Chapter 12: Clairvoyant Phantom

[7:52 p.m.]

Summer: "She's not even visible anymore, we can't catch up to her on foot."

Raven: "Well stopping after a few miles is the reason why we are so behind."

Summer: "Can you blame me? That huntsman team needed our help against three nevermore. We could not just ignore them."

Raven: "I know I know.. I'm just frustrated, I don't want us to get to her and be too late to stop her."

Summer: "Stop her from what?"

Raven hesitated to answer that question.

Raven: "I... It's nothing forget it, we need to keep moving."

Summer: "No it's not nothing, tell me."

Raven: "Summer don't worry about it, let's go."

Summer: "No, tell me what you meant."

Raven: "Just forget about it already."

Summer: "Nope, tell me."

Raven: "We're wasting time, drop it and let's go!"

Summer: "We will go as soon as you stop being so stubborn and tell me what you meant by being too late to stop her."

Raven: "You're the one being stubborn here, why are you so fixated on this?"

Summer: "Because I care about her just as much as you do."

Raven sighed at the obvious answer Summer gave her. For brief moments silence entered the woods they were in.

Summer: "Raven ple-"

Raven: "She's going to die."

The words she let out flustered Summer, it was completely unexpected.

Summer: "Um... what?"

Raven: "You heard me..."

Summer: "How do you know for sure?"

Raven: "It all started on her first mission with us."

Summer: "The day we went back to Mt. Glenn?"

Raven: "Yes, we needed her help in order to investigate the weird phenomena that her power unleashed. You remember what we saw clear as day, don't you?"

Summer: "It's hard to forget, that phantom we encountered had unimaginable power, so much that it overpowered me, you, and Qrow instantly."

Raven: "But it wouldn't harm Ruby, even when she would attack. Instead it unleashed a flash of light that separated all of us not too far from the crater. When I got back the phantom was gone, all I saw was Ruby staring down at her hands. When I approached her I was going to ask her what happened but when we made eye contact... her pupils were gone. She began to walk toward me while the mark on her chest emitted a menacing aura, being near her felt like gravity was pushing me down."

Summer: "That explains the frightening feeling I got moments after we were all separated."

Raven: "Yeah, naturally I readied myself as best as I could but she collapsed into my arms before I could reach the hilt of my weapon. That's when you and Qrow arrived, asking what happened to us. I couldn't answer that because I did not know myself."

Summer: "So the phantom just left?"

Raven: "That's what I wanted to believe but after Ruby awoke from her seven hour long nap, she told me something weird. She said to not go train in the forest near beacon, that there is a black monster bird with a dangerous bomb attached to it's body."

Summer: "Knowing you you ignored her and went to the forest anyway."

Raven: "Correct, I knew that Ruby had immense power but there was no way she could predict the future, so I ignored her and went to Emerald Forest. She knew this and followed me in there, waiting for the nevermore with the bomb to show up. When it appeared I was indeed surprised, I was going to use my blade to kill it but Ruby stopped me. She told me that if I kill it I would not survive the blast. So she went and killed the nevermore on her own and the blast that bomb unleashed was massive, it destroyed three of the ruins I usually use to hunt for beowolves, ursai, or death stalkers. To make sure someone would die from the explosion, poison gas was spread out the second it detonated. I know this because she told me after emerging unscathed.

Summer: "So not only did she prove that she can predict the future, she saved your life."

Raven: "Yeah but it doesn't end there. Naturally I assumed what happened in Emerald Forest to be a coincidence, though the next day definitely was not. She took me to a new dust shop in Vale, she told me that it was going to be robbed by six men in suits wearing top hats and sunglasses. We waited inside for a half hour, I was getting ready to leave because I thought being in there was a waste of time. Just as I was about to walk out the door, six men wearing the exact attire as Ruby described entered the store attempting to rob it. She knew every move, and repeated every word they said right when they spoke. I merely stood there watching quietly as she easily took them down. After that I was convinced of her predictions of the future were solid. That is also the reason why I welcomed her to my home so willingly, to keep a close eye on her and observe her actions."

Summer: "I knew you wouldn't just welcome her to your home for nothing."

