"All these years." Yang barely held back her rage, and Oscar actually found himself frightened by the woman. "All these years and not once did you ever show your face."
Now don't get him wrong: Oscar, like many men his age, quite enjoyed Yang's personality, as well as... other aspects. The way she composed herself could almost be described as flirty in a sense, and leaked a certain confidence that would have been annoying had it not been tempered with a visible respect for her friends. However the way she looked at her apparent mother certainly hid any of that charm.
"I did not need to. You and your father got on well enough, or are you saying you were so weak as fall apart at any moment on your own?" And there went Raven, ruining any chance of calming her daughter again.
Since they'd arrived it had been nothing but bickering between the two, and Oscar like the others had to just sit back and watch it unfold. Raven really was something, he just didn't know whether that was a good thing or not. He asked small questions on the way back, to which Qrow had kept a mostly tight lip, throwing out vague answers here and there. It was only when Ozpin had him mention he was headmasters relative that Qrow sent a look his way. Another lie that he would need to rectify eventually, and a new claim that had the others look to him. He'd told them he was related to a hunter, and now they knew which one; something told him this wasn't going to end well, but Ozpin said he would help so Oscar continued on. At that point Qrow began to loosen his lips.
"So what did old Lionheart tell you?" Qrow had asked, which had him stammer a bit. Before he could think of another lie Ozpin sprung up in his mind and offered a counter.
"Salem." It was only a single word, but it had been enough to coax a swear from the rough looking man. Oscar wasn't exactly afraid of Qrow, but he'd be lying if he claimed to be perfectly comfortable around him. They had only just met, and even if Ozpin knew him personally Oscar himself was still a stranger. Ozpin didn't offer much either, other than explaining Vermillion's visceral reaction to the knowledge of this 'Cinder' woman. Oscar also tried asking about that, but the best Qrow could do was a halfway response.
Apparently Vermillion knew Raven was working as a double agent with Cinder, but not that she was - or had been at least - present at the academy. Apparently that was left out, although Qrow never stated why. So many questions, so much secrecy, and yet they were not the kind to be discussed in the open. Qrow said they'd talk back at the room, and they had continued on their merry way.
However the idea of discussion put on hold.
"A small greeting would have been nice!" Yang hissed as her cheeks twisted. "Anything to let me know you were even still alive. I spent years, fucking YEARS searching for you!"
"And you found me." Raven lowered her voice lightly as she raised her arms. "Here I am, want an award? A... 'good job' for finding me?" The woman let out a scoff. "Or would you prefer to keep whining like a small child?"
Yang was about to leap when Qrow held her arm. "Easy there, cool it." He faced his sister - another confusing surprise - with a cross expression. "And you, stop leading her on. She's your daughter for Dust's sake. At the very least she deserves to meet her birth mother."
"And why, dear brother, is that so?" Raven crossed her arms. "She is my spawn, but that does not entitle her to my every passing moment." She shook her head. "You know how the tribe works brother; no matter how much you run from us. Each and every member must be strong enough to live on their own, or have you forgotten the years we spent alone in the wild?"
"This isn't the tribe sister." Qrow spoke hard, but with purpose. "And besides, you left her with Tai. You could have taken her in with the rest of the tribe, and yet you left her there, in the safety and comfort of him and Summer." He crossed his own arms, but rather than the look of cold distance Raven offered Qrow's was more leisurely. "You knew she loved Tai, and you knew he'd shatter at your leaving, allowing Summer to pick up the pieces. She raised both her daughter and yours, but you knew that would happen, didn't you? I wonder, did you even care about Tai-"
A blood red blade was pressed to his throat, and for the first time since their meeting Oscar saw Raven show more than mild irritation.
"Don't even go there Qrow, and don't even dare of using Summer as an excuse." It had been so quick nobody had a chance to react, and yet Qrow showed no hints of visible worry. "Summer took to him as I left, and that's all there is to it." She pulled her blade back, and hovered it back over the sheath. The canister spun like that of a revolver until an empty slot stopped it's rotation, and she forced the blade in it's place. Oscar could just barely make out several other blades through the cracks, all of different colours.
