Punished
Oscar was reading a book in his room after the hard day of work on the farm.
"Oscar! Supper time!" Oscar's aunt called.
"What're we having!?" Oscar called back.
"Doesn't matter you're eating it!" Oscar's aunt called back.
"I don't remember agreeing to these terms," Oscar responded back cheekily.
"It's part of 'Living Under My Roof' contract! Read the fine print and come wash up!" Oscar's aunt called back with a playful undertone.
With that, Oscar got off his bed and started walking to the door. "Oscar, we need to go," Ozpin said inside the farmboy's head. The said farmboy chose to ignore the voice. "Oscar." Still ignoring. "Oscar!"
"I decided you're not real, so you might as well give up," Oscar said, clearly irritated at this voice that came out of nowhere.
"I understand how you're feeling. I went through the same panic and confusion," Ozpin replied calmly.
Oscar moved to his small bookshelf to put his books back, all the while chanting, "It's not real. It's not real."
"I can assure you, you're perfectly sane," Ozpin said calmly, knowing where the boy's thoughts were going.
"I'm talking to a voice in my head," Oscar pointed out as he looked at his reflection on the window.
"I didn't say you were normal. I just want you to know that you're sane. There's a significant difference between-" "You think this is funny!" Oscar cried out, still reigning in his voice just so that no one else outside his room could hear him. They would think he was losing it, which the boy himself was convinced that he was. "It's not!" Oscar was able to finish that line in anger.
"No. It's not, and I promise that we are in complete agreement on that." Ozpin said with a sigh, "But as I told you, our Aura, our very souls are combined."
"…I'm done listening to you," Oscar said as he moved towards the door to leave the room.
"Have you ever been to Haven Academy?" Ozpin's sudden question threw the probably insane farmboy for a loop.
"I told you I'm not going, and I told you I'm done listening," Oscar replied believing this to be another plot to get him to go.
"Do you think you could describe the headmaster's office?" Ozpin then asked.
"No, why'd I know that? I've never seen-" "Try," Ozpin interrupted, "Right now."
Oscar sighed before focusing on imagining what the headmaster's office of Haven would look like. "It's probably…it's autumn colored," Oscar said the last part with certainty that confused him, " With a large mahogany desk. There's a small table and chairs in the corner for guests. With a tea set that…I gave him." At the end of the description of the room, Oscar grasped his head as he was on a verge of panic, "Why did I say that? Why did I know that!? Why did I say that!?" Oscar had never been to Haven Academy and he never met the Headmaster, so he shouldn't know that.
"Because I helped build that school." Ozpin responded, "And the tea set was a gift to the man who runs it now."
Oscar returned to sit on his bed, scared and confused at the possibility that he wasn't going insane. It should be a comforting feeling, but if that was the case then he was being…possessed possibly by an evil spirit. "I didn't ask for this," Oscar said, never feeling so scared in his life.
"Ask for what?" A voice that didn't belong to the one in Oscar's head asked.
The boy snapped his head to see the door to his room opened with a bespectacled girl with frizzy green hair staring at him. Her cable-like tail with a lightbulb, of all things, at the tip swishing idly. "Uhhh…" Oscar sounded out, fearing how much she heard.
Then the lightbulb went off in the girl's head. No really, the lightbulb on her head that acted as a mini top hat flashed as she got an idea. "Oh, I know what you're doing," the girl said with an evil grin.
"Uhh…what," Oscar asked, dreading that someone realized what was going on with him.
"You…" the girl who Oscar remembered was named Pandoria pointed an accusing finger at him, "…are trying to bail out of supper!"
"Wait, what?" Oscar sounded out, not sure if he should be amazed or relieved.
"Oh, you're not doing that, mister!" Pandoria said sternly, like a big sister scolding a misbehaving younger sibling, "You are getting those gloves off, hands clean and then you're eating your supper or you won't grow up!" with those words, Pandoria moved in and grabbed Oscar by his wrist before pulling him to the washroom. The poor boy protesting all the way as he was dragged like a misbehaving child.
