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Oscar had to admit to himself, he was a bit nervous about what was about to transpire. He had complete faith in Emerald's Semblance being about to fool Ironwood, trusted his friends and had faith that being so outnumbered and out matched that they would be able to defeat Ironwood but there was still apart of him that knew that things could go wrong, that would go wrong if they weren't careful. The General was a soldier, a professional Huntsmen and outclassed them in terms of skill, and according to Oz, he should not be taken lightly.
And Oscar knew this, he had the scar on his chest from the bullet to prove it—
"Oscar.." Oz said gently, pulling him out of his thoughts, "He will not hurt you."
He wanted to believe Oz, he really did. But they both knew that James was unstable, and there was no telling what he could do once he realizes that Winter has betrayed him as well. The metaphorical cork was about to open on that bottle, if it hasn't already and none of them knew what James was capable of.
"You will be okay, I promise.."
But as they all got into position, as Emerald revealed herself and ultimately revealed that this was all a trap, even as they all charged forward and Ironwood's fist successfully connected with his stomach, knocking him backwards, Oscar knew that wouldn't be the case.
He let out a low groan, he blinked several times and could only watch as blurry images of his friends continuing to fight while he struggled to stand back up again. "What was that, you said?" He told Oz teasingly, forcing his already weakened body to move, grimacing through the pain.
"That you would be okay." Oz repeated in the same gentle tone he always used, while Winter came forward and helped him to his feet, "Now focus, and fight."
And so that's exactly what he did, armed with Winter's glyphs, he road on the back of one of her summons and continue to stay fighting even after James made quick work of said summon and sent him and Winter flying through the air but not before Oscar landed on one of Winter's Gravity glyphs, which managed to propel him forward into a frontal assault against Ironwood.
Oscar was able to get in several hits in, even managed to pull off the move he's seen Oz do via their shared memories, in Oz's fight with Cinder at Beacon Academy and his fight with Hazel at Haven Academy.
Oscar felt proud of himself, for being able to master such a move, whereas he thought he couldn't before. But like always, that feeling didn't last as James managed to grab hold of Long Memory and stop his rappid attacks. Then something blurs out of the corner of Oscar's eye, and apparently Ironwood must have seen it two because he suddenly reached forward, grabbed Oscar by the collar, pivoted on his feet and just managed to dodge Winter's incoming attack, just in time before her sword connected with him.
James wasted no time in using his close proximity of Oscar to his advantage, because he swung him around and used him as a battering ram, Oscar felt the back of his head connect with Winter's face, which sent them both flying in opposite directions, the impact all but knocked the wind out of him and left him unable to move, but before he even had the chance to move, suddenly there was James standing over him, his face filled with a rage and an emptiness that seemed to know no bounds.
James curled his fingers around Oscar's throat and squeezed, his nails digging into his neck.. "It appears I was wrong in my previous statement. You are more resilient than I gave you credit for, I'll have to correct that."
Oscar tried to fight, tried to struggle and get away. His friends tried to help him, Jaune tried to rush forward, his sword drawn and anger in his eyes but just like with the Hound, James held him up like a shield, preventing them from attacking any longer.
"Oscar?" Oz spoke urgently. "May I?"
They had been on good terms ever since they'd been captured, in the three days being held in Monstra, with Hazel and Salem's constant torture, they had gotten closer than they have ever been before, Oscar finally saw Oz for what he, what they all were and are beneath the secrets, a person who’s made mistake but ultimately one with a good heart.
Oscar took time to understand Oz more, see the good person he was underneath all the anxiety, the trauma
While Oz also took the time to be more open about his feelings while the two chatted during the moments they were left alone, filling the empty air with discussions their favorite fairy tales. They were working together now, and they trusted each other, cared about the other.
And it was because of this newfound trust, that Oscar allowed Oz to take over.
"I much prefer it if you didn't correct anything, James." Oz said with the confidence of a courageous lion, "After all, Oscar has been through quite enough recently."
Oscar watched in astral form as James' grip stiffen, catching Ironwood off enough for Oz to twist his body around and launch himself off of Ironwood, landing on the ground and gaining the some distance between them, now that he was out of immediate danger, Oscar went to take back control the second he was free, but found that Oz wasn't willing to just yet. "Forgive me, Oscar. I will give you back control the second I'm done, I promise." Oscar was suddenly hit with a variety of emotions that weren't his own, and they were all being directed towards Ironwood. "But I have a few things to say to James.
Oscar blinked at this, but merely nodded, because if anyone could put James in his place, it was Ozpin. Oscar felt a surge of gratitude that was his own go through him as Oz charged forward, Long Memory drawn and immediately clashing with Jame's arm as the man blocked the cane,
James looked straight at them, his eyes wide and frozen. "Oz?"
"What happened to you, James?" Oz pressed forward with his cane, making James have to adjust his footing so he wouldn't be pushed backward. "The James Ironwood I knew would never have made the decisions you've actively chosen."
James' face quickly turned to rage, "I became what I needed to be!" He went to grab his collar to pull them forward, but Oz merely pushed back and flipped away from James, landing at a safe distance away from him.
Ozpin gripped Long Memory tightly in his hand, "No! You are simply letting your fear and paranoia consume you, just as Leo had."
