Nora shoved through the crowd, ignoring the annoyed grunts and shouts thrown at her. She slid to a stop, smiling.
They were all alive, standing near the wall as Yang stored her bike in one of the public garages. Nora cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled. They looked over at her, smiling and waving. She sprinted toward them, leaping toward the closest one.
Oscar yelped as she crashed into him, knocking him to the ground. She squeezed him, nuzzling his cheek. "You guys are alright!" she exclaimed.
"Can't breathe," Oscar wheezed. She got off him, smiling sheepishly.
Ren walked past her, opening his arms, and embracing Yang, Weiss and Blake joining in the hug. "We were so worried about you guys," he said.
Nora looked over as Pyrrha arrived. She rested a hand on her hip, smiling. "I never doubted that you would get here safely." She looked over at Ruby. "You have her with you, after all."
Ruby ran up to Pyrrha, letting out a laugh as they embraced. Pyrrha rested her head on Ruby's, closing her eye.
Blake leaned out of the trolley, looking over the crowded sidewalks as they passed them by. The air was filled with the savory scents of all the various food stalls cooking, mixed with the sea salt of the nearby ocean. The colorful buildings were coated with snow, smoke drifting from each chimney and adding gray to the golden sky.
The trolley took a turn, skirting by a large hill. Blake craned her neck, looking down the hill. A large theater sat at the bottom; seats built into the hill itself. She couldn't make out what play was being performed due to the crowd, but she could hear bits of dialogue over the bustle of the city.
"Fear? What has a man to do with fear? Chance rules our lives, and the future is all unknown. Best live as we may, from day to day."
Blake leaned back as they passed another trolley and looked over at her friends. Nora, Ren, Ruby, and Yang were paying attention to Weiss and Pyrrha as they talked about Argus.
"This city was originally colonized by Mantle, as Mistral had a difficult time adjusting to the climate and never really succeeded in creating any settlements this far north," Weiss said.
Pyrrha nodded. "Despite most of the people being Atlesian colonists, there was still a large amount of Mistralian's in this area, and the city started to develop a culture unique to itself. Neither Mistral nor Atlas, but a fusion of both. Language, food, clothes, literature, Argus became the bridge between Solitas and Anima."
"It wasn't until after the Great War that Argus officially became a part of the Kingdom of Mistral, though," Weiss said.
"And it's part of the reason why there's been a push from the Mistral Council for Atlas to withdraw its military; Mistral doesn't need a military anymore and keeping a foreign one on their lands is… questionable," Pyrrha added.
Weiss smirked at Pyrrha. "You always were my competition in Oobleck's class."
Pyrrha laughed, resting a hand over her lips. "I just find it fascinating, that's all."
The trolley started to slow before coming to a stop. Blake let her friends get off before her, only stepping off after Weiss. She stood next to Weiss as Ruby and Yang looked around.
"Where have you guys been staying?" Oscar asked.
The trolley slid away, steam wafting by. Blake gasped, hearing Weiss inhale sharply.
On the other side of the road was a woman with sky blue eyes and straw blonde hair, a baby cradled in her arms. She offered them a smile.
"So, you're team RWBY, right?" she asked.
"You…you're…" Ruby's voice trailed off.
The woman nodded. "I'm one of Jaune's sisters."
Ruby sat on of the couch's in Saphron's living room. Weiss and Yang sat on the floor, playing with the baby. Oscar and Maria sat next to her, while Qrow and Blake hung near one of the bookshelves. Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren sat across from them on the other couch, next to Saphron and an eyepatched woman with blonde hair.
"You're Dijon, right?" Ruby asked. The eyepatched woman nodded. "Jaune talked about you when I first met him, you graduated from Beacon as the top of your class a long time ago, right?"
"That's right," Dijon said.
Weiss looked up from the baby for a moment as Yang cooed. "Do you live here with Saphron?"
"No, she's just visiting," Saphron said. Saphron raised a hand, motioning with it as she talked. "Dijon likes to stop by and visit me whenever she's in this part of Mistral. It's nice having some of the family over from time to time. I don't get to see most of my siblings since they live over in Vale."
Blake looked away from the bookshelf and over at Saphron. "What do you do here, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I'm a poet," Saphron said. "Vale is pretty and all, but Argus… something about it really helps with my writing."
"So, Argus is your muse?" Blake asked.
