Thanks to TehGramerPolise and MasterofBones for their help with this chapter.
"Well this is it." Ruby declared as we passed through the trees and into a modestly sized clearing.
In the center there was a stone ring where the ashes of a fire lay still. Spread around it were three sleeping bags, next to one of which was a large cushion. Zwei let out a happy bark as he went to it, circled around once and then laid down, panting happily.
I walked over to one of the sleeping bags and set Winter down on top of it. She was still dead to the world, her chest rising and falling evenly.
I absently brushed silken strands of her long white hair out of her face and couldn't help but smile slightly, "We're seriously gonna have to talk about this whole, 'I carry your sleeping butt around everywhere' pattern we're starting to fall into, Ice Queen." I murmured, "People will start talking."
"Should they be?" I lifted an eyebrow and turned around to face Ruby, who was sitting on the sleeping bag next to Zwei, watching me closely.
I snorted as I stood up, "Kid, you might not be aware of this, but I've kind of given her a couple hundred reasons to hate my ever-living guts… so no."
She winced, "Now that you mention it, she did mention a couple things…"
I lifted an eyebrow, "Just a couple huh?"
"Is it true that you once left her stranded in a desert?" She asked me.
"Eyup." I replied easily as I sat across the fire pit from her, "But I wasn't nearly as proud of that one as the time that I sicced a Vulndari pack on her."
Ruby frowned, "A what now?"
"Kind of like dryads, but with bushes." I told her, "The ones in question were brambles… very prickly tempers. Probably took her a week to get all of the thorns out."
She looked over at Winter, "So you guys fought a lot?" She asked me.
"Yeah, for years actually."
"Why?"
I lifted an eyebrow, "What, did she never tell you?"
Ruby shrugged, "She did, but I wanted to hear you say it."
I let out a grunt, "It was nothing personal." I told her, "We just had… differing philosophies… she and her boss always wanted to study stuff… learn how to control it."
I shook my head, "I played it safe… whatever couldn't be reasoned with, I destroyed."
Ruby was silent for a moment, then finally spoke, "Okay."
I cocked my head, "Seriously? That's it? Just... 'okay'?"
"She pretty much said the same thing you said, just with different words." Ruby replied.
We were silent for a moment.
"So it's uh… been a while." I remarked.
"1,197 days." She replied, "I've been counting."
"Right…" I scratched the back of my neck, "Yang told me to tell you that she misses you, and that you're always welcome to come back."
Ruby smiled softly, "Is she doing okay?"
"I mean, she's stomping around inside a suit of magical armor and punching stuff… so you know…"
Ruby nodded, "That's good, it was rough for her… with what happened to Dad."
I felt a sudden pang of guilt. Damn it, with everything that had been going on I had never even asked about Tai at the chapterhouse.
Then a sense of dread and apprehension gripped me as I realized what she was saying, "What happened to him?" I asked softly.
Ruby's face turned somber, "What happened to everyone," She answered, "Beacon."
Zwei let out a whine and Ruby patted his head, "He was visiting for the last day of the Festival." She told me, "Yang had made it to the finals, so he came to watch in person."
She shivered, "When… when the Filth came, he bought us time to escape. We haven't seen or heard from him since."
I felt something inside me shrivel up and die as a sour taste came into my mouth. During our time as students, we had survived and succeeded in so many dangerous missions our team had sometimes been called 'Invincible STRQ'.
So much for that… Summer, Raven… and now Tai… I was the only one left now. I had always kind of dreaded the thought of the four of us sitting around reduced, to old codgers; boring anyone to death who was within reminiscing range.
Now, I thought bitterly, I wanted nothing more in the world.
Then my gaze lifted back up to Ruby and I squashed my little pity party. She had lost her father, her mother, and for those one thousand something days she had been holding onto hope that I hadn't kicked the bucket too.
I cleared my throat, "Do you know about the rest of your team?" I asked her.
She shook her head, "Last I heard from them, Weiss was in Atlas… something about her father, and Blake went to Menagerie."
