Chapter 15
Teams RWBY and JNPR have split off to do two separate missions. On the way to Higanbana the team led by Oscar ran into Rosa. After a conversation with Weiss and Blake, Rosa left. The team made it to Higanbana and to the Tree of Light
Ruby put her head against the side of the ship as she was doing maintenance on Crescent Rose while they were flying. She looked down the scope and saw the trees moving passed her. She let out a sigh.
"Everything looks the same from up here!" Ruby said. She leaned back against the wall.
"What were you expecting? We knew this area is just a bunch of forests." Yang said.
"Yeah, I know…" Ruby said. "Except for that."
Ruby pointed to a large stone spire that shot out of the ground and hung in the air. Qrow turned around to see it and let out a sigh.
"We're going to have to check that out. I can sense the dark side from here." Qrow said.
"It does have that evil aura to it." Nora said.
"I don't remember what that was called. But we were told to avoid it when we could." Ren said.
Qrow went to the pilot and told him to land.
"Hey, you don't have to tell me twice. But I'm not coming back for you." The pilot said.
"How far away are we from Kuroyuri?" Yang asked.
"Within eighty Kilometers." The pilot said.
"Almost within sight." Qrow said. The ship lowered down. Yang grabbed her bike out of the ship. She tapped a button on it, and a new upgrade the clone engineers added showed up. I small version of that box the commandos created was placed inside of her bike, with a much smaller range. It could get calls to the nearest settlements, including Higanbana. The ship flew away.
"I hope we didn't just make a massive mistake." Ren said.
"We might have kid." Qrow led the way to the spire. They felt the darkness radiating off of the spire. The Grimm felt it as well. Ruby took out Crescent Rose and fired at a Grimm that just jumped out of the woods. It died immediately. Ruby looked to the others. Qrow took out Harbinger.
"What are you waiting for? We got to kill 'em." Qrow said. He rushed forward bringing his scythe up into the head of one of the Grimm. Yang rushed forward and slammed her fist into the head of a Grimm, leaving behind only the body of a monster. Ren and Nora joined in right after. Ren slammed his blade into the head of a Grimm and fired into another. Nora jumped in the air spinning her hammer. She slammed her hammer down completely destroying the body of a Grimm.
"The Grimm are starting to move away from us." Ruby said.
"No… A big one is coming." Qrow said. A Geist Grimm stepped forward, trees as arms. Qrow changed Harbinger and stabbed the tree arm that was coming at him. He stayed on the arm. Ruby switched to fire dust bullets. She fired at the tree, hitting it, but it didn't start fire.
"What?" Ruby asked out loud.
"It's a live tree Ruby." Ren said.
"What?" Ruby asked.
"That means that it is much harder to catch fire." Ren said.
"Oh. Do we have to switch to lightsabers?" Ruby asked.
"No." Yang said. Nora jumped forward and slammed down on one of the tree trunks. The trunk cracked, but it didn't shatter. The rocks that made up the body shifted after the attack. Yang took in a deep breath and held her hand out toward the arm. Ruby turned and felt the power she was trying to use. Yang's body became warmer.
"Yang, you have to be careful with that power." Ruby said.
"I know." Yang said. She opened her eyes. An inferno burst from within the tree itself. The Geist looked at the tree and tried to stop the fire. Nora jumped up from behind and hit the Grimm with all the energy she had, obliterating the boulder that made the head of the Geist's creation. The Geist itself left the boulder and floated in the air. Ruby fired a light bullet at it, killing the Geist. The burning tree slammed on the ground. Nora went next to it and absorbed the energy. The fire went out.
"You good, Yang?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah." Yang said. She waved her hand, almost feeling the heat of the fire radiating off of her. Yang took in a deep breath.
"Let's keep going. I think that's the ones in this area." Qrow said. They continued to the spire. The dark side started radiating heavier the closer they got to the spire. They were able to see that the spire was made of manmade material.
"Great. It's probably Sith ruins." Yang said.
They finally got to the base of the ruins, and saw it was once a castle, but over the centuries, probably, it had been attacked and left with just the tower. They saw a massive archway that must have been the main gate.
"Before we go in there, I'm going to call the others in case this takes longer than we think it's going to take." Ruby said. She stepped aside. Qrow felt the darkness within calling out to him. He took out his flask and took a sip. Yang turned to him with a disapproving glare.
"We're about to go into these ruins. The last thing we need is you to be drinking." Yang said.
"The last thing we need is for that darkness to become overwhelming." Qrow said. He remembered Raven… That day they found a Sith Holocron. Qrow tried to destroy it… but he lost the duel. That was the last time he had seen her. He felt something similar coming from within. He looked back at Yang and almost told her to stay behind. But if there was a Holocron in there, they would need every advantage they had. The fact that something inside there had been attracting Grimm worried him.
Ruby came back.
"Informed them. Let's go." Ruby said. They stepped into the ruins. Ren grabbed his lightsaber and turned it on. A small bat-like Grimm flew at them, but Ren sliced it in half. Ren turned back to the others.
"This place is not meant to hold life." Ren said.
"We all can feel that." Nora said. She took out her lightsaber as well. There was a low rumble in the darkness. Ren took out a glow rod and tossed it into the darkness. They saw a cage with a metallic creature gnawing at the bars.
