Chapter 124: School Life (1)

Chapter 124: School Life (1)

~Third POV~

Two Bullheads fly by as they slowly lower to show ant-like swarms of people on the paths around Beacon. Ozpin and Glynda can be seen through the window into Ozpin's office with Glynda voices out her concern, "Ironwood certainly loves bringing his work wherever he travels."

Ozpin hears a chirping beep sound repeatedly. Ozpin turns to see a hollow message 'Access Requested' on his desk while talking to Glynda, "Well, running an academy and a military makes him a busy man. But yes, those are a bit of an eyesore. Come in."

Soon the doors open up as they slide open to reveal Ironwood as Ozpin approaches to greet him cordially, "Ozpin!"

Ozpin stands at attention greeting Ironwood with a genuine tone, "Hello, General. Hopefully, after a few days of recovering and returning to normal have done well for your health."

Ironwood approach and shake hands with Ozpin as Glynda also approach him speaking in a respectful tone, "Please, drop the formalities. It's been too long. And Glynda! It has certainly been too long since we last met. As for the whole mind control event… it was very shameful for me to allow your students to do our duties as protectors of this world… but at the same time glad. It's good to know we can rely on the younger generation when we aren't able to pick up the slack."

Glynda gives a personable wave and then drops all pleasantries as she left leaving the two to talk, "Oh, James! I'll be outside."

She walks away leaving the two to talk with Ironwood talking to Ozpin, "Well, she hasn't changed a bit in her Huntress years."

As Ozpin speaks, Glynda soon exits the room Ozpin turns to his desk and picks up a mug and a kettle, pouring as he speaks, "So, what in the world has brought you all the way down from Atlas? Headmasters don't typically travel with their students, for the Vytal Festival. Although it could be due to the fact of a new historical event happening."

Ozpin turns and offers the cup to Ironwood but he produces a canteen from his inside coat pocket and pours its contents into his mug with Ironwood speaking, "Well, you know how much I love Vale this time of year. Especially after what happened hopefully the Vytal Festival will help wash away the incident with the promise of a better tomorrow. Besides, with you hosting, I thought that this might be a good opportunity for us to catch up after me being... out of control."

Ozpin walks around to his desk, kettle and a new mug in hand as he sits and pours himself some coffee, "I can certainly appreciate the quality time between friends, however, a small fleet outside my window has me concerned. Don't need a repeat with your soldiers attacking my students saving the world General."

Ironwood flinches at this but soon replies with the just of reasons and his concerns, "Well, the concern is what brought them here. Despite my failure of what happened letting my soldiers attack your students is still the greatest shame I have to bear letting the enemy almost take control of us. Hence I asked for my top Military to get mental mind control training just to ensure something like what happened won't ever do so again."

Ozpin raises his eyebrow at that but soon replies with the concern of his army, "I understand that travel between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult."

Ironwood replies to Ozpin knowing the exact reason why he brought them, "Oz, you and I both know why I brought those men."

Ozpin takes a drink and sets down his mug and Ironwood sets his mug down listening to Ozpin's words, "We are in a time of peace. Shows of power like this are just going to give off the wrong impression. Especially after the video was suddenly shown to the citizens causing much unrest the Vytal Festival will be the time we need to return things to normal again."

Ironwood could only nod in agreement taking another swig of his mug before speaking about the said video, "Of course Oz. But still, though it's quite unnerving but happy to see my forces get demolished after seeing the weapons used against us. I'm… conflicted. One I'm angry that my soldiers lost to a bunch of first years but at the same time glad they did in order to save our world."

Ozpin could nod at that before speaking of the efforts of their saviors defeating a monster that was close to conquering Remnant, "That we can agree on. Those First Years of Team RWBY, and Team JNPR along with their friends did their very best. Although having an actual force according to them was from the leader of Team JNPR leader Jack Nights provided the means to deal the final blow and support for them to win. In that regard, I can say we owe a lot to them for doing our duty."

Nodding in agreement Ironwood glances at the Iron Legion and Kiryu (Mechas Godzilla) with some interest shown, "Yeah that we can agree on. Although I'm curious about his machines they could be – "

"James…"

Stopping himself Ironwood coughs into his hand letting go of the matter before taking another swig of his mug and replying to Ozpin, "Ok stopping now. But still, though your students are what can I say are… amazing. Shame that they aren't in Atlas Academy. But I'm glad that we have them to clean up our messes since it'll always be on the younger generation to clean up the mess from the one before…"

Ozpin nods his head as he began to talk to Ironwood about letting them join their inner circle catching Ironwood by surprise, "Yes. They have impressed me very much that I'm inclined to simply give them their reward and graduate early at the Council's behest. And also grant them to join our group."