James rolled his eyes, "Don't act like you are so different, Oz! Oscar told me everything. I know. You are no different than me! Lying and hiding truths. At least I wanted to tell the people of Remnant about Salem, unlike you who just wanted to keep people in the dark, like a coward."
Oscar could feel Oz' pain and guilt at the accusation. But he felt and saw Oz standing his ground.
"I have seen and have accepted my mistakes. I failed all of Remnant, because I am but one man. Just a man, with so many souls connected to me. To us, to Ozma. And I will never be a very good one." A sad face expression came over Ozpin but it quickly evaporated into an incredulous look towards James. "But you, James? Attempted murder? Declaring martial law? Attempted genocide over hundreds of innocent people, the very people we swore to protect? Your actions will have no impact on Salem, they will only continue to damage yourself."
But it seemed that Oz's words were going right over the General's head. "I am doing what I know is right. Isn't that what you always taught me?"
To this, Oz let out a scoff, "Not at the expense of your heart, James."
"Having a heart made me weak!" James spat out as he ran forward and clashed against Long Memory, his hands gripping into it tightly, nails digging into the wood so forcefully that it was splitting his nails right to the quick.
Ozpin shook his head. "No, it made you the one thing that Salem is not! Something that she hasn't been for centuries. It made you human." Oz smiled sadly, regretfully. "Please, James. It's not too late to stop."
Ironwood looked shocked for a moment and then something in the General's eyes shifted then, "You always were never able to listen to what I had to say, Oz. In your eyes, I was always wrong."
Oscar watched as James went for his weapons and he barely had enough time to warn Oz of the sneak attack before, barely enough time for Ozpin to notice himself before a flash of white Winter was there, in the same pose she had been before she had been interrupted by Ironwood and slashed her sword straight across the General's chest, not enough to kill, oh no, but enough for Ironwood to drop to his knees, his aura finally shattering, as he fell to the ground unconscious.
Oz seemed to take a moment, he fixed on Ironwood, and Oscar could feel sadness that wasn't his own, "On the contrary, James. In my eyes, you were always a good man, someone I admired." Oz closed his eyes and let out a low sigh, "To me, you were one of my cherished friends."
And then it was over.
Winter all ordered them to move on to Phase Two, and as they all made their way to the broadcast facility, even as they watched Jaune fumble with the computer, trying to send out a live feed to the people of Atlas, Oz took a moment to speak with him.
"Forgive me, Oscar. I did not mean to take up so much time." Oz said as Oscar gently took back control over his body. "I just… I know and realize that your talk with him had ended awfully but I thought— I had hoped that I could…"
Oscar shook his head, "He was your friend, you thought you would be able to get through to him. I get it, I did the same thing and— well, you don't have to explain. I could feel how hard this was for you. I wish… we could have made him see reason."
Oz sighed sadly, "I do as well. I regret to admit that this isn't the first time something like this has happened to us."
Oscar remembered Oz's words, before Ruby had summoned Jinn, "Back in winter, when you said that Leo hadn't been the first—“
"Yes, exactly that... along with many others"
"And it happened every lifetime? You gaining allies only for them to turn on you?"
"Not every life time, no. Ozma’s memories, the memories of the other souls. And of my own, not all of them were filled with betrayal. But enough for them to pile up, and still just as painful to remember for each of us."
Oscar looked at the Long Memory in a sort of calm confusion. "But… why?"
"Because Salem's mere presence can damage anyone's psyche. She has this unsettling ability to nearly bend them to her will. Out of fear for their own lives or their families lives, time after time, they yielded. Leo was no different and now I see James wasn't either." Ozpin let out another sad and guilt ridden sigh, as those he’s just experienced all those betrayals all at once in the span of a few seconds, leaving him drained.
Oscar bowed his head, feeling the wizard’s utter tiredness as if it was his own, and perhaps it was. “Oz—“
"No fault on them and more so on myself. My only wish, my only hope is that Theo and Glynda have remained exactly as they are. To lose all of them would be… an incredible amount of guilt I would prefer you need not bare."
Oscar realized recently, how he'd been wanting to help Oz, he wanted to help everyone sure. Oscar’s always had this need to help others. But Oz? He wanted to help him, just like Oz helped him in Monstra. Because now he understood. "C'mon, Oz. I thought we agreed to share things from now on? Whatever pain you go through I'll gladly understand it. Something I know you would and have done for me, even if I never realized it until recently."
Oscar felt Oz hesitant for a moment, “If I could rid you of this burden I would. I know that you hate this, and have every right to.”
Oscar nodded, letting his own emotions of sadness as well as understanding. “I know, but even if this wasn’t what I thought my life would be like, even though I’m scared for it to end. I’m here, and your here too. ready to help and fight for those who can’t. And that’s all that matters. That’s something Ironwood won’t ever understand.”
“Once again, you and I both truly are one in the same. And that’s not to mean you are me. But you have the same heart, as the rest of us. The simple capacity to hope and forgive.”
“I have good influencers.”
Oz paused for a moment to breathe, just a small moment for himself before he spoke again. “Thank you, Oscar. For understanding Ozma; an ancient man’s sorrow, as well as thousands of other souls, including my own, even when I don’t deserve it.”
Oscar let a small, embarrassed smiled grace his features. “Hey. You do deserve it. You’re better now, and aren’t alone anymore. But your welcome. Now stop sulking and let’s do our part to save Mantle.”
Oz let out a small chuckle, “After you.”