Chapter 60: New normal
"Damn intruders! What the hell did we ever do to you?! First it was those Quincy bastards and now humans?! Why can't you just give us a damn break!" shouted a Soul Reaper charging at Weiss with his Zanpakuto drawn. The princess's first instinct had been to draw Myrtenaster to parry her opponent's blade, but when her hands felt nothing but air, the realization of her current state hit her, forcing her to withdraw.
"I..keep telling you, I'm not an intruder!" she insisted, concentrating on herself and reaching out for the reishi within her, as Ruby had taught her in the one week they had a few lessons with her. She didn't know if it was because of the atmosphere of the Soul Society itself, or the fact that she was barely evading her pursuers from killing her. But she could form glyphs with much more ease than she ever could do back in Remnant. And yet, her attackers barely paused or hesitated in retaliating back.
While her training was tailored for fighting against non-humanoid opponents, the classes at Beacon did have mock battles against other fellow huntsmen in training. But this was unlike any training session she had against her peers, or other Grimm. It frustrated her that the most she could do was put off her attackers just a little bit to give herself an opening to escape. The entire situation was absurd from the beginning; right from escaping a tunnel with the cleaner pursuing them, only to jump out in mid air, which caused them all to split up, landing right amidst the Soul Reapers. And unlike what they had been told, none of them seemed to have any idea that they were participating in a training exercise and seemed to genuinely believe Weiss and the other huntsmen were actual intruders.
She narrowly dodged a few more kido blasts, while her mind went back to the events that led to her current predicament. She had no idea about the current status of her other teammates, but she didn't have the luxury to worry about anyone else either. It also irked her that she was so powerless against what she assumed were regular soldiers of the Soul Reapers. As much as she wanted to determine the situation she was in, she had an inkling it would be a fool's errand.
"What a daring method" said Rukia to herself, as she watched over Weiss. "Still, I assumed I would have to jump in at a moment's notice, considering how weary everyone is. But she seems to be holding herself quite well. As I thought, humans from Ruby's world do seem to be much special"
To say that none of those who were present slept soundly was the greatest understatement of the century. Following their talk with Kyoraku, they were assigned makeshift tents to share for the night before further discussion for the morning. But it was hardly necessary, considering how none of them got a wink of sleep.
The Kurosaki siblings were miserable about their Soul Reaper friends and associates who had lost their lives, visiting a sleeping Rukia and Momo many times during the night to talk to her. Something that Rukia herself was extremely grateful for the following morning. Tatsuki and Ichigo would then later spend the night with the twins comforting them and trying to put them to sleep, while Uryu had secluded himself altogether.
The Espada were relatively well off, with Grimmjow, Starrk and Ulquiorra returning to Hueco Mundo to check on the situation and the women choosing to assist Kyoraku and Urahara in whatever way they could. This also included paying visits to Teams WBY and JNPR, being there for them when needed.
The denizens of Remnant were definitely the worst hit. Yang was thoroughly irritable and jumpy the whole night, having a torrent of emotions and feelings to process, including her own mixed thoughts about Ruby. While Zwei was definitely helpful in toning down her darker feelings, it still did nothing to ease her mind. Part of her was scared, frightened and in denial of what she had become; an entity that was no longer part of her world, an anomaly that was a permanent reminder that her sister was no longer in this world, figuratively and literally. And yet, on the other side, her own feelings of longing and love never left completely, latching on to her like primal instincts. In either case, she was definitely in no condition to see her sister just yet, and was glad she made that decision.
"Is now a bad time?" asked Tatsuki, as she entered Yang's tent. While the blonde did initially jump a little from the unexpected interruption (which in turn surprised the raven haired girl as well), she gave a small nod.
Taking a seat next to her, she asked "With everything that was going on earlier, I didn't have the chance to talk much. But..I suppose I just wanted to talk about Aneki. I mean, Ruby"
Yang grimaced, and Tatsuki almost regretted asking that question. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm not exactly in the mood to talk about…about..Ruby. Why are you asking anyway?"
"Because she's family to me. And it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she's like the elder sister I never had. She's taken care of me for so long, that nothing I do would ever make up for what she's done for me. So…I just felt like helping out her sister in her time of need, when Aneki wasn't here" replied Tatsuki simply.
Hearing those words did little to help her miserable thoughts, although it did make her curious, for Tatsuki had seen the very same things that she had, and yet, she continued to have such belief in Ruby, while she herself was quivering in a tent, unsure if she was afraid or felt betrayed. But the feeling of denial stood out the most.
"I won't trouble you further" said Tatsuki. "I'm sure we'll get our chance to talk later, when you feel better. But I just wanted to help you feel a bit better, because I know that feeling too"
She started to leave, before Yang called her out meekly again. "I'm sorry to ask, but would it be alright if you stay for the night? I...might have a couple of things to ask after all"
Tatsuki blinked, but smile softly, before bringing her blanket over to Yang's tent, and the two spent a silent night together, feeling somewhat more comfortable than before.
Weiss and Blake were not that far off; both of them mirrored Yang's feelings about Ruby, yet were clearly different in how they handled it. The ex-Faunus sympathized and pitied her for the pain she no doubt felt, while Weiss showcased an extreme form of fright to the events of the night, Ruby included. The time they had tried to eat dinner following their discussion, Weiss outright threw up the contents of her stomach upon the sight of spaghetti on her plate. Winter and Nel stayed with the trio the whole night, talking to them about lighter, hopeful things to look forward to, for which the team was deeply grateful. It had given the trio to come to know the teal haired Espada a little better, and her gentle, protective nature helped immensely in suppressing any other depreciating thoughts that came their way. Winter too, spent some quality time bonding with the gentle Espada, being immensely grateful for everything she did for the two teenagers.
