Ruby gave a low whistle, craning her neck to try to see the top of the tower in whose shadow they were standing in. An impressive stone structure reinforced by steel where, near the top of the tower, she could just make out a glass platform. Movement behind the tinted glass indicated the presence of people. From one side of the tower, a number of cables stretched out over the glistening sapphire sea, towards another distant tower that appeared like nothing more than a toothpick in the distance. Smoothly gliding along the cables, Ruby saw a long, tram-like structure made up of four carriages moving towards the closest spire. In the distance, halfway across the sea, she could see two other identical cable cars moving towards the different coasts.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Petaha Harbour, our last stop on this side of Vacuo." Sun explained, his tail flicking excitedly as he explained to anyone who would listen.
"You don't expect us to get to the other side with that ?" Weiss declared, looking up at the cable car in disdain, that did not look safe.
"It's the safest way to cross the Strait of Erebus." Neptune explained. "Many thousands of feet above that horrible water…"
"I thought the idea of dangling thousands of feet over water supported by only chords would scare you." Jaune piped in.
"It didn't… until you described it like that." Sighed Neptune, shivering at the thought.
"But there has to be an easier way across!" Insisted Weiss, looking around at the Shade students. "Why can't we just use a boat to get across like we did to get here from Atlas?"
"We asked the same thing the first time we had to cross it." Velvet admitted, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "Apparently, the strait's currents are so strong that most boats can't actually cross it."
"On the plus side, most Grimm also find difficulty swimming in it." Added Sun, beaming, "So people staying in Petaha Harbour only have to worry about attacks from the ground and the air."
"Do you really have to explain everything to them?" Pluto chided, ruffling out his feathers slightly and allowing the early morning sun to warm them.
"And do you have to be so patronising so early in the morning?" Nora countered, looking at the taller man in disapproval.
"What can I say? I'm not much of a morning person." Pluto nonchalantly shrugged.
"Or a day person in general." Nora muttered under her breath as the Faunus turned his back on her.
"Nora…" Ren warned.
"What?" She hissed back. "It's true!"
Ren just shook his head at Nora's words. No one really knew what had happened between the pair back at Joshura Forest, not even Jaune. However, since then they no longer seemed to be actively trying to avoid each other. They spoke as comfortably to each other as they had before the invasion of Mantle and they smiled far more frequently as well.
"What about our rides?" Yang enquired, pushing Bumblebee beside her.
"One of the carriages is for cargo so the bike won't be a problem." Sun explained, ignoring his teammate's complaints as he always did. "The truck we'll drop off with the authorities, that was a rental anyway."
"By tonight you all will finally get to see the awesomeness that is Shade Academy." Concluded Neptune with a broad, dashing smile.
Qrow looked up at the tower in silence as the younger Huntsman and Huntresses spoke. The Erebus Cable Car was a rather old means of transport established after the Great War, a sign of goodwill from Atlas after all the blood shed had ceased. He'd used it himself a few times during his travels, the last time almost twenty years ago with Summer Rose when they had been on a mission from Ozpin to check on the whereabouts of the Maidens. That may have been the last time he'd actually been to Shade and he couldn't help wonder how much it had changed over the years.
Petaha harbour sure had. It had now become a bustling city. Unlike Port Skoleinos that had kept to its roots, Petaha had chosen to advance and modernise. The cable car system appeared sleeker and safer then the one he'd ridden in with Summer back in the day. Although the buildings of Petaha did not tower overhead (with the exception of the cable car of course), they were taller than many of the others they had seen whilst traveling through the Wastelands. And, as one would expect from an evolving city, it attracted people. Many of the residents of Petaha had once lived in the Wastelands but had been attracted here by the countless opportunities such cities presented, as well as the increased safety from looters and raiders. However, where people clustered, Grimm were sure to follow. The small villages of the Wastelands had only survived this long as they were few and far apart, providing little for the Grimm to stumble upon. However, with a city like Petaha growing, the Grimm would be at their doorstep far more frequently.
