Late update tonight. It's technically still Friday, right? No... No it's not. *Moans Dramatically* I have failed...
This chapter is a bit different and, I suppose, a bit risky. Please permit me my little cute indulgence.
This interlude represents the end of what I think of as Act One, and serves to set the stage for the beginning of Act Two. For those of you wondering about timeline, for the purposes of this story the fall of Beacon happened during the Remnant equivalent of the first week of September. The end of this chapter will take us two-ish months away from that date, straight into the middle of an uncharacteristically cold November.
I also have some bad-ish news. I will likely miss my typical two-week deadline for the next update owing to work travel and other reasons, none of which are bad. I will tell you I am immensely excited to write the next chapter. I've been looking forward to it ever since I came up with the idea for this fic.
Thank you to everyone who's stayed with me since Beacon fell, and a special thanks to everyone who's reviewed. Knowing how much you guys like my work is extremely gratifying. It's not a stretch to say that this story is one of the most positive things in my life, thanks to all of you. I love you all for it, you great, glorious bastards. I hope you continue to enjoy the journey we're taking together!
Without further ado, I present to you, the Autumn Interlude.
Mood music for this week:
Call Me Call Me from Cowboy Bebop's Blue OST
Ichigo's theme, Number One, from Bleach
"Lately I been, I been losing sleep dreamin' about the things that we could be. But, baby, I been, I been prayin' hard, said no more counting dollars."
"We'll be counting stars."
Yang's ecstatic laughter fluttered through the room, traveling unimpeded through the quadruple embrace currently being shared by the family. Ruby bounced on her heels excitedly, gripping Yang in a bear hug around her middle.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone so excited to have a numb arm, sport," Tai-Yang teased happily from his place on the outside of the huddle.
Yang beamed at her father, guffawing loudly. "Hell, I'm just... I just never thought I'd ever get to feel anything there again. This is beyond awesome, you guys."
"Glad we could help, Yang," Weiss responded warmly.
General Ironwood approached from his place in the corner, momentarily distracted from his consultation session with Ruby. He regarded Yang with a soft smile, paying more than passing attention to the elegant work of art molding itself to her body. "How does it feel, Ms. Xaio-Long?" He asked gently.
"It's... incredible, General. I didn't think it would feel this natural." She answered as the huddle broke, bringing her arm upward into view and rolling her augmented wrist around, inspecting the cybernetic with awe-filled violet eyes. She snapped the arm downward suddenly, placing both fists on her hips. "Didn't I tell you not to call me 'Miss Xaio-Long', Jimmy?"
Ironwood chuckled lightly. "You're very lucky, Yang. You may, possibly, be in possession of the most advanced prosthetic ever crafted on Remnant." He shifted his attention to Ruby and Weiss. "Your teammates are quite gifted, it would seem. I'm sorry I ever doubted you, Miss Rose and Miss Schnee. I'm beyond impressed."
Weiss gave the General an appreciative nod. Ruby, however, was less reserved, beaming back brightly. "Ya' know, I be happy to give you some upgrades, General! What do ya' say?"
James laughed much more enthusiastically. "I may have to take you up on that offer, Miss Rose."
"Not bad, Little Rose, not bad at all," Tai praised, patting Ruby's shoulder proudly. "Glad to see you took after me somehow, I was beginning to think you got everything from your mom."
"Nah, it's not just Mom in here, Dad." Ruby replied, waving off Tai's worry with a small gesture. "I couldn't have done it without Weiss' help, though! Did ya' see that Dust weave?!"
"Dust weave, Miss Schnee?" Ironwood asked quizzically.
Weiss smirked confidently. "Yang, if you would."
Yang's face lit up with a wild grin. She snapped her right arm outward, splaying her fingers downward dramatically before hitting her arm with a sharp spike of Aura. Golden light twisted down the length of her cybernetic starting with her elbow, bringing Shenlong to life in all its golden glory. The Dragon projected across the ceiling, walls, and floor, drawing a low whistle from Ironwood.
"I see that the highly vaunted ancestral skill of the Schnees still lives on in you. No one else could have produced such a masterpiece, I daresay, not even your sister." Ironwood praised.
Weiss bowed slightly. "Thank you, James. I learned well from mother before she fell ill."
"I've never seen that color Dust before, Miss Schnee. Is it Force, perhaps?"
Weiss' grin grew. "I'm sorry, General, but I'm not at liberty to disclose Schnee family secrets," Weiss denied teasingly, causing Yang to bark out laughter at the byplay.
Shaking his head slightly, he replied, "I figured as much, Miss Schnee."
Gaining back her composure, Yang cut in. "I'd show you all the weapons, but those two locked out a lotta' functions in this thing." Yang pouted at Ruby and Weiss. "Apparently I can't be trusted with my own armory."
Ruby and Tai groaned audibly at the pun, sending disapproving looks toward the blonde.
"What? Too much?" Yang asked playfully.
"It's always too much, sis," Ruby lamented.
"That seemed like it went well, don't you think?" Weiss asked, hot on the heels of her best friend as Ruby led them both toward their temporarily shared room.
The brunette shot a beaming smile over her shoulder. "Yup! It's like I got my sis back!" She said excitedly, opening the bedroom door for Weiss. The heiress let loose a yawn as she entered, discarding Myrtenaster carefully before sitting down gracefully on the edge of her borrowed bed. Ruby opted for a much less subtle entrance, half-sprinting through the doorway and throwing herself face-first into her bed with a soft thwump.
Weiss grinned demurely while shaking her head slowly side-to-side, both embarrassed and amused by her friend's immature gesture. "Why don't you tell it how you really feel, Ruby?" Weiss snarked, responding to Ruby's pleasurable moans and full body bed-hug.
"Hello, bed. I missed you," Ruby cooed before bursting into uncontrollable giggles at the flush and embarrassed smirk gracing Weiss' face. "You jealous, Snow Angel?" She teased halfheartedly, fully expecting Weiss' trademark nonchalant, dismissive scoff.
Instead, Weiss' shoulders rose and fell to match her sigh and drooping face. "Maybe a little," she admitted quietly, eyes locked on the ground.
Ruby's Cheshire grin collapsed into a much more genuine and warm smile. Standing, she crossed the gap between their beds slowly and took a seat next to Weiss, wrapping the girl into a gentile, reserved embrace, and as Weiss' arms came up to match, she whispered warmly, "hello, Weiss. I missed you."
"More than the bed?" Weiss half-joked, matching Ruby's hush.
"More than anything," Ruby answered, using the same mature tone she'd used when Ozpin had first asked her if she wanted to attend Beacon ten months ago.
Weiss chuckled lightly as her grip tightened. "So you can be serious," she remarked rhetorically.
Ruby ran the fingers of her left hand through Weiss ponytail, wrapping smooth, ivory locks snugly around her fingers. "Only with things that really matter, Weiss."
The heiress squeezed Ruby as tightly as she could manage without choking the life from her friend, hoping her embrace could convey feelings she couldn't hope to put into words, allowing only a soft "thank you" to it past her lips. Ruby, for her part, held on just as tightly, savoring Weiss' unexpected physicality and unwilling to break the closeness before her companion did. After a few exquisite, comfortable minutes, Weiss pulled back, composure returning.
"So, what should we do tomorrow, Ruby?" She asked in a small voice as she let down her hair for the night. "We have seven more days before your Uncle and my sister return."
"There anything you want to do, Weiss?" Ruby countered. "I'm up for whatever! You know, we can go do other things besides train," she suggested playfully.