"Don't mention it" Nel would mention. "They're Ruby's friends, and in her absence, it's the least I can do. But even if that wasn't the case, I would still take care of them all the same"
"You're clearly very different from what we've been told you and the other Espada are like" admitted Winter. "But I suppose I knew that, somewhere deep down. I didn't have the chance to know Ruby as long as you did, but to me, she seemed much more genuine than His Majes-...Yhwach did"
"You really do remind me of Tia" replied Nel with a grin. "A bit stern and cold on those looking from outside, but there's definitely more to you than the surface, just like her. I'm sure you two will get along really well"
The two then continued talking about many other things, staying with Weiss and Blake the whole night.
Team JNPR did somewhat better, but they were just as shaken up by the events of the night as WBY were. While still maintaining her cheery demeanor, it was clear the event had affected the orange haired girl all the same. Nora never let go of Ren's company even for a second, while Pyrrha was constantly at Jaune's tail throughout the night. Surprisingly, the blond was relatively steel minded than his peers and was the major reason for which their own mental conditions were much better than Team WBY's. The Tres Bestias spent some time with them as a way of checking up, whose company the team appreciated just as much as team WBY.
Ozpin spent the majority of his time briefing Urahara, Benihime, Kyouka and Kyoraku. The denizens of the spirit world were impressed by his foresight and outlook, as well as the wealth of knowledge he possessed. It gave them much needed information about a world they did not know, as well as plan for their next steps. Kyouka (and in turn, Aizen's) elevated mood was clear as day for those around them to see. Neither had imagined they would get the chance to meet another who stood at their level of intellect and insight in their entire lifetime. And yet, there were two such people right in front of them. While Ozpin was certainly nowhere near Kyouka or Urahara in terms of battle prowess, his intelligence and insight more than made up for it.
Glynda and Nanao got along unsurprisingly well, with both of them grateful to find someone who mirrored their own thought process and a need to have order and discipline even during troubled times. Nanao was all the more eager to help out a fellow minded disciplinarian in her troubled times, despite the fact that she herself was a participant in the battles. However, thanks to the many decades and centuries she had over Glynda's years in Remnant, it helped the blonde disciplinarian come to terms with things that she went through the previous night. It sent comical shivers down Kyoraku's back, on the prospect that he'd have to deal with two Nanaos working together. Whether they were shivers of excitement or fright, Ukitake couldn't tell, and was even less willing to find out.
Roman and Neo chose to spend time by themselves, even rejecting the Espadas' and the Soul Reapers' offers to give them company. However, like a cat unwillingly and hesitantly reaching out to a human on first contact, Neo allowed Lilynette to spend some time with her, and the Fraccione too found familiar company with the ice cream girl, for her silence and mannerisms reminded her of Crescent at times. While not displeased with the girl, Neo was no fan of her either. Which was surprising to the criminal mastermind, who assumed the girl would simply be frightened of anything that wasn't a human considering recent events, especially one that had a gaping hole in her eye socket. He groaned internally at the prospect of having to potentially take care of another troublesome girl.
Soon it was morning, and the misery in the eyes of those from Remnant and the other teenagers was plainly visible.
"I see that you've all rested well" commented Kyouka sarcastically, only earning uncomfortable silences in return.
"We had a lot of time to think about stuff. But we're not getting anywhere like this. So we'll do whatever it takes to reach that stage where we're not just cannon fodder" answered Yang. "And, our weapons are missing. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
"I'm sure I had Gambol Shroud when I went to sleep last night" answered Blake.
"And we didn't exactly sleep either. So I'm surprised we didn't notice them gone.." said Ren.
"You're a lot more accepting of things as they come, I see. Perhaps your experiences from the previous night helped? Because I will not waste time asking about your physical or mental condition. Instead, both of us will benefit from discussing our next steps. After all, that is what you want, yes?" She then signaled Benihime, who then brought along a giant white board of sorts, with a lot of complex looking lines and circles in a giant web.
"It looks intimidating but essentially, this is what we planned" explained Benihime. "We….have a good idea about how well each of you can fight from talking to everyone. Plus, Kyo happened to watch you as well, back in Remnant. Taking that into account, we put this together. You can simply think of it as a huntsman mission. With Teams WBY and JNPR on one side, and the Soul Reapers on the other. With the Soul Society as your hunting grounds. You will not be using your weapons. Instead, the aim of this mission will be to develop your innate abilities, or semblances as you call them. And to learn how to become more attuned with your reishi. Your goal will be to reach Squad 1 and retrieve your weapons for the next phase"
"Naturally this will be a mission for the Soul Reapers as well, who will learn how to defend themselves against 'alien invaders' like yourselves, and like the Quincy. Fresh blood for both parties to defeat and grow" added Kyouka.
"You mean….like right now?" asked Yang.
"No time like the present. And…is there anything else we should wait for? Isn't this how things are done back in your world? Atleast that's what your professors told us.." said Benihime, cocking her head.
"Wait, what about us?" asked Ichigo. "And what of the Espada? Will they be joining as well? I don't see how fighting Soul Reapers will help them"
"This is for you and you alone" answered Tier, looking at teams WBY and JNPR. "We have something different planned for the rest. We'll be joining Grimmjow, Starrk and Ulquiorra along with your senior huntsmen and these two" she said, pointing to Roman and Neo "at Hueco Mundo. Nel had a quick spar with Glynda, Ozpin, Qrow, Amber and Winter. They would benefit more from training with us there"
"Reminds me of the time we rescued Ruki-nee. We were just as strong then as we're now as well. I don't like having to train like this, but if it gets us our abilities back then…" added Karin.
"Uh…sorry to burst your bubble, but uh, Isshin-san insisted on sending you five back to school" answered Urahara.
The Kurosaki siblings, Tatsuki and even Uryu blinked, with dumbfounded expressions on their faces. Even teams WBY and JNPR had incredulous looks on their faces as their gazes shifted between the teens and the adults.
"Wait, you're serious?!" exclaimed Tatsuki. "Bu-but you can't just..! I can understand Karin and Yuzu but why the hell are we included as well?!"
"That's not fair Tsuki-nee! How can we just go to school when all of our powers were stolen?! Shouldn't we be doing stuff to get them back?! Tia-nee! Can't you talk some sense to them?! Nel? Mila-Rose-san! Rukia!"
