Beacons of Hope

by bathedinblood

After the fall of Beacon, Ruby leads her friends into an alien world. The White Fang are crippled, the Taken are everywhere, and her fallen mentor is slaughtering Guardians. Will they have what it takes to confront the Taken King and his new champion? Rated M for violence, language, and suggested adult themes.

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Vale, Remnant, 6 months after the fall of Beacon...

The state of affairs were, admittedly, never destined to be good considering what had happened. Ozpin's death would have upset the Council on a normal day, and a room full of angry suited men vying for power had been completely expected. What Shaxx had not anticipated was the fearful looks in their eyes, ringed white and gesturing with stricken, shaky hands. These were the men of power, the real leaders of Vale. Shaxx somehow doubted that they felt powerful at the moment. It could have been his peaceful takeover, or the White Fang still residing in parts of Vale.

The empty chairs in the council room were also something of a concern. Cinder's agents had done more than just sabotage Beacon and the Vytal Festival. In the Kingdom's capital, council members and city leaders alike had been captured or killed by the White Fang. The district attorney, several judges, two city councilors and one of Vale's parliament had disappeared, and the mayor had been publicly executed on the steps of City Hall. Mayor Frost had been a conniving weasel of a man, but he had also been pushing for civil liberties prior to the White Fang attack. It seemed that whether you were pro-Faunus or not, the White Fang's headsman was coming for you.

The Guardians were still operating on capture only orders for the White Fang, as much a favor to Guardian Belladonna as a way to locate the missing persons. As the angry leaders of Vale howled their rage at him, the massive Titan realized that such mercy would not work in his favor.

The council room itself had seen some minor scuffles, and the emergency sessions they had been calling did not allow the custodians time to sweep up or repair the fallen ceiling tiles. The room had a wide semi-circle of a bench, on which the sitting leaders faced their inferior local representatives and Shaxx himself. Two smaller round tables had been set aside for the city's leaders, each with a comfortable chair and a name plate for each politician. Half of them were empty. Stood at the podium among a dozen screaming bureaucrats, Shaax couldn't tell if this was a meeting or a trial. The presence of Magnus, leaning against the wall next to the wooden double doors, did little to assuage that notion.

Are they really so ill prepared for conflict? Not even Faction meetings are this loud. And those involved actual weaponry.

"ENOUGH!" The din quieted as one of Vale's councilors rapped a gavel on his desk. The man was older, maybe in his sixties, and stood tall among his peers. A slight paunch hung above his belt, but the muscles of strenuous work had not yet faded from his frame. His short, graying hair receded from his temples, and a short but thick mustache sat above his lip. Councilor Anthony Arden was in charge of the Kingdom's treasury and finances, and despite his winter years spent in an elected position the man was a veteran police officer. Shaxx had met him, albeit briefly, before the meeting had been called to order. He was a gruff, no nonsense man that demanded results, not empty promises. In another situation, Shaxx was certain that he could be friends with Councilor Arden. As it stood, however, the dedicated man was likely his most resilient rival here.

"You've spent the past three weeks screaming at each other like sorority girls. I expect this meeting to at least accomplish something!" Arden said loudly, in a tone of voice that indicated he was supremely disappointed with those that were listening. A few representatives on Shaxx's side of the room lowered their eyes at that, but the others on the High Council were not intimidated.

"With all due respect, Councilor, progress would be a bit easier if our security wasn't so lax." A large, bordering overweight woman to Arden's right said snidely. Her brown hair hung down around her face in a way that implied it was intentional, though Shaxx thought it too silly for an elected official. Her pearl necklace was a tad too gaudy for such official processions, but no, let's criticize the security forces. Councilor Verdant Mayweather was in charge of foreign relations, and often made her living poking holes in the plans of others instead of forming her own.

When did I start thinking like Horst? Shaxx berated himself.

The Councilor of Defense, on Arden's left, leaned forward to look at his accuser around Arden's suited form. He wore a long, black coat and an eye patch, angry veins creeping out from underneath the black cloth. His dark head was bald, and a trimmed goatee covered his chin. Had Shaxx not taken over Beacon, Councilor Nick Fury would have taken over the Huntsman forces as well as conventional arms after the death of Ozpin. Despite the fact that Shaxx had replaced him in commanding Beacon, Fury was perhaps the Guardians' only true ally in Vale's hierarchy. He had done nothing but supplement Shaxx's defenses, and the two had spoken on multiple occasions on how to further safeguard the Kingdom. Either he saw them as an efficient scapegoat if things went wrong, or he legitimately believed that the Guardians were on Remnant to help.

"I'm sorry, at what point in time did alien invasion become a valid defense concern? Because last I checked, it was ten minutes after the Taken started killing our people." Fury sniped back, and Mayweather leaned back in her chair to break the stare down. "No amount of preparation could have helped us against an enemy that we didn't think existed six months ago."

"I agree with Councilor Fury." Shaxx spoke up. "The Guardians here were training as fast as they could, but not even Titan Horst could have predicted the speed of Oryx's arrival. We were all caught off guard." Fury nodded at the Titan's support, but it was Arden's turn to face the Crucible handler.

"And yet you knew they were coming. Where was our warning? You knew damn well they were on their way, and you didn't even think a heads up was appropriate?" His anger was especially evident by the way his face tried to imitate a tomato.

Shaxx held his arms out to either side. "Titan Horst and Hunter Spirit made Ozpin aware of what was coming, but we thought it would be years. Using all the technology and magic we know of, it should have taken Oryx years to reach Remnant. Instead, it took a little less than ten weeks." Arden scowled and leaned back in his chair, but Shaxx wasn't finished. "Ozpin had agreed to keep things a secret, at least when it came to Oryx. What else could be done? We, alien in everything but appearance, show up on your planet and tell you to grab all your guns because another alien race is coming to kill us all? You would have clapped Horst and his students in chains at the first opportunity, and Oryx would own Vale right now, perhaps even all of Remnant."

"That's a decision you still made for us, Titan. Had you brought it before us, even in secret, we might have been prepared for this Oryx." Mayweather was determined to divide the Council against him, for reasons he couldn't quite grasp. As Councilor of Foreign Relations, he'd just opened a whole new avenue for her in the way of another fucking planet. There were limitless advantages to having another civilization as your ally, yet Mayweather was still trying to drive a wedge between Earth and Remnant. Shaxx tried to figure out where she won in that situation, but they were awaiting an answer. He could investigate later.

"The Grimm feed on panic, fear, and anger. I firmly believe that Ozpin sought to prevent that response by keeping us a secret." Shaxx winced beneath his helmet. "Whether I agree or disagree with that decision is, at this point, academic. We cannot undo the damage that has been done, and we need to get this city back on its feet."

"Shaxx is right." Councilor Fury leaned forward and rest both of his elbows on the desk before him. "The sooner we get the White Fang and the Taken under control, the sooner we can get back to pointing fingers at each other. Without the Councilor of the Interior here, we can't keep this many cooks in the kitchen. Lord Shaxx, what do you advise in regards to the Taken?"

This was something he could take charge of. Organizing against an enemy was what he was there for, not frivolous blame games. He knew, however, that they were coming back to that.

"The Taken are ordered here by their King, Oryx. They are all captured forces or subjugated Hive, and the Blight has corrupted them further. Because it is his main source of power and control, the Taken scatter Oryx's Blight wherever they go. If we can remove the concentrations of Blight, the King will have no choice but to deploy his Champions. Kill them, and the Taken will not return." Shaxx had already deployed Guardians to do the same in the Sol system, with excellent effect. They couldn't touch Oryx in his Ascendant Realm, but everything outside of it was dying quickly. Hopefully, they could do the same for Remnant.

"Are these Champions you speak of formidable? One of them slew Titan Horst, after all, and he was demonstrated to be better than most Huntsmen." Arden asked, though not unkindly when he mentioned Shaxx's student.

"That was a Hive general, Alak-Hul; the Darkblade. He has lived for many years, and has slain many powerful Guardians. However, he did so after Horst had been weakened significantly, and with the help of Oryx himself. Six newborn Guardians and a Huntsman were enough to kill Prince Malok, a master of the Blight. I think that fully trained Huntsmen and Huntresses should be able to defeat these Champions if they work together." If Qrow was any indicator, there were a few of Remnant's warriors that could kill a champion single handedly.

"That's good news, at least." Arden said gruffly, stroking his mustache in thought. "What happened to your new recruits, the ones from Beacon? I was told they have not enrolled in this semester's classes." That had not been Shaxx's decision, but rather RWBY, JNPR, and CRDL. After the all boy team had received their Ghosts, Cardin had demanded that they be able to help the rest of the Guardians. "What's the point of getting good grades in politics if the Kingdom comes down around us? Horst would kick our asses for that!" Despite the attitude others had for him, Shaxx respected the reformed bully and his team. One day, he would have to get the story out of Cardin as to why the large teen was so caught up in impressing their fallen teacher.

