Chapter 6
The Padawans find out about the abuses of Maku. Lady Umbra is attempting to convert team RWBY to the dark side. The Padawans all decided to continue their training under the Jedi, preparing to save Rosa
The trials were underway for the Padawans. They went to an underground Jedi facility on Menagerie for the trial of skill. Mace Windu watched over the Padawans as they all started their trials of skill. Team Epsilon was asked to come to the facility. They stood before Mace Windu.
"General Windu, we've arrived." Beat said.
"Do you see Padawan Arc?" Windu pointed out where Jaune was.
"Yes sir." Beat said.
"He doesn't realize this is his last trial. He told me about what he saw in the trial of insight. He didn't realize he completed the trial of spirit. He looked in the mirror. He said those words to me, and still didn't realize it." Mace said.
"Copy." Cy said.
"Your blasters are on stun, correct?" Mace asked.
"Yes general." Cross said.
"Good. You shall help him in his trial." Mace said. Pyrrha, who was next to Mace turned to him.
"What can they do?" Pyrrha asked.
"Jaune's style is weak to blaster fire. He has to be able to overcome that weakness. Kit Fisto has and so can Jaune." Mace said. Jaune's Shii-Cho was strong, and his main lightsaber style, being highly influenced by Kit Fisto. He was training in the other forms as well, but focused his attention on form I.
"What about Ruby?" Pyrrha asked. "Is this her last trial as well?"
"It would seem so. In her trial she had to face off against her mistakes. She has accepted that she failed Rosa. She faced her mistakes head-on, her darkness head-on. She also passed the trial of flesh long ago. But I decided not to tell them that this was it." Mace said.
"Who's going to face off against Ruby?" Pyrrha asked.
"Me." Mace said.
Blake held her lightsaber out as she ran through the obstacle course. Platforms rose randomly from the ground, but Blake kept her form. She had to, as a stun blast could fire from any angle at any moment. The platforms she had to land on were getting smaller and smaller. Balance was the key. She had to let go of any distractions in her mind.
She jumped over a wall and landed, slashing at a training saber droid that was where she wanted to land. She dropped, rolled, and jumped-up spinning. Her lightsaber left a mark on the droid. She brought her lightsaber back up to her and continued on the course. A stun blast fired at her, and she blocked it. She saw the platform shrink in size again until only the ball of her foot would fit. She let out a sigh and continued on her track. Sweat began to trickle down her face.
Blake heard the platforms changing once again.
"Padawan Belladonna, the platforms are moving quicker." Mace's voice rang out. Blake shook her head. She turned her head around for a second and saw they were getting much faster. Her eyes shot open, and she started to rush forward. She couldn't think about where she was going to land. She closed her eyes and delved deeper into the force. She kept her eyes closed as the images of the platforms came into her vision. She saw a path in front of her that she followed. She was running as fast as she could, but it felt slower than she was moving before.
She saw a warning come from the side where he lightsaber wasn't. It felt like whole seconds passed by, but it was only a fraction of a second that she switched hands and swiped the shot out of the air. She gathered the force in her feet and jumped full force. She jumped over a massive chasm. She was in the air for a few seconds. She rolled on her shoulder, and she hit a platform. She got back up almost instantly and continued moving toward the center of the facility.
Jaune stood atop a pillar he finally climbed to. Sweat drenched his face. His hair was sticking to his head. He had to climb to the center of the facility. And while he was climbing, he had to stop any stun bolts coming at him. He looked for the next thing he needed to climb on. He took a deep breath before seeing a small flying platform. It was making a circle around this part. If he got on it, he could reach a ladder on the other side of the massive Chasm he was standing next to. He didn't have long as the previous platforms were slowly disappearing.
He had one chance to make it. The small platform was coming around to get to him now. He already felt the danger of the stun bolt.
"Of course" Jaune said. He jumped for the platform that was moving and saw the stun round. He held out his hand and absorbed the bolt. He used the energy and sent out a small force push to get him to the top of the platform. He smirked. Pyrrha had been helping him train with that force ability. He brought out his lightsaber to slice a pebble that was flying towards him. He saw the ladder coming nearer. He got ready for the jump. He tossed his lightsaber a second before the jump. The lightsaber blocked a stun bolt as Jaune grabbed the ladder. He used the force to call his falling lightsaber back to himself.
Jaune got to the top of the ladder and used the force to open the door. He quickly jumped through the door and landed on the floor. He got up and saw the massive Jedi emblem in the center of the facility.
"Guess I made it." Jaune said. He wiped away his sweat. Mace Windu walked over to Jaune and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You passed the first half of the trial. You only have one more step." Mace said. Jaune turned to Mace and shook his head.
"I'm ready master." Jaune said.
"Your second half is simple but completely needed. Your chosen lightsaber style has flaws with it. So now you have to face off against those flaws." Mace said. The four clone commandos stepped out of the darkness.
