After what was a heart-warming reunion scene between Yang and Ruby, both Ren and I went back to finish off our cooking while Yang and Weiss joined Ruby, Jaune and Nora at the table while they waited for us to finish cooking everything. Qrow went to clean up after Ruby's mess before disappearing somewhere after that, and I think he went back to our room to rest or continue drinking.
Either one.
While all that was going on, I could hear our newest members talking to each other, mainly about who I was. Which was justifiable since I'm basically a new face they're seeing right now. As both Ren and I were cooking, I heard him whisper to me a question.
"Zack, is there a particular reason for hiding your tail from them? Alongside having your hood up?" Understandable for Ren to ask me that question. But I have my reasons for actions which are legitimate and not a way for me to judge Weiss.
"I am aware of the Schnees and their… distaste of Faunuses due to the actions of the White Fang against their family. While Ozpin's memories have shown me that Weiss doesn't discriminate against Faunus any more during her time in Beacon, I'm just taking some precautions against her. I hope that's not a problem, Ren." I whispered back as my eyes were on the pan.
"I don't see a problem with that." Ren just nodded as both of us resumed what we were doing.
"Arakan, I can assure you that Miss Schnee here is unlike her father. She has grown to be a better person during her time at Beacon. And found people to call friends. Is the caution really necessary?" Ozpin asks while I shrug my shoulders.
"Perhaps… Perhaps it isn't. I will be the judge of that. Then, once I feel that it is no longer necessary, I'll reveal my Faunus heritage."
"Even though everyone else knows that you're a Faunus? Your logic doesn't make any sense…" Ozpin pointed out as a small frown appeared on my face. He does have a point, though.
"Just… leave it to me, Oz. I'll take care of it."
…
"Very well then," Ozpin conceded. "And do watch the pan. It's starting to burn." Wait, what does he- Oh shit! Was I daydreaming in the middle of cooking?
What followed was me having a mild panic at the thought of brunt food as I pulled the pan away from the fire while grabbing a chopstick at the same time. Thankfully, the gyoza on the pan was not burned, but it was now slightly overcooked.
Drat.
"Is everything alright?" Ren asked as he walked by me, while I used a chopstick to move the now slightly overcooked gyoza onto a clean plate.
"Yea. Got distracted talking to Oz that the gyoza is now slightly overcooked."
"At least it isn't burned." Ren hummed.
"Yup. Let us hurry and get to the table. I'm famished." All I got was a nod from Ren as we quickly brought what was left to the table and joined everyone else, who was already eating without us. A small frown appeared on my face for a second before I wiped it off my face.
I'll let it go for now. Back on Earth and even on Remnant, I would always eat together with my family, and we were expected to wait until everyone was at the table before we ate. Seeing everyone else eating without Ren and me kinda made me annoyed at them.
No matter. It's a small issue that isn't worth making a fuss about.
"Apologies that we took a while. I nearly burned the gyoza. My mistake." I said as I placed the plate full of gyoza on the table.
Without any time for reaction, Nora immediately snagged at least two of them with her chopsticks before she shoved them into her mouth and swallowed them whole. Everyone could only watch as Nora immediately regretted her decision as she started choking on the gyozas, which were still scalding hot from the pan.
I am not sure why Nora did that, knowing it is still scalding hot, but Ren quickly offered his not-girlfriend a cold drink as she quickly snatched it from his hand and downed the cup's contents. While I did not mention it earlier, I did make a refreshing drink from back home in the form of an iced honey lemon drink a while back, and everyone approved of it rather quickly due to how tasty it was, including Ozpin, who never had that kind of iced drink before.
"Are you alright?" I heard Ren ask Nora as I sat down next to Ruby with my hood still on.
"I'm good! It's just so tasty when Zacky makes it! I mean, I don't understand how he does it, but he somehow makes everything taste better!" Nora returned to her energetic self as Ren sat down next to her, while both Weiss and Yang turned their heads towards me with confusion.
"Zacky?"
I just let out a small chuckle while rolling my eyes at Nora's shenanigans. I proceeded to reach for my hood with my hands and brought it down, which also let my hair go free. "Nora's referring to me." I pointed my thumb at myself as I continued.
"I was wondering when to introduce myself, but it seems that now's a good time." I gave a small bow while sitting. "My name is Zack Arakan. It's a pleasure to meet you both in person, Weiss and Yang. Your friends had told me much about you."
Both Yang and Weiss looked at each other before the former Schnee heiress spoke up with suspicion in her voice. "Who exactly are you?" That alone caught me off guard as I just stared at her with wide eyes while everyone else had an uneasy look except Yang. Who looked confused as to why everyone had a look of unease.
Well… I wasn't expecting that from Weiss. Did we miss the script or something? Was it because I was here that they didn't have their reunion talk? Oh god, what do I do here?
"In… what way?" I slowly asked. "I'd introduced myself to you, did I?" Weiss seemed to shrug my answer off as she reiterated what she meant.
