Chapter 68: Coming Home
Ozpin had a rule, whenever a Student needed to talk, his doors were open. Too often in his many long lives had he seen people fall into despair and worse, because they thought no one was listening to them. And as wayward as she had gotten Yang Xiao Long was still his student. He was sat in his desk looking out the window of his tower at the vast vista that was Vale and the Huntsmen and Huntresses buzzing back and forth in Air ships heading to the edges of vale to assault the Grimm Horde. There were so many people that they might all blur together into obscurity, but Ozpin could see them all, he knew them all, he had to know them despite how it hurt him.
The Window reminded him of his responsibility and though he hated to admit it… it reminded him of better times with Her. He breathed out a sigh at those memories now turned sour and Glynda rested a hand on his shoulder.
"She'll be here soon" he said as Glynda gave his shoulder a squeeze before removing it. "Qrow phoned ahead."
"Of her own free will he said." Glynda added, her voice sounded both shocked and impressed by such an action on Yang's part.
"You don't suspect a trap?" Ozpin questioned more to make conversation than anything.
"Doubtful, if she wanted to harm you, the perfect opportunity was when she had control of the CCT" Glynda said with a smirk. "Instead, she brought up the low attendance. And made clear some issues regarding Ironwood's behavior."
That hung over their heads oddly as well, Ironwood had returned to atlas with most of his ships at the council's request. Ozpin had neglected to attend those meetings, not wishing to see James until he had a firm grasp of the situation. The reality was that Vale had been under military occupation and though few people said anything they all felt it. The sight of Atlas ships once brought a sense of security to the people of Vale but that had turned into oppression, and now their absence brought relief.
"We will have to speak to him about that" Ozpin said steepling his fingers and looking out the window, to the people he served.
The Ding of the Elevator woke him from his musings. When he heard the door open, he spoke wishing to add a little drama to the whole affair.
" -Long" he said in his usual calm voice, slowly turning his chair.
"Not Quite" a male voice responded back.
When Ozpin had gotten his chair to turn completely around, he was faced not with Yang but with Taiyang Xiao Long stepping out of the elevator door. He was strong, a bit scruffy all around and still built like a boxer.
"Hey Ozpin" Tai said with a gritted tooth grin that instantly set off danger alarm bells in Ozpin's head as well as Glynda's. Then he moved.
For all his years of retirement, apparently the elder Xiao Long had not been slacking on his exercise regime. He moved like lightning powered by corded muscle, his fists raised in a fighter's stance as he charged. Glynda had time to flick her riding crop out and send two sets of purple energy towards the signal teacher. As the Energy was about to strike his face, he weaved low beneath it like a boxer ducking a punch.
Ozpin had time to be impressed by Tai's physicality when the man in question dove forward his fist hooking out at even faster speed. The knuckles struck Ozpin in the chin with a devastating right hook that he felt press hard against his aura throwing him back and out of his chair. Ozpin hit the ground hard and started to rise to his feet. As he regained his footing, he saw quite the sight.
Bouncing on the balls of his feet Taiyang bobbed and weaved around purple energy being sent towards him by Glynda. Ozpin recognized it as the hooking purple energy of Glynda's stasis spell. They were moving incredibly quick, but it was clear the father of the Xaio-long Girls practiced what he preached, as he ducked, and weaved as if they were just incoming fists.
Glynda saw Ozpin rising to his feet and he held out a hand to placate the both of them
"Glynda stop!" the purple energy vanished, and Tai's hopping slowed down to a stop and he nodded to Glynda in acknowledgement of their brief scuffle. Ozpin dusted himself off and righted his chair.
"It is good to see you Tai." And he honestly meant it, as hard as that punch to the face was, it wasn't the worst thing a former friend had done to him. Not by a long shot. This one Ozpin might have even deserved.
"Oz, I have one question." Taiyang said quietly. Settling back down in his chair Ozpin steepled his fingers, he supposed there was only one question Tai could ask of him after that broadcast.
"Did you know?"
Roman
This can only go wrong. Roman thought to himself, as he calmly watched the numerous kids milling about outside as Raven was preparing to take them back. Back to Beacon and into a world of trouble.
Thank whatever forces moved this world that Neo had spotted the drunk uncle first. Since his arrival she'd thrown up simple illusion walls between the two criminals and the well known huntsmen. He turned to look at Neo who'd been watching the procession go by along with him.
"This can only go wrong Neo" Roman proclaimed getting a giggle from Neo as she grinned at the young huntsmen and huntresses. Raven looked his way, they were behind Neo's illusion, but she could pinpoint his location, Yang had the same ability and it still left him on edge.
"Thier senses are damn unnatural" he spat pulling out a cigar as Neo twirled his lighter around her fingers teasing him as she did. She loved to tease, and if what they heard about the heiress staying with them was true, she'd have another young woman who's buttons she could push.
As much as Neo played when Roman brought the cigar to his lips she had it lit in an instant. He puffed away occasionally passing it to the smaller criminal. Neo was his partner in more ways than one and he trusted her implicitly. Trust was a poison to Roman but over these last few years as creepy as the Branwen women could be.
At least they're honest. He took a deep drag of the Cigar and once more thought of his old employers who probably wanted him killed if they bothered to think about him at all. They'd been bad, and he'd probably be either dead or stuck in an atlas ice cell if he'd kept working with them. The Branwens paid on time, gave him sanctuary and if he asked, they'd give Roman a goddamn answer instead of jerking him around.
"10 lien says Xiao-long punches Ozpin in the face" he said, Neo blew out a smoke ring and put on a contemplative look. It was their excuse for sticking around, they'd done it a dozen times; 15 lien she'll die in the desert, 20 lien says she get caught, 10 lien says she'll burn down another night club. On and on the tradition went, every time they had a mission, it was their excuse for staying.
Neo reached into her coat and retrieved her bright pink wallet, her eyes shifting to white as she passed the 10 lien note to Roman. He snatched it quick before she could pull away and slid it under his bowler hat.
"You certainly like this one" Neo rested her chin in her hand and smiled at him, it was one of her few warm smiles and he returned it.
