#but their worst enemy ahem wasted time *CRIES*

[aquarri]

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[barbaras-mermaid-cove]

Cheer Up the Ghost Boy 3 - Vlad’s Mansion

Recap: Sam and Tucker have tried to find a way to cheer up their depressed friend, Danny. But unfortunately, Danny's worst enemy Vlad has returned to try and clone him once again, so that Vlad can have an obedient son (Danny refused to be his son because he's loyal to his biological family. Also, it's because Danny is good and doesn't want to be evil like Vlad). Warning: Torture.

Vlad had Danny in his clutches, holding him by the arm roughly. They were flying high above Amity Park. Vlad snorted at the citizens below him. The citizens were staring up in awe and possibly fear at the vampire-resembling ghost. And since he was holding Danny Phantom like a disobedient son, they began to assume the ghosts were related. "Clone me again, Vlad?" Danny said, staring up defiantly at the older man. "Didn't that fail last time?" "You're right Danny, it did." He said, with a hint of sarcasm. "That was months ago. Since your empty little head can't figure it out, I improved my cloning since we last met. THIS time, it won't fail." "Right... What makes you think the clone will obey you? I didn't agree to be your son. What makes you think he will?" "Oh, he will..." Vlad said mysteriously. Great. Was he going to put it through shock therapy or something? Danny shuddered. The thought of Vlad abusing someone who looked just like him made the teenager uncomfortable. They arrived at Vlad's house. As soon as Danny's feet hit the ground, he pulled hard to try and break free from the man's grasp. He didn't succeed. Vlad, in reaction, pulled him back and sent a wave of shocking pain through him. Danny grit his teeth together. Stopping the shockwave, Vlad leered at the boy condescendingly. Danny panted, toasted and bruised. He'd reverted back to his human form: black hair, blue eyes, white shirt, blue jeans, and red and white shoes. "Now, are you ready?" Danny glared up at him. If he went, Vlad would clone him and put his clone through a lot of pain until it agreed to be his son. If he refused, Vlad would torture him on the spot, weakening him further. Danny decided that if he had any hope of escape, he needed at much strength as possible. Maybe he would be able to save the clone too... "Alright, Vlad." Danny said emotionlessly. They walked down the steps of Vlad's mansion into the basement. Vlad didn't waste time and asked Danny politely to get into the cloning machine. He attached the metal cuffs to the boy's arms and legs. Danny kept his breaths even. He knew that he should keep calm, thus saving all of his energy for the escape. Vlad turned on the machine, a familiar buzz showing that the machine was warming up. Danny felt his feet get hot. The hot feeling spread throughout his entire body. It burned him. He cried out in pain. Danny struggled in his cuffs. He resisted. It was too much. He felt tears pool in his eyes, tears which never got to flow down his cheeks, as they evaporated from the heat. The teen felt his whole body shudder. Over the pulsing of the electricity, Danny heard his nemesis cry out. "Are you ready to give in yet?!" Danny grit his teeth together harder. He pulled at the shackles that held his wrists. "GRR! NEVER!" Danny shouted. Vlad looked back in shock before his face hardened in anger. He turned the dial of the machine to a higher setting. Danny cried out louder and higher in pitch. His unsurfaced tears flowed more intensely. He thought he couldn't bear it any longer. Then he blacked out. When Danny regained consciousness, he was face to face with creepy blue eyes. He recoiled, half from disgust, half from fear. "Is it over?" Danny managed in a weak voice. Vlad chuckled. "You are surprisingly strong, Daniel. I was not able to successfully clone you. Perhaps next time..." Vlad turned and began to walk out of the dungeon/basement. Danny's eyes widened significantly. "Wait! You can't just leave me here!" Vlad looked back, with an expression of resentment and cruelty. Danny's stomach sank. "...Please." Vlad turned around. He was testing to see if the child was pulling a trick or was serious. He walked up close to the boy. He cupped his face with one hand so that he could see his expression clearly. "Please... I-I'm a-afraid..." This wasn't happening. Why was he doing this? You're stronger than this, Fenton. Stronger. You... you don't need to... "Afraid...?" Vlad said mockingly. Though he was curious. He stood a while in silence, pondering. "Afraid of what?" Danny felt hot tears flow down his cheeks. He choked on a sob. Stronger, Fenton! He reprimanded himself. Vlad started to guess. "Afraid of the dark...? Of being alone?" Danny nodded, not being able to speak. "You don't have to be alone," Vlad said. "If you agree to be my son. We could be a family..." Danny felt a surge of anger. The last time Vlad had given that speech to him, he'd threatened to murder Danny's father and planned on marrying Maddie, Danny's mother. Not to mention, he'd hit Danny when he couldn't defend himself. Stay strong, Fenton. Stay strong... His inner monologue spoke to him. Danny shook his head. "I... can't." He closed his eyes, instinctively drawing back, preparing to be hit or shocked with more electricity. Vlad studied the boy. He didn't move