"Be very careful with that." Qrow said. He took out his false lightsaber and stepped to the cage. The creature growled at him and jumped. Qrow stepped back and turned the lightsaber on. The purple light glowed in the air, and he slammed the lightsaber into the head of the creature. It stopped moving and collapsed.
"That thing… What was it?" Nora asked.
"A monster created by Sith magic and Alchemy." Qrow said.
"They can make things like that?" Nora asked horrified.
"Some. And yes, the process is as hellish as you are imaging. I've stopped a ceremony once to create something like this. You don't want to experience something like that." Qrow said. He remembered the battle and how brutal it was because of the monsters the Sith created.
"Are there ways to counter Sith magic?" Ren asked.
"Yes." Qrow said. "Now is not the time to go over it."
"You know how to handle Sith magic?" Ren asked.
"I had to learn. Raven is a dangerous woman, and I know she knows some magic." Qrow said. Yang stopped. She looked away from the others. Ruby put a hand on Yang's shoulder. Yang turned and gave Ruby a small smile.
"She's my mother." Yang turned to Ren and Nora. Qrow looked between Yang and the others.
"That must make things stressful." Ren said.
"Is your mom a Sith?" Nora asked.
"No. She's… kind of think of her as a third party that wants to murder both sides. The Sith have tried getting her to join but she hates them." Qrow said.
"But Raven knows some Sith magic?" Nora asked.
"We say Sith but what we really mean is dark side. This is a rare exception where the two aren't the same. Raven has been gathering Holocrons from both Jedi and Sith. I know she has at least three of each." Qrow said.
"How did she get her hands on so many?" Ren asked.
"Her people often are disenfranchised former Jedi and Sith. Most lost their master's on a mission and had nowhere else to go. Some of them had Holocrons with them." Qrow said.
"Does she have only force users with her?" Ruby asked.
"No. She's also got a Mandalorian clan that have sworn allegiance to her. She has enough power to own a sizable portion of Mistral practically." Qrow said. They continued to move in the ruins. Ruby and Ren had their lightsabers out to give light. They found a locked door.
"Wonder what's on the other side." Ruby said. She made a quick slash and used the force to push open the door. Ren threw another glow rod into the room. It was a room full of lightsabers and gems.
"What in the world?" Nora asked. Qrow stepped in first. The gems he realized were black Kyber crystals.
"Oh… oh no." Qrow said.
"What is it about those crystals?" Ruby asked.
"The process of getting the crystal to turn black is dark. Darker than making it bleed. Who ever made these tortured the original owners of these lightsabers. This is a trophy room." Qrow said.
"The crystals feel dead." Yang said.
"In one sense they are." Qrow said. "These crystals are impossible to purify. The darkness has fully taken over. If it came into contact with light right now, it would shatter."
Ruby looked at the crystals and felt the pain radiating off each. She saw the names of the Jedi under each lightsaber. Qrow looked at the plaques in the room. They were all Jedi knights.
"This is a dark place." Ruby said.
"We should leave this room" Qrow put a hand on Ruby's shoulder. Ruby turned and shook her head.
They continued down the ruins. No light was shining through at all. All they could feel was the darkness that was below them. It felt like a radiating pulse. Qrow found a set of stairs and tested them.
"They should be stable enough." Qrow said. "But just in case, I'll lead."
Qrow started down the stairs. Ren followed him. Then Nora, then Ruby. Yang took one look behind at the entrance and saw a shadow. She opened her eyes wide and heard Ruby.
"Yang, it's not a good idea to slow down." Ruby said.
"Yeah, I'll be right behind you." Yang took a step and felt a gust a wind. She lost her footing and started to fall. Ruby turned around and caught Yang. The stairs started to creek.
"Keep moving." Yang said. "Something's in here."
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.
"I saw a shadow. Or something like it right when I started walking." Yang said.
"You don't think it's a Sith spirit, do you?" Ruby asked.
"I don't think so." Yang said. They continued down the stairs, hands on lightsabers. They got to the second floor.
"I can feel the evil radiating off this floor." Nora said. They continued into the ruins. Qrow took flashlights from a pocket and tossed them to the others. They were small lights that were able to clip onto their clothes.
"Be careful." Qrow said. The floor was nearly empty. They found hallways of empty rooms, with symbols all over the walls. Qrow looked back at the knights.
"Don't touch any of those. It looks like Sith curses for thieves. And seeing those…" Qrow lowered his flashlight to a pile of bones. Everyone took a step back. "They work."
"Shouldn't there be gold and jewelry everywhere here?" Nora asked.
"It depends on the Sith. This one looks to have hoarded trophies and alchemic monsters." Qrow said.
"No relics?" Ruby asked.
"They may be lower. This is only one floor below the entrance." Qrow said.
"Let's not touch anything from here." Ren said.
It took some time, but they found a second set of stairs. Qrow led them down again. The next floor was locked. Ruby had everyone step aside. She looked at the door and found it. She took out her lightsaber and jabbed it into the door, far above the door handles. The door made a sound… and started to splinter. Ren put up a force shield and blocked the shards of wood flying at them. The door was gone.