Speaking of misbehaving, back in the Schnee manor, Weiss was sitting on her bed in her room. Dahlia was standing near the foot of the bed as moral support. Something that would definitely be needed against Weiss' father who was pacing in front of the girl.
"Unbelievable," Jacques finally said as his Blade observed the situation. Whatever "glitch" his system suffered had worked its way out of him and he was once again giving that fake smile of his. "Do you have any idea what your stunt cost us?" Jacques all but demanded from Weiss. The white-haired girl opened her mouth hesitantly. "And don't think I'm just talking about lien here!" but Jacques clearly wasn't in the mood, "Our reputation! Our… Our…" The man sighed, clearly unable to articulate what he wanted to say, so instead he sighed wearily as he brought a hand to his head.
This made Dahlia frown, "Your daughter suffered a breakdown from the sound of things, and you're more worried about useless things?"
"What did you say?" Jacques dared the disgusting animal with a glare and a low tone.
"You heard me," the ice Blade replied with the frostiest look she had, "What Weiss and I had to see at Beacon was practically insulted right into her face, and you consider something as worthless as reputation more important." Dahlia took a step forward.
"You don't know what you're talking about you worthless animal!" Jacques shouted at Dahlia while pointing a warning finger at her. The ice Blade was less than impressed.
"Do NOT, call her that!" Weiss snapped at her father, standing up as she did.
"I beg your pardon?" Jacques asked, appalled at what he just heard.
"Dahlia is not an animal or worthless," Weiss almost shouted, "She's…" Weiss stopped herself before taking a calming breath, "I want to leave." those words were barely above a whisper.
"What was that?" Jacques demanded, more and more irritated by Weiss' behavior.
"I said I want to leave," Weiss clarified, "I don't want to stay here. I don't want to stay here in Atlas anymore!" that last one Weiss almost shouted.
"Young lady, I don't give a damn about what you want," Jacques shot back, "This isn't about you, this is about the Schnee family name and your apparent insistence on dragging it through the mud!" the Schnee patriarch emphasized his words by swiping his hand low.
"I have done NOTHING, but fight to uphold the honor of MY family name!" Weiss countered, "A family you married into!"
*SLAP*
That was the sound that echoed in the room when Weiss was slapped by her father. Causing the girl to touch the struck area in shock.
"How dare you!" Dahlia shouted out, getting in front of Weiss, "Just because you heard an ugly truth!?"
"SILENCE!" Jacques shouted before throwing a punch at Dahlia, but unlike with Weiss, Dahlia caught the fist. Squeezing it with all the strength of a Blade, digging her claws into the skin as she did. "Let go of me this instant you wretched- AAARRGGHH!" Jacques then screamed as he was now desperately trying to pull his fist out of Dahlia's grasp.
Weiss dared to look what made her father scream. And what she saw made her gasp, Dahlia was slowly freezing the Schnee patriarch's hand. "Stop it, Dahlia!" Weiss screamed desperately, earning look of confusion and worry from the ice wielding bunny woman. "Please," Weiss pleaded out of fear for the consequences of Dahlia's actions.
Dahlia let go of Jacques hand with a frown. As the man rubbed his fist in an effort to warm it back up, the ice Blade gave the man a glare that signaled that she wanted to do worse. "Lay another finger on her, and I'll do worse," Dahlia threatened, never stepping out from her place in front of Weiss.
"You will pay for this, beast," Jacques threatened before glaring at his Blade who stood passively through the whole exchange, "And why didn't you help me?"
"As I recall, master Schnee, you told me to not do anything unless specifically ordered to earlier," Jacques' Blade explained, never losing his smile that he was desperately keeping from becoming one of amusement, "I never received an order to assist you."
