Rest and Resolutions
Dinner had begun in the house the Remnans stayed at. Of course, during this, everyone did the proper introductions, including having explained the short version of Pyra and Mythra to Dragunov. The Blade formerly known as the Firestorm of Torna seemed content with the answer.
Then the gang started exchanging stories of what had happened during their time apart. Of course, the dinner was ready at this time. And teams RWY, JNPR and their Blades took part in it. Naturally the Alrest crew was also invited. Zeke and Pandoria were instantly on it, while Mòrag and Brighid weren't sure if they should. Of course, the reservations that the Ardainian Driver and Blade had didn't extend to Rex and Tora.
"How do you lose a map at the time like that?" Yang asked from Jaune who recounted their loss of a map.
"Believe me, I've asked myself the same thing ever since," Jaune said in embarrassment.
"Milord more than made up for this small error in the battle against the monster," Joana said defensively. Causing Jaune to look a little embarrassed.
"Yeah!" Nora cheered, "You should've seen this guy take on a giant Grimm." the orangette said enthusiastically.
"Yeah!" Electra cheered.
"I couldn't have done it without Ruby and Roze wearing it down," Jaune then said humbly.
"Who me?" Ruby said with a chuckle, "You should've seen Ren, he was out of control!" the red reaper flailed her arms, one of which had chopsticks and some food between them.
"I'm sorry," Ren apologized, "I might have lost my temper momentarily."
"No, no!" Ruby backpedaled, "Out of control, as in awesome."
"Oh," Ren mouthed in realization, "Thank you." And then he smiled.
"There was one thing about that battle I would have preferred going differently, but the end result was satisfactory," Otohime said before giving a peck on Ren's head.
"Otohime," Ren groaned when Yang gave a suspicious look at the show of affection.
"Uuuh, is there something I should know?" The blonde asked while waggling her eyebrows.
"Yang," Ruby said, knowing what her sister might say.
"I was not aware you were into such…depravity," Joana said with a judging look directed towards Yang.
"Oh come on, there's nothing wrong with it," Yang said in amusement, "I mean, Ren is a guy. It's only natural."
"So, you approve of mother's laying like that with their sons?" Joana asked with a judging look, "Such blasphemy!"
"Wait, what?!" Yang exclaimed.
Nora decided to explain it, "Uhh…Otohime treats Ren like he was her child."
"Since when?" Yang asked with her jaw dropped.
"Since always, dummy," Dragunov said with a grin, "Don't tell me you never realized it."
"S-shut up!" the blonde bombshell cried out in embarrassment, earning a round of laughs.
Although for some reason, Ren looked more embarrassed, "Otohime, I'm not a child," Ren said almost pleadingly.
"I am aware," Otohime replied with a smile, "But that does not mean I cannot dote on my little boy." this statement was followed by the water Blade stroking her Driver's head lightly.
Nora knew the nature of the relationship, but she still felt a tiny pang of jealousy. While everyone else had laughs at the poor boy's expense.
With the exception of the Poppi who didn't laugh. Tora who was in the middle of stuffing himself with the bowl of food he had in front of him. Rex and Pyra simply smiled in slight sympathy. Mòrag shook her head while curtly picking some noodles with her chopsticks and took the small bundle into her mouth. Of course, the Special Inquisitor had taken her cap off, revealing small bun at the back of her head most of her black hair was tied to.
"Blades acting like parents for their Drivers isn't exactly uncommon," Zeke commented on the natured of Ren's and Otohime's relationship.
"Speaking of which," Pandoria piped up while adjusting her glasses, "How would any of you describe the nature of your relationship with your Blade."
This caused the entire room to go quiet, as the Remnantian Drivers started thinking. Although some of them were a little embarrassed by it.
"I am Milord's most loyal retainer," Joana said immediately with conviction, "And I shall do all within my power so he can gain the recognition he deserves."
This declaration caused Jaune to choke on his food in surprise. "Joana!" the blonde knight cried out in embarrassment.
"Nora is my best friend," Electra said also before hugging her Driver.
"Aww. Thank you, Electra," Nora said, hugging back.
"How about you, Yang?" Zeke then asked, "How would you describe your relationship with the mighty Dragunov."
Yang looked a little down, before gaining a smirk, "He's tolerable."
"Oh, really?" Dragunov asked almost challengingly.
"Be grateful I consider you even that, jackass," Yang shot back with a grin, earning a chuckle from her Blade.
"That certainly sounds like him," Brighid thought, remembering a few entries in her diary where Dragunov and Thauron were at each other's throats. Metaphorically speaking of course.
"He hasn't changed at all," Mythra thought inside Pyra's head bitterly.
Later on, the topic shifted to what Weiss had been up to and...
"You did NOT!" Ruby shouted out in disbelief after hearing about Weiss' escapade.
"Yeah, right in the middle of a party," Weiss said while covering her face with her hands.
"An action such as that could be a huge scandal with that situation," Mòrag commented with a small smile. Of course, she was made aware of the circumstances, so she didn't judge Weiss too hard.
"Please at least tell me you let that lady have it?" Yang asked half-jokingly.
"Of course not," Weiss instantly denied, daring to show her face again. "…Even though I did really want to," But then decided to admit to her desires.
"Miss Schnee would have actually succeeded, had I not intervened," Aizen commented with a small smile.
"Aizen!" Weiss cried out with a betrayed look.
"I'm just stating a fact," Aizen said with a small smug smile.