"What is it master?" Jaune asked.
"You have to be able to defend against blaster fire." Mace said. Jaune nodded his head.
"Okay." Jaune said. Mace raised his hand, and an empty room opened. It had nothing of note to it. Perfect for this test. Jaune took a few seconds to catch his breath and delve into the force. He felt even in that brief time a lot more energized and ready to take on the challenge.
Ruby had one hand on a wooden post, hand outstretched using the force to keep the six pebbles around the staff in the air. She had been at this for quite a few minutes. She closed her eyes and just relied on the force, ignoring the high winds blowing against her. Her body had not moved a muscle except to breathe every minute or so. Ruby had shut off all outside influences on her to focus on her control. She heard nothing except for her heart beating. She felt nothing, she just was.
Ruby felt the flow of the force. She was seeing through the force all of her teammates and friends completing their parts of this trial. She knew, but it made no difference to her at that moment. This feeling, this state, was this complete and total inner peace?
"Good Ruby." Mace Windu said. Ruby knew this part of the trial was over. She gently lowered the six stones to the ground, and she used her palm and the force to jump off the pole. She completely spun around in the air and landed feet first on the pole. She opened her eyes and saw the door open. She used her semblance to get over there quickly. Mace stood before her as she entered back into the center of the facility.
"What is next master?" Ruby asked.
"We shall spar." Mace said. He took out his lightsaber, the purple light glowed in the room. The hum of the lightsaber was natural to her ears at this point. She took out her twin lightsabers and got in a ready stance.
"I understand master." Ruby said.
Ruby rushed forward. She saw the swings she could make, and the responses that Mace could make. Most of the swipes would gain her little. She got to be in the right distance to swing. She brought her lightsabers up in a defensive position. She jumped over Mace. He smirked as that wasn't one of the options either saw. He spun around and brought his lightsaber in for a wide sweep. Ruby was nowhere to be seen. She used her semblance to move high up into the air. She touched the ceiling as Mace made the swing and used the force to push off. Mace jumped back, avoiding the attack from Ruby.
Ruby used more athletics in her form than Mace usually did. She was adapting the principles of Vaapad into movements. She was no master, that was for sure. Mace blocked the strike and brought his lightsaber around in an arc aimed at Ruby's head. She took a step back and blocked the strike, ducking under it, and sending a force push against Mace. He brought his shield up just in time with his other hand. She took the time to jump forward, staying low to the ground. Mace took a step back and made a wide circular sweep, blocking the attack, but leaving himself open to a hit. Ruby spun around making a jab at Mace which he sidestepped. Mace brought his hand forward and knocked the lightsaber out of Ruby's hand. She rolled back and held her hand out for her lightsaber. Mace jumped at her with a wide overhand strike. Ruby jumped backward, still using the force to get her other lightsaber. It came back to her hand, and she hooked it to her belt.
She landed and brought her lightsaber up in a form IV defensive position. Mace smirked as she reminded him of Qui-Gon for a second. She brought her lightsaber back into Juyo's formation. She made a figure 8 flourish at Windu. He smiled at that.
Mace was the aggressor this time he brought his lightsaber up in an overhead arc. Ruby brought her lightsaber up to block the attack, leaving her open for the pommel strike Mace landed against her. She stumbled back and had to roll out of the way of the next strike. She brought her lightsaber around as she exited the roll, and the hum of the training saber told her that she made contact with Mace. Ruby jumped up with a spinning slash, Windu dodged it and made a strike against Ruby, which she herself dodged and went for her own strike. Windu blocked the strike and pushed the lightsaber back. He went for a lower attack, but Ruby raised her leg and brought her lightsaber down in an overhand strike. Windu blocked it.
Ruby spun around a made a feint which caught Mace. He overreached and exposed his side. Ruby brought her pummel into his side. He made a noise as he stepped back.
"Good. That one hurt." Mace said. He turned off his lightsaber. Ruby stood up and turned hers off as well.
"Did I pass?" Ruby asked.
"I'd say so Ruby. Not many can keep up with those speeds." Mace said.
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked. Mace pointed to a clock, and she saw only a fraction of the time she thought had passed.
"Wow." She said.
"You are a clever fighter." Mace said.
"Thank you master."
Jaune opened the door and left the room with the four commandos.
"He passed." Beat said.
"He lasted five minutes blocking the bolts." Tip said.
"I see. You all join with Jedi Nikos" Mace said.
Jaune stood next to Pyrrha. His clothes were drenched in sweat.
"They are good." Jaune said. He sat down at the entrance with all the monitors. The rest were still making their way to the center. Ren and Blake burst out of their doors at the same time. Blake took a few deep breaths and turned to master Windu.
"I made it." She said.
"So, you have. And you too Ren." Mace said.
Ren shook his head as he was recovering.
"What's next?" Blake asked.
