Chapter 18: Past and Future

Patch Island

"And? And?" Autumn asked eagerly, her amber eyes opening up so wide it seemed they would pop right out of their sockets. "What happened next?" Her little feet were trembling with excitement as they stood precariously on the edge of her seat.

Summer smiled at the young girl's enthusiasm. "Well, I'd like to say I fought off all those Grimm by myself, but the truth is I got overwhelmed within seconds. I was just about ready to give up, but as luck would have it, Qrow showed up just in time." She chuckled at the memory, before continuing with her story. "That would've been embarrassing...to get killed during initiation."

"Heh heh heh…" Autumn giggled. "That's so cute, mommy! And then the two of you became best, best friends, right?"

"N...not immediately. It took some time to get used to him….or, um, for him to get used to me? Either way, we didn't exactly hit it off from the start, but eventually we learned to get along." Oops. I made it sound like we're some old married couple. Summer sighed, expecting a fresh barrage of teasing from Autumn in the coming days.

Suddenly, Autumn put up her hands, and clasped in her fingers was a large medallion with a lotus pattern. "Look what I found in your cupboard today!" she laughed. "This is what you got for winning the tournament last year, right? It looks really pretty!" She tried to spin it on her fingertip, but it fell off.

"D-don't touch that!" Summer quickly reached out and grabbed the medallion before it could fall to the floor. "Whew," she muttered, gently brushing it as she glanced at Autumn with a look of sharp disapproval. "How many times have I told you not to look around in my stuff, young lady?" she asked sternly. "This medallion is an important piece of Remnant's history!"

In truth, it likely had no real monetary value. At the end of the school year, Team STRQ had agreed to split their winnings from the Vytal Festival Tournament - one hundred thousand Lien equated to twenty-five thousand for each of them. Qrow had protested at first, claiming that the money should be divided based on overall contribution to the team, but Raven and Tai were quick to point out that that would leave him with the least of them all. He had no further objections after that.

It was unanimously agreed that Summer should keep both the trophy and the medallion, as both their leader and the one who had won them the final match. She glanced over to the cupboard across the room, where the beautiful, ornately-crafted trophy sat behind a pane of glass, slowly collecting dust. And on the table beside it, the picture of her team, standing tall and proud after their victory.

This is our last year, huh? Of course she'd always known that, but it was as if the realization was only just setting in. Soon, Summer Rose and her teammates would no longer be students. They would be genuine Huntsmen, and the whole world would be open to them. No longer would they have adults to rely on for help - because they would be those adults themselves. Just the thought of all the possibilities ahead of her was making her head spin.

Summer's thought process was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. "Stay here, I'll get it," she said to Autumn as she got up. She walked over to the door, placing the medallion back in its cabinet as she passed by. Could it be Tai? Or maybe Qrow and Raven, she thought as she put her hand on the doorknob. She didn't get many visitors other than her teammates and the occasional door-to-door salesman.

Excited, she opened the door. The person waiting outside wasn't Tai, nor was it either of the Branwen twins.

It was Luka Branwen.

Summer blinked, her mouth opening in surprise. "Oh…" she gasped, staring at the thin, bespectacled man that stood before her,shivering slightly in the cold. Small piles of snow had gathered on his hair and shoulders. "Professor Branwen? I...this is really a surprise."

"Miss Rose." Luka smiled at her, giving a brisk nod as his gaze moved around the small house in the middle of the forest. "You've certainly found yourself a nice place, haven't you? Is it alright if I come in? I could use a good cup of hot chocolate to warm my nerves."

Summer nodded. "O-of course." She gestured inside the house, letting the old archeologist in. He sighed in relief as he entered the heat-conditioned interior, brushing off some snow onto the welcome mat. "Ahh, that's much better," Luka muttered.

"Mommy! Who is it?" Autumn was practically charging down the hall toward them. "...Huh?" she careened to halt at the sight of the unfamiliar man. "Um...who's this? I-I don't recognize him…"

"Don't worry about it- he's a friend," Summer reassured the girl. Autumn glanced up at Luka, her amber eyes still clouded in suspicion. "H-hello, mister."

Luka smiled kindly at her, leaning down to give her a casual pat on the head. "Well hello, little one. I believe you must be Autumn, yes? Qrow told me about you...it seems you're every bit as precious as he said."

"Qrow? Oh!" Autumn's face broke out into a wide grin. "You must be Qrow and Raven's dad, right? You have the same hair and eyes!"