"You didn't try to stop her." Qrow said, and Raven merely looked away.
"Why would I. I thought I made it clear I was leaving when I didn't return. Tai accepted my choice, but for some reason you haven't."
"Because I know why you made that choice." Qrow offered, and Raven looked back with a hollow look.
"No you don't." She took several steps towards him. "You don't know anything." She leaned closer. "You simply follow. You don't question, you just obey." Raven stepped back, leaning against the wall next to him with her eyes seemingly locked in place. "You never came to ask me, only to send accusations my way based on assumptions."
"You never denied them." Qrow stated only for Raven to scowl.
"What good would it have done when you already made up your mind. You went straight to Oz the day that I left, I know because I was watching from afar."
"You left three months after he told us about Salem. Nothing else in particular happened in those three months so it wasn't hard to put two and two, or are you saying that had nothing to do with it?" Qrow countered, and Raven paused a second before she spoke.
"Salem was a massive shocker sure, but I remembered the reason we went to Beacon. When he told us about Salem, that changed everything." Her eyes looked... different, but Oscar couldn't tell what they were showing. They just appeared off somehow. "Unlike you I didn't just believe he was telling us everything, heck, I didn't even believe him at first, until he changed us."
"A change we accepted." Qrow spoke as Raven chuckled.
"Did we really?" She looked back, and though she wasn't looking at him Oscar felt disturbed with how twisted and broken her smirk was. "If we didn't believe in what was offered was it really our choice? He told us he'd use magic for fuck's sake, who'd believe that garbage?" She lazed against the wall with a breath and seemed to relax. "Although I suppose it wasn't garbage now was it?"
Oscar was finding himself lost in the twisting topic, however it seemed he wasn't alone as Weiss whispered aloud from his side; a very cramped side mind you with how small the room was for them.
"Magic?" Raven's look shot to Weiss, apparently having caught the whisper.
"Yes girl, magic." Raven laughed aloud, and her eyes fell back to Qrow. "Now that's rich. Told about Salem, and yet the man hasn't even mentioned magic."
Pyrrha broke the laughter with her curt response. "No, he has, but Weiss and Blake weren't here for that conversation."
Sun looked devastated. "Don't be forgetting about me." Weiss patted the boy's shoulder as he wilted.
"Really." Her eyes flew back to Qrow, and the look wasn't anything short of cocky. "I believed Ozpin was the one to have broken the news. Brother brother, going behind Ozpin's back finally?"
"Not anytime soon, however they're all targets now thanks to everything recently, so I felt it right to fill them in. They chose this, just like we did." Qrow defended, and Raven lost some of her smirk.
"Choice choice choice." Raven rolled her eyes. "Fine, go ahead and keep lying to yourself about your 'supposed choice' in this. I will very distinctly not fall for that same delusion." She cut the air, and a massive portal looked to open up.
"Huh, thought those were only in comics?"
"Semblances have a funny habit of embodying the impossible, that is to say anything's game when it comes to them." Ozpin's comment opened a few... weird ideas, but Oscar kept those thoughts to himself.
"Running away again?" Qrow questioned, however Raven's snort sort of pushed back against the notion.
"When we finally have a chance? No, not quite."
"Then where are you off too?"
Raven turned back. "Moving the tribe. I won't allow them to remain where they are, not after everything so far." She faced the portal again. "Following the defeat of a pawn Salem is bound to try and get rid of me. I'm certain Cinder spoke of me, and her own little runts already know of the tribes location. Once I get them migrated I'll be back. With the 'Black Knight' here there's finally a spark of realistic hope for this lost cause."
"That old fairy-tale?" Qrow, despite his taunting stature sounded happy somewhat. "Thought you didn't follow risks born of chance."
"Is it really chance when he's standing here with us?" With that she hopped through, and they were left in silence as the portal closed.
"Black Knight...hmm. What have you been hiding Raven?"
