Chapter sixty-eight

Shopping, and Reminiscing

Journal entry #234

"It's shopping time! Shopping is always an interesting experience for me, just seeing the different styles that each of the kingdoms has is always so much fun! With the end of the semester rapidly approaching, Raven and I have just been remembering how far she's come in the past few years. She went from an antisocial loner who only cared about herself to someone who at least somewhat cares about others."

Theodore reappeared in the offices that he shared with Ebony, just down the hallway from Sunstone's own office and her bedroom. He shifted Sunstone, so he was carrying her with one hand. It wasn't exactly proper to have the Headmistress thrown over his shoulder, but he only had two hands and doors to both open and close. "C'mon whelp, let's get you into bed." He softly whispered to her as he walked out of the office and firmly closed the door.

Of the triumvirate that ran Vacuo, he was the only present and conscious one at Shade Academy. As Ebony had challenged General Ironwood to a shooting contest on one of his gaudy ships.

He quickly made his way to Sunstone's room and opened the door. His senses, honed from a lifetime in the desert, went on high alert as he turned his eyes to the corner of the room closest to the bed. His callused hand went to the pouch on his back, pulling out two throwing knives as he did. It only took a split second for him to aim, which is when he felt the Aura of the person and adjusted the blade's trajectories.

"Woah, Woah, same team!" An all too familiar voice called out as the knives buried themselves in the wall on either side of the figure's head rather than lobotomizing them through the eye.

The former Headmaster glared as he walked over to the bed and set his successor's unconscious form upon it gently. "By the Brothers! Haven't you ever heard of giving a heads up? If I hadn't realized it was you at the last second, I would've killed you. That wouldn't have ended well for me."

"I forgot, okay? Haven't been sleeping well. Besides… wait, you knew it was me, and you still nearly skewered me? You're a jerk." The voice pouted.

"I'm not the one who decided to reappear after being missing for two years and then sneaking into Sunstone's bedroom like an assassin. No one has heard hide nor hair from you. She was beginning to think you were dead, truth be told so was I." Theodore rolled his eyes and sat down on the edge of the bed.

A few leather-bound journals landed softly at his feet, all the same except one small black one. "I've been retracing some old steps. They all led back here… to those and what's within them. I suppose it makes sense… this is where everything happened."

A hoarse, defeated laugh came from the corner of the room before the visitor continued. "Of course, of course, it did. Everything leads back to that night. The past couldn't just stay buried…"

"What will you do now?" Theodore asked as he bent over and picked up the journals, putting them on the bed as he sat straight again.

"Stay hidden for now, at least until I have a reason not to be." The figure's voice dropped to a more sympathetic whisper. "Let me guess, she worked herself into unconsciousness again?"

"Yeah, she was sparring with Team RWBY. Do you want me-"

"No! Don't tell them I'm here! I don't know if I'll be able to see them without telling them… they can't know what's in those journals… for their sakes. Please, Theodore, I'm begging you."

Theodore slowly and reluctantly nodded, "Very well, old friend… I'm only doing this because I feel bad for nearly killing you."

"I'm sure you have things to do, go. I'll look after her."

The next two days were pretty quiet for Team RWBY. Classes weren't due to begin until a few days after the Vytal Festival Tournament and with Headmistress Sunstone incapacitated they were no longer doing daily sparring. So, their days were spent in relative boredom and quiet as they waited for the Tournament to actually begin.

That was until that Sunday. Neo had partially asked and partially insisted that Team NIYT take them shopping for "Proper desert attire." None of the girls had any reason to decline, so they agreed. Neo had also invited Ren and Nora, though Yuma had said that he planned on getting Ren a new outfit in fifteen, twenty minutes at the most.

Likewise, Pyrrha had asked Jaune to accompany her on their own short trip so they would meet up with the rest later.

When the day of their shopping trip with the girls from Team NIYT and Nora arrived. The young woman was Clara today, she used her semblance to form words before they set off.

[I should probably clarify this. This version of me that you're seeing right now? This is the real me.] Neo wiggled the wolf ears on her head for emphasis. Their fur color had shifted from brown to white, while her hair and eyes were the same colors as they were when she was Neo.

[I'm still the same person that you've gotten to know, my name to most of Vacuo is Clara Lockhart but you may call me Neo if you wish. That identity might've been false, but apparently, Torchwick is rather attached to the name. I'd rather not advertise that I'm… well,] She formed an illusion of pink and white which got the point across. [Is that okay?]

The five girls nodded and Neo gave a thumbs up. [With that settled let's go.]

Once they were on the surface, Neo led the girls through the streets of Vacuo with the practiced ease of someone who had lived there their entire lives. While it was only a fifteen-minute walk to the shop, it was enough for Weiss to ask a question that had been on her mind since Team RWBY had met Neo and Torchwick again.

