A/N: Aaaand we're back! Looking forward to your feedback~!
This week's update schedule might be a bit scuffed, sorry about that. Life intervened.
The coming updates may need more time; don't want to post anymore short chapters if I can help it.
Long Covid is awful, life is worse. Apologies for my absence. Work has been...hectic of late, with me taking on more hours. I still aim to update Surpass, Whatever Comes Our Way, and the like this month, things are just hectic right now.
As promised, we're back. I may be battered and bruised, but I'm Still Here.I rather have to be, as it doesn't appear we're getting a Volume 10. I took a step back to reconsider the direction in several RWBY stories, do a few rewrites -things are streamlined now- and trim the fat, as it t'were.
Two things kept me going during that time:
First and foremost, Coeur Al'Aran, a famous and prolific RWBY writer on this site. He's a right entertaining fellow, not only singlehandedly responsible for getting me into RWBY in the first place, but for keeping me in the game as a whole; honestly, his stories blow mine out of the water, so if you're craving some stories, give his a read.
He's got about forty of them, and just about all of them are completed!
And then we have RWBY: Evermorrow, a brilliant and well made fan series on Youtube, going strong. Give it a look! Its got six episodes and each is better than the last. The writing, the direction, the animation, to say nothing of the surprising divergence from canon...all I can saw
*chef's kiss*
I'm endorsing that of my own free will, for the record.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than I.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
"I promised I would tell all, and I shall. Let us start from the beginning.
You see, it all began with a lonely girl in a lonely tower.
"This story doesn't end well, does it."
"That is for us to decide."
~?
Accursed Seasons
Summer Rose was a vengeful woman.
Call it a character flaw, call it a curse, or even a baneful blessing, but there it was. She'd ever been the sort to avenge any wrong she encountered; whenever and wheresoever she could. It was simply her nature. She had to fight the good wherever that fight was to be found, no matter what. If someone was in danger, if an innocent had been harmed, if a loved one taken from her...nothing would stop her from wreaking vengeance. In that way, her righteous fury paired rather nicely with her semblance.
Maybe that made her a bit twisted.
Meh. Most huntresses weren't exactly sane.
By that very logic, she could stand what happened to Ozpin.
Sleep wouldn't come easily to her tonight; not with her thoughts buzzing about in her head like angry fire ants. The silent ceiling of her bedroom offered her no solace, and even Taiyang's arms wrapped around her brought her precious little in the way of comfort. He at least, was a sound sleeper. Not so she. No matter how close she snuggled to him, she simply couldn't slip back into slumber. Instead
Whoever had poisoned Ozpin would pay. Simple as. She'd already decided.
His unexpected demise had set Beacon back months, if not years. The world was lesser for his loss.
But he would be back, she knew he would. Ozpin always came back; his curse wouldn't allow for anything less. And when he did return-
A pebble bounced off her window, snapping her back to alertness.
In an instant any hope of sleep was gone.
Had she imagined...?
Tap.
Summer squirmed from from Taiyang's arms. Something rattled her window again, a larger pebble this time. Her eye twitched as she padded towards the glass pane. Who could that be at this hour? Didn't they realize this was a bad time...? Its was well past midnight for crying out loud.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ignore. Maybe she could sleep.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. TAP!
...sod it all, that tore it. If that was a drunken Qrow, she'd shave that birdie bald.
She snatched her axe off the dresser, ripped the window open and thrust her head out into the gloom with a hiss. "What is it?!"
Her anger was rewarded; a lone figure stood just shy of the porch, lantern in hand, the low light hiding much of their face. As she looked on aghast, they actually raised a hand and dared to wave her way. If they'd come here trying to take her eyes, they were being awfully unsubtle about it.
...can I have a word with you?" their voice didn't ring any bells; it didn't sound like Qrow, even if the cadence was somewhat familiar. "Alone, please?"
She'd give them more than a word!
Summer yanked on her white cloak, shimmied her way out the window and launched herself at the intruder.
Poor bastard; they didn't even try to defend themselves.
Ultimately, the complete lack of said defense saved their lives.