Raven: "Of course I wouldn't, though I did not ask her to move in with me and Taiyang. I waited for you to do that for me."

Summer: "Seriously, you couldn't just ask her yourself?"

Raven: "I could not, I was busy helping my tribe with something important."

Summer: "No wonder I didn't hear from you for a month. I was worried sick about you."

Raven: "Yeah I know, I had forty-one missed calls from you."

Summer: "And you never thought to call me back after seeing that?"

Raven: "No"

Summer: "Ouch.."

Raven: "Anyway, I knew that you would give her a suggestion on living with me by the time I returned to Vale and I was right. So I called Ozpin and had him prepare adoption papers for Ruby. After accepting her request I needed her consent to adopt her. She didn't know what adoption was so I had to explain it to her. After the explanation she accepted."

Summer: "You never told me you adopted her this is awesome. Ruby Branwen, the prodigy of Beacon Academy. Oh I can see it now."

Raven gave Summer three karate chops on the head to stop her from talking.

Raven: "I only did it so it can be easier to locate her if she ever went missing."

A smug grin formed on Summer's face, "yeah of course that's the reason."

Raven: "Yeah yeah now back to my story, as time flew by something unexpected happened on one of the nights I went to check up on her. She had fell asleep studying about the creatures of Grimm. She made quite a mess in her room so I cleaned up a little. As I was cleaning I heard her muttering something in her sleep, I couldn't make out what she was saying so I got closer. She was saying, "I'm sorry Raven." I was a bit confused as to why she would apologize to me so I shrug it off and walk toward the door. Right as I was about to open it the scenery changed. I was no longer in my house, I was in a flower field that had very wide burn marks."

Summer: "That's weird, we can only teleport through scientific means and even then it's not perfected. Unless someone out there has a teleportation semblance, the only people I can think of who is capable of doing such things is either Ozpin or Salem."

Raven: "That's exactly what I thought for a while. After feeling surprised from the sudden scenery change I went to the upper hill of the field. When I got there I saw an unconscious woman with wings."

Summer: "Wings? Like angel wings?"

Raven: "Yeah, after I spotted her I saw two others from afar, fighting against a weird looking creature that had tentacles. I quickly move in closer to see that it was Ruby and a woman with long brown hair wearing a silver jacket, using a rose pink scythe as her weapon."

Summer: "The same one Oz showed us?"

Raven: "Yes, the exact same one. Eventually the two were overpowered by the weird looking creature. The woman holding the scythe was killed by her heart being pierced by it's tentacle. Immediately after that she went and obliterated Ruby, leaving no trace of her anywhere, after her death the flower field quickly began to disappear. When it was all gone I fell into the ocean, at least that's what I thought. I awoke and shot up from Ruby's bed questioning what the hell I just saw. Ruby had already awoken before I did, she knew exactly what had me so rattled. She told me that everything I saw was a dream she was having. I asked her if it was a premonition of what has yet to come, she told me not to worry, that it's just a recurring nightmare from a horror movie she watched."

Summer: "A nightmare from a horror movie? That sounds like a bad lie."

Raven: "Yeah, she has never been good at lying. I knew that it wasn't just a nightmare, it was a premonition of the future. Day after day I would go near her room door and silently check up on her, especially during the night. A number of times I have heard her scream. When I open the door to check on her she's terrified and in tears, as if something horrible had happened to her. The only thing I could think of that would terrify her was the premonition of her death. I would merely ask her if she is okay, she would wipe her tears away and say these words to me, "there is no need to worry Raven, I'm okay now." She told me that same answer all those times I asked. Naturally I knew she was the opposite from okay but she wanted me to believe that she was. So I nod and tell her if she needed anything my room is down the hall. Overtime as we went on missions together her strength became noticed by the people of Vale, even the council had taken notice of her strength. It didn't take long for others to notice as well. While you were out on a mission someone went after Yang, that individual managed to kidnap my daughter. First thing I did was try to create a portal but the few times I tried nothing happened, something was blocking my link to my little girl. Me, Qrow, and Taiyang spent hours looking for Yang. I tried to contact Ruby but the few times I called her it wouldn't go through, so I left her a message asking for help on the search. At nightfall all three of us were back in the house with no lead on Yang's whereabouts. When all hope of finding her seemed very distant, Ruby came home holding an unconscious Yang on her arms. Her hands were bloody, I knew instantly that it was the blood of the kidnapper who took Yang so I didn't bother questioning what she did. I merely thanked her and told her to clean her hands. Ruby has not only saved us in our missions as a team but she saved my little girl from a kidnapper."