Saphron made a face, tilting her head side to side a little. "I'd say it helps the writing process; my actual muse is my-"
The front door opened, and Ruby leaned over. A woman with dark skin and darker hair with red glasses stood in the doorway, a bag of groceries in her arms. She looked over the living room, her eyes moving over each of them.
"-wife, Terra," Saphron finished.
"Oh wow, there's a lot more of you than I was anticipating." Terra said, shifting the grocery bags.
Dijon got up from the couch, going to Terra and taking the groceries before heading into the kitchen. Terra nodded appreciatively before going to the couch, sitting next to Saphron, resting her hand on top of hers.
"Is it really alright for all of us to stay here?" Blake asked.
Saphron nodded, while Terra offered a hesitant smile. "We only really have the two guest rooms, but how could I leave you guys out on the streets? You went to Beacon with my brother and were his closest friends there. You're pretty much family."
"I'll try and find some inflatable mattresses for the rest of you, there's only one bed in each of the guest rooms," Terra said.
Dijon poked her head out of the kitchen. "I'm fine sleeping on the couch; the kids can have the bed I was using."
"Still, those beds aren't the largest, I'm sure they'd appreciate not being squished together."
"Yeah, I think it'd be better if Ruby and I had a separate bed, encase Weiss and Blake star-" Yang stopped, and started to laugh as Weiss glared at her. "Oh, lighten up," she teased.
Dijon exited the kitchen, carrying a tray of sandwiches. She set it on the coffee table and stepped away. Ruby's stomach grumbled as she snatched one of them, eliciting a laugh from Dijon.
It was pita bread, stuffed with spinach, feta, and tomatoes. She bit into it, moaning slightly as she chewed; how long had it been since she'd last eaten?
She finished off her sandwich and looked over at everyone else. They all had a sandwich in hand, eating happily. She smirked and reached for the plate and grabbed her second one, tearing into it with a bite.
Terra reached into her pocket and pulled out her scroll, groaning as she looked at the screen. She stood up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. Ruby cocked her head and glanced at Saphron.
"Terra is a radio technician, and she gets contracted by the Atlesian military a lot to help out with repairs and maintenance over at the base. They've been having a lot of difficulty getting into contact with Atlas, and they keep blaming her for it."
Ruby looked over at the kitchen; Terra occasionally appeared in the kitchen portal as she paced back and forth as she talked, her voice low.
"Would she be able to take us to the base? We're heading for Atlas, and we need to talk to whoever is in charge there." Ruby asked.
Saphron rubbed the back of her head. "She can show you the way, yeah, but good luck getting the Atlesian's to help you out. They're not the friendliest of people."
Waves lapped against the tarmac as they stood in front of the gates to the Atlesian base. Weiss kept her hands behind her back, grasping her wrist as Qrow argued with the guards standing before the gate.
The base itself was a square tower made of blue steel and gray concrete. A concrete wall surrounded the base, razor wire decorating the top. She looked away from the razors, squeezing her wrist.
She took a breath, held it, and exhaled.
I have to go back home. My team needs me, the world needs me, I… I can do this
"Weiss," Qrow called. He motioned for her to stand next to him. She hesitated before exhaling and walking forward, stopping before the gate. "See, Weiss Schnee, just like I said."
The two guards looked her over, their faces obscured by the visors of their helmets. One rested a finger against their helmet. "Gunnie, sir, we're going to need the CO at the gate," he said.
The two guards said nothing else and stood stiffly before the gates. Weiss rubbed at her wrists as the minutes passed.
The gates slid open, and the two guards turned on their heels, saluting. Weiss cocked her head as a short woman in a white dress uniform stepped out. Her gray hair was cropped short, and her dark eyes rested beneath a scowl. She returned the salute as she passed the two guards and came to a stop before her.
"I'm Colonel Cordovin," she said.
"I'm-"
"Weiss Schnee, yes, I know who you are." The Colonel's dark eyes looked her over, and she snorted. "Your mother has been running the Hunters in Atlas ragged, having them out hunting for you across the Kingdom."
Weiss bit her lip, looking away.
The Colonel stepped past her, and looked at her team, Qrow, and Maria. "Maria," she said coldly.
"Caroline," she responded.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Ruby asked.
"Unfortunately," Cordovin said.
Maria smirked. "I see you still got that stick up your ass."
Cordovin said nothing, turning away from Maria and looking back at Weiss. "I am assuming you came here looking for a way to return home?"
