Of Serendipity and Duties of the Huntsmen

A/N: So, as you've probably figured out, I totally ship Ruby Rose and Oscar Pine (Anyone else wonder why their ship name is Rosegarden? Shouldn't it be Rosepine or something?) and I've been toying with an idea for getting Oscar in the show earlier to be raised by Ozpin and the other lieutenants, then running into Ruby one day and they grow closer and connect. So of course, because I became genuinely inspired once this idea popped into my head, I had to start this story immediately, and here we are.

Concerning the Volume 5 finale, I thought it was excellent and realistic. Emerald's breakdown, Leo's gruesome death, Yang and Raven's talk, Ozpin's message, it was high, the best last episode so far. I'm guessing next volume they'll be meeting up with Ironwood and we'll find out if Cinder's really dead, as well as what Salem and her forces will do now. Can't wait.

I apologize to those who are waiting for updates to my other stories; my imagination is my greatest strength and weakness. I come up with something new to write about and then it takes up my time, and I end up juggling that story with the other ones I'm working on. I will update my other fanfics, so please be patient with me.

I based Oscar's aunt's name on the basis that she's Auntie Em from Wizard of Oz and just put my own spin on things (also Goldroad is a spin-off of the yellow brick road because based offs and thinly veiled humor ;)!). I imagine her as a mix of Aunt Cass from Big Hero 6 and Cassandra from Tangled the Series, only she's tan like Oscar, if not slightly more. Maryanne is like Grandma Ben from the Bone series. Hope you like and please follow, favorite and review.

Also, sorry this is so long, it's meant to act as a prologue, and I wanted it all in one chapter. Please read it all to get a basic understanding of what the next chapters will be like.

Chapter 1. Doing What Must Be Done

…

Emily Goldroad had always considered herself a reliable and kind person. She never looked for any trouble, was perfectly content with living her simple life working on her farm. She abhorred cursing, she paid her taxes and she never once justified cheating people in any way.

Growing up, she had lived a content life with her family, hadn't let the death of her parents stop her from being active for her sister as the elder sibling. Emily had worked her butt off to ensure the two of them would be happy and have what they needed. She had grieved, as any loving daughter would for the people that raised her, but she hadn't let the grief overtake her, never let it turn her into a bitter, self-serving individual.

When many years later her sister had eventually married some city boy who had been accepted that he would be required to live in the country rather than have a home in the city, she hadn't let that make her sad. Her sister was a good person and deserved a life with someone she loved. Emily herself had long given up finding the special someone in her life. She was all too aware of how disappointing experience could be at times and had made a decision not to invite more pain into her life long ago.

The day she had officially become an aunt had been a happy day for her. Once she had locked eyes with little Oscar Pine, the kid looking precociously at her with those intense hazel-green eyes with the flecks of orange and yellow that spoke of someone exceptional, it had been love at first sight. No amount of previous pain could stop her from loving the boy or being there should he need anything. Then the accident had happened precisely five years after his birth.

To this day Emily had never gotten a straight answer about the circumstances of the death of Oscar's parents. They had traveled to the city via an invitation from an apparent close friend who had wanted to see them for something he had deemed urgent. They had left Oscar in her care, who had looked sad to see them go like he would never see them again after that day and had declared her his caretaker should anything ever happen to them. Emily had laughed, of course, entirely sure that all of them would live well past their golden years. And then they were out of their lives.

Their car was found a week after they were meant to come back, perfectly okay but missing the precious cargo it was expected to hold. There were no signs of a struggle, no evidence of foul play. But somehow, Emily knew. It came as no surprised to her when their burned and branded bodies washed up on shore about three days later.

She hadn't let the death of her sister and brother-in-law stop her from being strong. Oscar had needed her, had been unusually sad and silent during the funeral like he knew exactly what was going on and also was aware of the fact that no crying or signs of despair would change anything. So he just stayed quiet, like any good boy should. And Emily had done her best to raise him and teach him everything there was to work on the farm.

It had been a good three years before things would have to change for the two of them as well. Oscar was now eight and working steadily at the small jobs she had given him, such as feeding the animals and planting the vegetables and fruits. He was still very quiet, almost weirdly so, but nowadays he smiled and wasn't afraid to speak to her with his surprisingly deep voice about everything, like the books he had in his bookshelf or the way the sun looked when it was coming up. Mature things that philosophers and poets focus on.

They both hadn't fully recovered, of course. While Oscar had never cried, his problems sleeping spoke of his grief over his parents. Emily had lost count of the number of times she had woken up to find him curled on the floor a few feet from her room door. When she had made it clear he could sleep in her room if he ever had trouble with nightmares or counting sheep didn't work, he had only upgraded his temporary sleeping position to that of her bedroom floor. He seemed comfortable there in any case.

Anyway, Emily couldn't claim any parent of the year awards, but she could firmly say she provided for her dear nephew and they were both happy. She would do what she needed to for Oscar's continued well-being, and she made it clear to anyone who even looked like they were seeking for their trouble. Until one day, she couldn't hold back the crisis that came for her nephew.

It happened about five nights after Oscar had turned eight, on a night the rain just wouldn't stop. Her nephew had gone to bed early, wanting to be up as soon as the sun rose to check on the crops and make sure all the animals were alive and accounted for as soon as possible. He took his job quite seriously for a kid.

