F3: Hello everyone and welcome to the last chapter of this story. We left off where Star and company had seized the property back from the White Fang but a mystery shooter had killed Theodore before they could interrogate him. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and Monty. OC characters belong to me unless stated otherwise. Since this is the last...It's Showtime!
Volume 4-18 Blue: Epilogue - The Next Move.
Thanks to some help from Carmine and Fenix men the remaining members of the White Fang were incarcerated and placed in prison as everyone else returned to the academy but they noticed that the school itself had some damages to it as some of the bombs actually got through to hit their target. Star and company met up in Vanessa's office where she was waiting for everyone along with Melanie and May.
"Well it's good to see that everything is okay now. We should be able to repair the damages done to the academy but it's hard to believe that my vice headmaster was actually a member of that group. Certainly took me by surprise." Vanessa added.
"I think it took us all by surprise. Though I wonder how he was able to infiltrate the academy so easily?" Cardin questioned.
"I might have a theory on that." Melanie began.
"I went over some documents of his and found something rather interesting. Apparently mother wasn't the first headmaster of the academy but another was in charge of the academy five years ago before mother took over. From what I can tell he must've been slowly gathering troops for just an occasion that had occurred. Also he was going to be next in line to be the headmaster but mother took that position before he could." Melanie replied.
"Which meant he would have to wait longer unless he had connections to someone else." Velvet replied as Melanie nodded in agreement.
"Though he wasn't going to easy convince the faunus to join the White Fang since he was a human he needed someone the help out with that if he wanted to get troops. How'd he do that?" Mars asked.
"Actually that wasn't hard. He need a well-known huntress that was also a faunus hence Trifa. He figured a retired huntress would get other faunus to join the White Fang but he also needed leverage as well which is probably why he had her family kidnapped and used them to make her do things that she didn't want to do." Melanie replied.
Trifa nodded "Yeah that is true." She added.
"So Theodore was the mastermind behind all this huh. Quite difficult to believe." Star said but Trifa shook her head.
"I don't think he's the mastermind. He was being commanded by another. More than likely it was this Ilia that had ordered him to do those things." Trifa said.
"Though what was their goal? I assume it wasn't just destroying the academy." Carmine replied.
"From what I could tell they wanted to make people fear the White Fang by destroying the academies. This division was supposed to destroy Shade Academy but I think they have another target there going after." Trifa replied.
"Oh and what is this other target?" Fenix asked.
"From what I overheard some of them saying about going after Haven Academy in Mistral. To assert faunus supremacy over the human race." Trifa replied.
"Alright then that's where we've got to go next." Star said confidently which surprised some of the others.
"Wait 'we'. Why would you want to go to Haven?" Woody asked.
"Because... it might be a good for me to find my team their and maybe the others. Plus I'm not going to let another school get destroyed by the White Fang." Star added.
"Yes but Mistral is very far away. How are you supposed to get their? Not to mention Vale has been completely quarantined off due to the grimm that are still there." Woody added.
"I haven't figured that out yet but I know I can get to Haven without trouble." Star replied.
Vanessa chuckled at this "I might have an idea. Don't forget I am a member of the Atlas council which does grant me some... let's call them perks so to speak." Vanessa replied.
"And what kind of perks do you mean?" Star asked.
"Well… I've can station an airship to be prepared for you when you arrive in Feldspar. That can get you to Haven or at least as far as the pilot can go. Though don't be surprised if you have to travel on foot for some time." Vanessa replied.
"I didn't know you can actually do that. Guess it does have some perks being a member of the council." Cardin added.
However that was when Trifa and her family spoke up "Miss Tora if I can ask what's going to happen to us. We were taken from our home and without any lien we're not sure if we can find a stable home for us." She replied.
Though Vanessa was already two steps ahead "Seeing that I no longer have a vice headmaster and I certainly can't run this place all by myself. How would you like to be my vice headmaster?" Vanessa questioned which completely stunned by the offer.
"Are you… offering me a job?" Trifa asked as Vanessa nodded.
