Chapter 8 The Beacon Days of Our Lives
Character Moroni
Moroni and Neo ghosted through the red trees of Forever Fall. Off to their right was Summer and Diablo. They were out to collect sap with the rest of the students but also to keep them safe. To assist in that endeavor Glynda was also around... somewhere. Moroni fanned his wings and stirred up the crimson leaves that were constantly falling to the ground in the forest.
"Hey stop that," Neo said with a cough. "I think I'm allergic to this stuff..."
"No you're not," M said as he rested his wings against his back once more. "But I'm sure that the dust and such getting into your nose can make you sneeze."
Neo rolled her eyes at M and he chuckled at her. She liked his dry remarks and they both knew it. "maybe so M... Hey Summer, D how is it looking over there?"
"So far so good," Summer said, "We have cleared this place out a bunch so there shouldn't be that much trouble with it... except for what trouble we bring with us."
"You're worried about something... someone aren't you," M asked.
"Jaune," D replied, "He's been acting almost servant like to Cardin and I know the two are not the best of friends."
"So you think Jaune and Cardin might attract the Grimm," Neo asked.
"And us," M said, "D and I are like magnets for the Grimm, our histories and traits draw them to us."
"That makes sense sadly," Summer said. "Hey I've got a line of sight on RWBY and most of JNPR Jaune is missing..."
"That doesn't sound good," Neo said.
"M, Neo, go see if you can find Jaune and keep an eye on him and CRDL, we'll keep watch over RWBY and the rest," Summer said.
"On it," M acknowledged as he picked Neo up and set her on his shoulders before flying into the air.
"Haha... I love flying with you M," Neo leaned against his head and wrapped her arms around his neck as they flew.
"I love you Neo, anything done together is lovely," M replied.
"Even if it is babysit for Summer huh," Neo remarked.
A roar echoed out through the forest, drawing M and Neo's attention off towards a ridge line where the trees were thinned out. M caught sight of a large Ursa with a lot of spikes on it's back lumbering around in the relative clearing. "I think we found Jaune and CRDL..." M said as he swooped down towards the Ursa.
On M's back Neo pulled back from her embrace of his neck and got up on her feet as M leveled out under her, his back providing ample surface for her to stand up on and pull out her parasol. "M I'm getting off, take me in low," Neo said.
"Got it," M said. He dropped down to skim just above the tree tops and he felt Neo hop off as he flew past Jaune, Cardin, and a large Ursa. He smiled as he circled around and saw Neo land on the Ursa's back, distracting it long enough for Jaune to cut it's head off. A moment later he was knocked from the sky towards the group on the ground by a King Taijitu. M hit the ground hard letting out a grunt as the Taijitu slammed him down. He pulsed with light knocking the Grimm's head back as M flipped up off the ground and landed beside Neo and Jaune while Cardin picked himself up off the ground.
"M are you okay," Neo asked.
"I'm fine what about you three," M asked.
"Uh well Aura's a bit low but I'm good," Jaune said.
"Yeah same," Cardin added.
The four were about to engage the Taijitu when a yell sounded out from behind them and Ruby came sailing past them to embed Crescent Rose into the immediate head of the Taijitu. Pyrrha came flying through next and deflected the other head of the Grimm as Weiss came sliding up to stand beside M.
"Looks like we got here just in time," Weiss stated as Ruby fired Crescent Rose and back flipped off the Grimm's head to land beside them with Pyrrha landing a moment later.
"Hey guys," Ruby greets after she lands. "Where's M-Summer and D?"
"Looking after the others," M said as he drew his battle ax. "Let's fight this then worry about them." The group nodded collectively as the second head of the Taijitu crashed through the forest behind them.
"Oh no," Cardin stated as he turned to face the other head. "It's a big one..."
"So are we," Neo said then after a pause, "Okay maybe I'm not the best one to say that but let's just kill it." With that she switched into her 'killer' mode, jumped up M's back and vaulted over to the Taijitu's already injured head.
