting him stay here." Ann had coldly told him.
"I'm here, Ann, as are the other teachers of Beacon Academy. There is no better security." That was how Ozpin responded.
"I've fought alongside a few Kobalts, sir. Ignoring what their scientific endeavors did, the way they operate in the field is rather…disturbing at times."
"My decision stands. I'll train Hansel not to fight like that. Please, Ann, trust me."
Thankfully, two other faculty members of Beacon Academy took to Hansel and treated him very kindly. Peter Port and Bartholomew Oobleck. Port quickly grew to like Hansel because he could see how hard he wanted to work. "He's very manly for a ten-year-old!" Port had declared. "Ready to work hard just to be strong and overcome his illness! We should be nurturing such a drive and encouraging him! Not treating him like a leper!"
As for Oobleck, while he acknowledged the dark history of the Kobalt Family, he also acknowledged what has happened to victims of prejudice and hate throughout history. "At the end of the day, the Kobalts did good things and awful things." He had said. "He has potential to do the former, as long as there is someone here to nurture him, and not leave him to fester in darkness. If we do that, we'll just end up creating another monster that will hurt the people of Remnant like his family did over a decade ago. History repeats itself. It's up to us whether it's for good or ill."
And then, there was Glynda Goodwitch, the woman Ozpin had asked to act as the boy's surrogate mother. When Ozpin had approached Glynda a week ago with that request, Glynda was not certain how to react. As far as she was concerned, she was not fit to be a mother. She was not even fit to be…
Well, the point was that Glynda had actively avoided Hansel this past week, which made Ozpin's brief excursion back to Patch to pick up Wolf Fang for Hansel a bit difficult. Thankfully, Port and Oobleck had helped pick up the slack, due to taking a liking to the young man.
As for Hansel himself, the boy proved to be surprisingly sharp in the first week he was here, quickly picking up which staff members were not yet fond of him, which two liked and wanted to help him, and which one actively avoided him. He grew to like Port and Oobleck's company, since they were the only two who seemed to want anything to do with him. However, he only seemed to smile when Ozpin was around.
It was the beginning of the second week in Hansel's stay at Beacon Academy. That is where our story begins. The little boy was walking with Port, who was chatting with Hansel about the "strenuous lifestyle" that he was trying to live. "Just you wait, young man." Port said in his usual boisterous and jovial tone. "Before you know it, you'll be building a fort using only a tree, a hammer and your bare teeth."
Hansel looked at Port in utter bewilderment. Port just laughed. "Ah, just kidding, you won't need a hammer."
"I'm…really not sure what any of this has to do with being a Huntsman, Professor Port." Hansel told him. "Also…I'm pretty sure that's physically impossible."
Port changed the subject. "So, Professor Ozpin's getting your weapon today, right?"
"Oh, yes." Hansel nodded. "The professor was finally able to get some time away from his work, so he went back to…"
Hansel trailed off, still very uncomfortable talking about his old home. Port's mustache curled into a frown with his lips. To his credit, the boisterous man realized he might have crossed a line he should not have.
"Well, hey! That's incredibly good news!" Port exclaimed. "In Huntsman circles, there are three moments you become a man! One of those days is when you get your first weapon!"
"I'll never forget my father coming to me with Blowhard here!" Port gestured to his battle axe blunderbuss. "He looked me dead in the eye and said Peter, from this day forward, you're a man! Now go out and prove it!"
"Um, Professor Port?" Hansel raised his hand. "What are the other two moments?"
"Well, obviously, a Hunts-boy becomes a Huntsman when he kills his first Grimm too!" Port exclaimed. "And the third…"
Port trailed off, turning a bit red behind his mustache. He realized that this was not appropriate conversation for a ten-year-old and Ozpin and Oobleck would probably flay him for polluting the boy's mind. "Professor Port, the third one?" Hansel prodded innocently.
"Er…well, you'll understand the third one when you're much, much, much older." Port brushed the matter off.
Then, the two came across Glynda Goodwitch, who was carrying some documents with her Semblance. Port almost raised his hand to call Glynda to attention, only for Glynda to see them first. She took one look at Hansel and lost control of her Semblance. Papers cluttered to the floor. Port's boisterous smile turned into a frown. Hansel winced, catching onto the fact that Glynda freaked out over him.
