'Hazredous' Interruptions

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha / RWBY

Chapter 33 - Family

"Tell me, Ca-det Rose!" Nanoha paced back and forth in front of Ruby, her pink-winged footsteps still seeming to clap loudly on empty air. "What is the difference between a defensive barrier and a defensive shield spell!?" Her voice was loud and direct, projecting in a way that Ruby had never heard from the TSAB mage before.

They were floating in the center of Beacon's training arena, a dozen yards in the air. Scores of people filled the stands; students and professors both had turned out to watch Ruby's first practical magic session. There is no more secret, not after recent events, Ozpin had said, and Lindy had agreed. Let them see what your magic can do, and let them see one of Remnant's own learning to use it.

"A defensive barrier is omnidirectional and defends you from all sides! A shield spell is stronger but only defends from one direction!" Ruby belted the words back out as clearly as she could, and was rewarded with Nanoha's- no, Captain Takamachi's narrow-eyed glare. "Sir!" Ruby hastily amended.

"And what is the defense provided by a Barrier Jacket, Cadet Rose?"

"S-sir! A Barrier Jacket is a mage's last line of defense! It's a- a field type defense that dampens incoming attacks and environmental effects."

"Good answer, cadet!" Nanoha spun in place to face her. "The purpose of this exercise is to develop the judgment needed to invoke the appropriate defense against incoming attacks. You are to hold your position, and use the proper defensive spell against the attacks being sent toward you. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir! Bardiche, are you ready?"

"Compatibility optimized. Magilink interface online at forty five percent base. Get set."

"Excellent. Raising Heart!"

"Yes, my master!"

"Divine shooter!"

"I wouldn't have guessed her the type," Ironwood commented, watching as the first bolts of pink magic detonated on Ruby's glyph-like shield, "but Takamachi is a regular drill sergeant up there."

"Nanoha had just graduated from Aerial Tactical Instructor Corps a few months before the Arthra's last deployment. Her own instructor is still fresh in her mind, I'm certain." Lindy sipped her tea, unphased as a blast of power washed the stands in light. "My, my. Ruby just layered Round Shields to block a Divine Buster.

Next to her, Fate made a face. "If Nanoha was focused on winning and not teaching, she'd hit Ruby with a bind first."

"You're just salty that Nanoha doesn't play nice with you, Testarossa." Signum didn't grin, but the sardonic amusement in her tone was plain as day. Lindy couldn't help but laugh.

"Accel Shooter!" Nanoha voice rang out over the cheers and exclamations from the stands. Lindy sipped her tea.

"Here we go."

Ruby tumbled through the air, one hand pressed to the back of her head. If she hadn't known better, she'd have thought it was Nora's Magnhild that had caught her, not a single one of Nanoha's shooter bolts.

"Cadet Rose, what did you do wrong there?"

She shook her head clear. "Sir! I was not able to bring up shields fast enough to block all your shooter bolts!"

`Nanoha drifted in front of her, arms crossed over her chest and Raising Heart dangling easily from one hand. The scowl on her face was legendary, and her lips set in a thin line for a moment. "While not the answer I was looking for, I am forced to acknowledge that you are technically correct. Cadet Rose, when being assaulted on all sides the proper defensive measure is a barrier spell. Why didn't you use Defenser?"

"Because my linker core's not strong enough to maintain Defenser's integrity against sustained bombardment from you, sir! Use of pinpoint shields was my only tactically viable option!"

"Affirmative."

From the stands, they heard Vita shout. "Nanoha, a military bunker can't withstand a sustained assault from you!"

"Is that so?" Nanoha flitted back and up until there were a dozen yards between them, looking down from above. "Then I'm going to have to demonstrate the difference between an exercise and tactical viability.

"Raising Heart! Excelion Mode!"

"Yes, my master!"

"Oh, no." Fate covered her face, watching through her fingers. Ruby threw out her hand, and round shields layered themselves between her and Nanoha, a half dozen spinning circles.

Summer glanced at her, concern evident in her glowing eyes. "What?"

"Nanoha's making a point."

"Divine buster! Break shoot!"

"Nya~haha, I think I may have overdone it." Nanoha's settled to the ground, sheepishly rubbing the back of her head. Her voice was back to its normal tone, instead of the strident bark of a drill sergeant.

"What was your first clue?!" Weiss had to wave her hand in front of her face to ward off the dust, climbing down into the crater left in the training arena's floor to retrieve her teammate. "What was that even for?"

Ruby's coughing let her find the girl quickly enough, and when her hands found fabric she felt Ruby jerk, grabbing onto her arm. "Wha- what just happened? Weiss, is that you?"

"It's me. Come on, let's get you out of here."

"What happened? I was putting up round shields, and then- there was just pink, and…" Ruby wobbled upright, and Weiss pulled the girl's arm over her shoulders to help her stand. Together they staggered up the sloping edge of the crater. By the time they got to level ground the dust was beginning to settle, and they were greeted by the sight of Professor Goodwitch laying into Nanoha verbally, quoting terms like 'inappropriate use of force'.

Weiss guided Ruby toward a bench, trying to ignore the developing argument behind her. Different instruction styles. Nanoha is a soldier, Professor Goodwitch is a teacher.

"...head of Vale Emergency Response Services has stated that the disaster relief operations in the affected region of Vale have shifted their primary focus from rescue to recovery. He has also stated that any assistance from civilians is still appreciated, but to please contact your local disaster relief center for coordination."

The news anchor turned in her chair, flawlessly shifting her gaze to a new camera angle. "In related news, the spokesman for a new Faunus relations group, one Richard Xerxes, released a press statement in response to the White Fang's terrible assault on Vale."

The image changed, resolving into a tall, well-built man with lion ears half hidden in his well-groomed, mane-like brown hair. His clothes were smeared with char and concrete powder, and in the street behind him emergency crews could be seen clearing debris from a collapsed building front. "Ten years ago, the White Fang was a noble movement dedicated to the betterment of Faunus rights across all of Remnant. Now, however, they are nothing more than a terrorist group, and their actions here in Vale have demonstrated that for the world to see."