"I hope that isn't part of the curse." Ruby said.
"Well, we knocked, and nothing happened." Qrow said. They went to the next floor. They found a torture room first. Qrow didn't realize what it was until after they stepped in. The skeleton should have made it obvious, but honestly, it fit the decorations of the ruins.
"This is where the Sith did their work." Qrow said.
"Their work?" Ruby asked.
"Let's get out of here." Qrow said.
They left the room and went to other rooms on the floor. Yang saw opened a door and saw a bedroom. Ren found a treasure room and closed the door. The room was filled with gold and silver coins that reached to the ceiling. He saw that the room had multiple wires which would activate something. He knew that the Sith wouldn't have let this room sit like this without some ways to stop the thieves. He couldn't trust what he was seeing. He closed his eyes and felt that there was a bomb in the middle of the pile. It was hooked up so that wires would activate it, but also that a pressure plate was there. If any gold was taken, it could trigger the bombs.
"Don't open this one." Ren said.
"Why not?" Nora asked, leaving a room from the other side.
"It's a hoard of treasure, but it's also highly boobytrapped." Ren said.
"Oh." Nora said.
Ruby found that walls were covered in writings. She didn't recognize any of them, but she saw symbols that she learned in science classes. This must have been a room the Sith used when working. She looked at the floor and saw glass littering the floor. She could feel the echoes of anger in this room. She saw long dried blood on the floor and destroyed vials all over the room. There were three vials of what looked like blood. The cells had separated long ago. She took a step in and was filled with dread. This room witnesses many evil things. She saw a set of robes on the floor, with a lightsaber on top. She used the force to grab the lightsaber and turned it on. It was a blue lightsaber. She realized that used to be a Jedi.
She saw a journal on an empty bookshelf. She opened it, and saw more notes were written down.
"The blood of the Jedi was not able to power the crystal. It turned black. The crystal was still too weak to power the stronghold." The date was over four hundred years ago.
"The Jedi are looking for me. I will not let them take control of my work. They will destroy everything I have discovered. I will release the beasts. The Holocron must stay safe. I will challenge the Jedi myself. My work must like on." Ruby read.
"The First attack is over. I captured a Jedi. My apprentices have been gathering my work and sending them off to the Dark Lands. Salem has sworn to take care of them. She is the only hope they will survive. She sent one of her inner council to pick up my work. I refused to tell them anything about the Holocron. My apprentices returned to me. The Jedi arrived too. My alchemic monsters were no more. I killed the Jedi, but their body just vanished when I did. I destroyed everything left in here. My apprentices are fighting the Jedi now. I will face off against them now. I will most likely not survive, but I will take out many Jedi."
Ruby put the journal back. She wanted to burn the journal, but she had no idea what that would do. Ruby turned to the table with the vials and saw something bobbing in them. She opened her eyes wide as she saw Kyber crystals in the blood. They were black. She felt the crystals and knew they were dead. She closed her eyes, disgusted by this room. She left the room and saw the others. Qrow left another room and shook his head.
"It's a room where he trained his apprentices." Qrow said. Ruby explained what she found. The others explained what they found.
"Where next?" Nora asked.
"I think there's only one floor left. I can feel the darkness right below us." Qrow said. They went down the stairs to the next floor, but saw the door was already open. Qrow stepped through and felt it.
There it was, sitting in the middle of the floor, a dim red glow emanating from the evil object. Qrow felt the pull of the dark side, he heard it calling out to him. Take the Holocron, open it. Return to the darkness that made him whole. Ozpin failed; he failed everyone.
The darkness brought memories to his mind. Qrow saw the fight he had with Raven. He saw how utterly he was beaten, and without Summer and Tai, Qrow would have died.
"Raven, have you lost your mind?!" Summer shouted.
"No, I finally regained my sanity. This whole thing is a waste of our talents. Ozpin has no clue what he's doing! We can't fight that darkness. You saw what it did to Master Quinn." Raven said.
"Quinn died saving your life!" Tai shouted to Raven. "She saw the light in you."
Raven flinched at that. She turned away from Tai. She turned to Summer.
"You wanted this to happen. You wanted me out of the picture since he chose me over you. I can feel the hatred you've had for me since you found out. You were my teammate. Not anymore. You brought her to my family. They all died because YOU failed to stop one Sith."
"Raven, you…" Summer started.
"They know who you are now Summer. They know about Yang. They will hunt you down until you are dead. Because you failed. Quinn failed."
The memory vanished. Qrow shook his head.
"Uncle Qrow…?" Ruby started.
"Master Quinn found out about where you come from." Summer said. She didn't look at either Branwen sibling. "She has many questions."
"How did she find out?" Qrow asked.
"She's fought with your clan before. She knows the style your clan uses." Summer said.
"So, is she going to report us to other Jedi?" Raven asked.
"She believes that your light can shine through." Summer said.
"But she also said that you are going to be watched." Tai said.
"By her?" Raven asked.
"From time to time. She's asking Tai and I to watch over you. Keep you on the right track."
"Bullshit. She's treating us like children." Qrow said.
"She's treating you like adults. She's allowing you space to grow." Summer said.