"Then allow me to ask again. Who are you, and where did you come from? How can we trust you?" Weiss's demanding me at this point! But this didn't happen in this show unless it happened off-screen. We're going off-script, people! Can we go back? No? I guess I have to tell them who I am in a way… I have to say something.
Everyone at the dining table looked at me and then at Weiss, who still had a look of distrust on her face. I then began to lean in slightly. "What are your thoughts on Faunuses?" I asked with a serious expression on my face, as Weiss looked confused as to my question.
"How do my thoughts on Faunuses got to do with who you are?"
"Everything. Now please, answer my question, and I will to yours." That was all I said as Weiss looked genuinely confused as more time passed before she spoke.
"While I'll never forgive for the suffering the White Fang had caused to my family, I know now that most Faunuses are not like the White Fang and that they do not deserve the bigotry that was placed upon them." Weiss answered truthfully as a small smile appeared on my face. The very next second, I revealed my fox tail which was hiding underneath my jacket, to both Yang and Weiss.
And as expected, both women gasped in surprise as Yang spoke up. "You're a Faunus?" I could just nod in confirmation.
"Fox Faunus, more accurately. I have a Faunus mother with a human dad. And now that I have received your answer, I'll do my best to answer your question, as I'm not entirely comfortable sharing my past, Weiss. But I will uphold my end of the bargain despite it still hurts thinking about it." I took a shaky breath as those damn traumatising memories flooded my head.
"I'm from Nozomu. My father was a Huntsman while my mother was a housewife." I slowly explained as everyone slowly ate their meals while I continued explaining my 'origin'.
"I have a normal life and originally wanted to become a Huntsman, like dad before he suddenly retired, but…" I took a breath. "Nozomu was attacked by bandits." Yang noticeably flinched when I mentioned bandits. No doubt, she felt that her mum was responsible for my loss.
"Both my parents stayed back to protect me as I fled to safety in Hinan, another neighbouring town. It was there that I learned that…" I could feel myself beginning to lose control as my tail sank.
I felt Ruby's hand as I look up to see her assuring eyes on me. "You don't have to force yourself, Zack."
"No. I must do it. You… All of you deserve to know it if we are to trust each other." I muttered. I have to do it.
Shrugging Ruby aside, I continued. "I soon learned that both my parents. They didn't make it. There wasn't even a body left to find or bury. And I had been staying in an orphanage in Hinan for years before I left for Mistral. I… I still feel so empty inside without them." I could feel tears pouring down my eyes as I began wiping them away. I still missed them.
The next thing that happened was that both Ren and Nora got up from their seats before walking toward me and wrapped their arms around me in a hug. It feels nice to have others concerned about my well-being.
"You're not alone, Zack." I heard Ren speak up as Nora tightened her hug around me.
"Yea. You will never, never be alone again with us, Zacky." More tears began to pour from my eyes, but they were not tears of sadness. They were tears of joy that I have people who care about me here, even if we will no doubt encounter more pain and suffering in the future.
But I still feel alone inside despite their comforting presence. None of them could understand how it feels to be in my situation. I only hope that it changes in the future. Or is the Earth part of me still homesick? I honestly don't know any more. And Ozpin has been quiet. Too quiet for my liking.
"Thank you…" I whispered as Weiss looked guilty from what she had heard so far from me.
"I'm so sorry for what you went through and for not trusting you immediately. But you must understand. The last people we were so trusting with played a big part in the fall of Beacon. I just don't want to make the same mistake again." Weiss explained her reason.
Ren and Nora slowly broke their hug from me as I nodded. I get where she's coming from. I, too, would be extremely cautious of allies if the person I trust was responsible for such a catastrophe. The same could be said with Oz now that I thought about it. He went through who knows how many betrayals throughout his reincarnations. And a part of me believes that he felt that way when everyone else learned the truth from Jinn.
I could only pray internally that it wouldn't come to pass.
I just offer a comforting nod. "I understand, Weiss. It must be difficult to trust people again after that, huh?" I said, as Weiss agreed.
"It was."
I then pulled Oathkeeper from its sheath and held it with both hands as I continued explaining. "All I have left of them were this outfit I am wearing right now as a final gift and Oathkeeper. My Father's sword. It is why I wanted Ruby to be cautious when handling it. They are the last few items I have that reminded me of them. And I don't want to lose them." I explained as I closed my eyes before sheathing Oathkeeper.
"That explains so much." I head Jaune muttering in realisation.
"It truly does…" Ren was next.
"Is that why you have Oathkeeper with you all the time, even indoors?" Ruby asked as I nodded my head to confirm her.
"Yea..."
"Mr Arakan. After dinner, may I take over and speak to Miss Xiao Long and Miss Schnee?" I heard Ozpin in my head as the mood was down from the conversation. But we nevertheless began eating silently.