She gripped tightly onto Zwei's fur, "For these past three years, we've been looking for something… anything to end this nightmare." She nodded to the Scepter of McCulloh, which I had slung onto my back.
"Is that it? The scepter thing?"
"It's the Scepter of McCulloh… yeah."
"Do we have any idea how to use it?"
"Absolutely no clue."
She deflated a little, and I could tell that wasn't what she had been wanting or even expecting to hear, "Okay… so what do we do then?"
I shrugged, "What I always do when I don't have any clue about eldritch shit." I replied, "Find someone who does have a clue… or at least can find one."
"Does that mean going back into that city?" Ruby asked with a little trepidation.
I shook my head, "The fact that they didn't even comment on it when we left makes me think they might not even be aware of its history against the Filth. The way things left off, if they knew something they would have said something."
Ruby frowned, "Uh… Uncle Qrow… I don't know if you caught that bit at the end… but I think that big guy was basically threatening to kill you when we left."
"Ungrost? He's actually a nice guy… kinda reminded me of your sister in a way, at least when he was smaller."
"Don't tell Yang that… her hair is a lot nicer than his was."
I chuckled slightly, "Regardless, not talking about him. There was a Fey lord and a kobold sorcerer who told us in no uncertain terms that when it came to choosing between us or the Filth, they were solidly in our corner."
I pointed at my eyepatch, "Heck, it was even the Fey lord who gave me this."
Ruby suddenly looked uncomfortable, "You accepted a gift from a Fey? Isn't that kind of a bad idea?"
"Might've been if I hadn't spared his life earlier." I replied, "Besides, there's kind of a big gulf on that kind of thing between the more hoighty-toighty Fey and warrior Fey… and this guy seemed to be pretty solidly the latter."
I grinned, "Plus, it is kind of badass."
She grinned back, "Can't say I can argue with that… how exactly did you… you know?"
"Lose my eye?" I asked, "Pretty recent occurrence actually… big of a long story though, so I'll tell you later."
Actually, I just didn't feel like talking about Summer in front of Ruby… especially not so soon afterward that particular wound had been torn open again.
Ruby however, seemed to accept the explanation, "So who do we go to about the Scepter?"
I scratched my chin, and for a bizarre moment it felt strange until I realized that it was because there weren't feathers growing there anymore.
"So the problem is that I don't know what's left of my old contacts." I replied, "It could take weeks to track them down, and that's even assuming they know anything about it."
I considered for a moment and then nodded, "We have to get back to the chapterhouse in Sanus." I concluded aloud, "Penny seemed to have a pretty good knowledge base. Even if she doesn't know she could give us a lead." I clenched a hand into a fist, "I can even channel anima now, so Agartha would be an easy option, provided we can locate a Conduit somewhere."
"Umm… actually… Agartha is kind of… gone."
I blinked and then slowly looked up at Ruby, "What do you mean… 'gone'?"
"I mean that every one of those Conduit things we've found we haven't been able to activate." She told me, "No matter what we've tried, no matter how much anima we've used… nothing."
"Well damn." I muttered, "That makes things significantly more complicated." Then I frowned, "So how have you guys been getting around?"
"The ITS." She replied simply.
"The… the what?"
"Intercontinental Train System, totally magical by the way. Kali tried to explain to me how it worked, but it was complicated and I kind of got bored."
"Alright… so how exactly does one get on this train system? I thought that the Jade Empress locked down everything getting in and out of Mistral?"
"Oh yeah, big time." Ruby agreed, "The time and place that the trains take off from are according to a schedule that only a few trusted people have; and they don't exactly wait around for people that are late."
I lifted an eyebrow, "And I'm guessing that you know one of these… 'trusted people'."
"In a manner of speaking." Ruby agreed.
I grunted, "Alright then, then tomorrow we get the schedule, get on the train, and then get back to Sanus." I said, "Assuming all of that goes well, we get to Penny and she figures out how to use the Scepter, then we go kick the Filth's teeth in and get everything back to normal."