"You needn't involve yourselves" answered Rukia. "Objectively speaking, we discussed that possibility as well. Truthfully, your abilities can't be restored. Not at the moment, at the very least. They were taken by Yhwach himself. It's not something that can just be restored with some training. Therefore, this will be too dangerous at your current state. And there is no real reason for you to be involved to begin with. Trust me Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu. I was there. When the Quincy attacked. And…and even with…Nii-san..I couldn't do anything. Nothing at all. All I could do was watch him die while not even getting the chance to retrieve his body myself, if not for one of them helping me. I never, ever want the three of you to go through something like that"
"And I don't want you three to see that ugly side of mine" she thought to herself, looking away. Whenever she pictured the events revolving around Cinder Fall, her expression would go dark, and her mind unpleasant from the despicable emotions that welled up within her. Emotions that she had never felt so strongly before, though she instantly recognized them.
"Onee-chan…I know you just want us to be safe. Bu-but…what about Ruby onee-chan? We have to rescue her, right?!" insisted Yuzu. "And for that we need to-"
"Tell me, why are you required to get them back?" asked Kyouka. "Why do you need your powers? You are human, yes? You are, for all purposes, in your most natural state at the moment as humans. And you are not exactly powerless, are you? The King of the Quincies only took away most of your powers. Most. You have enough to defend yourself, and yet, not enough to get involved and survive. A rather staunch way of showing tough love, and rather tasteless, if you ask me. A shame, really. But you see, I am hardly the decisive authority here" she remarked with a sly smirk.
"That's…." answered Uryu, but found the words getting stuck in his throat. He couldn't refute the woman when he found himself agreeing with her logic. "It's true that we have no responsibility for anything happening at the moment. And yet, why is it so wrong to want to take back what was originally ours? Even if this is our most 'natural state', it's not what we are. And, even if what we have is enough to fend for ourselves, it won't matter at all against the real kind of threats that exist out there"
"Wait….by school, you mean like huntsman school?" asked Weiss. "I can understand these two, but I'm surprised you three haven't cleared school by your age. Still, I'm not entirely sure how school even works here"
"I doubt they have huntsmen academies and schools here" added Blake.
Pyrrha felt sorry for the Kurosaki siblings, and wished she could say anything to console them. But she felt she would be accentuating the problem by offering advice when she herself was ignorant about the ways of their world.
"It ain't my place to say anything, but Ruby's as dear to me as she is to you. Hell, she's my niece. I'll be damned before I let anything happen to her. I don't care what she is now or how strong she is. It doesn't change the fact that when she needs me, I'll just step up as an adult to handle things she can't. Which also includes those under her wing. In short, what I'm saying is that you can leave it to us" explained Qrow. "In fact, if you three are her younger siblings, then you lot are just as much my nieces and nephews as Tai's kids. Therefore, as your 'uncle', I'm nicely asking you to take it easy while the adults handle things for a bit. You'll get your time to let loose, kiddos, but this ain't it"
"Heh, for once, something here makes sense. Brats like these should be nothing more than school going, love-struck, gossiping little whippersnappers minding their own business rather than monster fighting dragon slayers out in the wild with the adults" smirked Roman.
"I'm sorry, but you're better off taking this with your father" sighed Benihime. She wrapped her bony arms around Karin and Yuzu, as though sharing in their dissatisfaction, though it was clearly obvious she was taking in some manner of sadistic mischievous satisfaction with the whole situation as well. "As for you boya, well, Ryuken can be a mean piece of work. A closet perv-...introvert like me has no business taking anything up with anyone. And Kisu-chan here isn't too good with him either. So….tough look kiddo"
It really didn't take that much longer for the five to storm off to their respective parents, with Tatsuki joining in with the Kurosakis.
"That was mean of you, Benihime-san" said Kyoraku. "When it was actually your idea to exclude those five. But I understand. This is neither their fight nor their responsibility. Those kids have other things to be focusing on. For one, I wouldn't want Natsuko-san to be on my case…"
"I agree" added Ukitake. "In a sense, losing their powers might have been for the best. They never should have gotten involved in any of the things that transpired in their lives to begin with. The things they had to forgo in return for possessing them have been grave. And this time, I'm not sure confronting the one who was responsible for them is a merciful thing to do"
"By that logic, shouldn't we stay away as well?" asked Ren
"It's nothing you kids need to worry about" assured Urahara, looking at the questioning looks on teams JNPR and WBY. "Not now at the very least. However, they'll still be a part of this in their own way. In the time you're staying here, you'll need places to stay. And they can definitely help you with that. Not only will their own experiences so far as 'peers of similar age' help immensely, it might help you integrate well in this world as well"
"Wait wait, what do you mean by 'stay here'? You're talking as if you plan for us to be here for quite a while…" inquired Ren.
"Why is that surprising? Did you really think you would just miraculously become stronger in an hour or two? You are but humans. Your opponents are far stronger than you are. While humans do have infinite potential to grow, that still takes time and effort, and the right manner of nurturing. Even Ruby Rose took many years to reach the level she did, and not without enduring limitless suffering" answered Kyouka.
"Then…what about home? Are we just supposed to abandon Beacon to those….abominable things?!" asked Weiss.
"What else do you propose? Pray tell me anything that sounds logical and reasonable, but make sure to include how weak and helpless you are against the King of the Quincies and the Queen of Hell's armies. And I speak not just of your physical prowess but of your mental fortitude as well. Can you truly bear witness to the horrors you witnessed the prior night? If you do manage to propose a solution that works, I would genuinely be impressed" stated Kyouka simply.
"B-but our families…what about them? We can't just leave them to die there while we're doing.." started Jaune.
"I'm not saying you should abandon them" replied Urahara. "But you can think of being here as a means to achieve that end. We could send you back. But wouldn't it defeat the purpose if you simply died after you went back?"
