'Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house, my niece ran around in tights and a blouse. My brother chugged a glass of gravy on a dare, my grandfather lamented he no longer had hair...
Silly poems aside, hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving ends up having a wonderful time tomorrow! Everyone who doesn't... Still have a wonderful day! You don't really need a day to be grateful for things, but take tomorrow to reflect and think about what's good in your life!
On a more serious and transparent note, there's something I want to address that I haven't really spoken about before.
For those of you who are familiar with Coeur, and namely, Forged Destiny, you may notice my story at least in terms of loose structure is based on his. Format, and in terms of scope, it's very much inspired by that. Now, admittedly I'm probably not really versed enough in writing to emulate a work like that but I've tried, and boy howdy have I tried.
And that was wrong of me. Honestly, part of it was chasing a sliver of that pie, that silly, arbitrary pie. Imposing a schedule each week, trying to force out a story. But I've realized that the better chapters of this all come from when I just have fun with it, and so I plan on doing exactly that! No more imposing a schedule as I mentioned last entry, and no more worrying that my views/reviews/whatever mean the story's not good enough.
I'm going to keep writing this and have fun with it, and whoever stays around and enjoys it with me, thank you! 3 Here's to many more chapters and an exciting adventure moving forward!
Weiss was not looking forward to this.
Facilitating an argument between Blake and Yang was necessary, both to bridge the gap between them and to make Yang see reason. If Yang thought taking Ruby away on her own was safer, it wasn't; the Church wouldn't stop looking for them simply because they left.
Beyond the greater picture lay a fracture between allies that had still yet to be mended. Since meeting in Lyne there had been a perceptible friction between Yang and Blake. Given their unscrupulous origins it only made sense, yet Weiss had never seen fit to address it, or rather, never set aside time to.
First had been Brand, the efforts to bring low Merlot and uncover more of what secrets Remnant had to offer. After that came meeting Raven and being divided for numerous tasks. Even once they'd proclaimed to be through working with the woman they agreed to seek out the manor despite protests. Constant movement, numerous near-death encounters and little time to sort out problems of their own. Problems which now threatened to split them further.
Weiss was grateful that much of the camp had been set so far from Raven's tent. It left them with as much privacy as they could hope without wandering into the forest. She was also grateful that Yang had agreed to leave Ruby's side, though only once both Pyrrha and Jaune swore to every god in existence they wouldn't so much as look away from her.
More than any of that she was grateful for Nora and Ren's presence as she presided over this meeting. She'd never thought to orchestrate an argument, but Yang and Blake needed this. So much lay unresolved and fester that waiting any longer would be disastrous. Perhaps it already was.
Yang may have agreed to speaking with them, yet she made no efforts to hide her reluctance. From Ruby's tent to Raven's she'd been silent, refusing to meet their gazes and responding with only a grunt or nod. Even now she stood some ways from them, arms crossed, and head turned, refusing to acknowledge them until the discussions started.
Weiss sighed and nursed her temple, shifting her attention to Blake. She wasn't much better, sat upon a crate and rolling a long blade of grass between her fingers. Even the slightest sound caused her feline ears to twitch and occasionally amber orbs would look up only to retreat and focus elsewhere. She was acting aloof though but contained obvious reluctance well.
Well, there's no time like the present, I suppose…
Unsure how else to begin the discussion Weiss clapped her hands together, clearing her throat. Once all eyes were on her she coerced a smile from herself and nodded. "First, I want to thank you both for agreeing to this. Neither of you needed to, and I like to think that this shows you're willing to hear each other out."
Blake only nodded while Yang sniffed. If they didn't want to speak just yet that was fine - the floor would be theirs soon enough anyways. For a moment Weiss let silence settle in hopes someone might offer some insight. Ren cleared his throat meaningfully and still neither Blake nor Yang spoke up.
"Also, and I know this might be… Trying." Weiss looked at Yang before throwing a sharp look to Blake as well. "But the point of this isn't to attack one another. Clearly, we're in disagreement about how to proceed, so if we can please talk this out calmly and try to reach an agreement, that would be ideal."
"And if anyone starts throwing punches again I'm here to restrain them!" Nora's declaration had her grinning, and her alone. Weiss had asked her along for that very purpose while Ren was meant to act as a more level-headed mediator, should Weiss herself falter. That didn't mean she wanted Nora announcing her intentions.
"Assuming no one wants to be placed in a headlock I suggest we try and handle this peaceably. Now, to make certain we know where both sides stand, Yang?" Weiss waited for acknowledgement and smiled when lilac finally met blue. "You want what's best for Ruby, and in your opinion, that's taking her away from this. Conversely, we want her to stay with us." Before that could be misconstrued Weiss added. "We want both of you to stay with us."
"And to help convey that desire we've asked Blake to speak with you."
At long last Yang gave them a reaction outside of a nod or grunt. Utter indignation wasn't what Weiss hoped for however, nor was the glare she gave the Meera. "You're kidding, right?"
Why Yang now expressed doubt after agreeing to meet was beyond Weiss. "Yang… There's a reason for this, I promise. We aren't doing this to bring up any unpleasantness from your pasts, or to make either of you uncomfortable." The dubious look she received made her bite her tongue.
"You and Blake have a lot more in common than you realize and given your history I think she can offer a perspective none of us can. All we're asking of you - all I'm asking of you, is to hear her out. We can't tell you what to think or force your decision, all we ask is you listen."
If there was a time to back out of negotiations, then now was it. Yang could retreat to Ruby's tent, wait for her to awaken and take her away. Ruby would protest but she'd be weak, fatigued from her injury and unable to physically resist. Weiss doubted the brunette would have the strength at full health either.
