The island of Patch was an admittedly beautiful place. The ocean-breeze combined with a rustic rural town feel were only some points that highlighted the charm of the island. A thick forest that lies in the middle and expansive cliffs, surprisingly, lead to a diverse climate. That climate being differentiated on the west and east side of the island, being separated by a relatively tall mountain chain that almost bisects the island down the middle. In summary, the island is serene and beautiful enough to be the ideal place to raise a family.
One of the most beautiful events to ever happen on the island, aside from the annual parade celebrating Signal Academy graduates, is what is known as the "fall fire." The fall fire is an admittedly over exaggerated name for the shift in leaf color that all the trees undertake. Every year, the trees undergo this process within a few days, quickly turning the forest from a dark green to beautiful shades of amber and orange. It is because of this event along with the rural community that the forest is largely untouched by the inhabitants. This means that the forest itself is particularly thick. Dense with numerous trees and long, sturdy branches.
Dense enough for a robed man to sprint through the trees at breakneck speeds.
"DAMMIT! What the hell were you thinking Tai! You let the girls go off by themselves and didn't think anything was amiss?" The hood on the robes revealed the bottom half of his face, revealing a scowl.
The man ran through the forest with an almost practiced ease. Having grown up in the forests of Mistral alongside his sister, he spent plenty of time mastering the art of tree climbing and parkour. Adding his additional training throughout his childhood and as a huntsman, he was moving through the trees rather deftly. He was nothing but mechanical and methodical as he ran from branch to branch. Seeing an impossibly narrow gap ahead of him, he jumped and... turned into a bird. Flying through the gap before shifting back to his human form.
"They couldn't have gone far. Fuck! Where are they?"
The man kept pushing himself to go faster, white rose petals bursting all around him and coating the forest floor in their radiance. The man, scanning the forest as he progressed, finally caught sight of an anomaly. A brilliant shine of gold that seemed to outshine all the golden leaves around him. Alongside that gold shimmer was a black and red streak. The man immediately stopped his speed, planting his feet sideways on a tree trunk, and pushed off towards the colors.
"There!" The man didn't even noticed that the tree he pushed off of shattered into splinters.
A small blond girl, who couldn't have been older than the age of six, sat terrified over the form of a younger girl with black hair with dark red streaks in a wagon. In front of the two of them stood a large shadow with red eyes.
A creature of Grimm.
"NO!" The man's eyes flashed white.
Yang was gonna die. She knew she had been stupid when she left with Ruby. But, her desperation had taken a hold of her and couldn't let go. She wanted to find out where her mother was, why her father was so sad all the time. She wanted to fix it all and go back to the old days where Summer was still around and Ruby wasn't crying everyday.
She just wanted to have a normal family again.
And now, she was gonna die by the claws of a Grimm. Ruby was sobbing openly and shaking in pure fear. Yang had her small body over the even smaller girl in a desperate attempt to save her sister. She turned... just in time to see the Grimm raising its claws.
Only to be blinded.
She didn't know how long it took for her vision to recover. But, when she was able to open her eyes once more, her vision was still incredibly spotty and blurry. What she could make out though, was that the Grimm was gone. In its place, a man holding a scythe over his shoulder. Yang tried to fix her vision, rubbing her eyes rapidly before opening them once more. However, when she opened her eyes there was nothing but the body of the Grimm slowly dissipating into the air.
"KIDS!" Yang turned to her right only to be absorbed in a massive hug by her Uncle Qrow.
"U-uncle Q-q-row?" Yang sputtered out, tears already spilling from her eyes.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did anything happen at all? What about Ruby!" Qrow asked in utter panic, desperately searching Yang and Ruby for any signs of injury.
"I-I-I-" Yang's tears somehow increased even more. "I'M SO SORRY!" Yang threw her arms around Qrow and sobbed.
Ruby, who had finally recovered from her shock, started to bawl as well. Qrow simply pulled them into a group hug and held them close. Sitting in the wagon, all three of them simply sat there, the two kids crying their hearts out.
After what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes. Qrow backed away from the group and picked both of them up. Letting Yang ride on his shoulders while cradling Ruby in his arms, who had been desperately clinging to his shirt. Qrow began to silently walk back to the house.
"I'm glad you're okay kiddos." Qrow said with a voice filled with relief, tearstained visible on his face.
"Mmmm... thank you for saving us uncle Qrow." Yang's tired voice rang out in response to Qrow.
Yang's statement caused Qrow to momentarily falter in his steps. He only stood still for a few seconds before resuming his brisk pace back to the house. The two sleeping children clinging to him like he was their new teddy bear. Qrow could only stay silent as his mind raced at Yang's words.
