New chapter! I'm updating later than I initially would have liked, but hopefully the length of this chapter makes up for it. It's very long!
Usual disclaimer still applies.
XXX
The medic finished with Qrow quickly, after finally realizing that though his Aura was low and he looked like he'd been through a warzone, he was perfectly fine.
Qrow frowned in the direction that Winter had walked off. It'd only been maybe 15 minutes at most, so he shouldn't be worried. Winter was strong, so he knew he shouldn't be worried.
But something itched at him. Some feeling that didn't go away.
In the span of a couple hours, everything Qrow had begun to finally feel confident in had been twisted into confusion. James had been acting strangely, even more so than usual. Harish and Altair had mentioned that Ozpin was lying and that he had a connection to the Grimm. Kendall had mentioned that Cinder and Salem's other lackeys had gained Grimm powers or something along those lines. And each new piece of information sent Qrow spinning.
Why had Jimmy separated from the Brotherhood upon return to Atlas?
What did Kendall know - or sense - about Cinder and the others?
Were Harish and Altair perhaps telling the truth about Ozpin?
Qrow froze. Ozpin. Beth had been with Ozpin back on Anima. She had promised to guard Oz. Qrow trusted that Beth had indeed done so, but that begged the question - where was Ozpin now?
Qrow groaned, rubbing his forehead. This night just kept getting more and more complicated.
"Excuse me," the medic piped up from a few feet away. "Are you ok? You're not in pain, are you?" Qrow waved her off.
"I'm fine," he said. Which was only partially a lie. He moved through the tiny camp that had been set up in the square, inching his way around makeshift cots and small groups of soldiers that were huddled around maps of the city. He found Ori still standing by the unconscious Harish and Altair. Kendall was nowhere to be seen. "Ori!" He said, stopping beside the other man.
"Qrow," Ori said with a nod. "You're looking a little better."
"Yeah, well I don't have the time to rest for longer. I need to get back out there." Qrow jerked his head in the direction of the city's buildings. "Where's Kendall? I wanted to talk to her."
"She's gone back out to assist the others. With a gift like hers, she's always needed somewhere," Ori said casually. Qrow grimaced. He'd missed her.
"Well, do you know what it's like out there still? What's going on?" Qrow asked.
"Almost all of those robotic menaces have been taken care of. Almost all of them. I think there's one, maybe two left at best. But Glynda's gotten a bit annoyed, and I'm sure that she and the two mischievous twins have that well handled."
"What about Grimm?"
"Not many. A few along the perimeter of the city, and a couple have flown in from the tundra. But it's nothing that we haven't seen before." Ori tapped an elegant finger against his chin. "Mantle should be safe too. But so much has happened tonight that we must remain vigilant." Qrow nodded in agreement.
"I'm gonna go back out there. See what needs to be done," Qrow said gruffly. And maybe find out what happened to Winter.
"...Qrow?" Ori's voice came out quieter, wary. Qrow paused.
"What?"
"James … isn't doing very well, is he?" Ori's mouth turned down at the corners. "He's gotten more defensive, and while I'd love to give him the benefit of the doubt, I find it difficult to ignore that he all but abandoned the Brotherhood when we returned to Atlas." Qrow stopped, thinking for a moment, then sighed.
"I don't know," Qrow admitted. "I don't know what's been up with James. Oz trusted him, and so did I, but I've always had a hard time agreeing with his methods. I had a problem with Atlas in general. Out of all the kingdoms, and I've travelled across them all, I never liked Atlas. It's a prison disguised as a city." Qrow shot a glance at Ori. "No offense."
"None taken." Ori shrugged. "This kingdom isn't perfect. None of them are. I know its flaws better than some. Possibly better than most."
"Yeah, well, James and I always butted heads, but I tried to do better when Oz disappeared. I tried to believe that maybe James was fighting the same fight, but he was just doing it his way."
"And now?" Ori watched Qrow with questioning eyes.
"Now, I think he just cares about Atlas. Or at least, that Atlas has taken priority for him. I don't know if he's given up. Maybe Oz's disappearance was too much. Old Oz was always the person who could calm Jimmy." Qrow clenched his teeth, vague flashes of memory passing through his head. "And then I think about James' suggestion for the Fall Maiden back during the Vytal Festival, and I get worried about what else he could do. What he might have planned." Ori nodded, as if he understood completely. Qrow supposed he did, in a way. Ori was an Atlas Huntsman who wasn't a part of the military. There were very few Huntsmen and Huntresses in Atlas who weren't Specialists or aligned with the military in some way. It took a lot of backbone to ignore the pressure from the Academy to join the Atlas military. Qrow never thought it was a good idea to have the military, government, and Academy rolled into one.
"So, where's your lovely friend, Ms. Schnee?" Ori asked, breaking Qrow out of his thoughts.
"She was called by James. Something urgent happened. Did you hear that explosion a little while ago?"
"I did. Yet I'm still surprised that she left. After all, you and her seemed to be acting like true teammates. Very cozy. And if I recall, she did seem a bit injured when I found the lot of you," Ori drawled. Qrow raised an eyebrow. Ori was a good enough person, he had nothing against the guy overall, but he was always such a smoothtalker.
"You know Atlesian Specialists. They always gotta follow orders."
"Hmm." Ori made a soft humming sound, but he didn't add any further comments. Something about his silence rubbed Qrow the wrong way though. Just as Qrow was about to ask him a question, Ori spoke again. "You didn't stop her?"
"Not my place. Winter can handle herself."
"Hmm." Now Qrow suspected that Ori was playing with him, but he wasn't going to give Ori the satisfaction of a reaction.
"I should head back out. Did you need anything else, Ori?"
"No, I don't need anything. Well, I'd like answers, but not from you," Ori mused. Qrow rolled his eyes. He waved goodbye to Ori, the other Huntsman preparing to head back into the city streets and join the fray again. When Qrow reached an empty street and found himself far enough away from any prying eyes, he shifted into his bird form and flew into the air.
Where to go first, he wondered. There was still a lot to do. Maybe he should find Glynda? But he'd already done that before, and Ori mentioned that Glynda and the Roo twins had everything under control. Merle was probably with them too. Qrow had no idea where Zap, Kendall, and Chan had run off to, but he would keep an eye out for them.
Maybe he should go back to Sable. She'd surely finished burning Beth's body, and with Salem's followers hiding all over Atlas, it wasn't a good idea to leave her alone. Even when Beth had accompanied her, they had run into trouble. Salem was after the Maidens, and it seemed to be a priority of hers. Qrow wondered how Cinder, Harish, and Altair had fought so well against two Maidens. Sable was surely a full-fledged Maiden, and Beth was at least experienced with her powers, if not fully-fledged. Sure, Cinder was a Maiden too, and Harish and Altair … he didn't know what Salem had done to them, but there was something unnatural about the two. Kendall had mentioned them being connected to the Grimm's powers. He would have to speak with her about that. He wondered if Ruby had sensed anything too.
Would Oz have known? He certainly knew a lot about Salem. Qrow always figured there were things Ozpin kept hidden, even from him and Glynda, but it never bothered Qrow in the beginning. If Oz were here now-
Qrow faltered in his flight, furiously flapping his wings to get stable again.
Ozpin.
Where was Ozpin?
Qrow couldn't believe he'd forgotten until tonight. So much had happened during his stay in Atlas, he'd forgotten who he'd left behind in Mistral.
Qrow tried to take a deep breath, which proved a little hard in avian form. Ok, Beth wouldn't have abandoned Ozpin. She was too kind and rational, and she wouldn't have left any old man by himself, let alone the shell of a once powerful wizard who may or may not be the key to saving the world. Beth left him to fight alongside Sable, but she would have had a plan. She wouldn't have wanted to leave Ozpin alone.
Which meant Ozpin was in Atlas.
Shit.
He had to figure out where Oz was. Maybe Beth had left him with Ruby and the others? No, not possible. Ruby would have mentioned something.
Ok, calm down. Freaking out isn't gonna help you, Qrow mentally chided himself. First things first, make sure the city is safe and Salem's goons aren't causing more trouble. He swooped down closer to the rooftops, angling to and fro as he watched the streets below him. Thankfully, a number of streets were quiet and empty. Not a Grimm or solder in sight. Was it possible they had managed to finish the fighting with few casualties?
When he flew back to where Glynda and the others had been earlier, he was surprised but thankful to see they were still there. He shifted and landed in front of them. He didn't care enough to hide his transformation. Glynda and the Brotherhood knew about it anyways.
"Glynda, give me some good news," Qrow said.
"All of the bots have been defeated. We can confirm that there are no more anywhere in Atlas," she said. Straight to the point as ever.
"Qrow," Miriam said. Her tail twitched, and for once, the young woman looked a little ashamed. "Puck is gone."
"Gone?!"
"I had to help Glynda! We started getting Grimm storming in here!" Miriam explained, her voice raising higher. "Merle was stuck finishing another bot that Zap managed to herd our way, and I had to make sure that the Grimm didn't go after citizens or hurt the others." Qrow took a few deep breaths, running a hand through his hair. That smug brat is gone again. He probably crawled back to Salem as fast as he could. Damn. He let out a sigh. He'd see that kid again some day. They'd settle the score.
"Ok, fine. What's done is done, and you guys aren't seriously hurt. That's what's important," Qrow said. He paused. "No one got seriously hurt, did they?"
"Nothing too bad," Merle said with a shake of his head. "Chan had to be taken to a medic, but it's nothing she won't recover from. She just may have to take a few weeks to rest up and heal."
"What about you?" Glynda eyed Qrow. "Is everyone ok? You mentioned that you and Winter Schnee were injured."
"I'm fine, my Aura's just low. Winter got hurt pretty bad from fighting Cinder, but she'll be ok." Qrow took another deep breath. "Sable and Beth, the Winter and Spring Maidens, arrived during the fighting to help. They went after Cinder and two other associates of Salem's. We lost Beth." The others gasped. Glynda's hand flew to her mouth in shock, and Merle bent his head, shutting his eyes. Miriam's eyes were as wide as saucers.
