DC: The Shadow Monarch's Chronicles

The aircraft hummed softly as it soared through the skies toward Beacon.

Ashborn and Amazo sat quietly across from team RWBY. The four girls each wore different expressions, Ruby offered a bright, genuine smile.

"Thanks again for the help," she said warmly.

Ashborn nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Yang, seated beside her, had her arms crossed, eyes narrowed and jaw tense. She clearly wasn't thrilled about sharing space with them. Weiss sat stiffly, choosing to ignore their presence entirely, a calculated coldness to her demeanor. Meanwhile, Blake's amber eyes observed Ashborn intently, her gaze filled with both curiosity and uncertainty.

Ruby leaned forward, attempting to lighten the mood as she began explaining their mission, the one involving Mountain Glenn, the White Fang, and the growing threat against Vale. Ashborn listened calmly, nodding at each point as if he already knew the story before she said it.

As Ruby finished, Blake's voice cut through the hum of the engines.

"What happened to the White Fang operatives?" she asked suddenly, her eyes locked on Ashborn.

Ashborn replied flatly, "All of them are dead."

Blake's eyes widened in shock. "Your darkness killed them?" she demanded.

Ashborn admitted to her casually, "Yes, anyone wearing a white mask was eliminated."

Blake's breath hitched, her expression tightening. "How could you do that!? And you let the ringleader escape!?"

Ashborn merely shrugged. "I felt like doing that. The two had personalities. The White Fang operatives were bland. But if it helps, go ahead and call me a close-minded racist or something."

Blake's mouth opened in disbelief, too angry and stunned to speak. Ruby's voice rose, soft but firm. "That's cruel… and wrong."

Ashborn met her eyes with a calm look "They would've died anyway if I wasn't there. Their fate was already set in stone. I had the power to change it… but I chose not to. So, it's fine."

Yang's fists clenched as she leaned forward. "You're quite the piece of human scum, aren't you?"

Ruby glanced at her sister, frowning. "That's not nice, Yang."

Ashborn waved it off. "It's fine, Ruby. I don't take offense easily. But I do find it surprising that you two are sisters. You seem kind and intelligent, while your sister comes off as a… bimbo."

Yang shot to her feet, fury blazing in her eyes. "Who are you calling a bimbo!?"

Ashborn raised a finger and pointed at her, froze her in place. She hovered mid-motion, stuck between lunging and shouting.

Blake and Weiss tensed instinctively. Ruby blinked, looking curiously between her frozen sister and Ashborn.

"What's a bimbo?" she asked.

Ashborn replied plainly, "A bimbo is an attractive but unintelligent or frivolous blonde young woman. Your sister clearly isn't that intelligent and considering how she's constantly exposing her chest for no reason..."

Ruby turned to Yang and tilted her head, thoughtful. "Yang isn't unintelligent," she said at last.

"Is she rash?" Ashborn pressed.

Ruby nodded slowly. "Yeah…"

"Then that's a form of unintelligence," he concluded.

"I see," Ruby said, then turned to her sister and added innocently, "No need to be angry, Yang. Bimbo doesn't seem that bad, and it kinda describes you."

Yang's eyes widened in sheer horror. Blake and Weiss looked at Ruby as if she'd suddenly grown horns.

Ruby said "Please release my sister from whatever you had done"

Ashborn nodded and released Yang.

"I am not a bimbo!" Yang blurted the moment Ashborn released her. She turned on Ruby, aghast. "Don't ever use that word again!"

Then she rounded on Ashborn, seething. "And don't corrupt my sister, you scum!"

Ashborn tilted his head, genuinely confused. "Did I say anything wrong?"

Yang's fists clenched at her sides, shaking.

Ruby quickly stepped between them, hands raised. "We're about to arrive at Beacon. Let's not fight, okay?"

The tension settled just enough for the aircraft to continue its descent in relative silence, only the faint sound of Yang quietly fuming in the corner.

___________

The aircraft touched down gently on Beacon's landing pad. As the doors slid open, team RWBY and their guests stepped out into the light. Waiting for them stood Headmaster Ozpin, Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch, and General James Ironwood.

Ironwood stepped forward first, his posture rigid and commanding, his every movement radiating military authority.

"Welcome to Beacon," he said firmly, offering a nod toward Ashborn and Amazo. "And thank you for defending Vale."

Ashborn returned the gesture with a faint smile. "It was no problem," he said smoothly. "I am Ashborn Black, and this is my son, Amazo." He paused for a beat before continuing, his tone shifting slightly. "Actually, I was hoping to speak with you, General. There's a rather important matter I wish to discuss privately."

Ironwood's brow furrowed slightly. "What kind of urgent matter?"

Ashborn gave him a knowing smile. "Let's not waste time with questions here. It's best discussed elsewhere." He turned to Amazo. "Stay with team RWBY. Explore the place."

Yang immediately frowned. "Why would we show him anything?" she snapped.

Ashborn turned toward her, disappointment on his face. "How rude of you. We are guests, and you're treating us like this? Seriously, what are they teaching students these days?"

