13 Reunions
About a year ago, Summer Rose had left the wilderness base with Team FAMS (Flames) and had started wandering the continent of Anima with them, helping various villages and earning names for themselves, all according to Jaune's wishes, in order to get the members of the Team admitted into Beacon Academy through merit.
Even though Cinder was technically the team leader, Summer was the mentor and thus held a lot of power during that one year journey, which had currently brought them to Mistral, where the Team decided to participate in the regional tournament before making the trip to attend Beacon.
Summer had no reason to stop them, so she stayed out of it and watched their performance from the stands. The first to get eleminated was Neo, who had the misfortune of meeting Cinder in the Quarter finals, while Mercury lost the a girl named Pyrrha in the semi-finals, and Emerald lost to Cinder as well in the semi-finals
She thought for a moment that even if Cinder lost in the finals, that they'd all still performed well.
Even though Cinder was stronger then Neo and Emerald, both of them gave her a hell of a fight, and with Mercury, he had dominated in every battle until he'd gotten to the Nikos girl, and that battle ended up being the longest one of the tournament so far.
Following the semi-finals, there was a 90 minute break before they'd come back for the final match, so Summer got up and started to go meet her students.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" a woman spoke from behind Summer.
"It has indeed, Raven." Summer elegantly turned around to face her former teammate
"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" Raven asked her.
"Yeah right. As if I'd actually let Salem have her way." Summer pointed out to Raven "You know, if you come back, our chances against her will be much better."
"Still a lacky under Ozpin's thumb, huh?" Raven asked her.
"Not at all." Summer answered to Raven "Oz couldn't protect me or Tai, or Yang, or Ruby, or Rinoa. I fight not for Ozpin, I fight for my family."
Raven Tsked "Salem can't be killed."
"Yes and no." Summer told Raven with confidence "She cannot be killed by Oz. He never had the ability to exploit her weakness, and by not trusting anyone truly, he prevented others from finding and exploiting her weakness. But she does have a weakness. She can be made mortal."
Raven seemed a bit more hesitant after hearing how confident Summer sounded "How can you be so sure?"
"Because Oz isn't the only one with special abilities anymore" they were in public, so Summer did not say the word magic, though Raven knew what she meant.
"There is somebody you should meet, Raven." Summer insisted "He saved my life when Salem sent her henchmen after me, and helped me to hide over these years so that my family would not be targetted. When you hear him out and see what he can do, you'll know I'm right."
"R-Raven? Why are you here?" a mans voice was heard from behind Summer. Summer was wearing her typically shinigami robe and black hooded cloak, so the lion faunus did not recognize her.
"It's been a long time, Leonardo." Summer said while turning around to face the man, who was shocked to recognize her.
"Sum-Summer, I heard you were dead" Leonardo said with shock.
"I very nearly was, but I was rescued." Summer admitted to Leonardo "Actually, I'll be heading back to Vale after the tournament, so I'll be seeing Oz soon."
"Why are you interested in the tournament?" Leonardo asked with shock.
"The four students I have been training are in it. One of them even entered the finals." Summer boasted "They've already enrolled at Beacon as well, so I'll have some free time when I get there. I have to really catch up with my girls."
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Jacques Gelé was furious. Pyrrha Nikos was supposed to be a shoo-in to win this tournament, so he'd bet a lot of money on the outcome, but contrary to expectations some nobody named Cinder Fall appeared, and while Jacques was no expert in fighting, even he did not see how Pyrrha Nikos could defeat that monster. She was too strong!
Jacques Gelé had once been living the high life in Atlas, he'd even been in command of the Schnee Dust Company, and saw no end to how high he could rise, but as with that Cinder girl today, a boy had appeared and healed his father-in-law, and got him driven out of the house, the company, Atlas, and even off the entire continent. He was even forced to give up the Schnee name and to stop dying his hair white, so it was back to being Black, with a bit of grey here and there.
Jacques was still impeccably dressed, even being forced to go so far from Atlas wouldn't change that, he liked to live at a certain level. As a result, he'd sought out sure things that would give him money, or if he had too, he'd make sure that they were sure things one way or another, all for the purpose of rising back to his rightful place at the top/
As a break was called for an hour and a half before the final match, Jacques knew he had to do something, so when Cinder met three other competitors and was leaving, Jacques followed at a distance, looking for his opportunity to act.