"What happened?" Glynda asked, her tone rather demanding.
"I don't know for sure. All I know is that at some point, Winter joined and made it a three on three fight. Cinder tried to use the same glove she used on Amber, except she tried it on Winter. Beth was able to stop Cinder just in time, but Cinder went after her next and killed her," Qrow rasped. "The power transferred to someone random. The only people in the area that she could have been thinking of were Winter, me, and the others who were fighting." Glynda let out a long sigh, holding a hand to her temple.
"I … suppose that it's a good thing, at least, that the power transferred to an unknown somewhere. If Salem had someone else there for the purpose of stealing the power, or if Cinder managed to take the power-"
"Is that possible?" Miriam cut in.
"We don't know. It's not something that's ever been done before, but the powers came from a single source." Glynda crossed her arms, looking up at the smoky sky. "We simply don't know if it's possible or not. And we certainly don't want to risk it if it is. Cinder Fall caused enough destruction when she only had half of the powers."
"I was looking for Kendall," Qrow said suddenly, remembering why he was there. "She helped send Cinder running during the fight. She mentioned something about Salem's lackeys being … connected to the Grimm or something."
"What did she mean by that?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be looking for her to explain it!" Qrow threw his hands up. Glynda gave him a sour look, before musing to herself.
"Something along those lines would make sense. After all, Ruby Rose was able to cause serious injury to her at the Battle of Beacon. Salem herself has control over the Grimm, and we don't know what her powers entail exactly."
"So Cinder Fall is just some human looking Grimm?" Miriam raised an eyebrow.
"Not possible." Merle shook his head. "Grimm have no soul or Aura. Cinder Fall appears to have an Aura, and she became the Fall Maiden, which obviously would be impossible if she were a Grimm. No, she is using the powers of the Grimm somehow."
"But she shares the Grimm's weakness to the silver-eyed warriors," Qrow pointed out. "Even if she's not pure Grimm, there's some kind of deeper connection there." He came to a sudden realization. "That's gotta be how they can all move around so quickly. When Harish and Altair first attacked Ruby and I back on Mistral, they came out of nowhere and seemed to attract a horde of Grimm to the area. And when they left, it was like they disappeared into thin air."
"What's your point?" Miriam asked.
"Salem is able to send Grimm from wherever she is to anywhere on Remnant. It stands to reason that if Cinder and the others have access to certain Grimm powers, they have the power to go back and forth too, either to somewhere on Remnant or back to Salem." The others shared a look.
"Again, it's very possible," Glynda said.
"It's as good as any explanation I've heard so far," Miriam mumbled. Her tail flicked from side to side. Qrow thought she seemed a little twitchy and on edge.
"Well, even still, I want to find Kendall and talk to her about it," Qrow said.
"We should all go," Glynda offered. "This area seems secure, and with the bots defeated, the only trouble we should run into would be possible Grimm sightings." She turned to go, the others following her. Miriam stayed close by Merle, stooping down with her arm out in case he needed to grab on. The older man did seem a little tired, but he was still in good shape. Qrow followed after them, trying to catch up to Glynda.
"There's something else," he said. Glynda kept walking, but she gave him a curious look.
"What?"
"I think Ozpin is in Atlas."
"You what?!" Miriam's shout echoed in the street, and Qrow winced. He motioned for the woman to keep her voice down.
"When we left Mistral, Beth stayed behind with Ozpin. But Beth came here to fight. She wouldn't leave him by himself."
"Oh great. So we don't know exactly where he is," Miriam said sarcastically.
"Enough." Glynda's pale green eyes were cold and hard, and her expression was enough to send them all into silence. "We'll find him. We need to act swiftly, but we cannot go telling everybody, and we cannot get emotional about it. The city is still in a delicate state." Qrow couldn't agree more.
"Maybe we should avoid telling James that then," he suggested.
"The General is a member of the Brotherhood and holds two Council positions for the kingdom of Atlas. Don't you think it would be wise to tell him? He's been looking for Ozpin too."
"There's something not right about James," Qrow argued. "I can't explain it. But he's been keeping more secrets since Beacon fell. You know he has. And he left the Brotherhood alone when the bots were attacking the city."
"He is the general of the military. He had responsibilities to attend to." Glynda waved off his worries.
"Stop making excuses for him! You of all people know what Jimmy can act like," Qrow snapped. Glynda frowned, shame flashing across her face for a quick second.
"Do you feel that?" Merle suddenly asked. Qrow and Glynda both looked over at him. Qrow stayed quiet, trying to discern what Merle was talking about.
"I hear something," Miriam said. "A faint rumbling sound. No, more like footsteps." Footsteps? What were they talking about?
"What is it?" Qrow asked.
"Whatever it is, it's heading this way," Merle said.
"It's definitely footsteps," Miriam added. "A lot of people."
"Maybe it's the residents evacuating? Or people from Mantle?" Merle suggested. No, Qrow thought. Jimmy hadn't seemed inclined to move those in Mantle to any safe place. And for the residents of Atlas, Qrow assumed that they'd either already been evacuated, or been ordered to stay within their homes. Most likely the latter.
The rumbling sound finally grew loud enough for the four of them to hear, and they realized it was coming from the next street over. When they moved to get a closer look, they found lines of soldiers marching after one another. Some of them were carrying heavy packs on them. A few were pulling carts stacked with crates and boxes of Dust and ammunition. They were all coming from the same direction. The explosion from earlier, Qrow remembered. What happened? Did Jimmy launch an attack?
"Excuse me!" Qrow tried waving down one of the soldiers. Nothing. "Uh, hello?" No one even glanced their way. Glynda patted him on the shoulder, gliding past him confidently. She held out her riding crop, and a large chunk of street broke off from the ground, floating above the soldiers. Every soldier stopped, gaping up at the floating rock. The lines came to a halt.
"One of you tell me. Where is General Ironwood?" Glynda commanded.
"H-he's back at the compound!" One of the younger soldiers squeaked. "He's making sure everything is taken care of before we relocate."
"Relocate?" Qrow blinked.
"Thank you," Glynda said, and dropped the massive stone back into place. She spun back around and smiled at Qrow and the others, ignoring their wide, and somewhat fearful, eyes. "There, we have our answer. Let's visit James, shall we?"
Following where the line of soldiers came from made it relatively easy to find their way to James. And what a sight they came upon. The remains of the military compound were charred black. Most of the main building's upper floors were gone. All of the Dust powered shields and lights were shattered, and huge beams of steel were melted in various spots. Qrow remembered meeting with Winter in the lobby area after she'd gone to see her grandfather. Now, where the main entrance and lobby had once stood was nothing but empty area and ash-covered ground. Qrow could barely see the white silhouettes of Atlas soldiers who were sifting through the rubble. He assumed this was what the frightened soldier from before was referring to. They were trying to salvage anything that was still usable.
And clearly delegating and giving orders, a fair distance away Qrow noted, was James Ironwood.
"James!" Qrow shouted. The General's head turned. Qrow thought he saw the man grimace, but it was quickly wiped away into a cautious smile. "What the hell happened?"
"Qrow." James' eyes darted around, but he kept the smile stamped on his face. "Glynda." His eyes barely roved over Miriam and Merle. "Merle, Miriam."
"James. The base … the Academy," Glynda breathed, holding her hands to her face. James' face softened.
"I know. We have reason to believe this was entirely the work of Cinder Fall. Security cameras caught footage of her at the base just before the explosion." His eyes darkened. "And we all know how she loves fire."
"How many people were lost?" Miriam asked.
"Thankfully, not many. According to our last count, we only lost 9 soldiers, one an officer. I have officers in the process of notifying their families and preparing for funeral arrangements." James bowed his head. "So many soldiers were out fighting off Grimm and the bots that very few were left in the main base. We also had evacuation plans ready, since it became clear that Salem was behind the city's attack." His gloved hand tightened into a fist.
"Why didn't you send a message on your Scroll? We would have gladly helped," Glynda said.
"I appreciate the offer. But this is Atlas military business. This is my responsibility," Ironwood said. An uneasy feeling began filling Qrow.
"So what are we supposed to do then?" Miriam's voice was cold.
"The Brotherhood's goal has always been, and still is, to stop Salem," Ironwood replied. "And I will continue to help where I can. But I must make sure my kingdom is safe. This," he gestured at the wreck of the military base, "has nothing to do with stopping Salem. Your concern should be finding out how to stop Salem, not cleaning up Atlas." His words were light enough, but there was some underlying tone to them. Qrow couldn't tell if Jimmy meant what he said. Was there another reason James wanted them to stay away? Qrow remembered Winter telling him about the Pennybots, which was classified information that only a handful of scientists and military officials knew of it. He remembered Ironwood introducing Ozpin to the idea of Aura transferral.
Was there something more going on?
"James," Qrow said. "Where's Winter? She was with me a while ago, and she was injured. She left to check-in with you, but she never sent me or anyone else a message since then." And with that simple question, James' face hardened again.
"Specialist Schnee has returned to base. She is currently being looked over by top medics at our new location. And until she is ready to return to her duties as a Specialist, she will remain at our new base." James eyes bored into Qrow. "As she is not an official member of the Brotherhood, her priority will be to Atlas, as it has always been."
"You mean like yours?" Qrow asked, his tone frosty. He knew this was a horrible time to pick a fight, but he couldn't stop the words from leaving his mouth. He didn't know what exactly had happened to Winter upon meeting with James, and James' answer was purposefully vague. Qrow would bet Lien that James had ordered Winter to stay on base and was now trying to keep her from seeing the Brotherhood. From seeing Qrow.
"Qrow, you've dragged Winter across half of Remnant already. I was lenient before. I let her leave and join you. But now she needs to stay here and do her job. Atlas needs her," James said sternly. "As for my priorities, my citizens need help right now. And I will do what I can to provide them aid."
"What a load of bull," Qrow growled.
"Qrow," Glynda warned. James folded his arms behind his back, the smile gone from his face. He glared at Qrow.