Yang rolled her tongue inside her cheek, fingers drumming against her arm. After a few seconds of staring down Blake her eyes closed, and breath leaving in a huff. "Fine. I'll listen." Weiss' smile faltered when Yang looked her way, eyes narrowed. "No promises though. How I take things all depends on Blake here."
"So long as you can keep your temper in check we'll be fine," Blake said. It was Weiss' turn to reprimand her, shooting her a stern gaze that the Meera brushed off. Thankfully Yang didn't take the remark poorly and only snorted.
That she'd convinced them to meet like this was an accomplishment in of itself, but it wouldn't matter if nothing came of it. Weiss nodded, retreating to a nearby crate and taking a seat. Her leg still throbbed if she stood too long and the relief upon sitting was immediate. If this didn't end disastrously perhaps she'd seek out a healer and see if anything more could be done.
"Blake, Yang, whenever you're ready."
If either girl was ready neither was keen to show it. Yang began to pace, chewing on her lower lip with eyes transfixed on the forest floor. Blake watched her, for a time, before busying herself with her scarf, tracing a strand of grey intersecting black. When Nora began to whistle, and Ren's questioning gaze found Weiss, she began to wonder if they would ever start talking.
"Blake? Would you be so kind as to start?"
The Meera heaved out a reluctant breath before nodding. "Sure, I guess." Sitting taller, Blake fixed her eyes on Yang, watching her pace. "First things first, I want to know if you seriously still think I tried to get Ruby killed."
Yang cringed, slowing her steps before finally looking at Blake. They locked gazes for a few seconds before the blonde finally relented, lowering her head and scratching at the scales along her forearm. "No, I don't think that. You two were together for a long time before we ever met up. If you wanted to kill her then you had plenty of chances."
"I didn't know she was your sister then. Who's to say I didn't change my mind and want to try?"
Weiss' eyes widened along with everyone else's hearing that. Blake remained indifferent, unflinching as Yang glared at her. When Yang chuckled and shook her head it came as even more a surprise, as did her response.
"With all of us here? With me here? Nah. You're not stupid, Blake, you wouldn't have risked it. I was… Pissed when Ruby was hurt, like… Really pissed. And since I couldn't get at the assholes that actually hurt her…" Adam, and by extension Neo and Roman too. Yang paused to run a hand through her hair, tugging at a knot. "I know you wouldn't have tried to kill her is what I'm sayin', I guess."
Blake managed a faint smile and nodded. "I'm glad you understand that much. I never would -"
"That doesn't mean you didn't fuck up though. You promised you'd keep her safe, that she'd be okay with you. And despite all the crap you and I've been through together, I trusted you." Yang's empty laughter forced Blake to look away, ears folding against her hair. "Guess this is what I get for makin' that mistake, huh?"
"Yang, I'm sure Blake did everything she could to ensure Ruby's safety," Ren spoke, left on his own when Blake didn't make any effort to confirm or deny his words. "Anyone here would do everything to keep another safe."
"We're all a team, Yang! Ruby got hurt but no one wanted her to, including Blake. We're in this together."
The sentiment flew over Yang's head as she scoffed. Rolling her neck with an audible pop she began to pace again, slower this time. "Right… Hey Nora? What would happen if Ren was with one of us and he got hurt, huh? Even after we swore up and down he'd be safe."
Without skipping a beat Nora shook her head. "I wouldn't be mad because I'd know you did everything you could." The readiness of her reply left Yang in silence. "And I wouldn't be mad at my friends anyways. I'd be angry at the people who hurt him!"
In other words, Yang should be mad at Adam, or Neo and Roman, or even the Church. Not Blake. The blonde seemed to recognize as much and let her head fall backwards, running a hand over her face before an exasperated smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"I get it, okay? Don't be mad at Blake for what happened. Easier said than done though. Like…" Stopping her pacing once more Yang set a hand on her hip and cocked her head to one side, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "For starters, how come you didn't use your shadow thingie to get you and Ruby out of there?"
"I couldn't," Blake answered, a reply that drew a skeptical look from Yang.
"Couldn't, or didn't want to?"
Blake's ears stood on end as her eyes narrowed, lips drawn thin. "I couldn't. I didn't have the Dust left to get us far, and besides… She attacked Adam first. I didn't want to fight him in the first place."
"Okay, fine, so Ruby tried to attack the guy. Why didn't you grab her and run then? Even if you could only get out of that room you still should have tried."
"Yang, you saw the crates of Dust in the temple. They were planning to detonate those and bring down the temple." Weiss tried to offer Blake an out and shifted in her seat, one hand reaching down to idly nurse at her aching calf. "Perhaps they stayed to try and prevent that."
"No, that's not it. It's exactly what I said, I couldn't get out." Blake frowned as her shoulders sagged. "Not with Adam there."
"What do you mean…?" Ren pressed, gently.
"You all tried to attack him, didn't you? What happened when your spells hit him, Weiss?"
"They… Seemed to crumble. It was almost as if they were being snuffed out." Yang's spells too and Blake's. She'd thought it odd in the moment but hadn't given it too much though as other, more pressing concerns had her attention. "How is that?"
Blake smiled, a bitter, rueful expression as she closed her eyes. A hand rose to scratch at her cheek and she let silence settle. "Adam has a unique type of magic. I don't know where he learned it and I've never seen anyone else with it. But what you all saw was exactly why he's so dangerous."
"He cancels out magic with his own. I don't know how it works, whether it's in a radius, or if he has to direct it or not." Blake shook her head. "All I know is that I've never seen anyone be able to get through it. And it doesn't seem to matter what kind it is either. Ice…" She looked to Weiss. "Fire, shadow, even Ruby's speed magic was blocked out."
Magic negation? Weiss hadn't even heard of that ability before, which she supposed spoke to its rarity. "That doesn't mean we can't beat him though!" Nora chimed in. "I mean, it's not like we're totally helpless without our magic!"
