— Sean —
"Sean…?" Barbara asked warily, incredulously. "What exactly are we getting ourselves into here?"
Jason was similarly bewildered, "How the hell do you have a sister and an extended family here? We just arrived?!"
"Mr. Barkeep moves quickly," Damian just nodded. "This is hardly a surprise."
"So…" Alice cocked her head curiously. "I have an aunt and new cousins?"
Didi was already smiling widely, "More Family will always be a good thing in my book."
"(〃￣ω￣〃ゞ" Surprisingly, it was Cass to bring order (and her usual chaos). 'Pause. Now, let's just let Daddy explain.'
"I will slap you," Alice growled.
"(¯ . ¯٥)" Cass adopted a convincingly confused expression. 'Why would you do that?'
"W-Wha-?!" Alice sputtered for a moment, taken aback by the sheer audacity, before jabbing a finger at Cass. "You KNOW why!"
"Alright," I chuckled. "Now, I wasn't completely expecting this development myself. This is an old life of mine. But it seems that coming back like this has given me… a bit of a 'restart'. Here, now? This is the start of my dear nephew's Huntsman journey."
"What… kind of fuckery… are we talking about…?" Barbara asked slowly. "Time travel and paradoxes?"
"Oh, no, the paradox has already been resolved. This is parallel dimension fuckery. Self-sustaining and much less concerning," I said. "It's a blessing, really. Certain… tragedies will certainly be averted this way. But leave that for me and Didi to worry about. I won't let them affect your vacation. This is still your change of pace, your time to unwind from the usual Gotham business. I want all of you to enjoy yourselves for the few months we're likely to be here for."
"Months…?" Jason stressed.
"With less than a day passing on the other end," I reminded him. "But yes, make yourselves comfortable. For you all, this will be a long but much-needed vacation."
Barbara paused for a moment, "… You know? I'm surprisingly okay with that. Didi knows we need it as much as Sean says we do."
"Our time here will not be wholly spent on relaxation, correct?" Damian asked intently.
"I said 'change of pace', not 'do-nothing lounging around'," I smirked. "You'll have more than enough to entertain and better yourselves with, I promise. Plenty of people to meet and lessons to learn. Remnant somewhat abhors boredom and stagnation. The Grimm see to that pretty well."
"(O.O)" Cass perked up with interest. 'Grimm? The shadow demon-beasts? Murder fodder~?'
"Murder fodder, indeed," I chuckled. "They're loathsome creatures native… well, not quite native to this world. The Grimm were created by the Dark aspect of Remnant's divine duality with the sole purpose of destroying the Light aspect's creations. Don't worry about the Gods of Light and Darkness, though. Those two brothers have long since abandoned this world. And honestly? Remnant might just be better off without them. Petty fuckers destroyed the moon on their way out, though…"
"Comforting," Barbara deadpanned. "Were they factually real or just a creation myth?"
"Real, I think," I shrugged. "But I couldn't say that for certain. In the end, they've ceded their claim to Remnant. Now, the Grimm and Humanity remain locked in eternal, existential struggle. Humanity formed four kingdoms — Mistral, Vacuo, Atlas, and Vale — as safe havens against the Grimm-tide, but the majority of the world remains wild, untamed, and overrun by the Grimm. They're just about infinite and not mindless, but wholly malicious. Every Grimm you kill will be a minor victory for Humanity, if a seemingly futile one."
"σ(￣,￣〃)" Cass scratched her head in thought. 'Sooo… like, complete and utter extermination? Or our best attempt at it? For Humanity's sake?'
"As a demigod in a grimdark future once said," I answered with a smirk. "They are coming. Kill them all."
Damian stoically nodded to himself, but it was easy to see he loved what he was hearing, "Powerful words for an acceptable enemy. I shall, in fact, kill them all. And sharpen my blade evermore in doing so."
"That… You know, yeah, I can get down with that," Jason nodded and muttered to himself. "A fair bit of undeniably righteous killing to fortify my creed."
"The situation isn't looking great for Humanity," I continued. "But it's not like any of you need to worry about single-handedly turning the tide. As I hinted, Didi and I will deal with that. You all just focus on having fun and bettering yourselves, yeah?"
"Honestly?" Barbara seemed to relax with that reassurance. "Mood. Yeah, I can do that. No need for us to focus on saving the world when you and Didi can undoubtedly do it more effectively. All we gotta do is go with the flow."
"Hold on, this isn't fair…" Alice grumbled. "We're on vacation, but we're going to school?"
"Grimm Hunting school," I clarified with a slight smirk. "You'll be sparring, hunting, and learning the history of the world. Making new friends all the while. And actually applying the things you'll learn in practical Huntsmen missions. If everything goes to plan — and it will… — you won't find yourself bored and trudging through academic gruntwork."
I finished with an offer, "But if that still doesn't interest you, Alice, you can always play assistant to your dear ol' Mom and Dad."
"And what will we be doing, Dear?" Didi asked. "Other than taking care of a few little existential issues, that is."
"Well, burgeoning young Huntsmen and Huntresses can always use more teachers," I answered. "How does 'Professor Didi' sound?"
"Novel," Didi chuckled. "And intriguing. Why, the students would all be my children, in a way~…"
I matched her growing grin there at the end, nodding firmly, "My Death would be able to indulge her motherly and nurturing instincts without a doubt. From what I remember of my nephew's generation, you'll have your work cut out for you. In the best of ways."
"Wonderful~…" Didi practically purred. "Now, I've been meaning to ask. How exactly do you relate to the Family here? Your sister by blood, yes? But how do you carry the 'Arc' name if that's the case?"
"Interesting situation, that," I chuckled. "Juniper was… is my older sister here. She married Nicolas Arc and hyphenated her name. 'Caine-Arc', see? But the Arcs are rather… overwhelmingly, aggressively familiar. I'm Nicolas' brother-in-law, but he folded me into the Arc family in truth, essentially adopting me. Out of respect for Nicolas and Juniper, and with their permission, I took the Arc name as well. Thus, Sean Caine-Arc, just like Juniper."