He was still soundly sleeping when the door was pounded at, loud enough that Emily could hear it over the rain. Looking at the storm that was brewing quite fiercely from the window, she had assumed it was a wayward traveler looking for the closest inn. Perhaps even someone in need of directions to the train station. What she didn't expect was General James Ironwood to be at her door with his usual entourage of five soldiers at his feet. They all had water dripping off them, and she could easily see the fancy ship they've apparently used to come here parked at the edge of her property.

Now Emily knew all about Ironwood from rumors and news reports. He was a proud man who claimed to fight for the people of Remnant through any means necessary. A few people thought him to be a hero for his actions. Darker rumors painted him as a man with no heart, who is hugely merciless to anyone who finds their way onto his radar in a wrong way. Emily herself had heard of what happened to the last person had in captivity. They say they're still scraping his remains off the cobbled streets.

All distinguishing features of the general matched the rumors and pictures. His flat black hair with gray sideburns. His sharp and chiseled face. The usual uniform of white and black with patches of red and the one glove he always wears on his right hand for whatever reason. Some say it's because he could never entirely rid his hand of the blood that's on it from a particularly rough interrogation. Others claim he was a vicious germaphobe and was being extremely cautious in making sure part of his appearance was immaculate, like fresh-cleaned porcelain.

The woman couldn't help the stab of fear in her stomach as the general turned his stoic frown in her direction. She didn't understand why he had shown up on her doorstep, but she wasn't deluded enough to even consider the notion he was just here to ask for directions or food. In fact, she had a bad feeling in her chest, like she was going to suffer soon. She wasn't sure how she knew, the same way she wasn't sure she'd never see her sister and her husband again, but she did. Somehow, Ironwood would break her in a way few could.

"Good evening, ma'am. Are you Miss. Goldroad?" the man coolly asked, eyes shifting to look at anything and everything. Desperately shaking off the feeling of being violated, the woman swallowed and said somewhat coldly, "Yes, I am. How may I help you, gentlemen?" She pointedly stared at the armed men as she questioned them, making them shift uncomfortably at the glare she was giving them.

Ironwood was unfazed, checking behind her to make absolutely sure she was alone before he spoke again. "I'm sorry to bother you Ms. Goldroad, but there's an urgent matter I must discuss with you now. May we enter, please?"

Emily took a moment to study the men in front of her door with a hard expression on her face. "You and one other soldier. The rest can wait outside. Lest you think a poor farm woman is that much of a threat?"

After a moment when Ironwood seems to be sizing her up regarding how dangerous she was and how much trouble she could be, he ordered clearly, "Jorgensen, you're with me. The rest of you stay on the ship and make sure no one comes to disturb us." Emily watched with spiteful satisfaction as the four anonymous soldiers moved back into the rain, getting soaked before they were even halfway to the ship.

Moving aside to let the two men in, Emily took a moment to look around outside to make sure nothing else was waiting for the general and his army. Bemused by the coming meeting, the woman closed the door and headed into to the living room, wiping her hands on her apron as she turned her attention to her "guests."

They were standing in her living room, waiting for her instructions on what was allowed and what wasn't. Emily gave a small sigh at the scene in front of her. Gentlemen, indeed. "Well, go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. Would you like me to make you boys some tea?"

"That won't be necessary, Ms. Goldroad. We don't want to take up too much of your hospitality. We simply want to talk." The general explained as he moved to sit on her favorite sofa. Biting her lip to prevent the sarcastic comment that was just itching to be heard from coming out, Emily silently noted the other soldier remained standing at attention. Shaking her head at the formalities being committed in her home, Emily took a seat on her loveseat in front of her fireplace, facing the general and waiting for the talk to begin.

He didn't disappoint. "As you may already know, my name is General Ironwood, Headmaster of the school of Atlas and commander of the armies that reside there. I hold the peace and wellbeing of the people in the highest regard."

"Please cut the small talk and get to the point, general." Emily interrupted, uncaring of the flash of surprise that appeared on the other man's face. "What is this urgent matter you so desperately need to speak with me about?"

The man nodded to himself for a moment, lips pressing together before he proceeded, "Actually, it's about your nephew, Miss. Goldroad. Oscar Pine, was it?"

The woman froze for a solid minute, hoping, for both his and her own sake, that she had misheard. Not many people knew that Oscar was her nephew. He got most of his features from his mother, and she and Emily have always looked similar like they could be twins. Most of the people who came to buy from her or drop off supplies assumed he was her son and she never corrected them. That Ironwood somehow knew this told her something was up and to be on her guard.

"What business could you possibly have with my nephew? What do you want with us?" She snarled, irritation and fear making her tone sharp and cold as a glacier.

"His parent died three years ago, yes? Burned till they were barely recognizable and then dumped in the river where they washed back onto shore to be found, correct? No obvious causes or answers?" The man asked quite tactlessly considering the subject he was bringing up. Emily swallowed thickly, determined not to show this heartless man how much his callousness about the death of her beloved sister and her husband cut her like a knife in the back.

"Why are you asking a question you obviously know the answer to? You make it sound like it matters, what does it have to do with this talk? My sister and brother-in-law died, and I gained custody of their son as a result. Are you here to accuse me of something?" Emily could take a lot of people, but if this man started sprouted some story about her orchestrating her beloved family's demise, she would demolish him right then.

"No, of course not. I'm here to tell you that it wasn't an accident and we know exactly who killed your family." That surprised the woman, who was now gripping her hands together tightly enough to make them bloodless for a few moments.

"Who? And why?" She whispered, ready for answers and at the same time wishing to never know what motives someone could have for killing people as innocent as her sister and her brother-in-law.