"Tell that to the dozens of Hunters who fought him before." The information was meant to shed light on Blake's motives, yet Weiss couldn't help but feel unsettled as well. If Adam possessed no magic outside of his negation, that meant it was his swordplay, not his spellcraft that was so dangerous. Enough so that even with Ruby, Blake hadn't felt confident enough to confront him.
"So, it's not that I didn't want to run," Blake went on, stealing Yang's attention. "It's that we couldn't. Before he noticed us? Maybe, but Ruby was determined to help that man escape too. Once the fight started it was all I could do to keep her from being killed."
Yang opened and closed her mouth, wanting to say something yet failing to find the words. Tapping her foot on the ground she stalked towards another container, dragging it over before dropping herself down with a thud. "What you're saying is we might have to fight Adam again? A guy we can't use magic on?"
"That doesn't mean we can't win," Blake tried to reason but was cut short.
"Sure seemed that way, especially from how you worded it. And he's probably not the only guy in Remnant who can do that, which is all the more reason to get Ruby out of here." Yang appeared done if her walking away from the group wasn't a hint enough. Weiss tried to hurry to her feet, beaten instead by Blake who chased Yang down.
"Do you know who you killed that day?" The questioned forced Yang to stop, shoulders squaring before she looked back at Blake.
"What…?"
"When you attacked us, do you know who you killed? Do you know any of their names?" Blake pulled at her scarf, fingers curling into the loose fabric.
Yang's hands flexed and pat uselessly at her waist, rolling her neck before frowning. "No… I had yours but that's it. If you're going to guilt me over that then spare me, I already feel bad about it." She turned to leave once more but Blake caught her wrist, holding firm even as Yang tried to yank free.
"They were my friends. Whether I was on the right or wrong side of things, they were my friends, and my family. Do you remember a girl with a lot of freckles? She would have been about my age. Fought with a whip." Yang nodded, pulling again and freeing her arm from Blake's grip. "Her name was Ilia, and… She was my sister."
Despite having heard it not an hour earlier Weiss still cringed, anguish gripping her heart. Yang's brow rose in surprise before her arms dropped back to her sides, hanging her head. "I… I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't bring her back," Blake retorted, the remark biting. Seeing Yang flinch and realizing she'd perhaps been too harsh she rubbed own her arm. "They weren't empty faces, they all had names, families, histories..."
"I get it, I ruined a lot of lives!" Yang's anger was evident and aimed at herself more than Blake, Weiss assumed. The way her friend could no longer meet Blake's eyes or how she knocked a balled fist against her forehead suggested as much. "I get it, I'm a shitty person, happy? Did you want me to admit that?"
"Maybe, but I want you to understand something even more. You need to think about what you're doing, trying to run away. Because take it from someone who's done it… A lot." Blake's ears fell as she smiled, looking at Weiss as she spoke. "Running away from your problems won't solve anything. Trust me."
"Right… Because trusting you has worked out well so far."
Yang's derision went ignored as Blake shivered. "I ran away from the White Fang after what happened. I hadn't liked the direction we were heading as an organization, but they were still my family, they were all I had. Once they were… Gone, there was nothing keeping me there. So I left."
"I figured… Forget Remnant. Forget the White Fang and the Church. I'd just let everyone else fight and kill each other if they really wanted to, I'd have no part of it." Blake chuckled and folded her arms beneath her breast. "For a while… It worked. And then Ruby came along and ruined any idea of staying out of it. Rather…" She continued before Yang could deride her. "She saved me."
"What do you mean 'saved you'? From the sounds of it you still want nothing to do with things. Hell," Yang scowled, "When we met you wanted nothing to do with Hunters."
"Because I assumed all Hunters were like you. Vicious, blindly following orders, uncaring. Ruby proved me wrong, but I still believed that most were awful, and she was the exception." Blake's eyes went to Ren, Nora, and finally Weiss in turn, a more earnest smile appearing. "I was wrong. I had… Bad experiences. My world was ruined because of the Church and I blamed anyone, and everyone associated with it."
"But just as we've seen not everyone in the White Fang isn't a monster, not everyone in the Church is cruel or irredeemable," Weiss added.
It was no different than the racism many people - many Murans seemed to practice. Easier to label an entire group based on the actions of a few than keep an open mind. It wasn't right nor moral, yet most people defaulted to that. Even Weiss herself had trouble seeing the White Fang as anything other than insurrectionists until she'd met Blake.
"Can we get to the point…?" Yang pressed. Her voice lacked any bite and sounded tired instead, one of her legs bouncing as her fingers drummed along her bicep.
"I know what loss is like, and I know how much easier it seems to be, to run away and pretend the problems in the world don't exist. But whether you actively choose to confront those problems or not, they're there, and they'll continue to be there unless you do something about it."
Ren and Nora both nodded emphatically at the sentiment, and Weiss offered encouragement with a smile for Yang. Fighting against the Church was terrifying. Hunters outnumbered them by incredibly margins and people like Ozpin, like James Ironwood, those were Magi they couldn't hope to beat themselves. That didn't mean they could sit by idly and do nothing.
"We all became Hunters despite knowing that the Grimm threat seems endless. To many it's an impossible task, one that we can't ever hope to accomplish, yet we did it anyways. Because we didn't want to sit back and let the atrocities continue." Weiss heaved herself to her feet with her crutch and hobbled forward to join Blake, the sound of Ren and Nora's footsteps following suit. "We've just… Traded one evil for another."
"No one is blaming you for wanting Ruby to be safe. We all want her to be safe," Blake argued. Some more than others, Weiss observed, though she kept the quip to herself. "Why did you become a Hunter in the first place?"
Yang placed her hands upon her hips and rolled her neck again. "So Ruby wouldn't have to fight, to make Remnant safer for her, I guess."