The Blade's reward from that remark was a punch straight to his mouth. This caused the Blade to stumble in pain. Dahlia and Weiss looked in shock at how this Blade just took it. Not even trying to avoid it. With that, Jacques was able to calm himself as his Blade recovered. "This behavior of yours is incredibly disappointing," the man said, addressing Weiss once again, "You and that beast couldn't possibly understand the lengths I've gone to in order to keep this family where it is." Then the man gave an accusing look to Weiss, "You think running out like your sister did makes the Schnee family stronger, but you're wrong. Siding with her only divides us."
At this accusation, Weiss stepped out of the cover that was Dahlia," I'm not 'siding' with anyone. I do what I feel is right, and that does not include staying with these clueless people here in Atlas." At this remark, Jacques rolled his eyes as he placed his hands behind his back before walking away from Weiss. "The Schnee family legacy isn't yours to leave. It's mine. And I'll to do it as a huntress and a Driver," Weiss said resolutely. The last part earned a smile from Dahlia.
Jacques stopped next to his Blade who stopped rubbing his mouth as the pain subsided thanks to Blade regeneration. "No. You won't," Jacques said simply before turning back to face Weiss, "You are not leaving Atlas. You are not leaving the manor grounds unless I specifically allow it. Until we come to an…agreement on your future."
Weiss was appalled at what she was hearing from her father, "You can't just keep me from leaving!"
"I can, and the staff here will ensure that you won't be leaving this room," Jacques replied before missing a beat, "Your presumption of getting whatever you want is clearly us failing as parents. But from now on, I will give you my full attention, as well as figure out how to get rid of this thing that's been feeding you lies." At the last part, Jacques glared at Dahlia who glared back.
"This isn't going to work father," Weiss shot back, "People will ask questions. Why is the heiress to the Schnee company suddenly nowhere to be found?"
"Which is why you are no longer the heiress," Jacques said, dropping a huge bomb on Weiss.
"What?"
"Clearly the trauma you endured at Beacon was too much for you, so you have graciously revoked your claim and all its earnings and passed them onto your brother," Jacques explained what must be the lie he would feed to the media.
"So now Weiss is your prisoner?!" Dahlia all but demanded, resisting the urge to bring out her bitball, "How could you do this to your own daughter!?"
"Children are grounded when they misbehave, "Jacques responded as if regretting what he must do, "And clearly I must undo whatever madness you have implanted into my daughter's head."
"You…"Dahlia sounded out before her eyes fell on Jacques' Blade. The white and blue haired man had his finger on his lips behind his Driver's back before shaking his head slowly with a small frown.
"It's time to wake up and face reality, both of you. Come on Blade," Jacques said, oblivious to what his Blade did before turning to the door and leaving the room along with the said Blade.
Although Dahlia and still shocked Weiss saw Whitley looking from the closing door with an infuriating smile. Once the door closed pieces started falling together in Weiss' head at Whitley's odd behavior.
"Weiss," Dahlia called out in worry.
"Wait here," Weiss said as she stomped out of her room. She got out of her room to see Whitley walking down the hallway. "Whitley!" Weiss shouted after the boy who turned around smiling like nothing was wrong.
"Yes, sister?"
"Did you know about this!?" Weiss all but demanded as she stomped to the youngest of the Schnee siblings.
"About what?" Whitley asked with a confused look.
"You never liked Winter. You never liked me," Weiss pointed out, "But you've been nothing but supportive since the day I came back."
"If being kind to my big sister is some kind of crime, then I'm guilty," Whitley said with an aloof demeanor.
"…You wanted this to happen," Weiss concluded with a downcast look.
"It's foolish not to do as father asks," Whitley said, dropping the act and poured all the malice he held on his words and cold expression.
"…I can't believe you," Weiss sounded out, refusing to cry.
"Don't worry, Weiss," the youngest Schnee then said almost mockingly, "The Schnee family name is in good hands." With those words, Whitley walked away in triumph.
Dahlia had sat on Weiss' bed when the door opened, allowing the white-haired Driver entry. "Weiss, what's wrong," Dahlia asked, even though she had a feeling of what made her Driver look on the verge of tears.
