I'm back. The week off was refreshing and I got some of my issues sorted out during it. I guess it was too optimistic to assume they'd all be handled; some people don't want issues to be over until they "win" or something. Annoying. Anyway, I'm back so let's go.

Cover Art: Z-ComiX

Chapter 87

The farmland had become marshland. Ruby's boots were sucked down with each step, the wet and squelching sound of her feet sinking and being dragged out the mud echoing alongside her feverish breath and racing heart. Behind, Qrow shouted her name, louder and angrier, but she couldn't look back. Only ahead mattered, to the tall and imposing walls of Vale, to its open gates, to the water that had long since ceased to stream out and now sat a tranquil lake several feel high in places.

"Ruby!" Qrow yelled. "Ruby, stop!"

She reached the edge of the water and splashed into it, tripped and almost fell, only to catch herself on the edge of the stone gatehouse. Her foot bumped into something under the water, obstructing her path. Dumbly, she looked down, body overcome by shaking as she noticed the bobbing shape just under the water.

"Ruby!"

Her hand reached down. Breathing was difficult. The world closed in around her and her heart pounded between her ears. Taking hold of the limp shape, she turned it over, rolling the figure around until a face bloated and turned blue looked back up at her, swollen skin and black hair, wide-open eyes a mouth stretched unnaturally open. There were more of them, bodies floating in the water as far as the eye could see. Young, old, man, woman and child. The water was tinted pink around her ankles, cloudy patterns of blood sweeping out past her into the farmlands.

Ruby screamed.

"Damn it!" Qrow sloshed into the water and grabbed hold of her, yanking her into his chest. The Arcanist's face was stretched thin, his eyes narrowed in disgust as he looked over the gatehouse and the bodies piling up. "Shit. I didn't expect… If I'd known then I would have warned you."

"Melanie!" Ruby wailed. "Melanie!"

"Mel-?" Qrow's eyes widened. "You knew her?" He twisted her around suddenly and pulled her face into his coat. "Don't look."

The gesture was useless. Melanie's body bumped against Ruby's leg and floated past them, disturbed enough by her touch to start moving again. With the water now streaming out of the gates, bodies were being naturally drawn toward it, some catching against corners and walls and piling up into macabre dams. Grunting, Qrow stooped and wrapped an arm around her midriff, hefting her up until her feet weren't touching the bloody water.

It didn't save her smelling it, the stench of blood and piss and gore like rotten, waterlogged meat. It didn't save her hearing the silent dripping of water and knowing that her home had been reduced to a sunken graveyard. It didn't save her crying her heart out into Qrow's shoulder, gripping onto him like she was drowning herself.

"I'm sorry," he whispered uselessly, trudging through water thigh-deep and nudging dead bodies aside with each step. "I'm sorry that this happened to your home, Ruby."

"Why?" she asked between huge sobs. "Why!?"

"Shhh. It's okay."

Ruby didn't dare open her eyes and look at where Qrow was taking them. Instead, she kept her face buried in his shoulder and hid away from it all, even if she couldn't hide from the sounds every step made through the water, nor the understanding of why he would sometimes change direction as if stepping around something. His breath came out unevenly when he saw things she could not, and more than once he would mutter a quiet curse word, place his hand on her back and rub her. She had a feeling it was as much for his comfort as her own.

"We're at the next gate," he said some time later. "I'm going to have to set you down." He adjusted her down until her feet submerged into water. Ruby kept her hands on his shoulders until he moved away, then stood perfectly still. "It's safe to open your eyes…"

They were at the small western gate to the merchant's quarter. The thick wooden door was darkened from all the water up to a mark around three metres up, which must have been the floodwater at its deepest. There weren't any bodies around, but she knew people had been here. Scratches and grooves pitted the wood where people had dragged their fingernails down it, and splotches of blood dotted it here and there. Of the people that had made those, there was no sign. Perhaps the Grimm had found them or maybe the water swept them away when it started draining out the slums.