"Oh, how simply beautiful," Didi's smile was beaming. "I think I love the Arcs already. I always would have, of course, but it's good to hear that they went above and beyond to include you, Dear."
"It's the Arc way," I shrugged fondly. "Nicolas would hardly leave family out in the rain. Maybe his parents… That relationship is… strained. But Nicolas successfully broke from that cycle and raised his kids right. Even as a decorated Huntsman from a powerful Huntsmen lineage, I think that's what he's most proud of in life."
Didi nodded in understanding, "A good man, then, putting his children's futures over his family's legacy."
"Without a doubt," I smiled nostalgically before shaking my head. "Now, what do you say we get the kids enrolled and properly situated, my Death? We'll have to see an old, locally reincarnating friend for that. I think you'll like him. I don't know if he'll like you. But ol' Ozpin deserves to have the tables turned on him every once and a while."
IIIII
— Ozpin —
The scroll connected him to his deputy's office, "Glynda."
There was no response. But Ozpin didn't expect one from Glynda on his first attempt. She was a busy, busy, busy woman. And well-wise to his usual games. But given how much work he made for her, Ozpin felt part of his duty could be considered giving her breaks from that work. Unwanted breaks, usually. But she needed them more than she knew.
"Glynda," Ozpin tried again.
And again, there was no response. Within the safety of his mind, Ozpin chuckled. He considered Glynda a dear, dear friend. Perhaps one of the best he'd had over his many lives. She, undoubtedly, considered him a rather annoying boss.
He took a sip from his mug (cocoa, for Ozpin knew life was too short to spend it drinking ghastly bitter coffee) and tried once more, "Mm… Glynda."
Finally, a frustrated huff — a side Glynda rarely showed to anyone else — came back over the line, "… What, Ozpin?"
Ozpin, of course, paid her frustrations with him no mind, taking another sip of chocolatey ambrosia, "Ah. A rather pretty little bird just landed on the hour arm of the clock tower."
After a short pause, Glynda's voice came back with a bit more focus, "A… crow, Ozpin?"
Smirking to himself where he knew she couldn't see, Ozpin hummed, "Hmm… No. Just a bird. A parrot of all things. They're a rare sight in Vale, aren't they? An escaped pet, perhaps? Do you think it knows any interesting phrases?"
Ozpin could practically hear Glynda's expression fall flat, "… What on Remnant possessed you to call me for this? It's not Qrow. I doubt the parrot has any interesting information to share. I am busy, Ozpin. The school year begins next week. Your Initiation plans need to be finalized. Peter is off on a wild Grimm chase. Again. And you're being of no help at all! As usual! There is such a thing as too much delegation, Ozpin! Now, to top it all off, you're interrupting my working routine. For a parrot."
"It's a very pretty parrot," Ozpin simply said.
"I'm sure it is! It's also an irrelevant parrot! Do not make me come up there and disconnect the scroll line in your office! If you're so bored as to bird watch, I have plenty of paperwork that still needs your signature!"
"Hmm. No, no, thank you for offering, though."
"… Then. Let. Me. Work."
"Very well. You only had to ask," Ozpin put on a dramatic sigh. "Will you still be able to make it to the staff dinner on Friday?"
Just as fiercely as she told him to stop interrupting her, Glynda snapped her answer, "You know I wouldn't miss it!"
"Very good, then. I'll just keep my parrot sightings to myself from now on. In my humble opinion, you're missing out, but if that's what you wish…"
"…" For a moment, only static came through the line. Then, three words through gritted teeth and the distinct click of the call disconnecting. "Good. Day. Ozpin."
Chuckling to himself with satisfaction, Ozpin returned the farewell even if Glynda couldn't hear it, "And a good day to you as well, my friend. Truly, what would I do without you, and what would you do without me? I can hardly let you stew in your work constantly, as you're so prone to doing, no matter how beneficial it is to me. I'm sure you'll come around to my distractions one day."
With another sip of his cocoa, Ozpin returned to parrot watching. Fascinatingly intelligent creatures. Perhaps General Ironwood would enjoy one…
"He absolutely wouldn't," Ozpin chuckled. "But it's an amusing mental picture nonetheless."
It really was the simple pleasures that kept him going, Ozpin pondered. Especially after millennia of life (lives…) with little result. That twisted being — once a woman he'd loved like life itself — persisted, and so, the man once known as Ozma did, too.
Despite his best efforts, Ozpin could feel that the world was waning. It began with divine abandonment, of course. But now, that was barely a memory. Only the Grimm-tide and its mistress remained. Even the humans he now guided and sought to protect weren't the same as the humans Ozma originally knew.
So much had changed, but the Grimm-tide was constant, wearing down on Humanity like a river through stone. It was… inevitable. But Ozpin couldn't let himself give up hope. Not even when the Magic of the world faded to myth, not even as his feud with that twisted being dragged on and on, not even after he parted with portions of himself to make the Maidens. The man once known as Ozma lived and died and lived again. Such was his curse. Such was his noble struggle against the dying light.
He hadn't tasted true victory for many incarnations now. All that was left was a grand holding of the line… and the simple pleasures. Sweet and subtle cocoa, Ozpin's beloved. The teasing of a dear, dear friend. Comfortable meals with familiar faces. Even the rare sighting of a parrot. It was often the simplest things that carried the greatest weight these days.
Ozpin sat. He sipped. He pondered and reminisced. So many good men and women, come and gone. More than a few gave their lives for his feud, for Humanity's sake. Ozpin was in too deep. He couldn't let all of the sacrifices be in vain.