to hit him. Instead he waited for Danny to open his eyes, and smiled. "Such courage... I admire that." Vlad admitted. Danny, taken by surprise, and confused, waited for the half-ghost to make his next move. It was like a game. It was always like a game when it came to Vlad. "Tell you what, dear boy. Instead of zapping you with electricity this time, I will try a different approach." Vlad picked up an object on a table next to the machine. ... Meanwhile, in Amity Park, Sam and Tucker were looking for a way to get to their friend Danny ASAP. They almost ran down Dash as he'd finished getting ice cream for himself. "Hey, watch it, losers!" he said. He hadn't dropped his ice cream, luckily for him. The ice cream vendor (who was a ghost) looked down upon the teens in wonder. He felt slightly sorry for the goth and the techno geek. Dash got up and walked away, huffing with pride. The ice cream ghost looked down upon the teens, whom he'd sold ice cream to not so long ago. "Excuse me," he said softly. "But do you two need help? You look worried about something." Sam and Tucker looked at one another, then back at the ghost. "He took our friend, Danny!" They cried in unison. "Who did?" "The mayor of Amity park! He changed into his ghost form and-" Sam said. "Wait! The mayor's half-ghost?" the ghost said. "Yeah!" Tucker continued. "And he kidnapped our friend, who's also half-ghost!" "Well what are we waiting for?!" the ice cream ghost said. "We need to go save him!" Sam and Tucker smiled, glad that this ghost was on their side. ... Vlad picked up the object on the table and held it in the clear light. A scalpel. At seeing the small knife, Danny's body started to panic. He didn't make a sound. He simply stared at Vlad with the evil instrument in his hand as he made his way towards Danny's stomach. Danny sucked his stomach in as far as it would go. Vlad was cloning him no matter what and he was going to get his DNA even if it meant slicing him open. Oh no. NO! Danny shuddered. He closed his eyes and tried to even his breath. He would be strong. He wouldn't let out a single scream of pain. He could do this! He could... Let's show him what you're made of, Fenton! ... The ghost picked up Sam and Tucker in his arms and they flew off towards the mayor's house. Sam and Tucker gave him directions as best they could. When they were headed on a straight path, they discussed what they'd been doing that day with the ghost. Sam broke the mood when she mumbled, "I sure hope Danny's alright." Tucker's face fell and he nodded solemnly. "I hope so too, Sam." To ease their worried thoughts, Sam and Tucker played 'thumb war' with each other during the rest of their flight. ... To Danny's surprise - and relief - Vlad had lied. He wasn't going to slice Danny open after all. It was just like Vlad to fake him out like that. Vlad had put down the scalpel while Danny had his eyes closed. He relaxed. The cloning machine hummed and took a few cell samples from Danny's fingertips. "Hey!" Danny cried out. His enemy chuckled. Danny's eyebrows knitted together. "It seems," Vlad said. "That what my cloning needed was for your muscles to loosen, not tighten. In order to have a perfect clone, I needed to get you to ease up, not resist..." He chuckled again. "Silly ol' me..." Danny fought in his restraints. "You haven't heard the end of this." He tightened his muscles again, refusing the machine to sample any more of him. ... Sam and Tucker arrived at Vlad's mansion with their ghost friend. He turned intangible and held them so that they too would become intangible. He then floated through a wall of the mansion. Sam and Tucker looked for clues about Danny's whereabouts. They were about to speak to one another, when they heard a cry from the dungeon/basement. In unison, they both cried, "Danny!" They quickly rushed downstairs. They arrived at the basement to see Danny pulling and fighting against the machine. He was weakening. The cloning machine was warming up and glowing an eerie pink. Danny was sweating and fighting; more than he had to, it appeared. They didn't bother to question why. "Ahem, Vlad!" Sam announced. "We're here to rescue Danny!" "Yeah!" Tucker said, holding a ghost thermos. "Ahh, wonderful, you're all here to see the new clone I am about to create!" Their eyes became curious for a second. It was all the time Vlad needed. With Danny's weakened muscles, he pulled a switch, which quickly scanned the boy. Suddenly, everything was over. The metal shackles around Danny's wrists and ankles opened by themselves. Danny fell out of the machine, gasping for air. Sam and Tucker ran over to him, helping him up. They hugged him tight. Danny's muscles objected. He pushed them away. "S-sorry guys," he breathed. "Been under a lot of stress recently." "Hey, dude, it's okay, we understand." Tucker said. "Yeah, Danny. You were just in Vlad's torture chamber. You don't want physical contact." Sam nodded. Relieved his friends understood, Danny looked for the aforementioned villain, fearfully. Luckily, he was currently being distracted by the ice cream ghost. Danny breathed a sigh of relief and then crawled on the floor around to an exit. Suddenly, the capsule next to him opened, and Danny froze. Busted. Out came a clone that looked just like him, except this clone was in ghost mode. Beautiful green eyes shone back at him. "Hey there." Danny