A/N: The RWBY revival is a go~! Viva la leap year and Lunar New Year~!
Apologies for the long delay; I was banking on Volume 10 being a thing by now, but sadly it seems it won't be happening for awhile-if at all. Between one of my computers breaking, Covid also came a' knocking and knocked me flat for awhile. It also devastated my update schedule, to say nothing of the side effects from what's apparently become long Covid.
I'm still dealing with that more than a month later, though apparently its not life threatening. I have to just "ride it out" according to the docs. Easy for them to say!
That said, with my sixteen year anniversary on this site rapidly approaching, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, 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.
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~!
This chapter is rather raw. It...doesn't pull any punches.
We've got tributes to RDR and Batman here as well!
Hope this chapter proves entertaining!
"...I'm tired, everyone."
"Of course you are. You haven't eaten or slept today."
"No, that isn't...that's not it. A weary body can be dealt with. But a weary spirit? That's something else. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing any good; if my actions will mean anything in the long run. Don't you see? This is my chance to do good, on a greater scale than anything I've done before! To make sure no one ever has to suffer like
I won't throw it away.
~?
Discipline the Girls
"Headmaster."
It was just one word.
And yet that word was damning; almost enough to make Naruto flinch.
Miranda Malachite could rant and rave all she liked, but at the end of the day, no matter how seductive she might be, that slender bewitching blond beauty did hot have hold of his heart. As such, she held next to no power over him; no, that power lay elsewhere with others. He'd entrusted himself to others and that was the problem. The three women who held his heart sat before him, in varying stages of staggering shock.
Willow looked stricken, like she'd bitten into a sour lemon.
Raven wouldn't so much as look in his direction.
And An Ren...her pink eyes were sharp.
"So you decided," the young woman who would one day give birth to Lie Ren stood slowly, gaze never leaving his, voice picking up steam with her every other word, "In your infinite wisdom, to not only murder Leonardo Lionheart, which is certainly going to attract enough attention mind you, but then you chose to play puppet master, manipulate things to your advantage and take his place."
"Yup." What else could he say? The deed was done, the die cast. With this, he'd rooted himself to Mistral. "I did those things."
An flung up her arms with an aggravated shout. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
Right, he'd prepared himself for this argument. "I was thinking-
"Clearly you weren't!"
...let him speak."
Naruto looked past An to Raven, surprised that she'd stuck up for him.
Yang's mother looked away and flexed the fingers of her false arm, idly gripping her now-metal wrist with her organic hand. The sight of it warmed him a little. She'd kept her promise after all. Belatedly, he was pleased to notice she'd painted it as well; in place of that ugly gunmetal grey, she'd dyed it black with a crimson trim. Fitting colors for her. If she wore a glove over the hand and concealed her new limb with one of her long sleeves, no one would ever know she'd lost an arm. That aside, her eyepatch made her look badass.
She looked...good. Not fully recovered, not yet, but well on her way to becoming a better person than the hollow wreck of a woman he'd first found in the rain.
"What?" She glared at him with her good eye and planted a fist on her hip. "Got a problem?"
"Nope." he smacked his lips, secretly pleased by her support. "Just glad to see you."
For some reason, she spluttered explosively. "Don't say it like that, idiot!"
"Now, now." Willow tutted in mild amusement. "You'll break her.
Omen clicked out of its sheathe. "Schnee, I will STAB you.
The Schnee matriarch huffed. "You're welcome to try."
"Hey, hey!" An waved a hand between them. "Can we please focus on the matter at hand?! Naruto offed a headmaster! If folks find out you killed a man in cold blood-
Was that her only concern? He planted both hands in his pockets and flopped down into a lounge chair opposite that of his comrades. The leather was soft and warm; one of them had probably been sitting in it earlier to keep it warm. Not much of a concern, that. And besides...
"Itsnot like anyone can prove I killed Lionheart."
An opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again now before she finally rallied. "Alright, I'll bite. How'd you do it?"
He turned a small, sad smile on her as he clasped both hands behind his head and stretched for good measure. "How do you think Jacques died?"
Willow tilted her head just so; it spoke well to her that even now she didn't feel an iota of regret for that worm's death. "Well, I assume you made it quick...
"I did," he acquiesced with a slow nod. "But did you ever consider how?
An exchanged a baffled look with Willow.
Even Raven, despite her tension, had a glimmer of curiosity in her eye. "There wasn't a body after you offed him..."