"We'll get it done." Ruby said, "We have to."
I considered my niece, Kali and Winter had been right. Ruby had changed. Gone was the almost manic happy-go-lucky frenzy that she had perpetually been in.
Instead, what I saw was a kind of perpetual, calm optimism. She had been through hell and back… lost her dad… her teammates had scattered to the winds… her entire world driven into chaos... all of that seemed to have tempered her. She might bend, but I could somehow tell that she would never break, and that anyone around her wouldn't either.
Damn it, those were definitely not tears, something must have drifted into my eyes.
But I couldn't lie to myself… she was growing up… hell… had grown up; and I had missed it, and she reminded me so much of Summer that it hurt.
I leaned back, turning my face away from her and up towards the sky that was quickly turning into night, "Yeah… you're right."
There was a silence.
"So we're totally drawing on her face right?" Ruby asked as she turned to look at the still-sleeping Winter.
"I mean, she is passed out drunk at a camp-out." I reasoned as I stood up, "I think we're kind of obligated."
She rummaged around in a backpack and pulled out a black marker, which she uncapped, a wide smile on her face, "You get left half and I get right half?" She asked.
I grinned, "Deal."
We rose early the next morning, Winter groaning as she miserably clutched her head.
In response I handed her a flask of water, "Drink up and keep'em coming." I told her.
"Don't talk so loud." She moaned, "How in the world can you stand this?"
It was precisely at that moment that Zwei let out a happy and very loud bark; causing Winter to hiss in pain, "Really?" She demanded Zwei, who simply wagged its tail happily.
"Zwei's just saying 'good morning' Winter." Ruby told her cheerfully, "It's rude for you not to say it back."
Winter rolled her eyes but she did turn back to him, "Good morning Zwei, would you mind keeping it down?"
Zwei cocked his head, but didn't make so much as a peep as we packed up the campsite and headed out, following Ruby as she and Zwei lead the way.
Slowly as the day progressed, Winter recovered more and more. By midday she was walking upright, her eyes bright and alert as she scanned the horizon.
Around us, the land transition from forests to grassy plains, I looked around to see that there wasn't a speck of Filth in sight.
"I have to say, when I heard that Mistral was clear of the Filth, I wasn't thinking this much." I commented, "Just how much of the land is free of it?"
"From what we can tell, almost the entire center portion." Winter answered, "We suspect that the boundary matches the kingdom's borders from the reign of the First Empress of Mistral."
"Huh… think that's coincidence?"
Winter shook her head, "Doubtful, especially considering the moniker she chose, it's likely that the magic she's using to keep the Filth out recognizes her as a successor to that legacy in one way or another."
"Hmm…" That probably meant some pretty heavyweight enchantments… but then again, from everything I had heard about this 'Jade Empress', that pretty much matched up.
I turned to Ruby, "So tell me more about this guy we're supposed to meet."
"His name is Latica." Ruby told me, "He's a mortal… a Faunus, but he's really good at magic stuff."
My eyes narrowed, "He's not a cultist is he?"
Ruby made a face, "Kind of? He's… it's... uh… kind of hard to explain."
"You'll see when you meet him." Winter told me.
I glared at the two of them suspiciously, it wasn't anything concrete, but I could swear there was something there, like they were sharing a joke that I wasn't in on.
However, the two of them simply kept their gazes fixed straight ahead, giving away nothing. Damn it, since when had Ruby of all people developed such a good poker face?
Finally I sighed, "Fine." I frowned as I saw the outline of buildings up ahead, "Is that the place?" I asked, nodding towards them.
"Eyup." Ruby confirmed, "Good old Southgrove."
I turned to Winter and handed her another water flask, "Here."
She waved it away but nodded gratefully, "Thanks, but the headache is pretty much gone now."
"It isn't for that," I told her as I pulled out Harbinger and held it up to her so she could see her reflection.
At that point, Ruby burst out laughing.