A soft chime from Weiss' Scroll sent the heiress reaching for the device. "What did you have in mind, exactly?" She replied, swiping open the Scroll casually.
"I dunno, really. Trees are pretty this time of year, maybe we could go for a hike. Oh! It's not too cold for the beach yet, either! That would be so fun!" Ruby squealed excitedly before deflating as Weiss' half-focused stare bored through the Scroll. "Weiss? What's wrong?" Ruby asked worriedly. "Are your sister and Uncle Qrow OK?"
Weiss nodded and handed Ruby the Scroll, unable to form words as genuine tears began to replace her shock. Confused, Ruby took the device and read the latest message.
Weiss,
Qrow and I are unharmed and have completed our mission early. We have acquired transport. Expect our return to Patch before sunset tomorrow.
-Winter
Ruby snapped her head upward, eyes going wide in disbelief. "No, no, no..." She repeated, shaking her head rapidly and making warding motions with her hands. "They can't be done so soon... We were suppose to have more time..."
Weiss brought both hands up to cover her face, covering tears and muffling the sobs taking over her body. "It's... it's not fair... I just got here, I don't want to leave..." She lamented.
"Weiss..." Ruby called out softly, pulling the girl's hands downward and into her own. "Weiss, look at me."
The heiress complied reluctantly. Mascara-stained tracks traced black outlines down her pale cheeks making Ruby's brow twist upward, silver eyes flooding with concern and affection. The brunette's strong hands found their way to Weiss' cheeks, slowly rubbing streaks from her partner's face in silent, comforting circles.
"Listen to me, Weiss," Ruby pleaded, "It doesn't matter how far away we are, or how much this war tries to drag us apart. It won't change a thing." She brought Weiss' fingers upward in her own, tracing them along the silver cross now hanging from the heiress' slender neck before pressing them gently over Weiss' heart. "No matter where you go, I'll always be right here with you. Always, Weiss, got that?" Ruby promised.
Weiss' heart leapt at her partner's words. Overcome with emotion, she smiled wide, half laughing and half sobbing as two more tears found their way down her face. "I... I don't know what to say, Ruby..." She replied.
"You don't have to say anything," Ruby answered back, grinning warmly. "It'll all work out in the end, I promise."
Weiss shook her head, unable to believe how her partner managed to stay so upbeat, despite everything. "My dolt... Always the optimist," she whispered fondly.
"And don't you forget it!" Ruby replied smugly, voice flicking back to her typical high pitch. "C'mon, we should get some sleep. Gotta make the most of tomorrow, after all!"
Nodding, Weiss pulled back the bedding and slipped beneath it hesitantly. Ruby pulled the covers over her after she stood, taking the time to tuck the plush comforter around the chill-prone heiress before sending a last, lingering smile toward her companion. She made for her own bed, only to be interrupted by a hand which firmly grasped her own.
"Ruby," Weiss whispered, "would you stay? Please?"
Unable to stop the smile spreading across her face, Ruby answered, "I'd love to, Snow Angel."
Weiss shifted toward the wall, lifting the covers slightly and allowing the brunette to join her in the small bed. Their eyes met across the pillow, accompanied by Ruby's giggles and Weiss' small, shy smile. The younger of the two reached out, pulling her white haired partner close enough to touch foreheads. "Goodnight, Weiss," she cooed.
"Goodnight, Ruby," she mimicked, wrapping her arms around the brunette and working her left hand through black and red, feather soft hair.
Weiss would always have difficulty explaining the why of what happened next. She tried to lay blame on rampant emotions, teenage hormones, or overpowering loneliness, but, in the end, she'd always known the real reason why.
It simply felt right.
Insistently, she pulled her friend and partner closer, filling her senses with the subtle scent of roses and Ruby's gentle, warm breaths. She felt their noses slide past each other's as twin pairs of eyes slid shut, anticipating the imminent contact. Warmth flooded Weiss when their lips met. The kiss was soft, insistent, and gentile. Weiss' mouth squeezed firmly around Ruby's, drawing the brunette's lower lip between hers lovingly. The heiress relished in Ruby's moist, silky smooth texture, burning the electric sensation deep within her memory, a perfect recreation of this one pure, joyous moment. Time lost all meaning, both passing too quickly and stopping completely until they parted.
No sounds escaped either of them afterward, just two identical content grins shared across a single pillow. Weiss rolled in Ruby's arms, content to nestle herself into the place which appeared made for her. The companions drifted off to restful oblivion, completely unaware as a soft, white glow traced the red of Ruby's gently fluttering locks.
Ruby and Weiss walked lazily down an auburn-lined path deep in the fall forests surrounding the Reaper's childhood home. A gentle breeze blew stray leaves across their path and whipped gently at their hair and clothing, sending both rippling smoothly while they walked. The brunette's fingers interlaced behind her head, forming a two handed support for her head. A soft grin graced her lips as she took in the upper reaches of red-orange trees and the brilliantly clear blue sky gracing Patch on this pleasantly chilly morning. She hummed along with the deceptively upbeat Blues echoing quietly through the rose-marked headphones dangling from her neck, occasionally drifting her attention downward to send a comforting glance toward her companion.
Weiss's hands found themselves stuck deep in the pockets of her white peacoat-skirt as she shuffled along slightly behind her partner. Absentmindedly, her eyes cast around their surroundings. "This place really is beautiful, I suppose," she surmised. Still, her thoughts remained distracted. Too much had happened the previous night for the Schnee to lose herself in Patch's scenery. Her mind refused to abandon two important facts.
One: This will likely be my last day in Vale.
Two: I kissed Ruby, and she kissed back.
She removed a hand from her pocket and tugged gently on the inside of Ruby's raised elbow, pulling the brunette to a stop. Weiss looked deeply into Ruby's silver with an upturned brow, uncertainty made plain in her expression.
The Reaper's face barely changed as she turned, stuck as it was with contented smirk and shining silver. "What's on your mind, Weiss?" She prompted, tone unfailingly upbeat as she broke into a full-on grin.
Taking in that joyous, caring face, Weiss' nervous sorrow melted, as if her partner's Silver gaze carried the very embodiment of peace, a safe refuge from the emotional storm raging within her. "Ruby..." she began softly, glacier-melt blue never straying from liquid Silver, "what are we now, after last night?"
The brunette's countenance shifted. It was subtle, but Weiss could see it, that hidden maturity Ruby kept locked away behind her childlike facade. Ruby's answer came back in the same inflection which had surprised the heiress so thoroughly the previous evening. "We're us, Weiss. Partners, friends, and always true companions." A small mellow chuckle escaped the Reaper, "We were just more honest with each other last night, I think."
Honest with each other? Weiss could agree with that. "I suppose it's been building between us for a while now. Honestly, I thought this... this connection I've felt growing over the last year was distinctly one-sided until you made that white rose for me." The heiress' face broke into the warmest smile her companion had ever seen. "I'm so glad I was wrong, Ruby."
The brunette removed the headphones from her neck, placing them around Weiss' so she could hear the melody playing through the cans. Ruby gripped her partner's hands firmly in both of hers as Weiss listened.
Come on now, won't you... ease my mind. Reasons for me to find you: Peace of mind.
Ruby's voice rang out above the pleading song, fully developed and slightly playful. "So, what do you say, Weiss, together-together?"
Weiss looked across the impossibly expansive gap between them, overwhelmed by a feeling she'd longed for throughout her entire life. Was it acceptance? Belonging? Love? Instantly, the answer came to her; the labels didn't matter, the only thing that mattered was that the space between the two of them was unacceptably large. So, she closed the gap, bringing her lips across to meet Ruby's equally soft pair, allowing them both to share a trio of tender kisses, carbon-copies of the moment they'd shared cuddled together under the sheets.
