"Attention, everyone," Sam called up a meeting of every Vale officer in Vacuo. The commanders gathered around, paying attention to a small map of Remnant where Sam had Vale's invasion assignment. "We'll be heading home within a few hours, and preparing for this final attack. We will be pushing in the same direction we did before the Vacuo assault, up to the village where Blake and I defeated Adam Taurus." Everyone turned and nodded their heads to Blake in acknowledgement and turned back to Sam. "After we make it to that town, we are going to hit and take out these two fortifications," he gestured to the map where two dots lit up. "These two locations are both forts as well as anti-air defense stations, which means our forces will be charging in on the ground. Once we've destroyed these two positions, we make a push for the Tetharan Valley. Once we are outside the mountain ranges, we will await the other armies to arrive and begin the final assault. I'll be sending specific details of your orders to each of your units so we have everything outlined. Any questions?" Sam looked around and only saw determined faces. "Excellent, you are dismissed."
"Your public speaking abilities always surprise me, Sam," Ozpin chuckled as he and the others from the group came up to him.
"Yeah, I used to be terribly shy, but I guess being a leader changes things," Sam scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh.
"You did great. Despite everything that has happened here, the commanders look confident and ready to keep pushing," Glynda praised.
"I can only hope they stay that way when the invasion starts. While the armies we faced here were massive, if what Roman has told me is true, there are even more awaiting us inside the Tetharan Valley," Sam grimaced.
"It doesn't matter how many are in front of us now, because now we're all back together and ready for anything," Weiss smiled as the others gave a nod of agreement with smirks on their faces.
"I know. I'm just not looking forward to facing Cinder again," Sam admitted.
"You destroyed Emerald and Mercury without a second thought, flew over 1,000 miles in a matter of seconds, and it seems like you control the weather with you emotions. I think you can take her," Jaune commented, with a chuckle.
"Mercury and Emerald were easily destroyed by my Berserk form, yes, but it's a form I can only bring out in a pure rage of loss as far as I can tell, and even with that Cinder was able to withstand it all of those years ago. I destroyed Emerald and Mercury back then too, but Cinder took more hits and was still able to stand," Sam explained as the memory of the fight returned.
"Stop doubting yourself, you can do this," Weiss scolded.
"She's right, you stopped her before and you can do it again," Ruby joined in, with Yang nodding her head with a thumbs-up.
"I'm sorry for blaming our dad's death on you, it was childish and I was thinking straight. But we don't have to worry about that happening again because you'll put Cinder in her rightful place!" Yang gave a big grin to prove her point was genuine.
"Wait, hold up a second, you said your Berserk form?" Austin interrupted as he walked into the Vale meeting from.
"Geez, if you're going to eavesdrop, you might as well just join us in the conversation," Sam sighed.
"Sorry, Vacuo's meeting already ended and I wasn't sure if I was allowed in," Austin smirked and leaned against a shoulder. "So, Berserk?"
"Yeah, its this form where I start supercharging my body and it grows to a size I shouldn't naturally be. Back when I was still a toddler I grew to the size of a full grown man, and this last time I was like 15 feet tall and super massive," Sam explained.
"Sounds an awful lot like an Awakened Form to me," Austin thought out loud.
"Awakened Form?" Glynda questioned.
"Yeah, everyone has one in a way. Ever get super emotional and let out a burst of power you didn't know you had?" Austin questioned every, who either responded with a confused glance or a nod. "When you achieve that power, your body is Awakened to its full potential. Tetherans have this too, and some special warriors, faunus, human, or tetharan can have such a powerful Awakened potential it gives them a new form. Think back to the beginning of the last fight, when Weiss got pushed over the edge and summoned that giant knight. Until then, say if I'm wrong, but you hadn't really ever summoned. Well, how could you just summon something of that size on your first real summon?"
"Alright, so we each have this Awakened Form. Can it be mastered?" Sam asked.
"Don't you remember anything from school?" Austin shook his head condescendingly. "It is possible, but incredibly difficult. You only accessed its power twice, and some don't ever get to access it. If you were to master its power, you would need to have constant exposure to the feeling that unlocked power and be able to use it whenever you desired. That isn't exactly a piece of cake to do."
"I'll have you know I never really got the chance to go to a Tetharan school," Sam frowned. "So I have to be exposed to the feeling of rage and loss so much that I can just think of it to unlock my power?"
"In theory, yes. No one has ever really done it before, but they say that's how you would need to do it," Austin shrugged his shoulders. "I never really mastered Okaran King, which is why I can only do it for short periods of time."
"Wait, so Okaran King is your Awakened Form?" Pyrrha asked.
"No, it isn't, but its related to it. The one time I achieved my Awakened Form was with the Okaran King, and I managed to use it with such a mastery that I didn't struggle at all and had excess power afterwards, even though at full power that form would drain me easily," Austin explained.