"Correct." he took one hand behind his hand and held up a finger.
...and I'm assuming the same happened with Lionheart, which is why you were able to pull that doppelganger trick with him.
"Excellent~!" he clapped his hands together. "Since we're sharing secrets, now's as good a time as any to properly introduce you to Kurama."
"About damn time, I'd say."
Willow touched a finger to her chin. "What's a Kurama?"
Raven's good eye widened. "Oh, shit."
An blanched. "You don't mean-
Naruto sat up in his chain, clapped his hands together and let golden chakra billow out behind him like a cape in an unseen breeze as his entire body lit up like a beacon. Kurama's skull manifested soon thereafter, followed by his face, towering over them in all its giant golden glory to fill the living room. He beamed at them as best he could.
...surprise?"
Raven squawked and damn near fell off the cough, no doubt reminded of their last encounter.
"Ah." Ann hummed, no doubt recalling the giant beast that had once loomed large over Kuroyuri. "So nice to see your friend again.
Right, they'd both already encountered Kurama before, in some small capacity; whereas Willow hadn't. He hoped it wouldn't be too off-putting for her or-
"Cute~!
His fears fizzled spectacularly.
In a single seamless movement the Schnee matriarch surged up off the couch, vaulted the table, and dove at him.
Had that been the end of it; he might've been willing to excuse her sudden outburst.
It was not.
The second, nay, the very instant Willow landed at his side, she reached out with both arms and latched onto Kurama's visage. Before the biju could even think to balk, she began to run her hands over his fearsome face, cooing softly.
"He's adorable!" she crooned, all but burying her face in his fur. "Just look at him! So fluffy~!"
Kurama sighed explosively. "Well, that's a first...
Willow squealed. "And he talks?!"
"Heh." When Naruto looked back to Raven's, he found their resident craven grinning ear to ear, her smile sharper than steel. "Alright, I can see how your friend here wouldn't leave any evidence. You snapped him right up didn't you, just like Jacques?"
His old friend made a retching sound. "Don't remind me. I've never swallowed a soul so foul."
"There, there," Willow soothed, stroking his snout as one might a small pet. "You poor baby, he must've been just awful. Did he give you indigestion?"
"Well, yes, a little...
Naruto's brain sputtered and died.
'Why are all the women around me insane?'
He'd thought Willow was the normal one among then, no wait, not normal, he scorned the very concept of the word, but at least sane...
.
..
...evidently not!
"And he can emerge at any time?"
He granted her a quick nod. "Whenever he wants."
"Ahem!" Ann Ren closed her eyes and coughed harshly into her fist, diverting their attention back to her. "As fascinating as this is, we're missing the point, here. Headmaster of Haven, remember?"
Naruto winced despite himself.
Damnitall, he'd hoped she had forgotten about that.
Kurama vanished with a wry wince, leaving him to his fate.
"Would you be willing to be hear me out if I said I had a plan?"
Just like that, he found himself skewered by their stares all over again.
Alright, deep breaths. The floor was his. Time to make it count while he could.
"Leonardo deserved to die, just as Jacques did." he raised a finger and set the foundation of his argument in stone from the start. "He knew who we were, where we were, and he was actively sending our enemies after us. If I didn't put him down and put him down hard it never would've ended.
"Naruto," Ann's voice was pained, "We're not mad about that." she touched a hand to her bosom, mirroring Willow's nod. "You protected us. But you're killing too easily these days. Take it from someone who knows. Once you start down that path, its hard to come bac"
This was a slippery slope, he knew. He'd killed two men who deserved it, yes, but when did the scales tip? When did he decide who lived and died? When-no, now wasn't the time for that. He shunted that thought aside, shoved it into a dark corner of his mind, and summarily stomped it into slush.
...I can handle it. I've learned things, too." he palmed his face with a sigh. "Things I need to share with all of you, things that compelled me to make the choice I did."
Willow winced. "We're not going to like this, are we?"
"No, you aren't...
Slowly, haltingly, told them of the horrors Leonardo Lionheart had wrought; then of the entity behind him, a being known solely as Salem.
Raven flinched when he said that last bit. He caught it. How could he not?
"You've heard her her name before." It was not a question.
Her shoulders trembled.
...yeah." she muttered, turning aside. "I know her. She's a bitch. An immortal monster. The reason I ran in the first place."