"Hah, quite the observation skills you have, young lady. But alas, I'm not that fortunate. I'm their uncle, Professor Branwen - but please, call me Luka." He pulled himself a seat, glancing around the interior of Summer's house as she prepared some hot chocolate for the three of them. "You know, I never got the chance to properly congratulate you for your stupendous victory during the tournament. I had a feeling, you know, from the moment I met you, that you were capable of great things."

"Oh...thanks, Professor," Summer said, flushing slightly red at the sudden praise. She watched the water kettle boil on the stove, while behind her she heard Luka and Autumn converse like good friends.

"Are you a Huntsman too, Mr. Luka?" Autumn asked, excitement in her voice. The professor let out a chuckle. "No, no, I'm afraid I was never quite fit for that occupation. But while others were busy training their bodies, I trained my mind. I know quite a bit about the world from my travels - things that a child like you might benefit from knowing. For instance, the financial stability of a Huntsman operating out of Vale is roughly five percent lower than that of…" Luka continued, but Summer had lost interest.

Once she had poured the boiling water into three cups and stirred the cocoa powder and sugar into the mix, Summer carried the tray to her table and laid it in front of Autumn and her guest. "Thank you very much. I rather needed this after that long walk," said Luka, taking a generous sip of his drink.

"So, um, what brings you here, Professor?" Summer asked.

"Mm, little more than a casual visit. I came to Patch to do some research, and I remembered you lived in the area." As he spoke, his eyes moved over to something behind her. "Ah, pardon me for asking, but...are you religious, Miss Rose?"

"Huh?" Summer was taken aback. "Um, not really. Why…?" She turned to see what Luka was staring at - an oil painting hung up on her wall, depicting the Two Brothers creating humanity. The gods were standing with her hands out, touching a large silver orb that was shooting four bright comets in various directions. "Oh...that's just something pretty I bought with my tournament winnings. I don't really believe in that old story or anything."

"I see." Luka smiled at the painting. "And you're quite right - it is a lovely piece of work. It's fascinating, isn't it? That we, as humans, pour such love and passion into honouring deities that might not even exist. In fact, I would argue their dedication to their craft shows more of their own merits, rather than that of these 'gods'."

"...I guess so," said Summer, sitting down and taking a sip of cocoa.

Autumn slurped her drink, the warm liquid dribbling down her chin and onto the table. "I love the Tale of The Two Brothers! It's so sweet that they put aside their differences in the end and worked together to create the world!" she said happily. "It's my favourite fairy tale!"

"A fairy tale…" Luka chuckled. "That's a good way of putting it. "Beautiful and uplifting, but ultimately fiction. Tales to comfort children." A hint of disdain entered his normally kindly voice as he said that last bit. "But then again, finding someone who is truly religious is rare nowadays. I have confidence that one day, our society will move past this foolish phase."

Afterward, the conversation turned to more casual topics. Summer's immediate plans after graduating from Beacon (she honestly wasn't sure), if Autumn intended to go to Signal Academy next year, once she was of age ("Yes!", the girl agreed enthusiastically) and other banter. It was almost sundown when Luka finally watched looked at his watch and exclaimed, "My goodness, would you look at the time? I'm afraid I must be on my way now - and I'm truly sorry to have intruded on your free time."

"No, no, it's really fine," Summer said, smiling. "It was good to have you over, Professor."

Luka made his way to the front door, waving back to her as he walked out. "Give Qrow and Raven my regards when you see them, won't you? Let them know their poor old uncle's still looking out for them." He closed the door behind him.

"He's such a nice man," Autumn smiled. "Hey mommy, wanna train now?" Since the break had started, Summer had begun teaching the girl how to wield a bow just like her, in preparation for enrolling at Signal.

"Hmm, it's a bit late, but...alright," Summer conceded. "But just for a short while, ok?"

And so she spent the next twenty or so minutes throwing snowballs into the air, while Autumn tried shooting them out of the sky with a wooden bow that Summer had made for her. Every time she managed to hit one, Summer cheered for her, and gave the girl one of her homemade cookies. At some point, it devolved into a snowball fight that ended with both of them lying in the snow, laughing.

"Okay, that's enough," Summer chuckled, getting up and picking Autumn up, brushing snow out of her hair. "I don't want you to catch a cold, you know. Let's get in and have some dinner. How does spaghetti and meatballs sound?" Grinning from ear to ear, the girl nodded her head in agreement.