He turned, gesturing broadly at the devastation. "They no longer seek equality; they seek domination. If they cannot achieve that, they seek destruction. They would widen the divide between Humankind and Faunuskind, to make the world over decide that we are all the monsters they portray. To this my organization, Bastion, says this shall not stand.

"To the White Fang, I tell you this; we are your foe. Where you rise in your hatred and bigotry, we will be there; implacable. When you try to hurt those who would just live their lives, we will be the shield that stops you. You have shown your true face this day, but you do not represent Faunuskind.

"To all of humanity, I give you this message; we are not your enemies. We would be your friends and allies. We would work with you, beside you, together to lift all of us above the horrors perpetrated by discrimination and hostility."

The screen blinked again, reverting to Lisa Lavender's ever-unimpressed facade. "There you have it. Will this new Faunus organization be the key to better relations between our people and the Faunus? Or will they fail like others before them? Or worse yet, will they become the very thing they claim to hate? Only time will tell."

With a tap of his finger, Ozpin killed the feed, waiting. He wasn't disappointed; only a moment or two later, his scroll started buzzing in his hands. Recognizing the caller, he held it to his ear. "Mr. Xerxes. I see that you have thrown down the gauntlet, so to speak."

"I did. I admit it wasn't as clean and as diplomatic as I wanted it to be, but the timing made the statement necessary. It figures that Lavender had to be so inflammatory afterword."

"Indeed. The media's craving for ratings means that they will turn anything into a subject of heated debate. It can be irritating at the best of times, and crippling at the worst."

"They asked me about those super-huntsmen that showed up during the battle, too. The rumor mills are buzzing all over about them."

"I am aware. I assume this is not a courtesy call, Mr. Xerxes?"

"You aren't going to be able to put the reporters off forever, Headmaster. But yes, down to business. As you so succinctly put it, I've thrown down the gauntlet. The White Fang will be gunning for us, as much as we're aiming for them. I'd like to talk to you about the first steps of Academy support for my people."

Ozpin leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. "What do you have in mind?"

"Material logistics we can handle on our own, at least so far. But my people don't have the training to make the best use of the gear we use. We need combat training, Headmaster. If we're going to be able to fight and win, we need to have a leg up on the enemy."

"Understandable. Give me some time to speak with my professors and the other headmasters, and I will have an answer for you soon."

"Thank you. Also, one more thing. A close associate of mine has recovered a person of interest. I would like to transfer her to your custody as soon as possible."

That made his eyebrows raise a little. "I see. If you would prefer, I can send trusted personnel to assist in the transfer."

"Admiral on site!"

Lindy returned the salute quickly, striding through the checkpoint into the Arthra's hangar. "At ease, Captain."

"Ma'am." Captain Raytheon lowered his arm, falling into step behind her. "How are things Academy side?"

"Not nearly as bad as they could be. Galant is nearly recovered from his injuries, and is back on light duty." The commanding officer of Mage Team Beta was a good leader, always balancing professionalism with concern for his subordinates. Lindy took the moment to assure him before moving on. "The VIPs made it here without incident?"

"Yes, ma'am. The software updates on the datapad Aria delivered are being installed as we speak. In the absence of a functional drive core, we're attempting to interface a Lightning Dust generator with our comm equipment. Specialist Schnee is proving to be an absolute godsend with her knowledge of Dust mechanics."

"Exactly what I wanted to hear, Captain. Do we have an ETA on operational capacity?"

"As far as I understand it, the array should be ready for its first activation attempt momentarily. The crew is… hopeful, ma'am. Morale is higher than it has been since Miss Rose threw that party for us."

"Well if it won't be a problem then, I would like to be there for the activation." Lindy flashed a grin at the captain, and got a small smile in response.

The interior of the Arthra was still dark; even the red emergency lights lining the hallways were off. Raytheon led the way, using his storage device to generate a lantern-like glow. It felt oddly strange for Lindy to follow him through the corridors; the Arthra had been home for over a decade now, but she was surprised to feel a little bit alienated by the unadorned metal walls. Hm. Civilian life, cover story though it may be, seems to have left a mark on me.

The bridge, when they reached it, was filled with activity. Battery-powered work lights cast harsh white light across the spherical chamber, spaced widely enough to eliminate any hint of shadows. The main communications console was wide open, protective panels removed from the sides to let several of the Arthra's technicians tinker around with the innards. A half-dozen more crewmembers were checking connections to the ship's comm array.

In the center of the chamber, large device of obviously Remnant technology had been erected. It stood nearly as tall as Lindy, box-like, with translucent panels along the sides glowing a dim blue color. Winter Schnee was lying on her back underneath it, her uniform discarded for grease-smeared overalls and a tank top. Lindy could hear a ratchet grinding in time with her motions. "Come on you- there!"

Lindy let the amused smile stay on her face as the specialist hauled herself out from underneath the generator. "We're plugged in and ready to- Admiral Harlaown!" Winter scrambled to her feet, offering a salute which Lindy returned.

"No need to stand on ceremony, Ms. Schnee. You just said things are ready?"

"Yes, ma'am."

The chief engineer caught her attention, drawing her over to the comm console and offering her the seat. "We're ready to go live. Would you like to do the honors, Admiral?"

"If you insist." Lindy sat down, taking a moment to make sure her uniform jacket was straight. The engineers threw a few switches; the console let out a few snaps and hisses, and for a moment there was the odor of burning dust. Then the displays started to warm up, glowing with power for the first time in months.

With only a little bit of show, the chief engineer handed her a physical microphone. "FTL comms are still down, but this should be able to transmit to orbit. We're set to broadcast and receive on the TSAB G-band. She's all yours, Admiral."

Lindy didn't let her trepidation show. This is only the first attempt, after all. I'm sure there are a lot of bugs to work out in interfacing a Dust generator with the ship's power systems. She pressed her thumb down on the transmit button, holding the microphone to her lips. "This is Arthra, broadcasting live. Warding Gesture, are you receiving, over."

For a few long heartbeat there was nothing. Then the speakers crackled harshly, and a staticky but familiar voice came over the line. "Arthra, this is Warding Gesture, reading you. Good to hear your voice, Lindy."