Twisting her body, she landed just shy of them, alighting in a pointed crouch to squint into the gloom. An unfamiliar visage stared back her within the waning lantern-light, all bright blue eyes, whiskered cheeks and tawny blue hair. She'd never seen him before in her life. And yet...?
"Hello, there!" he smiled at her merrily, the very picture innocence. "You must be Summer Rose. I've heard a lot about you."
There were many strange things about him, but perhaps strangest of all was the cane clutched tight in his off hand.
She knew that cane. Her eyes widened. "Ozpin?
The boy beamed. "In the flesh. More or less."
He'd found a new body already-no, wait. She scowled. This could be a trick. It wouldn't be the first time one of Salem's agents pulled this before. "How do I know you're really him?"
Naruto paused. Cocked his head, as though he were listening to a little voice in his ear, one only he could hear. And then came the smile. "You originally wanted to name Ruby...Crescent?" He snorted out the last word, trying not to laugh. "Strange name for a kid...
Heat! Rancor! Shaaaaaame!
"Hey, hey! Crescent Rose would've been an awesome name!" she sputtered, realizing the truth he'd spoken. "I mean, anyone could-
-know that?" Naruto's blue eyes glowed gold for a moment, then faded, his voice deepening an octave as he shifted his posture just so. "I suppose you're right." the warm tingle of Ozpin's voice shot through her and too late she realized her mistake. "Shall I remind you of your infamous landing strategy in the Emerald Forest...
Her face went red for all the wrong reasons. "Meep!"
"But perhaps you remain unconvinced." Ozpin planted both hands on his cane and smiled. "Very well, do you recall the time I caught you and Raven in that closet? If memory serves, the two of you were drunk out of your minds an wearing nothing but-
Summer seized the younger man by the shoulders. "YOU SWORE NEVER TO SPEAK OF THAT!"
Ozpin's grin -because this was him!- was decidedly of the shit-eating variety. "Speak of what, miss Rose?"
"Why yooouuu~?!" She gave him a mighty shake. "Switch back already! I'd rather talk with the other guy! Why are you even here anyway?!"
"To have you deliver a message to Glynda and to warn you of Salem." he paused, wincing but a little as though he'd heard a voice all hos own. "Yes, yes, I was getting to that Naruto." Quick as can be, he looked back her way to have his say. "We may have found a way to deal with her, but you must hold the line until such a time. No missions, no leaving your daughters unprotected. Do you understand?"
Summer blanched at that. "But people need help-
Ozpin pinched her cheeks firmly between both hands. "Do. You. Understand."
Double meep. "Awight, I do, I do!" she wailed a his grip intensified. "I'm sowwwy!"
"Good girl." the reincarnated headmaster released her and patted her head instead. "I appreciate your cooperation in this matter."
As if she had any choice to begin with. She knew 'ol Oz would just beat her ass and sick Goodwitch on her. There was no escaping that wrathful woman.
"Fine," she muttered, rubbing her now-aching face, "But you make it sound like you're leaving...
Ozpin didn't make a sound. Not a word.
No, he was oddly quiet.
...are you?!"
"For a time." he sounded happier for it, and she certainly didn't miss the rueful little smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I cannot tell you what I intend, for that would reveal my hand."
"Sounds to me like you're taking a vacation."
His grin grew another inch.
Rest assured, I am not. Tell Glynda she'll be receiving quite a few exceptional students soon."
Ozpin!
He stepped back. "And on that note I must away! Naruto! Assume control!"
Summer made a wild grab for him! "Get your ass back here!"
Too late; he vanished in a streak of gold.
(.0.0.0.)
"I won't become you."
Ozpin winced as his erstwhile ally vaulted another log, crashed through a bush and raced up a tree. All this in an instant. He didn't think he'd ever get used to the boy's speed. In a matter of minutes he'd departed Patch entirely, raced across Vale and taken them to another continent altogether.
Such determination.
Such...power.
Such speed.
Truly, Naruto would change the world.
"I understand the sentiment and I shall endeavor to prevent the process so long as I can, but-
"No." Naruto cut the old wizard off mentally and physically with a slash of the hand as he lumbered over a log. "You don't understand. If we're doing this, and we are doing this, I won't be you. I let you have control back there with Summer, but maybe don't be such a little shit about it next time, yeah? I'd rather remain me, ya know."