Once I graduate, I'll be able to spend all of my time taking care of her, Summer thought. She was looking forward to it. Those thoughts made her think of Beacon, and her teammates. I can't wait to see them again. Raven, Tai, and… She paused for a moment as a glowing warmth made its way up her body and into her face. After a moment, she realized that she was blushing. Summer shook her head and, carrying Autumn in her arms, made her way into the house.

From up above, perched in a tree, the young boy watched the two of them walk out of sight. "So that's how it is, huh…" Rok muttered, a mischievous smile on his face. "Now this will be interesting."

Beacon Academy

The fourth and final year at Beacon passed by all too soon. Summer was pleasantly surprised, and just a tad disappointed - perhaps she'd become far too accustomed to foiling evil plots and uncovering conspiracies over her time at the academy. But it wasn't long before she embraced this newfound peace, just going from class to class, day by day, where the most dangerous thing she had to worry about was handing in assignments on time, and maintaining a good average in her classes.

Of course, the one thing that hadn't changed at all was that she had her friends beside her to help her get through it all. Every time she had trouble with a question on her homework, Raven would be there with the answers for her to hastily copy down. On break, she and Tai would spar together in the training room, where Summer kept improving her close combat skills and Tai learned to better fight a long-range opponent. She found herself spending more and more time with Qrow, working together on late-night studying - which usually ended in them getting off-track one way or another - or going shopping on the weekends.

And as the days passed, Summer could see the difference in her friends' behaviour toward each other. She couldn't pin down exactly when it had become common knowledge, but at some point the whole academy (or at least those who cared) knew that Raven Branwen and Taiyang Xiao Long were dating. Qrow was, of course, nonplussed by this, and Summer herself felt a tinge of envy when she saw the two of them together. If I'd been bolder, maybe I'd be the one holding his hand right now, she would tell herself. She got over it soon enough, though it was still awkward to wander into the dorm after hours and catch the two of them making out.

All too quickly, the final stretch of the school year arrived. In just a couple weeks, all of the fourth-year students would be taking their final exams, to determine if they were truly ready for their lives as full Huntsmen. Every day, fewer students showed up to class, electing to stay in their dorms and cram as much knowledge as they could into their heads, or train until their arms and legs turned to jelly.

And so it was that Summer found herself in the training room with her feet strapped in place with metal chains, while being bombarded from all directions with bullets, laser beams and knives. Team HTHR had made her into their personal training target, with Heather, Regal and Herman shooting at her mercilessly, and Torrence watching serenely in the back. Summer swiftly moved her bow around, shooting as many projectiles as she could, nearly giving herself whiplash in the process.

Of course, with everything flying at her all at once, it was impossible to block everything. "Ow! Ow! O-okay, that's enough!" she yelped as her body was pelted with gunfire, her Aura struggling to absorb the damage. Team HTHR ceased their assault, and Heather undid the straps on Summer's legs. The moment she was free, Summer fell forward, her face hitting the cold floor. "...Ow."

"Not bad, not bad," Regal grinned, picking his knives off the floor and wiping them with a silk handkerchief. "I'd expect nothing less from Miss Champion herself."

"Uh...did we hurt you that bad?" Herman asked anxiously, gingerly poking Summer as she lay face-first on the floor. "Helloooo….? Answer me?"

"Yeah...I'm fine," she groaned, pulling herself back up.

"You really did do well, though," said Heather, smiling. She stayed by Summer's side as her teammates retreated to their locker room. "I'm sure you'll do just fine on the exam. I must admit, I find it hard to believe you're the same shy girl I met on initiation day, nearly four years ago." She reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope. "On another note, I received this letter today. It's from my sister, Aurora. I honestly thought I'd never hear from her again!"

Heather showed Summer the envelope's contents - a photograph and a piece of browning parchment with neat, cursive handwriting inscribed on it. Hello, Heather! I hope you're doing well! I'm sorry that I haven't been home lately, but I promise I'll be back soon. Shall I treat you to one of your favourite cocktails when I return? I have so much I want to tell you. Your dear sister, Aurora. "Ha. 'Haven't been home lately'." Heather chuckled, a hint of bitterness in her tone. "I suppose she's so busy she thinks five years is a short time…"

The photo showed a much younger Heather, smiling next to a girl that Summer guessed was Aurora Fox. She was incredibly beautiful, with long, golden hair flowing majestically down her back, smooth pale skin, and bright eyes as blue as a clear sky. She had one of those rare smiles that immediately brought comfort to anyone to whom it was directed, and it let you know that everything was going to be alright. Summer found herself staring at her - there was no doubt in her mind. This was the girl who had spoken at her old school, all those years ago.

