A/N: Hardly any feedback due to the bloody site notifications still being down. Can anyone see this? T_T
Here we are at long last! Split this in half to get it out in time and even then it was a near thing, sorry if its rough in places.
All these site problems are really hitting me hard in the inspiration...
Frankly, its a miracle I managed to get this out today, I've been exhausted, sleeping until right before work and the life. In other news, I have a vehicle again...I just owe a lot of money on said vehicle after the repairs. Now I need the bloody brakes fixed and the AC besides. I can live without the latter, though it'll be hot and uncomfortable. The former...not so much. Truly, the world runs on money these days, and this is what I get for having the same car for so long. Still taking care of my sister until mid-July, so that's eating into my time as well. But once that's done, I'll finally have more time to write...I hope. If not, I just might shatter like the Elden Ring.
As usual, all the bills fall to me. Because of course they do. I hate being the oldest sometimes...
Still, here we go. More than FOURTEEN chapters for this story in TWO MONTHS. Hope you enjoyed them; I'm utterly exhausted. I wanted, and still want this to be good story, not a simple "Naruto bangs a, b, c, d, yadda yadda yadda." His actions have consequences; his words and will shape the world around him; I wanted every chapter to reflect that. Hopefully, I succeeded.
RWBY may have been canned by Warner Bros for now, but we fanfiction writers are out here trying to keep the light alive, as it were. 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 little 'ol me, made solely for entertainment and the sake of laughter.
Seriously, I own nothing. You all know that well by now, I'm sure~! Now that we've gotten all those words out the way...time to set the scene.
The myriad misunderstandings between characters remain GLORIOUS as ever.
Now, then! We haven't forgotten about Taiyang and Summer, of course. To say nothing of Qrow.
After all, while Naruto's learning of the Belladona plight, the others are...
...somewhat occupied at the moment.
Ruby was a delight to write.
Little bundle of energy~!
"Enough...I have endured...more...than ENOUGH!"
~Frenzy.
Meet the Girls
Summer jolted awake with a yelp.
Chains! Chair! Pain! Owowowowouch!
Why did everything hurt?! She wanted to go home!
The dank smell of old mortar reached her a moment later, causing her to blanch as she squinted into the crushing gloom. Wait, she didn't know this place. Where was she? Why was she chained up in someone's basement...
.
..
...and why did she have a bad feeling about this?!
'Because you're guilty, Summer.'
Memory rushed back and she sorely wished it hadn't; because suddenly she remembered; everything from the moment of their brawl, right up to the resounding way in which it ended. Shame colored her face, and for more reasons than one. She struggled against her chains and tried to shift through them, only to experience a painful tingle. Right, Raven knew all her tricks, didn't she? No using her Semblance to phase her way out of this one.
Worse, came the suddenly realization that said birdie was standing directly behind her.
"Uh, Rae?" she warbled weakly into the dark, "Is this really neccessary?"
"I dunno." Her former teammate and best friend leaned over her from behind, lazily draping an arm over her shoulders. "You tell me."
Meep.
"That's what I thought." Raven circled round and smiled back at her, face inches from her own, and gave her cheek a hard pinch. "Hmmm. I missed doing that. Now what do you have to say for attacking my man?"
Summer groaned for mercy, to no avail. "I'm sowwwwy!"
"Good girl." she released her with a pleased hum. "Really, you should be thankful we're keeping you down here. The media is currently having a field day tearing you and Taiyang to shreds up there."
Summer whimpered.
Thankfully, you're currently behing held under the nominal authority of Haven.
The whimpering redoubled.
...Unless of course, you'd like us to hand you over to the police...?"
A keening white fled from her lips akin to that of a tea kettle as she wriggled and squired in her chair. "Alright, alright! I get your point! You can stop now!"
"I could, but I won't." Raven remained relentless in all things, as always. "Yang wants to meet Ruby, by the way."
Ack?! Not her baby!
"Don't make that face. We're not going to hurt her and Yang's eager to see her sister. 'Sides, I have a portal to Goodbitch."
Summer squinted at her. "I think you mean Goodwitch."
Raven clicked her tongue and didn't budge. "I know what I said.
Typical Raven. Those two had always had something of a rivalry, small wonder she had a bond to Glynda-waaaaaait.
