AN:
Eugh. Life you know? But writing finds a way. I think with my horrible work schedule this year, I'll be shooting for a chapter a month. That sounds fairly reasonable to me. Slow, but consistent. Anyways, Chapter 5! And the last chapter before… well… You'll see.
Edited and Beta'd by Cruzerblade, Cr00cy and KAOS UNLEASHED
On with the show!
Chapter 5- ...What do we do if it returns?
"-ent walls are paper thin."
Eye's widening, Emerald threw herself backwards letting out a yelp as she narrowly avoided the giant blade that mutilated the tent side. Not wanting to see what that blade could do to her, she turned and sprinted off in the opposite direction, trying to weave in between the chunks of rubble as she headed towards the edge of the safe zone. She had to get away, she couldn't get caught now, if she did who knew what they would do to her.
Her mind was racing, looking for something that could help her escape. She couldn't fight, she'd be overrun and surrounded in a second. Additionally her cover would be blown.
Not good.
She caught the sound footsteps and of a weapon being drawn behind her. One of them was coming. She needed a plan, fast.
Navigating through the safe zone she passed by tents and campfires, her mind searching desperately for anything that could help . Eventually it came to the conclusion that she needed to hide.
She could disguise herself. A homeless man? No, she'd be interrogated without any kind of identification to back up her story. An Atlas soldier? Again, no, If she gave the wrong rank and clearance she'd be outed in an instant. What to use, what to use…? Maybe if she picked …?
Her choice was made for her however as she turned down an ally and spotted a large hole in the wall. Just big enough for a person… perfect. Throwing herself into the hole, she activated her semblance and turned back, glowing eyes focused on the figure that had arrived at the entrance to the alleyway. It was a close thing. If he was quick enough he would have seen her before the illusion was raised.
It was the drunk. Ozpin's main dog outside of Beacon. She held her breath when he walked past, his eyes slowly scanned the alleyway as he continued past her, his large sword drawn and held loosely by his side. She flinched when his eyes trailed over the hole she was hidden in. He seemed to be staring directly into her eyes…
...
Before he moved on.
Staying still for several minutes after he passed by, Emerald quickly removed herself from the wall and darted off in the opposite direction, a cold sweat trailing down her back. This was more than she could have handled. They knew she was there and that she was spying on them. Worse, they already had her team identified. It wouldn't be long before her face was plastered on every wall in Vale. She was on the clock now. She needed to provide results before Ozpin's lackeys could find her and based off of what she heard that would be sooner rather than later..
When she found out a quiet alley she pulled out her scroll and sent a message off to Cinder.
Goodwitch new Headmistress of Beacon. Ozpin had some failsafe for his death. They know I'm here and our faces. Interviewing students and civilians for general information about us. Cover likely blown. 40% Severely injured, no beacon student deaths. Staff knows something about the dragon. Request instructions about my cover. Not sure how long I can stay here. E.
She sent the message and waited, glancing nervously around as she waited for a reply. Even with the dragon gone this was a tight situation. The Festival was supposed to be their finishing blow. Their moment of triumph. While the Fall Maiden powers now belonged to them, Vale had clinged to life, capitalizing on the opportunity the dragon gave them to fight back. They would be on guard going forward…everyone would be. If you add on the fact that the dragon proved that it could survive Cinder's arrow… she shivered.
A sharp Ding! broke her thoughts as she quickly opened her scroll to read the reply.
She blinked and read it again.
She hummed. "That could work".
"Freedom!" Cried out Yang as she burst through the tent flaps, rolling her arms in their sockets as her eyes explored the landscape in front of tent, taking in the Vale 'safe zone'. It wasn't that safe in Yang's opinion. There was a park acting as the center, "barriers" were erected in the form of collapsed buildings and roads. All alongside the road and inside the shops, people huddled, tents and bedding spread out. To Yang, it looked as though a large chunk of the Vale population had suddenly decided to live like the homeless.
"Probably because most of them are now…" thought Yang as she turned, trying to spot her team.
Despite the gloomy setting, Yang grinned as she began walking, still riding the emotional high from the news Professor Port had brought her.
She wasn't at fault. Mercury was one of the bad guys.
She wasn't a monster.
The simple fact repeated in her mind, with more joy and excitement each time. There had been some kind of interference at the end to sabotage her. Granted, it was still cause for concern that they were somehow able to alter everyone's perception of the fight, either to her or everyone watching. But the simple knowledge that she was justified in defending herself and not a loose cannon like the media had claimed took a large weight off her shoulders that she had been carrying since that day.