"Well, at any rate, we might as well head to Grimm Studies class. We'll likely be the only ones there, so we'll have a free study period!" Taking the envelope back, Heather left the training room, humming cheerfully to herself. In a slight daze, Summer followed her.

She hadn't had the heart to tell Heather the truth about her father. Assuming she'd even believe her, it wouldn't help in any way. If anything, it would just crush the other girl's spirits. And Summer wanted to keep Heather out of this conflict - especially now that family was involved.

As Heather predicted, the classroom was mostly empty. In front of row upon row of unoccupied seats, Professor Port stood chatting with, of all people, Ozpin. Herman, Regal and Torrence were already seated, chatting about the upcoming exams. Heather bid Summer a quick farewell and went to join her teammates, while Summer went over to where her own team was waiting for her.

Raven was leaning on Tai's shoulder while reading her book. Qrow noticed his partner arriving, and waved to her with a grin. "Hey, about time you showed up," he greeted her as she took her seat. "You're not lookin' so good. Did Heather kick your ass again?"

"I'm fine," Summer replied, though her chest and shoulders were indeed still aching from the pain. "So, did I miss anything?"

"Nah. Port's just rambling off as usual." Qrow stretched his legs out onto the table in front of him and yawned. "Then again, I wouldn't bother coming here if it weren't for the funny shit he spouts all the time." Sure enough, Professor Port was currently recounting an outlandish tale of how, as a first-year student, he had wrestled an Ursa Major to death with his bare hands, before ripping its head off and mounting it on his wall.

"In my dreams, I can still hear its terrible scream haunting me!" Port said, his voice booming around the classroom. "But a Huntsman must never remain in the past. He must look forward, and face all the obstacles the future throws at him, with his head held high!" He enthusiastically struck a superhero pose, all the students in the room let out short bursts of laughter.

Beside Port, Professor Ozpin chuckled. "Quite the story, Peter," he said, "though I'm afraid the school's official records contradict your narrative. I'm sure you know that spreading misinformation is against the code of a professor, yes?" There was no malice in his voice, but Port cringed a little as he stroked his thick, golden moustache.

"Your professor is not wrong, though," Ozpin added, his gaze moving over the small clusters of students gathered in their seats. "Now, more than ever, you all must look forward to the future and confront it, hardships and all. I do hope you've all been studying w-"

The headmaster's lecture was cut off by the abrupt sound of the classroom door being shoved open and slamming into the wall. Professor Forrester entered the room, breathing heavily, her normally neat hair in a tangled mess. She glanced wildly around the classroom. "P-Professor Ozpin," she gasped, her words flying out of her shaking mouth. "I-I...it's really bad, and I...I...u-umm, well, this is awkward…"

"...Fie." Frowning, Ozpin turned to face her, his eyes narrowing in concern from the look of sheer panic on his subordinate's face. "Please, calm down. Explain what's troubling you right now. You didn't release Griffons into the auditorium again, did you?"

Forrester shook her head. "No. It's…" She took a deep breath, regaining her composure as she continued. "We just got a report from the Council branch in Vacuo...and things don't look pretty. Looks like you were right, Headmaster - about everything. We need to get over there, and fast."

She turned her gaze to the students, who were all staring at her in confused apprehension. "I hate to ask this, but would anyone like to accompany us?" she asked. "Preferably someone who's not afraid to die?"

60+ YEARS AGO…

Vacuo Dust Mines

"This is what we've been fighting for, men! Everything has been leading up to this one moment! It's time we show those scumbags what it means to defy our law! Remember, above all, to show no mercy!" The officer raised his rifle into the air and fired. "For the glory of Mantle!" He howled, and beneath him, his men repeated the cry. "For Mantle! For Mantle! FOR MANTLE!"

Their cries continued, unwavering, as they marched in uniform motion out of their camp. General Desmond Onyx watched his men with pride rising in his heart. Hundreds of his soldiers, bearing the signature white uniform of Mantle's army, were marching side by side with men and women clothed in bright blue armour - garments from a Mistralian forge. The Kingdoms of Mantle and Mistral had constantly disagreed with each other over the size of their orders, their cultures, and other political matters. Even before the war had begun, they'd fought against each other more than any man could care to count.

