162

Chapter 162:

During Ruby's first bout of unconsciousness...

Ruby's eyes opened and she gasped sharply. She felt strangely insubstantial, and it was easy to see why. A look down at herself indicated that her form was ethereal, almost ghostly, with parts of it dissolving into a red mist, before reforming again.

"Wh-where am I?" wondered Ruby, taking in her surroundings.

Above her was a pitch-black void. Ruby hesitated to call it a sky, mainly because the world around her seemed divorced by such definitions. Rather, it was black because it was like there was nothing here that could be called a sky. There was, however, something akin to ground beneath her...which Ruby could tell because it was covered by winding, thorn and flower-covered vines.

Roses stretched out all around her in a thorny, flowery carpet. It was beautiful and dangerous at the same time. The flowers were vivid bursts of red against the deep green of the vines, while the thorns looked as solid and sharp as forged spears, capable of piercing through even the most-rugged of footwear. Ruby found herself glad that her current form didn't seem to have actual feet, as she could scarcely imagine how painful trying to stand on terrain like this would be.

"You complete IDIOT!"

The sharp admonishment came from directly in front of her. Ruby's head snapped up, allowing her to take in the sight of the one scolding her. Another gasp escaped her.

It was like looking in a mirror, yet not quite. The one who stood in front of her was like a reflection of herself, but there were a number of differences that set her apart. The reflection of Ruby had sharper, narrower eyes, which were now glaring furiously at the actual Ruby. Said eyes were less silver, and more like a steel-gray, interlaced by striations of red extending out from the pupils. The lines of her face were harder, more angular, giving her a haughty, yet broody quality. It was as though somebody had painted a portrait of Ruby's face, then adapted it to include Weiss at her snobbiest, and Blake at her…Blakiest.

The rest of her body was similar to Ruby's own. Yet Ruby could make out subtle differences there as well, particularly with her hands. The fingers of the hands that extended from the sleeves of the other Ruby's kimono were tipped with long nails, which had been sharpened to points.

And then there was her cloak. Instead of a length of red fabric, flapping behind her, the other Ruby wore a cloak woven from the same rose vines that covered the landscape around them. No! Her cloak was actually part of the landscape itself, growing up to reach around the other Ruby's shoulders and collar, while resting over her head like a hood as well. Yet, despite the thorns that covered those vines, the other Ruby wore the garment without any sign of discomfort. Rather...it seemed that she was a part of the cloak. The other Ruby was one with the world around them, an observation that allowed Ruby to realize her true nature.

"Akaibara..." Ruby whispered, her sword's name escaping her lips.

The spirit of her sword smiled thinly, the kind of smile that Weiss might have worn at her most mocking. "Took you long enough," she groused. "You had to work yourself nine-tenths of the way to death, before you finally got here."

"B-but...what about...?" Ruby's mind flashed back to what she'd been doing. She'd been fighting Jester, struggling to find a way to end an endless existence.

"Time doesn't have any meaning here, you know," commented Akaibara. "Well...I can keep it that way for a little bit. The important thing is that you can finally listen to me properly."

"I...uh...what?" Ruby was at a loss. She'd listened to her sword for years. Now Akaibara was basically telling her that she'd been doing it wrong all this time?

"Not wrong," corrected Akaibara, coming closer. "You just reached a point where you felt you were listening well enough, then stopped. Honestly, that kinda pisses me off. I thought you were more diligent than that."

Ruby swallowed, realizing that she might indeed have gotten complacent. She'd reached the point where she could fully tap into her sword's power, where she'd fully understood how to wield her blade, and had unconsciously figured that there was nowhere to go from there. Instead, she had focused entirely upon refining her own Aura, and then building up her rapport with the world's Aura, while leaving her relationship with Akaibara's Aura where it was.

Akaibara walked closer. The vines that made up her cloak moved with her, slithering over the same vines that covered the landscape, never really seeming to drag. Instead, the vines that made up the world around Ruby and Akaibara shifted to accommodate the latter's movement. She walked right up to Ruby, staring right into her eyes, her expression stern. Then...without preamble, she slapped Ruby across the face.

Ruby cried out, feeling especially pained at the sensation of those sharpened nails raking across her cheek.

"You are such an idiot!" snapped Akaibara furiously. "I can't even believe you were thinking of doing what you were about to do."

"B-but...you felt it too, didn't you?" asked Ruby, looking plaintively at the image of her sword's soul. "Jester...his life...it's not something that can be destroyed by simply getting stronger."

Killing Jester required more than a god-slaying technique. It required a technique that turned existence into a weapon. To truly destroy him, Ruby would have to weaponize an existence, and use that existence as an attack. And, like any attack, once it was used, it would be expended...and would be lost as well. It was the only way she could conceive of to end something like him.

