Chapter 67

"Weiss!" Ruby called, running to catch up with the heiress, Marlene held in her arms. "What's the big deal?! Who is it? Who is she?!" Weiss stopped running, smiling as she saw a white-haired woman stepping out of an Atlesian airship escorted by some soldiers and Knights.

"Winter," she said happily.

"Wait, your sister?" Ruby asked, before Weiss kept moving.

"Winter!" Weiss shouted, running up to her older sister. She looked professional as ever, wearing a white military uniform with her hair pulled into a bun. She saw her sister was still dyeing her hair white, the black eyebrows being a dead giveaway. "Winter! I'm so happy to see you! Oh!" she remembered that Winter was still on the job, and expected Weiss to be professional in public. Weiss quickly corrected herself with a curtsy. "Your presence honors us."

"Beacon…" Winter said as she took a scrutinizing look around. "It's been a long time. The air feels… different."

"I mean it's fall, so, eh, it's probably colder," Ruby said, putting Marlene down and holding onto the girl's hand. Weis promptly punched Ruby in the shoulder, making her leader gasp.

"So, what are you doing here?" Weiss asked.

"Classified," Winter responded.

"Oh, right. Well, how long are you staying?"

"Classified."

"Of course," Weiss said with a nod.

"Well… this is nice… I think," Ruby said apprehensively.

"I don't get it," Marlene said. "Big Sis Weiss, what's she saying?" Winter raised an eyebrow at the girl, especially when she called Weiss "Big Sis".

"This is Marlene," Weiss explained. "Our team rescued her during a mission, so we've been taking care of her until Professor Ozpin can find someone to take her in."

"Really?" Winter asked with a small smile. One that Weiss could tell was full of pride, even if it wasn't outwardly obvious. "Well, I must admit, I'm impressed."

YES!

"It almost makes up for your failure in battle," Winter finished. Weiss's sense of accomplishment instantly faded.

"But, we won!" she protested.

"Only a novice would refer to that as a victory," Winter countered. "I counted as least three strikes missed."

"Aren't you being a little harsh?" Ruby asked, making Weiss freeze in place.

"Excuse me?" Winter asked, narrowing her eyes.

"You're Weiss's older sister, aren't you?" Ruby asked, returning Winter's glare. "She was excited to see you. I know she values your opinion, and she's been trying harder than any of us to improve, so I don't get why you want to tear her down like that."

"And who might you be?" Winter asked.

"Ruby Rose. I'm her team leader."

"Ah, so you're the leader Weiss wrote about. How appropriately… underwhelming."

Now Weiss felt really bad about describing Ruby as "a person".

"It's gonna take more than an insult to make me back down," Ruby said, squaring up with Winter.

"While I appreciate you caring enough about my sister to defend her, stay out of this, Miss Rose," Winter said. "This is between family members."

"Well, I'd hate to be in your family, then," Ruby said.

"Ruby, it's fine," Weiss said, stepping between her sister and her leader. "This is just how Winter is. It's fine, I promise." Ruby stared down Winter for a few more seconds before scooping up Marlene.

"…Whatever," she said. "I'll catch up later. I'm gonna take Marlene to get some candy."

"I am so sorry about her!" Weiss said once Ruby was gone.

"She's certainly bold," Winter commented. "Anyway, I have business with the General and your Headmaster. But, seeing as I'm early, why don't you take me to your quarters?"

"Really?" Weiss asked.

"Yes. I wish to inspect them and make sure that they are up to my personal standards."

"Of course," Weiss said. "I'll also introduce you to my partner, Blake. Oh, and just so you're aware, the bunk beds only look unstable."

"Bunk beds?" Winter asked.

Weiss was walking with her sister, escorted by several Atlesian Knights, when someone shouted at them.

"Hey!" a man's voice yelled, and the Schnee sisters turned around and saw a man with black hair, wearing a red cape with a sword strapped behind his waist. Something about him looked familiar. He tossed the decapitated head of one of the Knights towards them. "Yeah, I'm talking to you, Ice Queen!"

"Halt!" Winter ordered, as the Knights raised their weapons.

"Excuse me!" Weiss yelled, walking up to the weird man and pointing her finger at his face. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?!"

"Not you," the man said, placing a hand on Weiss's face and shoving her aside. "You," he said, glaring at Winter. "Saw that gaudy ship of yours in town. Figured you'd be around here somewhere. Looks like I was right."

"You realize you just destroyed Atlas Military property," Winter said.

"Not like it was doing anyone any good," the man commented.

"I don't have time for your immature games, Qrow," Winter snapped.