Parting, Weiss matched Ruby's elated grin and answered, "Together-Together."
"Slow down, Ice Queen!" Qrow shouted from the back of Bumblebee, panic slightly lacing his voice. His arms wrapped around Winter's midsection in a death-grip, latching on to her in hopes of remaining not-so-safely on the back of his niece's demon-machine instead of joining the passing blurry, copper-colored trees in a most painful manner. Cold sweat beaded down his face despite the autumn chill, summoned by Winter's unrelenting pursuit of the embodiment of true speed.
"Not a chance, birdy!" She called back, making her point by throwing the throttle open as they entered one of Patch's typical switchback hairpin corners. Bumblebee roared beneath them, flicking over quickly into a steep lean in order to carry them around the bend and causing Winter's grin to grow maniacal. The front and rear suspension tightened equally beneath her in spite of the asymmetric loading, gluing the wide tires to tarmac. She loved how this masterwork machine felt to ride, connecting her bodily to every action instead of hiding mechanics behind the layers of complex software which typified Atleasean manufacture. "Your niece builds one hell of a bike, Qrow!" She added loudly, exiting the corner into a full-throttle power wheelie.
"You'll be the death of me, woman!" Qrow yelled, burying his face in Winter's back in an attempt to ignore the reckless velocity his partner was so intent on inflicting on him. He'd ridden on this bike precisely one time before, back when a younger Yang had first built it. "She's fifteen and just starting out driving, how bad could it be?" He'd thought when she asked him to come along for her inaugural ride, and boy, was he wrong. The Little Dragon tore his courage apart relentlessly, insisting on drifting though every single corner at breakneck speed. Hell, he didn't even know it was possible for a bike to drift before that day. "Never again," he'd told Tai-Yang with haunted eyes, "Girl's either a natural or completely insane, Tai. Probably both."
Yet, here he was again, stuck on the back of the one thing which could strike terror into the heart of the legendary Dusty Old Qrow. "We're almost home. We're almost home," He repeated, over and over, a mantra to keep his sanity. Relief and surprise washed over him in equal measure when Winter eased up on the power as they exited the mountainous switchbacks close to Tai-Yang's cabin.
Winter took her hand off the left grip, pointing forward down the narrow, paved trail. "Hey, Qrow, look who came out to greet us." A brief pause separated her next inquisitive statement, "wait, are they holding hands?"
Qrow brought his head up to look around Winter's, indescribably pleased that he could make out individual trees again. Ruby stood one hundred feet down the trail, beaming towards them and waving her hand excitedly above her head in greeting. Her other hand was very much occupied, its fingers intertwined with Weiss'. The heiress in question wore a small, embarrassed flush despite her smile and much more reserved wave, no doubt recognizing that Winter had caught them both red handed. Still, Weiss held on and made no effort to pull away.
The Corvid laughed uproariously at the sight, unable to collect himself until Winter parked the bike right next to the red-and-white duo. "So, the Beacon curse found itself another couple victims, huh?" He asked Ruby teasingly.
"Hello to you, too..." Weiss muttered under her breath.
"Yup!" Ruby exclaimed, nearly covering her partner's snark with her own excited reply.
Winter inclined her head, looking between Qrow and the first half of Team RWBY. "Beacon curse? I don't understand."
Qrow chuckled darkly. "The Beacon Curse is the stuff of legends, Snow Angel."
Winter's right eyebrow shot upwards as Weiss rolled her eyes playfully. "This isn't more of your 'Keepers of Legends' nonsense, is it, Qrow?" The Elder Schnee asked sarcastically.
"Mock all you want, Snowflake, but the Beacon Curse has affected more Huntsmen and Huntresses than any legend I've told you so far."
Winter turned to her sister. "Weiss, can you explain what this insufferable man keeps hinting at so mysteriously?" She asked, drawing belly laughs from both Qrow and Ruby.
Weiss smirked confidently. "The Beacon Curse, dear sister, states that non-blood-related Hunters paired during initiation are fated to become romantically involved. I'm afraid it's quite prophetic."
Winter stared at her younger sister, mouth agape as Qrow reverently added, "one of Beacon's most time-honored traditions." High-fiving Ruby, he congratulated, "nice catch, squirt."
"Thanks, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby answered excitedly, throwing a thumb over her shoulder toward Weiss, "she's super-awesome!"
"Can you stop gushing over us for one minute, Ruby?" Weiss pleaded, pinching the bridge of her nose.
The Red Reaper turned and shot the heiress a wide Cheshire grin. "Nope!"
"Dolt..." Weiss sighed.
"Yup!" Ruby agreed, pulling Weiss into a soft hug, "but I'm your dolt."
"Alright, break it up, you two. We've got some stuff to talk about." Qrow interjected playfully, pulling both women back to reality. "Winter, snap out of it."
"Oh! Right..." Winter said, shaking her head to break out of her gape. She moved around the bike and began unstrapping something from a faring.
"You found Bumblebee, huh?" Ruby teased, knowing full well how much Qrow hated that bike.
"Yea... I don't wanna talk about it..." Qrow replied sheepishly. "I hope you two don't mind company on the way back."
"Yang will be thrilled," Weiss comforted.
Winter moved back to the group, carrying a large, red rectangle. "I believe this is yours, Miss Rose," she said, handing the collapsed scythe off to its owner.
"Oh no..." Weiss lamented softly, face falling in anticipation.
"CRESECENT ROSE!" Ruby squealed ear splittingly loud, unable to contain her excitement as she took the weapon from Winter and cuddled it dramatically, repeating, "thank you, thank you, thank you!" After a few moments, she stowed it behind her back and shot forward, wrapping Winter in a massive bear hug. "You two are seriously the best, ever!"
"It- It was no problem, Miss Rose," Winter replied shakily.
Qrow chuckled in the background. "Welcome to the family, Snow Angel," he said, earning a small, soft smile from the Elder Schnee.
"Maybe she'll love me like that someday..." Weiss snarked, causing Ruby to burst out laughing. "One can dream."
"Did you guys find anything else?" Ruby asked seriously as she released her companion's sister.
Recognizing his niece's combat-tone, Qrow answered, patting Blake's messenger bag heavily, "yea, yea we did. We should head back, there's a lot to talk about."
"I must say, you're taking to that arm surprisingly quickly, Yang," Ironwood praised, sitting across from the blonde in Tai's living room. The bruiser in question lounged on a plush sofa, working though one of Ruby's reflex tutorials. Her personal boot knife spun deftly between her robotic fingers, dancing quickly through digits in a feat of dexterity few could match with their natural limb.
"Thanks, Jim, but it's really not all that different from before, ya know?" She said modestly. "I mean, sure, the feeling is a little more numb, but nothin' too bad."
"Your touch is coming back so soon?"
"Yea, it's almost like I never lost it. That unusual?"
Looking downward toward his own prosthetics, Ironwood answered sadly, "it's very unusual. My sense of touch has never really recovered, in fact. You're very lucky, Yang."
The blonde turned her sad lilac eyes upward, catching the knife and resting it on the table. "Would you mind if I took a look?"
One of James' eyebrows shot up inquisitively. "Why?"
"I might be able to fix that."
The General smiled weakly. "I'd doubt you, but it seems your family has no small amount of talent. Go ahead."