Even just in his current incarnation, there were noble warriors, daring spies, heartbreaking betrayals, and the best of friends. Old friends and a new generation, all unlikely allies, come together to take up Ozpin's noble cause. James Ironwood, so driven, so flawed. Glynda Goodwitch, so hardworking, so self-sacrificing. Summer Rose, so lovely, so well remembered. Qrow and Raven Branwen, so brave, so cowardly, so complex both. Sean Caine-Arc… So mysterious, even to Ozpin's mind, so… oddly familiar…
As Ozpin's mind lingered on the last man, a persisting enigma, the intercom in his office got his attention. Hazel called up from the lobby below. A lovely girl, but not very suited for frontline Huntress missions. Ozpin didn't mind taking her on at Beacon after she'd graduated last year.
"Sir? A 'Sean Caine-Arc' is here to see you."
"Hmm," Ozpin hummed to himself with pleasant surprise. "Think of the Devil, and he shall appear…"
"I'm… sorry, sir…?"
"Just the rambles of an old man going senile, Hazel. Don't mind me. Send him up, please."
"Yes, sir… Err, and his guests?"
"Guests?" Ozpin felt one of his eyebrows quirk in interest. "Yes, them as well, I suppose. If he's brought me guests, it must be important. I won't turn them away."
"Very good, sir. They'll be up in just a moment."
Ozpin nodded to himself as the intercom cut back out. He considered doing something… fun… to greet Sean. The man had been caught up in sustaining efforts throughout the Vale's frontier last he checked. Defending settlements, discouraging banditry, fighting Grimm, of course, and other things of the sort. His Semblance made him uniquely suited to 'unsupported' combat missions.
Ozpin chuckled to himself. Sean was never without support. In many ways, he was a one-Huntsman army. Almost unfairly useful, but far from subtle. If Qrow was Ozpin's spy, Sean was his warden. Stalwart and nigh impossible to overwhelm. The more Grimm that was thrown at him, the stronger and more entrenched he'd grow. Even Salem had to take Sean's Semblance Resurrected Deathly Shades into consideration.
Something fun, however… With limited time, Ozpin just shrugged and turned his chair away from the door for a dramatic reveal. He heard the elevator arrive at the top of Beacon's Clock Tower. He gave Sean and his guests a few moments to cross the hallway between the elevator and his office. Then, perfectly timed, Ozpin swiveled his chair and leaned forward with his fingers touching so his form would silhouette against the sky behind just right.
The door to his office opened right on time, of course. Ozpin had vigorously practiced to get the timing perfect. Sean, smiling, came through the door first. His smile spread naturally onto Ozpin's face, though he kept it concealed behind his templed hands. But Ozpin's smile went slightly stiff, and his head went slightly tilted, at the sight of Sean's guests.
Sean was in his usual darkly styled manner of dress and bore his usual knowing quirk to his lips as if he knew something the world didn't. A young girl, about the age of Beacon's students, came in beside him. She seemed to take after Sean's styling, and by the way she walked, it was plain to see that she was close to Sean. If Ozpin wasn't mistaken, the relationship seemed… paternal…? How odd. Sean was hardly old enough to have a nearly grown daughter.
Two young men and two young women came in behind Sean and his possible daughter. Early twenties for the oldest, to maybe 14 or 15 for the youngest. They were all dressed in queer costumes, but Ozpin ran a Huntsmen academy… They were hardly the strangest fashions he'd seen. And the costumes were visibly armored, at least. That was more than Ozpin could say for many of his students, unfortunately. Aura tended to make children and even some adults overly confident in that department. A shame, considering extra armor would always be sensible.
But it was the last woman who made Ozpin's smile freeze fully. She looked exactly the same age as Sean. Uncannily so. And good absent gods… her aura. Not the light of her soul as Ozpin was used to, just the not-so-simple air about her. To Ozpin's diminished Magical senses, the woman made Salem seem… nonexistent. Not simply weak, not as if the enemy of New Humanity was a mere child or anything so insulting. It was like comparing one or five or ten… to infinity. There just wasn't any comparison at all.
Even more shocking, she seemed… intimately familiar. A core part of Opzin's incarnating Soul recognized her. In at least one quintessential way, he would-… could never forget her. But putting words to that recognition on his own… would've killed him, Ozpin was certain. She was everything and nothing, THE beginning and THE end. For the first time in millennia, the man once known as Ozma found himself terrified… and strangely welcomed.
"Ozpin! It's good to see you, old friend!" Sean greeted. Did he sound older…? Wiser…? More… whole…?
For an odd, impossible moment, Ozpin couldn't find his words.
"Oh, I can see why you wanted me to meet him, Dear," The… ENDLESS… woman said to Sean. "Unlike you, however, his is something of a curse. Or a geas vow, perhaps? Hmm…"
"You'd have to ask him," Sean shrugged. "I never got that full story."
Finally, Ozpin mustered his tongue, falling back on a mysteriously amused tone by rote habit, "Sean. Would you care to… explain? Introduce? Anything?"
Sean chuckled, "You'd understand the situation better than most. We've always had an unspoken sort of understanding, haven't we? Tell me, Ozma, do you ever wish you could go back?"
Ozpin sat back into his chair as Sean called him that old, old name, answering his question with a question, "To do things differently?"
"That," Sean nodded. "And to simply revisit a certain part of your lives that you miss."
The ENDLESS woman nodded, "Restless Souls deserve vacations most of all."
"Ah, that's how it is," Ozpin nodded matter-of-factly, the nod immediately undercut by his next words. "I don't understand. At all. Let's keep it that way. I always knew there was something familiar about you, Sean. But now, I have a queer feeling that keeping my curiosity to myself would be for the best."
"I don't mind answering a few existential questions for an old friend," Sean grinned.
"And I don't mind not knowing if it will save my sanity," Ozpin shot back nonchalantly as he could manage.
"Same/Mood…" The oldest costumed young man and woman muttered at the same time.
"(￢_￢)" The younger costumed young woman gave all three of them a side-eye so legendary that Ozpin quite literallyheard what her expression was saying. 'Pussies.'
Ozpin blinked, "How in the broken moon…?"
"That's just Cass," Sean chuckled. "You'll get used to it. She won't give you any other choice."