"I just wish I could have seen that," Dahlia also said, despite herself.
"No way," Nora said while crossing her arms, "I don't believe it." Then she felt something breathing next to her. Turning to the source, Weiss had summoned a Boarbatusk which proceeded to snort at the orangette.
"AAAAAK!" Nora screamed before actually falling over in fright.
This earned a round of laughter.
"That's an interesting ability," Brighid commented on Weiss' summon, "And you said this is the one you killed on your first proper school day?"
"Yes," Weiss replied, still feeling smug about Nora's twitching form on the floor.
"I wonder," Brighid said with a thoughtful look, "If you were to slay a person would you get to use all of the abilities they had?"
"That's not possible according to my sister," Weiss said, having heard from Winter who had studied the Schnee semblance that summoning doesn't work on people, "But it could be interesting if it did."
"Hey, imagine if she killed a Gonzalez and then summoned it to fight for her," Zeke then said.
The Remnans looked around at seeing several worried looks on those born in Alrest. Although Dragunov had a thoughtful look. "I take it Gonzalez is something scary," Penny commented.
"Imagine a Gogol, but fully bipedal, and…roughly the size of a Sauros," Dragunov explained.
"…Oooookay, that sounds terrifying," Jaune said after gulping down his food with a nervous look. Remembering the Gogol's Ruby talked about.
"Hey!" Nora suddenly shouted out, "Sauros was that thing that attacked Vale, right? Could Weiss summon it?!"
"No," Weiss said instantly, "I would need to be the one to deal the finishing blow before I could even try, which I didn't at the time."
During this explanation, Tora was slurping his noodles, using his wings to hold chopsticks and his stubby arms to hold the bowl, while staring at Weiss with wide eyes. Then, after a moment, the Nopon inventor swallowed. "Tora want to test that!" the Nopon Driver said in excitement, "If Weiss-Weiss come to Alrest, semblance could be tested on local monsters."
Weiss groaned a little, "First, don't call me Weiss-Weiss. Second, if the opportunity ever comes, then I suppose."
"It could be interesting to see," Aizen added in, finding the possibility intriguing.
Soon enough, the conversation turned to what Penny finally dared to bring up.
"Whoah," The Remnans said in awe as Tora explained Poppi to them.
"Yep, Poppi result of three generations worth of research," the Nopon inventor said while puffing his chest with pride. All the while Poppi struck various poses to show off her mechanical body.
"That's amazing," Jaune commented.
"But…why did you make an Artificial Blade instead of resonating with a Blade," Penny then asked.
"Masterpon unable to awaken a Blade from Core Crystal," Poppi replied easily.
"But how can you know if you don't try?" Nora asked with an oblivious look.
Tora merely looked down in dismay.
It took all of three seconds for the Remnans to realize that Tora did try, which was followed by looks that ranged between worried to horrified from them.
"How bad was it?" Dahlia asked in concern.
"It horrible," Tora whimpered at the memory, "When Tora try resonating, Tora's nose start bleeding!"
"…Your nose started bleeding," Yang asked with a look of disbelief. A disbelief that was shared by everyone else, except Rex and Pyra who already knew.
"What with Goldie's tone?! Nosebleed very serious! Could lead to death!" Tora protested while bouncing in place, wings flapping frantically.
"…Okay, now you're just messing with us," Nora complained.
"Uhh…Ruby," Roze then sounded out, shifting attention to Ruby who was taking a sharp inhale with her eyes turning into saucers. Roze wasn't sure if she somehow ignored Tora's hilariously sounding injury from failing to become a Driver. But it certainly looked like it.
Then the red reaper bursted to the mechanical child half her height with her semblance. Then she took one of Poppy's arms for inspection, "And she's just as strong as a normal Blade?"
"Poppi very strong," the Artificial Blade said happily, "Poppi could lift Gonzalez if has to."
Then a loud thud was heard. Nora had placed her arm on the table, "Wanna bet?" the orangette had a very challenging look on her face.
"Nora, please," Weiss said in an exasperated tone, "Now is not the time."
But Nora soon found herself arm wrestling with Poppi. Nora giving a savage look to the mechanical child while Poppi simply had a neutral expression.
Of course, Nora's team was supporting her.
"Go Nora! You can do it," Jaune cheered for the bubbly girl.
"Beat her!" Electra cheered loudly.
"Show her what team JNPR is made of," Ren also cheered, though less loudly.
Meanwhile, "Go for it, Poppi! Rex cheered for the Artificial Blade.
"Do your best, Poppi," Pyra cheered as calmly as Ren.
"Poppi not lose!" Tora cheered his creation.
"Go, Poppi!" Zeke and Pandoria cheered in unison, having pulled flags with Poppi's name on them from somewhere. Pandoria's flag even had a doodle that was supposed to be Poppi's face.
Mòrag and Brighid shook their heads at these antics.
"Come on, Poppi!" Ruby decided to cheer for the mechanical girl, "You can't lose to a girl in a skirt!"
Weiss gave her partner a dry look, "You wear a skirt, Ruby."
Ruby responded by grabbing the white-haired girl by the shoulders. "Weiss, you're not cheering loud enough!" Ruby practically screamed while shaking the girl in question. The white-haired Driver was not amused. Something that made Dahlia giggle.
"Just give up…the longer this plays out, the stronger I get," Nora said, sounding like she was straining despite her having strength that rival's Yang's.