"Wait, Qrow?" Weiss asked. Now she realized why he looked so familiar. This man was Ruby and Yang's uncle? Professor Branwen was married to someone this uncouth and obnoxious?!

"You Specialists think you're better than everyone else, don't you?" Qrow asked. "You get a fancy title, and all you have to do is sell your soul to the tin man. Nevermind the small towns and villages that are deprived of Huntsman support. Oh, no, Ironwood needs his little battalion of loyal puppets."

"I've heard enough," Winter said.

"Oh I heard, too. I heard ol' Ironwood finally turned his back on Ozpin."

"Ozpin?" Weiss asked. What did he have to do with anything?

"Weiss, it's time for you to go," Winter said.

"What—" Weiss tried to say.

"Listen to your big sister, Weiss," Qrow said. "She'll protect you. Just like Atlas is going to protect us all, huh?"

"If you won't hold your tongue, then I will gladly remove it for you!" Winter yelled, drawing her sabre from her side.

"Alright then," Qrow said, relaxing into a combat stance. "I'd love to see you try."

Winter summoned a glyph underneath her feet, using them to launch herself at Qrow. She thrust her weapon several times at his head, but to Weiss's astonishment, he just bobbed his head left and right to dodge them, making faces at her every time he did. With a mocking expression on his face, he bowed to her. She swung her sword downwards at him, and he used his position to bring the base of his sword up to block the attack. He raised his sword, bringing it down in a double-handed swing, forcing Winter to backflip away from him.

"What's going on?!" Ruby asked, still carrying Marlene. A crowd had formed around the two combatants.

"Your uncle just showed up and attacked my sister!" Weiss yelled. Ruby gasped happily.

"Kick her butt, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby shouted.

"Uh… Teach him respect, Winter!" Weiss cheered for her own family.

While Weiss and Ruby were off doing whatever it was they were doing, Yang had gone to check on Mom, and Blake had decided to come with her.

"Mom?" Yang asked as she knocked on the door. "Are you up? Just here to check on you." She knocked again when no one answered. "Mom?" She opened the door and peeked inside, surprised to see no one was there. "She's not here."

"You think she stepped outside for some air?" Blake wondered. Yang frowned as she closed the door.

"Maybe… I'm still nervous."

"You really are worried for her, aren't you?"

"Of course I am," Yang said with a sigh. "Kingdome Hearts worked her over really good and that wasn't even the real thing. It was just some pile of hearts that we helped make from the mess with Merlot. Mom almost ended a puppet and she barely made it out of there. With the way that thing messed with her I can't believe people died wanting to get their hands on the real thing."

Blake was silent as she followed after Yang, watching as she pulled out her scroll.

Ruby's scroll rang while she was watching the fight between Uncle Qrow and Winter.

"Yang!" she said into the device. "You'll never guess who showed up! Uncle Qrow!"

"Sweet!" Yang said. "Is Mom there?"

"Mom?" Ruby asked. "No, why?"

"She's not in her room," Yang answered. "No one's seen her on campus."

"What?!" Ruby exclaimed.

Just as Uncle Qrow stood there with a smirk, daring Winter to attack, the elder Schnee shot forward, ready to stab him when…

"SCHNEE!"

"QROW BRANWEN!"

Both Uncle Qrow and Winter froze with stunned and fearful looks on their faces. Ruby gaped as the crowd parted, revealing General Ironwood on one side with an unamused look on his face, Penny standing next to him.

On the other side of the crowd was Mom, soaking wet for some reason, an intense look on her face.

While General Ironwood stepped forward Winter quickly stood at attention.

"General Ironwood, sir!" she said.

"What in the world are you doing?" the general asked.

"He started the altercation, sir!" Winter quickly said.

"Actually, that's not true," Uncle Qrow said with a cheeky smile. "She attacked first."

"Really?"

Uncle Qrow stiffened as Mom stepped forward, a pleasant smile on her face as the Aura around her seemed to intensify and everyone thought they could see an angel of death appear behind her.

"Now why do I have a feeling you provoked her?" Mom asked, looking at the destroyed robot. "I wouldn't want to be seen accusing my husband of being a liar, but I recall us having a chat about recklessly starting fights with people you don't like."

Uh oh… Ruby thought to herself, hiding behind Weiss while holding Marlene close. "Mom is ticked.

That was THE look.

The look that terrified her, Yang, and Uncle Qrow to this day.

The look that promised a great deal of pain and suffering for causing mischief and she didn't even need the Keyblade for it.

Mom was a literal hurricane when she was pissed.

"Wait, did she just say 'husband'?" Winter asked.

