Ozpin/Oscar X Reader

The Next Step

A pool of black slime in a dark red and purple land. A massive paw emerges from within the slime, and a Beowolf gradually crawls out, slime sliding off of it and onto the ground. Many Beowolves emerge from the pools. The dark and desolate land made up of red ground, purple crystals, and a red and black clouded sky. Mercury and Emerald reflected in a window, watching from inside a high building. Emerald has her hand to her mouth, while Mercury seems slightly disgusted. A gloved hand snaps its fingers.

A large windowed room, at the center of which is a long purple, crystal table. Four people sit at the table with seven chairs. One of them is Cinder. Emerald and Mercury move away from the window.

The man, sitting across from Cinder, Arthur Watts. He is looking at his Scroll.
Next is the man to Cinder's right, Tyrian. He sits in a crouch casually on his chair, resting his arms on his knees.
Across from Tyrian is Hazel. His arms are crossed, and he looks asleep.
Cinder sits quietly, while Mercury and Emerald move to her side. Emerald nudges Mercury out of her way so that she can be directly next to Cinder. "Yes, yes, keep your posse in check."

Mercury grunts and makes a move toward Watts, but Emerald holds him back.
"You hear that? Silence."

Hazel gives Watts an unimpressed sideways glance, "I've half a mind to thank the little girl that bested you."

"If I were you, I'd hunt her down." Tyrian nickers, "Find her and, well, she took your eye, didn't she?"
"From what I heard, it was Saint who did the damage. Expected from Salem's supposed equal."

Cinder only stares at Tyrian while he cackles at her. Cinder tries to speak but solely manages to make quiet, exhaling noises. Emerald leans in to hear her, "Pathetic. Why did you even-" Watts was cut off by the sound of a heavy metal door being unlatched. The doors open, and everyone stands just before Salem and Suneel enter. Salem glides alongside the table with soft footsteps before reaching the head of it, jewels jangling from her hair. Suneel closes the door behind her, Salem stops, facing away from them and toward a candle and crystal display, "Watts."

Watts straightens, looking toward her.

Salem turning to face Watts, "Do you find such malignance necessary?" She gestures for all to sit down.
"I apologize, ma'am. I'm not particularly fond of failure."

Watts and Salem sit simultaneously, "Then I see no reason for your cruelty towards young Cinder. She's become our Fall Maiden, destroyed Beacon Tower, and most importantly, killed dear Ozpin. So I'm curious, to what failures are you referring?"

"Well, the girl with the Silver Eyes, and of course Saint."

"Yes. We've dealt with their kind before. How is it a novice was able to best one of us? Suneel was supposed to take Saint from Ozpin."
"My thoughts exactly. Even without her new power, it should have been effortless."

"It is because of the Maiden's power. Make no mistake, Cinder, you hold the key to our victory. But your newfound strength brings with it a crippling weakness. Which is why you will remain by my side as we continue your treatment. Suneel, however, doesn't have a connection to the Grimm as Saint since her original master is very fond of her. And that was something I warn all of you, Suneel has experienced the troubles Saint brings." Salem extended her hand at Suneel who glares at the ground, "My apologies Salem." Salem places her hands on the table in front of her, "No need for apologies, I saw how much she means to you; therefore, I will insure that with Cinder as our maiden, Saint will be yours once again. Your only rival was Ozpin; she is loyal to him as she is ordered to." Suneel smiles at her promise, thinking about getting you in his arms.

Cinder is unhappy about this and lowers her head. Emerald looks at her in sympathy.

"Suneel, you may assign them." Suneel steps forward, regaining his composure, "Dr. Watts, you are to take Cinder's place and meet with our informant in Mistral." Dr. Watts nodded in response, "Very good."

"Tyrian, continue your hunt for the Spring Maiden."
Tyrian laughs, "Gladly."
"Hazel, Salem is sending you to the leader of the White Fang. Adam Taurus has arranged the meeting. He continues to prove loyal. Ensure that Sienna Khan feels the same."
"As you wish."

Cinder raises a finger. Emerald fails to notice this gesture for a moment, "Oh!"

Emerald leans in to hear her. Cinder rasps into her ear. Emerald straightens. Suneel steps back as Salem spoke, "Speak, child."

"She wants to know... What about the girl?"

Watts scoffs at the remark, "What about her? It seems to me that this is Cinder's problem, not ours."

Cinder slams her fist onto the table and glares at Watts, who grins at her.

"That's enough. Salem, your orders." Suneel speaks.
"Tyrian." Salem turns to him.
"Yes, my Lady?"
"Spring can wait. Find the girl that did this to Cinder."
Tyrian giggles elatedly and claps.

"And bring her to me." Tyrian freezes, groans disappointedly, pouts for a second, then looks back up at Salem with an acquiescent shrug, "Because of your efforts, Beacon has fallen. And Haven will be next."

Everyone rises.

Tyrian snickers at Cinder and points to his left eye, "Eye for an eye." Tyrian goes into an uncontrollable fit of manic laughter, while Cinder grits her teeth.

Oscar Pine, a boy with freckles and brown eyes, wakes up in a panic and sighs in relief after looking around. He emerges from the loft of a barn and climbs down a ladder. The boy is wearing patched khaki pants, a white shirt, and orange suspenders and gloves. Tucked into his pocket is an orange-based multi-colored cloth. He opens the barn door to a peaceful country scene with a rising sun and birds tweeting. White mountains are a background to a dirt road, grass, a few trees, and a green water pump.

He smiles and pumps water into a blue bucket. As his gaze wanders the landscape, he becomes distracted from the pump and utters a quiet sound of surprise upon realizing he has overfilled the bucket. His shoulders fall with a sigh; he suddenly straightens up and looks out into the distance.

With you, you had met with the mayor of the town that Ruby was currently in, "That creature has been tormenting us for a while now, are you sure they can help us with it?" You smiled and gave the nod, "Of course, they may seem young, but they are very much capable." The major handed you a small bag, "How many years has it been since we last saw each other?"
"You were still a child; I'm surprised you remember me."
"I wouldn't forget the woman who saved my life along with the town."
"As a huntress, I will do what is right."
"Right, before the children return, I have a few letters from the Kingdom of Altas." The mayor handed you a scroll, "Is that so?" You opened up the scroll, light blue holograms appeared in front of you, revealing letters from the military. "This meeting stays between us; thank you once again." You closed the holograms and hid the scroll in your pouch. Qrow enter the room "(Y/n); they are going to return soon; let's go." You nodded, turning to the Mayor once again, "Take care, who knows when I will return." The mayor smiles at you, "Yes, thank you."

With Weiss, she looks outside of the window, staring up at the sky, watching airships. She is sitting in a cushioned chair with her hands folded in her lap. There is a knock on the door.
"Yes?"

The door, opens and Klein, a butler, enters, "Pardon the interruption, Miss Schnee, but your father wishes to speak to you."

"Thank you, Klein."

Weiss looks out the window once more before getting up and walking out. Her heels clank across the floor, and the door slams shut, "Hopefully Miss (Y/n) is doing a lot better than me."

End of Vol. 4 Chapter 1