"Irrelevant," Poppi said in monotone, but there was an underlying tone that hinted determination, "Masterpon tell Poppi not to lose, so Poppi not lose."
Then team JNPR's cheers became more desperate, because Poppi was slowly overpowering Nora.
"Electra! Hug me!" Nora quickly shouted.
"But Nora, that's cheating," Electra said unsurely. On one hand she wanted her Driver to win, but on the other hand, it wouldn't be fair on Poppi.
Before Nora could argue, she found her hand slammed onto the table by Poppi.
"No way," Jaune said in amazement at Nora losing.
"Winner Poppi!" Poppi said in cheerful monotone before standing up and putting her fists on her hips, "Please applaud."
Rex, Pyra, Zeke, Pandoria, Roc and Wulfric clapped, while Mòrag and Brighid let out a small chuckle at this turn of events.
Then a louder slam to the table was heard. This time it was Dragunov who had placed his hand on the table. "I'm next," the mighty fire Blade said with a challenging tone.
"No!" Tora forbade, stepping between Poppi and Dragunov, "Poppi need maintenance now! So Poppi not arm wrestle."
"Masterpon, Poppi can still win," Poppi protested.
"No! Besides…" Tora trailed off, trying to come up with something. Then it hit him, "Tora already proud of Poppi!"
"Poppi thank Masterpon," the Artificial Blade replied happily.
"Hey! Who else here can even hope to match me?" Dragunov complained, earning an offended "Hey!" from Nora and Yang.
"Wulfric is strong," Rex then pointed out, "If you really want to challenge someone, Wulfric could do it."
"Rex, what if Wulfric doesn't want to?" Pyra said in a scolding tone.
"It's fine if he's afraid of losing," Dragunov said mockingly.
This prompted the beastly Blade to growl before getting up and moving to the smaller table that Dragunov had occupied. Then the two Blades grabbed each other's hands. And then the contest began anew.
"Go Dragunov," Roze cheered the fellow RWBY Blade.
"Avenge me!" Nora shouted out, feeling a little salty about her defeat.
"Crush him, Wulfric," Roc cheered for the earth Blade.
"You can do it, Wulfric!" Rex cheered.
"Don't you dare lose, Dragunov!" Yang cheered her Blade.
As many other cheers were let out from everyone except, Mòrag, Brighid, and Aizen, Wulfric and Dragunov were staring each other as they struggled against the strength of the other.
Soon enough, Wulfric started pushing Dragunov's arm down slowly.
Dragunov noticed it and then he let out a low growl before the cracks of his body began to glow red, before pushing back.
Wulfric growled back before stopping the push at about the equilibrium before increasing his effort.
As the heated battle raged on, Brighid noted how Dragunov's glowing red cracks shifted to orange when he began pushing back again, "Just like my diary said."
"Hmm?" Mòrag sounded out in curiosity.
"Whenever Dragunov gets angry or uses more power, the cracks in his body glow," Brighid explained,"The glow shifts between red orange and gold, depending on how much."
"Interesting," Mòrag commented while looking at Dragunov who's cracks had begun to glow gold by now, all the while the cheers became noisier and more vocal. Even Joana was practically commanding Dragunov to win.
Suddenly the Remnans learned that the two little extensions that come out of Wulfric's back are exhaust pipes. Judging by what looks to be either smoke or steam coming out. But despite that, it seemed like Dragunov was overpowering Wulfric.
"Prepare to lose," Dragunov said, already grinning in triumph as Wulfric's hand was forced closer and closer to the table. Which, by the way, was smoking from where Dragunov had laid his elbow down on.
Then Wulfric seemed to let out a long breath as the back of his hand was almost touching the table. Then with a mighty roar Wulfric did something that made everyone drop their jaws.
The beastly Blade had pushed Dragunov's hand all the way to the otherside in one fell swoop.
"…Did Dragunov just lose?" Yang asked in disbelief. Never in her life had she thought that anyone could best her Blade in strength.
"…How?" Dragunov asked, stunned at his loss to the point of his cracks not glowing anymore.
"…I focused all my strength into a single point," Wulfric replied, "If I didn't know how to do that, you would have won."
The fire Blade looked annoyed, but seemed to take his loss grudgingly.
"YES!" Was the scream that then startled everyone. "Serves you right, jerk!" Mythra cheered loudly while pointing at Dragunov, "Dragunov lost! The Mighty Dragunov has finally lost." The blonde Aegis was practically singing at the sight of the draconic Blade's loss. All the while the fire Blade's urge to kill was rising.
"Umm…Mythra, that's not very-" "DON'T YOU DARE RUIN THIS FOR ME!" Mythra threatened Rex.
"…Yes, ma'am," Rex almost whimpered.
Meanwhile Azurda, was lounging in Rex's helmet with tiniest of teacups in his tiny hands. "Some things never change," the tiny Titan said with shake of his head before taking a sip, remembering how these two were like this even 5 centuries ago. Except back then Mythra got Dragunov to apologize when she threatened to sic Siren on him. Unfortunately, that option is now unavailable until they return to Alrest. Assuming of course that the Remnans somehow went with them. But they had their own problems here, so Azurda wouldn't hold his breath.
After they somehow managed to defuse the growing tension with Dragunov and Mythra. The dinner was finished. Despite even the Blades joining in on the feast, some of them were very full.
"Urgh, I think I'm gonna barf." Case and point, Jaune. The blonde knight had gathered the now empty pot and most of the dishes so he could carry them to the kitchen.