"Sure... I found the kids... but they weren't in danger when I found them, only scared to death. Did something happen?"
"Tai... I'm gonna kick your ass for this one." Qrow muttered to himself.
A few hours later... at the cliffside...
Taiyang was kneeled before a familiar gravestone. The overwhelming guilt and shame almost compelling him to join the spiritual inhabitant of the grave. However, he couldn't do that. He knew he didn't even deserve to be in the same presence as her.
He had failed. He had failed Raven. He had failed Summer. He failed his old team and even good 'ol Ozpin.
Although, the part that made Taiyang feel even worse was the events that occurred earlier that same day. Consumed in his own selfish grief, he allowed the girls to desperately go on a suicide mission to find their mother and make him happy again. He had failed his own two daughters. And now, he's kneeling at the grave of his dead wife and lamenting at the fact that he had almost lost the two things he had left. His daughters were all he had, and he had almost lost them because of himself.
"You look like hammered shit, Tai." A voice rang out from behind.
Taiyang froze at the voice. It couldn't have been. Even when Summer was still here they all thought he was dead. He had disappeared years ago, along with his team. It was chalked up as a mission gone wrong, so there's no way! "There's no way that he's talking to me right now!" Taiyang didn't even try to look in the direction the voice was coming from.
"You're dead." Is all Taiyang could mutter.
"Perhaps I am. Regardless, I'm here to reprimand you in place of my sister." The voice, with a stern tone, was now right behind Taiyang, who merely chuckled.
"Ahhh... so that's what this is." Taiyang croaked out as he continued to stare at the grave.
"'Thus Kindly I Scatter.' It was her favorite quote from her favorite poem." The voice was right beside Taiyang now, kneeling alongside him.
"So it really is you, is it?" Taiyang still continued to stare.
"Yes it is. You really fucked up, you know that?" The man began as Taiyang merely nodded in shame. "Tai, you were one of the pillars of Beacon. We had lost people before and you did your best to cheer them up, even with your own grief. You also talked to people, processed your grief." The man reprimanded Taiyang as the man in question kept staring at the grave.
"She was my world." Taiyang responded weakly.
"She was my sister, Tai. I'm hurting as much as you are. But I'm not bottling it up!" The man yelled at Taiyang. "You couldn't be bothered to give a damn about the numerous resources available to you! Qrow tried to speak to you, the huntsman association offered therapy, YOUR DAUGHTERS TRIED TO HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR GRIEF! AND THEY'RE FUCKING SIX AND FOUR!" The man was really letting Taiyang have it now. "For the brothers' sake Tai, even Oz tried to reach out and talk to you. And you slammed the door in his face!" Taiyang heard footsteps rapidly approaching.
The jaw-breaking right hook to Taiyang's face was to be expected. The punch sent the blond man to the ground instantly. Blood spitting from his mouth as the former huntsman didn't even bother activating his aura.
"They didn't understand! Summer was the only person keeping me together. And she left me! Just like Raven did!" Taiyang found the nerve to get back up and yell back, finally building the courage to look in the face of the mysterious man.
"Raven chose to leave you. Summer did not." The man had his hood down, revealing his face to Taiyang. Long hair, black with red tips, went down a little past his shoulder. With black-haired stubble on his jaw. Steely silver eyes narrowed in his direction in the form of a glare.
"I know, Red. Brothers I know!" Taiyang started to sob.
"Listen, I don't have much time. Qrow and the kids are on their way here. So let me tell you this, you need to get your shit together. I'm not telling you to do it in a few seconds Tai. But you need to get help. Go to therapy, talk to somebody, just do something productive that can help you process your grief. And no, the copious amounts of alcohol you've been consuming doesn't count!" Red cut off Taiyang's poor reasoning. "Summer wouldn't have wanted you to be like this. Those girls need you more than ever. So you need to be their father, I won't be around for awhile after this. You can't rely on me to save them." Taiyang could only raise an eyebrow at the last statement Red made.
"I see... I assume there's more to the story with Yang and Ruby today?" Taiyang asked with concern.
"Yes. Ask the kids about it. I need to get going." Red turned around and regarded Summer's gravestone with a somber look.
"Thank you for coming here Red. I think I needed a ghost to knock some sense into me. I guess you were rolling that right hook in your grave, eh?" Red could only groan and chuckle and Taiyang's attempt at a pun.
"It was nice seeing you again, Tai. Also, don't tell Qrow or the girls that I was here." Red finished his statement and leapt from the cliff.
Taiyang nodded with a somber smile as he saw a brilliant eagle fly away from the cliffside.
"It was good seeing you too, Red Rose." Taiyang smiled.