"Glad to see you picked up on that, Jimmy," Yang teased, getting up and making her way over to the General. She rolled up his sleeve and tapped a few nigh-invisible buttons, calling up a factory diagnostics screen. Intense violet scanned the base functions, searching for any signs of malfunction. "I taught Ruby most of she knows about building stuff, just so ya' know."
"Is that so? I was under the impression that your sister was the prodigy."
"Oh, she is. She's a natural. I had to learn the hard way from Dad. Ah ha!" She exclaimed, tapping a series of buttons on the projected display.
"Find someth- Ah!" James' question was cut off by a sharp, electric sensation jolting up his arm. Slowly, years of numbness began fading away. "What did you do?" He asked incredulously.
"Your cybernetics and nervous system were out of sync. Turns out having half your body made of metal messes with electrical signals a bit," she explained happily, swatting his prosthetic arm with hers jokingly.
"Ow..." He whispered quietly. "Well, thank you, Yang."
"Don't worry about it, General. You helped me, only fair I return the favor."
A soft rumbling caught Ironwood's attention. "Do you hear that?" He asked, inclining his head toward the road outside.
"Hear what?" Yang asked, initially confused before the exhaust notes hit her natural hearing. The blonde's whole face lit with excitement. "No. Freakin'. Way!"
"Yang?" James questioned before watching the brawler fling herself out the front door with nary a word.
"I'd know that sound anywhere!" Yang thought, running toward the drive. Sure enough, Bumblebee came into view seconds later, carrying Winter up the drive toward the house. Yang broke into a full-on sprint, rocketing toward her presumed-lost Magnum Opus, happy tears in her eyes for the second time in two days. "BUMBLEBEE!" She shouted, jumping into the air and pumping her fists in a very Ruby-like manner.
Winter pulled the bike up next to its owner, nervously taking in the excited expression covering Yang's face. She'd barely dismounted before being wrapped in another enthusiastic hug, this one considerably tighter due to the brawler's immense strength. "Miss- Miss Xaio-Long? I can't breathe," she choked out.
"Sorry," Yang consoled, "I- I just thought I'd never see her again, then here you come, riding right up my driveway! Thank you so much for bringing Bumblebee back to me."
Winter smiled at Yang, pleased to have such a profound effect and at being able to breathe again. "It was no trouble, honestly. I should be thanking you, Miss Xaio-Long," she countered, patting the bike affectionately, "considering your wondrous machine here spared me the frankly ridiculous week-long march back to this lovely place."
Yang burst out laughing, putting a hand on the Elder Schnee's shoulder to support herself. "I take it you made Qrow ride bitch, then? How'd that go? He still a big baby when it comes to my bike?"
"The biggest of babies. It was quite amusing, actually," she joked with an ear-to-ear grin.
"Where is the little birdy, by the way?" Yang asked, taking the bike from Winter and rolling it toward the house.
Winter's smile faded to a smaller one. "Oh, he's walking back with our sisters. Apparently I'm 'a lunatic' when it comes to speed," Winter answered, miming air quotes before becoming pensive. "Did you know that our little sisters are dating? Qrow and I caught them walking the trails hand-in-hand."
Yang's loud laughter filled the air. "No, but its about damn time. Between Ruby's shyness and Weiss' pride, I thought they'd never open up."
"It doesn't surprise you, then?" Winter asked rhetorically. "No, I suppose it wouldn't," she sighed, "I wish I didn't have to separate them so soon, they looked so happy."
"Then don't," the Dragon suggested matter-of-fact.
"The war won't permit us to stay any longer than necessary, I'm afraid," Winter lamented, eyes drooping toward the ground.
"I know that," Yang countered, "I'm just suggesting you take Rubes with you back to Atlas."
"I'm not sure your father would approve of us forcing her into the war so directly."
"Probably not, but Rubes is a big girl now, it's her decision." Yang shot Winter a knowing grin, "besides, you really think she's just gonna sit out the war here? You've seen her fight, she's a warrior, through-and-through, not to mention completely single-minded when it comes to protecting people."
Winter considered the blonde's perspective, humming to herself. "I'm not sure it's my place to get her involved, Yang."
The brawler stopped, allowing her bike's gyros to stabilize it upright and fixed her gaze on Winter. "We're already pretty involved, Princess. More than you are, I'd bet," Yang explained, patting her prosthetic for emphasis.
"I'll talk to the General."
"More gods-damned riddles..." Qrow spat angrily, flippantly gesturing toward the pile of ancient-looking papers scattered across Tai-Yang's large coffee table. The entire household, both young and old, had gathered for the meeting, sitting round-table style around the makeshift meeting space. Coffee, tea, and assorted alcohol sat next to the mishmash of Hunters and Huntresses, fortifying them against the harsh realities of the improvised war room. "Is it too much to ask for a simple fuckin' list, Ozpin?"
"Apparently so," Ironwood replied with hints of amusement at Qrow's frustration.
Ruby held up her hands placatingly. "Ok, ok, so Professor Ozpin's notes are a wash. What about these reports on the White Fang? They can't just be randomly looting, the attack on Beacon was way too organized."
"Rubes is right, they've gotta be looking for something specific," Yang cut in, looking over the reports closely before turning to Qrow and changing the subject abruptly. "Where'd you get these, anyway? I swear the handwriting looks familiar."
"Found 'em at an old dead drop location, firecracker," Qrow lied, "Goodwitch's remaining Hunters must be scouting the city still."
Yang narrowed her eyes skeptically. "How about Bumblebee and Crescent Rose, then? Those looked cared for."
"Alright, alright, that's enough. We're getting off topic," Ironwood rebuked. "Miss Rose and Miss Xaio-Long are correct, there must be a pattern to the Fang's movements. Winter?"
Nodding, the Knight-Commander gave her assessment. "From what I can tell, the Fang's efforts have been focused on three areas of the Exclusion Zone, the upper-class residences, the docks, and the former headquarters of Vale Hunter Corps. This intelligence indicates that they've been scouring those areas ever since the CCT went down seven weeks ago. The latest reports show increased Fang activities further from those areas, suggesting they've either salvaged all they could or been driven off by Grimm activity."
"They must be looking to replenish the resources they exhausted during the Vytal attack," Weiss interjected. "The docks would have food, water, and medical supplies. Hunter HQ had a fully stocked armory, but I'm not sure how much would have remained after the Exclusion Zone was established. As for the wealthy areas of Vale, well, there'd be plenty of untraceable valuables there to steal and fence."
"Well thought out, sisters," Ironwood praised, "do we have reason to believe the Fang's combat strength will be increased by the available resources, as compared to before the attack?"
"I wouldn't think so, General," Weiss answered.
"I'm not so sure, Weiss, Hunter HQ had some... special equipment which isn't available outside the City of Vale," Tai-Yang added regretfully.
"What kind of equipment, Dad?" Ruby asked, dreading the answer.
Tai-Yang sighed, "keep in mind that I never expected anything like this to happen when I gave this stuff to Vale HQ."
"We know, Tai. It's not your fault, just tell us," Qrow comforted.
Steeling himself, Tai-Yang began his rundown. "So, under Vale HQ there's a special armory to be opened only in case of severe crisis."
"Which the Vytal festival attack was," Yang pointed out.
"Right," Tai agreed, "so we can expect it to have been opened by the Hunters stationed there. Inside sat some of my best designs. Heat-seeking missile launchers, heavy machine guns, cluster rocket batteries, armored SUV's equipped with miniguns, you name it. I can give you a detailed list later. What's really important, however, is that the armory also stored some leftover relics from the Great War."