grinned, and waved to the clone shyly. "I'm Danny." The clone looked back at him wordlessly, curious. "And you're also Danny. You're my clone." He looked around the room nervously. "Listen, I'd explain more to you, but we've got to get out of here, fast." Danny smiled at the clone. His clone. He got closer, and hugged the other being. "Come on." He whispered. "I don't want Vlad to see you, and hurt you." ... Danny, Sam, Tucker and the clone crawled on the floor to the way to the stairs and then bolted up the stairs quickly. Halfway up, Danny remembered he had ghost powers. He transformed into a ghost and scooped his friends into his arms. As he did so, his legs turned into a ghost tail and he flew up the stairs the rest of the way. "You can do that too," Danny whispered to his clone warmly. The clone looked up at Danny, and grinned. When they flew out of Vlad's mansion, Danny wondered about the ice cream ghost. "Don't worry, he's a friend. And he helped rescue you." Sam said. "Sure hope he can handle Vlad..." "Trust me, no one can resist ice cream," Tucker said. "...I hope." Danny and friends looked back at the mansion. But they knew they couldn't wait around. Once the ghost was done distracting, they were as good as toast. Danny, with his ghost tail and his arms around his friends/clone, he took off into the air. A few seconds later, the ice cream ghost caught up with them. Danny smiled, silently signalling he was glad the ghost was okay. "Are we going to be okay?" Danny wondered. "245 calories? That guy will be grounded for a while..." the ice cream ghost nodded. "You put something special in that ice cream?" Sam raised an eyebrow. "Nope," the ghost answered. "It's just a property of this brand of ghost ice cream. It's delicious, but it grounds you so you can't fly anywhere." "Ah." "Then I guess it's a good thing Dash tripped me!" Danny remembered when he had his ice cream and the bully had rudely made him fall on the ground. The ice cream had splattered all over his shirt. If he'd eaten it, he probably wouldn't have been able to fly right now! Danny looked at the ghost and at his friends warmly. "Thanks for rescuing me, guys." "Anytime, Danny." His friends smiled. "Anytime." ... Danny sat with his clone on the bed, his friends looking at him curiously. "What are we going to do with him?" Sam asked. "We're going to keep him." Danny said, wrapping his arms protectively around the guy. "He's me, right? I'll never let him fall into the wrong hands!" The clone smiled and hugged Danny back. A twin brother. He'd always wanted a twin brother, and now he had one. "How are you going to explain him to your parents?" Tucker said. "I'll say that...!" Danny cut himself off, and thought about it a little. Could he tell them the truth? Should he lie? How much did the clone know about himself? Did he share all of Danny's memories, or did he need to create new ones? Could he change into Fenton form or was he permanently stuck in ghost form? Could he even talk? "Hey, clone brother." Danny said. His voice was soft yet concerned. "We need to ask you a few questions." ... On the next day at school, Danny walked with his friends. Included, was Danny's clone, Daniel. Daniel seemed to be mute, but he also seemed to recognize Sam and Tucker and got along with them well. He'd been introduced to Jazz, and also to their parents, who seemed to like this Daniel (Danny told them he'd been conceived in a lab accident - not a lie. But he hadn't told them what Vlad had done.) despite the fact that he bore a resemblance to the ghost boy (Danny's ghost half - whose reputation was questionable, even though he'd done only heroic acts. Well, other than that one time he'd stolen stuff when he was under mind control). Daniel had a red and blue plaid backpack, and he was smiling happily. He was so glad people accepted him the way he was! Even Paulina - a girl who didn't seem to like Danny and his other friends - smiled and waved warmly at him. Of course, Daniel would never leave his friends just because the popular kids liked him. He loved them, first and foremost. Daniel noticed Danny's sad mood for the third time that day. He put an arm on the boy's shoulder. Danny looked up. His clone was about to suggest that he knew a way to cheer Danny up, if he would only let him. Unfortunately, he was mute and couldn't speak a word. He gestured to Danny desperately. Unfortunately, Danny, being slow, didn't understand. Finally, Daniel threw his hands up in the air, giving up. "Aw, Danny doesn't know what you're saying?" Sam said. "It's okay. Danny here-" she put a hand on his stomach, to gesture to him. It caused a squeak and a laugh. "Doesn't know sign language." Daniel blinked. He tried out his hand gestures on Sam, seeing if she would understand. She smiled. "A card game? That sounds fun!" Daniel nodded, and beamed. He then smirked mischievously at Danny. He'd noticed his brother's odd reaction to being touched on the stomach. He tried the same thing on Danny. A stifled breath of air. Puzzled, Daniel moved his fingers around. That got a reaction. Danny squealed and pushed his hand away. "Alright: Rule One for people trying to cheer me up from now on!" Danny announced. "Absolutely no, and I mean NO! Tickling!" His friends couldn't help giggle at his reaction. "Glad you all agree." Danny said dryly, though he couldn't help grin too. End.        