Yet today, men of both Mantle and Mistral were marching alongside each other like family. The colour of their uniforms was irrelevant to the fact that they were fighting for the same great cause. To General Onyx, who had spent more of his life in battle than outside of it, this seemed like nothing short of a miracle.

Hope and determination filling his heart, Onyx returned to his own company. "Remember the plan," he yelled to the soldiers, who were standing at attention before him. "We'll rendezvous with General Soma at the entrance, then move in. Target the central digging spots of the mines - wherever you can find Dust." He slammed his finger down on various marked points on the map. "We need to destroy it - all of it. And that'll attract our enemies...so keep an eye out for them, and kill them before they can kill you!" He raised his voice. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"Sir, yes sir!" His men shouted in reply. With their general leading them, they began to march along with the rest of the battalion. The soldiers made their way out of the camp and into the treacherous desert. As if fate herself were against them, a terrible sandstorm had begun roaring mere minutes before their march began. The soldiers blocked out the raging, sandy winds with their helmets and goggles, but those who had been careless enough to leave their equipment back at camp were out of luck. Crying and whimpering could be heard even through the wind, of tired men who just wanted to return home to their families. Yet even so, the battalion marched on, with not a single soldier straying from his duty.

Onyx marched at the front of it all, taking the brunt of the storm as he clenched his teeth, moving step by agonized step toward his destination. So it seemed that luck would not be on his side today - but Lady Luck could go and fuck herself. He had his team with him - people he knew would fight not only for him, but with him. For every single one of them, he could remember their full name, the town they'd been born in, whether they were married, and every job they'd ever had. These men and women were his family, and they were the best team Onyx could ask for.

After what felt like an eternity, Onyx's forces reached the entrance to the Dust mines. About a hundred more men stood waiting for them, saluting as their comrades approached. The one leading them, a tall, thin man with a sleek black beard and bushy eyebrows, walked toward Onyx as a wrinkled hand emerged from his robe. "Desmond. I see you're right on time, as always."

"Same to you, Yi." Smiling, Onyx shook the other general's hand. Yi Soma, the grand general of Mistral's army, was a man of renowned achievement and ability, even among his enemies. Onyx had first met him in battle, in the Mantle-Mistral conflict five years ago. A silly, meaningless battle over some inconsequential land on Mistral's border. He had been but a colonel then, and he had personally slaughtered dozens of Soma's men. Yet now, the two of them greeted each other like lifelong friends.

"This moment has been a long time coming, hasn't it?" Soma chuckled, giving him a hearty slap on the back. "I must admit, I'm saddened that this will be the last battle of our partnership. The next time we meet, we could very well be enemies again."

"Now, now, no need for such pessimism," Onyx replied. "No matter what side he takes, a warrior's love and respect for his equals will never fade. Now then, it's time we seized glory for our kingdoms!"

The forces of Vacuo had erected a barricade at the entrance to their mines, but the combined forces of the two armies was more than enough to break it down. As the explosives sent Vacuo's final defenses crumbling to dust, the forces of Mantle and Mistral charged into battle, with their generals leading the charge.

The sounds of gunfire rang through the ever-raging storm, sending screams of pain into the air. Clad in their light-brown uniforms, the army of Vacuo tried to blend into the sandy environment to gain the upper hand. But it was fruitless, as they simply found themselves overwhelmed by two vastly larger and more advanced armies. Within minutes, the sands were stained red with blood, and victory seemed imminent.

"Sir!" a young Mistralian ran toward Onyx and Soma as they fought side by side. Onyx recognized him as the son of a carpenter from Shion Village. "What is it, private?" he asked.

"R-Reinforcements - Vale's army is coming to help. And th-that's not all, either. They're being led by-" His body jerked sideways as an arrow struck him in the head, and he fell lifelessly to the ground.

"Damn!" General Soma yelled, turning in the direction of the shot. His fan, comprised of long, blade-like quills, opened outward to reveal a gun barrel, firing at the enemy. "It seems those imbeciles are more persistent than I thought. I fear this won't be so easy, friend!"