Glynda cleared her throat and lifted the papers back up with her Semblance. "I'm…terribly sorry, Peter." She said, "These documents require my immediate attention, I can't chat right now."
Then Glynda went right back where she came from, making Port sweat-drop at Glynda's attempts to avoid Hansel.
"Does…she not like me?" Port winced at Hansel's question.
Port looked at Hansel, who looked like he was about to cry. "Not a lot of the teachers seem to want me around…I get that." Hansel admitted. "But she seemed so nice the other day."
"She is nice, Hansel." Port assured her. "It's…er…it's in the name."
Port you fucking idiot, that joke was terrible. Port wanted to smack himself for that one.
Hansel did not look convinced in the slightest. "Oho!" Port desperately tried to get out of the awkwardness of this conversation. "I just remembered, you have history lessons with Barty today, right?"
"Professor Oobleck?"
"Doctor Oobleck," Port corrected, "trust me on this, Hansel, he's very insistent he be called by his correct terminology."
"Oh. Um, why am I doing history lessons? Aren't I learning to fight?"
"Professor Ozpin told us you're not just going to learn how to fight, you're going to be a well-rounded, knowledgeable Huntsman," Port claimed. "And I can assure you, young man, history is quite useful. Not as useful as the manly stuff I can teach, mind you, but useful all the same."
Is Professor Port's stuff really useful? Hansel innocently thought.
"Barty's been a good friend for years, so take it from me. The more you know about history, the better you'll be prepared for the present in your career as a Huntsman." Port assured Hansel.
Hansel did not have the mental capacity to get into a debate with Port about how useful history actually was. He was only ten years old. But he did know that he was no fan of taking lessons from Oobleck. First impressions may usually be totally wrong, but they are still important. And Hansel's first impression of Oobleck was a hyper-caffeinated weirdo who could not stay on one subject to save his life. Kids did not have the best attention span to begin with, and guys like Oobleck only made them worse. But, Hansel did not want to disappoint Ozpin, so he made it a point to endure and hopefully get something out of it.
So, Hansel was now in Oobleck's office, watching in a mixture of disbelief and MORE disbelief. Oobleck would be at one end of the room one minute and then be right at the other end in another minute. One time, Hansel could have sworn he saw the man on the ceiling. How? Don't ask Hansel, he was only ten.
"In conclusion, the disaster of Dragon Mountain could have been avoided, had our forces considered the geological and Grimm activity history of the area!" Oobleck exclaimed. "Do you have anything you'd like to add, young Hansel?"
"About…Dragon Mountain?" Hansel asked.
"Yes, yes!" Oobleck yelled, appearing right in front of Hansel and the little stand-up tray that was serving as his desk. "After a stimulating conversation such as that, you must surely have a few comments on the Disaster of Dragon Mountain!"
"Umm…Professor Oobleck?"
"Doctor Oobleck, young man." Oobleck corrected. "I did not get my PhD and doctorate to be called anything else."
"Er…right, Doctor Oobleck." Hansel nodded before lowering his head in shame. "I'm sorry sir, but I don't understand any of this."
Oobleck was flabbergasted by such a statement. "Impossible! I explained the topic so well! How could you not understand any of it?"
Hansel whimpered at Oobleck's statement. Oobleck's expression softened when he realized he might have upset the boy. Of course, history was his expertise, not helping children. I do hope Professor Ozpin gets back soon. He's far better with this boy than any of us could hope to be. Oobleck lamented.
Then, a surprising voice saved him. "Bartholomew, you're making it impossible for him to pay attention." Oobleck and Hansel turned in surprise to see Glynda standing in the doorway to Oobleck's office.
"Professor Goodwitch?" Oobleck was surprised to see her.
"You keep jumping around like a maniac and throw in way too many talking points. He's ten, he can't hope to absorb that much knowledge. Isn't there any way you can make it easier for him?" Glynda asked.
Did she really come all this way to…ugh, she's so damn obvious…
Glynda then saw Hansel, who was looking at her in confusion. She coughed awkwardly and looked away. "Er…don't mind me, I just happened to be passing through." She said, trying to play the whole thing off.
"My office is at the end of a hallway, that's impossible." Oobleck gave her a deadpan expression.
Glynda blushed in embarrassment at that statement. Oobleck had called her bluff without missing a beat. "Oh…well, I guess I just got lost." She said before shutting the door with her Semblance.