"Sure thing Oz. You know Yang will most likely react negatively to what you will say, right?"
"I understand. But both of them need to know what's going on. And one more thing, Zack."
"Go ahead Oz." I gave Ozpin permission to continue. But what he said next was unexpected.
"Once we go to bed tonight. We need to talk. This is non-negotiable." Those were Ozpin's last words before his voice dissipated from my head. And it made me nervous, for he had never spoken like that to me before. Did he figure something out?
"Are you okay, Zack?" I heard Ruby call me. It turns out that I was staring at my ramen bowl with chopsticks in my hand. Flinching slightly, I took a quick glance around to see everyone having a concerned look at me.
"I'm fine, Ruby. Once we all have our dinner, we need to talk." I spoke with seriousness in my tone, as everyone except Yang and Weiss knew what I meant.
"Sure, thing! And enough with the gloomy stuff! Instead, let us talk about something else!" Yang suggests lightening the mood as everyone agrees, including me, who wants to move on from it.
We began talking about our RNJR's adventure to reach Mistral and how many things happen during their travels, then quickly moved on to what Weiss has been up to, and I can come to one conclusion. Fuck the superficial and ignorant people in Atlas! They reminded me too much of Earth's rich people and being complete assholes to everyone else. Only caring about making a profit and fame at the cost of everyone else!
I might have overreacted over the whole tell a story, but witnessing it in the show understates how much of an asshole the rich are in Atlas. As a result of that, I ended up ranting about how those kinds of people deserve to have a stick shoved up their asses and left outside their houses naked in the cold to teach them humility.
Yea… not my greatest first impression.
To say the least, everyone was at first surprised by my… colourful choice of wording and idea of those kinds of people. That quickly changed as Yang and Nora began laughing their heads out as others tried to suppress their giggles. Or, in Weiss's case, she was appalled that someone of my age could say such things. However, she agreed that they need to be humbled and less ignorant of others' suffering.
Even Ozpin admitted that he found the people of Atlas to be condescending at times.
It then moved on to my time with RNJR and me getting absolutely smashed by everyone else except Jaune during spars. Even then, I ended up being made fun of when they began to describe my spar with Nora and how I kept on being thrown all over the place whenever Nora's hammer hit me. Yang was having fun with the whole story as she laughed so hard that she had to stop herself to take a breather.
"Please stop it guys…" I moaned with my hands to my face at the embarrassment that was issued out. Nora disagreed with that assessment.
"Nope~ You're our cute little fluffy boy Zacky! Nothing will change that!" Nora continued giggling madly.
"It's just that one time, okay? I got better, and you are scary with that hammer…" I moaned in my hand as my cheeks burned red. As for everyone else? They laughed at my suffering.
"You got better, huh? How about we test that theory?" All of us turned to face Yang, who had a competitive look on her face. Oh boy.
"Uh, Yang, it's only been, uh, one week since Zack started training." Ruby could be heard speaking with worry.
That's… not helping my case, Ruby.
"Really? One week and he's already beating Jaune in a spar? Wow. Colour me impressed. What's your secret?" Yang sounded surprised as she rested her elbow on the table and her cheek on her hand. Also, oh shit. How do I explain this?
As if by realisation, RNJR slowly glanced at me tensely as I was lost in thought as to how can I explain this to Yang? I mean, I know that she reacted poorly when she talked to Ozpin about how her mother and uncle can turn into birds. And I don't understand why she gets angry about the whole ordeal. Was it suspicion over Ozpin? That might explain why she yells at Ozpin.
The whole dining table was silent as I quickly asked Oz his thoughts. "Oz, I don't think we can get out of this by lying, since you need to talk to both of them. Right?"
"It is best to let me handle this situation." Ozpin suggested as I closed my eyes for a second.
"More like you existing in my body, more like." I opened my eyes and let out an internal sigh before facing both Yang and Weiss to tell them about my… body mate. As for the rest of RNJR, they looked nervous, and it was clear that Yang and Weiss noticed their nervousness.
"I… didn't do it alone. I had help from them to get to where I am right now," I gave a smile at RNJR before turning back to both Weiss and Yang with a straight face. "But they are not the only ones. Someone… familiar to both of you is also here."
"And who is this someone we know is here?" Yang tilted her head with suspicion as I sighed.
"I'll let him say hi to both of you." I closed my eyes. "Alright, headmaster, do what you need to do."
"Of course, Zack." Ozpin acknowledged me, and I could feel him taking over my body once again. To everyone else, especially Yang and Weiss, it looks like a flash of green and white aura washed over my body before the violet lines on my jacket faded and glowed again in green.
Ozpin, now in control over my body, adjusted his posture as he took out his cane and opened his eyes. "It is good to see you again, Miss Schnee and Xiao Long." Ozpin greeted his newly joined students as both of them were wide-eyed.