"Oh, I don't like where this is heading..." Qrow lamented dreadfully.
"There were at least two high-yield thermobaric dust bombs stored down there, and I doubt the Hunters would've grabbed those to use against the Grimm."
"Fuck," Yang spat, "that's not good..."
Winter paled, passing the sheet of paper she'd been studying over to Weiss, who's expression immediately matched her sister's. "Uh," the heiress began darkly, "I think I know where those bombs went."
"Where, Miss Schnee?" Ironwood asked worriedly.
Weiss handed the latest report over to Ironwood. "Two heavy transport Bullheads left Exclusion Zone airspace last week equipped with cloaking tech. They headed north, towards Atlas."
Ironwood stood abruptly, face twisted in an angry rictus. "We have to get back to the capital. Winter, Weiss, pack your bags, we leave in an hour." He turned toward Qrow and Ruby. "Will you come with us, Qrow? Your scouting skills will be invaluable."
"Done. I'm sure as hell not going to sit around and let another Vytal festival happen," Qrow responded.
Ironwood's eyes shifted to Ruby where they met her narrowed brow and steely Silver gaze. "Miss Rose, I'd like you to come as well."
"Now hold on there!" Tai objected instantly, "I won't have my little girl get involved in this anymore than she has already!"
"Tai-"
"Shove it, Qrow! I won't lose her or Yang, no way in hell."
"Dad," Ruby interrupted, quiet but firm. Tai turned to face his daughter, but it was her mother's stern Silver which greeted him. "I'm going."
His anger melted away, replaced by concern. "No, Ru, you can't. This doesn't have anything to do with you. You don't have to be involved anymore."
Ruby's eyes closed as her whole frame stiffened. Her fists clenched tightly, accompanying her heavy, harsh breaths. Then, she relaxed, going completely still, and when she opened her eyes, white light shot into the room, borne from determined Silver. "Not involved, Dad? Look at me."
Her fist came down covered in moonlight, shattering the table's corner leg beneath its force. Ruby's voice continued on over the fluttering of scattered papers, low and quiet, unmistakable in the silent room. "They attacked my school, devastated Vale, maimed my sister, and killed my friends... No, Dad, I'm involved, and I'll be damned before I just sit here and let them do this to anyone else." Calming herself, she willed the power to dissipate and met her father's eyes. "I'm going, Dad."
Tai-Yang couldn't help but nod, overcome as he was by the vision of Summer standing before him.
Ruby sat behind a gunmetal-gray workbench deep in the bowls of The Yggdrasil's on-board Manufactorum, huddled over a red and black mechanical contraption. Tools lay scattered around her in a circle within arm's reach, blades and teeth ready to spring to work at a whim. She'd forgone the harsh overhead lighting, preferring a simple, warm-yellow reading lamp clipped to the grounded welding surface she'd chosen as her work space. The soft light reflected off Crescent Roses' polished steel and hand-rubbed paint, just like her forge's fire. She smiled at the thought.
A little reminder of home.
The young Reaper reached into the wheeled box beside her, pulling several precision screws from its many containers by practiced feel. Her left hand twirled a hex wrench between thumb and long fingers, threading the fasteners into their new home in a well-honed motion. Hours passed by unnoticed to Ruby, content as she was to work away on her latest creation. It'd been Weiss' idea to bring her mother's sword along in addition to the scythe, claiming she'd needed a 'backup' in case she lost her Crescent Rose again, all the while admonishing her for her poor hand-to-hand skills.
Ruby let a small chuckle escape, interrupting her enthusiastic humming accompaniment to the song playing in her headphones. It was so like Weiss to hide her worry behind frustrated criticism and practical suggestions, and she knew Weiss worried, always worried about losing her partner and, well, girlfriend now. That hidden concern was why she never felt hurt when Weiss lectured her or called her out; it always made her feel cared for, in its own strange way. So, she'd acquiesced to her companion's recommendation, breaking her one hard-and-fast rule about her mom's precious heirloom by bringing it along to this harsh, brutal war. She wouldn't let it sit unprotected in its crude scabbard, however.
It needed a proper home.
Enter her latest brainchild, sitting nearly complete in front of her. A twin scabbard designed to carry both Crescent Roses slung across her back, dramatically suspended by a wide, black leather, Y-shaped belt. The Reaper passed a hand over the mechanism after fixing the device's final bolt, sending Aura pumping into the reactive servos and small Aura Reactor. Red florescent lighting cast its glow around the workroom as several quiet clicks opened her sword's new resting place. Summer's sword soon found itself firmly cocooned in dust-alloy steel, lovingly cradled by retractable mechanical plates which would permit the weapon to be drawn easily from the back.
"It's finished, then?" Weiss whispered softly into her ear after removing her headphones, placing both hands softly on Ruby's shoulders and rubbing small relaxing circles into her tense shoulder muscles.
'Mmmm," Ruby hummed out, melting into the welcomed massage. "Yea, Weiss, it's done. I call it Rosebush."
Weiss smirked from her place behind the brunette, "Yang would be so proud." Ruby let loose a small giggle before the heiress could continue. "Did you manage to finish Crescent Rose's upgrades as well?"
"Yep," Ruby confirmed, stretching upward and yawning. Her hands wove their way into Weiss' free platinum hair, "got the new Phoenix Cannon and dust drum all fitted. She's semi-auto now."
"Just like the original design you showed me, then," Weiss added happily as her eyes looked down into Ruby's. "Perhaps you can come to bed now, it's past midnight. I swear you've completely lost track of time since you forgot your Scroll at home."
"Heh..." Ruby hedged, scratching the back of her head. "Yea, not my smartest move..."
"Remind me to give you the one your Uncle loaned to me in the morning. Come on, time for bed. We'll be in Atlas tomorrow, just you know."
"You don't want to see how it works?" Ruby asked, pouting heavily.
Weiss laughed heartily, bending down to plant a peck on Ruby's lips. "Not tonight, Rose, so stop stalling, let's go back to bed."
"Aww..." Ruby moaned, disappointed that Weiss had proven immune to her pout. Her moroseness didn't last long, however, because Weiss pulled her to her feet and, for once, pulled her into an embrace.
"I'm so glad you're here with me, Ruby..." Weiss whispered into the darkness.
"Always, Weiss... Always."
"Thank you for taking the time to meet with us, Doctor Polendina," Weiss intoned politely as the receptionist ushered them into the Doctor's university office. Neat, tall stacks of notes and drawings sat nestled against every wall, each accompanied by a folded, handwritten label laying atop each pile. The high, raftered ceiling would not have been out of place centuries ago, be it in a banquet hall or armory inside some long forgotten Keep. Dark louvered shutters shrouded the multitude of soaring, arched windows, allowing just enough natural light into the space to illuminate the rows upon rows of slate chalkboards organized near the space's center. The eccentric genius himself, Amadeus Polendina, scrawled on one absentmindedly, adding to the long string of mathematical formulae stretching across infinity.
"No problem at all, my dear girl," he said jovially, peeking around the corner of the board to regard her with contently closed eyes and a toothy grin. "I take it this lovely young lady here along with you is the very same Ruby Rose who befriended my dear Penny." Walking over to them while brushing chalk dust into his formerly black pants, his voice took on a sadder tone, "thank you, Miss Rose, for showing my daughter what true kindness looks like. I'm glad she got to see it, before she passed."
Weiss reached out to grab Ruby's hand as she saw her leader's head dip. "I'm sorry I couldn't save her, Doctor Polendina..." The Reaper replied in a small voice.