Raven let out a sigh, "I never expected to feel like this for her but she kept on saving us. She was always there when I needed her, and remembering that premonition of her death has got me insanely worried. I can't let her die Summer... I won't allow it."

Summer was surprised to hear Raven's reason for wanting to stop Ruby from going toward her death. Their relationship is like mother and daughter and Summer can now see this. Without a second thought Summer gave Raven a hug.

Summer: "I never knew you cared this deeply for her, so it's not just on paper after all."

Raven grew a slight smile on her face, "shut up."

Summer broke away the hug and put both of her hands on Raven's shoulders, "don't worry bestie, we will sa-"

An ursai suddenly rushed in from the bushes, charging toward Raven. Summer eyes began a silver glow, freezing the ursai to stone instantly.

Raven unsheathes her blade, "seems like we have company."

Summer: "Yeah seems like it."

Raven sliced the dead ursai horizontally and crouched down, allowing Summer to kick the top half of the ursai to the bushes. A beowolf was hit out of the bushes and many others jump out along with a few griffons, surrounding Raven and Summer completely.

Raven: "We have already wasted enough time, Summer do your thing."

Summer: "Already on it."

One after another the horde of Grimm burst into flames, Summer stood in her stance dumbfounded.

Raven: "You can light them on fire too?"

Summer: "This isn't my doing."

The horde of Grimm that surrounded the two were killed by the sudden attack from someone unknown.

??: "Didn't think I would run into two of the legendary heroes here."

As the dust settles a figure walks out of the smoke, it was a male huntsman wearing a hooded cloak. Both Summer and Raven kept their guard up.

Raven: "And you are?"

The male removed his hood to reveal his black hair and ocean blue eyes.

??: "Relax I'm not your enemy, just a traveling huntsman."

Summer: "A traveler huh, that would mean you don't have a team. Do you happen to have a vehicle we can use?"

??: "Unfortunately no I do not, why, you two in a hurry?"

Summer got out of her stance and put her scythe on her back. Raven sheathed her blade but kept her hand on the hilt.

Summer: "Yep, we need to get to that tower of light in the distance."

??: "What a coincidence, that is actually where I'm going."

Summer: "Oh good so then tag along with us, just don't be a slowpoke we are in a hurry."

The stranger let out a grin, "if you two are in a hurry then let me help." Summer and Raven were lifted from the ground through the help of an orb.

Raven: "What the hell."

??: "Relax, it's so I can carry you both to our destination."

Summer: "It's like I'm inside a bubble, this is so cool."

??: "Brace yourselves, we're going in hot."

The stranger ascended off the ground and flew toward the tower of light with haste, bringing Summer and Raven with him.

{Near the tower of light}

?: "You are here at last."

"Salem, I have memory of you through Ruby."

Salem: "To whom am I speaking with?"

"I am a mark with a given intellect, I have no name."

Salem inspects Ruby noticing the slight change in her appearance. Her hair now had black stripes, the color of her eyes were a glowing white with absent pupils, and her Yin mark is visible even through her clothes.

Salem: "Interesting, do you remember our deal?"

"I do and that is something I cannot fulfill."

Salem: "Why?"

"Because the two you seek to destroy are no longer in Remnant."

Salem's mood shifted toward anger but only for a moment. She then sighed in displeasure, "well since they are gone for the time being, I'm curious to know on how you plan to deal with that catastrophic sight over there."

"No more talking, I must go."

Salem: "Not the talkative type I see, I will observe your battle from afar then."

Salem disappears leaving the possessed Ruby alone. Moments after her departure a loud noise happened a little ways down from Astral Ruby's position.

Summer: "You weren't kidding, we really came in hot."