"Anyway!" He clapped. "Introductions, first. And then, I have something to request from you, Ozpin. And a promise to make that should come as something of a relief."
Ozpin waved at the pair of chairs in front of his desk, "I'd say make yourselves at home, but we'll have to fetch more seats for that."
"Not necessary," Sean waved dismissively.
"Oh! Dad, can I?" Sean's… daughter… excitedly asked. Ozpin knew a young woman who wanted to show off when he saw one.
"Knock his socks off, Alice."
Ozpin's confusion quickly shifted into complete, utter, shocked disbelief. Sean's daughter walked up to one of the chairs and ran her hands over it with a furrowed brow. Then, she stepped back… and Magic happened. Powerful. Genuine. Impossible. For the first time in his current incarnation, Ozpin found himself gaping. Sean's daughter wove Magic into constructs and conjured five more chairs from thin air. It was a masterful feat of an art long lost to Remnant. The girl accomplished it easily.
Eyes wide, Ozpin just stared. His glasses fell down the bridge of his nose. His jaw fell open and stuck there. It was like witnessing Magic for the first time all over again. The same as it had been in his first childhood, so, so long ago. It was impossible, yet real. Real enough to quite literally sit on.
"This is Alice, Ozpin," Sean introduced. "My wonderful, Magical, adopted daughter."
"Yo," Alice held herself proudly and more than a little smugly in the chair she summoned, smirking. "Catching flies like that?"
Ozpin's jaw snapped shut. He tried his best to compose himself once more.
"The silent but very loud one is Cassandra Cain," Sean continued. "No relation."
"(·ω<)☆" Cass winked. 'Yet~… I'm looking to add that 'e' onto my name.'
"Red here is Barbara Gordon, and Broody here is Jason Todd."
Both of them looked at Ozpin with sympathetic, slightly dead eyes, Barbara deadpanning, "Trust me, we feel your pain…"
"Small and Deadly is Damian Wayne."
"Greetings," Damian gave a single, acknowledging nod. "I look forward to honing my blade upon your institution."
"And last but certainly not least," Sean finished. "My partner, my Endless companion, my Death, Didi."
"Hello, Ozpin," Didi smiled gently. "Any friend of Sean's is a friend of mine. I'm sure we'll get along swimmingly."
Something about Sean's pet names for Didi rang extra true, not in Ozpin's mind, but in his very Soul. Ozpin immediately decided it was best to ignore that.
"I… see…" Ozpin managed to say, as if he understood. He didn't. "It's a colorful cast of characters you've brought before me, Sean. And to think, you found them on Vale's frontier…"
The last was a hint and a probe for more information. Ozpin didn't believe it. Sean would know Ozpin didn't believe it. The young man who suddenly seemed much more impossible than Ozpin ever conceived simply smiled.
"Honestly, everyone here found me, not the other way around. Well, except Didi. I drifted across her lap between moments and lives. I haven't regretted it for a moment yet."
Ozpin hummed, "Mm, an intriguing turn of phrase."
"Believe whatever helps you sleep at night," Sean smirked.
Ozpin sighed. Actually sighed. He wasn't at all used to having the tables turned on him so effectively. He was the lofty and mysterious one. Here, already, he'd been reduced to a shocked and confused mess. But if anyone was going to do it, it would be Sean Caine-Arc.
"With introductions out of the way, your request, Sean?" Ozpin asked. "Am I correct to assume it has something to do with enrolling these young adults in Beacon?"
"Got it in one," Sean nodded. "Team BAT, or something. They'll end up together, that much is certain."
"And your daughter? I'm afraid I must protest slightly there," Ozpin said. "Someone of young Alice's gifts should be nurtured in a very different way from the usual Huntsmen and Huntresses. Magic, Sean. I cannot stress that enough… Magic."
Smug as can be, Alice smirked at Cass, "Heh. Take that, Cass. I'm ~special~…"
"( ￢O￢)ツ" Cass waved and rolled her eyes. 'Specially special, we know.'
"Oi!"
Thankfully, Sean nodded at Ozpin's point, "Oh, I couldn't agree more. I was thinking more of a Teacher's Assistant role for Alice."
"And you'd be taking a teaching role in the coming school year?" Ozpin inquired.
"Didi and I both," Sean confirmed. "That was the plan, with your approval, of course. Beacon is still your domain, Ozpin."
Ozpin silently glanced at Didi for a long moment, "… For some reason, I can't find it in me to dis-approve."
"Wonderful!" Sean smiled. "I certainly wouldn't turn a mage of your pedigree away as an additional Magical tutor for Alice. Good to see I won't have to."
"Additional… tutor?" Ozpin raised a questioning brow.
With a mischievous smirk, Sean waved his fingers… and Ozpin felt Magic for the second time that day. Despite himself, Ozpin's breath caught in his throat. His mind went utterly blank. He knew Sean didn't have Magic before. But it was as impossible to deny now as it was simply impossible tobe. Ozpin felt as if the world he knew was collapsing around and rebuilding itself around him, all at the queer whims of Sean Caine-Arc.
"Hehehehhhhhh~…" And Ozpin laughed, long and strained. "Sean, since you seem to have returned with 'impossible' leaking out of your ears… That promise you mentioned earlier? The one that would come as a relief? What exactly would that be?"
"That?" Sean's smirk turned languid and surprisingly understanding. "Just a promise from me and Didi that this incarnation can be your last if you wish it, Oz."
It rang true. Oh-so temptingly, cruelly, shockingly true… Immediately, Ozpin knew Sean would surpass every other shock of his impossible return with that single cryptic promise.
What did Didi say about restless Souls and vacations? Before, Ozpin had tried his best to ignore it. Now, it resonated with him. A vacation for his restless Soul… after so, so very long… Backed by something ENDLESS, Ozpin felt the first ember of hope in a dozen incarnations spark to life within his chest.
Outwardly, though, he simply sipped his cocoa, "Hmm. Yes, that would be nice. If you're offering the promise, I think I'd like to hold you to it, Sean. I suppose the only thing I can do is wish you and your Death the best of luck. If you're trying what I suspect you're trying, you'll need it."