"Yeah, I like the annoying bitch too" He replied, although Yang's upcoming actions might bring her attention back on him, he was sure that Neo and he would have a few more bets in them. "hurts to be a gambling man"
Yang
It felt good to be back on Beacon Campus again, Qrow was at the head of the group but Yang was not too far behind. No shackles on her wrists, no chains, she wasn't under arrest. She just grinned in the sun light and enjoyed herself as she and her team marched through her old school without fear. The Beacon students were staring at the entourage, and Yang smiled at them like a conqueror and was happy to see that not all the looks sent her way were hateful.
Nice change of pace. She thought to herself feeling freer than she had in a while. Some women blushed when she glanced their way, and a few guys seemed nervous around her. She laughed out loud at that. That action got her a dirty look from Qrow. She didn't care, she had her team, she had her revenge and most importantly, she had Weiss.
Everything's gravy after that. Yang thought to herself.
But she wasn't the only one drawing attention from the student body. Many gape mouthed faces were staring right at Pyrrha Nikos, in a mixture of shock and admiration. Pyrrha appeared to be appreciating that attention much less than Yang had been, in fact she seemed to hate it. She clung to jaune and held herself close as if to somehow hide herself behind the smaller man, Yang thought their size difference was actually kind of cute.
It would be easier to find it cute if she wasn't clearly terrified. Yang mused. So many eyes were on the former fall maiden that Yang figured they didn't have time to glare at her. Pyrrha spent so long trying to get off the pedestal, I don't think it's going away any time soon.
"Jaune!"A shout came across the field, Jaune turned as did the rest of the entourage. A bandaged-up Nora and Ren were running towards them, Nora's arms were wide open, and Ren was at her heels. Yang was surprised by how emotional Ren looked; he was even smiling.
"Guys!" Jaune responded as the other half of his team stopped in front of him and Pyrrha. Pyrrha flinched back a bit but yang saw a tentative smile on her face, and she started opening up her posture. "I was so worried about you"
"So were we!" Nora replied. "We thought something happened." Then her eyes fell on Pyrrha and her mouth opened wide.
"Hello!" Pyrrha said nervously waving her hand. Nora flung herself at her teammate and wrapped her up in a bear hug.
"Oh, Pyrrha I'm so glad to see you, back… you are back right?" Nora stepped back from the hug and Ren took her place, saying nothing yet clearly joyful.
"We're pretty sure she is" Yang said, glad to see Pyrrha getting what she deserved from life for once. "IT is out of her head, saw it myself."
"Yang!" Nora Shouted turning towards the blonde bruiser and running toward her as well. Yang felt like she was on her back foot as the thunder child glomped towards her. She took a step back in fear.
What the hell am I doing? Yang thought, stepping forward again and opening her arms to accept the hug. I gotta stop being so paranoid about my friends.
Yang's chin exploded with pain as Nora's fist cracked right into it in an expertly executed right hook. Yang flew back and hit the dirt, too shocked to stand back up.
"That's what you get for breaking my jaw you URSA'S BUTT" Nora shouted at the downed Yang.
Yang got up and massaged her injured chin as Nora bounced back and forth on the balls of her feet ready for this to turn into a slug fest.
That was a sucker punch. Yang thought to herself before grinning. One I probably deserved a bit.
In an instant she moved from the floor to standing, gave Nora a wink and raised her fists. Nora's hand shifted from fists to grabbing claws, promising Yang that Grappling awaited her should this go down. They were both at peak Aura, both rested and both willing to throw down.
And we'd both say it's fun
But cooler heads prevailed. Jaune stepped between them and raised his hands up to halt the would be battle. Qrow seemed almost interested to see where it would go, while Blake and Weiss looked as if this was something, they'd been expecting the whole time.
"Nora, Nora calm down" Jaune advised to his bruiser teammate.
"What Jaune! I can take her!" Nora protested
"History says otherwise" Yang chided garnering her a sour look from both Jaune and Nora. "But let's save it for another day."
"Yang is…" Jaune began, looking back to Pyrrha. "Yang is fine"
Ringing praise.
"Fine Jaune!" Nora pointed two of her fingers to her eyes then pointed the digits at Yang. Yang jokingly dragged her thumb across her throat. But once the posturing had ended, the team JNPR surrounded Pyrrha Nikos and seemed overjoyed to have her back.
Yang and the rest of team RWBY couldn't help but smile at the display.
"She deserves that" Weiss said by Yang's side. "After all that time trapped in her own head, she deserves to be with her team again."
Yang wrapped her arm around the smaller Atlessian and pulled her close. Weiss in turn held on to Yang's waist. From there they marched on to Beacon's CCT tower while team JNPR left to reconnect, Yang was grateful for that. She wasn't sure how much either Jaune or Pyrrha really cared for her or cared to be around Ozpin, so it was best not to set off a meltdown.
The Elevator was a bit cramped, but Yang had been in places more uncomfortable than this one. Qrow stood in front of the doors his posture slightly slouched as he seemed to stare through the place where the doors met. Yang and Weiss disentangled themselves from one another, deciding it would be more professional to not show PDA in front of their former teachers/ the people Yang put into an awkward situation.
Yang wished she were still holding onto Weiss because the nervousness started to take hold as the elevator ascended. Her hand came to rest on the Grimm mask hanging off her hip.
Do what mother said, small steps. Yang thought a part of her still fearing to use her precious object. She breathed out a slow breath and focused on the calm. It eventually came and her anxiety and nervousness whittled down. So, when the elevator doors opened, and the sound of a ticking clock reached her ears she was completely calm.
They all had been in this office at one point or another during their time at beacon and its intimidation factor had not decreased since then. Glynda was standing next to Ozpin's desk while Ozpin himself was sat behind the desk with his finger's steepled. To Yang's surprise, she saw a bruise on his chin and a crack in his glasses.
"What happened to you" Yang blurted out, getting an annoyed look from Qrow for her trouble. Ozpin merely adjusted his glasses.
"Nothing worth fixating on" was all he said in way of answer. The rest of team RWBY, and penny started to fan out into the room. Glynda's eyes locking on each and every one of them, Ruby in particular. She looked worried; Yang had to admit.
She always did care about her students.
Qrow moved to lean against Ozpin's desk his hands still in his pockets, no doubt palming the flask. Yang was in the center of the room, Weiss next to her and her team at her back.
They have my back. Yang reminded herself still feeling her hackles raise knowing someone was behind her. Ozpin gestured for her to begin and she took in a deep breath before she settled on speaking.
