Chapter 36. On the move again

"The festival?" Qrow frowned. "What about it?"

I sighed, deciding just to drop the bomb. "In the other timeline, it was the point of no return, at least in my honest opinion. With the help of White Fang, a bunch of thieves, and her own forces, Cinder struck at Vale and destroyed the CCTV tower, taking full Maiden power for herself. Communication was lost, Beacon Academy was filled with Grimm, and Ozpin was dead."

Silence fell upon the room with my declaration. Even Neo and Qrow sat frozen, still processing what I said. I couldn't blame them. The attack on Beacon was really the turning point in the entire RWBY plot. Everything pretty much spiraled down from there.

"I lost again," the headmaster muttered before looking up at me. "Do you know how it all happened? Even if this timeline is different, a disaster like that can't be ignored. We have to prepare for the worst."

I scratched my head, searching for all the details about the festival. Yet, the longer I tried to gather my thoughts, the more I realized that I barely remembered anything from the third volume of the show. It had been so long since I watched it that most of the important stuff regarding the attack eluded me.

Still...

"Three things you definitely have to look out for. One, Cinder Fall herself. She attended the festival with her team. Two, White Fang's movement. I know they aren't really active in Vale, but they might be hiding and preparing. And finally, three, Atlas's supposed protection. In the other timeline, Ironwood brought an entire fleet of his machines to protect people during the event. Cinder's people managed to hijack them and turn them against everyone."

I decided to omit how exactly the hijacking happened. Neo didn't need to know about her other self. None of that mattered, and even without me here for ten years, she still turned out better than I expected. Roman Torchwick could go fuck himself.

"That doesn't help us much," Qrow said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "We already know Cinder won't be here. She isn't on the list. The same applies to Ironwood. He will be here for the main event, but to my knowledge, he is only bringing his standard protection detail. Right, Oz?"

The headmaster nodded. "Indeed. James offered to bring more of his forces, but after a longer conversation, we both decided there was no need for that. Vale is enjoying the time of peace and relatively small criminal activity."

I grimaced. "Yeah, I already gathered as much after looking at some news on my scroll. This is the far-reaching result of my meddling ten years ago. For all we know, Cinder might be planning to attack Shade or even Atlas instead of Vale."

"Be that as it may, I still can't ignore your warning. I will spread the word to my contacts and ask them to look for anything suspicious," Ozpin then looked at the Brawnen siblings. "Raven, Qrow, please do the same. Together, we should be able to find something."

The duo nodded without a question, and Neo's illusion appeared above the table. "I will ask around, too, when you go to Mistral."

"Very well," Ozpin smiled. "In any case, we need to have our eyes wide open. With possibly two Maidens in Salem's hands, we can't let anything slip by."

"What if it's like Umbra mentioned? What if they hit Shade or Atlas instead?" Glynda asked, and I had to agree with her.

Even if Vale looked like the obvious target, Cinder could use the distraction of the Vytal festival to strike at other academies. Mistral had fallen without anyone noticing, so why not use the same method for other places?

"I will call Theodore and James as soon as we finish here," Ozpin said. "While I doubt Atlas is in any danger, Shade Academy could definitely use help with tightening their locks. I might have to make a short trip there."

"But the festival!" Glynda protested.

The headmaster waved her off. "I will be gone for a few days at worst. You can manage without me, Glynda. We still have a few weeks before the main event begins."

The woman crossed her arms. "I don't like it, but if that's your final decision..."

"It is. I will help Theodore where I can, make sure the Summer Maiden is safe, and then return. Of course I'm not going anywhere until you three return from Mistral," Ozpin said, motioning to me, Raven, and Qrow.

"Sounds good to me," I decided to say. "Just a fair warning, I doubt I will be staying in Vale for long. I will help out if you need me, but I have some stuff to do in the wilds."

"Just keep your scroll turned on, kid." Qrow snorted. "I don't think anyone here wants to search for you again. Ten years was enough."

