Happy new year everyone! This chapter is a little early, but seeing that I have plans for tomorrow I wanted to upload this chapter before I forgot.

Not much to say here, so happy reading and please leave a review if you'd be so kind.

Cheers, Searoar.

"Straw sword!" Hawkins wasted no time and took initiative.

The sharp straw speeding over the beach's grainy sand, the attack was met by a strong parry then landed in the dirt.

His eyes watching his opponent's movements like a hawk, the magician narrowed his eyes at the rotary chamber above the bandit's sheath as it transitioned from red to blue. However, the bandit's sword had already been drawn and it didn't appear to have a gun feature, which meant she had something else planned...

"Straw Sword!" Hawkins repeated. This time the trajectory of his assault veered to the lower half of his enemy with the intent of jabbing their shins.

"Is that all you can do?" Raven growled and broke into a barrel roll followed by a quick sprint. She'd witnessed the attack before, but now she could place a face on the one it belonged to.

The distance between the two no more than ten feet, Hawkins' straw retracted so his blade could retake its metal form and he raised it squarely with his shoulders. The impact of Raven's sword against his grinding out sparks, the magician heard the clicks of gears beneath the bandit's hip and curled a brow as it had once again changed colors. This time it was yellow.

Eye contact broken, Raven dislodged her sword and swung for the blonde's neck that was denied by a shift in posture causing his left armlet to take the blow.

The abrupt block disrupting the bandit's balance, Hawkins stepped forward for a thrust, and immediately reached out his free hand after his sword was deflected. He managed to snag his opponent's collar then threw them to the ground, but as he followed up with an overhead slash, the bandit managed to regain her senses in the nick of time and scrambled out of danger.

His sword plunged in the sand, Hawkins grit his teeth and continued to pursue the downed woman. He only had three voodoo dolls prepared at the moment, so he didn't want to take any chances despite being currently in advantage. Hacking and slashing without remorse, the bandit let out a snarl of frustration and pounced up into a proper fighting stance.

Their weapons clashed once more, the magician denied the bandit's attempts to push forward and dug his heels into the sand. Slow to advance, Hawkins dislodged his blade first and swung with both hands on the hilt. Crimson pupils narrowed on Raven's midriff, the woman met the swing with one of her own but the direct exchange finally made her realize...

"H-Heavy?!" The ravenette clenched her teeth as the initial impact was enough to override her stance thus allowing Hawkins to nick her in the shoulder.

"Hmph!"

"Hah!"

"Hoh!"

The magician showed no mercy as he continuously cleaved at Raven as if she were a meaty steak.

Sweat beginning to surface on her forehead and limbs, the bandit imbued most of her aura reserves towards her wrists and hands. This stupid blonde didn't fight like her former teammates! He wanted to actually kill her!

The threat of death very much a reality, Raven's eyes widened at the vehement expression of the once stoic magician. His eyes burning with a conviction for the duel at hand, Hawkins' onslaught never faltered as he moved to attack from a different angle. Caught mid-clash, the upper half of the blonde's longsword morphed to rustling straw and gained a striking serpentine quality.

Thrusting and jabbing at Raven's skull, the bandit broke from the confrontation in a sense of panic. Everything she'd heard about her replacement was true! Hawkins' focus was unquestionable, only sparing the briefest of seconds to blink to clear his dusty vision.

Grainy sand kicked up from the battle, Raven bit her lower lip as the uncomfortable earthen elements mixed with her sweat beneath her disheveled clothing. As for Hawkins, while his preference was on the side of cleanliness, his time spent plowing the agricultural district's farms had increased his tolerance for dirt.

The magician's straw chasing in zig-zag motions, Raven made a mighty leap then landed atop a tall slab of rock that was a tad too close to the castle Yang had occupied. In an attempt to veer Raven off course, Hawkins pushed on with his straw to shoo the bandit away, and thankfully his plan succeeded.

Unwilling to allow the distance between Yang and her birth mother to close once more, Hawkins dashed toward his opponent with both hands on his sword's hilt. Raven jumped over him, then came down with a mighty heave of her own. The added momentum boosting her power, a violent clash followed with a nick on the magician's blade and a crack to sound from that of Raven's.