"Yes. Regardless of what had happened you were doing what was necessary to keep your family safe and alive. That takes a lot of guts to do and to keep calm under a stressful situation. I would be honored to have you among my staff Miss Valenstien." Vanessa replied.
Trifa didn't know what to say as she was completely shocked by that had happened in the few hours of the day.
"Also you'll be provided a home to live in which you'll be near the academy to save on time. However just to be clear I can be quite strict so you better be ready to keep up." Vanessa replied as Trifa nodded.
"Understood ma'am." Trifa said.
Star and the rest of the group simply looked on at what had happened.
"Looks like things will turn out okay for them." Star said as Velvet nodded.
"Yeah she kind of deserves this. A chance to start over again." Velvet said.
Star then turned to Fenix "Speaking of which. Don't you have something that you need to do?" Star replied.
Fenix sighed heavily at this "Yes I do. She must be outside the office. I will take my leave for now." Fenix replied as he left the office to go speak to the one person that he honestly wasn't prepared to talk to just yet. Mars.
Carmine stretched her limbs as some of the popped when she did "Well as much as I would like to stick around I've got to head back to Gossan and tell everyone that we can move back in to our rightful home. I'm sure they'll be ecstatic to hear that." Carmine replied.
"Hold on a moment Carmine." Vanessa said stopping her for a moment.
Carmine only sighed at this "Yeah what is it?" She asked.
Vanessa took in a breath before she spoke "I wish to sincerely apologize to you. I originally thought you were the criminal after you cut off the water supply. But after realizing what your motives were I felt like I rushed to conclusions quickly. For that I apologize." Vanessa said as she slightly bowed.
"Hey don't sweat it." Carmine simply said which completely caught Vanessa off guard as Carmine continued.
"Honestly I knew what risks I was taking and my actions pictured me as a criminal but I'm not one to hold grudges. So don't worry about it okay? It's water under the bridge." Carmine replied as she held out a hand.
Vanessa looked at her for a moment before letting herself smile as she took the women's hand "Yeah… water under the bridge." She said.
"Well I better get going. See you on the flip." Carmine stated as she turned around and walked out of the office.
"I get the feeling we'll be seeing a lot of her now won't we." Melanie replied.
Star nodded "Uh huh. I don't doubt that. Though I hope things will work out for Fenix and Mars." She added.
"Say how about we get something to eat? That fight got me hungry." Velvet said as everyone seemed to agree on that as they decide to leave the academy office for some nice needed lunch.
=RWBY=
Meanwhile in the hallways of the academy Mars was simply waiting or more like contemplating on something. For all she knew that all her life she has lived as a human but in the last twenty four hours she had figured out that she was actually a faunus living as a human in disguise due to the necklace her deceased mother gave her.
She brought out the necklace as she looked at it in full view though she only held it by the string as she didn't touch the glowing arrowhead. Thoughts still swirled in her mind about what was going on or how she was going to respond as she looked behind her at her new appendage. Her lion's tail that had been kept hidden because of this… artifact that Velvet called it.
She heard footsteps coming her direction as they were heavy to the sound which was another thing she was getting used too now of having enhance hearing.
"Ah there you are. I was hoping that we could talk for a moment." Fenix replied.
"Is it about me being a faunus while I've been living as a human?" Mars said.
Fenix paused a moment before taking in the full view of his daughter… if he can call her that now.
"I understand that you must be very confused and angry at this right now. More importantly at me yes? Though I'd be more than willing to answer any questions that you have." Fenix said.
"I have a lot of questions and they are all a jumbled mess in my head that I don't know which one to start with first." Mars replied as she crossed her arms under her bust.
Fenix pondered a thought for a few seconds before he spoke again "The perhaps I can answer some of them right now. The reason why we had to hide your faunus trait." Fenix began.
"It was because of me. When you were only a baby we had no idea that you were going to have my faunus trait but we still loved you all the same. It was because of my reputation as a huntsman that I had made enemies of my own and if my enemies figured out that I had family… they would've gone after you and your mother. So we both agreed to hide your faunus trait from everyone thanks to that necklace." Fenix replied.
"And that one day we would reunite as a family again but now… I'm not so sure if we could be a family anymore." Fenix said.