"And now that she's fighting you're going to stop? The world has only become more dangerous, Yang." Blake stepped closer and reached out, pushing against Yang's shoulder and making her take a half step back. "Now's when you're going to suddenly quit fighting?"
"I wasn't fighting in a war before, so yeah, I'm planning on it!"
"You were though! The Grimm have no limit to their number, the Church does! They can be beaten for good, and if the Church goes then so do most of Remnant's problems!" Blake pushed Yang again, but this time failed to move her. "Where's Wildfire, huh? Where's the girl who took us all on and wasn't afraid of anything? Where's the amazing sister Ruby always gushed about?"
Yang's face fell immediately. "I… Come on, that's not fair. It wasn't that I wasn't afraid…" She shook her head and smiled, a trembling hand reaching up and combing through her hair. "I was just more afraid of what'd happen if I didn't fight."
"Then keep fighting, Yang," Weiss urged, stepping closer and settling a pale hand on her friend's. "Remnant can be made safe, but we have to play a part in that. We can't guarantee everything will go smoothly, but we can promise to look out for each other. We're not going to keep charging into fights, I'm fairly certain I'll end up crippled at this rate." Her own laugh managed to draw a chuckle out of Yang, albeit an uneasy one.
Weiss craned her neck slightly and looked up at Yang. "We'll take time to recover, think things through and try and come up with a better, less frantic approach. We can't save the world if we run ourselves ragged, after all."
Goodness knows they had done just that. Weiss had pushed herself since overseeing Lupa and Violet's initiation and it felt like she hadn't stopped since. Rest was elusive when it felt as though the world might collapse any moment. Yet it wasn't just them fighting against the Church. Raven was doing the same in her own way, as were gods knew how many other groups across Remnant. She and perhaps the others had thought the fate of the world was contingent upon them and them alone, something Weiss now felt immensely foolhardy for.
"When Ruby wakes up, we can find somewhere quiet and relax. There's no rush to this," Weiss continued, smiling gently and squeezing Yang's hand as she did. "We can talk more once your sister has come to, and… Maybe she'll want to leave, too." Weiss doubted it. Nothing seemed capable of keeping Ruby from fighting, no obstacle, be it in training or otherwise, had ever slowed her down. "But until then… Please don't leave? We want to help you, but we can't do that if you and Ruby go."
"And what if she dies anyways? What if I agree, then we're attacked, and she dies…?" Yang hand felt clammy in Weiss' and she tried to squeeze it for comfort. Watching the blonde's face crumple, rubbing at it fitfully, Weiss wanted to offer more support somehow. She didn't know how, though.
"We won't let that happen…"
"Did you ever say that to Ilia, Blake? To any of your friends?" Yang questioned. Blake looked elsewhere and closed her eyes. "You know what loss is like. And you know what it's like to promise to keep someone safe, then fail them."
"And I ain't saying that to bash ya, I just… I did a lot of bad stuff with the Church, killed a lot of people. Whether it's wrong or right we'll probably have to kill people doing this too." Weiss wanted to convince Yang otherwise, to tell her that those concerns were unfounded, but they weren't. She didn't want to kill either, yet against people like Adam it wasn't realistic to expect to get by with pacifism.
"I've ruined enough lives, alright? I got greedy and selfish when I found you, Weissy. I thought you could help me and only later considered what dragging you into this meant. All you guys. If I hadn't done that, if I hadn't talked you into this…"
"Then we would all be living a lie, Yang." Weiss wasn't going to let Yang guilt herself. "Yes, you started this, but we all made the decision to see it through. Just as I'm not responsible for all your decisions, you're not responsible for ours."
"Okay, but that doesn't change that I killed people, Weiss. And hearin' I killed Blake's sister isn't exactly helping that."
Blake cringed and stepped back. "Sorry, I didn't mean…"
"I know ya didn't, and shit… You got every right to be mad at me, ya know? I was just some idiot following orders and I took all those people away from you. Even back then when I was fighting it felt… Wrong. Didn't stop me from doing it though." Yang pulled her hand free and stepped away, looking at it before chuckling, trembling. "I thought I was doing a good thing, ain't that fucked up? I was… Happy I was doing it even. I was getting rid of bad people, making the world safer for Ruby. I never stopped… I didn't consider I was taking away someone's family…"
"You were following orders," Blake summarized.
"That doesn't make it right!"
"No, but it means someone else is responsible." The Meera swallowed hard and pulled her scarf up, closing her eyes. "You were… Terrifying, and I couldn't do anything to stop you. But… I realize now after meeting you, it was… I don't know. It's the Church's fault, not yours. And…" Blake peered over the brim of black cloth, moving back towards Yang, stopping short when the blonde drew back. "And… I forgive you, Yang."
Weiss hadn't the words to convince Yang to stay with them, nor did she have the words to repair her broken relationship with Blake. That was because it wasn't something she could fix, and she realized that now. In three simple words Yang's face fell, shoulders trembling as she hugged herself.
Through choked, pained gasps Yang hunched over. "I just… I want R-Ruby to be safe. I can't lose her, I can't… If I get her killed too… If I get you guys killed…"
Weiss hobbled over and began to rub Yang's back. "You won't. None of this is your fault, nor is whatever happens moving forward," she whispered. "Yang… We're all family here, right? We can rely on each other, trust each other."
Yang didn't answer, at least not to Weiss. Lifting her head, cheeks streaked with tears, she shook her head and whimpered before Blake. "I'm sorry. I didn't know… I… You shouldn't forgive me, you should hate me. I deserve it!"
"The Church deserves it, not you." Blake sighed and itched her cheek, shifting her weight between her feet, clearly uncomfortable. "You don't blame a soldier for following orders, they're just doing their job. Besides, we're on the same side now," she added with a slight smile, "Fighting with you won't get us anywhere."