Oobleck shook his head. "And to think, at the rate she's going, she's going to be the newest addition to the Ten Legends, what with the current rank 10 retiring to…what was it again? Ah, that's right, 'Spend more time with his remaining limbs'." He mused. "Frankly, the old man should be retiring on account of clearly beginning to lose his mental capacities."
"Doctor Oobleck?" Hansel spoke up, breaking Oobleck from his train of thought. "I really don't understand Professor Goodwitch."
"You and most of the students here, young man." Oobleck chuckled.
"I think she hates me. She can't really stand to be in the same room as me." Hansel admitted bitterly, before adding, "but she still said all that stuff…"
"Hansel, Professor Goodwitch does not hate you in the slightest." Oobleck told him with a sincere smile. "Don't ever presume to think something like that. History is littered with horrific events that began due to mere misunderstandings."
"So why does she act like that?" Hansel asked.
Oobleck's expression turned sad. Much of the Beacon faculty was privy to Glynda's background, and it was a downright tragedy. "Her personal history, young man, it's not a happy one, much like yours." Oobleck told him. "She…lost her sisters in a horrible tragedy."
"Really?" Hansel was surprised and also immediately empathetic.
"Never think that your story is the only one that's sad, Hansel." Oobleck advised. "That kind of selfishness leads to ignorance, and ignorance leads to more tragedy."
"I'm sorry."
"You're young, so it can be excused. Children always grow up thinking their world is the world, because it's the only world they know. It's just a pity that the world you knew was…ah, I'm about to ramble again." Oobleck caught himself.
"The point is, Professor Goodwitch's personal history, I think it's stopping her from trying to connect with you." Oobleck admitted. "I think a part of her wants to, because she empathizes with you, but it's just hard for her. So please, don't mistake her behavior for hatred."
"I'll…try not to." Hansel promised. "She seemed so nice my first couple of days here. I guess if I'm being honest…I really would like her to like me. Of course, I learned early on not to expect much from others."
Oobleck's expression turned sad at this. The poor lad. He thought sympathetically.
"Give it time," Oobleck forced a smile so as not to worry Hansel, "I'm sure you two will be the best of friends before you know it."
"Anyway, she was right about one thing." Oobleck acknowledged. "If I really want you to learn history, I cannot approach my lessons like I always do."
Oobleck went to his bookshelf and grabbed a textbook. He then grabbed a yellow and an orange highlighter off of his desk and handed them all to Hansel. "What are these?" Hansel asked curiously.
"Your new tools for learning, young man." Oobleck told him. "That book is a history textbook, a spare after one of the students who applied and was accepted ultimately backed out at the last second. And the yellow highlighter is so that you can mark sections you don't understand and want to go over in more detail. That of course also includes words you may not know. The orange one is for you to highlight the sections that you do understand and like."
"Okay…" Hansel was still a bit confused.
"Here's what we're going to try." Oobleck said to him. "I want you to read this textbook from front to back. Read it at your own pace. And then at our usual lessons, I want you to talk to me about your favorite parts and why. Meanwhile, I will simply sit here, enjoy my coffee, and listen. I will only speak to correct you and add parts you misunderstood.
"And the stuff I don't understand?" Hansel asked.
"We will save that for after you go over the parts you like." Oobleck told him. "You will tell me which parts you struggled with, and I will simply tell what they all are and mean. I'll even define the words you don't understand."
"We'll start with this, and we'll work our way back up to…my usual curriculum." Oobleck concluded. "How does that sound, young Hansel?"
Hansel was still a very confused, sad and anxious child because of everything he had been through. However, he could easily understand when someone was trying to help him. "Okay, that sounds great, Doctor."
Oobleck chuckled. "Good lad, I think this will work much better."
Inwardly, Oobleck was thinking about something else. This can't go on. Glynda and I need to talk about Hansel.
Unbeknownst to Oobleck, a certain mustachioed friend of his was thinking along similar lines.
Hours later, the day was coming to an end. Hansel was in his room, diligently reading the textbook per Oobleck's request. Ozpin had dropped a message that he would be back the next morning due to reports of an ancient Grimm rising from the sea and slowly making its way to Patch.