After what was a period of stunned silence at the dining table, Weiss asks, breaking the moment of silence. "Professor Ozpin?"
"Hey Oz, once you are done telling them that you're here, hand me back my body, please. You can continue your talk with them later in the living room upstairs." I made my request, as Ozpin obliged.
"Very well. There's a time and place for this conversation. And I doubt that you'll be happy with me for keeping you away from your dinner."
"Damn right, headmaster. Don't you even dare of keep me away from my food." If I could smile right now, I would. No one keeps me away from my meal!
"Correct." Ozpin gave a nod. "As much as I wish to explain to you what is going on, the dining table is not the place for it. Mr Arakan and I have come to an agreement to leave it after dinner. We can meet in the living room upstairs later. And I will explain everything. Qrow will be joining us as well." Not everything, you old man. You are keeping something else a secret. And I will make you reveal it if I must. They deserve to know the truth now, then let it fester into doubt and distrust. I will tell mine later.
Once Ozpin had finished his explanation, he returned control of my body to me as the lines on my jacket returned to glowing purple. Taking a few blinks to reorientate myself, and I kept Ozpin's cane before addressing both Yang and Weiss.
"So… yea. Your headmaster is in my head now, and he's responsible for why I left the orphanage to head to Mistral. I know you both have questions for me. But this is not the place for it." I said as I picked up my chopsticks before taking gyoza and popping it into my mouth as everyone else began to eat their meals.
Yet, neither Weiss nor Yang spoke or touched their dinner, despite everyone else doing so.
Noticing this, Ruby called out to them.
"Are you guys alright? Neither of you has touched your meal." Ruby calls out to her sister and partner, who just shake their heads.
"I'm thinking about some stuff, sis." Yang muttered as she glanced at me. Ah, my presence must be affecting them.
"Yes, Ruby. This is much to take in. I mean, our headmaster is sharing a body with him?" Weiss could only ask as Nora joined in.
"Don't worry, Weiss! We were all like you before! But little Zacky's a good boy!" My cheeks could only blush from what Nora had just said. Jaune and Ren soon joined the conversation, but I had nothing to say about it. And it was clear that both Weiss and especially Yang were still conflicted and confused.
With RNJR attending to Weiss and Yang, I quickly ate my dinner before deciding to go wash the dishes. But as I made my way out of the table, I heard Ruby call out to me.
"Zack, are you okay? You've been quiet for a while." She asked me as pretty much everyone turned their gazes on me, about to leave.
"No, I'm just… planning on washing the dishes. You guys catch up without me. No doubt you all need it. I'll see you guys in the living room later." I offered a soft smile as Ruby nodded back at me with hesitation. But she complied as they resumed talking without me.
"Are you alright?" I heard Ozpin call me with his voice full of concern for me.
'I'm fine, Ozpin."
"Zack, I have been alive for centuries. I know when someone is lying." Ozpin sighed. Coming from experience, huh, headmaster? After all, you did lie to everyone about Salem. But who am I to judge you? But in all seriousness, I'm unsure about my position in all this, and I could feel my chest tightening from all the anxiety in my system. I hate growing up again.
…
"With due respect, Ozpin. I don't wish to talk about it." That was all I said to Ozpin as I began washing the dishes.
"I see…" Ozpin hummed slowly. "Very well then, Zack. We will talk later." Ozpin must have concluded that I was not in the mood to talk. But I believe that he can tell that I was a mess right now. Talking about my past has brought up a ton of painful memories. And despite my attempt to believe that I am more mature mentally to take it, all of it still feels like a dagger straight into my heart.
But we got stuff to settle first.
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Hours later and everyone was back from dinner and in the living room with Ozpin. He then gave a long explanation to both Weiss and Yang about the Maidens. He also talked about Salem and how he was bonded to his next incarnate. Occasionally, either Weiss or Yang would ask questions to Ozpin, who answered them to the best he could. All while Zack was in his head watching it play out.
"So, the Maidens. Magic. Salem. It's all true?" Weiss asked out. Breaking the long period of silence.
"Uh-huh." Qrow mumbles loudly while still standing throughout the entire conversion.
"Miss Xiao Long, is this more or less what your mother told you?" Ozpin then asked, but Yang didn't respond. Her arms were still crossed, and she looked tensed about the whole reveal. Weiss, realising that Yang would not respond, spoke on her behalf.
"For the most part."
Then Yang finally speaks. "You forgot something. You forgot to tell everyone what you did to Qrow and my mother." Ruby could be heard softly gasping as Zack could speak in Ozpin's head.
"See what I mean, headmaster?"
"Leave it to me, Zack." Ozpin tried to assure his host in his head, who just scoffed in response.
"Headmaster, I will be frank with you; you have a tendency to be incredibly vague with your answers, sir. You have done it to me when I asked certain questions in the past, and I have no doubt that you would do it again." Zack points out, as Ozpin could only frown.