??: "Told you, there's a girl up ahead by the way."

Raven walked up to her adopted daughter, not knowing whether it would be Ruby or the Yin mark possessing her.

"Raven..."

Raven was a little surprised to hear her daughter's distorted voice, but now she knew who she was speaking to.

Raven: "Ruby... Or more like the phantom spirit we met on Mt. Glenn."

....

Raven: "That silence means I'm right aren't I."

The phantom possessing Ruby was impressed but is mostly focused on the sight in front of her.

Raven: "All of those dreams she had, you were trying to warn me of the coming threat. You have already been through this event haven't you?"

The phantom stood silent toward her question. The mysterious man began to get more interested in their conversation.

Raven: "If true then you are the cause of her anxiety. Why ha-"

The phantom increased the intensity of the gravity around the area, both Summer and Raven were on the ground unable to move. The male huntsman however was still standing on his feet.

??: "You're THE Ruby Kamiya?"

"I am the phantom spirit possessing her yes. How are you still still standing?"

??: "I have fought a handful of individuals who can manipulate gravity, I have experience with this kind of thing already."

The phantom was curious to know who the mysterious male is but she ignored her curiosity and ascended off the ground ready to leave.

??: "Please wait, I need to ask you two important questions."

"Make it quick, time is of the essence."

He nods, "right of course. I'm here looking for a certain individual that has the appearance of a red angel, have you seen anyone like that?"

"No"

??: "Damn, I thought you off all people would know."

"Next question."

??: "Right, my little girl Hestia has been told stories of the Yin & Yang. In one story they are revered as the sisters of balance, the core of the multiverse, and so on. Tell me, are you sisters with the Yang of this world?"

"I am not for I am just a phantom spirit, but Ruby on the other hand is indeed the Yang's sister."

The mysterious man was stunned by the words he just heard.

"Was that not the answer you expected to hear?"

??: "No uh.. I mean yeah it is, I'm just really surprised that's all."

"I see, well I answered your questions so this is goodbye. Don't get in my way, that goes for you two as well."

Looking at Summer and Raven the phantom placed her hand on Ruby's chest, "she really cares deeply for you two. That is why I cannot allow you to follow me into the light."

The phantom began to fly toward the light leaving the three to themselves. The flow of gravity returned to normal moments after the phantom left. Both women got up on their feet, Raven was furious at the male huntsman for not attempting to stop the phantom from going into the light.

Raven: "I can't believe you didn't try to stop her!"

??: "If I did try I would be risking me and my little girl's existence."

Raven: "What the hell are you talking about?"

??: "I'm not going into detail as to how that would happen, aside from that this is where we part ways ladies."

Raven drew her blade and aimed it toward the mysterious man's neck.

Summer: "Whoa whoa Raven calm down."

Summer went and put her hands on Raven's arm to lower the blade.

Summer: "Look I know you are angry but killing a huntsman is something you shouldn't do, especially since he previously helped us."

Raven: "Him letting the phantom bring Ruby into the light was helping?"

Summer: "You know what I mean."

Grunting in anger Raven sheathed her blade, Summer sighed in relief.

??: "She's a scary woman when angry."

Summer: "Yeah, look I know you must have an important task to do but could you at least help us intercept the phantom, please?"

The mysterious man scratches his head a little, thinking on whether he should help them again or continue on with looking for the red angel.

??: "Saying no to pretty ladies in need would lead me to having an earful from my little girl for weeks, months even. So I'll help one last time."

A big smile entered Summer's face, she gave the man hug which instantly made him blush.

Summer: "Thank you so much."

Raven: "Let's thank him after we close the distance."

The mysterious man cleared his throat, "she's right. At the current pace the phantom is flying it shouldn't be a too hard to catch up to her."

Raven: "Then let's get going."

The mysterious man put the two huntresses inside a reinforced bubble and levitated them off the ground.

??: "Be ready for combat the moment we spot her."

Summer and Raven went on their way to intercept the phantom through the help of the mysterious male huntsman.

章 13: Chapter 12: Clairvoyant Phantom

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章 13: Chapter 12: Clairvoyant Phantom

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