As Yang sank to her knees Weiss followed suit as best she could. "I don't w-want to lose Ruby," she repeated, blonde hair framing her face as tears rolled and dripped from her face.
"Nothing's going to get her anymore!" Nora exclaimed, grinning despite her own eyes turning misty. "I'll clobber anything that tries to hurt her!"
"Just as we'll work to make sure you're safe as well," Ren added, offering a nod and smile.
"Let us protect each other, okay?" Weiss urged gently. Setting her crutch aside she put her arms around Yang's trembling form, laying her head on her shoulder. "You aren't doing this alone anymore, you've got all of us."
Just like how she had all of them now, too.
Another pair of arms wrapped around them and Weiss received a faceful of red hair courtesy of Nora. Another hand settled on Yang's back, Ren's, and Weiss shot him a grateful glance before hugging Yang once more. Blake drew closer and stopped short of obvious comfort, but Weiss liked to think just her being there was support enough.
Yang's sobbing wasn't a confirmation she was staying. That said, Weiss liked to think it equated to as much. She wouldn't be so emotionally distraught if her heart was set on leaving. They could pick this back up later because right now everyone needed a moment to breathe.
That, and Raven was on her way over.
/+/+/+/+/+/
Somehow, despite being run ragged, Weiss and her merry band of misfits hadn't collapsed. Broken, if Yang's sorry display was any indication, yet they soldiered on. Perhaps there was something to be said for Ozpin's methods, or maybe these children were hardier than she'd initially taken them for.
Raven abstained from saying as much. The Schnee runt had agreed to speak with her though despite the obvious animosity. Just as well, there was something they had to settle still.
"You know… I must admit, I'm impressed. Sure, you hardly won that battle in the temple, but your efforts are why we were able to prevent its destruction." Raven's lips quirked into a faint smile, red eyes fixed on Weiss' stubborn face. "Well done."
"I'm positively honored for your praise," the small Ydran bit with a roll of her eyes.
Funny that such a sorry looking girl warranted so much concern by Ozpin. Weiss and her band were little more than children - old enough to be considered adults yet naive enough to still be nursing. Between the loose gown clung to her small, pale frame and the obvious limp with which she walked Raven had a hard time believing the girl warranted any concern.
But… A Schnee is a Schnee, whether they're a bastard or not. Rolling part of her sleeve between her thumb and forefinger Raven sighed aloud, deeming enough time had passed for Weiss' temper to simmer. "I'll admit too, I was astonished all of you came back alive. Yes, some of you are worse for wear." Ruby had been on death's door for the better part of a day, a fact that even now made Weiss' face crumple uncomfortably. "But you still survived. That tenacity is admirable."
"You're a Dimuran, aren't you?"
"No, I'm the tallest Varuna you've ever met," Raven quipped, cocking an eyebrow. "Hit your head or something?"
"No, I'm just wondering why it is the tribes before decried talk so much, yet you continue to prattle."
Anger flickered across Raven's face before she erased it, masking irritation with a terse smile. "I've been patient with you kids, but that doesn't give you the freedom to mouth off to me. Remember your place."
Weiss laughed, the sound coming out as breathless wheezes, tired as the bags under her eyes. Shifting on her log-turned stool the Schnee girl draped her crutch across her knees. "Forgive me, but I've only nearly died what feels like a dozen times in the past few weeks. Perhaps I'm becoming immune to idle threats."
How amusing. Now that there wasn't a drive to push along it seemed like recent events were finally catching up with Weiss, or maybe it was the absence of her friends that let her express herself more freely. "Could we get to the point, please?" Weiss rubbed at her forehead as she spoke, eyes closed. "I'd like to go visit the healers again before my leg falls off."
"Gods curse me for trying to make idle chatter," Raven muttered under her breath. Looming over Weiss she placed her hands upon her hips, leaning down with a grin. "I want to talk about your next mission, and now that you're through with whatever spat you and yours were going through -"
"No, absolutely not. We're done fighting for you."
Weiss' interjection came curt and sharply, followed with a firm, icy glare that to someone of weaker fortitude might call intimidating. "Is that right? Because I thought you were done after you returned from the Rumia tribe. Yet here we are…" She waved a hand into the forest.
Weiss looked like she wanted to shout, though after taking a deep breath she leveled herself out, voice coming out with strained anger. "There was information here, information we needed as well. Didn't you say so yourself? We were merely helping ourselves; our goals just so happened to align."
"And it's that information that I wanted to talk to you about," Raven explained. Weiss lifted her head and nodded, signaling she was willing to listen. "Of course, it's also information I don't have to share with you. After all, you kids don't want to fight."
"We don't want to fight with you," Weiss corrected. "And you can't deny us whatever is inside the temple. We have every right to it as you do."
"Do you now? It seems like you forget who holds all the cards here, Schnee." Raven reached down and grabbed hold of Weiss' robe, pulling the girl off her perch. Weiss' hands fumbled and tried to pry her grip away. "Unless any of you and your little friends truly believe you can best Vernal, let alone me in a fight, you'll do as I say."
"Qrow hates you. He'll help us if this comes to blows." Despite being completely at Raven's mercy Weiss stared back defiantly, hands clung to the Branwen's wrist. "Oobleck too. I don't know what agreement you have with him but it's evident he's not overly fond of you either."
"It doesn't matter whether he's fond of me or not, what matters is he recognizes who is in charge." Raven smirked and released her grip, dropping Weiss back into her seat. Backing away and fixing a stray strap on her robe she watched Weiss nurse her leg. "I don't care if it's fair, and I certainly don't care if it hurts your feelings. I'm in charge, what I say goes. If you don't like it, do something about it."