"I know that!" snapped Akaibara. "You're right. We can't get through this without giving up a life. What pisses me off is that you're already assuming that the life you have to give up is your own. Did you forget what your brother and sister have been hammering into you since the beginning?"

"But...if not me, who else?" asked Ruby, failing to see any other path. Did she ask Weiss or Pyrrha...maybe Yang or one of the others on Team RYNB...or someone from CPPR...or Oscar or her friends from the Mibu...her Uncle...Jaune...? Even if her own life was important, something she needed to protect, so that she could continue to protect others, that didn't make it right to ask someone else to give their life up in her place.

"You're an idiot," repeated Akaibara in a deadpan tone. "You know better than to sacrifice one of your friends for this. Besides, don't you have something better, something that was practically made to be used for an attack, something you're holding...right in your hand?"

The truth of what Akaibara was saying dawned upon her, and Ruby felt her ethereal stomach twist into such tight knots that it was a miracle she didn't double over. Even though this was all within the world of her soul, Ruby could feel her heart hammering against her ribs harder than it ever had, at the realization of what her sword was suggesting. Ruby gasped, shrinking back. "N-N-N-No...No! I can't! Not you!" Not her closest friend and companion, the one who completed her on the battlefield, the one who had been at her side all these years, whom she'd depended upon more than any other.

"Who else?" asked Akaibara, smiling sardonically. Reaching out, she took Ruby's hands in her own. "That's what a sword does, Ruby. I was made to be used in battle and, if it comes to that, I was made to be broken in battle too. If that's what allows you to get through the other side of this, then that's what I need to do."

Tears rolled down Ruby's cheeks. In this dimension of the spirit, they were more like streams of mist, which drifted off into the air, rather than dripping off her chin. But that was hardly worth bothering over now. There was no way she could go along with this. "Not you...Please...I don't want to lose you."

"Idiot..." Akaibara's voice exited her mouth in a whisper, making the insult more of a fondly-frustrated utterance. "I don't want this either. But we know this is the way it has to be.

"You have friends, family, a lover, people you can't afford to leave behind. Me...? I only have you. I'll never belong to anyone else. I don't ever want anyone but you to hold me, to wield me. So...if it has to be one or the other, then it's got to be me. That's the obvious choice."

Ruby whimpered, her spirit-body quaking with her sobs. Even though she wanted to deny it, even though she wished anything else was true, she knew her sword was right. This was the only possible outcome. The only other option would be to use someone else's life in place of her own, which would be the height of cowardice, even if said life was given willingly.

Surging forward, Ruby threw her arms around Akaibara's shoulders, hugging her as tightly as the strength of her phantasmal body would permit, not even caring that the thorns that made up Akaibara's cloak dug into her arms. Akaibara's own arms rose up, returning the hug, her sword's spirit nuzzling her cheek against Ruby's.

"I love you," Ruby whimpered.

"I love you too, you idiot," Akaibara whispered back. "I love that annoyingly saccharine heart of yours, even the stupid way you always baby me. I love every sickeningly sweet inch of you, however much of a pain in the pommel you might be."

"And I love that spoiled attitude of yours," Ruby replied. "I love how you always try to act tough, but you really just like to get attention."

Akaibara growled, but didn't let go of Ruby, seemingly accepting her words for what they were.

Finally, she pulled back, looking Ruby in the eyes. "I know you won't forget me. But I want you to remember what happened to Salem."

"Salem...?" Ruby blinked, her grief overcome by confusion.

"Sure, you might not wind up turning into some kind of engine dedicated to human destruction, but...you're still the kind of person who'd make herself miserable, by refusing to let go. Don't make the same mistake she made. When this is over...get a new sword. Maybe Father will make a new one for you. When you do, don't let her replace me, but don't let me overshadow her. Whatever you do, don't cling to your grief and pain the way Salem did...or the way your father did."

Ruby sniffled. She found it virtually impossible to imagine herself with anything other than Akaibara in her hand. But she also knew that she could never give up on becoming a Huntress...which meant she would need a sword, a sword that she could love just as much as Akaibara, even if she wasn't Akaibara.

"You understand?" asked Akaibara.

Ruby nodded wordlessly.

"Good...you dummy," Akaibara whispered back. "Now get back out there and get this done. Your friends are putting it all on the line for you. Time to make sure their hard work pays off."

"My friends...?" Ruby blinked. The last thing she'd remembered was fighting Jester. Her friends were all being forced to watch from the sidelines, weren't they?

"You'll understand when you get back," said Akaibara.

The world around them began to dissolve, the petals of the countless roses scattering upwards, while the vines faded away.

"They're already bringing you back," said Akaibara, taking an irritated look at what was going on around them. "When you get your next sword, try to figure out how to get here without knocking yourself out in the middle of battle first."

"O-Okay," said Ruby sadly.

"Go and win...you idiot," said Akaibara, as her body dissolved away, along with the rest of the world.

