A/N: I'm back.

Stepped away from RWBY for a bit, but I've returned.

I've been horribly sick, and Slifer's on vacation...but I haven't heard from him since his flight landed. Starting to worry about my buddy. The world's gone crazy these days and I hope he's alright. He has been a MASSIVE help as a co-writer, and I'm not sure I can do this without him.

That said, can anyone see this? Hard to tell with the current state of the site.

Seems the site broke again *sigh* so I'm not entirely sure this is visible. Notifications are down -have been for THREE weeks- we're getting blank pages, stats aren't showing up, and chapters keep disappearing. But hey, at least the app works...sometimes.

Unfortunately, not all of us are able to USE the app. Its breaking my heart, but the site's going downhill...

In other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. I can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head. I don't even know why! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes. Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes. My doctor is of no help at all.

Take a walk he says, go outside more he says, you'll be fine he says. *siiiigh* Don't bloody feel fine. Maybe I should see someone else...

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds, the world over. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

Not Q&A for a bit, as someone complained. Ah, well. Can't please everyone I suppose. Trying my best to keep everyone entertained here.

Alight, I've kept you long enough. As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes!

They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I; an old man who writes as a pastime.

"What are you doing?!

Something that should've been done a long time ago!

Wait, wait, wait! Please! If you do this, there will be no turning back! DO NOT-

*crunch*

"I'm sorry, what was that? I could hear you over the sound of you DYING."

~The Moment of No Return.

A Bloody Blade

Haven was...lacking.

In truth, Naruto found it something of a disappointment. He had thought a school for future huntsmen and huntresses would be well fortified; built like a castle, with guards at every corridor, armed checkpoints, huntsmen ready to challenge any who dare trespass without express permission. Reality buckled under the weight of his expectations as most things often did. No guards faced them when they strode up the sloping marbled steps, no enemies descended upon them from the balconies above, and perhaps most importantly of all, Ozpin didn't swoop out of the shadows to confront him.

All to the good, that. Swooping was bad.

It wasn't an insult against the academy itself on Naruto's part; he'd never laid eyes on Haven academy before, but the fact remained that it simply wasn't prepared to face an infiltration much less one from four people who simply did not give a shit. And what was without Alpha and Rim! He didn't dare bring the Grimm hybrids here; after much cajoling and capering they'd agreed to stay behind in order to avoid drawing undue attention their way. He could summon them to his side easily enough if need be.

Was he relieved? Yes.

Disappointed? Maybe a little.

Elm saw his expression and elbowed him. "Lucky us, eh?

"Lucky, she says." Lisa gave her a black look. "This feels like a trap.

Raven shared a long, lingering look with him and shrugged. Maybe it was. And maybe that wouldn't be so bad.

After all the running and gunning and TRAINING he had done, he'd expected...more. A chance to showoff his new skills, you know? Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on one's viewpoint, confrontation didn't seem to be in the cards. They just waltzed in, right through the front door. Apparently most of the students were away on a holiday and the grounds were open to the public. It was surprisingly easy to slip in and reach the statue where the relic was purportedly housed.

"Contrary to popular belief," Raven began as they approached said statue housing the vault, "The old man isn't stupid." Omen scraped free from its sheathed and shattered the golden chains binding it with a lazy sweep, sending their golden links clattering to the floor. "If he thought you would be here, he'd have Lionheart turn this place into a fortress."

"So why hasn't he?" This from Lisa.

"Several reasons, my intrepid little reporter," The Bandit Queen hummed as she took her place upon the elevator pedestal, "First doesn't know you're in Mistral with me; second, he doesn't know you have friends in Atlas," she cast a glance to Elm, and most important of all," she wiggled her fingers at the lot of them, "He doesn't know that I'm the Spring Maiden." Here at last her eyes danced with cruel crimson flames, heat and fire bleeding over the edge of long lashes. "If he suspected even ONE of these things he'd be on you like bristles on a Boarbatusk. And speaking of bristles, you owe Qrow, by the way.

"That dusty old bird?" Naruto stepped onto the elevator after her, to which Lisa and Elm mirrored him. "Why?"

"He told me about you." Raven didn't deign to look his way, even as the lift began its long descent into darkness. "If he hadn't we wouldn't be here, wouldn't be having this conversation, and you wouldn't be a free man."

Dear boy, you will come to me, sooner or later. Salem's parting words stuck with him, jabbing into his thoughts. You will have no choice in the matter. After all, I'm the only one who can possibly understand you.