"They made that decision on their own. Some require special training for their new abilities, while others have a personal stake in the conflict that surrounds us. Out of the fifteen recruits we have from Remnant, seven remain planet-side." Weiss had been called by the Cryomancers, and Ruby had gone with her. Blake was hunting down the White Fang fanatically, and Yang was supporting her. JNPR had taken the plunge and headed to Earth to further their Guardian training. Team CRDL worked with Vale's forces to quell any further dissent within the Kingdom, using the Winchester name and some stiff force to get cooperation on everyone's minds. All of Horst's students had stepped up to help with the war effort, and Shaxx was immensely proud of them.

"Yes, Miss Belladonna has made it abundantly clear that she wants the White Fang captured, despite their numerous attempts to kill every human they can get their hands on." Mayweather sniffed derisively. Fury gave her a dry look.

"They have Faunus on their kill list too, Councilor. It's an important distinction." Mayweather rolled her eyes, but gave no retort.

"Regardless, they've been protected for too long." Arden ordered. "The interrogations have yielded little results, and these guerrilla tactics have made it difficult to pin them down. Find their leadership and remove it, no matter the cost." Shaxx bristled at taking orders from a politician, but Arden was no mere baby kisser. And the man had a point. Despite Blake's insistence that they were close to a breakthrough on Adam Taurus' location and the identity of his master, Shaxx could admit he shared in the Council's frustration. Too little had been done at too great a cost. Even with the Guardians assisting, they had not been able to prevent the White Fang attacking civilians.

The sight of still bodies on the streets did little to repel the Grimm, and it was even worse when the corpses were too small.

"We will amend our contact protocol. My second hand man will be breaking up a meeting tonight we have discovered through some traitors' testimonies. I'll make sure he gets the point across." Magnus had been dying to go full throttle on the White Fang, but Shaxx had held him back until now. The prospective Iron Lord was going to have a field day when he hit the White Fang meeting. Even as he stood at the doorway, Shaxx could see Magnus cracking his knuckles in anticipation.

"I suppose that is more than we had at the beginning of this meeting." Arden groused. "Carry out your duties, Lord Shaxx. We're counting on you to get us back on our feet." With that, the representatives on Shaxx's side of the room began standing and gathering their things, coats and scrolls lifting from tables as they began talking in a commotion of different voices. Councilor Mayweather stood and left immediately, either unable or uncaring to remove the disgusted sneer from her fat face. Fury and Arden remained, leaning back to talk to each other quietly, though the cacophony behind Shaxx prevented him from hearing their words.

The immense Titan stood over the two Councilors, and they both acknowledged him with a nod before continuing their conversation.

"I'm not asking you to hand it over on a silver platter, but you can't tell me Goodwitch has enough help to keep the place safe." Fury argued quietly, and Arden reluctantly nodded with a frown.

"That academy is where all the future defenders of Vale will be trained. As effective as they are, you'll excuse me if I don't feel like dumping it into the hands of people we just met." Arden's eyes met Shaxx's, though he did not shy away from him. "No offense, Titan."

"None taken." It was stupidity to trust your kids to an alien species anyway. Horst had been but one Titan, and Ozpin obviously liked to play a little loose with his schemes, but there wasn't a Titan alive that could fault Arden for being defensive. It really didn't help though.

"Lord Shaxx, without proper security and support to Headmistress Goodwitch, we can't in good faith allow the school to remain open. It was hard enough to encourage re-enrollment, and I believe that was more in your favor than our own recruitment. Do you have any suggestions?" Fury stood up to meet Shaxx's eye, but he only made it to mid chest.

"Perhaps a small security garrison would be easier? We won't have full control of the school, but the Guardians will be able to respond to any threats against Beacon. If Glynda has any problems with them, she has my authority to throw them out, violently if necessary." Hunters and Titans were well known for mischief off duty, but it was the last thing he needed at the moment. Giving Goodwitch free reign over them would hopefully provide them with enough discipline to prevent a scene.

"Alright. We can do that. If I see any Guardians entering the city at Mach 5, I'll know what happened." Arden said with a sigh. The man pushed himself up and offered a hand to Shaxx. The Titan took it without hesitation.

"We're trusting you with our Kingdom, Shaxx." Arden said as he shook the massive Guardian's hand. "You do this right, and Vale will always support you. Fuck it up, and we will curse you from the grave." He released Shaxx's hand, and together Fury and Arden turned to leave, though not before Fury gave Shaxx a respectful nod. As the last of the Councilors made their way out of the chamber, Magnus finally approached Shaxx.

"That was a waste of time." The younger Titan said simply. Shaxx shook his head, but he didn't correct his fellow Guardian. In the grand scheme of things, the only thing they had done was restate the plans he had made months ago, but now the Council was on board with it. It was a small but important difference.

"Hit the docks hard tonight." Shaxx said coldly. "Offer them a chance to surrender, but leave none that resist alive. Belladonna will be angry with us, but there must be consequences for the dead."

Magnus nodded once and turned on his heel, ready to head to the warehouse district immediately. Shaxx watched him go and sighed, his massive shoulders drooping slightly as he relaxed. All this wheeling and dealing with the Council was starting to grate, but he was lucky to even have a conversation with them in the first place. Were it not for the deeds and sacrifices of Horst and his students, the first thing Shaxx would have done in this chamber otherwise was pull a trigger. That alone was worth it, in the end.

---

Temple of Time, Neptune...

Neptune was a very cold planet, Weiss had decided. Having grown up in Atlas, she was no stranger to subzero temperatures, but Neptune wasn't so much cold as it was a total absence of heat. Her fellow Cryomancers thrived in the frigid conditions, and they assured her that she too would one day feel at home there. Until that day came, however, she would lament the cold.

Her combat skirt had finally been done away with, instead she had been provided with some initiate gear: a modest set of training robes colored white and light blue. The tails of the robes barely fell below her waist, and her armored boots were all else she was allowed to wear in terms of armor. Her undersuit was still intact and protected her, but the formal and graceful attire she had worn all her life was no more.

The temple the Cryomancers had built on Neptune was impressive, though. Thick blocks of ice, expertly carved and placed, served as the main cornerstone for the structure. In some cases, they were clear even despite their thickness, while others were so opaque that she could see her reflection and little else. Stone and metal still had its place here, but the Cryomancers made their mastery of ice abundantly clear.

The Grand Master, in his strength, had allegedly been trained by the first of the Cryomancers, some three hundred years ago. Back then, they had been known by a different name.

The Lin Kuei.

Named after an ancient order of assassins, the Lin Kuei had been incredibly exclusive, allowing perhaps one of every ten Cryomancers to study under them. The new Grand Master had abolished such practices, but it did not help the reputation that still persisted even after all this time. He had claimed that the Darkness was taking new Guardians every day, and what right did they have to turn away their brethren? The temple remained a secret to the Last City and the Vanguard, but Grand Master Kuai Liang (Ky – Lang) made sure every Cryomancer that answered the call received their training.

Which is what Weiss found herself doing. Sitting on her knees in a relaxed position, the Schnee heiress neglected her helmet in favor of greater concentration. All around her, a brilliant white glyph spun slowly, indicating the use of her power as she slowly froze the pool of water in front of her. Flake used his manipulation of atoms to keep the liquid boiling hot, and it was up to Weiss to chill it back down to subzero temperatures. Given how much more quickly the Ghost could excite atoms than Weiss could render them dormant, it had proven to be quite the exercise.

Unbeknownst to Weiss, the Grand Master stood behind her in the chamber, his ice blue eyes watching her with fascination. After Remnant had been declared friendly (compared to all the other civilizations humanity knew) Kuai Liang had been curious to see the abilities of these new people. As Weiss finally brought the water down to a temperature Flake could not rescue it from, the room cracking in the process, he knew that she had yet to present her full abilities.

He wore a blue vest over his naked chest, impressive pecs and abs visible between the two broad strips of deep blue cloth tucked into his belt. His pants were black and loose fitting, their knees and ankles tightened with wraps to prevent loss of movement. Medium length black hair was swept back on his head, a few stray wisps of white hanging above his ears. A full beard, thick but neatly trimmed covered his face. His muscled arms were crossed, covered by thick metal bands at the biceps, but nothing about his stance indicated disappointment.

"Well done, Miss Schnee." Kuai Liang said, clapping slowly as her eyes snapped open with a soft gasp. The new Warlock stood and turned, bowing to the Grand Master as her glyph dissipated around them.

"Grand Master! I didn't hear you come in." Weiss apologized, her eyes downcast to avoid insulting the elder Cryomancer. Stepping forward with a chuckle, Kuai Liang grasped his student's shoulders with both hands.

"I told you already, Weiss; there is no need to stand on ceremony here. Your learning takes precedence over any overtures of respect." It was mostly true, though he didn't add that the forced training exercises imparted on the other young Cryomancers were to teach them respect for the craft that Weiss already had.

