Chapter 40
When the next day came the city of Mistral was in a state of panic. The sudden attack and subsequent destruction of the Haven CCT was enough to cause trouble at all levels of the mountain city. Communication was vital, and losing it so suddenly was devastating. The government tried their best to keep things calm, but when it was followed by news of Leonardo Lionheart resigning from his position as Headmaster to return to the field the outcry got worse.
Qrow heard it all as he walked the streets. People cried out, wondering how bad it must be if the Headmaster thought it best to return to active duty. It shouldn't take long for them to get the backups online. A few more days. Hopefully, they can fix all this before the Grimm come.
He sighed as he pulled out the note and placed it in the post box. A letter to Ironwood detailing what happened. It might get there before them. It might be the only one to get there. Especially with his Semblance in play. On his way back through the crowds, he continued to hear the people angry, many directing their hate towards the Faunus.
That's what happens when terrorists help destroy something so important. Especially when we can't disclose why the other people were there. Having to pin this on the White Fang is annoying, but it wasn't really our choice. The Council wanted a scapegoat and the White Fang are at fault. That didn't make it better of course but what could he do? Stay here and beat it into people that the Faunus are people too?
No. He needed to stay with the kids. He couldn't leave them alone. Or with Tai. Same thing really. Qrow smiled at his own joke, though it quickly faded. At least Tai is here, trying. Ruby had told him what Raven's choice had been. She'd abandoned them all, again. It pissed him off even more than the first time. At least back then she hadn't aided our enemy.
At least as far as he knew.
Soon enough he made it back into the train station. It was both busy and quiet. Busy for only having one train running, but quieter than usual. Thankfully people kept out of his way as he walked back to the gang. Only to find half of them missing. "Alright, where'd they go?" He asked the three that remained.
"Oh! Hey Qrow." Oscar responded, not seeing him approach.
"Jaune went off to talk with Sun because Ruby wasn't here." Ren answered.
"And she isn't here because?"
"Oh, I know this one!" Nora exclaimed. "Some dude walked up and said some short woman had information for her! So Ruby and Pyrrha followed him."
"A short woman?" Qrow facepalmed. "Okay. And Tai?"
"I went to check up on the train's defences." The man in question answered as he walked past Qrow with Zwei following after. "They're… okay. Turrets and armour plating. However, the pair of Huntsmen on board are… well they managed to graduate."
"That bad huh?" Qrow winced.
"Huh?" Oscar gave them a confused look. "They graduated right? So they must be pretty good!"
"Not quite," Tai replied. "The level to graduate isn't really that high. The academies are more strict over getting in compared to passing."
"Think of it like this. The school already put four years of work into you. As long as you can kill Grimm then you have a use. It'd be a waste of years of work to fail them if they can do the bare minimum of the job they were trained for." Qrow added.
Tai nodded. "Exactly. They strike me as having barely managed to pass. Compared to any one of us and they're worse. Even those of us that haven't been training as long are better. You're all talented kids."
Like Jaune and Oscar. Qrow didn't say that though. While they were the weaker members of the group, they were far from weak. Jaune had some damn good talent, especially with how much he'd grown in only a year when he started from practically nothing. Sure he had Pyrrha training him, but not everyone is a good teacher even if they themselves are good. Oscar, of course, had Ozpin and the growing amount of memories from the older man, so of course, he was growing quickly in only a month.
"Right. Okay." Oscar nodded along.
"Hope those others don't take too long. Train'll be leaving soon." Qrow mumbled.
"You wanted to talk?" Jaune asked, leaning on the railing. Sun nodded and leant on it as well.
"Yeah, I did. I was talking to the boys and well I think we'll be heading out too."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. We could stay here and work hard like Lionheart. But… CFVY is in Vacuo right now and they don't know exactly what's coming. We don't know where Salem is going to strike next. She could follow you to Atlas or she could hit Vacuo first. So I thought we'd go and get them up to speed and work to prepare Vacuo. So then, whatever happens, we'll be ready."