"Qrow, we're on the same team. Just because I am loyal to my kingdom as well as the Brotherhood doesn't make me a liar or selfish. And you being a member of the Brotherhood doesn't give you access to my soldiers. Now, I have work to return to. And I suggest you four leave this area." Qrow didn't need to be told twice. Arguing with Jimmy was frustrating, and nothing good would come from it. He turned to leave but stopped for a moment, sharing a look with Glynda. She pulled him aside.
"You go. I'll stay and talk with James. Rest if you need to, find your niece," she ordered. "I'll send a message to every Brotherhood member in Atlas when I'm done talking with James."
So Qrow stalked away, Merle and Miriam following suit. If Glynda couldn't get through to James, things were going to take a turn for the worse. And Qrow knew that at best, Glynda would come back with more information for them, but he doubted James would take back what he said. He was a stubborn ass on his good days.
"Well … I'm sure James is just stressed and has a lot on his plate," Merle said after a few quiet moments of walking.
"He's got a lot of 'delegating' to do." Miriam rolled her eyes. "Atlas superiority cannot be topped. Every Atlas citizen is born with it."
"He's not gonna help us anymore." Qrow sighed. "His focus is going to be on rebuilding the military and protecting the city. I know what Salem's attacks have done to him. He's just gonna get more paranoid."
"Then we count him out from our plans," Miriam said. "We'll figure out how to defeat Salem without him. His military has caused nothing but trouble anyways."
"James is a powerful authority figure in Atlas, and he was always able to procure us amazing technology," Merle said. "We shouldn't count him out so quickly."
"His technology came with strings. His actions always had sacrifices." Qrow shook his head. "Miriam might be right. It might be better to leave James out of future Brotherhood plans." He turned his head to the sky, craning his neck. "We'll have to plan what our next step is."
"Vacuo." He lowered his head to make eye contact with Miriam. "You know that's where her next target will be. Unless she isn't done with Atlas. But Salem has followers. I'd bet she can cause trouble in more than one kingdom."
"She wants Atlas out of the way. They're too powerful. The only question is, has she crippled them enough with this attack?"
"She's crippled the Brotherhood," Merle said. "We now don't know who the Spring Maiden is or where she could be. We might be cut off from using Atlas technology. And we might have lost James as an active member."
"We'll figure it out," Qrow insisted, his patience fraying.
"Hopefully before Clint and I head back to Vacuo." Eyes snapped to Miriam, who had crossed her arms and was giving him a deadly stare. "I plan to leave tomorrow, if we can. Vacuo's next, and I'm not sacrificing it just because Atlas gets all the attention." Qrow gritted his teeth. Why was everyone choosing now to do this? Why had this all fallen apart? Was it all because of Jimmy? In that moment, he hated James Ironwood. The authority and control he wielded gave him too much power, respect, and fear. Qrow knew the Roo twins couldn't care less about Atlas or James' status, and yet even they were running scared, back to Vacuo, because of his actions.
No, he had to remember that Salem wanted this. Salem was hoping for this.
"Listen," Qrow began slowly, "we all have to meet together and talk before any of us make any rash decisions. Let's give this a day and meet up tomorrow night. That means no flying off anywhere just yet." He stared pointedly at Miriam, who threw her hands up in the air.
"Fine!" she grumbled.
"Merle, contact Chan and Zap about this if you can. Miriam, tell your brother and Ori. I'll get in contact with Kendall and Glynda."
"What about the city's situation?" Merle asked. Qrow rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn't used to giving orders, he was much more used to taking them - and later disobeying them. Glynda was much better at the whole 'leader' thing than he was.
"Ok, Merle I want you and one of the others to go to Mantle and make sure everything is good there. Tell them what's happened in the other Districts and tell them what the Atlas Army is up to. We want them prepared so that Jimmy can't pull a fast one on them. Miriam-" he scrambled for something else to say, "I don't know, look around Atlas and see if anyone needs help? Maybe get the word out about possible future attacks or something."
"Right," Miriam drawled. "This all sounds well thought out."
"Go find Glynda if you don't like my suggestion," Qrow snapped. His tone must have come off harsher than he intended, because Merle and Miriam both looked taken aback. Even Miriam's tail drooped, stunned by the bite in his annoyed statement.
Unable to take their stares any longer, Qrow turned around and walked away, slouching forward with his hands shoved in his pockets. Neither Merle nor Miriam followed. His fingers brushed the top of his flask. Boy, did he really need a drink after the night he'd had.
How could he be expected to know what to do? He thought he knew enough before. Ozpin had given him enough guidance that Qrow was able to make do when he left for Mistral. But now Mistral was struggling to stay stable and safe, and Atlas had suffered a major attack.
After a few minutes of walking, Qrow realized he wasn't walking anywhere in particular. Oops. He probably should have come up with a plan for himself too.
A dark shadow appeared at his side, matching his pace. His eyes darted to his left, hand reaching for his weapon.
It was Kendall.
"How'd you find me?" he asked.
"I heard you were looking for me," she replied smoothly.
"I was," Qrow said, wondering who had sent her his way. Not that it mattered. "There's two things I wanted to talk to you about, actually."
"I imagine I know what it is you want to talk about."
"Do you?"
Kendall held up a finger. "You want to talk to me about your niece and her silver eye powers." She held up a second finger. "And you want to talk to me about Salem and the Grimm."
"Yes."
"This is about what I said before, isn't it?"
"You … you said something along the lines of 'they share the Grimm's strength, but also their weakness'. What did you mean by that?" Qrow asked in a low tone. Kendall cocked her head to the side.
"I apologize if it came out of nowhere. It's not something I knew before. It's something I could sense and see with my own eyes when I came face to face with Salem's followers."
"And that something is?"
"A deeper connection to the Grimm than we previously imagined, I believe." She ran a hand along the gleaming plate of armor that ran the length of her arm. A few colorful buttons on one end of it implied it also served as her weapon. "We've known for a long time that Salem controls the Grimm, perhaps counts as a Grimm herself. The Grimm are her own personal experiment against humans. But it appears she's gone farther with her own associates."
Qrow scratched his head. "So, do you think they're part Grimm? Like they've morphed with the Grimm somehow." Kendall pursed her lips, humming in thought before shaking her head.
"I can't quite tell. It doesn't feel like they're Grimm themselves, at least not 100%. But the silver eyes affected them. Perhaps Salem has figured out some way to make them part Grimm. Or perhaps put Grimm inside of them."
"What?" Qrow stopped at that suggestion. "Like, they're Grimm hiding as humans?"
"Not quite like that. But it might explain Cinder Fall's Grimm glove," Kendall said. "And we know that at the least, they share a connection with the Grimm that allows them to summon Grimm to some extent. We've seen Cinder use that glove, and you mentioned that those other two, Harish and Altair, appeared to summon Sobeks when they attacked you in Mistral, correct?" Qrow thought back to when the Gruesome Twosome attacked him and Ruby. There had been an abnormal amount of Grimm, and the Grimm had stopped attacking them when Harish and Altair appeared.
"So they didn't freeze or disappear like the Grimm would-," Qrow began.
"Because they're still part human," Kendall finished.
"But … why?!" Qrow threw his hands up in the air. "What's the point?!" Kendall gave him a look, as if the answer should be obvious.
"You mean besides the obvious 'extra powers' it grants them?"
"It gives them new weaknesses too, though."
"Well, it could fit into that theory that Winter Schnee and you brought up," Kendall said. Qrow frowned. A theory? He racked his brain for the memory of Winter and himself discussing a theory that would now make sense. His eyes widened.
"All of Dr. Merlot's research, the other realm that Salem controls, the place where all the Grimm are from …" Qrow said slowly.
"The Grimm are able to travel from her world to ours. With access to Grimm powers, Salem now has direct access to her followers," Kendall explained. "It makes sense. And it's a much better way to keep control over her followers. They have a face to put to their queen of darkness, and someone they believe they can build a relationship with, whether it's professional or something more." Qrow's breathing was starting to come out uneven. His lungs felt like they were constricting.
Maybe this was just guesswork and theories, but it felt right. The puzzle pieces were starting to line up, but they were still missing so much.
"Qrow." He looked up to see Kendall watching him with her silver eyes. "Calm down. Don't focus on that for a moment." She reached out a hand and gently squeezed his shoulder. "Let's find your niece and her friends. You wanted to ask me about her powers, yes?"
"Yes." Qrow shoved everything else to the back of his mind, knowing if he tried to think about it now he'd lose sight of everything else and fall into despair. "I wanted to see if you'd help train her, or even just sit down and talk with her about it."
"I'd be willing to help. But it all depends on how the situation in Atlas goes. We know there are going to be new developments with each passing hour." Kendall sighed. "Atlas isn't out of the woods yet."
"All the more reason," Qrow said. "Let me call her."
Thankfully, Ruby picked up. Qrow almost laughed in relief. He'd trusted her to take care of herself during the battle, but that didn't stop him from worrying. "Ruby, where are you?"
"Uh, I'm not really sure. We left the Atlas Academy awhile ago. We've been trying to find you or Professor Goodwitch." Qrow heard someone else try to cut in, reminding Ruby of what street they were on. Probably Weiss.
"Ok, have Weiss lead you guys back to Mira's place. We're going to regroup and take a break."
"Roger that, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby paused. "Uh, one more thing, Uncle Qrow. We might have … well … we have Dr. Polendina with us."
"You do?" Qrow thought about the doctor's work with the Atlas Army. He thought about James' secretiveness with the robotic vessels, his refusal to explain why Atlas had created such vessels in the first place. "Ruby, listen to me carefully. Make sure you don't tell anyone that Dr. Polendina is with you. The same goes for your friends."
"You got it." And then the call ended. Qrow's grip around his Scroll tightened
"It sounds as if your niece and the other students completed their own mission during all of this," Kendall said.
"Yeah. Hopefully it doesn't put them in more danger than they're already in," Qrow muttered.
It took them longer than Qrow hoped to get back to Mira's house, where he and the kids had been staying since they arrived in Atlas. He wasn't sure if Mira was even home. He knew she wasn't an official Atlesian Specialist like Winter was, but she was still a former soldier with ties to the military. Perhaps she'd been called in to help.