"And you seem to be misunderstanding something. Conflicts and wars are not as black and white as evil vs good. Things are not as grim as you believe. After all, never did Yhwach directly attack your people, correct? If anything, even if he did assume control over the Kingdoms of Remnant, he still repelled the forces of Galathea. And in my perspective, he may just have improved the lives of your people for generations to come. He hates them much more than your people could ever imagine. Galathea being there is nothing new either. She is a threat that was always there in Remnant. So in essence, all that has changed in your world are the factions in charge and the magnitude of the conflicts that plague your world. Nothing more. I sincerely doubt he would allow his own people to fall prey to Galathea. Therefore, I have no reason to believe any of your people are in any sort of danger. A shift in ideology perhaps, but is that something you can really judge in a day or two?" asked Kyouka. "Younglings like you should not bother with such frivolous matters to begin with. Prove to me, to us, that you have the right to assert your own statements through your strength or insight. Then, you will have earned the right to make your own decisions. Until then, you may very well consider yourselves captives of this world, forced to do our bidding until we deem you ready, if that helps"
"You're right" agreed Winter. "While I'm still conflicted about a lot of things, I've personally seen His Majest-...Yh-yhwach at work. They've done nothing but help people stay safe from the threat of the new hybrid Grimm. True, in a sense, the Grimm back home are what they are because of Yhwach's actions. But even so, that won't matter to the eyes of the common populace. All that they will see, is that a powerful ruler is now guiding them and helping them live better, healthier lives compared to before, safe from the Grimm followed by an age of technological advancement. It will be difficult to dissuade them otherwise. And, right now, without his armies and his support, Remnant will surely fall to the Grimm in no time"
"The same can be said of Galathea too. She is only after Yhwach and his people for breaking the laws of the world; your people are not the target of her retribution. Of course, as is her nature, it is her duty to judge sinners and deliver them due punishment. But what's to say such a system never existed in your world? The only thing that has changed, is that the people of Remnant can see for themselves, the consequences of their morally questionable actions. It might even deter some from falling out of place. So think about it, and wallow in your own thoughts, while you struggle to become stronger, whether your endeavors really hold meaning or not, and if your resolve is strong enough to follow through with your convictions" added Kyouka with a sly smile.
And that had been that. Considering that Jaune had been the only one that did not have his semblance unlocked, Kyoraku initially proposed to have him paired up with someone, until Kyouka intervened, taking him inside another tent, surprising the group with a brief flash of blue light. Jaune was back out, with seemingly nothing changed, save for Kyouka's satisfied smirk. And then, they were thrown one by one through a Senkaimon comically, with Urahara, Benihime and Kyuoka wishing them luck for things to come.
"See you back in the evening" called out Kyouka, with a smile on her face.
"Professor…you can't be serious!" argued Glynda, as her, Amber, Qrow, Ozpin, Roman, Neo, the Espada and Kyouka stood within the ruins of Las Noches. The damage done by Gremmy was all too obvious, with Kyouka (and in turn Aizen) being rather displeased that the Quincy had managed to tear down something they spent years building.
"I understand your concerns, Glynda. But someone needs to be there, to guide and look after our students. Especially in such perilous times. To their eyes, what we did was the most disgraceful, cowardly move they could expect from instructors, people that they looked out for during times of need" answered Ozpin.
Glynda perfectly understood her superior's thoughts, and she found herself agreeing with it as well. And yet, she could not make herself accept that Ozpin needed to make the journey back to Remnant alone. She had never questioned herself about her own skills or lack of abilities, but now, she lamented it more than she ever did in her life.
"I agree too. We do need a point of contact" added Kyouka. "And…if you truly are Galathea's betrothed, then I am all the more interested to see how this turns out"
"Easy for you to say, lady, but how the hell is he supposed to survive out there by himself in that hellhole?" rasped Qrow.
"For once, let's just say I share your thoughts" added Roman. "If this lassie is willing to send the old coot back to that place, what's to say she won't do the same to us as well in the future?"
"At the very least, I think the professor should receive some form of protection or training before he goes back" suggested Amber. "You're all pretty strong, right? Couldnt one of you also go with him?" she asked, looking at the Espada.
"You can leave me out, I'm not going to be stuck babysitting a damn human" scoffed Grimmjow. "You pull your own weight, or you don't poke your head into things that aren't your business, it's as simple as that. And that goes for this place as well"
"And yet, you're just as willing to sink your claws into Gremmy for what he did to your home, even though you can't do so yourself, Grimmjow" scolded Nel. "We're all in the same situation, in one way or another. And we all want the same thing in the end. And I think any of us would grow stronger, whether it's here or there. So if needed one of us could definitely accompany Ozpin back to Remnant. It might even give us the chance to check up on Ruby"
"Thank you friends, but I must decline. I do indeed agree, that we need an inside contact. But the purpose of that would be lost if someone who isnt supposed to be there was present alongside me at Beacon. It needs to be me. And Glynda needs to be here in my place to take care of those that are here. I shall be fine. I have survived this and worse in my years of living in Remnant. And…death isn't something I'm truly worried about" he said, giving more than enough clues as to what he insinuated to the adult huntsmen.
After much deliberation, and some more concerned opinions from Tier and Nel, Kyouka escorted the headmaster of Beacon academy back to Urahara's underground cave, where the portal back to Remnant was situated.
"You can keep in touch using this" said Urahara, giving Ozpin his scroll back. "Fascinating piece of work, this scroll. Thanks to Beni and Kyouka-san helping me, and thanks to Ruby giving us a very similar one from when she first arrived in this world, it didn't take us long to modify it to connect to this world's reishi signatures and use it as a signal source. With this, staying in touch should be easily possible"
Ozpin pocketed the device, giving a small bow for the gift, and swiftly made his way back. "Please….take care of them for me" he requested, to which he received nods in return.
Back in Hueco Mundo, Kyouka surprised the group with yet another piece of information.
"It is time I awakened my kin, the Lord of Hueco Mundo" announced Kyouka, surprising the Espada. Being hollows, they were well aware of the Lord of Hueco Mundo. One of the four limbs of the Soul King personified, and said to be the creator of the realm of Hueco Mundo.