"I've learned a lot out there in the wilds" Yang began gritting her teeth a bit. "Learning with Mom while Atlas soldiers and bounty hunters bit at my heels, I learned about the only true players in this world. Two freaking immortals"
That got a raised brow from Ozpin and Glynda squeezed her riding crop, but that was the only reaction.
"But it's not what you know it's what you can prove, and besides killing you and finding whomever you were going to possess next and getting them to confess… I have nothing. Plus, I doubt that She would be up for talking to the VNN."
"It would be a hell of an interview" Qrow joked in his rough voice. "Might get higher ratings than even your's did."
Yang chuckled at that, though the laugh was short lived considering how unamused both Glynda and Ozpin were regarding that proposition.
"So, I can't prove that, but everyone here knows it." Yang paused waiting for Ozpin to concede something, he kept silent. "But I did get a lot of things when I got access to the Black Queen Virus files, plans, footage, real evidence of improper actions… and not just of Ironwood."
Glynda reacted, she was aghast, but Ozpin was stone cold, Yang couldn't see his eyes behind his glasses.
This wizard is a fucking rock. Yang thought. Dust it's worse than Neo.
"The Aura transference machine, Atlas studied it, but you signed off on it. The altering of death records so people beyond your circle wouldn't know about her and her crew." Yang slapped her hand to her mask and felt it growl against her hip, that righteous anger charged her. "You think you're doing this all to keep people safe and, on some level, I can respect that, but you know I could do a heck of a lot a damage with what I know."
Yang felt her teammates get apprehensive at those words and Qrow seemed suspicious to hear them. Then Weiss took Yang's hand in her's and squeezed.
"But I won't…" Yang added that feeling receding as the mask obeyed her. "I'm not your enemy, neither is my mother. I'm not Evil, I'm not in Salem's gang. And I don't want to put this pain on the people of Vale, so the current issues that I caused with my interview… I'll help with. I'll help fix this mess, beat the Grimm back."
"You made things rather hectic here" Glynda said, flicking her riding crop to her shoulder and glaring a bit at Yang like the unruly student she was. "But we're not stupid enough to think you're on her side. And you didn't throw Ozpin under the bus nor our group into the light."
"Like I said I'm not your enemy" Yang replied glad that Glynda seemed to give her some credit.
"So, you'll help my endeavors?" Ozpin asked his voice somehow killing all ambient noise in the room. It was probably an impressive trick of aura.
Or magic. Yang thought. Parlor trick anyway
Yang's finger shot up and out, pointing directly towards her sister. Ruby flinched at that moment and Yang felt a bit of guilt, but she had to be dramatic here.
"No" Yang said not taking her gaze from the wizard in front of her. "But I will help her"
"I'm not sure I follow" Glynda said, no doubt for Ozpin.
"You tell her everything, bring Ruby into the fold" Yang lifted her fingers as she listed things off. "Get her a new eye. A good eye! and I'll help her."
Ozpin raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Ruby I can trust, but I'll never trust you; I won't take your orders and you will never pressure me to do so got it! Also, I'd like the small matter of my warrant to be expunged, running from Atlas specialists is hard enough without Vale breathing down my neck"
The room grew silent as Yang's demands and declaration echoed. Dust even Qrow was a bit wide eyed.
"You sound like your mother" Ozpin said, smiling his knowing smile and somehow the light on his glasses was no longer as obfuscating, revealing the sad look on his face. "And done, I suppose you've told her enough already and she's earned her place here, in this circle. As for your warrant... the public opinion in Vale has somewhat shifted in your favor of late, so I believe there's some wiggle room there."
Yang was a bit shocked that Ozpin was so willing to acquiesce to her demands, but she supposed that came more from Ruby's good work rather than her intimidation factor. Yang breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed falling into one of the couches in Ozpin's office feeling the weight of years lift off her, though it was all so sudden that it felt like a band aid being ripped off. It was exhausting all on its own. Qrow took a pull from his flask and Yang considered joining in on that.
Ozpin on the other hand had shifted on a dime. He pressed a button on his desk and a holographic image appeared in front of all present. It was a map of Vale showing its borders and red dots were all along its edges, some by themselves and some in largish clumps.
Grimm Yang mused.
"Since atlas has pulled out there's been an uptick in Grimm incursions on the Vale borders, though thankfully below our most dire estimates." Glynda said gesturing to the red dots. "We've been lucky that a few Atlas forces have gone AWOL, to assist with the defense, but that is a small percentage."
"We're dispatching every available huntsman and huntress we can in an official capacity." Ozpin noted, the 'official' statement no doubt a jab at Yang's unofficial challenge. "We've even had some volunteers from the citizenry."
"Hopefully relegated to less dangerous positions" Blake Added. And when Ozpin answered her Yang started to tune it out, she was sure she'd get the jist of it later from Ruby or Weiss. Yang chuckled that sort of thinking was how she was back during Beacon. As she smiled to herself and as Ozpin spoke with Ruby, Weiss walked over to Yang and sat down next to her on the couch.
"Hey" Yang said as Weiss sat next to her.
"Hey" Weiss responded softly before leaning her head against Yang's shoulder. Yang leaned back resting her cheek against the top of Weiss' head.
Now I really have a reason to tune out. Yang thought feeling Weiss cool against her and hearing her own heart thump in her chest at their comfortable nearness. Weiss took Yang's hand and their fingers intertwined, Yang squeezed back.
I'm lucky.
"I'm glad you're here" Weiss Murmured against Yang's shoulder
"I'm glad you're with me" Yang replied kissing the top of Weiss' head and wrapping her arm around the smaller huntress. Yang heard the conversations pace start to move towards closing bits, so she nudged Weiss a bit and they both stood up to keep track of the closing statements.
"We'll need you to move out as swiftly as possible." Ozpin said definitively shutting down the map and leaning against his desk with his arms spread. "We'll have a drop ship ready."
"Wait" Yang said walking forward to stand next to Ruby. "We're completely willing to go all gung-ho here but we need like a day back in civilization first."
That got her an annoyed look from both Glynda and Ozpin and she felt the urge to back down.
Ah screw that mom's scarier by a mile. Yang thought.
"For personal reasons, then you can send us out" Yang finished.