His brow furrowed as curiosity reared its ugly head in his heart. "Ran from what?"
"Some stupid shit. Tell you later." she shook her head fiercely, setting her long dark mane swaying. "You know what you're doing, right? This'll paint a target on your back."
"Maybe so," he stood his ground in the face of her inquiry. "but Mistral deserves better. He was sending them to their deaths, Raven. Men, women, and children. I couldn't sit idly by and let hi-
"I get that!" She stomped a foot, then winced when her leg buckled, forcing her to catch herself on the couch. Then, softer now, "I get it. But you've changed things. There's no going back now." her gaze met his, red eye gleaming with intent. "Ozpin will come for you. Maybe not now, not right away, but he will. He has to, sooner or later. You're in too powerful a position for him to ignore. Hell, he might try to recruit you the way he did me."
Something hardened in him when she said that. They'd been playing defense for so long now, reacting, countering...no more.
It was time they went on the offensive.
Time for their counterattack
"This is my choice." He lifted his chin, firmed his stance, and met her gaze. "I've made it and I'm not changing my mind." steeling himself against the anxiety that followed, he crossed both arms before his chest and stood his ground. "If you have a problem with it, you're free to leave." Something childish quavered in his heart when he said that, but he refused to let it show. "I won't make any of you risk your lives for my ambitions. This is your chance to walk away.
A beat of silence fell over the unlikely trio.
He hoped they wouldn't leave. Losing them would hurt and-
An touched one hand to her cheek. "Such a stubborn man...then again, I don't dislike that about you."
Willow smiled. "Did you really think we would run out on you now?"
Raven stepped to him. He eyed her. She eyed him in return.
"We can't always fight nature." Yang's mother paused a moment, waited for him to interrupt, and when he didn't, hesitantly continued. "I used to think that." she looked down gripped her false arm until it creaked. "We can't fight change. We can't fight gravity. We can't fight the inevitable. My whole life all I ever did was fight. I fought, and I fought and I fought," she all but spat the last word through grit teeth, "Until I realized my fight was pointless. Once I did, I couldn't fight anymore. I gave up. I ran away."
"Raven-
"No!" she flung up a hand and drove her fist into the wall to silence him. "For the longest time, I thought my deeds didn't matter, that my time had passed, that when I'm gone, they'll just find another monster. But you...? You're different. You can fight change, gravity, all of it. "You'll be a good headmaster." a small, shaky smile bloomed across her pale face. "And when Ozpin comes knocking you send him packing, you hear?" her fist swept up again to thump his chest. "Don't put up with any of his lies or bullshit. Don't make the mistakes I did."
"That said, you might need a disguise when he comes around...
Raven bridled defensively. "I'm not cutting my hair.
"You won't have to. I like you the way you are."
She croaked. "Eh?"
...but you might have to dye it and wear contacts for a few days."
"Hell no!"
Willow coughed politely into a fist. "If we can get back to the matter at hand? What's this about Salem? Who is she and why is she immortal?"
Raven's smile died an ugly death. "Yeah...bit of a story, there. Might wanna sit down for this. I'll understand if you don't believe me, but I swear its the truth...
Now it was her turn to tell a tale; and what a tale it was.
By the end, Naruto found himself balking. It was story that beggared belief, a myth so marvelously mad that he almost couldn't believe it. Gods. Relics. Maidens. A tale of two immortals being complete and utter fools as they became the unwitting playthings of said gods. And yet it explained so much; why Raven had been such a flighty thing, why she'd abandoned Ozma -Ozpin?- and run from her team, why she was so desperate to see Yang cared for when she was on death's door.
He had the feeling she'd left something out about her past, there. Something crucial. But he could pry later.
...so this "Salem" can't be destroyed." Willow said what was on all of their minds. "And she...she controls the Grimm?"
"Yeah." Raven looked away. "Do you understand, now? The old man lied to me, made me think my fight meant something, but it didn't because she can't DIE-
"Who said anything about killing her?"
Raven did a double take. "Whiskers say what now?"
"Where I come from, there are plenty of ways to deal with an immortal." he held up a hand and counted down off five fingers as she looked on. "For starters, why even try to fight someone you know you can't kill? I think that's just silly. Toss her into space, trap her underwater, seal her deep underground, break her mind, or just draw and quarter her, then keep the pieces from every being reunited."
An's hand shot up. "I'm all for the last option!"
Of course you are." he rolled his eyes and looked back to Raven. "Did you seriously never consider it?"