The relief that flooded through her was tangible, and she felt the weight of weeks of worry slide off her slumping shoulders. Two months of uncertainty that she hadn't allowed herself to show finally started to drain away. "It's good to hear your voice, Gil."

I hate guard duty.

Still, she kept her grumbling to herself, arms folded over her chest and watching as Team STRQ bustled about in the weapon maintenance room. Taiyang was leaning against the wall next to her, and as much as he was trying to hide it she could see the discontent there.

Summer and Raven had taken over two of the stations, their respective weapons stripped down to pieces and scattered over the tabletops. Raven's oodachi was an impressive piece of work, Vita had to admit. The sword's cylindrical scabbard held over two dozen telescoping blades, each one alloyed with a given flavor of Dust. The detachable blades were designed to be disposable; an appropriately Aura-empowered strike would activate the Dust worked into the metal, detonating the length in a shaped explosion of fire or lightning or whatever the specific blade was made from.

Summer's weapon was a pair of hand-scythes, attached to lengthy chains that bolted to her bracers, and each one sported a fitting for vials of powdered Dust. 'They're my Lovely Companions', the woman said when Vita had asked what they were called. Simpler than Raven's sword, but just as deadly in their own way.

A discard bin between their stations was filled with bits and pieces of the huntress' weapons; individual links of heavy chain, gears from the oodachi's intricate revolver mechanism, and other odd scraps. Slow wear would take their toll on even the most hardy equipment, and this was the first chance in a decade to bring their weapons back up to perfect condition.

They were also arguing quietly with Qrow. Summer and Raven wanted to strike back against the Grimm Queen Salem, having quietly and carefully built a list of targets over the years; corrupted officials in the four kingdoms, compromised infrastructure that was either willingly or unwillingly feeding resources into her goals, and much more. Qrow was strenuously advisingagainst acting rashly and quickly, but it was clear to Vita that the two huntresses were of like mind.

"Look," Qrow was saying, "I understand where you're coming from. One way or the other, you're finally out in the open. The secret's out, and you want to move while they're still reeling. I get it. But now? Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously! Their forces are still scattered all over Remnant, and we've got the chance to take some of them out now before they can regroup! The timing couldn't be better, Qrow!" Summer slid a vial of Burn Dust home with a satisfying click.

"Summer, for fuck's sake! You just popped back into our lives, into Ruby and Yang's lives! Are you really saying the best thing you can do right now is to just vanish? You'll tear their hearts right out of their chests! Again!"

Summer flinched as if struck, then fixed Qrow with a glare through the glow around her eyes. "That was a low blow, Branwen."

"Yeah, and I'm also right." Qrow crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat.

They were interrupted by a knock at the door, three sharp taps. Ignoring Raven's scrambling as she reached for one of her blades, Vita turned and opened the door. "Chrono."

Chrono nodded to her as he stepped through. "Vita. Anything to report?"

The room had gone silent. "Nothing important. The girls are chomping at the bit to take the fight to the enemy, Qrow's telling them why that's a bad idea." She could see Raven was on her feet and glaring at her, jaw clenched. "Sit down, Deadbeat. I've gotten the stink eye from scarier than you."

"Yagami." Chrono gave her one short glance out of the corner of his eye. Speaking of the devil.

Vita shrugged and let it go, leaning back against the wall. "Right, right. Don't antagonize the locals."

Chrono shook his head, turning toward STRQ. "I'm afraid that I have news that is going to render this discussion moot. Ms. Rose, you can confirm that the Maiden power allows for manipulation of weather conditions, correct?"

"I… yes. I can generate cold weather; blizzards and snowstorms, bitter cold, anything you would experience during the winter months. The other maidens would be able to create weather that you would expect to see during their respective seasons."

"Can you counter another Maiden's weather manipulations? Because I just received word that the hurricane over Patch is strengthening again, and is once again moving toward Vale's coast."

Summer cursed, looking away for a moment. "...yes, I can. But I'll have to remain in the area during the entire time. If Briar and Yasmine are working together, I can blunt the storm but I won't be able to stop it completely."

Chrono nodded. "Vita. Stick with Summer Rose. I'll shake Nanoha loose from training Ruby to work with you. Where Ms. Rose goes, you follow. Clear?"

"Crystal, sir!" Vita threw a happy salute, grinning. It was always good to be paired with Nanoha; they made a great team, after all. "Who's going to be to be working with Ruby?"

"I'll take up the slack for the moment. Once the twins are back from the Arthra, I'll let them take over."

When Emerald woke up, the first thing she noticed was the tightness of restraints around her wrists and ankles. The second thing she noticed was a firm, almost uncomfortable mattress underneath her, her head resting on a foam pillow. The smell of antiseptic suffused the air, giving her an idea of where she was.

To her left, she heard the faint sound of paper sliding over paper. Trying to stay as still as possible, she cracked her eye open and glanced to the side. Yuuno Scrya was sitting in a chair there, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose and reading from a thick textbook.

With some trepidation, she glanced to the right. Arf Harlaown was sitting on the opposite side of her bed, glaring at her; there was the faintest hint of teeth visible behind her lips, and Emerald could feel the growl rumbling from her throat.

Scrya flipped the page without looking up. "Arf, be nice."

The faunus girl snorted, crossing her arms and leaning back. "She's awake, Yuuno."

"I'm aware."

Shit.

"Sustrai." Yuuno slid a bookmark into the text, then closed it and set it aside. "How are you feeling?"

Emerald let her eyes open fully. Centered on the ceiling tiles was the crossed axe sigil of Beacon Academy, confirming all too clearly exactly where she was. "...what happened?"

"Someone found you badly injured in the sewer system underneath Vale's commercial district, very close to the terrorist breach. You were brought here. I imagine you understand why." There was a small pause. "Why did Mercury Black attack you, Emerald?"

"I don't know what you're talking abo-"

A plastic bag flew into her field of view, dropping down toward her chest. Emerald flinched back, steeling herself for the pain-

-that never came. The baggy hit her chest with a thump, but all she felt was the weight of it landing. "Collapsed ribcage from a kick to the chest, and Shamal spent half an hour pulling these out of your lungs." Arf came into her field of view, snatching the bag back and holding it over her eyes. Inside were dozens of tiny steel pellets. "Pull the other leg, Sustrai. It's got bells on it."

