Chapter 153: White Fang (5)

Chapter 153: White Fang (5)

~Third POV~

General James Ironwood looked out from the landing docks of Beacon Academy to the city of Vale at night, a few airships hovering over the lit-up buildings.

Walking up from behind him is Ozpin glancing with him with his cup, "Trouble sleeping, General?"

Ironwood looking back, gripping his shoulder with the other hand, "Arm was acting up."

Ozpin approaches all the way to his side, then looks at him concerned, "Of course, so logically, you got out of bed, dressed completely, and decided to gaze menacingly out into the distance. What's wrong old friend?"

Ironwood sighs and began to express his emotions to the one man he trusts the most, "I've trusted you for years. I just... I can't help but feel like you're keeping us in the dark about some topics… like how you aren't explaining how Amber suddenly miraculously healed."

Ozpin sighs at this but nods in understanding replying to the General reaction, "You know very well why I keep somethings in the dark. And for Amber… you can already make your assumptions on the who it was General."

Ironwood laughs humorously already thinking who was the one who healed up Amber and is transported far away from Vale to Atlas, "That makes it worse. I refuse to believe that a man that I've trusted for so long would act so... passively. But… at least you know you can't keep the Fall Maiden here and place your trust in me to have her safely in Atlas."

Ozpin puts a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder and drops his hand as they stare into the distance together, "You're a good person, James. You've always done what you think is best for the people, even against the strong protests. It's admirable. But I have the experience that the rest of you lack. And I think that's something worth remembering. So… as a friend, I trust you the most important task in keeping the Fall Maiden safe where I have failed to do so."

Hearing that seemed to pause Ironwood with Ozpin placing him in the important task of keeping their duties making him smile remembering why he joined their joint operation showing him the bigger picture and his duties to protect Atlas and its citizens.

Remembering where they confronted Lionheart and all his colleagues' lives at stake him smirking a bit taking out his own canister, "Heh. Yeah… I just wonder why you sent those three with those groups of first-years. You expect them to be bloodshed by sending them there you know that?"

Ozpin glances at the moon not avoiding it's gaze while he sighs at this talking to James in a calm tone, "Correct. After all General this mission would have to show them all one day as Huntsman we have to make certain calls that must be done. Usually, I give these sorts of missions of Bandit Extermination to first years to show being a Huntsman is not all sunshine and rainbows. But… since we are introducing them when the Vytal Festival begins I might as well show them early what's to come with the job."

Ironwood could only agree on that.

Taking a swig of his glass they both know as Headmasters that Grimm aren't the only monsters, they have to deal with but the ones in human or Faunus skin are the trickiest ones.

/////

The full moon is shining over the ruined buildings of Mountain Glenn, and a lone Beowolf is searching through the rubble.

It looks up briefly at the young girl who has it in her red crosshair scope, but Ruby Rose just lowers Crescent Rose and sighs in tiredness as she keeps lookout over the destruction.

The rest of her team and JNPR are lying down on their sleeping mats around the fire with weapons nearby, Glynda, Qrow, and Winter are higher up, slumped down against the wall next to the hole in the ceiling/floor.

Team JNPR was all asleep at this moment with the exception of Jack taking this time to train inside his <Dream Image Training>.

The three members of RWBY have their eyes closed, but Yang Xiao Long is the first to stop pretending as they began to talk to each other about the difference in their choices in life.

Yang was the first to speak to Weiss if she was awake, "Weiss, are you awake?"

Weiss responds to Yang and recalls the earlier events of what Jack showed her and Blake she wants to point out her words being open about it, "Of course I'm awake! You two are talking. And I think he... When I said I wanted to honor my family's name, I meant it. But, it's not what you think. I'm not stupid. I'm fully aware of what my father has done with the Schnee Dust Company. Since he took control, our business has operated in a... moral gray area."

Blake pauses at this but soon spoke out, "That's putting it lightly."

Weiss knowing this rolls her eyes but reluctantly agrees with Blake as she began to talk more to her, "Which is why I feel the need to make things right. If I had taken a job at Atlas, it wouldn't have changed anything. My father was not the start of our name, and I refuse to let him be the end of it."

Blake pauses a bit before she finally lets out a defeated sigh to her teammates getting their attention the more she spoke sadden, "All my life, I fought for what I thought was right. I had a partner named Adam. More of a mentor, actually. He always assured me that what we were doing would make the world a better place…. But of course, his idea of a perfect future turned out to be not perfect for everyone…."