He winced. "It is not that simple-
"Nuh-uh, not happening, not on the table."
"Many have said so in the past. All have failed, much to my regret."
"Everyone fails until their first success." The whiskered warrior shrugged a shoulder and kept going. "Guess we'll have to be the first. A though seemed to occurred to him just then, momentarily distracting him from their journey. "...how long does it take?
Ozpin considered not answering. It might be more kind-but no. He owed him the truth.
"I cannot say for certain. The time varies. Months, years, decades. I shall refrain from using what little magic I have, however. That will only accelerate the process.
"Was it always like that?"
"Not always." wistful nostalgia nudged at him as he remembered his first host, ages ago, when he'd been at his prime. "Once, when I had my full power, it took quite a bit longer. Decades...
"Noted." Kurama pushed himself to the forefront, lengthening their stride as they devoured the distance to their destination. "Now, then, are you going to explain why we're out here in the middle of nowhere? You had us run across the ocean for crying out loud. Why are we wading through the wilds here in in Mistral.
His soul grimaced, unaccustomed to such withering attention. "There's something I wish to collect from an old associate of mine, Raven Branwen. Or rather, someone." now seemed as good a time to reset the board, as it were. "I suspect she won't give it up easily...
Naruto's face -and perhaps his own- twisted in a grimace. "Look, if you split your power among these maidens and your not happy with the job they're doing, then just take it back. Can't be that hard."
Oh, yes.
Yes it could.
It absolutely could.
"I have thought of such before-
"But you never tried." The accusation made him wince. "Did you?"
"No," he admitted reluctantly, and that very admission cracked something deep within him. "I have not."
"Why not?"
Why indeed? Shame, regret, powerlessness, a whole host of factors were at play. It had seemed such a good idea at the time too, a way to keep the Relics out of Salem's hands. The Four Seasons, or at least the first four, had been goo people. Trustworthy. Noble. Kind. It was they who first lifted him from the pit of his despair so long ago. He owed them more than words.
But time had a way of souring even the most noble of ambitions.
"Splitting my might among those four sisters greatly diminished me, as you well know." And he did. He'd told Naruto everything, spared no detail for his expense. "I had thought the magic would return to me upon their eventual deaths...
"I'm guessing it didn't."
...it did not." he admitted, more than a little shamefaced. "That was an oversight on my part. And creating the vaults seemed such a wise idea at first...
"I have made many mistakes. That was but one of them."
Kurama snorted. "So you say."
Naruto didn't respond for some time. He kept moving, throwing himself forward, leaping from tree to tree in stoic silence. By the brothers, he really could move when he wanted to. He didn't think he would ever get used to this kind of speed. Were they going to ignore him, he wondered? Hopefully night. The silence was suffocating, cloying, choking-
"Look," Naruto shattered it with a sigh, "You're not a bad guy, Oz. You've just made some bad decisions.
How he had longed to hear those words.
You're not a bad guy.
Isn't it remarkably how five little words can breathe life back into your sad soul after so many years and restore the very crux of your being? The relief he felt was unutterable-a cool glass of water on a hot summer's day. He wasn't a bad person. There had been years, decades, centuries even, where he wondered about that. If it wouldn't just be easier to let go and let Salem win. To give up, give her what she wanted and let it all end.
He had lost friend after friend to her, entire families to her, and he suspected more might be lost by the end.
Yet here at last, he felt something.
It rather felt like...hope.
...thank you."
That settled it.
This boy would do great things.
Then, he must be protected at all costs.
To that end, he would endeavor to educate him as best he could, shield from the evils of the world...
.
..
...and endeavor to get him laid.
What?! Such goodness must be preserved and the world of Remnant was in dire need of proper protection.
And besides...the bloodline must continue! If one Naruto was powerful then his descendants would rattle Remnant. Salem wouldn't know what hit her.
(.0.0.0.)
"Achoo!"
Salem sneezed mightily.
Someone must be talking about her again. Blasted Ozma...