Weiss didn't answer, she just closed the door before practically running to Dahlia and crying into the ice Blade's shoulder while hugging her. Dahlia had a sad look as she wrapped her arms around her Driver. Holding her in a comforting embrace while stroking Weiss' head soothingly. She also kissed the top of Weiss' head, not saying anything. Just holding her Driver and allowing her to let it all out.
It didn't take too long before Weiss got out of her Blade's embrace before giving a determined look, "Dahlia, can you help me with something?"
The ice Blade smiled at her Driver, "Of course."
As Weiss and Dahlia had their moment, Jacques was walking to his room with his Blade right behind him. Grumbling about "disobedient brats" and "ungrateful harlots". Sometimes even ranting some of them right to his Blade who answered with a nod of agreement on how his useless daughter needs to know her place.
"Ahh, master Schnee," Klein said as he turned around from a corner at the sight of his employer.
"Ahh, Klein. I trust you have heard my wishes already," Jacques said as he stared down the butler.
"Of course, miss Schnee is not to leave the manor grounds," Klein replied with a respectful bow, but inside he was struggling not to let his grumpy personality come out and sock the man. Consequences be damned.
"Good, meanwhile I will return to my room and then I can dismiss my Blade," Jacques then said as he looked at the said Blade who didn't answer. After all, he wasn't asked anything. "I do hope your glitch doesn't occur again," Jacques then said with a meaningful look.
"Of course not, sir," the Blade replied with a smile and a bow.
"Good," Jacques replied with a pleased tone before continuing his walk. Leaving a confused Klein behind.
"I think he's finally losing it," Klein thought with his eyes having turned red as his employer walked down the hallway after seemingly conversing with thin air.
In another part of the manor, Jacques' Blade was enjoying some time off from his pathetic excuse of a Driver. The man wouldn't even realize his Blade missing until after retreating to his room. And by then Jacques would have dismissed him.
Right now, the Blade was taking comfort with a certain thought he would love to turn into reality. Jacques begging for mercy on his knees, stripped of everything. His money, his influence, the name he married into and being dragged in chains for the numerous crimes he committed to get where he is today. The Blade almost walked past his first stop for the night during these thoughts, a pet project that he saw in the gardens tilting a wine bottle towards a wine glass. Strangely, half way, the white-haired woman put the bottle down before sobbing uncontrollably. The Blade didn't stay to watch, seeing as she was most likely not receptive to any of his words as usual. But he did find it strange that the alcoholic woman didn't drown her sobbing on wine. There were no other bottles around her either, but that didn't mean one of the servants didn't occasionally come and take them away. Still, the fact that she chose to not pour herself another glass was strange for him. He has been trying for the past few months to get her to stop drinking and was unsuccessful. So, what changed…? Curving an index finger over his chin, the Blade considered the possibilities. Until the most likely one came to mind, he hadn't seen what Weiss' Blade does whenever she and Weiss are separated for an extended period of time these past few weeks. The thought of this woman that is supposed to be the Schnee matriarch possibly being cured from her alcoholism or at least being pushed in the right direction caused a sinister smile to appear on the Blade's face for an instant before he willed it away as he moved on. He had things to do after all, and he would need both the Schnee woman and the girl to have his plans move along.
In Oniyuri, the crazy man backed off from Qrow who turned to stare the attacker down.
"As I live and breathe," the crazy faunus said with a faux shocked look, "Qrow Branwen. A true huntsman has entered the fray." The man bowed deeply at the latter sentence.
Qrow quickly glanced at Ruby questioningly. "I don't know, this guy's weird," Ruby said, not understanding any more than Qrow apparently did.
"Look pal, I don't know who you are, but you need to leave my niece alone," Qrow said in a threatening tone.
"Why friend, my name is Tyrian," Tyrian finally introduced himself, "And I'm afraid that's not possible. My assignment from her grace was to retrieve this young girl. So, that is what I must do." Tyrian sounded sad at the latter part, "One does not upset the Queen."
"The queen," Ruby questioned.
