This... is odd. Even though I asked for this, it's still odd.
I ran my fingers through my currently black hair. It feels off. I asked Merlin to hide my appearance, and she did this.
I now have black hair and am about a foot shorter with softer facial features.
No matter how many times I do this, it still feels strange to run my fingers through my hair. It will work to be fair, I only need to hide from those that seek me out. Namely, whoever is affiliated with that woman who wore the Chinese dress.
_________________________________________
Happy birthday to me...
Happy birthday to me...
Happy birthday dear Ruby...
I blew out the candles. Sixteen today... huh...
When did it all fall apart? I... guess it was when yang started drinking. No...
The fall. That was when it all started.
I... just want my family back. But I guess those days are long gone. Dad... is dead. Yang is an alcoholic. Headmaster ozpin is nowhere to be found. Hans...
I... I can't even talk about him...
It's my fault. If I was just patient, I could've saved him. If only I wasn't so proactive.
Mom's gone too. She finally came back, and now she's in a coma. Our eyes...
Silver eyes.
They were what petrified hans. What petrified the dragon. How? I couldn't tell you. And I don't care enough to try and understand.
Nobody to eat this cake with.
What a shitty birthday this is.
Maybe I should work on crescent rose. Try and get my mind off of things.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
There's a knock at the door.
I got up from my seat at the couch. Deep breaths now, I'm just answering the door. I opened the door to the living room and swiftly made my way to the peephole.
Ozpin? What's he doing here? Why's there a bird on his shoulder? Ah, I should let him in.
I unlocked the door, the key still in the lock. As soon as he saw me, I swear there was confusion in his eyes.
"Is... is this a good time Miss Rose? You look rather disheveled." I can see why. I'm stood here on a rainy day in pajamas.
My hair's definitely messy, I haven't brushed it today.
"No. But there will be no good time to talk anytime soon. So, come in. It's raining outside." I left the door open as I headed for the living room.
"If you don't mind my asking, where are your parent's?" Just... just had to ask.
"Dad... is dead. Mom... Mom is in a coma." I didn't have to look to tell that he was regretting asking.
"I... apologies for my crass words. And I hope you don't mind my asking, but how?" Just... stop pushing. Damnit... I thought... I thought I wouldn't cry again.
"I do mind... he was shot. Don't know who, don't know how. I buried him myself." I'm barely holding myself together. What a mess.
"Apologies again." A mess of feathers appeared around me and I found myself with my head buried into someone's chest. This... uncle qrow? Is... where did he come from?
"I'm sorry Rubes. I'm sorry that I wasn't here to help." I... can't do this anymore.
I'm not strong.
I'm not someone who bottles up their emotions.
I just couldn't hold it anymore. The tears started to flow, the dam had broken.
Ruby sobbed. Right into Qrow's chest. He couldn't help but feel guilty for Tai's death.
'If I had raised Ruby, would this all still be the same? No... I'd be a shit father. Granted, I couldn't be as bad as raven... could I?' The inner turmoil within Qrow's mind about his daughter was quickly thrown to the side as said girl had begun to wail.
She screamed like a banshee, but Qrow only smiled as he stroked her head.
"Let it all out kid. It ain't good to bottle it all up. You must've had a terrible role model." In truth, Qrow could tell exactly who she got this from.
Hans.
As much as he didn't know about the man, the bird at least knew he could be trusted.
The wailing grew louder at the quip. It was in poor taste, but it provoked the little rose to get all her feelings out.
'Damn... is this what being a father feels like? You sure had your work cut out for you, Tai.' A small smile graced his depressed, alcohol deprived lips.
_________________________________________
Here we are. The streets of vacuo. It's a modern city, as far as I can see.
What a beautiful night sky. How long has it been since I admired something beautiful?
I wonder how Neo's doing. I... feel bad that we were separated after such a heartfelt confession. She's a nice woman, I... feel important, when she looks at me.
I haven't felt that in a while.
The four of us were walking through the dead streets of vacuo. Not a soul in sight.
Someone is watching us.
I saw a familiar ginger head of hair slip right into an alleyway. That scent...
Roman torchwick. Now that i think about it, where was he during the attack on beacon? Roman was nowhere to be found.
'I just saw someone, We're going after him. Tell the twins to keep up.' I had learned their names, I though it necessary to. Miltia and Melanie. Though Miltia's real name is Miltiades, apparently she prefers Miltia.
"Keep up you two, We're going after someone." Merlin isn't greatly fast as I recall, I grabbed the beautiful woman and lugged her onto my shoulder.
"Hey! This isn't necessary!"
'You're slow.' Merlin didn't argue, in terms of servant speed she only had a D. If the flowey bastard had to estimate Hans' speed, it would be a B or an A. The speed of lightning isn't something to be scoffed at. Granted, lightning does vary greatly in speed.
Regardless of any of that, speed was speed. Hans was fast.
Even a huntsman would be unable to keep up with him.