I grinned. "Yeah, I can do that. And you can always call Neo if I don't answer." I looked at the girl next to me and ruffled her hair. "You're going with me, right? I want to see what you are capable of now, brat."

She swatted my hand away and huffed. "Of course I am. And stop that, I'm not a kid anymore."

"You're still as tall as one, so in my eyes, nothing changed." I snickered and avoided a punch aimed at my shoulder. "So violent."

"You don't know the half of it," Qrow muttered on the side, earning a glare from Neo.

"Did you say something?"

The male Brawnen threw his hands in the air. "Just kidding! Now, are we done here? I gotta prepare if we're going to Mistral tomorrow."

"Umbra?" Ozpin raised an eyebrow at me.

"Nope." I shrugged. "At least nothing I can remember now. I will let you know if that changes."

The headmaster nodded. "Very well. You may all go now. Qrow, Raven Umbra, please arrive at the landing pad at seven tomorrow morning. A Bullhead will be waiting for you there."

"You got it, Oz." Qrow mock saluted and stood up. "See ya tomorrow then. Come on, sis, I will show you where Summer is staying."

As the twins walked towards the elevator, Neo and I followed. We went down in complete silence, and only when we separated ways did I speak up. "I take you have been around here a lot, huh?" the girl nodded. "Then why don't ya show me around the campus?"

"Man, I still can't get used to having a room to myself," I muttered as we entered my assigned dorm. "It was always a cave or forest ground out there. I'm unsure which I prefer at this point."

Neo shrugged, plopping down on my bed and taking off her cloak and swords. "I still live like that for the most part. Hard to find a bed to sleep in when you are always on the move."

"I'm sorry. It's my fault again that you had to live like that." I sat next to her with a sigh.

"Don't." Neo placed a hand on my shoulder as more words appeared before me. "It was my choice, and I don't regret it. And it's not like it was all bad. I have traveled most of the world and met more people than I ever expected. Staying in one place for too long is just not for me."

I chuckled, lying flat on the bed. "I guess we really are similar. With so much of the world left to see, what's the point of staying in one place. Though I gotta say, having a home to return to would be nice."

The girl glanced at me, eyebrow raised. "What about that cave in the mountains? Didn't you want to make it into a proper home?"

"I did, but it had been ten years since then, Neo. Things are different now."

"Does it really matter? The world might have changed, but that doesn't mean you have to abandon all your plans."

I chuckled. "Look at you. When did you get so smart? Where is that little brat that could barely swing a sword?"

Neo huffed, crossing her arms. "I grew up."

"You sure about that? Then why are you still a midget?"

As soon as those words left my mouth, I had to roll away from a fist aimed at my face. Neo didn't stop there and continued attacking, throwing a jab after jab. She definitely got better in the last ten years, but either she wasn't even trying, or hand-to-hand just wasn't her strong side.

Probably both. I snorted and caught both of her short arms. Then I spun her around and stopped her from moving with a sharp tug on her wrists. "Nice try, kiddo. You're still twenty years too young to defeat me."

Neo scowled. "Once you come back from Mistral, we will have a full spar. I will make you eat those words then."

I released the girl and rolled my eyes. "Sure, sure. We will see about that." Once I dropped back on the bed, I spoke again, studying Neo's face for any reaction. "Say, do you know anything about team RWBY and JNPR?"

The girl frowned before shaking her head. "Can't say I do. Are they important? Maybe you should ask Ozpin, then. I don't know everyone at the Academy."

Shit. I cursed internally. Of course the teams weren't the same. It would be way too easy if they were. Well, time to find out what happened to the cast.

"Those were the two most important teams in the old timeline," I admitted. "The first consisted of Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, Blake Belladonna, and Weiss Schnee. Jaune Arc, Phyrra Nikos, Lie Ren, and Nora Valkyrie belonged to the other one. I take that those teams don't exist, hmm?"