"Incoming," Jaune shouted as he and Cardin dodged out of the way of the second head. M spun around and struck a blow across it with his ax that sent the Grimm reeling around before retreating back into the forest... which allowed the other head to rear up and fling Neo off of it and into the air. Weiss threw some Glyphs into the air for Neo to land on while Pyrrha took the opportunity to get in under the Grimm's head and slice across the jaw joints. Weiss followed up Pyrrha's attack with a blast of frost that froze the Taijitu's head to a tree that Pyrrha had knocked it into. Weiss stumbled a bit as she tired from the use of her glyphs.
"Weiss," Ruby said, "Back off a little, we've got this from here." Ruby dashed in and shattered the frozen head of the Grimm as M moved to block the other head that had come back through the trees to strike at Jaune. M blocked the Taijitu's lunge which allowed Jaune and Cardin to slam into it from both sides before it could retreat. Neo then hopped down from the glyph and impaled the Taijitu's second head. The Grimm reared up before crashing to the ground. Neo rolled off of it as it fell and came up on her feet beside M.
"Well... that was fun," Neo remarked casually.
"Fun is not what I would call that," Weiss said.
"It was a little fun," Ruby remarked.
"They are both crazy right," Jaune asked.
"Pfft," Ruby snorted, "You're such a kidder..."
"No, He's not," Cardin said. "Jaune... I'm sorry. You do deserve to be here."
"Did I just hear Cardin Winchester apologize," Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah but you won't hear it again," Cardin said as he crossed his arms.
"Pyrrha just let it go," Jaune said, "If it's past it's past, let's go find Ren and Nora."
"They went with Yang and Blake to get Goodwitch," Ruby said.
"And they found me," Goodwitch said as she Summer, Diablo, Yang and Blake came over.
"Where are Ren, Nora and the rest of CRDL," M asked.
"I had them stay back and defend our extraction point in case anything came up there," Glynda said. She then looked at Blake and Yang. "Though two of the group wouldn't listen."
"No way am I staying behind while my little sis is in a fight," Yang said.
"And I'm her partner," Blake added, "We're a team and we stick together."
"Admirable but ultimately useless," Diablo said, "The idea of a team is to coordinate multiple individual operations simultaneously for the greatest effect."
"D," Summer said, "They know."
"Oh right," D stated, "Then they are staying together out of friendship... I still mistake that emotion sometimes."
"Oh come on even you have friends," Weiss said.
"True," D stated.
"NMDS, I thought you had cleared this area just recently," Glynda said.
"We did," Summer confirmed, "Yesterday in fact... there shouldn't have been Grimm of this size around here."
"Then what is drawing them," Glynda asked as she discretely looked at D and M.
"What are you talking about," Yang asked.
"NMDS cleared this area before you all came out here," Glynda said, "And yet there were two large Grimm in the area... something or someone drew them here."
"Something to be discussed later," M said, "Unless we want to stand around and see if more want to show up?"
Glynda curtly nods and leads the way back to the extraction where the bullheads had arrived to pick the teams up. NMDS and RWBY got in the same one.
"Well are you two alright," Blake asked Ruby and Weiss once they lifted off.
"We're fine," Weiss said.
"Are you sure," Ruby asked, "You seemed a little wobbly back there..."
"I'm fine," Weiss snapped. She quickly reached out and put her hand on Ruby's shoulder as the red cloaked leader looked hurt. "I'm sorry about that Ruby, but I am fine. I just get tired when using my semblance that much in rapid succession, anyone would."
"Ah it's okay Weiss," Ruby said as she smiled, "I'm kind of getting used to your snapping at me."
"What," Weiss pulled back, "I don't snap at you that much do I?" Everyone just looks at Weiss. "Well it's not intentional..."
"And yet you do nothing to try and stop it," M said, "Ruby has done plenty to try and be a good leader..."
"I-I..." Weiss simply looked at Ruby silently after she couldn't find any words to express her regret at her own failings.
Ruby was not content it seemed to let that be it and she hugged Weiss saying, "Come on Weiss don't be like that. It's fine really."
"But it isn't," Weiss said, "I saw the hurt on your face... you were just concerned for me and I hurt your feelings. It's not alright, I have to get better about that."
"And you will," Neo said, "Trust me... though I realize I am one of the worst people to make that statement... ha."
"Why is that," Ruby asked as she went back to her spot.
"Well Ruby... other than me the rest of my team was evil at one point," Summer said.
"Why would that matter," Blake asked, "You all are helping us now so what does your past matter?"