"Uncle Qrow." Yang said. Qrow turned to Yang. He saw Raven's face. He turned to Ruby and saw Summer. He gripped his head. Yang grabbed hold of him. Ren and Nora put a hand on him. He waved them away. He stood up, using Harbinger.
"Sorry for scaring you. The darkness… showed me some memories." Qrow said.
"You don't belong here." A voice rang out of the darkness.
"Was that a spirit?" Nora asked. They saw a single red light in the center of the floor. Qrow stepped toward it. He knew the voice. She was here. She must have slipped by when they were searching the rooms.
"The darkness calls to you. Why fight it?" The voice called out to Qrow.
"I must." Qrow said.
"Uncle Qrow, what are you doing?" Ruby asked. Qrow reached out his hand, and the Holocron came to him. He held the Sith Holocron in his hand.
Another memory flashed in his mind. He and Tai were sparring. It was in their early days as a team. He was arrogant. He was cocky. Tai wasn't. He knew who he was. He knew his skills. He knew how to fight. Qrow was losing and he felt the anger building up in him.
He didn't know what he was doing. He just wanted to win. He felt for the first time force lightning leave his fingertips. Summer rushed out and revealed her blue lightsaber. She blocked the force lightning, sending the shock back at Qrow. Qrow was hit and rolled in the dirt. Raven was there as well, taking out a purple lightsaber.
"You're a Jedi?" Raven asked.
"You're not a Sith." Summer said.
Another memory. Before Beacon. He was with the clan elders as they taught him and Raven how to open Holocrons. They had a Jedi and a Sith Holocron. Qrow delved deep into the dark side and opened the Sith Holocron that day.
"Open it. I know you know how." The voice said. Yang turned on her lightsaber. Qrow closed his eyes. Ruby took out her lightsabers. The corners of the Holocron spun. It opened. A hissing noise came out. A red mist came out of the Holocron as it created a hologram image.
"I am Darth Ammos, Sith Scientist." The voice rang out. It was such a dark and evil feeling. Qrow took out his lightsaber and looked at the Holocron. He felt that they may need it. What harm would it do if he saved it from being destroyed? It would be a waste… It could have secret knowledge in there that could help them defeat Salem. Maybe he knew Salem's history…
"Uncle Qrow! Destroy it!" Ruby yelled. The Holocron flew out of Qrow's hand, and he was sent flying. He crashed into a wall. Ren and Nora turned on their lightsabers.
"Raven." Yang said.
"Yang, thank you for leading me to another Holocron." Raven said. She stepped out of the darkness and into the light of the Holocron. Yang glared at Raven.
"Why did you follow us?" Yang said.
"I was going to stop you from reaching that village. The Sith laid a trap for you there. On of Salem's inner council Sith. A Darth. Too much for you to handle, except maybe Qrow. But now you have given me more power. You truly are a wonderful daughter." Raven said.
"How do you know about the trap? Why are you telling us?" Ruby asked.
"Summer's kid." Raven said. Ruby shifted her stance.
"That's Raven?" Nora asked.
"I don't know those two nobodies. I won't spare them." Raven said.
"Don't you threaten them." Yang said. Fire rushed from Yang and went toward Raven. She raised her hand and killed the fire.
"I see you are getting better. But I gave you that power." Raven said. Yang saw her take out her own lightsaber. A red blade came out.
"Are you a Sith?" Yang asked.
"No. But their crystals do have an advantage. Just like the black ones." Raven pressed a button on the back of her lightsaber and the blade retracted. A black blade came out. She pressed it one more time and a purple blade came out.
"There are advantages and disadvantages of all three. I have to use everything I can to keep our people safe Yang." Raven said, beginning to walk back and forth.
"Your people." Yang said.
"You are half of me. Half Branwen. The dark side calls out to you. Just like it did Qrow." Raven said.
"I'm still alive." Qrow got up.
"I seem to have a hard time killing you brother," Raven said. "Just like the Sith do."
"Tell us about the Sith trap!" Ruby yelled.
"Ruby, so much like Summer. It sickens me. The Sith will save you for last. Your eyes will be used." Raven said.
"They want Silver eyed warriors?" Qrow asked. "Summer!"
"I once had a silver-eyed warrior in my clan, until the Sith kidnapped him. Later, after people began to forget he existed, we were attacked by a Grimm. It had the head of that man inside. They want you Ruby for your body. You are a power source." Raven said.
"Why are you delaying?" Qrow said.
"Now is not the right time for us to fight. We shall see each other again. Then… I will take my revenge. Would you like to come?" Raven asked.
"What are you planning Raven?" Yang asked.
"You will only know if you come with me." Raven said. "I will teach you everything I know. Everything Qrow and Ozpin haven't told you. I can tell you where Summer went the night she disappeared." Raven said. Ruby rushed forward.
"Shut up!" Ruby screamed. Yang looked back and realized Ruby left. She rushed forward.
"No girls!" Qrow said. He turned around to Ren and Nora. "Get out of here as fast as you can."
"Yes sir." Ren said. He and Nora left.