"Your…kin…?" asked Tier.
"Indeed. I am the personification of the Right Arm of the Soul king, a representative of the Soul Reaper Race. Yhwach and Galathea are the same, with each being the representatives of their own races, as well as manifestations of the limbs of the Soul King. With the rest of us now taking our own roles in the centerstage, it is time for the Lord of Hueco Mundo to take that stage as well" she replied, earning more stunned silences.
"I see…" noted Ulquiorra "That would explain this sense of dread that hangs in the air around you, as well as this imposing presence. And the fact that I cannot sense your spirit energy, even with Pesquisa"
"You're truly one of the four limbs of the Soul King..?" gasped Sung-sun softly. "I have so many questions.."
"True. For one, while I know The Lord is a being all hollows instinctively know to submit to, none have ever laid eyes upon the Lord since time immemorial" answered Tier.
Kyouka merely smiled to herself. "Of that I'm sure. But what I am, is irrelevant. I am here simply to act as an overseer, as a gentle force of encouragement to witness you, the inhabitants of this world and the others grow to the best of who they could be. That is all there is to me, regarding my motivations and my goals"
"Oh, we're met our fair share of those proclaiming to make the world and the universe around them better, but definitions can be rather self centered, wouldn't you say?" asked Mila-Rose. "I don't care that you're some sort of archangel of this world. Galathea and that bastard Yhwach are the same as you, aren't they? Look where that got us. Why should we trust you?"
"Don't. Even though Kisuke Urahara, his Zanpakuto, Juushiro and Shunsui trust in me, there is no reason you should. You should let my actions towards you do that for you, rather than the opinions of others about me" she replied. "And I plan to awaken the one being who would never allow anyone they cared about, especially those of the hollows, to perish in their presence. You truly have nothing to worry about"
"That's…."
There was yet another silence, before the Espada reluctantly relaxed their guard. Perhaps it was also due to the fact that Ulquiorra himself wasn't as apprehensive of the woman. Or perhaps it was her presence itself, which felt oddly surreal and serene, even though she appeared to be no different than an ordinary woman.
"Ruby did not mention anything about the Lord of Hueco Mundo. Not their name, or who they are. Although she did speak of the Ruler of Hell when narrating her tale" said Winter.
"Even after my long years of having lived as a hollow in Hueco Mundo, I have only heard whispers or rumors about the lost Lord of Hueco Mundo" added Ulquiorra. "However, it is said that the Hueco Mundo would not be what it is today, if not for the Lord's 'sin'"
"Tch, who needs a Lord whose existence was nothing more than a few words passed from mouth to mouth? Especially when surviving the next day took precedence over everything else" scoffed Grimmjow. "I'm not even sure why you're even bothering; personally I'd like to take my leave and train rather than hanging around here"
"And yet, my kin cared more about your survival than their own. It's ironic, isn't it? We are all nothing but ironies, in a truer sense. Our worlds are made up of paradoxes and ironies for as far as our eyes can see. My kin has no name. They are the ruler of the Hollows. To be hollow is to be empty. To be void of all. Including one's name. Form. Gender. Identity. Being and existence. In my opinion, none was closer in existence to the true nature of the Soul King than the Lord of Hueco Mundo. However not everything is as it seems. Just like how nothing in this universe is truly void or truly defined, they too, are not just an incomprehensible existence. But I have spoken enough. I shall leave the rest to my kin" She then walked over to Lilynette, Starrk and Ulquiorra.
"Now, Starrk, Lilynette, place your hands on Ulquiorra" she commanded, and while Kyouka did receive some initial looks of skepticism, the two did as they were told.
With a crushing motion, she grabbed the empty void of Ulquiorra's hollow hole, and a bright, blue flash of light appeared, enveloping the dark, dimly lit skies of Hueco Mundo. The light then quickly turned white, before simply turning black, devouring and enveloping them.
They could neither see, hear, feel, smell or taste anything, even their own bodies and minds. It was as though they had become one with the void, like a drop of water splashing into the ocean below. Their initial fear and panic too, simply dissolved away, leaving them with nothing but a serene sense of peace made of nihilistic bliss.
And then, their senses came rushing back in, overwhelming them. Some of the Espada, Glynda, Amber and Neo fell flat on the ground feeling vertigo and dizziness while the rest staggered, struggling to maintain their foothold.
"Wh-what the hell?!" exclaimed Grimmjow, correcting his stance. When his eyes adjusted, they went wide at the sight in front of him. Tier's, Nel's and the Tres Bestia's expressions were the next to follow.
Starrk, Lilynette and Ulquiorra had disappeared, along with their reishi. In their place, stood a singular humanoid figure with completely pitch black skin, like that of a hollow. It was as though she was in a bodysuit of sorts. The only distinguishable feature was the figure's eyes and white brows, with white sclera and iris the color of amber, with pupils in the shape of a white, four pointed star. And their long, almost ankle length bushy white hair and bushy bangs framing their face. On the Lord's hands and legs were bracelets made of the same white, bony material that comprised a hollow's mask. While the Lord looked feminine, she also lacked some anatomy, making it unclear if she possessed a truly human-like body or was truly feminine.
"This is….surprising" said Kyouka, breaking the silence. She had a slightly awed expression on her face. "You look different…than I remember. Or perhaps I should say that I am surprised that I can even 'look' at you"
"Kyo..?" called out the Lord, in a deep, soothing voice, looking at Kyouka with a soft expression. "I would say I longed for you, but I've been watching you through the eyes of my vessels. But it is nice to see you with my own eyes. You could even say, I was de-void of sight until now" she winked mischievously, making the Espada and the group from Remnant blink incredulously. Kyouka, on the other hand, simply had an amused smile.
"I see that part of you hasn't changed, even after all these millenia. You've even adapted the nature of your wit and humor to that of this age" she chuckled.
"You know me, I just like to liven up a hollow atmosphere with some life and vigor" she winked again, and this time, Grimmjow, Roman, Apacci and Mila-Rose groaned openly, while the others continued to stare in disbelief.
