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in. To my surprise, at this point, Goodwitch actually offered up some information about herself. "My husband died in a fire. It is a sorrow none can know, for everyone's sorrow is unique. My love... is gone. My dearest friend. And yet... I feel him near me. Sometimes, I can almost see him.
"At night, when the wind blows, I can't help thinking of what might have been. I can't help wondering why.
"When I see fire, I become angry. This was not a friendly fire! Not even a forest fire! It was a fire of the woods.
"I wish to say more... but I cannot. This is all I am permitted."
Chapter XXV
The Dream and the Nightmare
"Stars wheeled overhead... overcome by a mighty fire. I remember moving through the flames, then stepping out... a vague shape appeared in the dark. Then... nothing. I remember nothing else until I found myself standing by the cold remains of our campfire."
"Major Winchester, there are new techniques that might help us break through that amnesia."
"This is not normal amnesia. I can feel the memories- smell them, sense them. I still... know them, but they're beyond my reach."
"Do you remember anything else?"
"An... owl. A giant owl."
"An owl?"
"Yes..."
Major Winchester fingered at the side of his neck, just under his ear, where an angry red mark, almost like a tattoo had appeared- three triangles pointing at one center.
"How big was it?" Ruby pressed.
"Enough to... cloud my mind and memory," Joseph shrugged- his eyes were somewhat glazed, as though he wasn't quite looking at them, but still upon whatever strange world he'd spent the last two days in.
"The triangles are in perfect proportion," Michelle volunteered.
Yang sighed. "Major Winchester, what exactly do you do for work?"
"Believe me, Ms. Xiao Long, I can hardly think of a greater pleasure than revealing that information... but, as I must repeat to myself every day, it's classified. Admittedly... secrets seem far less meaningful to me now. But still... I can't help thinking that some information is important enough to transcend human need to conspire. Heavy information that pertains not to... to..."
Joseph was trembling, shaking, as if haunted by an unseen menace. "Oh... oh, God... was it meant... for the soul? For my soul?"
Ruby twitched- something about Joseph's mannerisms since his return was reminding her uncomfortably of Qrow's behavior right before he'd vanished. "Major... how about we try again- from the beginning?"
Joseph nodded. "Are you... are you familiar with the Red Gulch Project?"
"I know a little," Ruby nodded. "The Air Force's investigation into UFOs, right?"
"Officially, disbanded thirty years ago," Joseph agreed. "But... unofficially... there are still eyes looking towards the sky- or, in Vale's case... the woods. You've almost certainly figured it out by now... our ultimate goal is to find the White Lodge."
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!*
The door to the conference room swung open, and a pair of soldiers entered. "Major Winchester, come with us."
Joseph rose unsteadily to his feet. "Of course... I've been expecting you."
"Hold up!" Yang spoke up, raising her hands, but the soldiers shook their heads.
"Colonel Ironwood's orders."
"Screw your orders," Yang hissed. "This is my station, and the Major is-"
"Yang," Joseph cut her off. "I'm afraid... we'll have to continue this discussion later."
Yang looked furious, but got herself under control with a deep breath. "You're... sure about this?"
"Absolutely. Goodbye."
Thus were Ruby, Yang, and Michelle left alone with the photos of Joseph's new tattoo.
Ruby felt something cold on the back of her neck, and looked up to see the sprinklers leaking.
XXXX
Mike was in Yang's office with Reese, still working himself up to calling Tyrian. Every time he reached for his scroll, he hesitated. "Come on, Mike, it ain't gonna bite you," Reese cajoled.
"It won't, but Tyrian just might," Mike countered. "He's the type that makes the hardest thugs quiver!"
"Is the operation ready yet?" came Ruby from the door.
"Not quite- Mike's lost a bit of his nerve," Reese reported.
Ruby crossed the room and knelt down. "I know you're scared, but come on, you can do it, can't you? For me?"
Mike stared into her wide silver eyes, and picked up his scroll. A hard lump appeared in his throat as it rang. "Hello? This is the Professor- can I speak to Tyrian Callows?...Hello. Hello, Tyrian- yes, I found that buyer you were looking for."
XXXX
"Hello, Nora," Ren greeted as he returned to the police station- he smiled when she beamed and eagerly waved back to him. Things were finally returning to normal...