Raven blocked the first strike, almost getting caught off guard. She didn't expect that from Summer's child. Yang was with her. They both were using offensive styles. Raven switched to the red blade and blocked Ruby's strike. Yang brought her blade down. Raven stepped back and sent a force push at Yang. She returned her attention back to Ruby. She was off center.
"You do have darkness in you. Perhaps even Summer's child can become something more than a mere Jedi." Raven said.
"Ruby! You need to calm down!" Qrow said. Ruby wasn't listening.
"Where did you take her?!" Ruby yelled. Raven was surprised at how fast Ruby was. She didn't know she had such a sore spot for Summer. But… perhaps the darkness around them was helping her.
Raven brought her lightsaber straight up, blocking Ruby's spinning attack. Raven brought her foot up, kicking Ruby into the ceiling.
"Ruby!" Yang jumped in. Raven recognized the style Ruby was using and wondered how she ever was allowed to learn that. Raven brought her lightsaber down in a downward overhead slash, forcing Yang to block.
"I thought Juyo was forbidden by the Jedi." Raven said.
Ruby got up. She took a few deep breaths. Qrow slid next to her.
"Sorry." Ruby said.
"Remember to not let your emotions rule you." Qrow said. He got up and rushed at Raven. Raven ended a blade lock with Yang and sent a force push at her. Raven raised her hand, and Qrow stopped. Raven was using Sith sorcery on Qrow. Showing him how Quinn died. Forcing him to relive the moment. Qrow stood there.
"Stop it." Qrow said.
"You failed to save her Qrow." Raven said. Yang punched Raven in the face, forcing her to stumble back, and breaking the spell.
"What is wrong with you? Why do you revel in the dark?" Yang asked. Raven looked at Yang.
"Remember I gave you the chance to join me. I tried to save you from the Sith." Raven said. Raven quickly opened a portal.
"Raven… we are going to save you from yourself." Qrow said. Raven stopped. Ruby got up.
"What happened to my mom?" Ruby said.
"You better watch her. The Sith will love to have her." Raven said. She stepped into the portal. Ruby just stood there, looking at the spot where Raven used to be. She had taken the Holocron. The dark side was weaker in the ruins now.
"Ruby, we have to get out of here." Yang said. Ruby felt the foundations of the ruins weaken.
"You're right." Yang and Ruby went first Qrow looked back at the spot and followed after the girls.
They rushed up the stairwell as the ruins began to shake. Ruby grabbed Yang and used her semblance to get them further up the stairs. Qrow grabbed at the railing, only for it to crumble at his touch.
"Just my luck." Qrow said. He continued his mad dash. Ruby and Yang got to the main floor when the stairs collapsed below them. Qrow saw it collapse.
"You two get out of here. I'll be okay." Qrow shouted. Yang shook her head and got Ruby moving. Qrow jumped forward, a chunk of stair above them crashing down. He held onto the last intact step and felt it cracking under his weight.
"You got to be…" Qrow started the step broke way. He quickly turned into a bird and flew up. He saw more of the ruins beginning to collapse. He needed to escape now! Qrow saw the entrance and saw a small area where he could escape. He went as fast as his wings could take him and escaped the ruins just before the spire collapsed down. He landed before changing back. He felt the plume of dust overtake him. He covered his mouth and eyes.
The dust began to settle. Qrow turned around and saw the knight looking at him with wide eyes.
"What?" Qrow asked.
"Were you just a bird?" Ruby asked.
"You saw that?" Qrow asked.
"Yeah." Yang said.
"You can explain it as we go to Kuroyuri." Ren said.
"We're still going?" Ruby asked.
"We have the advantage right now. They don't know we know they laid a trap for us." Qrow said.
"But they still did lay a trap for us." Ren reminded.
"Which we are going to spring. But if Raven were planning on attacking, it would make things a lot easier." Yang said.
"Can we really trust her word on it?" Nora asked.
"No." Qrow said. "But we still have to check it out, just in case. If any Jedi travel through this Path, they have to go through the town, and they will become victims of the trap."
"I understand." Ren said.
"I wonder if I can get someone to pick us up." Yang said. She got to her bike. There was only room for one more.
"It is a few days walk to the town from here. If we use the force, we can get there much quicker, but we'd probably stop within five miles of the town and fully recover." Qrow said.
"And my bike?" Yang asked.
"You can get there in an hour." Nora said.
"It would be about two hours per person if Yang goes safely." Ren said.
"I could make it in an hour and a half." Yang said.
"Multiply that trip by three. I can fly over there. It would leave two of you alone for hours at a time. It may be better for Yang to take one of you and the other two to use the force to travel as well." Qrow said.
So, they got the plan in motion. Ruby went first with Yang. Ren and Nora went together, taking breaks every few minutes to catch their breath and not overextend themselves. Qrow flew in the air keeping an eye on them all.
Darth Ira, Tyrian Callows, Master of Lord Kaiser, waited for their prey to arrive. It was due to Umbra that they learned Jedi were in the area. Ira smiled at that. She may have stumbled for a bit there, but Umbra was with them.
Ira was alone. Von would have joined him in this mission if he was still alive, but he was killed by a Jedi, as Kaiser reported. Now he was left with Kaiser, a powerful student, and one who had the anger and drive to become a rival. Ira was proud of the man he had been molding Kaiser as for so long. He had so much natural talent to him, but he locked it away. Ira had to beat the lesson that morality was a lie into him.