"You're lucky to be alive," Scrya said. "Mercury tried to kill you."

Emerald squeezed her eyes shut, pulling fitfully at the leather straps holding her arms down. They didn't budge at all; they didn't even stretch. "Why do I feel so weak?"

She heard the door open. "Because I put a limiter on you, Emerald." Emerald raised her head to see Shamal Yagami walk into the room, tapping industriously at a window of light that hovered next to her, following her as she moved. "Your linker core, the part of you that is the source of your Aura, is restrained."

Emerald stayed silent, not trusting herself to say anything. The sense of wrongness creeping through her limbs, like cold molasses, became all too apparent. She didn't dare speak for the fear that was fighting to tear its way out of her throat, knowing that if she let it win she wouldn't stop screaming. Her hands shook, hard enough to make the bed's frame squeak and complain.

Shamal watched her for a moment, unreadable. "I will be blunt, Emerald. You are in the custody of the Time Space Administrative Bureau. The only reason you will leave this room will be to go where we take you. You will be going to trial; not before a jury of your peers, but before a military tribunal that will hear the facts of the incident you have been part of, and that will render judgment accordingly. Whether you are punished strictly or are granted some form of leniency will be dependent entirely on whether or not you decide to cooperate with us in the investigation and capture of Cinder Fall.

"Make no mistake, Emerald. It is only a matter of time before we find her. Your cooperation will be appreciated, but is it not required." Shamal waved a hand through the panel of light before her, and it vanished. "Do you understand what I have told you?"

Emerald let her head fall back onto the pillow, feeling her lips draw into a line. She gave a short, sharp nod.

"Good. Enforcer Fate T. Harlaown will be here within the hour to question you." Shamal turned for the door, but paused at the threshold. "I suggest you think very hard on your next decisions, Emerald. The TSAB will judge you fairly, as long as you give them reason to do so."

The door closed behind her.

"You are certain that you''ll be able to keep the storm at bay, Ms. Rose?"

Ozpin's office was just like Summer remembered it, except for one glaring detail. His glass-topped desk, the surface of which was hardlinked to the CCTS tower's systems, had been moved away from the center of the circular room, pushed against a wall and a cloth draped over it. In its place was a simple wooden desk.

Outside the windows, the sky was still clear and blue. Summer couldn't yet see the approaching storm bands, but she could feel them tugging at the back of her mind; antithetical, purely in opposition to the Maiden's power nestled in her core. "Once it's closer, yes. It's still a little outside of my… range? I can't manipulate it from here. Probably another day or so." Summer put a hand on the curving window. "It would be best if I do so from the highest place that I can. You don't mind me, uh… shacking up in here, do you?"

"Not at all. I will have some basic furniture moved up here for the comfort of you and your guardians." Ozpin nodded toward Raven; the huntress was doing her absolute best to ignore the two TSAB mages Chrono had assigned.

Flashes of light caught Summer's eye. Curving through the air was a streak of bright blue, being followed close behind by another streak of energetic red. Squinting, she could make out figures; Chrono Harlaown and Ruby.

It looked like a game of tag, or a race. The two arced and dived through the air, faster than cars could drive on flat road. They dipped out of sight, and a moment later surged back into view, Ruby now in the lead. Even from a hundred feet away, Summer could see the sheer joy and excitement on her daughter's face.

She felt Nanoha walked up behind her. "Maneuverability training," the mage said, her smile obvious in her voice. "It looks like she's really enjoying herself. The freedom of the open sky, it does that. I don't know what I'd do without it, honestly."

Summer nodded slowly. "It's strange, you know."

"What is?"

"The power of flight. It's… you have to understand, it's alien to us. Only the Maidens have ever had the capability to fly under their own power. A month ago, I would have dreaded seeing Ruby being able to do so, because it would have meant that she was a Maiden herself." She laughed, a hollow sound. "Which also would have likely meant that I'd be dead myself, but that's beside the point."

"With all the stigma attached to it, you mean. Being hunted for your power."

"Exactly."

The game ended a few moments later, and then Ruby caught sight of them through the window. She flew over to hover outside, smiling breathlessly and pressing her hands against the glass. Summer couldn't hear her through the curved pane, but the intent was obvious. Come fly with me!

"Can I? Is it really that… simple?" Summer bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder.

Vita had already shouldered Graf Eisen, and Raising Heart gleamed brightly in Nanoha's hands. Raven pursed her lips, but didn't dissuade her. Ozpin simply gave her a nod and a faint smile.

Her trembling hands found the latch, and she slid the window open. Chill gusts of winter power buoyed her, and she leapt out into the open air. Ruby swept up next to her, grabbing her hand, and together they shot up into the blue sky.

The rushing wind made her eyes water, but it couldn't steal the laughter from her lips. For the first time in her life, Summer flew freely, simply for the joy of it.

It was very rare that James Ironwood actually sat in the command chair of his personal cruiser. Admittedly, he was not the captain of the vessel; that position belonged to a trusted subordinate, and James didn't like to step on the man's toes when he didn't need to. Also, he tended to work standing up. Practice as one means to continue, as the saying went, and he took the saying to heart and preferred to think on his feet.

As such, it was a common sight to see James pacing back and forth on the bridge of his cruiser, typically with a datapad in his hand as he kept himself up to date on Blue Squadron's reports. Today was no exception, as he tabbed through and approved bulk equipment requisitions; ammunition resupply forms, repair and replacement requests for damaged and destroyed knights, and reshuffling duty squads to take into account the injured. The Battle for Vale had left its mark on the fleet as well as the city itself, in its own way.

The endless cycle of battle-readiness.

"General Ironwood," the communications officer called for his attention, "Priority one missive from White Squadron."

White Squadron was the name for the Atlas Fleet assets dedicated to Schnee Dust Company primary interests. Normally that squadron was stationed at Atlas proper, but for very specific reasons White Squadron would deploy in force.

Where Geffroy Schnee went, White Squadron followed. The CEO of the Atlas Military's primary arms supplier deserved no less than that. "Put it through to my scroll."