I had to say, we really had made quite the masterpiece; albeit with two conflicting artistic visions.
On my side there was a dapper-looking monocle and a nicely shaded handlebar mustache, for a much more refined look.
Ruby had gone for a far more rustic approach, with a full beard that wrapped around the face and chin. I had to admit, her ability to make it look bushy, yet ragged with nothing more than the one marker was a sight to behold.
Winter blinked a few times, and then she did the last thing I had been expecting.
She started laughing too.
I don't mean some refined giggle or subdued chuckle either, I mean a full on belly laugh; throwing back her head as she did so.
And while she did, I just continued to stare at her, completely stunned. To be fair, I don't know what I had been expecting her reaction to be. Maybe to roll her eyes, probably with an affronted comment or two, maybe a snide remark about our lack of maturity.
I hadn't been expecting… this. It suddenly brought up memories of my very accomplished assholery towards her and made me feel slightly guilty. Even for my all-time favorite of the 'assault by shrubbery'.
And it made me realize that she really was…
I snapped down like a bear trap on that particular train of thought before it went any further. Forcefully I wrenched my brain out of its tail spin and back to reality.
Thankfully, I had managed to keep a wry grin on my face during the time I had been in mental shutdown. So as Winter recovered, I simply offered her the flask again, which she took with a nod, still chuckling.
I deployed Harbinger into its scythe form and drove it hilt first into the ground, creating an improvised mirror for her to work with.
Winter pulled out a handkerchief and poured some water on it, "Thanks you two." She murmured as she began wiping away our handiwork, "I needed that."
"Anytime." Ruby replied with a wide smile.
I rubbed the back of my neck, "Uh yeah, what she said."
Zwei let out a pair of barks, panting happily as he watched the three of us.
I grinned slightly, "I think Zwei's offering to double check your work, Winter." I commented.
"You can understand him too?" Ruby gushed.
Wait…
I turned to her, "What did you say?"
"Zwei… you can understand him." She enthused, "I mean, it's not like words or anything, but you can get the gist; like a feeling in your gut."
I stood there for a moment, replaying the moment in my mind. Holy shit, Ruby was right… now that I thought back on it, my comment actually hadn't been some smartass remark. Somehow, I had known that was exactly what Zwei had meant from the barks.
I turned to Winter, who shrugged, "I didn't believe it at first." She told me, "But there does appear to be something to it; at least with Ruby. Kali tried for a while, but couldn't do it."
"And I'm guessing nothing with you?" I asked.
She shook her head and I turned a suspicious gaze back to Zwei, who panted happily at me.
Well shit, obviously it was magic of some kind, but what exactly was the mechanism? Why me? Ruby was obviously who Zwei had bonded to, and I had heard of guardian constructs branching out their protection to blood relatives. Obviously though, that was a bit of a miss where I was concerned.
Unbidden, the Shopkeep's words from the Vytal Festival came into my mind, and I remembered that sometimes eldritch creatures didn't necessarily consider blood to be the deciding factor when it came to family.
That probably helped, in addition I had been the one who had recovered him and given him to Ruby in the first place… maybe that had something to do with it too?
"Well that's neat." I remarked, "What about it Zwei? Got any embarrassing secrets Ruby's been hiding?"
"Zwei, don't you dare!" Ruby commanded him.
I grinned, "C'mon Zwei, think about all the bribes… meat and bones for days."
"Bones aren't good for him." Ruby protested.
Zwei let out a few barks and this time I recognized the brief flash of comprehension that seemed to pop into my mind.
"Damn." I snapped my fingers, "Foiled again."
Ruby hugged Zwei tight, "I knew I could count on you." She released him and then pointed towards the town ahead, "Now come on, adventure awaits!"
Winter smiled slightly at her enthusiasm and I reached out and grabbed Harbinger's shaft. I yanked at it and then blinked in surprise as it remained firmly stuck in place.
I wrapped both hands around it and tried again.
Winter frowned, "Qrow?"