Ira was the only one Salem trusted to train Kaiser. Kaiser refused to be trained by a human. His hatred for them was so strong that he wanted only to be trained by another Faunus. And Ira was more than happy to comply with that wish.
Salem was wise when she elevated him over that bitch Tyra. Ira knew that Salem would pick her, but he had to make it clear to everyone else. He organized a power struggle within her base and forced her to challenge him in open combat, like the Sith of old. Tyra thought she could use the force to beat him into submission. But she was as weak as she was stupid. Her spells did not affect him. She tried to destroy his mind but that was her biggest mistake.
Ira was a good actor as he played to her expectations. Tyra didn't realize that he had no mind to break until after his tail pierced her. She bled out there, in front of everyone. Her power base flocked to him, but he disposed of those who were most loyal to Tyra at Hellio and Menagerie.
Ira felt Kaiser open a portal with Umbra. Ira didn't turn around.
"Master. I've brought Umbra like you wanted." Kaiser said.
"Good Kaiser. I have something for the both of you. Something that will benefit you both, but not something that I want the others knowing you have." Ira took out a Sith Holocron from his jacket and he turned with a wicked smile on his face.
"Why are you giving this to us?" Umbra asked.
"I need you to become as powerful as you can possibly be Umbra if you are ever to complete certain missions." Ira said.
"Master, what is on this Holocron?" Kaiser asked.
"Access to Sith Magic and Alchemy. Teachers who will show you the secrets of these dark arts." Ira said.
"Is this a reward from Salem?" Umbra asked.
"All the questions Umbra. But you have to figure out some of the answers yourself. This is a gift from those above you. You won't get many more." Ira said. Umbra bowed.
"This is also yours Kaiser. Learn the secrets." Ira said.
"I feel like I'm missing something." Umbra said.
"Oh, most certainly you are. You are missing many things young one. Missing many opportunities that you have been given. But you are given other ones. You are loved by Salem. That makes you worthy of note. Worthy of our attention." Ira said.
"Thank you, master. Is there anything else?" Kaiser asked.
"No. You may leave now." Ira said. Kaiser and Umbra left. Ira smiled. That very same Holocron was used by Tyra when she was learning how to use Sith Magic. He still had the advantage in that fight.
Yang stopped the bike at the spot Qrow was telling them. Ruby got off the bike. She looked at the ground.
"Thanks, Yang." Ruby said.
"What's wrong?" Yang asked.
"I think you know. I started a fight and…" Ruby said. Yang put a hand on her head.
"Ruby, you have to be careful. There is a lot of good in you. But there is some darkness. That is what you have to keep in check." Yang said.
"I know Yang." Ruby said. "I just… I got so mad when she started talking about mom. I couldn't hold it in anymore." Ruby said.
"I get it Ruby, trust me, I do." Yang said. "I was getting mad too. But that place, it was affecting you as well. Just like Uncle Qrow. Don't beat yourself up over it."
"Thanks for saying that. I just… It felt right to lash out, and I know it shouldn't." Ruby said.
"You are a good person Ruby, but you're not perfect. You realized what was happening and stopped using the dark side immediately. But this also shows you that you have to be careful." Yang said.
"Thanks, Yang. You know, without you, I'd be lost." Ruby said.
"Stop being so sappy Ruby." Yang said jokingly. She lightly pushed Ruby. Ruby smiled as Yang turned around. She sat down and put her head against a tree. Ruby closed her eyes.
Ren and Nora were walking along the road. Nora was doing most of the talking.
"You know Ren, it's been crazy since we learned we were Jedi. I just got to stop and think about all the crazy stuff that's happened since we did sometimes." Nora said.
"We're very different from back then." Ren said.
"I think you've changed a lot. We've changed a lot." Nora said. "We've become something different. We've done so many new things. We learned a lot about each other's bodies."
"Nora! Not out loud!" Ren said, a massive blush on his face. Nora laughed.
"No one's around to hear us." Nora said.
"I guess you're right." Ren said. Nora heard the noise of Yang's motorcycle coming. She was nearby.
"It's a good thing we don't have the team speak mode on right now." Nora said. "I think we both would have died of embarrassment."
"You do still have shame." Ren said.
"You aren't such a prude at night." Nora said. Ren's face was red again. "I love making you blush."
Yang stopped her bike and looked at the two.
"I missed something." Yang said.
"Nothing." Ren said.
"Who do you want to hop on with you, Yang?" Nora asked.
"I'll let Ren cool off." Yang said.
"Good call." Nora said. She blew Ren a kiss as she hopped on, and they started moving to the drop site. Ren continued down the road.
Yang turned her head to Nora.
"Nora, you know we know what you're doing at night, right?" Yang said. Nora's face started to burn bright red.
"I don't know what you mean." Nora said.
"Sure, you don't." Yang said.
"Look, we're together and…" Nora started.
"I don't judge. I do tease though." Yang said.
Yang got Nora and went back for Ren in a little over an hour. Qrow dropped down and stopped them.