"She's right, we need the R&R" Ruby added. "You need us at tip top shape right."
"Very well" Ozpin conceded "A day to get yourself back in order."
"Thanks" Ruby said, and Yang punched her shoulder and got just as hard a hit back. Ruby smiled up at her and Yang smiled down.
Ruby
Ruby was glad to be out of Ozpin's office, she was glad Yang had been accommodating and not looking for a new fight, she was glad Pyrrha was back home, and she was glad that Weiss was happy. Mostly some odd part of her was the gladdest over was having another mission.
Missions helped her get her mind off things and focus on what she's always wanted to do; be a huntress and Help people. She was glad for the direction and the simplicity of keeping people safe and beating the Grimm back. But her getting to glance behind the curtain was going to complicate things and she knew it. Ozpin's grand plan, this Salem person were going to add new factors, some that blurred the lines between black and white.
Ruby groaned and walked over to a bench to sit down. She looked around with her one eye, seeing people staring at her, Penny wasn't far off and always kept an eye on her. Ruby was glad for her guardian and wondered what it would be like to see through mechanical eyes. Then Qrow entered into her reduced vision, she was glad to see he had a swagger instead of a stumble so he wasn't completely under the table. She moved aside on the bench and he sat down next to her, and hung his arms over the back of the bench.
"Long day kid" Qrow noted, taking a small pull from his drink.
"Long few years" Ruby echoed looking at him with her one eye. She didn't want the booze but her gaze still tracked it.
"If you're sticking with Oz they won't get shorter" her uncle added with a laugh watching her eye and capping the flask. "I say that from experience."
"I know" Ruby answered pulling up her knees and hugging them to her chest. "I always wanted to protect people, like mom did for me, then Yang after her. I knew this would be hard, and these past few years have taught me that not everybody will be grateful… but I'm not doing this for gratitude. I'm doing this because I love it and because it's right. I can take long days"
Qrow smiled at that and looked at her with a warm pride that she always used to seek out when she was younger.
"Just like your mom" he said warmly. Ruby turned her gaze away from him staring up into the sky, her view obscured by beacon tower and Ozpin at it's top. "What's wrong kiddo?"
"I'm staying, Yang's going but Yang wasn't wrong about a few things."Ruby paused as she put everything together in her mind, tried to collect together her thoughts"and Ozpin and Ironwood were keeping secrets, dangerous secrets… I want to know. Being kept in the dark it won't help… I won't work for Ozpin, I'll work WITH him."
Qrow didn't seem disappointed, he smiled and took another pull from his flask, though this one seemed more like a exaggerated sip. He slowly screwed the cap back on and pocketed the flask before lounging back on the bench
"Exactly like your mom then"
Weiss
The CCT call room was filled when she entered it. Technicians were moving between sectioned off computer terminals while a bare few students were being crammed into one corner of the computer lab. Weiss calmly moved to that corner and set herself to outgoing calls.
Weiss felt odd being alone again. Yang said she had to part for a bit to talk to her mom and Weiss was fine with that. She loved Yang but she didn't want to end up being too clingy of a girlfriend.
Huh. She thought. Girlfriend… feels right.
It took a second for the computer to boot up, no doubt due to the CCT technicians trying to oust the Black Queen Virus from their systems. Now that Ozpin knew what was in his system perhaps filtering it out would be easier, though Weiss doubted either Roman or Raven would be forth coming in telling them how to shut it down.
Plenty of files to get their hands on, while they try to shut it off. Raven hadn't officially joined them, but Weiss could have sworn she saw a dark bird flying about at the edge of her vision. She doesn't trust Ozpin.
Weiss let her musings die down as her screen fully activated and the call was patched through. She took a deep breath as she anticipated what was to come from this interaction. Weiss wasn't even sure she'd pick up. But then the screen clicked, and she was faced with blue eyes.
"Winter"Weiss began. Winter still had a bandage around her head but her pupils had evened out meaning the worst of the concussion was likely behind her. It had been a while but concussions didn't heal so easily, which made sense considering how concussions affected one's ability to focus. Without focus aura manifestation was a difficult thing.
"Weiss" Winter replied simply glaring at her sister before returning to silence.
The silence seemed to stretch on and Weiss was forced to focus on the background of her sister's video. While Winter was stone still the background was hugely active, Atlas personnel were moving back and forth at a breakneck speed carrying things and directing others to move things. It was utter chaos really.
"I'm sorry it came to this" Weiss said quietly, and she was, she'd seen what the loss of a sister had done to Ruby and she did not envy her partner for that feeling. She loved Winter and didn't want this to go how she suspected it would.
"You picked the wrong side" Winter said so Coldly, Weiss swore the Atlas techs shivered behind her.
But Weiss could take the cold. She Grit her teeth and could feel herself getting severely annoyed. She thought of the last time she felt this strange knife-like annoyance but couldn't grasp it. She thought of Yang and Ruby's forgiveness and hoped that both her and Winter could reach that point eventually.
"I don't see it like that" Weiss said calmly hiding her annoyance.
"Weiss I'm not interested in how you-" Winter began before Weiss interrupted her with something that had been on her mind for a few days now.
"Pyrrha has her soul back" Weiss answered. "Her maiden powers are gone, completely."
That left her sister silent, as did the CCT room Weiss was in. She glared at the other occupants as if to tell them you will forget this or ill hit you in the skull so hard you'll forget how to chew solid food. It was then that Weiss remembered when she'd been this upset last; it was when her father had tried to drag her back to Atlas.
"what did you do?" Winter asked leaning towards the camera to get closer to her sister.
"She told us everything" Weiss began feeling a strange sense of righteousness take over her. "Everything she did and all that was covered up, she told us all that she could."
"Weiss" Winter began her voice worried and her eyes a bit panicked. "Those mission reports are classified by the highest order."
Weiss had seen that so called highest order and wanted to laugh; in fact, it was so ridiculous that she did laugh.
I almost killed the 'highest order' Weiss thought though she was grateful that Yang had stopped her. This conversation would be far harder than it already is.
"Doesn't matter, I know, Yang knows, and my entire team knows, it's out there." Weiss mocked back at her sister. "but to answer your second question, yes the maiden powers are gone. And Pyrrha's glad to be rid of them"
Winter wiped a gloved hand over her face and breathed out a deep sigh. One Atlas officer was frozen behind her and when Winter gave him a glare he quickly vanished, no doubt she was banishing people from the room with a glance. Weiss looked around herself and the packed computer room was now empty but for her.