"A deep rooted tenant of Dragon Company," D remarked.
"Well to be fair Weiss you have gotten better," Yang said. "You've started to really open up to us you know?"
"I... I guess so," Weiss said.
"Everyone has to open up to someone eventually," M said as he looked at Neo. "Sometimes it just takes some practice to know how."
"That it does," Diablo agreed. "You all know we are the reason that those large Grimm were out there today right?"
"What," Blake asked. "How?"
"D and I we... still attract the Grimm," M said. "For the past week we've been going out here after clearing it and Grimm always come to D and I. Our pasts, our essence, draws them like a moth to a flame, but these moths can kill and eat you so..."
"Well I can imagine that can be useful," Ruby said, "You can draw the Grimm to you and away from cities and villages and towns. You are like mobile bait."
"That is one way to look at it," D said. "Another is as long as we are in a city, town or village that place is in great danger."
"Oh," RWBY collectively sighed, "Right."
"Don't worry Beacon is basically just as safe as it usually is," Summer said, "Even with M and D there it's still not physically possible for most of the Grimm hoards to even get to it. Same for Vale. No what worries me is other factors. Factors that we don't know about. Those are the ones we have to keep an eye out for."
"Right," Weiss agreed, "The known quantities we can compensate for the unknown ones are the things that can pop up and be very dangerous."
"It's good to see you are already thinking like Huntresses," Summer said, "For now though you four just worry about school."
"That we can do," Ruby said, "But if there is a chance for us to help save people, please let us know."
"We can do that," Summer said. The rest of the ride was spent mostly in silence as the teams pondered their next moves. They arrived back at Beacon and Glynda motioned for NMDS to come with her. After telling RWBY they would meet up with them for dinner later NMDS followed Glynda to Ozpin's office.
"Well hello," Ozpin greeted as the team came in. "I was hoping we could talk..."
"I assume it's about the Grimm," Summer said.
"In part yes," Ozpin said, "They seem drawn to your team. But there is another matter I wished to talk to you about as well."
"Well I can tell you that the Grimm are attracted to me and Diablo," M said, "We can practically walk among them unscathed and they will follow us about. That said they still can't get to us here so Beacon and Vale are still just as safe as before."
"Noted," Ozpin said, "Well then with that out of the way... I wanted to talk to you about a message I got from Qrow."
"What has he gotten into now," Summer asked.
"He is our scout," Glynda said, "Going where we can not."
"So he's the one risking his life to give you information," Neo said, "Got it."
"What is the message," Diablo asked.
"Qrow has been following a target, one you identified as Cinder for some time," Ozpin said, "Ever since Cinder attacked and stole part of the Fall Maiden's power."
"Wait the what," Summer asked. Ozpin and Glynda looked between each other and Ozpin leaned forward and put his fingers together.
"The Fall Maiden," Ozpin said, "You do know about the Maidens don't you?"
Summer's eyes widened as she said, "Ozpin... on my Remnant we don't have these Maidens. Who and what are they?"
"You don't have Maidens on your Remnant," Glynda asked in disbelief.
"No... our Cinder was possessed by a demon, a Magog," Summer said, "What is a Maiden?"
"Maidens are four women, each possessing unnatural powers that have been passed down from one Maiden to another since their founding by an old hermit who was cheered by four maidens. They correlate to the four seasons," Ozpin said, "That is the quick version of it at least and it will have to work for now. This information is quite unsettling. If you didn't have Maidens for Cinder to hunt for power then her plan here may be vastly different from her plan on your world."
"Then we just have to see what she intends do," M said, "If something seems familiar to Neo then we have a good chance of being able to predict what will happen and if it doesn't then we will have to find another solution."
"Cinder is still Cinder though," Neo said, "Her habits and preferences will still be similar. I can probably give you assistance with how she might go about whatever she is planning once we know that."
"I guess her goal will be different this time then," Summer said, "The one we know was trying to get the demon out of her while the demon was trying to take over the world."
"She was clever too," D said, "Used the Magog's own advantages against it."
"If she uses the kingdoms' advantages against them the world will fall," Ozpin said. "We must make sure that does not happen. Summer another question if I may, what do you know about silver eyes?"