The young girl had told him what she had done upon awakening her powers. He had listened, stone faced, as she recalled the tale of killing her entire team, including the non-Guardian at the time. It had been a harsh lesson, and one Kuai Liang felt she had learned well enough.

"I completed the exercise, Grand Master. Flake made it difficult, but I was able to accomplish it with the help of my Semblance." Weiss shrugged sheepishly. "I don't have the power to do it using my Light alone, and I had to hold back my glyphs as well as try to chill the water. In the end, I stopped fighting myself and used both."

"There is nothing wrong with using what you have available. Most acolytes try to accomplish what you have done for months. There is nothing unfair about your powers." He grinned slightly. "I came here, however, to give you a mission and a message." Weiss looked around at the room as he stepped back, his hands clasping behind his back in disciplined neutrality. The cracks in the ice began to heal slowly, and a subtle chill filled the room where she had banished it upon his arrival.

"I'll do whatever I need to do, Grand Master." Weiss submitted with a respectful bow. "I need to get these powers under control as soon as possible." Even though Revy had been the first person that Ascended when the Alpha Base became connected to Earth, Weiss still felt a deep guilt over killing the Gunslinger in her carelessness. It had been the primary motivation to seeking out the Cryomancers, and Ruby had supported her all the way.

"I told you when you came here that the Cryomancer is capable of manipulating time as well as ice, did I not?" Weiss nodded at his rhetorical question. "It has come to my attention that your glyphs are also capable of altering time, provided that you supply enough energy. I believe that working exclusively on time glyphs, and studying the Vex, will impart upon you greater wisdom of the Cryomancer." Kuai Lang paced as he spoke, and Weiss stood a little straighter on impulse. "The Vex have been traveling the river of time since we encountering them millennia ago. While their networked consciousness provides many with only puzzles and clues, insight into the Collective may assist you in seeing time as they do."

Weiss' eyes widened eagerly. Her glyphs that she used for acceleration altered the effect of time on any that stood within them, but the adjustments were always slight. An increase in speed without sacrificing awareness, something to catch her opponents off guard. Cryomancers, however, were capable of slowing time all around them, or even stopping it completely. Were she capable of that...

"The other reason I'm here is to tell you that your partner has returned." A tinge of amusement crept into the Grand Master's voice. "She seems... excited to see you, and to discover what you have learned." Weiss' face colored with embarrassment, as it did not take a clairvoyant to figure out what Ruby might have done. Had she parked the Iron Symphony on top of the temple?

"I'm sorry for any trouble she might have-" Weiss made to apologize, but a raised hand from Kuai Liang stopped her mid sentence, as did his grin. Instead of explaining further, the elder Cryomancer simply stepped to the side and opened the door.

A red blur zipped underneath his arm, and Weiss could only roll her eyes as a speeding Ruby wrapped her up in a hug, sending both Guardians into a tumble that ended with them in a tangle of limbs in the corner of the room.

"WEISS!" Ruby's exuberant cry filled the room, and the heiress had a moment to mourn the calm, serene silence she had enjoyed minutes before. "Oh my gosh, you won't believe the things I saw on Titan! There were some Hive, and some ancient floating things, and more Hive, and I think I found a rock, and it was SO FREAKING COOL!" Ruby rambled on, her bone breaking grip on the Cryomancer not lightening up in the slightest. Weiss' face began to turn blue from lack of oxygen, and finally she began pawing at the young team leader in futile attempt to escape.

"Let go of me, you dolt! I can't...ugh...breathe!" The reaper either didn't hear her partner or ignored the strangled request. Either way, the small Huntress scooped up her teammate with surprising strength and spun the Schnee around.

"You have to come back to the Tower and see this! Banshee gave me some new tools to mess with Crescent Rose and Cayde promised to let me try it out in the Crucible!" The excitable team leader shouted, closer to Weiss' ear than she'd have liked. The Crucible was off limits to the Remnant Guardians for now, mostly due to their unique powers. Despite their youth, many of the Crucible contenders had a few things to say about a Guardian that could manipulate their weapons straight out of their hands. Pyrrha was obviously not welcome in the competition, apparently something that Spirit shared. Ruby was about to become the first in their group to compete, though if Cayde was her sponsor Weiss would no doubt encourage her partner to be cautious.

"That's all well and good, but if you don't put me down I'm going to be sick." Weiss growled, and Ruby finally got the hint and dropped her. The Schnee staggered when she landed, but regained her footing after a moment. Honestly, sometimes she felt like more mother than teammate with this girl...

"Are you ready to go? Master Lang said you can take a break for a while!" Ruby begged, and she could almost see the stars in her eyes. Weiss sent a look of apology over Ruby's head, but the Cryomancer leader just chuckled and waved her off.

"You can't learn anything more until you understand the Vex and their relationship with time. Despite our preference for isolation, you are part of a team. I believe Miss Rose will be more than willing to help you." The bearded Warlock stepped to the side, an invitation to leave the icy training room. Weiss paused for a moment, unsure if she should follow right away. Ruby bounced giddily next to her, a welcome distraction from the constant meditation, but also a symbol what she had to return to.

Weiss knew she had to return to Atlas.

Not today, or even next week, but she would soon return to the land of her birth. Atlas had declared war on Vale and the Guardians, but it wouldn't stop her from speaking to her father. While she had meditated with the Cryomancers, the young Schnee had come to realize that her father needed to be reasoned with. Jacques Schnee carried tremendous political sway with Atlas, wielding both her grandfather's influence and his own SDC resources. If he could be swayed, brought to reason, Atlas would be under severe pressure to make peace with Vale. If not...

Well, he was not a true blood Schnee. A change would be necessary. She didn't dismiss her father carelessly, but if his removal from power was necessary for the good of the company – and not to mention Remnant – she would do it gladly.

"Weiss! C'mon!" Ruby's words and a tug on her arm snapped the heiress out of her dark thoughts, and she fought the smile that threatened to cross her face as her team leader dragged her toward the temple's exit. The cold halls were barren of decoration, equal parts stone and ice. A paltry number of Cryomancers walked the halls, maybe twenty in total, though their armor and hoods prevented the two from actually recognizing any of them. Weiss had not interacted often with her fellow students, but more often than not dealt with Grand Master Liang or his lieutenant, Frost. Their self-enforced isolation did little to broker camaraderie among the students. Weiss didn't mind, but she could see how graduate Cryomancers could become standoffish and reluctant to work with other Guardians. It wasn't a problem she was going to have, though.

The frozen gates did not open for the two partners, but rather they jumped over the twelve foot tall structures. Weiss glided with her Warlock abilities, and Ruby's Semblance proved sufficient when she had a running start. A whirlwind of rose petals and Weiss gently falling to the ground later, they had crossed Neptune's frozen wastes and transmatted into the Iron Symphony in short order. Weiss didn't want to admit it around the Grand Master, but she welcomed the climate controlled cabin of Ruby's jumpship. The cold was wonderful for focusing on her powers and meditating, but that didn't make it comfortable.

"Alright, where is this rock you wanted to show me?" Weiss asked, failing to keep the bored exasperation out of her tone. Ruby zipped all around the cabin, chattering excitedly about how she had outrun a whole nest of Hive Thrall. The reaper deposited Crescent Rose in an alcove behind the pilot seat, then pushed Weiss towards the rear of the cabin. Stacks of ammo crates and a few tables with tools lined the aft bulkhead, but one particular crate was covered with a weathered shawl. The cloth was yellowed with age, and it hung limply over a metal box the size of a milk crate. Ruby stopped pushing her partner and stood next to the crate. She reached down and grasped the cloth with an air of drama, causing Weiss to roll her eyes, but Ruby continued regardless.

"I present to you," The reaper waved her free hand for added flair, "my... uh oh." The cloth came up, and Weiss' stare was flat as the horizon. She was so busy being disappointed after the big build up, she didn't see Ruby's stricken face. The crate was not empty, but it held a dull gray rock that was slightly elliptical in shape, and appeared to be made of granite.

It was also broken in two pieces. A shear ran right across the middle, splitting it open bottom and top. On the inside, a fascinating purple geode lined the interior, but it had been largely hollow at first.

"Ruby, you have got to be more careful with your flying." Weiss reprimanded. "It's a very interesting rock, but you broke it because you were flying like a maniac." Ruby had just stopped hyperventilating when Weiss spoke. Because of that, she was able to play off her shock...with moderate success.

"Uh, y-yeah. My bad. I guess I'm still getting used to it." Ruby fibbed. While Weiss had been locked up with the Cryomancers, Ruby had been flying all over the solar system. She knew how to fly, but the totally uncalled for criticism of her skills was overshadowed by the fact that the freaking egg had hatched. Silver eyes darted all over the cabin as Weiss walked toward the bow, spinning the co-pilot seat around to sit in it.

"We'd best get to the Tower. If Ikora will help, I can hopefully get some scans of the Vex and their systems near their precious time gates. The sooner I have these powers under control, the sooner we can go home." Weiss was so busy outlining her goals, she never noticed the scaly tail that wrapped around the base of her chair. Ruby, however, did. The reaper remained uncharacteristically silent in an effort to contain her panic.