That family glare did it's job she thought.
"Pyrrha not only told us what she did, but what she suffered through" Weiss went on no longer worried about ruining her broken friend's privacy. "Being trapped in her own head, being consumed by anger and cruelty, screaming out for someone to help her to save her and for no one to hear her. She was so desperate she wanted to pass that curse onto me… I've seen what it did to Pyrrha, I'm not sure that's something I could live with."
Weiss gripped her thigh so tightly she was worried she might bleed.
"But Ironwood could certainly live with it, maybe he'd be willing to just switch maidens and call it a day, I mean I'd be too broken to protest right" a look of mounting horror dawned on Winter's face, no doubt imagining her own sister turning into such a monster. Weiss decided now was the proper time to ask the million-lien question. "Ironwood covered up for her… did you?"
Silence was her answer, and it was all the answer Weiss needed. The look of guilt on Winter's face was enough to make Weiss not hide the look of disgust on her own. The knowledge that her sister had willingly covered something so terrible up made Weiss' guts sour.
"You picked the wrong side Winter" Weiss said and the guilt on Winter's face increased, she opened her mouth as if to say something when a door opened behind the elder Schnee sibling.
"Interim General the council have requested your audience" a voice off screen said drawing an annoyed look from Winter.
"Tell them I'll be there." Winter answered
"They requested your presence immediately, Interim General"
"Then I'll tell them you were too incompetent to find me in time" Winter answered back through gritted teeth. "Leave me, I'm not a dog who comes when they call, I'll show up when I'm ready"
After a moment Weiss heard the door seal shut and winter returned her attention to her sister.
"The maiden isn't a mistake I'll make"Winter said in what came across as a manner meant to convey relief to Weiss. Weiss thought about it for a moment, thought of the power that winter now had, but also thought of what Winter had stood by and allowed to happen.
I'm not sure I can trust her. Weiss thought to herself gazing at her newly promoted sibling.
"I hope so General" Weiss said before closing the computer and taking a moment in the silence. She felt so Alone.
Pyrrha
"…So you're telling me that Yang spent so much time whittling down Pyrrha's aura and at the VERY last second stopped her heart with a punch?" Nora had been trying to encapsulate the whole story as Jaune told it to her on their trip back to the dorms. "And that Ironwood tried to straight up Merc Yang after she spared his life?"
"Yep" Jaune replied casually used to Nora's ranting.
"Then Weiss tries to Ice the General and then YANG stops her?" Nora continued more exasperated. "Then you went through a hell portal to a cozy cabin to rest up"
"Not sure it was a hell portal but that's also pretty accurate." Jaune added.
"I'm surprised that YOU didn't try to merc the general yourself." Nora added looking at Pyrrha, when Pyrrha glanced back the thunder child looked away. "I mean I'd have been tempted."
"I had more important things on my mind" Jaune said giving a warm look to Pyrrha. Pyrrha smiled back. "Though I won't say I wasn't tempted."
"And that brings us back to now, where you interrupted my rematch with Yang." Nora said punching her fist into her palm as they reached their dorm.
An unfortunate sight awaited them there; Beacon students: Pyrrha's admirers were crowded around their dorm and they grew excited when they saw Pyrrha.
"There she is" one person shouted.
"The savior of Vale" another said and Pyrrha felt panic start to take her as the thronging masses started approaching her with undeserved admiration. They started moving towards her, when her team took positions stopping them. Jaune raised his arms up.
"Pyrrha is not seeing anyone at the moment!" he said in a loud clear voice. One of the crowd tried to shove past him anyway.
"Get out of the way nobodies!" the large woman said. "We're here for someone who actually matters."
Crack!
Nora had surged forward and slammed her forehead right into the pushy huntress's nose breaking it and causing her to stumble back into the crowd.
"Listen up boys!" Nora shouted over the crowd. "I just got cheated out of the best fight of my life and am severely ticked off, so if you don't want a broken leg you'll get the hell out of our way. GOT IT!"
Most of the crowd started to shrink away. The rest followed suit when Ren silently levelled storm flower towards them. Every few months Beacon had training tournaments amongst students, to keep some huntsmen sharp, it was during these practices people had come to know the powerhouse that was Renora. That pair was a train that was not to be stopped.
"That's right scram!" Nora spat at the fleeing crowd as the rest of team JNPR returned to their dorm room, right before Nora slammed the door behind her. "Buncha gawkers"
Pyrrha couldn't help but smile at Nora's antics but part of her wondered where her friends great hammer had gone. Realization dawned on her when she remembered.
I destroyed it.
She could picture the shattered remains still clutched in Nora's hands and how she'd only barely managed to shift a fireball into a lightning bolt near the end there. Still, she'd almost killed her friend and couldn't suppress a shudder. Looking away from Nora she gave the room a once over, it felt like such a long time since she'd been there.
It was the same as she remembered it, the four beds, ren's tea set, Nora's punching bag and her and Jaune's combined comic collection that had not grown since she left. At the end of her neatly made bed was the gold and red metal of Milo and akouo, her old sword and shield which she'd abandoned not long after her ascension. Everything seemed to have remained where she left it.
It's like a dream. Pyrrha thought both suspicion and despair threatening to take over. Jaune moved her gently through the room as she pondered how it looked as if she'd never left and he set her down on the nearby bed, her bed.
She couldn't look away from her former weapons, so long gone from her possession she'd forgotten what they felt like in her grip. She'd almost forgotten about them completely. It was like a dream, and Pyrrha was frightened that she'd wake up.
So, when jaune moved away from her, her hand shot out and locked on his wrist holding him to her, she couldn't let him leave. Jaune turned back and looked at his wrist held tightly in her grip.
"Pyrrha?" Jaune asked cautiously. "are you ok?"
She held his wrist for a while her own hand shaking as she tried to put into words the deep dread, she was feeling in that moment. The rest of the team were watching her, worried and a bit afraid. They were afraid of her and she knew it.
"I'm afraid you'll all vanish when I close my eyes, even to blink. I'm scared this has been one long dream" Pyrrha confessed her own panic made manifest. It all seemed so nice it had to be a dream. Soon it would end, and cold reality would return.