Elm whistled, breaking him free from the muddled mire of his thoughts. "Well, would you look at that...?"

He followed her gaze...and saw.

The vault itself was housed far beneath the school proper itself; it wasn't just old; it was ancient.

They found themselves descending into a deep chasm, petering out into a seemingly bottomless abyss. The path on the platform leading up to the Relic Chamber's door held three cyan circle on the ground, each etched with an ornate symbol, illuminating now to light the cavern as they completed their descent.

Lisa clasped her hands. "Its...beautiful."

He didn't fail to notice that she'd whipped out her scroll to record every bit of this. Let her. Anything that annoyed Ozpin made his day.

And there at the end of the lift.

...is that it...?"

The end of the platform featured the door to the Relic itself, an elaborate orange doorway wedged against a stern rock wall. Behind it loomed a large tree with glowing orange flowers, some of which fell to the ground even now as they looked on. The closer they drew the more he realized the door wasn't a door at all, but rather a gate; an entryway is constructed out of golden fans layered on top of each other, decorated with a floral pattern woven within metal and light.

"Watch my back." Raven loped forward, one hand on Omen's hilt. "I wouldn't put it past Ozpin to have left a surprise here for us...or Salem."

Elm made a baffled noise. "But the vault's the only way through."

"Where there's a will there's a way."

Naruto stretched out his recently improved senses and felt...nothing. No, perhaps that was something of a misnomer. There was perhaps one person near them, but whomever they were they seemed to be at the very top of the academy. Judging by their steady vitals, they didn't seem at all aware of them.

Good.

"Alright." Raven touched a hand to the vault's surface. "Showtime."

The vault hearkened to her presence; the floral pattern of the gate glowing from within. One by one, the layers of fans rotate, revealing gaps between them. Said gaps grew wide, wider, widest still until finally, with a soft click, the door irised open into the void. A lamp awaited them in the expanse beyond, stretching into...the desert. What was that, a mirage?"

"Pocket dimension, eh?" Raven thumbed her chin, considering. "Clever. Why didn't the Old Man ever think to trap her here...?"

As though echoing that very thought, the lift cycled up behind them.

Elm rounded on it. "We've got company."

Lisa swore virulently.

Raven launched herself into the pocket dimension with all the speed of a maiden, retrieved the relic handily and strode back out at a brisk pace.

"Doesn't matter." her smile was just a shade shy of smug, much like her namesake. "We got what we came for." So speaking, she turned and offered him the Relic, dangling the Lamp before him like the jeweled bauble it was. "Remember, her name is Jinn. She has two questions to use. Phrase them carefully when we get back."

His brow furrowed. "You used one?"

"Long story." she smirked. "So? I upheld my end of the bargain. Do we have a deal?"

He could feel Elm and Lisa staring at him, awaiting his answer. They'd defer to him, he knew.

Naruto placed his hand over Raven's. "Against my better judgement...but I still don't trust you."

The Spring Maiden smirked. "Good. You're learning.

She cut a portal through the air.

"In you go."

(.0.0.0.)

Raven knew she shouldn't linger.

One by one she ushered the three of them through; Lisa first, Elm second, and Naruto last.

Really, she should've rushed in after them. It would've been the sensible thing to do, the smart thing...but she didn't.

Curiosity stayed her hand. She expected many things when the elevator cycled back down. Ozpin, Salem, maybe even Taiyang, because wouldn't that be a reunion for the storybooks. She told herself it was because she wanted to deal with any witnesses, but in reality she just wanted to see who had the balls to come down here.

Leonardo Lionheart was not on that list.

"Raven?" Haven's Headmaster lowered his wrist-mounted weapon and stepped off the lift, confused. "How did you...you can't be here!"

Yet she was.

He'd come racing down here, pale and sweaty, almost like he knew...

.

..

...why?

There was something off about all this.

He looked past her, to the inert vault. "Where is the Relic?"

"..."

She didn't answer.

Then again, she didn't have to.

Leonardo's face turned an alarming shade of puce as reached the obvious conclusion...and raised his weapon. "Just like Summer! Always sticking your nose where you shouldn't!"

And in an instant it clicked.

His fear over all the years. Summer's ill-fated mission.

Who else could have sold her out? James was too patriotic. Theodore too kind and isolated in Shade. Ozpin? Never. Which meant...

An ugly thought tickled the back of her brain. No one would see. No one would know. No one could prove anything. It would such a shame if something happened to Haven's cowardly little lion. Not only would it be sweet, sweet vengeance for what had befallen Summer besides, it would better bind Naruto to the cause. That, and she really, truly wanted to kill this cowardly craven of a cur.