It felt good. No, it felt great! It felt-
Wait, was someone calling her name?
The only warning, she got was a glimpse of some rose petals and an increasingly loud "Yaaaang!" before she was suddenly tacked to the ground, her sister's momentum catching her off guard.
"Hey Rubes." Yang said quietly with a smile, ruffling her little sister's hair. No matter how mature she tried to act in front of their team, she was still Yang's little sister.
"Ah hum." Weiss said, clearing her throat.
Yang's little sister who'd still try to act mature when caught red handed.
"So…" Ruby coughed, climbing off Yang, and brushing down her clothes nonchalantly, pointedly avoiding Weiss's gaze. "How do you feel? Did the doctors say you're okay?"
Yang grinned and pulled Ruby into a headlock, ignoring the surprised yelp. "Clean bill! All healed up and ready for action!" She said as she dug her knuckles into her sister's hair.
"Great." Blake said, stepping forward and disregarding her whining leader trapped in her partner's arms. "We still have one more day of surveying left before they begin moving the students back into Beacon. It'll be good to have you back."
"Surveying? Eugh. Sound's boring." Groaned Yang, switching Ruby into the other arm and holding her there. "What're you actually doing? Anything fun?"
"Weiss… Help me!" Ruby gasped, her arms waving frantically as she tried to escape.
"Clearing the area of grimm and checking for any survivors." Weiss said, as she eyed Ruby's predicament with amusement.
"Found anything interesting?"
"We've come across a couple grimm. And one or two survivors…"
Yang frowned and squeezed down or Ruby, turning the chokehold into a tight hug.
Around her neck.
It was full of love.
"Anything…?" Yang started, sighing in relief as Blake automatically shaking her head, knowing what the blond was trying to ask. If they were surveying parts of a city attacked by grimm, there was a high chance that there would have been casualties. Bodies. That Ruby would have to see and deal with. Team RWBY must have been extremely lucky to have not come across any. Yang was shaken from the dark thoughts as Ruby groaned and struggled harder.
"I-it's going dark!" Ruby whispered, going slack in her sister's arms. "Tell Zweiiii…I…"
With a sigh, Yang opened her arms and let Ruby fall to the ground, letting out an 'oof" as she collapsed.
"Freedom!" Cried Ruby as she shot to her feet, her chest heaving as she backed away from her sister. "So anyways! Congratulations for getting out of the medical tent!" She cried awkwardly, throwing her hands up in the air before lowering them. "We were going to get you a card but…"
"The card shop was destroyed." Finished Weiss. "One of the Atlas airships landed on it."
"I appreciate the sentiment." Yang said dryly before clapping her hands together. "So, what's the word on the street about the dragon thingy? Any new news? Juicy rumors? Overblown stories? Tell me!" Yang said, leaning in with a grin.
To her surprise, her team tensed. Weiss becoming very interested in the ground as the Blake suddenly decided to examine the sky, both expressions tight. Oblivious to the others, Ruby stepped forward, a confused expression on her face.
"Didn't Ren tell you what he saw?" Ruby asked hesitantly, her eyes checking briefly for eavesdroppers before returning to Yang, her voice lowered. "About Jaune being the D... R…A"
"Pssssh. Yeah right." Yang interrupted, "There's no way Vomit Boy could somehow be a dragon. Not even semblances would allow for that kind of jump in power. Ren must have hit his head a bit too hard" She continued, chuckling.
"But…Nora was able to ride him and he didn't try to kick h- "
"Ruby," Yang interrupted again, "Nora rode a Ursa during initiation. And from the rumors in the medical ward, the thing didn't attack anyone else during the fighting either."
"It's true," Blake said, stepping into the conversation as Ruby fell silent, mulling over her sister's words. "Some of the civilians were talking about how it saved them from the grimm down here in Vale. It doesn't hurt humans or faunus."
Weiss chimed in as well, "It probably didn't do anything to her because they were so high up. If they were lower, it probably would have knocked her off."
"But then why did it save me and Pyrrha?" Ruby asked, rubbing her head with both hands. It doesn't make any sense."
"Probably because- "Yang started, only for a dispassionate voice to speak up behind her.
"Because Ruby" Ren said, "Nora told Jaune where to go."