"It's not your fault, child. Blame the people who orchestrated all this suffering, not yourself," he suggested, kneeling down and waiting until Ruby's happier eyes met his. Seeing warmth in her Silver, he turned to Weiss. "I must admit that I'm a might curious as to why you asked specifically to meet here at the University instead of my office at SDC Robotics, Miss Schnee. Quite an odd request, if I do say so myself."
"Yes, well, we have two matters to discuss, neither of which I'd like my father to know about," Weiss explained.
"Oh-ho! Secret projects, Miss Schnee?" He said, expression lighting with excitement.
"We have a report for you detailing our recent application of your prototype cybernetic interface, including several new designs that I believe you'll find quite interesting," Weiss said proudly, gesturing to her companion, "Ruby, if you wouldn't mind."
The brunette retrieved Qrow's former Scroll, tapping a few commands in order to summon a large holographic, exploded schematic of Yang's new prosthetic. "This is Ember Celica Shenlong, Doctor, patents pending Weiss Schnee and Ruby Rose," she introduced jokingly.
"Beautiful..." He breathed, passing a finger lovingly around the edges of the golf ball sized Aura Reactor at the heart of the mechanism. "May I?" He asked, pointing towards Ruby's new Scroll, which the brunette handed off without hesitation. A few swift movements later and the Scroll found itself interfaced with a hidden terminal. Ruby's schematic projected into the space, filling it completely as the Doctor shoved chalkboards from the center of the room unceremoniously. He manipulated the massive blue holograph with hand gestures, pulling individual components into view and discarding them just as quickly, mind working at light speed to understand Ruby's design. Eventually, his attention remained fixed on the object he'd first spotted. "Is this what I think it is, Miss Rose?" He asked, awed.
"It's an Aura Reactor I invented, if that's what you mean?" Ruby answered uncertainly.
"And it works?" He asked excitedly.
"Yup! I've built four so far!" Ruby responded, unable to keep her smile in check.
"Four? But this design calls only for one," he countered, cocking his head like a confused puppy.
"Well, the cannon I added to my weapon needed one to power its 3D Dust printer. I also needed something Aura-reactive to make my new weapon holder work," she explained, throwing a thumb towards Rosebush. "Oh, then I had to build another one for the man who's paper inspired me to start on it four years ago, of course," Ruby snarked, producing a small wooden box from the folds of her cloak, "The Application of Aura Theory: Generating Power Through Spirit-Electron Induction. Sound familiar, Doctor Amadeus Polendina?"
"You didn't..." He whispered, crossing back to Ruby. Weiss managed to contain a chuckle at the water gathering in his eyes as her partner held the box up for him to take. Reverently, he relieved her of the small burden before opening it and shooting a small bit of Aura into the device within. The gold-encapsulated sphere pulsed red at his touch. "Academia mocked me for that paper, did you know that? To see proof, real proof, that I was right all along... Well, suffice to say this is the second happiest moment of my life. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for this, Miss Rose."
"Your papers are what got me interested in mecha-shift in the first place, so it's really thanks to you that my sister has her new arm," Ruby explained, letting a bit of emotion enter her voice, "the feeling's mutual, Doc."
"I was hoping you'd consider these designs and that Reactor as a token of good faith regarding my next inquiry, Doctor," Weiss negotiated, pulling their conversation back to the here-and-now.
"Miss Schnee, after what you've just shown me, I wouldn't be surprised if I agreed to assassinate General Ironwood himself, if you so desired," he joked, barking out laughter.
Ruby joined in his mirth as Weiss grinned broadly and produced a thick, bound manila folder. The folder changed hands as the heiress spoke, "I believe you're familiar with the work of Professor Tai-Yang Xaio-Long, Ruby's father?"
"I am. His vehicular designs in particular are quite magnificent," Amadeus confirmed, earning a broad beam from Ruby.
"Well, good news! That's one of his early ones, something he never got to build. Dad always called it his 'impossible dream', back before Mom died," the Reaper drew the quotes with her hands.
Weiss waited a moment, allowing Doctor Polendina to flip through the pages before beginning her sales pitch. "The reason I needed to keep this meeting secret, Doctor, is that I'm bankrolling a new company based on those designs. We're calling it Summer Aeronautics, based on Mr. Xaio-Long's request, and I was hoping you'd be willing to... consult."
The Doctor broke into a wild grin. "Looking to get out from under the SDC's boot, Miss Schnee?"
"Perhaps," Weiss added levelly, "but you can't deny those would be immensely valuable to the Hunter Corps' war effort."
"That they would, Miss Schnee, that they would," Amadeus agreed "When can I start?"
"Keep her level and fast, ladies, we're almost to the drop point," Winter commanded evenly, seated behind the pilot and copilot stations on The Swallow's Lament. "This is no different than the dry runs we've been practicing all week."
"Yea, nothing except the live anti-aircraft missiles the White Fang stole from Vale..." Ruby muttered under her breath, doing her best to ignore the partial radar-lock warning squeal echoing in her headset. She focused hard on the heads-up display projected before her, using the small, circular piper as a guide to keep them firmly within the holographic tunnel detailing their approach window.
"Five minutes to drop," Weiss called out from her seat at Ruby's right hand, flicking three overhead switches to engage the Corvette's active jamming suites, hoping they'd be enough to both keep their arrival a secret and protect them from the automated defenses the White Fang had no doubt set up on top of their Atleasean compound. Noticing Ruby's white-knuckle grip on the Swallow's controls, she spoke up, "relax, Ruby, you're doing fine. No need to crush the controls."
"Easy for you to say. Friggin' cloud cover and wind is making this much harder than yesterday," Ruby countered. "We close enough to kick autopilot in?"
"Wait for the two minute warning, kiddo. Keep it up for sixty more seconds, then we can go hunt some Grimm," Qrow consoled, looking over her shoulder next to Winter.
"Stupid snowstorm..." Ruby whispered to herself, mentally kicking the clouds blocking her vision.
"It's good practice flying by instruments like this, Miss Rose," Ironwood replied, half joking. "Jotun One and Two are ready for drop, Knight-Commander. All going well up here, I assume?"
"Very, Miss Rose has proven quite capable, if a little vocal," Winter snarked, sending Qrow chuckling.
"We'll see who's laughing when we're dealing with the Grimm on the ground, jerks," Ruby replied quietly, continuing to keep her voice low so that, presumably, only Weiss could hear.
"Two minutes to drop, red light warning!" Weiss announced, hammering home the ready-up switch which would signal the crew compartment to stand and prepare for jump.
"Thank Oum!" Ruby moaned loudly, finally able to switch the Corvette into autopilot and stand. Grabbing Rosebush and slinging it over her shoulder, Ruby gave her first order of the day, "c'mon, Weiss, I'm ready to get on the ground."
"Gladly, Beacon Actual," Weiss confirmed, deliberately using their agreed-upon call sign in combination with precise Atleasean radio protocol, mirroring her leader by standing and retrieving her own weapon. Together, they stalked out of the flight deck quickly, following General Ironwood towards the cargo ramp at the back of the Corvette, passing two ordered, parallel lines of Atleasean Special Forces on the way. The interior of the ship lay plunged into darkness, illuminated only by dim, red track lighting nestled in the ceiling and floor. Qrow and Winter saddled up behind them as they found their assigned position right next to the soon to open ramp. Fireteam Beacon would be the first out the door.