"So… you did that… to protect me and mother." Mars replied.
Fenix only nodded "Yes. I'm sure you found the letters I've sent over the years. Those were letters to Nia. We were planning to reunite on your birthday but… that never happened as she was murdered by Carmine." He said angrily.
"No." Mars replied which surprised him.
"What?" Fenix said.
"Carmine didn't murder mother. She… was trying to save her but it was already too late when she got to the house. Believe me I was in shock when I found out that she didn't do it. It was another person and I'm pretty sure Star knows who it is." Mars replied.
"… I see." Fenix said.
"Though that does bring another question up? If you were their when mother was killed why didn't you bother coming home?" Mars asked.
"I wish I knew that answer to that. Fear maybe. Fear that you would've rejected me as your father which to be honest I don't blame you if you did that. Maybe it was my guilt of never actually being there for the women that I loved for a long time." Fenix began.
"I understand that if you don't want me as your father. I wouldn't want myself either after all that has happened." Fenix replied.
"To be honest my head is telling me that I don't want you and for you to never show your face again. But my heart… is telling me something different. To give you a chance and maybe… be someone that you were meant to be." Mars said.
Fenix smiled at hearing this from Mars but he was rather unsure what to do right now but he wasn't going to give up yet.
"How about I tell you about how me and your mother met? I'm sure you would be quite surprised about that." Fenix asked.
Mars simply nodded "Let's go somewhere to talk. I would love to hear about it." Mars said as the two left the hallway to find somewhere more private to talk. It was a start but Fenix was glad that would get to spend time with the daughter that he never got the chance to know.
=RWBY=
Star and the others were now at the burger joint as they were enjoying a quite the meal as the fox chowed down on her her most favorite food in the world. Chicken.
"Oh man the meat is melting in my mouth and the flavor is just right." Star said as she took another bite of the chicken leg.
"Man Star you've certainly worked up an appetite." Cardin added.
"Well using my semblance and that other power really takes a lot out of me so I think I kind of deserve this." Star remarked back.
"We prevented the academy getting destroyed, stopped the White Fang, expose an mole in the academy all before the end of the day." Velvet said.
"Say what happened to Mars? Where is she at?" May questioned.
"I think she's having a talk with Fenix she'll be okay." Star answered.
"So I understand that you want to go to Feldspar and then get to Mistral. Is their a reason for this?" Nebula asked.
"Well... I believe that Shade wasn't their only target. If they're targeting academies then the only one to go after would be Haven academy." Star added.
"Why's that?" Dew questioned.
"Haven maybe a big academy but it's lacking security measures. The only thing that could stop them is the members of the staff and with what happen at Beacon I doubt that there is anyone at the academy for the moment." She added.
"Plus it does house a CT Tower so if that is taken out then their wouldn't be any communication for Anima. That's is why we have to go their before anymore White Fang attacks it." Star said.
"I would agree but with this large group we'd attract unwanted attention plus we never know what kind of dangers are out their and that is including the grimm." Woody added as a warning.
"Yeah... I know." Star replied back.
"Why not just four of you go?" Melanie said.
"The airships in Feldspar can only carry four passengers and the pilot. Though it's up to you to see who goes." Melanie added.
"Yeah though some of you would like to stay I bet." Star said knowingly.
"Yeah. Me, Dew, and Octavia are staying plus we got to reconnect since the events of Beacon. So we're out." Nebula replied as the other two nodded in agreement.
"Well I'm going with. I'm not going to let you go on your own." Cardin said surprisingly.
"That goes double for me as well." Velvet replied too.
Star was surprised that Cardin and Velvet wanted to come especially after everything that had happened but Star didn't question it as she only nodded.
"Okay... but who else?" Star questioned.
"What you thought I was going to sit on the side lines?" May said as she was wanting to join in.
"Alright I guess that makes four of us. You sure the rest of you are okay with this." Star said.
"Yeah... besides I wanted to spend more time with mother now that all this is done." Melanie replied not even bothered.
"I'm just worried about Senka and Akane. I hope those two are doing alright." Melanie said with some worry.