Yang jumped up, swearing quietly as she turned towards Ren, hastily putting a smile on her face. "Ren! Hi! Glad to see Goodwich let you go. Erm… how's the head?" She asked quickly, wincing at his deadpanned stare.
"It's fine." Ren said before shifting his focus from the older sister to the younger. "Ruby, the Professor's set up an interview room for the students to track where everyone was that night. Professor Goodwitch asked me to get you. She's finishing Nora's and Pyrrha's interview now."
"O-oh." Ruby stammered, eyes hovering on her sister. "Okay… Like right now now? Or- "
"It's fine Ruby," Yang said, pulling her sister into a side hug. "I'm starving. Let me grab some dinner with Weiss and Blake and we'll catch up after your little interview."
Ruby didn't say anything but tightened her own arms before stepping away with smile on her face. "Sounds like a plan!" She chirped before turning to Ren. "Lead the way!"
As the two walked away, Yang watched them go with a smile on her face. She didn't see that side of Ruby as much nowadays. The quiet little girl who needed her big sister to be with her everywhere on Patch. It was both nostalgic, and painful, to see it come up now. The last time she had seen Ruby this was was most likely the last anniversary of their mother's death.
"She really missed you." Blake said quietly behind her. "She kept on trying to visit when we heard you woke up but we had just gotten our assignments."
Instead of replying, Yang just grinned as she turned around before clapping both Weiss and Blake's on the shoulder. "So! Food! What's on the menu?"
"Atlas Rations, and cafeteria food from the nearest high school." Weiss said flatly. Her nose involuntary scrunching by the mere mention of what they had to eat.
"…Aw man. Really?"
"It's Tuna Casserole today if it helps."
"Blake…no."
"Suit yourself."
"Miss Valkyrie."
"And when you think about it, it probably explains why he's so afraid of bugs. I mean, when you're a giant dragon you probably don't notice the tiny little things. So, seeing them up close and so much bigger? I mean I would be freaked out if bugs were suddenly the size of my- "
"Miss Valkyrie."
"-then you have spiders! And do not get me started on- "
"Nora!"
Nora stopped talking, blinking as she looked at Professor Goodwitch quizzically. "Yes Professor?" she asked.
"Thank you for... 'detailing' where you were that night. If I have any further questions I'll send someone to collect you. Could you please send in Miss Nikos when you leave?" Asked a frazzled Professor Goodwitch.
Nora beamed widely as she stood up, a spring in her step as she pushed in her chair. "Of course!" she chirped as she opened the door. "It was great talking to you, teach!"
The door closed and there was silence.
Blessed silence.
Professor Goodwitch sighed as she looked over her notes, a small frown on her face. Nora Valkyrie's testimony had been incredibly valuable. Filling a lot of the gaps and questions surrounding Pyrrha, the Dragon, and Ozpin's actions that night. Cinder had used the Fall Maidens power to kill Ozpin and wound the dragon. And…
Goodwitch scrolled up, highlighting a particular part of her notes.
I thought he was going to go after her, but Jaune-y was really focused on the grimm dragon! I mean now I know it was because he went all dragon to fight it but at the time I was very confused!
Professor Goodwitch hummed, lost in thought as she mulled over the words. If it was true, then it crossed out unwilling transformation or some outside power… it was something that Jaune Arc could activate himself...
"Uh… Professor Goodwitch? You said you wanted to see me?"
A nervous redhead stared at her from the doorway. Crutches under each arm.
"Ah yes, Ms. Nikos, please take a seat." Professor Goodwitch said, standing up to pull out the chair, helping her student into her seat before returning to her own. "Now we are interviewing all the other students as well, but first I'd like to talk to you about what you saw that night. Where you were, what you did, that sort of thing."
"Of course."
Pyrrha nodded stiffly, her eyes fixed on the wall behind the professor's head. Professor Goodwitch frowned and leaned forward, "Are you oka-"
"I'm sorry!" burst Pyrrha as she threw her head into her arms, tears immediately pouring down her face. "It's all my fault! It's my fault Professor Ozpin died, my fault that Cinder got the Fall Maiden powers and the entire things my fault because I k-k-killed Pe-"
She cut off as two arms slid around her neck and pulled her into a tight hug. Held somewhat awkwardly, she continued to sit in her chair, Professor Goodwitch crouched beside her. When had she gotten out of her chair?
"Pyrrha." Professor Goodwitch said quietly, as she slowly stroked the girl's red hair. "What happened was not in any way your fault. If anything, the blame falls to us professors, both for laying such a heavy burden on you, and for allowing the situation to end up as it did."