"Good job Yang." Qrow said. They all saw the town at the top of the mountain. The Sith were there. Waiting for them. But there was a good chance that Raven's people were there as well. The sun began to set. Qrow turned to them.
"Sleep well tonight. Tomorrow, we fight our strongest opponent yet." Qrow said.
"We've fought tons of Sith. How can this be any different?" Nora asked.
"This is a Darth. I hope you've been keeping up with your studies because they are at the top of the food chain in the Sith. They are a threat. Be careful." Qrow said.
Raven saw the Sith. Darth Ira. She also saw where Qrow and the kids were. They were getting ready for tomorrow's fight. She got a group of her Mandalorians ready for the next day, and two of her former Jedi.
"This is our shot at one of Salem's inner council. Don't mess this up." Raven said. She made sure that none of her people had anything that could possibly tie them back to her.
"Finally. We get to punch back at the Bitch, Salem." One of the former Jedi said.
"She thinks she can come to us and ruin our way of life. We'll show her why Anima fears us." The other said.
"Wait till the morning. The Jedi are going to start the fight." Raven said.
Yang was asleep. She saw in her mind's eye Summer Rose.
"Mom?" Yang asked.
"Be careful Yang. This next fight will be dangerous. This Sith is far stronger than the ones you have been facing." Summer said.
"I know that." Yang said.
"He will try to attack your mind." Summer said.
"You know him?" Yang asked.
"We fought once. He barely escaped, but so did I." Summer said.
"Mom… Raven is trying to get me to join her side. I don't want to." Yang said.
"You shouldn't." Summer said.
"I… I hate her. I hate her for abandoning us. I hate her for leaving dad. I hate her for hurting you guys. I hate her for trying to kill Uncle Qrow. I hate everything she stands for." Yang said. Angry tears filled her eyes. Summer wrapped her arms around Yang.
"You shouldn't hate her Yang. She's struggling just like your friend." Summer said. Summer said it in a way only a mother could.
"I'm not asking you to forgive her right now. But you can't hold onto that hate. You have to let it go. It only drags you down. It only harms you." Summer said. "I know better than you think what that hate can do. We can't have that hate. We have to rise above that hate. When there is no passion, like hate, there is serenity. That Jedi wisdom should stay with you."
"I don't know how you are here. I don't understand how you can be here, but I need your advice, Mom. I need to hear from you." Yang said.
"You are doing wonderful Yang. You've grown into such a good person. You're doing better than I could have ever hoped for." Summer said. She wiped away a tear from Yang's cheek.
"Thanks." Yang said.
"Now, let me go to Ruby." Summer said. Yang felt Summer leave her. She started having a regular dream after that.
"Ruby." Summer called out to Ruby. Ruby looked around for Summer. Ruby needed to see her mother. She spun around and stopped, seeing Summer's white cloak.
"Mom! Ruby yelled. Summer turned around. She was in the outfit Ruby last saw her in, on that night.
Summer walked closer to Ruby.
"You must be careful Ruby. This next fight will be one that will test you. It will push you to your limit. He will play mind games with you." Summer said.
"How strong is he?" Ruby asked.
"This is one of four Sith that are in Salem's inner council. I fought him once. He's crazy. He uses his poisoned tail. He will try to get you with it." Summer said.
"Do you think I can do it?" Ruby asked.
"Not alone. He will probably focus on you for your eyes. The Sith have a special hatred for people with our eyes." Summer said.
"Why?" Ruby asked.
"The light side is strong in us. Each and every one of us. It shows in our eyes. They are powerful weapons. The Sith can't handle us when we use them. Even one of us can defeat dozens of Sith alone." Summer said.
"Beacon…" Ruby said.
"Yes, you used your power there." Summer said.
"How do I control this power?" Ruby asked.
"I cannot teach you. But there is someone who can. You will have to find them." Summer said.
"Who?" Ruby asked.
"I cannot tell. I can feel your destiny and theirs will cross paths at some point." Summer said.
"What?" Ruby asked. "How can you feel that?"
"That's a secret." Summer smiled at Ruby.
"Mom, I used the darkness today." Ruby said.
"I know. You also know you shouldn't have, and you stopped very quickly. We all have brief moments where we do the wrong thing. We all have used the darkness in moments of passion, but we have to be able to stop ourselves, like you did." Summer said.
"Raven's kick did help." Ruby said.
"Sometimes that's what it takes for you to realize what's wrong." Summer said.
"Are you breaking rules right now to appear to me?" Ruby asked. Summer had a mischievous smile as she touched Ruby's cheek.
"Quite a few." Summer said.
"Thanks Mom. I miss you a lot." Ruby said.
"I know." Summer wrapped her arms around Ruby and hugged her. Ruby smiled but also felt the pain she'd been harboring in her heart. Summer wiped away a tear that Ruby didn't realize was there. Ruby couldn't remember what happened after that.
Ruby woke up right after Yang.
"Yang, I saw mom last night." Ruby said.
"So did I." Yang said. They just stared at each other. They both smiled.
"Guess we got a message." Ruby said.
"And the warning." Yang said.
"What are you girls talking about?" Qrow said, chewing on something. Ruby and Yang explained everything they saw.
"That sounds like Darth Ira." Qrow said.