While the two souls were bantering out in their head, Jaune was understandably confused as to what Yang meant and asked. "What is she talking about?"
Qrow realising what Yang was referring to, groans as he rolls his eyes at how this will suck. "Oh, great."
"Hm, that's not a secret. I thought she would give up so easily. Your mother must trust you a great deal." Ozpin sounded surprised at the whole thing as Yang quickly scowled at him while Zack was silent. Yet Ozpin could tell that Zack was doing something.
"What are you doing, Arakan?" Ozpin asks as Zack just hums.
"Nothing?" Zack blatantly lied, as Ozpin points out.
"That does not sound like nothing."
"Don't you have to explain something to everyone here?" Zack quickly changed the topic as Ozpin noticed everyone expecting his answer. Ozpin could only sigh as he explained.
"My ability to reincarnate, though a curse, isn't without a few key benefits. Much like the Maidens, I too possess a certain... "magical" power." Ozpin stood up from his sofa and walked next to Qrow to continue his explanation. "Using this power, I was able to gift the Branwen twins-"
The explanation Ozpin was giving halfway was interrupted when his eyes suddenly flashed violet as Zack took back control of his own body, as his jacket returned to having violet lines instead of green. Much to the surprise of everyone watching it. Especially both Ozpin and Qrow, who did not expect that to happen.
Zack blinked for a few seconds as he muttered out in his brand of surprise. "Wow… I did not expect that to work…"
"What did you just do?" Ren asks.
"I took back my body from Ozpin. I've read his mind and know what he's going to say. But his dilly-dallying is pissing me off. Please allow me to give you all the short version of what your headmaster was going to say."
"You know what I'm going to tell them?" Ozpin sounds more intrigued about Zack knowing what he was going to say than the fact that Zack had just interrupted him by taking back his body.
"Yup. You are undoubtedly aware that the longer time goes on, the more information I can 'read' from your head. And so, I did some digging on the Branwen twins and discovered that you allowed them to turn into birds with their consent. How interesting considering their names, isn't it?"
Zack chuckled internally as he faced everyone else, and especially Yang.
"Okay, long story short, Ozpin gave your mother and uncle the ability to change into birds with their consent, Yang." Zack emphasis on consent as he continued. "He gave them this ability to help them see more of their surroundings and move around the terrain better." Zack explained as surprised gasps could be heard.
"Professor Ozpin gave them the ability to turn into birds?" Ren seemed lost at the whole thing, as Nora understandably believed it to be a joke.
"Alright, now you're just messing with us."
As for Jaune, he seemed unsure yet a bit suspicious, which Zack noticed. "What else is new?"
"He's telling the truth. We saw it. Yang's mom... changed right in front of us." Weiss helpfully confirmed what Zack had said as he tensed up. Bracing for Yang's yelling. But it did not come much to his genuine surprise.
"Then why? Why did Ozpin do something like that? Tell us." Yang's voice was firm, yet she wasn't yelling at him.
"They both asked for that ability, and I believe that you and your sister asked for it, am I right, Qrow?" Zack explained before turning to Qrow, who backed him up.
"We did it alright. We made a choice. We wanted this." Qrow says as Zack momently closes his eyes and nods his head.
"If you're done speaking with them, Zack, I'd like to continue where I left off."
"Of course, headmaster and, uh, sorry about cutting you off earlier."
"No harm was done, Zack. You resolved it well enough."
"Looks like Oz wants to continue where he'd left off. So I'll let him do that. Talk to ya later." Zack smirked as Ozpin took control of Zack's body like before with a green flash over his eyes, and so did his jacket change colour again. With Ozpin back in charge, he resumes from earlier.
"Granting this power to them was no trivial task, and I can assure you it was not done frivolously. I required assistance in gathering information on Salem's plans, as well as searching for Maidens when their hosts became unclear." Ozpin gave his reason as he rested his cane in front of himself.
"Okay, so, have you done this with others? Like General Ironwood? Or Professor Goodwitch?" Ruby asks, as Ozpin can be seen walking until he is next to Yang.
"As helpful as that might be, unfortunately, it is not that simple. My power is finite, and, if I'm being honest, dwindling. The amount that I gifted to Qrow and Raven was, all things considered, rather minuscule. You see, centuries ago, I sacrificed a great deal of magic to four young women, who I hoped would use my gift for good. They were the first Maidens." Ozpin continued with his explanation as everyone listened to him.
"Miss Xiao Long, it was never my intention to lie to you. To any of you. There are just some matters that I prefer to... "Keep it a private matter." At least, I believe that's how Zack would put it."
"How kind of you, headmaster." Zack could be heard speaking inside his head as Ozpin ignored him and continued.
"Everyone has a choice. The Branwens chose to accept their powers and the responsibilities that came with them. And later, one of them chose to abandon her duties in favour of her own self-interest. Now, all of you have a choice. If anyone wishes to leave, now is the time. There's no shame or disgrace in abstaining, only in retreat." Ozpin asks as the whole living room is silent.