"Then let's get going!" Ruby cheered, punching the air in excitement. "Shade Academy here we come!"
The Huntsmen and Huntresses had had enough of dawdling. Although, undoubtedly, Petaha Harbour was filled with endless wonders and curiosities for them to discover, they knew time was not on their side. It had almost been a month since they'd left Atlas and three since Mercury and Tyrian had departed for this Kingdom. It was only by some miracle that Shade Academy was still safe. However this only made the group more eager to reach Shade City.
Purchasing the tickets for the cable car proved simple enough. Bumblebee, with much reluctance from Yang, had been deposited with the rest of the large cargo to be loaded onto one of the cars. As for Ruby and the rest, an elevator smoothly raised them though the tower, ending in a large observation platform where a number of people were already waiting to board the next car. Children excitedly peered through the glass at the city almost 40 stories below, the people barely more than ants from this height.
Ruby counted at least 20 other passengers outside their group and the trip was scheduled to take no longer than half an hour, a rather short trip for the distance they had to cover. Ruby and the rest spent the short time they had to wait for the next car as the children did, looking at the city below. Qrow, of course, held no such excitement and simply lounged on one of the chairs, ignoring the ruckus his wards were making and the dirty looks the other passengers were giving him. In another chair, a few rows away from the main group, Pluto was busy typing away on his Scroll. Now that they were in one of the main Vacuan cities communications had been reestablished however, whoever the irritable Pluto Hydrargyrum was so impatiently messaging was beyond them
A number of dings indicated when the cable cars had arrived. Steadily, it nestled itself within a notch in the observation deck. Across from Ruby a number of doors slid open, allowing passengers already in the cars to disembark. A few minutes later these doors closed and allowed the people on Ruby's side to validate their tickets and board. The inside of the car was simple enough, a pair of seats lined the sides, allowing passengers to see through the tinted windows. The central passage allowed for more people to stand if the commute became particularly busy. Thankfully, it seemed that they'd chosen a quiet time and most of the passengers had opted to stay in the other carriages away from the loud tourists. The carriages remained stationary for a few more minutes while last minute passengers boarded and the cargo was carefully stowed away.
With a little click, the doors soon shut themselves and the cable car smoothly moved out of the port with barely a sway. It truly was impressive how steadily it moved. Ruby, who had never been in a cable car before, had thought that the winds that surely berated it from the outside would make it sway or the slightest movement from the passengers inside would cause the carriages to move from side to side. However it trudged on with little resistance.
Ruby looked down at the churning dark waters below. An endless mass of blue occasionally disturbed by spells of white sea foam as waves were broken against more waves. The winds had seemed calm enough near the coasts, the choppiness of the water must have been the result of unseen currents. It was of little mystery why the Vacuans discouraged the use of ships to cross the Erebus Strait. The cable car had been an interesting work around, though Ruby couldn't help thinking that, a fall from this height, the water's surface would feel like concrete. Thankfully they wouldn't have to experience that first hand.
The car's gentle movement was momentarily disturbed as it passed one of the many support towers that lined the path between the two coasts. The carriages groaned as they passed. However, it quickly returned to normal when the structure was passed, soon to shrink in the distance as Petaha Harbour had.
Ruby almost would have called the ride relaxing, with it's gentle movements and beautiful scenery until it was all disrupted by a sudden, ear piercing siren, instantly jogging any dozing passengers awake. A number of red lights also began to flash along the carriage, further startling the people.
"C'mon!" Whined Neptune, looking up at the lights, instantly knowing what they meant. "We made it across the whole Wastelands without seeing a Grimm and now, when we are dangling over the sea, they decide to attack?!"
Neptune looked at Sun, his eyes asking about the fairness of the situation.
"Sometimes that's how life is." Sun sympathetically put a hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe it's a drill?" Neptune asked, a light of hope entering his eyes.
"I don't think so." Velvet sadly answered as, from the distance, a number of dark dots could be seen readily getting larger and larger.