The Espada were still taking in the fact that their Lord, one of the most prominent figures thought to only exist in rumors, was such a….entity in real life, and was probably one of the most incredulous things they'd witnessed.
"Oh man, this is even worse than Yang or Tai…." sighed Qrow, rolling his eyes. The thought of the three of them banding together sent shivers down his spine, and what he might have to potentially deal with.
She then got up, approached Kyouka, and promptly embraced her. "And to feel you like this, with my own body. Ohhh….you are the second one that I ever had the fortune to embrace like this, with the first being Starrk, so very, very long ago…."
Kyouka had her questions, but all of them seemed to drift away, and she simply embraced her back. The expression on her face seemed to belie her.
"You are…the Lord..?" asked Tier. Her enigmatic personality aside, the blonde Espada had no doubt that she was standing in front of one of the most powerful beings she had ever met, giving off a presence equal to, if not greater than Kyouka's. However, any semblances of fright, fear or apprehension left her, leaving her with a blissful sense of assurance. Which, by itself, was eerie.
"What happened to Lilynette, Starrk and Ulquiorra..?" asked Nel.
"I can't feel her spirit energy, nor the spirit energies of those three…" noted Grimmjow, his instincts itching for him to draw his blade. However, strangely, it was as though any hostile intentions were being sucked out of him, leaving him with nothing but content.
"I am overjoyed to see you all as well, in flesh" she stated, walking over to them with soft, kind eyes. "This is really a tier-ful reunion! Grimmjow, Nel, Tia, Mila, Sung-sun, Apacci"
Completely ignoring the deadpanned looks she got from the Espada, some of them she embraced, and some others she simply carrassed with her hand, like a parent caressing their child.
"And you as well, friends and family of Ruby" she said, looking at Qrow, Amber, Winter, Glynda, Roman and Neo. "As long as you are within my presence, you may shed your fears and apprehensions. No ills shall befall you, be it your minds, or your bodies"
She reached out and slowly rubbed Neo's head, and to Roman's surprise, the ice cream girl simply accepted it with a content expression on her face. It was the first time the girl had such a relaxed expression since the start of their misfortunes, and the first time she had done so around such an alien being.
"Lily" she said, out of nowhere. "Once, I did not possess a name, or a physical form. But you can call me Lily"
"Lily? Isn't that Lilynette's..?" asked Nel, and the Lord nodded her head.
"That it is. After all, she is a remnant of my original essence, from all those millennia ago following my encounter with the Soul Reaper now known to you as Starrk" she replied. "The conclusion of which also resulted in an empty vessel that lacked that essence, called Ulquiorra, the hollow born void, possessing nothing"
The Espada possessed a confused look on their faces, while Kyouka raised her eyes in realization. "I see…so that's what happened…"
"I would be more than happy to sit and narrate my story" said Lily, "However, there is a more important reason for you to wake me up, isn't there, Kyo?"
The Soul Reaper archangel nodded. "There are two entities who need your presence which-"
"As long as you do not ask me to fight, or instigate conflict or take a life, any favor you ask of me is one I would be happy to do, Kyo. You know this, and I trust you. Just point me to where I need to be" said Lily, following which Kyouka simply gave a single nod, and using her Zanpakuto, opened a Senkaimon.
"You'll know where you get there, what I mean" she said. Lily simply returned a nod and walked through the opened gate.
"I shall be back swiftly, my dear friends. You needn't worry about Ulquiorra, Starrk and Lily. I don't intend to 'be' this way for any longer than necessary. My role in this world was long done. I mustn't linger when it is not my place to do so. However, until then, please allow me to stay and watch, just for a bit" She then leaned in close to Kyouka "Kyo, please keep your Aizen them" she winked, before completely walking through.
"T-time out, Brun! I'm swamped!"
The orange haired woman instantly stopped in her tracks, her emerald colored blade stopping just short of striking Ruby's own. The cheetah Faunus stumbled back from exhaustion, taking a few moments to catch her breath.
"10 minutes and 43 seconds. That is an impressive record, considering your current abilities. And you held your own against me without using Crescent Rose. That is impressive!" she chirped, helping her up.
"Ahaha now you're just teasing me. Still, I do feel myself getting too old for this" she sighed with an amused look.
"Old? What a strange thing to say! In my informed opinion, you're just in your early thirties, therefore you're still very young, Ruby!" chirped Brunhilde, helping up her friend.
"If only I could convince myself of that. But thanks. I know you have your duties and all, so I'm happy you don't mind helping me spar once in a while" she replied. "And…I'm still taking it in. You're nothing like what how remember you to be"
"That's….I suppose as an android, I simply have much more affinity for acquiring battle arts and knowledge, and growth. But I too learn a lot from our battles, Ruby. And I'm more than happy to spend time with my dearest friend" she grinned, inching closer to the cheetah Faunus. "With the two of us training like this, we can both be combat ready!"
Ruby blinked in surprise, before a warm smile overtook her face. "Now that's a memory I haven't recalled in a long, long while. One that I felt I would never get to remember again. Thanks, it feels nice seeing this side of you"
Brunhilde tilted her face, confused. But it made her happy all the same. She then drew out one of her swords from her array of swords, handing it over to the ex-5th Espada. "Ruby….this is for you. A gift from me to you, for being my friend and something for you to remember me by. I'm….well aware this isn't the kind of weapon you're used to using. But since you don't have one of your own, I would be very happy to see you-"
Before the orange haired woman could complete her sentence, Ruby accepted the emerald sword with a gracious smile on her face. "Thanks Brun. You're right, it's not something I usually use, but I would be more than happy to have this. It's a really efficient weapon that anyone can use, and looks well maintained and sharp too. As someone who loves observing weapons and using them, I can tell this one's special. Were you specifically making this one for me?"