"Seemed like Qrow knew what she was talking about." Oscar offered, and Ozpin let out an internal sight, as weird as it felt inside his head.
"True, but we can inquire about that in a bit. I believe you know what we need to do now."
"And if he doesn't believe me?"
"Just ask the question. He'll know."
"Right." Oscar looked to Qrow. "Hey, um, Qrow was it?"
Qrow in turn sent a raised brow. "Yeah kid?" His eyes widened a bit. "Oh, yeah. Sorry to get you all tangled up in this mess."
"It's fine, besides I have something else I need." Oscar told as Qrow squinted.
"Okay, so what is it?"
"I'm... supposed to let you know... I would like my cane back?"
It was an odd sort of thing to ask, but it's what Ozpin said would let the man know they were linked. There was a shock for sure, and it was clearly visible. While Qrow's jaw didn't drop, he did look like his mom just walked in on him masturbating.
Not that Oscar would know.
.
.
Ruby was rather pleased with how well everything went so far, to the point of being paranoid. The plan went off smoothly, and Prim's little decoy brought them exactly where they needed to be; stood right before the man of the hour. Ruby was just waiting for it to fuck up somehow.
"And here they are." The woman stated as she bowed before the king. "Our guests were so thankful for your offerings that they insisted you keep these two wonderful fruit for yourself, as thanks for the pleasant service."
"I see..." He was clearly skeptical, although he looked too tired to complain. "Very well, leave us be and return to your duties."
"Of course." The woman stood straight and scampered on out of the room.
Ruby took note of how massive the 'office' was; it was more of a second throne room, if not for the decorative desk before the man. The grand space was enclosed in sandy walls much like the rest of the city, meticulously carved with portraits and scripture galore, none of which Ruby cared to analyze. Fabrics and cloth lined the various pillars, and just behind the man's desk and seat spanned a massive balcony overlooking the city. The ceiling was open, and several banners draped from the edges down below.
With how much jeweled pottery lay around the room Ruby wondered how it would feel to break it all; the feeling of so much destruction...
No, stay on track. Her mind was falling back into dark desires again, and while the thoughts may have felt pleasing she knew indulging would quicken her corruption; something she couldn't afford just yet.
Now was not the time.
"Master." Prim started. "We are yours."
"Quite." The elderly man stood, and wandered around to the side of his desk. His hand taking a moment to feel the smooth wood before letting go, and a tired breath escaped him. "If you would, please come with me." He turned and made for the balcony.
"As you command." Prim responded as the two followed the elderly ruler.
Ruby took note of how sluggish his movements were, sure he was elderly and all, but he had a sway she'd scarcely seen, and that particular lack of life could mean a few things. Fatigue, depression, disappointment, disease; overall he held a negative life about him, or lack thereof. He moved like a man with nothing left to give, void of energy in all aspects, and as vile as she may be for thinking it she hoped that was the case.
Suicide would remove the need for battle.
He stopped, his body leaning over the railing as he inhaled in a deep breath of fresh dry air. For a moment the man appeared peaceful, and yet his peace was cut by that dreary tone of his as he spoke.
"You've finally arrived." He hummed, his body shifting slightly into a deeper slouch as Prim tensed up.
Ruby stepped forth quickly and blocked the woman's path with her arm. Prim looked worried, but made no attempt to argue in her silent acceptance. Ruby looked back to the man, and took note of his now relaxed posture. His arms held him up as he leaned, and yet it appeared as though a slight breeze would whisk him away. His posture straightened a bit as he continued on, still not bothering to look back which gave Ruby some peace of mind.
At least he doesn't want to fight.
"This must be it then. It's been a good run I suppose, although it seems everything will come to it's proper end." He looked back, pushing himself off the railing and into a more respectable standing. "Tell me child, do you still hate me?"
Prim's conflicted face twisted into a minor rage, but she looked to maintain some control as nothing but her features presented any sort of ire. Her body remained relaxed as she scowled, and Ruby could hear the anger held within as it slithered through her response.