"There's no way we are going to make it to the other side before they get here, is there?" Jaune asked, standing, his team closely en suit.
"The car shielding will be put up soon but…" Sun began to explain but was quickly spoken over by Weiss.
"There's a turret topside that needs to be shot manually?"
Sun looked at her perplexed.
"We've got some experience with Atlesians vehicles and questionable defensive design." Weiss admitted tiredly, recalling the battle the small group had had on the train to Argus. She silently hoped this wouldn't end the same way, there was no snow to soften their fall this time.
"Actually they have automatic targeting." Sun explained, still confused at her words.
"Oh?!" Weiss responded in surprise. Vacuo was far more prepared for attacks then she'd anticipated.
They heard screams erupting from the other cars as, just as Sun had predicted, a series of metallic plates began to slide down the glass windows of the car, nearly completely blocking out the blue sky outside and the murderous Grimm as they continued to advance.
"Ren can you hide us from them?" Sun quickly asked, dark shadows appearing and disappearing from his face as the crimson light continued to flash overhead. The turrets may be able to keep back some of the Grimm, but frightened passengers would attract them to the carriages like magnets.
"I could but not the Relic." Ren hastily admitted, his eyes falling on the staff that was strapped to Oscar's back. Even if the other passengers could keep calm they'd be drawn to the Relic either way.
"Then what do you plan to do?" Pluto harshly asked them, his tone clearly indicating whose fault he believed it was for them being in this situation.
"Like we always do." Ruby simply answered. "We lure the Grimm away. The people in the other carriages have nothing to do with this."
"Hold it guys. The turrets kick quite the punch, maybe we won't have to lure them away…" However Neptune had barely finished speaking when a series of bullet fire erupted overheard, closely accompanied by the scratching sound of metal being crushed and torn apart. One of the turrets had just been destroyed.
"If you want something done you gotta do it yourself." Sighed Yang, though there was a gleam in her eyes as she punched her fist against her palm.
"How many turrets are there?" Blake hastily asked as a screech reverberated through the air from the outside, their carriage haphazardly swaying as talons began to scratch against the reinforced metal.
"One on each car." Neptune explained. "So four- three now if one's gone."
"Then we'll give them a hand." Ruby quickly instructed. "Weiss, Uncle Qrow and Pluto- you'll take the Relic and try to lure them away from the car."
"Hold it, why am I on bait duty?" Pluto stubbornly complained.
"Because you three are the only ones that can out fly them." Ruby explained, ignoring his tone as Oscar handed Qrow the Relic. The older man held it with disdain before looking up at his niece, understanding her plan.
"We won't be able to draw all of them away." He ventured.
"I know." Ruby answered. "But with the Relic away Ren can at least conceal the passengers."
"Seems like a waste to bench the ninja." Pluto muttered, clearly disproving of Ruby's plan.
"The passengers take priority." Ruby countered without hesitating.
"The rest of us will go topside and deal with the rest." Ruby simply concluded, looking at her friends, the Huntsmen and Huntresses already mentally preparing for the battle. With little effort, Sun forced the door between the carriages open, causing the unsuspecting passengers to scream at their sudden appearance.
"Please stay calm." Jaune called, lifting up his Scroll to show them his license. "We are Huntsmen and Huntresses, we will deal with the Grimm but we need you to please cooperate."
The relief on the other passengers' faces was obvious though none would have taught them licensed Huntsmen on first appearance.
"Please, everyone go to the next carriage." Ren carefully instructed, mentally counting how many people he'd have to conceal. Getting them all in one area would be the easiest and most proficient use of his Semblance.
"Will you be okay without me boosting your Aura?" Jaune hastily asked, as one of the passengers struggled against the other carriage door, the rest hastily falling in after him as they quickly called that Huntsmen on board were going to fight the Grimm. With the carriage now free of civilians, Sun jumped to a latch that was overhead and pulled it down to reveal a small manhole to the outside as a small rope ladder dangled down towards them.
"I should be fine." Ren reassured him, the cars weren't large and the number of passengers was minimal. "Just stay safe out there."