Hawkins cursed under his breath. He didn't carry a secondary weapon so his arsenal was limited, and while he depended on his devil fruit in a pinch...

"You're... not a bad fighter," Raven grumbled in an attempt to refill on fresh air.

"You're stronger than Mr. Long and Mr. Branwen, but only by a slight margin. Ms. Rose, on the other hand, I suppose the two of you are rivals in power." Hawkins replied calmly. Unknowing that his statement had triggered a nerve in the bandit's attitude.

"Pah," Raven spat, "don't lump me with that emotion-driven flower! She can mow down Grimm without batting an eye, but when it comes to the hard decisions she's no better than a bumbling brat!"

"Hm..." Hawkins lowered his blade slightly. "A tad jealous are we?"

"What?" His opponent hissed in distaste.

The magician schooled his panting lungs and adrenaline-filled heart.

"I've done my fair share of research in regards to the dynamic of the former team STRQ." He said. "And while the bias against you has influenced my opinion, I cannot say that you did not share personal sentiments for your former comrades."

"Don't act as though you know me."

The former pirate smirked. "You're underestimating my abilities of deduction. For example, I know that it was your discourse with Summer that caused the initial tear in your relationship."

"Please... It's as if she's right in every damn predicament..."

Hawkins scoffed. "I never said that did I?"

Curiosity piqued, Raven's temper cooled just a smidge. "Don't try to play the nice card. We're both aware that trick won't work."

"I'm not trying to be nice," Hawkins admitted, "merely thorough in my examinations. Tell me, was it really Mr. Long who approached you first?"

The bandit gave a mocking laugh.

"Hah!" She said. "To think the man my brother spoke so highly about would be a petty gossiper. Does it surprise you that Tai was attracted to my womanly charms? That's how that blonde idiot put it anyway."

"My criteria for a significant other is far from what you can offer," the magician replied plainly, "but it is not your body that I am interested in, merely your history in the missions of STRQ."

Raven's blood-tinted pupils darkened. "I no longer have any affiliation with that title so why should I dig up a dead past?"

"Because the dead tend to leave a nasty stench," Hawkins sighed, "especially when bitterness was used as a seasoning for separation. So I'll ask a different question, other than jealousy, what is fueling your desire to be here?"

"Why should I have to tell you anything? You're just a fill-in that my former teammates are clinging onto for favors, and I doubt that they can properly think for themselves at this point." Raven scowled. Temper ignited by the magician's prodding, she yelled at him to mind his own business.

"That's what I'm trying to do," The former pirate groaned, "but the circumstances that both you and my teammates have put me in are causing all sorts of altercations in my peaceful life."

Taking a deep breath, Hawkins sheathed his longsword as to show he no longer wished to trade steel. The action made Raven flinch, her sights darting about for a surprise attack but her expectations were never met. Instead, the bandit found herself in an awkward stalemate of silence as a tired pair of crimson glared at her.

"As the percentages stand, the chances of you rearing your head into my business continue to grow. Just yesterday it stood at 32%, but now it's gone up to 55%. I cannot ignore these tarot readings any longer and must take action before things get out of my control. So, Ms. Branwen, will you leave this island in peace? Or will you continue to return to the stomping grounds you despise to retrieve something that is no longer yours?"

"That roaming child is mine and you know it!" Raven barked. "Tai and Summer have already made a blonde of their own, so why should it matter if I take mine back?!"

"A blonde of their own?" Hawkins pondered. Wait, does that mean Yang isn't actually adopted? Huh... things were getting more and more interesting by the day, and to be honest, Hawkins disliked the direction of where things were going.

The summer heat reflecting of his sweaty pale skin, the magician slowly shook his head with closed eyes. When he reopened them, he was surprised to see the woman across from him hadn't changed her position. Instead, it appeared as though she were observing him?

"All I can say is... Don't trust Ozpin, all he gives are half-truths. A strong man like you deserves to know at least that."