"Salem." Qrow growled out.
"Who's Salem?" Roze asked from the sidelines before he coughed out bluish purple liquid.
"Roze!" Ruby cried out as her Blade slumped to the ground coughing more. With that, everyone else huddled to the reaper Blade.
"This is bad," Joana sounded out as she used her helmet to scan Roze's vitals.
"What's going on?" Ruby asked, as she looked at Roze who looked to be in great pain.
"Sir Roze has been poisoned," Joana let out, "That stinger of that wretch must be filled with venom."
"Ohhohhooo," Tyrian cackled, "So it seems that a Blade can be poisoned. This is good to know." Then the faunus assassin calmed down significantly, "But I think we've had enough talk, don't you think?"
Qrow glared at the crazy faunus, "You took the words right out of-" that was as far as Qrow got before Tyrian dashed at him with a mad cackle. But Qrow wasn't surprised as he blocked the attack before matching Tyrian blow to blow, even with the scorpion faunus' crazy movement.
All the while the Drivers and Blades could only watch at this crazy battle. All the while many of them were trying to find an opening to go in and assist Ruby's uncle.
"Is there nothing we can do for him?" Ruby then asked, referring to Roze who looked deathly pale.
"His Blade regeneration will keep him alive," Joana said with an undertone of worry, "All we can do is to wait for sir Roze's system to eventually break the toxins down."
"But until then, he must endure the pain," Otohime added in while looking for an opening to blast that wretched lunatic, but the two's movements were far too erratic for her to aim properly. Not to mention there's a chance she might hit Qrow.
As this happened, Tyrian blocked a powerful overhead strike from Qrow who smirked down at his opponent. Tyrian smirked back, before activating machine guns beneath his armored vambraces. Then he broke out of the power struggle before running around Qrow in an attempt to get shots at him, but the scythe master used Harbinger's large blade to block the bullets.
As Tyrian took more distance, Ren and Nora dashed in seeing it as an opening. Unfortunately, Tyrian bent backwards enough to see them coming while cackling like a lunatic he is. Then he avoided slices from Ren and a hammer strike from Nora before kicking the two away back to the others.
Then the crazy killer dashed towards them, with everyone preparing for an attack. Which never came, because Qrow intercepted him. As Qrow struggled to hold Tyrian at bay, he briefly turned to the Drivers and Blades, "Don't come closer."
"…Fine!" Ruby replied before moving away from everyone and taking a perch on a roof before taking aim. Unfortunately, just like with Otohime, she can't get a proper aim due to the two's erratic movement around the field.
As Ruby grit her teeth at not having a shot, Rex turned towards Pyra, "Hey Pyra. Do you think we could do that thing we did against Mòrag back in Mor Ardain?"
"The thing?" Pyra questioned, before a look of realization crossed her face, "Oh, that! But…that would require…" She let the sentence hang.
"Look, I know we talked about this, but there's no guarantee that guy will win," Rex said, this Qrow guy who was apparently Ruby's uncle was able to keep up with this madman, but there still wasn't guarantee that he won't be bested.
"…Are you sure about this, Rex?" Azurda asked, peeking out of Rex's helmet, "This will raise questions."
"What're you guys talking about?" Jaune asked, having overheard what the three were saying.
"Not now," Rex said with a slight frown before turning back to Pyra, "Can you do it?"
Pyra looked uncertain before taking a look of determination, "We could, but the small amount of ether in the air makes it risky."
"How risky?" Rex asked in concern, "Will you be alright?"
"Oh, no! I'll just be…exhausted," Pyra admitted with a reassuring look.
Rex nodded with a relieved look before turning to Roc, "Roc, if this doesn't work as well as I think, be ready."
"Understood, Rex," the avian Blade replied as he prepared his Dual Scythes.
"What're you guys planning?" Jaune asked again, but was once again ignored.