Oh Geez, I must have fed it enough Light to hatch! I didn't know it would wake up that soon. Ruby thought wildly, doing her best not to stare at the bottom of Weiss' chair. She failed miserably.

"What? Did I step in something?" Weiss looked down around her seat, and Ruby's breath caught in her throat. She looked up at Weiss in panic, then looked back down.

Only to find that the baby Ahamkara was nowhere to be found.

"N-no, it's nothing! Just glad to have you back, that's all!" Ruby said with a plastic smile, her voice a little too loud for Weiss' tastes. What if Weiss found it? Would she stab it? Squish it? Freeze it? Lecture it about advanced Dust economics?! Each fate seemed worse than the last, and Ruby forced herself to act calm and try to get to the Tower as soon as possible.

"Ruby, you're acting very strange." Weiss scolded, though she made no move to look around further. A good thing too, as the same scaly tail from earlier lazily drooped down from above. The tip of the creature's tail hung just above Weiss' head, and if she had been wearing her usual tiara with her hair instead of a simple metal band, it would have brushed the creature. Given that she still hadn't seen the Ahamkara in full view yet, all Ruby had to go on was the fact that they were wish granting dragons that fed off of the Light. According to the file she had found with the egg, their remains were said to cause auditory hallucinations as well.

And now she had one running around in her ship, and she was praying to God, the Traveler, and whomever else was listening that Weiss didn't find the creature before she did.

I really hope Yang and Blake are having a better time. Ruby thought anxiously as she piloted the Iron Symphony toward Earth. Even as the reaper desperately fought to ignore the little motions in the corners of her vision, Weiss obliviously began filing her nails in boredom.

---

Several miles outside of Vale, Remnant...

The forests surrounding Vale were miraculously barren, considering the technology of the Kingdom. Flying Bullheads and floating arenas within the borders, but as soon as you passed that threshold, everything was wood and dirt. Sadly, it was because Grimm interdiction made transport and transit over land very tricky. Not many resources were dedicated to roads outside of the Kingdom proper because there wasn't a need for it. If you were on the road out there, you were armed and on foot, usually only in numbers less than ten.

As Blake watched from the shadows, she had to assume that was what the White Fang encampment was counting on. Dusk had settled over the forest, a collection of trees stretching for miles that actually boasted multiple species of tree, unlike the Emerald Forest and Forever Fall. Four hundred meters on the other side of the medium sized camp, a main path leading from Vale to the port town of Windfall sat in the growing dark.

Vale's defenses were back up, in many cases better than they were before Beacon fell. Lord Shaxx had made every effort to protect the remaining citizens, but he could not defend them from their own doubts. After the attack, many had grown angry with the Guardians, saying that Titan Horst had brought the Taken down upon them. It was a sore topic, and any Guardian within hearing such a claim tended to react...poorly. Fights had broken out, and tensions climbed ever higher until Lord Shaxx had addressed the remaining population.

"We're here to save you. It's why we were coming in the first place. But if you feel threatened by the walls that hold back the Darkness, then by all means find your own shelter. We will mourn your passing." Some took his announcement as an admission of guilt, that he didn't care enough to stop them. To Blake, he was simply giving the dissidents an out. So they had left, a moderate exodus of people marching down the roads and chartering Bullheads if they had the lien. As people left, however, just as many arrived. Villagers from outside of the city came to see what the trouble was. With the communication blackout, it was the only way they could discover what had happened to their Kingdom. Some were turned away by the departing citizens and their angry words, but many more came seeking answers.

The camp in front of Blake was there to take advantage of both parties. An ugly feeling welled up within Blake's gut as she watched them, sharpening blades and sorting through mismatched bags of belongings. Dried blood trails in the dirt left little to wonder what had happened to the owners of said bags. Raucous laughter could be heard from her vantage point, and Blake's lip curled in disgust. If Dad were here, he'd teach them all a lesson. She thought, her eyes settling on the violent new emblem of the White Fang on the back of a patrolling guard.

But here Ghira Belladonna was not, and no amount of wishing would change that. The rage and disgust she felt in seeing the once great movement converted into nothing more than common bandits made Blake feel just a little bit better about who she was there with. Beside her, two Titans crouched out of sight, waiting for her word. One of them wore medieval armor that had been forged by the Iron Lords, the black slits of his helm simmering with heat. The other wore a long brown coat and brown boots, her under suit a mix of yellow and black. Her arms were covered by yellow bracers and her face by a golden face plate, crimson lines of light running down it like tears from the molten red eyes in the mask. The Titan's long blonde hair fell down her back, but her ears and face were covered by her mask.

Blake herself was wrapped in a black jacket that hung down to her ankles, the front open to expose a braided top that crossed several times over her chest and left her midriff bare. Black pants covered legs, the pants themselves covered by thigh high boots that were buttoned at her shins and waist. Her bow was absent, and amber eyes narrowed as she watched the camp. Gambol Shroud sat in its place on her back, ready to draw in an instant.

Yang was there to help her succeed. Magnus was there in case she failed.

Blake had urged Lord Shaxx and anyone else willing to listen that the White Fang was salvageable, their leadership the tumor that needed to be removed. The Guardian leader agreed with her at first, but rising pressure from the Council of Vale had forced him to send Magnus with Blake and Yang on their little absolution missions. Before tonight, there had been no penalty in refusing to join the Guardians in Vale and set aside the White Fang's violent dreams. Now, there would be a hefty cost.

"I'm going down there." She reported, and Yang turned her impassive mask towards the Faunus. "There are a lot of younger members down there, angry kids that think violence is the fast and easy way to equality." Magnus and Yang exchanged masked glances, then the blonde reached up and pressed a button behind her ear. In two quick movements, her mask parted into the frame around her face, revealing worried lilac eyes as Yang regarded her partner.

"Are you sure? We can put up an alert and try to steer people around this place if you need more time." They both knew the offer was weak at best; if entering the camp tonight was optional, Magnus would have stayed in Vale. Still, Blake had to try. It was the only way she would be able to live with herself in the aftermath.

Crouching down and gathering strength, Blake didn't so much jump as disappear, the lengthening shadows swallowing her up whole as she vanished from sight. Yang thumbed her mask again, the two halves sliding together and hiding her troubled expression. She and Magnus both dropped down the embankment they had been hiding behind. Within the camp, tents and hastily erected wooden walls were bathed in flickering light from their torches. Sentries stood in pairs, talking quietly and keeping an eye out for any threats. As far off of the road as the encampment was, they were far more likely to be attacked by Grimm than people. Within the walls, two dozen more White Fang members went about their duties; cooking, cleaning, or sifting through the loot of captured civilians. One Faunus with tusks could be seen digging in between the wooden wall and a row of tents.

Three entrances, thirty White Fang, and a bunch of dead travelers. That's the camp that Blake suddenly appeared in, stepping out from the shadow of a tent she had never been behind to start with. At first, she stood and watched as the Faunus went about their duties, never noticing her. A burly man with tanned skin turned, pausing as he carried some fire wood. When he focused on her, the man dropped his logs.

"T-traitor!" He screamed, backing away as Blake calmly stepped forward. The others heard his panicked call, and soon everyone in the camp had eyes on her. A few hurried clicks and the rasp of blades, and they had their weapons on her too. Blake didn't care.

"You are the traitors here." She hissed, her ears flattening in anger. "We used to mean something. My parents helped create the White Fang. And the White Fang killed them." If her announcement ruffled any feathers, the grunts didn't show it.

"Bullshit!" A high pitched male shouted, his pistol shaking as he pointed it at her. "The humans never respected us until we put them in their place! This is the only way we'll be able to live!" A dozen more nodded and voiced their agreement, but Blake only shook her head.

"Did Adam tell you that?" The mention of Leader Taurus so casually caused the Faunus to freeze. They knew who they answered to, but it would be foolish to say that Adam ruled with a gentle hand. "I guess that's where you got that understanding from. You confuse respect with fear." Blake's image blurred, only for an instant, and all of them stood a little straighter. The young man that had spoken earlier trained his pistol on her, until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head, and nearly jumped out of his skin when Blake's amber gaze sat just over his shoulder.

"Do you respect me now?" She whispered in his ear. The young man's self control broke, and he jumped away from her with a fearful shriek. The Blake that everyone else was focused on washed away like a mirage, and they all turned to focus on the real deal that stood within their midst. She reached out and pushed a finger against a crimson sword held out toward her, noting with some satisfaction that it was shaking.

"I'm not here to kill you. I'm not here to threaten you. I am here to ask you to stop killing people. Come join us in Vale, where we are working to do some good. Feed someone, defend someone else, stand with us instead of sowing death and hatred everywhere you go." Her voice took on a pleading tone, and her eyes softened. "Preying on people, slaughtering them for no good reason? We're no better than the Grimm at that point. And as long as you do that, the humans that called us monsters? They've won. You can wipe out everyone in their family, and you'll have only proved those bastards right."