I waved her on, "You go ahead." I told her, "I think I might've gone a little too deep."
She lifted an eyebrow, but shrugged and followed after my niece.
The understanding thing must go two ways, because Zwei stayed put, staring up at me blankly.
"Okay, let me make this clear, now that I know you can understand me." I dropped to haunches to look him squarely in the eyes.
"The only reasons you're still panting oxygen is that Ruby likes you a lot and you have protected her in the past. If you want to keep living you make sure you keep both of those things up… are we clear?"
Zwei didn't speak, instead he lifted up a paw.
I lifted an eyebrow, that understanding thing popped into my head again and I realized that he basically was telling me the same thing.
I let out a snort, took the paw and shook it.
"Well look at us." I drawled, "The best of friends."
Zwei let out a bark, half-amusement, half-assent.
I stood up, tugged Harbinger out of the ground, and sheathed it.
"Alright, but I swear if you start yapping about somebody in the well, I can't promise I'll take you seriously."
Zwei replied with something along the lines of he wouldn't either and that I wasn't funny.
"Give me some time." I told him as we walked side by side after Ruby and Winter, "Pretty soon you'll be howling with laughter when I can dig up some of my famously doggone good jokes."
Zwei simply whined.
Southgrove was like a lot of towns in Mistral, rustic and homely, with solid-looking buildings made out of wood and stone.
People hustled to and fro along the central thoroughfare, occasionally chatting or buying and selling from market stalls that lined the way.
It was an idyllic scene… as long as you didn't look too closely.
Here and there, there were ripples in the crowd where I could see men and women ducking into the crowd before weaving their way out again… pickpockets.
Standing at the entrances of the side alleys were shady-looking bruiser types, dressed in light armor and with guns and blades displayed openly. Their eyes flicking around as they watched the crowd and the thieves alike, no doubt making sure they would get their cut and that they weren't hitting people who were under their protection.
In the past, Ruby would have been oblivious to all of that, instead gushing over all of the exotic sights and smells. Now however, I could see her looking around, making the same observations I was.
And so she reached the same conclusion.
"Something's happened recently." She noted.
I grunted my agreement, "Yeah, there's been a fight… a bad one."
Winter frowned, "How can you tell?"
"Look at the weapons." I told her, "Those guns are pretty heavy duty, overkill for typical street fights. Plus a lot of them are injured."
"And they're still watching the crowd rather than looking out for a rival gang, so it's probably not a turf war that's escalated." Winter said slowly, catching on.
"So who are they fighting with that stuff?" Ruby asked, "There's no Filth anywhere that we've seen… was it monsters?"
I shrugged, "Hard to tell, just keep your guard up."
We continued walking down the street until Ruby stopped outside of a building that looked like countless others, save for a sign hanging outside that had five feathers etched onto its face.
"Here we are." She walked up to the door and placed her palm on its surface, she then whispered a few words in the old tongue and then with the other hand, knocked five times.
The street around us disappeared, and we were now standing in front of a small mansion with a stone tower rising out of its center, I looked around to see an impenetrable mist surrounding us in every direction "Good at magical stuff indeed." I muttered, "This is some fancy shit."
Ruby knocked on the door to the mansion and then waited.
"Who goes there?" A ludicrously pompous voice echoed.
"It's me, Ruby."
"Oh Ruby! Darling! It's been so long! Hold on, I'll get the door."
There was the sound of locks clicking and Winter put a hand on my shoulder, "Brace yourself." She told me.
I frowned, but before I could ask, the door opened and I blinked in incomprehension as I saw what was inside.
"What. The. Shit." I muttered.
"He's not exactly a cultist." Ruby said with a massive grin on her face, "It's just that… well…"
The open door admitted to a large entryway, on the ground was a fancy rug, and honestly it looked like the interior of every super-rich fancy mansion.
Except for the stone wall that stood on the far side, which was covered entirely in pictures and portraits.
And all of them were of me.
"He's a massive fan." Ruby finished.