She held the hug for a moment longer before breaking it, staring into her student's eyes, taking note of the stress and pure exhaustion that laid in her puffy eyes. "The timing was too coincidental between the accident between you and Ms. Polendina in the arena and the broadcast. They probably influenced one of you during the fight. We are already investigating the issue. Professor Ozpin was a certified Huntsman and he most certainly knew the risks in fighting the Fall Maiden. You did nothing but what you were told. None of what happened was because of you and no one blames you."
Pyrrha sniffled as she stared back, desperately taking in the warmth and comforting tone her normally straight laced professor spoke with.
"…Thank you." Pyrrha said quietly, wiping her eyes as Professor Goodwitch moved back to take her seat on the opposite side of the table. She made a note to send for some tissues later.
"Now, Ms. Valkyrie has done an adequate job of describing what happened in the basement, however she wasn't with you and Cinder at the top of Beacon Tower. If perhaps you can start when you first left Ms. Valkyrie at the base of the tower?"
Pyrrha nodded and closed her eyes, thinking back to the night. "I had used my semblance to help bring the elevator to the top of the tower. In O-ozpin's office. I tried to attack as soon as I got there but… "
"But…?" Glynda asked, leaning in slightly. Her interest only seemed to make it worse as Pyrrha slumped in her seat.
"I was pathetic." Pyrrha said, eyes downcast. "She was able to counter everything I had. A couple time's I thought I had her… but it was a cake walk for her to break free. She had the power of the Fall Maiden…" Her voice trailed off as her mind revisited the fight. The ease of which she was disarmed and crippled. For all her fame as the 'invincible girl' she hadn't be able to deal any lasting damage to her enemy. "I was useless." She whispered. "It was barely even five minutes before she had me disarmed, injured and half-dead at her feet."
"I highly doubt that you were useless Ms. Nikos." Professor Goodwitch said, making a note on her scroll before looking up. "And was that when the dragon arrived?"
The dragon. A golden behemoth that stretched into the sky, making Pyrrha look like some goldfish next to a great white shark. One of the last things she saw before falling unconscious that night. A beast that Ren claimed…
"Professor?" Asked Pyrrha, leaning forward, her tears nearly dry. "What was that dragon? Where'd it come from and what'd it do? Ren said..."
Professor Goodwitch coughed, interrupting her. "I am aware of what Mr. Lie Ren is claiming. And that particular idea is being…investigated. What I can tell you is the creature appeared roughly two hours into the night and spent the entire night fighting Grimm and Atlas robots. Apparently it also helped stem the flow of grimm into the Kingdom. We've yet to assign a single human or faunus casualty to the dragon and for whatever reason, it came to your rescue that night on the tower. That's partially what these interviews are for. To compile a report on the creature's actions through organized accounts."
Pyrrha nodded to herself, lost in thought.
"However," Professor Goodwitch continued. " if we could get back to the subject at hand. I have a few questions about Cinder's fighting style. Her weapon if she had one. She didn't seem to be armed during her time in the festival.
"Oh I'm sorry! She used some kind of bow and arrow that she could…"
As Professor Goodwitch took down her notes, she sighed with relief internally. When they had first agreed to organize these interviews, she had been wary that the students would interpret them as interrogations and try to hide details from the Professors. It was a fortunate that most were mature enough to recognize the interviews for what they were.
Professor Goodwitch sighed as she reviewed her notes, Ruby Rose fidgeting in the chair across from her. Eyes nervous.
"And you didn't see where Roman's companion ended up?" the Professor asked, causing the small girl to start.
"Oh! No! She fell off the airship. So, I couldn't really see where she ended up. Because she fell." Ruby said, chuckling weakly. She was fine. This was okay. Professor Goodwitch was just asking what happened and what she did. Nothing too serious. And she didn't go into too much detail at the end. Only saying that she and Nora had arrived at the top of the tower at the same time of the dragon. The professor didn't really need to know that Nora had been riding the dragon. It wasn't like she was in trouble or anything. Or was she? Did it count as trespassing when she landed on the Atlas Flagship? But it was an emergency… It was fine! Probably. Besides she had nothing to hide! Just as long as the Professor didn't ask about the dragon. She needed to protect-
"Tell me about the dragon. When did you first see it?"
Ah cookie crumbs.
"Erm… ahhhh…" Ruby trailed off, stalling for time, her eyes wide. "…no."