As he followed the four they headed to a restaurant and seemed to be waiting for someone. Jacques wasn't sure who they were waiting for, but since he didn't see what he could possibly do with the information, he just filed it away and kept watching.
Ten minutes passed, then twenty, and finally thirty, and finally an attractive woman came and joined the four youths. She had long black and red hair and silver eyes, and wore a small black-and-red dress and a white hooded cape with a ruby red interior, held in place by an elegant silver broach shaped like a rose.
After talking to Raven and Leonardo a bit, Summer had decided that it was time that Summer Rose was resurrected, and switched into her original style of clothes.
"Wow, Miss Rose, that looks great on you." Mercury complimented her.
Summer chuckled and took a seat with them "Sorry I am late. I ran into an old teammate and an old friend."
"It's fine, we still have 45 minutes, so if we eat fast we can still make it in time for the final round." Cinder suggested.
While the group was talking amongst themselves, food was brought out to them, and as they were eating, Jacques spotted some Faunus in an alley putting on White Fang masks and birst into the alleyway entrance of a building across the street from where the five were eating. 'Maybe those useless beasts can be useful for once.' he though, formulating a plan as he went to alert the police.
He just had to implicate the four young people as possible look-outs for the White Fang. Even if his 'suspicions' were found to be wrong, the police would hold them there for questioning, causing Cinder to be late and forfeit, allowing him to win his bet.
It was ingenius since anyone that saw those four would have noyiced that they were waiting for something or someone, so he'd have plausible deniability. He'd also found something else he wished to acquire, but securing his investment came first.
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When the police came to respond to Jacques report, team FAMS was implicated by his words as possible collaborators with the White Fang, so the police insisted on questioning them, as a result, they were unable to make it back in time for the final round and Cinder lost by forfeit.
Cinder and the team did not care, however, since they'd only joined to have fun, and thus did not care about the results. Summer did, however, lead the Team to a Bulkhead and put them on it to begin their journey to Vale.
After putting Team FAMS (flames) on a bulkhead, Summer went to the agreed upon place to meet with Jaune. He was already waiting and smiled at her "Are you ready to go, Miss Rose?" he asked her.
"I look forward to finally seeing my daughters again, but first...him." Summer answered and placed her hand on Jaune's shoulder so that he could use the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, and the next moment they were in the Beacon Courtyard, surprising a blond woman who was nearby.
"Hello Glynda. I'm here to see Oz." Summer said to the woman, releasing Jaune's shoulder and allowing him to use the Flying Thunder God again and leave.
"Summer?" Glynda asked with shock "Why yes, of course! He'll be happy to see you!"
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Ozpin was sitting in his office. He'd just gotten a call from Leo and he'd heard something he'd never expected to hear. As he sat at his desk, contemplating what he'd just heard, his door opened and Glynda entered, accompanied by the very subject of the conversation he'd had with Leo.
"Miss Rose. How may I help you?" Ozpin was a bit suspicious, wondering where she'd been all these years, but for now he'd wait and hear what she had to say for herself.
"I understand that two of my three daughters will be starting at Beacon this year, I'd like for Ruby to come as well." Summer admitted with a pleasant smile.
"Oh, and why is that?" Oz asked her with curiosity.
"Because it was your idea in the first place." Summer answered and took out a recording device Jaune had passed to her discretely in the courtyard and started playing the audion on it.
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"I hope you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady." Glynda declared "You put yourself and others in great danger."
"They started it!" Ruby protested.
"If it were up to me, you'd be sent home...with a pat on the back… … … and a slap on the wrist!" Glynda answered, and the snapping sound of her weapon was heard, followed by a cute eep from Ruby "But...there is someone here who would like to meet you."
There was the sound of footsteps followed by the voice of Ozpin "Ruby Rose...You… ….have silver eyes."
"Um..." Ruby seemed confused.
"So!" Ozpin started speaking again "Where did you learn to do this?"
"S-Signal Academy." Ruby answered with a little nervousness.
"They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?" Ozpin asked.
"Well, one teacher in particular" Ruby countered.
"I see." Ozpin answered and the sound of a glass plate being set down was heard, followed by the sound of Ruby eating while Oz resumed talking "It's just that I've only seen one other scythe-wielder of that skill before. A dusty old crow."
"Umm. Thash muh unkul!" Ruby said with a mouth full of whatever she was eating, then she swallowed and cleared her throat "Sorry, that's my Uncle Qrow! He's a teacher at Signal. I was complete garbage before he took me under his wing. And now I'm all like- Hooowaaaah! Witchaaaa!"