(.0.0.0.)
It wasn't difficult to locate the Branwen Tribe; by contrast it was downright easy.
Too easy, some might say.
And perhaps it was.
Raven's tribe didn't even try to hide; they'd camped out on a plain just outside the forest, easily visible from the hill.
"What are your plans?"
"Meh," he cracked his knuckles. "Never been big on those."
Naruto waded in; when the guards tried to stop him, he started winging.
It felt remarkably freeing to not have his hand on the wheel for once; to simply sit back and watching things unfold as it t'were. Naruto was an able fighter to begin with, but the true potential lay in his speed as much as his technique. He battered aside bandits like straw dolls, sending men and women flying with great sweeps of his hands, spiraling spheres and more.
Inevitably they caused enough chaos to gain her attention...
(.0.0.0.)
"Are you Raven?"
Vernal dangled from his fist and gurgled weakly. Screw you...
No?" he tossed her over his shoulder to join the rest. "Alright. Next!"
The bandits cowered before him like the craven, cowardly lot they were. That much was to be expected, Ozpin found. After all, he hadn't yet told Naruto what Raven looked like. Perhaps that was a mistake of his, but he'd rather enjoyed watching those brutes be beaten down. Their kind believed in strength-over-weakness, and now the strong had come to claim them.
Almost fitting, really.
Movement in the crowd ahead claimed his attention.
"Useless, the lot of you!" A familiar voice pierced the din. "Step back, you idiots! Leave him to me!"
Triumph blazed through Ozpin. At last. Redemption.
Naruto quirked a brow. "You seem excited."
"I am. Let me handle her...
He frowned. "Why?"
"Raven is my student, my problem, my mistake." And didn't it just burn to say that? "Through my own action and inaction I accidentally molded her into the monster she is now. Please allow me to correct her."
A weighty pause followed as they watched a masked woman with dark hair shoulder her way to the forefront of the crowd. "And by correct you mean?"
"I shall beat her within an inch of her life, take the power from her and drag her back to her family to face judgement. Alive," he amended after a moment's pause. "With your help, I believe we can successfully claim her power and return it to me without causing excess harm to her soul."
"Keep your word or you'll never get control of my body again."
A nod. "You have my word."
"Break it and imma break you."
Him and his promises. "Of that I have no doubt."
Raven heard none of their exchange. She was already drawing her blade. "I don't know who you are, but you've got some nerve coming here...
Kurama rumbled a laugh. "...alright then, wizard. Impress us. Make this count."
Naruto ceded control to him once more with a bemused noise.
As ever, assuming direct control of a new body was something of a lurch. There was that brief second of free fall, a moment of weightlessness as his weary soul stepped out of the black and took center state. In a way it was like shrugging off one coat and donning another. His shoulders sagged for a second before he found his center, balanced himself and lifted his chin.
Power. So much power. Enough to tackle armies, leap into the sun, unmake the very world itself. Was this how it felt to be a god?
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm no god."
So humble. That already made him leagues better than the Brothers. "A demigod, then. Your heritage speaks for itself."
Naruto only grunted. "Don't go breaking or changing anything in here."
"Worry not," he tittered in return, "I'll be quite occupied with this."
Because you see, Raven was staring at them.
"Nothing to say?" Ozpin unclipped Long Memory from the boy's belt, drew it forth with a flourish, then planted in the ground and laid both hands upon it for good measure. "I thought you would be happy to see me after all these years." every word dripped the most bitter of sarcasm. "Are you not entertained?"
Miss Branwen was not.
Indeed, Raven's face had drained of all blood, rendering her already pale visage white as a sheet. It was a good look for her, Ozpin felt. She had always been a bit skittish, but seeing her as the cowardly craven she was now reminded him that whatever her flaws, she still feared him.
"You...?"
Me. he offered her a benign smile and a courtly bow. "Were you expecting someone else?"
"No, you can't be here. You...!" She paused, choked on the word, then swallowed as though she had a bullfrog in her throat. Hmm. Now there was a thought. Perhaps he should've turned her into one all those years ago. Clearly a bird was beyond her. "You can't be. Not yet! You just died!"