Brunhilde averted her gaze "Oh, um, not quite! It's just one of the many I happen to use-"
*hicc*
Ruby blinked once more, before bursting out laughing. It seemed to make all of her fatigue simply fade away. She then carefully sheathed her newly acquired weapon. "Thanks. Now that mom and Crescent aren't here, I think this is a very nice gift. I'll cherish this dearly. Looks easy to use as well, and I have experience fighting with just my sealed Zanpakuto, so it's no biggie"
The two then continued to chat as they walked alongside the various corridors, before Brunhilde brought Ruby to another room she hadn't seen before.
"I really should've brought you here first. But it's fine, we're here now. I need to go, Ruby. But you can call for me anytime, whenever you need anything at all" she said.
"Yeah, will do. Take care, Brun" The two then said their goodbyes, before Ruby entered the room. Her eyes blinked once more in surprise, as did the eyes of the two inside the room.
"Dad….Raven.." called out Ruby, wasting no time and walking over to the two of them, before giving Tai a quick hug.
"It feels like it's been forever" replied Tai, stroking Ruby's head. The last time he had seen her, she seemed strong and filled with life. Now, it felt as though she had aged a decade, both physically and mentally. Her voice, while kind, held more emotion and wavered ever so slightly, as opposed to her steadfast and cold tone. "Sorry I haven't dropped by. I really tried to, but the situation wouldn't…"
Ruby shook her head. "I..we were worried. Mom, Crescent and I. I'm just glad to see you're fine, along with Raven"
The ex-mercenary captain flinched, but averted her eyes from Ruby. The latter then addressed the former, and Raven had to admit that she was rather surprised to see genuine concern in Ruby's eyes as opposed to scorn. In fact, just looking at her in person shocked her.
"You've….changed" she stated. "I can't believe this is the same little brat of Summer's going about with a care in the world. Even though I was 'briefed' on everything about you, I still find it impossibly hard to believe when looking at you in person. Not to mention everything about Summer, and the fact that her brat is now an adult Faunus"
"A lot has happened, yes. But I'm glad you're here with dad, Raven. Mom isnt here, but I'm sure she would've felt the same. You're just as much of a family to me as uncle Qrow, Yang, mom and dad are" replied Ruby. "And you needn't worry about Yang and uncle Qrow. I'm sure they're both fine. From what Brunhilde told me, they're both in the World of the Living, atleast as far as the Quincy know. Which means they're under really good care"
Raven's eyes twitched. "You speak as though you know me. What makes you think I'm concerned? As you said, my idiot brother is with her. We all have our own survival to look after. Especially during these times" she said, stressing on the last sentence. "I've….lost everything dear to me, only to be….never mind, I'm not even sure why I'm wasting time explaining any of this"
"And yet you're here" said Ruby simply, with a lost smile. "You're here, with dad, despite the fact that all these years, you made sure never to interact with him, mom or Yang. And Brun told me yet another interesting thing. About your battle with Byakuya. About how you never laid the killing blow on Byakuya, despite being ordered to eliminate the Soul Reapers. I'm not trying to sound conceited, but I've…seen more than you think, Raven. Painful, sad conclusions I only hope continue to stay where they are, within my memories. But they told me a lot of things that helped me change my perspective about everyone I knew. Which includes you"
While Raven did wonder about the last part of her reply, she remained stubbornly mute, leaving an uncomfortable silence before Tai spoke up.
"You know, maybe this isn't the best time, but His Majes-...Yh….His Majesty did give us a mission. I was planning to go with Rae, but seeing as you're here, why don't you join us? It'll be like a family trip!"
Raven scowled at him, but remained silent. Ruby however, was clearly enthusiastic. She nodded happily.
It didn't take long for the family of three to head off to the once abandoned city of Mountain Glenn, in the Kingdom of Vale. Once a tragic reminder of the events of the past, now, it was a populated city. Although still under development, it was a far cry from the state it was initially left in.
"I can see lights almost everywhere. Not to mention the sounds of trams and subways. They're really restored a city like this in such a short time" commented Ruby.
"Mhm. There's no doubt that the Quincy have definitely improved the lives of those living in Remnant. A lot of places that were abandoned or destroyed thanks to the Grimm, are seeing more and more people move in and relocating again" answered Tai.
The three scouted the outer contours of the city, with Tai and Ruby mostly talking amongst themselves, while Raven preferred to keep to herself. Though Ruby would occasionally converse with her, Raven's answers were mostly curt and one-liners. Which the former didn't seem to mind.
Not long after however, sounds of alarms alerted the three to unwanted intruders just off the western edge of the city.
"Hollows..and Togabito reishi" warned Ruby. "Ah, I mean, Grimm. I sense a fair number of them, about as strong as Adjuchas level. I won't have any trouble but…" She then looked at Tai and Raven.
Raven scoffed. "I can handle myself"
"But we're all here. So let's go together" insisted Tai. Having no choice, Raven followed Tai and Ruby.
Ruby was still getting adjusted to the sight of the hybrid Grimm, a mix of two things familiar that now looked eerily Eldritch. Their reishis were the same, a combination of Hollow and Togabito spirit energies, that only accentuated her senses and feeling of being back in the shores of Hell and a feeling familiar to the time Beacon Academy got invaded. Raven's and Tai's voices however, kept her far, far away from it.
While Ruby felt she might need to intervene, she was actually surprised to see just how skilled her parents were against enemies that would've clearly outmatched them otherwise. Granted, while Ruby didn't know how strong Raven was initially, she HAD measured how strong Tai was when she first met him after arriving in Remnant. Now, Tai's reishi was about as strong as a captain's, while Raven's was about as much as a Mila-Rose's, just a level above Tai's. Ruby was also well aware of the power of the spring maiden within Raven, and it was clear she was hiding it and only using her sword. And she made quick work of the Grimm, who instead of fading away, simply melted into a dark goo which then rescinded back into the darkness. Ruby DID fight some of the smaller enemies, just so she could test out her new sword. But they were so weak in comparison that she essentially voided the test run. Still, she was happy to give it a go just for the sake of it.
Raven left the moment citizens from the town came to thank them, while Taiyang accepted their gratitude on their behalf.