Wait just one bloody minute! "How did you know Ruby's with her?!"
"Who else would you and Tai entrust her to while you're off playing hero? Port? Ooobleck? Ozpin?"
Summer wriggled anew.
Much to her surprise, her old friend looked away with a sigh. "I really am sorry, you know."
Despite her best efforts not to, Summer found herself perking up. "Sorry for what?"
"For leaving." Raven pursed her lips, looking like she'd bitten into a lemon. "I just can't work for Ozpin anymore and I wasn't about to let Yang be dragged into his hopeless war. I won't apologize for what I did, but I am sorry the way I went about it. Looking back, knowing what I know now, if I could've done things differently, I would have."
It was the best she could hope for given the circumstances.
"Awww, Rae...!" But then she remembered what her "friend" had told her and her spirits plummeted. "What you said earlier...
Raven's scowl became a bitter grimace.
...Salem isn't really immortal, isn't she? You were just messing with me earler, right? Having a bit of fun at my expense?"
Raven didn't answer.
"C'mon, you big kidder, you!"
The silence that followed proved painful, stiflingly so.
"Oh." Summer felt her throat go dry. Gulping did nothing to clear it. "That's...that's a thing."
What else could she say? Knowing it was bad enough, but realizing it was the truth, that their Great Enemy couldn't be stopped, couldn't be beaten, couldn't killed...how could you come to terms with that? What were they even doing? Why were they rising their lives against her at all? Bile burned the back of her throat and try as she might, she couldn't hold it back. Felt like she'd be sick.
And then Raven made it so much worse. "I tried to kill her once, you know."
"You did?"
"I did, and I failed." Her gripped her false arm. "I had both of these back then, for all the good it did me."
Summer flinched. "Was she the one who...
"No," she shook her head, sending her mane swaying. "That came later. She let me go after my first attempt. Like I was no one. Nothing. Tyrian hunted me down afterward once he realized I was vulnerable.
Once she'd left Team STRQ, she meant. "You shouldn't have left, Rae. We could've all gotten stronger together."
Raven lifted her chin, ever defiant. "And you should've listened to me. There's nothing to be done about it now."
"I don't think Tai sees it that way...wait," she craned her neck back, realizing the absence of said blond. "Where's Tai?!"
A black brow rose. "Where do you think?"
Summer gulped.
(.0.0.0.)
Taiyang Xiao-Long considered himself a brave man.
Downright courageous even.
Yup, brave man, he.
But never in his life had his courage been so sorely tested as it was in this moment.
Because you see, they were all staring at him.
Each and every one of them.
A sea of young, impressionable faces gazed up at him and as he performed a headcount, that number soared well into the double digits. No way. There was just no freakin' way he had this many kids!
Yang was blind to it all and tugged on his hand, drawing him forward. "Hey everybody! This is my other dad."
The other children crooned curiously, a babble of sound he could scarcely make sense of.
So loud!
"That's Weiss and Winter over there," she indicated two pale, stern-looking girls with white hair and piercing blue eyes, each of whom watched him like a hawk; he barely had a chance to say hello before she moved onto the rest of the motley crew, a disparate lot he could scarcely make sense of. "Those three are Roman, Neo and Cinder," the latter of whom shrank shyly behind the former, "Then there's Pyrrha and Ren and Nora, an' Miltia and Melanie are around here somewhere...
Taiyang raised a hand in a weak greeting. "Nice to meet you all."
The redhead -Pyrrha, remember her name, don't be rude- tilted her head to regard him. "Is daddy sleeping with you, too?"
Tai's confidence died with a dull wheeze. "Ha...?"
Cinder recoiled like she'd been slapped. "Ewww!"
Roman crashed to the ground with a cackle and Neo tittered soundlessly even as Winter and Weiss rounded on their half-sister. "Pyrrha!"
"I was just asking...
Nora grumbled under her breath. "Wish he'd sleep with my Mom already...
Ren clapped a palm to his forehead. "Nora, no. Just...just no."
That was not a thing a child should say!
In hindsight, he knew he was luckier than he had any right to be. Probation in Mistral, his pay docked, and a possible trial by his peers. If not for the good graces of Haven's Headmaster he'd be behind bars right now. He still might be, depending how things went. Being forced to "meet the family" was a small price to pay all things considered. The knowledge of his defeat still burned deep in his stomach...but not as bad as he thought it might.