And how would she know that?
Did she have a hand in his latest demise?
Perhaps. But perhaps not. In the end it didn't matter, not a jot.
"And yet here I stand." he shifted his stance ever so slightly, drawing his right foot back, even as he shifted his left foot forward. "On that note, I'm afraid I must ask you to return the Maiden's power now. You've had your fun."
Her shoulders tensed, hunching inward. "I have no idea what you mean."
"Come now, I don't be coy. I can smell it-
"Dirty old man!"
-in the air." he finished with a bemused smile. "It stands to reason that you would keep such a power close, and that slip of a girl I just felled clearly did not have it. As you're the last woman standing, the onus falls upon you. Now," he offered her his free hand. "Will you relinquish it freely or must we make a mess of this?
Raven tore the mask from her face with a snarl, revealing blazing red eyes fanned by flames. "Never!"
"I'm sorry," despite her fear, he couldn't quite keep the smile from his face. "Your compliance really isn't a factor here."
"Huh." Naruto made an impressed noise in the mind they shared. "You're angry. I didn't think you could get angry anymore."
Oh my, he was. He couldn't recall the last time he'd been this furious.
How quaint. Nothing else for it, then.
His hand cracked out in an open-palmed slap and Raven jerked back clutching her face.
"Why you...?!"
"Enough." he unbuttoned his collar and strode forth with a jaunty step, humming under his breath. "Class is in session, miss Branwen. Let the lesson begin."
Raven hesitated, braving Omen in both hands. Of course she did. She'd never been a match for him before, even in her prime.
But her Tribe -what was left of it- was watching her. She had no choice but to fight. No choice at all.
She descended upon him, Omen a bloody red blur. "The only lesson here is your death!"
"Threats now, miss Branwen. How gauche. This is hardly a backyard brawl."
Air tickled his cheek as he evaded her first strike, an overhand sweep.
"Slow. Sloppy. Sad." He swayed between each of her slashes with contemptuous ease. "You fight like a younger woman, Raven. Admirable...but mistaken." Fear has defeated you." for every word he dodged three attacks, then six, now nine, twelve, easily blurring between her blade. "You've stopped training, stopped believing in yourself, stopped growing stronger. Allow me to demonstrate!"
He swayed under Omen and drove Long Memory into Raven's knee with an awful crack. Her aura held but her leg twisted painfully. He was wearing her down. he could see it in her face, her expression twisting first in fear, then horror as he kept up the attack, forcing her back, back, back again...
"All this time raiding villages and picking on the weak has led to your downfall." he pressed the offensive, hammering her with a trio of blunt strikes that battered her pride as much as her aura. Cowardice has defeated you."
"SHUT UP!" She hurled him away with a rush of wind. "I'm stronger now! Stronger than I've ever been! Stronger than you!
'Hardly.'
Naruto could have taken back control fro him at any time; he had no power over him, much less his vulpine friend. But they let him forge ahead; take out his anger on her. Raven had no such luxury, no helping hand to be there for her, no allies to spur her on. She couldn't afford to retreat, not here, not now, not with her tribe watching; because if she fled now, she would never have a place among them ever again. Not that she had much of one now, given that they'd decimated most of her tribe-
"RAH!"
Oh dear, he'd forgotten all bout her sword.
He slapped Raven blade aside with the flat of his palm, rendering her lunge a clumsy thrust that didn't come anywhere close to him.
"Are you quite done with your temper tantrum, child?" Because she was to him. So many were, with very few exceptions. When one had naught but eternity to measure oneself against, it was hard to find an equal. For the longest time Salem had been the only constant. That had changed with Naruto and Kurama. His spirits had never been higher and now, confronted with one of his many failures he was feeling...boyish. Enough to take no small amount of pleasure in teasing his former protege.
"Hold still so I can skewer you!"
"And now you stomp your feet." he shook his head, setting Naruto's bangs swaying. "Shall I spank you as well?
Raven lunged at him with a yowl.
Predictable.