"You two will spar." Mace said. Ren and Blake looked at each other. Both were trained to use forms IV and VI from Maku. They didn't want to remember that man right now. They had very similar styles. The two turned on their lightsabers, the green and yellow lights filled the room.
Mace jumped up and landed in an area far enough away to give them space. The two rushed forward. Ren jumped up and placed his feet on one of the pillars in the room. He jumped off the pillar to kick Blake. She rolled to the side and sent out a force push. Ren blocked most of it but was still tossed away. He landed and rushed Blake. He was the aggressor here. He brought the lightsaber high in a form I opening strike. Blake blocked it, then felt the kick to her face Ren hid from her. She stumbled back and raised her lightsaber in a defensive posture. She rushed him, becoming the aggressor now. She used the force to boost her speed and jumped to roll. As her feet came round, she launched at Ren with all her strength. Ren dodged her kick by bending back and grabbing a leg. He spun Blake around once and tossed her into a pillar. She dropped to the ground and rushed at him. She jumped and made a slash at him. He brought his lightsaber up to block the strike and spun quickly to block her next strike.
Ren blocked the strike, then Blake brought the lightsabers up, leaving Ren open to a strike. She landed a few weaker punches to him before backing up. Ren stumbled back, then raised his head up quickly. He sent a force push her way, knocking her off balance. He was there a second later and hit Blake in the stomach with one of his powerful punches. The force he gathered moved up his fist and sent Blake flying. She spun in the air and used a ribbon to wrap around one of the pillars. Ren jumped up and sliced the ribbon as soon as it went taut. She fell to the ground. She jumped backward, leaving a clone for Ren. She rushed Ren again.
The two continued the sparring match for a few more minutes, both getting in strong hits. They got into a blade lock when Mace stepped in.
"Good, you two. You both pass."
Yang and Nora were the next two to get to the center of the facility. They also had to spar witheach other. The battle was less flashy than Blake and Ren's. The two impressed Mace with their power. They both used their own strength to try to get the edge in the fight. The two showed amazing swordsmanship and left Mace wondering who would win if they fought in earnest.
Yang and Nora were in a deadlock neither having an edge over the other.
"You ready to give up?" Yang asked.
"I think that's good enough for now." Mace said. Weiss exited the room with the commandos, and they shook their heads. She passed.
All the padawans passed the trial of skill. They all had enough skill to be knights. Did Rosa? If she was with Quinlan Vos or Shaak Ti, would she have fallen, would she have been able to face off against the inner darkness and become a true Jedi? Mace couldn't let that distract him now. He had to be here in the present.
"You all passed your trial of skill. And with that, I have an announcement. Jaune, Ruby, step forward." Mace said.
They did. They looked at each other confused about what was going on.
"You two have passed your final trials to become knights. You may be wondering about the trial of spirit, but you both passed that in the trial of insight. You both faced the mirror and came back."
Kit Fisto entered the facility and jumped down next to Mace.
"Good thing too. You earned this." Fisto said.
"Master, you're here?" Jaune asked.
"Of course, I am. My padawan just passed his final trial. And on Remnant, the master is the one who gets to knight his padawan. Master Windu told me that you were doing your last trial." Kit said.
Mace and Kit both turned on their lightsabers.
"Now you two kneel." Jaune knelt down and saw the padawan braid that Pyrrha helped him put on. Ruby also had one. The others had the braids, but only for the trials.
"We are all Jedi. The Force speaks through us. Through our actions, the Force proclaims itself and what is real. Today we are here to acknowledge what the Force has proclaimed" Mace said. Mace and Kit placed their lightsabers above the shoulders of their students.
"By the right of the Council," Kit started. They moved their lightsabers over to the other shoulder.
"By the will of the Force," Mace said.
"I dub thee Jedi, Knight. Defender of Light." They both said. They found the modified wording for Remnant. They moved their lightsabers up, and the two braids fell to the ground. Windu and Kit put away their lightsabers.
"Congratulations Jedi." Mace said. Ruby and Jaune picked up their braids and stood up. They were knights!
Umbra and Kaiser were standing outside of Khan's stronghold.
"You remember the plan?" Kaiser asked.
"Yes." Umbra said. She had both of her lightsabers with her as they entered the stronghold. Umbra looked like her disguised self. She saw the white fang loyalists all turn to Kaiser.
"I have an audience with Khan." Kaiser said.
"We need to check you for weapons." The guard said.
"You do not." Umbra said. The command went through the guards standing there. They all reached up and shook their heads.
"We do not." They said. Kaiser and Umbra walked through the doors and stood before Khan.
"Adam, you've returned. And you brought her with you. Are you here to swear loyalty to me?" Khan asked.
"No." Kaiser said. He took out his lightsaber, and Umbra took out hers. She dropped her disguise and raised her hand. She used force drain on the four closest force user guards. They screamed as Kaiser started to drain the life from those guards around them. Everyone dropped all at once.
