Chapter 209: Battle of Beacon (12)

Chapter 209: Battle of Beacon (12)

~Third POV~

"Headmaster Ozpin!"

Coming in the right time wiping the dust and debris off him seeing Jack Nights fall due to exhaustion and meeting up with Qrow he spoke to everyone in a neutral tone, "Everyone… while I'm glad that you have helped defended Beacon Academy, I need you all to hurry and help everyone down below. With Jack out and Grimm crawling around you future Generations we have to fight against the Grimm threat. Despite being children, you all have trained for this moment in this lifetime and now… go and prove to the world that we Huntsman and Huntresses hold the honor to protect all in need."

Listening to the words of Headmaster Ozpin the students began to get their second win as all shouted out and left immediately at the news.

"Yeah!"

"Vale is our home!"

"No way I'm letting some Grimm destroy our home!"

"To the honor of Huntsman!"

"To the honor of Huntresses!"

"We shall not fall!"

Leaving immediately only leaving Jack, Nora, Ren, Pyrrha, Ruby, Yang, Blake, Weiss, Zwei, Koromaru, and Qrow with Ozpin remaining.

The silence was for a brief moment before Ruby broke out what they needed to do next feeling lost, "Headmaster what do we do next?"

Ozpin merely grins lightly at this with a gentle smile replying to Ruby's question, "Protect those you can. And protect Jack Nights I'll handle the Giant Grimm myself. I just need to talk to Qrow before I leave."

Everyone was shocked, but the girls and Ren nodded deciding to trust their Headmaster not to question him and leaving it into the hands of Ozpin while Qrow gazed at him questioningly about his next words.

Ozpin takes a deep breath patting Qrow on the shoulder and smiling at his old friend, "Qrow I'll make sure we do our duties as protectors of this world the best we can correct?"

Qrow raises his eyebrow with Ozpin casually walking away from him continuing, "Just be sure to take care of everyone in my absence for a bit. It's a shame that I will have to leave this way, but I hope my next reincarnation would stop her for good."

Qrow's eyes widen getting what Ozpin was saying voicing out to not sacrifice himself against the Gigantis Grimm, "No wait for a damn second Oz! You can't go out there against that Grimm by yourself! We still need you still –"

Interrupting Qrow immediately getting him to be quiet by Ozpin's next response tightening the grip of his cane, "And you still do. Just… not in this form. With that Giant Size Grimm right around the corner, I have the means to do it with my cane. But… it will need the cost of my host to use my all in the final attack."

Turning back to Qrow with a saddened expression on his face as Ozpin merely smiled contently at this reincarnated end of his life talking to Qrow, "After all how would the new generation grow if we don't set by example? Everyone is always talking about my students and your nieces saving the world…"

Taking their moment to see eye to eye as he explains to Qrow causing the man to tremble in fear of what it entails, "But we forget that they are still children given a heavy mantle to bear for their heroics. And yet we push them harder than most with everyone always believing their heroes to not fail and yet they forget one factor. One I learned from many past experiences... We are only human. Failure is within our capabilities."

Qrow for his part remained silent listening to Ozpin's words as he begins to take a look at his students being brave he turns slightly seeing Team RWBY and JNPR trying to take Jack out of there as Qrow follows his gazes, "But right now? They have done enough. Everyone has done enough. They are going to get tired eventually. It wouldn't be wise to leave them undefended and show them that even the old generation still have our bite."

Heading towards Ozpin with Qrow in doubt trying to dissuade one of the few people to accept him not to do it, "Now wait for a second Oz. We can wait till Jack gets up and together we can find a way – "

"ROARRRRR…!"

Before Qrow could finish the Gigantis Grimm awakened again with a loud roar being heard all the way to Beacon Academy as Ozpin narrows his eyes at the creature in the distance.

Ozpin began to respond to Qrow with a tone of determination in his voice giving his friend a command, "Now isn't the time Qrow. The students, Teams and everyone are doing all they can to not lose. It's best I deal with this as our students have done so much. And do please tell Glynda congrats on becoming Headmistress of Beacon, will you?"

*WOOSH*

Qrow tries to rush ahead trying to follow Ozpin but...

Before Qrow could stop Ozpin from leaving he already jumped up high in the air hoping on a Nevermore and using Magic to control it leading to the Grimm Gigantis direction thinking to himself of the earlier conversation he had the other night, 'To think one small talk would change the course of how things stand today. Quite the troubling being I would say to have met. And yet it's the smallest of changes that determine such outcomes.'