"so I've noticed" Ozpin agreed "And what is an adorable girl such as yourself doing at a school designed to train warriors?"
"Well...I want to be a Huntress." Ruby answered
"You want to slay monsters?" Oz asked her
"Yeah! I only have two more years of training left at Signal! And then I'm going to apply at Beacon. You see, my sister's starting there this year, and she's trying to become a Huntress, and I'm trying to become a Huntress 'cause I wanna help people. My parents always taught us to help others, so I thought, 'Hey, I might as well make a career out of it!'" Ruby chuckled "I mean the police are alright, but Huntsman and Huntresses are just so much more romantic and exciting, and really, gosh, you know!" Ruby was extremely excited.
After a few moments, Ozpin spoke "Do you know who I am?"
"You're Professor Ozpin" Ruby seemed to calm herself down "You're the headmaster of Beacon."
"Hello" Ozpin said to her.
"Nice to meet you" Ruby repliied.
"You want to come to my school?" Ozpin asked.
"More then anything" Ruby answered with sincerity.
Glynda made a hmmmph sound before Ozpin spoke "Well okay."
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As the recording ended, Ozpin and Glynda were stunned "How is this possible?" Glynda asked
"There's a new magician in the world."Summer answered to Glynda "He brought Rinoa to me when she was a child and asked me to take care of he. He said that my daughters and others who will assemble at Beacon this year are destined to defeat Salem, and he told me how it can be done, though I am not permitted to speak of it at this time" she looked at Ozpin "And I'll try to tell you the message from him as accurately as possible: Hey idiot, you asked Jinn the wrong question. YOU cannot defeat Salem, that is true. If you made different choices in the far distant past you may have been able too, but that ship has sailed. Just because YOU do not have the power to deal with her anymore, doesn't mean she cannot be killed."
Summer looked at Glynda "Oz has been fighting what he believes to be a losing battle because he misinterpretted the Relic of Knowledge's answer and believed that Salem could not be killed. He was afraid people would betray him if they new the truth as he incorrectly perceived it." she then looked at Ozpin "So, please extend an invitation to Ruby to attend Beacon. The magician I spoke of has taken many steps to cripple Salem's power with his future knowledge, so the situation where Ruby was able to impress you and you decided to invite her two years early likely will not occur. He calls it the butterfly effect."
"Future sight and the ability to record it? That is indeed extraordinary "When can I meet this man?" Ozpin asked with shock.
"Oh,he's already registered to come to Beacon this year. His name is Jaune Arc. When he was 3 years old, he brought Rinoa to me, and when he was 5 and a half he showed up to save my life in a battle agaist two of Salems subordinants. His powers and knowledge are incredible. He can even create human life. Though his creations can not use Aura or semblences. Even so, he is rather incredible, and the shear breadth of his abilities, despite being only 17 years old, is extraordinary."
"Why didn't you let us know?" Oz asked.
"The young man that saved my life advised me that since Salem was aware of me, if I returned home my family, and especially to Ruby, they would be noticed by her. But if I stayed away and was believed to be dead, she wouldn't think of going after them before they were old enough to come after her. So, the world had to think I was dead. Also, he wanted me to help with training the Spring Maiden."
Ozpin's eyes filled with shock "You know where the wielder of the Spring Maiden's powers is?"
"Of course I do. She is also on her way here, Oz. A charming young lady named Cinder Fall." Summer explained to Ozpin "You probably guessed by now at Rinoa's origin. She was the Spring maiden, but did not want the powers. Jaune Arc fascilitated the transfer of those powers with his own, and then brought her to me. I was asked not to tell you about Rinoa being the former spring maiden because Jaune needed time to prepare for when they all entered Beacon. If you knew, Jaune likely would have gotten onto Salem's radar and she would have better taken actions against him" she pulled out a scroll "I can transfer the data he prepared regarding his past actions to you and you can look them over, Oz, but you should know that he opposes your secracy and has told us that have joined him all that he deemed important to know, even the things you were hesitant to share. He said that whether you believe it or not, he gave you a gift, because when it came out naturally, even though you thought you were doing it to protect everyone, a lot of people would lose faith in you. They would not directly betray you, but the distrust in you that emerged would make the fight against Salem infinitely more complicated and more people would die then was necessary."