Before the tension could rise further, Ozpin stepped forward with a calm but firm voice. "Team RWBY, please accompany Mister Black Junior around the campus."

Though Yang still looked displeased, the girls obeyed without further protest, falling in line as Ashborn walked away alongside the three senior figures, heading toward the headmaster's tower.

As they walked, Ruby turned to Amazo and smiled. "So, what do you want to see first?"

"I have no preferences," Amazo replied plainly, his tone calm and neutral.

___________

Meanwhile, at the top of the tower, Ashborn stood with Ironwood, Ozpin, and Glynda in the briefing chamber. He didn't waste time with formalities.

"I want you to put my son, Amazo, in the same team as Penny Polendina."

Ironwood blinked, his face hardening. "I can't do that. And even if I could… why?"

Ashborn's expression remained cool and confident. "You can do it. You're the Headmaster of Atlas Academy and a General, what you say goes. And as for why... I want Amazo to interact with someone similar to him."

Ironwood's eyes widened. "He's like Penny?"

Ashborn nodded slowly. "Yes. And I don't take things for free. In return for helping me, I can help you with something of your choice." He leaned in slightly. "For example… I can help you recover. You'll have actual limbs again, flesh and bone instead of metal."

Ironwood stiffened. His mind reeled, caught between disbelief and hope. Glynda, who had been silent until now, looked between them with confusion.

"What is going on?" she demanded. "What is he talking about, James? And what do you mean by helping him recover?"

Ozpin's face was pale, his usual composed mask beginning to falter. "Glynda… calm down."

He turned toward Ashborn, his voice lower and cautious. "Why are you back?"

Ashborn met Ozpin's gaze with open amusement. "You stay out of it," he said dismissively.

Reaching into his coat, Ashborn produced a vial of shimmering red liquid. He held it up before Ironwood's eyes.

"If you drink this," he said, "your limbs will grow back. Your injuries, all of them, will be fully healed. A good trade, no?"

Ironwood narrowed his eyes. "Do you expect me to trust someone I just met and drink some unknown thing?"

Ashborn's grin deepened. "Let's say I'm not lying. Let's say you can be healed completely. In your eyes… is that a fair trade?"

Ironwood hesitated. There was a long silence. Then he slowly nodded. "It is. But that still doesn't answer my question."

Ashborn's smile widened.

"It's simple," he said, as his eyes began to glow a deep, unnatural purple "I force you to drink it and all is good"

___________

It wasn't long after they had parted ways that team RWBY and Amazo encountered Ashborn again. He stood casually in the hallway, hands folded behind his back, wearing a smug expression.

"Happy news for all of you," Ashborn announced with a smile. "We'll be staying at Beacon, and Amazo will be attending classes with you all."

Amazo gave a small nod. He showed no objection to whatever his father had planned..

The girls, however, had mixed reactions. Ruby blinked in surprise. Blake tilted her head, uncertain. Weiss narrowed her eyes slightly, and Yang immediately stepped forward with her arms crossed.

"How could they allow you two to stay at Beacon?" she asked loudly, her voice laced with disbelief.

Ashborn replied coolly, "I'm quite convincing. And think of it as a chance to interact with a different crowd. Maybe it'll fix your attitude, strengthen your ethical values…" His eyes slid lazily to Yang. "And help you start dressing in a more refined manner. Like your sister or the Ice Queen here."

Yang's eyes flared with fire. "There's nothing wrong with me or my style!"

Ashborn sighed dramatically and shook his head. "Look, even your sister agrees that you…"

Before he could finish, Yang launched at him with a furious shout. In a flash, Ashborn lazily pointed at her. Yang froze in mid-air, locked mid-punch, her body paralyzed by invisible force.

"You don't learn, do you?" Ashborn muttered, stepping closer. He glanced up at her suspended form. "And yet you feel offended when I call you a bimbo. The irony."

With that, he turned and began walking down the corridor. "Son, let's go prepare our room. I made sure we got the closest to your new four friends' dorm."

He gave the girls a casual wave without looking back. "See you soon."

Amazo gave the team a polite nod. "Thank you for the tour." He turned and followed Ashborn silently.

Yang dropped to the ground a moment later, groaning. "I swear," she muttered through clenched teeth, "one day, I'm going to break that asshole's face."

Ruby watched Ashborn disappear down the hallway. "I don't know… he's not that bad. He's kind of funny."

Yang rounded on her. "You're my sister. You're supposed to be on my side!"

Ruby raised both hands in surrender. "I am on your side!"

Weiss let out an exasperated breath. "Let's go back to our dorms. I've had enough today."

___________

Back in the headmaster's office, silence hung heavy in the air.

General Ironwood sat on the floor, completely naked, staring blankly into space, his face devoid of emotion. His limbs, once cold and metallic, were now warm and human again. But there was no joy in his expression.

Glynda stood beside him, arms crossed and clearly uncomfortable. "Shouldn't you be happy?" she asked, her voice strained. "Your wounds are healed. Your limbs are back."

Ironwood slowly exhaled, still not looking up. "I would have been… if not for feeling so… violated."

Ozpin stood by the window, pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "James, at least wear something"