Ruby's own form remained, but the black that surrounded her was quickly being washed out by white...and a familiar warmth that was rising up within her, one that was calling her back to her own body...and the deed that remained to be done.

After Jester's death…

"Ruby!"

"I have a pulse! It's weak, but it's there!"

"Can't you do anything?"

"I can't. I'm tapped out. So is Miyu. All we can do is wait."

There were voices in the darkness. They sounded so faint, as though they were coming from very far away. Ruby knew that they were the voices of people who were important to her. Yet she couldn't find the energy to respond to them. She was just so tired.

It was the logical consequence of pushing herself so far. First had been her battle with Salem, which had forced her to the edge, in order to be able to activate her god-slaying technique. Then, in that fatigued state, she had entered into a fight against Jester. Even then, that hadn't been enough. Ruby had been forced to rely upon the support of Miyu and Jaune, which had allowed her to fight well beyond her capacity. However, the resulting backlash was the reward she was reaping for that level of exertion.

At the moment, she wanted to sink down into the cool comfort of oblivion, if only for a little while at least. She was tired, and that was without having to deal with the reality of what she had just lost. For a little while, she just didn't want to think about anything, just fade away and forget this whole nightmare.

However, even if the climactic battle had been won, the war wasn't over quite yet. Ruby knew she didn't have the strength to do anything. But, after everything that she had done, everything she had sacrificed, to get this far, she'd be damned if she didn't watch the ending with her own eyes, just to be sure that her fight hadn't been in vain.

It was like swimming upwards through a river of tar. The flow towards unconsciousness clung to her, threatening to drag her under. But Ruby forced her way against it, fighting against her fatigue and pain, continuing to reach up until she finally found the wherewithal to force her eyes open.

Bright... That was the first thought that echoed in her mind. Thankfully, the sun wasn't directly overhead. However, Ruby was unfortunate that, even from an angle, the light still felt painfully harsh, and her open eyes immediately squinted.

"RUBY!"

Loud... Ruby reflexively grimaced at Yang's outburst, which struck her ears like a hammer. The wince didn't go unnoticed, and she had an almost clairvoyant vision of the rest of her friends glaring at Yang, who shrank back sheepishly. The thought was enough to make her smile a little. Slowly, she tilted her head, which felt as though it weighed multiple tons, to take in what little of her surroundings that she could.

Her head was resting on Jaune's lap, Jaune having folded his legs, so that she wasn't laying atop his greaves. Upon meeting her eyes, Jaune's worried face dissolved into a relieved smile, and he immediately brushed his fingers against her cheek.

"You did it," he said simply.

Ruby smiled back. "Yeah...Yeah I did," she said.

Then she sighed, shifting her head so that she was staring straight up again. "What's happening at Vale?"

"We don't know for sure," commented Ren's voice from outside her field of view. "All we can tell is that the battle is ongoing. Whether or not the line is holding is something we don't have information on."

"I tried to raise Command with my scroll, but the signal couldn't get through," said Ciel.

"We aren't too far away," added Weiss. "There just must be so much signal-traffic going on that we got locked out."

"Wh-what about here?" asked Ruby.

That was a particularly unpleasant scenario. Thanks to the intense battle, they were all pretty much spent. If the Grimm Salem had brought with her converged upon them, they were without any real means to fight back. Everybody was at the limit of their strength, and they would likely be swallowed up before they could do much of anything.

"Uncle Qrow went up to check," said Yang. "He'll be back in a bit."

"The fact that it's taking him a little while is a good sign," added Pyrrha. "He said that, if we aren't in any immediate danger, he'd check on the state of Vale as well."

It was a few tense minutes before the sound of fluttering wings reached Ruby's ears. Qrow landed near her, walking over to stand where Ruby could see him. "Well, the good news is that the Grimm don't seem to realize we're here...yet. For whatever reason, they're giving this particular spot a pretty wide berth."

"I'm guessing that there's bad news too," groused Piper.

"Yep," said Qrow tiredly. "The Grimm at the front lines at Vale are starting to lose heart. It looks like the attack is breaking up."

"It must be because of Makoto-sama," mused Natsuki from where she rested, next to a still unconscious Oscar.

"That would be my guess as well," said Miyu.

"Yeah, it looks like the Grimm are staring to break off the attack," said Qrow. "The ones up front are starting to fall back, but the ones still coming in haven't gotten the memo just yet. It's making the whole thing become a pretty big quagmire."

"But that sounds like a good thing," Nora pointed out. "The Grimm running way is better than them overrunning Vale, right."

"Yeah, it is," agreed Qrow. "The problem is going to be where they run."

"That is a serious issue," commented Rain. "Depending on how that horde disperses, there are settlements well away from Vale that could find themselves on the verge of being overrun within a matter of minutes, if not hours."