Ironwood was the first to look surprised by this while taking another swig of his mug, "Ah. I see considering their work and efforts I wouldn't exactly be opposed to them joining… but them becoming Huntsman and Huntresses though? That I have my doubts."

Ozpin nods in agreement earning a confused look at Ironwood while Ozpin explains agreeing with him, "On that, we can both agree on. The council is pushing it but to me though while they saved Remnant, they aren't ready to become real Huntsman and Huntresses. They have their courage but lack the experience or knowledge of one. They have only a few months of training. While the Council may want them to graduate, I still get the final say when they are ready… they aren't."

Ironwood nods in agreement with them being not ready yet while he speaks out his own mind, "I agree Oz. While I can accept, they can be part of our inner circle because of their feats they aren't ready to be Huntsman and Huntresses… at least not yet. Their too green and inexperienced."

Ozpin agrees to this as he began to explain to Ironwood when he will reveal the truth to them in a mysterious tone, "I plan to add them to our ranks during the Vytal Festival. I was hoping to add the top students to join our cause but then we have such excellent talent like them around. But with the current state of affairs and the Fall Maiden… I think one of them would fit the bill needed to become the next Fall Maiden."

Ironwood nods his head not dissuading the situation but also realizing the Fall Maiden doesn't have long to live.

Ozpin shakes his head at his friend's opinion as he began to voice out his own concern for the Vytal Festival, "It's the Vytal Festival. A time to celebrate unity and peace. So, I suggest that you not scare people by transporting hundreds of soldiers halfway across the continent. And I'm assuming you want to ask some personal questions to him, James?"

Ironwood took another swig from his mug while replying to Ozpin while glancing at the fight against Starro, "Of course. Someone like him should be helping the people of Remnant with his mind. I was hoping to ask him if there was any way he could consider handing over his tech to Atlas so that we can help reverse-engineer it to spread it across Remnant. Don't you think you agree Oz?"

At this Ozpin thinks for a bit before shaking his head against Ironwood's idea but not entirely at least, "While I'm not against him handing his mind to the betterment of Remnant I think it should be on his terms. The Council is especially wanting to know more but they will soon voice them out in the worldwide interview of our dance. I'm assuming you aren't the only one to ask James. Lionheart and Theodore would like to ask some questions as well."

Ironwood nods in agreement as he soon began to talk to Ozpin with some concern in his voice while he opens his Scroll, "I'm just being cautious. But ask yourself this: Do you honestly believe your children can win a war?"

Ozpin could gaze at the Academy glancing below his students beginning to reply to Ironwood, "As am I. Which is why we will continue to train the best Huntsmen and Huntresses we can. I hope they never have to."

/////

"Argh…"

Inside her own Dorm room with Team RWBY Blake began to dream of a nightmare going through her head.

The scenes in her dream began to change more vividly with the fires of the Beacon Academy of the White Fang flag hanging on the bloody school as Blake mumbles more, "No… this… can't… be happening…"

More images soon flash into her head of her past of the White Fang present in her head with a leader of sorts charging in butchering the humans like a madman.

The figurehead leader leading the destruction in her head wore an asymmetrical black, long-sleeved, double-breasted stylized high-collared blazer with slit sleeves along with red thorn sigils adorned with a white crest that lined up on his left shoulder. His suit jacket had crimson lining atop his red shirt, with red thorn sigils atop a black flap attached to the bottom of the left hem and his wilting rose emblem on the back over an emblazoned white sigil resembling the curved stems and flower of the deadly nightshade plant.

His blazer was half-buttoned, exposing a red shirt with a black line running parallel to his collar under it. His mask was whitish-tan with red, Japanese style, horn-like symbols decorating the front and two slits on each side presumably to allow for vision. This is a redesigned version of the Grimm masks typically worn by most members of the White Fang.

He wore long black dress pants, black shoes with red soles, and black gloves with red sigils resembling the Greek letter Ω (Omega), the last letter in the Greek alphabet. He wore a black belt with white domino marks on it. His color palette generally consists of black and red, similar to the color scheme used by Ruby Rose.

"Adam…"

Blake only mentions her former crush's name as he began to behead her friend's face with a sadistic grin on his face calling to her, "There you are my love. I'll make sure to finish off what your human friends off."

"No!"

Waking up directly and seeing the scene Blake controls herself as she glances around to see if her friends are safe Blake sweats with newfound worry on her face, "It was just a dream? Just… just a very horrible nightmare… Adam…"

She glances at the moon and then to her hands as Blake began to worry herself trying to be self-deluded determination, "We have to do more to stop these people… we saved the world but can't do anything to stop the crooks in the streets… we are ready for this… I'm ready for this…"

Blake glances at the Remnant Moon with new worry entering her heart…