Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY
Homecoming Pt 1
The sudden opening of the door caused the woman's dark eyes to lift from her books. A smirk immediately replaced the look of irritation at the interruption. "Back so soon…" she mused, not posing it as a true question. Across the room, the other woman stopped, her body practically vibrating with power. As smug as a snake, Cinder looked to her employer, fiery eyes locking with the abnormally colored black. "Have you mastered all the abilities of a Maiden or just taking a break?"
Cinder Fall waited a moment before answering, taking the time to choose her words. The younger woman knew Salem has plans beyond what she shared with herself, just like Cinder had plans that she kept secret from those above and below her. "Both". For all their research, it was unknown the true peak of a Maiden's powers, but Cinder was sure her efficiency in the few weeks she had become the Fall Maiden, she was at a pinnacle of strength, far stronger than she had been before and outclassing even Amber's display of the many skills available. Salem eyed her protégé before nodding, evoking a silent challenge. Within the space of the small study, Salem's own supernatural power reached out, her sinister black Aura filling the room like deathly fog. Cinder was unfazed by the display, rebuffing the dark glow with her own Aura. Radiations like fire and smoke swirled around the room, the competition of wills between the women growing more intense by the moment. Confident in her abilities, Cinder was almost unwilling to concede defeat, but that moment was the time or place to overstep her position. Cinder continued her approach to Salem's corner of the room, casting off her Aura with a flick of her hand, sending plumes of embers to dance among the haze. "Feeling feisty today I see", she said before the woman's large standing desk, a hand on her hip.
Salem almost laughed, her mind racing a mile a minute at the myriad possibilities for the future, "Fascinating". Cinder couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle, such a comment was rather typical. Shutting the tome she had already deemed unless for her needs, Salem moved around the desk to get a full look at Cinder in her new found glory. She had seen the power of the Four Maidens several times over the years, but never had one been at her disposal, to study up close, understand, the train and mold, manipulate as she saw fit. "Quite fascinating", she said again, moving around the 'specimen' in a circle. "How does it feel?"
Not expecting that of all questions, Cinder's self-satisfaction faltered. Every day since the transfer of power had been completed, she had felt… different… whole, at last. "Amazing", she said, as everything else seemed like an understatement.
Salem nodded again, before moving toward the large bay window along the far wall of the steady. The view outside would easily confuse someone into thinking the room overlooked a cemetery, with many of the rocks and statues appearing like ornate tombstones. In a sense, they were markers of the fallen, although not even Cinder knew what the various cherubs, gargoyles or stone floral displays actually meant. "It has been weeks… are you certain the child was marked?"
Now this was a question the false-Huntress has anticipated. "Yes, of course". It wasn't a lie, per se, but Cinder wasn't willing to admit was she wasn't 100% certain that particular objective had been achieved. In the wake of attacking Beacon, many things had gone accordingly to one plan or another. The stipulation involving Ruby Rose had been condition, although it was heavily advised to be met. The girl had picked the rather unfortunate moment to arrive at the tower just in time watch Pyrrha's defeat. From there, things took a turn for the left, when the girl's involuntary powers activated. Forced to sacrifice the frail bond with the Grimm Dragon, Cinder was forced to retreat and shield herself, the raw energy of the blast being too much to deal with even with her new Maiden powers. Before fleeing, Cinder summoned a parasite bug, like that which she used on Amber and fired it at the unconscious Huntress. Certain the arrow had hit its mark as she fled, the Fall Maiden considered her mission an all around success until now.
As if sensing something was amiss, Salem gazed over her shoulder, her red irises imploring Cinder for any slips in her air and armor of indifference. When the other woman held her composure to a satisfactory degree, Salem turned back to the window. Far beyond, the power she was sought was waiting for her to come grasp it and then, it would all truly be over. "With the man behind the curtain in hiding, the crows won't know what to do with her." Cinder didn't speak, as it wasn't needed, she had long gotten used to her boss's musings. "It's a shame she doesn't know the power she contains and the fools she is with have no idea what to do with it."