Splashing through water that now only reached up to his knees, Qrow thumped his fist on the wood. "Open the gate!" he bellowed. "By order of Lord Branwen, Arcanist of the Collegium of Magic!"

After a long moment of silence and a cold sniffle from Ruby, he tried again, banging his fist on the wood. That continued for a good few minutes until Qrow noticed Ruby shivering and swore under his breath.

"Alright. Give me a little room."

He ushered Ruby back and spread his arms wide. Drawing his right hand back, he whispered something under his breath. Ruby felt the magic swirl around his right hand, at first drifting between his fingers until he condensed it all down into the palm of his hand. With a grunt, he thrust his hand forward, not throwing the spell, but rather letting go of its control.

There was no visible sign of it, but it certainly made an impact on the wood. The door buckled inward, creaked and then exploded open, one wooden panel slamming back against the wall of the gate and the other blasted off entirely, clattering onto the stone staircase behind as water rushed in and lapped about six steps up before laying still again.

If only the people here could have done that, Ruby thought dully.

"Come on." Qrow took her by her hand and dragged her through with him. He hauled her up the steps and out the water, pushing her ahead of him so that she couldn't look back and see the bodies. "Let's get you somewhere warm and rested. Reporting back to the Collegium can-"

Qrow cut off suddenly, pausing at the top of the stairs as they came face to face with ten guardsmen of the city, each armed with spars and pointing them toward the two. To their credit, a few of them lowered the spear tips when they saw it was two people coming up and not Grimm. Only a few.

"What is the meaning of this?" Qrow barked, suddenly every bit the noble he was. His imperious tone made half of the soldiers flinch. "You dare raise arms against us. After failing to open the gates, no less. Lower those spears immediately!"

A few more did, but the apparent leader, older and wearing a dull red cloak over one shoulder to mark his rank, did not. "We have instructions from the Collegium to keep the gates sealed in case of another attack."

"You're saying you heard and ignored us?"

"A runner was dispatched to the gates to the Upper District to ask instruction from the Arcanists stationed there. They would have surely returned to grant you entry."

"And if we'd been pursued by Grimm and time was of the essence?"

The man had no answer, and that was answer enough. Ruby was used to the apathy of the city watch, especially down below, but Qrow clearly wasn't and bristled angrily.

"Get out of my way. My apprentice and I are tired, wet and stricken with grief after walking through all that." His thumb jerked back toward the slums.

"We have orders to detain anyone who comes out of the slums for questioning by the Collegium-"

Qrow waved his hand in the air and whispered "burn" under his breath. Almost instantly, the hafts of the spears the guards wielded burst into flame, startling them. As one, they threw the spears down and backed away. The spell continued until the wood had entirely turned to ash, leaving only the steel tips and the iron butt at the bottom.

"T-That is… We were following our orders…" the guard commander stammered, shaking visibly and backing away from the angry Arcanist. "We were only doing what we've been told, Lord Arcanist."

"Then you will have no problem following my orders here and getting out of our way."

Qrow snapped his fingers and the group were split in two, men roughly thrown left and right to create a path for him to walk through, Ruby at his side. None of them landed badly or were hurt, but it was clear to her they were shaken and afraid. No one challenged them as they walked through.

Normally, she would have said something about Arcanists using their powers to get what they wanted. Normally. If someone had tried to lock her up now, she wasn't sure she could have avoided unleashing all her power on them. It was a miracle her wild magic wasn't going haywire right now, and the only reason it wasn't was because she'd had the chance to fully exert it in the last fight.

Qrow led her through a merchant's district turned grey and ashen. People moved around in silence and the normally crowded and jovial market was stark and empty. It was said the day a merchant refused business was the day the world ended, and for many it must have seemed that way. Huddled shapes covered in cloth lay stacked by the balconies looking down over the slums; bodies fished out of the water or those that had been rescued only to die soon after. Those that could bring themselves to be outside avoided those by a wide margin, and only two guards worked nearby, lifting covered bodies onto the back of a wooden wagon packed high with the dead.

