Chapter seventy

Song of blades

Journal entry #236

"Raven has been out of sorts recently; when I ask, I don't get an answer from her. It's really concerning me that my teammate suddenly isn't talking to me. Not that she was big on talking before, but she suddenly isn't talking to me at all. Brothers know what goes through her mind. I'm going to challenge her to a sparring match tomorrow. Hopefully, that loosens her tongue."

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to the Vytal Festival Tournament!" the voice of Xanthe Rumpole echoed as fireworks erupted in the sky.

Blake and Ruby weren't paying much attention to the images that Yang and Neo had pulled up on their scrolls. They were too busy with their sparring practice.

Shattered Rose's blade seemed to sing as it cut through the air and collided with Gambol Shroud. The clash of metal resounded through the air as scimitar met chain scythe, like notes from the instruments of musicians.

Ruby twirled Shattered Rose in her right hand before moving it to her left, spinning slightly as she did so. She had recently been coming up with a unique combat style for her Multi Action Dust Scimitar that she called Blade Singing.

She wasn't sure how… practical it would be in the tournament or in a real fight, but she had taken Weiss's lessons to heart, adapting them along the way. When she had decided to join them, Blake had done the same, teaching Ruby some tricks and giving her tips.

Ruby cut through one of Blake's shadow clones and used her semblance immediately afterward to evade the next strike. She didn't go far, just a few inches to her right, but when she had devoted herself to training she meant everything and not just her body.

As they trained, Weiss was on the other side of the room practicing her summoning which was being incredibly stubborn and refusing to yield its secrets to her. Though not for a lack of trying.

There was a loud screeching noise as the glyph spun faster and faster before shattering and knocking Weiss to the floor. "Brothers damn it!" she proceeded to let out a few choice words in annoyance before she picked herself up.

"I don't understand. I'm doing everything just how I was taught… why is this still eluding me?" Weiss grumbled as she ran a hand through her hair.

"Maybe because you're trying too hard. You're trying to push this before you're ready and your mind knows this even if you deny it." A new voice, one that Team RWBY recognized echoed softly through the room as the smell of cigarette smoke finally registered to Ruby, Weiss, and Blake.

Yang glared at the figure leaning against the wall as Ember Celica clicked and she growled. Her eyes were full of hatred as Raven made her presence known.

Yang's mother had one foot on the wall, a cigarette in her hand. Her long black hair was matted and unkempt, deep bags were underneath her dark red eyes as she stared blankly at her daughter. Unlike her normal ornate outfit, she was in a simple red t-shirt and black leggings. Her weapons sheath was absent as well

"Relax, Yang. I'm not here to fight. I was just passing through actually. As you can see I don't even have Omen with me, so do you think you can contain your hatred of me for just a little bit?

Yang grunted, but let Ember Celica retract back into bracelet form after a couple of seconds in thought. "Fine, but try anything-"

"I won't, you have my word," Raven swore before she crushed her cigarette in her hand and turned her attention to Weiss.

"As I was saying, stop pushing it. It will happen when you need it to happen. I learned that from experience."

"But your Semblance isn't summoning. Unless you're a long lost Schnee." Weiss told her to a small gag from the woman.

"No offense, but I'd sooner get eaten by a Blind Worm than be related to you by blood." Raven gave a small smile as she attempted to be humorous.

"Now you know how it feels to be your daughter," Yang muttered.

Raven ignored her as she moved quickly over to Weiss. "I understand what you're trying to do and why. But again, from personal experience, it will happen when you need it too. I didn't discover my Semblance until I got thrown off a cliff and nearly hit the ocean. Trying so hard and forcing it was what held me back."

She outstretched her hand and a tiny portal formed over it. Raven began to manipulate it as she talked. "It is true that I can use these as links to those that I consider dear to me, but they're not a tool, not completely. They're a way to navigate, to traverse distances that would take days or weeks, a way to gain the upper hand in battle."

The portal started to compress itself before it faded away completely. "I'm not sure what you've been taught in regards to it. But it's not just about pushing past. When I step into a portal, I delve into myself and the memories I have of the one I want to see. Maybe that will help you, maybe it won't."

A soft beeping sounded from inside Raven's shirt. "I'm afraid I must go now." She walked towards the door and had her hand resting on it before Blake's voice rang out.

"Wait, I have one question for you. You trained Adam Taurus, correct?" Blake stood up, confusion and a need to know on her face.

"Yes, I did."

"Why?"

"Is weakness truly a bad thing if it becomes our strength?" Raven replied cryptically as she turned her head, eye narrowing as she stared at Neo and pulled the invisible thread softly.