As Qrow and Tyrian were once again pushed back by each other's attacks, their attention was grabbed by a battle cry. Turning to the source, they saw Rex alongside Pyra dashing at Tyrian. The scorpion faunus smirked before dashing to meet Rex. And this time, Qrow was just a little too far away to intercept in time. But then everyone's eyes widened as Pyra glowed briefly before she was replaced by a blonde girl.
"Let's do it, Rex," Mythra said as a golden glow surrounded the two.
"I'm counting on you Mythra," Rex called back as he now saw Tyrian through Foresight.
The scorpion faunus looked surprised briefly, but pushed it back. It doesn't matter what happened, all he has to do is take out that kid before that Blade could even try anything. He had to time it just right when the kid would no doubt attack. Tyrian saw the opening when Rex prepared the different looking sword for a strike. The faunus immediately changed his trajectory to sail past the attack and slit the kid's throat in passing. Only to be hit by the Aegis Sword which had its movement changed by Rex to immediately counter the assassin's move.
Despite his Aura taking the hit easily, Tyrian was still pushed back by the powerful strike across his chest.
"Double Spinning Edge!" Which was immediately followed by two strikes, surprising the faunus further.
"You little!" Tyrian growled as he jumped away to get distance, only to get his leg tangled in Rex's Anchor Shot which the salvager used to reel him back in, all the while Mythra moved next to him and the two lifted the Aegis sword together.
At that moment, Mythra switched with Pyra who had a determined look. Rex returned the look, "Let's do this, Pyra!"
"Let's go, Rex," The red headed Aegis responded. And then a huge pillar of flame erupted from the Aegis Sword, surprising everyone around them.
"BURNING SWORD!" And the Driver and the Aegis brought the weapon down on Tyrian who screamed in terror at the giant sword made of fire that slammed into him, covering him in flames.
As this happened, all Remnans, including Qrow were watching this scene with awe. "Is this the true power of a Blade and a Driver?" Was the universal thought among Remnan Drivers. Even Qrow was beginning to wonder if having Kasandra was good luck and not bad.
The moment was broken when Tyrian dashed out of the side of the raging inferno, his Aura flickering, but still held somehow. "You little shit!" Tyrian practically screamed before dashing at Pyra and Rex, the former being held by latter now.
"Roc!" Rex called out and just like that, the Blade in question intercepted the enraged madman. Wristblades locking with Dual Scythes.
"Out of my-" "Tech Blaster!" Tyrian was interrupted by Penny firing her Art, which forced Tyrian to get away from his current opponent so he could bring his vambraces in front of him in an effort to block the unavoidable shots.
"Blossom Burst!" Which were immediately followed by Ren firing an explosive ether sphere from Otohime's cannon. Blowing Tyrian across the empty plaza that was now a warzone.
It was clear that Tyrian's Aura was on its last legs from the way it was flickering, "You little-ARGH!" Tyrian yelped as he was smacked down by a shieldhammer that didn't belong to Electra.
"Take that you big meanie!" Kasandra called out, having finally reached them. That was the last straw for Tyrian's Aura. Not to mention he felt some pain. But he was able to roll out of the follow up attack's way.
As Tyrian took distance to check on his new foes, Qrow gave his Blade a mock accusing look, "Took you long enough to get here."
"Hey! You have wings, it's not fair," Kasandra complained before smiling again, "I hope nothing bad happened while I was gone."
"Nah, you're just late to the party," Qrow said as he prepared his greatsword to beat this creep.
"I can't leave empty handed," Tyrian grumbled in fear before looking between everyone to see what he could hope to take as a consolation prize. Unfortunately, all the kids that had Blades were on their feet and pointing their weapons at him, including Roze who had recovered from the poisoning. And then the faunus' blood boiled at the sight of the boy who had almost killed him, except now he was equipped with that bird's weapons, standing in front of that shapeshifting Blade protectively. "If at least…" Tyrian thought desperately before opening fire on everyone. Kasandra and Electra stepped forward to block with their respective Shieldhammers, While Jaune raised his own shield.
As this happened, Tyrian rushed toward Rex while keeping the other covering from his gunfire as much as possible.