He took a step to the side, let her sweep by, and drove a fist into her solar plexus. Chakra flashed and a satisfying whoosh filled the air. It was the sound of Raven's lungs collapsing for a brief moment. She toppled to the dirt like a felled tree, choking for precious oxygen, desperate life that proved slow to come.
"My, my." he tutted softly. "I'd forgotten just how satisfying it was to get my hands dirty. Perhaps I should do this more often. There's a certain...satisfaction in it, you know?
Rave gurgled wetly at his feet, wasted and gasping for air.
Ozpin nudged her ribs with a shoe. "I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?
She groaned and clawed her way upright. "That is a terrible reference and you know it...
"Pardon me for appreciating the classics. Now stop embarrassing yourself and get up. The lesson has only just begun."
He sensed the power of Spring stirring long before she used it; Yang's mother had a decent grasp on her the maiden's power, but only that. It wasn't true mastery, not as he knew it. Raven could channel in a given direction, create constructs of pure elemental energy perhaps, but little more. She was not a fully realized maiden, not matter what she might think. Freya alone held that title.
Raven flung up a hand, fire flickering at her fingertips. "Die!"
"Tried that, it didn't stick."
Here and now, with the brunt of Naruto's power and mind working in tandem with him, it was the merest of matters to deflect the cone of fire, step aside and-oops. He overshot Raven in his haste, accidentally checked her with his shoulder and sent her sprawling to the dirt like a naughty child.
"Forgive me," he rounded on her, mildly embarrassed. "I'm still getting to this body."
"You say that," she righted herself with a growl, wiping blood from her mouth, "But does your new host know what you are?
Trying to drive a wedge between them, was she? How droll. "Oh, yes. I think I've been rather honest with him."
Naruto radiated smug contentment. "Get 'er."
Ozpin got her.
Yang's mother answered with another cone of spiraling flame, but this one he cut clean through.
She came in hard and fast in its wake, swinging in low for his face in a rising slash that would surely savage him...if he let it connect. He stepped in, let Omen pass harmlessly over his head, and drove an open palm into her solar plexus. Raven reeled with a startled croak, her body bowing as her aura flexed.
Contrary to proper belief, aura did not negate pain. It merely protected your body from undue harm. Hit someone hard enough and they'd still feel it, strike quickly enough, and you might even get past their aura before they could bring it up altogether. Such was not the case for Miss Branwen, she had far too much practice, her control was instinctual.
But she was not accustomed to pain; that last hit had stunned her and he took full advantage to hammer in another blow.
"Petty!"
He swayed aside from Raven's follow-up lunge like the fencer he was at heart, letting her blade sweep harmlessly past as she struck at his groin.
"Pathetic!"
A quick block of the knee as he swept her legs.
"Pointless!"
Long Memory jabbed miss Branwen hard in the throat before she could hope to retort, sending her stumbling back with a startled squawk. Had he willed it, he could've impaled her then and there, ending her miserable life. But he didn't; because that would've been a mercy. Death was mercy. There was no mercy today. And when she lunged at him anew, he showed her none.
Counter! Parry! Riposte!
Three swift strokes battered her back, leaving her reeling, right arm drooping.
"You've hit your limit, my dear."
"Limit?" A muscle jumped in her jaw. "LIMIT?!
Her eyes blazed with fire afresh as the skies darkened above as clouds swarmed in.
Ozpin eyed them as one might a spring breeze, undaunted.
Raven raised her right hand and screamed.
"I've got your limit right here!"
The heavens answered.
His world went white.
(.0.0.0.)
She'd done it.
Raven descended to the dirt, broken and hurt, wasted and gasping for air, sweat beading upon her brow. The moment she struck the ground she fell down; all but collapsing on her hands and knees.
There. That last strike had all the power of a Maiden behind it. "Not even Ozpin could've escaped from that unscathed...
...if it hit." a voice hummed behind her. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not so foolish as to tank an attack like that."
Raven rounded on him with a whimper. He was bluffing, right?
Right? Surely he was...
.
..
...right?
"Still, I must admit that was impressive." He strode through the smoke and tapped his cane once against the ground with a smile, that same damn smile that she loathed for the last ten years. "Most impressive. But you are not a fully realized maiden yet, though it seems you have more mastery over your talents than I initially surmised." He spoke with that boy's mouth, but that patronizing tone was Ozpin at his snarkiest. "Congratulations. My opinion of you has risen ever so slightly...but it still won't save you."