"That too," said Qrow, chuckling dryly. "But the more immediate problem is that, when they run, we're the ones they're gonna come across first."

"Oh...that would be bad," said Piper.

"Understatement of the year," muttered Blake.

"It's a sad thing to say, but none of us are in any shape to fight," said Qrow, "Ruby least of all. So we need a way out of here, before we get run over."

"Unfortunately, we weren't able to raise anyone in Vale," said Ciel. "The communication lines are just too busy."

"In that case, I'll have to fly back and have them send a bullhead out directly," decided Qrow. "Problem is that there are plenty of fliers in that horde, which is gonna make getting an airship through a serious chore, if they aren't brought crashing right down."

"In other words, we're pretty much stuck out here without a way back, and a horde of angry and frightened Grimm that could come down on us like a ton of bricks at any moment,' said Weiss irritably.

"Things are what they are, Mini-Ice Queen," said Qrow.

"Hey!"

"Grumbling about it ain't gonna change anything," he continued. "Well, we need to do something before we're Grimm-chow."

"We should probably move aside," said Setsuna. "It'll be a long shot, but if we move east or west, we could skirt the horde, and make it less likely that we'll be in their path, when they break and run."

"A good idea, but it ain't gonna work," said Qrow. "We'd have to go miles, and there are still Grimm coming in on either side of us, so we'd just wind up attracting their attention."

"What if we went to ground?" asked Pyrrha. "Perhaps if we dug ourselves a shelter or found a nearby cave, we could wait them out."

"There's a chance of that," said Qrow. "We ain't up to digging out anything substantial. I also don't think we could dig out a shelter capable of handling a few-thousand Grimm treading over it in the little time we have. But a cave ain't out of the question. We're near the Emerald Forest, and there are plenty of caves in there. We'd still have a tricky time finding one that won't take us through the Grimm still arriving, but it's our best bet for now."

"Apologies for imposing on you again, but could you see if you could locate one, Mr. Branwen?" asked Ciel.

"Just what I was about to do," said Qrow, stretching.

However, before that happened, there was a change in the air around them. Suddenly, coming from the direction of Vale, there was a chorus of noise. It was a combination of countless different sounds; the howls of Beowolves, the roars of Ursai, the trumpeting calls of Goliaths, and many more besides; their pitch substantially higher than the sounds Grimm normally made, a difference that was audible, even at this distance. The sources of those calls spread outward from Vale's direction, and were soon emitted from countless throats on either side of their sad little group. However, all those vocalizations were undercut by a much lower, more omnipresent, more ominous noise...the low, but steadily building, rumble of countless feet; tens, hundreds, thousands, millions of them.

"Well...shit," said Qrow simply.

"We were too late," said Penny. "They're coming."

"That sure was a sudden change," noted Setsuna.

"Does that even matter?" wondered Miyu.

Setsuna took her hand in his, then met her gaze, before shrugging.

Ruby found herself pulled up, allowing Jaune to protectively wrap his arms around her, holding her close, getting ready to use his own body as a shield. It would be a futile effort, but he'd do what little he could to ensure that the girl he loved lived at least a little bit longer.

However, Ruby could only smile. "It'll be all right," she said, her voice tired.

"Huh?" Jaune looked down at her in confusion.

Ruby merely smiled peacefully. "Kyo-nii will take care of the rest."

"Kyo...?"

Considering the condition Kyo had been in, when they'd last seen him, the idea that he'd be capable of doing anything seemed ludicrous. Even if Sasame had been able to fully heal him, he should have been left exhausted, unable to even really move.

But Ruby understood, mainly because of the reactions of the Grimm. While Makoto's presence had begun to repel them from the walls, the effect of said presence had been relatively gradual, one that would have built over time. In contrast, there was only one way to explain why the Grimm had so suddenly and completely reversed their desire to besiege Vale's walls.

A shrill cry, like the call of a bird of prey, came from the direction of Vale. It was piercing, seeming to echo forever, its vibrations striking each of them in their chests, transfixing them with a feeling of trepidation. Then, from Vale itself, crimson flames suddenly erupted across its skyline. They shot upwards, their color dying the air around them, making it seem as though the entire city was aflame. Then they roared skyward, the heatless flames revealing themselves to be a pair of wings, spreading so far as to encompass the entire sky. At their center, a long, elegantly arched neck extended out, ending in a beaked head. The massive form of the Vermillion Bird arced upwards, before descending down towards the fleeing Grimm.

The breadth of Kyo's Suzaku was beyond anything Ruby had seen him do before. She'd never imagined that her brother possessed this kind of range, much less after the near-death experience he'd suffered. Sasame-nee must have put everything she had into supporting his Aura, she thought. That being the case, between that and tapping into his power as one of the two remaining True Mibu in the world, it seemed that Kyo had been able to create a technique that would enable him to cut down nearly the entire horde that had been menacing the walls.