Turning around, Taiyang saw the approaching form of Qrow and the girls. The two girls running from his brother in all but blood to him. Taiyang simply smiled and held his arms out for his daughters, silently vowing to do everything he can to keep them safe.
CRASH!
Two small bodies slammed into the experienced martial artist. Wrapping his arms around them, the small family enjoyed the group hug. Qrow, in the meanwhile, simply stood to the side and smirked before rubbing Yang and Ruby's hair. Taiyang looked at Qrow and held out one of his hands in a fist. Qrow bumped Taiyang's fist and sat down next to the group, taking a sip from his flask in the process.
Beacon Academy...
Ozpin enjoyed the sunset. From his tower he got the best view of the brilliant hues of red and orange as the massive ball of fire lowered itself over the ocean's horizon, the nearby island of patch forming an interesting illusionary effect when the sun was low enough. If he pleased, he could turn around and see the shattered moon begin to make its appearance in the dark night sky. He prefers to look at the sun however, the moon brings up too many bad memories. Memories of a long distant past, of what could've been.
Screee!!!
The screeching of an Eagle that was sat on a perch outside the tower drew Ozpin's attention away from the brilliant sunset. Turning with a raised eyebrow, Ozpin approached the window where the eagle had perched itself and studied the bird, which was looking right back at him. Ozpin's eyes widened slightly has he recognized the bird and, with a smile, he opened a small port on the window and allowed the brilliant brown and red eagle inside the tower.
Once inside the eagle began to shift. A small crackling noise accompanying the visual shift as the eagle transformed into a human. This human being none other than Red Rose, brother to Summer Rose and an outstanding student during his time at Beacon. Red regarded Ozpin with a serious look. Ozpin, more than familiar with the hooded man, simply gestured for Red to sit down at his desk.
Once seated, Ozpin took a sip of his coffee before looking out his window once more. "It's not everyday that I see someone come back from the dead." Ozpin regarded Red with a slight glance of the eyes.
Red said nothing at first. Reaching into his cloak, Red pulled out numerous pictures with red Xs drawn over their faces. Throwing them onto Ozpin's desk with as much care as a drunk playing poker (Qrow on your average Tuesday), Ozpin looked at the pictures with a confused expression. Looking over each one, Ozpin set down the pictures and looked at Red with a neutral stare.
"Agents of Salem." Red stated simply as Ozpin's eyes widened. "Recognize a few of those names, eh? Yeah, I made sure they couldn't develop into proper threats. Even made it look like an accident. Well... for most of them." Many on Remnant would be shocked at the dismissal natured Red had when describing his acts. Ozpin, however, paid no mind to the insinuations and scanned the pictures once more.
"I thought you did not want to partake in my cause." Ozpin gave Red a small smirk, his eyes displaying an almost pleased look.
Red simply scoffed. "Not until I found out the true origins of my Order." Red looked Ozpin right in his eyes, trying to stare through the elder huntsman's soul.
"Ahhh... the Haeshasen. It is true that I'm not the only one who was made aware of Salem and her threat. Nor was I the only one who decided to declare a shadow war." Ozpin looked back at the sunset from his desk.
"That is true. However, as the new Grand Master, I must keep the Creed and our goals alive." Red enjoyed the brief look of surprise in Ozpin's eyes, before returning to a neutral look.
"I see. That's why you've been gone." Ozpin muttered quietly to Red, who decided to ignore that statement.
Red reached into his cloak once more and pulled out a rather boring looking scroll. Ozpin simply rose his eyebrow as Red slid the scroll over to Ozpin. The scroll, due to its blandness, was rather unique. No markings from a huntsman, no emblem, it didn't even seemed to have been used that long.
"Burner scroll." Red simply stated before leaning towards Ozpin. "I don't suggest playing the videos on it now. On that scroll is some videos from my... 'information gathering' sessions with some of those agents. Very useful information." Red ignored Ozpin's slight glare as he pulled out his own scroll and sent a few documents over to Ozpin. "Here are some notes and general observations I've scribbled down while away. Those field scouting classes really did come in handy, eh?" Red put his scroll away and leaned back in his chair.
Ozpin glanced at the documents before smiling. "These should be very useful in our efforts. I must thank you Mr. Rose." Red simply shrugged at the thanks and muttered his own 'you're welcome' under his breath.
The room fell into silence. The slow, yet massive, gears continuing to move in their endless quest to read the time. The sound of the rather loud ticking of the grand clock providing a sense of background noise to the large office. Red glanced around, noting that nothing much has changed about the room. He simply leaned back and relaxed for a few moments before the loud chime of the elevator and the door opening drew his attention.