"We will." Nora promised him, giving Ren a smile. "We've got each other's backs."
The sound of a shutter clicking made the two jump, turning to see Velvet with her camera in her hands, taking a photo.
She smiled at the pair who looked at her awkwardly.
"Like this we won't be benching the ninja." She explained. Ren nodded his head, understanding what she had just done.
Ren sprinted into the final passenger carriage as the rest climbed up the rope ladder to the outside of the carriage. The cable car never looked big however, standing on its ceiling it appeared so much smaller and so very sleek. One wrong move and they'd end up plummeting to the sea below. The remaining turrets were shooting a series of blasts at the dark frenzy of Grimm that were flying and swooping around the cable cars, the attacks too sluggish to have any effect on the swiftly moving Grimm.
Teryxes- large raptor-like creatures with broad, translucent red wings webbed with dark veins. Bone-like spines protruded from their necks and tails with equally as sharp talons. They let out a series of shrieks as the Huntsmen made their appearance, the creatures entering even more of a frenzy as the lure of the Relic amplified. The Teryx that had destroyed the first turret stopped scratching at the car's shield and lifted its bone plated face to look at the new arrivals, releasing a glass shattering shriek as it did so.
"Get the Relic out of here!" Quickly ordered Ruby, falling to one knee and aiming her sniper at the monster. Firmly gripping the staff, Qrow ran for the edge of the carriage, Pluto unfurled his wings as he did so while a number of white Glyphs appeared around Weiss. For a moment, Qrow vanished over the edge and Ruby almost held her breath until a black bird soared upwards, a smaller version of the Staff of Creation gripped within its talons. Ruby had hoped that, like his clothes and Harbinger did, the staff would vanish. However it seemed the magic of the Relic prevented such things though, thankfully, it had become small enough for the bird to carry away. The crow was closely followed by Weiss riding atop a large white Queen Lancer, a number of smaller Lancer Glyphs hovering around her. Pluto unsteadily followed them without a second glance back at his teammates.
A series of calls and thrills escaped the Grimm as they watched the escaping huntsmen, the relic gleaming in the sunlight. As Ruby had anticipated, a good handful of the creatures began to swoop after Qrow as he led them towards the coast where, hopefully, more Huntsmen would be available to help. Weiss gracefully stood on the back of her mount, pointing her sword at the creatures as she sent a series of Glyphs sliding towards them, the Huntress closely following with a series of attacks aided by an array of Dust. Pluto unfurled his sword which, interestingly, he held around his waist like a belt, raising it over his head and dove at one of the creatures that had come too close and had almost nicked one of his wings.
Trusting that her uncle and friends could handle themselves, Ruby turned her attention back to the remaining Grimm which, although interested in the Relic, could not full heartedly ignore such easy prey. Ruby and those that remained did not hesitate to retaliate working as one, well oil machine, a feat only capable after so many years fighting together.
Blake was a blur in the air, swinging from one unfortunate Grimm to the other, piercing her blades through their soft underbellies. She dodged just as quickly as she had appeared, leaving behind a fire induced shadow clone which exploded with enough force to cause the creatures to stagger. Alongside her, streaming through the air just as proficiently, was Velvet. She jumped between the Grimm, luminescent replicas of Ren's Stormflowers in her hand as she elegantly imitated their original owner's fight style using her Semblance.
The last she had done so had been back during the Fall of Beacon but, as she had expected from her classmates, although his fighting style hadn't changed significantly it had become profoundly stronger. Each strike caused far more prominent damage than they had back in Beacon.
Velvet jumped through the air, her blades already aimed at her next target. However, her path was intercepted by a Teryx, its maw wide and its talons gleaming, eager to strike. Velvet made to swivel through the air and adjust her trajectory. However, before she could make any significant changes, a round of bullets cut through the creature, turning it to dust. Velvet turned to look at her saviour and gave Neptune a thankful nod, smoke still rising from his Tri-Hard. Beside him, Ruby and Nora were similarly sending projectiles at the Grimm, stopping further monsters from landing on the cable car as it continued on in its now sluggish pace, the turrets behind them too slow to be of any help.