"I honestly doubt any of them would just leave Oz. We can't kick this can down the road. This burden is ours. No sense in leaving it to any of our descendants to pick it up after us." Zack commented as Ozpin agreed with him.
"Interesting choices of words. But yes, I agree with you. However, I await their decision."
The silence went on as everyone pondered their choices. But ultimately, no one chose to leave the room.
"Very well, then." Seeing this, Ozpin hummed, only for Yang to suddenly stand up, which worried her sister and surprised everyone else.
"Yang?" Ruby asks only for Yang to continue.
"If Ruby sticks around, then I will too. If there's one thing I know about her, it's that she somehow always knows the right thing to do." Yang then smiles at her sister as she continues. "But, if we're going to help, if we're going to keep risking our lives, no more lies. No more half-truths."
Ozpin and Qrow exchange a brief look with each other as Ozpin ponders Yang's words for one last moment before responding.
"Understood." Ozpin smiled as Yang, now satisfied, sat back down on the chair.
"So... what now? I mean, what can we do?" Jaune asks out as to what they are to do now as Ozpin gives his thoughts.
"Mm, that is a difficult question. One that, I believe, is best answered tomorrow."
Jaune was perplexed as to what his headmaster meant and asked. "What do you mean?"
"The road ahead is undoubtedly filled with hardships and peril. However, it's been far too long since you have all been together." Ozpin rested his hand on Yang's shoulder as he continued. "Please, take tonight. Enjoy this moment." That was all Ozpin said as Yang smiled at him. Then Ozpin's eyes flashed violet as Zack was now back in charge.
"Ahh…" Zack let out a sigh of relief as he removed his hand from Yang's shoulder and retracted it before keeping Ozpin's cane in his back pocket. "Good to be back. Never liked it when he takes over." Zack complained out loud as chuckles could be heard from everyone else.
"Oooohhh. Raven? Qrow? They're birds! Cracked it!" Nora, now realising it all, yells out enthusiastically while leaning back on her chair. This got a baffled look from the fox Faunus.
"I'm sorry, you now just realise it? Despite me explaining it earlier?" Zack had an exasperated look on his face, as Ren could be seen shaking his head at Nora being slow on the uptake.
"Hey!" Nora suddenly pouted. "It's not like I have a magical headmaster wizard who knows everything in my head, okay?" That got even more chuckling from everyone as they watched as both Zack and Nora began to banter for a while longer before he had enough.
An amused smile appeared on Zack's face as he rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Nora. I'm going to have a look at the storage room if it has anything of interest to me. You guys have fun!" Zack waved as he began walking off, only for Yang to call him.
"Hey, Zack! How about a spar tomorrow between you and me? I'm a bit rusty and all, but if you can beat Vomit boy in a week, you must have some skill. And I want to see how you fight. Are you okay with it?"
Jaune could be heard in the background groaning about his nickname as Zack paused before he nervously gulped. Zack slowly turned around as his tail slowly swayed and was slightly fluffed up for all to see. "Sure, I guess? I will probably get destroyed, but I accept your offer, Yang." Zack gave a nervous smile. It was clear to all that Zack was nervous at the prospect of fighting Yang tomorrow morning.
"Great!" Yang offers a big smile at Zack, who quickly makes his departure from everyone else.
"Anyone wanna bet that Zacky is going to get wrecked tomorrow?" Nora asks as Qrow just rolls his eyes with a smirk.
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"I'm going to get absolutely destroyed tomorrow, am I?" I mumbled to myself as I walked through the house towards the storage room.
"Most likely." Wow. Talk about giving me confidence, Ozpin. "By the way, Zack, is there a particular reason to look through the storeroom?"
Humming to myself, I explain my reason. "Well, I am just curious, you know? Perhaps I could find something to entertain myself with whenever I'm not with the rest of them. I do like my alone time."
"I see…"
"Oh yeah, we can do our talk back in our room, okay?" I changed the topic as I swear, I could feel Ozpin raising an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to push our talk back, Zack?" Ozpin asked as I confirmed it.
"Yes." I just had a bad feeling for some reason, as I bluntly stated as Ozpin sighed.
"At least you're honest about it."
I soon reached the store room and began searching around for something interesting to distract myself with. What I did not expect was to find a bag in a shape of a guitar in the far corner of the room. With curiosity in mind, I opened it up, and to my surprise, what was inside it was a relatively new acoustic guitar with dark brown tone wood.
While I do not know the type of wood it uses, it is strange that someone just left it here in such a pristine condition. Shrugging off my confusion as to why a brand-new guitar was left there, I took placed it back in its bag before carrying it out of the storage room on my back.
As I made my way back to my room, Ozpin wondered. "It's strange that someone would leave such a good quality guitar behind. Can you even play it?"