"Easy there, vomit boy, I believe in you," Yang said teasingly.
"Oh, we're doing nickname throw-backs now. Lovely," Jaune said sarcastically before taking the dishes away despite Joana insisting on that she could do it.
Weiss giggled at this. "I mean, Ice Queen seems to like it," Nora then said, causing the white-haired girl to shut up, while Ruby burst into laughter.
"Ice Queen?" Rex questioned.
"Well, she is colder than Dahlia over there," Dragunov said while pointing at the ice Blade in question.
"That doesn't even take much effort," Roze said with an evil smile, "It's like comparing Goodwitch to Nora."
"Hey!" Weiss protested, earning several laughs out of her friends, including from Dahlia.
Then Dahlia suddenly had a sweet smile that made everyone shiver for some reason. Weiss being the most noticeable, "You know, I prefer calling Weiss, 'Mommy's Little Snow Angel'."
"What?!" Came out of Ruby, Nora and Jaune.
Weiss on the other hand dropped her jaw before she remembered something, "Mother told you?!" And now she had a look of shocked betrayal.
"Among other things," Dahlia said with a deceptively sweet smile, "Several stories about how cute you and Winter were."
"Oh? Do tell," Yang said with a shark-like grin, wondering what kind of skeletons Weiss might have in her closet.
"Well-" "Dahlia if you tell them, I will hate you for the rest of my life!" Weiss shouted in panic and the iciest glare she had ever shown in her life.
"Alright, alright," Dahlia said in a pacifying tone, but still smiling, "I won't say anymore."
"Aww, but I would've loved to hear more of our Weiss-cream," Dragunov punned.
"Nice one," Yang said, and the two high-fived.
"Boo!" Nora jeered, "You two suck!"
"Hey!" Yang shot back.
"You have no funny bone in your body, do you, carrot top?" Dragunov added.
"500 years and your puns are still horrible," Mythra said with a scowl, earning a growl out of the mighty Blade. "No, scratch that, they've gotten worse."
"Grr."
"I was wondering why my past self saw fit to leave them out of the diary," Brighid also added in, "Now I feel grateful."
"Oh, come on, don't be so…blue," Yang punned, earning more groans from others and a laugh out of her Blade.
"Puns," Aizen scoffed, "The lowest form of humor."
"Thank you!" Anyone who wasn't Yang or Dragunov let out in varying tones.
Although Rex, Zeke and Pandoria didn't seem to mind.
"That depends on the pun," Pandoria said, "But I have heard legends about Dragunov making an enemy army commit mass suicide to get away from his puns."
"Say, what now?" Nora asked, before looking thoughtful, "Okay, I can see those two doing that together."
"Hey!" Yang and Dragunov protested in unison, turning to each other in surprise.
Weiss then rolled her eyes in amusement of Yang and Dragunov getting their just desserts judging by their annoyed expressions. "I sooo did not miss you people," the white-haired girl said playfully.
"We didn't miss you either," Roze said with a smile, earning horrified looks out of everyone, especially Ruby. "That was a joke," the reaper Blade said wondering why everyone was staring at him like that.
"One in very bad taste," Mòrag said with a shake of her head.
"And since when did you know how to make jokes?" Dragunov asked, remembering one too many times jokes, especially puns would go over the wind Blade's head.
"Since I changed," Roze replied with a glare in his empty eyes.
"What do you mean?" Rex asked out of curiosity. This caused Ruby to look down a little.
"There was an incident which did some…changes to my appearance," Roze explained as he ran his hand over his leather jacket with rose embroidery and silver vines with thorns.
"Oh? Do tell," Mòrag said with an intrigued tone.
"Roze didn't have thorns embroidered, his cape wasn't made of petals and he didn't have studded gloves," Electra started listing before anyone else could.
"And he didn't have Ether lines going down from his eyes," Dahlia added in that little detail.
"How that happen?" Tora asked, sounding interested.
"It's complicated," Ruby said, not wanting to talk about her silver eyes and whatever they did to make Roze change. Though it's not like the changes were bad or anything.
"Tora likes complicated things," Tora said, excitement evident in his voice.
"I think we should drop this part of the conversation," Roze said while putting his hand on Ruby's shoulder.
"Aww," Tora moaned in disappointment.
"Tora," Pyra said, having replaced Mythra, "I'm sure Ruby will tell us when she's comfortable about it."
"Thank you," Ruby said with a grateful look to the much kinder Aegis.
"And Rex…I'm sorry about Mythra," Pyra apologized, "She just…really didn't like Dragunov."
"No, it's alright," Rex said awkwardly.
Ren had a forlorn look as his eyes wandered across his friends, "It's really been a while…since we've all been together like this."
"Indeed," Otohime said with a small smile.
"We have all grown in our own way since then," Ren said with a smile, "I mean, would any of you look back on something, and think it was embarrassing? Or did you think you were perfect?"
"Oh, gosh," Weiss groaned while covering her face. Dahlia stroked her Driver's back in a comforting manner while Aizen shook his head a little.
"Yeah, I might have been a little too gung-ho at times," Yang admitted in shame.
"But you did improve," Dragunov said, reaching for Yang's shoulder. But seemed to decide otherwise and retracted his limb.
"Thanks," Yang said.
"I tried to 1v1 a giant Nevermore the second day of school," Ruby said, earning a pat on her head from Roze. Of course, the team had told their respective Blades about their first few days at Beacon.
"A Nevermore was a bird-like Grimm that could grow bigger than a Taos right?" Rex asked.