Many of the nearby buildings were closed and boarded shut. A tavern had its doors open, warm light and heat basking out from within. It was packed, she noted as they walked by, and yet there was very little conversation to be had inside. Wood crackled, pots clinked, and people drank while hunched over tables, nursing their heads and refusing to say a word.

Those same people had thrown rocks and insults at the Dredgers before. They would have stood high on the balcony and watched the Dredgers swim or drown below or hidden themselves in taverns and their homes drinking warm and merry as people fought for their lives below. It was strange to see them so affected now. Ruby wasn't sure if it were a sudden bout of empathy or the fear that they could be next. She wasn't sure she wanted to know which it was.

"My house will be safe," Qrow said. "We can rest there. Get you a warm bath and a hot meal."

"No." Ruby pulled away. "Y-Yang…"

"Your sister?" He clicked his tongue. "Alright, we'll check on her first. The home you rented, correct? I'm sure she's safe, Ruby. There would be no reason for her to be anywhere near the slums if you gave her a home here." He pulled her in against his side, shielding her from the gazes of nearby people. "Come on, it'll be okay. You'll see."

/-/

"Ruby!"

Yang's arms wrapped around Ruby and crushed her tight against her chest, a place she had no problem being as she clung onto her sister and wept into her bosom. It was as much relief as grief, the sheer rush of strength leaving her on finding her sister okay powerful enough to reduce her to tears. The same happened to Yang, who collapsed to her knees, bringing Ruby with her.

"You're okay. You're okay." Yang repeated the words through broken sobs. "I was so afraid. I thought you'd-"

"I thought you'd died!" Ruby countered.

"No. No, no, no. I wouldn't without-" Yang cut off with a choked sound. "Ruby, the slums. They're-"

"We saw." Qrow's voice spoke so Ruby didn't have to. The Arcanist stood with his back to the front door, having closed it behind him. He was looking past Yang and Ruby to Blake, who stood at the back of the room in a stance that clearly indicated she was ready to attack him. "Ruby and I had to travel through the ruins to reach the gate. There were bodies everywhere, some of which she recognised."

"M-Melanie. Melanie is-"

"I know." Yang pulled her in again. "They all are, Ruby. I… I tried to find them among the survivors."

"How many made it?" Qrow asked. For a second Ruby thought he was talking to Yang, but then Blake answered.

"Less than a hundred. They were fished out the water or picked off the walls. They're being looked after in a rare show of compassion for this twisted city. Even so, a lot of them have died of infected wounds or pneumonia." Blake's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

"Lord Qrow Branwen at your service."

"You're an Arcanist." Her eyes trailed down his neck to the metal emblem resting against his chest. "Of the White."

"If I were then I would have introduced myself as such. Right now, I am nothing more than Qrow. You needn't worry about this reaching the Collegium. Yours is the smallest secret here, rogue."

Blake's eyes swivelled to Ruby. "He knows?"

"I know. Luckily for you all, I have reasons not to tell. Not everyone within the White thinks the same you know." He removed his coat and hung it from a hook by the door, then removed his sword belt and set that down. It didn't mean he was harmless in the slightest, but the subtle show of disarmament was enough for Blake to relax her shoulders. "Ruby and I will need to continue to the Collegium soon. Our arrival will have been noticed and you don't want their attention coming here."

"Can't she stay?" Yang asked, holding onto her tightly.

Ruby looked up to him hopefully.

Qrow sighed. "Goodwitch would never allow it. Besides, we have information we need to report back to her on. About that individual we found out in the outskirts and what he said."

Reluctantly, Ruby nodded. "Y-Yeah. I guess…"

"These two are safe." Qrow added. "That's what you were worried about, isn't it?" He reached into his pocket and removed a leather pouch of coin, which he tossed onto a nearby table. "This ought to keep them well fed, too. It's the least I can do after you saved my life."