"We're here to kill you." Umbra said. The red and green lightsabers crossed in an X-defensive formation.
One of the force users who still lived took out a blue lightsaber and rushed forward. Umbra jumped in the air and put away her Sith blade. She used force lightning which the guard had to block. She landed behind him, and she spun around, slicing him in two. She raised her hand, and two guards started to choke. Khan got up and took out a black lightsaber of her own. Kaiser rushed forward and sliced the head off the eighth force user. Umbra clenched her hand, and the two guards died.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you working with Humans?" Khan asked.
"I'm not. I'm working with Sith." Kaiser said.
"Then I will destroy you." Khan said. She rushed forward lightsaber in hand and started with Kaiser. Umbra spun around and used the force to throw the lightsabers of the dead guards into the four guards they passed on the way in who threw open the door.
Khan moved quickly, making wide, powerful slashes. She switched from a one-handed strike to a two-handed strike frequently. Kaiser blocked the strikes, moving down the stairs. Khan entered a blade lock with Kaiser.
"The Sith are nothing but a cancer to this world? All of them deserve to be destroyed!" Khan said. She brought her knee up into Kaiser's stomach. He stepped back as Khan began to bring the pommel down on his head. Kaiser spun out of the way of the attack and kicked Khan into the wall. She was stuck there until Kaiser used the force to take her out. He rag-dolled her into one of the pillars. She fell to the ground. Kaiser stood over her and held his lightsaber so he could end her. She let out a burst of force energy which sent Kaiser flying. Umbra turned around and saw Khan get up. She was gathering the dark side into her. Umbra took out her Sith lightsaber and got ready. Khan was faster now, and more animalistic. She launched herself at Umbra and brought the lightsaber up in an arc using both hands.
Umbra blocked the attack and went on the defensive. Khan had a wild style now of fighting. Gone was her elegance. Umbra ducked under an overhand slash and brought the pommel of her Jedi lightsaber into the face of Khan. She stumbled back and sent out force lighting. Umbra brought up both her lightsabers and blocked the lightning. Umbra was sent flying back when Khan ended the attack. Kaiser had reengaged her.
Khan's features began to change as she took on more features of an animal. Her fingernails became claw-like, and her teeth became sharper. Her strength grew and her pupils turned into slits. Kaiser brought up his lightsaber.
"I've never seen her like this." Kaiser said. Khan barely had any humanity left in her. Her strikes were unpredictable and stronger. Kaiser was on the back foot as he was driven up the stairs.
Umbra got behind Khan. She spun around in a wild strike. Umbra blocked the strike with both her lightsabers and kicked Khan in the stomach. It made her madder. She brought her free hand and slashed Umbra's mask. The mask flew off and was left with a massive gash in it. Umbra felt blood trickling down her cheek from the attack.
Umbra dropped out of the lock and spun around. She slashed at Khan. Khan brought her lightsaber to block the attack. Umbra grunted and spun around to the other side and kicked Khan in the face. Khan stumbled back.
Khan jumped to the side and avoided a strike from Kaiser.
"This thing is smarter than it looks." Umbra said.
"Thing?" Kaiser asked.
"You don't want to be compared to that do you?" Umbra said. Kaiser looked at Khan.
"You're right. It is a thing now." Kaiser said.
Khan rushed forward. Umbra and Kaiser avoided the attack. Khan left a hole in the wall where she hit. Khan let out a roar. Umbra and Kaiser sent out force lightning at Khan. It blocked the lightning with its lightsaber. Kaiser dropped his lightning and rushed forward. Khan opened its eyes wide as Kaiser appeared below. Kaiser brought his lightsaber up and plunged it into Khan's heart. Khan let out a painful noise. Her features started to return to normal. Khan was growing weaker. Then with a final burst of energy, she brought her claws down Kaiser's back, ripping through his skin, leaving his back a bloody mess. She brought her head back. Her fangs returned to normal as she bit into Kaiser's neck. Umbra jumped forward and kicked Khan off of Kaiser. Khan landed against a wall.
"You betrayed us, Adam." Khan said.
"No. I followed through with the vision you once had. All of this power could have been yours! But you let the delusions of equality blind you. You once knew what we were fighting for! You once knew that we could only survive if the humans feared us. But you were too weak to make that happen. You let your morals dictate the future of our people! We would still be slaves under you! But with me, our people will become powerful. We will never again have to fear for our lives when Atlesians walk by. We would no longer be the victims of countless hate crimes committed by the fucking worst type of people out there. No longer would we have to hide who we are to stay alive!" Kaiser knelt down to Khan's level. He placed a hand on her cheek. She was still alive, gasping for air.
"Kaiser. Where's her other lightsaber?" Umbra asked. Kaiser looked down and realized that this person only had one.
"My sister… is safe." Khan said.