"Even without Ozpin giving him orders, he's smart, eventually he'll figure out they should go… there". Even without saying the name, Salem's body went rigid as she snapped in Cinder's direction. It took a few seconds before the purple veins along her face to stop throbbing in rage and Salem composed herself. Cinder was a little disturbed by the display, it was rare she saw the elder woman upset and didn't like being source or target of even her potential rage. "There is still plenty of time to prevent that, I'm sure. They are in fact chasing me around the countryside, buying us plenty of time."
Salem's smile was cold and mirthless. "Yes, that may be true." While Cinder had been in seclusion, Emerald and Neopolitan had been tasked with playing decoys, using their individual abilities to now have the fugitive Cinder Fall appearing at random all over Vale and Mistral. This would keep any of those that intent enacting revenge or bring her to justice too busy to learn the truth till it was much too late. "Be that as it may, we must remain proactive. Send word to the Faunus to gather a team, I have a mission for him. The girl won't get the chance to make it 'home'".
His fist slamming down on the table disturbed not only his companions but sent their drinks sloshing all over the flimsy wood. "This is total bull-"
"Easy Kid" Qrow admonished after slamming his latest shot. Jaune glared at the elder Hunter but held his tongue. Qrow could see the boy was on the verge of another emotional breakdown and he really wasn't in the mood for more tears. Sure, everyone present had been dragged through the emotional wringer lately, but he honestly couldn't take anymore teen angst. "My source tells me our target was seen around these parts just today." It was a goddamned lie, but anything was better than alternative. Facing that abhorrent mix of anger, depression and disappointment wasn't something he was coping with, trying to play mentor to four teens dealing with the same thing was far out his league. This was why he left dealing with children to Taiyang and the others. The overall atmosphere was quite the buzz kill and this was one of many times recently he regretted revealing himself to the team.
Across the table from him, Ruby sighed, closing her scroll in despondence. Having lost count of the times she had checked the device, she buried another disappointment in not having received word from any of her old teammates. "Uncle Qrow…" As the man's attention attempted to settle on her, Ruby shook her head and rose from the table. Weeks traveling along the Mistral Trade Route had produced nothing. Despite what he had just told Jaune, Qrow had been receiving many conflicting reports on Cinder's appearance and Emerald, Mercury and the strange girl working with Roman Torchwick had seemed to have disappeared entirely. Ruby was starting to lose faith in their journey, even after promising the memories of Pyrrha and Penny that she would bring down those responsible for their deaths.
Ignoring the lecherous looks of several of the sketchy tavern's patrons, Ruby made her way for the door, needing fresh and space. She wasn't going to breakdown in front of the others, as the former leader of team JNPR was prone to do, but she was feeling the overwhelming weight of failure heavy on her shoulders. "Come on guys", she whispered, looking at her scroll. She scrolled through pictures of Team RWBY, training, before missions, after, just being together. A splash in the alleyway behind her had Ruby replacing the communication device with her scythe in her hand. "Who's there?" she asked voice shakier than she intended. This was a Huntress (in training, but still) who had faced hordes of Grimm and worst human evils. Snapping open Crescent Rose, Ruby took an attack stance, gazing into the dark of the alley.
Several more splashes became solid footsteps before a figure appeared from the shadow. Ruby took an involuntary step backwards as her eyes settled on the bone-white mask. "Easy there", the woman said as she slowed her saunter to a stop. Ruby remained poised to attack while the other woman revealed her face. "A little jumpy aren't you?" The woman's face was disconcerting the say the least, almost identical to her sister, Ruby gazed at her, taking in the smile that didn't reach her stern red eyes. She tousled the jet-black bangs that managed to escape her mask and adjusted the massive sword on her hip. Ruby lowered her scythe only slightly, still unsure how to respond. "How functioning is my brother", Raven asked as she moved passed the bemused teen, "Still standing I hope."
"He's sitting", Ruby managed to mutter as the other woman was already heading into the tavern. Pictures didn't do Raven Branwen justice and Ruby could kick herself in embarrassment for her reaction to the legendary Huntress. Although she was almost-sort of family, Ruby couldn't remember having ever seen her in person, only knew of her legacy from the many stories her parents, uncle and even Ozpin had told her. Getting herself together, the hooded Huntress hurried back inside. She was pleasantly surprised to see the other former Beacon students as mesmerized by Raven as she had been while the two siblings whispered quietly to themselves at the bar. "Guys… do you know who that is", she stage-whispered in excitement.