"It was a band of criminal more evil than anything you could have ever imagine. As for the why… they were looking for your nephew. They wanted him."

Emily felt her stomach drop. What? This…could not be true. The general had to be wrong about this. "Are you trying to tell me my sister is dead because the people who killed him were looking for her child? How would they even know about Oscar? Why would they even care if he lives or dies anyway? General, nothing you're telling me is making any sense!"

"I know this is a lot to take in, Miss Goldroad, but what I'm telling you is the truth. There are dangerous people out there looking for Oscar. As to the reason for that ... well, I cannot explain that. At least, not here."

"What? You drop this bombshell on me, without a shred of compassion or proof by the way, and are now telling me you won't explain?"

"Believe me, Ms. Goldroad, I want and will explain things to you. But you and your nephew must follow me first. A secure location will guarantee both your safety and some secrecy for us all."

"And where exactly are we going to such a place that is more trustworthy than my private home on my private property? The bottom of the ocean?" Emily asked, finally letting one harsh sentence leave her lips. She was confident the general would ignore it in favor of moving her and Oscar as quickly as he could.

Her conjecture was correct. Aside from a slow breath through the nose, Ironwood made no other indication to the mocking sentence. He only answered, voice as severe as she had heard it the entire time he's been in her home. "No. To Beacon Academy. All your questions will be answered there."

...

Emily was seriously questioning her sanity. She really was.

Despite how ridiculous and baseless the general's conversation had been, she still packed a few things and pulled her poor, sleeping nephew from the bed and into a little black hooded poncho. He was sitting on her lap now, continually rubbing the sleep from his eyes while looking around the ship and at the people around them. He seemed particularly wary of Ironwood like he was waiting for him to take a swing at him. Another reason to dislike the man and the current situation they were in. However, Emily couldn't pretend she wasn't curious and looking for answers.

She had heard of Beacon, proclaimed to be the most celebrated and most prestigious school for huntsmen to have ever been created. The teachers were said to be the best, and the education was the most effective. But not much was told concerning the headmaster of the school.

She knew his name was Ozpin. She knew he was known for walking with a cane, despite not looking or being the right age for one. Nothing else. Then again, when you lived so far apart from modern civilization as she did, you don't hear a lot about huntsmen or the schools to create them. Especially when you didn't care to hear about the new ways killing was being taught.

Emily had respect for huntsmen and huntresses, don't get her wrong. She had enough of her own dealings and close calls with Grimm to appreciate a group of people designed to take care of them. But she never wanted such a dangerous life for either herself or Oscar. His mother would wholeheartedly agree with her in that regard.

Back to the situation at hand, the farm woman wasn't sure what she was doing right now. She had voluntarily listened to absurd statements made by a heartless man and had followed said man to a place far away from home to get answers from some mysterious quack who acted as headmaster to a school of killers (righteous and justified killers, but still killers).

It sounded like the beginning of a bad joke. She may as well ask a rabbi.

"How much longer will this trip take? I don't like leaving my house and place of business for long, as you can imagine." She demanded. The soldiers around her shuffled and fidgeted when they saw the glare she was shooting them all.

Emily didn't quite understand why these trained workers seemed afraid of her, but she liked the fact that she could scare them whenever she wanted. Perhaps it was her face. Her sister had always said she could be scary when she wanted to. Or maybe they just weren't used to directly dealing with civilians.

"We shouldn't be too long, Miss Goldroad. Please exercise a little patience with us" Ironwood answered cooly. Emily snorted but otherwise let the subtle admonition slide.

True to the general's word, they arrived soon after. The school was massive and grand, she supposed. Like a fortress for a vain and cautious king.

The woman and her nephew were led quickly from the ship to inside the building. She didn't really have time to examine her surroundings before she was rushed to an elevator, in which only her, Oscar and General Ironwood stepped inside.

After a short trip up in the narrow shaft, the doors opened to reveal a big room with a color scheme of gray and green. Clogs designs adorned almost every wall, and a big clock - the shaped window was at the center end of the room, showcasing the shadowed and rainy kingdom the building towered over. Smaller windows were scattered about to add natural light to the otherwise dark place, although the current weather cast a dark color over the room. The rain, which had been quite loud outside, was now muffled in the room.

Emily was not surprised to find the room was occupied, albeit with a few people. There was a tall woman with blond hair and glasses with a black wand in hand. She was dressed in black and white clothing with a purple cape and a disapproving glower on her face like she had just received bad news.

The other two were grown, men. The more rugged of the two had shaggy black hair, a roughly trimmed beard, and red eyes. He was dressed in black and white as well, although his outfit looked like it could use a good wash. On his back, he had a short and tattered red cape and a big blade set horizontally by his hip. His expression looked serious, if not a little bored.

Then there was just the last man. He had white hair with graying tips. He also wore glasses and had on a black outfit with a green ascot around his neck. The man was seated at a long desk and had his cane, which was black with a mental and mechanical top, resting against his knee. He looked mildly in her direction, patiently waiting for her to take the seat that was set in front of his desk.

As Emily drew near, she also noticed he had a mug in his right hand. It was white with a gray symbol of two crossed axes and pieces of wheat and was holding brown liquid that she could only guess was coffee.

When she finally sat down with Oscar once again on her lap, the man stared at her for a few moments silently, although the numerous times his eyes strayed to her nephew spoke clearly of whom he was actually more interested in.