Nora walked over to her as Pyrrha's one eye was held wide by her own panic. Nora looked down at Pyrrha, reached forward and pinched her exposed shoulder. It stung a bit, Pyrrha hadn't bothered to raise her aura, Nora seemed disappointed that Pyrrha didn't react. Reaching forward again she pinched once more, this time harder. She pinched so hard that soon a little trickle of blood seeped out from between her nails
"Did, uh did you feel that Pyrrha?" Nora asked taking her hand away and wiping the blood on the hem of her skirt. Pyrrha nodded a comatose look on her face.
"Yes… I did" Pyrrha replied dully.
"Well, you can't feel pain in a dream" Nora said in a chipper tone and it did seem to take some of the tension from Jaune and Ren. But Pyrrha still remained tense and afraid.
Looking up at Nora Pyrrha shook her head. "Yes, Nora you can"
Those words remained in the air like a hanged criminal. Pyrrha thought back to the cabin, where she'd recovered and slept with Jaune by her bed side. She was so happy to be free of the voices she hadn't considered if this had simply been a dream. When Jaune had held her and told her that it was all going to be okay and that she was safe now, she felt good and relaxed, but her mind would drift.
She was worried the alarm would go off and Jaune would be gone and the power and the voices would be back, and she'd be trapped in her own head once more. Then Jaune would tell her it was alright, and the worry would hide away again.
Every time Pyrrha went to sleep she'd have the horrid nightmares of being back in her personal hell, then she'd wake up in her heaven and she struggled to tell which was real. She was so sure that she'd wake up halfway through the day and be back there with the corpse voices in her ears making her choke out a friend.
In psychological terms this was referred to as her 'happy place' the false reality she constructed to protect her mind from horror, which might've meant that in true reality she killed Jaune.
"I'm so scared this isn't real Jaune" Pyrrha whimpered holding him tightly. "I don't want to wake up and find you all dead, I just want to rest, please please please don't be a dream. Every time I close my eyes I'm worried you'll go away and I'll be that THING AGAIN!"
"Pyrrha…"Jaune said holding her back and Pyrrha once more hoped this wasn't a "happy place" her mind had been forced to retreat to.
I'm going to be a burden on them. She thought.
When Pyrrha started to shiver from worry and anxiety, she soon felt the bed shift under her and her teammates hold on to her. Soon they all wrapped their arms around her and for a lovely moment the fear vanished, and she felt alright again.
"We're not a dream Pyrrha!" Jaune said.
"I mean things would be way crazier if we were" Nora said trying to comfort Pyrrha in her usual way. On the opposite end of the spectrum Ren simply held her tight and remained silent. It felt nice to be amongst friends, and to be held in reality. They held there for a while until Pyrrha heard the door open.
"Guys we got orders to ship out to the front" the interloper said, Pyrrha didn't look up to see who it was. "We got orders to head out right now!"
"No"Jaune said like a Gavel strike, Pyrrha was impressed by how forceful he was, he sounded like the leader she always knew he was deep down.
"We've got Grimm chomping at our toes dude, you can't just hang back" the voice protested, Jaune said nothing. "come on man!"
The silence was the only answer given and eventually the door slammed shut. The hug broke after a while and Pyrrha felt a bit calmer for it. Ren started grabbing his gear including spare magazines for Storm flower. He was quiet as he prepped.
"I think they do need us out there" Ren said looking at Jaune, he said it like a question even though, as far as Pyrrha could see, it was a fact.
It's because of me. Pyrrha thought, conflicting emotions wreaking havoc on her once more, the fear of being alone and waking from the dream and her shame of being the reason lives were lost. She tried to hide the fear to not give her team a reason not to go.
Always think of others first. She turned her head up and tried to smile, prepared herself to tell Jaune to go and do what's right. But Jaune beat her to the punch
"They'll always need us…" Jaune admitted and Pyrrha despite herself felt her heart sink. "but Pyrrha needs us now"
Pyrrha's eyes went wide and she stood up from the bed and wordlessly wrapped her arms around Jaune. Since the maiden powers had enhanced her growth, she was almost a full head taller than her partner and sort of pulled him into an awkward place. Ren put his weapons down and nodded.
"I mean we've been so busy lately we should get a little break" Nora added.
"I think so" Pyrrha said softly and Nora grinned up at her friend. Jaune hugged Pyrrha back and looked up at her.
"Its good to have you back Pyrrha" He said sincerely "I won't let anything happen to you again."
As naïve as that may have been Pyrrha could only think one thing.
I should have chosen this then.
Taiyang
Taiyang felt oddly at Peace, he'd whupped Ozpin and gotten his answer, as truthful an answer as he could hope for from the wizard and he'd been informed that his daughter was till alright. He was out in the garden again trimming the rose bushes feeling the chill afternoon air against his back as he tended his Zen helper. Gardening calmed his mind and now that his mind was in a position to accept being calm the gardening actually started to help.
He took a sip of the lemonade he'd brewed himself as he looked over his works. He couldn't wait for Ruby to get back so she could tell him all about what she'd been up to the last few weeks. Maybe now that's she'd won he might have Raven drop by.
Nah she said she wouldn't be back for at least a month. Tai thought to himself and the last time Raven had haunted his door, it had been for his help in forging a dust infused weapon for Yang. it felt good to work the bellows of his forge and hold the metal while Raven hammered away, she'd avoided his gaze the entire time though he was certain he caught her staring at him every now and then. It felt good making the weapon and some part of him felt like he was helping his daughter once again.
She'll come back when she's ready. Taiyang had to remind himself, his previous hoping that Yang would show up had often led to his disappointment. Once he moved past the letdown stage and settled himself, he knew that she'd come back on her own time. All he could do was tell her that she'd always have a home here.
A sudden sound reached his ear, a sound he was long familiar with. It was the peculiar rippling sound of Raven's portals. Tai smiled and swirled his drink glass thinking up something particularly witty to say.
"I thought you said you wouldn't be back for at least a month" he said lifting the glass to his lips and refreshing himself, his body ready for a snide remark meant to mask some emotion.
"Dad…" a softer voice said and Taiyang's stomach dropped out.