"Listen up!" Ironwood called out, shouting to be heard over the wind as the ramp began its descent. "One last reminder. Our primary objective is to secure the thermobaric device located in this facility per the intelligence you all have worked to hard to gather over the course of the last few weeks. Knight-Commander Schnee, Specialist Infiltrator Branwen, and Detective Schnee, designation: Beacon One, will drop first under the command of Huntress Rose. Their objective is to secure our landing zone, Jotun One and Two. I don't think I need to remind you of the massive Grimm infestation the White Fang have built their base under. We will follow them down this ramp after three-zero seconds. Once on the ground, our job is search-and-clear. Find that device at all costs. There are too many lives on the line for us to fail, Gentlemen! Aúh?!" The General called out, asking the assembled troop for confirmation of orders using traditional military slang.
"AÚH!" The soldiers barked back to a man, loud and proud.
"Stand ready then, men! Stay between the Hunters when our boots meet earth!" Ironwood encouraged, drawing his revolver and turning to Ruby. "On your go, Beacon Actual."
Drawing her Scythe, Ruby turned to the assembled crew, decked out in a red-and-black longcoat which perfectly matched the cut of her partner's detective gear. Her cloak whipped in the wind, held below her shoulders by the massive polearm stretched across them. Using her best impression of her partners 'command voice', she called out firmly, "Thirty seconds!" A few of the assembled men looked to each other questioningly, but every single one of them clipped in to the overhead static line at her command.
"Don't worry, kiddo, they won't be questioning you once you show them what you can do," Qrow comforted.
Ruby's face looked up to his, startling him with its serious countenance. "I'm not worried, Uncle Qrow, I'm ready," she said darkly, walking slowly to the edge of the platform and turning to face the interior. Weiss brushed shoulders with her as the heiress took up her position. "See you on the ground, old man."
"Try to keep up," Weiss added with a smirk.
Planting the arches of her feet on the edge of the ramp, the heiress allowed herself to rotate slowly out of the aircraft, keeping her legs dead straight and sending Winter a little wave for good measure. Ruby let a feral grin twist her features as Weiss gave herself over to gravity, calling forth a bit of the power and launching herself straight out of the ramp before calling on her semblance to shift her momentum. The young Reaper shot downward at a right angle right out of Qrow and Winter's view.
"Did they just... taunt us?" Winter asked, utterly stunned.
"Yea," Qrow confirmed with a proud smile, "yea they did."
Ruby waited until she felt Weiss' grasp tighten on Crescent Rose before firing. The trio of semi-automatic Phoenix rounds launched the pair downward through the clouds at three times terminal velocity. The base's earthen roof came into view seconds later, studded with automated anti-aircraft defenses and teeming with several dozen Grimm, minor and major alike. Undeterred, the Huntresses descended like lightning, steely gazes memorizing the battlefield and gathering information on the prey they'd soon hunt.
A mere ten feet above the ground, Weiss summoned her most powerful repulsor, absorbing their descent and sending free-flowing fabric fluttering outward. White let herself drift toward the ground while sending their fall's remaining energy into Ruby. The Scythe-wielder took hold of it, twisted it through rose petals, and redirected it, launching herself outward with Crescent Rose's war-blade extended. Its honed edge bit into Grimm after Grimm as she flew one hundred yards from her partner. Beowulf, Ursa, Bobatusk, Gryphon, all succumbed, bisected by the Reaper's Crescent. Fifteen fell before she skidded to a halt.
Weiss touched the snow-covered ground gently, holding Myrtenaster up and ready, but the blade did not strike out. Instead, a single massive glyph sprang to life next to the Schnee. A call signaled her guardian, and the icy knight answered, crawling its way out from the reaches of Weiss' ancestral semblance. She stood defiant against the horde surrounding her, confident as her protector crushed a reckless Bobatusk beneath its boot. Its sword came down next, hewing down a mixed pack of four with a hefty diagonal chop. Weiss herself sent Dust blasts into the beasts beyond their melee, scattering mounting charges at the same time as Myrtenaster's point picked off the few lucky stragglers which managed to bypass her bulwark.
Ruby forced the power into her legs, setting her eyes glowing as she leapt high and forward, angling toward her companion's position. A familiar pressure built in her mind, kicking restrained emotions into overdrive at the same time as the light empowered her body. For a brief moment, they fought for dominance, buried despair and that dreadful Rage fighting against cheer and her primal Hunter's focus. She felt her mind dim as she flew, struggling as it was to reign in the power's side effects. "Doesn't make sense," she thought desperately, "why's it so much worse here than in Patch?" The Reaper reached wildly for the Focus which had kept the insistent pressure at bay before, let it grow in her mind, but it failed to drown out the others completely. The power surged painfully within, unbound and begging to be cut loose. Sixty feet in the air, Ruby decided to do just that.
Crescent Rose whipped forward, cutting horizontally at the air in front of the Reaper. Moonlight built on its edge and scythed outwards, arcing over Weiss' head before barreling into the Grimm stretched out beyond the heiress. Ruby's body ached as the beam made contact, cutting down the beasts nearest to the blast before weakening and freezing several others in place. She landed next to the heiress, taking a knee to lessen the impact, breathing heavily, and forcing the power back into its cage.
"You dunce, what the hell was that?!" Weiss asked, exasperated, "you scared me half to death with that thing!"
Standing shakily and putting her back against her partner's, Ruby responded between breaths, "Dunno. Power got away from me. Had to let it out. Figured that'd work."
Weiss felt Ruby's labored shaking and gasping more than she heard it. "Ruby, are you alright?" She asked quickly.
"I'm... Fine..." Ruby answered, "worry about it later. Grimm are only half gone." Keying her comm unit, she spoke as clearly as she could manage, "Beacon One-Two, this is Beacon Actual. Beacon One-One has cleared eastern side, proceed to west and sweep. How copy?"
Qrow's reply came back, subtly laced with static. "Good copy, Beacon Actual. Saw that blast from all the way up here, kiddo. Beacon One-Two redirecting, ETA five seconds."
"Here they come," Weiss said, looking to the sky with a dangerous smile.
Uncle and Elder Sister hurtled toward the ground above them, slower than their own descent but just as unrelenting. Winter's battle-heels straddled the hooked scythe blade trailing the Dusty Corvid. Her saber pointed outward, held loosely in her right hand while the other gripped Qrow's weapon casually. The Reaper himself wore a massive, confident grin. This was his calling, his original purpose before Ozpin called him back to Beacon, and damn, did he miss it.
"Ready, Snow Angel?" He asked excitedly as they passed the two-hundred foot mark.
"Born ready," Winter replied, matching Qrow's grin with her own.
"Alright then, time to show the kids how it's done!" The Reaper's arm muscles tensed, lithe sinews straining in a long-mastered motion. His scythe flashed forward, movement invisible to the young Huntresses below, sending Winter shooting toward the ground at nearly the speed of sound. She summoned glyphs among the western Grimm as soon as her feet left the Corvid's blade which angled throughout the horde, waiting for the shining white streak soaring toward them.
Qrow's scythe disappeared into its scabbard the instant Winter left him. Red tendrils of light traced his body, shifting his human form into a large, pitch-black crow in the space of a few heartbeats. The glow remained, tracing his new avian features before twisting into smooth crescent arcs trailing from wingtip to wingtip. A single, powerful wing-beat sent him hurtling to catch Winter, bright crimson twirling around radiant white.
The twin lightning trails hit the first mirror glyph in synchronous, sending both into the Dark horde inertia intact. Ethereal and physical blades made the most of it, eviscerating the creatures unfortunate enough to stand between fractals. Corvid wings arced red edges into a different path as Winter flashed toward her second glyph. The Schnee bounced through her geometry, bleeding off speed and Grimm in equal measure with each bounce. Qrow augmented her strikes, spiraling gracefully into each beast lucky enough to escape Winter's blade, and together, their red and white lit the early evening, a deadly, private laser show for their young proteges. Five seconds later, the forty-strong western horde found itself destroyed.