Neo blinked. "Yang and Ruby were in a team with the Schnee heiress and the daughter of Ghira Belladonna? Wow... I can't even imagine that, and my semblance needs a really good imagination."

My eyebrows jumped up. "That bad?"

"Like you wouldn't believe." The girl sniggered silently. "Qrow and Raven raised Yang and Ruby to be assertive and don't take shit from anybody. They don't clash only because Yang would never go against her sister, but add the spoiled Schnee and Ghira's perfect girl into the mix?" She shook her head. "That's a recipe for disaster."

So, obviously, their personalities aren't the same. Good to have a confirmation. Weiss at least sounds the same, but Blake? The fuck happened there?

"What do you mean by Ghira's perfect girl?"

Neo threw me a look. "You know how the Cursed were shipped off to Menagerie?" I nodded. "Right, so Ghira stepped up back then and, with the help of Ironwood, managed to help everyone settle down. He is the Chieftan of Menagerie now, and his daughter is always around him, helping him with his duties."

That doesn't seem right. I frowned. "What about the White Fang. In the other timeline, Ghira only stepped down as the leader about five years after my disappearance."

"He led both for a time, but after his dealings with Ironwood, he had to step down and give someone else the reigns. He should have just disbanded it altogether. Could have avoided a lot of problems this way."

"Doubt it." I sighed. "Any idea who the current leader is?"

"Nope." Neo shrugged. "They are switching them so fast that I don't care anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if they separated into a few cells under a different leadership."

Yeah...

"So Blake is still on Menagerie. What about the others?" I asked to change the subject.

The girl scratched her chin. "Well... Yang and Ruby are an unofficial two-man team. They have lived in Beacon for so long that there was no reason to put them with newbies. They are too experienced for that. Raven and I usually take them on some easy missions when we can. And when they are here, they just help around and continue learning. Or Ruby does, and Yang just follows her."

"So there are still students? Just a bit special?" I summed up.

"Yep, pretty much. In a year or two, they could be official Huntresses. Not that Qrow will ever allow it. He wants Ruby to be at least eighteen before letting her out in the world alone. I'm kinda curious how it will go now that their mother is back."

I chuckled. After the emotional reunion, I doubted Summer would allow Ruby and Yang to graduate anytime soon. "I guess we will find out soon."

"That we will... Now for the others... I have never met anyone called Jaune Arc, but the Schnee heiress is in a team with the other three you mentioned. They are pretty good, even if their teamwork could use a bit of practice."

"Jaune is gone?" I hummed. "Interesting. He is definitely one of my least-liked people from the other timeline, but he had his moments. Makes me wonder what happened to him?"

"Want me to ask around?" Neo offered.

"Sure, why not. But if you can't find anything, don't bother yourself with this. Though it might sound harsh, Jaune isn't important enough to waste time searching for him and his family."

"Do you at least know where he is from?"

I furrowed my brow. "No. He has seven sisters, though, and one of them lives in Argus if that helps."

Neo nodded. "It does. I will probably have something once you get back from Mistral. And speaking of, you should get some rest."

I quirked an eyebrow at her. "You remember that I don't really need sleep, right? I'm still a Grimm."

The girl blushed, making me laugh.

It's good to be back...

"So Umbra, how does it feel?" Qrow suddenly asked, forcing me to look up from my scroll.

"What?" I frowned, closing the file with Haven Academy's layout.

"When you turn into a dragon," the man elaborated. "How does it feel? When Raven and I turn, it's instantaneous. A blink, and it's done. I wanted to know how it is for you."

I hummed, scratching my chin. "Definitely not as fast as your transformation. I have to force it with my aura, and it can be uncomfortable at times. However, changing back into Grimm form is always easier."

"Huh. Makes sense, I guess." Qrow nodded. "What about that lightning abilities of yours? That's a semblance or..."

"Nope." I shook my head. "That's just another skill of mine. Don't ask me to explain how I got it. I ain't telling."