"Hey, Neo… Clara whichever you prefer. Do you mind if I ask you something?" the fencer asked as she moved next to the older girl.

[You know me as Neo, so you may call me that if you want. It's your choice, I'll answer to both of them.] The words briefly appeared in front of Weiss's face before they softly shattered.

"I just wanted to make sure that there are no hard feelings between us? I know that we fought before The Breach happened and I well… I hope that you don't think we were ruining your operation. I hope you can forgive us… me…"

Neo shook her head. [I told you, Weiss. That was just part of my trying to keep my cover. Yes, that history between us is valid and I understand that that's your impression of me. Let me try to make it up to you all because that wasn't the real me,] She took Weiss's hand and squeezed it. [This is the real me and the train thing was you doing what you all thought was right. Just know that I won't be holding back to the degree that I was on the train, and I won't let you "defeat" me that easily again.] Neo's eyes twinkled and Weiss gave a small smile.

"You're on. Next time, it's for real." Weiss offered her hand and Neo clasped it before they shook.

[Looking forward to it, but in the meantime, we're here.] She pointed at their destination.

The building that the young woman had taken them to was a medium-sized, two-story atelier. The outside of the building was a simple beige color with a simple silver and gold sign that read "Aurum and Argentum Atelier."

The Wolf Faunus pulled open the door and entered the shop. The interior was simple and the walls were bare except for the clothes that hung on it from hangers. The shopkeeper, a Faunus woman in her mid-forties with greying blond hair and golden eyes turned around as the small bell attached to the door rang. Her voice was punctuated by a purr as she spoke.

"Well, if it ain't Clara Lockhart. Been quite some time since you've been in here. Looks like you brought more friends!"

Neo nodded and smiled. [Hi, Mrs. Aurum. How's business?]

The shopkeeper smiled. "Oh, it's been pretty busy around here most days. Sundays are usually slower though. Lots of transfer students here buying outfits."

[That's great, well these five young ladies happen to need outfits.]

Mrs. Aurum looked them over and nodded. "I already have a few ideas." The shopkeeper went through a door at the back of the building and was gone

Neo's eye glimmered as she walked over to one of the racks and began rapidly moving outfits aside. Soon enough, she had beckoned Ruby over and showed her some apparel. [I thought that this would fit your style. Plus, it matches your color. Go try it on.]

The outfit was thrust into her arms as Neo pointed to where the dressing rooms were located against the opposite wall.

"Um, okay…" Ruby whispered softly as she walked past Ilia who was leading Yang over to another rack while Trifa took Nora's hand.

While Ruby was undressing and redressing, Neo moved on to Weiss and beckoned her over. [Hm… let's see. Are you looking for your current color scheme or something more befitting of the Belladonna family?] Neo tilted her head.

Weiss approached Neo while she shook her head. "Honestly, I'm not sure."

[In that case, I'll just find something that seems to fit your style and we can go from there?]

"Sounds good."

Blake started to look through the racks on her own until a few minutes later when her ears twitched in the direction of the dressing room and she turned her head. "Wow, that looks good on you."

Ruby came out of the dressing room in an outfit that suited her. She had on an orange scarf that extended to her feet, a corset-like chest piece made of leather, and a red skirt. Long black stockings covered most of her legs and she had put her red and black boots back on.

The team leader had loosely wrapped the scarf around her neck so that the bow that Blake had given her was still visible.

Weiss nodded as she looked up. "Indeed, it does."

Neo, Yang, and Nora gave thumbs up while Ilia and Trifa simply nodded.

"I like how it feels," Ruby said quietly as she looked at herself in the dressing room mirror.

[Then get it. I'm paying and before anyone objects, I have a pretty vast bank account due to my mother… and maybe one or two heists but you didn't hear that from me.] Neo narrowed her eyes as the last part appeared above her head.

Ruby covered the dressing room with the curtain again to change back while Yang spotted one that Ilia had skipped over. "Oooh, I rather like this one."

She held it out and Ilia looked at it again. "It's a bit… skimpy don't you think?"

Yang pretended to stroke her chin and shook her head. "Nope, I don't think so." She headed to the dressing rooms and ducked into one.

Weiss rolled her eyes as her girlfriend disappeared. "Brute…"

Neo tilted her head and gave Weiss a weird expression but didn't comment.

Ruby and Yang both exited their respective rooms at the same time so the younger sister got the first look at the prospective change.

Yang had chosen an ensemble that had a yellow zip-up vest, which was almost entirely down so it showed off her orange bra. A red bandanna rested around her neck while silver arm bracelets were on her upper arms. Black gloves covered her hands and thigh-high socks of the same color covered her legs, though one was rolled slightly shorter. Gray boots completed the loose-fitting look.