Or they would be, if he didn't round a corner to find Neptune dressed like an old-fashioned detective, urgently shushing him and beckoning him into an empty room.
"What now, Neptune?"
"I've done some digging- visited the adoption agency and put on the charm for some of the ladies there. Unfortunately, Ken's records have already been returned to the orphanage."
Ren rolled his eyes. "Neptune-"
"Ren, we have to find out what happened to his parents! That's why I'm going to the orphanage-"
"You have fun with that-"
"-and you're coming with me!"
"...I am?"
"There could be some serious shady business going on here, Ren- as an officer of the law, isn't it your duty to investigate?"
"...If I go along on this, and we don't find anything, will you let it drop?"
"Of course."
Ren sighed- this was how he'd learned to counter crazy from years with Nora- just humor them 'til they got tired. "Alright, I'll come."
"Good," Neptune beamed. "Now, we need to be inconspicuous..."
He pulled his collar up as high as he could, looking for all the world like he was trying to cosplay Humphrey Bogart. Ren sighed and plodded after him towards the police station's rear entrance, leaving Nora- who'd caught a few whispered words- staring after them in total befuddlement.
"Hey, Nora!"
Nora yelped, but calmed when she saw who it was. "Oh, hey, Ruby!"
"How're things going?"
"I'm keeping an eye on the Classifieds, just like you said," Nora saluted brightly. "Even spilled over into other sections, but no chess plays yet! No mention of Emerald Sustrai!"
"Okay," Ruby nodded. "Keep your lookout."
XXXX
"You want some more coffee there, soldier?" Coco asked teasingly.
"Absolutely," Yatsuhashi smiled back for her.
"Everything okay, Yats?" Coco asked as she filled his mug.
"...Wonderful," Yats nodded. "I'm leaving a special tip, if you don't mind..."
He handed her a five lien note and the check- on the backside of which was written, We need to talk.
"Always appreciated," Coco kept her composure as she slid both into her pocket. "See you around, Yats."
"I'm sure you will," Yats nodded as he drank from his coffee.
XXXX
"Here, Adam Adam! There's a good Adam..."
Velvet, in Cardin's not-exactly-professional opinion, was losing her mind as she struggled to feed Adam, sitting as listless as ever before the tv, showing the latest episode of Mario Mario.
When he attempted to point this out, however, she glared daggers at him. "It was your turn to feed him, Cardin!"
"I had practice..."
"For what?! The season's over!"
"For football, not baseball."
"Maybe you can do some cleaning when you get back!"
"...I'm not coming back tonight."
"What?"
"I'm working for Willow Schnee now. This is a golden opportunity! I've got better things to do than give Adam Taurus a bubble bath!"
"And what about me?" Velvet asked, eyes narrowing. "Will I ever have something better to do?"
"I mean, not lately-"
Cardin faltered when Velvet slapped him across the face.
He reached up and touched the spot. For one moment, Velvet wondered if he was going to strike back.
He didn't. He turned and made his way towards the front door. "Cardin... Cardin... CARDIN!"
He slammed the door behind himself. Velvet let out a scream as she turned towards Adam- and faltered. His eyelids were batting rapidly- she could hardly see it, they were moving so quickly. She held her breath... and after a moment, they stopped, leaving the oatmeal dripping down his chin as his only movement.
XXXX
Yats had just made it back home when his scroll rang- he immediately recognized the voice on the other end. "Pyrrha?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Pyrrha, where have you been? Are you alright?"
"...I'm fine," Pyrrha decided. "I just... need a favor. I need the money in my savings account."
"That's only twelve lien," Yats pointed out, his heart beginning to race.
"Then send that to me. Send it to the Vacuo Steakhouse, at the edge of Centralia."
"Pyrrha... are you in trouble?"
A door creaked open- Pyrrha glanced over to see Henry entering the room. "Of course not. Look, I can't exactly talk right now- I'll call you back soon."
"If you say so. Take care. Call soon."
"Of course. Goodbye."
"Are you homesick?" Henry asked from behind a large pair of sunglasses.
"No," Pyrrha denied. "I can't go back... not now."
"Why not? Tell me about Vale. Why did you leave? A man? Several... men?"