"I don't know what a Taos is," Ruby said.
"Something like that." But Roze apparently did.
"That's big," Zeke commented.
"And Ruby didn't have me at the time," Roze added in.
"Roze, please," Ruby practically pleaded.
"You? Don't even get me started," Jaune said, having returned to the dining room and leaning against the wall. Honestly, the guy practically had a list of things he would tell his past self to do differently.
Joana gave her lord a sorrowful look. She believed that her lord Driver was talking solely about failing to realize Pyrrha's feelings until it was too late. But the knightess Blade would be wrong, for there was one transgression Jaune did that she had yet to find out about.
"That embarrassment, and the will to go back and tell your past self not to be so stupid is a sign of growth," Ren said with a smile, "But you're not done growing yet. None of us are."
"Wise words, kid," Zeke commented, looking impressed, "That also applies to us." The Tantalese Driver then looked around to Rex, Mòrag and Tora.
"Yeah…I guess," Rex admitted while scratching the back of his head.
"You especially Rex," Azurda piped up.
"Gramps!" Rex complained, earning several laughs.
"Hey, Rex, did you go to any school?" Electra then chose to ask.
"Well…that's," Rex said, looking embarrassed.
"Rex didn't go to school," Azurda said easily.
"Hey!" Rex shouted out, now blushing in embarrassment.
"But…then…how do you know how to read, write, or count?" Weiss asked, not understanding how someone completely uneducated was able to do trading as a salvager.
"Oh, Corrine and I taught him how to read and write. Some basic math too," Azurda explained, deciding to cut his adopted grandson some slack.
"And some of the other salvagers in Argentum taught me the basics of business," Rex continued with a borderline pouty look.
"Who's Corrine?" Nora asked out of curiosity.
"Aunt Corrine," Rex said, "She raised me until I chose to go to Argentum to work as a salvager."
"Rex sent most of his earnings to Fonsett Village, and kept only enough for himself to buy cylinders and other equipment," Azurda replied in amusement, "And of course, I had to teach him how to fight, just in case he ran into monsters under the Cloud Sea."
"That's…pretty incredible," Weiss said, now having some respect for Rex.
"How often do you get valuables," Nora asked eagerly, "Maybe I could make a boatload of lien in salvaging."
"Nora," Ren sounded out with a shake of his head, "I don't think there's much use for salvagers in Remnant, besides there's no guarantee that you find anything valuable, right?"
"Open a chest, it might turn out great. Until then it's just a crate," Rex said proudly, "That's the Fourth Rule of Salvager's Code."
"How many rules are there?" Ruby asked, getting slightly interested.
"There are seven rules in Salvager's Code. The first rule is, swim like a fish. Drink like one too," Rex explained, standing up with his hands on his hips and a proud look.
"Rex take Salvager's Code very seriously," Poppi interjected as the Remnantians looked confused.
"Even if that first rule doesn't make sense," Yang commented, causing the salvager to slump while looking like someone stabbed him in the heart.
"Rex, are you okay?" Pyra asked in concern of her now mildly depressed Driver.
"He will be fine, eventually," Azurda explained before letting out an amused sigh that almost sounde like "Here we go again."
"How can you guys possibly make so much noise eating dinner?" Asked Qrow who now entered the dining room. He and Oscar decided to dine separately so as to not get in everyone's way. Frankly, Mòrag would have joined them, but the pressure from her allies, especially Zeke and Pandoria finally made her join these kids. Also, Brighid wanted to get to know her ally from ages past and the said ally's current Driver.
It was time for Weiss, Yang and their Blades to be filled in. Although, Weiss felt that a little something had to be addressed first. Something that she was afraid to do before.
"So, wait," Ruby asked with wide eyed look, "Aizen is your father's Blade?!"
"Was," Aizen corrected, "And I used an Overdrive Protocol so that Miss Schnee could become my Driver without me having to kill Jacques."
"Oh, great, we got that SOB's Blade here," Qrow groaned, knowing what the guy was like.
"If the SOB means what I think it does, then trust me when I say this," Aizen said with a small smile, "Your words are too kind."
This earned a raised eyebrow from Qrow at this Blade badmouthing Jacques.
"Where did you get an Overdrive Protocol from?" Mòrag asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It appeared to the room I was staying at along with a note that I assumed was part of a research notes related to it," Aizen explained, "The note merely stated that 'the Blade transfer to another Driver was successful. And that the subject's willingness made the process easier."
"I thought you said that the Blade needed to be willing," Weiss said with a suspicious look.
"A half-truth," Aizen admitted with no shame whatsoever, "I needed to convince you to take me with you. The truthful part was that I chose to let you become my Driver."
"I still don't like it," Weiss said with an angry look.
"Duly noted," Aizen replied simply.
"What's an Overdrive Protocol," Ren then chose to ask, "And how does it transfer a Blade from a Driver to another?"
"The Overdrive Protocols are relics of the lost Kingdom of Judicium," Mòrag explained, "Among many discoveries they have made, transferring Blades from one Driver to another through items called Overdrive Protocols is perhaps one of the most sought after."
"Why is that?" Nora asked.
"Think of it this way," Zeke began explaining, "When you want to pass your Blade to someone without them losing their memories of you, you can use Overdrive Protocol to do that."
"That's…incredible," Ozpin, who was now in control, said with wide eyes.