Raven recoiled. "It can't be you! You're not Ozpin! You're not!"
"Correct." he granted her a lopsided smile. "I am no longer Ozpin. I am Ozma. There's a world of difference between the two...observe."
His palm crashed into her chin from below and launched her into the sky, tumbling end over end. By the time she thought to right herself it was too late; she'd lost sight of him again. Stop! Calm down! She was in control here, she had the power, she was the strong one, no matter what anyone might think. If she could just kill him he'd be out of her hair for a few weeks and then she could move the tribe to-
A sharp whistle rang behind her, bringing with it the bitter tang of humiliating and a searing red hear in her cheeks.
"I recall you were often easily distracted in class, but do pay attention, Miss Branwen."
She whirled. Too little, too late, and too slow.
A boot found the back of her knee and broke it, obliterating the joint with an awful crunch. Down she went, yowling in pain.
"This won't stop me!" she righted herself with a gust of air. "I can fly!"
"But how far can you fly...?" Ozpin winced suddenly and held up a hand, much as she had for him only minutes ago. "Yes, yes," he muttered aside. "I'll stop playing with my food, Naruto .Now, then...what did you call this again?"
Raven heard the technique long before she saw sit; a high-pitched almost subsonic whine drilling into her ears.
"Ah, yes." A small, grandfatherly smiled tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I remember...
"RASENGAN."
A shadow fell over Raven.
It swelled large, larger, largest until its very shadow threatened to swallow her up.
"No fair...!" she shrank back, only to gasp as her mangled leg betrayed that. "That's bullshit! You shouldn't be able to-
"As much as I'd like to stand around and monologue at you all day, I have other business to which I must attend." his smile didn't waver, not a once, and somehow that terrified her even more than the threat of her own impending demise. "So in lieu of a long-winded speech, I'll just crush you now."
Panic!
She turned to cut a portal int he air; the moment she did a golden hand clamped down on her shoulder, driving her forward into the ground.
"Now, now, don't run away. You're only making this harder on yourself.
Ozma brought his hand -and the Rasengan within- down upon her.
Raven felt her aura hold...until it didn't.
Her defenses fractured, cracked now, before finally shatter like so much brittle glass. And then there was pain. Her entire being tensed because she knew what was coming next, oh gods she just knew; the old man wasn't the sort to let a prime opportunity like this pass him by and-
CRACK.
(.0.0.0.)
It was easy to part the power from Raven.
Simply reach down, pierce her soul, find the power and pull.
Once upon a time doing so would have surely killed her, as it would have many a maiden before.
But now he had Control.
Authority.
Better yet, he had help as it were; aid in this endeavor. Naruto and Kurama were there, aiding him, guiding him, taking the power not for themselves, but for him, ever so gently prying it free from Raven's soul and guiding it back into his own with all the care of a practiced surgeon.
It felt...wonderful.
This was only a fourth of his true power, a mere 25%, but he felt the difference straight away. As though he'd been dying of thirst for so long, only to stumble upon an oasis and drink his fill. Strength came rushing back into his soul, lighting the very fiber of his being afire with fresh power. Naturally, Naruto and Kurama noticed as well; but they didn't understand; he hadn't felt this powerful in centuries.
Had he truly been so weak before?
Raven writhed and squirmed and screamed as he sundered her soul, but he closed his heart to it and forged ahead. He'd reclaimed his power, now it was merely a matter of making certain she survived the extraction of said power. With this, the vault of Haven would remain sealed forevermore.
Haven...
.
..
...now there was an idea. Perhaps they should pay Jinn a visit after this. With his newfound allies, surely there was a way to stop Salem, and even if there wasn't, he could forestall her by using the last two questions. Yes, this life was meant to be a vacation, but he wasn't above making things better where he could, while he could.
Leonardo would understand, surely. This was for the best. His old friend was ever the courageous sort.
With a final gasp, Raven went limp beneath him, eyes rolling back in her head.