"One man," Pyrrha corrected. "Jaune Arc... he's dead. I thought I knew him, but... it turns out I didn't. Nobody did- I'm starting to wonder if he knew himself."
"...I'm sorry," Henry offered his condolences.
Pyrrha looked away. "My life used to make sense. I didn't love every second of it, but I understood. Then Jaune died, and... now I don't know anything anymore. I want to live for Jaune, but... what does that even mean anymore?
"I tried to help, but only made things worse. Another boy was murdered, a girl took her own life. It all... it all built, until the only thing I could do was hop on my bike and ride away."
"I... think I know that feeling," Henry whispered, drawing closer. "If I may... let me share your pain..."
PYRRhA OFFerrED no rESIstanCE as hENrY pUllED Her INTo A DeeP KISs.
She did, however, take the chance to take off the sunglasses, revealing his black eyes. "Why do you let her do this to you?"
He anSWERed bY PULinG hER BAcK IN.
They were broken apart at the sound of a car out front. "Sae's leaving... will you help me?"
"What do you mean?"
"I... need your help, Pyr."
He looked back, and dashed off before she could ask anything else.
XXXX
Sky's efforts at a normal breakfast at Coco's Diner were foiled when Neon appeared behind him. "Good morning, Sky Lark!"
"Oh, God..."
"Wanna share a soda? A nice big slice of strawberry pie?"
"Look, Mrs. Dai- er, Neon, I want my own strawberry pie. Smeg, I could go for two slices right now- by myself."
"Meatloaf it is, then!"
"I don't want any fucking meatloaf! I want two slices of strawberry pie and sixteen damn cups of coffee- all for myself! I do not want to talk with you, or walk with you! I don't want to see you, I don't want to know you! Do you get it, or do I have to get a fucking court order?!"
Neon looked stunned for a second, looking away somewhat shamefacedly. "Sky... you... are the handsomest boy I've ever known! And I'd really like it... if we could go on a date!"
She dove for his lips- he pulled back as far as he could, until he'd fallen flat on his back.
Finally, Neon pulled back. "I'm sorry... sometimes I just can't help myself."
She got up and moved to a different seat, leaving Sky panting in his own.
Behind the counter, Coco was preparing to leave early for her meeting with Yats when Hazel approached. "Where are you going, Coco?"
"Just gotta grab some things from the store," she shrugged off.
"It seems... rather early," Hazel countered suspiciously. "We're still fighting through the breakfast rush."
"Ninety-nine out of a hundred of these guys just want scrambled eggs," Coco advised. "Don't worry- I'll be right back. Consider it a test!"
She gave him one last smile before heading out the door, leaving a very suspicious Hazel in her wake. "...I'll do that."
XXXX
Blake answered a knock at the door of the Haven Inn to find Yang on the other side. She quickly took off her maid hat.
"What's going on here?" Yang asked, bewildered. "I thought the plan was to move you into my place. The hell you doin' here? Dressed like that?"
"This is my home now," Blake whispered.
"Home?" Yang stared. "With Raven? After everything she's done to you?"
"I... have no choice."
"Blake..."
Yang lifted Blake's hair and pecked her on the neck.
"Go home, Yang."
"Blake, let me take care of you!"
"I can't."
"Please?"
"Yang, I'm safe here. And me being here makes you safe, too."
"I can't believe that," Yang stood firm, bending in for a kiss on the lips.
Blake allowed it briefly, before pushing her away. "Yang... stop. Look at me- I'm Raven's maid now. You deserve better."
"That's for me to decide," Yang insisted. "I love you, Blake." She continued kissing, and this time, Blake went along, allowing it to happen, taking comfort in Yang's warm embrace.
XXXX
Weiss stepped into the Austin Hotel's hallways to find a girl dressed as an old-fashioned army drummer sprinting through the halls in tears. From a distance, she heard a voice. "SEARgeANt geNeraL WinchEStER, i wANt yOU TO lEAD the cHArge ON BlOOD GuLch!"
Her curiosity piqued, she headed towards the voice. To her bemusement, it was coming from her mother's office.
"and wHERe's GEnERal LAGUnE? DAMn hIs eyES!"