Neo winced as she rubbed her head before Raven left the room behind, her next destination in mind and her theory confirmed.

She hadn't been on Shade Academy grounds since she had left all those years ago. She was surprised that she still remembered where to go.

"Brings back old memories, doesn't it? Team STRQ and Team STNE traveling through these corridors together during our semester here. I wonder if the blast marks from where you and Neph nearly blew yourselves up trying to see if Burn Dust and Earth Dust would mix are still there," Summer reminisced on old memories absently as she traveled behind Raven who remained silent. 'Summer' was referring to an event that happened a few weeks before team STRQ's schism occurred.

"What? Not talking to me again? Wow, you are so rude doing that again. I'm so hurt."

"Shut up, Summer. I don't know why you're still here," Raven growled softly under her breath.

"But I told you why, or did you forget?

She didn't receive an answer as Raven instead sped up her pace.

"Apparently, someone's touchy today." Summer remarked to no one but herself as she followed behind the older Branwen.

Raven's old mental map led her to where she remembered the Headmaster's bedroom to be. Despite her semblance, Qrow had always had a better sense of direction.

She knew it was slightly ironic but it was what it was.

After a slight hesitation she pushed the door to the bedroom open and saw her younger twin brother raise his head as she did, his hand over one of the buttons on his shirt. She noticed that his hair was dyed brown, which was curious.

"Hello, little brother. It's been a while."

Qrow blinked a couple of times as he stared at his big sister. His mouth hung open as his red eyes stared into Raven's own. "Raven, w-what are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know, came to do some shopping and decided to pop in."

Raven's voice went as high as she could get it and put her hands on her hips. She then gagged and coughed a tiny bit before she rolled her eyes. "In all actuality, I came here to talk to Sunstone… where is she?"

"She's in the shower freshening up." Qrow motioned to the messy bed and Raven chuckled softly.

"I still have no idea what she sees in you. Does she even know that you don't feel the same way towards her that she feels toward you?"

Qrow didn't answer. Instead, he just continued to silently button up his shirt. It was only after a small pause that he opted to answer. "I don't know… I've never asked her… I'm sure she does. I'm not you, and this isn't the same as it was with Tai."

Raven's eyes narrowed into a glare as she stared at him. "Oh, for crying out loud! Seriously, it was one lapse! Am I seriously going to have it held over my head for the rest of my life?"

The elder Branwen asked as she threw her arms out and then curled them into fists.

"That 'lapse' destroyed our team! And don't give me that crap, you and I both know that you were never romantically interested in Tai." Qrow's voice rose before it returned to normal.

"You sound different, did you quit drinking?" Raven asked with a slight tilt of her head.

"I did, cold turkey… about… maybe a year ago now? Way to try to deflect the subject though, especially because you smell like you just emerged from a burning building and look like you haven't been sleeping well."

"I've been having… nightmares a lot recently. Tends not to make for restful sleep."

Summer snorted as she leaned on Sunstone's dresser. "Why don't you tell him what kind of nightmares? See what he thinks?" she asked loudly.

"No, now shut up," Raven muttered again under her breath.

"I hadn't said anything, sister. Or are you just telling me to shut up because you know I'm right?" Qrow raised an eyebrow and Raven mentally cursed.

"Go on, Rae. Tell him, tell him what you really meant. Tell him that his beloved Summer is nothing but a figment of your imagination! Or do you not want him to know that you've been seeing me for over a year?"

"Shut up! You don't know a damn thing!" Raven glared at Qrow but was actually glaring at Summer.

Qrow was taken aback by how… weird his older twin was being. She had always been the odder one, but this was weird even for her. He watched her pace for a moment or two before he spoke again. "Why are you here, Raven?"

"There's a storm coming from the south. I see it in my dreams… if it isn't stopped then it will bury the kingdom. I'm here to make sure that Ruby doesn't get swallowed by it." Raven's eyes were distant.

"Leave her out of this! She is not Summer!" Qrow snarled.

"I'm aware, but still, I will make sure nothing happens to her."

Qrow walked up to his sister and then slammed her against the wall, hand wrapped around her throat. "What are you planning for her? Tell me!"

Raven's nails dug into Qrow's hand hard enough to draw blood. "Love is a powerful weapon, Baby Brother… and I am not done wielding it."

"I will never let you have her."

"We shall see, baby brother."

Raven punched Qrow in the stomach hard enough that he had to let her go as he coughed.

"We shall see." She opened a portal, stepped through it, and was gone.