"But are you Seinna?" Kaiser asked.
"Yes. The Sith… shall never find her." Khan said with a smile on her face.
"Why would we care?" Umbra asked.
Khan's eyes faded. Kaiser closed her eyes and stood up.
"Her sister is one of the clan leaders of the Mandalorians." Kaiser said.
"Why would we care about them? They can't do anything to us." Umbra said.
"For now." Kaiser said. He fell to one knee. His face was covered in pain.
"That looks worse than I thought." Umbra said. Umbra opened a portal to Kaiser's apartment. They entered in. It was very similar to her apartment. Except all of the white fang trophies here. Umbra placed Kaiser down on his couch and ripped off his blood-covered clothing. She looked at his back and saw the wounds. Umbra found a medical kit. She used all of her first aid training to help Kaiser. She washed his wounds which struggled with. She had to get on top of him to get him to stop moving.
"I'm trying to help you asshole!" Umbra said.
"In the most painful way Bitch!" Kaiser said back.
Umbra washed the wounds out, covering the towels she was using in blood. She tossed the bloody towels to the side.
"Watch what your doing!" Kaiser said angrily.
"Do you really give a fuck if your floor has some blood on it?" Umbra asked. Kaiser didn't say anything. She sprayed disinfecting on the wounds, not knowing what would be on Khan's claws. She focused on the bite mark on his neck. Luckily the skin wasn't broken. She looked through the kit for everything else she would need.
"What happened to you Kaiser?" Hazel, Darth Vox, voice of Salem said.
"Khan had an animalistic side to her." Kaiser said.
"I see. Lady Umbra, once you are finished here, Darth Vanus would like an update." Vox said. He turned and left through a portal.
Kaiser tried to rise up, but Umbra kept him down. He turned his head and glared at her.
"He saw us in this state." Kaiser said.
"I know. There's nothing for it. But… there may be something from our situation. It's obvious neither one of us wants to fuck the other one. But we don't have to. She just wants a vessel with our DNA that hopefully will have both our drain abilities." Umbra said.
"How do you expect to make a vessel then?" Kaiser asked.
"I realized we were so focused on this one issue, all of us, that we overlooked something. There are procedures out there that can do what they want. Have you ever heard of IVF?" Umbra asked.
"Wait…" Kaiser said. "Yes, yes, I think that may work. Except that would still leave you…" Kaiser started.
"We can find a woman who will be the host body for the embryo." Umbra said.
"It seems so clear when you say it like that. But how would that work? What would the Midi-chlorians do?" Kaiser said.
"I don't know. The Jedi didn't really do this for obvious reasons." Umbra said.
"Let's hope this plan of yours actually works." Kaiser said. Umbra didn't say anything else, and she got out the needle and thread out.
"I'm about to give you stiches." Umbra said.
"Have you ever done them before?" Kaiser asked.
"Of course. I've had to do this before to the clones." Umbra said. She touched his back around the wounds. He glared at her.
"What are you doing?" Kaiser asked angrily.
"Checking." Umbra said.
Before Keiser said anything else, she started stitching. He held his breath and waited for the pain to stop. She finished the first claw mark on his back. She opened a tube of gel similar to Kolto. She covered the stiches in them. She moved onto the next one and did the same, and the same again for the third and fourth marks. Umbra brought Kaiser up and forced him to stand as she got out the bandage wrapping. She saw more scars on his chest as she started to bandage him up.
"How many scars do you have?" Umbra asked.
"Why do you care?" Kaiser asked almost all out of patience.
"Small talk, you know what that is?" Umbra let the snark into her voice.
"A lot. Okay?" Kaiser
Umbra wrapped Kaiser up. She closed the medical kit.
"You should probably go to a doctor about that." Umbra said.
Oscar finished his training for the day. His body was exhausted. Aunt Em stood over him. She bowed down and moved the hair out of his eyes. She smiled at him.
"I… need… a… break…" He said in between gasps for air. Em sat down next to him.
"You are growing so strong so quickly. Soon, you'll be strong enough to go do what you have to. You'll soon have to leave. But… you'll always have a home here. Make sure to come back every now and then." Em said.
"I… will…" Oscar said.
Em grabbed Oscar and walked back to the house. Oscar had fallen asleep in her arms. Probably for the last time. He snored. She smiled at that. It was so long ago when this last happened. He pushed himself so hard today. He has proven himself in most of the trials so far. He had only one left. The trial of spirit. It would be the hardest one for him. He worked so hard to better himself. All his work was beginning to show. He had muscle before from the farm work, but now they were defined. He was looking more and more like her brother every day.
She put him in bed. He would probably wake up in a few hours. Em sat at her table and thought about how he would handle the trial of spirit. She knew where they had to go. She was going to take him as soon as he recovered to that cave. She worried about Oscar. She knew she was going to miss him terribly. She had no other family left besides him.