Around her, weapons slowly lowered, and the White Fang looked around at each other. The Grimm masks that covered their faces made it difficult to read their expressions. At least, until one took his off. A young man, with shaggy brown hair and piercing blue eyes, slowly let his sword fall to his side as he dropped his mask.

"The first time I ever joined the White Fang, we bombed an SDC convoy. The month after that, we blew up a bunch of Atlas robots. It..." He stopped and took a shuddering breath. "It was fun, and it felt like we were doing something for good. But every now and then, we got those bad orders. Burn down an apartment complex. Shoot up an office building. Hell, we killed more Faunus than humans a couple weeks back. There were children! This just doesn't feel like us anymore." At his words, a rift opened up as his comrades stepped aside. Many of them looked conflicted, but a certain few held nothing but contempt if their snarling lips were to judge. One of them, a very large man with gray skin and a horn sprouting from above his mask, lifted his sword and smacked the young man that had spoken across the back of the head with the pommel.

"Don't fall for those treacherous lies!" He snarled, his deep voice snarling into the young Faunus' face as the young man took a knee. "They are the enemy, and we'll bleed them all dry! Or are you going back on your vow?" The elder White Fang let the threat hang, but he still drew his fist back for another blow. He was stopped, however, by a crimson blade that appeared at his throat. None of the other White Fang had moved, and Gambol Shroud remained on Blake's back. In her hand, however, was the sword of Adam Taurus: Wilt.

"You remind me of the man I got this sword from." She purred dangerously, and the senior members of the White Fang balked at the sight of Leader Taurus' sword. The man in question slowly let his blade fall, his free hand coming up beside his head.

"You won't win this!" He snarled, and Blake fought the urge to roll her eyes. "The true White Fang will destroy you all!" Without responding to his boast, Blake cast her eyes around the encampment.

"Anyone that wants to stop murdering people, and actually cares about doing some good, can meet me at that exit over there." She tossed her head to indicate the one closest to where Magnus and Yang were watching. "We won't hurt you, and no one here will either." The Faunus looked around at each other, and Blake realized that this was it. She stood at the breaking point. As the White Fang looked around at each other, she could feel the mistrust they had for each other. Uncertainty, betrayal, worry; all that and more was tangible as the seconds ticked by. Their indecision was broken as the now unmasked Faunus let his weapon fall to the ground, and began to trudge towards the exit Blake had indicated. One by one, twenty more followed him, until only nine remained. These Faunus were older, and had experienced more hatred and contempt than the younger members. These were veterans of the struggle, ironically those that had joined or were oppressed during the early days of the White Fang, and had seen the most change.

"Traitors, all of you!" The Faunus Blake had stopped with Wilt yelled, spittle flying from his lips as he raged. Behind his mask, the Guardian knew that his eyes were filled with hatred. A hatred her partner had fueled with his self-driven crusade against anything that wasn't a Faunus.

"I told you before. We're better than this." Blake remanded him, stepping back and allowing Wilt to fall from his throat. She held it outward from her, ready to separate his head from his shoulders if he attacked. The rest of the loyal White Fang – and wasn't that an ironic title – watched cautiously as Blake stepped away. She passed Adam's sword to her left hand, the blade pointed behind her as she casually strode toward the exit. Standing there, a woman in a brown leather coat stood, her impassive face framed by some kind of golden guard. Her arms were crossed and no weapon was visible, but Huntresses were known to be unpredictable. These new Guardians? Even more so. Yang cast her lilac eyes over the dozen plus that had elected to accept Blake's offer, her expression relieved that so many had taken the offer. Her brow creased and she tensed, however, obviously seeing something behind Blake.

The former White Fang member turned and swung low, just in time to duck the elder Faunus' blade and hamstring him in the same motion. Wilt drew from her left hand into her right, cutting through Aura, cloth, skin and muscle in one motion. The sharp blade had every bit the capacity to cleave his leg off entirely, but Blake ducked back intentionally to prevent the gory outcome. It still left the man she had threatened writhing in the dirt, his blade forsaken as he clutched his mangled leg and howled in pain. Blake stepped back, her heart beating a little faster as the man's screams assaulted her ears. Still, she had to maintain some form of discipline, or the other White Fang bandits would take his attack as a cue. So instead of watching the man she had just crippled bleed out into unconsciousness, she turned her gaze toward the defectors.

"I told you, no one is going to stop you. Get moving." Her voice wavered, but they either didn't notice or didn't care. Under Yang's watchful gaze, the unmasked members of the White Fang marched out of the camp together, stepping around the man that had been their commander. His pained cries had been reduced to angry grunts and gasps, his hands soaked in his own blood as he sought to stifle the bleeding. Above him, Blake finally looked down, and he could see the conflict in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" He cried, agony and rage filling his voice in equal parts. "Can't do what it takes to succeed?! This is why Adam leads us! This is why Ghira couldn't help us! Because he didn't have the stomach to do what needed to be done!" He screamed with an air of finality, as if he were howling into the abyss of his own doom. Blake said nothing, just continued to stare into the man's hatred. When she shifted, he flinched, expecting the finishing blow. But it never came.

"You're right. I'm not ready to kill a bleeding and defenseless man." Blake said, quietly and to the side. "Hurting the defenseless was never what my father stood for. But the Guardians?" She stepped away, leaving the senior White Fang member in the blood-soaked dirt. "They do know how to make sacrifices."

The man craned his neck, twisting on the ground to get a look for where she had gone. But to do so, he would have to take pressure off of his leg, and that was impossible. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he looked around for support from those that had not abandoned him. The remaining eight White Fang made no move to assist him, however. Had they turned against him as well?!

"Cowards." The statement came from behind him, in the direction the traitors had gone with the Guardians. The senior White Fang twisted his head in time to see a metal boot come down beside him, cold in appearance and yet so very warm. In fact, despite his injury the terrorist turned bandit found that everything was getting uncomfortably warm. An armored gauntlet reached down, larger than his own hand, and wrapped around his injured leg. The pressure was far greater than what he had applied himself, and it was all he could do to turn a shriek of pain into a whimper.

"They ran from us out of ignorance, and out of some misguided sense of justice, you cut them down. Without mercy. Without remorse. As if they were nothing more than animals. A sentiment I'm sure you will claim to share." The words were loud, meant for all present, but there was no anger to it. Or rather, he was loud because he needed to be heard, not because of his fury. That was poured into the mangled leg in his grip.

"AH!" The White Fang lieutenant began screaming in pain, sacrificing the action of pressing his leg in favor of striking the man that stood above him. Metal greaves and a stout chest plate foiled his efforts, even as his wound was cauterized and burned. And still, it grew hotter.

"You will all burn in the fires of retribution, and no one will ever remember you. Just a few misguided people in a cold, cruel world." Magnus stated without emotion. The cloying stench of burning flesh filled the area, particularly vile to the enhanced senses of the Faunus, and several of the grunts became sick. Their commander finally stopped screaming, and Magnus' fiery touch enveloped his whole body. Within half of a second, the White Fang commander was reduced to ash. Magnus released the corpse and allowed it to break apart on the ground, stepping forward. The heat required to incinerate a body in so short a time caused the White Fang to shield their eyes, hiding Magnus from them as they struggled with the heat.

"You stand in the presence of a Guardian. You might as well fight the sun itself."

The heat increased tenfold, and the cowering Faunus screamed as they died.

---

The Last City, Earth...

"I'm sorry, but my partner is waiting for me." How many times had he politely turned them down now? Six? Seven? Ren fought the urge to sigh in exasperation as the female Hunter nodded and let him pass, though he couldn't ignore her predatory gaze on his back. Or his backside, as he had come to dread. The Tower was filled with interesting and powerful Guardians the likes of which he could have never imagined. Unfortunately, many of them lived a life of adrenaline and no regrets, and being the new people on the scene many were hoping to test him in all applications.

Thank the Traveler no one had propositioned him in front of Nora.

Speaking of, the valkyrie was somewhere in the Tower, according to Orchid. His Ghost floated beside him in companionable silence, though it did watch as the Hunter stalked away from him.

"They do seem interested, at least." The Ghost commented quietly. Ren nodded and 'hmm'ed with an exasperated air.

"Interest is fine. It becomes rude and annoying when they don't take the hint. I don't see how Yang tolerates it." It was rare for Ren to complain, but not impossible. Still, he made sure to be as courteous as possible when dealing with fellow Guardians, even if they did not show the same care. It was only proper, after all.

"Nora's last location was on floor seventy-five, seeking someone called the 'Storm King'. Apparently, he's an expert in Arc energy and its applications." That made sense. Not only did her Semblance find strength in electricity, but Nora's preferred method of Light manipulation was Arc type. She had been working on new grenades and attachments for Magnhild, but other Guardians had been surprisingly silent when she'd asked for assistance in training to be a Striker. It must have been her personality.

