[#] In my head, Maria Calavera's appearance is that of a Latina. Is that canon or am I wrong?
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COMMENTS:
[?]WatcherofWorldz: Hey jaune give ya bro ren some super solder juice, let's see how nora reacts to that! Then again she is like the energizer bunny she just keeps going and going.
[=]Avip: Ren lies exhausted on the floor, sweating, with a broken pelvis once again.
- Ren shocked and confused:
"How? Jaune gave me the super soldier formula!"
- Nora with a wicked grin on her lips :
"You are strong, child, but I am beyond strength!"
[#*#*# Chapter Start #*#*#]
[Point of view: Ruby Rose]
Unfortunately, our trip to the mall was cut short, we rushed back to Beacon.
We ran into Weiss's older sister shopping with a friend, which, for some reason, put both my partner and my sister in a little of a bad mood.
"THIS IS BULLSHIT!" Yang shouts, punching a pillow.
"Truly outrageous!" Weiss yells, pacing around the room.
Maybe they are in more than just a 'bad mood.'
"Can't you just tell me what happened?" I plead, genuinely worried about them. "Why are you both so mad?"
Both stop and turn to me, answering in unison.
"Nothing," say Weiss and Yang.
"There's definitely something going on," I growl, frustration bubbling over.
Yang and Weiss exchange a look, their expressions mirroring each other's discomfort, but they keep their silence.
Blake, however, leans back, a smirk playing on her lips, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
She's enjoying this, like, like the cat who got the canary.
"Blake, you know something," I accuse, pointing a finger at her. Her grin only widens, maddeningly smug.
"It's nothing, Ruby." Yang sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Just drop it."
"Yeah, just mind your own business," says Weiss huffing, her arms crossed.
I turn to Blake, pleading. "Blake, come on. Give me a hint, at least?"
"Let's just say, they have more competition than each other." Blakes says chuckling.
"Competition?" I repeat, confused. "Competition for what?"
Blake's lips part, just a breath away from spilling whatever secret has got Yang and Weiss twisted up like pretzels.
Then, Yang's hand slams onto the table, her knuckles cracking.
"Say one word, kitten, and I swear I'll turn your entire book collection into kindling."
Blake doesn't even flinch. She just arches a brow, all cool and collected.
"You're bluffing. You'd never burn books."
Weiss cuts in, smooth as silk, flipping her hair over one shoulder.
"How about I send a very detailed inventory of your reading material to the Beacon faculty." The heiress takes a step closer with a wicked smile on her lips. "And, oh... maybe even your parents."
Blake's golden eyes flick to Weiss, then widen.
"Including the dark romance titles." Weiss leans in, sweet as poisoned honey. "The ones with the very creative and detailed descriptions of-."
"Okay!" Blake slaps her hands over her ears, face flushing. "I won't say anything!"
"Wait, what?" I bounce between them, hands flailing. "What's in the books? Why does Blake's parents knowing scares her? What's the secret?"
Blake exhales through her nose, then turns to me with exaggerated sympathy.
"Ruby, I wish I could tell you," she sighs. "But some things aren't worth the blackmail."
"Dramatic," Yang snorts.
"And accurate," Weiss smirks.
"Fine." Blake glares, then slumps back on her bed, defeated. "But when you two are suffering against your new rivals, don't come crying to me asking for help."
I throw my hands up, my voice pitching higher than I mean it to.
"Okay, what rivals?" I ask. "Who are we even talking about? I'm the leader of Team RWBY! I should be the first to know if there's some kind of threat or-."
Yang groans, rubbing her temples like I'm giving her a headache. "It's not that kind of rival, Rubes."
"What kind then?" I ask, frustrated.
"L-o-v-." Blake tries to spell.
"SHUT UP, BLAKE!" Yang and Weiss yell.
[Point of view: Ozpin]
I told them everything. John's secret identity, Salem's origin, her powers, and my entire history with her.
It comes as no surprise that everyone in the room is stunned by the news. Qrow takes it better than the rest, he already knew John's identity, though he didn't knew about Salem's immortality.
The holographic projection flickers, casting shifting blue light across the faces of my most trusted allies. I take a slow sip of coffee, the bitter warmth grounding me as I watch the reactions unfold.
Theodore leans back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes are sharp, calculating.
{So... Salem is not just the most powerful magic user with control of all Grimm, she is also immortal?} Theodore states dryly.
Qrow, on the other hand, lets out a bark of laughter, rubbing a hand over his face.
"And don't forget my favorite part," Qrow adds, chuckling. "This shadow war that mankind and faunuskind have been fighting in his behalf is actually just the most fucked up lovers' quarrel ever." He takes a long swig from his flask, the one he always carries, then shakes his head. "No wonder you've been so damn cryptic and dramatic."
Ironwood doesn't move. He just takes a deep breath before speaking.
{This changes nothing,} he says, his voice resolute as steel. {If she cannot be killed, then we contain her. We starve her of resources. We-.}
"Thank you, James, but..." I cut in before the general can spiral. "This isn't a strategic briefing. Not yet, at least."
The general crosses his arms in discontent just as a flicker in the hologram catches my attention.