"Of course I do." Prim took one demanding step forward with her head held high. "Why would I feel anything else for you? You took away my kingdom, my mother, my heritage; heck, I can't name a thing you haven't robbed from me." Her narrowed eyes seethed with venom. "All I can feel when it comes to you is hate."
The man was silent, and yet he sighed - more in disappointment than fear or anything else. "I see. Then it is as it should be, as I had foreseen. Pity."
Ruby raised a brow at that, and rather than let Prim speak she instead chose to interrupt. "Foreseen." Her eyes settled on the crown atop his head. "If I may, what has the crown shown you."
Ruby didn't remember the crown having the ability to show the user anything, but with how haphazardly he used it in the first place that may have changed. Although thinking about it the idea of his use altering the crown might not have been wholly correct, as even her own use of the object during the turning point might have been to blame as well.
The relics were picky when it came to rules, something that took her far to long to learn.
He smirked. "Keen eyes, although that too was to be expected." He reached up, his crusty withered hands taking the ornament of power from it's resting place. "It would seem fate has delivered onto me what it promised, I only wished I could have done something with it." His eyes lingered on the divine jewelry. "Such a strange gift."
"Enough of this." Prim took a step forwards as her patience had apparently wavered. "Give up and return the crown, or when this is over so help me gods I'll flay the flesh from your bones." Her voice lowered into something more... disturbing. "Surrender. Should I find some form of mercy within I might just let you live." Her emotions were getting the best of her, but before Ruby could do anything the man chuckled.
"No, you won't" Ruby's gaze returned to him, and in his eyes she saw blank understanding; a sincerity all too potent to be a trick. "Here, and now. This is where I die." His eyes fell to the crown again. "I've seen it already. I've seen these essential points in time played out in perfect detail. The rise of my influence, the rise of my power, the rise of your power, and my ultimate death." His voice hollowed, and Ruby could see that it wasn't desperation, but acceptance that drove him onward. "Each and every moment played exactly as my dreams had shown, all has transpired perfectly."
"Perfect?" Ruby spoke again, and with a quick glance over she saw Prim had settled somewhat, very clearly wondering what he was getting at. Her eyes met with his, and Ruby steadied her voice. "You saw every movement."
"Undeniably. Many a time I had tried to steer the course of history, and yet like the wind my efforts were ignored as the breeze blew around me. No matter the size or shape of tree and mountain, the wind blows around and continues it's trail. So too were me efforts ignored." The man sounded empty, and Ruby saw how his form broke with every word. He saw his end, and regardless of what he did it would not change. Ruby felt pity for him, but only a little as there remained one minor problem.
He was still in her way.
"What does any of this matter?!" Ruby looked over to see that Prim had finally had enough. "You saw your end; good for you." She took a step forward. "Why do I care about your supposed fate?" Another step. "You who took everything from me?" And another. "You who hurt me?" Another. "You who robbed me?!" Her hands clutched the collar of his robe. "It doesn't matter how you lived. It doesn't matter what you saw." She pushed him up against the railing. "All I care about is ending this here and now!" She pushed his head and upper body over the rail. "So tell me, why do you matter to me?!"
He wore a look of knowing, and yet a spark of pity filled the gaze he sent Prim.
"Because, Dove Phoenix, I have seen not only my end, but yours as well. You will be the last of your great family, and with your death the Phoenix bloodline will be reduced to nothing. Your nobility and wealth gone, your descendants will live in the filth of societies underbelly." His words held one final passion, that of rebellion. "And in the end, it will be your own people to end your rule."
Prim stayed quiet for a second, only to pull him close and give him the last three words he'd ever hear.
"So be it."
With immense force she shoved him over the railing, and not a sound or scream accompanied the fall. Prim looked back, and for a bit looked fine, only to collapse against the railing as she slid to the floor. Ruby, with as much grace as she could muster, walked over to the princess and sat beside her. She pulled the woman in, and for a few minutes things remained quiet. Ruby however found it in her to break the peace.
"Do his words bother you?"
"Not in the slightest." Prim said, and while Ruby doubted her friend would lie she couldn't disregard the obvious stutter in her tone. "I'm strangely enough... lost."