Naruto had shown him mercy, mercy he hadn't given him and...it humbled him, to be honest. Yang had chosen well.
Which brought him full circle to the other Goliath in the room as it were.
Salem was immortal.
Raven had broken the news to him the moment she released him, and he dearly wished she hadn't. Ignorance was bliss but now his rose-colored glasses -much like Summer's comforting presence- had been ripped away, exposing his doubts to the light of day. It was blinding. Part of him wanted to reason it away, but the rest-
Wait. Why was his ex-wife coming up the stairs with Summer just now?
And why was she opening another portal all of a sudden...?
His eyes bulged as she reached through and-
(.0.0.0.)
Glynda never heard the portal open behind her, nor saw the masked figure emerge from within.
By the time she saw the shadow at her feet, it was too late.
Try as she might, she couldn't get her aura up in time.
Something struck her skull.
Down she went.
(.0.0.0.)
Ruby blinked quickly.
She had always been an agile little thing, ever since she first unlocked her semblance. Not necessarily quick on the uptake -Ha! She could use big words when she wanted to! Thank you Auntie Glynda!-but give what she'd just seen, she had a fair right to be wary, she felt.
Hey, she was shy, not stupid.
M'kay, portal, scary lady with a bloody red eye eye who just knocked out Auntie Glynda and and...oooh!
"Is that a robot arm?!"
Her kidnapper sighed. "Yes, yes it is."
Silver eyes sparkled brightly. "Can I touch it?"
For some reason, that made the bloody lady lean back. "Well, that proves it. You're definitely Summer's kid."
"Yup." she beamed back at her. "And you're Auntie Raven."
A black brow rose in mild amusement. "You know me?"
She shrugged a small shoulder. "Seen pictures."
"Well, shit. That fucking brother of mine...
Ruby held out a hand. "Swear jar."
Auntie Raven recoiled. "Don't tell me you have one of those, too."
"Yup." her head bobbed in a nod. "Its half full. Daddy and Mommy swear a lot."
For some reason, that made Auntie laugh. "Yeah, Summer always spat when she got pissy. You wanna see 'her?"
Her words were the spark lighting her life up again; the little red reaper jolted to her feet, tiny cloak flaring behind her. "Can I?!"
"Sure thing." Auntie Raven jerked a thumb over her shoulder into the portal from whence she'd come.
No need to tell her twice. Ruby raised her arms magnanimously. "Carry me!"
Auntie Raven huffed, but didn't deny her; she bent down to scoop her up with her metal arm. Aha! Foolish Auntie! Victory was hers!
The second she did, Ruby began fussing over it with pudgy fingers. "Oooh! Is this a hardened composite over metal? Or an absorbent polymer...? I think it might be mechashift...
"Gods, not even five and you're such a nerd. C'mon, lets meet the family."
"What's that supposed to mean...?"
Auntie Raven rolled her eye and strode through the portal. The next thing Ruby knew there saw were...faces. So very many faces! And there among them...!
"Raven!" A familiar voice barked their way. "What did you do?!"
"Simplified things," came the reply. "You're welcome.
Ruby wriggled in her auntie's arms.
She knew that voice!
"Mommy! Daddy!"
Daddy swept her up into his arms and she snuggled close, delighted to see him again after his absence. Mommy crowded in from the side and then she felt a scruffy cheek rub against hers and she squealed because she knew who that was and sure enough when she squirmed around to see them...!
"Uncle Qrooooow~!"
There was another man stepping out of a portal behind Auntie Raven, and he kinda looked like Daddy. Blue eyes and blond hair. He said something to Auntie Raven and in an instant they were arguing, but quietly, like really REAL quite because she couldn't hear a word they were saying because everyone was so louuud!
"Alright people!" The Other Blond Man clapped his hands suddenly. "Team meeting! Taiyang and Summer! Make yourselves useful and watch the kids! Qrow! With me!"
"Is that your brother, daddy? Oooh!" her eyes lit up. "Do I have another uncle?!"
For some reason Mommy Daddy made gagging noises.
"Was it something I said?"