[nezzfiction]

ENMY Chapter 40 - Black Feathered Omen

Chapter Synopsis: With the battle between Team ENMY and Team RNJR ended, along with Qrow's defeat, the dust starts to settle. And Yang must face the aftermath of her decisions. A time not given sparingly as new events arise.

Series Synopsis:

Team RWBY is disbanded, and Yang must find herself new allies. For her, that might very well be yesterday’s enemies. Joining up with the likes of Emerald, Mercury, and Neo, the four will comprise Team Enemy.

Links to read the series: Ao3 or FF.net

Or hit the jump below

Black Feathered Omen

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“Uncertain times come with the territory.”

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A gruff voice drifted to Yang’s ear. Harsh, rough, but caring.

“I won’t always be around, kiddo,” Qrow said to her.

A phrase that would resound itself a number of times as she grew up.

It was the night a young, childish Yang found what she thought was a clue to her mother’s whereabouts. A night she dragged her younger sister, on a wagon, through a forest teeming with Grimm. A night their lives would have been cut violently short, if not for their Uncle who had come to their rescue.

Ruby was already fast asleep in her bed, but Yang was still in their living room, getting an earful from Qrow. A scolding that lasted for an hour now. And it would only continue once Taiyang returned home.

The firelight crackled softly as the two figures sat on the floor.

“You were lucky I got there fast enough.”

*Sniff*

“What the hell were you doing out there?!”

“I was—”

“You and Ruby could have been killed! Do you get that?!”

*Sniff* “I’m sorry.”

Qrow groaned, massaging the bridge of his nose.

The sight of Yang crying made him slow down. He was beginning to feel ashamed by the way he was acting.

A grown man yelling at a girl, who’s practically in shock.

That’s what I’m doing.

Yang gave a violent tremble, and Qrow grabbed one of the blankets nearby. He threw it around his niece and pulled her closer to the fireplace for warmth. After a time, her breathing slowed and her nerves settled.

“Alright, I’m listening. What the heck brought you out there?”

“…”

Yang sheepishly pulled out the picture with a note written on the back. From there, Qrow connected the dots.

“Geez, kid. You should’ve just ask—”

He stopped himself.

She should’ve asked?

How many times has she asked us about Raven, and we ignored her?

We’re just as much to blame for this.

He took the picture and set it aside.

“Look, I’m not gonna yell at you anymore. But you gotta understand, you can’t pull stunts like this. You have to be smart. Know your limits.”

“Okay…”

“I’ll level with you here, cause Tai and I have more than our fair share of blame in this. Your mother… she’s a sore subject for me and your dad. We don’t like to talk about her, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to know.”

“…”

“Obviously. How about this? We promise to tell you all about her—when you’re older. No secrets, no lies, just the truth. ‘Kay?”

“…Okay.”

“Hell, maybe by that time, I’ll even help you find her.”

“Promise?”

“……Yeah, kid. I promise.”

Yang crawled over, and snuggled up to him.

“I’m sorry, Qrow,” she whispered.

“Yeah. Just promise you won’t do anything reckless like this till you’re older.”

“I promise.”

“Or at least, until you have a way to defend yourself.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t breathe a word of this to your dad. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“That’s the deal, then.”

He ruffled Yang’s hair. His Semblance simulated her tiny body being severed apart. Broken bone and torn sinew hovered like ghosts. Qrow wanted to take a drink so badly, but thought he should stay sober until Taiyang was back.

He couldn’t stop from worrying what life had in store for his “nieces”. Ruby inherited so much from Summer, and Yang was showing the traits so prevalent in Raven. This girl he held in his arms, was the bearer of such terrible fate.

Qrow wanted with everything to protect her from it.

“Qrow?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for saving me and Ruby…”

He grabbed some tissues on the table and handed it to Yang, who had snot dripping from her nose.

“Anytime, runt,” he said with fondness.

“Maybe someday, you’ll return the favor…”

…

…

Yang blinked her eyes open.

As she lied on the floor, unmoving, she felt soreness permeate every fiber of her muscles. Almost like strings being pulled taut, that were on the verge of snapping.

“Ugh… Am I dead?”

“Yup! Welcome to hell, lion queen.”

“Has to be hell if you’re here,” Yang snarked at Emerald sitting beside her.

One look at the Tower’s mid-crumbling ceiling, and the memories came flooding back. A little ways away from her, were the remnants of her Ember Celica. Its damage so severe, she would likely need to dedicate days to its reconstruction.

“So, Neo didn’t kill me.”

“Nope.”

“And only a busted-up arm to show for it. That worked out better than I thought,” she grunted, as she sat up. “And Ruby?”

Yang followed Emerald’s glance to the others scattered about.

Mercury was giving the air skiff they crash-landed a look over. The members of Team RNJR were conscious and crowding around Qrow. Observing them, was Neo, who stood guard over the restrained Diana and Apollo Black. The small girl caught notice of Yang, and quickly turned her head with a pout.

“She’s pissed I blackmailed her into not killing Ruby, isn’t she?”

“Ohhhh, yeah.”

“I’m kinda surprised she didn’t just do it while I was out.”

“I know, right? That’s true love.”  

Yang revealed a small smile of relief. She wanted to walk over and give Neo a hug, but almost doubled over from intense pain.

“Gah!” she cried, feeling needles shoot up her body.

Her breath became ragged, as she stared down at her badly damaged arm. The wounds needed disinfecting and stitches. Medical treatment that should have been provided by Neo or Emerald, but was disregarded for some reason.

“What the hell, Em? Couldn’t trouble yourself?”

“Why waste the effort when we’ve got miracle touch over there?”

“Yeah, okay.” Yang arched her neck in Team RNJR’s direction. “Yo, Jaune! Little help?!”

The boy only returned a loathing scowl.

“What? ....EM!”

“Hm?” Emerald grinned innocently.

“You didn’t tell them?!”

“Tell ‘em, what?”

“For fu—Help me up!”

“Pff! Alright, alright.”

Emerald braced Yang’s waist, and helped her to her feet. Together, they limped their way over to Team RNJR.

On their approach, every one of them, save Ruby, stared with so much hate, Yang and Emerald could feel the heat on their skins. The younger sister chose to pay them no mind. Her attention focused solely on Qrow’s sleeping face.