Bartholomew Oobleck, however, was on his way to the office of Glynda Goodwitch. But much to his surprise, he quickly discovered that someone else seemed to have had the same idea. Oobleck and Peter Port both stared at each other in surprise.
"Peter," Oobleck said curtly.
"Barty," Port said in a tone just as curt.
"Might I ask what brings you here? If it's not urgent, I'd very much like to talk to Professor Goodwitch first." Oobleck said to him.
"I think it is quite urgent, old friend." Port replied. "So, unless you're prepared to arm wrestle me for the right to speak first, I suggest you back off and let me speak to Glynda first. Of course, we know who'd win. You've never beaten me in a match before."
"I'm here to speak to her about her relationship with Hansel, or lack thereof." Oobleck countered. "Whatever you have to speak with her about, I'm sure it's not that important."
Port was taken aback by this. "Well, that's a surprise. I was going to discuss the matter with Glynda myself."
Port and Oobleck looked at each other in surprise before they both let out hearty chuckles "Then let's both confront her on the matter and acknowledge privately that we're both idiots." Oobleck said jovially before knocking on the door.
There was no response from the other side. "Glynda?" Oobleck prodded. "It's Bartholomew, and Peter too. We would like to talk to you about something urgent."
"Huh? Oh, sorry Bartholomew, Peter, please come in." Came Glynda's muffled voice on the other side.
"She sounds distracted." Port noted.
"Let's change that." Oobleck said as the two entered her office.
No surprise, Glynda's office was as well organized as she was. However, there was also a mountain of documents in front of her. In fact, there were so many, Oobleck and Port could not even actually see her. "Glynda?" Port asked.
"I'm right here, Peter." Glynda said in a terse tone.
"Peter, we can both sense her." Oobleck chided him. "Glynda, do you have a moment?"
"If it's urgent, yes." Glynda replied.
Port and Oobleck walked to the side of the desk to see Glynda hard at work on…whatever those documents were. "I'm sorry if I'm a bit distracted, gentlemen." Glynda said to them. "It's just, I've had to pick up the slack while Professor Ozpin is in Patch and deal with my usual duties. This paperwork, as you can see, requires 100% of my attention."
Port and Oobleck looked at each other, and then at Glynda. "Well, that's a very lovely coincidence, Glynda." Oobleck dropped formalities for this conversation. "Because there's a little boy who's living here that would love to get even a fraction of that attention from you."
Glynda stopped working. She simply froze at her desk at the mention of Hansel. She heaved a sigh, rubbing her forehead. "Is that really what you two are here to discuss?" She asked. "Peter, Bartholomew, please. Refusing the professor is hard enough, don't take his side."
"Glynda, the boy needs a maternal figure in his life. No matter what some people may think, a child needs both a paternal and maternal figure to grow up stable." Port pointed out without his usual bluster. This was no time for theatrics.
"I'm not his mother." Glynda reminded them.
"Nobody said you had to be, he just needs you to be present. Blood should not restrict us from being parental figures in the lives of children, who need them. And make no mistake, children need them, especially ones like Hansel." Oobleck told her. "History is not kind to children who lack those influences."
Glynda fell silent at this. "The boy thinks you hate him, Glynda. He said as much to me." Oobleck told her.
"He said the same to me." Port sadly admitted.
"It's bad enough that Harold, Ann and Thumbelina are keeping their distance because of their own prejudices, but the fact that you're keeping your distance makes it ten times worse." Oobleck piled on.
"How in the world do I make it much worse?" Glynda demanded.
"For one thing, we know you're better than that. And I think Hansel knows you are too. The boy's young, but he is sharp for his age." Port noted.
Glynda's head sank into her hands. "I'm not cut out to be a mother, you two." She sadly admitted. "I'm not even cut out to be a sister."
Oobleck's expression softened. "Just as I thought, that's what this is all about."
"Of course that's what this is all about!" Glynda snapped. "How can it not be?!"
Oobleck and Port both looked at each other. The Goodwitch Clan once had a similar reputation as the Arc Clan. Theirs was a bit more unique. It was a very matriarchal clan. All the daughters were born with the natural talent to become Huntresses. And among them all, Glynda, the eldest of four sisters, was considered the once-in-a-generation prodigy. Her three sisters. Gylda Goodwitch (the youngest), Nessa Goodwitch (the second youngest), and Elphyba Goodwitch (the second oldest) were no slouches either. And they were all extremely close. Glynda loved her sisters dearly. She practically raised them alongside her parents to the point where she was basically the second mother of the family.