Maybe so, because they set her down, and that meant she finally got a chance to look out amongst the sea of unfamiliar faces, each of which were very much focused on her. Idly, she remembered what Auntie Raven had said. Were these people related to her?! Brothers and sisters and siblings oh my! Her mind sparked, fizzled, came roaring back to life now as one of them left the group and introduced themselves:
"So you're the one everyone's been making a fuss over. " A boy with orange hair and a top-hat grinned at her, leaning idly on a cane. "Nice to meet you, Red. Name's Roman."
Ruby glared at him and puffed out her cheeks in a pout. "M'not called Red, I'm Ruby!"
Roman shrugged. "Red cloak, so you're Red. Deal with it."
A faint crackle of shattering glass was her only warning then she found herself face to face with a girl that was...almost shorter than her?! What the heck?!
"Oh, wow you're...ah," she leaned back, "Really close!"
"Neo, no." Roman heaved a paternal sigh. "Don't scare her."
Ruby stood on the very tips of her toe to pat her head, drawing a soft hum from her. "Good girl...?"
"So, meet the brood." Roman gestured expansively. "That's Cinder over there, don't mind her, she's a bit off. I'm sure you'll meet the others soon enough once they get done fawning over tall blond and awesome over there."
She preened a little at that, puffing out her chest. "Of course he's awesome! My daddy's the best hunter! And I'll be the best huntress!"
Cinder eyed her warily. "You want to be come a huntress?"
"Yup! I'll be the very best! Like no one ever was."
"No," she shook her head. "You won't."
Ruby blinked, baffled by her reply. "Eh? Why not?"
A girl with white hair and sharp blue eyes bulled in from the side to glare at her. "Because we will."
An odd feeling welled up in her. It felt like anger. "You're rude!"
"What was that, child?! Do you have any idea who I am? I am Weiss Schnee-
"I don't care!" Ruby kicked her shin, drawing a yelp from her. "You're not that much older than me!"
"And you're still every bit a child!" Weiss thrust a finger into her face, jabbing her nose. "The very least you could do is know your place-
She wouldn't cry. Ruby refused to cry. Silver eyes narrowed upon the intruding digit, still poking her schnoz. "You're a bully."
Weiss went red. "I am not! I am simply explaining your place in the pecking order.
"Peck your pecking order!"
Nom!
Weiss recoiled, yowling. "Did you just bite me?! You did! You actually bit me!"
Cinder and Neo started laughing; Ruby was deaf to it; she began rolling up her sleeves, just like daddy showed her. "I'll do a lot more than that, miss bully-bully!"
Quite suddenly it looked like she would be the one weeping. "Winter! Help me with this barbarian!"
"Hey, hey, hey! Stop that, ice queen!" Roman pushed himself between them before they could come to blows. "Honestly, you! Don't make me play the mediator here, I'm no good with this shit-
"Swear jar!"
He growled at her. "Can it, Red!"
"Red? "Wait," an unfamiliar voice yelped, "Is that Ruby?!"
Ruby strained her gaze, but everyone was so tall and she couldn't see...!
Her height didn't save her. A golden meteor barreled into her and swept her off her feet into a bruising hug. "RUBY!"
"Aack?!" Who're you?!"
"I'm Yang!" the pressure only grew tighter as the wild blond girl nuzzled her face to hers as she crooned over her. "Your biggest and bestest sister! Its so nice to finally meet youuuu~!"
Yang? Wait. She'd heard stories of her from Dad. She was real? Really really real? She had an actual big sister related to her by blood?!
Something came loose in her. Ruby sniffled once. "Yang...you're really real...?"
"Of course I'm real! Don't you worry! I'm not going anywhere!"
Ruby Rose began to weep with joy.
.0.0.0.
"They took them?!"
Naruto dragged a hand down his face to stifle a sigh. "That's what I said the first time."
Ann laid a hand on his shoulder, but he didn't have time for her pity or Willow's, he shrugged them off and went back to studying the map before him.
Another clone popped, filling his head with memories. Nothing of import. He shunted them aside.
...can't let this stand." Raven was responding to something Vanessa had said.
This mustn't register on an emotional level; he couldn't afford to fly into a frenzy his first instinct was to race out into the city and turn it upside down. Tempting, but pointless. They'd have her hidden well away by now. He didn't know the Belladona girl all that well, and Adam and Illia even less, but they'd seemed like good brats.
You didn't involve kids in this sort of thing. It just wasn't done.