"Aqua Branwen, at your service," Mom introduced herself, still leveling the look of death at Uncle Qrow.

"Winter Schnee," Winter said to Mom, giving her a look of pity. "…You poor woman."

"Aw, what's wrong, Ice Queen?" Uncle Qrow asked. "Jeal—ACK!" Mom interrupted him by grabbing his ear and yanking hard.

"Unbelievable," she said.

"Now, now, everyone," Professor Ozpin said, walking up to the crowd with Professor Goodwitch. "There is a sanctioned fight happening just around the corner at the Colosseum, that I can assure you has better seats… and popcorn."

"Break it up, everyone!" Professor Goodwitch ordered. "We will take care of this mess."

"Let's go," General Ironwood said to Winter, the two of them turning to leave. Penny quickly Waved to Ruby, which she returned. Mom dragged Uncle Qrow away by the ear before Professor Ozpin stopped her.

"Actually, Aqua, I need to speak with Qrow for a moment."

"Fine," she said, letting him go. "I need to get changed anyway." Uncle Qrow took off towards the staff members while Mom marched off towards her apartment.

"And suddenly, your recklessness makes sense," Weiss said. "You clearly didn't get it from the professor."

"You're just mad because he whooped butt," Ruby retorted.

"That was a draw at best!"

"Uh, Ruby?" Yang asked from the scroll call that Ruby had completely forgotten about. "What's going on?"

"Oh, I found Mom!" she said. "…Don't go near her. She's mad."

Qrow stepped out of the elevator with Oz and Glynda, coming out into Oz's office. Jimmy and Ice Queen were already up there, and were clearly still angry at him.

He smirked.

"What were you thinking?!" Winter demanded.

"If you were one of my men, I would have you shot!" Jimmy said.

"If I were one of your men, I'd shoot myself," Qrow responded, pulling out his flask.

"While I wouldn't condone his behavior, retaliating like you did certainly didn't help the situation," Glynda reprimanded winter.

"He was drunk!" Winter said in her own defense.

"Hey, I'll have you know, I haven't had a drink in seven years, thank you very much!" Qrow said, taking a sip of fruit punch from his flask. The others in the room looked at him incredulously. "What?"

"No drinking, huh?" Winter asked.

"You can put stuff besides whiskey in a flask, you know," Qrow said. "It's got fruit punch in it."

He had stopped drinking after Tai had another relapse, realizing that he was sending the girls mixed messages by telling Tai to quit, but continuing to drink himself. So, he dumped out all his alcohol, but Aqua had convinced him to hold on to the flask, as a reminder of the commitment he had made for them.

"Well, if you weren't drunk, then what's your excuse for your behavior?" Winter asked.

"I just don't like you," Qrow responded. "Besides, what does it say about Jimmy's training if his own personal lapdog can't take a few taunts without drawing her weapon?" Winter grit her teeth and reached for her sabre again, only for Jimmy to reach out a hand to stop her. "Yeah, like that. And in case you couldn't tell, yes I'm calling you a bitch."

"Enough!" Oz yelled. "Qrow, why are here?"

"You've been out of contact for weeks!" Jimmy kept yelling. "You can't just go dark like that in the field!"

"I'm not one of your special operatives, Jimmy."

"General," Winter ground out.

"Was I talking to you?" Qrow spat. "You sent me to get intel on our enemy, and I'm telling you, our enemy is here."

"We know," Jimmy said.

"Oh! You know!" Qrow said. "Then why the hell am I risking my life trying to keep you all informed?!"

"Qrow—" Jimmy tried to say.

"Communication's a two-way street, pal," Qrow said, pulling out his scroll and pointing at the screen. "You see this? That's the 'Send' button. Use it sometimes."

"They had reason to assume you'd been compromised," Winter said.

"And I have reason to assume you don't need to be here," Qrow retorted. "Seriously, who invited her?"

"…Schnee, we'll discuss this incident back at my ship," he said without looking at her.

Ouch. That must have stung. Daddy's disappointed.

"But sir!" Winter tried to protest.

"Winter. Leave."

"Yes, sir," she said, saluting him. She shock Qrow a dirty look, which he responded to by sticking his tongue out, and she marched into the elevator.

"Go on," Jimmy said to Qrow.

"Your little infiltrator isn't just another pawn. They're the one responsible for Autumn's condition."

"What?" Glynda asked.

"We're supposed to operate in the shadows, meet behind closed doors," Qrow said, getting in Ironwood's face. "So you tell me, James, when you brought your army to Vale, did you think you were being discreet, or did you just not give a damn?!" Jimmy stared him down for a few seconds.