Then, a tragedy that has become infamous in the country of Vale struck. The Witch Hill Incident. Elphyba and Nessa both grew spiteful and jealous of their older sister and went as bad as you can imagine. The two went on a killing spree together to lure Glynda to an isolated hill west of Beacon to kill her together. Gylda, who while skilled was nowhere near as talented as her two middle sisters, let alone her prodigy big sister, insisted on going with Glynda.
From there, the details become rather muddy, due to only one surviving the encounter. And that survivor was named Glynda Goodwitch. Elphyba Goodwitch, Nessa Goodwitch, Gylda Goodwitch, three young Huntresses with promising futures, all dead in a horrible family dispute. Glynda was found inconsolable, sobbing over the body of her youngest sister, muttering 'this is all my fault' and 'I'm sorry' over and over again.
To this day, the only person Glynda ever discussed the Witch Hill Incident with was Professor Ozpin, the man she trusted the most. There was an unspoken rule among Beacon staff, never bring up Witch Hill around Glynda. The only reason Port and Oobleck were discussing it is because she brought it up first.
"They trusted me," Glynda lamented, "I was their hero. And I couldn't see Elphyba and Nessa were starting to get jealous too. Fifty people died because I couldn't see what they were turning into. I was their hero…and I let Gylda die."
Port and Oobleck both looked at each other, now regretting broaching the subject in the first place. However, this was for Hansel's sake. Neither could back down.
"I'm sorry, Glynda." Port said sincerely to her. "Really, I am. No one should have to take the lives of kin. That's just too awful to think about."
"But don't you think that perhaps this could be why Hansel is here now? To heal from that tragedy yourself?"
"I may recognize the gods exist, Peter, but I don't put too much stock in their own omnipotence and control over fate." Glynda said bitterly. "Not anymore."
"Fate aside, Glynda, let me give you some cold hard facts. Facts that won't change no matter how much you want them to." Oobleck spoke up.
"You have the deaths of your sisters, which has happened. Then you have a little boy who lives here who needs the love of a mother, a maternal figure which is happening right now." Oobleck laid reality out for her.
"And what if I fail him like I failed my sisters?" Glynda countered.
"Then you need to consider a few more cold hard facts." Oobleck said sternly. "You can either try and fail, which is a possible reality. You can also try, bond with him, heal together, and be the surrogate mother he desperately needs, giving him much needed affection, happiness and stability. That is another possible reality."
"Or," Oobleck's expression turned cold, "you can ignore him, let the boy wallow in self-loathing and no real affection, living with the reality that the world hates him for his family. And eventually, he will lash out at the world with his own hate, because that's all he knows. Make no mistake Glynda, that is not a possible reality, it WILL BE reality if you don't do something. History is not kind to children who grow up like that. I don't want the boy to end up like that. He deserves better."
Glynda looked ashamed and upset with herself. "I understand your reservations, but right now, you have a very important decision to make, one that won't just alter your future, but that boy's future as well."
"Professor Ozpin…" Glynda began.
"Professor Ozpin can only do so much." Port gently told her. "The boy needs the mentorship he can provide, but he also needs you to give him the affection a child would receive from a parent. He needs both of you."
Glynda still looked horribly unsure of herself. Oobleck sighed, deciding to play his final card. He reached into his pocket and took out two tickets. "These are tickets to a tournament this weekend." He said, much to Port's distress. "Peter and I were going to go, but I think you need them more than we do."
"H-hey, Barty, don't I get a say in this?" Port looked horrified.
"None whatsoever," Oobleck said without missing a beat, "get over your damn self, Peter, this is for Hansel's sake."
Port sighed, knowing that Oobleck was right. "Fine, fine, take the tickets, Glynda."
Glynda hesitantly took the tickets. "If nothing else, at least try." Oobleck told her.
"I'll…er…give it some thought." Glynda muttered.
"That's all we ask." Oobleck nodded.
With that, Oobleck and Port left Glynda to her own thoughts. I'll just…get back to work. Yeah, I'll wrap up work, and then I'll make my decision. She thought to herself.