When he and Kendall arrived in front of the townhouse, Ruby and the others were already there.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby waved at him. Weiss was by her side, and to his shock, standing by Weiss, were Yang and their remaining teammate, Blake. Yang's eyes widened when she spotted him, and he could see her mouth curve into a grin. He momentarily forgot his worries, and strode over to see his nieces. He wrapped an arm around Yang in a quick hug, and when Ruby joined in, he messed up her hair in an affectionate gesture.
"I'm glad you guys are safe," he breathed. His eyes slid to Yang's. "Good to see you, firecracker." Her grin got wider.
"Good to see you too, Qrow," she said, and she ducked her head and squeezed him tighter in a bear hug.
"Do I wanna know how you got here?" Knowing Yang, it was probably something wild. Possibly illegal.
"Blake's father arranged it, to help get the Faunus over here to help in Mantle," Yang said, her voice muffled from burying her face into his shoulder.
"Sounds like a long story."
"You'll hear it all soon," Yang promised.
"Not to interrupt, but have you seen Winter?" Weiss crossed her arms, looking at him expectantly. "I thought she was with you." Qrow grimaced, pulling away from Ruby and Yang.
"Winter got called back to base by Ironwood," he grumbled. Qrow didn't miss the twitch of Weiss' fingers, the widening of her eyes, or the slight furrow in her brow.
"Will she be released soon?" Weiss asked. "Is she hurt?"
"She got injured in battle, but she should be fine. A medic took a look at her. I doubt Ironwood will release her anytime soon though." The sharp tone in Qrow's voice must have been evident, because his nieces slowly moved away from him, looking at him with similar expressions of concern.
Weiss fell silent for a moment, thinking. "Well then what can we do to help her?"
"I don't know, kid. Winter is a Specialist, and that means she works for Ironwood. He can order her around, and she has to listen." He sighed angrily, running a hand through his hair. "The military is a little on edge now too, since the compound blew up-,"
"Yes, we saw. We were able to help Dr. Polendina escape beforehand." Weiss moved aside, and Nora moved forward, her arm wrapped surprisingly gently around an older man with warm, russet brown skin and a grey beard. He was short, around Nora's height, though he was hunched over and looked a little nervous.
"Dr. Polendina," Qrow said in greeting.
"Um, hello," Dr. Polendina managed to squeak out. Qrow raised an eyebrow. Fidgety fellow.
Of course, knowing Jimmy's paranoia, Dr. Polendina had probably been hidden away in some dank basement.
Qrow looked at Nora again, her face surprisingly solemn. Ren and Jaune, both standing by her side, were also quiet. In fact, Jaune's eyes looked a little red.
It hit Qrow. "Listen kids, I have to tell you about Beth-,"
"We know," Jaune said, looking away. "Ruby told us." The mood of the group immediately fell. Qrow thought he saw Nora quickly wipe her eyes, blinking furiously. Ruby rubbed at her eyes, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. Yang leaned over and patted her sister on the arm consolingly.
"I'm sorry," Qrow said.
"It was Cinder, wasn't it?" Jaune's voice was harsh, angry.
"Yes." Qrow watched Jaune's fingers clench into tight fists. "But that doesn't matter right now." Jaune hissed out a quick breath. Ren raised a hand, then lowered it, sharing a worried look with Nora. "Our goal is not revenge." Jaune didn't reply. Qrow made a mental note to keep an eye on him.
Kendall cleared her throat next to him, making Qrow remember part of what he'd called Ruby for in the first place. "Ah, yes. Hey, kiddo, I wanted you to talk to Kendall. I figured she'd been able to help you with your powers." Kendall smiled, holding her hand out. Ruby eyed it somewhat warily, but eventually accepted with a smile. The dour mood still hung over the group, but Ruby at least seemed to welcome a distraction.
"You really think you can help me?" Ruby asked. "I want to get this right. If I'm able to master my eyes, I could help take down Cinder and Salem."
"A noble enough cause, but I would be careful about pushing too hard for the simple sake of defeating someone else, especially when we don't know how much your powers will affect Cinder and Salem. You must remember that the power of silver eyed warriors has been used as a tool to defeat Grimm and only Grimm," Kendall pointed out. Ruby nodded.
"Listen, everyone here has a lot to catch up on, and everyone here has had a long night," Qrow said with a tired smile. "I suggest we all head inside to put our feet up and catch our breath." He grasped the doorknob and pushed open the door.
Mira, surprisingly, was at home.
But what was truly shocking was that she was sitting on her couch, talking with the elderly looking Ozpin.
Qrow came to a deadstop in the doorway, his mouth falling open. The kids behind him tried peeking over his shoulder. Ruby was practically hopping, trying to jump up and peer past him.
"OZ?!" Ozpin and Mira both jumped, looking at the large group waiting at their door. Then Mira rolled her eyes.
"About time you returned. Your friend dropped this guy off hours ago." Mira pointed at Ozpin. "Not very smart to leave a guy who barely knows his own name in a stranger's house." Qrow's eyes shot to Ozpin.
"You know who you are?" he asked, eyes widening. He tried not to let himself get too hopeful.
"Not as much as you would like, I'm afraid," Ozpin rasped. He looked at their group, all huddled in the doorway. "The young lady who brought me here …" Qrow's heart gave a painful thud.
"She's gone. She was killed in battle." There was an awkward pause, and Qrow scrambled for the right words to fill it. "She gave up her life saving people she cared about." Ozpin held a hand up to his heart.
"I was afraid it was something like that. I felt it," he whispered. Qrow raised an eyebrow. Feeling the kids behind him begin to get anxious, Qrow moved out of their way, joining Ozpin and Mira on the couch. Mira's lip curled up a bit, but she said nothing, and moved off the couch and walked to the kitchen, where most of the kids had gone off to. Yang and Blake stood by the wall, chatting quietly. They kept glancing over at Ozpin though, their gazes serious.
"Tell me what you know. Please," Qrow asked.
"The young lady, Beth, kept trying to make me remember. And some things felt … familiar." Ozpin's eyes met Qrow's. "I remember the name Oz, or something along those lines. I can sense it's not my true name."
"It's short for Ozpin. I've always called you Oz as a nickname," Qrow explained.
"No, that's not it. I mean that my name has changed numerous times over the years, though I feel that many included some variation of 'Oz'." Ozpin scratched at his forehead. "I don't remember the details of my life as a professor of an Academy, not really. Vague flashes here and there, but nothing that makes sense." Qrow frowned. He knew it was a long shot without the cane, but a part of him held out hope that the Oz he knew would suddenly remember everything.
"So what do you remember?" Qrow asked. Ozpin pursed his lips, mumbling something quietly.
"Magic. I can feel it within me. The young lady was able to teach me how to sense it. She told me that she was able to do so because her magic came from mine and that made us connected." Qrow almost smiled at Oz's apt description of Beth's nature. "I knew she was right. I can remember magic long ago, in a distant past. When the world was very different, and kingdoms didn't exist." Ozpin's eyes glazed over, past memories swimming within them. Qrow was curious as to what, exactly, Oz remembered about his very distant past. When Qrow had last talked to Ozpin in an attempt to get the older man to remember his life, Ozpin had mentioned that Salem was the reason that magic no longer existed on Remnant. It stood to reason, then, that there was a possibility Salem could use magic. Or perhaps, she had lost the ability along with everyone else.
But there were still people with magic on Remnant. The Four Maidens, and the source of their magic, Ozpin.
If Ozpin remembered correctly, and Salem was the reason that magic disappeared from Remnant, then how was Ozpin still able to use it?
Harish's words floated to the forefront of Qrow's mind.
"Didn't it ever occur to you that some of the most powerful people across Remnant answer to Ozpin? Did it never occur to you that the only person who knew about Salem, and told you about her, was him?"
"Maybe you should ask Professor Ozpin exactly how the Grimm came to be."
"Oz, I have a question for you," Qrow said carefully.
"Hmm?"
"Do you remember how the Grimm were made?" A pause. Ozpin's fingers began to shake. He licked his lips nervously.
"Salem made them. Of that I am sure," he said. Qrow frowned, sensing the man's unease.
"But there's more, isn't there?" Qrow guessed.
"..."
"Please. You have to tell us. We're trying to defeat Salem. We've only got so much time," Qrow pleaded. Ozpin relaxed a little, but he still seemed nervous. He wrung his hands together, staring away from Qrow.
"I knew Salem," Oz said. Qrow sucked in a breath, but Ozpin continued. "She was one of the humans blessed with magic, like I was. Actually, it was a time where all humans had some amount of magic. But Salem was powerful and gifted. She became corrupt, misusing her magic. I realized how dangerous she was to others, but she didn't seem to care. And so, I used my own magic … to send Salem far away."
"Where? Where did you send her?" Qrow asked.
"To another realm not within or part of Remnant," Ozpin said, his voice hardening. "I remember believing it was the right thing to do. That I had to do it to save humanity."
"But?" prompted Qrow.
"But I failed so greatly. I did not realize Salem could still use her magic in the other realm. And I did not realize that the result of the magic would be the Grimm." Ozpin's breath came out in quick gasps. He seemed to be trying to settle down, and if Qrow was in a better state of mind, he might have tried to calm him. But Qrow had slumped against the back of the sofa, dumbfounded by Oz's memories.
"Well? What else?" Qrow asked after a moment of silence from Oz. "What else can you remember? What happened after that?" Oz didn't say anything more. Qrow reached out and shook Oz's shoulder, a little too hard as Oz jostled back and forth. "Oz, come on! There's got to be more!"
"I-i don't remember," Ozpin whispered. He hung his head again, avoiding Qrow's stare. "I just remember darkness after that. A great feeling of shame. And then everything gets very blurry." He put a withered hand to his head, squeezing his eyes shut as if he were in pain.
"Qrow," Yang said. She and Blake had stopped their conversation, and were watching Qrow and Ozpin. Qrow almost flinched, easing himself away from Ozpin. He knew that tone. His nieces almost always called him 'Uncle Qrow', except when they got very serious with him, most often in times when they were disappointed in his actions. Then it was just 'Qrow'. Yang especially had no problem in berating him or calling him out.
