Chapter 35
POV: Omniscient
Winter and Weiss were walking back pretty slowly, which let Rocket and Ruby get ahead of them. If with that, they had only made it 37 steps, when they heard a clunk from behind them. When they turned around, there was a gruff, middle-aged man standing there. He had a tattered, red cape that was waving in the slight breeze. There was the head of an Atlesian knight on the ground in front of him, and the body was behind him.
Winter: You just destroyed Atlas military property.
?: Oh, I'm sorry! I must have mistaken this for some sort of… sentient garbage.
Weiss: Do you know who your talking t-
?: Shhshshh…
He put his hand directly on Weiss' head and pushed her out of the way.
?: I'm not here for you, ice queen.
Weiss: Hey!
Winter: You must not have heard me. I sa-
?: Oh, I heard plenty. I also heard that Ironwood finally turned his back on old Oz.
Weiss: Ozpin? What does he have to do with th-
Winter: I would suggest holding your tongue, or I will gladly remove it for you.
She drew her sword. It looked like a plain saber, but like most weapons, it probably had some sort of transformation.
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POV: Rocket
We had cleaned the room and waited for about 5 minutes.
Rocket: We should probably go meet back up with them.
Ruby: Why? We could always clean the room again…
Rocket: I'm pretty sure you just left more of a mess that you picked up.
I ran outside quickly, before she could throw another pillow at me. When we made it out to a courtyard, there was a group of people, around a very fast fight. Weiss was standing to the side of the group, with a worried look. Mercury passed by me, walking away from the fight.
Rocket: What's going on?
Weiss: Some drunk guy walked up, and attacked my sister!
Ruby: Oh my gosh who would do such a thi- AND IT'S MY UNCLE! Kick her butt uncle Qrow!
Weiss: Wha- uh, teach him respect, Winter!
The were almost moving to fast to follow. Luckily, slowing down my perception of time is a thing. They split apart, and had a bit of a staredown. It was just then that I noticed Ironwood coming. Winter didn't notice, but Qrow did. He put away his sword, and beckoned to Winter. Of course, she took it as a taunt and used glyphs to launch herself forward. Her sword was about to hit him in the face, whe-
Ironwood: Schnee!
She stopped a couple of millimeters from his throat. Then, she snapped to attention.
Ironwood: What do you think you two are doing?
Winter: He started the altercation, sir!
Qrow: Actually, she attacked first.
Rocket: Are you counting verbal attacks as an attack?
Ironwood: Winter follow me, now. And Qrow, what are you doing here?
With that, Ironwood walked away, leaving Qrow standing in the middle of th-
Ruby: UNCLE QROOOOOW!
Ruby held onto her uncle's arm. She was barely small enough that she could hang onto to his arm, held straight out to the side, and not touch the ground.
Ruby: Hi. Oh, it's so good to see you! Did you miss me? Huh!? Did you miss me?!
Qrow looked at his niece for a second.
Qrow: Nah.
They both laughe-
Ozpin: Qrow. A word, please?
Qrow: I think I'm in trouble…
Ruby: You did kind of destroy our courtyard.
They looked over at a crater that had been made during the fight.
Qrow: Yah, I guess I did. I'll catch you later, kid.
With that, he lowered his arm, letting Ruby slip off.
Weiss: And suddenly your recklessness makes sense.
Ruby: You're just mad cause he kicked her butt.
Weiss: Hey, that was a DRAW at best!
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POV: Omniscient
Qrow and Winter had been split up to be disciplined. Qrow had been scolded by Glynda and Ozpin, while Ironwood listened to the whole story from Winter, and waited for the other group. Winter was pacing. Ironwood was standing behind where she was pacing. The elevator dinged. The door opened. Qrow stepped out, with Glynda and Ozpin behind him.
Ironwood: What were you thinking!? If you were one of my men, I would have you SHOT.
Qrow: If I was one of YOUR men, I'd shoot myself.
Glynda: Well, it certainly didn't help with Winter reacting as she did.
Winter: He was drunk!
Glynda: HE'S ALWAYS DRUNK.
They looked over, hearing a gulping sound. They saw Qrow drinking out of a canteen. They could smell the faint scent of vodka radiating from the bottle. He noticed them looking at him, and simply stopped drinking, looked up, and shrugged.
Ozpin: Qrow, why are you here?
Ironwood: You've been out of contact for weeks! You can't just go dark like that in the field.
Qrow: I'm not one of your "Special operatives", Jimmy.
Winter: That's GENERAL to you.
Qrow: Whatever. You sent me to get intel on the enemy. I'm telling you, our enemy is here.
Ironwood: We know.
Qrow: Oh! You know! Well thank goodness I'm out there, risking my life, to keep you all INFORMED!
Ironwood: Qrow!
Qrow got out his scroll.
Qrow: Communication 's a two way street pal. See that? THAT'S THE SEND BUTTON.
Winter: They had reasons to assume you had been compromised.
Qrow: And I have reasons to assume you don't need to be here. Seriously, who invited her?
Ironwood: *Sigh* Schnee, we'll discuss this back on the ship.
Winter: Yes sir.
Winter walked by Qrow and glared at him. He simply winked back. As soon as she was gone, everyone just looked at Qrow.
Ironwood: Go on.
Qrow: Your little infiltrator isn't just another pawn. They're the ones responsible for Autumn's condition.
Glynda: What?
Qrow took a deep breath, and thought for a second before speaking.
Qrow: Despite what the world thinks, we aren't just teachers, headmasters, or generals. The people in this room, the other two headmasters, we're the ones keeping the world safe from the evils no one even knows about. It's why we meet behind closed doors, and work from the shadows.
He walked over to right in front of Ironwood.
Qrow: So you tell me, James. When you brought your army to Vale, did you think you were being discreet, or did you just not give a damn?
Ironwood just stared for a second, then got out his scroll and placed it on the table.
Ironwood: Discreet wasn't working. I'm here because this is what was necessary.
Qrow: You're here, because Ozpin wanted you here! He made you a part of the inner circle, and opened your eyes to the real fight in front of us-
Ironwood: And I am grateful.
Qrow: Well, you've got a real funny way of showing it.
Ironwood: The people of Vale needed someone to protect them. Someone who would act. When they look to the sky and see my fleet, they feel safe, and our enemies will feel our strength.
Qrow just started laughing.
Ironwood: What?
Qrow: You think they care about your little ships? I've been out there and I've seen the things she's made, and let me tell you. They are fear.
Ozpin: And fear will bring the grimm. A guardian is a symbol of comfort. An army is a symbol of conflict. There's an energy in the air now, a little question in the back of everyone's heads: "If this is the size of our defenses, what is it we are expecting to fight?"
Ironwood looked around, and the irritated faces around him. He walked over and picked up his scroll. Just before he touched it, though, the symbol of a queen chess piece appeared. No one noticed it before it disappeared.
Ironwood: So what would you suggest we do?
Ozpin: I suggest that we find our guardian.