For the most part, Emily allowed the scrutinizing as she was doing the exact same thing to the man. He seemed a bit too young to be a headmaster of a school. However, there was an air about him that felt almost... ethereal. Like he was much older than he seemed and was more magical than he looked.

Oscar, who was finally awake and alert, stared unblinkingly at the mysterious man as well, face confused like he couldn't quite figure him out. Like he was an enigma, the boy should know the solution to but didn't.

After another full minute of studying each other, the man finally spoke. "Would you care for some cocoa, Miss Goldroad? I find a good cup always warms me up, especially on nights like these." The man took a moment to sip the drink, which was apparently hot chocolate.

The farm woman had to say, of all the ways this conversation would be started, she didn't think it would begin like that. She was almost propelled to ask if he was serious or attempting to joke to relieve the tension. His voice was even and civil, like an old-time gentleman. Also, what sort of man drank cocoa rather than coffee? Granted, a rainy day or night might call for it, but the man talked like it was his go-to drink. What the heck?

"Uh, no thank you. I'd rather get this talk over with if it's all the same to you."

The man in front of her nodded solemnly. "Very well. My name is Professor Ozpin, and these are my associates, Qrow Brawen and Glynda Goodwich." He pointed out who he meant with a flair of his hand.

Choosing not to comment on the weirdness of the names, Emily replied, "And I am Emily Goldroad, and this is my nephew, Oscar. But you probably already know that."

Nodding with a small smile on his face, Ozpin asked in return, "What did James explain to you about what you're here for?"

"He told me a lot, more than I'm inclined to believe. Stories about how my sister died and wild tales of enemies darker than the devil."

There was a snort to her left side. She turned to see the man named Qrow taking a gulp from a gray flask before looking up to speak in a raspy voice. "Sounds like James. Never subtle and always ignoring other feelings. Bet he told you the reason why they want your nephew too."

"No," Emily replied with a frown, a little put off by this man and his drinking. "He said I needed to come here. He insisted we go to a secure place before he explained anything."

Another huff came from the shaggy man. "Well, at least he used his brain for something."

"Qrow, I would advise you keep your opinions on my methods to yourself. We're all here for the same reason. This is the right course of action." Ironwood mildly stated.

"Yeah, cause heavens forbid we think about the emotional aspect of things. Apparently, logic is all that matters. Glad you've established that."

Ironwood looked prepared to debate Qrow's words, but Ozpin spoke evenly first. "James, Qrow. Try to keep a professional profile. This is hard enough as it is." While the two men glowered at each other, they heeded the request and kept silent. Emily couldn't help but wonder how much respect they had for this man to listen when he spoke.

"I apologize, Miss Goldroad. This is a very stressful occasion, and I'm sure you can understand how hard it can be to make the right decision during difficult times."

Emily nodded, surer than ever that she was in over her head right now. This man was unorthodox and a little too civil for his age.

"What exactly do you mean by that? Why did the general come to my home and tell me this story?"

"Before we get to that explanation, a story is in order, It's not a happy story, but it needs to be told. And forgive the cliche, but this story starts with once upon a time." Ozpin said before sipping his cocoa again. Not sure why a story was necessary before things were explained but ready to listen to anything to get to it faster, Emily nodded impatiently while she noted Oscar seemed intensely interested.

"Once upon a time, during a time over a millennium years ago, there was an old man that was nearing his death. While he had lived a full life, he had more than his fair share of regrets. You see, he had a duty in younger years, a duty to protect the people of Remnant from this one particular evil. This evil was once someone very close to this man, his closet confidant, and friend. They grew up together, dreaming the same dream of being huntsmen and protecting the world from all that would do it harm. At the time, Grimm wasn't as big an issue as it was today, of course, so huntsmen were considered unnecessary and a waste. Still, the select few, the town really, that believed in what huntsmen symbolized came together to become what they felt the world needed and to prove their worth to all of Remnant. Now, as you can imagine, things didn't turn out well for those individuals, especially for the man and his female companion. There was an attack, one that decimated their hometown and destroyed those who believed in the vitalness of huntsmen. Despite the best efforts of the man and his friend, he was injured and left for dead, while she was dragged away by a particularly strong and humanoid Grimm."

"For many years after, he thought her dead. He later found out that wasn't the case. The Grimm problem grew worse and more people signed on to stop them. When he and the growing number of huntsmen were scouting the area when he saw her. She was different now, callous, calculating, apathetic. A monster on the inside and the outside. She casually caused the death of his comrades and dared him to kill her then, because he would not have another chance again. And he was going to. He would have, as he knew now who was behind the destruction and massacres the Grimm caused, but he found he... just couldn't. That had been someone he had cared about and mourned for. He couldn't forget that, not even to complete his duties as huntsmen."

"As the years flew by, the Grimm multiplied, and the number of people who suffered grew. And the man knew it was his fault. No matter how many people he saved and how many Grimm he stopped, he knew the blood spilled and the suffering caused would always be his fault. Anyway, when his time to rest had finally come, he found him transported to the realm of the gods. They too were aware the fault of all that happened to Remnant lied with him, and they demanded retribution. They decreed that he would never be allowed to rest, that he would continue walking the earth for as long as it kept spinning. It would be his sole duty to stop the woman and free the people of the tyranny of the Grimm. Until that was complete, he would never find peace. This would depend on him for as long as the sun still shined or until his completed his duty. Not long after said meeting, he died of old age."