"Are ya done?"
Ozpin nodded. "I am."
"Good. Now move over."
He ceded control gladly. Because you see, the moment Naruto took back the reigns...
"Owww!" He heard the baffled blond hiss as he rubbed at his aching arms and legs with a hiss. "Did you have to be so rough?! I'm aching in places I didn't even know I had! Pretty sure you tore something!"
Had he? A flash of contrition flickered through his soul. "Forgive me, I may have overdone it a tad in my excitement. Will you heal?"
"Yeah, yeah," Naruto waved him off. "I'll be fine. Just need a bit. Reclaiming that magic of yours...that'll help you out, right?
Ozpin hoped so. Anything that prolonged their union was surely a good thing. He had no desire to consume this boy.
Naruto's gaze strayed to Raven's prone form, still sprawled out in the mud. "Whaddya wanna do with her?"
Ozpin heaved a sigh. He had an idea...but miss Branwen wouldn't be pleased when she woke up.
Bah! What did he care about for such things. He wouldn't be around to her hear raving.
His weary, tired old soul dared a smile. "Would you mind carrying her?"
Naruto huffed. "Very much so. Why should I?"
...I'll let you draw on her face."
"Deal~!"
A/N: Look out world, Naruto and Ozpin are on a tear!
Once more, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
Covid's made me stop and take a good hard look at life. There are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone. Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
Right then, as ever, Reviews are love, Reviews are Life.
Reviews keep me safe from any and all strife.
So in the immortal words of Atlas...
...review, Would You Kindly?
Every bit helps out!
(FUTURE! Previews?)
Some are very far out indeed...
Hope you enjoy the taste of what's to come. HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS!
(Previews!)
"May I?"
"Fine, but don't kill them."
"Worry not. Death is a mercy. I'm not feeling merciful."
Blue eyes flashed gold. Ozpin kicked up their cane into hi grasp and sauntered forward with a spring in his step. It felt so nice to have a body again, brief though it might be. He would make the most of this opportunity.
"Now, then! I believe the phrase is talk shit, get hit? Is that the slang you youngsters use these days...?
One of his would-be-attackers, a ragged fellow with orange hair, scoffed. "Oh, fancy! Listen you, just cooperate and nobody gets hurt-
CRACK.
"I'm afraid it is far, FAR too late for that young man...
"Now, then. Are any of you having trouble with what I've just taught you?"
A young faunus lass with rabbit ears raised a timid hand.
Derisive laughter greeted her. Naruto saw red. Protect the bunny.
A small girl with sunglasses beat him to it. Poor boys. They never stood a chance.
"Is this what hero worship feels like?
"Miss Rose is playing with her scythe again."
"What do you mean-RUBY, NO! PUT THAT DOWN YOUNG LADY! Don't make me tell your mother!"
A blond hero, wading into battle with eyes of fire with weapon in hand, swatting aside Grimm like straw dolls.
Just like the storybooks. That settled it. The young boy's mind was made up.
Jaune wanted to be just like him.
Amber tilted her head. Tilted it some more, now. "Did you just block that?"
"If I say yes, are you going to attack me again?"
There was a silence. And then. Theeen:
Her eyes lit up. "Sparring partner~!
"I DO NOT CONSENT TO THIS!"
Too late. A thunderbolt leaped from the child's hand.
A viciously cold chill shot down Cinder's spine. "Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to die horribly in the future?
"And what are we reading today?"
The faunus girl didn't look up at him. "Its a book.
Stubborn girl. "I can see that. I was asking about the subject matter."
"Oh." Golden eyes peeked up over the cover. "Well, its about a man with two souls."
"Three, actually, miss Belladona."
...what?"
"No, its nothing. Carry on."
Salem sneezed. It was a surprisingly dainty sound, one that echoed in the empty, lonely silence.
What was this? Was someone talking about her? Nonsense.
The door to her throne room crashed open.
Smoke sprayed through.
A young man emerged, cane in hand, grinning from ear to ear. "Salem! I've come to bargain~!"
EDIT: Hey, you made it! Thanks for reading this! Hope you have a great day~!
Warm regards,
~Nz.