He looked over at Yang, who was still watching him silently. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to. Qrow looked back at Oz, who was rubbing his wrist, still looking somewhat guilty and ashamed. But more than anything else, he just looked like a lonely, scared, old man. Qrow was looking at one of the oldest human beings in the world, who both couldn't completely remember his own life story but also didn't quite fit into the modern world. Not without his cane, which Qrow had lost.
Qrow felt himself flush, a wash of shame sweeping through him. He shouldn't be treating Oz like this, even if this wasn't the Oz he knew. But was this elderly, frail version of Ozpin telling the whole truth? Qrow didn't think so. Perhaps he was an overly cynical man, but he could usually tell when he was being lied to. And then Harish and Altair's words kept bouncing around in his mind. How true was Oz being? He'd admitted to knowing Salem, but gave so little information about what she'd been like. The world was crumbling around them, yet Oz didn't want to talk about his past, which might be the key to saving Remnant. Was it purely guilt? Did he remember more than he claimed he did? Was his past more entwined with Salem's than he was letting on? He was at war with himself, feeling so conflicted. He wanted to believe Ozpin, and he hated even thinking there was a chance that Salem's goons were right, but what if? He had learned many times over that the world, especially for Hunters, wasn't black and white or right and wrong. And he desperately wanted, no, he needed to know more about Salem's past and who she was.
But it seemed his time for discussion with Oz was done for now. Pushing him wouldn't help. The clock was ticking, and Qrow suddenly felt a wave of dizziness hit him.
I've got to get out of here, Qrow thought. He couldn't take much more of this. He stood abruptly, and the conversation around him died down.
"Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked, sounding worried. She peeked around Yang, her hands wrapped around a mug of cocoa.
"I'm heading out," he croaked. "I'll be back in awhile. Don't worry." Yang's eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything. Ruby pursed her lips, and her eyes darted down to her drink. Emotions swam in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, then promptly closed it.
"You should let us know where you're going. In case something happens." Mira, who had also emerged from the kitchen, narrowed her eyes at him. Qrow's fingers were practically shaking at this point.
"Fine. Here's the address." The location of an old watering hole he'd visited years ago popped into his head, and Qrow grabbed his Scroll and sent the message to Mira's Scroll. "If there's an emergency, that's where I'll be." And then he left, walking out as fast as he could. It'd been a long time since he'd looked for a bar in Atlas. It was an almost impossible venture. Most bars in Atlas were inside of high-end restaurants and elaborate dining halls, all of which were closed now. Not that he would have been allowed in anyways. But Qrow knew where to look for the 'lesser quality' establishments. So after about 20 minutes of ducking down some side streets, he found the bar that he'd once visited years before. The Cozy Haven. It was built to somewhat resemble the houses one might see in Mistral, but Qrow suspected from the stereotypical ink paintings and old furniture in the bar that it was more of a gimmick than any true respect for the Mistrali culture.
Qrow didn't know how long he'd been at the bar. He wasn't paying attention to the time on purpose. He was there to forget. He downed his glass quickly, wiping drops of whisky from his mouth. Was that his fourth glass? Or fifth? It must be working, if he couldn't remember how much he'd had to drink. There was also no one here in the dingy little bar, aside from the lone bartender who looked half-asleep in the corner, and a middle-aged man reading his Scroll and slurping at a tall glass of some unappetizing-looking drink. Someone else opened the door, a tiny bell at the top alerting the rest of the bar to a new presence, but Qrow didn't care. They just melded into the rest of the nothingness of the bar. That is, until their footsteps stopped right next to him. A little too loud. He groaned, rubbing his forehead.
"Qrow." He blinked, looking up and trying to focus on the person standing before him. He blinked again, certain he was out of it. Winter stood before him, hands in her coat pockets and a navy blue scarf wrapped around her neck. She looked as stoic and collected as usual, except there was something sad in her eyes.
"Schnee? Yer here," he slurred. "Sit down, have a drink! Can't hurt, right?" Qrow grabbed his glass and gulped half of the drink down. Winter watched him silently.
"What are you doing here, Qrow?" she asked quietly.
"What does it look like? Having a drink." He grinned, but it wasn't a real smile. Even he knew that. "I'm celebrating. This is supposedly a victory for us, right?"
"Is it? Is that what you would call it?" Winter asked. Qrow paused, looking back up at her hazy form.
"Isn't that what Jimmy's telling the kingdom?" Qrow asked. "Even some of the Brotherhood members are trying to look on the bright side. Salem didn't completely take over Atlas, after all." Trying. Emphasis on trying.
"It's good to acknowledge the positive outcomes, even if there weren't many," Winter replied. Qrow raised an eyebrow.
"You're not sitting," he said suddenly, the thought having just occurred to him in a delayed manner. "You can have a seat, stay awhile."
"I don't plan on staying long." The sad look in her eyes sharpened to something similar to anger, but not quite that. Disgust?
"What's wrong? Why are you here then?" Qrow drawled.
"Where are your nieces, Qrow?"
"Huh?" What a strange question. "Ruby and Yang are back at Mira's house. Probably annoying the hell out of her, considering we've crowded her fancy townhouse." Qrow paused for a moment. "Actually, strike that. I'm not there, so she's probably having a great time."
"Qrow…"
"What?"
"I understand needing a break from it all. I understand not being able to express your emotions. I understand feeling lost."
"Where's this all coming from?" Qrow grumbled. He reached for his glass again, and his hand closed around air. He blinked, searching for his drink. His eyes slide to his right. Winter had a hand firmly wrapped around the glass, keeping it just out of his reach. He narrowed his eyes. "Nice trick. Can I have my drink back?"
"You were very worried about Yang when you discovered she'd left home. Have you talked to her?" Winter asked. "Have you seen her?"
"Yeah." Winter shot Qrow a knowing look. He shrugged. "Briefly."
Winter looked away from Qrow. "You should be with your nieces. I know you missed them and you were worried about them. You should visit with Yang, and make sure they're both doing ok." She reached out a hand towards him, then stopped herself. "I think they want to know how you're doing too." Qrow frowned.
"Did someone send you here?" he asked.
"Mira told me you'd be here. I came of my own accord."
"So why are you here?"
"Because your nieces and the other students are worried about you. And yes, Mira is worried about you too. And I-," she broke off, cheeks turning a shade pinker. Qrow raised his eyebrows. "I was worried what you would do to yourself. Especially when Mira said this is where you'd be." Winter wrinkled her nose as she cast a look at the bar's interior. It was nice enough, not filthy or anything, though it was a tiny, dimly lit bar settled into an alley. Not the classiest place. The effects of the drink started to dim a bit, and Qrow realized how he must look.
"How nice of you," he muttered. Winter's hand clenched into a fist.
"Qrow, this isn't a joke." She took a deep breath, steadying herself. There was a pause in their conversation, neither saying anything for several seconds. "Qrow, I would ask … if you need to talk to someone, I am here for you to talk to." She looked him directly in the eyes. "If you need to get something off your chest, say it. Don't go down this rabbit hole. You know you'll end up regretting it." Qrow began tapping his fingers against the counter, trying to ignore the feelings bubbling to the surface.
Then Qrow shoved his stool back from the bar, shooting to his feet. The noise was exceptionally loud in the quiet, almost abandoned bar. He turned to face Winter, teeth gritted. But she just kept watching him. Her eyes never left his face.
"I keep messing up. We keep saving these places, except we're half-assing it all. We can't do enough. We saved Haven back in Mistral, but failed to prevent the massacre of the Council members." Qrow's hands folded into tight fists. He was practically raging now. "We captured a few of Salem's followers and saved Mantle, but Beth is gone and Atlas' government and military are in chaos. Not to mention the city looks like crap." Qrow continued to seeth, but he also felt that well of despair build up in him. It's all happening again, it's all happening again. "I've done a shit job of everything. I can't protect the Maidens and I can't protect the kingdoms. And what if I can't protect the others? What if I can't protect my nieces?"
"You've done a great job taking care of your nieces, Qrow. They are training to be Huntresses though, and they're going to be out on their own a lot." Winter's concerned look drove Qrow to keep talking. He both hated the pity in her expression, but also appreciated the silent support.
"I know. Of course I know that. But I've also seen what the life of a huntress can bring. Especially if they get wrapped up in this mess with Salem!" Qrow closed his eyes. "No wonder Tai hates me. I'm the reason Ruby left home and got involved with Oz's mission. I thought I had things under control when Oz disappeared, but I don't. How are we even-"
Qrow's voice caught in his throat as Winter Schnee threw her arms around him. It took him a moment to process it. She was hugging him. She squeezed tighter, her head nuzzled in his shoulder.
"This isn't all on you. And you might not believe this right now, but despite what you think, and despite what I may have said months ago, you are behaving like a true Huntsman, Qrow," she whispered. Qrow was frozen still. He couldn't bring himself to move. "If you need a break, that's fine. You have people who are more than willing to help and support you. But don't drink to forget it. You're hurting yourself." Qrow felt his body relax a bit, and already he felt a little more clear-headed. They stood like that for a few more seconds before Winter pulled back, placing her hands on his shoulders and looking him square in the eye. "The fate of the world does not rest on your shoulders alone."
Qrow went quiet, then nodded. Winter nodded once in return, her cheeks flushed a bit. She started to pull away, but Qrow grabbed one of her hands. "Thank you, Schnee." Winter's cheeks went pinker, and she hurriedly looked away.
"If you need help getting back to Mira's, I recommend calling someone." She pointed at his Scroll, then turned around. "I have to get back to base. The General will be furious if he finds out I'm gone." Those words brought blurry memories of the battle to Qrow's mind, and he reached out to grab her hand again.
"What do you mean? And where did you go after the battle?" Qrow asked. "You left the medic camp, and then I didn't hear from you, nor did any of the others, even Weiss. What happened?" Winter bowed her head forward, but she didn't turn to face Qrow.