IIIII
— Sean —
"That went… well…?" Barbara half-said, half-asked.
"It did," I confirmed with a chuckle. "Especially for ol' Oz, though I doubt he knows how to react even now. Still, he got four new students, two new professors, and a TA. And that's without the revival of Magic from his perspective and the new hope that there is a solution to his situation. We got everything we wanted, and Ozpin got benefits he couldn't have known to expect."
"What's his deal, by the way?" Jason asked. "There were a few exchanges there that didn't translate all that well for the rest of us."
"Oh, he's a reincarnator like Sean," Didi answered nonchalantly.
"A local one," I clarified. "I'm… decidedly extra-local. But yes, Ozpin is something of a serial reincarnator himself. Just confined to Remnant and its history. His journey of life and death and life again is one of a noble fight for Humanity's sake… Against his ex-wife…"
"σ(￣,￣)" Cass scratched her head. 'Huh. She hot?'
"Terrifyingly so," I nodded. "It's a twisted sort of hotness, though. Ozpin may be a reincarnator, but Salem's curse of immortality manifests in the more traditional way. An unbroken, maddening line of life from an age long lost. Now, she's an eternal and undying lady of destruction. For most intents and purposes, she's the goddess of the Grimm-tide. Her ultimate longing for Death, she takes out on Humanity. She hasn't been Human for thousands of years now… So she strives to grant Humanity the fate she can never reach. And with eternity on her side, she's bound to accomplish her vengeful, illogical, genocidal goals eventually."
"… Fuck," Barbara said.
"Hnn, worrisome," Damian muttered.
"She's evil, without a doubt. But she didn't start out that way. It's the kind of evil paved from a road of regrets. Hers is a terrible situation, but…" I trailed off.
"An awfully tragic one as well. Absolute 'freedom' from Death is often no freedom at all," Didi nodded sympathetically. "Thankfully, Sean and I are here to see to it. Let us worry about the poor woman. We've already promised to do so."
"You know, for once, I'm happy to not have to save the world," Jason stated. "It sounds like a stalemate I don't want to insert myself into. We'd be out of our depth, most likely."
"Don't go stressing over nothing, dude. Mom and Dad will handle it," Alice reassured. "It's like… a side-quest for them. Meanwhile, we'll be chillin' in a cool-ass Hunter school."
"I even get to be a TA," She continued with a grin. "Don't worry, you can come to me when you need help."
Jason laughed, "I'll be relying on you, then, Alice-Sensei."
"Mmp~!" Alice squeaked. "G-Goo-… uh, good! As you should!"
Didi and I shared glances and grins at that. I cleared my throat and announced, "Ahem, first, however, we need to get all of you situated. That means school supplies. Chiefly for new Huntsmen and Huntresses? Weapons! Let's get you kids properly armed, Remnant-style."
"… I wholeheartedly support this course of action," Damian said firmly.
"ヽ(o＾▽＾o)ノ" Cass cheered. 'Who could say no to more weapons~?!'
She, Damian, and Jason glanced at Barbara. Barbara scoffed, "Don't look at me like that. I like weapons just as much as any of you. Honestly, I'm offended you doubt me like that."
Damian nodded just once, "As you should."
"Well, start getting creative now," I 'warned'. "Your options will be a bit more extensive than you're used to."
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
"You'll see~…" Chuckling, I set us on course for my favorite mecha-smith in Vale from a life past. The Vacay Vessel ate up the distance like it was nothing. What would've been a decent Bullhead airship ride for the natives was mere minutes of impossible driving for us. As the world outside warped ever-so-slightly, Barbara groaned but didn't complain.
Soon enough, we were stepping out of the van in front of a tortoise-shell-shaped shop on the edges of Vale's commercial and industrial districts. Forge smoke poured out of the shell's 'ass'. I led everyone inside, where they found an odd mix of traditional blacksmith and automated production workshop. There was no lobby or otherwise streamlined ordering station. If you wanted Olyvar's work, you went straight to him.
I led them straight back until we found the smith in question. Olyvar was just as I remembered him. Old, that is. Old, slow, and steady. He was a hunched little man with a long neck that stretched out from the collar of his shirt, longer than anything completely Human should've been. He was hammering a glaive blade into shape, each strike perfectly measured and seeming to crawl down until it hit with deceptive force.
"Sean," Jason deadpanned. "I'm pretty sure that's a turtle man."
"Tortoise," I corrected, blinking. "Did I forget to mention the Faunus?"
"It seems you did," Damian confirmed.
"Oh…" I shrugged and explained. "Well, they're just Humans with a bit extra. Unique animal features or traits. Discriminated against, as you might expect, but not for any good reason. They're just more people."
"(o_O) !" Cass' eyes still went wide. 'Cat ears?! Puppy ears?! Floofy tails?!'
"One of the above for each Faunus, but yeah," I answered. "I've seen all of those features."
"(ﾉ`Д´)ノ" Cass raised her arms in victory. 'Catgirls~! Dogboys~! The dream is REAL~!'
Damian nodded along with her, serious as can be, "Must. Pet. Respectfully."
"They're just regular people in the end," I said. "Olyvar might be part tortoise, in some nebulous way, but he's also just good at what he does."
"'Olyvar' can hear you, Death Knight," Olyvar's croaking voice cut through the noise of his workshop. "But you ain't wrong. Been doing this for a hundred years, and I'll be doing it for a hundred more. Now. Whaddya want?"
"Your work, old man!" I called back. "I've got five new commissions for you. Need them quickly, but I'll handle the prototyping for you. All you've gotta worry about is smithing the final product."
"Right," Olyvar grunted. "Well, until you've got the designs, leave me to my work. Your lien spends well here, but it's not enough to keep me in business alone."
"Will do, old man!" I turned back to the others. "Now, what are we thinking of for Grimm-hunting weapons? Ah, first, I should show you some inspiration. This is a mecha-shift weapon. It's what you'll be creating for yourselves."