“Oh, no,” Yang sighed.

“Pft! What?”

“Stop laughing.”

“Pshhhsttt…! I’m not laughing….! *Ahem* I’m not laughing.”

“You guys are such—”

“Oh, is Yang going to tell them now?” Mercury yelled from the other side of the chamber.

“You told Mercury, but not them?” Yang exclaimed.

“Slipped my mind.”

“Em! They draped his cape over him, and put a flower on it! Where did they even get a flower?!”

“Pfffft—I don’t know! Ahahahaha! I jus— I can’t hold it anymore! It’s hilarious!” Emerald wiped tears from her eyes, while launching into another laughing fit.

“You people are the worst…”

“Okay, I’m here,” Mercury joined them. “Have you done it?”

“HEY!” Jaune yelled. “You think this is funny?!”

“Jaune, calm down,” Yang attempted.

“Don’t talk to me! After what you’ve done, and joining up with THEM! You make me sick!”

“Jaune, I can explain.”

“Explain teaming up with Pyrrha and Penny’s murderers?! Explain killing your own uncle?! WHAT’S THERE TO EXPLAIN?! There’s no excuse, not a single thing you can say to stop me from—”

“Be cool, Jauney boy. You don’t even have your weapons,” Emerald intervened. “And if you gave her a minute, or spared just the tiniest bit of thought to your surroundings, you wouldn’t be so confused and rage-y right now.”

Jaune growled, struggling not to lose his temper. But it was Ren, who replied to the comment. His curiosity was piqued.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I dunno. Maybe think, ‘why is the Tower still frozen in the air, and not twirling around until it’s crap in the wind?’”

“Huh?”

“There’s a storm outside, ninja boy. We were all bouncing around in it? Now, we’re not. Why?”

“Because Qrow…”

Ren and Ruby tensed at a thought. Ren laid his palm on the stone floor and Ruby’s eyes glinted with silver. They both confirmed what Emerald hinted at.

Qrow’s Aura still coursed the Tower.

“But…HOW?!” Ruby finally spoke, her voice cracking.

For the first time, since holding Qrow’s unbreathing body, she looked at Yang in the face.

The girl met her gaze with a bitter smile.

She wasn’t the darkened villain Ruby saw when she first arrived. Nothing of the one that dealt Qrow the finishing blow. Or the one who fought Team RNJR with such ruthless disposition.

It was her sister.

Different in some facets, worn by experience, but someone she recognized all the same.

“Seriously, Jaune. Heal me up already,” Yang said.

Jaune was going to protest, when Ruby grasped his shoulder.

“Ruby?”

“Please. Just do it.”

“…If you say so…”

With great reluctance, Jaune activated his Semblance to heal Yang. A difficult thing, he found, since the ability worked proportional to his intent to treat the receiver. But after some extra effort, he was able to close up Yang’s most severe wounds. Her Aura was also replenished somewhat.

She opened and closed her hand, flexing the forearm muscles to check its condition.

“You got a lot better at this, from what I remember,” Yang complimented.

Jaune ignored it.

“What, now?” he asked testily.

“Now…” she concentrated. “…I return a favor.”

Yang’s irises flickered with a new crimson. Her Semblance revealed the lifeless scars that webbed Qrow’s body. It was an eerie sight. Devoid of any vitality, and matching the corpses she’d seen in the aftermath of Dracul.

She knelt down and positioned her left fist over Qrow’s chest. Her arm drew back, and then, she drove it right where she inflicted her last punch.

Yang’s Aura channeled through the strike and dispersed light into the pathways, which were once empty and dead. Life flowed from Qrow’s heart. It spread to the ends of his limbs. A dull warmth returned to his complexion.

The Huntsman suddenly heaved, inhaling a deep gulp of air, as if he had been drowning until just now.

*Cough! Cough!* “Damn it, kid! You scared the hell out of me!”

“More like, I punched the hell out of you.”

“Don’t even joke about that,” Qrow coughed again.

“No way…! How?” Jaune awed.

“That’s what I wanna know…! I’ve never known the Reaper’s Semblance to do that before.”

“Yeaahhh,” Yang cockily grinned. “I’m a little bit different.”

“Uh huh. You’re gonna have to spell it out for…me…” Qrow saw Ruby, whose expression was twisting between relief and crying. “Sorry, speedy. Did I make you worry?”

Ruby tackled him and started sobbing uncontrollably. Her wails made even the winds outside sound quiet.

“I thought you were dead! I thought Yang killed you, and…and…*hicc*”

“I know. I know…”

“I’m just *hicc* glad you’re—!!”

“Okay. Let’s give them some space,” Yang ushered everyone else away.

While they spread to give Qrow and Ruby their time, Yang and Mercury convened at the air skiff wreckage.

“No way we’re all going to fit into this thing,” Yang commented.

“All? Your sister’s team got here pretty well on their own.”

“Mercury. We’re helping them.”

“Oh, you mean, we could write them a sign, and they could hitch hike their way back.”

“Merc…”

“Yeah, fine. I gave the engine a look,” Mercury added. “Even if we made the tight squeeze, the thing’s built for speed, not load bearing.”

“We’ve still got the airship we came in,” Yang stated. “It’s junk now, but we should be able to salvage parts from the engine. Put something together that way?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Let’s get to it, then.”