"...Mother?" Weiss asked, aghast- most of the floor of her mother's office was taken up by a large-scale diorama of rolling hills and green, upon which her mother laid, playing with small soldier figurines.
"HE'D BesT be COmiNG FOr aLL Our saKES! We MEeT the ENEmy HERE!"
"Mother!" Weiss repeated, kneeling down at her side.
Willow paused, looking up at her. "Yes, darling?"
Weiss looked from the diorama and back. "What are you doing?"
Willow fixed her gaze sternly, and spoke in a strange accent. "TheRe'S A WAr on, dARlING."
"...A war?"
"A War ACROss alL THE natiONS And kiNGdoMS oF REMnaNT."
Weiss returned to the diorama, then, slowly, to her mother. "Mother... I think you need some help."
"noT HElp, DaRliNG, BUt tiME. thIS Is a veRY ImporTANt dAy."
"Very," Weiss agreed. "It's time we saved the business.
"...DARling... YOU're sTandING On genErAL LagunE."
Weiss moved her foot, revealing another figurine beneath. Willow eagerly grabbed it and wiped it off with her cuff. "gENeraL WAsHINGton! GENeRAL washIngTOn! LAGuNE HaS COMe!"
Weiss watched anxiously for a little longer before stepping into the hall and producing her scroll. "This is Weiss Schnee- I need to speak to my father, Jacques. This is an emergency."
XXXX
Yatsuhashi opened his door to find Coco on the other side, whereupon they both tried speaking at once.
"I think we have to-"
"I wanted to..."
They paused, and Coco stepped further in.
Yatsuhashi smiled. "You first."
Coco laughed. "Have it your way. Look... Yats, you're the last thing I think of when I go to sleep at night- the first thought when I wake up. The world's falling apart, and it feels like it's trying to make sure we both land on different pieces. But still... we love each other. I want to be with you, Yats- no matter what happens."
She reached up and pulled him down into a kiss- he made no resistance.
As he started to get more aggressive, Coco spoke. "Yats- Yats, before we go too far... it's your turn."
"It can wait."
He pulled off her coat and carelessly dropped it to the ground.
XXXX
"Ah- mind the chest hair!"
Once again, Fox found himself outfitting someone with a hidden microphone- and once again, they were fussing like a baby.
"You're sweating like a pig," Fox noted as he struggled to outfit Mike with a mic.
"Should I not be?" Mike challenged. "I fought in the second War for Remnant, but I'd rather be back there than what I'm about to do."
"Things'll be better if you focus," Ruby stepped in. "'Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift- that's why it's called the present.' Repeat your instructions, step by step."
Mike took a deep breath. "I take Reese up to 343 Vickery Lane. Introduce him to Tyrian."
"Looking good!" Ruby praised with a smile- it seemed to give Mike the courage to keep going.
"I talk them through the buy, then get the hell out."
"Simple and clean!" Ruby clapped. "Which is when Yang steps in, right, sis?"
"Damn straight," Yang nodded, cleaning a rifle.
Ruby nodded, smiling. "I just wish I could be out there with you."
"About that," Yang interrupted, rising to her feet. "Here's the thing, Rubes- being Sheriff has plenty of perks. For instance..."
She tossed something across the room- Ruby caught it without thinking. She looked at it- a Vale Police badge.
"Welcome to the force, Deputy Rose," Yang beamed. "The Guild's loss is my gain."
Ruby gave a stunned smile as she fondled the badge. "I just... hope I can live up to it!"
Mike gulped. "Er... how long will it take you to storm the place when the buy is finished?"
"You leave, we enter," Ruby answered promptly, still gazing in wonder at her badge.
Mike nodded, looking hopeless. "Just saying... this isn't exactly my line of work... I'm a coward!"
"Mike, Mike, Mike!" Yang spoke up, standing up and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Re-lax."
Mike collapsed back into his seat. "Sorry... just a momentary lapse. I'm fine. Let's do it."
"Anyone seen Reese?" Ruby wondered, finally fastening the badge to her cloak.
"Getting made up a little," spoke a higher-pitched voice as the door opened behind them. Ruby turned and was surprised to see the Reese she used to know entering the room- a little taller and broader, but the changes far less noticeable. "I thought I'd take the chance to crossdress from the other angle- besides, this version of me shouldn't be on file anymore. Give me a bit of an incognito edge."