Yang tensed. "What happened?"

"Grimm. A whole lot of them. The same as happened to you, it seems."

"It was more than just Grimm…"

"Yang." Blake interrupted her with a quick shake of her head. Then, to Ruby's surprise, she motioned a hand toward Qrow and said, "I can fill you in on what we discovered if you like. Let Ruby and Yang have their privacy."

"Hmm. That's fair." He moved past the two, pausing to lay a hand atop Ruby's head. "I'd give you longer if I could. I really would. If we hesitate though, Goodwitch will have the entire Arcana out searching for us."

He let go of her and moved into another room with Blake.

"So," Yang said quickly. "What's all that about?"

Ruby tensed. "Uh…"

"Him. Him knowing the truth. Him touching you like that." Yang glared the way Qrow had gone, then turned that same expression on her sister. "Please tell me you didn't just tell some random Arcanist you're a Wildmage."

"Of course not! He found out. Or… Or he always knew…"

Ruby explained as quickly as she could. The story was rushed, and she didn't have many answers to Yang's occasional questions. All she knew was what Qrow had told her, and of the little he'd talked about their mother. By the end of it, Yang looked no less suspicious, but she did look less afraid.

"Did you ever hear anything about him?" Ruby asked. "Did mom ever say anything?"

"Not by name. I knew she had an old friend she'd talk about once or twice. Said he lived further up the city. He or she never came to visit though, so I assumed it was just someone she'd met once. If mom really was a Wildmage though, that explains why you became one. And why she kept sneaking off to the outskirts." Sighing, Yang said, "I know we don't have much choice right now, but are you sure you can trust him?"

"I… I feel like I can… It's not what he says or does but… it's how he acts." Ruby glanced to the door he'd left through, remembering how Qrow had held her. "He treats me like I'm his child or something."

Yang tensed. "Do you think…?"

"No. I… I don't care. Dad raised me. Us. I just… I mean in the way he holds me, like he thinks I'm a child he has to look after." It was hard to explain, and she knew she was making a mess of it. "I don't think he'd be able to fake that kind of concern. Not and do it that well."

"I think I get it. He treats you like family. Like I did when you were young?"

"Mm. Yeah. He carried me like you used to. Kept stroking my back."

That kind of treatment was something she wouldn't have put up with at her age now, but she'd been so broken that she accepted it. Still, it was similar to what Yang had done when their dad died. The same kind of concern, the same thing of averting her eyes so she wouldn't have to see their father's body.

"I'll trust him for now," Yang said. "But he better not try anything. If he is mom's friend and really does want the best for you then so be it, but I'll keep an eye on him either way."

"Yeah. I will be too." Changing the subject, Ruby asked, "What is Blake talking to him about?"

"About something we saw when the attack hit." Yang's face had darkened. "You don't want to know," she said when Ruby asked. "Believe me, it's going to be hard enough for you to keep a straight face without knowing this. Besides, we might be wrong. You said you fought bad guy Arcanists, right? Rogues? It might have been those we saw."

Whatever she'd seen, it didn't sound like she believed what she was saying. Ruby frowned but no amount of prodding would get Yang to answer her. She kept saying that it was best she not know, or that she'd tell her another time.

"You have to go talk to that scary lady running the White Arcana, don't you? Focus on what you're going to say to her. We're not even sure of what we saw. It… It was a bad time for everyone."

"Yang…"

"That's all I'll say. Now come here." Yang squeezed her tight. "I want to make sure you're okay."

/-/

No good thing could last. Qrow afforded them an hour to fuss over one another and that was a long time, yet it felt so little when he said they had to return to the Collegium. He'd been tense ever since returning with Blake, his face split between thunderous rage and something much rawer. He wouldn't tell her what was said, even after they left the home and made their way to the next gates.

Whatever happened, it's upset all of them. Do I even want to know?