Hans sped down the Street, taking a swift turn into the alley there he saw the ginger hair turn a corner again. No time to waste, an infamous criminal like torchwick definitely has safehouses and the captain knew he didn't have much time.
The beast shot through the alleyway, turning the corner to see torchwick running. A sheet of ice painted itself across the ground, attaching a layer to Roman's legs, freezing the man where he stood.
"Ah shit. Well, ya got me. Can I at least see the man who's gonna hand me over to the police?"
'Merlin. Revert the disguise.' His servant did as she was asked, the captain returned to his original height, his hair bleaching itself white. Each step served to make Roman restless, the steel boots making more noise than regular ones.
Hans placed down the buxom women before walking into Roman's sightline.
"Hans... but... I saw you as a statue at beacon? Are you here to find Neo too? I'd appreciate the help." Hans dismissed the ice clinging to the criminal.
'Not being able to speak is inconvenient.' Torchwick stumbled for a moment as the ice disappeared.
"Right, we don't have time to chat. Let's go, I've got a few safehouses in vacuo." Roman shot the handle of his cane to the top of a nearby two story building, he was pulled along by it, his sleeve flying in the wind.
'So he lost his arm too.' The malachite twins had just caught up, they were enveloped in shadow. No reason to force them to run if they can't keep up. Its needlessly cruel.
The master glanced to the servant. Merlin sighed as she was scooped up off her feet.
'I feel like luggage. The great Merlin Ambrosius, being carried around like luggage. I'd say it's humiliating if it wasn't so effective in terms of travel.' She couldn't deny how fast a method of travel it was, there also wasn't exactly a way she was keeping up with him with her D-rank Agility.
Hans stared up at Roman.
"Are you coming up here or not?" The soldier felt as if he could try something he hasnt before.
If a semblance is an aspect of someone's personality, then it stands to reason just because someone is cold, doesn't mean they'd be able to freeze things.
Semblance's defy logic and explanation.
Logic dictates that Hans could only freeze things in contact with his body.
Ice appeared to form in the air, creating walls that ascended. Two walls floating in midair.
Logic dictates that the ice should fall.
Logic, was wrong.
Hans leapt to the first wall, quickly planting his left foot against it, kicking off it towards the second wall. The previous wall shattered from the force. Repeating the same motion, he kicked off the second wall, landing next to Roman.
"Quite flashy aren't we? I feel like you'd make a wonderful apprentice with abilities like those. No time for that sadly. Whose the women by the way?"
"Merlin ambrosius. I'm an amateur magician!"
"What like pulling a rabbit out of a hat?" Merlin nodded at the man, seemingly proud of such a thing.
"That's... useful in gambling. Sleight of hand and all."
_________________________________________
"I see. I once again apologise for my blunt approach. However, I am once again going to be blunt. Qrow, there are some things that Miss Rose deserves to know." The drunk uncle looked to him at shock over what could happen.
"The maidens? No you can't-" the headmaster cut him off.
"No Qrow. Tell me, in all of summer's time, she only let two men near her. Only trusted two men with her life. Now Taiyang goes and says he isn't her father. That leaves only one, Qrow." His last line was both accusatory and a statement.
Ruby looked to her uncle, no, her Father in shock.
"I... I need a drink." Both adults turned to the 16 year old.
"Qrow... please don't tell me you've been giving her alcohol."
"I know how this looks, but it wasn't me oz."
"No, dad... had a cupboard he hid wine in. I found it years ago, but I never tried it." Ruby bolted straight to the kitchen in a burst of petals, neither adult able to stop her.
As they stumbled over each other into the kitchen. Ruby was downing the bottle.
"37.5%... Ruby that isn't a good idea! That's red wine!" Ruby stopped with half the bottle left, letting out a light burp.
"I... don't care. This is all too much! Dad... tai, is dead. Yang hasn't been sober in weeks, and now you tell me that uncle Qrow is my father?! Its too much... I... I just wanted to help people..." Qrow was frozen.
Yang... Tai... and Ruby's been left all alone. Ozpin walked forward and took the young girls head into his chest as she began sobbing again.
"I understand Ruby. You're young, you want to help people. But day after day, things have gotten worse. Leaving you all alone. Isolated even. You gave your all to help people, but now there's no one to help you. Long ago, I was isolated just like you. Four young girls Brought me back to life. I miss them, I miss them oh so dearly. But, I know I will never see them again. Yet I fight for their sake, so that they will always be remembered. So that the story of the seasons will be passed on for generations. You must not give up Miss Rose. Push on, get your sister. I will have Miss Valkyrie and Mr Lie look after you tonight."
Ruby had fallen asleep at the old wizards endearing words, just like his daughters.
He would tell stories of his exploits to his four children.
The story of the seasons.
That, was one of Ozpins stories that he wished his children could've lived to hear it.
_________________________________________
It's funny. I recently learnt something about the noble phantasm of achilles
He will always be the fastest hero, say if he was to be transmigrated to DC, he would be faster than the flash.
You cannot be faster than achilles if you are a hero.