"How so?"
"I've wanted this for so long, to have my kingdom back, but for some reason it's not as... emboldening as I imagined. I don't feel prideful or happy, just... tired. Ain't this supposed to feel heroic or something? Shouldn't this be fulfilling?"
"These things rarely are." Ruby spoke. "We get what we want, and all of a sudden we don't know what to do anymore." She rubbed Prim's back. "Although I have to ask, do you believe in anything he said?"
"You mean all that fate schlock?" Prim looked up as a devious smirk tore across her mouth. "Maybe, maybe not. All I know is that I don't rightly care for it." Her expression settled. "Whether he spoke the truth or not don't matter to me. Be I free or enslaved I'm not going to let it stop me from ruling my kingdom." She stood with a strength that reminded Ruby of her younger days; it brought with it a sense of motherly pride. "Even if my people tear me down. So long as I can show my love for even the shortest of times, then that'll be enough for me."
"Of course, I'd expect no less." Ruby stood alongside her, and she reached down to pick op the discarded crown their enemy had dropped before the fall. Despite looking to be made of solid gold she saw not even the slightest scratch across the thing.
As durable as ever.
Ruby held it out to Prim. "Here, you'll need it."
"Yeah." Prim took it, and settled it atop her head. "Right, now to figure out how to use it."
"It's as simple as wishing it." Ruby answered, and Prim gave a curious - yet excited - look.
"Really?"
"Yep. Although it can be more complicated for grand wishes and the such, a simple wish such as changing something small like a single kingdom only requires your idea of said wish; the crown will handle the rest."
"Simple as changing a kingdom?" Prim snorted. "Dolly, I'm frightful of what you might consider complicated." She shook her head. "Fine, okay, let's give it a shot."
Prim shut her eyes, and the air stilled. Ruby watched the feint glow as it encompassed the woman, and felt the slight wave of energy overtake her. However nothing seemed to really have changed at all. Everything looked for the most part the same, and they were still in their bride-to-buy outfitting.
"Did you... have any trouble?" She asked. Prim shook her head no and opened her eyes.
"Not at all."
"Truly? Because nothing has changed." With that Prim smirked.
With a wave she beckoned Ruby as she wandered over to sit in the chair that the old man had greeted them in. The woman's arms crossed on her desk, and she took up the bell sat just at the corner. Ruby stood by her side as she shook it, and the doors ahead creaked open upon it's ringing. Two guards, the men from before, had rushed in and taken a knee.
"What would you have of us, my queen?" The older one asked, not daring to raise from the bow.
"Tell me, are the women bought faring well, the one's presented to our guests I mean?" Ruby watched with intrigue as the man nodded from his stance, his head still not raising enough to meet eyes.
"As far as we see. Our spies watch from the garden corners and shadows as they chat and make merry. One had asked her new husband to aid her poor family, and though a cross look marred his face he switched tune when she looked to cry. He agreed to employ them."
"Wonderful." Prim gave with a smile. "And I assume you know how to handle the less... 'noble' of the husbands."
The man finally saw fit to look upon them, his spear on the ground as he raised a hand. "Of course." Two parallel blades sprung across the back of his hand. Edges serrated to not only cut, but rip as well. Coming from the gauntlet they looked like claws. "Nothing but prosperity, even for the less fortunate of our citizens."
"Excellent." Prim clapped. "Well then, you are dismissed. The two men stood, and with one last bow of respect fled the room. Ruby looked to the now restored queen with curiosity.
"So you have made changes."
"Minor ones yes." Prim stood, her hand firmly placed atop the pristine wood of the desk. "It would be stupid to deny every change made. Although I hate him he still brought success to my people, and who am I to tear it away out of spite." Prim sighed. "Is it so wrong to let them keep that?"
"Not at all." Ruby offered with a smile. "It takes a special kind of courage to allow such ideas to remain for the better." Her smile slipped a bit. "But if I might ask, what was that just now? Are they something new, born from the crown?"