"Yes, sir."

James waited for the encryption to decipher, reading the message once it appeared. White Squadron requests confirmation that Vale airspace is secure. ETA two hours. "Son of a bitch."

"Sir?"

"General Slate is up to his usual games." Is a little advanced warning too much to ask for? You've always been an asshole, Slate. "Patch me through to the Vale Council and Headmaster Ozpin both, please. Main screen."

"Yes, sir." The comm officer turned back to his console, tapping in commands, and the forward screen's display of Blue Squadron's relative positions blanked out. Moments later it was replaced by a split screen.

The trio of Vale's council members backlit by bright lights, as usual. Always playing for theatrics, I swear. It's not like I don't know who you all are. The other side of the screen connected as well, showing Ozpin's face. "Headmaster, Council members. I apologize for the short timeframe, but I have been informed that Atlesian Fleet assets are enroute to Vale airspace. They're expecting to cross the border in two hours time."

"We did not put in a request for additional Atlas support, General Ironwood," one of the council members said. "Why does Atlas feel the need to reinforce your position?" Ozpin, for his part, was silent, content to listen for the moment.

"The assets in question are designated as White Squadron; two cruisers and their attached support vessels dedicated to Schnee Dust Company escort operations. I can only assume that we can expect a visit from the SDC's CEO himself. As soon as his business in Vale is concluded, the squadron will return to Atlas."

"Regardless, Vale will be expressing its displeasure with the lack of diplomatic effort put forth by Atlas today. Thank you for the warning, General Ironwood." The Council half of the screen went black as they disconnected.

Ozpin stayed on the line, pursing his lips. "I can think of very few reasons for Geffroy Schnee to travel overseas, James."

"You and me both, Oz. I'll give her the heads up."

Weiss nearly dropped her scissors when her scroll chimed loudly, rattling in place on the bathroom counter. She set the scissors down, picking up her scroll and reading the screen.

Blue One? Who the hell is Blue One? With a flick of her thumb, she let the call connect and held it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Ms. Schnee? This is General Ironwood."

Weiss' eyes widened, and the social training she'd been subjected to for most of her life took over. "Ah- hello, General. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I'm afraid there's no pleasure to be had here, Ms. Schnee. I'm calling to warn you that your father is expected to arrive in Vale in two hours. You're the only reason Headmaster Ozpin and I can think of that he would bother to come all this way."

Weiss felt the blood drain out of her face, and her grip on her scroll tightened enough that the frame complained in her ear. "I- I see. Thank you for the courtesy, General Ironwood. If you'll excuse me, I need to-" No, no no. He's coming to take me home. "-to prepare for his arrival."

"I understand, Ms. Schnee. You understand that, officially, my hands are tied. But, whatever you decide to do, you have my full personal support, for whatever it's worth."

"Th-thank you. I mean that. Have a good day, General Ironwood."

"Have a good day, Ms. Schnee."

For a moment after the call disconnected, Weiss still held the scroll against her ear. The next moment the device was sailing through the open bathroom door, propelled along with her strangled scream to impact against the far wall of the dorm. "NO! No, I won't- I'm a student at Beacon, I'm here of my own-"

She brought her hands up to her face, feeling the first hot tears and knowing they were making a mess of her makeup. Through her fingers, she could see herself in the mirror. Her hair was down, freshly washed; she'd finally been about to trim off the tips that had been singed by Holika and Briar's flames. "I'm… coming to Beacon was my choice, not yours. You can't- you can't take this away from me. You won't."

Words the like of which she'd spoken in before. Always in private, always in the safety of her own room where the manor's servants, or Dust forbid her own father would never hear. Words that always trailed away to whispers in the back of her mind, rattling about unheeded whenever her father would tell her what was coming next.

Not this time. I'm not your biddable daughter anymore! I'm- "I'm a huntress, and that's all I want to be."

Her hands found the scissors again.

Zafira was on his feet, shifting to human form in an instant to answer the door. Peering through the peephole, he raised an eyebrow and let the door open. "Weiss. Can I help you?"

Weiss nodded, giving her jacket a sharp tug as she stepped into the room. Zafira could detect the lingering salt of tears, but behind her bangs her eyes were clear and bright, if a little red. "Yes. I know you're… busy with staying near Hayate, but… I need your services, Zafira. If you could please."

Hayate waved at her from her desk, smiling. "It's fine, Zafira. Signum's around, she can take over for a little while since you four insist on having one of you near me at all times now."

"Yes, Mistress Hayate." Zafira turned back to her, ignoring Weiss' perked eyebrow. "What would you have of me, Weiss?"

Weiss gave her head a shake, and produced a One-Lien card. "I need you to accept this payment from me and enter into a formal bodyguard contract. I'm not trying to insult your sensibilities by assuming you would ever require payment, but I need to pay you to make it official."

That brought him up short. Zafira tilted his head, and plucked the card from Weiss' fingers. He stared at it for a moment, then looked back at her. "What in the world would you need toofficially contract my services for?"

"My father-" Weiss closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out. Zafira smelled the change in her scent as her nervousness spiked for a moment. "My father is coming to Beacon. I know my father, the only reason he'd be coming here would be to make me go back to Atlas with him. I need to show him that I am not only capable of making my own decisions, but able to procure protection better than anything he can provide. Even if it's just a ruse."

Zafira rumbled out a laugh, taking the moment to slide the card into his wallet. "I accept the contract you are offering, Weiss Schnee. Where you go, I will follow, and you will not go anywhere that you do not wish to."

Weiss let out another breath, but this one was of pure relief. "Thank you, Zafira."

"A moment, if you will."

"What do you-" Weiss stepped back in surprise as Zafira glowed white. He didn't get any taller, but his form bulked out visibly as he reverted to his 'natural' age. "O-oh. I forgot you were that… big when we first met."

"If I am going to be your bodyguard, I should fully look the part." Zafira nodded to her, gesturing out the door. "Lead the way."

Weiss nodded, and turned to leave. Zafira followed her down the hall, and for just a moment he glanced at the bare skin of her neck. "If I may ask, why did you-"

"To make statements, Zafira. Just like having you with me will be."