"I don't know why expected you to pick anything different. That does seem like something you'd like," Weiss commented as she stared at one of the mannequins and moved closer.

"It is pretty typical Yang fashion," Blake pointed out with a small chuckle, which got agreements from Ruby and Weiss.

Mrs. Aurum came back, outfits on hangers in hand. "Okay, I think I got a few ideas for you." She pointed to Blake.

"Mrs. Aurum, Ma'am. Is it possible for me to try this one on?" Weiss asked as she motioned to the mannequin with her hand.

"Of course, dear, let me just set these down and I'll be right over." The shopkeeper set the clothes she was carrying down and Blake moved closer to them.

Once the ensemble was in her hands, Weiss moved to the dressing room before proceeding inside. After a couple of minutes, she stuck her head out. "Can one of you please come in here and help me zip this thing up?"

The seven girls all looked at each other and Nora nodded. "I'll do it, Weiss just give me a moment!"

Weiss popped her head back in and Nora quickly put the outfits that Trifa had been picking out for her on the rack before she skipped over. "Wow, you look amazing Weiss!"

"Yes, I'm sure I do. I'd like to see what it looks like completely on if you don't mind."

"Cool your jets, missy. I'm allowed to complement you, ya know."

"Please, Nora? Just help me zip it up."

Nora skipped out a moment later and Weiss was out not long after that. Weiss was in a skintight, one-piece, jumpsuit. The sleeve on the left arm was light blue and so was a mini spaulder covering her right shoulder which was held to the outfit by a buckle in the shape of a shield. A similar shield covered the buckle that held the belted light blue fabric to her right leg. The rest of the material was white.

"It's elegant for sure," Ilia said and Blake found herself agreeing.

[It seems to suit you, just be careful. The heat tends to make things… sticky,] Neo pointed out as she looked it over.

"I think it fits," Yang, Ruby, and Nora all said.

Mrs. Aurum nodded approvingly. "It looks a lot better on you."

"I think I shall take it then. If I may ask, do you do modifications?" Weiss inquired.

"I do, what kind of modifications do you have in mind?" Mrs. Aurum asked.

Weiss showed her a picture of the Belladonna family symbol, and of her own personal daffodil symbol. "It'll cost a bit extra but I can do that. What colors would you want them in and where?"

"Purple for the first and cream for the second if that's acceptable," Weiss replied before she patted the spaulder.

"Of course, it's acceptable! Once you get it off, I can begin work immediately."

"Thank you for accommodating my requests."

"Of course, dearie! Like I said, any friends of Clara Lockhart are friends of mine." Mrs. Aurum smiled as Weiss and Nora went back into the dressing room.

With that interaction over, Blake started to flip through the outfits that Mrs. Aurum found for her. The very last outfit that she looked at was the one that she wanted to try on.

She grabbed the hanger and headed towards the dressing room as Nora exited.

Blake delicately took her feather out of her hair and placed it on the bench before she started to get undressed.

Nora and Trifa were still looking when Blake exited the dressing room. The ebony-haired Cat Faunus was wearing a thin purple metal chestpiece that had been sewn over a leather one. A belt was in the middle of the chest piece separating it. Both shoulders had red leather spaulders on them while her arms were covered in arm length red leather gloves. The feather was back in her hair, as it always was.

"Wow, Blake. You look good, really good." Ruby softly said and Blake blushed as her ears went down in embarrassment. "You think so?"

"Uh-huh."

Neo clicked her tongue as she laughed silently while Ilia's skin turned a light shade of red. The rest of the girls couldn't help but laugh as they watched the scene unfold.

With their own outfits chosen, Team RWBY spread out to help Nora find something that she would like.

After an hour and a half, they finally found one that they felt suited Nora and the hammer wielder agreed to try on.

Nora stepped into the dressing room and emerged three minutes later in the attire. A gray and pink sleeveless riding vest was over a light blue long-sleeved shirt, gray pants, and boots.

"Looking good!" Yang enthusiastically said and Nora shot her an air five which she returned.

Neo went to go get Mrs. Aurum so she could pay for their desert clothes.

Once the shopkeeper had returned, and everyone's outfits except for Weiss's had been put in boxes and bagged, she thanked them. Before saying that she would have the fencer's outfit sent to Shade in two days' time.

[I don't know about you girls, but I could use some lunch. Does that sound good? I know a few places nearby.]

The blue and pink letters hovered in the sky for a few moments before disappearing.

"That sounds good, Neo. What did you have in mind?" Ilia asked as she turned to her partner and team leader.

[Not sure, I guess it depends on what our guests want.]

"Yes, I too would like lunch. That sounds acceptable to me," Trifa nodded.

Nora's mouth watered at the thought of lunch while Team RWBY was a bit more hesitant but the four girls ultimately agreed.