He recognized that voice well enough and could not forget it. He turned towards the noise and saw four women on the pathway to Summer looking at him all sheepish as heck. Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang. Tai was so shocked the lemonade glass slipped from his grip and shattered on the ground.
Yang
Yang had thought about this moment for a while and if she was being honest with herself she really didn't think she'd ever really be back here in any capacity.
Except maybe to bury dad and burn the house down. She thought to herself remembering her more morbid musings.
It wasn't until recently that she imagined returning with Weiss, Blake and Ruby on her wings. And even when she'd dare to dream up that she still thought it was an impossible dream. And yet here she was living the impossible dream. Yang swallowed trying to beat down her nervousness.
What wasn't helping the situation was her father just staring at her mouth opened with a mix of shock and confusion all over his face. Yang averted her gaze from his and looked down at the ground where his shattered lemonade glass was letting the sugary tart juices filter into the soil.
Man, I'm thirsty. Yang thought wishing she had a cool refreshing glass of that herself. She looked up and saw that the shock had vanished from Taiyang's face and she turned again. This was a mistake.
She expected the next time she looked up she'd see disappointment on his face or worse anger. Tai had always told her she'd be welcome back but it's one thing to constantly be told that over the course of 2 years it's another thing to believe it. When he moved towards them Yang felt her instincts telling her to throw a jab-cross to protect herself.
Whats happening? Yang thought as her father picked up speed rushing towards them. Whats he gonna do? Should I leave? Retreat? Fight? Flight? what do brain?
Her thinking was interrupted as she was pressed against Ruby and lifted into the air. Taiyang had taken his daughters in his arms and held them in a warm hug. It took Yang a second to realize what was happening. Tai spun them and laughed a joyful laugh out loud. As he held her in the air, Yang was a young child again and believed her father was the strongest man in the world.
"I was so worried about you both!" he shouted as he lifted his girls up.
Yang was dumbfounded by the whole affair until she felt Weiss jump into the hug followed reluctantly by Blake, with Weiss pressed against her back this felt like a perfect moment and the spell of surprise on Yang was shattered. She returned her father's hug with gusto and despite herself began to weep.
"I'm so glad you're both safe" Taiyang said and Yang could tell by the warble of his voice that he'd been crying just like her.
I'm sure if I started talking, I'd be blubbering too Yang thought.
Giving them a last great squeeze Taiyang separated from his girls, looking them over. His eyes marveling at how big Yang had grown, how strong she'd become. Fitness had always been stressed in the Xiao long household but her time in the wild had put hardship on her musculature.
"My gods Yang you've grown" He said impressed. It had been a while since Yang felt this sheepish interacting with someone and as she looked her father up and down, she realized something, she had gotten bigger, she was almost the same size as her father.
I really have grown. Yang thought wondering how it was she hadn't really noticed her size increase until this moment. In more ways than one.
Tai smiled until his gaze fell on Ruby. It was swiftly replaced with his usual fatherly worry as he saw the eye patch over his youngest daughter's eye. Ruby put on a brave face for her dad trying to act like the loss wasn't really bothering her.
If I can see through that ruse, then so can dad. Yang thought to herself.
"Ruby what happened?" Tai asked lowering himself a bit and brushing Ruby's hair away from her eye patch. Ruby pushed his hand away like a little kid who didn't want to be doted on. "Is it a temporary thing?
"I lost the eye dad" Ruby answered.
"God" Taiyang responded holding her close. "How did it happen sweetie?"
Ruby was quiet for a moment before choosing to answer.
"It was near the end of the mountain Glenn mission" Ruby answered. "Things were getting really crazy near the end there, Yang saved my life then a Grimm I hadn't expected took the eye… guess I shoulda been more careful"
Tai's brow furrowed as Ruby explained but he remained silent.
The lie didn't sit well with Yang and she could see it on Ruby's face. The sour feeling inside her made the fact that Ruby was willing to lie to protect her feel moot.
This is wrong.
"It was me,Dad" Yang admitted getting a confused look from Ruby and her teammates. "I did it, I had something influencing me and I lost control. Ruby's covering for me."
I won't have more lies in this family Yang mused as she took a deep breath and steeled herself for the retribution her father was no doubt going to send her way. Whatever he's about to say I deserve it and more.
Tai looked a bit despondent as he looked between Yang and Ruby. "I figured" he said matter of fact like.
"What?" both sisters said in unison. Tai shrugged.
"Ruby's a poor liar" he gestured to his youngest. "The only reason she'd lie to me is to protect someone she cared about; she gave you away when she said you saved her life beforehand. Is that true did you save her."
"…yes" Yang admitted feeling like she was using that fact to cover her crime. "It was the fall maiden"
Tai had that concerned look on his face. He looked up into the sky his lips moving slightly before sighing loudly and resting his hands on his hips.
"Raven told me about those masks, said they act up sometimes." He added. "I didn't agree with you getting one but you've been avoiding contact with me for a long while now."
"I didn't want…" Yang trailed off.
"it was your decision to make right?" Yang nodded in affirmation. "No one made you."
"I chose it" she answered.
"Just like you mother" Tai said his face grave, clearly a bit disturbed by the whole situation. "Thank you for being honest about the eye."
Ruby stepped between Yang and her father raising her hand in a placating manner.
"Dad," Ruby began. "Things are… okay between me and Yang. I know she didn't mean to do what she did, in fact she kind of lost it because she was worried about me. It was her last resort weapon, she figured it was that or I'd die... I don't think she switched to Grimm mode lightly."
Taiyang just folded his arms as he listened to Ruby defend her older sister. No mockery on his face but an honest listening look.
"Plus, she got me on the fast track towards getting a new mechanical eye, so we're… ok" Ruby awkwardly finished scratching the back of her head. "So… don't be mad at her right now ok… we just got her home."
Yang felt touched deep in her chest, reaching her hand out she gave Ruby's hair a ruffle as well as a pat on the head.
"Thanks Ruby!" She said, knowing how separated they had become in the last few years, few days really and glad to see her sister still had her back. "I won't let it happen again"
"No, you won't!" Taiyang said with finality. Yang looked at him and as he rested his hands on his shoulders. "not the least because if you do that, I'll kick you clear out of this house."
"That and Penny has permission to kill me"
"WHAT?" Weiss shouted shocked to just now be hearing this. Yang pointed to her.