Ren looked around the marketplace as he walked toward one of the many banks of elevators. Banners and screens hung from every fixed point it seemed, and the Factions of the Tower continued their ever expanding battle of proving their superiority. The Future War Cult, New Monarchy, the Cult of the Trinary Star, Dead Orbit; all of them sought to compete with the others in a grand rush to be the Faction that saved the City. It all seemed terribly antagonistic from Ren's point of view, but he was still an outsider. Perhaps if he stayed and continued to study Earth and its people, he could come to understand their desperate struggle for superiority in the face of the Darkness.

An elevator chimed just as he walked up, and two Exo Titans exited, their heavy armor clinking in time with their movements. Ren paused and allowed them past, though he did noticed glowing red eyes that followed him as he stepped into the elevator. Scrutiny from all sides, it seemed. Ren gestured toward the elevator, and Orchid provided it with their destination remotely. With another gentle chime, the doors closed and they descended.

Alone, Ren looked down at the Warlock robes Orchid had fabricated. Using materials provided by the Vanguard as well as those he had found in the ruins of Earth's cities, Ren had crafted a long coat with no sleeves that provided adequate protection from projectiles and energy. It was green and white, his usual motif, though a magenta orchid was etched into the back of his robes. His arms were covered from the forearm down with a pair of white sleeves that slowly colored magenta as they approached his hands. In the event of combat in vacuum, Orchid would provide a full body suit and helmet like he had started with. But around the Tower, half sleeves were more comfortable.

The elevator chimed again, and the doors opened onto a metal catwalk with low lights. Down below the metal grating, he could see metal coils that danced with electricity. Given his studies with Light, it was not hard for Ren to sense the energy that pulsed within the room. At the end of the catwalk, a metal gangway led downward at a gentle slope, curling around itself like a flight of stairs. Over the sparking and hum of the current, Ren could hear two people talking animatedly, one of which being his partner.

"So I just have to let it build if I want to smack 'em real good?" Nora asked, her eyes dancing with joy as she swung Magnhild around in its hammer form. Beside her, a Stormcaller of considerable power stood with his hands behind his back. The man's helm was polished to a mirrored shine, and the strange material looked like it had been cut from glass or crystal. Above the full head helm, a crown sat upon his head, wrapped with white cloth. Arcs of electricity danced within the tines of his crown, though Ren was certain to that despite several Arc generators and Nora throwing thousands of amps of electricity around, not a single bolt touched him. In fact, on several occasions where Nora slung a bolt of lightning with her hammer directly at him, the man deflected the bolt without even moving his hands.

He wore parted robes decorated with dancing lightning bolts embroidered into the shoulders and back. The robes fell to mid calf, where a pair of white boots covered his feet. Colored in white and light blue, his robes and gloves danced with electricity at all times. His Warlock Bond was less that and more a miniature perpetual storm, a cloud of vapor and lightning that stubbornly curled around his bicep.

This was the Storm King. According to many Guardians, his power was undisputed when it came to Arc energy. His personality, however, was a little strange.

"Not all the time. You must...Ride the Lightning until you strike. Continue to channel the energy, and then explode like... T.N.T." The man paused and enunciated at odd times, causing Ren's eyebrows to raise. Still, he could tolerate Nora, and agreed to teach them. How bad could he be.

"I gotcha. Hey, Ren! Catch me!" Ren turned, eyes wide with alarm, as Nora flew across the room. Her armor had not changed from their ascendance to Guardians, though her skirt had been swapped out for a combat belt. Several harnesses crossed her armor, and all of them held grenades for Magnhild. On her hip, a small, pink mark hung down, white with a pink hammer on it. Ren let out an 'oof!' as he was rode down to the floor, the metal grating clanging with their impact. A second after they came to a stop, Ren's hair stood on end as Nora's bear hug came with an electrical discharge, the Arc energy that had been supplementing her speed exploding outward all at once. Being a Stormcaller himself, it did not hurt, but the feeling of electricity running through his body wasn't what he would call comfortable either.

"Nora!" He cried out in protest, trying in vain to push her off as she let her weight settle atop of him. Metal greaves hit the grating on either side of his chest, and Nora beamed happily as she refused to budge.

"Yep. That's me!" She completely ignored the fact that he wanted out from underneath her, and instead extended a fingerless glove toward his face, tapping him on the nose. "Boop!"

"It seems you were caught off guard, Lie Ren. I hope you are not... Thunderstruck?" The Storm King said with a chuckle. Ren's eyes were flat as Nora giggled again, this time actually climbing off of him and helping him up. Ren dusted off his pants and looked around, then bowed to the Storm King.

"Thank you again for agreeing to help us. As great as our powers are, we won't be able to help anyone if we do not improve." The Storm King waved off his thanks, instead stepping back allowing room for Ren and Nora to spread out.

"It is an honor of my own to see your abilities in action. Hopefully, we can turn you both into a … War Machine. Your abilities in particular, Lie Ren, intrigue me."

Ren was a Stormcaller, a Warlock that controlled Arc Light. The major distinction between himself and other Stormcallers was that he did not cast lightning, but rather generated it. In the times when his Light was at its peak, a field of Arc Light expanding outward from him, obliterating everything within his path. If it did not disintegrate, it conducted his Light and pushed it that much further. So far, ten meters out was as far as he could generate for a length of time, though he could expand it through great effort. Given his affinity for melee combat, this field made him already fast and deadly style even more damage, as his foes were being electrocuted the whole time he was shooting or stabbing them. The addition benefit was that Nora got a charge off of him, boosting her own strength and speed with the help of her Semblance.

"Yeah, Ren's the best!" Nora crowed from a few feet away. Ren rolled his eyes as she leaned against her hammer. "He's pretty shocking, am I right?" A hand slapped across his face, and he realized it was his own with a pained groan.

"Nora, leave the puns to Yang."

"Today, we shall attempt to expand your field, and see if you can perfect your chains for manipulation." The Storm King ignored Nora's comment entirely. "It should also be considered if you can increase the potency of your Arc Light, and force your foes to pass... Through the Never." The man paced, never passing between Ren and Nora but rather walking along the pylons that collected the local electricity.

"Have no fear of causing damage to the facilities around us, as this capacitor room was built specifically to house wielders of Arc Light. Anything you cast off will be collected and used to power the Tower." He slapped one of the pylons for good measure, and the Arc energy that coated his arms jumped toward it in response. Good, that meant they would not hinder the Guardians in any way as they trained.

"Your opponent with be your partner. Since she is not only resistant, but empowered by Arc Light, she will make the perfect opponent for you to improve against. Just be certain that you do not... Fade to Black." The Storm King warned ominously. Ren nodded, suddenly understanding why so many people were unsettled by the Storm King. Still, he knew his stuff, and most Warlocks were at least a little-

"TRAINING BEGINS NOW!" The shout came from his left, and he barely turned before the hammer impacted with his face, sending him careening into the wall with a shower of sparks.

"You weren't ready, Ren~"

---

Jaune stood in the hangar, shuddering as he felt a slight vibration in the floor. The vibration he could understand, with multiple elevators transporting jump ships up and down through the Tower. The shudder, though, was involuntary. For some reason, he had a sudden pang of sympathy for Ren.

It was probably nothing.

He watched as another jump ship was carried past by the cranes, this one bound for a by meant for extra large ships. Of course it was, as the Infinite Sky was one of the largest jump ships in operation. And if it was here, then so was Spirit.

Footsteps approached from behind him, metal boots clicking against a metal floor as he turned to face his partner. Pyrrha's personal armor as a Huntress was probably the closest to Guardian gear out of all of them, so she hadn't made many changes in the past six months. For Jaune, The armored greaves of the Knight class Titan armor still took some getting used to. He still had the armor that Horst had gifted him, but he didn't want to wear it until he had earned it. Still, Crocea Mors hung from his hip, and he made sure the thick chest piece did not affect his ability to draw the sword in any way. His Apple of Discord sat on his back, ready for action. Unless they were in vacuum, Jaune eschewed the use of a helmet, though sometimes he needed it for enhanced optics.

"There's no report of her on the Tower, and Hope's last transmission came from the city itself. Is she still not answering calls?" Pyrrha asked, grasping his hand almost on reflex now. Jaune smirked at the feeling of her hand in his, and took comfort in the fact that despite everything else, his partner had his back. And his front, if she was feeling possessive about something.

"Not at all. I know she said to leave her alone, but it will be the first time we're all together since we came here. Cardin and his team will be bringing Yang and Blake with them when they use the Gateway." Jaune explained, his eyes returning to the City before them. Down below, the last bastion of Humanity outside of Remnant hustled and bustled and did everything it could to survive. They had walked among the people of the City, and finally discovered why Horst had never taken any forays into Vale. Guardians were exalted well above the common man, it seemed, though that went both ways in some cases.