"So does that mean Cinder has one?" Nora asked, her voice somewhat timid.
"We have no reason to believe she doesn't," Austin answered. "And if she is as powerful as you say, I'd hate to find out what hers is the hard way."
"Maybe there is a different way of mastering this Awakened Form power," Anselm's voice could be heard before he walked in with Winter behind him.
"What do you mean, dad?" Weiss asked after waving hello to her sister.
"Maybe we could build something that could draw out and control that power, giving you the ability to use it," Anselm answered, pulling out his scroll and typing something the others couldn't see. "You look like you need a new set of armor anyway," he gestured to the fact Sam's uniform had been ruined by the transformation, with the overcoat and armor pants destroyed leaving only a torn undershirt and black pants.
"You do have a point," Sam laughed along with some of the others. "Do you think you could do that?"
"Of course, the Schnee Dust Company can make anything we set our minds to," Anselm smiled, with Winter nodding her head in agreement. "It will take some time, as well as tests, but I'm sure we can get you that suit."
"Could you complete it before the Tetharan Invasion?" Sam questioned hopefully.
"Unfortunately, no. Something like this has obviously never been invented before, and we haven't even made a prototype yet. You are going to have to defeat Cinder on your own," Anselm sighed.
"That's alright, I understand," Sam's head dropped sadly.
"Anselm, Winter, come on, we're heading out!" Ironwood's voice called from the hallway,
"You guys have to leave already?" Weiss asked, disappointed.
"Unfortunately it seems so. I'm so happy that you're okay, and hopefully we'll be able to see each other more often after this blasted war finally ends," Anselm hugged his daughter tightly.
"It was great to meet you, sis!" Winter also hugged Weiss, with the latter returning the hug quickly.
"It was great to meet you, too. I am pretty glad I have a sibling now, makes me feel like I have another person like Mom that I could talk to," Weiss smiled, though sad at the memory of her mother.
"I miss Theresia too, but soon, once the invasion had been completed, we will finally have some closure that the White Fang won't harm anyone else," Anselm told his daughters, determined. Both of them nodded, giving a few more hugs of goodbye before Anselm and Winter left.
"I honestly didn't expect Atlas to leave so soon, but I'm sure they're just looking forward to the war's end," Chancellor Pierce walked in just after Anselm and Winter left.
"Even though I hate to say it, we'll need to be heading out soon too. We have to get back to Vale and prepare for invasion as well," Sam told her.
"Not without saying bye to me first!" Chaney ran into the room quickly. "Sorry, the Mistral meeting held over," she explained.
"Actually, Chaney, I was wondering if the Mistral forces would like to travel back with us?" Sam asked politely.
"Hm? Why is that?" Chaney seemed confused.
"I wanted to talk with you about something, that's all," Sam smiled.
"Very well, we may travel together, though I won't be staying in Vale for long. My home back in Mistral is calling to me," Chaney smiled back.
"Alright, if you must go, then we shall look forward to seeing you on the battlefield in a month's time," Chancellor Pierce bowed to the group, with them bowing back.
"Hey, Sam, be thinking about what we talked about in the hospital, okay?" Austin asked as they began to leave.
"Of course, I'll be in touch whenever I make my decision," Sam waved goodbye and followed his friends to the Vale airships.
"What's this about, Sam?" Chaney ask as they were sitting in his office on a capital Vale warship.
"I wanted to speak more on something we've talked about before, and whether you are Tetharan or not," Sam said slowly.
"I'm not Cinder's daughter and I'm not Tetharan! There! That's it!" Chaney stood up fiercely.
"Chaney, I need you to relax. The fact that you're Tetharan is no longer up for debate, its obvious you are," Sam replied calmly.
"How? How is it so obvious?" Chaney was still angry.
"You became a full-fledged huntress at 15, as well as the commander of Mistral forces after what happened to your father. You went toe to toe against Emerald Sustrai, managed to mortally wound her even though you were also injured. Not only that, but even when you had suffered from the injuries, you healed rapidly and were back on your feet by the time the fighting resumed. Now, Ms. Ashcroft, how do you respond to that?" Sam knew he had her cornered there.
"I-I…well if I'm Tetharan how come I don't remember the first one hundred years of my life?" Chaney countered.
"You have amnesia then. Brain damage is much easier to explain than sudden rapid ability and healing capabilities, Chaney," Sam finished. "Now please, sit down."
Chaney let out a long sigh and sat down as Sam had asked. "Do you know what me accepting myself being Tetharan means, Sam? It means Cinder is almost certainly my mother, and Jeff isn't my dad," Chaney looked to the ground sadly.