At that moment, Kasandra's mask rattled, causing Qrow's eyes to widen in alarm. "No! Not now!" the currently sober man cried out in his head, or at least hoped that whatever was about to happen wasn't directed at him and the kids.
"Everyone, move!" Penny cried out as she heard noise coming from behind them, one of the taller buildings was falling over them. It was the same one that Tyrian maneuvered behind earlier in an attempt to lose Penny's shots. Everyone did just that, getting out of the falling building's way. Meanwhile, Rex was preparing himself for Tyrian's attack.
"Wild Scythe!" Rex called out as he swung the Scythes together as wind covered him. Rex was able to give several cuts to Tyrian whose attacks missed thanks to Rex's momentarily heightened reflexes and reaction time.
"Raargh!" Tyrian cried out at the pain as Rex kicked him away, but not before the scorpion faunus lashed out with his tail. Fortunately for Rex, he was able to move his head to the side, only getting a scratch on his cheek.
"Rosy Shot!" And then the tail was blasted off with a well-placed shot from Roze's scythe by Ruby. "That's for poisoning Roze," Ruby said with a hard look while her Blade had an evil smile at the crazy faunus who was screaming in pain.
"You bitch!" Tyrian cried out as he turned to the rose Driver and Blade. Unfortunately for him, with the loss of his tail his center of balance was off so he looked to have trouble just keeping upright.
Then everyone else scrambled back together from their hasty avoidance of a falling building before training their weapons on Tyrian again.
"She'll forgive you. She'll forgive you," Tyrian told himself in fear as he ran away with his severed tail between his legs.
After Tyrian disappeared from view, Qrow let out a small sigh of relief, "That could've ended worse."
"Yeah, it's lucky that Penny noticed the falling building before it hit us," Kasandra said happily, causing Qrow to groan at his Blade.
"Rex, are you okay?" Roc asked, looking at the cut on his Driver's cheek.
"Just a scratch, nothing serious," Rex said dismissively.
"Nothing serious, my feathers," Roc said as he moved in to squeeze at the wound, forcing more blood out of it.
"Hey! What's the big idea!?" Rex protested at his Blade essentially making the wound hurt more.
"That creep grazed your cheek with a stinger full of venom and you're asking what's the big idea," Roc dead panned, earning a terrified look from his Driver.
This is what everyone heard when they got close enough.
"This is bad," Joana said as she used her helmet to scan Rex's vitals. The mecha knightess sighed in relief, "My scans do not detect signs of toxin."
This earned a sigh of relief from everyone. But now that the threat was passed, Ruby turned to his uncle. "Uncle Qrow, what is going on?" the red reaper all but demanded.
Qrow let out a sigh at the question he knew was coming, "…What's your favorite fairy tale?"
"Huh?" Was the universal reaction.
"But I'm also curious about that shapeshifting Blade," Qrow then said as he looked at Pyra who had recovered enough ether to stand up after using a fully powered level 4.
"That's…it's complicated," Pyra said unsurely before turning her attention to Rex's wound, a wound that was on her own cheek.
"How did you even turn blonde?" Nora asked suddenly before getting an idea, "Did you turn into a Super-Pyra!?"
"Nora, that's not a thing," Ren said in an attempt to calm down his friend as he handed Otohime her cannon back. But then the black-haired boy turned a questioning gaze at the increasingly uncomfortable looking Blade, "Right?"
The red-haired Aegis felt a hand wrapping itself around her own. "Pyra, I think we need to explain that," Rex said with a supportive look as Roc had gotten off of him after hearing Joana's verdict.
"I guess," Pyra said with a sad look, fearing a little how these people might think of her after learning the truth.
AN: The most challenging part about writing this chapter was without a doubt the fight against Tyrian. After all, with all the new variables involved I wasn't sure how I wanted this fight to turn out in a way that made slightest bit of sense while still retaining a certain element to it. However I realized that I didn't need to have it that way considering what I planned next.