"Yes."
Cordovin motioned toward her friends. "And why are they here?"
"They're my friends, they're the ones who gave me a home while I was away. I want them to come to Atlas with me," she said. She pointed at Qrow and then at Ruby. "Those two have information that General Ironwood needs to hear as well, it's vital to Atlas' safety."
The Colonel cocked an eyebrow. "Oh? About what?"
Weiss glanced at Qrow and Ruby, and to the Relic hooked to Ruby's belt. Qrow nodded.
"About the force threatening Remnant, that caused the Fall and the Attack at Haven. About how to help stop it."
The Colonel looked over at Blake. "I believe we already know what 'forces' are at work trying to destroy the peace across Remnant."
Blake snarled, and she took a step forward. Weiss stepped in front of her, blocking her from the Colonel's gaze. She met Cordovin's glare with her own, her voice colder than the air around them "She is a future member of the Schnee family, and you will treat her with the respect my family deserves."
They glared at each other, neither letting up for several moments. The Colonel finally sighed and broke the stare. "I never would have thought a Schnee would have a Faunus fetish, but if that is how you want things to be, then fine." Cordovin rested her hands behind her back as she spoke. "I cannot guarantee anything, but I will get in contact with the General and request flight clearance into Atlas for you and your…. companions."
The Colonel nodded at her before turning on her heels and marched back into the base. The gate slid shut, and the two guards resumed their posts.
Weiss turned back toward her friends, beaming. They smiled back; Qrow rubbed the back of his head, looking at the gate.
"That went a lot better than I was expecting it too," he said.
"So, what should we do now?" Weiss asked.
Ruby rested a hand on the Relic, glancing down at it before back at her. "I think we should tell Pyrrha and the others the truth. If they're going to Atlas with us, they need to know what they're actually getting into."
Pyrrha rose from the couch, her nails biting into her palm. Nora was grasping her head, mumbling to herself. Ren sat next to her, a pink shimmer around him as he rubbed Nora's back.
"So, Jaune died for nothing? All the talk about me saving the world by becoming the Maiden was a lie? Everything that we've fought for has been utter pointless?"
Ruby couldn't answer, Blake, Weiss, and Yang wouldn't meet her gaze. Oscar hung by one of the walls, silent. She strode past RWBY and stopped before Oscar, towering over him.
"Pyrrha, what-?"
She clasped Oscar's shoulder and squeezed. He looked up at her, fear in his hazel eyes. "I know this isn't your fault, Oscar. But I want you to tell that snake, I am very, very, upset right now."
He nodded, and she relaxed her grip, her hand falling off his shoulder and sliding to her side. She went to the front door, opening it with her semblance. She stepped onto the front porch, the cold air nipping at her. She looked back at Ruby. "I think we all need to be alone right now."
She didn't wait for a response, slamming the door shut with a gentle tug of her semblance.
Ruby exhaled, her breath puffing out in front of her as she stepped outside. She slid the glass door behind her shut and slumped against it.
"I see that went as well as expected."
Ruby looked aside. Maria sat under a tree; a plate of fruits next to her. Ruby moved away from the door, sitting down at the edge of the porch, her legs dangling over the snow. Yellow moths and white butterflies fluttered around the tree above Maria.
"Do you think I shouldn't have told them?" she asked.
Maria shrugged.
Ruby kicked her feet absent mindedly, watching the moths and butterflies. "Do you have any ideas on what we can do to stop her?"
Maria shook her head. She reached toward the plate, grabbing a fig, and biting into it. "Do you know why I was on that train in the first place, Ruby?"
"To come to Argus?"
"Obviously. But why?"
"I…I don't know."
"Because I was afraid, Ruby. After the attack at Haven, and that Grimm cult in the Lower Levels, I was afraid Salem had found me again after all these years. I was running away." Maria took another bite of her fig. "I don't think there is any plan that you can come up with if nobody else has been able to in thousands of years. If Salem wants those Relics to summon Legion, she'll get them, one way or the other. Whether she kills us all or just waits till we die of old age, she'll get what she wants."
Ruby said nothing, feeling her shoulders slump, and her head hang low. The only sound was Nora and Ren's muffled voices and Maria's chewing.
"If you think we can't stop her… why even save us at that farm," Ruby whispered.
"Because I don't know about you, but I'd rather die on my own terms than as Grimm food." Maria said.
Ruby said nothing.