...no one could stop her.

"It was you wasn't it, little lion?"

Omen cleared its sheathe with a long, languid rasp.

"There's no turning back now, she crooned. "We're all in this together."

Her sword flicked free toward him. Leonardo stepped back. "W-What are you doing?

"Something that should've been done a long time ago. This is for selling out Summer."

"Wait, wait, wait!" he backpedaled, and his fear sealed the deal, "Please! If you do this, there will be no turning back! DO NOT-

His words dissolved into a started squeal as she ran him through with her blade. He bent double over her sword, skewered like the cowardly pig he was.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" she purred in his ear. "I couldn't hear you over the sound of you DYING."

Leonardo babbled something. It might've been a plea for mercy.

Raven never knew.

She kicked him off her blade, sending him tumbling to the edge of the cliff. He scrabbled at the edge for dear life and somehow managed to cling on. Fear gave you a strength of its own, she supposed. She contemplated leaving him like that; feet dangling over the void, holding on for dear life...but only for a moment. Huh. This reminded her of a scene she'd seen in a movie once upon a time.

Aha~!

Sweet irony.

How terribly delicious.

"You're a lion, right? Well in that case," She leaned closer, eyes burning with maiden fire. "Long live the King."

With a sneer, she cast him into the abyss.

Leonardo died screaming.

(.0.0.0.)

Loud.

So loud.

So very loud.

"Take the girl. NOW."

Summer knew what the Voice wanted; but she mustn't give in.

She gripped her arm and doubled over, glaring at herself in the bathroom mirror. "No! I won't do it! You can't make me!"

Her reflection leered back at her, teeth gone sharp and eyes glowing a wicked visceral red, hideous and cruel. "Can't I?"

A crimson portal tore open behind her; she saw it in the mirror and balked, rounding on it.

"Raven?"

Three bodies came tumbling through...and crashed into her. She toppled backward with a startled squeak, identity crisis momentarily forgotten.

Belatedly, she recognized one of them.

Blue eyes. Blond hair. Whiskered cheeks even now dimpling in startled surprise as he blinked back at her, forehead to forehead.

Naruto blinked. He blinked hard, then laughed. "Oh," he rasped. "Hello there."

Summer hiccuped, just a little, tears in her eyes. "Long time no see...

Because you see, a miracle had occurred. In his presence, the Grimm voices in her head quieted. That once all encompassing voice had gone curiously silent. She couldn't hear it anymore. For the first time in weeks, her thoughts were her own. She could think. Focus. It was a beautiful, blessed thing and she nearly wept because it.

"Bloody hell," someone groaned. "Where did we end up...

"No idea," a violet-haired woman sighed. "Well, this can't be good."

Then the portal slashed open again and Summer's world went topsy-turvy once more.

"Oi, brat!" Raven Branwen poked her head through, glaring bloody red daggers at the blond. "What did you do?!"

Naruto flailed upright, sputtering. "I didn't do anything! Your portal sent us back here to Summer, damnit."

"Summer?!" Her old teammate saw her beneath him and went white as a ghost. "Well, shit...

"Heh." It was too much for her poor heart. A dam burst inside her.

Summer Rose burst into delighted tears and started laughing.

A/N: Something screwed with Raven's portal. I thin we all know what.

*cough*Lamp*cough*pretty obvious*cough*

Magic does not mix well with magic

Aaaand scene

As ever, we're going by the Embers rule. This'll won't be continued if folks don't like it. So speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback counts! Seriously! Strange at it may seem, I can't write without reviews. That's no joke.

Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write.

So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Revieeeew...Would You Kindly?

Hope you enjoy the previews!

(Previews)

"You ready to blow this story wide open?"

He clasped Lisa's hand. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Lisa grabbed him by the face and given him a mighty shake. "Never put yourself in danger like that again!"

"I might not have a choice-

"NEVER AGAIN!"

"Alright. But-

She smashed her lips against his before he could finish and devoured his words.

The Ursa had survived the journey.

Of course it had. Naruto wasn't sure why he was surprised.

Half dead, it rumbled softly as he stroked its fur.

"Poor thing...

Elm plonked down beside him. "Whatever you're thinking, don't.

Naruto's face darkened. He grabbed the beast's mask and pulled.

Golden light flashed through the tribe.

Wind picked up.

An airship descended. A man stood on the ramp and held out his hand.

"Come with me if you want to live!"

R&R~!