Prim shook her head. "No. Once before, back when mother still ruled they were known as Shadow-Hunters. They were a group founded by my father to protect the people in his stead." Prim's voice grew quiet. "It was his death protecting mother that caused the Faunus tribes to grow resentful. He was one of their own if you would believe it."
One of theirs?! That explained... quite a bit actually. Tribes by nature tended to have a tightly knit bond, and letting one leave to mix with other peoples was scarcely allowed. If Prim's father was one of these tribes it meant he was most likely chosen by the previous queen, given their status and all, but having seen what the previous queen was willing to do to her daughter kept Ruby from believing the union was wanted by both parties. Still though, even if that was the case Prim sounded fond of him, and as she spoke of her mother in the same tone Ruby could deduce that they put up with the arrangement for their daughter's sake.
"They hated her." Ruby guessed, and Prim sighed.
"Not so openly, but yes. Even as a child when mother took me to meet with them I saw the ire in their eyes." Prim's gaze seemed distant. "Never quite looked at me with such hatred, but I was still seen in a less than positive light. There was just something so off-putting about the way they looked at me." She shook her head. "Never mind. You were asking about the Shadow-Hunters yes?"
Ruby nodded as Prim sat down again.
"My father used to tell me about them, of how they were the wraiths of the dessert sand; the very shadows come to life. As a little girl I believed it, and even had trouble sleeping at night, fearing the shadows of my room would come for me." Prim laughed softly. "It was silly. I was afraid of something so obviously fake, and yet it haunted me for weeks on end. Eventually dad caught on, and took me out one night. He sat down with me, and we watched the stars from the garden as we talked. He told me that the shadows I feared so strongly were spirits of ancient heroes, that they looked over the kind and good to protect them from evil. In reality the Shadow-Hunters were just my dad's personal group of soldiers tasked with keeping a closer eye on political enemies when they visited. Their time spent hunting criminals at night and protecting the weak was just for training originally, but they grew into that aspect over time."
"That sounds kind of heroic in a way." Ruby offered as Prim eased herself back in the chair.
"Yeah, it kind of does, if you look at it like that."
"How do you know that anyway?" Ruby asked. "You were run out of the castle during the takeover."
"I was." Her eyes rested shut. "But while I was a pirate I ended up meeting with one. Believe it or not he still recognised me; apparently he was beyond the borders in another kingdom for a mission. We got to talking and he leveled out the history to me, all the while helping me with earlier raids back then." Prim leaned back. "However he died during one of our later battles.
"I'm sorry." Ruby offered, and Prim smiled as she looked to her.
"Don't worry about it. I'm long over it, and he went out like the heroes I'd looked up to."
"So what will they do now?" Ruby asked as she wandered and stood before the desk. "They are yours to command, so what will you have of them?"
"I'll have them fulfill that childhood ideal I held back then." Prim told with a sheepish look. "Even if it is childish I want them to live up to the heroes father claimed them to be, just like the one who revealed the truth to me."
"I don't think it's childish." Ruby said, a smile across her face. "You have the power now, and I think it's noble what you have in mind."
Prim scoffed. "Hardly. I've been a pirate for so long now, so I'm certain some of that greed will slip in somehow." She sighed. "Even so, I love my kingdom and my people. I've spent so long in the muck that I know the struggles of it's poor like the back of my hand, and so I'll work to aid all of my subjects." The queen's eyes squished slightly. "Speaking of, why is it you needed to meet with the royalty so badly?"
"Well." Ruby started, her eyes settled across Prim. "I had a few things to do, and some questions to ask...
Shit! Ruby had spent so long passing from one trouble to the next that she hadn't planned what to say or do. She needed a place to plant the seed, but being the head of Vacuo, and a place that wouldn't exist down the line made finding a suitable spot difficult. Her best bet would be to find those tribes, as though they may be scattered in the desert their works would at least remain underground where their markings would be found in caves.
It was an easy question, but the worst bit was that she needed to take the crown, which meant she needed to convince Prim to give up her family heirloom right after having just gotten it back.