They were met at the gates by four Arcanists of the White. Four Arcanists who did not look pleased to see them – Qrow more than her. Words were whispered, angry gestures were made, but they ultimately remained polite in front of the city guards, formally requesting that he and Ruby return to speak with Lady Goodwitch, who was apparently awaiting their report.

Ruby's heart thundered in her chest as she and Qrow were brought into the White Cathedral and up to Goodwitch's large offices. If he was going to betray her, now would be the time. Surrounded by White Arcanists and close to the Sanctum, it would be all too easy to rob her of her power and lock her up inside.

I should run. Why take any chances? Fight my way out…

Qrow's hand settled on her shoulder. He squeezed it lightly, asking for her trust. It was hard to grant it, even after all the things he'd done to help. Ruby was used to trusting herself and Yang, not random authority figures who had their own interests at heart.

"Lady Goodwitch is waiting for you," their escort said.

"Hmph. Of course she is." Qrow swaggered into the room with a dismissive wave of his hand. "She knows I won't be made to wait." Pushing the doors open, he stormed inside, coat swishing behind him as he made his grant entrance. "You called for me, oh great and mighty Goodwitch."

Glynda looked exhausted behind her desk, green eyes flat and tired behind her spectacles. She carefully sat down a scroll she'd been reading, removed her glasses and faced Qrow and Ruby with an even gaze. Mostly Qrow, she noticed. Glynda didn't seem too concerned with her at all. That had to be a good sign.

"I did call for you," she said. "I also called for any and all entering the city to report to the Collegium immediately. An instruction that I do believe the city watch passed onto you before you so casually assaulted them."

"They left me knee deep in blood and bodies."

The stern façade cracked an inch. "I apologise for that. I had instructed them not to open the gates and let any Grimm in, and they took that too seriously. I hardly meant for them to trap people down there. Fear makes people foolish, Qrow. You know that. They have that excuse for their rude action, but you do not have one for lashing out at them."

"They raised their weapons against me."

"In fear!" Glynda snapped. "And now they fear you even more. They fear us!" Slamming a fist down on the desk, she continued, "Do you have any idea how far that story will spread? It will grow with each telling too, until the story has it that you choked the life from them with your magic. The Collegium ill needs such a reputation, especially at a time of crisis like this. The people need to trust us, not fear us!"

"I'm not part of your manipulations, Glynda. You know that."

"Manipu-?" Snarling, she settled herself back down. "Yes, I suppose it is manipulation on my part, but only done so with their safety in heart. Vale is beset by Grimm. We must be united against them if we are to survive where Menagerie fell. For many, this will be the first time Arcanists have worked closely with the soldiery of the city. It is a time for us to build lasting bonds and show the people we are protectors. It is not a time to fling our power about to have our way. You should have surrendered to their authority."

Qrow snorted.

"To the authority they believe they have," Glynda amended. "Damn it, Qrow. You know what I mean. I'll have to formally apologise to the commander of the guard now." Her eyes drifted to Ruby, who tensed. "At least there's one Arcanist here who didn't feel the need to throw her strength around."

She didn't know. Breath came rushing out Ruby's lips as she relaxed.

"Eh." Qrow shrugged one shoulder and drew attention back to him. "I'm sure she'd have done the same if I gave her the time."

"Not everyone is as reckless as you are!" Glynda snapped. Adjusting herself, she looked Ruby in the eye and said, "Don't take his lessons to heart, Ruby. It is not strength to force yourself on others just because you can. That shows a weakness of character that no Arcanist should have. The situation was unfortunate, I agree, but such tensions can be soothed with words instead of spellfire. Am I understood?"

"Yes ma'am." Ruby bowed her head.

"Good. I'd normally spare you this discomfort since you're not at fault, but I need your report on what happened outside the walls. I apologise in advance for that."

"N-No. It's fine." Ruby tried to smile. Tried. "It's part of the job, right?"