"I suppose you can say I've been placed under 'house arrest' for my insubordination during the battle. I disobeyed direct orders from the General. This is part of my punishment. He also took away my Scroll. I haven't been able to speak to anyone outside of the Atlas military. Mira was able to visit me and help me sneak out. But I have to go back before anyone discovers I'm missing." Her words floored Qrow. He had no idea any of that had happened. And she'd disobeyed orders again and snuck away from the Atlas military to find him.
"How'd Mira manage that?"
"I'm not entirely sure. But she attended the Academy with me, and she managed to convince one of the officers that I had to help her move supplies she was keeping at her house into the camp. And everyone else has been preoccupied with relocating our base and saving what we can from the compound's rubble, no one has been by to check up on me aside from medical personnel." Winter shrugged, still keeping her head tilted away. "Mira has always been very convincing."
"Lucky her," Qrow said, but he was still reeling from the fact that so much had happened to Winter, and he hadn't known any of it. And now here she was, risking her job again. For him and the mission he had pulled her into … no, this wasn't on him. Winter had made her choice months ago to join him. If anything, this was a sign of James Ironwood losing control of Atlas. Salem's move against Atlas hadn't left much surface damage. No, it had left the roots of instability and chaos.
If Jimmy could look at Winter Schnee, the perfect public image of the Atlesian Specialists, and think she hadn't done her job or she had messed up somehow, then he was dumber than Qrow took him for. Or maybe he had altogether lost it.
"I have to leave now. Goodbye, Qrow." Winter's words snapped him out of his stupor, and his hand fell to his side as she slipped her hand from his grip.
"Wait, Schnee! Before you go, I have a question." Reluctantly, Winter turned around, watching him expectantly. "Do you wanna go back to Jimmy? To the Atlas Army? To wait out your house arrest?" Winter opened her mouth to reply, but Qrow held up a hand. "Let me rephrase that. Do you still want to be a part of this mission?"
"I … I'm not-"
"Pretend you're not under house arrest, you don't have to follow military protocol, you are making the choice. It's up to you. Would you still be a part of this mission?" Qrow honestly wasn't sure what her response would be. He knew how much being a Specialist meant to her. He was asking her to drastically change her life … and turn her back on her home.
But Qrow knew what that was like. And sometimes, leaving home was for the best.
And after a moment of contemplation, Winter surprised him with her answer. "I believe you, the Brotherhood and those who know about Salem and are fighting against her are doing the right thing. This is about the fate of Remnant." She looked at him with pleading eyes. "If it were up to me, I'd go with you." And before Qrow could say anything, she spun around and headed towards the door. "Goodbye, Qrow."
This time, her goodbye felt final. As if she knew that when he left, they wouldn't see each other again. Not for a long time.
The door swung slowly behind her as she hurried back out to the streets. Qrow rubbed the back of his neck, sighing in frustration. He glanced at the glass still sitting on the counter, but he didn't reach for it. Instead, he fished around in his pockets for some Lien, left it on the bar, and then headed back to Mira's house where the others were waiting. His head still felt fuzzy, and his hands were a little tingly as he stuffed them in his pockets, but he could walk fine and the pleasant breeze against his face helped.
He had a lot to talk about with the others. He needed to talk to Ruby and Yang, and he needed to talk to Glynda and the other Brotherhood members.
And he needed to talk to Mira too.
Because he knew that he'd be leaving Atlas soon. Very soon.
And dammit if he wasn't going to try one more thing that would inevitably piss Jimmy off.
Morning was on its way. The gaps in the clouds were beginning to fade from inky black to pale purple and pink. He didn't have a lot of time to pull this off. And he would need the others' help.
When he returned to Mira's house, he gathered the kids and everyone else together and informed them that they'd be leaving for Vacuo the following night. Then he filled them in on the rest of his plan, making sure each and every one of them understood how serious and potentially deadly the fight against Salem would get, and then informing them that they couldn't rely on the General any longer.
Qrow and Kendall spent the rest of the day running around the city and refining their plans with the other Brotherhood members. Though nearly everyone was on board, a few admitted their hesitation about purposefully leaving James out of the loop, as well as Qrow's addendum to the plan that, admittedly, was not necessary in their eyes. But Qrow persuaded them.
Halfway through the day, Qrow sent Sable a message, filling her in on the plan and very specifically telling her that he and many of the others would be going to Vacuo. An hour later, he received a one-sentence reply.
Good luck.
Her message was as clear as any goodbye. Qrow understood. He hoped that they would meet again soon, especially since the Maidens would prove helpful if not essential in their plan to defeat Salem. But for now, he would let Sable go without protest.
And as the sun set on the day, and everyone prepared to leave the stone cold city of Atlas, Qrow enacted one last part of his plan.
XXX
Very little had changed at the Atlas military's new and temporary location. Carts of supplies and top secret weapons were being shoved into the camp, soldiers were still setting up tents, and Winter Schnee was once again sitting in her tent, doing very little. She'd been helping to unpack supplies earlier with some of the soldiers, but she was sent back once one of the officers was notified of her whereabouts. The General's orders were that she was to remain within the confines of the new camp, and while she was able to help where it was needed, the overall consensus of her superiors seemed to be that she should remain in her tent and not cause anymore trouble.
Disappointed as she was with this punishment, there was nothing more for Winter to do than sit and count the minutes. She tried not to think about what the Brotherhood members were doing. She shoved the thought of what Weiss was up to away.
Then the front flap of her tent flew open, and Winter shot to her feet and, without meaning to, fell into a defensive position. She was exhausted, and there was of course the large possibility that the General or another Atlas soldier was just checking in on her, in which case her reaction was over the top and completely unnecessary.
But it was Qrow who had come through the tent flap. He grinned at Winter, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. There was nothing fun about this, except maybe surprising Winter. But he knew what he would soon be asking her to do. And she still bore the marks of the fight against Cinder and the Pennybots. Qrow was sure he looked worse though. Dark circles had begun to encircle his lids, betraying his own exhaustion.
"Ice Queen," he said with a salute. It'd been a while since he had used that particular moniker, and he realized that it probably wasn't the best thing to say in that moment, but he was jittery with adrenaline, and he was on a very short time limit.
"How'd you get past all the soldiers?" Winter asked, shocked.
"I, uh, flew," Qrow said. His eyes darted around the tent. He wanted to make sure she had her weapon and any Dust or supplies she would need. "Um, this probably sounds crazy, but I flew here … as a bird. That's how no one noticed me. I can change into a … bird form."
"I know." Winter still seemed on edge, nervous, as she eyed Qrow warily, but she did indeed seem calm and not at all surprised by Qrow's reveal. His eyebrows shot up.
"You knew?"
"Well, I guessed. I've suspected for a long time," Winter said.
"How long exactly?"
"I first started to suspect something during the battle at Haven," she explained.
Wow. She really had suspected a long time. He vaguely remembered flying to Haven from the Kaigi Tower. She'd probably seen him.
"Not that I don't appreciate a visit, Qrow," Winter said, bringing him out of his thoughts, "but what are you doing here?"
"Right. We don't have time. Whatever you need for a long trip, grab it now. Do you have your weapon with you?" he asked, hoping she did. But he knew even before she shook her head that despite Jimmy's affection for Winter, he wouldn't let any soldier who was under house arrest keep their weapons with them. And if Jimmy suspected Winter's growing disillusionment like Qrow thought he did, then Qrow was sure James would have taken her weapons even if that wasn't protocol. He saw the dejected look in Winter's eye when he mentioned her weapons, and immediately wanted to reassure her.
He'd have to find a way to get her new weapons. Maybe the Roos knew someone in Vacuo who could help. At least for now, Winter could still use her Semblance to an extent if she really got in trouble.
"Ok, that's fine," Qrow said hurriedly. "We'll figure that out later. But now, time is really of the essence, so we've got to go pronto."
"You're taking me with you?" Winter almost sounded confused, and when Qrow turned to look at her, her face had gone shades whiter, and there was a flicker of worry in her eyes. "Your plan is to break me out and leave? I'll lose my entire career as a Specialist. I'll be a fugitive, Qrow!" Qrow winced, both at her words and at the volume to which her voice rose. He really couldn't afford anyone hearing them and coming to see what the noise was. But then he saw the energy in her fade for a moment. "You'll be in trouble if you try to break me out. You, Weiss, your nieces ... the General will find out it was you, and you won't be able to change it back. Atlas soldiers might try to arrest you. You could be kicked out of the kingdom. And what if the General refuses to work with the Brotherhood?! There's so many ways this could end badly."
"Well, getting kicked out of the kingdom wouldn't be so bad. This place is a real buzzkill, you know?" Qrow said, mustering up a weak grin. Winter didn't return the sentiment.
"Are you sure? Is this really the plan you want to stick with?"
"Yes, that's the plan. Yes, it's the only one I've got." They were losing time. So much time. Miriam was gonna kill him. Ruby and Yang were probably getting worried. He had to convince Winter and fast. "Because here's the thing, Winter." He heard her draw in breath sharply when he used her first name. Good. Maybe it would help her understand the gravity of the situation. "Jimmy isn't thinking straight. Or at least, his mind is becoming clouded. He's starting to think about what's best for Atlas and Atlas alone. He's scared of the Brotherhood and the rest of the world finding out about Atlas technology. He's still afraid of what the other kingdoms might do to Atlas because of the Fall of Beacon.
And when it comes down to it, the main thing is that he's not letting you leave. You don't completely agree with him anymore, do you? Not on everything. I'm leaving with all the others for Vacuo. If you don't come with us, we're split up again, and this time we're probably not gonna return to Atlas for awhile. This is it. Your only chance." He held out a hand. "And I think you should take it. But it has to be your choice."
Winter stared at his hand, mouth partly gaped. She looked completely still, like a painted statue.
"And not to rush you or anything, but I did have to sneak in here, and we're going to have to sneak out of Atlas, so we're on a bit of a schedule," Qrow said casually. Winter's lips slammed together, drawing into a thin line.
And then she took his hand, holding it in hers firmly. Even when she looked dead tired, Qrow could feel her strength.
"Quickly," she whispered. "We need to leave."
"No kidding."
"How do you plan on us leaving without drawing the attention of the other soldiers?" Winter asked.
He tugged her towards the back of her tent. He lifted the back flap, revealing an almost barren space. If this was a part of the camp, it didn't appear to be used for much more than storage space. With so much of the old military facility destroyed, there was a lot that had to be moved, stored, and properly prepared to set up in a new location. That took time, and thankfully many of the soldiers were still moving supplies and setting up camp. Those that weren't were off fighting Grimm and trying to keep the city under control after the attack. Which left whole sections of the camp empty. And just beyond some crates and empty tents was a quiet, snowy landscape. Their getaway.
"We have a bit of a distraction that should take attention away from this area, but it's not gonna last. There's too many soldiers in this damn army," Qrow grumbled. "One of them is bound to walk by soon." He almost walked out of the tent, then remembered part of the plan. "Quick, grab that hat!" He pointed at a standard Atlesian military cap that had been discarded on the side table. Winter grabbed it and placed it on her head. Qrow reached over and tugged it further down, making sure none of her bangs or white waves were visible. "Good. Now, are there any spare coats?" Winter frowned, but she searched the desk and drawer that were provided for her.
"There's no Atlesian uniform coats. Just this." Winter held up a large, old, brown trench coat. It would have to do.
"Hand it over." Winter handed off the coat to him, and Qrow slid it on. Wow, it was larger than he thought. The coat almost reached his knees, and it was clear that it was several sizes too big for him. But he'd make it work. He just needed it for a little bit of time. "Now, button up your coat. Try to dust it off a bit. And when we walk out of here, walk confidently, like you belong. If anyone sees you, I want them to think you're just another soldier doing rounds." Winter nodded, quickly wiping off some of the dirt that speckled her coat. When she was done, she looked back up at him. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," Winter whispered.
"Ok. Let's go." Qrow opened the flap for her, and Winter walked out straight and tall. She had both hands behind her back, chin tilted up, and when Qrow matched her stride and peered over at her face, he saw that she had schooled her expression into a rather haughty one. Perfect.
It wasn't far to the edge of camp, but those several steps felt like miles to Qrow. He and Winter skirted around crates full of Dust, guns, swords, and machinery. A few soldiers were walking together further down the same row of tents, laughing about something. Thankfully they looked like low-ranking soldiers, and their eyes didn't stray to where Winter and Qrow passed by. Winter didn't even flinch. She kept her eyes straight ahead and marched on, slipping between two tents for cover. Qrow followed. They paused as the soldiers got closer. Qrow held his breath, inching behind one of the tents. The voices got louder and louder, and then they stopped no more than ten feet away. A moment passed. One of the soldiers spoke up again, and his friend chuckled. Then Qrow heard the shift of dirt and the sound of footsteps getting quieter as the soldiers walked further away. Qrow sighed in relief.
They reached the edge of the camp, coming upon a fence. Qrow was initially impressed that they'd had the time to set up fencing around the whole perimeter, then he remembered that it was probably due to Jimmy's paranoid nature. The fence was sturdy and made of light panels, powered by Dust. It was probably about 9 or 10 feet high in height. Trying to turn it off would take too long and attract too much attention. They'd have to jump it.
"Schnee," Qrow whispered.
"I know." Winter held out a hand. "This will be a little more difficult without my weapon, but it is still doable. Hold my hand, and brace yourself." Qrow did as he was told, grasping her hand in his. A few seconds later, the ground glowed beneath them as Winter's glyph lit up. "Now jump!" They both jumped, propelled by the glyph's force. Qrow saw them shoot by the top of the fence, then they began to fall. He worried for a brief second, but then Winter created another glyph beneath them, catching them so they were now level with the top of the fence. Winter held out a hand, and a long path of glyphs led from their platform to the other side of the fence. They wasted no time in following the path, and Winter made sure each of the glyphs in their wake disappeared.
They landed several yards away, in a spot Winter deemed far enough that they wouldn't attract attention.
"Where do we go now?" Winter asked.
"Most of the Brotherhood has gathered in a small airship landing strip. It's not one of the major ones, so I doubt anyone will find them there. We're heading there now," Qrow explained.
"If you tell me where exactly it is, I might be able to lead us there," Winter offered. "In case you can't remember."
"Don't worry, I can get us there. And in case we get captured, I want you to have plausible deniability." Qrow thought he caught Winter rolling her eyes, but she turned her face away from him. "Anyways, someone should be meeting us to act as our escort."
"Who?" Winter asked, curious.
"Someone we can trust."
Sure enough, after ten minutes of walking through the cold plains that lay along the edge of the city, a figure appeared, running toward them. The figure never even stopped. Instead, they ran at Winter and threw their arms around her.
"Weiss!" Winter's eyes went wide, but her arms automatically returned her sister's hug. "You're a part of this?"
"Of course!" Weiss lifted her head and smiled up at her sister. "I'm a part of this now. Everything's been explained to me. I want to help you. And even if you weren't a part of this, it's the right thing to do. And I'm going to help my teammates." Winter met Qrow's eyes as he watched the exchange. She looked like she wanted to say something, but eventually she just turned her head back to Weiss and deepened the hug. "Besides, I'm from Atlas. I know this area much better than the others. I knew I'd be able to find you and lead you to our meeting place."
"I want to tell you it's dangerous," Winter said softly, Qrow just hearing her above the icy wind. "But you already know that."
"Yes, I do."
"And you know there could be trouble if Father or the General finds out you were involved?"
"I don't care what Father thinks," Weiss grumbled. "As for the General, he's been kind enough in the past, but this isn't about him. I owe him nothing." Then Weiss looked up at Winter, her eyes sad, and Qrow could tell the thoughts that were going through her head. He'd considered the same things; that Winter did owe Jimmy, that she looked up to him, that for whatever it was worth, Winter had made some kind of a home at the Atlas Academy and later in the military.
But Winter smiled down at her sister, smoothing the girl's bangs out of her face. He didn't want to break up the reunion, but Qrow cleared his throat, earning the attention of the Schnee sisters. He raised an eyebrow, and Weiss jumped.
"Of course, right!" She tsked at herself. "We're on a schedule. There's no time to waste! Come on." She took the lead, using her glyphs to create a path in the direction she had come. She gestured for Qrow and Winter to follow, and they all followed the glyphs' soft light.
Surprisingly, it didn't take all that long for them to reach the edge of the tiny airfield. The plains they had run across were connected to Atlas farms. While the normally cold, snowy weather in all of Atlas wouldn't allow for temperate farming, special lamps and conservatories, all powered by specially engineered fire Dust, made it possible for Atlas to grow its own crops. These farms were high-class and while many of their crops were delivered to stores, a select amount of the very best were reserved for gourmet restaurants and aristocratic banquets. Any other time, Qrow might have scoffed at another prime example of Atlas' need to be the best, but now it seemed so irrelevant. And he was thankful for the use of the airstrip and field that the farmers used to fly in products and equipment. Not that he or any of the others were using it legally.
So he supposed he was just thankful they hadn't gotten caught.
He could spot the other Brotherhood members standing in a circle by the airship that the Roo twins had flown over on. He spotted Glynda and Ori next to Miriam, and off to the side stood Ruby, Yang, their other friends, and Dr. Polendina. And of course, in the middle of everyone, was a confused, elderly Oz.
When the three of them got closer, Weiss waved at the others. The Brotherhood members looked up.
"We're back," Weiss announced.
"Good," Glynda said. "We have much to discuss. Thank you, Ms. Schnee." Weiss nodded, sidestepping to make room for Qrow. Ruby, Jaune, and Yang joined them, while the other students stayed by the Roo's airship, Blake and Ren making pleasant conversation with Dr. Polendina.
"Specialist Schnee." Ori nodded in Winter's direction, giving a small bow. "It's a pleasure to see you again."
"Thank you," Winter said quietly. Qrow felt his worry increase at her dull tone, but he reminded himself that the day hadn't been easy for her.
"Thank you for joining us, Winter," Glynda added. "I know … we all know that leaving and coming here was not easy, and we appreciate everything you've done for this cause. I know that a few sentences of gratitude might mean nothing, and while I'd love to thank you further, we do not have the luxury of time. In helping you leave the Atlas Military's temporary camp, we are essentially helping you go AWOL. Meaning that when James figures out you're gone, he will send soldiers after you to arrest you." Winter nodded. "We must quickly come up with our next course of action, and we must prepare to leave Atlas."
"We can't leave James like this," Qrow said, eyes hardening.
"You're worried about him?" Miriam asked sharply.
"I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about what he's capable of. I'm worried about everyone else that lives here."
"I … might be able to stay longer," Glynda said, very reluctantly. "But I cannot stay for long. Vale is still in rough shape, and there's so few Huntsmen and Huntresses who can stay in the area and help me with the rebuilding."
"Don't you worry, Glynda," Ori cut in, taking a hold of her hand and patting it. "If you need to rush back, I'll stay and attempt to get through to James."
"As much as I trust your persistence Hickory, I'm inclined to believe I have a better chance of getting James to listen to reason." Glynda gave the man a rueful smile. Ori shrugged, letting go of her hand.
"The offer stands. And I will be staying in Atlas for now anyways. The city's in bad shape."
"I've discussed this with Qrow and Ori already. I'll be staying too," added Merle.
"Well, Clint and I are gone," Miriam said. Her tail whipped back and forth in angry movements. "Vacuo needs us, and we can't waste another second. Qrow's coming with us." Qrow glanced her way, and Miriam tilted her head in acknowledgement. "Him and those kids. If we can fit them on board." Qrow's look soured a bit. "What?! I'm just saying, our ship is small!"
"Wait," Glynda commanded. "We can't split up with no plan from here on out. Things are more dire than many of us realized. And once we all go our separate ways, we won't be able to contact each other anymore. Not quickly, at least."
"Grimm attacks have slowly been increasing in Vacuo," Miriam said. "Clint and I highly suspect that when we go home, we'll find larger and more aggressive Grimm attacking the town and Oasis. I don't know if Salem's done with Atlas or the other kingdoms, but Vacuo is her last stop, and we all know the other kingdoms won't help us." Miriam's words came out harsh, but they were true. Qrow also knew that most people would see Vacuo as the easiest of the four kingdoms to target. They lacked the technological advancements of Atlas, the urbanization of Vale, and the structured and stable government of the other kingdoms. Or at least, what the other kingdoms used to have.