I owe it to Hansel…but how can I possibly act as a boy's surrogate mother when I couldn't even act as a real sister?
Glynda was now left to think on that very question as she returned to her work.
With that, more time passed. Glynda heaved a sigh of relief as she crossed her t's and dotted her i's on the last piece of paper. It was finally finished. "Thank goodness." She muttered to herself before looking at the time.
It was nightfall. Well past nightfall in fact. "Damn it, Professor Ozpin and I really need to talk about his tendency to leave so much paperwork on the backlog." She groaned.
Glynda then saw the tickets on her desk. Her eyes widened, remembering the promise she made to Oobleck and Port. "Damn it!" She cursed, realizing she had lost track of time.
Glynda shot out of her seat and left her office. She made her way to Hansel's room, hoping he was still awake. What am I doing? She wondered. I can just offer the tickets tomorrow. He's probably asleep. I shouldn't wake him.
While Glynda debated with herself, before she knew it, she found herself in front of the door to Hansel's room. She did not even realize it until she had stopped her debate with herself. What am I doing? I'll just come back when he's awake, and-
Glynda was cut from her thoughts at the sound of sobbing from the other side of the door. Her eyes widened. Hansel was crying. Instinctively, she opened up the door and was treated to the sight of a little boy holding himself in a fetal position, crying.
At that moment, Glynda's long-dormant maternal instincts awoke and she found herself kneeling at the edge of his bed, grabbing onto the boy in concern. "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly. "What's wrong?"
Hansel looked up in surprise at Glynda's voice. "Professor Goodwitch…I didn't hear you come in, I'm sorry."
"Never mind that," Glynda told him, "what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"I had a bad dream." Hansel whimpered.
"Oh, you poor thing." Glynda said empathetically. "What happened? Do you remember?"
"A giant black wolf was chasing me…and it gobbled me up. I only woke up after that." Hansel admitted.
Glynda smiled. "Well, guess what, you're still here, and not in some giant black wolf's belly. It was just a dream."
Hansel nodded. "It was scary though," he admitted, "not the scariest thing I've ever seen though. I was awake for that."
Glynda's expression turned sad, knowing that Hansel was talking about the death of his family. She decided to change the subject. "Hey, I've got tickets to a Huntsman tournament this weekend, box seats. You want to come with me? We'll make a day of it."
Hansel looked at Glynda in surprise. "You want to do something with me?" He needed to make sure she was not pulling his leg.
"Yes, yes I do." Glynda realized she probably had to say a bit more. Hansel was not like most kids who if you just give them ice cream they would be happy.
"I'm sorry I've been avoiding you, Hansel, I really am." She said sincerely. "I was struggling with a few personal things, and…"
"You don't have to apologize, Professor Goodwitch." Hansel promised. "I've learned not to expect much from other people."
Glynda frowned at this. "Where did you learn that?"
"When my family started locking me in my room." Hansel replied offhandedly.
Glynda looked horrified at that statement. "Did they really? When did they start doing that?" She demanded.
"I was…six, I think." Hansel replied. "I'd listen to them all having fun without me…they even did it on my birthdays and Christmas. They would also constantly call me an evil, cursed child. Said it was my fault my mom died. Said she hated me for it."
"You poor thing, did you ever find out why?" Glynda asked, horrified that anyone could treat a child like htat.
Hansel shook his head. "It was…normal before that." He explained. "But…now they're gone. They're all gone."
Hansel looked a bit ashamed now. Glynda caught the look and asked, "What's wrong?" She asked curiously.
"Professor Goodwitch," Hansel said, "is it…weird that I'm sad my family is dead, even though they did all those horrible things to me? I wish what happened to them…hadn't happened, even though they were bad people."
"Is that weird, Professor? Is it wrong?"
Glynda was taken aback by Hansel's query. She then smiled proudly. "Not at all," she said, "in fact, I think it's wonderful you feel that way."
"It is?" Now Hansel was confused.
Glynda nodded. "It takes more inner strength to mourn someone many would consider unmournable than you realize. Most would brush off the death of someone like that, saying they got what they deserve. But you see things differently."
Hansel was surprised. "You're not weird for mourning the death of your family in spite of how they treated you, Hansel." Glynda promised. "In fact, all it means is that you have a very kind heart. I think that's wonderful. You have an inner strength and wisdom that men three times your age lack."