"Lookin' good, Reese," Yang chuckled as Fox finally finished outfitting Mike.
XXXX
The wind was picking up as Ren and Neptune crept into Ken's orphanage, Neptune continually repeating how subtle they needed to be. Ren simply rolled his eyes and continued to act as though he was getting caught up in another of Nora's misadventures.
They found their way to the records room, where Neptune reached beneath his large fedora and produced a pin. "Time to pick the lock..."
Ren pushed the door open with ease.
Neptune didn't miss a beat. "And we're in!"
"...It seems everyone's out to lunch," Ren noted.
"All part of the plan," Neptune smirked. "Ah- here! The case files! K...K... K..."
Ren casually glanced out the window, doing his best to act as if he cared at all about this little excursion.
"Ah! Ken Amada!"
"Good. Perhaps it would be best to read it back in the car-"
"Patience, my dear Ren, patience!"
Ren sighed a long-suffering sigh.
"Basic background information... birthplace... initial adoption... first of several!"
Ren casually thunked his head against the wall behind him.
"The plot thickens... what are your secrets, little Ken?"
Ren glanced out the door again- a man and a woman were making their way down the hall, grinning widely when they saw him inside.
The opening of the door finally alerted Neptune, who slammed the drawer shut and hid the files beneath his trench coat.
"Hello!" the man greeted cheerily. "We're the Cottas! I know we're a little early, but we're just so eager to see her!"
"Can we?" the woman implored. "Where is Terra?"
"Dead!" Neptune squeaked out the first thing on his mind.
The Cottas gasped in horror.
"Tired!" Neptune quickly made to gloss over his mistake. "Dead tired! Terra's feeling a little... under the weather."
"She seemed fine yesterday," Mr. Cotta noted in concern, glancing at his wife.
"Neptune-" Ren started, but Neptune cut him off.
"I'll be with you in a minute, Ping! I just need to help these good people first! Now, where were we?"
XXXX
Sun took a deep breath before knocking at Yat's door. "Yats! Hey, Big Yats! This is Sun, I wanted to talk to you!"
Finally, the door opened. "Yes, Sun?"
"I need your help. Pyrrha's gone missing- nobody's seen her in days."
"Don't worry too much- she's fine, she just called me," Yats smiled, thumping a hand on Sun's shoulder. "She said she needed some money sent to the Vacuo Steakhouse at the edge of Centralia."
"Good- let me take it to her," Sun leapt on the chance.
"What about your parents?"
"They trust me to be out for a couple days. I'll explain- they'll get it."
Yats nodded. "Alright. Here you go."
He handed over an envelope with the entirety of Pyrrha's savings in it. "Thanks, Big Yats."
As Yatsuhashi turned back in, Coco rose to her feet. "I oughtta get going myself."
"I'll call you later," Yats promised.
"You do that- God knows we have plenty to talk about." She pulled him down for one last kiss, then was out the door.
Yatsuhashi smiled before turning into his kitchen...
Where Hazel stood at the counter. "Hello, Big Yats."
"Hazel," Yatsuhashi greeted guardedly.
"We do funny things for love, don't we?" Hazel mused- then punched Yats across the face.
Yats thudded into a wall, and before he could reorient himself, Hazel had hold of him and was throwing him into the coffee table in the living room. He wasted no time before pouncing on him and delivering punch after punch.
"Yats, I'm home!" came the crowing voice of Neon from the front door. She skipped in- and froze when she saw Hazel atop Yatsuhashi, beating him into the carpet. "Yats!"
Hazel barely had time to turn before Neon had slammed him across the face with a backpack loaded with textbooks- he fell back into the sofa.
Neon picked him up and glared daggers at him as she spun him around and punched him into the wall- and continued punching. "YOU! ARE! A! MEAN! MAN! YOU! BIG! BULLY!"
She ended her flurry of punches by tossing him through a cabinet, where he laid, unmoving.
Neon didn't seem to care- she dashed to Yatsuhashi's side. "Yats! Yats, can you hear me?!"
"Neon?" he wondered aloud, dumbfounded.