"Maybe not your biological father, but he loved you as if you were his own, and that's all that matters," Sam tried to cheer her up, succeeding slightly. "Besides, we have no evidence to believe Cinder is your mother than her appearance. I'm sure you could find a human that looks a lot like me but we aren't related."
"Yes, but the chances of that aren't incredibly high. What if she is my mother?" Chaney looked up at Sam.
"So what if she is your mother? What changes?" Sam shrugged his shoulders.
"E-everything! My life is a lie! I was born from an anarchist woman who people might see me following her!" Chaney sputtered. "And who knows what happened to me the first hundred years of my life that I don't remember!"
"Relax, Chaney, your life isn't a lie, and she has no influence on you that we can even try to pin on you," Sam tried to calm her down. "And what happen the first hundred years of your life doesn't matter, just the fact that you're here is what counts."
"Maybe you're right, I don't know. I just need time to process this," Chaney stood to leave the office.
"Very well. We'll be having the funeral service tomorrow evening at sundown if you will still be in Vale," Sam stood with her to say their goodbyes.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss saying one last goodbye to Tom for anything," Chaney gave Sam a hug, before waving goodbye and walking out of the office.
"Hello, and thank you all for coming. I'd like to say a few words regarding those we have lost, if you wouldn't mind. Taiyang was like a father figure to me. He helped raise me along with my parents when I was very young before their death, and even some afterwards. We fought alongside each other up until mine and Blake's fight with Adam, and he showed incredible courage during the battle of Vacuo. He will be missed by friends, family, and loved ones," Sam began his speech, with several hundred in attendance from the Vale military and the citizens of Vale.
"Tom Evered was like a brother to me. He was by my side from the moment I joined the Vale Defense Force, and was my partner to the very end. We fought together, laughed together, were injured together, and lived to see another day together. He died defending his friends, even when he knew he didn't stand a chance, and I could never repay that sacrifice and courage. I will miss him so much, from today through every battle that is to come after this," Sam motioned to the casket of Tom Evered, with others silently acknowledging it.
"The last of our friends we lost wasn't one of our own. She was a robot manufactured by Atlas to become a new type of soldier. Though she was made for combat, she was kind and caring, curious to learn everything she could in her short life. Penny Polendina could not be with us today, as her body was taken back to Atlas, but we shall still recognize her sacrifice and her service to the people of Vale and to the world," Sam gestured to an open space where Penny's body will be. "Now, I will open the floor for others to come up and speak. Please, if you have anything to share, please come forward."
Yang and Ruby were the first to step forward, who came up together. "Taiyang was the greatest father figure I could ask for, and I'm sure my younger sister would say the same. Even after losing our mother when we were very young, he did everything he could to make sure we were happy and had a good life. He taught me how to fight, and, well, everything. I'm going to miss him for the rest of my life, just like my mom, but for him I'll try to keep pushing myself to get better and better every day," Yang said her speech, with Ruby just nodding with tears flowing.
Seth stood next, with Chaney there to support him. "I didn't know Tom for very long, like Sam did, but we served in the VDF together, and we stood together against all odds at the battle of Mistral, and I will never forget that. We became close friends, and I wish I could just rewind time and do something different so he would still be here even though I know I can't. I miss the big guy, and I'm so thankful I got to know him when I did. I'll see you on the other side, Tom. Its been an honor serving with you," Seth managed while shedding a few tears. Chaney held his hand and lead him back to their seats while Weiss stood next.
"I'm sure none of you knew Penny, but I had the great opportunity to meet her in her short life, and while I must say she was quite odd she was a very good friend. She pushed to learn everything she could, trying to understand what made us humans and faunus who we are. My only wish is that she figured out what is was before her death, and I hope that she's resting peacefully on the other side. Thank you everyone for coming, once again, and if you would like to come up and pay respects, now is the time," Weiss bowed politely, going to each coffin to pay respects. Sam followed behind her, and then the crowd of hundreds of Vale soldiers and citizens stood to pay respects as well.
"I know Tom was never much for popularity, but I hope he's proud of what he was able to accomplish and the fact that all of these people know he did," Sam told Weiss after they left the funeral.
"I have a feeling he's looking down on us from whatever afterlife there is with a smiling face knowing he didn't die in vain," Weiss grabbed Sam's hand and they shared a quick kiss before looking out over the vast amount of stars above them. As they watched, 3 shooting stars shot by in that instance, securing the idea in Sam's head that they were at peace now.
Finally back in Vale! We were in Vacuo for like 12 chapters! Crazy. But AWESOME! The Vacuo Arc is completed, and now the preparation for the final battle begins. Those who have been lost will be missed, and they shall be with us through til the end. Thank you guys so much for reading! If you have any questions, comments, concerns, criticisms, or ideas, please leave a review! I'll see you all in the next chapter.