Heatless flames swept through the skies, scouring them of airborne Grimm, before descending down and sweeping across the ground. The Grimm fell by the countless thousands, their bodies cut to ribbons, even before they began to dissolve. Where the outstretched wings of Suzaku reached, no sign of the enemy remained.

However incredible Kyo's feat had been, he hadn't been able to destroy absolutely all the fleeing Grimm. Even with the incredible range he'd demonstrated, a few of the fleeing monsters had already scattered too far and wide for him to be able to annihilate every last one. But the fleeing beasts were too few to pose an overwhelming threat to any of the settlements they might fall upon later. Therefore, the worst of the crisis had been averted.

Even more importantly, the Grimm that had been about to descend upon Ruby and her friends had been eliminated entirely, assuring their safety and survival. With that, they were finally able to let out breaths of relief, able to say the one thing they'd been desperately wanting to, ever since Ruby's fight with Jester had concluded.

"It's over," whispered Weiss, forgetting all dignity and simply slumping to the ground where she stood.

"We did it," added Nora.

"More like Ruby did it," commented Yang, throwing a glance down at her sister.

However, Ruby's face now looked anything but victorious. There was no cheerful smile, not even the wistful one she'd been wearing when she'd declared that Kyo would take care of the Grimm. Instead, now that there was nothing more to worry about, Ruby's elation had completely disappeared. Her eyes shimmered with building tears, a look of heartrending sorrow on her face.

Her hands shook as she moved them, trembling from both fatigue and emotion. Reaching down, Ruby closed her left hand around the empty sheath resting at the small of her back, pulling it free from her sash. Bringing it back around, she grasped it in both hands, her grip tightening, before she hugged it to herself.

It was then that the realization dawned upon everyone else. In the midst of all the excitement that had followed Ruby's victory over Jester, they'd all overlooked a particular detail...namely that Ruby's hands had been empty, ever since her last attack against the madman. And now, as they watched her forlornly hug her empty sheath to herself, the obvious question reared its ugly head, a question that they all suddenly felt they didn't want to ask.

It was Penny who broke that uneasy silence. "Ruby...where's your sword?"

Jaune's eyes turned towards the blackened patch of earth that now served as the only marker of Jester's final resting place, the truth dawning upon him as he connected Ruby's current behavior with the look of sorrow she'd worn during the final exchange. That look on her face had frightened him, making it look as though Ruby was going somewhere far away, where he couldn't follow, making him fear that she would give up her life to destroy Jester...

...But she hadn't. Jaune's relief at finding her alive had clouded his perception, delaying the realization that, while Ruby had survived the final battle, someone else, or something else, hadn't.

"Oh God..." Jaune's words escaped his mouth unbidden as the realization fell upon him like a stone. He understood now. He also understood why Ruby was quaking in his arms, her body shuddering with the effort of containing her sorrow.

Ruby hadn't been able to defeat Jester without making a sacrifice. The realization that Ruby had sacrificed her closest companion, the weapon who had been her original partner, to make the monster's defeat possible hit home like a hammer. Amongst all Ruby's friends, there wasn't a single one of them who wasn't aware of how dearly Ruby had treasured her sword. Given Akaibara's nature, a weapon that was just as alive as any person, it was all too easy for them to realize the sheer depth of Ruby's loss, and the intensity of her grief.

For his part, all Jaune could do was hug her tightly, as the dam holding back Ruby's emotions finally broke. Her wails echoed through the air as she pressed her face against Jaune's cuirass, tears spilling freely down her cheeks.

The others looked on awkwardly, Yang and Natsuki shedding tears of their own, moved by the intensity of Ruby's sorrow. Weiss sniffed, rubbing her nose, while Pyrrha gripped her shoulder, swiping at her own eyes. Nora pressed her face to Ren's shoulder, Ren gently rubbing the back of her head, ignoring the damp spot forming in the cloth of his coat. Blake's ears drooped beneath their concealing ribbon, the rest of her body slumping in sympathy. Penny looked as though she wanted to join Jaune in hugging Ruby, but couldn't bring herself to move, instead simply looking on with dismay at her best friend's pain. Ciel and Rain wore more subdued expressions of sorrow, while Piper had turned away, not willing to let her own feelings show to the others. Miyu distracted herself by checking on the unconscious Oscar, while Setsuna stood next to her, a stoic expression on his face. Qrow watched over his niece for a moment, before pulling out his flask and taking a strong swig of its contents.

This unhappy state of affairs continued until the bullhead dispatched from Vale found them.

The journey back to Vale had taken place in sorrowful silence. For the glorious victors, it had been a shock to Glynda and Winter to find them in such a desolate state. However, upon seeing Ruby clinging to her empty sheath, and getting an idea of what had happened, they had both been able to accept the situation for what it was. As such, the bullhead bringing back the victorious heroes; who had defeated, not one, but two of the greatest threats in the history of Remnant; would not be returning to the fanfare and celebration such an accomplishment deserved. Instead, they had quietly routed the bullhead to Beacon, where Ruby's group could instead be discreetly welcomed back by their friends and loved ones.