"Yes, I'm here- Neon's here!" she cooed as she cradled him in her arms. "Don't worry about a thing- Neon's here!"
XXXX
Cardin managed to catch Willow in a relatively lucid moment- she was still rambling on about the first War for Remnant, but was at least doing so in the past tense, rather than behaving as though she were right in the middle of it all.
"Colonel Montana and her troops were trapped in the middle of Blood Gulch. Their only chance was to maneuver the left flank up the hillside- but we outmaneuvered them, Cardin, my boy, and it ended in failure!"
"...Mrs. Schnee..."
"And just like that, Blood Gulch was ours! From there, we were able to start rolling back the enemy lines- preparing for Pickman's mighty charge! And... VICTORY!"
"Victory... hurray..."
Cardin saw Weiss peek into the office, see what was happening, then immediately turn away.
Willow turned and presented Cardin with the saber she'd just been waving around. Not knowing what else to do, he accepted it.
"GENErAL WiNCheSTer, yoU have SUfferED an igNoBLE defeAT. i AccEPT YouR UNcoNdITioNAL SurrENDEr."
She moved her hands as though inviting him to stand, which he did, his head bowed. "Look, tell you what, Mrs. Schnee- let me go ahead and talk to King Lincoln, okay? You just wait right here and I'll get back to you about the whole... unconditional surrender thing." He began making his way to the door. "Don't wanna keep the king waiting, y'know?"
He moved into the hallway to find Weiss waiting. "So, you want the good news or bad news first?" he asked.
Weiss remained silent.
"Okay, bad news is, your mom should probably be getting fit for a straightjacket. The good news is, she's on track to win the first War for Remnant."
"Tell me something I don't know," Weiss sighed. "Father said he'll be back on the next plane- Oobleck said he should be available tomorrow. I just hope we can fix this before she does something serious."
"Tell you what... call me up if you need any help, Ice Queen."
"Don't call me Ice Queen."
As they left, Raven appeared, staring after them before hurrying into Willow's office, where she was lighting an antique oil lantern.
Her eyes widened when she spied her guest. "Raven!"
"Hello, Willow," Raven greeted.
Willow looked awful- dressed in a crude mock-up of an old soldier's uniform, and clearly not taking any care of herself whatsoever since her release.
"Here to gloat, I suppose," Willow grunted. "Have at it. You've earned it. You have defeated me... aS I Have dEfeatED gENERal WinCHesteR."
"True," Raven nodded. "I defeated you, and I did come to gloat. You double-crossed me- tried to kill me. I wanted to bury you so deep that, one day, when society crumbles and rebuilds, future generations would unearth you and think you were part of an era already bygone. Slimy Bitch Atlesianicus."
"I... have hardly been trustworthy, have I?"
Raven nodded, running a hand through Willow's wild hair. "But... despite it all... despite what I know... here I am. Still wanting you."
Willow snorted. "It's my turn to doubt now."
"Don't," Raven shook her head. "Disgusted as I am, I can't turn my back on you. Kiss me, General Schnee."
And Willow did just that.
XXXX
Henry hadn't exactly been expecting Pyrrha to slap a blindfold on him, press some champagne into his hands, and lead him out the door.
"Wherever we're going, Pyr, we'd better hurry- the champagne's getting warm."
"Please, just Pyrrha," Pyrrha smiled painfully- 'Pyr' was a name that belonged to Jaune, and him alone. "Alright... you are free to look!"
Henry removed the blindfold to find Pyrrha grinning and popping open her own bottle in front of his completely repaired and remastered car. "Anywhere you want to go?" Pyrrha asked.
"Sae's gonna be home by midnight," he pointed out. "Whatever we do, it should be quick."
"Well, if there's anything I've learned, it's to take whatever happiness you can get," Pyrrha declared.
Henry produced a pair of glasses, allowing Pyrrha to pour. "Sounds good to me." He handed a glass to her. "To good samaritans and rebuilt engines!"
They clinked, and drank.
"You really are a miracle worker- I never thought I'd see her drive again."
"I'm really not," Pyrrha denied shyly.
"You're too modest," Henry suggested. "Come on, preen a little- you deserve it! Strong, kind, and humble. You're a very... honest person. Wish I knew more like that- I can just look at you, and know what you're thinking."