Ozpin took another moment to drink his hot chocolate again, which gave Emily a little time to process. This sounded like a similar story she had heard growing up about the man whose selfless act doomed the world. It wasn't as detailed or sad as the one Ozpin had just, told but it had the same points. She had never really believed it, as it sounded too much of a fantasy to be of reality, but the storyteller had sworn up and down there was some truth to the tale.

"I'm sorry, but what does any of that have to do with what I was told? How exactly is an old wives' tale related to the deaths of my sister and brother-in-law?" She asked, unwilling to be distracted and a little unsure why the other occupants of the room were sporting various looks of sympathy and resolve (except Ironwood, who still looked very passive).

"Because the story I just told you is very much a true one, Ms. Goldroad. I know, because the man who was cursed was me."

There was a long moment of deafening silence. Professor Ozpin was just staring her, gauging her reactions with a stoic expression. Emily's first instinct was to scowl at what she thought to be a poorly-conceived joke at her expanse. She would have found it funny in any other situation, but not this one. Then, when she noted the tension in the room, her second thought was that Ozpin was crazy. He actually believed himself to be a cursed man forced to make up for a past mistake by the gods? Apparently, this man needed some serious medical attention for his mental state.

"Pardon me, but did you just say you are a man who lived centuries ago and was cursed to continuously walk the earth until you've permanently stopped a malicious and mad woman who used to be your friend and whom you had a chance to stop before but didn't? Is that what you're trying to sell me right now?"

"No, of course not. To be "selling" this to you would indicate that what I'm telling you is a fabricated fable meant to swindle or blindside you. I'm telling you to think because I want you to understand the seriousness of this situation."

Emily was shaking her head before he finished speaking. "I've had enough of this. You sent this man to drag my nephew and myself out of our home only to tell us jokes and ridiculous lies? I don't know who you think you are, but—"

Then she was interrupted by the drinking man, Qrow, whose words were slightly slurred but was otherwise coherent. "She won't believe it, Oz. It sounds too crazy without proof. You have to show her or she'll leave."

Ironwood spoke up then, naturally protesting. "Are we sure this is the right course of action? Showing one of our best-kept secrets to some farm lady we have no idea we can trust? It's too much of a risk."

"And what we're asking of her is not?" The cool tone of Ozpin's voice invoked silence throughout the room. He took another sip of his cocoa before he spoke again. "Things are changing now, gentlemen. She deserves to know the truth of this matter, especially considering all she has lost because of it."

For the first time since she's entered the room, Emily heard Glynda speak up. Her voice was even and slightly disapproving, although in a way that hinted she always sounded like that. "Are you quite sure about this? Once she knows about all this, she can never unlearn it. She will have to be with us entirely. Is that the best decision to make?"

The professor locked eyes with the farm woman over his glasses, studying her and Oscar once again. Then a small, sad smile appeared on his face as he answered, "I'm quite sure it will have to be. For all our sakes, including her own."

…

Emily wasn't sure where they were taking her now. After the somewhat cryptic conversation between the four workers, she and Oscar had been issued to another elevator where they along with Ozpin and his cane, Glynda, Ironwood, and Qrow had made their way down. It was a silent ride, not one person daring to speak. When the shaft door opened, it revealed an enormous room of black and green. It was lined with tiled floors and pillars and was lit with candles of green light. It was after she finished studying the room that Ozpin spoke again.

"I suppose you've heard of the story of the seasons? One of the four maidens that were gifted with magic by an old man they all helped in different ways?" He asked as they all slowly walked down the large hall.

"Yes, actually. The one of Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. But what does this have to—" Emily began to ask, but the professor held a hand up to silence her. "Everything will be explained to you soon, Ms. Goldroad. Please have a little patience with us and refrain from asking questions."

The farm woman took a glance at her nephew, who was walking beside her and looking around with blatant curiosity. This was all crazy, but if there was the slightest chance Oscar was in danger… Emily sighed but stayed quiet.

"Now what would you say if I told you stories of magic and people with power beyond your imagination was actually true. What would you say if I told you that they are directly connected to you and your nephew?" Ozpin inquired.

"I would say you aren't right in the head." The aunt answered sincerely, uncaring if she sounded rude at this point. The continuous spewing of riddles and lies were putting her in a bad mood as well as making her feel edgy. The slight coldness in the place they were walking wasn't really helping matters either.

"Believe me, it's hard to take in when it's just words. It's why we're bringing you here, so you can see things for yourself." Qrow said from his place behind her, face grim.

"Please try to understand the need for secrecy. The things we keep to ourselves are the only thing keeping the people of Remnant safe." Glynda said from her position in front. Ironwood nodded as he walked beside the teacher. "As protectors of Remnant, we take whatever action we need to ensure everyone is safe."

Emily wasn't sure whether what they were spewing now was accurate or not, but she decided to take a bit of Qrow's advice at least. They would show her their proof and then she could decide things for herself. Then perhaps some of her questions could finally be answered.

"I can assure you, Ms. Goldroad, the maidens have existed for thousands of years. But they aren't the only people out there that are capable of real magic without using dust." Ozpin said.

"What? How is that possible?"The farm woman asked.

"Well, like the story suggests, the man was the one who gifted the four sisters with magic and power without the need for dust or semblance. But they weren't the only ones to receive such a gift. There were a few trusted individuals he granted such skills over the years, a few who used such power for the good of the people of Remnant and for the sole purpose of stopping the Grimm and the woman who leads them."

"And I suppose you know all this because you were friends with the man in the story?" Emily asked scornfully as she could see them nearing something bright ahead of them. Ozpin gave a short chuckle that had a hint of exhaustion in it. "No. It's because I was once the man in the story as well."