I turn my head, and that's when I see it, the way Glynda's hands tremble where they grip the edge of her desk. Her knuckles are white, her breath coming too fast.
'This isn't the composed, unshakable woman I've known,' I think, astonished. 'Did my lies break one of my most trusted ally?'
"Glynda-" The word barely leaves my lips before she cuts me off, her voice raw and jagged.
{John Luna is Jaune Arc?!} she shouts, sounding more like a statement than a question.
"Yes, myself, John Luna is the future version of Jaune Arc that came to our time." I elaborate to her.
{I'm sorry, Headmistress Goodwitch,} Theodore starts, blinking bewilderingly. {We just learnt that humanity's greatest enemy is an immortal ex-lover of Ozpin, and you're… how can I say…}
{And of all the things to fixate on,} General Ironwood adds, {you choose the fact that John Luna is some time-displaced, future old student of yours?}
{You don't get it,} Glynda says, holding back tears. {I was so hopeful for John…}
Glynda's outburst prompts Qrow into laughter, while James shakes his head disapprovingly and Theodore gives an exasperated sigh.
"Oh, this is rich," Qrow wheezes, wiping at his eyes. "The teacher has the hots for her student." He slaps his knee, laughing it off. "Sounds like porn movie."
I can see the conflict in her eyes, the betrayal, the disappointment. But beneath it all, there is something deeper. Something that looks like grief.
John steps forward. His voice is a whisper, but it carries the weight of decades she doesn't know he's lived.
"Glynda."
She doesn't look at him. Her jaw tightens, her gaze fixed on the flickering hologram of the table between us.
"I want to apologize." He says, his tone sincere. "I never wanted to deceive you."
Qrow snorts, but a sharp glance from me silences him.
John exhales, slow and measured, before continuing.
"You were one of the people who made me into a Huntsman worth respecting. You pushed me when I was lazy, corrected me when I was wrong, even when I didn't believe in myself." His voice roughens, just slightly. "I owed you the truth, and I failed you."
Glynda's shoulders tremble. For a moment, I think she might break. But she lifts her chin. Her eyes are bright, but her voice is steady when she finally speaks. {Yes, you did failed me.}
The words hang there, heavy.
John doesn't flinch.
She swallows hard, her fingers finally uncurling from the desk.
{All this time I thought you were someone different.} A bitter laugh escapes her. {And you were playing me.}
"My original identity was a secret, but who I am isn't an act, I promise," John says.
Glynda finally meets his gaze. A tear runs down her cheek, but her eyes already show relief. {You should have told me from the beginning.}
The tension in the room eases like a drawn bowstring slowly loosening. I take a sip of my coffee as Qrow stretches his arms behind his head, grinning like a man who's just been handed the keys to a vault.
"So," he drawls, "what do we call you now? Professor? Jaune? Old Man Arc? The Rusted Professor?"
John exhales through his nose, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. He rubs the back of his neck, the way he always did when he was younger, when the weight of expectations pressed down on him.
Some habits never fade, no matter how many years pass.
"John Luna is fine," he says, voice steady. "I've already made peace with my destiny, so I will continue living in this world as Professor John Luna."
"Fair." Qrow snorts pointing his thumb at Glynda. "So, you gonna hit that, or what?"
The coffee cup pauses halfway to my lips.
Qrow's words hang in the air like a dust explosion.
Glynda's face flushes crimson. John's jaw drops, his expression caught between horror and the desperate need to vanish into thin air.
I set my cup down with deliberate slowness.
"Qrow," I say, admonishing the man-child. "That was crass, unwarranted, and most of all, entirely none of your concern."
He blinks, pointing at himself with feigned innocence.
"John is a virgin and Glynda desperately needs a roll in the hay. I'm just saying they could help each other-"
{Enough!} Glynda cuts in, her word landing like a blade.
"Alright, alright, sorry!" Qrow says, throwing his hands up, his flask sloshing. "But come on… you know I'm right."
The room erupts, everyone on the call shouts in unison..
"SHUT UP QROW!"
[Point of view: Professor Luna]
The hallway lights flicker overhead, casting long shadows that stretch and warp with each step. My boots scuff against the polished floor, the sound swallowed by the weight of the day.
I feel so tired… not from teaching or fighting Grimm, but from the strain of truths finally laid bare.
Glynda's face lingers in my mind. The way her hands trembled when she spoke. The way her voice cracked, not with anger, but with the raw feeling of betrayal and disappointment.
I rub my temples. "I really should've told her sooner," I mutter, frustrated.
I stand at my door, but before I can reach the handle, someone calls for me.
"Professor Luna!" a familiar feminine voice cries out.
I turn to face Ruby standing a few steps away. Her red hood shadows her face, but the tension in her shoulders gives her away.
"Good night, Ruby." I step toward her. "What's wrong?"
She hesitates, fingers twisting the hem of her cape.
"I-I'm having some t-trouble with my team," she stammers, avoiding my gaze. "Most teachers don't actually live at Beacon, so... I didn't know who else to ask for help."
The weight of her words hits me differently, dragging up memories. She has the same lost look I once had, it's like staring into a mirror from years ago, at another life. Right now, she reminds me of myself during my first weeks at Beacon.