During the flight, Ruby had cried herself to sleep. So Jaune carried her as they stepped off the bullhead, the group finding themselves surrounded by a small crowd of the friends and acquaintances they'd made over the course of the Vytal Festival. Jaune's family was quick to swarm around him, Sapphira practically wailing with relief at the sight of her son, alive and well. However, their mood became more subdued when they saw the burdened expression on Jaune's face, and the way he hugged Ruby to himself protectively.

Likewise, Weiss and Pyrrha were welcomed back by Ashley and Dove respectively, the two enfolding their loved ones in quiet hugs, letting the warmth of their contact speak for them. Blake received a similar welcome from Sun. Natsuki, Setsuna, and Miyu headed towards Makoto and the Goyosei, Natsuki cradling Oscar in her arms, the poor boy having still not woken up, for reasons that none of his three new friends dared to speak. Team CPPR quickly moved towards a waiting Ironwood, preparing to deliver a report, and deflect his inquiry.

Unfortunately, the forlorn atmosphere was catching. Everyone who'd been waiting for the conquering heroes to return soon grasped the realization that victory had not come without cost, even if that wasn't readily apparent to the people looking on. The only thing they could guess at was the one absence from their party. Of the entire group that had accompanied Ruby out to the final battle, only Ozpin hadn't returned. At least, that was how it had looked to most of them.

They were likewise unaware of how erroneous their assessment was, both in terms of who hadn't come back from the fight...and who had.

It was a rare display of impatience from Glynda, when she shoved the door to Team MNPS' room with such force that it slammed back against the wall. Striding into the room, she ignored the surprised looks coming from Miyu, Setsuna, and Natsuki, the latter of whom was supporting a familiar young man by his shoulders...a familiar young man, with a very unfamiliar look in his eyes, the one person who displayed no surprise at Glynda's sudden and graceless entry.

Oscar Pine...or rather, the person in Oscar Pine's body looked back at Glynda, his lips curling up in a wry smile. "Hello, Glynda," he said.

It was Oscar's voice, yet it wasn't. Everything from his intonation to his pronunciation sounded different. On top of that, there was a strange sensation to the voice, like a second one was layered over it...one that Glynda was all too familiar with.

"Ozpin..." Glynda could only stare. "Don't tell me this boy is..."

The spirit of Ozpin, currently controlling the body of Oscar Pine, let out a soft sigh, before looking down at Oscar's legs for a moment. "It is not often that I've had an opportunity to meet my next incarnation...before I actually reincarnate. However, after going through this so often, I have learned to recognize the traits that will designate the next recipient of my soul."

Glynda frowned, now realizing the reason behind Ozpin's unusual interest in Oscar, from the moment they'd met. That he had just laid eyes upon his own future self was a possibility she'd never even considered.

"So you've had this happen before?" asked Miyu, frowning.

"Only one other time," Ozpin answered. "Of course, amongst the untold millions existing across Remnant, the odds of me meeting the specific one I will reincarnate into are absurdly long. And, fairly often, the person who will be my next host has not even been born yet, when my current life ends. Sometimes, it can be a gap on the order of a decade or more before I am reincarnated.

"And it is not as though I specifically go looking for my...successor...I suppose a good term would be. After all, if Salem and her minions had gotten wind of my efforts, then they too could ultimately figure out how to recognize my future incarnations, and act to eliminate them before I was reborn."

Glynda squirmed at the thought. In some ways, it was terrifying to think about. Not only would Salem's agents be killing innocent people on the basis that they would one day be the host to Ozma's soul, but the idea of Ozpin locked in limbo, unable to return to the world of the living or the afterlife, was horrifying on an existential level. Ozpin had once confided to Glynda that he had no awareness of time that passed, when he was in between incarnations. However, that only made it all the more frightening to her. The consolation was that locating Ozpin's future incarnations would be even harder than locating the Maidens, as they did not have any obvious signs, like magic, that would allow Salem's agents to identify them.

"What about Oscar?" asked Natsuki, looking at Ozpin worriedly.

"He is fine," said Ozpin, giving her a small smile. "He's still here, and he is able to hear everything that we say. I am merely borrowing control of this body for a small bit. I will return it to him momentarily."

"But what's going to happen to him?" asked Natsuki. "I mean..."

That caused Ozpin's expression to falter. "I am afraid that what has begun is an irrevocable process. It has only just begun, but, gradually, over time, our Auras will begin to merge together. Oscar will become me, and I him. Neither of us will be the same person we were before."

Tears began to leak from Natsuki's eyes. "But...I...no...that's..."