But the world needed him. The world needed his light to shine to everyone. In these dark days they needed someone who had his connection with life. Someone who cared about what even the plants had to say to him.
But what did she need? Didn't she need someone to take care of? Didn't she give enough of her life to fight the darkness?
She sighed.
"I can't be selfish here." Em said. No matter how much she wanted to keep Oscar safe and here, she couldn't. She knew that one day this would happen. She knew long ago that Oscar had a destiny. That's why his family was murdered. But this was more than she ever thought possible. She knew he had something special to him, but to be the host of Ozpin? It was inconceivable that this big of a destiny was there for her son… her nephew.
Despite all that she did for him, she was not his mother. She had to remind herself of that.
It was the next day that Oscar had fully recovered. It was amazing how fast he could recover. He finished his bowl of soup and fresh bread. After that he stood up and told Em he was ready for whatever was next.
So, Em took him to the cave.
Oscar looked back at Em, and she nodded. Oscar stepped down into the cave holding his hand out to feel the wall.
A fog rolled in. Oscar looked around.
"Hello." He asked. He was in the middle of a room now. He lost his grip on the wall and stumbled. He got back up and saw that he was in Ozpin's office. He looked up and saw a Grimm hanging there in the air.
"How did that happen?" Oscar asked.
Ozpin didn't respond.
Oscar looked around, not knowing what he was going to see. The room shook and he fell. He stood back up and saw a man. Not a human, but a man.
"Ozpin, everything I did was to stop Rosa from becoming a Sith." Maku tried to justify himself.
"You stole everything from her. Every time she has been injured, every time she has been put in that bacta tank, every time she has thought about ending herself is because of you!" Ozpin stood up.
"I cannot allow her to grow beyond me, professor! You hadn't seen her back on Almak. She has a connection to the dark side that is monstrous. I've done everything for a reason! To stop that monster from reappearing!" Maku said.
"She tried to kill herself because of this! She is being targeted by Salem and you have given her nothing to defend herself! What else have you done? Have you laid hands on her?" Ozpin asked.
Maku didn't answer. Ozpin's eyes widened.
"You bastard. You are no longer going to be a teacher at this school!" Ozpin shouted.
"I am a Jedi master. Whatever I have done has been in the name of justice and peace!" Maku said.
"Get out. Get out before I have you arrested." Ozpin said.
"The masters know what I did. I changed. That person who hit her no longer exists." Maku said.
"How have you changed?" Ozpin asked.
"I have spent years doing everything in my power to keep her safe." Maku said.
"I'm going to need more than that bullshit! She has not been safe since the Sith appeared at the docks." Ozpin said.
"She has gotten better. She has the skills she needs to survive." Maku said.
"I want your resignation on my desk. You will not be staying as a professor here. One more mistake and you will never be free again. Jedi or not, I swear to you that your sins will be exposed. If you make one single step out of line again, you will know Hell." Ozpin said. It was the angriest Oscar had ever seen Ozpin. In his dreams he has seen Ozpin's life. This was something he had yet to get to.
"What is this about?" Oscar asked.
"My most recent mistake." Ozpin said. Oscar turned around and saw Ozpin standing before him.
"What do you mean? And how can I see you?" Oscar asked.
"This cave shows you the mirror. The darkness. The mistakes. The what ifs that keep you up at night. I was too lenient with Maku. I was afraid that I would cause greater harm to Rosa if I did expose him. But I see now that this veil of darkness that has fallen could have been stopped. Maku was a Jedi master who never should have been given the title. He was a cruel man. But he hid it well. He hid his sins from the other masters, and he convinced them that he had changed. He convinced me that he could be better. I was wrong. So wrong. And now, Rosa Reidan is in the hands of the Sith. I cannot accept total blame. Everyone failed. But even so, it is so tempting to just blame myself. If I do, then I could convince myself that her fall was just my mistake. I'd shoulder all the blame, but that is my pride."
"How is that pride?" Oscar asked.
"Pride isn't just about overestimating yourself positively Oscar. I overestimated myself negatively. It belongs to me, and so I can put an easy solution on myself. But those don't work." Ozpin said.
"Why am I here?" Oscar asked.
"To face the mirror." Ozpin said. He raised his hand and Oscar turned.
Oscar saw a woman wearing a mask. She took it off.
"You could have saved me!" Rosa. This was Rosa. He just knew it.
"Rosa." Oscar said.
"You lied to us. You told us you could protect us, Oscar!" Oscar turned around and saw people slightly older than himself. All of them were Jedi. Some of them were missing limbs and had lightsaber wounds.
"I don't even know who you are." Oscar said. Oscar continued to walk, not in any particular direction. He stopped at a mirror and saw himself.
"You know why mom and dad were killed?" The mirror said.
"What? How could you know that? I was so small when they died." Oscar said.
"They died protecting you."