I produced my old Huntsman weapon from seemingly nowhere. It had, of course, come along with my initial merger on arrival, like my scroll. But until I needed it, I'd stashed it in a nifty little Soul pocket.
My old baby was a halberd of surprisingly reasonable size. The shaft stood as tall as I did, with the bladed head on top adding another foot. Perfectly practical, without losing out on the reach advantage of a polearm. What looked like chains were draped around the halberd's shaft. They really came into play when the weapon mecha-shifted, as I proceeded to demonstrate.
*CLUNK* *CLICK* *CLANG!*
With a series of mechanical noises, the halberd blade, apart from the spear tip, folded into itself. The shaft shortened itself and folded as well. Suddenly, there was a bolt, a barrel, a receiver, a pistol grip, and a shoulder stock. The 'chains' revealed themselves to be ammo belts. In mere moments, the halberd transformed into a belt-fed light machine gun with the spear tip as a bayonet.
The Bat kids (and Alice) stared and stared and stared. Jason was the one to finally break the silence, "… I am so fucking erect right now."
In a flash, Alice snapped her gaze onto his crotch before realizing what she'd done and looking back away with a squeak, "M-Meep~!"
Thankfully for her, everyone but Didi and I were focused on the machine-halberd.
"So… Mecha-shift means…?" Barbara began.
I nodded, "A functional weapon that mechanically shifts into another functional weapon."
"(˶´ཀ`˶)" Cass was blushing and drooling immediately. 'It's~… beautiful~…'
"Guns… All of the guns, in one," Jason's mind was visibly working, already.
"A blade for every occasion…" Damian sounded like he was having a damn-near sexual awakening.
"That's right," I chuckled. "I know you all have portable Batputers, and that they likely have design software of some kind. Start designing the weapon forms you want. I'll help prototype them, and Olyvar will ensure they fit together in a cohesive whole. Hop to it, now!"
There was a flurry of movement amongst the Bat kids. Jason claimed a crate to sit and work on. Barbara joined him, leaning against each other's backs. Damian quickly found himself perched like a gremlin as high in the workshop as he could reach. A strange position, but it seemed to be where he was most comfortable. Without realizing it, his tongue stuck out slightly in concentration as he got to work. Cass found a robotic arm in the workshop and hung upside down on it from her knees. Just to spit in the face of OSHA standards, most likely. Olyvar grumbled, but since he wasn't using the robotic arm, he didn't stop her.
As the chaos settled into a furious working silence, I gave Alice my attention, "Right, you don't have whatever BatCAD they're working with, so I'll be helping you with your design, Alice. Any thoughts so far?"
Alice worried at her lip, "I don't know, Dad… I'm not, like, a frontliner."
"You're not," I agreed. "And that's okay. I still think you deserve a weapon to call your own."
"Does it have to be complicated like yours?"
"Not necessarily. The mecha-shift doesn't have to change the weapon's form. It can keep the same form while shifting its role in a much less flashy way."
"Yeah, that sounds better… If I'm not a frontliner, I'm… support, right…?"
"Magical support, even."
That made Alice start to smile again, "Yeah! Can I have a staff?"
"Whatever you want, Alice," I confirmed and encouraged. "Remnant has something called 'Dust'. Essentially, 'not-Magic' energy powder with elemental or conceptual affinities."
Alice snorted slightly, "That sounds pretty Magical to me, Dad."
"Doesn't it just?" I chuckled. "Regardless of the semantics, your staff can function with Dust, and 'shift' to different kinds and different attack styles."
"So… 'not-Magical' haymakers vs. AoE vs. Like, debuffs or something?" Alice asked. "Yeah, that sounds good. Sounds awesome, actually. I'll be the Black Mage on the backlines."
"Then, all that's left is the aesthetics," I said, grinning mischievously. "How about something like this~?"
I wove a quick illusion for Alice to see. Starting from the top, there was a wide-spoke circle set vertically, with space in each spoke to store Dust. Skeletal wings extended from either side of the circle, and a grinning skull was set in the middle. Continuing down, the shaft was midnight black with sparkles like stars all along its length. Only, it ended a bit too soon for Alice's liking…
"That's a wand, Dad," Alice deadpanned. "You're trying to make me into a Magical Girl, aren't you?"
Didi cut in, "Oh, I think it's just precious~!"
"Mooooommm~…" Alice whined. "We're going for intimidating, not precious!"
Didi cocked her head, "But that's what the skull is for. See?"
I just barely contained my laughter as Alice caved to Didi's enthusiasm, "Hrnn… Fine. But make it a proper staff, at least. Not a wand. I'm a Black Mage, not a Magical Girl!"
Didi cooed and hugged her, "You'll always be my Magical Girl, little one."
I lost the fight against my laughter with that and waved myself away, leaving Alice looking horrified, comfortable, and conflicted, most of all, in Didi's arms. Knowing Didi, she'd get her way, no matter how Alice tried to resist. Black Magical Girl Alice was a rather amusing prospect to have on the horizon.
Still laughing, I took myself right over to Jason and Barbara to check up on them, "Alright, you two, how's it coming?"
Barbara's eyes swung up to meet mine with a scary look in them, "Sean… How 'extensive' would you say mecha-shifting can be?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to elaborate on that question a bit, Babs," I said.
She huffed, "… I couldn't decide on one traditional weapon form, much less two. So I'm not going to bother. I'm going to make my utility belt mecha-shift."
I blinked, "Well, color me impressed. That's a terrifyingly versatile idea. I'm afraid you'll have to take up much of the specifics with Olyvar, though. I'm no mecha-smith. He'll be able to tell you what's feasible and what's not."
"Then, I'm going to prepare as many options as I can manage to present him with," Barbara grumbled determinedly.
"And you, Jason?" I asked.
Barbara snorted before he could reply, "Heh, it's exactly what you'd expect from this lunk."