"Ozpin, there are some students who decided that using twenty grams of fire dust to start a bonfire was a good ide-" Glynda Goodwitch's well practiced hardened look dropped into one of shock. Her eyes widening to the size of dinner plates.
"Hello to you too, Glynda. The students still giving you problems, I see?" Red's casual greeting caused the deputy headmistress' eye to twitch.
"And just where do you think you've been for the last six years?" The rather sharp question caused Red to give Glynda a serious look.
"Working." Was all the robed huntsman said.
Red's statement made Glynda turn and give Ozpin a raised eyebrow. Ozpin merely shrugged and took a sip of his coffee. Red had made no move, so Glynda strode up to the robed huntsman.
"You disappeared six years ago with no trace, leaving us scrambling for more assistance in dealing with problems caused by Salem. You can't be the only one noticing the increasing numbers of Grimm. So tell me, where were you." Glynda leveled a harsh glare to Red, who simply stared right back. Although an astute observer would note the bead of sweat running down his face.
"I was in Mistral. There was a situation involving the brotherhood, one I couldn't miss. So, I took my family and moved back to the fortress." Red explained, Ozpin and Glynda listening intently.
"And what was this situation? Although I could guess considering your current standing within the Haeshasen." Ozpin inquired with his signature smile.
"Grand Master Tula was getting too old. He was ill and too feeble to lead us. So, I was called back and chosen to be the next Grand Master." Red explained, causing Glynda to stiffen. Her eyes widening in shock.
"You're the next Grand Master of the Haeshasen!?" Glynda hurriedly whispered in disbelief.
Red simply nodded, causing Glynda to slap her hand on her face. Glynda could feel the headache coming on, the seemingly endless migraines given another reason to continue. Due to this, Glynda's trademark scowl returned to her face.
"Well... while this has been very productive, even though a surprise..." Ozpin got up from his desk and returned to his spot at the window. "I do need to ask what your future plans will be regarding this matter, Mr. Rose." Ozpin's question seemed harmless, but the undoubtedly titanic hidden weight within the question would threaten to crush most.
"Simple." Red began, getting up from his chair and approaching Ozpin. "I will return to doing missions and waging this war with you." Red came to a stop beside Ozpin. "However! I will not be some work dog. No, I propose an alliance of sorts." At Red's statement, Ozpin rose an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, Mr. Rose?" Ozpin gave Red a sideways glance, a raised eyebrow visible.
"My order assists you, you assist my order. We need supplies that you can provide, along with your knowledge. We have our knowledge, and a vast number of members that are not only aware of Salem, but have experience in hindering her plans and acts of espionage. Of course, I have many other members with a vast array of skills fine tailored for this hidden conflict." Red reasoned with Ozpin, who nodded along.
"So, in exchange for supplies and my knowledge, you vow to share your knowledge and lend assistance in my missions?" Ozpin's smile grew, a somewhat unnerving sign for Glynda and even Red to an extent.
"Along with your assistance with our missions, of course." Red finished Ozpin's statement with a smirk.
Ozpin turned and faces Red, who did the same. For a brief moment, both men studied each other's face intently. Both looking for a hint of deceit or betrayal. Red's piercing silver eyes almost opening Ozpin up like a book, while Ozpin's deep brown eyes seemed to disassemble Red's very soul.
"I know how ancient you are, Ozma." Red simply stated, his smirk never leaving. Even at Ozpin's slight frown.
"And I know how dangerous you are, Red Auburn Rose." Ozpin's emphasis on Red's full name ensured his message of a threat was understood.
Graveyards were louder than the office at that moment. The absolute silence of the room was almost deafening to all of its three occupants. Even the loud ticking of the grand clock seemed to have been cowed. That was until...
Ozpin held out his hand, and Red shook.
Welp. I'm rebooting this story. I'm not gonna lie, it feels weird coming back to RWBY fanfiction. Regardless, I'll do my best to update when I can. Although I cannot promise chapters releasing too often. This is a hobby of mine, but I'm very busy so I rarely have time for said hobby.
I hope you guys enjoyed. If you have any questions, they will more than likely be revealed later on in the story. I will not spoil story elements to answer questions. Anyway, still leave some good criticism! I want to improve, and if you have a question that I can answer without spoiling, go ahead and ask!
Just to get this out of the way: romantic relationships are up in the air. I have NO idea who I would like to pair up in this story. Just like my original, though, a lot of the ships will take a backseat to the actual plot of the story itself. That meaning, this story will not have that large of a focus on romance, but romance still is present.
I do not own RWBY or Assassins's Creed, nor any other franchises referenced/mentioned.