RWBY: Ebbing Darkness - Blake x MaleReader x Yang

Part 11

"I do enjoy the forest at this time of day." Y/N was prideful, arrogant. However, the former shined brighter than the last. He took no pity in what he did, and Raven somewhat liked that about him.
He sighed in content, straightening. His wheezing had stopped just moments ago, and now he relaxed, basking in the aftermath of his victory. Raven could see it in his eyes, he'd had fun, he was fulfilled.
He turned to her side, meeting the gaze of another. Raven did as well, her eyes sharpening in warning.
"This one likes to stare." He said and a young woman hadn't faltered in his focus. "What's your name?"
"Vernal." The young woman said. She stepped forward, her chest full of air as she endured his analyzing gaze.
"Hmm..." He flashed a smile, catching her lie. "Then that's your name from this day forth. Vernal."
Her eyes flicked wide in surprise. She had done nothing to give away her cover, so how did he know?
"You're probably all wondering what I have in store for you all." He stood, donning his helmet while his trophies rattled along metal. "Allow me to paint you a picture."
Reaching down, he took a fallen tree branch. With it he drew a map of Menagerie in the freshly-fallen snow, recalling its every curve and neighboring island down to perfection. Next he drew Vale and Anima, however only its outer borders.
"My people claimed these lands long ago, before the Great War." He hummed. His expression was unreadable, but his pause was full of anger. "Now we're confined to an island, three quarters of it hostile and unreachable. I'd made headway in my years there, but our government couldn't hold ground or attain resources needed to keep it."
He drew a line over the island, highlighting minor villages and their beloved capital. Inside the empty walls of unreclaimed territory were Grimm and beasts never-before seen by man. Only the sternest among them could ever hope to journey there.
"Alas," He sighed. "I only managed to take trophies and maintain roads. I did the best I could, but numbers weren't on my side."
Now he drew a line from Menagerie to Vale and from Vale to Anima. Supply lines, Raven noted.
"One day, and one day soon, I will return. Having saved my people, I will contest Ghira for his position as Chieftain, and my mother as High Leader. I will reclaim our lost land, crush our enemies, atone for my sins... A crusade across Remnant."
The Lion had done the same in his youth. He'd led an army, cutting through a world of tree and beast, killing every last one to stand as its sole ruler.
Of course The Lion hadn't been alone in such a feat. A brother he recalled, one he held disdain for, had done the same. Russ, he called him. Even one with such arrogance and recklessness had mastered his world, filling Y/N with not only conviction, but confidence.
"You're... talking about annexation." Vernal said, breathless. She, and many others, couldn't begin to believe what he was saying. "That'll be war!"
"Perhaps." Y/N mulled. "Perhaps what this world needs is another war. One to wipe the slate clean. Of course it's all speculation. But in the end, they will submit to my order. My people will be free."
"What more could you want?" Raven asked, fearing his answer.
"More?" He asked. "That's all I've ever wanted. For as long as I could remember, I've wanted this - battle. Soon it will be but a memory."
"Atlas?" Vernal questioned, her throat dry. "Vale? And what about Beacon?"
"They'll come in line." Y/N's helm shifted. He looked off to the side, past his men and women to eye a vacant tent. "They'll submit. That includes you, Qrow."
Raven followed his crimson gaze with her own. She stood, a hand on her sword as silence covered their camp. Her ears strained, still ringing from the aftermath of their battle, but it was there, a sigh.
"You're just asking for another war." She heard the familiar grovel coming from ahead. "Ozpin won't take it lying down."
"Ozma is the least of my concerns." Y/N said with a small laugh as if he were offended. "He had a thousand years and he spent the majority of it drinking and sulking about. He's no leader. He doesn't even possess magic. You flock behind an old hermit who's just now thought to run away."
"A means to an end, right?" Qrow repeated. "You won't stop there. You'll want more."
"I want what's ours." Y/N corrected. "What was taken will be returned. I've already killed the best Atlas has to offer. The so called strong arm of the world. If that's what you choose to believe, human, then I won't stop you from flocking to your death."
"The others will hear of this." Qrow warned.
"If it were under any other circumstance I'd be glad, but an old man couldn't hope to stand up to a Maiden, now what will he do to me? Consider it payment for my help."
Qrow had had enough. His aura grew then bursted, leaving a faint flap of wings in the night sky. His magic faded quickly as he fled.
"He's a bigger fool than I thought." Y/N chuckled.
"You don't know the half of it." Raven sighed, her grip easing over her weapon. Y/N could only bark a laugh in return.