"I do not wish for it to be so either," said Ozpin. "Now that I exist within him, I am aware of Oscar's feelings, and he cares deeply for you, Ms. Shinomori. However, there is nothing that can be done about this."

"Not if I have anything to say about it."

The door slammed open a second time, prompting everyone in the room, Glynda and Ozpin included, to jump. Sasame came stomping in, her expression inordinately serious.

"Ah...Ms. Mitarai, what brings you here?" asked Ozpin.

"The very thing you just claimed nothing could be done about," answered Sasame curtly. "I got pulled out of bed to check on Ruby-chan, only to hear that this happened. Honestly..."

"Um...How is Ruby-chan?" asked Natsuki, momentarily turning the topic to her best friend.

Sasame sighed, her expression softening. "Ruby-chan will be...all right. Physically, she'll recover just fine. But she's in mourning now. So what she needs is peace, but also the support of her friends and loved ones...which will include all of you, once we get this absurdity sorted out."

"And what is it you plan to do?" asked Ozpin.

Sasame smirked at him. "First, I need you to return control to Oscar-kun. I can proceed from there."

Ozpin frowned, but nodded. There was a shimmer of pale-green around him, his body jolting slightly. He inhaled, and when he spoke again, it was clearly Oscar, rather than Ozpin, in the driver's seat.

"I'm back," said Oscar, giving Natsuki a weak smile, while she clung tightly to his hand.

"Good," said Sasame, smiling at him. "Now then, Oscar-kun, what I'm about to do should solve the problem of your...guest...for the time being. Please allow me to work with you. I will be performing an operation that will affect your Aura."

"Um...Go ahead," said Oscar. "If nothing else, I know I can trust you."

"Thank you," said Sasame. "Please close your eyes."

Oscar nodded, doing as he was bidden. Sasame reached out, resting her hands against Oscar's temples, the pale-pink of her Aura rippling across his head. For a moment, it seemed like nothing more than Sasame's usual healing technique. But then there was a sharp jolt from Oscar's body, and he gasped. However, Sasame's hands remained firmly clamped on his head, and she didn't lose her grip on him. Then, after another moment, Oscar relaxed.

A few minutes later, Sasame let out a soft breath, then pulled her hands away. There was a sheen of sweat across her brow, which she wiped away with her sleeve. "There, it's done. How do you feel, Oscar-kun?"

"Um...I'm not sure," said Oscar. A worried squeak from Natsuki prompted him to look at her, raising a placating hand. "I mean...I feel fine. I just...I don't know if I really feel different at all."

"Well then, let's find out," said Sasame, resting her hands on her hips as her tail twitched behind her. "Ozpin-dono, can you hear me?"

Oscar twitched, his eyes flickering, as though he were listening to an unexpected voice. "He says, 'Yes.'"

Sasame let out a soft breath. "Well then, let's test something else. Oscar-kun, would you and Ozpin-dono switch places once more?"

Oscar nodded. Another shimmer of green across him, and he spoke with Ozpin's voice again. "I'm here, Ms. Mitarai."

"Good," said Sasame. "Now then, let us test the effects. I wish for you to share one of Oscar-kun's memories with us…" Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "…preferably a suitably embarrassing one."

"Sasame-sama!" protested Natsuki, only to stop when Sasame held up a hand.

Ozpin scrunched up Oscar's face, frowning in concentration for a moment, before his eyes widened. "I can't..." he said. "I have no access to Oscar's memories."

"Good," said Sasame, much to the evident confusion of everyone else in the room. "Let's make sure this goes both ways. Please switch with Oscar-kun again."

"Very well," said Ozpin warily.

A second later, Oscar was there, his eyes blinking furiously, looking a little dizzy.

"Now then, let us see if you can access any of Ozpin-dono's memories," said Sasame. "Ozpin-dono, since you can hear us, suggest a memory for Oscar-kun, but do not describe it yourself."

Oscar listened for a moment. "H-he says I should try to describe the Headmaster's office in Haven Academy." He frowned, scrunching his face in a similar manner to how Ozpin had earlier. However, after a couple of minutes trying, he sighed. "I don't have anything. I don't get it. Why would I know what Professor Lionheart's office in Haven looks like?"

"You wouldn't, but Ozpin-dono does," said Sasame, smiling at Oscar. "That means that it worked."

"What worked?" asked Oscar, the others looking at Sasame in confusion.

"My effort to stop what Ozpin-dono said couldn't be stopped," said Sasame, now proudly puffing out her chest.

"What did you do?" asked Natsuki, looking curiously at Sasame, who smiled cheekily back at her.

"A variation of what Makoto-sama did for you, for most of your life," replied Sasame.

"You mean...you put a seal on Oscar-kun?" asked Natsuki, looking to Oscar, who was having trouble keeping up.