The crater in the floor had been repaired thanks to Professor Goodwitch, and the precipitation of pinkish Dust that had resulted from Nanoha's over-exuberant lessons had been swept away and secured in hazard canisters for further research. Once again, the training arena was spotless and pristine, ready for students to use. As such, Jaune had been caught short when he found the massive chamber empty. Team JNPR was the only team present.

No one really felt like sparring, though, and the four of them were sitting in the center of the arena in a loose circle. Crocea Mors stayed idle in its scabbard, Milo and Akouo sat quietly on Pyrrha's back, Stormflower remained hidden in Ren's sleeves, and Nora was sitting on Magnhild's head.

The little berserkette was wearing a surprisingly pensive expression, her brow furrowed while she rolled a training grenade back and forth between her hands.

Ren actually reached over and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "You okay, Nora?"

"What? Yeah, yeah, I'm totally okay. Right as rain! Doesn't even hurt!" She slapped herself on the belly, putting on a grin.

Pyrrha caught Jaune's eye, pursing her lips. He shrugged a little helplessly, but decided to chime in. "...are you sure? That was… that was a hell of a fight we were just in. We almost died, all of us."

Nora's fidgeting stilled, and she huffed out a sigh and held out her hand, fingers spread. "My hands won't stop shaking. I don't like it."

Jaune and Pyrrha both quietly held out their hands in response, their fingers trembling visibly. "You're not alone there, Nora. It hit us all pretty hard." Nora slept through Pyrrha having a nightmare last night. Ren probably noticed, though.

The four of them fell silent, and for a moment there wasn't any sound. Then the silence shattered, straining guitar riffs echoing through the room. "That's no way to be, kids!"

They all jerked their heads toward the entrance. Reinforce was flying toward them, her tiny blue book floating next to her and blasting out music as loudly as a stereo system. "C'mon, Team JNPR! Up and at 'em!"

"What do you mean, Rein?" Pyrrha blinked, having to crane her neck a little to follow the doll-sized girl's flight.

"I mean you can't let something like this get you down! Yes it's scary, but you're all strong people! You just gotta get back on the horse!" She flew a wide circle around them, pumping her arm to the heavy drum beats coming from her book. "Let's do a lap! Follow meee~!"

The tiny girl's cheer was infectious. Nora grinned a little, tapping her foot to the beat, and then shot to her feet. Pyrrha laughed, and Jaune couldn't help but shake his head and smile. He stood, bounced on his toes, and reached down to grab Pyrrha's offered hands and pull her to her feet.

He pulled a little too hard in his enthusiasm, and Pyrrha was airborne for a moment, laughing even louder when her feet touched the ground. Jaune grinned at her and took off after Reinforce, waving the others along. "All right, then. C'mon, team! A lap it is!"

Ruby had come to a conclusion regarding true magical flight.

It was the most liberating feeling she'd ever experienced. While not quite as fast as her semblance, the sheer freedom of motion was unparalleled, and the feeling of actual wind on her face and tugging at her clothes was something that her semblance had always spared her from experiencing. It was a joy like few things she'd experienced before.

It was also tiring, and she could feel exhaustion spreading through her limbs. With a bit more effort than she was expecting, she arrested her forward motion and alighted atop the very peak of the dorm building, waving to her mom and Vita and Nanoha as they peeled off to fly back to Headmaster Ozpin's office. Gonna have to get better at managing my power, I can't fly and fight at the same time for very long.

With a sigh of relief, she sat down on the peak of the roof, enjoying the view across Beacon's campus. She could see students scattered far below, and realized that some of them had been watching her fly the entire time. I hope I'm not making people jealous. Still, when some of them realized she was looking down at them, they waved, and she cheerfully returned the favor.

Bardiche rested across her knees, the gem flashing brightly in the afternoon sun. "How'd I do?" She asked the device.

"Flight performance acceptable given Linker Core output. Mage Rank A minus prowess is possible with time and practice."

"Rank A! That's really good, right? What rank is Fate?"

"Sir is listed as Mage Rank S plus."

"So I've only got like, one or two ranks to go, right?" Ruby let out a cheer, thrusting one arm into the air.

"Negative. All ranks have plus and minus modifiers. Rank A, Double A, Triple A, S, Double S, Triple S. No known mages in TSAB space have achieved the rank of Triple S."

"Oh. But A minus rank is still really good?"

"Yes, sir."

Ruby let herself be satisfied with that. After all, not everyone can be a super-detective from space! And Fate's one of the best out there. She hummed to herself, watching the airships as they launched and landed at Beacon's airdocks.

Ruby blinked. There were two Atlesian Battlecruisers approaching the airdock, flanking an extravagant civilian vessel. They weren't the ones that had been floating around the city for weeks now; they bore different markings, and when Bardiche helpfully magnified the image in her barrier jacket's visor, she could see they were designated White One and White Two. "Huh. What's going on down there?"

Ruby set her eyes on the civilian airship as it broke formation and settled toward the airdock tarmac. Bardiche magnified the view again, and the insignia of the Schnee Dust Company jumped into focus.

More importantly than that, waiting near the tarmac she could see two tiny figures; Zafira and Weiss. "What in- Bardiche, drop the interlink and switch to, uh, switch to Alloy form!"

"Yes, sir."

It was a fantastic, clear day, perfect for sitting out in the open and enjoying the weather. Probably the last one for a while, with that fucking storm coming in. Qrow was content to sit on his bench and flip through the news on his scroll, watching the airships come and go.

The fact that Geffroy Schnee's personal transport was coming in for a landing had absolutely nothing to do with it. Not at all.

The fact that Weiss Schnee was waiting for it to land with Zafira standing next to her didn't have anything to do with it either. Qrow had been sitting there for half an hour already, after all.

The fact that his scroll was innocuously pointed in their direction and set to record didn't have anything to do with it either.

Looking a bit more closely at the landing transport, Qrow snorted in mild amusement. That's not the Northern Light. Papa Schnee upgraded again, I see.

The ramp unfolded as the entry hatch opened, and Geffroy Schnee's personal bodyguards stepped out first. There were four of them, all displaying the strict military professionalism of Atlesian veterans It was common knowledge that Geffroy Schnee filled his entourage with specialists that had finished their tours of duty and had moved into the private sector. Only the best for someone of his importance, after all.

