"Ah, there she is, the little snowbird of our ever-growing circle." Tyrian grinned from ear to ear as he pushed open the black curtain of his respective booth.
A humble place fitted with red tables and matching chairs, the scent of steaming broth filled the main floor as eager customers happily stuffed their mouths with noodles.
"You're late." The woman sighed as she flicked a stray lock of green hair behind her left ear.
Dressed in a simple olive tank top with the word 'Happy' boldly imprinted on its chest, a pair of yellow and orange-striped pants covered her long legs and ended with a pair of rubber sneakers.
Despite her physical modifications in punk hazard, when she'd arrived on this vast world of Remnant her wings and bird limbs had been swapped out for the typical set of human limbs.
"My apologies, Monet, I didn't expect that you of all people would be attending Beacon's grand get-together. What brings you here anyway? I thought our mistress ordered you and that messy eating fellow to keep an eye on Crocodile."
Monet sighed. "Vergo decided it'd be best that I focus my attention elsewhere. Besides, there's been all sorts of rumors about a recent addition from the north blue, and as a fellow inhabitant of that vast sea, I wanted to greet the newcomer personally."
Her lips curling to a snide smile, the woman reached a slender hand toward a hot cup of green tea.
"Hmph, I don't think this new addition is anything to get worked up about. Hawkins doesn't seem like a proactive type, and he's pretty much a downer wherever he goes. He wouldn't be a useful asset to our goddess' goals."
Monet blinked, a single brow raised, she took a few sips and spoke.
"Hawkins? As in Basil Hawkins, the magician?"
The scorpion Faunus tilted his head. "Hm? Are you already familiar with that stoic blonde?"
"Not exactly," the greenette hummed, "but I am aware of his exploits on the first half of the grande line. Truly a tragedy, who could've imagined that a blooming monster such as he would fall on the first lap of the race?"
"Blooming monster?" Tyrian scoffed. "I already told you that he's nothing worth writing home about..."
"While that might be true," Monet cut in, "it would still be interesting to meet him. Tell me, does Hawkins live nearby?"
The brunette offered a smug smirk and cupped his chin. "If memory serves, that so-called magician you're referring to currently occupies the agricultural district. He shouldn't be too hard to find seeing he's the only human in that small Faunus community."
"I see, why would our informant leave out a crucial detail such as a name? Oh well, more fun for me I suppose." Monet grinned.
"Even if the information we've received is true, I don't trust that mysterious informant." Tyrian plopped cross-legged on the other end of the table and shrugged.
"Oh? This is rare, I thought you were utterly devoted to our supposed goddess of destruction. Are you really questioning who she affiliates herself with?" Monet giggled.
"Of course not!" Tyrian fumed. "It's just that very same spirit traded blows with our goddess' forces in the great war! As an honorary advisor, I cannot allow my mistress to be tricked!"
"Easy, Tyrian." Monet cooed. "We don't want to jeopardize the strategic position you've attained, so why don't we move onto more important matters and settle in with some nice hot noodles?"
She waved to a nearby waiter and asked for two large bowls of ramen and a side order of gyoza.
"You're paying by the way." Monet giggled as Tyrian puffed his cheeks and crossed his arms.
A couple of nibbles and cups of tea later, the atmosphere grew comfortable and Monet eased into her seat.
"So, how many died in those dreaded flames that you started?" She asked bluntly.
Her cohort cackled. "It was an impressive display, wasn't it? I lament that no blood was spilled, but I did gather some useful information in regards to Beacon's golden generation."
Tyrian gulped down a heavy wad of noodles. "While nothing compared to the greatness of our queen, they do pose a notable threat to our operations.
/-/
"Hawkins, be careful!" Summer wailed and tackled the panting magician to the ground.
Wrestling for control, Hawkins elbowed the red reaper's ribs and forced himself to stand. His cloak drenched in sweat and his cheeks heated, the magician ignored the pleas of his overworked muscles and continued the chase for his flying tarot cards.
"What's gotten into him?!" Summer growled and trailed her friend's pursuit.
Stomping into a clearing, the harsh winds died down as the sun shined through a gap in the graying sky.
"HAWKINS!" The huntress screamed so hard she thought her lungs had burst.