Weiss' face grew a shade darker and she glared before hanging her head in resignation. Raven's smile grew wider, unapologetic as she laughed. "Good, now you get it. If you want to know what's in that temple then you'll continue to do as I say."
Watching how people reacted to challenges was always fascinating. Some fled once things became difficult, others screamed fruitlessly into the void and swung with reckless, desperate abandon. Some used logic, others sought to overcome any obstacle with sheer strength and stubbornness - Yang came to mind. When people were desperate and their backs to a wall, or on the verge of death, that was when true colors came through. Raven's only question was what were Weiss'?
"No…"
"No?" Raven repeated, smiling as she cocked her head. "What do you mean 'no'?"
"I mean we're not fighting for you." Defiant, Weiss lifted her head and frowned. Strands of hair fell in front of her eyes and she ignored them, hand clenching around her crutch. "If you refuse to let us see then… We'll find another way. We already have enough to go on."
"Do you? We told you the bare basics," Raven mused as she began to circle Weiss. "And as I recall not everyone in your group believed what we shared. Is that really enough?"
"There are other groups, aren't there? You said so yourself. If you won't help us without selling ourselves to you then we'll find another. Someone more cooperative." Digging her crutch into the dirt Weiss pulled herself to her feet, teetering before settling. Brushing hair back from her face she followed Raven, pale lips drawn into thin lines. "Working with you is no different than the Church."
Raven wrote off the attempt at an insult as frustration, smiling to herself. "And who's to say these other groups will want to work with you? You're children, children who barely know the truth of the world, how anything works. You're a liability, not an asset."
Who could they trust? What knowledge did they have that was reliable and what were fabrications? Raven had been honest with Weiss and her group, brutally so. No doubt they scorned her and doubted every word that had come from her mouth. Oobleck too if she hazarded a guess.
Stopping in front of Weiss once more she crossed her arms, leaning down to come eye to eye. Weiss held her ground, fire and ice clashing as they stared at one another. "What happens if you can't find new allies? Will you come crawling back to me?"
Weiss' eyes left hers and searched for an answer that existed yet remained elusive. No, it wasn't past Raven in the trees, nor was it on the forest floor littered with leaves and twigs. The answer wasn't anywhere tangible, and Raven had no intention of giving it to the girl either. She needed to figure it out for herself.
"No. If no one will take us then…" Weiss sought Raven's eyes one more, dulled pools finding a faint flicker. "We'll become our own group. We may not be as powerful as you, or as knowledgeable as others, but that doesn't mean we can't fight back. We can still do something, with or without you."
"Is that so…?" Raven drew back and stared for a moment, distant chatter and the rustling of leaves interrupting their pause. Air bubbled in her breast and Raven let her lips part, a laugh rising that startled and confused Weiss. She couldn't help herself, clutching her stomach and doubling over.
"What's so funny?" Weiss demanded, striking as defiant a stance as she could while barely able to stand.
Raven chortled, covering her mouth with one hand, the other still clasping her stomach. "You. You're such an interesting little thing…" Patronizing she smiled at Weiss and brought her hands together, slowly clapping for the girl. "I didn't think you could put it together. Seems like you've got more sense than I thought."
Anger fled, and Weiss took to staring like a deer, unsure of how to respond. That only drew more laughter from Raven, equal parts elated and mocking. Something so simple was apparently groundbreaking to Weiss. So much for a Schnee's renowned intelligence! In the moment she looked every bit as daft as Yang presented herself to be.
While strained, muted laughter still shook from her chest Raven composed herself, shaking her head at Weiss' bewilderment. "You intend to strike out on your own? Just the eight of you?"
"Yes…?" Weiss frowned and lifted herself taller. "Yes," she repeated with more certainty. "I won't deny that having an ally like you, someone strong, would be a benefit. But it's not worth putting ourselves through hell for."
"And how do you intend on moving forward? You don't know any other groups, you likely haven't even been beyond Vale's borders, have you?"
"No, but we'll find a way. After all we found you, didn't we?" Now it was Weiss' turn to smirk, a gesture Raven readily returned.
"True, though I have to wonder if that was a complete accident?" She wouldn't justify Weiss' questioning look with a response. Clapping her hands once Raven nodded, more for herself, and looked past Weiss towards her own camp. "Fine. If you're confident that you can work through this on your own, without my help, then do it. I'll even let you visit the temple if you decide to."
Raven almost began laughing again when Weiss stared at her dumbstruck. Was it wrong that she was having fun with this? For the first time in ages she was laughing, genuinely laughing, and she didn't care in the slightest if it came at Weiss' expense. "I… But you said…"
"I wanted to know whether you kids had any spine, or if you were just mindless soldiers. I don't have any use for pawns. I'm not Ozpin." With confusion still apparent Raven smiled and looked away as if in disbelief that Weiss was still not following her. "When you arrived you so easily began to do as I said. You went to Vacuo on my orders, remained in my camp despite hating me. You even attacked the manor on my orders, after so vehemently saying you wouldn't follow me."
"I'll let you in on a secret…" Raven stood before Weiss and leaned forward, draping an arm on the girl's thin shoulder and crossing one leg before the other. She could feel Weiss buckle under the added weight, yet she held herself up, the only sign she struggled was a huff of exertion. "No one in my tribe is here because I've forced them to be here. People can leave whenever they please. They can't come back…" Raven mused, eyes drifting to the corners as she smiled again. "But they're free to do as they please. In the tribe my word is law, but outside of it? I could care less."
Not entirely true, she still did expect people to do as she said. Defiance from those outside of her family just had a different kind of retaliation to it. Fingering a spiraling pattern along her robe Raven traced it idly, her fingertip cresting the wave patterns along the hem.
"I figured you were all nothing more than spineless, thoughtless drones who couldn't make decisions on their own. You showed some promise with how you handled the Nadeem," Raven chuckled, "But you were so quick to obey me yet again. And all it took was to dangle a carrot in your face."
