A/N: Typing this up before I hop on a plane, sorry.
Apologies in advance for the short chapter. Please read this note, would you kindly? It explains my absence down below, bit of a wild story, really, and I'm in a terrible rush at the moment.
Speaking of updates, would anyone like an update for Untraveled Road tomorrow? Not sure, given that its Memorial Day over in the states and all. Do let me know!
Despite my injuries, despite RWBY being liquidated by Warner Bros and despite a nasty run of bad luck, I'm still here.
My aunt may have been laid to rest, but it seems this year isn't done messing with me yet: I've now been informed that my sister -the one who lives with me- needs to have several tumors removed forthwith, which means she'll be off for at least a month, which MEANS I have to work even more hours to make up the difference in rent/expenses/electricity and etc. I'm already working crazy hours at both jobs, but now I'll need even more, which means no days off for a bit, most likely...life is just peeling pieces of me as of lately and it hurts... FML right now...
Stepped away for awhile after one of my co-writers passed away, had to hash a few things out. I had originally planned this out for July, but with Roosterteeth being liquidated by Warner Bros, well, lets just say I'm feeling motivated, despite my health woes. We fanfiction writers -Coeur, me, and so many others- are doing our best to keep the RWBY fandom alive over here.
So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Alright them, I think I've kept you long enough. As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes.
They're tributes to legends one and all, far greater than me. Now off we go.
"For what are children if not the very spirit of rebellion?"
~?
Reasons to Rebel (Interlude)
"Who are you?"
Summer tilted her head. "Who're you?"
Cinder stomped a slipper-clad foot. "I asked you first!"
In all fairness, Naruto started spacing out after that; probably best that he did.
Children would be children, after all. In hindsight, Naruto should've known better; because his brats proved him right.
Summer, Tock and Glynda were good girls, really they were, and they got on great with Tai, but one look at Kakashi's kiddos told him there would be trouble the moment they were behind closed doors.
Willow and Cinder were Atlas girls, born and raised, and he knew, he just knew, that they were going to butt heads with his family. Kids fought all the time. It wasn't even a matter of "my dad can beat up your dad" at this point anymore -they'd gone well beyond that- but more along the lines of "my god can beat up your god." Naturally his girls took issue with this and away they went as soon as he got them back to the manor, squawking and squabbling with one another before dinner.
It began as a competition as such things often did, when that failed to resolve their differences, it dissolved into argument, and when that inevitably broke down...
.
..
...well. See for yourself.
"Owwwww!" He looked back to find Cinder wailing in pain as she thrashed about, suspended in the air by Glynda's semblance and very much unable to extricate an angry Tock from her back yanking on her hair, nor a rather furious Summer from her leg-lock around her waist. "Stoppit! That hurts!
Willow palmed her face, unwilling to sink to such barbarism, yet unable to leave her little foster-sister to suffer in silence. "I think she's had enough...
The little faunus refused to relent in her attack. "You started it! This is what you get for insulting Pops!"
Summer seconded her. "Yeah! Be nice to the old man or we'll make you regret it!"
Naruto nearly doubled over then and there. "I'm not that old, am I...?"
Salem and Maria patted his back. "There, there...
It was almost cute, really; even as they fussed over him he could hear Maria's scroll clicking as got plenty of pictures of Tock for the album. Salem saw them crooned over the sight.
Still, someone had to be the adult in the room.
.
..
...it had to be him, of course.
"Alright, alright!" shaking himself free, he stalked over, waved Glynda down, and snatched Summer by her white cloak. "That's enough. Don't kill the poor girl before dinner."
"You heard him," Kakashi deftly plucked tiny Tock up by the scruff of her neck, hoisted her upright, and passed her back to him. "I'm sure Cinder's sorry about what she said. Isn't she?"
A string of angry expletives answered him, followed by an angry exclamation. "I'll gouge out their eyes!"
Kakashi flicked her forehead, drawing a whine from her. "Language, dear girl. On your feet."