"It's a tool for killing the shadow demon-beast enemies of Humanity!" Jason defended himself. "Guns are just the most efficient way to do that!"
"Also," I added with a smirk. "Guns are cool. There's no denying 'trigger pull, go boom'. They're all the ancient, primal pleasure of throwing rocks at our foes, with the added flair of harnessed explosions."
"Exactly!" Jason exclaimed. "I'm thinking dual pistols that link together into a submachine gun, lengthen into a long rifle, or can be stacked side by side and loaded with special shells for a double-barrel effect!"
"You're a man who knows what he wants," I chuckled. "I can respect that, Jason. I'll leave you two to that. Finish up in five?"
I got dismissive nods from both of them, instantly focused back up on their designs, and moved on. With a hum, a step, and a twist of space, I appeared on Damian's perch behind him, peeking over his shoulder.
"A sword," I nodded. "As expected. What else is there to it?"
"Nothing else," Damian grunted. "I need nothing else. Only a blade for every occasion."
"… If that's the route you want to take, I won't stop you," I said.
"… Look," Damian didn't show it much, but he was surprisingly excited to show off his work. "It will be a messer, a feder, a rapier, and even a zweihänder. I will be able to slash, stab, and make space, switching as I wish. I am… quite satisfied."
"And in the end, that's all that really matters, bud," I patted Damian on the head. He'd likely deny it, but he leaned into the touch and almost purred.
Dismounting Damian's perch with a step, I muttered to myself, "Now, to see what the Chaos Gremlin has come up with…"
Walking over to where Cass hung from her chosen robotic arm, I asked, "Whatcha got for me, Cass?"
"(〃•́ω•̀〃)" Cass gave me a little blush and a look of consideration. 'It's, uh… nothing complicated or really that impressive…'
"Really?" I blinked.
"(⇀ . ↼;)" Cass adopted an expression of slight consternation. 'I don't think I'm really cut out for creative engineering…'
"But you do have something?" I clarified. Cass nodded, and I continued. "Then, that's enough. Ultimately, this is your weapon, Cass. Just show me what you've come up with."
"(„ಡωಡ„)" Cass blushed and looked away. 'Okay… Don't laugh?'
"Never."
Swinging herself off the robotic arm, Cass flipped in mid-air and landed perfectly. She then proceeded to show me a simple but terrifying design. It borrowed the usual and proven Batarangs. But it arranged them in a specially designed ammunition pouch. At the top of the pouch, there was a spool of wire, what looked like a power supply connected to the wire, and an inbuilt launcher.
"ヽ(￣ω￣)ゝ" Cass explained with big, almost frantic gestures. 'Batarangs + some kind of cutting monowire. They can be connected or each thrown freely. I'll be able to electrify and heat the monowire for extra effect. It keeps my hands otherwise free, and there's even a launcher for if I can't manage to throw for whatever reason.'
"This…" I said slowly and genuinely. "Would make you an absolute terror to fight, Cass. Essentially, knives thrown with eviscerating wire, and a thermal or stunning component, too. I don't see why you were ashamed of this, to be honest."
"(´.• ω •.`)" Cass' mood and expression shifted for the better. 'Really~? You think it's enough? It's not complicated and probably doesn't take advantage of the tech well enough…'
"Doesn't have to be," I shook my head in approval. "Batarangs are proven to work, already. And monowire can be utterly vicious. If you can control it, you'll be tearing Grimm apart in no time. And even with Aura, I'd hesitate to go up against this as a Human opponent."
"(・・ ) ?" Cass cocked her head. 'What's Aura?'
I paused at that question, and a realization came over me, "Ah. That's on me. Let's get Olyvar working on all of these designs and then I'll explain it to everyone."
I went about doing just that, shaking my head to myself the whole while. In the excitement of our initial arrival, I'd pushed Aura to the side. But it was even more important than getting Alice and the Bat kids' mecha-shift weapons. Shame on me, forgetting the Light of the Soul.
"(◎ ◎)" Curiosity had Cass trailing after me like a duckling. I gathered everyone up again and gave Olyvar our desired designs. After a curt clarifying conversation with Barbara, Olyvar grunted.
"It's doable. I'll make 'em happen. Now, shove off and let me get to work."
Nodding, I turned to everyone else, "Alright, that'll take a little while. We've got time to kill in the meantime."
"Ah," Jason nodded as well. "The old 'Price, Quality, Speed, pick two' dilemma. I guess we'll just have to wait a few days for the results."
"Not that long," I waved dismissively. "With Olyvar, we pick Quality and Speed. The Price is enough to bankrupt most Huntsman twice over, as a result, but it's my money you're spending. So don't worry about it."
"Our smith is a tortoise," Damian flatly pointed out.
"Exactly," I nodded. "And slow and steady wins the race. Old Olyvar doesn't make mistakes in his process. He makes progress. Your new weapons will be done by the end of the day. Guaranteed. But until then, there's something I forgot to share with all of you."
"Should we be worried?" Barbara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Are 'not-Magic' superpowers with quite literally no downsides worrisome?" I shot back another question.
"…" Barbara paused. "They should be. But you have my attention and interest, now."
"Perfect," I grinned. "Now, the new Humanity stands alone against the Grimm-tide. But never completely powerless. And that… that's thanks to a unique aspect of this world's metaphysics: Aura, the Light of the Soul."
Didi blinked, "Is that what I've been sensing? I thought it was strange how some Souls here shined so brightly…"
"It is," I confirmed. "Aura… the burning beacon, the glowing manifestation of one's Soul. It's unique to everyone, and uniquely beneficial to the individual, as a result. It is your Soul, after all. It's you, the very core of your being, empowered. It can't harm you any more than your normal, healthy heartbeat can. But you can be Didi-damned sure it will help."
"That… seems useful," Damian stated the obvious. "Even Father wouldn't refuse such a superpower. It is still the make of him as a man, no artificial enhancement or grand mystic fortune… I'm in."