"I hear you," Jaune said. "It'd be great to have you with us, but you're probably right. Coco and the others need to know. Oh and make sure to tell Headmaster Theodore too. I doubt they've convinced two Headmasters to change sides."
"If he has we'll find out!" Sun said with a smile and a wink. Jaune chuckled.
"I trust you guys. Whatever happens to us in Atlas I know that you guys can keep Vacuo safe." Jaune said, holding out a hand.
Sun grasped his wrist. "And we know you'll be fine up there!" They gave a hefty shake. "Now I better be off. We're organising a big trip! Several of the other Haven teams want to come with us rather than wait around for Haven to be rebuilt."
"Good luck, Sun."
"You too, Jaune!"
"So? What's the information?" Ruby asked, folding her arms. Pyrrha was nearby, just in case.
The man, likely in his mid-twenties, sighed. "The boss said you'd pay well. It's to do with one of your targets."
Ruby pulled out a small stack of Lien. "Go on." His eyes never left the stack.
"Cinder Fall came by. She asked for information on you. She paid well. She knows where you're going."
She handed him the stack and he ran off with a grin. Ruby growled and turned back. "She's still alive."
Pyrrha came up and laid a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "We thought she was. We'll be on the lookout now that we know for sure."
"Damn it! Why does she get to keep coming back!" Ruby stomped off back towards the team. The weight of the Relic was an ever-present feeling on her hip now. A constant reminder that an object existed that could answer any question, and yet it had no power left.
At least this time I can kill her myself!
"Here you go, ma'am." Her messenger said, placing the small stack of Lien down on the table.
"Very good. I take it she likes the information?" Lil' Miss Malachite asked.
"In a manner of speaking. She didn't seem angry that we talked about her plans."
"Good." She split some from the stack and handed it back. The man smiled and took it with a thank you, before running off when she waved a hand.
"Was that wise, ma'am? To tell that woman?" One of her aides asked.
Malachite smiled. "My dear we deal in information. If the girl hadn't wanted it known she should have paid for the secrecy. Now then is that team I asked for ready?" She asked her other aide.
"Yes ma'am. They'll find your daughter's and check on how they're doing, as you asked."
"Good good. Let's see if this 'Junior' fellow has treated them right."
The Argus Limited was pretty packed when they left. A lot of people wanted out of Mistral and where was safer than Argus? Of course, people were worried about the Atlas presence after Beacon, but it was still one of the safest towns on the continent.
Hopefully, they can get us passage. Ruby thought, sitting her bag in the cupboard of her room. She shared it with Nora and Pyrrha, who were currently doing the same as her with the other cupboard. The boys were all sharing a room across the way while her father and uncle shared another just down the way. Thanks to Lionheart we don't have to share with random passengers. The only good thing he's done in a while.
Ruby sighed and followed the others down to the nearest carriage. It was going to be a couple of days on the track, so they may as well settle in. They couldn't exactly go and train somewhere. Ruby took a window seat and leaned back. Zwei jumped up next to her and sat down. She smiled and rubbed his head.
It wouldn't be long now. Soon they'd arrive at Argus and from there Atlas. Once we can unite with Ironwood we can protect the Relic. And once the Relic is safe I can train harder than ever. I need to be able to take on Cinder, Emerald, Mercury, Tyrian and Hazel. Not to mention find this Watts person or readying for Salem. I've got a lot ahead of me. I can't wait.
A/N: Onwards towards Volume 6! A shorter chapter with some more aftermath. Ruby's willingness to work with criminals lets them know that Cinder is in fact alive, even if they suspected as much confirmation is great. Especially adding that they know that Cinder knows where they're going. This can only go well. Oh, and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are trash Huntsmen. The directors themselves basically called out that we've seen the best, the top of the class in the main cast so they threw in a pair of the worst Huntsmen possible. Good times. For a side note: My other running fic, Adam The Redeemer, is a year old today! Huzzuh! It feels weird, to be honest, but I'm pretty happy about keeping it up.
I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!