Cinder scrambled back to her feet, red-faced and gasping for air as she was summarily taken aside by an embarrassed Willow. He took the opportunity to set Summer and Tock down, ushering them back to Glynda. Both girls regarded his warily; the latter found herself snarled at by Tock. For their part Summer and Glynda were most at their ease-no wait, he told a lie. They were glaring daggers at the Atlas contingent. Young Taiyang had wisely withdrawn before he could be caught in the chaos, content to watch from afar. Lucky him. The rest of them weren't quite so fortunate.
The children stared one another down, ready to rumble again at the slightest provocation.
Kakashi shrugged helplessly. "Would you believe me if I said they used to be worse?"
Maria heaved a sigh down beside him. "Children are hell."
"This from the woman who chose to teach?"
"One more word and I will BITE you."
"Promises, promises!"
"That is quite enough." Salem raised her voice before they could. "Go wash up, the lot of you. Cool your heads."
He'd long since given up trying to convince the people of Vale -of Remnant!- otherwise a long time ago. If everyone insisted on believing they were gods, then so be it. Didn't help that they basically outclassed everybody in terms of raw power. Unfortunately that belief transferred over to the kids, which led to their current circumstances.
Willow and the rest knew better than to cross the former mortal and scarpered like the good girls they were.
Cinder, however, grumbled under her breath. "You're not the boss of me...
Maria facepalmed. "Oh gods, here we go again.
"Dear girl," Salem clicked her tongue in mild disapproval. "I may no longer be immortal, but I can and will take you over me knee to spank you, child."
Heh. She really had come into her own now that she was mortal. He liked it.
Little Cinder did not. She sputtered at her. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Oho~?" A golden brow arched ever so high. "Wouldn't I?"
Cinder fled behind Kakashi's legs with a whimper.
His old teacher chuckled. "She's a keeper."
"Sensei, you have no idea how right you are...
A bell chimed above, heralding the arrival of the first course. Thank the log for small mercis.
"Great, the food's served. Lets get the terms of this truce hammered out before someone does something stupid, eh?
Naruto was more than happy to claim his place at the head of the table and feast. "You read my mind. Let's eat!"
If things were going this smoothly with Kakashi, well that, was a good sign, wasn't it?
Surely it wouldn't be that difficult with Sasuke and Sakura, right...
.
..
...right?
A/N: Aaaand scene.
Sorry if it didn't live up to your expectations.
As ever, the Embers rule remains in effect henceforth;
If folks don't enjoy this story...well, that'll make me sad, but I'll not continue it. So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke! I really don't have much time to write these days and feedback is the wind beneath my wings. Silence is a lead weight that just drags me down.
As ever, reviews/feedback keep me writing them. Without them, I lose all hope, creativity and imagination.
Next time: Reasons to Rebel. Nope. Not ominous at all...
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly!
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
(POTENTIAL PREVIEWS. Be sure and vote for what you want to see~!)
Long live Ozma! King of Vacuo!
"Push, Sakura!"
"Don't concern yourself with him..."
Her hand found his throat, squeezing tight.
"You have much greater things to worry about."
And that, my boy, is why you never, EVER anger a pregnant Sakura.
Naruto slapped a hand to his forehead. "I can't take you anywhere nice."
Salem regarded the smoldering crater with a wince. "To be fair, I wasn't trying to do that. I meant to turn them into a dog."
"Why a dog?!"
"You're right on one account. It does make things more difficult...
"Ha! I knew it! Hear that, boys? He's scared!"
...to decide if any of you live."
"Traitor!"
"Traitor, you said?" he walked through the flames. "Me? The same as you?" A hand cupped his face, unscathed by fire. "Ha!" He threw his head back and cackled. "I can't stop laughing at your words! You're callin' me a traitor 'cuz I didn't live up to the ideal you set for me? That's hilarious!
"You intend to battle me, then?"
"Battle you, beat you, and spit on your grave."
STAY TUNED! R&R! =D