Chapter 1 – Raven's Master Plan
"I know that magic is real. And I can prove it."
The two teenage huntresses didn't react, but she hadn't been expecting them to. After all, Yang was smarter than simply accepting tall tales at face value. Raven admired that cynical skepticism her daughter had gained. Perhaps the departure of Summer's brat had made Yang stronger than the terrified little girl who lost her pride to a half-machine in a tournament and her arm to a half-bull in a cafeteria.
"Your father taught you of my semblance, but I doubt he saw fit to teach you just what his master did to Qrow and I."
Raven stepped out the back of the tent and beckoned Yang and Weiss to follow her. Vernal wordlessly stepped out the front to grab their effects. If Raven's plan to show her daughter just how depraved the old wizard was failed, she would let her go without pushing the issue, but she had a feeling that it wouldn't fail. After all, when faced with definite proof of the existence of magic and just how horribly it could change a person's very essence, that skepticism would surely kick in.
As soon as she was out of the girls' view, she transformed and flew into the tree cover. Yang exited the tent, followed by her friend, calling out her name.
"Raven?"
What, not mom? I'm hurt.
Her beak couldn't smile, but she would have let out a wicked grin if it could.
The pair of young huntresses were having some sort of discussion about whether or not to believe her, with Yang arguing against the existence of Salem and Weiss pretending to agree.
"…but, magic can't be real…can it?"
Raven cawed thrice, grabbing the girl's attention. Hopping off of her perch, she circled overhead once, then landed back down on a branch even closer.
"That bird," said Yang, puzzled. "I've…seen it before. I'm sure of it."
"Her pet?" asked Weiss.
Before Yang could venture a guess that would no doubt be wildly off the mark, Raven flapped up into the air, then dove down. Despite her small size compared to the two humans, both of them flinched as she approached them aerially. Schnee even briefly reached for her rapier, the fool.
Shifting back into a human, she hit the ground in a controlled landing. She would never admit it, but in her head, she'd gone over her exact flight patterns many times in advance, should the day of her daughter's return ever come. And, by the Grimm, had it paid off. Yang was speechless.
"You want proof of magic? Then the only thing you can trust is your own sense."
"Y-You can turn into an actual raven, Raven?" said Yang, her mouth agape.
"Ozpin's handiwork. I told you he was no mere headmaster." She sneered. "That curse was a gift for a decade of my time wasted in service to his dying cause."
"Holy shit!" said Yang. "That's so fucking cool! And you're telling me that Ozpin gave you that sweet-ass bird mode because you used to work for him? Man, I need to go volunteer to be his underling right now. Super neat animal transformation powers, here I come!"
"I wanna be a snowy owl," said Weiss. "No, wait, I changed my mind. I wanna be a swan!"
"N-No," said Raven weakly. "That's not–"
"That's not enough," finished Yang. "You're right. He probably won't bird me up if I don't also join his fight against this Salem woman you spoke about. Well, count me in to this secret war of his. Ozpin, you just gained one free solider thanks to Raven Branwen's master skills of persuasion."
"An egret!" said Weiss. "A heron!"
"What Ozpin did to me is sick!" shouted Raven angrily.
"Sick as hell!" said Yang, nodding.
Raven struggled to keep her temper in check. "Yang, I merely sought to show you what witchcraft Ozpin is capable of, not suggest you follow your uncle's footsteps and enlist."
"Well, say no more, Raven – I'm convinced that magic is real, and I know what I have to do. Forget Ruby and Qrow. Open a portal straight to Ozpin, wherever he is, so I can get my bird on!"