"Or you could grant a Blade from an aging Driver to a younger one without having to unlock the potential again," Mòrag added in, "But to this day, no one has figured out how to make them. That knowledge was lost along with Judicium."
"Maybe it's for the best too," Zeke said, sounding serious.
"Why is that?" Jaune asked.
"That kind of item could easily be abused too," Zeke explained, "You know, Blades forcibly being removed from their Drivers and then binding them to people who they don't like. Worst case scenario to the enemy of their Driver."
Every single Blade in the room suddenly had scary thoughts of that. Roze placed his hand on Ruby's shoulder with a tighter grip than usual, enough for Ruby to realize that he was upset. Electra hugged Nora, with the orangette hammerer hugging her Blade back. Otohime was biting her lip. And these were just few of the reactions among Blades.
"You may be right," Aizen admitted before giving a hard look, "But this time, I was able to escape a man who believes me to be less than a Faunus. And as someone who has heard several of Jacques' orders regarding Faunus workers through a few calls, that's saying something."
"Wow." Qrow sighed, "Sounds like you have a real grudge on him."
"I dare claim that I hate Jacques Schnee more than anyone in the White Fang does," Aizen said matter of factly.
"That's quite a claim," Ozpin commented with a worried look, " And you seem rather calm for an individual who harbors such a hate."
"If I let myself sink to their level then I can never have my revenge," Aizen explained, smiling at the image of his vengeance at its complete form. "But enough about me and my former Driver, I was under the impression that we have more…pressing matters to attend to," Aizen then said. "And if it makes you feel better, then I swear across my Core Crystal that I will not reveal anything revealed in this room to anyone my current Driver doesn't approve of."
At the latter part Ozpin had his eyes on Aizen's startlingly blue ones. "Very well," Ozpin relented before turning his gaze to Mòrag and Zeke, "Miss Ladair…Zeke, could you and your Blades wait outside of this house until we are done talking?"
"Why?" Pandoria asked, looking mildly offended, "We're already in the know too."
"…There are some things that I would rather keep close to the chest," Ozpin explained, "I hope you can understand."
"What do you think Mòrag?" Zeke asked the Ardainian Driver.
The Special Inquisitor shook her head a little, "Might as well take our leave for the moment. I trust that if whatever is important, Rex and Pyra will discuss it with us." With those words, Mòrag excused herself alongside Brighid. Zeke and Pandoria followed suit.
"So…the Maidens. Magic. Salem," Weiss recapped, "It's all true?"
"Hundred percent," Qrow said simply, "I know that might sound crazy, but it's true."
"Miss Xiao Long, is this more or less what your mother told you?" Ozpin then asked.
"Essentially yes," Weiss answered instead.
Yang however had crossed her arms, "You forgot something. You forgot to tell what you did to Qrow and my mother."
Qrow's eyes widened at this. Ozpin also looked surprised.
"Uncle?" Ruby sounded out in concern and confusion.
"Oh, great," Qrow sounded out in an exasperated tone.
"I didn't think that would be a secret she would divulge so easily," Ozpin said with a thoughtful look.
"Why would you do something like that?" Yang asked angrily, "I mean what is-" "Yang," Dragunov interrupted.
"Drag! You can't be just okay with him doing that to someone!" Yang couldn't believe that her Blade would interrupt her like this.
"You're assuming that it was done against their will," Dragunov said before looking towards Qrow, "Was it?"
"No," Qrow said, "We wanted this. We were offered and we chose."
"I figured as much," Dragunov said with a sigh, "Raven made it sound like you were forced to do it, most likely as a last-ditch effort to keep Yang."
"Yang, what is he talking about?" Ruby asked, getting worried. While Yang clenched her fists as she realized that Dragunov was probably right.
"Raven had the ability to turn into a bird," Aizen decided to blurt it out.
"What?!" Came the question out of everyone that wasn't in the know.
"Aizen!" Weiss exclaimed at her Blade, before taking a calming breath, "But he's telling the truth. Yang's mom…changed right in front of us."
"Okay, now you gotta be messing with us," Nora said in disbelief.
"OH!" Kasandra suddenly exclaimed at a realization, "So that's why I sometimes sensed you in the sky."
"And you never asked how I did that?" Qrow asked in disbelief.
The lucky Blade shrugged at that, "I thought you would tell me if it was important."
Qrow gave his Blade a look that clearly said, "Are you serious right now?"
Ozpin chuckled at this situation before choosing to stand up and pace around the room. "It's true, I have granted the Branwen twins an ability to turn into birds. Although…the magic I used to do so was rather miniscule, all things considered. The magic that I possess is…finite, and to be honest dwindling. You see, centuries ago I gifted a large portion of my power to four young women."
"The first Four Maidens," Azurda pointed out from Rex's helmet.
"So, you're the wizard from the story," Rex said, putting two and two together.
"Yes, and you must understand that the decision to grant this gift to the Branwen twins was not given frivolously," Ozpin then explained.
"Many bird species have better eyesight than humans," Roc said with a finger under his beak.
"And due to their size and ability to fly, they are very good as spies or scouts," Aizen added in, before having a questioning look, "And this has had no negative effects on their bodies?"
"Nope," Qrow responded, "And I've had quite a few moments this ability's come handy over the years."
"Then it sounds to me like this ability Ozpin granted you is a blessing," Otohime added her opinion into the mix.
Ozpin chuckled at this, "I suppose you could call it that." Then the former headmaster in Oscar's body took a more serious expression, "As Qrow said, I offered this to the Branwen twins and they had a choice. They chose to accept this power, and the responsibilities that came with it."