If the man heard her, he made no effort to respond. Instead, he snapped his gaze back and forth, tracing the paths of his falling cards as they settled on the disturbed grass.
"...Hawkins?" Summer slowly walked up and tugged the blonde's sleeve. Too ashamed to face him head-on, she remained at his side and whispered.
"It's getting late, and Grimm tend to be more active during the night. I... I'll help you find your cards on another day, maybe we can get Glynda and her team to help us out too?"
The magician said nothing. His crimson stare directed toward a gap in the trees, an ominous pair of narrow, blood-colored eyes peeked through the shadows and were promptly followed by a loud snarl.
Summer reached for the black compartment holstered on her back. With the touch of a button, her fingers wrapped around the handles of her trusty dual swords as the dust mechanisms attached to the hilt swapped to a bright red.
"Hawkins, we need to get out of here, or else we'll be swarmed. An adult Beowolf is nothing to be worried about, but a hungry pack can vary from thirty to a hundred."
Languidly, the Grimm horde made its presence known as slobbered jaws and sharp claws poked through the plantations and entered the clearing. Their numbers well over a hundred, a bead of sweat trickled down Summer's forehead as she prepared to activate her semblance.
The magician, all the while, paid no mind to his malevolent foes. Instead, his sights wandered to a few pieces of colored paper that littered the empty space a few feet from the Grimm.
"Hawkins," Summer whimpered and tugged on his sleeve again. She trusted her abilities, but her stamina and aura weren't unlimited. Should this break into an all-out brawl, she feared she wouldn't have the energy or dust to defend her or Hawkins.
The magician grit his teeth. "My tarot cards..."
Peering up, the red reaper's heart skipped a beat at her friend's visage. His skin several shades paler, his once fiery pupils seemed glassy and unfocused. His chest rose and fell in an unsteady rhythm, and despite all her warnings, he stepped forward with his hand clasped on his sword's hilt.
Her form trembling, Summer took the initiative and activated her semblance. In a blizzard of rose petals, the world around her blurred as she shifted her direction toward the path from which she came.
Blitzing past countless trees and crashing through an absurd amount of bushes, she'd completed her duty and brought both herself and Hawkins to safety.
"Phew... you're lucky that I have a speed-related semblance. If we stayed there for another second those Beowolves would've attacked." She chuckled nervously.
Wiping her wet forehead with the magician's navy cloak, Summer's hand paused when she realized the cloth was lacking its owner. Blinking rapidly, her silver pupils widened to their maximum radius and her heart thundered into overdrive.
"H-Hawkins?!"
Dropping her swords and gripping her hair, the huntress fell on her knees.
"Why?! Why are those cards more important than your life, than your friends?! If you just followed and trusted me, it never would have ended this way, RAVEN!"
Her eyes dimmed by remorseful tears, the red reaper bit her lower lip to the point of drawing blood.
"All... All this time I considered you and my former partner as similar. But... despite all of the things I forced you into, you never abandoned me. I never took you as a materialistic person, but those cards must've been an irreplaceable treasure..."
The red reaper clenched her fists and pounded the ground.
"Yet I subconsciously blamed you for my partner's personal flaws, even though you're completely different people!"
Summer tried to stand, but her muscles failed her and she landed on her rump with a thud. She needed to save him. Hawkins, by all definitions, was innocent when it came to the internal struggles of her team. The only thing she could really blame him for was his rude comments, but those were just petty words at the end of the day.
"Come on, get a move on, Summer. You're a full-fledged huntress, and Hawkins is going to die if you don't go back for him!"
Her knuckles white, no matter how many orders her brain sent, her body refused to comply.
"Stupid body! Move already!" Summer screeched, but her body remained still.
"Damn it! Stop sobbing like a useless baby and move!"
"Don't be an indecisive leader! Don't be a worthless spectator! Don't be the same stupid idiot that you've always been!"
Broken, and alone, the huntress covered her face in an attempt to hide her weakness, but the powerful waterfall of emotions knew no mercy. Hunching over, she tucked in her knees and wrapped them with her arms.
Moments passed, and after what felt like an eternity of self-deprecating solace, a friendly voice spoke up.
"...Summer, is everything alright?"