Weiss shrugged off Raven's arm and pulled her robe back up. "Are you saying this was all another one of your ridiculous tests?"
"In a way, though it's more than that. I wanted to see how obedient you kids were, sure, but I needed to test something else." Obedience was great for a soldier, for Hunters even. A hierarchy was necessary to maintain order and to assign tasks, especially when numbers swelled, and it became too much for a single person to bare. Raven could manage her tribe with only Vernal's help, but any larger and she'd have to consider a second right-hand.
"And what, pray tell, is that exactly?" Weiss asked after a lingering silence.
Sending Weiss a knowing smile she pat the small girl's back. "If you can think for yourself. I told you to handle the Nadeem, and you did, but you did it on your own, in your own way. Even after I told Vernal to complicate things as much as she could." Grinning at the glare Raven shook her head. "I told you to go to the manor, but I never gave explicit instructions on what to do. You handled it as well as you could have given the circumstances. And despite how things turned out you're still keen on continuing, right?" Weiss nodded. "Then fine, do your own thing. I don't see any reason why I have to keep you around any longer."
Weiss seemed unsure again, though Raven for once couldn't venture why that was. She figured she'd laid things out bare enough that even the town fool could understand her.
"Is that why you're keeping the White Fang members…? Are you testing them too?" Weiss asked.
"Hm… I wonder." Raven shrugged noncommittally, resting her hand on her sword as she thumbed her chin. "I guess I could, though that would almost double my tribe. Too many mouths to feed," she mused aloud, tapping her temple next. "Maybe I should just ransom them back to the White Fang? If they don't take it then it shows their people that their masters don't care for them. It would do wonders to kill morale. Though I'd still be stuck with all these people… Maybe I should just leave them here in the forest, let them fend for themselves."
"You can't do that!" Weiss stumbled towards her, eyes wide. "They would die! They have no food, no weapons, and nowhere to go!"
"And why is that my problem? They were the enemy just a few days ago, hell… They probably still are. That I've even let them live this long is a mercy to them."
"That's it then? You let them live just so you can play games with their lives?" Weiss asked, aghast.
"What else would you have me do with them? Like I said, there's too many to take in, and I'm not going to ruin my own people's lives for their sake."
Again, Weiss' eyes went elsewhere, looking around helplessly. She could see the gears churning in the girl's head, hand flexing at her side as she licked her lips. Schnees were smart, and Weiss had already proven she could find clever solutions.
"There's the town nearby," Weiss hurried, reaching out and grabbing Raven's sleeve. "If nothing else it would provide them shelter, and… They can forage for food. The Church has no reason to return to it and no one lives there anymore. Let these people live there. You won't have to care for them anymore."
Raven allowed the ghost of a smile to appear, prying Weiss' hand from her outfit with ease. Pondering the proposal for a moment she tapped a finger against her chin before nodding. "That could work, though they hardly have a fighter among them. They're going to have their hands full trying to get settled, yet they're likely going to need protection, too. And I'm not sending any of my people to play guard."
"Then we'll do it! We need to recuperate anyways and… And I know people nearby who can help rebuild. We can restore the town for them." Weiss' eyes widened as thoughts continued to churn. "And… We can use it as a place to rest as well."
Raven nearly allowed herself another laugh, cutting it off when the Schnee looked up at her. Skepticism flashed across the girl's features before the corners of her lips twitched, head turning slightly. "You expected me to suggest this, didn't you?"
"I haven't a clue what you're talking about," Raven deflected, waving a hand as she began to walk back towards camp. "If you want the town though it's yours. I'll even help get everyone there, though I meant when I said we're not staying around to help. Once you're there my people and I will be leaving."
If Weiss had any complaints she didn't voice them. This was fair, and all it had taken was a bit of games to bring the kids to this point. Gods if it wasn't beyond exhausting but at least Weiss had finally came to the realizations. Now maybe she could focus more on uncovering the secrets the temple had and less on playing guide to these clueless pups.
"Wait!" Weiss called, and Raven paused, throwing a disinterested look over her shoulder. "Why do all this? You could have just told us these things from the beginning or been honest. It would have spared us a lot of trouble." Weiss stumbled forwards, staring up at Raven carefully. "Why agree to help even after we've turned you down?"
Ah, the million Lien question. Raven shrugged and continued along at a slower pace, folding her arms in her sleeves. "Why indeed…? It's almost like my daughter is among your group." Glancing back again she chuckled at Weiss' befuddled expression. "Come on now, I'm not a complete bitch. I did save you kids after all, didn't I?"
Not that she planned on making a habit of that. It had been a hard lesson, one which had nearly killed Ruby, but Weiss had learned it, and so too would the others. They didn't need her to lead them around if they finally felt they could make it on their own. Raven smiled ruefully, red eyes reflecting the sunlight that poured through the trees.
Don't worry, Summer. The girls are going to be just fine. They've got a good one leading them now.
/+/+/+/+/+/
"We're certain he's made contact?"
"Yes sir. Qrow and his group encountered Raven Branwen, and after the ensuing battle he was taken by his sister." Glynda thumbed through several sheets of paper before adjusting her glasses. A frown marred her otherwise beautiful features, green eyes set firmly on the sheets in hand. "After that however... "
"Two of our scouts were killed, and the third narrowly escaped. As to be expected of Raven," Ozpin mused. Glynda set the stack of papers on his desk and they went ignored as he instead turned to look out his windows. "We can confirm he's made contact then, and assuming he hasn't been killed, he's with them now?"
Glynda nodded. "Yes, and it's safe to assume he's still unaware." Good. Not that he'd expected Qrow to have known regardless. Ozpin's chair creaked as he leaned back, glass panes mirroring his movements and his satisfied expression.