"I don't know…" Jason muttered. "It sounds sort of… ethereal? Nebulous and vague."
"It's anything but," I chuckled. "For something called the 'Light of the Soul', it's a surprisingly concrete and quantifiable phenomenon. It can be measured, improved, and consistently awakened — both by yourself and someone else. With Aura, there's a definite method to the so-called madness."
"What an oddly advanced aspect of this world," Didi considered aloud. "Soul science is no small feat, even if it's limited to awakening, improving, and measuring what's already there."
"I-…" I began and brought myself up short as I really thought about it. "Huh. You're right. I hadn't thought about it, but for a world with faded Magic, the widespread and institutional awakening of the Soul is rather impressive…"
"Regardless, Aura is invaluable," I shook my head, continuing. "Once awakened, Aura will shield the physical, along with enhancing it. It can be used for defense, offense, self-healing, sensing, and even movement. Aura and momentum interact… oddly, but I'll leave that for you to discover yourselves. That is, if you're still interested…?"
Damian stepped up to me without hesitation, "You already convinced me. Let us begin. What must I do?"
"Nothing much," I chuckled fondly. "The leverage is mostly on my end here. Some people use a chant, but that's more of a religious thing than anything practically necessary. If you were awakening it yourself, you'd have to go on a whole soul-searching training montage. But in this case, there's nothing wrong with the shortcut method. Self-actualized or not, your Soul responds to YOU. ALONE."
As I said that last line, I booped Damian on the head. It was an intimate thing, but no more than his usual headpats. A touch of nurture, like a big brother, not a lover. My will reached within him to give his Soul a bit of a kickstart. The long-engraved metaphysical pathways of self-actualization in this reality did the rest. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Damian's Soul was halfway there already. If he were native to Remnant, he would've awakened his Aura years ago.
Damian's Soul stirred. His Aura awakened, yawning and stretching over his physical form like a lazy cat. A black flame turning red at the edges, it settled there over, within, and without him. Content. Complete. A shield. An enhancement. An unextinguishable Light of his Soul.
Awakened and self-actualized, Damian simply hummed, "Hmm. Yes. Just. Yes."
I grinned knowingly, "Like stretching a muscle you didn't know you had, right~?"
Off to the side, Didi was beaming, "Oh, this I simply must try~! Alice~? Alice, come here, please~?"
Alice obliged, and I felt that awakening process clearly. Didi's spiritual touch was gentle but firm. Resolute and unimpeachable. Where I gave Damian's Soul a bit of a kick, Alice's Soul did its best to practically leap into Didi's ever-inviting arms. She backed off just as quickly as she came, but the result was certainly permanent. Alice's Aura came out wholly black and woke with force, as if it smelled a pot of coffee.
"Woah…" Alice muttered. "Uh, thanks, Mom."
Didi's smile somehow spread wider on her face, "A pleasure and a blessing, little one. Always."
"( = ⩊ = )" Cass skipped up to me with lidded eyes and a smirk. 'Me next~…'
I booped and kick-started her as well. Cass' Aura flared dull gold, and she reacted with it. She hit a flip with casual ease and came up in a victory pose.
"(*^^)V" 'Soul power-u geto~!'
"Whatever," Barbara rolled her eyes, but came up to me next. "C'mon, Sean. Wake me up inside."
Laughing with a hint of mischief, I leaned forward and stole a kiss as I awakened her Aura. Barbara froze. Her Soul surged, purple and flustered. When she recovered, Barbara glared at me.
"Stupid, sexy Sean…"
"If I'm gonna be messing around with my Soul, I want Death to do it," Jason, surprisingly, chose Didi to awaken his Aura. It appeared around him in a reverse of Damian's, red-cored and black at the edges.
When everyone was awakened, I spoke again, "Aside from the baseline benefits, Aura also comes with a Semblance: an ability unique to every individual. Normally, discovering it is a matter of trial and error. But Didi and I should be able to expedite the process somewhat."
"No need, Dad," Alice said. "I can already feel mine. It feels like my Magic, but slightly-… It's like a different… medium, I guess. Yeah. I bet I can copy and borrow Semblances like I can copy and borrow Magic."
"Good job, Alice," I shot her a proud smile before turning back to the bat kids. "Now, for the rest of you…"
I looked Damian in the eye, "… The perfect cut."
I looked past Barbara's glare, "… Preparatory perfection."
I looked into Jason and paused, "… Nonlethal, actually. You won't kill unless you absolutely mean to."
I looked toward Cass… and blinked when I couldn't find her for a moment, "… Oh, that'll be entertaining. Sure. Give the Chaos Gremlin supernatural stealth. Why not?"
Horror dawned on Barbara, Jason, Alice, and even Damian's faces, "Oh. Fuck."
"(✧ω✧)" Cass popped back into everyone's perception with stars in her eyes. 'I'm invincible~!'
"Invisible," Damian absently corrected, still coming to terms with the coming chaos.
"\(★ω★)/" Cass cheered. 'Yeah, invincible~! That's what I said! Catch me if you can!'
She proceeded to disappear again. Right before everyone's eyes. And the horror only mounted.
Didi was giggling up a storm to herself, "We've-… Hehe~, We've released a great and terrible evil onto this world, Dear."
"Doom, my Death~…" I nodded and sighed, forlornly, regretfully, dramatically. "Unknowingly, I've doomed us all."
As if to punctuate that terrible truth, Cass popped up out of stealth again behind Damian. She grabbed him, mimed holding a dagger, and viciously 'stabbed' him before he could react.
"( `ω´ )۶▭ι══ﺤ" Cass chanted. 'Throat-stab, throat-stab, throat-stab~!'
Then, between one blink and the next, she was gone once more… And I couldn't help but play into the new era of chaos, "Huh… Must've been the wind."
IIIII
[AN: Just a heads up: I'm going to be taking next week off from posting. No disasters or anything, just life stuff getting busy for next week, and I'll be traveling. The usual schedule will resume on the 6th of June. Thank you for your patience :]