Ozpin's mind flashes back to the time he talked to a certain figure yesterday night…

/////

~Flashback Third POV~

….

Taking the moment to refresh his breath Ozpin takes a sip from his mug while the person standing across from him finished his Ozpin continues as his expression hardens on the person across from him, "Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start? I suppose we all find out... sooner or later…"

Gaia sitting across from Ozpin merely expressed a gentle smile simply responding back to him, "Maybe…. But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you've long forgotten. Things that require a smaller, more honest soul."

Ozpin closes his eyes to contemplate that response before opening them again to see the Gaia across is already gone with a smile slowly spreading across his face.

Taking a sip from his mug seeing the empty cup that the person sipped gone as he talks to himself again, "I have to admit I would never have thought there would be a day someone managed to get to me like that. And possibly a Gaia spirit rather than the Brothers. I don't know if I'm really lucky to be blessed by her words or cursed to forever meet powerful figures in my lifetimes. Things that require a smaller, more honest soul huh?"

Taking another sip from his mug sitting down on his chair reminding the brief encounter talking to himself, "I wonder… if something were to happen to Vale and surrender it in the hopes of those with more honest souls than my own… would they be able to change what I have fought for over the millennia of generations to the newer fresh-minded individuals."

Leaning the back of his chair with him taking time to close his eyes thinking to himself after everything that has happened this semester of everyone participating along with the events happening.

All the sudden attacks of alien gods, dealing with Salem's pawns, and thwarting terrorist plans from The Crown being warned only to be beaten by the newer and younger generation by one person.

Taking a moment to smile sadly about himself placing his glasses down and viewing the remnant moon in relaxation, "Sigh… I'm getting too old. The newer generation is doing more incredible feats and more importantly, a new revolutionary leader leading the new generation Jack Nights… I wonder if that's the person Gaia meant with a more honest and innocent soul?"

Smiling at this remembering the person who visited him was a being he thought was long gone in Remnant as he looks up to the night sky filled with stars speaking to himself, "I wonder who the person Gaia was referring to…. Perhaps we have the same goals… a smaller, more honest soul huh?"

Recalling the first encounter he met with Jack Nights getting on his nerves for the first time mumbling to himself contently, "Ozma… that's a name I haven't even thought to be heard of in this generation. Perhaps he might be the one… Followed by the very same soul along with another innocent one of miss Rose encouraging Gaia chosen one. Thus, spreading hope and inspiration while being true to himself never wavering when the going gets tough…"

Turning around seeing the reflection of himself of his first life through the glass while Ozpin frowns speaking to himself, "For how long I have forgotten to be myself. Like my true self of heroism and honesty… how long have I forgotten to fight for a just cause…"

Ozpin could only look at the Remnant moon thinking of how it used to be full not destroyed thinking hard of the advice Gaia spoke about a more honest soul leading the future…

~Flashback end~

/////

~Third POV~

*Woosh*

Having the moment to recollect himself again with him flying overusing the Nevermore seeing the Grimm Gigatis coming around with Ozpin controlling the Nevermore with his magic to fly above it.

Viewing the creature in front of Ozpin him narrowing his eyes with sadness with his tone talking out, "I have made many mistakes in my life and many lives before this one… but just this once. Just this once I will confide in the fact, I will just be myself for this moment. Everyone let me show you…"

*Click*

The gears in The Long Memory start to glow, and a sudden breeze ruffles his collar and hair Ozpin closes his eyes speaking out as he opens them for the final time, "… that everyone can be a hero. Thank you, everyone, for this life and for the courage… Miss Rose and Mister Nights… thanks for reminding me of who I once was…"

"ROARR!!!"

Gigantis noticed the magic coming off from Ozpin's weapon roaring at him beginning to charge up a highly magic condensed beam at the Infinite Man prepared to wipe him away before charging its steps into the Vale Kingdom.

Ozpin readies his now glowing cane and then depresses the lever on his weapon, causing its length to shimmer gold… for a brief moment Ozpin's figure flickered his original body as his aura flashed at the moment.

*SHIII*

*CRACK*

A sphere of crackling green magic forms around him and the immediate area is filled with bright yellow light as Gigantis launched its own magic breath attack at it…

*SHIII*

*BOOM*

The magic fully unleased of the year's stored kinetic energy that Ozma have spent lifetime after lifetime accumulating in the cane, he built was finally unleashed at the Gigantis beam and lost immediately engulfing it and any Grimm around the Vale Kingdom immediately with the flashes shown…