Yang lead the way, and the two entered the section the Dust Reactor was held. A lot of machinery was scattered on the floor, and the wall panels were disjointed from the collision. They picked at the remains and set aside components they thought could prove useful.

“Hey, Merc?”

“Hm?”

Yang snuck up on him with a sucker punch, followed by a kneeing gut shot. The two-hit combo caused Mercury to hunch over and sit on the ground. He almost threw up, but was able to control the reflex.

“WHAT THE HELL—Oh… Right...! Tried to kill your uncle. Don’t know why I forgot about that.”

“Yup.”

“Hey! You plotted with Em, behind me and Neo’s backs!”

“Is that… somehow worse than trying to kill my uncle behind my back?”

“No. No, I guess not. Yeah, that was pretty weak.”

“Yup,” Yang crossed her arms.

“…��Look, I don’t know how much you know—”

“Em told me everything.”

“Oh…Okay. You see, my family blackmailed me and—”

“Em told me.”

“Yeah, I get it, Yang! Em told you. Just let me, huh?”

“……Go on.”

Mercury sighed.

“I’m… sorry. I really mean that. Should’ve said something,” he apologized.

The awkwardness of the words caught in his throat. He wrestled with getting them out, but knew he had to. It was an unfamiliar thing, but it didn’t feel wrong.

“I’m sorry. It was my fault…” he paused. “Hmph, I can live with a lot of the things I’ve done, but icing your uncle wouldn’t have been one of ‘em.”

“Really? I thought you hated my uncle. Why would that be harder than anyone else?”

“Because he’s different.”

“Why’s that?”

“Oh, god. You’re gonna make me say it?”

“Tried. To. Kill. My—”

“We’re friends, Yang! There, I said it. Doesn’t matter who the hell he was, it mattered who he was to you. Geez, feels like I’m breaking out in hives!”

“It’s called blushing.”

“Can’t you just hit me again? Let’s just get back to you hitting me again.”

“Nope. We’re good,” Yang offered a hand.

“……This a trick?”

“Em also told me how much you wanted to come clean. How you were really going to do it, if she didn’t stop you herself.”

“...”

More uncertainty. More unfamiliarity.

But it didn’t feel wrong.

“We good, Merc?” Yang asked him.

“Yeah,” he took her hand.

“Spades.”

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* * * * *

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“Tell me we’re at the finish line, Oz.”

“The synchronization process was stalled, due to Miss Xiao Long’s intervention. It has resumed, and fortunately, nears completion.”

“Good to know.”

“Qrow…There is something I feel, I must advise you on.”

“And what would that be?”

“You should be wary of your niece’s newfound ability.”

Qrow thought about it for a moment.

“Yeah, it is something. Different from the Reaper’s Semblance, but just as dangerous.”

“That is not what I am eluding to.”

While embracing Ruby, Qrow stared at Ozpin’s cane next to them.

“Why? What is it?”

“Huh?” Ruby looked at him curiously.

“Nothing, just nothing.”

Qrow picked up the cane and gripped its handle. A short surge of energy prickled at the touch.

“Uncle Qrow?”

“Hmm?”

“Before the fight, we saw something when we used my powers. We saw Professor Port and Professor Oobleck. They were talking about the truth behind—”

“Hey, old guy,” Yang approached.

“Don’t call me old, runt. And don’t you go thinking this mess is settled. I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”

“Thought you might feel that way. But I got some asks first.”

Qrow remembered Ozpin’s words.

“…Ask away.”

The Huntsman could feel Yang’s concentrated gaze, as she activated her Semblance.

“What are you doing here? How can you use Professor Ozpin’s abilities? And why…”

In her vision, she could see green streams of light pulse from Ozpin’s cane to her uncle’s hand. It acted almost like an extended limb, the way the Aura pumped like connected blood vessels. Rather than just being a weapon, it appeared to be assimilating with Qrow’s body.

“Why does that thing look alive?” Yang pointed to the cane. “And why does it look like it’s growing into you?”

“It’s complicated.”

He thought for a moment. The weighing between Ozpin’s caution and his trust in Yang hung on the scales. Would he keep it secret? Or would he trust her?

“I followed Ozpin’s instructions here.” Qrow ultimately leaned on the latter. “This Tower is one of few places in Remnant his power can be passed on. And he wants to pass his legacy to me. That’s why I’m here. As dumb as it sounds, I’m here to synchronize with Ozpin’s magic cane, if you can believe that.”

Yang’s brow instantly narrowed. The misgivings she had were clear to see. It made Qrow second-guess telling her the truth.

“The Wizard wants to ‘synchronize’ with you?”

“Wizard? Where did you hear— Did Raven tell you that?”

“Never mind what mom told me. From what I can see, that thing looks like it wants to take over your body.”

“It’s part of the process.”

“The process for you to become the next Wizard? I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“You don’t understand, Yang. I don’t know what Raven’s told you, but contrary to what she might’ve said, the world needs Ozpin.”

“Uncle Qrow,” Ruby got both their attentions. “I… don’t think we should trust Professor Ozpin either.”

“Ruby?”

“At least, not yet. We can wait a little bit, right? We don’t have to let the process finish right now. I think we should make sure of some things first.”