Ghira and Kali had shown him their hotel room and he'd gone over the place personally, searching for clues. There were none. Whomever had taken them was thorough-meticulous if nothing else. He'd ordered them to stay there, knowing it was painful for them, but he couldn't have them interfering. This needed to be handled...discreetly.
So here they were, gathered before his round table once more.
Ann elbowed him with a hiss. "How are you so calm about this?!"
"Because," he glared at her through the gaps in his fingers. "I have to be. They didn't take those kids just to get at us; they're trying to raise tensions. The daughter of the White Fang goes missing while they're in my city. That's bound to stir the pot. And so soon before the Vytal Festival...they could be anywhere."
Willow raised a hand. "We could use the Relic-
"No! Absolutely not. Doing that would tip our hand and expose Yang-that's not happening.
Raven smirked wickedly. "Then who has her finger on the pulse of this city?"
Naruto pulled a face. She had a point. He didn't like it, but she did.
His eyes narrowed. "I need to make a call...
(.0.0.0.)
It wasn't fair.
All the other kids got to have him.
But not them. He wouldn't even give them the time of day.
So the Malachite twins did what any neglected child would do.
When he called Mum they jumped at the chance.
How could they not?
They wanted attention.
By any means necessary.
(.0.0.0.)
Miranda Malachite was prompt if nothing else.
She picked up on the first ring.
Damn her.
"Hello, darling. What can I do for you?" She didn't sound quite as smug as last time, not after the scare he'd given her. "Did you need something from me?"
The door creaked open, and he looked up, alarmed to find Miltia and Melanie peeking through. "I need to find a few faunus kids." he rattled off the details, then frowned as he realized that the twins hadn't budged; far from it, they had actually dared to enter the room while he was gone. "Oi. Your girls are here."
"So they are." she crooned back. "Be a dear and treat them, won't you?
He growled. "Did you send them?
"I did, before your little stunt yesterday. They miss you. He didn't deign to answer. She noticed, blast her. "Don't they deserve to know their father?"
"We had a deal." he said. "You know that...
"So we did.
...until you got me drunk and drugged me." he finished with a growl
She chuckled. "Is that what you tell yourself? You were a rather willing participant as I recall...
If looks could kill, she would've been a smoldering pile of ashes by now. He glared heatedly into the receiver instead.
"Let them see you." Leave it to her to be the voice of reason. "Be with them. Let them have their time in the sun. Because if you let them grow up in the shadows darling, I guarantee you they'll learn to loathe the light."
He made an annoyed noise. She had a point. He'd been perfectly civil, but the fact remained that he didn't know how to talk to them. What could he say? How could he say it? Kurama was of no help at all, the foxy bastard had left him on the hook this time, he was very much on his own.
"A favor for a favor," Miss Malachite declared. "I'll find your brats, don't you worry. In return, you take care of yours for once, mmkay?"
"Miranda...!
The line went dead.
Naruto heaved a sigh and looked to the Twins. "Hello there, girls...
Right, might as well get this out the way while he could.
Their faces lit up, cautious, yet reserved. "Hullo, sir."
"Don't call me that." he dragged a hand across his face. "You'll make me feel old."
"Aren't you, though?"
He squintes though his fingers. "Oi, which one of you said that when I wasn't looking?!"
The twins pointed at at one another.
"Cheeky little...fine." He patted the sofa beside him. "Sit down, and let's talk.
They clamored over.
Such energetic girls, eager to please, desperate really.
...aw, cripes. Now he felt bad. It would prove to be a long day.
A/N: Aaaaand scene.
For those not in the know! There is clearly more to this scene, I just had to cut the chapter here due to time constraints.
We'll pick up right back here with the Twins, don't you worry. Naruto's not the sort to shirk his responsibilities for long, if t all.
I'm not about to pull a Boruto here.
Hope you enjoyed it. That said, would you like another early update this week? By that, I mean Friday or Saturday hopefully. Perhaps even earlier?
Do let me know; feedback is important, especially with the app and site occassionally glitching out, I really need to hear from you here, give the site issues.
RWBY may have been canned by Warner Bros. but we fanfiction writers are out here trying to keep the light alive, as it were. 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.
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.
And as ever:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AWAIT THEE~!
YE BE WARNED~!