Raven kicked at the floor. "That's not fair. I'm not strong like you...I can't fight through armies...
Naruto felt his heart soften a little towards her.
Maybe it was unfair to keep judging others by his herculean standards, at least in terms of raw strength. He'd been weak too, once upon a time. It had taken him years-bloodsweatandsomanytears-to reach the heights he had. And besides, he had Kurama to help him along the way.
Raven didn't have any of that. Of course she'd run.
Willow's past had been even worse. It had scarred her, twisted her, leaving her not quite sane.
An...well, her semblance had made her a killer. Sure, she'd given that life up to settle down, but now she'd taken up the mantle again.
Malachite...she might be svelte and slender and beautiful but there were times when her heart was coal black. She wasn't part of the group, not really, but he'd made a deal with her, a scheme with the spider...
.
..
...he really did care for some twisted women, didn't he?
Huh. He cared. The realization didn't shock him, but rather that he cared so strongly.
He was glad they were staying with him, no, more than that, he felt relieved. At ease. Giddy in a way he hadn't been in a while. Not since...
Oh.
Ohh.
Ohhh!
His eyes widened.
Kurama chortled softly. "And now he realizes."
And he did. Everything suddenly clicked. "...I think I love you girls."
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath. Oops. Had he said that out loud just now?
Ann gasped.
Willow's face lit up.
Raven's reaction was the most spectacular of all.
Her pale face absolutely flushed. "Idiot! Don't say that out the blue!"
"Ignore her," Ann edged in from the right, hands lingering on his arm. "She's never been honest with herself."
An almighty weight lifted from his shoulders, one hadn't even noticed until this very moment. He heaved a sigh. "...I'm tired, everyone."
"Of course you are," Willow tutted, taking his hand in hers. "You haven't eaten or slept today. What did we tell you about overworking yourself like this?"
"No, that isn't...that's not it." he tried to wave said hand, but she wouldn't let go, so he settled for a scowl instead. "A weary body can be dealt with. But a weary spirit? That's something else." he flushed a little as they edged closer, pressing against him. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing any good; if my actions will mean anything in the long run."
"You are." An stroked his arm. "And they will."
"Don't you see?" he glanced her way, "That's why I gotta do this. This is my chance to do good, on a greater scale than anything I've done before! To make sure no one ever has to suffer like that again. I won't throw it away. I don't have time to rest.
A metal hand found his chest and pushed him down onto the couch.
"Just sleep already, dumbass." Raven flounced down in his lap, pinning him in place. We'll all be here when you wake up."
So would the kids, he supposed. Little Yang and Winter and Weiss would be awake by morning.
An laid her head on his right shoulder, while Willow claimed the left.
It was a strangely intimate moment.
He closed his eyes and exhaled.
Sleep came quickly.
(.0.0.0.)
Salem was...displeased.
Displeased, yes, but also curious.
She hadn't thought Leonardo had it in him to flee.
Oh, she knew he'd wanted to but, she'd thought his fear would hold him in check awhile longer. Instead he'd vanished without a trace to parts unknown. Clever of him, but futile. Her Grimm would hunt him down like the cowardly cat he was and remind him of his place in the world soon enough.
This successor of his, however...he would need to be dealt with.
Quietly of course, it wouldn't do to overplay her hand and reveal herself before she was ready.
Ozma would make his move first, then she would act. She would be the stick to his carrot, compelling obedience through force.
But who to send?
Hazel had gone silent, and she could only assume he was dead. She'd threatened Lionheart with Tyrian, but in truth, her most loyal servant was missing as well. That left her with precious few pawns to command. She still had Watts of course, but his was ever a subtle touch. The man wasn't neither a fighter nor a commander. He couldn't compel obedience like some of her...previous pawns. She was also lacking a Maiden candidate at the moment, which only further depleted her ranks. As such, her options were rather limited at the moment.
Naruto Uzumaki. How best to break a man with a resume like that? He certainly seemed strong.
Her fingers drummed restlessly against her throne. "What to do, oh, what to do...
Perhaps a personal visit was in order?
Tempting.
She glanced at herself into the window, frowning a little at her pallid complexion.
No, no, that would never do. The moment she was spotted outside the Grimmlands, Ozma would go ballistic.
Decades of watchful vigilance would follow, and she'd have to wait at least a century more before he lowered his guard again. Unless...?