"Hey if I seen either of them I'll make sure to tell them that you say hi." Star added which seemed to ease her worries a little.
"For now let's eat. We're going to need our strength for what's ahead." Velvet said as they all ate their meals. Star simply smiled that she was surrounded by friends and those that are willing to help. Though she still couldn't help that in the back of her mind she wondered if her teammates were okay especially Iona.
She wondered how distraught her partner was since her self proclaimed big sister Pyrrha was killed. Star was concerned for Pepper and now her half-sister Weiss. And Rina...Rina was a criminal by all normal standards, but she was still her teammate. After the time she spent with Carmine she began to finally understand Rina a bit better.
She pulled out her locket and opened it revealing the picture of herself along with her best friends when they were at the orphanage some time ago more importantly she looked at Cinder. A feeling of sadness and anger came over her as yes she was sadden that her own sister figure was gone but also angry that who ever did this to the two of them was going to wish they haven't met her.
Hours past as it was now night time as Mars, May, and Star rejoined at the hotel for one final night together.
"So it's decided tomorrow we make for Feldspar and then to Haven Academy." Star replied.
"Guess you all are going to be busy." Mars said.
"We're sorry Mars but we would've invited you to come but..." May began but Mars stopped her.
"No. It's okay. Besides it give more time to spend with Fen- I mean with father and all." Mars replied.
"So he kept his promise after all. That's good to hear." Star said.
"Yeah he told me that a certain fox made him promise to talk to me after all was done. Which honestly I think it will take some time but I'm sure we'll get along just fine." Mars said with a smile.
"Your not going to wear your mothers necklace?" May asked noticing that she wasn't wearing.
"Nah. I'll just keep it on me as a memento. Though I wish you four the best of luck for tomorrow. Feldspar is quite a distance from here." Mars added.
"Yeah though I think Vanessa's going to have that covered. For now let's get some sleep we got a long day tomorrow." Star replied as the three of them decided to get some sleep for tomorrows big trip.
The morning quickly came as Star and company met up in front of the entrance to the capital with Vanessa waiting for them.
"I take it you make up your mind." Vanessa said as Star nodded.
"Yeah this is something that we have to do. The White Fang needs to be stopped." Star replied.
"Very well then you're going to need these to get to Feldspar." Vanessa said pointing to the vehicles behind her.
They are two motorcycles but fit for the desert as they had three containers worth of gas along with a side car for a passenger.
"These will get you to Feldspar though even crossing the desert with these it'll take you at least a week to get their. Also these are the best that Shade Academy has to offer so you better not damage them to badly okay." Vanessa said.
"Don't worry I'm sure we won't." Star said as she and Velvet head to one while Cardin and May into the other with May taking the side car. Star also took the side car since Velvet knew how to use the motorcycles. Star felt a wave of nostalgia like when she was first in Yang's motorcycle going to Patch for the break.
Star bit her lip at this thought "Ruby, Yang, Blake, ...Weiss. Please be safe." She thought as while she didn't know there conditions she wished she knew how they were.
"Also please exercise caution. There will be grimm out their when you leave so be careful. Make sure to stay hydrated as well." Vanessa said.
"We'll be fine. And thanks again for everything." Star said as the two motorcycles roared to life before they took off. Everyone that was their waved as they left the capital speeding toward Feldspar with all their might.
For the first three days and nights it was rather smooth sailing as they past Corquina and Gossan rather quickly but by the forth day they had to stop to refuel before hitting the road again and dealing with grimm while they were at it. They had to hunker down on day five because of a surprise sandstorm came through and they had to wait it out with the supplies they had on hand. It lasted for most of the day so they decided to get some sleep.
Day six was a big stretch as they spent hours on the road making sure that everyone stayed together as they continued to travel forward. Luckily thanks to the compass that Star found some time ago they were able to keep on track. By early the next morning on day seven they were able to make it to Feldspar which was originally a small trailer town but it did have what Vanessa said it had. It had an airship waiting for them as the group approached the pilot.
"Are you the pilot of this ship?" Star asked.
"Yep. What do you want?" The pilot asked almost rudely.