Suddenly, the four of them ceased moving, looking earnestly at what was in front of them. Distracted by the weird statement the headmaster had made, Emily stepped forward with Oscar, gasping at what was at the end of the hall.

There were two shocking things to behold. One was a giant machine that was housing a brown-skinned girl with brown hair and slight splotch marks on her face. She appeared unconscious, but Emily had a feeling her condition was more severe than it looked. The second thing was an elderly woman who was facing away from them, staring at the girl with her back to them.

When her gasp sounded, she turned to face them, showcasing her profile and appearance for them all to see. She was about a head taller than herself with gray hair and a wooden cane in her left hand, although her back was straight. She was wearing a blue and white dress and slippers of the same color. Her eyes were closed, but the farm woman got the slight impression she could see everything and everyone.

"Ozpin, when I told you what I've seen, I didn't think this would be the actions you would take." She said. Her voice was melodious and clear, making her sound younger than she looked.

"Hey, you're the one who dropped the news on us. Choices had to be made." Qrow argued, taking a gulp from his flask.

"Please try to understand, Maryanne. What you provided us helps in the long run, but only if we can properly prepare for it." Ozpin said as he slightly leaned forward on his cane. The woman snorted before turning her head to Oscar, who was staring up at her with new wonder.

"This is him, huh? The one to save us all." She said dryly as she moved forward till she was standing directly in front of him, ignoring his aunt who was looking at her quite vehemently. "I didn't realize he was so young. Probably should have expected that." She knelt down till she was eye level with the boy, tensely staring even with her eyes closed.

"Okay, can someone give me a straight answer now! What the heck is going on?! What does all this have to do with my nephew?!" Emily screamed, pulling Oscar till he was hidden from view, watching as the weird woman, Maryanne, stood up and shared a serious expression with the other four. Then Ozpin stepped towards her.

"As I told you before, Ms. Goldroad, I was the man from that story I told you in my office. I was also the one who gifted the maidens with their power. I was cursed over a few thousand years ago because I made the mistake of letting the corrupted remains of my old friend live, and all of Remnant has paid for it every day since. I have done my best to use this curse and the powers I've been given to make up for my errors, such as providing magic to those we would use it to make the world a better place and do my best to intervene when I need to. Maryanne just happens one of those I've gifted with such power. The ability of precognition, or to see brief glimpses of the future."

Qrow stepped forward after the headmaster's monologue. "Oz has always done his best to make sure the future would be a peaceful and safe place for the people living in it. Allowing the maidens to become legends, keeping certain secrets that would cause panic, you know, stuff like that. You may not know it by looking around, but there's a serious war going on and lives are at stake. It's forced us to act rashly."

"The girl in the capsule over there is actually the Fall Maiden. Her power was stolen by those people I've mentioned before, the ones who are out to destroy the world through any means necessary. We're forced to keep her hidden and alive until we can find a worthy person to transfer her powers to. A necessary sacrifice for the good of the people we protect." Ironwood said gravely.

Emily was looking around, waiting for someone to come forward and start making sense. "What? This is—" Then Maryanne stepped into her immediate proximity, face scrunched up with impatience.

"This talk alone won't get us anywhere. It's time for proof." And then she opened her eyes. They were pupil-less, clear blue circles that seemed to stare at nothing. Emily had only one moment to stare at them before she started seeing other things.

It was a whirlwind of quick glances and flashbacks of things the woman had seen about to happen and things still yet to come. She saw numerous Grimm attacks, Faunus of the White Fang stealing and killing, a power so intense and unimaginable. She saw a girl with red and black hair and silver eyes, a woman with pink hair and green eyes. She saw a battle happening in a giant, autumn-colored room, watched a lion Faunus be killed quite mercilessly by a jellyfish Grimm. Lastly, Emily saw a woman with red and black-colored eyes and white skin and hair with black creeping up every inch. Looking just as Ozpin had described her.

When Emily finally came back to the present, she was kneeling on the floor, head close to the ground and breathing heavily as she fought to process what had just happened. She could feel sweat on her face and her body shaking. She could hear the teachers conversing above her.

"Was that really necessary? You could have caused her to have a mental breakdown." That was Ironwood.

"Nah. She's strong. She could take this and much more if she has to." Qrow spoke then.

"She wouldn't have believed your story otherwise, Ozpin. Don't think I enjoyed inflicting that kind of pain on her. I know first hand the agony I just subjected her to." Maryanne spoke in a solemn tone, sounding a thousand years old now.

"What… What was that?" Emily finally asked as she slowly lifted her head to stare at the other occupants of the room. Oscar was on her right shoulder and looked scared. Everyone else was staring at her with varying degrees of pity and resolve.

"I showed you a short glimpse of what this power has to offer. As you can see, it's not perfect or always easy to understand. I can only guess what some of that could mean. But it does come in handy from time to time." Maryanne said, eyes closed once again.

Emily got up from the floor and to her feet, swaying a little as vertigo hit her. No one made a move to help her, only waited as she got her bearings. When she was finally past her dizzying spell, she looked at the other people, fighting the instinct to take her nephew and run. "Who are you, people? What do you want?"

Glynda stepped forward then, placing a hand on her shoulder as she answered. "We aren't just teachers and headmasters, Ms. Goldroad. We're huntsmen involved in a secret mission to stop those who threaten the peace and safety of the world."

"We work from the shadows and in secret, doing what we can to gather information and make sure good always wins," Qrow added seriously.