(.0.0.0.)
"So...seems ol' Lionheart finally retired.
Ozpin took a long draught from his mug "So it would seem, Qrow."
"You want me to go check in on the new guy? He seems a little...odd.
"In due time. We shall give him a chance to settle into his role before we approach him.
He wasn't overly concerned by this sudden replacement.
Lionheart had a capable right hand, didn't he?
Whatever was her name again...?
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto sat behind Lionheart's desk with a world-weary sigh.
"I don't have to give a speech to the students, do I?"
"I'm afraid so, sir."
Damnit.
His head kissed said desk with an audible thunk.
He couldn't rely on Ann or Willow, or even Raven for this, could he?"
"Don't worry," his secretary hummed above him. "I've taken the liberty to prepare one for you."
"Really? You have?" he dared to raise his gaze. "Gee, thanks. I really appreciate it, miss...?"
He'd been so distracted he hadn't even bothered to look at the poor thing until now...
.
..
...errors were made.
"Its a pleasure to meet you, sir." she sketched a little bow I've heard great things."
Right, right, the resume Malachite had concocted for him.
And oh, wow...
His so-called secretary...did not look the part. She looked like a warrior; for she was a striking beauty with piercing green eyes, a winning smile, and lovely red hair. Those scarlet tresses tumbled down her back, easily reaching her shoulders, but what he really noticed was her armor, all red and blue and gold, replete with silver pauldrons and matching greaves. A large shield of golden bronze rested atop her back, nestled against a singular sword. A golden cord dangled from her hip, framed by blue tassels etched with strange bits of metal that clinked ever so softly as she moved. This wasn't some desk jockey. This was...a...
Huntress.
That settled it, then. This one was just too colorful, too outlandish, too strong to possibly be anything else.
"I'm Vanessa Nikos. She offered him her hand. "I look forward to working with you...
He grasped her hand. "Um, great. The pleasure is mine?"
Vanessa's smile sharpened.
How little he knew.
A/N: Hello, Pyrrha's mother~!
I'm sure many of you will recognize this absolute madwoman from my "Everybody Loves Cookies" tale, except here, she's in her prime.
Aaaaaand scene. We'll cut it there for today.
What say you? Would you like a timeskip next chapter? Or should we keep the current pace going? Really need to hear from you here.
Feels good to write another chapter for this but as ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Well, I won't continue it. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! That's no joke. I don't have days off anymore -two jobs will do that to you- and I'm working myself to the bone.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
That's no joke! I can't write without feedback. Guess that makes me weak...T_T
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
Potential ones at that.
Also, references.
(Previews)
"Yang," Weiss slapped a palm to her face. "You are a horrible sibling and I love you."
"Better than Winter?"
"I'm not saying that within earshot."
"I wanna fight!"
Naruto rolled over on the couch with a sigh. "Lets not. I'm sleepy.
"Fine. Reeeeeen! Help me tackle Dad!"
A soft sigh was his only warning before the little gremlins jumped him.
Qrow kept drinking. It kept the pain away.
Fuck Mistral. It took his sister and his niece. Whole damn place could burn for all he cared.
If there WAS a Maiden in Mistral, she was doing a damn good job at keeping her head down. Better than the other ones-
"Watchoutwatchoutwatchouuut~!"
Buzzed or no, Qrow still had a Hunters instinct; he heard the vice and stepped aside with seamless grace; dodged a tiny flash of long, tawny blond hair, watched it kick off a nearby wall and keep running. Lively lilac eyes flashed over her shoulder as she grinned back at him, never once pausing.
"Sorry!" her voice trailed after as she hurtled around the alley and out of sight.
"Bah. Cute kid. He ignored the girl's halfhearted apology and drank deeply from his flask. "Seems familiar...
Blond hair. Lilac eyes. A lively energetic blond girl who was the spitting image of...
Realization clicked. Red eyes bulged.
Booze sprayed the wall.
"Waitaminute!"
Naruto's head snapped to the side, a sole grunt of pain her only reward.
Bemused blue eyes blazed a baleful red. "You call that a punch?"
Little Yang gulped. "Aw, crapbaskets...
"Fair."
EDIT: Hey, thanks for reading!
Feels good to write another chapter for this.
As ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Well, I won't continue it. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! That's no joke. I don't have days off anymore -two jobs will do that to you- and I'm working myself to the bone.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
Hope you have a great day~!
R&R~!