Wait! Maybe... Prim was royalty, and so her bloodline would carry on. With any luck that itself might be of help to Vermillion down the line. If Prim's family line could carry on a story, a saying, a legend...
"I wanted to know the location of those tribes." Prim's looked deflated a little. "And... I also need the crown."
"Excuse me?!" Prim shot up, but Ruby held her hands out.
"Easy."
"There's no easy about it!" Prim was flabbergasted. "It's the family jewel, the sign of our nobility! Mother died trying to protect it!"
"Prim, listen to me, please." Ruby tried, hoping the woman would calm somewhat. Prim stared intensely for a second before lowering.
"Fine, speak."
"Thank you." Ruby straightened her voice. "Your mother was targeted because of that crown, but there's more to it than the power it's shown so far. That thing is far more deadly than what it's been used for as of yet." Ruby placed a hand to her chest. "My name is Ruby Rose, and like you my family has a responsibility to uphold. However rather than ruling a kingdom we are tasked with burying ancient relics of power. We hide them away so people won't be tempted to use their strength for ill." Her hand stretched out. "Please, Prim... no, Dove, I need to get it hidden away."
"And what if you lie?" Prim argued. "What if you only want it for yourself?"
"You don't." Ruby let her form relax. "It's a massive risk on your end. However at any point right now you can have me killed. I'm putting my faith in you to do this, and I'm also hoping our time together has shown you who I am."
The queen stayed quiet, and after a minute of silence she stood. She snarled a bit, but reluctantly removed the relic of choice from her head and placed it in Ruby's hand.
"Fine. I don't know whether that's true or not, but fine." Her eyes narrowed. "Don't make a liar of me."
"I won't, I promise you'll never hear of this crown again, nor will anyone." Ruby slipped it on the small chain which acted as the link between her nipple jewels. She didn't like the weight tugging on it, but at least the crown was in a place nobody would dare to touch, and in a way it blended in with the skimpy attire... sort of. "Thank you. Now, I've also got something to pass onto the royalty as well."
"Really?" Prim's curiosity was peaked. "Assuming you're not taking anything else, then by all means pass it on."
"First, I want you to remember this saying: The chains of fate cannot bind the wrath of freedom."
"Really." Prim appeared confused, and a brow raised in response. "More fate nonsense." She shrugged, showing the pirate side was still on point and snarky. "Okay I guess."
"You don't, and probably won't ever understand the meaning, but that's fine. Promise me you'll keep it alive; that every family member and descendant will know it by heart." Ruby asked, with a small bit of pleading for good measure.
Prim sighed. "If it's that important then fine, I promise."
"Good, then I suppose it's a good time to pass on the legend; a prophecy this time, and one I am responsible for passing." Ruby rested her arms as she leaned on the desk to face Prim.
"Seems you're just full of stories." Despite the taunt Prim showed a girlish excitement in her eyes, hidden deep beneath the stern demeanor. "Very well then, spin me a tale."
"This is the prophecy of the black knight. The story of the queen of death, and how even immortals will fall. It all started with the birth of a boy. His name... was Vermillion Rose."
Prim's expression twisted. "Wait... Vermillion, are you saying-"
"The very same." Ruby confirmed. Prim leaned forward, her fingers crossed as she looked intently.
"Okay, you've got me hooked. Explain."
"As you wish, but first I must ask." Ruby smirked. "Do you believe in magic?"
Author's note
...
Heck this is a long one.
Back again, and a little off balance this time, although that's nothing new. As you can see Yang didn't exactly have the best interaction with her mom, and poor Oscar had to witness all of it. Especially weird considering they were talking a bit behind Ozpin's back, even though he was there in the room.
Advanced spying aside you may have noticed this chapter saw Prim regain her kingdom. The last few chapters were dedicated to the battle at Haven and Merlot. With that cleared away it seemed like a good time to wrap up Prim's little tale. A sprinkle of lore here, some melodrama there, and all is set.
That's it for this time, especially with how long this chapter is. Feel free to tell me what you think.
Until next time.