The red reaper's breath hitched and she almost choked on her tears. Her ears muddled, she looked up in hopes of seeing a pale face, crimson eyes, and long golden locks, but to her disappointment, she was met with a thick head of gray hair, bushy eyebrows, and a matching mustache.
"P-Port?"
Without warning, Summer lunged for a hug that the stout gentleman almost failed to meet. Though he did wrinkle his brows at the crushed bouquets pressed between their chests.
"Easy my friend. What seems to be the problem?" He didn't expect to meet with the red reaper on his afternoon stroll, but the second he saw her face he was glad he did.
"I-I'm such an idiot!" The huntress wept. "And Hawkins is going to die because of it!"
Port's hold faltered but he quickly recovered and carefully drew Summer closer.
"I thought I told you to not lie to yourself anymore? It's one thing to admit your faults, but you should never put yourself down on a whim. Please, just take a few deep breaths and I'll help you sort the storm you're in."
The red reaper peered up at him with quivering eyes. "I-I've been trying so hard to keep my team together, but every time I think I'm making progress, I find myself back where I started. H-How can I call myself an adult after all the mistakes I've made?"
Port slid a hand from the woman's back and gently patted her head. "Children run from their problems or choose to blame others for their own choices. But the fact that you've constantly confronted each of your obstacles, makes you an adult in my book."
"B-But I..." Summer whimpered.
"I've spoken to Qrow and Tai."
With that statement, Port winced as Summer's nails dug past his suit and nicked skin.
"Don't worry, I made sure to fix those bumbling buffoons straight, and I believe that they're ready, to be honest with you. It might take some time, but the thought of losing their friendship with you, I don't think Tai and Qrow can imagine that."
His words striking home, Port found himself fumbling to breathe at his cohort's crushing embrace.
"B-By the way, before we get too off track, you mentioned something about Hawkins being in danger earlier right?"
Summer flinched. "T-That's right! There's a giant Grimm horde not too far from here, and when I tried to escape, Hawkins slipped out of my grasp!"
Port nodded. "Alright, then it sounds like we need to assemble a reasonable force. Do you have your scroll with you?"
"Y-Yes!"
"I know you don't want to talk to them just yet, but I want you to call Qrow, Tai, and Tyrian if he's around. For now, is not the time for emotional squabbles when the life of a dear friend is on the line."
Her silver pupils, once drowned by sorrow, now burned with righteous resolve. Gripping her scroll with an iron grip, she dialed the two numbers she blocked only a few hours prior.
"Qrow, Tai, Tyrion. Get off your lazy butts and meet me at the Emerald Forest, and don't you dare mention anything along the lines of an apology. I need your focus to be on fighting Grimm and saving Hawkins, nothing more nothing less." She said in a tone that left no room for argument.
"Atta girl!" Port chuckled as he dialed Glynda's number.
/-/
The sinister snarls of the obsidian horde looming ever closer, Hawkins stayed put, his gaze solely on the cards that crumpled beneath the Beowolves' paws.
His nerves shocked and his mind rattled, it took all his willpower to not flee the area. Retreating with Summer would've been the best course of action for survival, but in doing so he'd abandon an irreplaceable token bestowed upon the very men he mourned.
His upper torso laid bare, the sun no longer basked the magician's pale skin as the graying clouds had fully turned. With soft pitters of rain mudding the future battlefield, Hawkins closed his eyes and pondered.
Was the encounter to come truly worth it? He'd risk his life in exchange for a few pieces of paper, and if he did decide to stay he lacked a suitable supply of straw dolls as, though he hated to admit it, didn't want to use the souls of the kind farmers who'd provided for him.
With the pause provided, Hawkins found himself embarking on the roads of past memories. Devastating lasers of purging light burning his skin, the desperate cries of his crew and his burning ship flashed into view.
However, amidst the chaos, another emotion nicked his heart that differed from the usual dread and anguish.
/-/
"Captain, is something the matter?" Asked Faust on a typical early morning.
Seated beneath the mainmast, Hawkins fiddled with his cards as a heavy frown marred his stoic features.
"My deck was damaged in our last confrontation with the marines and the uneven paper is proving difficult to shuffle."
"I see, well you'll be glad to know that your crew decided to solve that very issue." The mink allowed a rare grin to slip past his stone facade.