Onyx swung his enormous sword, sending a wave of dark electricity charging toward a wave of enemy soldiers. "Relax. We've bested Vale and Vacuo at almost every turn. Even the few victories they've salvaged have come at crippling costs." He chuckled. "What could we possibly have to fear?"

The answer to that question stood at the head of Vale's forces as they emerged boldly from the clouds of sand and blood. Every man who saw him recognized him immediately. The crown that lay upon his head. The viridian cape billowing in the wind. The scepter lodged in his belt. And the golden blade he held in his hands. "...Him?" Soma gasped. "The king of Vale himself is leading the charge? What madness would possess him to put his own life on the line…?"

"How opportune!" Onyx grinned. "Once their king has fallen, Vale will be ripe for the taking! I will personally see to it that Mantle's king sits upon his throne."

The Atlesian general would soon learn the foolishness of his boast. His men, and that of General Soma's, ran at the king with their weapons raised and their heads held high. Not moving a foot from where he stood, the king swung his sword, and a beam of pure energy flew toward his enemies, piercing through them like knives through butter, killing them in droves. The king swung again, and again. No matter how many men approached, they were all cut down effortlessly. Onyx and Soma could only watch in horror.

Rallied by their king's display of power, the forces of Vale charged into the fray. The men of Mantle and Mistral continued their attack unflinchingly, running to their deaths without a moment's hesitation. The king now raised his scepter, which glowed from its tip with a white energy. Rays of light flew from the weapon, homing in on his enemies and impaling them.

As if things couldn't get worse, the Grimm were coming, attracted by all the death and despair of the battle. Men were being carried off the battlefield in the claws and beaks of Nevermores. We must end this quickly, Onyx thought desperately. "Come! We can take him together!" he shouted at Soma, and the two friends charged at their foe.

The king saw them coming, and raised his scepter to intercept them. Onyx and Soma deflected the projectiles, but their approach was slowed. With the size of his blade, Onyx could hold off the rays of light by simply holding his weapon ahead of him and charging. Soma, however, was not so fortunate. His old age had caught up to him, and several strikes to his vital points took out his Aura. Finally, it was not an attack from the king of Vale, but a stray arrow from somewhere off in the distance that finally felled the grand general.

And so, Onyx was left to face the king alone. His enemy swung his accursed blade, sending an energy beam in Onyx's direction. The general brought his sword down, creating a dark forcefield around him that nullified the blast.

"...Impressive," the king murmured. His voice was soft, almost meek - unbefitting of a great ruler of nations. "You have Blackstorm Dust encased in your blade? That must take untold amounts of Aura to simply keep it from self-destructing, let alone wield it. As expected from the general of Atlas."

Silently, Onyx pointed his sword at the king, his face clenched in murderous rage. "So you know me, hmm? Even so, allow me to introduce myself, vile king. I am Desmond Onyx, warrior of the Atlesian army. I am father and brother to every good man you and your allies have slain, and it is for their sake that I will spill your blood!" His sword began rumbling with electric energy, black sparks flying off the edges. "My men and I came this far together, all of us - human, Faunus, Atlesian, Mistralian - united under a single banner! And we will never let your evil forces triumph!"

The king only smiled. "Hah…" he chuckled. "Well spoken." And he came at him, sword in hand.

The two warriors fought, each clash of their blades ringing through the ears of every man on the battlefield, the aftershocks producing enough energy to kill nearby men and Grimm. The king swung his blade faster than any man Onyx had ever seen. He could not possibly parry him, so he raised his own blade to block his enemy's attacks. The moment the king stumbled slightly, Onyx swung his blade, crackling with the dark lightning, at full force. To his dismay, the king simply raised his sword defensively, and despite it being a toothpick in comparison to Onyx's blade, it stopped his strike completely. How…? Onyx thought, despairing as he felt his strength whittle away, bit by bit. How can one man be this powerful?

Finally, the king swung his sword again, and this time Onyx was not fast enough. The blade pierced through his chest, stopping inches from his beating heart. "Ugh-!" he grunted, falling to his knees as his sword fell from his hand. As his vision grew blurry, he heard the screams of his men all around him. "General Onyx lost? It can't be!" "It's over!" "P-please! We surrender!"

"...You fought well." Removing his sword, the king knelt down to face his fallen foe. "Had you fought at the height of your strength, our battle may have ended differently."