The eight girls, with Neo leading them, set off towards a few of the restaurants that Neo thought that the five Vale exchange students would like. [Okay, there are three restaurants nearby that I thought you all would like. There's a grill house, Bug Burger, and an oyster bar.

"Grill house." Yang and Ruby both chimed at once.

"I'm with them, I like seafood but oysters… don't agree with me," Blake muttered which got a snorting laugh from Ilia and confused glances from everyone else.

"That was…. something." Ilia managed through her laughs.

"That was stupid…." Blake grumbled.

The six other girls looked at them all as Blake's grumbling continued for a couple of seconds under her breath.

"Well, while she mutters about whatever happened with oysters. I'm voting with my team," Weiss said and Nora nodded.

"Yup, that sounds good to me."

Neo gave a thumbs up. [Sounds like you've made up your minds then.]

As their friends and their teammates were getting new clothes for the desert, Jaune and Amber were on the other side of the city with a different purpose.

Last Night

Pyrrha had been anxious and nervous all day. She noticed it because her knee would not stop moving whenever she was sitting down, which wasn't like her. She had hoped that a brief run just outside of the city walls would help, but instead she felt a massive wave of nostalgia come over her as she passed one section of the barricade.

Finally, after it took a lot more time to realize what was happening than she cared to admit she figured it out. The feelings that she had been dealing with all day weren't hers. They had been Amber's; The girls normally tried to keep their feelings separate but these bled through because they were so powerful. The red-haired gladiatrix settled onto the carpet in a meditation pose, closed her eyes, and reached out to the other girl in her mind.

{Amber, are you alright? I've been picking up on what you've been feeling all day.}

{No… I haven't been alright… being back home and being close to my family has brought up all these feelings. I really miss them.}

{We can go visit them… if you want.}

{I want to, but I'm scared…}

{They're your family. It would be a change, but I think they'd be okay with us being a Half-Maiden and our unique situation.}

{That's not what I meant. At least not all of it. This- it's going to hurt them. You know? Finding out that my soul was transferred into you before I…died. I mean it's better than losing me completely but still, they're never going to see me again. Not how I was at least.} Amber's voice was full of grief, and of longing.

{I was thinking more about how I'd explain this to my mother and how'd she react to us. I guess I hadn't wanted to think about if it had been the other way around."

Amber gave a dry chuckle {Believe me, I understand. But I would like to at least make sure that they're okay… is that alright?}

Their internal back and forth was cut short when Jaune walked in the room, his chest bare and glistening with sweat. Pyrrha's training with him over the past two and a half years had turned him into quite the physically fit young man, not that he would ever notice. It was both sweet and a tad frustrating.

After months and months of training with each other, they finally, and accidentally, managed to unlock his Semblance which appeared to be Aura Amplification.

Pyrrha's heart started to beat rapidly and she felt her face go as red as her hair as Jaune walked up to her with a soft look of concern on his face.

[Jaune, I wish you would notice me.]

"Pyrrha, are you okay? You've been acting weird all day. It's been concerning me." Jaune asked, voice full of worry.

Pyrrha's face went redder. [That wasn't what I meant!]

Amber made a clicking noise with her tongue and began to laugh.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine. Just needed to ask Amber something… that's all."

Jaune looked baffled for a moment before he realized. "Oh, right… she was born here."

He sat next to her and gently grabbed her hands, which made both of the girls start stammering. His voice was quiet when he next spoke. "Please, what's wrong? Remember the promise that the three of us made at Haven? That we'd talk to each other?"

Pyrrha nodded. {Amber, would you like to explain?}

{Of course, just a moment.}

Amber took a deep breath before she adjusted the half cloak and bandanna that obscured her face. She moved to Jaune and gently grabbed his hand.

{"Amber, if you don't want to do this you don't have to,"} Pyrrha and Jaune both said at once.

"I know… but I want to, I appreciate the concern… from both of you." Amber smiled softly behind her bandanna.

"As long as you're sure," Jaune whispered.

Amber nodded and then led him past a final turn, hand still holding his. She led him down the street for a few moments before she softly pulled him against the exterior wall of a house.

Two teenagers were sitting on the porch of a house further down, neither seemed to notice them. One was a boy, maybe thirteen- or fourteen-years-old while his older sister looked like she was about to join one of the academies.

The boy had light blue eyes and the same hair color as Amber even though it did have a sizable streak of green in it. The girl, on the other hand, had the same color of eyes that Amber did, but her hair was black with flecks of red, orange, and yellow.

Jaune and Amber slowly peeked their heads out and she motioned to the boy. "That's Star… and the girl is Flame. They both look like they've grown a lot since I've been… gone."

She wiped a tear away silently and turned to Jaune. "I'm ready to go back now… I'll go see them… just not right now…"

{"Whenever you're ready."} Jaune and Pyrrha spoke in unison again.