"We are the protector of Remnant, and we do what we must to ensure we deserve such a title." Ironwood droned lowly, standing tall and with his hands behind his back. Emily swallowed thickly, staring down at Oscar who was pressed against her leg. "And my sister and brother-in-law? My nephew? What business do you have with them? What do they have to do with your mission?"

"My visions are not always clear, but one particular glance told me something important. It said 'the one named Oscar Pine would be one of the saviors of Remnant.' I wasn't sure of what that meant, but now that I've seen him, we all know what he is." Maryanne explained, looking sad as she turned her face to the boy once again.

"The way my curse works is that when I die, I end up in the body of a like-minded soul and bond with him. Eventually, our auras and souls combine until we are one, him inheriting al my skills and magic over time. As my new host and I adjust to this life, we both set out to complete the mission we were given." Ozpin explained.

"And?" Emily stressed irritably. Ozpin sighed, taking a moment to look at Oscar before turning his eyes to his aunt again. "According to Maryanne, and from what we can see for ourselves, Oscar is meant to be my next reincarnation."

Emily took a step back, taking Oscar with him as she glanced around again. "What?"

"It's true. I can sense the inherent magic his body has. His aura is already like that of Ozpin's. It will take a lot of training and work, but eventually, he will have the fighting experience and be one of the strongest huntsmen that ever lived." The gray-haired woman said dryly.

"We would have left you alone despite knowing what we do, but we were forced to intervene. The woman that is our enemy, Salem, she and her forced found out about Oscar's destiny (or at least that someone living now would become me). Unfortunately, there was an attempt on Maryanne's life, and they managed to see enough to at least know who his parents were. We had hoped to protect them from afar by sending them to an old friend of mine and their's who was meant to explain things to them and keep them safe. As you can guess, things didn't work out." Ozpin said sadly.

"We're not sure exactly how they found out about the meeting, but they managed to intercept the two and tried to force them to reveal who their son is and where he is. As you can guess, they never gave up such information, and they paid dearly for it." Glynda said, taking a moment to push her glasses up her face with his pointer finger.

"Which brings us to why we've brought you and your nephew here today. I'm sorry we have to tell you this, but for your own safety as well as him, Oscar must stay here at Beacon Academy. For good." Ironwood stated almost matter-of-factly.

White noise was in the farm woman's ear now. She felt like she was underwater, the voices around her coming out distorted and slow. She could distinctly hear questions about her well-being as well as Oscar slightly tugging on her apron. But it felt like time was slowing down. When she finally opened her mouth again, her voice came out faint. "You want to take my nephew away from me."

"Believe me, Ms. Goldroad, if any other methods would allow you two to stay together and be safe, we would have gone with it," Ozpin assured her gravely, "But the fact of the matter is, Oscar must disappear. He needs to train and develop his aura and semblance somewhere Salem's forces won't find him and take him away. You can't begin to imagine what she could do if she had powers like mine at her disposal."

"But—" Emily's voice broke as she stared down at Oscar, who was looking up at her comprehensively. He didn't understand why she was looking so upset now.

"Trust me, lady. I was all for moving you all to a remote location you two could spend the rest of your days together until Ozpin takes over. But that would just clue Salem into your identity and make it easy for her to find you. Someday, at least. And it won't be good for anyone if that happens. If only your nephew disappears, it won't be as much as a big deal. They'll eventually forget about him, and knowledge of his existence will fade. This is the smartest course of action." Qrow proclaimed flatly, taking another gulp of his flask before putting it back in his shirt.

"You can't—" She began to protest, but she was cut off again.

"You're right, we have no legal right to take Oscar away. But you must understand by refusing to heed our warnings and choosing to keep Oscar by your side, you're putting a target on both your backs. You will spend the rest of your day looking over your shoulder at every corner, scrutinizing every stranger or close friend you run into. You will never again have a moment's peace and when Salem finds you—and she will eventually find you—she will kill you and take Oscar away and corrupt him as severely as she has been corrupted. He'll be beyond help, forced to be put down like a dog with rabies. Is that what you want for your nephew?" Ironwood coldly countered, face fierce and hard.

"Enough!" Maryanne slammed her staff down, startling everyone into silence. Emily took that moment to breathe, as Ironwood's spindle had left her choking on air. "Scaring and intimidating people maybe the way things are done in the army, general, but try to remember this is a civilian woman who is being told numerous life-changing things and is just trying to look out for her nephew, whom she loves very much. I know emotions and compassion isn't your strong suit, but have some tact for goodness sake!" That left Ironwood looking a tad bit ashamed.

The elderly woman then stepped forward, face about an inch shorter than Emily's, her voice serious and sober. "I understand we are asking much of you today. You've already lot your sister and brother-in-law, but you chose to continue to be strong for their child. You chose to take him in and do your very best to raise him and make sure he's safe. And please trust me when I say the last thing we want to do is cause you more pain by taking away the last living family member you have. But it's come to take now, Emily. We need you to be strong now. We need you to let Oscar go."

Emily turned her head, tears welling up in her eyes. This wasn't how this day was supposed to go. Heck, her left wasn't meant to take this turn. She was supposed to live a happy life in the countryside, tending to her farm and business. She was expected to raise Oscar, to watch him grow into a man and find his own unique someone someday. They were supposed to live through life talking about books and bantering about living together, working together to plant crops and raise the animals. She didn't think she would lose Oscar too, at least not so soon.