"It unfortunately is. Well," she said, eyes back on Qrow. "Report what it is you found."

The story Qrow told omitted many key details, all of which pertained to how they'd bested the Rogue Arcanist and defeated the Grimm. Qrow made it sound like it was all his work, always without outright saying it. He hinted and implied, left details out and let Glynda fill in the blanks. By the time he was done, the tale might as well have been Qrow finding everything on his own and Ruby a helpless tagalong. Anything else would have been too unbelievable.

"There is something more," Qrow said. He reached into his coat and drew out the Arcanum, setting it on the table. "This was found on the Arcanist I killed."

"A shame they had to die at all. They would have had useful information. Still, I can't blame you with the Grimm right there." Glynda looked down at it. "It's Menagerie. We feared as much, that Menagerie might have fallen to influences inside its own walls. Other than that I don't-" She gasped suddenly, leaning back. "Impossible!"

"Not impossible." Qrow said. "Only uncomfortable."

"No." Glynda snatched the Arcanum away and, with a small creak of metal, popped the white gem out of it. "This cannot be known, Qrow. That goes for you as well, Ruby!"

"You can't just ignore the evidence!" Ruby argued.

"Hush." Qrow said quickly.

"It isn't being ignored." Glynda fired back. "That one of our own would be involved is a grave offence. Perhaps it is for the best he died. We will look into this, believe me, but as I said before – now is a time for us to be unified. We cannot have news of this getting out and people doubting the White Arcana because of the actions of one or more rogue elements. Every Arcana has its traitors, Miss Rose. We are no different. However, we must appear different. It is that image that lets people have faith in us."

And right now, that faith was needed. Hate it as much as she did, Ruby still nodded. Panic in the Collegium would only work to the advantage of whomever wanted the city destroyed.

"What happened with the Grimm while we were gone?" she asked.

"That is a tragedy I would rather not speak on," Glynda said. Qrow's eyes hardened. "You've had a harsh time of things, Ruby. When I agreed to send you with Lord Qrow it was on the expectation things would go much smoother. I apologise for putting you in such danger."

Ruby shrugged. "You couldn't have known."

"Even so, I believe you deserve a commendation for your courage today. I'd give one to Qrow as well if I believed he would take it." The woman smiled. "You've represented the White with honour. This mark on your record will make sure people know it, and you will receive a hefty bonus for going above and beyond."

She couldn't bring herself to be happy about more money with everyone she'd ever known dead, but Ruby forced herself to smile anyway, if only because she knew Glynda was trying to cheer her up. "Thanks. I… I'm sorry if I don't sound too excited…"

"No one would expect it at a time like this. I will speak with Lord Qrow about the rest," she said. "You've had a hard two days and should rest. I do believe Lady Schnee and Nikos have been worried to your safety. It would do their minds a great deal of rest to know you are safe."

The urge to go see them warred with the fear of what Qrow might say when she was out of earshot, what he might reveal. In the end, she couldn't fight the dismissal and whispered quiet thanks, shooting Qrow a look before leaving. He didn't give anything away, all but forcing her to place her faith in him.

I was going to include the reveal from Weiss of her inclusion in the flooding of the slums this chapter but decided that would be much too sudden of a cliff hanger. Best to have the reveal and consequences happen in one chapter.

Okay, writing does feel a little more fluid now after my break, close to how it used to be. I'm also not unreasonably angry at the page anymore. xD Guess the break helped me fix enough. Yay. No, I haven't watched the new season or the ending (though I've heard about it and will refrain from giving my thoughts). I did, however, enjoy the Helluva Boss episode from Vizie. I must also be the only viewer of it who doesn't really like Loona all that much.

Most people seem to absolutely adore her and I'll admit she can be funny, but I'm much more into all the other cast than her. Maybe that'll change when she inevitably has to reveal how much she really does love Blitzo and appreciate the little things he does, like when she let "dad" slip out that one time.

Next Chapter: 16th May

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur