Streets of Vale 1:00 pm~

You keep eye contact with Mercury as the grip on your gun gets tighter. Emerald pockets your wallet in her back pocket and reach for her weapons on her back. Just as you thought a battle was about to ensue, a laugh is heard from behind the two as an early middle aged woman skips to the group.

???: Oh dear. Have you two gone and done it again? How silly.

The two look at the woman and go wide eyed. The woman quickly snatched the wallet from Emerald's back pocket and jumps to you which catches you off guard. In the light she was a woman with blond hair with a red streak on the right side of her head and a black streak on the left. She wore a white jacket with a black crop top underneath and red pants. She holds out your wallet.

???: Please forgive my nephew and niece. Ever since I found them off the street, they've had a hard time kicking the habit of pickpocketing innocent bystanders.

You take your wallet and look at the woman.

(Y/n): Yeah...no problem.

He looks at the two and looks at Emerald who lowers her hands away from her guns in her back.

(Y/n): Your nephew and niece. They're students?

The woman blinks her red coloured eyes before nodding.

???: Yep. From Haven academy, here to participate for the tournament.

You look at them both. You nod and smile.

(Y/n): Looking forward to facing you guys. Although with current circumstances, it might not happen.

The woman hums before smiling and putting her hand out.

???: Call me Mary young man.

You take her hand and shake it.

(Y/n): (Y/n). Nice to meet someone who would come all this way to Vale to support her family even if they are adopted.

You say to which Mary smiles and nods. You leave after waving goodbye and head down the street.

(Y/n): She seemed nice.

Jasper: Yeah....if you see her again, just keep an eye on her.

You raise a brow.

(Y/n): She's seemed pretty harmless.

Jasper goes silent.

Jasper: She had an aura around her that screamed red flags. Like thousands of souls crying out to keep away.

You stop and turn back to the alley you left the trio in and narrow your eyes.

(Y/n): That's very grim, Jasper.

Jasper stays silent once again which is a signal for you to keep moving.

Back at the alleyway, Mercury strolls up to Mary and whistles in astonishment.

Mercury: Didn't think we'd see you till after the Vale mission was over. We must really be getting desperate, Aunt Mary.

Mary's smile drops into a frown as her eyes narrow. She grabs Mercury and Emerald then slams them against the wall.

Mary: I swear. If we didn't need you little shits for the mission, I would gut you where you stand and watch you struggle to keep your insides in!

She says which scares the two. Mary clicks her tongue and drops the two as they gasp for air.

Mary: Anyway. Was it him?

Emerald coughs and looks up at Mary.

Emerald: Yes. Based on the looks described by Nightmare and Adam. Plus his identification. That was definitely him.

Mary pulls out a pack of cigarettes and lights it up. She smokes the small tobacco filled cylinder and blows smoke.

Mary: Doesn't look like much. Why are all of you so worked up over him?

Mercury stands while rubbing his throat.

Mercury: It's more of what he carries than what he's worth.

As Mary leans against the wall, smoking her cigarette, she feels all her anger and frustration slowly fading. She closes her eyes and grits her teeth and waves the both of them off.

Mary: You should regroup with Cinder. Now that we have a good look at who he is. We know who to target during the fall.

Mercury nods and signals Emerald to leave with him. Emerald nods as she has one last glance at Mary before running off with Mercury.

Mary takes one more puff of her cigarette before tossing it to the ground and stomping it out. She then pulls out a compact folding mirror in her pocket. She brushes some hair past her face and over her ears. She puts her finger on the mirror which goes through it as if the glass was liquid. She is then sucked into the mirror causing the small handheld mirror to spin in the air before dropping to the floor.

Beacon 1:30~

You finally arrived back and head to your dorm. You open it but see no one present.

(Y/n): Huh....No Bianca? If not her I thought Ike and Star would be here at least.

Jasper: Perhaps they are training.

You shrug and decide to lay on your bed and take a deep breath after the tiring day.

Intercom: Can (Y/n) Hunter please come to professor Ozpin's office.

You groan and start head butting your pillow over and over again.

Jasper: Let's just get it over with so we can return to our relax time.

You kicks yourself up off the bed and scratch your head. You leave the dorm and head to Ozpin's office in the tower.

Beacon's tower 1:35~

The elevator dings as it opens up revealing you with your hands in your pockets. You see RWBY, JNPR, Ike, Bianca and Star in the office. They all stare at you as you see Ozpin in his seat with his hands interlocked together, resting his chin on top. You see General Ironwood next to him.

(Y/n): Hey...?

You speak up to try and break through the tension you sensed in the room.

Ozpin nods to the seat in front of his desk.

Ozpin: Have a seat Mister Hunter.

You scan the room, well more of scanning people's faces. You could feel the sympathy and sadness emitting from them. Regardless, you walk towards the seat in the middle of the room and sit down.

(Y/n): Am....I in trouble?

You asked in a slightly confused tone.

Ozpin nods left and right, dismissing that allegation.

Ozpin: No. It's been awhile since we last talked and well....What I've heard after all this time from the young men on each side of my desk, is concerning.

You look at Ike and Star who stare at you with uncertainty.

(Y/n): Star...you didn't tell him about-

Star: I had to (Y/n). If it happened to your sister when she was THAT young. Then everyone needed to know unless there was a sudden 'attack'.

Yang comes next to you. You look at her as she kneels down.

Yang: (Y/n)....Are you...dying?