"And then one of them decided that it would be better with her own agenda," Aizen concluded with a smile, "Truly a vile being."
"The way you say that makes it sound like it's a good thing," Dahlia said with a disapproving frown.
"I just find it funny how she tried to lecture us about Ozpin being untrustworthy, and yet is completely untrustworthy herself," Aizen explained, letting out a chuckle at the end.
"What else is new," Qrow muttered with a frown.
Ozpin had a somber look, before speaking up again, "And now all of you have a choice. Anyone who wishes to leave and have no part in this…now is the time." Then the former headmaster turned to Rex, Pyra, Roc and Wulfric. As well as Tora and Poppi who have been quiet this whole time. The Nopon's jaw had dropped and Poppi was staring at Oscar. "Rex, you and your friends have no part in this, but if you help us with this, I promise I will do everything in my power to find a way for you all to return home," Ozpin then said.
"Well…I can't speak for Zeke and Mòrag, but I'm willing to help," Rex said with a smile, "And who knows, maybe we'll find a way back to Alrest along the way."
"But Rex-Rex, Nia still missing," Tora pointed out, earning everyone's attention.
"Yeah, but I'm sure if she's somewhere in this world, we'll find her," Rex said confidently.
"Well, we already found You, Poppi, Mòrag, Zeke and Pandoria," Pyra added in, sharing her Driver's positive attitude, "Besides, Nia is strong and I'm sure Dromarch and Dagas will do what they can to keep her safe."
"What does this Nia look like?" Dahlia asked out of curiosity, "I mean, if we somehow ran into her without you or the others around, it would be bad if we unknowingly missed her."
"Oh, yeah," Electra said, "Nia was a Gormotti, right?"
"Yeah," Rex replied, "She has beige hair, wears a yellow jumpsuit and has golden eyes."
"What's a Gormotti?" Qrow asked.
"People from the Gormotti Titan," Tora said like that explained everything.
"That doesn't say anything," Qrow said in annoyance.
"The Gormotti are humans with cat ears and or other feline features," Azurda then decided to explain.
"Like a cat Faunus," Ren suggested.
"Oh, okay," Qrow noted.
Ozpin smiled a little before turning back to his students, "We will keep an eye out, but first I need to hear your answers. I want you to understand though, that there's no shame in abstinence, only in retreat."
At that point, Yang stood up.
"Yang," Ruby sounded out in worry.
"If Ruby sticks around, I will too," Yang said resolutely before giving Ozpin a stern look, "But if we're going to keep risking our lives, then no more secrets. No more half-truths."
Ozpin shared a look with Qrow who shrugged in response. "Understood," Ozpin said with a small smile.
Then Dragunov stepped forward. "I think I speak for all the Blades in the room when I say this, I go where my Driver goes," the draconic Blade said as he eyed all the Blades in the room.
All the Remnan Blades gave various sounds of agreements. Although Aizen merely smiled a little and nodded.
"So, what should we do now?" Penny then asked.
"I believe that question is better answered tomorrow," Ozpin said, earning questioning looks.
"What do you mean?" Jaune asked.
"I'm saying that you should take today for yourselves. After all, it's been a long time since you have been together like this," Ozpin said this while walking to Yang and placing a hand on her shoulder. Which was easy, since the blonde had sat back down.
Then Ozpin let Oscar have the control. The farmboy instantly retracted his hand away from Yang like it had burned him.
This earned various laughs out of everyone.
"OH!" Nora suddenly exclaimed, "Qrow! Raven! They're both birds!" the orangette said as if she made the discovery of a century. "Cracked it!" And then she crossed her arms with a proud look.
"…Error." Came out of Joana.
"That does not compute." Kos-Mos added in, unable to comprehend Nora's train of thought.
"Nora, how did you pick that out from everything else that was being said?" Penny asked.
"Because I'm that awesome!" Nora said with a beaming look.
Now everyone sweatdropped at the orangette.
In Menagerie, Nia was resting on the bed with a sigh. Dromarch was once again on the floor and Dagas was looking out the window sitting on his throne.
"Dagas…why did you have to go and open your mouth?" Nia complained for the umpteenth time.
"It was my duty as a visiting king to help the ruler of this nation to uncover a plot against them, when they have been gracious enough to provide lodgings for us," Dagas explained again, this time in a monotone.
"We don't want attention." Nia hissed.
"And what of you complaining about the Blade of the Chief's daughter?" Dagas countered, "We might as well make ourselves useful during our stay. Which reminds me, we have procured necessary funds to gain a transport. And yet we still remain here. Any particular reason?"
"Where would we go?" Dromarch asked simply, "We have no idea where the rest of our companions may be. I believe it would be prudent to stay in one place and let them come to find us."
"And how exactly would they know to look here?" Nia sighed loudly, "I just…I just don't know what to do."
Then a knock came on their door. "Nia, are you there?" Asked Blake from beyond the door.
"Come on in," Nia said trying to push her depression back for now.
Then the door slid, allowing entry for not only Blake and Nox, but Sun and Wu as well. "Hey there," Sun greeted with a cheerful wave of his hand.
"Is there something you need?" Dromarch asked with a curious look, despite being a large white tiger.
Blake and Sun looked at each other as Nox slid the door closed.
"We know who you guys are," Sun said, earning a light slap from Blake and a headshake from Wu.
"What do you mean?" Nia asked with a suspicious look.