Upon the carriage, the group had initially been seated in, who remained of the combatants- Yang, Jaune, Sun and Oscar worked to fight off the Teryx that had destroyed the first turret. This Grimm might have been the biggest from the flock, its claws now piercing through the carriage's metal shell as it tried to crush the stubborn Huntsmen that attacked it. Yang charged at the creature, her eyes burning red as she raised her gauntlets to strike the monster but stumbled sideways, waving her arms desperately to stop herself falling over the edge as the whole cable car swayed precariously.
When she'd regained her balance, Yang turned her head slightly and cursed. Another of the Teryxes was pulling at the turret before the last. Sparks flew as it was ripped away from the carriage. The Grimm let out a pained shriek as the turret behind it sent a blast at the creature but all it managed to do was aggravate it further.
"That's the carriage where Ren and the passengers are!" Nora yelled, turning to try to aim her missile launcher at the creature, shrouding it in pink smoke.
"Focus on the big one!" Jaune ordered. "Oscar and I will handle it."
Oscar nodded his head at the old Huntsman without question, running past Ruby and the rest. They just had to keep the Grimm away long enough for Ren to hide their presence. However, it had already been a number of minutes since they'd gotten the Relic away from the passengers so what could be taking Ren so long?
For a brief moment Jaune wondered if maybe Ren's new Semblance may be antagonising his old one? Or maybe he should have stayed with his teammate to aid boost his Aura? But Jaune shook his head, expelling the doubt. Ren said he could do it and he believed in him. Ren had never let them down before.
Jaune's faith was not misplaced. Like a warm summer breeze the whole group felt Ren's Semblance wash over them, expelling from their being any sense of agitation or fear that may have sprouted within them during their fight. Those in the air gently landed onto the carriage roofs, Yang and Neptune helping them stay steady as the Grimm, who was still standing on the carriage, roared in agitation. Its wings fluttered in frustration and it hissed, unable to see the food it so desperately had been fighting. Clearly irritated with their apparent disappearance, what remained of the flock hovered overhead, hissing and roaring in annoyance but they did not attack again. Careful to keep their calm, Yang and her small group that had been fighting the landed Grimm took a number of steps away while the creature outstretched its wings and made to jump off the carriage.
Carefully, without lowering her sniper, Ruby looked past the creature at the minuscule figures that were Weiss and her Uncle, the Grimm that had been chasing them having been vanquished long before and they were almost safely across the strait. It was with a start, however, that she realised she could not see Pluto. Had something happened to him?
Ruby almost jumped out of her skin when a yell and an explosion from behind her caused her to almost accidentally pull her trigger. She hastily turned on the balls of her feet, her cape fluttering in the winds. Her eyes widened as she saw Oscar running towards the edge of the carriage, his own eyes large and his arms outstretched, desperately trying to reach out for something. Behind him, in the carriage furthest away from her and standing behind the turret, was the man she had just wondered where he had vanished to- Pluto. He seemed unharmed however his face was contorted in indignation, smoke still floating out of the turret's barrel.
Ruby watched as if in slow motion, finally realising what Oscar was running towards.
No, not what, who. Jaune's sword and shield clattered to the ground as their owner disappeared over the carriage edge towards the dark waters below.
Eleanora swung her legs over the edge of her seat, her head bobbing from side to side as she hummed to herself. Although she missed her dad, traveling with her mum had been as fun as she'd hoped. They walked a lot, that's true, but she'd gotten to see a lot of strange and wonderful things- food so sweet her mouth stung and a man who could eat fire just as easily. Their last spot had been cool as well. She'd seen a woman with a fishtail instead of feet and others with long bushy tails. They didn't seem very happy to see either her or her mum but that was ok. They'd met a friend of her mum's there, she seemed so friendly, so did her husband. Their daughter had been quite quiet though. She liked to read a lot but Eleanora and her mum hadn't stayed long enough for her to ask what kind of books she liked to read.