"Well it is said that those with silver eyes are endowed to be great warriors," Summer said, "For instance I can tell you the exact status of my team from anywhere, so can Ruby who is with DC."
"I see," Ozpin said, "Yet another variation... Should any of the kingdoms fall..."
"It won't happen," M stated. "We can and will stop her. There is no force other than God himself that can stand up to the might of Dragon Company."
Character Summer Rose
NMDS were walking back to their room but even after M's declaration that they wouldn't let Cinder win Summer was still unsettled. "How do we know we can stop her?"
"Because here while this Cinder is a Maiden or whatever," Diablo rumbled, "She is still human... no demon to perpetuate itself. Just a straight up fight and those we always win."
"It won't be a straight up fight," Neo said. "Cinder, while she certainly will fight when needed prefers to manipulate things to her advantage. It's how she was able to hold off the Magog in her head for so many years."
"Our best advantage right now is she is unaware of our true nature," M said, "While we hold that advantage we can expect her to try similar tricks that she used in Neo's experience."
Summer opened their room door and waved everyone inside before going in and leaning against the door frame as she shut the door behind her. "In that case we should look for any sort of patterns that would line up with any of her plans from our Remnant, surely some of them must be the same?"
"I'd check for any sort of dust robberies then," Neo said, "That was a large part of her initial plan, not just for the bombs but to use as currency when Lien alone would not suffice."
Summer nodded to Neo and said, "That seems reasonable... Okay, we need to get reassigned then. To monitor Vale so we can keep track of any incidents and start figuring out a pattern. Neo, M get with Ozpin and get us reassigned. D go on into Vale and set up shop. I know in Vale you may be able to have a bit more leeway with your abilities than here at the school. I'll go let RWBY know about the change so they can cover for us if something comes up and we need to miss anything Beacon related."
NMDS split up to go about their tasks. Summer went over to RWBY's dorm and let them know about the adjustment.
"So you're not going to be going to class with us any more," Ruby said sadly.
"We will still try to maintain that we are students here," Summer said, "Unless something comes up that would require our immediate attention we will still be on your same schedule." Summer smiles and whispered into Ruby's ear, "And when things do come up that we have to deal with you all get to cover for us. Sound good?"
Ruby smiled and nodded quickly, "Of course, operation Rose cover is a go." She gave a thumbs up before Weiss called for Ruby to come back in and study. "Oh... uh I got to go, see you later m- Summer." Summer smiled as Ruby went back into her dorm. A text from Neo drew Summer's attention and she checked it as she left the residence wing of Beacon.
"Ozpin has approved us to move to cover Vale," Neo's text read, "He says we can work with Burnie and Joel to keep track of the crime in the area."
Summer replied back saying, "Good, lets go meet with them and set up a system to exchange information." She then headed out to go to Vale.
Over the next two weeks, while Vale was preparing for the Vytal Festival, NMDS were working with the police to try and apprehend Roman. Between the reports and NMDS' own investigation the walls of their room had become a mess of cork boards and string. It was this mess that Summer and Neo were currently pouring over while D and M were out on patrol.
"Well he's just about got the lower district cleared out," Neo said. "That leaves him with the upper district or hijacking any ships that come in. When I joined him he was working the upper district in our Remnant."
"When was that," Summer asked.
"About three weeks from now," Neo replied.
"Then he must start hitting there soon," Summer said as she put a call in to D to let him know to move the patrol rout to the upper district. "Well D and M are moving up there-"She was cut off by a report from Burnie coming in saying that another store had been hit. "We've got another one let's go see if it matches the other patterns."
"Right," Neo said as she grabbed her parasol, "Where is it?"
"Looks like it's downtown," Summer said, "Maybe Roman is moving up to the north faster then we thought." The two headed out and met with Burnie and Joel down by the store a half hour later.
"You know the one thing I miss most," Neo remarked, "Flying dragon back, it's so much faster."
"Agreed," Summer remarked as she and Neo were beckoned over by Joel. "Officers, what does it look like?"
"Ah looks like him alright, just the dust was taken," Burnie said as he handed Summer a data scroll.
Summer was looking it over when she heard Ruby call out, "Hey Summer, hey Neo... what happened?"
Summer handed the scroll back to Burnie and went over to her daughter and her team. "Looks like that guy Roman that we met on the rooftops."