"Beacon's Headmaster?" The blonde curled a brow. He hadn't had many interactions with the praised academic leader, even after he was officially registered in Vale's hunter ranks. However, from what he'd heard from his cohorts who came from the institution Ozpin governed, he was worthy of trust.

Then again, he could not doubt the readings his cards had predicted. As it stood, the reason for team STRQ's falling out was caused by the tension between Ms. Branwen and Ms. Rose, but other than his assumption of jealousy being the primary wedge, he hadn't calculated anything in regards to Ozpin.

Perhaps... there were more tarot readings required in regards to his and Jaune's future that he'd have to conduct in solitude.

"Very well..." The magician sighed deeply. "For the insight, you've given me, I will bestow upon you an even trade."

Raven unconsciously leaned in.

"The chances of you succeeding leadership over your tribe, as things currently stand, are only 25%. So I'd suggest you find a different career path if you value your life."

"What? How do you know about that? My brother isn't that chatty."

"Hmph, not in public, but I tend to hear things that aren't addressed to me from time to time," Hawkins said as he recalled the events from earlier this morning.

/-/

The sun still below the horizon, the heavy lids over the blonde's eyes refusing to fall as Hawkins shifted side-to-side in his bed but in an attempt to find a position comfortable enough for slumber but failed in doing so. Rubbing his temples, the magician sluggishly left his bed and leaned against the wall. The children were already asleep, with Jaune and Trifa sharing Yang and Ruby's room as usual.

Sam and Carla had their own private quarters, with Summer and Tai having theirs. As for Qrow, the whiskey-loving hunter tended to disappear during the night but was currently in the household at this hour.

How did Hawkins know? The answer came with the soft thumps of shoes that echoed through the quiet hallway of the cabin and were being followed by a lighter and more trepidatious pair. Trying to give his crimson pupils rest, his rattled mind denied him as a flash of his usual nightmares erupted from the darkness.

Breaths heavy, Hawkins groaned and came to the conclusion that a nice cup of hot tea would ease his nerves. He slipped on his ruffle-collared cloak, as the only thing keeping him decent was a pair of long baggy boxers, and slowly made his way down the dimly lit hallway. Unfortunately, however, the lights of the kitchen were illuminated meaning his trip for tea would have to wait.

Seated around the table, was Summer beside her husband wearing their pajamas with Qrow sitting across from the two.

"This isn't something we can discuss through words alone. You both know that my sister's always been more of a hands-on kinda person." Qrow, dressed in his hunter uniform, grumbled as he popped the cap off his flask.

"You make it sound like I don't know my former partner." Summer grumbled as she savagely bit into a chocolate chip cookie. "And I thought the rule was no drinking during our vacation?"

Reluctant but obedient, Qrow's throat stayed dry as he twisted the cap back on.

"Moving on," Tai was quick to get the conversation back on track, "we need to establish how we're going to keep the kids safe. The best option is to cancel everything here and now, but I doubt Raven's stubbornness will follow our example."

"As much as I hate to admit it..." Summer sulked. "Having Hawkins around is probably for the best."

Qrow and Tai furrowed their brows while the magician in the shadows curled one of his own.

"He's dependable," Summer continued, "and he's been kind enough not to prod our past history with Raven."

The red reaper bit her lower lip. "But at the same time, I can't help but feel as though we're taking advantage of him. Hawkins and his family don't deserve to be put in danger, yet here we are discussing how we're going to leave Yang under his care until we deal with our former teammate."

The man in question sighed under his breath. "I already knew what was expected of me, Ms. Rose, you don't need to harp on feeling guilty all the time..."

The discussion between the hunters and huntress veering towards Raven's ambitions for leadership and her desire to have her birth child be a representative taking queue, Hawkins felt as though he'd heard all he required and silently made his way back to his room.

Though the bags beneath his eyes were thick, he pulled out his tarot cards and predicted the chance of combat tomorrow stood at 76%.

/-/

Back to the present...

"And thus, here we are, at each other's throats because of your ambitions," Hawkins said lazily as he unsheathed his sword once more.

"I didn't come here for your useless monologues!" Raven spat through clenched teeth.

