The Hammer of Remenant

chapter 12: Reunions, pt.1

Perturabo sat in his command center aboard the Iron Blood, when a ping alerted him of a location for his missing students, half of Team RWBY and the remainder of Team JNPR, they were spotted by surveillance squads deployed near Haven Academy in the Kingdom of Mistral, the location the White fang planned to destroy next, with this information he ordered a ship be readied as he prepared himself to leave, his helm donned once more, a visage of hate completed as he stood and turned to leave.

-Timeskip-

Perturabo walked with purpose toward a bar, forcing his bulk through the door to see Qrow and a boy no older than 14 talking, the latter turning to Perturabo as he said;

???: I'm Oscar Pine, and I'm supposed to say: 'Hello, Hammer of Olympia.'

These words causing Qrow to start cracking up, before saying:

Qrow: I found him.

Perturabo: Found who?

Qrow: Ozpin.

Perturabo, in his monotone voice simply said;

Perturabo: That is not Ozpin.

-Timeskip-

There was a knock at the door, Jaune cautiously opened it after a short while, asking;

Jaune: Can I... help you?

Oscar: Um... yeah. Is there a Ruby Rose here?

Nora: Why?

Oscar: Well...

At this moment, Qrow stumbled inside and fell on the couch, saying:

Qrow: I found them.

Oscar: I think her uncle could use some help.

Qrow: I found them.

At that moment Ruby walked in, saying;

Ruby: What is going on out there?! Can't a girl read her comics in peace? Qrow? Did you get drunk again?

Qrow: Maybe.

Jaune: Can we focus on how he said 'them'? Who else is he talking about?

Oscar stepped inside and looked at Ruby the two locking eyes as he said;

Oscar: Oh, you have silver eyes.

Ruby: Who are you? And what does Uncle Qrow mean by-

Ruby was cut off as a familiar sight to the students of Beacon entered the room, Ruby frowning sadly as she saw Perturabo, that frown quickly being hid by a smile, as Oscar said:

Oscar: Uh... Well. My name is Oscar Pine.

Qrow: Wait for it...

Oscar: But you probably know me better as... Professor Ozpin.

Most taking a few steps back in shock while Qrow simply chuckled before punching the air saying;

Qrow: I did it!

Before falling off the couch.

-Timeskip-

Qrow entered the living room, handing a cup to Oscar while sitting next to him, Oscar saying;

Oscar: Thanks.

Qrow: Alright, I'm sure everyone has questions, but first we need to have a talk. Mind showing us your little parlor trick, kid?

Oscar: Yeah, okay. Just so you know, I'll still be here.

A few in the room looking confused as Oscar closed his eyes for a moment a green aura flashing for a moment before he opened his eyes again, now glowing as a familiar voice came from Oscar, saying;

Ozpin: Hello again students, Perturabo.

Jaune: Wait, what just happened?

Ren: Professor... Ozpin?

Ozpin: Correct. And though I may be the one speaking, Oscar is still present mentally. He's merely handed over the control, so to speak. I'm afraid this all must be very perplexing.

Nora: And alarming, and bizarre, and just really kind of hard to believe overall!

Ozpin: It's good to see you children still have your sense of humor. I know you've all been through tremendous hardship already. I'm sorry.

Ruby: I mean, it's not your fault.

Ozpin: It's all my fault. I told you once that I made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet, and I wasn't exaggerating. I'm... cursed. For thousands of years, I've walked the surface of Remnant, living, dying, and reincarnating in the body of a like-minded soul. The Professor Ozpin you all met was not my first form, and clearly wasn't my last. It's... an extraordinarily strenuous process on everyone involved.

Jaune: So who... what... are you?;

Perturabo: He is a Perpetual.

Ruby: A what?

Perturabo: A perpetual, a being who cannot meet a natural end, though there are some, such as my brother Vulkan, and our Headmaster, who are truly immortal.

Ozpin: And with every rebirth, my soul is eventually merged with another and I am changed, but my memories stay with me. This curse was bestowed upon me by the Gods because I failed to stop Salem in the past. But we must stop her now.

???: An excellent idea, if I may say.

An unknown voice said from behind Perturabo, everyone in the room suddenly drawing weapons and turning to look, a tall, thin man in an assortment of multicolored fabrics and a porcelain mask stood hands raised in a surrendering fashion before Perturabo said;

Perturabo: Harlequin.

Harlequin: Lord of Iron.

Ruby: You know him?

Perturabo: No. Nor does his Troupes colors look familiar.

Harlequin: Oh, I can explain that, I've been here for oh-so-long, waiting for you so I may deliver a message from Cegorach, Lord of Iron.

Perturabo: And what is that message?

Harlequin: Beware what you seek, trickery lies deep, careful not to go too far, lest you find yourself a fallen star.

The Harlequin said in a sing-song voice before deeply bowing and disappearing in a flash of light, sourceless laughter echoing for a moment before the room once more fell quiet, a few moments passing before Ozpin broke the silence, saying;

Ozpin: Perturabo, who is Cegorach?

Perturabo: The Eldar Laughing God, a God of trickery, deception, and art. If he deemed it so important as to send a Harlequin this far, the situation is much more dire than any of us realized.

Ruby: So, that's bad, right?

[A/N: WOE, HARLEQUIN PLOT DEVICE BE UPON YE! sorry for the wait for such a short chapter, but just like Lord Grumpy said, the Honk God having interest in something makes the situation more dire than anticipated, now hold onto your seats, not everything is as it seems.]