You look at her then at everyone else who watches in suspense for your answer. Knowing you weren't going to get out of this one without giving them an answer, it really frustrated you.

(Y/n): ....Yes...

Yang's eyes widen as does Bianca's who comes next to you slowly and looks into your eyes which are now filled with guilt and sadness.

Bianca: Why didn't you tell us?

As you sit there, the weight of the truth hangs heavily in the air. You can see the hurt and confusion in each persons eyes, and it breaks your heart even more.

(Y/n): I'm sorry... I didn't want to burden any of you with this. It's not easy for me to accept either.

Bianca's voice trembles as she speaks, her eyes filled with tears.

Bianca: But we're your friends, (Y/n)....I love you and would do anything to make sure you're happy. How can I do that if you won't tell me stuff like this?

You can feel the sincerity in her words, and it touches your soul. You look Bianca in her eyes.

(Y/n): Because, Bianca. There's no cure.

The news hits deep with everyone. Usually their first instinct along with anyone's instinct would be to find an answer for this.

Ren: Surely there's a cure. There can't be-

You stood up and looked at Ren angrily.

(Y/n): THERE'S NO CURE!

Your yelling causes everyone but Ozpin and Ironwood to wince.

(Y/n): It's not some disease that you can just wish away. That you can treat. It's a living thing! It's wiped out my family from my grandfather to my father, my sister and now me!

You had tears streaming down your cheeks.

(Y/n): He keeps getting stronger. With every generation that passes he gets stronger and stronger. My dad didn't even get past his thirties, My sister didn't get past her childhood. She spent most of it in a hospital bed....

You sniff and wipe some tears from your eyes.

(Y/n): She wanted to be a Huntsman, a hero like her stories.

Ruby's eyes widen slightly as she visibly recoils back and holds on tightly to her rose pendent.

(Y/n): When she couldn't...I stepped up.

Everyone went silent. Then Jaune spoke up.

Jaune: That's why when you showed up on day one, you had no weapon or even have an aura.

You look at Jaune who looks down.

Jaune: It was last minute decision and you wanted to honour what family you had left. Even when you had no training and if she wouldn't be around for long.

You stare at Jaune in disbelief that he felt sorry for you. Has he gone through something similar.

Bianca: W-What about your Aunt?

Bianca asks with a little hope in her voice.

(Y/n): She's no my Aunt by blood. She was more of a really good friend of my dad. So good, that he considered her a sister to him.

Everyone goes silent again as you slump back into the chair and take deep breaths with Bianca holding your hand.

Ozpin: (Y/n), you said...'him'. Your condition has a name?

You simply nod and look at the headmaster with red puffy eyes.

(Y/n): He goes by Vex.

Ozpin hums and looks to the side.

(Y/n): Do you...know that name?

Ozpin looks at Ironwood who looks back at him.

Ozpin: ...No...It does sound familiar but I can't recall anything within Remnants history about a condition or person in this case, called 'Vex'.

You look down and let out a sad 'oh...' as Star looks at you with sympathy.

Star: I'm sorry I told them (Y/n)...I thought they might have known something seeing as how the creature seemed to have knowledge of Grimm and the kingdoms.

You look at Star as he just looks away apologetically.

(Y/n): ...No Star....You were just trying to help....thanks anyway.

Blake narrows her eyes at this and turns to leave the room. Yang looks and stands up.

Yang: Blake?!

She calls out but Blake had already closed the elevator door and descended to the ground floor.

You sigh and stand up.

(Y/n): Is that all?

Ozpin stands up from his desk and scoops up his coffee mug into his right hand.

Ozpin: Yes...That is all.

Everyone starts to go to the elevator. Ike and Star follow and put their hands on your shoulders.

(Y/n): ....We need to get Jasper out as fast as possible.

You say to which Star and Ike share a look before looking at you again and nodding.

Star: In due time (Y/n).

Star replies. However, he'd rather you spend your life as you see fit. You weren't showing symptoms of any illness that would be life threatening.

As the elevator finally returns after Blake's rapid departure. Everyone crowded in, except for Star and Ike who decided to take the 'scenic' route and opened up a window and jumped out, with both of them turning into their respective bird forms.

Ozpin looks at the clouds flow around his office as Ironwood looks at him.

Ironwood: Ozpin...

Ozpin: It can't be a coincidence.

He turns to Ironwood.

Ozpin: That's what you were going to say right?

Ironwood: It was sixty years ago. I wouldn't put it past the thought that it could be him. You know what he was capable of.

Ozpin turns back to his desk and sits down.

Ironwood: You didn't even bring up what using his power could do if he overuses it.

Ozpin pushes his glasses up and for the first time Ironwood has seen, chugs down his coffee. He breaths out and nearly slams his coffee mug back down on the table.

Ozpin: ...Keep all tabs on Mister Hunter at all times. If he's gained the ability to harness that power to the point it could possess him then we're in trouble.

Ironwood nods.

Ironwood: I called Winter and told her to arrive sooner rather than later with the Nightmare concerns rising. She'll be able to assist with keeping an eye on him.

Ozpin nods and looks at your profile on his computer. He rests his head on his open hand as his eyes dart around the screen, reading the text and occasionally looking at your photo.

Ozpin: Hopefully with both the Light's. It'll be a breeze.

Ironwood nods, agreeing with Beacon's headmaster.

Ozpin: We'll need all the help we can get...Especially if there's a possibility that Vex the devourer could return...
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Until next time :)