The image of Oscars parents flashed on the mirror. He closed his eyes, but the flash of their dead bodies still came. He grabbed onto his head. Finally… finally he understood the detail that always alluded him. He saw a Sith standing over his father. The Sith thought he killed everyone, but he missed Oscar. Oscar had left earlier for some reason he couldn't remember. Oscar saw their bodies. He saw blood everywhere as the Sith used a Sith dagger to kill them.
Oscar felt the blood cover him.
"You remember when you had your throat fucking slit open!" Oscar looked up and saw the man who did it. Oscar stumbled back and hit a wall.
"The bitch who saved you is dead! You couldn't save her! You failed everyone."
"No!" Oscar shouted.
Oscar opened his eyes and saw the man was gone. He stood up and went to the mirror. A woman around his age stepped forward a short time later. He had calmed down. She had red hair and silver eyes and a lightsaber. He saw a set of Jedi robes on her.
"Oh" She said.
"You have Silver eyes." Oscar said. He didn't know why he said that.
"I do" She said.
"Don't lose yourself in here Jedi." Oscar said. The image started to shift.
"Wait!" She called out.
Oscar saw the mirror image of himself again.
"You are nothing!" The image said. Oscar shook his head.
"I know who I am. I am Oscar Pine, farmer and Jedi! That is one thing that I can never forget!" Oscar said. He closed his eyes as he knelt down. He began to meditate.
"What are you doing? The world needs you out there. How can you just meditate?" Oscar didn't recognize the voice. But he knew it was the dark Oscar. He felt pushback against his chest.
"You will fail! You are nothing but a failure, and that is all you will ever be!" The voice called out again.
"You have power to take revenge on anyone who stands against you now!"
The voice was becoming more desperate. Oscar sighed and opened his eyes. He saw his mirror, a little boy version of himself.
"Everything will be okay."
"You promise?" He asked.
"Yes. I promise you." Oscar said.
Oscar saw light enter the cave. He went to it and quickly found himself back outside.
"Welcome back, Jedi Knight Oscar Pine." Aunt Em said.
Pyrrha finally found it! The map that will lead her to the oasis of healing! Pyrrha wanted to shoot out of her chair, but her legs refused to move. She looked back down at her legs.
"This may work." Pyrrha said. Jaune stepped up behind Pyrrha and looked at the map. He saw it and hugged Pyrrha. He kissed her.
"You found it. You found it Pyrrha." Jaune said.
Pyrrha told everyone at dinner about where the Oasis is. This was the one chance to help Pyrrha. Sun smiled at the news.
"That oasis has healed people in the past. Once we get there we can see if it still has some magic left in it." Sun said.
"I'll get my legs back." Pyrrha said.
Umbra knelt down in front of Vanus. Vanus brought Umbra's face up so she could examine it.
"She got you. Yet you focused on Kaiser." Vanus said.
"He was more injured." Umbra said.
"I see. Well, that can be discussed later. I have another mission for you. I have sent Mercury ahead of you, but we have discovered the location of what is believed to be the Oasis of Healing in Menagerie. For centuries the Jedi kept this place secret, then they made it mythical. But it is real. We have found a source on Menagerie that was discovered when your former friend Pyrrha Nikos bought from one of the antique stores in Menagerie an ancient map. We intercepted an encrypted message she sent, but she failed to realize that she sent it over an old code channel. We broke the code and found this." Vanus handed Umbra a picture of the map.
"Mercury has grown weaker since he lost his arm to Maku. You are to go there and make sure he doesn't fuck this up." Vanus said.
"What about the white fang spies we put on Menagerie? Are we going to check in with them now that the white fang is in crisis?" Umbra asked.
"Yes, that may be useful. Go first check on them. Make sure that the white fang spy network grows. The clones are starting to arrive en masse on the island, so if you are able to take a few out without drawing attention to yourself, do that also." Vanus said.
"Understood." Umbra said.
"Oh, and Salem's interest still is on the table." Vanus said.
"I may have figured out a way to avoid that while still giving her what she wants…" Umbra explained everything.
"I guess that could work, and it would allow you to stay an active operative… I'll discuss it with Salem." Vanus said.
"I will leave immediately." Umbra said. She stood up and bowed to Vanus. She left through the portal. Vanus smiled.
"Finally, she is starting to think like a true Sith Lord. Good. Salem will be pleased by this." Vanus said.
"You are a monster, Cinder." Vanus turned and saw her old Jedi master, Uriel floating there.
"I killed you, but you still won't leave my mind." Vanus said. Uriel smiled.
"Until you die, I will be here." Uriel said.
"Why do you have to be so annoying?" Vanus asked.
Umbra appeared in her Faunus disguise in the White Fang compound on Menagerie. Ilia was there with the other white fang spies.
Everyone spun around to see Umbra.