"He's still stealing Dust," Weiss asked, "What is he doing with all of it? With that much dust you could fund your own … army..."
"We think he might be getting it for the White Fang," Neo said.
"No... that doesn't seem right," Blake said, "They would never work with a human."
"How would you know that," Yang asked Blake.
"I, um, I just do...," Blake said quietly.
"Seems to me like they would work just fine with scum like this guy," Weiss said with anger tinting her voice.
"The White Fang is misguided not evil Weiss," Blake said.
"Misguided," Weiss asked incredulously, "They want to wipe out humanity!"
"Then they are very misguided," Blake retorted, "Either way that doesn't explain why they would rob a dust shop in the middle of downtown Vale, or use Roman to do it."
"She's right," Ruby said, "The White Fang would have their own people to do this wouldn't they?"
Summer was about to say something when a voice from the docks yelled out, "Stop that Faunus!"
Summer and Neo ran with RWBY over to the railing overlooking the docks to see Sun running and jumping off a boat before jumping up to a light pole and hanging from it by his tail. Burnie and Joel ran past Summer and down the stairs to the docks.
"Who is that," Yang asked as she caught the look of recognition on Summer's face.
"That is Sun Wukong, leader of team SSSN from Mistral," Summer said as she went down to greet him. Before she could though Sun flipped up to the top of the light pole he was on and dropped a banana peel on Burnie's head before vaulting over them and running up the stairs and past RWBY, Summer and Neo.
"Well Weiss, you wanted to see the competition and there it goes," Yang pointed out.
"Uh, uh quick we must observe him," Weiss exclaimed as she lead the charge to follow Burnie and Joel who were chasing Sun.
"Kids am I right," Neo remarked as she rolled her eyes and went after the train of people chasing Sun. Summer shot her a disapproving glare before following. They caught up to RWBY as Weiss was getting off of Penny who she had apparently run into.
"Oh so that's how they met Penny," Summer thought as she saw the perky robo-girl get up.
"Even more people, wow, it's nice to meet you all," Penny said as she saw Summer and Neo, "I'm Penny."
"Summer," Summer said as she walked up to Penny, "Did you catch which direction that blond haired kid ran?"
"He jumped up to the buildings and from there I lost sight of him," Penny replied.
"Thank you Penny," Summer said, "Neo let's go. RWBY we will see you later." Summer and Neo headed down the street past the building Penny had indicated to try and find Sun.
"Why are we chasing Sun exactly," Neo asked. "He's on our side right?"
"Yeah but he's also … how do you say it? An independent thinker," Summer said as the two searched for signs of Sun.
"Ah so not above breaking the law to get what he wants," Neo said.
"I prefer to describe it as working within my own set of laws," Sun said as he dropped down behind the two. "You're pretty tenacious and you seem to know my name so... mind telling me yours and why you are looking for me?"
"You are Sun Wukong with Mistral Academy, leader of team SSSN correct," Summer said.
"Uh... yeah," Sun replied as he crossed his arms, "Still haven't told me who you are or why you are following me."
"I'm Summer Rose," Summer said, "This is Neo, we're with Beacon and we're looking for some people to help us with some detective work, people not from around here... I think you will make a perfect candidate."
Sun looks between the two and rubs his chin. "Well you look legit enough and you already seem to have picked me to help you... So, does this come with like a badge or you know pay or anything?"
"No badge... unless we can get one from Burnie for you," Summer said. "As for payment we do have funds to allocate to hire help such as yours."
"Sounds good to me then," Sun said as he got out his scroll to exchange information with Summer, "One question though why me?"
"Because you are new, you arrived even before your team did you won't have classes since you are here for the tournament and you know how to hide in plain sight," Neo said. "All qualities that are useful in an information agent."
Sun nods his head, "Yeah that makes sense. So what am I doing?"
"We want you to hang around the docks," Summer said after she and Sun finished exchanging information. "Report to us anything that you hear that might indicate someone trying to hijack Dust shipments."
"I can do that," Sun said, "I can head to Beacon after the last shift leaves to get my team's arrangements made. Ha ten minutes in Vale and I am already working as an informant... sweet."
"So it seems," Summer said with a smile, "Just don't blow your cover. Call me if anything comes up okay?"