"Of course…" Nora exclaimed in an equally faux-hushed tone "I have no idea".
While Ruby and Ren face-palmed, Jaune was eying the Huntress intensely. "I know who she is." Ruby looked at him expectantly, anxious to have someone share in her awe. Jaune held on to the moment, leading the anticipation build. At last, he proudly announced "That's Qrow's girlfriend. " Ruby all but dropped out of her chair. "Look how cuddled up they are, whispering in the corner. She's a Huntress, obviously, but mad he hasn't been home in months."
Raven turned and glared over her shoulder, crimson eyes intently focused on Jaune's face. All the confidence the boy had since his clever deduction faded under the glower. She turned back to the drunkard who was starting to slump slightly at the bar and gave him a stiff shoulder nudge. Qrow snapped to, eyes wild before signaling for another drink. The woman shook her head in disgust and tossed some money on the bar to cover her own untouched drink and cover some of her sibling's ever-growing tab. Making sure to lock eyes with each child on her way passed, Raven inclined her head to the door when she got to Ruby. The red-clad girl hurried behind the woman back into the street. "Uh… Raven…?"
Readjusting her mask, Raven looked down at Ruby. The silver eyes imploring her for something, anything; almost broke the woman's heart. "You shouldn't be here", she said at last. Ruby's face noticeably dropped. "I don't know what Qrow has heard or what he has told you, but whatever you're looking for, you won't find it here." She gestured her arms wide, implying the answers sought were more out of range the uninviting streets of the even more uninviting village.
Ruby bit her lip for a moment, staring down at piece of litter stuck beneath her boot. After a moment, she returned her attention back to her superior, jaw set in stubborn determination, "I'm not going to give up, if that's what you're going to tell me". Her hands balled into fists at her side, color creeping up cheeks, "Penny... Pyrrha… Yang, I won't let them down, I won't!"
A smile knocked all the steam out of Ruby, a more genuine one than before. Raven shook her head and locked eyes with the girl, "You sound just like her, you know." Raven pulled her mask back over her face placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder, "I wasn't going to tell you to give up, just go home." Before Ruby could object, Raven drew her sword. The teenage Grimm hunter moved away from the intimidating weapon. Raven turned and slashed blackness of the alley in one smooth motion. Ripples in space opened in the darkness of the alleyway.
As she watched Raven vanish into the portal, Ruby's ankle began to itch and sting. "What the…" she muttered as the itching intensified. Using her folded weapon to scratch idly at her ankle, Ruby rejoined her companions inside the tavern. Sufficiently wasted, Qrow was bracing himself across Ren and Jaune's shoulders muttering to himself. Nora burst into a fit of giggles when the trio didn't quite clear a stool that sent Jaune sprawling to the floor. "I hope that crunching was just peanut shells" he whined. "Ahh, that one moved" he yelped hopping to his feet. The pink-haired Huntress failed to collect herself as her former leader launched himself into the unwelcome embrace of some local drunks in his attempt to avoid moving peanut shells.
Ruby watched all this from the door, slowly loosing focus on her surroundings. The pain in her ankle was growing with each passing moment and she was slowly becoming woozy. Jaune had become a human Ping-Pong ball, being bounced to and fro by several patrons, with little chance of rescue by Ren or Nora. Left to his own devices, Qrow made a slow beeline towards the door, avoiding more obstacles than someone of his inebriation should have been. His eyes settled in his niece's direction as she took a pained step to the nearest table. "Ruby?"
"I don't feel so well." The red huntress attempted to brace herself on the table, barely grazing the edge before she collapse. Qrow moved to catch the girl, although he still had some distance to cross, narrowly missing. The clatter of tumbled chairs and the table at the girl's collapse was enough to draw the rest of the room's attention. The three former Beacon students rushed to their fallen companion's side. In all commotion, only Qrow seemed to notice the small insect escape from the downed girl's boot.