(Previews)
Raven peered at the three of them through her portal from afar, lowered her blade and walked away.
Yang followed her, running to keep up. "Hey, mum."
Raven glanced at her progeny. Hmm?
"Dad's strong."
A nod. "He certainly is.
"Will I ever be that strong?"
Lies served no purpose here. "No.
Yang slumped at kicked at a stray pebbled. "Awww.
She wasn't sure how to feel about that. Sure she felt self conscious at times but she tried to shove that down. Her tal with dat had mitigated the symptoms, not the cause. She had superpowers, sure, and she could control the weathe, but she still felt like the odd ducck -goose!- ofen when she least expected it.
Mum held nothing back; she was honest with her because she had to be.
"But you'll get close."
"How close?"
Real close. Now prepare yourself. Today, we'll teach you how to
In a fight, you have to be careful not to break all the little bones in your hand on someone's face. That's why I prefer a blade. We'll
Yang raised her fists with a grin, eyes ablaze with determinaton. "Armed and ready!"
Raven clicked her tongue. "Not yet, you're not."
She dove at her daughter.
Yang would be ready for tonight.
EDIT: Tribute to Blue-Eyed Samurai here~!
Listen up, Students of Sanctum! A weapon is the soul of every Huntsman and Huntress, and so it must match them. Not solely in outward appearance, but their nature. Some weapons are rigid and thin, others large and powerful, others flowing like water. When crafting a weapon we beat the blade to remove the impurities from the steel, and thus harder the harder it is, but too pure and it becomes brittle. We must leave something of how it was made.
Some might say any and all impurities must be removed. Perhaps, yet an impurity in the right place strengthen's one's weapon. Soft steel in the center, hard steel for the edge. Place the two together and you can have greatness. But what is a weapon? It is a line. On one side of that line is life, and the other, death. The edge you forge here today will cut the between the two. Now then...
He stepped back and gestured to the forge.
...craft your weapons."
"You don't treat your savior like a slave."
"But he is supposed to save me , serve me and..."
"You see, that's where you got it all mixed up...HE ISN'T.
It is indeed a dark day, when a good man...or woman...should go to war. For there is no wrath greater, no fury stronger, no hatred purer, than one so kind and so caring, should they take up the sword.
For there will be no kindness, no forgiveness, NO MERCY."
"Demons run when a good man goes to war. Night will fall and drown the sun when a good man goes to war. Friendship dies and true love lies, night will fall and the dark will rise when a good man goes to war Demons run, but count the cost. The battle's won, but the child is lost."
EDIT: Equalizer references are entertaining, as always~! A shame I can't bring the main man himself into this story...
We all end up where we're supposed to be. Some of us just take a little longer to get there. Which means your man on the left, he's got his finger on the trigger but she's a foot too close, which renders your man on my right dead already. He just doesn't know it yet. I feel sorry for his family. Nine seconds. That's what you have to decide your fate. Nine seconds.
His smile split his face as he began to count down.
Eight...Seven...
"You keep…calling me the good guy."
"I'm not the good guy."
"I'm the bad guy!"
EDIT: Viva la Reacher~!
By not telling me everything you know, you're protecting the people who want to kill my family. Which makes you an enemy of Haven, and by default, me.
I'm not gonna waste my time with enhanced interrogation techniques. I'm just gonna squeeze the life out of you.
So if at any point before you die you feel like fully unburdening yourself, blink.
They blinked, eyes bulging in their head.
I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.
They blinked harder.
One more time.
You don't know what death is. You have no IDEA what death is! Five pounds of pressure on a trigger. That's all it takes to end a life. That's all.
Pickerel raised his gun and blew smoke from the barrel. "I bet all that aura makes you feel like a big man, don't it? I did too, until I fought a bastard that cut right through it. Y'see, there's just one problem with aura. Most people I know, they have to consciously keep it active. I wonder if you can manage that?
One of his attackers fell with a bloody gurgle.
A grin split his face. "I guess not."
Then he was among them.
Guns blazed in the dark.
"Ren, my friend!" Roman slung an arm around his shoulder. "You and I are the only men in this menagerie of women. We gotta stick together.
Easy for you to say, Roman. You're older.
"Wiser, too! A man must sometimes be insolent to make his dreams a reality!"