"We have work to do." Umbra said. One of the newer recruits took out a blaster pistol and aimed it at Umbra. She just waved her hand, and the blaster pistol was gone. Trifa shot a spider web to keep the new member stuck to the wall.
"Sorry about that. New guy still is on edge." Trifa said.
"It is a good thing we still have new members joining. I don't know if the latest batch of Faunus Clones are ready." Umbra said. She didn't know if they were making one. Probably were, but not necessarily. She just needed to find a way to motivate these people.
"More clones?" Ilia asked.
"Yes. To counteract the clones that will be arriving here." Umbra said. A lie, but one she could easily make true.
"We understand." Ilia said.
"I'll be going now. Try to teach the new guy who he works for. I'll be back soon." Umbra made another portal and stood on a tree outside the Belladonna household.
She looked in on Team RWBY. They were all preparing for the trip. She got out her macrobinoculars and saw each teammate in detail. She noticed a small section of hair was burnt on Ruby. Umbra turned to look around the room and saw a padawan's braid on the table. She opened her eyes wide and realized that they named Ruby a Jedi Knight. She didn't know how to feel about that.
She turned her attention to Weiss. Umbra wished she could just understand. Weiss could understand. Her father abused her, just like Maku abused Rosa.
But… the light. Her light…
Weiss needed her before. Umbra listened to her message to Rosa. Hearing her voice again was both joyful and painful. They still cared for her.
But they didn't know who Umbra was. She watched Blake for some time. Blake was smiling and laughing with the others. Did she do that when Rosa was around? There were times, yes. Umbra took out her scroll, and wondered if she should send them something. It was so tempting to just run back to them.
But she couldn't. The Jedi had turned her into this.
She looked at Yang, with a Jedi tattoo in her arm. Rosa told her to get it there. But Umbra couldn't remember if she did get it before the festival.
Umbra continued to watch her team. She reached her arm out in the tree and brought it down. They were on different paths now. They were Jedi and she was Sith.
She got a call from Kaiser which she answered.
"What is it?" Umbra said.
"Ilia is asking about clones. What did you tell her?" Kaiser said.
"Oh, just a simple thing to motivate them that they would get some of the white fang clones. Nothing too big." Umbra said.
"And just how did you propose to get those clones?" Kaiser asked.
"Simple. I was going to ask Salem for them. What's this about?" Umbra asked.
"The white fang is my business. You can't go promising my people things you can't deliver." Kaiser said.
"Salem will have no problem giving us clones. Don't worry." Umbra said.
"The White Fang is mine. Don't forget that." Kaiser ended the call. Umbra wondered if this is how he was when Blake knew him. She looked back at her team, and realized they weren't in the room anymore. She closed her eyes and felt around for them. She felt them coming in her direction.
"Oh, they must have spotted me." Umbra said.
A second later, Yang appeared. Umbra jumped backward off the tree limb she was on and landed gracefully on the ground.
"What are you doing here?" Blake asked as she tossed her weapon around Umbra. Umbra was drawn back into the tree. She opened a portal quickly and was above the Jedi.
"Checking up on Rosa's team. She misses you all." Umbra said in a mocking town. Weiss dropped from a branch. Umbra jumped off the tree branch onto another. Weiss landed and glared at Umbra.
"We'll find her." Weiss said.
"Once you join the Sith, you will all find her." Umbra said. She spun quickly and took out her lightsaber to block Ruby. It was at the last possible second. Umbra was pushed off balance, and Blake sent a force wave. Umbra flew in the air, hitting a tree branch, and fell to the ground. She stood up, looking at the four Jedi.
"We will never join you." Yang said.
"You'll find Rosa again, once you finally leave this place." Umbra said.
"You know where she is then?" Ruby asked.
"Of course. I'm the one in charge of keeping her safe." Umbra said. The four Jedi looked at her.
"Then why are you here?" Blake asked.
"Rosa wanted to see her friends again…" Umbra took out her scroll "So I'm doing that for her."
Umbra jumped backward into the darkness and created a portal. She was back in the dark lands. She put away her lightsaber and made her way to Salem.
Author's Notes: I have relistened to Beacon of Hope time and time again, and honestly, I think I got some moments in there that are PEAK fiction. I had to write this. This story is back BABY! (Though, I don't know what that really means.)
We got three new Jedi knights in this chapter and are moving all the characters along. Remnant seems to be closer to the NJO style of knighting than the Prequel era of knighting.
Kaiser and Umbra may have found a solution to Salem's wish. Though I won't go too in depth about IVF and that sort of stuff.
I'm wondering if I should do a What If series for Jedi Huntress. I got a few chapters already in mind.
No reviews this time, though I have been getting a few scams from people saying their artists who want to draw my stuff. Is this a new thing on the website? Anyways, if someone for some reason would want to draw my characters, go ahead. Just don't ask me to pay for it!
Please leave a review, and everything else.
May the Force Be with You
-DragonZlayerx12