"Spoilsport," the Brawnen rolled his eyes, leaning against the Bullhead's wall.

"Give it a rest, Qrow. Not everyone here likes to reveal everything about their skills," Raven said as she closed her own scroll and stood up.

The man huffed. "Don't act like you aren't even a little bit curious, sis. I know you better than anyone."

"I can be curious and not make an ass out of myself." Raven shot her brother a grin. "But enough of that. We're landing soon. How do you two want to do this?"

Instantly, the atmosphere in the Bullhead turned serious.

"Oz wanted us to be quiet and don't leave any tracks. We can use our bird forms to get in, but what about Umbra?" Qrow said.

"I can make myself smaller," I quickly pointed out. "About as small as a cat. Also, one of my abilities helps against detection."

"Of course it does," the male Brawnen muttered.

Raven ignored her brother and looked right at me. "Are you sure nobody will see you?"

I clicked my tongue. "Not one hundred percent sure, but pretty close. Even if someone notices me, they will think I'm just a small Nevermore. Shouldn't be an issue."

"So be it," Raven nodded. "You two will transform and follow me to the Academy's rooftop. From there, the way into the headmaster's office is simple."

"Sounds like this isn't your first time doing this," I quipped, earning a glare from the woman.

"It isn't," she said just as the thrum of the engines outside died out. "Now, move out."

Qrow and I shared a glance and shrugged together before following the woman down the ramp. I instantly reached into myself and forced the change. My body shrunk and shrunk until a tiny black dragon stood in my place. The Brawnens followed in my step and transformed into their respective forms.

The other man, being the joker he was, jumped on my head and let out a triumphant caw. I growled, which sounded more like an angry hiss from a kitten, and swatted him with my wings. The crow snickered and landed next to his sister, who was looking at us like a pair of idiots.

"Hey," I grumbled in my squawky voice. "I didn't do anything."

The raven shook her head and jumped into the air, stretching her wings. I followed, with Qrow staying a little bit behind. We continued climbing higher and higher until the tip of Haven Academy in the distance was at the same height as us.

Just like I expected, with Stealth active, nobody spotted us even when we flew right above Haven. As such, soon, we landed on the rooftop and trailed after Raven as she led us toward the nearest entrance. There, we finally turned back and continued into the Academy, avoiding everyone on the way. Though, considering how empty the corridors were, there was almost no one to avoid.

"This place should be brimming with students," Qrow muttered on the way. "I almost can't believe Lionheart would do this."

"I can," Raven replied instantly. "He is a bigger coward than I was all those years ago. Makes me question how he even became a headmaster."

"We should ask Oz."

"Oh, I will, trust me." The woman growled out as she stopped in front of a large door. "Here we are."

Before she could push them open, I stopped her with a raised hand. "Give me a moment," I muttered and gathered aura in my palm.

Quickly releasing it into the doorframe, I nodded as my Hunter Pulse returned with all the information we needed. "He is alone, but a Grimm is hiding somewhere in the back. It's weak, but I know that signature. We have to kill it as soon as we can."

Honestly, I had no idea what the creature I sensed was, but going by the plot of RWBY, it must have been a Seer. Salem liked to use those to contact her minions, after all.

I quickly relayed that to the others, and they nodded. "I will take care of it," Qrow stated, taking Harbinger off his back.

"Good." Raven placed her hands on the door. "Ready? Then here we go."

At once, she pushed the door open. While Qrow dashed forward, ignoring the squeak from the man behind a large desk, Raven and I just calmly walked across the large room.

"Hello, Leonardo," the woman next to me smirked. "It's been a while. I hear you've decided to switch sides."

That's it for today's chapter.

Sorry that it isn't longer. I will try to make it 5k words long the next time.

For now thank you all for reading and I hope you have a great day.

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My original story (Gamer style like this one): royalroad (.com) /fiction/58667/a-universe-of-bloody-evolution