"Sir… If I may?" Ozpin waved a hand lazily, eyes looking out into the expanse below his tower. "Is this… The best course of action?" Glynda stood upright as Ozpin turned himself around, gaze dropping and hands folding behind her back. "It's only... How can we be certain it will work? And isn't it a little… Cruel?"
"Glynda…" Ozpin leaned forward on his desk, hands clasped and resting atop it. "Are you suggesting we let them go?"
Glynda's eyes immediately sought Ozpin, bangs swaying along with her head. "Not at all, sir! I'm merely saying… Forcing this, making Yang -"
"Miss Xiao Long accepted her fate when she agreed to the program. This is merely an extension of it. Do I feel like we're overstepping boundaries by doing this, as you so subtly seem to imply? No, I do not."
Watching Glynda shift about gave away her apprehension. They were subtle tics, ones he'd learned she had over the years. Constantly adjusting her glasses, brushing hair behind her ears and playing with the buttons on the cuff of her blouse. She had more to say yet withheld it for fear of derision.
"You know you can speak your mind with me, Glynda. This room is for that very purpose."
Glynda hesitated still, looking to Ozpin before her eyes fell once again. With a sigh of resignation, she nodded, removing her glasses and rubbing the bridge of her nose. "We're certain this is the only solution? Surely the children can be made to see reason?"
"Fond of them, are we?" Ozpin quipped, dry despite his smile.
"They're talented and have promising futures."
"As have so many before them."
"Yes, but… I'm merely suggesting we try a different method," Glynda posited. "We have a Schnee, a prodigy in miss Nikos, not to mention the daughter of Summer Rose…"
"Their loss will be regrettable, and I assure you, I take no pleasure in doing this." Ozpin sighed and fixed his own spectacles. "But we cannot let our personal feelings towards these children jeopardize Remnant. By now Raven has no doubt filled their heads with fallacies, delusions. Assuming the temple has been claimed, we can do little to prevent them from proliferating that knowledge… Unless immediate action is taken."
Not sending out more Hunters. That would take far too long and the Branwen tribe rarely remained static. Rather than chase ghosts they would utilize pieces they already had. "Besides, they've already made their decision. Their fates were decided the moment they turned their backs on Remnant."
Still displeased though resigned, Glynda replaced her glasses and nodded. "I understand, sir. I'll see to the other arrangements as well. Will there be anything else?"
Ozpin slid open a drawer in his oaken desk, removing a lockbox from within. "No, I believe that will be all, thank you, Glynda. See to the rest and then take the day for yourself. I understand you're upset," he offered condolences with a smile, "But this is for the betterment of everyone. If we must sacrifice a few for the sake of the whole…"
"A few casualties are preferable to many," Glynda finished. She'd say no more on the matter, bowing her head before taking her leave. Ozpin sat in silence as he watched her go, turning back to face him only once she'd arrived at the lift. If he wasn't mistaken he caught a flicker of contempt before the doors closed, or perhaps it was merely his mind playing tricks on him.
No matter. He didn't need anyone to like what he was doing, even Glynda. Remnant's safety and wellbeing was more important than any one life, or any few, including his own. It just so happened his actions weren't the ones jeopardizing the world right now.
Reaching into his scarf he pulled a thin string, at the end of which sat a silver key. Removing it from his neck he unlocked the box and unfurled a fine velvet cloth, setting it on his desk. Staring back at him was a stone of the purest shadow, smooth as though chiseled and refined by the finest craftsmen in all the lands. Ozpin waved his hand over it and watched as black mist rose in response to his magic, parting as it met his palm before vanishing over his head.
Still active, good. He had begun to wonder if distance or time might have weakened the connection yet evidently it remained as strong as ever. Rewrapping the stone, he placed it away in the lockbox, returning it to its home. With a drawn-out sigh he settled back into his seat and pinched the bridge of his nose before laying his head back and glancing up at the vaulted ceiling.
It was a delicate balance. Knowledge was needed, necessary even. Hunters needed to know how to combat Grimm, to protect villages and safeguard crucial locations across Remnant. Yet at what point did knowledge become a curse? When did an individual know so much that, rather than become enlightened, the world became an unreasonable, unruly entity? More so than it already was?
Ozpin would argue he'd crossed that threshold a long time ago. Remnant was in dire straits and he'd known that, he'd known it as a page, and he knew it before becoming an archbishop. The degree of danger however was far larger, more insurmountable than he ever could have imagined. Some days it was all he could do not to lock himself away and despair.
Yet he needed to press on. Hide away knowledge that would harm the world while simultaneously leading them to defend against the very things he kept from them. That the Church kept from them. He could be stood atop a high wire with a Beowolf on his back and still it wouldn't feel as precarious as this.
Regardless, it must be done. The duty fell to him and him alone and he would answer the call. It had been entrusted to him as so many before, yet he would make certain there would be no reason to be another. He would not name a successor unlike his mentor, nor would he burden anyone else with his curse, this… Anathema. Remnant hung in the balance and there were forces the world over seeking to take advantage of a tumultuous time.
He wouldn't let it happen. If a few had to die for the sake of Remnant's future, then so be it. Nothing would keep him from ensuring the sun rose on the world tomorrow and for many days thereafter.
Nothing.
Some perspective shifts this time around, some light shed on a couple of things and a bit of foreshadowing. All in all one of the lengthier chapters I've written in some time and, I hope, an enjoyable one. In keeping with the theme of thankfulness and gratitude I want to just thank people who've given the story a look, whether you ended up liking it or not, and those who have stuck with it.
And as before, no strict posting schedule, but I'm LOOSELY leaving it at a 7-10 day span per chapter. We'll see! Until next time folks have a splendid Thanksgiving, and stay awesome!