"I guess I'd better watch my thoughts, then," Pyrrha giggled.
"Not too careful- not for me," Henry insisted. "So, where do you go from here?"
"I... I don't know. I never really had any plans."
"Then... don't."
"What?"
"There's no need for you to go- to be honest, I don't want you to go. Give me time- I can think of reasons for you to stay."
Pyrrha hesitated as they dropped their glasses, spilling glass and champagne on the sidewalk. SHE fOUND hERSelf dRawn FoRWARd intO ANotHEr DEEP kisS.
And from far away, May Marigold watched on.
XXXX
"Perhaps we should wait for Hazel- he was very adamant about being included in all this," Caroline suggested.
"We can start without him," Tyrian brushed aside.
"...Very well. I suppose I'm concerned in part for Mike- he's sweating something awful."
"It's a childhood condition," Mike defended himself as he wandered around the house. "You should have seen me during the second War for Remnant-"
Far away, Ruby watched through binoculars, while Fox listened in through Mike's mic.
Abruptly, Caroline nudged Tyrian. "Tyrian... Mike's shirt is smoking."
Ruby watched as Tyrian punched Mike across the face and tossed him into a wall- they disappeared from her field of view.
"The wire's dead," Fox announced grimly.
"RUBY!" Tyrian screeched- he led Caroline out the front door- he had Reese at gunpoint, while she had Mike. "RUBY! SHOW YOURSELF!"
"Rubes, no!" Yang hissed, to no avail. Ruby rose and stepped into sight. "What do you want, Tyrian?!"
"Safe passage to the Mistralian border!" Tyrian announced.
"Release the hostages first!"
"That's not how this works, Rose!" Tyrian shouted back. "This is a stalemate!"
"We'll kill you if you don't!"
"Then everybody can die!"
"Or we can trade," Ruby suggested heavily.
"...Trade?"
To Ruby's relief, Tyrian seemed to be genuinely considering her offer. "You return Mike and Agent Chloris, and you get me."
"Ruby!"
Ruby ignored her sister, drawing closer- she raised her gun where Tyrian could see it, very visibly laying it on the ground before continuing closer.
"Get backup," Yang ordered. "Everyone you can."
"On it," Fox agreed.
XXXX
There was a half moon in the sky when Henry awoke and left Pyrrha behind in his bed, throwing one glance back before stepping out to meet his sister.
"How is she?" May asked.
"Sound asleep," Henry assured her as May drew closer. "Dreaming of love."
May smirked as she pressed her lips to his. "She... is a very lucky girl." She failed to notice Henry's discomfort as she wrapped her arms around him and attacked her neck.
XXXX
343 Vickery Lane was surrounded- all the police from Vale were there, including Fox, Yang, and Nora. Only Ren was missing. On top of this were the provincial policemen, a few levels higher than they were- they had expressed great interest in finally capturing notorious criminal Tyrian Callows.
They circled around the old, ramshackle building, drew their weapons, and waited.
Yang was among the last to return- Fox filled her in. "They took her into the center room."
"Everyone keep steady!" Yang ordered, heart racing.
XXXX
"They've got us pretty well locked down," Caroline noted, glancing carefully through the window. "We can't hold this place down much longer."
Tyrian sighed dramatically. "Well, what do you think, Ms. Rose? Will they let us run?"
Ruby sat in the room's corner, thoroughly beaten, battered, and cut. "No," she answered, calmly as she was able.
"What about a deal, you think we can cut one of those?"
"...No."
"Then what's your suggestion, hmm?"
"They'll accept your surrender."
Tyrian laughed. "Well... then I guess that's what we'll have to do!"
"Are you crazy?!" Caroline hissed.
Tyrian casually nodded. "Probably, but that hardly changes the situation. The only thing left to decide is, do we come quietly, or kill our guest first?"
"You kill me, you're not getting out of this alive either," Ruby pointed out.
"I appreciate your statement of the obvious," Tyrian chuckled.
"I know you want revenge for your tail, but... is it really so important to you that you'd die for it?"
"It's not just the tail," Tyrian pointed out. "The Albains were close comrades of mine- now dead. I hold you responsible for that, as well."
"I didn't kill them."
"I know."