“Look, the both of you. I appreciate the concern, but I have to do this.”

“Even if it costs you your life?” Yang asked.

“Yes,” he replied with conviction. “Even if I have to become a new host for Oz, it takes what it takes. I don’t expect you to understand that.”

“No, I understand perfectly fine.” Yang’s left Ember Celica shifted from its standby mode to its gauntlet form. “It’s my fault I didn’t notice it early enough. This time, I’ll destroy it before I revive you again.”

“You’re running empty and with only one arm. What have I told you about being smart and knowing your limits?”

“You’re looking a little dull on the edge yourself, old guy. Besides, I’ve got them to pick up the slack.”

Emerald, Mercury, and Neo had been keeping tabs on the conversation and taken notice of the disagreement. As they spoke, the trio readied to fight again. However mentally and physically exhausted they were.

“Yang,” Ruby called her attention. “Ozpin said the synchronization process continues as long as he’s in the room.”

“Ruby!” Qrow yelled, but she continued anyway.

“If you take Uncle Qrow out of the Tower, everything should be fine.”

Yang nodded.

As the figures began to encircle him, Qrow made one last plea.

“You don’t understand what’s at stake! Don’t you see?! This is just what Salem wants! She’s the cause of this!”

“‘Wants’, yes. The cause? No, the Wizard brought this on himself…” a dark voice echoed from the empty space.

Then, a familiar-looking portal ripped open the middle of the office. And out from it, stepped two swordsmen.

“Hello, little brother.”

.

* * * * *

.

Time slowed to a crawl, when Raven and Adam entered the scene.

The air grew thick with tension. Everyone in the office shared thoughts that raced a thousand miles a second. A thin line kept the peace, but it would snap hinging on whether the new visitors were friend or foe.

Team RNJR was at a complete loss, never having met either one personally. They could only switch their attentions between Raven, Qrow, and Yang.

And then, the decision was made for them.

“Look alive, idiots!” Emerald hollered, as she, Neo, and Mercury tossed the members of Team RNJR their respective weapons.

“Who are they?!” Jaune yelled back.

“Our employer.”

“Then, aren’t they your allies?”

“Depends if she’s here to fire us, or not.”

As the whole room seemed to turn on them, Raven and Adam merely rest their hands on their swords. Ready to be drawn at any sudden act of hostility.

“Yang,” Raven turned to her daughter.

“Mom,” Yang replied. “Sorry, I didn’t call back. I was busy.”

“I can see that…… But I remember telling you how important it was to be ready for my call.”

“Yeah. That was my bad.”

“We can’t change the past. I need you to work with me now.”

“And with Adam? No thanks.”

“Yang, I need you to drop this petty grudge already. The same goes for the rest of Team ENMY,” her stare addressed Emerald, Neo, and Mercury. “Cinder’s life is on the line, or have you forgotten?”

Emerald gave an inadvertent twitch. Her guard weakened—but only for a brief moment. In any other situation, she would have given in to Raven’s words immediately. But now, things were different. She was different.

Emerald had trust, however difficult and inconvenient it was to maintain at that moment.

“What’s the play, Xiao Long?” she spoke from the side of her mouth. “Your mom still have our best interests?”

“Not sure. Something’s off,” Yang answered.

“Well, hurry up and decide! I don’t like where this is heading. If she’s here to take out your uncle, why don’t we let her? It’s what we were about to do just two seconds ago.”

“I know, but this isn’t right. Something’s…”

And then, Yang spotted it. The source of her unease.

She didn’t exactly understand what it was, but it flagged all her sense of danger.

Through her Semblance, she saw bloody roots reach from Raven’s sword into her body. An image not so dissimilar from Qrow and Ozpin’s cane. The only major difference being, the heart beating katana seemed to have taken full hold of its host.

Damn it!

Yang cursed herself.

How many times did she notice the oddities of Raven’s blade, but never worried? Only now, did she understand the sinister vibes surrounding it. It was dormant the last time she saw it, but in this moment, it exuded its own Aura—which likely meant, it possessed its own soul.

“Salem presented me with the sword I use now.”

Raven’s past words echoed Yang’s memory.

Did mom know this was going to happen? Is that why she told me to be ready?!

She couldn’t help, but think if she answered her mother’s calling, instead of joining her team, the present events would have unfolded differently.

This is the worst.

Even if we were at full-power, I don’t think we could take her. She also has Adam along.

What do we do?

Emerald, Mercury, and Neo can still survive this.

I can’t abandon Qrow, but they can. If I—

One glance at her team, and Yang’s resolve faltered.

As if reading her mind, her three teammates met her with a firm stare that said all she needed to know. They would not abandon her. They wouldn’t let her take the fall for them. She was one of their own, and there was no turning back on that.

“This… might be the end,” she muttered in resignation.

“Well………shit,” Emerald shrugged.

“Think I can make one last, selfish request?”

“You might as well,” Mercury joined.

“Can you guys buy me an opening on Adam? I really wanna take that bastard down before I go.”

Fine =)

Neo gave her a wink.

“Sorry, guys.”

“Yang,” Raven said sternly. “Stand down. We’re not enemies.”

“Actually, our team name says differently.”

“This isn’t a game.”

“I’m not playing. We’re not going to let you kill Qrow.”