When Geffroy himself emerged from the airship's interior and reached the bottom of the ramp, flanked by his four bodyguards, it was clear that he expected his daughter to close the distance and come to him. Weiss held her ground, hands clasped behind her back and chin tilted up the slightest bit. At her shoulder, Zafira could well have been made of stone for all that he moved.

It was a standoff, right from the start. Qrow double-checked to make sure his scroll was recording. Zoomed in and focused on Geffroy's, he caught every miniscule twitch of the man's cheek as his eyes flicked from Weiss to Zafira. After nearly thirty seconds of waiting, he tapped his left foot three times.

Qrow flicked the focus to Weiss. The Heiress paled ever so slightly, but pretended she hadn't seen the tiny show of impatience. Thatta girl, Qrow silently cheered.

Finally, after nearly a minute of waiting, Geffroy started striding across the tarmac toward her. His bodyguards fell into formation around him, all four watching Zafira with expressions of caution and distaste. Apparently they shared Mr. Schnee's views on faunus.

He came to a stop a few paces from his daughter, and for a moment his eyes fixed on her hair. Once again thankful that Ozpin had gotten him one of the higher quality models, Qrow keyed the directional mic on his scroll.

"Weiss."

"Father. Welcome to Beacon."

"We are not staying, Weiss." His voice held no room for arguing, and the we very much implied Weiss as well, Qrow could tell.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Father. Beacon's amenities are quite satisfactory. Are you sure you can't stay for a period of time?" She deliberately misunderstood the intent behind her father's words, excluding herself from his statement.

Geffroy looked down at her, frowning. "You are coming home with me, Weiss. Don't worry about your belongings, I will send someone to fetch them."

Weiss pursed her lips, taking a small breath and letting it out. "But I am enrolled at Beacon, Father. I can't leave without irreparably damaging my academic standing."

There was a thump on the back of the bench Qrow was sitting on. He held up a hand, motioning to keep quiet.

"Headmaster Ozpin will be informed that I am withdrawing your enrollment and will receive due compensation for the time and effort he and his staff have wasted."

Weiss' eyes flashed a spark of real anger, and her cheeks flushed the slightest bit. "Then I will pay for my own tuition and continue my studies at this academy, as you agreed to let me after I passed the test you gave me."

"With my money, you mean?" Geffroy actually crossed his arms, finally glancing at Zafira. Qrow noted with some pleasure that the man couldn't actually look down at Weiss' companion; the familiar was quite simply too tall. "Begone from here. This is family business."

Zafira's response was short, to the point, and final. "No."

"Father," Weiss said, interrupting him before he could reply. "I would like to introduce you to Zafira Yagami, my personal bodyguard. He is under paid contract, using funds that I procured myself, to remain with me at all times until I see fit to discharge him from my service. Zafira, my father Geffroy Schnee, Chairman and CEO of the Schnee Dust Company."

"A pleasure," Zafira rumbled, his tone making it clear that he cared as much about the man in front of him as he would a piece of modern art; mildly interesting, but ultimately completely worthless to him.

Geffroy had the grace to not sneer, instead disregarding Zafira completely. "A faunus, Weiss? I thought you knew better than that. It's only a matter of time before he turns on you like a rabid dog, like all the-"

"I am a wolf, not a dog, Chairman Geffroy Schnee of the Schnee Dust Company," Zafira said, as calmly as if discussing the weather.

Geffroy ignored him, actually striding forward to reach for Weiss' wrist. "Do not interrupt me, animal."

Weiss backed away, clearing her throat and raised her voice, cutting into the break in the discussion provided as deftly as if she was using Myrtenaster. "I will be staying at Beacon, Father. Since you are not supporting me in my decision, I do not see the need to consider your input. Since you're so concerned about your money," she produced her family charge card and threw it at his feet, "you can rest assured that I won't be using it. I'll pay my own way-"

"Weiss, you are making a grave mista-"

"-without your help, without your approval, and you can do whatever you want with your precious company without me!" Weiss' voice rose and rose until it was a shout, a strident yell, wild and unrestrained. "I am a huntress, and you will not take that from me!"

She didn't give him the chance to say anything. She turned, putting her back to him, and drew a deep breath, in through her nose and out through her mouth. Then she walked back toward Beacon, head held high.

Geffroy Schnee cursed, and signaled his guards. Two of them broke from the group, following after Weiss. One of them grabbed her by the arm, arresting her motion.

Zafira slammed his gauntlets together, and a magic triangle expanded out underneath him in a flash. "Steel Yoke." Blades of white light erupted out of the tarmac, pincering around the limbs of both men that had chased after Weiss and lifting them off the ground. They shouted in surprise, struggling against the unyielding binds.

The other two bodyguards drew their weapons, but the familiar made no further motion. "Weiss is my charge, Geffroy Schnee. Any attempt to force her against her will is an action that will be taken as an assault against my charge, and I will respond accordingly."

The elder Schnee stared at him, narrowing his eyes. "You're the fake from those tabloids. How dare you emulate my family's Glyphs-"

"I assure you I am no fake, Geffroy Schnee, and your Glyphs have nothing to do with my own capabilities." Weiss had hurried away while Zafira kept her father busy, and with her clear of the area he let the binding lights holding the two guards dissipate. "I am giving you one opportunity to gather your accomplices and leave peacefully. Do not give me reason to rescind this generous offer."

The guards glanced at each other, and the one to the left of Geffroy gave a the barest shake of his head when the elder Schnee glanced at him. Qrow had to give the ex-soldier credit.Someone's smart enough to know not to start a fight he can't finish.

For a moment, Geffroy looked like he'd bitten into an apple and found it full of worms. Another sharp signal of his hands had his guards forming up around him, and he stalked back to his airship with anger evident in every step. The look he cast back over his shoulder promised dire retribution, to which Zafira actually rolled his eyes.

It wasn't until the airship lifted off the tarmac that Zafira turned away. Qrow saved the file in his scroll, sliding it closed and slipping it into his pocket. Leaning back against the bench, he craned his head around and grinned. "How much of that were you here for, Ace?"