Diverting an incoming swing for his neck, the blonde stepped back then lunged forward with his free hand. Clamping his fingers around the bandit's neck, he hoisted her into the air then slammed her against the sand.

This move depleted Raven's lungs, but she managed to initiate a swift counterattack and landed a sturdy heel against Hawkins' jaw. Separated, Raven scrambled to her feet and somersaulted a good twenty feet from her opponent allowing the magician to spare a glance in Yang's direction.

From the young brawler's view, she'd never seen such a barbaric display of combat. Sure, her parents and Uncle Qrow had gone into great detail in regards to their missions as a team, but they'd never gone into detail about her Uncle Hawkins' contributions except for the vague fact that he was really strong. To be honest, seeing her blonde uncle in such a serious state sent a chill down her spine.

It wasn't like his usual stoic stare, the one he'd show to everyone whether they were friends or strangers, and it shook Yang's core to witness such a sight.

Gulping nervously, Yang covered her mouth to stop a yelp when the sword of the random stranger met her uncle's chest. Yet despite taking a clear blow, Hawkins didn't stagger and returned the stranger's advance with a hard fist to the face.

"Crack!"

The tough retort caused the bandit's mask to yield, a section beneath the left eye had fallen off to expose a quarter view of the bandit's true visage. All the while, some sort of straw doll had slithered out of her uncle's shoulder with a gash in its mid-section.

"Life minus one..." Hawkins grunted.

The scene startling both Yang and Raven, the tribe member staggered back with wide eyes. She infused a serious amount of aura in that slash to the magician's chest! How was it that he was still standing as if nothing had happened?!

"Straw Sword!" The blonde huffed and thrust his blade forward.

"The same trick again?" Raven scowled and parried the incoming jabs in annoyance. However, this time she made sure to pay close attention to both the straw creation and the one who controlled it. Though all Hawkins stayed in place, only sparring the energy to guide the attack so his transformed blade, Raven noticed the blonde stealing glances at the messy rock castle directly behind him.

Eyes narrowed and assumptions made, the bandit shifted tactics and allowed her weapon to shatter on the next strike. The rotation mechanism on her sheath shining a light blue, she pressed a hidden button just below the hilt of her sword and detached the broken remnants of her former red blade.

Shoving the handle back into its sheath, a loud click occurred that was followed by a new blade of frosty blue. Infusing a great chunk of aura into her weapon, Raven smacked the shining blade against Hawkins' incoming straw causing the rustling approach to gain a cold and stiff quality to it. The chilling effect spreading all the way to the magician's hilt, Hawkins staggered the iced straw caused him to shiver.

"I'm taking her with me whether you like it or not, so it'd be in your best interest to stop resisting me!"

Running past the stunted blonde with a jumping knee to the neck, Raven rebounded and landed within an arm's length of the rock castle. Her assumptions proved correct as her opponent hounded after her, she slashed the upper sections of stone to peer within its shaded confines.

A yellow ahoge twitching rapidly back and forth, the girl it belonged to clasped her hands over her eyes and huddled down with her face towards the ground. She wanted to look to see if her Uncle Hawkins was safe, but fear had overtaken her caring nature, pushing it aside for cowardice.

"There you are..." Raven's tone almost sounded sweet.

"U-Uncle Hawkins!" Yang spluttered, hands still over her teary visage. "S-Save me!"

A chord striking within the stoic man's chest, his stone facade crumbled under the distressful pressure and broke apart to allow the devil within to emerge. Straw bellowing from all pores, the mighty scarecrow stood proud with its sharp iron nails flexing for blood.

"GROOOOAAAR!"

The mighty roar shaking the sand and all those who stood upon it, Raven whirled around to address the threat, but the moment her eyes landed on the daunting figure that charged towards her; she let out a high-pitched scream. The large monstrosity was unlike anything she'd ever seen, and given her ability to transform into a corvid, one could assume the bird aspects had influenced her reaction.

Knees trembling and palms clammy, Raven tried to snag Yang and flee but was denied by a quick swipe from the intimidating scarecrow. Unwilling to move from his position, Hawkins guarded the dismantled castle in the likeness of a devote hound. Though many of his features had been transformed, the crimson gems he had for eyes remained the same and he used them to stare down the once courageous bandit.