"Hm?" His captain raised a single brow as his right hand dug into his cloak and revealed a neat stack of cards tied together by a blue ribbon.
The magician blinked and his fingers slowed. "Is this a gift?"
Faust nodded. "The men and I noticed that you maintain your cards more than your longsword, so we figured we'd replace your damaged belongings before we reached the next island. Though I'm not a braggart, I'd like to point out that most of the artwork of your new deck was done by yours truly."
"Hey, that's not fair, Faust!" Cried the surrounding crewmates. "We found the paper and cut it exactly to the size you wanted!"
A roar of laughter, even Hawkins found the urge to chuckle too hard to resist. As the afternoon sunshine drifted away to make room for an oncoming rainfall, the world around him shifted as the pitters of water soaked the floorboards and overhead sails.
/-/
"Growr!"
The reality of his current situation emphasized by a harsh snarl, the magician lifted his heavy lids and narrowed his gaze on the hungry horde of malevolent beasts.
"Riiiip!"
The cards beneath their sharp boney claws splitting into fragments, a surge of heat erupted from Hawkins' stomach and worked its way to his heart and brain. The horrifying nightmares of his failures at Sabaody Archipelago vanishing with the sunlight, a new fire had been lit, and this one was of a battle-hardened pirate with a 249,000,000 berry bounty.
"The shadow of death will not be merciful on this day..."
His words hollow and devoid of emotion, the glimmering steel of his polished longsword reflected the brooding rage in the fiery gemstones he had for eyes. Hawkins couldn't afford to die today, after all, he had a new son to take care of, and a reluctant date that required his attendance tomorrow.
Taking a deep breath, the silence was broken as thundering paws echoed across the clearing. The space between the magician and the devilish monstrosities dwindling by the second, a crack of lightning resonated over the forest and ignited the dry bark of several trees.
The stage set, the picture of chiseled abs and long golden locks cleaving through a boney obsidian canvas filled the burning and muddy field. All the while, a thrill of excitement sparkled in Hawkins' soul as the drums of bloodshed rung in his ears.
"Straw Sword!"
His sharp blade traded for a piercing lance of straw, it whipped and stabbed through the joints, necks, and eyes of every Beowolf present leaving only a cluster of chalk-white bones behind.
"Growr!" Caught in the back, a set of jaws clamped down on Hawkins' exposed shoulder, but as blood seeped through the wound, the skin between the Beowolf's maw shifted from pale flesh to wavy straw.
The Grimm's feet now dangling off the dirt, its beady eyes widened as a much larger pair stared it down.
"Demon Face!" Hawkins bellowed. With that, he thrust his jagged nails down the Beowolf's gullet, ripped it apart, then used its severed limbs as dual clubs to wreak destruction through the rampaging hordes like a madman.
/-/
"Jeez, how far into the forest did you run, Summer?" Tai panted while wiping the rain and sweat off his brows.
"I-I don't know! All I do know is that this is the path that I came from!" The red reaper shouted with worry etched on her face.
"Maybe we should split up?" Oobleck said as he pulled out his thermos.
"No, if the situation is as bad as Summer claims, then parting our combined force would only put more lives at risk. Only as a team do we stand a chance at rescuing that stupid magician!" Glynda scolded and made sure to keep her allies close with her semblance.
"Easy everyone, now's not the chance for petty squabbles! So make sure to keep an eye on our surroundings, as you never know what kind of Grimm could be lurking in the shadows!" Port added.
"Wait a second, is that who I think it is?" Qrow pointed to a clearing in the distance.
Summer gasped. "That has to be Hawkins, come on we're almost there!"
Her excitement and worry getting the best of her, the red reaper broke into a stream of rose petals with a coffee-infused history enthusiast hot on her heels.
"Gosh, I don't know how your boyfriend does it Thumbelina, even during our school years, Oobleck was the only one capable of keeping pace with my leader." Tai joked.
The peach-haired huntress beamed a toothy smile. "My Ooberry might be a bookworm, but he values exercise almost as much as history!"
"My, what an enthusiastic bunch you all are!" Tyrian cackled madly.
"We're finally here!" Summer announced as her heels skidded to a stop.