"Almost all of it! Holy Schneetzle that was amazing! I didn't know Weiss' dad was such an assss-toundingly arrogant person!" Ruby bounced up and down, only her grip on the back of the bench keeping her from going airborne. "But she put her foot down and told him how it was and Zafira was like 'You're gonna have to go through me!' and it was awesome and-"

"And she might have just severed all ties with her father, as much of an asshole as he may be. She probably really needs some support right now, Ruby."

Ruby's mouth fell open for a moment, then she snapped it shut and nodded vigorously. "Right! Right, I'll talk to you later Uncle Qrow bye!" She was gone in a flash, leaving Qrow brushing rose petals off his shoulders.

Qrow let himself chuckle for a moment, bringing his scroll back out and tapping out a message. He attached the video file to the message and sent it with a flourish. I bet the Ice Queen will get a kick out of this one.

The rush of adrenaline had been left behind on the airfield tarmac beside the shreds of her inheritance. Its absence left Weiss shaking and numb, her feet carrying her without direction from the fog her mind was in.

She didn't even realize that she was standing outside her team's dorm room, staring at the door, until Zafira coughed into his fist. She started, blinking a few times before she was able to focus on him. "O-oh! Yes, uhm. Thank you for your time, Zafira. You don't need to keep following me around."

He rumbled low in his throat, frowning. "A man like that will not allow an embarrassment like this to stand unanswered. There will be consequences, both direct and indirect."

Weiss wasn't sure how to respond to that, and she swallowed. Her throat felt thick, her tongue didn't seem to want to work. "Are you… certain? I'm still his daughter."

He nodded slowly, considering his words. "I will be blunt, Weiss, because there is no easy way to say this. Your father is the type of individual to seek power, to demand obedience and respect. Your father is the type of individual," he repeated, "to which the Book of Darkness would have been drawn. He will not take this slight lightly, and you would do well to prepare for his eventual retaliations, in whatever form it comes."

Weiss bit her lip, lowering her gaze to the floor. It wasn't shame that bowed her head, but realization. I just painted a target on myself, and on anyone with whom I associate.

Zafira's hand on her shoulder, surprisingly gentle, made her look up again. "You have friends in high places, Weiss Schnee, higher than your father even realizes is possible. More importantly, you have friends here with you that will support you without question. So do not fear needlessly."

Weiss threw her arms around Zafira, hugging him tightly. He barely reacted, not even breathing out hard from the force of it, but ruffled her hair with one hand. Weiss let out a watery laugh, stepping back and wiping her eyes. "Thank you, Zafira. Really, I mean it."

"Friends watch over friends." He nodded to her, then turned to walk toward his team's dorm.

Weiss waved her scroll over her dorm's lock and pushed the door open. There was a tripled thud and a series of exclamations, a yelp of shock, and the sound of bodies falling to the floor.

With the door fully open, she saw Ruby and Blake and Yang all in a pile in front of her, rubbing their heads where the door had slammed into them.

Ruby was the first to look up. "W-weiss! This totally isn't what it looks like! We were all- uhm, you see, we were all just-"

Weiss ignored Ruby's stammering, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. "You mean the three of you weren't eavesdropping through the door while Zafira and I talked about how my father is most likely going to try to ruin my life?"

Ruby stopped, sheepishly getting to her feet. "...y-yeah, okay it's what it looks like. Are you… okay?"

Am I okay? Weiss didn't answer immediately, chewing on her lip. Blake and Yang awkwardly stood as well, not daring to break the silence. I just walked away from… everything. Should I be okay?

After long moments, she had her answer. "No. No, I'm… I'm not okay. I feel… detached. I just told my father I don't want to be his daughter, and- and-"

The first tear finally slid down her cheek, and it was followed by more as her eyes squeezed shut. Weiss felt her lips twist, wracked by the first sob that bubbled up from her gut. She raised her hands to cover her face, but instead found her arms slipping around something warm.

It was Ruby, of course. She'd pulled Weiss into a hug, holding her close and murmuring reassurances into her ear. Yang wrapped her arms around them both, and even Blake squeezed in to rest her hand on Weiss' other shoulder.

She didn't know how long they stood there with her, supporting her as she cried herself out. But finally the tears slowed down and the hiccuping whimpers subsided, and she was able to take a deep, shuddering breath.

Blake and Yang started to pull away, but Weiss managed to grab them both and keep them from doing so. "I'm- I'm not okay now, but I will be." She even managed to smile. "How couldn't I be, with you three here with me?"

Ruby d'awwwed into her ear, and she felt Yang shift as the brawler punched a fist up into the air. "She likes us!" the blonde crowed happily.

Blake finally did pull away, though, and Weiss opened her eyes to see why. The black-haired girl was staring at her, head tilted slightly to the side and a perplexed look in her eyes. "What, Blake?"

"...what happened to your hair?"

"O-oh. That." Weiss ran a hand through the shortened strands, shrugging a little. "I- well, I-" She sighed, cheeks heating a little. "I didn't like that you two lost most of yours, and I wanted to show some team solidarity. And I admit I knew my father wouldn't like it."

"I guess that's one way to cut ties! Right? Amirite?"

The chorus of groans in response, Weiss' included, made her smile again. This time, the smile stayed.

Ding.

Qrow's scroll chimed brightly, signaling that the file transfer had finally completed. That took a while. Ah well, that exchange deserved nothing less than High Def.

With a satisfied grin, he slid the scroll shut again and slipped it into his pocket. Standing, he stretched his arms out wide, enjoying the gentle breeze that was blowing across the airfield.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Qrow strolled languidly back toward the campus proper, looking like he didn't have a care in the world.

The airfield was quiet for long moments; all flights had been temporarily redirected in the face of White Squadron's approach, and normal traffic patterns wouldn't be resuming for another ten minutes or so. The only sounds to be heard were the gentle chirping of songbirds and the soft, constant whirring of a nearby security camera.

No one was nearby to notice the plastic charge card sitting on the tarmac. It sat quietly, a speck of white on a field of black, waiting to be found.

The larger-than-average crow that swooped by and nabbed it with its talons made sure that wouldn't ever happen.