EDIT: Avatar (Live Action Version on Netlix) reverence is obvious...and fitting, given Ozpin.
Time. Ozpin chuckled once. Time's a funny thing. The past, the present, the future, for me, it all mixed up. There's only one way to keep it straight. By remembering what really matters. Of course, keeping sight of what's important can be had. Sometimes it feels like we will always be alone and the only thing keeping us company is our own pain. We tell ouselves we are the problem. Especially when things we can't control come our way. Tha's why we must let go of our pain and regrets and remember what is we are really fighting for. The ones we love. Let that be the light that guides you through the most treacherous of times...and the darkest of nights.
Its amazing how far we'll go to hide our true selves from others; because we don't want people to know how much they really mean to us, which is funny, because the truth is, we would do anything for them. We travel incredible distances, risk our lives, fight monsters. But I suppose it can be scary to admit you need people; some might see that as a weakness, a liability. After all, what greater pain is there than losing someone you love, or worse, discovering someone you love has left you behind. I suppose that is why we feel the need to hide away and protect ourselves at times. So we put on a mask Its hard to understand why, almost as hard as knowing that sometimes...the mask is who you truly are.
So, you thought you had all the pieces right where you wanted them.
There are so many moves I've yet to play.
You should've stayed away.
"Team SLVR." he greeted them at a glance. "Shiro Wan, Lin Fucshia, Victor Farrow, Rory Andrews. By all means, come in! He granted each of them a smile. "How are you settling in?
Team HCIN, welcome. Heather Shields, Nova Carillo, Ivy Altham, Inigo Nash. Tell me, how do you feel about entering the Vytal Festival?"
Team CBLT. Carmine Escalados, Bertilak Celadon, Lali Choi and Caroline Teale. I take it you're here to enter the Vytal Festival?
"I'd almost forgotten. The weak always get taken from. Thats how it works here. Which means you guys understand how it works too, right? Those who prey upon others should be prepared to be preyed upon themselves.
"I'll give you whatever you want! Please! Just let me live! I'll pay you double, two times-
Three times.
"What?"
Three times you tried to kill me. Did you think I'd forget? And now you want mercy...? No. What happens in Mistral stays in Mistral...
Cinnabar heard the laughter.
She was poison.
She always had been, always was, always would be, for as long as she could remember. She couldn't be touched, couldn't draw near.
The door creaked open.
Stay back!
I don't want to dirty anything more than I already have. I don't want to be seen. It's shameful. I don't want to fight...then you won't have to.
"What do you know?!" she glared at him. Someone like you, beloved by all they couldn't possibly now what it feels like to be lonely.
Honestly, he tuted softly like an amused parent. Everyone's making this mistake. Its your semblance. You control it. Not the other way around.
Don't doubt yourself. Doubt kills. That's who are you, who you've always been, who you always will be. Sometimes we make the wrong choices to get to the right place.
No! I'm poisonous! You can't touch me-
You can't possibly adopt everyone.
I am running effectively running two academies in Mistral. Sanctum, where children learn what it is to be a Hunter and Haven where they BECOME Hunters.
Is this going somewhere?
The point, dear girl, is that I consider each of them my children. You're hardly the most difficult case that's come to me. I know someone who sprouts claws from his knuckles, a girl capable of wiping minds, and a boy who literally cannot open his eyes without incinerating someone. Then there's this rather surly gargoyle girl -fairly certain she's a faunus- who seems convinced that I'm out to kill her, to say nothing another student with six arms who enjoys kicking temari balls around. Oh, and my daughter flings lightning bolts when she's angry.
Her head was spinning. "And your point...?
"My point is, a bit of poison won't bother me.
She hiccuped once.
She melted into him.
Cinnabar.
Cinna, then. He patted her head. "Welcome to Sanctum."
The single quality that is common across every living creature on this planet.. is Fear. It's funny then, that as common as fear is. We so easily underestimate its power Fear of growing close to someone. A subsequent fear of loss, a fear of failure. And as more people depend on you. Those fears can take on greater power.
But fear itself isn't worthy of concern; it is who we become while in its clutches.
Will you be proud of that person? Will you forgive them? Will you understand why they felt the need to do the things they did? Will you even recognize them?
Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start?
..I suppose we all find out sooner or later.
EDIT: Hey, thanks for reading!
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