"Yes," replied Sasame. "Though, in this case, I suppose 'partition' is the more appropriate term. The seal I placed will maintain separation between Oscar-kun's soul and Ozpin-dono's, ensuring that the merger does not take place, so long as the seal remains intact."

"Really!?" gasped Natsuki, sitting up straighter, her eyes going wide, while Oscar's jaw dropped.

Sasame preened. "Well, in a sense, it's no more complicated than what Makoto-sama did to keep your magic from bonding to you, Natsu-chan. In fact, if anything, it was even easier. Because it is a partition between souls, it means that Aura is what lies on both sides of the divide, as opposed to Aura on one side and a foreign power on the other. Because of this, the seal is far more self-sustaining than the one you had."

"So it won't need to be renewed?" asked Natsuki.

"It will," said Sasame. "But it will last for over a year before that needs to be done. Furthermore, my initial inspection indicated that the merger is a much more gradual process than how your magic merged with your Aura, Natsu-chan, which gives us more leeway, in the event that the seal fails or expires. That being said, I believe that making its renewal an annual affair is going to be the best way to handle it, if only so that we don't lose track of time."

"O-okay," said Oscar, sounding a trifle nervous.

"Of course, since it is a soul and Aura on both sides of the seal, I did structure it slightly differently, which allowed me to make alterations I couldn't otherwise," said Sasame, looking to Oscar. "Oscar-kun, as you already know, you are still able to switch control between yourself and Ozpin-dono."

"Yeah," said Oscar, nodding slowly.

"Ozpin-dono, I apologize if you find this a tad inconvenient, but I've structured the seal to give priority to Oscar-kun. That means that, should the need arise, Oscar-kun can forcefully retake control of his body. However, you are not able to do the same."

Oscar frowned. "He sounds a little...um...not okay with that."

"Be that as it may, it is Oscar-kun's body, first and foremost," said Sasame firmly, speaking in a tone that brooked no argument. "I know you feel that you should be able to assume control in an emergency, but you are going to have to accept Oscar-kun's decision regarding control. You will not be able to assume it without his approval.

"Now, regarding the other feature...Oscar-kun, I have given you the ability to...lock him out...so to speak."

"Um...What does that mean?" asked Oscar.

Sasame frowned. "Well...by default, Ozpin-dono is able to see and hear what you do, and he is able to speak freely within your mind. However, should the need arise, you will be able to block his access to your senses, and silence his voice."

Oscar's eyes widened. "He's...really not happy about that. I-I don't blame him."

"It's not something permanent," explained Sasame. "At its maximum, it can only last two hours at a time. Afterwards, it will require twenty-four hours to reset. Using it too often will strain the seal as well, which will shorten the time until it needs to be renewed. I certainly have no intention of allowing you to lock Ozpin-dono's soul away for days or weeks at a time, and subject him to complete sensory deprivation and isolation. This is only meant to be for short periods. And, as I said, its inclusion has the potential to destabilize the seal, as adding it was a bit...complicated."

"But why?" asked Oscar.

Sasame coughed politely into a hand. "Well...it may be embarrassing to hear this from a woman, Oscar-kun, but...you are a young man on the cusp of adulthood. There will be times where you may have certain...urges...which you may wish to indulge in private."

Oscar's cheeks quickly turned dark-red.

Sasame continued. "And, of course, this is extremely premature, but should your relationship with Natsu-chan progress...well...and you do wind up being intimate together...I believe that you would be much more comfortable knowing you could do so without another person observing it from within your own body or, God forbid, offering commentary."

Now Oscar and Natsuki's faces turned completely red, what Sasame was suggesting becoming completely clear to them.

"Sasame-sama!" exclaimed Natsuki, her eyes wide.

"Now now, I know it's very early to say this, and I have no intention of allowing such...developments...until you and Oscar-kun are old enough to consent to such an act, assuming you remain together that long, but this is mostly a precaution in anticipation of such a possibility. The main concern is that, should Oscar-kun have need, he will be able to gain a couple of hours of complete privacy for himself."

"O-okay," said Oscar, letting out a soft breath. "Um...Th-thanks."

"What does Ozpin-dono think about it?" asked Sasame.

"H-he understands," said Oscar, after listening for a moment. "He still feels a bit worried about it. He also wonders how long this is going to go on for."

"As long as we need to," said Sasame.

"S-so I won't be merging with him?" asked Oscar.

"Not if Makoto-sama or I have anything to say about it," said Sasame, a mischievous sparkle returning to her eye. "You will remain you for the rest of your natural life, Oscar-kun, so long as we maintain that seal. But, I don't think that will be an issue for too much longer."

"I-it won't?" Oscar canted his head.

"Yes," replied Sasame, a strangely menacing smile on her face. "Really, this is only meant to be a stopgap, until we obtain a more permanent solution."

"And what's that?" asked Natsuki.

"Dealing with this little issue at its source."