The snow started to fall, specks of white drifting onto her, and melting when they touched her skin. She looked up at Maria after a while. Her blindfold was the same shade of silver as her eyes.
"How did your eyes end up like that?" Ruby asked.
"Like what?"
"You know, the way they're entirely silver, there's no white or black parts of your eyes."
Maria grunted and set her fig aside before reaching behind her and undoing her blindfold. She stared at Ruby with her unseeing eyes. They seemed to be glowing slightly. "This is what happens when a Silver Eyed Warrior uses their powers too much."
Ruby cocked her head to the side. "What?"
"How much do you know about our powers?"
"Just that we can use them to kill Grimm, and I guess what I learned from Jinn, that it's a curse from Legion for killing their Children."
"Your parents never taught you anything about it?"
"…My mom died when I was seven."
"Oh." Maria rubbed her chin. "My father is the one who trained me in my powers and taught me most of what I know. I'm…sorry, I didn't know about your mother."
"It's… it's okay."
Maria shifted in her seat, tapping a finger on her knee, looking away from Ruby. "My father always warned me about using my powers too much. He knew about Salem, warned me that we were being hunted, and to never stay in one place for too long. When he found out I became one of the first Hunters in Remnant's history he was… less than thrilled.
"Outside of being afraid of Salem finding us, he warned me that this," she pointed at her eyes "Would happen. Our powers are drawn from our vision, the more we use it, the less we can see, and the more the silver spreads. It's not something you'll notice right away and progressing to this stage is apparently rather rare." Maria chuckled. "I was rather trigger happy with it as a Hunter, I used it on almost every mission, I protected hundreds of villages and thousands of people with it. And once I went blind, I just adjusted, started relying on my other senses to make up for my lack of vision."
A lemon fell from the tree, and Maria's hand shot out, catching it. Ruby whistled.
"My semblance certainly helped with that. It heightens my senses and reflexes to a superhuman degree, allowing me to react to things almost before they happen."
"Was that your semblance just now?" Ruby asked.
Maria shook her head. "I heard that pesky thing moving with the breeze, was going to come tumbling down at any moment." She grabbed the lemon off the plate and tossed it to Ruby. Ruby tried to grab it, fumbling before getting a grip on it. "This power, do you remember what happened the first time you used it?"
Ruby shook her head. "I blacked out, I just remember seeing white and my head hurting, and then I went into a coma for a few days, and apparently I had turned a giant dragon Grimm into stone. And I guess I cut off Cinder's arm and maimed her face."
Maria nodded. "When we Snap, and unlock our powers, they act a little bit different from the way we use them afterwards."
Ruby cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean?"
"Our powers draw from our vision, but they're powered by our emotions. When we're put in a situation that is too stressful for us to endure, we," Maria snapped her fingers. "And once we do, we go on a rampage, and are left with no memory of doing so. My father never could understand what would happen to us, why we would be consumed with such a bloodlust and attack the Grimm so violently and recklessly. But after what Jinn showed us, I think I have an idea.
"When we Snap, I think a part of us is taken back to one of those Four Kings, their hatred and malice taking over and fueling us, giving us that odd burst of strength and speed, to kill every soulless creature we see. And once we pass out, that part of us goes dormant once again."
Ruby frowned, a sour taste in her mouth. She squeezed the lemon in her hand, digging her nails into its skin. "How am I supposed to use this to help people if I have to be hateful and angry to use it? If I have to turn into someone like the Rose King?"
Maria shook her head. "It doesn't have to be those emotions. We can only use our powers in the presence of the Grimm, or I guess the Trucii as well. In the heat of battle, it is easier to slip into hate and anger and aggression, but I want you to think back on when you used your powers. What were you trying to do?"
Flames consuming Jaune, Grimm dragging Blake into the darkness
"Protect my friends."
Maria smiled. "Very good. My father taught me to slip into a mental state, one full of the thoughts of every person I loved and cherished, that I wanted to protect. Our power was born from hatred, Ruby, but that need not be the end of it."
Ruby slid off the porch, going before Maria and sitting on her knees in front of her. She bowed her head. "I want you to teach me how to do that. To have that mental space, to be able to slip into it at a moment's notice. I don't know what's going to happen in Atlas, and I want to be able to protect as many people as I can."
Ruby looked up as Maria chuckled. She reached for her fig and took a bite. Seeds spilled out as she said, "Then let's get started."