She bowed her head as she turned back to face the group, face low as she asked, "If I leave my nephew with you, will you take care of him? Will you make sure nothing happens to him and that he's always safe? You have to guarantee this, or else I will not be able to leave without him."

Her eyes locked on Ozin, the ringleader of the group and the only one she trusted to answer right now. If he assured her he would keep her Oscar safe, then she somehow knew it would be so. After all, he had this small band of huntsmen and doers of magic at his disposal. He would be able to use whichever resources needed to take care of her nephew.

The two adult stared at each other for a few minutes, tension-heavy and suffocating. Or perhaps it was just how Emily was feeling right now, with her life falling apart because of a destiny she never wanted for her nephew.

Ozpin finally answered, voice and face quite serious. "I promise you, Ms. Goldroad. I will do everything in my power to make sure Oscar is protected and well cared for. You have my word as not just the headmaster of this school, but as a huntsman who has sworn to keep the people of Remnant safe."

Emily nodded, feeling her life as she had known it, healthy and enjoyable, come crashing to a halt as she lifted her face up and said clearly, "Then you may take my nephew," trying desperately not to choke on every word.

…

Oscar didn't understand what was happening. His aunt was standing in front of him, face stony and back to him. They had all left the cold, long room, except for the gray-haired woman, and walked back to the entrance of the school with the scary man who had taken them here. He said he would, "give them a minute," and then walked back inside, leaving them out with the rain all around them.

The boy didn't know who her new friends were, but they seemed friendly. Especially the weird guy with glasses who said he would make him some hot chocolate. He felt familiar for some reason.

"Oscar." The kid in question started in his name. His aunt turned to face him, face sad as she knelt till they were eye level. "You know that story you told me about, the one about a king who did his best to serve his people?"

He nodded. She was talking about the Divine King. Even when some of his actions seemed a little weird and baseless, he had always done what was right, no matter what. Oscar had always admired that story because of it.

"The king took many actions, most that didn't seem to make sense but turned out to be better for his people in the long run. All he ever did and thought was to ensure his people were protected and would come to no harm. Even when it hurt him, he still did what was right."

Oscar nodded, unsure why his aunt was looking more and more unhappy as she continued to talk. Did she receive some bad news? Did something happen to the farm?

"Then you can understand that, yes. The duty of a caretaker. Once they become responsible for something, it's their job, their duty, to do what they must for the good of the ones they're caring for. Even if it hurts or it doesn't always make sense, they have to do what duty dictates they do."

The boy was getting a little scared about where this conversation was going. He had never seen his aunt look so grave and solemn. Not when they lost mommy or daddy. Not ever, no matter what trouble had come to find them. He always tried to be as strong as her, she had always been his inspiration.

She sighed before she continued, "Then you can understand, Oscar. You can understand why I have to leave you now. Why we must part ways."

Oscar could feel her eyes widening, staring up at his aunt, not sure why she was saying what she was saying.

"Please understand, Oscar. I wish I didn't have to leave you. I want so badly to take you back to the farm. I want to watch you grow up and become an annoying teenager. I want you to have a nice life on the farm with me. But… I can't."

His aunt stood up then, face resolved. "What you'll learn one day, Oscar is that sometimes our duty and destiny calls on us to do things we don't want to do. It can motivate us in ways we've never expected and require us to do things we would rather not do. And that's why we have to leave each other today."

Oscar moved forward, wrapping his little arms around his aunt's knees and looking up at her imploringly. His aunt only looked down at him with the same expression. "You may not understand things now, but you're going to be someone great one day. You'll be a savior, a protector, one of the best really. It's what you were meant to be. And if I stop that from happening, I would destroy numerous lives, including yours. I'm sorry." This time she knelt to hug him.

Despite being wrapped in his aunt's body heat, the boy still felt very cold. He didn't understand what was happening. It was like something out of his books. His aunt was leaving him while talking about the right thing to do and destiny's calling. What could be so great about it if it was forcing the only person he had left to call family to desert him? Was his destiny a sad and bitter one, full of tremendous heartache and loss?

Eventually, his aunt lets him go, turning to give him a smile that didn't reach her eyes before she raced out into the rain. Not ready to see her go, Oscar raised his hands up and prepared to follow her only to find his path blocked by a black stick.

The boy turned to see the weird guy with glasses, staring down at him with a saddened expression. And then Oscar knew it was no use. His place was here now. He lowered his hands while staring at his aunt, feeling so many conflicting emotions all at once. The most dominant one being sadness.

The man sighed, pulling his cane to the side and watching the rain with him. "You know, Oscar, I find at times like these, when it feels like the rain will never stop, that a good cup of hot chocolate always soothes my nerves. Even if it doesn't seem like it now, the sun will come out again. Do you understand what I mean?"

And Oscar found he did get what the man was saying. The boy turned to face the professor, who had a warm smile on his face as he held his left hand out for him to take. "Come now, Oscar. Let's warm you up before we find you a place to sleep."

And Oscar took the man's hand and went back inside his new home.

…

So, how is it? I worked really hard to incorporate the canon characters as well as add a few original people I made up that could exist. We never actually see Oscar's aunt or find out his origin, so here's what I came up with. Hopefully, Volume 6 will touch on that. Now, next chapter will have a time skip, of course, a feature Ruby Rose from the first episode of RWBY! Only, Oscar makes an appearance too! Please stay tuned, and I will work on it as soon as I can, as I really must work on updating all my other published works, especially my Fairy Tail fanfiction Daughter of the Stars. Have a nice day!