"Weiss no seeking revenge" Yang ordered, a mistake in retrospect.
"Yang Xiao Long you don't get to give me orders." Weiss retorted pointing Myrtnaster towards Yang's face.
"Call it my dying wish" Yang said raising her hands in placation "Unless its anyone besides Penny, in which case I encourage you to seek as much vengeance as possible to get over my death."
"Lord this is depressing." Blake commented dryly, Yang was happy to see that sly smirk on her former partner's face.
"And beside the point I'd say" Tai continued. "It won't happen again because I'm going to help you deal with somethings you've been struggling with for a while Yang."
"Dad I think mom might be better suited for teaching me how to deal with the mask" Yang retorted a bit jokingly. "I mean unless you've been hiding the fact you've had one this whole time."
"No Grimm mask for me, but to be frank Yang, your mother never had the rage problems you do" Tai countered. Yang opened her mouth to respond before deciding to close it and avoid that losing argument. "But I do, and I've learned to deal with them. I'm sure you've noticed I'm something of a Zen master myself and I can help you reach the same state of self-control. If you want my help that is."
"Of course, dad" Yang said wiping a tear from her eye, all the years she'd been forced to rely on herself forced to be the parent, she was glad for Tai's offer. "I'd love your help"
Be a good Father daughter bonding experience. Yang thought. Been really lacking in those these past few years… you know what maybe I should punch Ozpin in the face.
"But that's shop talk, it'll be nice to have my girls all under one roof again" Taiyang said before turning around and walking back towards the house. Ruby and Blake trailed behind him as dusk started to fall, Ruby grinned and gave Yang a thumbs up as she practically skipped.
Yang just waited a bit basking in the weight relieved from her shoulders. It felt good that Ruby had her back, that her dad didn't reject her and most importantly, it was good to be home. Their small house on patch wasn't the biggest or the most glamourous but it was her home.
The soft tugging at her fingertips woke her from her thoughts. Looking down she saw Weiss was pulling her along holding her fingertip to fingertip. Weiss' gentle nudging was adorable, and Yang couldn't wait to tell more people about her and the Atlessian.
Maybe I should use the CCT again. She mused to herself, it would be worth it if she could get a picture of Jacque Schnee's face when he heard his daughter was dating one of Remnant's most wanted Criminals.
The image of a bristling mustache was enough to make Yang laugh aloud.
"What's so funny?" Weiss asked interested.
"Just thinking about how my dad will react to hearing about us, versus how YOUR dad will react."
"I think he might burst a blood vessel" Weiss laughed along with her. "I... I think Winter already knows, not sure how mother will react... but I can hope for the best"
"I think Ruby knew before I did" Yang admitted. It truly amazed Yang sometimes how entuned Ruby was with other people.
Yang laughed Weiss being there seemed like a dream, she looked at her old house and thought of how often this place seemed like an impossible goal to her. There was an old saying: you can't go home again. Yang wasn't so sure about that as Weiss entered into the house ahead of Yang and the warm light spilled out, she felt like she was home again.
A noise hit her ear and she looked upward to see a bird perched on the edge of the house. The black feathers of the raven were unmistakable to Yang. She smiled up at the bird knowing who it was.
Reaching forward Yang closed the door and took a step back from it. Resting her hands on her hips she looked up at her mother.
"Hey mom!" Yang said just as the door clicked closed behind Weiss and the sun fully set. She looked down for an instant to see that the door had been fully shut.
Looking up she saw what she expected to see, Raven Branwen her mother lounging on the edge of the house looking down at Yang with an almost lazy look. Raven certainly was a thing of constants and her posture here was a great example of it.
"You've made a deal with the devil, daughter-mine" Raven said coolly looking down at Yang, referring to the deal with Ozpin no doubt.
"It's just another contract" Yang replied, feeling at ease about the whole thing. She knew that Raven would disapprove, and she'd been willing to accept that and adapt.
Ironically just like mom taught me,
"Very well" Raven replied giving Yang an almost disinterested shrug about the whole affair. "I suppose it's not the most distasteful mission I've accepted."
That gave Yang pause, she flexed her hand and looked up at her mother with a mixture of shock and suspicion. Raven had always seemed to be a bit of a stone wall, which almost frustrated Yang. Turning her head downward towards her daughter she simply shrugged.
"I'm with you Daughter-mine" Raven said giving Yang a small smile. "You'll live longer with me in your corner."
Yang nodded in agreement still a little shocked by it all.
"Thanks mom..." she replied still a bit dumbfounded. Raven gave her a nod before standing up on the roof and with a quick slash of Yureru tore a hole in reality.
"Call me when you wish to return home" Raven said softly, knowing that Yang would return to her eventually.
"I am home" Yang replied getting a sad look from Raven, but she hid it with a smile and started to walk towards the portal when a thought reached Yang's mind. "and so are you mom"
Raven almost stumbled in her next step and her eyes returned to her daughter standing outside her father's house.
Better to press the advantage while my opponent is on the back foot. Yang thought smiling internally. That's what you always taught me mom.
"I know you miss him too," Yang offered pointing towards the door. "Ozpin's off my back, Ironwood will be down for a while. So, come down and for a night at least let's be a family. Me, Ruby, Dad and You!"
Raven stood frozen there for what seemed like an age when the portal vanished and she hopped down from the house to stand next to her daughter. The weapon was sheathed, and Yang could see nervousness on Raven's face. Still, she smiled to see it.
"So any dating advice?" Yang laughed trying to break her mother's nervousness and lighten the mood.
"Ask your father" Raven replied stepping through the door into the warm cabin. "he somehow managed to sweep the 2 greatest huntresses off their feet."
Yang laughed at that and flung the door wide stepping in with a boisterous yell. Tomorrow she would have to fight Grimm, the day after that she'd be on Salem's radar, after that would be years of intense struggle and pain without any relief. But tonight she had her family with her, her partner's trust and Weiss' love.
And that will be enough for all the years after. Yang thought as the door shut behind her.
Author's Notes
I meant to submit this last week. I am sorry for the lateness, I think this will be the last chapter for Rogue for now, I might write stories in the AU going forth in the future. I just wanna say, thank you all for your time and your support it really helped me out. I love the character Yang and I'm glad you all like this depiction of her. As always leave a review and thank you thank you THANK YOU!