Winter angled her final glyph toward the younger pair, twisting it upward and using the last of her fall energy to send her flying at her sister's summon. Qrow joined her, spiraling around his partner's path as she traveled. Weiss willed her knight's sword upward, meeting Winter's heels mid-flight. The Elder Schnee leaned backwards slightly, skating down the icy blade before catching the knight's neck, pirouetting around it, and depositing herself at Weiss' back. Qrow passed overhead, spreading his wings to brake, and one bright red flash later, the Corvid stood back-to-back with his niece, neatly completing the crimson and ivory Hunter cross. The quartet owned clearing over the White Fang's base, young and old standing stalwart with weapons held ready in perfect copies of their counterparts.
"Beacon Actual to Jotun Actual. Landing zone secured," Ruby spoke confidently into her earpiece, sending small, quick glances over her shoulder to take in her team while wearing a calm, collected smile. Catching every last one of them doing the same, she killed the transmit. "We're so cool," she praised, loud enough for all of them to hear.
"Damn straight, kiddo," Qrow agreed as Winter and Weiss' smirks grew much more self-satisfied.
Seconds later Jotun One and Two hit the ground, slowed by wingsuits and guns up. Ironwood barked out orders, guiding them toward their breach points while acknowledging Ruby's team with a small upwards nod. Breach charges blew, and the soldiers disappeared below. Gunshots echoed through the blasted holes soon after.
"Your orders, Miss Rose?" Winter prompted.
"Right," Ruby said, snapping out of her revelry and back to leader-mode. "We have to hold this zone until Jotun team find the bombs. Qrow, you're our eyes in the sky."
"On it," the Reaper agreed, transforming and taking wing.
"Winter, Weiss, perimeter security. Get some summons out there, hundred-yard radius," Ruby ordered. "I'm quick response in case they get overwhelmed."
"Right," Weiss agreed, nodding to Winter. In unison, ancestral Schnee glyphs sprang to life across the snowy field. Pale blue minor Grimm took up positions on its outskirts, equal in number to the beasts Ruby's team had just dispatched.
"We hold here for twenty minutes, guys, stay focused."
"We found one of them, James. That's something," Winter said encouragingly, seated around the war table on board The Swallow's Lament. Twenty minutes had turned into an hour while Ironwood's team searched and re-searched the White Fang's compound to no avail. The second device remained missing. They'd extracted without any further harassment and took no casualties, but the General remained somber and distraught.
"That bomb could level a city block, Winter. We have to find it, and quickly. The White Fang know we're on to them now, they might do something crazy." Ironwood explained, running his hands through his hair in frustration.
"Is there anything in the files Jotun Team recovered that could help, Weiss?" Ruby asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes. The power may have worn her down badly, but the plucky brunette refused to rest until they'd gleaned all they could from what little information they possessed.
Weiss pinched her brow thoughtfully. "There's two leads I can see. One, there's records here of a special transport headed for Haven. The bomb could've been on that flight, plus it fits with what Cinder said about taking the fight back to her country of origin." Seeing nods around the table, she continued, "the second is a bit more unorthodox. Former Director Carrow's information has been disjointed and unuseful so far, but perhaps the bomb's potential threat coupled with our successful operation could jog his memory."
Sighing, Ironwood nodded skeptically before Winter shot him a reproachful glance. "Sorry," he apologized, "it just feels like we're running in circles. Are you sure there has been no communication over the CCT, Miss Schnee?"
"Quite certain, I'm afraid," Weiss said remorsefully.
James' head drooped. "Does anyone have any suggestions as to our next course of action?" He asked weakly.
"I do," Ruby spoke firmly, "We could send Uncle Qrow and Winter to scout the flight path listed in the manifest. I know it's a long trip, but Qrow's good at this kinda' work, and this ship's fast, especially with Winter at the helm. How long would it take you, Uncle Qrow, a week, tops?"
"Yea, that's about right, kiddo. It's doable, Jim, and its our best shot. Might even find something out about Cinder and Co." Qrow encouraged.
"Winter?" Ironwood prompted.
"I agree with Miss Rose. It's our best option."
Seeing the General nod, Ruby cut back in. "While they're gone, me and Weiss can take a look around places Carrow mentioned here in Atlas. We'll draw a lot less attention than the military did the first time around. Maybe we'll find something they missed."
Ironwood hummed thoughtfully, parsing the new plan over the course of a few seconds. "Agreed on all counts. We'll begin making preparations in the morning, but I think we've all earned some rest first. Good work, everyone, especially you, Miss Rose."
"I just wanna help, General. We've gotta stop them before they hurt anyone else."
"We will, Ruby," Weiss promised, plunging the room into a moment of silence.
Qrow spoke up. "Well, Haven is always nice this time of year."
WhiteRose may be one of the cutest things ever created by mankind. I blame Mikotyzini's Rush for that particular shipping tendency. I hope its inclusion doesn't bother you guys too much ;-)
The opening quote for this chapter is from OneRepublic's Counting Stars.
There's a little nod to my second favorite RWBY fic in here, RedRumSprinkle's A World of Bloody Evolution. The Emperor Protects.
Next time on Penumbra!
The pieces are set, Chekhov's Armory is stocked, and the players have found their marks. Strap in, ladies and gentlemen, we're going for a ride with the Dragon.
Review Replies:
Krazyfanfiction1: Always so kind, you're the best. I like to think I'm right about Blake. I suppose we'll see come Fall and V4.
Masasin: I was going for poetic! She's a well-read, smart, angsty teenager, so I found it appropriate. Do you think it's too much? I do have a tendency to be a bit over-dramatic.
I am indeed an engineer. I have degree in mechanical engineering with a focus in manufacturing tech. Currently, I'm working as a manufacturing process engineer. I program CNC machines and design fixturing in order to make flywheels, not to mention dealing with a lot of really tedious ISO 9001 paperwork... Damn the paperwork. Mechatronics is one class I wish I would've taken back in college. I love the controls and instrumentation side of mechanical. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat tech or need help with school!
I'm right with you with regard to augments. I eagerly await the day I can replace my stupid meaty limbs Deus Ex: HR style.
Once again, damn you English language and your same sounding, differently spelled words. Marked for editing once I get the chance, thanks!
Knight7572: CR Mk. I mostly suffered fall damage, most notably some severe mecha-shift breakage. That's why it was unfolded in Blake's room. I doubt delicate mechanisms like that would survive a fall very well, but the metal plates themselves should've been fine.
It got some upgrades this chapter! We'll see more Phoenix Cannon stuff soon.
MissAnimeMiss: I'm glad I made your night! Qrow and Winter are so much fun. I figured Winter and Weiss would share some interests, coming from the same neglectful household. I imagine they bonded pretty heavily. I don't exactly have much evidence from the show, considering how little Winter there's been so far, but I think their little training session gave us a little insight.
Blake not running was one of those 'oh my god' realizations for me. It just sort of, lit up, when I was writing Assassin!Blake. If you really think about it, Glynda and Blake are the only ones who stayed, everyone else left. It'd be weird if Blake and Tuckson didn't know each other. Two ex-WF, one who loves to read and one who owns a bookstore? C'mon, they had to have at least interacted.
I think you're the first person to call my engineer quirks 'adorable', that really made me smile.