"Discreet wasn't working," he finally said, putting his scroll on Oz's desk. It projected a hologram of Vale, Beacon, Amity, and the Atlas fleet. "I'm here because this is what was necessary."

"You're here because for some reason, Ozpin wanted you here!" Qrow snapped. "He made you a part of this inner circle and opened your eyes to the real fight that's right in front of us!"

"And I am grateful."

"Bullshit."

"The people of Vale needed someone to protect them, some who would act. When they look to the sky and see my fleet, they feel safe, and our enemies will feel our strength." To everyone's surprise, Qrow responded by laughing.

"You… You think they're scared of your little ships? You've been out of the fight too long, Jimmy. I've seen the things she's made, and let me tell you—They are fear."

"And fear will bring the Grimm," Oz said, finally rejoining the conversation. A guardian is a symbol of comfort. But an army is a symbol of conflict. There's an energy in the air now, a question on everyone's minds: 'if this is the size of our defense, then what is it we're expecting to fight?'" Jimmy sighed, then picked his scroll back up.

"So then, what do you suggest we do?" he asked.

"I suggest we find our guardian."

"And you're sure it was him?" Cinder asked carefully, as Mercury was reporting on apparently seeing Qrow at the airship docks earlier. She was sitting on her bed, with her Tea Leaf next to her. Mercury was standing in the center of the room. Neo was off doing who-knows-what, as she was no longer needed.

"It was definitely him," Mercury said. Cinder wasn't quite sure what to make of this new information. On one hand, she was excited to see him again, but on the other hand, he just so happened to be the one that got in their way, and there was a possibility that he could recognize them and ruin everything.

"What do we do?" Emerald asked.

"…Nothing," Cinder finally said. "We stay the course. We've done nothing to arouse suspicion, so we have no reason to worry. Besides, the last of the heavy lifting is being taken care of thanks to our… associate." Her scroll happened to flash, and she picked it up, displaying a black Queen chess piece. "Speaking of which… it appears we have a new access point." It displayed Ironwood's icon.

"Anywhere good?" Emerald asked.

"You could say that," Cinder responded. "I'll prepare everything for tomorrow." Emerald and Mercury responded in the affirmative. "Let's give the crowd a good fight," she said, opening up a program that displayed the roster for the doubles round. She scrolled down until she selected Emerald and Mercury to fight Coco Adel and Yatsuhashi Daichi. "In the meantime," she said standing up and walking to the closet, pulling out two dresses. Both were scandalously short, one was red, and the other was black. She showed them off to Emerald. "Which do you think? Red or black?"

"Definitely red," Emerald responded. "I know it's your favorite, but it just works so well."

"It does, doesn't it?" Cinder said.

"Yeah, I'll just see myself out," Mercury said.

Qrow exited the elevator, stepping out into the lobby, only to be met with a sight that ordinarily, would have had him over the moon.

His wife, Aqua, was standing in the middle of the lobby, wearing a light blue blouse and a tight black pencil skirt.

Her arms were crossed under her bust, and her eyes were narrowed.

"Uh, hey, honey," he said nervously, walking towards her. "Gotta say, the teacher look is working for you."

"Qrow," she said simply, walking towards him. He gulped nervously.

Then her face broke out into a huge smile and she threw her arms around him, pulling him into a deep kiss. After several seconds, they finally came up for air, and just held each other close.

"I missed you so much," she said quietly.

"I missed you, too."

"Welcome home, Qrow."

AN: So, with Qrow having quit drinking, and thus being able to think more clearly, I decided to have his comments be a bit more biting and insulting. We also finally get the reunion. I actually was originally planning on Aqua and Qrow not seeing each other until after Qrow's conversation with the rest of the Ozluminati, to make it a little more emotional, but too many people wanted her to get mad at him for fighting Winter, so I decided to do it.

Speaking of the fight with Winter, I always thought it was entirely unnecessary. Honestly, it even feels a little out of character for Winter, since she never loses her cool that badly after that moment. Especially since she was apparently actually trying to kill him.

I also realized just how important Ironwood's comments about Vale needing someone who would act is to his character. There are people who don't see how Ironwood's arc from Volume 7 and 8 happened, but it was kind of obvious if you're paying attention. This shows how convinced he is that he's right, that he's willing to deprive Vale of its long-term defender just to be able to do what he wants in the moment. What exactly does he expect would happen after he went back to Atlas if nothing happened during the Festival? Ozpin would likely be fired because of Ironwood's reports, and then the rest of the inner circle would likely stop working with him, since they know he'd be perfectly willing to throw them under the bus if he thinks they're in the way.

As always, thank you very much for reading, and I'll see you all next time!