"We need a lift to Mistral. Think you can do that?" Star asked.
"Look kid things are tough as it is getting people where they need to go. Your talking a long way their you know depending on the trouble." The pilot.
"Vanessa Tora said you can get anyone anywhere right. Or are you going to prove her wrong." Star added which made the pilot flinch a little as he considered his options now.
He sighed roughly "I'm going to regret this but... fine get in while I refuel this thing. Make sure you have everything before we leave cause I ain't turning around for nobody." The pilot said as he went to get fuel for the small airship.
"Let check over everything before we leave." Star said as the group did a quick check on their equipment and ammunition just incase. Star took a look in her pack and noticed that the medallion was in their she didn't know why but she must've figured Vanessa put it their for them to use on the way. Her outfit from before the kidnapping was also in the bag, and she grabs it changing into it.
It took thirty minutes to refuel the airship as the pilot was now ready to disembark from Feldspar.
"Alright passengers next stop is Mistral so be ready for take off." The pilot said as the small airship took to the air and flew off into the sky. They figured that Mistral was on the other continent so it would take them a while to get their but the good thing was that they were now finally on their way.
"Pepper, Iona where ever you two are I'm coming to find you. And Rina...hang in there." Star thought as they flew into the distance heading straight to Mistral.
=RWBY=
In another part of the world Yatsu has just returned from his mission in Vacuo as he calmly exited the black portal where Tyrian was waiting for him.
"Well someone looks rather disappointed." Tyrian said with a cackle in his voice.
Yatsu simply ignored him as he walked past him but Tyrian walked with him already knowing where he was going.
The door to the throne room opened as he Author Watts, Hazel, his teammate Fox, and Salem were waiting but the latter simply gazing out the window with a rather stoic look on her face.
"I take that Theodore has been eliminated." Salem said.
"Yes ma'am and I bring other news as well." Yatsu replied.
"Good news I hope." Author snipped.
"I can say that we have the identity of the Winter Maiden. Star Azure has the winter maiden powers." Yatsu said. Salem turned to face him but at first with a stoic look but then it turned into a small smile like she was glad.
"Excellent work Yatsuhachi. That will work splendidly." Salem replied.
Suddenly the doors burst opened behind him seeing a rather disheveled Coco but without her beret but now with an eye patch covering her left eye as she breathed quite heavily.
"Where... is... she...?" She breathed as she then fell to one knee. Tyrian was quick to catch her with a worried look on his face.
"You idiot! You haven't fully recovered yet!" Tyrian called out. Even Salem showed some worry for the women.
"He is correct. You haven't recovered from your encounter with Ruby. You need rest." Salem replied.
"Half... power... fall..." Coco breathed out but Tyrian decided to take her out of the throne room in order for her to rest.
Salem took in what she spoke before realizing what it meant as she scowled.
"A ramble of a women that is beaten. So what is our next objective?" Watts replied but Salem ignored him.
"It seems that Coco doesn't have all the powers of the fall maiden. Somehow the power was split. Clever move Ozpin even I admit I'm rather impressed. We must locate the other half of the fall maiden powers and follow it. In which then Coco can claim it for herself." Salem replied.
"I'm guessing that'll be our jobs." Watts replied gesturing to himself and Hazel.
"No I have a different task for the two of you. Head to the nearest White Fang outpost where their leader is stationed and convince them to join us. Their revolution has come." Salem ordered as Watts and Hazel got up from their seats and left.
"And us ma'am?" Fox questioned.
"It's time to find a certain Linwood. She will be a problem if she joins any comrades. Eliminate her without mercy." Salem ordered as the two bowed before making their leave. Salem turned back to the glass window as she stared outside.
"Tell me Ozpin... are your warriors ready against mine." Salem said as she smirked seeing more grimm come out from the dark pools as a Nevermore swooped down and crowed.
F3: And this ends Star's story for now. Looks like Salem has more plans ready for everyone and who knows what else. If you all like this story make sure to leave behind a comment please and thank you. Also I would like to thank Decode9 for helping with the edits throughout the story. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'll see you next time.