"Yea? I need to check how tuned are the tuning keys before I even start on it." I admitted as we walked and soon ended up back in my room before sitting on my bed. I then took out the guitar and began fiddling around with it as Ozpin remained silent the whole time. I had to admit. It took some time to get used to the fact that my Faunus hearing allows me to have a much more precise tune.
Which was a nice bonus to have.
It was then that Ozpin finally decided to ask me something that I really should know was going to happen eventually. But I nevertheless was caught off guard by how sudden it was.
"We need to talk, Arakan. I have known you for more than a month. But who are you exactly? Throughout my time with you, you have said strange phrases and words out of the blue that I have never heard about it before. Then there are your memories. While I can see most of it, a portion of your memories seemed to be locked off from me. That was until recently, and it shows something completely unexpected. So, I will ask you again, Zack Arakan if that is even your true name. Who are you?"
Ozpin asked me as I became frozen with shock, and a sense of dread could be felt creeping up my spine. I felt my breathing and heart rate rise rapidly as my face paled. Sweat slowly began to form and pour from my pores as I rested the guitar in its bag before resting my hand on my face.
"Deep breaths… Deep Breaths…" I mumbled to myself as I could feel Ozpin waiting patiently for me to answer.
What was only a couple of minutes of pure silence in reality felt like hours in my head. Yet after regaining control of myself, I laid down on the bed before speaking to Ozpin in my head. "You are right, headmaster. I am more than I appear. But… it feels so fantastical that I doubt you would believe what I have to say."
"Just humour me, Zack." That was all Ozpin said as I silently sighed and explained everything to him. I told him that my soul was not from Remnant but another world entirely. A whole that has no Grimm. No Huntsman. No magic and no Faunus. A world where the gruelling reality itself separated creative imagination.
That was followed by me explaining how the whole of Remnant was just one of these stories and how I watched through team RWBY's journey. I told him of what could transpire in the coming future, but I never went into detail as there is a time and place for it. And it would be too early to tell him what happened.
I began explaining to Ozpin how I ended up in the body of an orphaned child called Zack Arakan. But everything I have said so far has been a bit fuzzy to me. It's been a while.
As I told him everything, he just remained silent and listened through it all. Never commenting on anything. Just allowing me to explain myself to him, for the cat's out of the bag and lying will not do both of us any favour. Once I was done explaining myself to Ozpin. Or now Ozma, since I know his history, it was clear that he was thinking it all.
"I see… the Brother Gods brought you here?"
"Yea… they bought me into Remnant to change its fate. And make me your new vessel. If I'm correct. Memories been a bit fuzzy as time goes by." Both my hands tightened into a ball in frustration as they rested on my knees. As a result of my awareness of my fate, should I not win this war quickly enough.
…
"I am so sorry that you have to go through this." Ozpin offers an apology to me. I don't even know why, but Ozpin's pity on me pissed me so hard that I snapped and yelled it all out.
"Don't you DARE pity me, Ozpin! Do you even know what it was like for me? To wake up in someone else's body that so happens to resemble my own in a world that was just a story from where I came from!? To be completely aware that I am no longer who I am any more at the moment because I have this body's memories? To be aware that eventually, I will become just another part of you?!" I ranted out while breathing heavily as I tried to soothe my anger.
I should not have lashed out at him like that, as it was not his fault. It is the Brother Gods who are responsible for putting Ozpin through this pain and my existence here. But I did it anyway. The frustrations I had over my unwanted situation must have reached their tipping point. And I guess I just had enough and snapped when Ozpin pitied me over what I had to endure.
"I… am my own person, Ozpin. My will is my own." I gritted my teeth while growling out. "I will NOT let anyone decide how I shall rule my life. Not you. Not the Brother Gods. No one. I refused to have my life stolen by anyone else and be used as a pawn." I say out my thoughts as Ozpin remains quiet. I wasn't thinking straight throughout my rant.
Silence permeated the bedroom except for the sound of my breathing before Ozpin tried to say something, but he was interrupted as there was a knock on the door before it opened to show Qrow with a concerned look on his face. "Hey, kid, everyone could hear you screaming downstairs. You okay over there?" He asked, as I just shook my head.
"I'm fine, Qrow. Just need to let loose a bit. Don't worry. I got Oz here to accompany me." I sat up and gave a small assuring smile to Qrow, who just slowly nodded his head before leaving and closing the door. After venting it all out, I just felt emotionally exhausted as I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
After what was a minute of pure silence, Ozpin asked me a question, "Zack, if I may ask, when will you tell everyone else the truth about yourself in the future?"
"Eventually."
That was all I said. I was not in the mood now to have a long talk now.
"And that is?" Ozpin asks again.
"The end of the month. Will explain more in detail later." I continued staring at the ceiling as I could feel Ozpin prodding through my memories from Earth, since there was no point in hiding it from him. I'll hold the memories of the later volumes from Ozpin for later. No need to worry him about it for now.