"You know who the leaders are?" Ren asked, coming back with some wood.
"Yes. That information cost a lot to get." Qrow said.
"What can you tell us about the leaders?" Ruby asked.
"We know their names, and we know the faces of some of two of them." Qrow said.
"Vanus, obviously." Yang said.
"You seem to know this Ira." Ren said.
"Know of him." Qrow corrected.
"Is Kaiser one of the leaders?" Nora asked.
"No. We've known the names of the leaders for quite some time. They all take an aspect of Salem on in their names. Vanus is her vanity, Ira is her anger, Vox is her voice, and Memores means Mindful, so we assume they are the wisdom of Salem. Those are the four alive right now, but there have been others. It would seem that in recent years there have been a few bouts of infighting that have resulted in the deaths of Darths." Qrow explained.
"So, they are weak right now?" Ruby asked.
"Unfortunately, that is both yes and no. The strength level has stayed the same, but the fewer the Sith, the more powerful those who remain. But Salem is the main force behind the mass production of the Sith. It's a strange thing we still don't fully understand." Qrow said. They started moving toward the town.
"Why did Salem unite with the Sith?" Yang asked.
"We assume that is because she views them as strong tools. She might be older than the Sith presence on Remnant, so we don't assume she was born into the Sith order." Qrow said.
"Not a lot on her is there." Nora said.
"She doesn't exactly go out too often. And we can't get inside." Qrow said.
"Do the Sith often leave Salem?" Ren asked.
"Almost never. And even the ones who do rarely come into contact with Jedi or us. A lot of what we know comes from final confessions of dying Sith." Qrow said.
"If we take out this Sith, do you think we'll be able to learn anything?" Ruby asked.
"Probably not. I've seen some of his handiwork. He's a monster worse than the Grimm. Be on your guard at all times. If you aren't he will kill you. He has killed Jedi Masters and many hunters." Qrow said.
Ira was walking back and forth. He knew that they were coming. He could feel them moving toward him. He was barely holding himself together. The foolish Jedi that came through this way was easily killed. A simple Jedi knight thinking she was enough to defeat the Grimm that would have come through the town. He was standing over her body taking the crystal out of her chest. It was turning black. He smiled as another successful crystal died. Ira looked at the mangled body of the Jedi and smiled. His hands were covered in her blood.
"It's amazing how much blood a human body contains, isn't it." Ira said. "And how quickly you can kill a crystal. Just need blood from the user and…"
Ira spun his head around. He didn't feel his prey arrive. He heard the hums of lightsabers being activated. He felt the despair radiating off of them. He grabbed her lightsaber and put the crystal back in. He turned it on, and the black light rushed out.
"Welcome Jedi. I see you have finally arrived. Or should I say, returned? I see you already met… oh I never got her name before I slit her throat. Wrong place at the wrong time you see." Ira said.
"Monster." Ruby said. Ira noticed that Ruby was avoiding looking at the body. Yang reached out her hand and started to burn the body. Ira turned and watched the fire.
"You must be Raven's daughter. You are Summer's daughter, and you two are the orphans. Oh, I forgot about Raven's brother. You five are going to die soon. I have to save Ruby Rose there, but the rest of you…" Ira said.
"You won't be getting out of here alive." Ira turned around and saw twelve fighters. Ten Mandalorians and two force users. He sighed.
"And here I thought that we would become allies with the Mandalorians. I guess in the end they are as pathetic as they appear." Ira said. Two blue blades came out of the lightsabers.
"This will all be over soon." Ira said.
Raven stood at the top of the hill looking down at the town. She knew they would need more help. She opened the portal back to base camp and went in.
"Vernal, Where's Tyra and her people?" Raven asked.
"We're here boss." Tyra, Former rival to Darth Ira, said. She was missing an eye and wore a robotic prosthetic because of Ira. Raven smiled. Tyra folded her arms and waited for Raven to finish what she was going to say.
"You can get your chance at revenge. We found Ira."
Author's Notes: We've set up for the fight. Where Vanus vs Pyrrha showed how strong Pyrrha was but how outmatched she was, this fight will show how devastating a mad Sith can be.
I know about the fan theory that Tyrian is blind, but I don't think I'm going to go in that direction. I think that theory came about because of RT's problems. I got a new computer so I'm trying to set that one up. It's probably going to be a bit before I start using that one.
I made a joke last chapter about Ruby and Boba tea, but I did not know about RWBY Beyond, because only about 5 people in the world knew about it apparently. But yes, Ruby is canonically a major fan of Boba tea. Still don't like that episode because it tries to band-aid a major problem RT created with Yang and Ruby not actually acting like sisters for a long time. (I have more than a few problems with RT, like a lot of people do.)
This was originally going to take one chapter like the tree of light taking one chapter, but I got so much done in the ruins that having the fight just became too much. So now we have to wait for the payoff to all the setup.
If any of you have looked at my profile recently, I announced that I will be doing a short story called Jedi Hunter: Before Beacon, that will show the characters before they went to Beacon at the start of the story. That will probably come out before Jedi Hunter: Re:Defender of Remnant (Kingdom Hearts fan if you can't tell). This is still my main focus right now.
May the Force be With You
-DragonZlayerx12