Now her mum had met another of her old friends, a pretty woman with two coloured hair and sparkling eyes. She'd never realised just how many cool friends her mother had, she didn't remember them visiting much at home, but maybe she just couldn't remember.
Her mum had explained they were now going to an island called Patch and that the nice lady also had two kids she could play with. Eleanora never knew there were so many kids! Her whole life she had been confined to the walls of Shade Academy. To her, the gardens and the school already seemed too large to explore but now, having walked through some of the streets of Remnant, she'd come to realise just how large the world was. The thought alone made her giddy.
She'd tell her dad next time she'd see him, that they should do family trips more often, and that he should come with them.
Absentmindedly, the child looked up from her swinging feet to her mother and Summer Rose. The pilot had said something Eleanora had not heard over the airship's engine but whatever he'd said had made the two women look worried, their brows creasing as they spoke in low voices. Eleanora's eyes widened as, from behind her back, Summer retrieved a startling white scythe, a lot prettier than the ones Uncle Theodore used to keep in his office and said she couldn't touch.
Summer must be a Huntress like Mum! Eleanora thought to herself excitedly.
The two Huntresses looked out the small window that gave them the briefest view of the world outside. The sky seemed blindingly blue with streaks of cotton candy white clouds in it. Eleanora almost jumped out of her seat when she tried to look out of the window on her side, the hideous face of a Grimm filling most of her vision.
Eleanora was not usually the type to be scared of Grimm. Her mum was an awesome Huntress and she had no doubt she'd keep her safe. But, something felt different this time. Like things were destined to go wrong from the start.
"Eleanora!" Valerian yelled, unusual blue flames flickering weakly around her bright eyes, they were the same colour as the Willow-O-Wisps she sometimes conjured. Her call caused the frightened child to turn just as the side of the airship was ripped away by the razor sharp claws of a Nevermore beast. She tried to reach out to her mother but the air force was too strong. Eleanora was sucked out amongst the flock of Grimm that had surrounded their ship from below, her vision shifting to black as she banged the back of her head against the ship's metal frame.
The child had no recollection of how long her world had turned black, the events prior to those moments of darkness just out of her reach. She reached towards them, knowing there was something there just out of her reach.
" Eleanora…" The word felt warm to her ears, as did the voice that said it. Although the voice's identity and the meaning of the word eluded her, the child forced her eyes open, her body feeling numb.
She saw two women looking at her, becoming smaller and smaller as she fell. Their faces were bruised, their clothes torn. Familiarity at looking at their faces tugged at her but she could put no name to them. One had what looked like blue flames surrounding her eyes, but they looked weak, flickering into and out of existence. The woman beside her had tears running down her cheeks, mingling with blood that stained her cheek, as she held the other woman back, stopping her from falling after her.
The child tried to reach out towards them, the cold wind running through her fingers, the only thing she could grasp.
"Eleanora!" The blue eyed woman called again, the child still unable to recognise the word. Light blue flames began to cross the woman's body as she continued to yell the word, now barely audible over the winds. However, the light flickered out along with the fire around her eyes, and the woman grimaced in sudden pain. She fell sideways, forcing the other woman to catch her.
Unfamiliar pain seared through the back of the girl's head anew as she was pulled forcefully out of her fall by a large, horrendous black bird.
The girl looked at the two women as she began to lose consciousness again, the creature's claws digging into her skin through her thin jacket.
"Eleanora!" The voice called again, its meaning and its memory sinking into the darkness that consumed her mind once again.
Please don't leave me. She thought as the two women disappeared. Please...
Hi! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed the update :D Been a bit of a slow week unfortunately but I finished my last test yesterday and now exams officially start on Tuesday (can't wait for them to be done now 😅) But hopefully, once they are over, I'll be able to return to biweekly updates :D. Thanks again for reading, next update will be next week :D
BTW! I hope everyone is doing well in what ever part of the world you're reading this in :)