Hansel looked down. "I can't help it, I really can't. It's awful what happened to my family." He said. "But…I also can't help but wonder…if I could've done something, if I could've…"
That struck a chord with Glynda. "You wish you could've saved them. You think there's something you could've done."
Hansel nodded. Glynda smiled sadly as she sat down next to Hansel. "It's sweet you feel that way, Hansel. But there is nothing you could've done." She assured him.
Glynda sighed in remembrance. "There's nothing either of us could've done."
Hansel immediately realized who she was talking about, thanks to Port and Oobleck. "Your sisters?" He asked.
Glynda was taken aback by Hansel immediately picking up on her sadness. She then nodded. "My sisters," she said softly, "all gone."
"I'm sorry." Hansel said immediately.
Glynda fell silent at Hansel's empathy. Hansel looked forward into the distance for a moment. "Does the hurt ever go away?" He asked curiously.
Glynda paused at that question, thinking her answer over. She then decided to be honest. She then gave Hansel her answer, changing the course of her life forever. She was fine with that though, it was time she committed to this.
"I wish I could say yes." She admitted before turning Hansel's body to face her. She then smiled sweetly to him through a few tears welling up in her eyes. "But it will get better in time."
Glynda then pulled Hansel into a tight, motherly embrace. "For you, it will. I promise."
Hansel then returned the embrace, hugging her tightly. Hansel whimpered lightly before relaxing into her grip. The two stayed close for the rest of the night.
The next morning, Professor Ozpin returned from his excursion to Patch Island. He was carrying the blade that would become Hansel's weapon of choice for the rest of his life. Port and Oobleck both walked up to him, smiling.
"Peter, Bartholomew, what's wrong?" He asked.
"There's something you really have to see, Professor." Oobleck said to him.
"It's one hell of a return gift, sir." Port added. "Check out the dining hall."
Ozpin confusedly walked to the dining hall, and upon entering he was treated to the sight of Hansel happily chowing down on some pancakes while Glynda proudly looked on. "This is so good, Glynda!" Hansel exclaimed.
"I'm so happy you like it, sweetie." Glynda replied. "You know, if Bartholomew and Peter are teaching you things to make you a better-rounded Huntsman, I could teach you to cook meals like these if you'd like?"
"You'd really do that?" Hansel looked at Glynda in wonder. "Yeah, I'd love that a lot!"
Glynda giggled in a way even Ozpin had never heard before. "You'll be as good a cook as you will be a Huntsman, sweetie, that I promise you."
Ozpin could not believe what he was seeing. He had left for Patch yesterday, worried that Glynda and Hansel would never connect. Instead, he came back seeing them close as an actual mother and son.
From that moment forward, an unbreakable bond was formed. A bond between a woman and a child both desperate to heal emotionally. And in each other, they found the ability to heal together. And their bond remains strong to this day.
A.N: Chapter 48, or as I like to call it "Wholesomeness the Chapter"
A lot happened here. First, we've expanded on Beacon's faculty. Is it a shame that the expansion is their own prejudices towards Hansel? Yes. However, I would also like to note that their prejudices, while sad, came from genuine concerns and not blind hate. Mulberry, Peach and Green aren't bad people because they have prejudices towards Hansel. They're just ignorant. Never confuse ignorance with pure hate.
Port and Oobleck, meanwhile, turn into cool, eccentric uncle-figures for Hansel, with a little reference to Chibi thrown in with Port.
We get Glynda's backstory, which is what happens when the Good Witch of Oz is the only survivor amongst her sisters after having a fight to the death similar to Albus and Aberforth Dumbledore vs Grindelwald with a very tragic casualty caught in the crossfire. Anyone who's read the Deathly Hallows knows what I'm talking.
And finally, above all else, we have the tale of how Hansel and Glynda ended up as close as they are today. And I for one love how it turned out. It's certainly a decent reminder of what decent parental figures will do for a person. It's also a good reminder that love is actually a big theme in one of the darker stories I've written on this site. The only reason Hansel is not evil is because Glynda and Ozpin love him dearly, and because Hansel loves the little girl from the festival he met years ago when he was a kid. Never underestimate what love in any kind can do for a person, even if they still struggle mentally and emotionally, like Hansel does.
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. I'll see you all next time, where we officially kick off the next arc.