"Then... why?"
"Why?" Tyrian repeated, kneeling down next to her. "I know you like stories, little Ms. Rose- let me tell you one. A month or two ago, Vale was... a simple place. A dream world, really. The Albains handed coke off to teenagers and truck drivers, the Widow's Web welcomed the wealthy of Vale and the rest of the world, and these quiet people lived a quiet life. A simple town, a simple dream.
"Then, a little boy was found dead by the river, a huntress was sent in to find the killer, and things began to change. Fennec, shot and left to die in the woods. A grieving mother smothers Corsac with a pillow.
"Kidnapping, murder, and the quiet people suddenly becoming very, very noisy. And just like that... the quaint little dream became a nightmare."
"And... you think killing me will put things back the way they were?"
"Of course not. Maybe you brought the nightmare with you, but it's here to stay. It won't die with you- but it will make me feel better."
Caroline angrily cleared her throat. "Listen, faunus, I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but what I do know is that we have a problem here! If you won't solve it... I will."
She glanced back through the window, and did a double take. "Tyrian... we have a pizza boy."
Tyrian rolled his eyes. "Do you think I ordered anything? Let him come- but keep your gun drawn."
They kept their gazes fixed as a spotted male youth appeared, pizza box in hand. "Suppertime!" he announced, offering the box to Tyrian. "If you could just sign..."
Ruby glanced down, and spotted the gun tucked into the young man's sock. She leapt forward and seized it- in one motion, Reese turned and tackled Caroline as Ruby raised the gun and sent two shots into Tyrian's chest.
Yang abandoned all decorum, leaping to her feet and sprinting to the front door.
Reese continued to wrestle with Caroline, while Ruby kept her gun trained on Tyrian, whose eyes were wide as he coughed up blood. "A... pizza boy, huh? That's... actually pretty... funny..."
He gave a weak cackle that quickly faded away, along with the light in his eyes.
Police rushed in from all entrances- Nora and Yang from the front, Fox from the rear.
Yang immediately turned to Ruby. "Rubes, are you okay?"
"Yeah... I'm fine... nice going, Reese! The pimples were a nice touch!"
"Master of disguise!" Reese crowed as she pinned Caroline against the wall. "But really, you oughtta thank your sister- it was her idea."
"Master of improv," Yang smirked half-heartedly. "How's Tyrian?"
Fox had already been feeling for a pulse. Finally, he rose to his feet. "Dead."
XXXX
Velvet was fast asleep on the couch, a recorded Mario Mario marathon playing on the tv. This is ultimately what woke her- not due to any noise from the show itself, but from it's cessation.
She sat up and looked around- the power was out. Strange, it wasn't a stormy night.
"Cardin?" she wondered, rising to her feet. "Cardin?"
The power flickered back on, then off. On, off.
She steadily crossed the room. "Cardin, this isn't funny!"
Off... on.
She turned into the kitchen. On the opposite side of the table was Adam's chair.
It was empty.
She spun around to find him on the opposite end of the room, a nasty smirk on his face. "Hello, Velvet."
She screamed.
XXXX
"Bomb? What do you mean bomb?" Yang asked in bewilderment as she and the others finally returned to the police station.
"Look, I got a call on my scroll reporting that there was a bomb planted in the woods," Ren explained. "Sure enough, there was a large explosion, and the lights went out. I did what I could, and called the fire department."
"Was there a fire?" Ruby asked.
"Two- one at the power station."
"I'm going to check the generator," Fox announced. "Something's not sitting right with me."
As Ren continued his report, Ruby set out on her own, inching into the dark building, using her scroll as a makeshift flashlight. She made her way to Yang's office, where she nearly dropped her scroll. "YANG!"
"On my way, Rubes!"
Yang and Ren both rushed in, and immediately saw the cause for alarm.
A chessboard had been set up on Yang's desk, and in her chair sat a man- dead, duct tape wrapped around his mouth. Beaten and bloodied.
"What the hell?" Yang gasped.
"Emerald," Ruby whispered. "Her next move."
Sure enough, the board was set exactly like their game, except for one of Emerald's pawns having taken one of Ruby's.
To drive the point home, when they removed the tape, it was to find a small black pawn in the man's mouth.
XXXX
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