"Sorry, he means…we know where you're from," Blake explained, now earning Dagas' attention too, "You're from Alrest."
Nia and Dromarch looked surprised, while Dagas merely raised an eyebrow.
"You know about Alrest?" Nia asked with a hopeful look.
"Well…we know it's the world Blades come from," Blake said with an awkward look, "But…we don't know how these breaches that bring stuff from Alrest here open."
"So, you can't tell me how to get back?" Nia asked with a downed look.
"Not really, sorry," Sun admitted.
"Drat!" Nia complained, "So what do you two want then?"
"Well…I was wondering," Blake started awkwardly, "How are the Faunus treated in Alrest?"
"Huh?" Nia sounded out with a confused look.
"My lady is not a Faunus, she's a Gormotti," Dromarch explained, realizing the problem.
"A Gormotti?" Sun sounded out.
"Yeah, Gormotti," Nia confirmed.
"Are Gormotti like Faunus," Blake asked, "Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions, but I just…don't know anything about Alrest."
Nia sighed a little, "To make a long story short, You, your mother and any Faunus with feline ears could pass as a Gormotti in Alrest."
"What about me?" Sun asked.
"Nothing like you exists," Nia said bluntly, before having a thoughtful look, "Although the Faunus with scales remind me of Urayans."
"Urayans?" Blake asked.
"Hmm…people with…aquatic features, that mostly live in the Kingdom of Uraya," Nia said in an attempt to explain.
"They have their own Kingdom," Blake asked with an ecstatic look. Menagerie is large enough to be a Kingdom, but the Councils of the other Kingdoms refuse to acknowledge it as such.
"That is correct," Dromarch said, "And Gormotti live in the Gormott Province."
"That's…incredible," Blake said practically shaking with excitement at hearing there being two Kingdoms that are populated by Alrest versions of Faunus.
"Then the empire came and annexed Gormott," Nia then said, earning worried looks.
"Empire? What empire?" Sun asked
"The Empire of Mor Ardain," Dromarch replied this time, "In case you are interested, judging by the few pictures we have seen on a few scrolls about humans, Remnan humans can easily pass as Ardainians."
"So, the Gormotti were enslaved?" Blake asked, fearing the worst.
"What? NO!" Nia practically screamed, "Mor Ardain has its faults, but slavery isn't one of them, thankfully."
"Then why did the empire sack you guys?" Sun asked, thinking that the Ardainians were jerks.
"They wanted land," Dagas was the one to answer, "Or to be more precise, they need land."
"Why is that?" Wu was the one to answer this time.
"Do you know about Titans?" Dromarch then asked.
"Umm…They're creatures from Alrest," Blake said unsurely, she had never found out more about the Titan that appeared to fight the Grimm dragon.
"And also the only patches of land you can walk on in Alrest," Nia added in.
"But we saw one at Vale, it wasn't very big," Sun said skeptically.
"You wouldn't suggest that Titan was the largest possible, would you," Wu asked almost condescendingly.
"Wait, there's a Titan in this world?" Nia asked.
"Yeah, it came to defend Vale from the Grimm," Blake explained.
"That sounds…unusual," Dromarch said with a thoughtful look, "Usually Titans never attack unless they are attacked. Especially Great Titans."
"Great Titans?" Sun then asked.
"Titans large enough to house nations," Dagas replied this time.
"Okay," Sun said unsurely.
"Picture a Titan roughly the size of say…Menagerie itself," Wu said in an attempt to give his Driver an idea.
"Okay, that's big," Sun commented now feeling a little scared of something that large from Alrest somehow ending up here.
"What does this have to do with what the empire did," Blake then asked.
"Well, like all living beings, Titans too have a limited lifespan. Although they can exist for millenias," Dromarch explained, "the Titan of Mor Ardain is nearing the end of its lifespan."
"When it does…it will sink into the depths of the Cloud Sea," Nia said, "Taking anything on it with it."
"So what, aren't the clouds just…you know, fluffy?" Sun asked, earning a look from Nia that questioned the monkey Driver's intelligence.
"No you idiot," Nia snapped, "The density of Cloud Sea is about the same as water."
At that moment Blake's eyes widened, "That's…like one of the four Kingdoms suddenly sinking into the ocean."
"Okay, that's a scary thought," Sun said, getting the very image in his head.
"So the empire of Mor Ardain annexed Gormott so that they could evacuate their people there when the Titan finally dies?" Nox showed on his scroll.
"Precisely," Dagas explained in a bored tone, "So the empire conquered for themselves new land in an attempt to save its people."
Blake now understood why the empire did it, but she still didn't like it. "Is there…conflict between the Gormotti and Ardainians?"
"Mostly petty squabbles among a few idiots," Nia chose to say, "But for the most part…I don't think either side has anything like the White Fang, if that's what you're worried about."
"That's a relief," Blake said with a relieved look, "What else can you tell me about Alrest?"
Nia sighed a little, but as much as it was annoying playing fifty questions, this might be what she needed. Someone to talk to about things without having to hide where she was from.
AN: Here is my version of when the gang relaxes. And Blake decided to ask questions about what she views as Faunus of Alrest.
Just so you all know, writing has become a bit... difficult for me as of late. It's probably just my annual Spring Depression (As I like to call it) Plus I have stuff to do, allergy medicines to stockpile, getting inhalator for this year's asthma season and some other important, but unfortunately depressing stuff. So don't be surprised if I start updating... less frequently than usual.