"Huzzah! Don't worry, Hawkins, teams STTQ and GPPO have come to save-" Oobleck's throat dried out the moment he laid eyes on the war-torn clearing.
"Guys, did you find-" Qrow's voice failed him as well along with all the others who joined him.
There, sitting lazily atop a mountain of Grimm bones, was a victorious magician whimsically shuffling his tarot cards. Though battered and bloody, the smallest hint of a smile lifted his lips as he muttered several readings to himself. His sword resided beside him, lodged in the skull of what appeared to be a former Ursa Major.
"H-Hawkins?" Summer said through quivering lips. Sheathing her blades, she checked the area to find that not a single Beowolf had survived the battle.
Her mouth agape, she tried to say something else, but with her frazzled mind, all she could produce was silent air. Without warning, she sped up the bone mountain and hugged him. The force of the short woman almost throwing Hawkins off his seat.
"Ms. Rose," Hawkins wheezed, "the gesture is appreciated but is not needed. So please release your hold."
"I'm just glad that you're okay." Her face nuzzled against his chest, her silver eyes widened at the loud thumps of her stoic friend's heart rate.
Tilting her head upward, Summer blinked several times before registering the tiniest bit of pink on Hawkins' stern visage. Breaking away from the embarrassing hold, the red reaper joined her friends at the base of the bone pile with flushed cheeks.
One careless shrug later, the magician shook off his emotions and set his eyes on the members of GPPO.
"Ah, Ms. Goodwitch, I didn't expect you to be here. Fear not, our joined appointment for tomorrow will continue as planned, but I'm afraid my contributions will be rather reserved."
The female blonde remained quiet, her mind still trying to cope with how Hawkins managed to speak with a cut riddled mouth.
"The sentiments are appreciated, but I'd like to go home now before any useless chatter ensues." Hawkins sluggishly descended from the bone pile and staggered toward the bewildered group.
"Oops, careful young fellow, it's obvious you've put in enough work for ten veteran huntsmen and we cannot allow our new comrade to fall. Thumbelina, could you provide some medical aid while the rest of us scout the area? Though the main threat is gone, we should ensure there aren't any stragglers looming about."
Port supported the magician from the right and Qrow took his left.
"Of course, please be patient, Hawkins. This is going to sting a bit but you'll feel better in a few minutes." Thumbelina dug through a medkit strapped to her waist and retrieved a roll of gauze and a bottle of alcohol and set to work.
"Hey, Summer?" Tai weaved around his mumbling friends and stood before his leader.
"Yes?" The red reaper asked with her hands on her hips.
"Can we talk?" The pun lover rubbed his neck, he didn't smile, but the determination in his indigo eyes held firm.
Her sights shifting to Qrow, the ravenette nodded with a solemn visage, but he too held an expression that begged for reconciliation. Pursing her lips, Summer sighed and tilted her head toward Hawkins.
Oddly enough the magician was already looking in her direction. "There's a 97% chance that your teammates will be honest with you. If your objective is to mend old wounds, I'd suggest that now would be the best time to do so."
"I'll just stay here if you don't mind." Tyrian chimed from the pile of Grimm remains and appeared to be playing with the skull of an adult Beowolf.
"That won't do," Glynda cut in, "our presence here will only lure more malevolent beasts. Port, Oobleck, assist Hawkins to his feet, and let's be on our way. I'm not in the mood for Grimm exterminations, and we don't have the resources to outlast a serious gathering of those dastardly beasts."
The men of GPPO agreed wholeheartedly as Thumbelina finished wrapping the magician's torso and forehead. Positioned on his left and right, the jolly men assured their stoic magician that he'd return home safely.
"Alright, we'll set the pace. Qrow, Tai, Tyrian, let's go." Summer quipped.
"Yes, Summer," the duo replied.
"Wait for me!~" Tyrian cackled and skipped over to his teammates.
Seeing the backs of STTQ fading down the winding path of the forest, Hawkins felt his swollen eyes narrow on Summer and Tai. He tried to look away, to focus his attention elsewhere, but when he saw their timid hands reach for each other and eventually meet, an unrecognizable sting pulled his heartstrings and left a pain much greater than the scars from the Grimm.
*Grad Reunion Arc Part 2. End.*