The distance too close for safe retaliation, Raven jumped back in retreat but was followed by a sharp set of nails that were the size of long daggers. Said nails, hooked beneath the cracks of her mask, and pierced through. Fortunately for the bandit, Hawkins' nails missed flesh but managed to tear through the bands that kept the mask in place.

The Grimm-themed accessory thudding in the sand, it was then the magician could put two and two together as an unmistakably similar face was finally revealed. During the battle, he could see her blood-colored pupils through the slits in the mask, but it was the shape of her face and her long midnight locks that triggered his speculations. The twitching ahoge atop the lush hair was also a dead giveaway.

There was no denying it, this woman had to be Yang's true mother.

"Clunk~"

The sound of stone clicking against one another, Hawkins glanced with his peripherals and cursed under his breath when he saw a curious pair of lilac eyes. He couldn't blame her as the foundations of her hiding spot had been destroyed, but he really wished she hadn't peeked over the crumbled ridge.

"Kyaaa!" Yang screamed as her visage twisted in confusion, then into shock, then back to absolute bewilderment. Her eyes had widened to the size of dinner plates before scuttling back to safety.

Letting out another great roar, Hawkins charged towards the one responsible for this entire confrontation. Fury in his gaze, Raven saw this as her queue to retreat and slashed open a portal in haste. Wasting no time, she stepped through the fizzling aura before Hawkins could finish his pursuit leaving only him and a little girl on the beachside.

"...Yang?" Hawkins peered over the ruined castle but was met with a smooth rock to the face.

"G-Get away from me you monster! I-I don't know what you did to my Uncle H-Hawkins but I know h-he's still around here somewhere! And when he comes back he's going to kick your butt! So leave me alone!" She yelped in tears.

She tried to run, but fear clasped around her ankles and weighed them down. With no other option, Yang covered her head and cowered pitifully, screaming for her uncle Hawkins to come back and save her.

The former pirate steeled his nerves and blinked. Finally, he realized he hadn't morphed back to his human form. The reason for Yang's scream, it wasn't because of the bandit, it was because of him.

Taking a deep breath, Hawkins relinquished the straw around his body and allowed it to fall on the sandy ground. Now back to the stoic shape he was known for, he removed the glove on his hand then stretched it towards Yang's scalp to gently rub it.

"Yang," he said in an unfamiliar soft tone he'd only used for Jaune on rare occasions, "the monster is gone so you can open your eyes now."

Hearing the low monotonous voice of her uncle, as well as feeling his calloused hands run through her hair, the young brawler timidly opened her eyes and screamed for joy when she saw a pale face and dark crimson eyes.

Jumping up and wrapping her arms around the adult's neck, Yang nuzzled her head against her uncle's chest while soaking it with salty sobs. Hawkins tried to stand and remove her from the uncomfortable position, but the child's grip refused to let go. Sighing, Hawkins veered his neck down to glance at the crying girl.

The moment he did, his weary eyes roamed the mixture of fear and sadness plastered on her innocent face.

"I..." Yang whimpered weakly. "I was so scared!"

"It's..." Hawkins said soothingly. "It's alright, I'm here now and no one is going to take you away."

He'd read the line from a book Tukson had recommended him once, and to think he'd actually use it was unexpected.

His words caused Yang's breath to hitch, and she continued to cry and thank her uncle for saving her. All the while, Hawkins contemplated that it would be quite a while until he could bring the little one home.

But... Strangely enough, the stoic man was okay with comforting her for the time being, even if it meant his cloak would pay the price in snot and salty tears...

"U-Uncle Hawkins?" Yang managed through heavy breaths.

"Yes?"

"W-Why did that mean lady look... like me?"

"So you did see..."

A deep frown pulling his visage downward, the magician racked his meticulous mind for a plausible response, but all he could do was slowly shake his head and offer physical comfort. All the while, while Yang appreciated her guardian's protective and gentle embrace without a doubt, her brain and emotions began to race as the terrifying image of the black-haired stranger would not disappear from her thoughts.