“But you’re willing to kill your own mother?”

“I won’t kill you either.”

“How ridiculous.”

“Hey, I told you I don’t like ultimatums. Especially when they sound like scams.”

“……Fine,” Raven answered. “Have it your way.”

She drew her blade and sliced open a new portal. Without giving him a chance to react, she kicked Adam into it. Raven wouldn’t be able to avoid killing him otherwise.

The woman turned to the others with death in her eyes. She then, proceeded to cut her thumb on her sword’s edge, feeding it drops of her blood. The being residing in the blade took the tribute and blazed with unfathomable power. It was nothing like any of them had witnessed before, even for Qrow.

It was a strength that rivaled the abilities of Maidens. A force Ozpin’s Magic could only hope to match.

In that instant, Qrow cracked his cane on the marble floor, and enveloped everyone in jade-green light. Raven’s katana drew a wide slash that encompassed everything.

The Tower and the airship mangled in it, was split through. A great, red gash tore up the storm and sky itself. The crimson blight hung there for a while, like a wound inflicted on the world. It even dyed the landscape in its own colored hue.

What remained of the ruin were handfuls of bits and pieces. Raven’s dreaded technique practically wiped the Tower from the face of existence.

She landed on the ground with ease, staring up at where the building once was. There, she beheld her handy-work for a minute. Her pensive state only interrupted when a mass of shadows erupted behind her.

Adam and Blake passed through.

“What happened?” Adam asked.

“I destroyed the Tower,” Raven responded.

“And your brother? The others?”

“Who knows. We can investigate it later.”

“I’m asking if you killed them,” he demanded.

“I’m not sure. I can’t control the sword too well, yet.”

“Salem will be informed of this.”

“She likely already knows, pup. But don’t let that stop you from wagging your tail for her,” Raven said, with a condescending bite. “Blake. How are your wounds?”

“I’m ready,” Blake answered. “Who are you both talking about? Raven…? Who did you kill?”

“We can leave that discussion for later. For now, we have a task ahead of us. Are you ready, Adam? Or did you need to consult your master first?”

The young man snarled, but argued no further. Whatever fate befell the ones in the Tower, the answer could wait. Right now, it was crucial that their dynamic was aligned. Adam, Blake, and Raven needed to work in perfect harmony—or they could not hope to survive what came next.

…

The various mountains along the Windpath fissured and broke apart, like hatching eggs. Countless fleeting wings of black flew from its gaps. Some large, some small, but all in vast flocks.

They took to the air and circled the swirling tornados. Each of them cawed in a cacophony of bird calls. And from the soaring swarm, a single creature swooped down to meet those who freed them.

It was a Grimm unlike any other. Human at its base shape; arms, legs, torso, and head, but its stature was twice an average adult’s. It had a pair of grand feathered wings spouting its back. A long, jet-black blade wielded in its hand. Scaled, white bone crusted its skin in the fashion of a samurai’s armor.

And perhaps most worthy of note was the Grimm’s mask. An eternally fierce expression, carved with intense eye brows. Its nose protruded long, like a beak. It had a beard that bristled, adding to its wrathful features. Despite its unassuming size compared to larger Grimm, the being imposed an intimidating presence that dwarfed the others.

This was Kurama, a Nightmare-Class Grimm. The only known of its kind to utilize an actual weapon and technique in its fights. Ancient records stated the tengu-like creature displayed an unmatchable sword prowess. And as was true with the other members of its classification, possessed a unique, disaster-level threat, equivalent to a force of nature.

Although Raven was sent to deal with the Wizard, her main goals were in actuality, to destroy the Tower, set the Grimm free, and defeat Kurama.

The katana at her side burned with desire. It hungered for the challenge, to test mettle against mettle.

Once again, Raven swiped her finger across its edge, and paid her tribute. The sword oozed with power as it drank the blood heartily. A mad glow dancing along its sheen.

She chuckled at the words commanded of her.

“I seek the name of the strongest.

And in defeating you, I will prove my worthiness of the title.”

.

* * * * *

.

The group of Teams ENMY, RNJR, and Qrow tumbled through a violent vacuum, before being dumped on a hardwood floor.

The Huntsman collapsed after expending the last of his Aura in the transfer. Everyone else piled randomly on each other. All of them, groaning from the induced nausea.

“What…the…” Taiyang could only murmur at the sight of nine people appearing in his living room out of thin air. His focus centering on three individuals in particular. “Qrow? What’s going on? How did you all get here? Yang, Ruby, are you two—?”

““We’re fine, dad,”” the daughters answered simultaneously.

“It’s a long story, Tai,” Qrow replied. “Sorry about the mess. This was the safest place I could think of before Raven almost wiped us out.”

“Raven?”

“…”

“I don’t get it, Qrow. What happened?”

“Dad…” Yang spoke with a lamenting tone.

“The Witch has mom.”

.

.

.

.

NOTES

-The Tower of Tamonten is a reference to a deity of teaching, Tamonten. The figure is often depicted as holding a small pagoda in one hand.

-Kurama is a reference to Mount Kurama, in Kyoto, Japan. The area is home to many legends and tales of the Tengu. I would explain what Tengu are, but the stuff I can write about them could fill pages. Better to look them up on your own, if you’re interested.