"Right," Sun said seriously as he tucked his scroll away and started walking back to the docks.
"Well now we can focus on the upper district," Neo remarked, "Good idea."
Summer and Neo spent the rest of the day in the upper district searching for any signs of Roman's activity. They returned to Beacon later that evening after having found nothing relating to Roman. Summer noticed Sun and Blake as the two left the courtyard.
"Wonder what that is about," Neo remarked.
"If I had to guess... probably about Blake's past," Summer said. "Neo go on to our room I'm going to go check with Ruby and see what happened."
Neo nods and walks off as Summer heads towards RWBY's dorm. When she gets to RWBY's dorm and knocks on it a hopeful Ruby opens the door only for her face to fall slightly. "Oh Summer... we had thought... never mind come on in." Ruby waves Summer in.
"I saw Blake leaving the courtyard," Summer said as she entered and saw the either worried or confused / frustrated faces of Ruby, Yang and Weiss. "So... I take it something happened?"
"She used to be with the White Fang," Weiss stated, "That's what happened."
"She's not now," Summer said. "and yes I knew and no it wasn't my place to tell you that. Right now though none of that matters, what matters is your team mate is upset, she's scared and she needs your help. So what are you going to do?"
"We're going to search for her that's what," Yang said as she got up to go find Blake.
"Yang, Blake is with Sun, the Faunus you encountered on the docks," Summer said, "He's working with me to keep us informed of what is happening at the docks. I'll let him know to stay with Blake so you all can go find her tomorrow after everyone has had time to cool down."
"I am cool," Yang said as she walked past Summer to go find Blake. "Meet me in Vale in the morning if you haven't heard from me. Mom if your new friend wants to let me know where he and Blake are please...please tell me if he calls."
"Yang..." Ruby started to follow but stopped, "I guess we should probably just wait. Blake may be overwhelmed if we all go searching for her."
"I'll help in the morning," Weiss stated as she went to get changed to go to bed.
"I'll send you all anything I hear from Sun," Summer said as she left. Summer messaged Sun, "Sun, is Blake still with you? If so please look after her. Yang is already out looking for her and Ruby and Weiss will be looking for her in the morning. If you can help us find her please do."
"She doesn't seem to want to talk to anyone right now," Sun replied, "I'll let you know if that changes."
Summer sighed and put her scroll away as she went to add the newest robbery to their board. The next day seemed to crawl by as no one seemed to be able to get information on Blake and Sun had seemingly gone dark. Summer and Diablo were out in Vale looking for both of their missing friends.
"Do you think we could dangle a fish on some yarn and get her to show up," Diablo asked.
"Not really in the mood for joke's D," Summer said.
"Wasn't joking," Diablo countered, "Blake does seem to love fish is all."
"Oh," Summer said as she went to check with another store about if they had seen Blake or Sun. When she came back out Weiss and Yang had met up with Diablo and the three were talking. "Weiss Yang any news?"
"Nothing yet," Weiss stated.
"All night and most of today and nothing," Yang growled. "Why did she have to run..."
"Where have you searched and where is Ruby," Summer asked.
"We split up when Penny join our search," Yang said, "Ruby is with her down searching the lower district."
"We are heading to the upper district to search there," Weiss said, "You said that Sun was working with you last night at the docks, maybe you two could check there for us?"
"Yes I would like to meet this Remnant's Sun," Diablo said, "We could take care of two things at once if we search the docks."
"Assuming Sun is not with Blake wherever she is," Summer said. "Either way we can cover the docks." The four nodded to each other before splitting up heading to their assigned areas.
"I bet she is at the docks," Diablo said, "So many fish..."
"Okay that time you had to be joking," Summer said with disdain.
"Maybe I was maybe I wasn't," D rumbled.
Summer messaged Ruby to let her know that she and D were going to search the docks. Summer also asked, "Ruby can you tell if Blake is okay?"
"How would I be able to tell," Ruby replied, "I don't have like a monitor on her or anything."
Summer saw Ruby's reply and sighed as she replied, "Well if you find her first let us know." Summer then looked to D. "Well silver eyes definitely doesn't do for Ruby the same it thing does for me."
"Or DC's Ruby," D added. "and yet Ozpin seemed to bring it up... I wonder what it does then."