Hearing the word Adam Weiss and Yang both had their eyes widen at this with Blake looking away in shame with Yang speaking up surprised, "Whoa… the guy you treat as your mentor is the same one were… Oh, Blake…"

Blake places her head down in shame as she spoke more out for them to listen, "I know… when I heard that was hunting down my old mentor and ex-crush I was conflicted and when Jack showed me the video I was angry for what he said but…"

Weiss then talks to Blake with a sad smile on her face finishing what Blake has in her mind, "But Jack already said he won't be afraid to fight them because you know his right. But… you're afraid to face them again isn't?"

Blake could only look down on her sleeping bag not wanting to admit the truth, but deep downs knowing what they say is true as she continues wanting change, "I joined the Academy because I knew that Huntsmen and Huntresses were regarded as the noblest warriors in the world. Always fighting for good. But I never really thought past that. When I leave the Academy, what will I - how can I undo so many years of hate?"

Yang unsure how to respond to that type of question merely replied to her in support, "I'm sure you'd figure it out. You're not one to back down from a challenge, Blake."

Blake however disagrees with Yang's words as she voices out that she's a coward in her own right making emotional stress for herself, "But I am! I do it all the time! When you learned I was a Faunus, I didn't know what to do, so I ran! When I realized my oldest partner had become a monster, I ran! Even my Semblance! I was born with the ability to leave behind a shadow of myself; an empty copy that takes the hit while I run away!"

Yang contemplates the words her friends speak thinking of her own life choices and speaking it out to them, "Heh. At least you two have something that drives you. I've just kind of always, go with the flow, y'know? And that's fine, I mean, that's who I am. But how long can I really do that? I wanna be a Huntress, not really because I want to be a hero, but because I want the adventure."

That was when Yang pauses at this before finally replying to them about her life choices, "Well since you guys are talking about life stories I might as well join in right? Ruby and I grew up in Patch, an island off the coast of Vale. Our parents were Huntsmen. Our dad taught at Signal, and our mom took on missions around the kingdom. Her name was Summer Rose, and she was, like... Super-Mom: Baker of cookies and slayer of giant monsters. And then... one day she left for a mission and never came back. It was tough. Ruby was really torn up, but... I think she was still too young to really get what was going on, y'know? And my dad just kind of... shut down. It wasn't long before I learned why. Summer wasn't the first love he lost; she was the second. The first... was my mom."

Weiss and Blake were both surprised to hear about this with Yang looking at their reactions as she laughs darkly at this, "Haha… I didn't know the answer to why my mom abandoned us, but I was determined to find out. It was all I thought about. I would ask anyone I could about what they knew about her. I haven't still to this day, I still want to know what happened to my mother and why she left me, but I will never let that search control me. We're going to find the answers we're looking for… but it just won't be that day is all."

Weiss and Blake both contemplate each of their origins and reasons why they want to become Huntresses with Blake wanting to know Ruby's reason, "… In that case… Yang, do you know why Ruby wants to become a Huntress then?"

Tilting her head towards Blake Yang responds with what she believes is her own reason why Ruby wants to become a Huntress, "I'm not like Ruby, she's always wanted to be a Huntress. It's like she said, ever since she was a kid, she'd dreamt about being the heroes in the books. Helping people and saving the day, and never asking for anything else in return. Even when she couldn't fight, she knew that's what she wanted to do. That's why she trained so hard to get where she is today."

Weiss nods in understanding pointing out the age gap between them and their leader, "Well, she's still just a kid."

Blake counters Weiss's words also detailing their also kids as well, "She's only two years younger. We're all kids."

Yang smirks a mighty grin responding to them with a confident grin on her face, "Well, not anymore. I mean, look where we are! In the middle of a warzone and armed to the teeth!"

Blake smiles lightly knowing her own allies' stories, "It's the life we chose."

Weiss smiles at this turning over her sleeping bag and reminding her allies of the jobs they sign up for, "It's a job. We all had this romanticized vision of being a Huntress in our heads! But at the end of the day, it's a job to protect the people! And whatever we want, will have to come second."

With Team RWBY remaining members going to sleep Qrow sees them with his closed eyes listening to their conversation with a smirk on his face thinking to himself, 'Heh. Feels weird seeing the past repeating itself like this. It feels like I'm watching my own team in our younger years… If only Summer could see how Ruby has trustworthy people on her side.'

/////

*SHIII*

*Woosh*

Suddenly a red open portal opened up revealing to be a raven bird flying out from the distance with no one to look when the night happened soon saw her prey Jack sleeping away.

Next, the Raven flew away thinking her own thoughts and narrowing her eyes seeing the large number of people nearby, 'When you are alone, I'll kidnap you for my tribe. I want those Capsules this kid makes but soon enough… I'll need to wait when he's alone till then I can only observe.'

Flapping her wings to avoid the group she flies off in the distance keeping an eye on Jack to wait for any signs to take him away alone.