"Letters and other older methods of communication will have to work for long distance. We've planned as best as we could beforehand," Qrow said. "Everyone here roughly knows what they have to do. With any luck, we'll be seeing you guys soon."
"Zap and I will return to Mistral. If we want a chance of uniting the kingdoms, we have work to do in Mistral," Chan said. "With Haven still damaged and the Council gone, we need to set up new leadership."
"Everybody follow the plan. Get the word out, unite the kingdoms, stay alert for Salem's threats and Grimm attacks. I'll have someone send you all a message when we begin the next phase," Qrow continued. Everybody nodded, their faces mixtures of determination and worry.
"This will be dangerous, Qrow," Glynda murmured.
"But it's all we can do, and I think it will work," Qrow insisted. "We all talked earlier today. I know we all would love more time, but we have to get going." The Brotherhood members nodded, and the Roo twins quickly said their goodbyes. Miriam clapped Merle on the back and high fived Zap before she and her brother headed over to their airship, a much more rugged but durable looking craft than the sleek Atlas ships.
"All right kiddies, anybody who's going to Vacuo better get on now or you're staying in this frozen hell," Miriam announced. Qrow rolled his eyes, but gestured for Ruby and the others to follow Miriam. They gathered their bags and walked over.
"Get in. All of you," Miriam ordered. Clint was already hurrying into the ship. Ruby and her friends all shared concerned and hesitant looks, but one by one, they each hopped into the ship. Weiss shot her sister a worried look, but with a quick nudge from Ruby, followed after her friends. Blake kept a hand on Dr. Polendina's back, helping him into the jet. Qrow took a step forward, then stopped to turn and look at Winter. Her arms were folded, one hand absentmindedly playing with her red brooch. Her eyes were on the ground. Her expression was unreadable, but the way she stood made her look much smaller than she actually was. Qrow reached out, carefully tapping Winter on the elbow.
"Winter, we don't have a lot of time to leave if we want to escape notice. Especially if you're joining us. Someone at the military camp will notice that you're gone soon," Qrow said gently. Winter's hand clenched into a fist.
"Qrow!" Miriam snapped.
"Winter, I know this isn't easy. And I know I don't know what you're going through, not exactly at least," Qrow whispered urgently. "But this whole thing, that started as a mission, is a lot bigger. And if we want to even have a chance at helping the kingdoms, we have to save Remnant from Salem's influence." Winter bent her head forward, her eyes no longer visible.
"I …," Winter choked out. Her voice sounded raspy.
"We've got to go. We don't have the time," Qrow said. Miriam was making snapping sounds behind them, practically hissing.
Finally, Winter gave what Qrow took to be a nod, and she moved towards the ship, Qrow staying by her side. He didn't know quite what to do, but staying close by felt like the appropriate and supportive choice. When they reached the ramp to the ship, Winter suddenly spun around, gazing at the snowy landscape behind them. Qrow could see the grief and other unknowable emotions in her deep blue eyes, and he wondered if he should say something, but then she turned on her heel and hurried into the ship. Qrow whispered a thanks to Miriam, who simply rolled her eyes, and the two climbed into the ship too. Miriam shut the latch behind her, and within the minutes, the airship was rising and taking off.
They were soon high in the air, everyone in seats and whispering quietly. Clint piloted the ship while Miriam talked about where they should stop and what to prepare for when they reached Vacuo. Ruby, Weiss, Yang, and Blake were catching up quietly, and though they each looked tired, they all wore smiles on their face. Blake leaned against Yang, laying her head on her teammate's shoulder. Ruby rambled on about their adventures, constantly stopping to ask Yang and Blake what they had been up to. Weiss interceded a few times to correct some of Ruby's exaggerations. Jaune, Nora, and Ren sat in seats closer to the back of the ship with Dr. Polendina. Nora was talking to the doctor with an excitement in her voice, and though Dr. Polendina was chatting politely with her, he seemed confused as to what, exactly, Nora was going on about. Jaune and Ren repeatedly tried to calm Nora to little avail.
And Winter sat in a seat next to a window, watching the icy tundras grow smaller until a heavy canopy of clouds covered them. Qrow initially was at the front of the airship, talking in low tones with Miriam about their plans for Vacuo. However, when he looked over at Winter, and saw her wistfully gazing out the window, he excused himself and went to take the seat beside her. He didn't say anything. Winter didn't say anything either, and her eyes remained on the window. But he saw her hands unclench, and the muscles in her shoulders and face relaxed. He didn't see her move, but then he felt an almost imperceptible tap against his shoe. His mouth twitched into a tiny smile, and he tapped back.
And with that, they were on their way to Vacuo.
XXX
"Did you bring them to me?" Salem sat in her large throne, an eyebrow raised at the person before her. Puck. He bowed low, kneeling down before her.
"I was able to grab two of the metal bots, but unfortunately, the Huntsmen and Huntresses destroyed the others."
"Hmm. A shame. I hoped for three." Salem tapped a finger on the arm of her chair. "Two will suffice for now, though." She swirled a hand through the air, creating smoky visions of what appeared to be people, brandishing their weapons. "While our attack has dealt severe damage to the Atlas government, especially General Ironwood, I lost a few precious followers. Harish and Altair have been captured. I can only assume that it was a silver eyed warrior who defeated them, considering they've triumphed against the strongest of Huntsmen in the past."
"I believe so, ma'am."
"With them out of the picture, I will have to rely on some of my other followers." Salem stood up, stepping away from the throne to gaze out the window of the room. She frowned. "The White Fang has proven useless again. And here I had such high hopes, considering how many members and illegal Dust they were able to sneak into Atlas. And Watts, while he remains useful, has his job. He must remain in the other world for now, to procure the second part of Dr. Polendina's creations." Salem returned her red gaze to Puck. "You and Cinder will become my primary warriors, dear Puck. But you will still need help, and I cannot influence dear Ozpin without my followers." She held out a hand and a small ball of light formed, floating gently, softly, above her palm. Then she crushed it, snuffing it out. "They are scattered across the kingdoms, but we must let them know they are now needed." Puck nodded once, understanding the command.
"What would you have me do? Forgive my impulsiveness, my lady, but I am more than capable of travelling quickly across the kingdoms to inform your other warriors of their duty." Puck's eyes burned with a feverish delight. Salem held up a hand, her eyebrows furrowing as she stared down at Puck. His eyes widened, and he ducked his head in a silent apology. Salem's frown twisted into a smile.
"Yes, I know, my dear Puck. And that will be part of your job, though not all of it. I will be sending you to Vacuo. The first part of your job will be to enlist a few of my followers. Old friends, if you will."
"And the second part?" Puck dared to ask.
"I seem to remember asking that a few certain Hunters would be killed." Salem's eyes glowed a bright red. "And yet they're still alive, causing me trouble."
"I will make sure they are taken care of, ma'am."
"No." Salem shook her head. "At the moment, I require them alive. At least one of them." She held her hand up again, and the shadowy silhouette of a man formed. "Qrow Branwen. One of Ozpin's trusted advisors. I need him watched carefully. And I need him alive. So while it would be a blessing to have him dead, I need you to keep a close eye on him, Puck."
"As you will it, my lady," Puck said.
"Of course, we might have to get creative." Salem twisted a finger, and the silhouette split, forming into three new silhouettes, all noticeably female in appearance. "If Qrow doesn't lead me to what I want, we shall convince him. He seems the type to do anything for those he cares about." The floating shadows dissipated, and Salem relaxed a bit. "But fear not, Puck. I believe your job will be easy. Qrow's path is a predictable one. He'll do exactly what I want him to do. If you need, I'll send a Seer with you as well."
"And what about Winter Schnee? And Ruby Rose, the silver eyed warrior girl?" Puck asked. "What should I do about them?" Salem cocked her head to the side, turning around and pacing a few steps, humming softly. Puck's words betrayed his true feelings. It was easy for her to hear the slight excitement in his tone, the fervent and almost evil glee in his voice.
"Ruby Rose remains an important target. I want her captured or killed. As for Winter Schnee, for now, I'm rather indifferent on how to handle her. Killing her may prove helpful to my cause, but she could be a useful bargaining chip down the road. I shall see what happens with her."
"Please let me know if you decide otherwise. I will gladly do what you ask, no matter the cost," Puck exclaimed. Salem nodded.
"Has Cinder finished her recovery yet?"
"I don't know, my lady."
"I want to see her. When you leave, send her to me."
"Yes, my lady." Puck gave a quick dip of his head, then stood and left the room. Salem watched him leave, then turned and walked to the window again, placing her hands on the sill and staring out at the empty, dark world before her. Her eyes suddenly burned bright, and the sill cracked beneath her hands. Splinters broke off and fell to the floor.
"Where are you?"
XXX
Well, there we go! On our way to Vacuo! I think I can say with relative confidence we are moving into Phase 3 of this story, the final phase. That's not to say I'm finishing this with in a couple chapters, I still have quite a bit more to write. But we're probably about 2/3 done with the story.
I hope you enjoyed the longer chapter! Originally this was meant to be shorter than the previous chapter, but everything I wanted to include in this chapter kept piling up, and I didn't want to split it up into more chapters because I had a very defined start and end point, and I knew that I wanted to get our characters out of Atlas this chapter. Please forgive any spelling errors; I did go through and edit, but with the chapter being so long, I'm sure I missed something!
Thank you to all readers and any new followers! I hope wherever you are in the world, you're doing well and staying safe and healthy!
NinaVale: Thank you for all your comments and compliments! I'm always glad to hear you like the chapter, and I love reading your insights into the characters!
Incapacitated Ichthyoid: Thank you! Yes, any time that Winter and Qrow have to flirt is definitely the best! ;)
GojiraFan: I appreciate the worry! Not to fear, I have no intentions of abandoning this story ever.
hypernova: Thank you, and I'm glad I could clear things up!