A soft smile creeps onto my face. It isn't because I take any pleasure in seeing her so vulnerable, but because I finally have the opportunity to return the favor to the very person who helped me back then.
But first, I need to remind her of boundaries.
"It's past curfew." My voice comes out firmer than I intended. "Having you in my quarters this late... it isn't appropriate."
Her shoulders slump like I've cut the string holding her up. The red hood bobs as she nods, rapid, too eager.
"R-right, of course. I'm sorry, I didn't think-." Her fingers tighten around the fabric of her cape. "I'll just go."
"But," I say, lifting a hand to cut the silence before she takes another step. "Even though it's improper, I will help, if you still want it."
Her head snaps up. Her silver eyes shine bright as she locks onto me.
"Please," Ruby says, relieved. "But... won't we get in trouble?"
"I'll take responsibility if anyone asks." I fold my arms. "But this isn't a precedent, Ruby. You don't make a habit of knocking on my door at this hour."
"I won't," she promises, nodding.
I open the door with a quiet click and step aside, gesturing her in. Ruby hesitates, just for a second, before slipping past me. Her boots leave faint scuff marks on the wood floor.
I move straight for the counter, filling the kettle with water. The rhythmic clink of the stove igniting fills the silence.
"Sit." I nod toward the couch, my back still turned as I prepare a hot beverage for us.
She perches on the edge, fingers drumming against her knees. The kettle hums, steam curling from its spout. I pour, the dark liquid swirling into two mismatched mugs, one chipped at the rim, the other bearing a faded Beacon crest.
The mug thuds softly against the table between us, steam rising in lazy curls. Ruby's eyes widen before I even finish sliding it toward her.
"Oh! Sorry, I don't actually like coffee," she winces, looking like she's just admitted to kicking a puppy.
I bark out a laugh. The sound startles her, which is good; she's too tense.
"No problem." I lean back, sitting opposite her and grabbing the second mug from the counter. "Because I didn't make coffee."
Her eyebrows shoot up as I nudge the mug closer. The scent of chocolate and cinnamon fills the space between us, rich and inviting.
"Hot cocoa?" Her voice lifts, skeptical but hopeful.
"With extra marshmallows." I tap the rim. "Drink it up. You look like you need it."
Her face brightens as she takes a sip, then another, slower this time, savoring it. A quiet mmm escapes her, the sound so genuinely pleased it pulls a chuckle from me.
"Good?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
"Really good." She nods fast, a cocoa mustache forming above her lip. "There is more than cinnamon and marshmallow in this. What's the recipe?"
"Trade secret." I tap my temple. "But I'm glad it meets your standards."
Ruby grins, hugging the mug like it's a lifeline. Her happy face almost makes me want to talk about lighter things, but she came to me helpless. She needs help.
"So…" I start, getting her attention. "What happened?"
As soon as she remembers why she came, her mood sours. Ruby's fingers tighten around her mug, the cocoa sloshing dangerously close to the rim.
"Weiss and Yang are so angry," she starts.
"They are fighting?" I ask, curious. "They do have conflicting personalities, but I didn't know it was that bad."
Ruby shakes her head, disapproving of my comment.
"That's the weird part. They're not fighting each other." She looks up, silver eyes flicking to meet mine. "They're both mad, together, at other people."
"That's new," I say, blinking in surprise. "And who are they mad at?"
I lean forward. Ruby hesitates, but finally spills the names.
"I don't totally get it, but… I think it's Weiss's older sister, Winter, and her friend Amber."
The names make my eyes wide with surprise.
"Wait, Winter and Amber?" I repeat, my voice tighter than I mean it to be. "What'd they do to set them off?"
Ruby blinks, tilting her head.
"I don't know. They were just… buying clothes at the mall, I guess? And then Weiss and Yang got all huffy and said they were going back to Beacon early…" She shrugs, cocoa sloshing again.
My brain pieces it together before she even finishes talking.
'This doesn't make any sense,' I think in silence. 'Weiss adores Winter, and Amber doesn't even know the members of team RWBY.'
While I'm lost in my mind, Ruby keeps talking. I listen without paying much attention until she adds Blake's name.
"-and Blake tried to explain, but she only said that Weiss and Yang met their rivals."
"Rivals…" I mutter.
"Yeah," Ruby confirms. "But if they aren't opponents for a fight, what kind of rivals could they be?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose, stifling a groan as I finally realize why they are mad.
"Dear Gods," I groan. "Why me?"
Ruby stares at me in confusion, not realizing "I'm" the reason Weiss and Yang are in such a bad mood.
"Why is my life so complicated?" I ask myself in a groan.
[#*#*# Chapter End #*#*#]
E ai gurizada?
[#] O yeah, side quest with Roman and Neo.
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Chapter 60 - Redemption Arc
Chapter 61 - A new class
Chapter 62 - Lightish Red
Chapter 63 - Date-stuff
Chapter 64 - Ego is glass jaw
[#] You can join my discord server: discord.gg/52MmzuEQhR
[#] Next chapters already on my 'P(@)TRE-ON':
[#] You can reach me on X/twitter, @AvipBr