Onyx was coughing up blood, feeling his life draining away. It wasn't the blade that was killing him; he had survived wounds like this before. Something, some strange force was running havoc inside his body, eating him from the inside out. Was the blade poisoned? I cannot...die here…He looked up, and saw the king raise his scepter. Onyx closed his eyes, waiting for death.

But death never came. The king touched Onyx's forehead with the scepter, and he felt the pain fade away. All sensations left his body at once, and it took all his willpower to not lose consciousness. "There, that's better," said the king. "Come. I know a worthy ally when I see one. With your army's defeat, this war is finally over. Together, we can usher in a time of peace." He held out his hand to Onyx.

Together? What would you know about working together? Onyx felt sensation returning to his body - namely, fury. You never needed allies...your strength alone was enough to ruin everything we worked toward! He opened his mouth to refuse.

Suddenly, he heard a voice. Take his hand… Someone whispered into his ear. Earn his trust...and when he turns his back to you, you can take him down. I can grant you that chance...and all you must do is swear allegiance to me.

"I...I will," Onyx said hoarsely, taking the Vale king's hand. He stared his enemy directly in the face, his eyes betraying nothing. One day, he swore. One day I will destroy you, and this foolish 'peace' you hold so dear.

And so it was that the Great War, the most deadly conflict in recorded history, came to a surprising end. The king of Vale had the chance to unite the entire world of Remnant under his banner, but he refused, leaving the other Kingdoms independent, and abolishing the monarchies. He organized the signing of the peace treaty on Vytal Island, where he and the other leaders agreed on distribution of land. Then, the king granted the continent of Menagerie to the Faunus, out of respect for their contributions during the war. He also founded the four Huntsman Academies, one for each Kingdom, to train the warriors of the future.

But there was another purpose to the Academies - each of them guarded one of the four grand relics owned by the king, said to contain unimaginable power. Onyx, who was appointed as Atlas Academy's headmaster, was one of the few privy to this knowledge. As headmaster, he insisted that his Kingdom continue to expand its military, while the other three became soft, slowly lessening their reliance on the army as Huntsmen and other mercenaries became the more favoured option. Eventually, Mantle was left as the only Kingdom with a dedicated army.

And it was around this time when he first made contact with the Dark Queen, Salem. She whispered her plans into his ear, telling him secrets that even the king would never confide to his allies. Armed with knowledge from both sides, Onyx bided his time, waiting for his chance.

Many, many years had passed. The Kingdom of Mantle had become the Kingdom of Atlas. Onyx had trained that promising youth, Argent Fox, ultimately appointing him to his former position. And even that almighty king was long gone now.

"...Then we must strike at once. This may well be our last chance." Old Headmaster Onyx spoke, stroking his white beard. In front of him, Colonel Ironwood stood solemnly at attention.

"Understood. Still, to think Thane would be planning such a thing," Ironwood muttered. "I'd never have imagined he would collaborate with terrorists. And trying to overthrow the Council? It's unbelievable!"

Onyx sighed. "Maybe it was inevitable...I suppose the pressure of leadership was simply too much for that pathetic man. But there's nothing else to do. Argent and his forces are already poised to strike. Now, go provide their support before it's too late." Nodding curtly, the young colonel left the office.

"...Hah. Foolish boy," the headmaster smiled to himself. "He believed every word we said to him. They really don't make them the way they used to. Well, that will change after today…" Chuckling, Onyx took a sip of his tea.

Oasis District, Kingdom of Vacuo

It was an ordinary day in the Oasis district. A group of young Huntsmen were gathered in the city square, chatting and hitting on attractive women who passed by. They didn't have anything in particular to do at the moment, but work would resume soon. Without a dedicated military, the Kingdom of Vacuo relied heavily on its Huntsmen to distribute justice.

Suddenly, they heard a shout in the distance. The civilians in the area also turned in the direction it came from. Several rows of men, clad in white metal plating and wielding rifles, strolled silently into view. People began whispering in concern - Atlesian soldiers weren't a rare sight in Oasis, especially since the Soulcage Project had begun, but they didn't usually intrude into public space like this. Something was wrong.

"Hey," one of the Huntsmen greeted the soldiers. "You guys alright? Need help with something?" The man didn't respond. "Uh...hello?"

The soldier in the center raised his hand ominously, before pointing his finger directly at the Huntsman. "General's orders!" he shouted. "Take them out!" The other soldiers raised their weapons. Several people screamed, but they were too late to do anything.

The sound of gunfire filled the air...