A great many people saw them as saviors, heroes, representatives of the god that hung over the City. The ones that disagreed, however, saw the Guardians as tyrants and bullies. In most cases, the latter were criminals or dissidents that had required more than City security could allow, and were faced with the awesome might of the nigh immortal Titans. Jaune had seen Huntsmen and Huntresses pass through Vale with many a wave and good word, but he had not been prepared for people to go completely out of their way to thank him and Pyrrha for their service. His partner was more used to it than he was, though obviously uncomfortable, and after three or four trips Jaune had decided to follow the rest of the Guardians' lead and stay in the Tower when they came to the City.

"I know she's still grieving over Professor Horst, but doesn't she know that we're here to help?" Pyrrha asked, stepping up to lean against him as the sun shone down on the City. It truly was a beautiful day, and made all the better by the woman on his shoulder.

"I think Spirit is the type to mourn in peace. She may feel that she would be an inconvenience, or that we wouldn't understand what she has lost." Jaune shrugged lightly. "Either way, if she is determined to be alone, then maybe we should respect her wishes. She'll come around when she is ready." They owed her that much at least.

"Still, I wish she could be there for us. Ruby said that Lord Shaxx commissioned some equipment for us, to celebrate our team." Pyrrha said quietly. Jaune reached across himself and grasped her arm with his free hand, and together they turned away from the vista.

"I didn't know he was making stuff for us. What is it?" Jaune asked as they walked back into the Tower proper, passing mechanics and Guardians on their way to their ships. Pyrrha giggled at his interest, but shook her head.

"It's a secret, apparently. The Speaker asked that, as the Guardian representative on Remnant, Shaxx be the one to offer us something. According to Ruby, it's going to be 'really freaking cool'." Pyrrha supplied finger quotes with one hand, since the other was entangled with Jaune's.

"Yeah, that sounds like Crater Face." Jaune laughed, stepping closer to Pyrrha as they squeezed through a fireteam of Hunters. Out of all of them, Ruby had taken to being a Guardian the most, and she was always eager to celebrate getting the team together.

"Has Holiday said anything about procuring a ship?" Pyrrha changed the topic, and Jaune groaned in response.

"Oh, she said something alright. Something along the lines of, 'if I gave a ship to every new Guardian that asked, I'd be up to my tool kits in damages and scrap heaps' and then she told me to ask Zavala." Jaune imitated Holiday's Texan accent, and the result only made Pyrrha laugh once more. The Shipwright wasn't wrong, though it would make things difficult traveling the Solar System if they didn't have a ship. They had gotten a lift from Ruby and other Guardians during their missions, but things would go more smoothly for JNPR as a whole if they could get a ship for their own.

"Didn't Horst say he won his from the House of Judgment?" Pyrrha supplied, and Jaune thought about it. Come to think of it, Horst had won his in a game from Variks, a Fallen scribe for the House of Judgment that had lived in the Reef for some time. Until recently, he had mocked all Fallen Houses that did not swear loyalty to the Awoken Queen. Two things had happened to change that.

The Awoken had been wiped out, with their Queen dead or missing. And the House of Giants had arrived in the Solar System. For the first time since anyone could remember, Variks the Loyal had acknowledged the strength and standing of a Fallen House. Oh, he had kept tabs on all the Fallen within the system. Legitimate or not, the Eliksni needed to be watched closely. But Variks had publicly claimed House Giants as a regal House, one that was not stained by piracy and lawlessness. The other Houses had bristled at such a declaration, but so far nothing had come of it, good or bad. The Vanguard were waiting to let the Giants make the first move.

"He did, but I don't think we need to get anywhere near the Reef right now. That, and I suck at card games." Pyrrha nodded, and looked up when they walked into the bazaar across from the Speaker's observatory. In the bazaar, groups of people walked by, talking loudly over then din and walking past merchants that peddled their wares. A wide spiraling staircase descended deeper into the Tower, and three floors down was the meeting room where Ruby had agreed to meet everyone. She had Weiss in tow, and the others would be coming from Remnant. Ren and Nora were on the Tower somewhere, and they knew where to meet.

After navigating the bazaar, a slightly secluded hallway held a simple gray sliding door, with a small console next to it inlaid in the wall. The electronic display simply showed the word 'reserved' in block red letters, but the door slid open when Jaune and Pyrrha approached. Guardian technology, man. Inside, a spacious room surrounded a black wooden conference table, and fourteen comfortable leather chairs were arranged around it, with one at each end and six along each side. Since they were the first to arrive, that meant the side closest to the door belonged to Team JNPR. Jaune and Pyrrha pulled out their chairs and sat, knowing full well that the others would be half an hour or more.

"I've been hearing some nasty things out on Mars." Pyrrha said worriedly. "Apparently, there's talk of a Guardian going around murdering other Guardians. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but they are saying that he acts like the Taken." Jaune winced as she said it, but he knew where she was going with this. None of them had really talked about it, when Horst had died. He'd seemed so indestructible, so permanent and powerful, that the thought of him defeated was absurd. Now, not only was their teacher Taken, but Oryx was using him to murder other Guardians. It made Jaune sick to his stomach.

"We'll make it right, Pyr. It's all we can do. Somehow, we'll make it right." Jaune grabbed her hand and gave her a comforting squeeze, and she returned it with a grateful smile. They sat there and talked for some time, going over the Vanguard's policies on Remnant, Atlas in particular, and time flew by. Before they knew it, the door slid open again, revealing a beleaguered Ren and an even more peppy than usual Nora. Ren staggered to the seat across from Jaune, collapsing into it more than sitting. As the leather compressed to take his slight frame, Ren couldn't help the groan that escaped him. Jaune felt a pang of sympathy for his teammate as Nora sat opposite of Pyrrha, setting Magnhild down at her feet.

"Hey guys!" She greeted, though Ren barely found the strength to wave from his chair. "Me and Ren were training to use our Light. It was so much fun! Wasn't it, Ren?" Her partner merely groaned in response, and Nora giggled at him. "Aw, he's tired."

Pyrrha smiled at their exhausted teammate as well. "Goodness, Nora. What did you do to him?" Nora smiled brightly and leaned forward.

"The Storm King told me we needed to work on Ren's endurance, so I held him down and drained him dry over and over again! He tried to escape, but he couldn't get out from under me!" Nora declared, causing Jaune to cough awkwardly. Beside him, Pyrrha's face made a very good attempt to match her hair, and Ren finally made the effort to speak.

"My Light, Nora. You drained me of my Light." The hammer wielder snorted and laughed as his hand fell once more.

"Well duh! What else could I have meant?" Neither Pyrrha nor Jaune could look her in the eye as she looked at them expectantly, and Ren just groaned again. Poor guy. In a desperate attempt to keep the conversation innocent, Jaune leaned forward.

"S-so, that was you guys that made the lights flicker a few minutes ago?" Jaune asked shakily, refusing to let the image in his head affect him.

"Yep! I kept absorbing Ren's energy when we were fighting, so every now and then I had to push it back into the power grid. Man, that was a rush!" Nora rolled her eyes and shivered, remembering the sensation. "I think we shook the Tower when I got really into it!" Damn it, Nora. Pyrrha's blush blazed like wild fire, and Jaune could feel heat creeping up his own face as well. That explanation did not help things!

The door slid open again, and Jaune took full advantage of the new arrival.

"Oh look, someone else is here!" Jaune proclaimed obviously, leaving it to a surprised Ruby and Weiss to change the conversation. Unfortunately, Ruby appeared on edge, as she jumped out of her skin as soon as Jaune pointed in her direction.

"WHERE? WHERE IS IT? I SWEAR IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" The reaper screamed in desperation, wide eyes looking around at the floor and under the table for some reason. Beside her, Weiss simply scoffed and walked past her partner, taking a seat beside Pyrrha with her usual grace.

"She's been having a nervous breakdown ever since we got back from Neptune. I keep asking her what the deal is, but she won't tell me." The Schnee heiress offered by way of explanation. Team JNPR's attention shifted in its entirety back to Ruby, who finally realized that she was making a seen. The leader of Team RWBY smiled sheepishly and laughed, before using her Semblance to join Weiss at the table. Weiss threw her teammate an irritated glare, before sighing and leaning back into the chair, her posture the perfect image of elegance.

"So, what you guys done today?" She asked conversationally. Jaune chanced a look toward Nora and saw her ready to make awkward declarations all over again, so he decided to head it off on his own.

"Pyrrha and I have been trying to find another ship, so we can take missions without having to bum rides off of other Guardians. So far though, no one is feeling very generous." Pyrrha nodded in agreement and added her two lien as well.

"We've still got some Glimmer left over from what Professor Horst gave us, but its not enough to buy a jump ship. What's more, it's cost us more than we've been making just to stay at the Tower." Ruby and Weiss both nodded in understanding. Killing Fallen and Hive out in the Cosmodrome and the European Dead Zone earned Glimmer easily and quickly, but the costs of living on the Tower were equally high. Beacon had taught economics and realty for a few classes, but it was still something of a culture shock to pay rent on a planet you didn't know existed until a few months ago.