I then got up from my bed and went back to fiddling around and tweaking the guitar as I was doing earlier. I would pluck each string before adjusting them one by one via its tuning pegs. At first, it was completely out of tune, but after some more adjustments, it began to fit what I wanted it to sound like.
"Do you play the guitar as a hobby back where you were from?" I heard Ozpin asking me a question as if trying to ease the tension, and I just silently nodded.
"Was a fan of musical instruments back where I was from. But they don't exactly pay the bills. I only play it as mainly a hobby or when I want to distract myself from reality."
"I see…" Ozpin hummed.
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Never in his entire life has Ozpin ever heard something so absurd yet true. The Bother Gods bringing a soul from another world entirely to save it from where he had failed? And in that world, the entire of Remnant and its history and future is just one of the thousands of stories? Ozpin had to admit it threw him completely off, and he did not believe it entirely. Until he peaked into Zack's memories once locked away from him, and he saw it.
He saw how Zack, or his actual name, is Darren Shi Wei. He was not kidding in the slightest. He looked almost the same as his current body but without the white hair, fox tail and yellow eyes. He had black hair alongside brown eyes. He witnessed Darren's memories of his time growing up on a world called Earth and becoming a functional member of society once he had graduated from university.
Ozpin could see the memories of a younger Darren watching a web show starring his students and their journey through Remnant. While he admits that the earlier episodes looked as if they were made on a tight budget, it played out exactly how it went. Almost. Ozpin watched as the video of himself offered Ruby a place in Beacon. He watched as the Vytal Festival came under attack, as it did months ago. He watched Penny die and how the Atlesian Knights turned on the defenders.
And he watched as his efforts to secure the Fall maiden powers into Pyrrha had failed and resulted in her death in the hands of Cinder. While she gained the full powers of the Fall maiden.
There were many more memories like what he had seen to explore. However, many of them remained hidden from him for now. And lastly, he understands why Darren lashed out at him for pitying him. It's an insult to his pride and claims that Ozpin understands his struggles.
How can Ozpin understand the struggles of someone who wakes up in someone else's body? How can he understand the struggles of one to lose their identity at the moment when their memories are mixed in a new body? How can he understand the utter existential terror of being aware that he is losing himself and will eventually become nothing but a part of him?
Ozpin can and has already gone through it before in multiple lifetimes with his other incarnations. But to his current incarnate? The one who had his entire life and future stolen from his world and forced to fight because the Brother Gods intend to use him to hopefully stop Salem? It's taxing his psyche every day.
And he knows it.
Ozpin could only watch as Zack packed the guitar into its back before slinging it over his shoulder, as he also grabbed his gauntlet on the shelf and slung it on his arm. After that, he began to attach his grapple hook to his gauntlet. Curious as to where his incarnate was planning, Ozpin asks.
"Where are you going?"
Zack froze for a second just before taking a breath in. "To the rooftops. I need some time alone. So do not talk to me for tonight." The fox Faunus mumbled as he walked toward one of the balconies near his room. Once he got to the balcony, he perched on the handrail before jumping off it and twisting his body around with his arm stretched out. Zack soon fired his grappling hook onto the rooftop as it quickly secured itself on the hip ridge of the roof before he began to scale the building he stayed in.
As soon as Zack reached the top, he spent some time getting comfortable up there as he then sat there and stared into the night skies. He proceeded to pull out the guitar that he was carrying on his back and began playing it only to himself. The fox Faunus would occasionally close his eyes as his hands got to work making melody, while occasionally tapping lightly on the soundboard itself with either his wrist or fingers.
Zack was also humming to himself the whole time before he then began to sing in a slow acoustic way.
There's a point where it tips
There's a point where it breaks
There's a point where it bends
And a point we just can't take
Anymore~
Ozpin just listened as his new incarnate slowly began to sing. Yet, he could have chosen to say awake and continue listening. But the idea of rest and some time alone do sound like a better idea. Zack needs some time alone to recover from his emotional meltdown, and he needs some time to absorb what Zack had told him just now.
Yet, Ozpin internally smiled. Perhaps not all hope is not lost against Salem.
Though, as Zack sang to himself on the rooftop, a familiar little snow-white fox cub could be seen watching him from the trees. It tilted its head slightly before it decided to leave, as the little fox cub ran down the tree and away from where Zack was. It trotted on the rooftops of houses and buildings until it reached the edges of the city itself, where a woman awaited it.
She was wearing white robes that covered her head to toe, and they hid her facial features. Seeing the little fox again, she smiled and kneeled before extending her hand out to it. The little fox proceeded to run up her arm and climbed onto her shoulder. It began to squeak into the woman's ear as she stood up and walked into the forest. Her smile grew wider the more the fox cub continued chattering into her ear as she and the fox vanished into the shadows of the forest night.
"I see… What will you do next, little Arakan?"
"My little fox…"