"...and I've finished filing the report" announced Tai, putting away his scroll. "I have to say, it's nice to see the Grimm situation is a lot better compared to what it was before. While we still have attacks, I'm positive before long more and more towns will start being repopulated again"
"Hmph. And they will be none the wiser about the price people like us have paid for them to take it easy and enjoy life as though it was for granted. Such wasted effort" scoffed Raven, as the family of three sat down by Taiyang and Raven. Tai prepared some simple local food straight from Patch, making for a warm and cozy family dinner.
"That is one part, I won't deny" agreed Ruby. "There are definitely people who just take their lives for granted and even throw tantrums when their safety isn't guaranteed, even at the cost of others. But you saw yourself. For the most part, what we do does indeed help those that can't do it themselves"
"That may be true for you and Tai, but I fight for one thing, and that alone. That which I care about. Call me selfish if you will. But I will not be playing heroics when I cannot afford to, not at the cost of giving up my fam…." The ex-bandit paused midway, annoyed at herself. She wondered why she couldn't keep her damn mouth shut. She was never someone to openly express her feelings, and it made her feel weak and vulnerable.
"I know" said Ruby. "And I don't blame you. I'm the same. I'm hardly capable of playing the heroine. All that I care about are those close to me. But when I have the option, I don't see anything wrong with lending a helping hand to others, especially if it doesn't risk anything. But that's me. And you're you. And I know we both have our own ways of going about protecting what we care about, as does dad"
There was silence once more, before Raven spoke up again, with a somewhat softer tone towards Ruby. "You really have changed. I may not have been around to see Summer's brat grow up, but that weak little girl is definitely not the same as the one sitting next to me. And…I wonder if she has as well…"
"That weak little girl huh…? I wonder about that" replied Ruby, with a somber tone. "But you're right. She's definitely not here. I would know, better than anyone. Still, at this moment, regardless of what I am, I'm content with getting the chance to spend time like this. And ironically, I really feel like your daughter, especially since I'm nowhere near as strong now as I was. Not the 5th Espada, not an Arrancar, but just plain old Ruby Rose, a simple girl depending on her huntsmen parents"
The rest of the dinner was spent in relative silence, before Tai and Ruby headed off to bed. To an outsider, it was a surreal sight, seeing a grown woman asleep with her head resting on the lap of her father, as though she was no older than 15. And not long after, Taiyang too had fallen asleep, comforted by the presence of his daughter, and of his thoughts from days long gone.
"How strange" thought Raven to herself, as she took a long, lonely walk outside the woods, away from the noise and bustle of the city. But even if she was in the city, it would've mattered little, for her mind was still filled with the quaint little noises and talk from their dinner earlier. "I never thought I'd be having such second thoughts in a miserable place like this…"
"I'm happy for you, Rae" called out a feminine, unmistakable voice from behind her, almost stopping her heart in fright. Her body instinctively reached out for her sword and sliced through the air.
"Summer…!" rasped the ex-bandit, with an expression of surprise and disbelief. "Is that….is that really you?!"
"I would make some witty comeback, but my schedule's a bit fixed at the moment. So I'll just leave a message. I've been…under some new management of sorts. Let's just say that my job now is to make sure everyone stays good boys and girls, and to ground those naughty ones that don't listen. I thought I might have to personally knock some sense into you, but seems like I won't after all. And it's all because you've been such a nice little girl of late" replied Summer's voice, with her form still nowhere to be seen. "I'm really happy"
"...what..?" Was this really Summer Rose? The disbelief in her mind only grew stronger and stronger, and Raven had never been so overwhelmed and stupefied in such a ridiculous manner, to the point that she'd simply given up reacting. She did know some basics about Summer Rose, starting with the fact that she WAS indeed alive, and her being a part of Ruby as her Zanpakuto spirit. It was borderline insanity, but she was forced to swallow it all the same when said knowledge had been imparted to her by BG9. And when she heard of the events following Beacon….the fact that Summer was now a part of Salem/Galathea's faction, she was the last person she wanted to meet. "...where are you?"
"Clearly not in front of you" she replied, amused. "I can feel those myriad of emotions inside you. Don't think too much, alright? Just try and spend that time you have with Tai and my little ones, I'm sure you'll feel right as rain. Anyway, take care of them and yourself, 'k? You took a really long work break after Yang was born so now I'm asking you to take care of them while I go on a little 'vacation' myself. Hopefully not for long. But…let's hope we don't cross paths while I'm off on my little adventure. Take care, Rae"
And then, her presence was gone. Neither had Raven sensed any hostile spirit energy when she first heard Summer's voice, nor did she feel anything now when she probed for any spirit energy around her.
"What in the world…?" she muttered to herself. Now, she regretted wanting to clear her thoughts, and wished she simply stayed back with Tai.
Because all that she was left with, was more questions than answers.
So after doing some self review and as well as some advice from others, I tried making this chapter and hopefully future ones as well a bit more concise and shorter where I have more events happening and progress the plot a bit faster. Thanks once more to everyone who gave me pointers as well as everyone supporting the story!
Response to reviews:
Argorok: Thanks a lot as usual! Things will happen, soon enough.
Monster King: Thank you, I will!
PhenomsServant: Haha it was pure coincidence XD
PoofyOhio: I get you, and I felt the same of late as well, which is why I tried to make this chapter somewhat shorter in length and contain more plot progression. I feel I could do better, but with such a large cast, it becomes borderline impossible not to give some dialogue here and there without said cast members being left out. Once some of those initial bits are done, I do imagine the progression will be much faster.
Let Me BeLazy: I'm not sure which part you mean here. I'm afraid I'm also unfamiliar with Aroace.
Xeno01: There's a lot for Weiss and friends to look forward to indeed, as well as for Ruby. I plan to keep one interaction per chapter for Ruby (as though she's going through everyday life exploring the new land, changes and people and well, basically going through different experiences with them) until the time she meets the rest of the cast back home, who will have their own interactions with the Espada, Ichigo and co.