"Me and Ren were going a few rounds downstairs. He tried to fight me off, but I sucked him dry!" Nora proudly proclaimed, and Weiss joined Jaune and Pyrrha in imitating a tomato. Ruby, however, scratched her chin thoughtfully.

"Oh yeah, you do absorb electricity with your Semblance, huh? I guess Ren is like a walking battery for you." Weiss turned to say something about oblivious dolts, but one look at Ruby's innocent face made her think better of it.

"Nora, stop that. You're messing with them on purpose." Ren admonished, earning a guilty little chuckle as the valkyrie shrugged her shoulders. Jaune, Weiss, and Pyrrha glared at the hammer wielder.

"Sorry~"

Almost twenty minutes later, Team CRDL, Blake, and Yang finally managed to show up as well. Cardin and his guys all wore Knight style Titan armor like Jaune, except for Russell. Thrush wore the lighter armor and brown wrap around scarf of a Hunter. Cardin's mace hung at his hip as always, but a Hakke shotgun sat on his back as well. Dove seemed to have grabbed a Suros sniper rifle, since it dangled from his back on a sling instead of using the mag lock. If Sky and Russell had any new Guardian weapons, they weren't wearing them.

"Hey guys, how's it going?" Jaune greeted. He offered a fist to Team CRDL, and to the surprise of many every one of them met it with their own. Cardin answered for them as they filed in to the other side of the room, Cardin and Russell sitting on the same side as Ruby and Weiss.

"Getting Vale to cooperate with the Guardians has been a royal pain. Even though Beacon would be a pile of rubble without us, they still like to gripe and moan. And don't even get me started on the Faunus." Ruby opened her mouth to argue, but Weiss' hand stopped her. "The White Fang did most of the damage, but people are going after the Faunus like they're a part of it. Huntsman or not! We broke up three fights at city hall just because one guy didn't like that Scarletina was walking by, minding her own business." Cardin continued to complain, shutting up anything the others might've said. Blake just smirked as she settled into the seat next to Nora, which put Yang in the seat next to Dove and Sky. To hear Cardin, a confirmed racist, complaining about people threatening the very person he had bullied not long ago was a welcome thing indeed.

"Well, I guess it could be worse. We found a White Fang encampment that was killing travelers leaving Vale." Yang said with a huff. "Blake got most of them to come with us, but there were a few that wouldn't leave." Weiss whistled appreciatively at that, though Blake's flat expression indicated she was not happy with how it had gone.

"You got some to defect? That's impressive. Most of the ones in the organization now are the zealots we were worried about in the first place." Blake nodded in thanks, but her half grin didn't reach her eyes.

"I still wish I could have saved more. The Vale Council is putting more pressure on Lord Shaxx, so anyone that actively resists and does not surrender is killed. It'll make our job harder in rehabilitating the guys that we've capture, not mention the Faunus that aren't affiliated." Blake's somber expression lifted slightly when Yang patted her on the shoulder.

"We're working hard on it either way. Velvet and Coco said that quite a few of the guys we captured are helping out now. It won't happen all at once, but we're doing good out there."

Ruby stood up from her chair before any other conversations could spark up. She looked over at the empty chair next to Jaune, then to Jaune himself. The Titan frowned and shook his head, answering the unspoken question. Spirit wasn't coming. Nodding sadly, Ruby took a deep breath and then looked around the table.

"Friends, comrades... Weiss."

"Hey!" The Schnee's indignant cry caused Cardin and Nora to snort in amusement.

"I know it feels like it was so long ago, but it's only been a year since we met Professor Horst. He didn't make fun of us or talk down to us, but he did his best to teach us what we needed to be Huntsmen and Huntresses. I know we didn't all get along at first," Her eyes went to Cardin, who returned her gaze without shame, "but we're sitting here today because we're a team. And as a team, we've done more for Vale, for Remnant, than we could have ever dreamed of."

With a wave of her hand, Ruby had Summer transmat a glass in front of each person seated at the table. Jaune and Pyrrha had a dark, almost black beverage. Weiss' bubbled and was a soft yellow in color. Cardin and his team had a substance that looked similar to water. Ren and Blake had a clear liquid in a much smaller cup, while Yang and Nora had large steins full of an amber liquid frothing at the top. In front of the empty chairs, a glass of bourbon each. In front of Ruby herself, a tall glass of milk.

"We're the first Guardians to come from Remnant in FOREVER! All of us, we made history! We beat the Taken King, we killed his champion, we made a sunken city float! I mean, how cool is that?!" Ruby paused, then looked down at her glass of milk. She picked it up somberly, and stared into the liquid within.

"Professor Horst brought us all together, and it's thanks to him that we made it as far as we did. Him and Spirit both. But now, it's up to us to pick up where they left off. Horst wasn't just killed, he...he was Taken. Which means we might have to stop him from hurting anyone else. And there are still so many other things out there we need to fight. Cinder, the Cabal, the Fallen. It's a big job." Ruby looked around and grinned, an expression she found on the faces of everyone around her. "But there's no one else that can do it like we can. We're not just Guardians. We're not just Huntsmen and Huntresses. We, are Beacons." When she said that, twelve cascades of Light appeared, one in front of each Guardian. For Russell, a scarf. For Blake, Dove, Yang, and Pyrrha, a bandanna. For Ruby and Cardin, cloaks. For Sky and Nora, Titan marks. And for Weiss and Ren, Warlock bonds. Different garments and ornaments for different people, but all bearing the same symbol: a green tower on white, with the image of the Iron Symphony streaking above it. Ruby and Shaxx had worked on the design in secret, as a surprise for the team. Everyone except for Ruby reached forward and grabbed their respective gifts, turning them over and examining them with wonder.

"We are something to follow. We were meant to be a light in the dark, and we have a home to defend. Officially, the Vanguard recognizes us as the Beacons of Remnant. We've been recorded in history as the first Guardians of Remnant. Like the Six Coyotes, we're considered pathfinders. Remnant will follow us into the future, and it's our job to protect our home."

Ruby raised her glass of milk, prompting the others to stand and raise their glasses as well. They all looked proud, glad to be where they were. They had earned this, even Team CRDL had put in the effort to become Guardians. It was everything they had set out to become when they had joined Beacon, but now they were more than that.

"To Professor Horst, and the job he gave us. Because we're gonna be the ones to finish it!" Ruby crowed.

"CHEERS!" With that, they all knocked back their drinks, those with beer taking long pulls. When they finished, everyone whooped and yelled, turning Ruby crimson as she sat back down. It wasn't her first speech, but it was the first one she had given as a toast. Also, thankfully, this one had not ended in a food fight. The reaper allowed herself a small smile, though it waned as she looked down to her left, where Horst's empty chair sat. And the glass of bourbon that would remain untouched. He would have been proud of their little get together, of that she was certain. It should have been him making the speech, not her. Apparently, though, her normal knees weren't going to be much of a factor after this. A clinking glass caught her attention, and Ruby looked to her right, where Spirit's glass sat. And she froze.

There, with its head sunk in the glass, was a small, scaled creature. It had four legs that ended in claws, thick scales that looked like it belonged in the desert, and two wings that were folded neatly on its back. A beaked lip was submerged in Spirit's bourbon, and two tiny cheeks puffed out as the creature drank the alcohol greedily. A long, salamander like tail wrapped around the glass. Tufts of feathers created a collar around its neck, and its scales were white in color. The tiny creature was the size of a small chicken, standing maybe two feet tall on all fours. After the glass was drained completely, the little guy pulled its head out and hiccuped, before turned large yellow eyes towards her. Slit pupils gazed at her, foreboding even as the creature tilted its head innocently.

Yang looked over at her sister and noticed her stricken expression, then followed her gaze to see the baby Ahamkara in all its tiny glory. She too froze, but unlike Ruby, Yang was not the type to remain petrified.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"

After that, the room descended into pandemonium.

After an interesting confession from Ruby about her exploits on Titan, the creature had disappeared once more. The Beacons of Remnant all agreed that until they knew more about the creature, they wouldn't say anything to the other Guardians about it. There were far too many Ahamkara pieces of armor to watch Ruby's new pet get turned into a pair of pants. Not willing to let something like that spoil the fun, the Beacons of Remnant had topped off their drinks and enjoyed themselves, though Ruby promised that she would locate the Ahamkara before they left the Tower. Jokes were told, laughs were heard, and there were even a few arm wrestling matches. Afterward, the only thing left behind in the room was a single glass of bourbon, in front of the chair furthest from the door. All the other glasses had been collected, any spills cleaned up.

The glass sat, undisturbed, in the dark room.

An ethereal hand, born of faint white light, appeared over the glass. It reached forward, slowly, lazily, until the hand stopped. It spasmed, jerked aside as if it had been burned. The room shook slightly as cold flames burst up around the hand, and a distant scream was heard as the hand disappeared entirely, leaving behind no trace that it had been there.

---

Told you it would be before Halloween. We're back, baby.