The blond woman looked up from her notes to send a flat look across the stable to her student.
"No?"
"No."
"The first time you saw the dragon was 'no'?"
"Yes. Erm… no. Kinda? I mean I didn't really see it on the airship! With the Grimm flying around and trying stop Torchwick and- "
Professor Goodwitch sighed.
"Ruby," she cut across, stopping the stream of excuses. "Did Lie Ren perhaps tell you what he saw that night."
Ruby flinched and pulled her cloak tighter around her form. Good job Ruby. You fail at interrogations 101.
"Yes." She said quietly, staring down at the table.
Professor Goodwitch set aside her notes fixing her with an unreadable expression.
"Do you believe him?"
Ruby leaned forward to reply, but Goodwitch continued, speaking over her.
"Do you believe that your friend, Jaune Arc was able to transform into a creature of legend and fight the grimm? Why?"
Ruby opened her mouth…and closed it.
"I want to believe it." She said after a while. "Being friends with a giant dragon sounds like it'd be fun and cool… but… with Jaune…"
"He doesn't really fit the dragon archetype, does he?" Professor Goodwitch said, a small smile on her face.
"No." Ruby chuckled, "He's brave and funny and good… but I can't see him as a dragon…"
Professor Goodwitch hummed and leaned back, an unreadable expression on her face.
"Let's go back a little bit in your account. To when you say you saw Mercury in the maintenance corridor. Did you see where he went afterwards?" the older woman asked, her eyes staring intently at Ruby.
"Oh…no." Ruby said quietly, "That was when… Pyrrha…um…"
"When Miss Nikos killed Ms. Polandia?" Completed Professor Goodwitch, leaning forward.
Ruby nodded.
"Where afterwards the broadcast started, causing all sorts of chaos." Added Professor Goodwitch as she wrote down another note.
Ruby nodded again and then spoke, her voice quiet. "Erm… about Penny…did she maybe have a backup memory? Or… some kind of spare body? Or… " she trailed off awkwardly, looking at her Professor with uncertain silver eyes.
Professor Goodwitch paused for a moment. "I wouldn't know." She said eventually. "General Ironwood had her remains sent back to Atlas."
"O-oh…" Ruby said, her glassy eyes dropping to the table, trying to hold back tears. "O-okay."
Professor Goodwitch considered the small girl and contemplated just how much difference two years can make. "I'll ask him next time I see him."
Ruby appeared to not respond, before a quiet "Thank you," reached the older woman's ears.
"Your Welcome, Ms. Rose. You can go now. If I have further questions, I'll send word to your room tomorrow." She eventually said, standing up and taking her scroll from the table.
Ruby sighed in relief before perking up, a detail standing out to the girl, "So the rumors are true that we're going back to Beacon tomorrow?"
Professor Goodwitch let loose a rare smile and left the Room, the young team leader calling after her.
"Is that a yes?"
Professor Goodwitch smiled to herself as she reviewed her notes as she walked. Although she still needed to interview several more students after lunch, it was going far more smoothly than she had hoped. Briefly, she wondered how Peter and Bartholomew were doing.
"And that's when the giant lizard appeared." Coco Adel finished, leaning back in her chair a bored look on her face. She understood why she was there but it was just so…boring. Everything the past couple of days had been boring. Surveying, errand running, and now interviews.
Boring.
Professor Port blinked as she paused in his note taking to glance quizzically at the brown-haired girl. "Appeared?"
"Yep." Coco said, popping the P as she continued to stare aimlessly at the ceiling of the converted interviewing room. What was this place before it was repurposed? An office building? No, not with that wall color. "One second fighting grimm and Atlas Paladins, next second, giant dragon standing over us."
"And…" Professor Port paused. "Nothing stood out about the dragon? You didn't see where it came from or how it appeared?"
Coco shook her head, her eyes drifting to the table. "It was the middle of a warzone. I was more focused on my downed teammate. It probably dropped down on us or something."
"This was a nice table. Maybe ir came from a nail salon?"
"It dropped down on you." The mustached man said flatly, her tone drawing Coco's attention away from the rooms furniture.
"The Atlas Robots had turned on us, the White Fang was ferrying in Grimm, a fucking grimm dragon was flying around our heads and we had been fighting non-stop for two hours." Coco said, enunciating each point with a raised finger, an intense gaze aimed at her professor.
"Forgive me for having other priorities."
There was a quiet pause as Coco continued to glare into Professor Port's face. The man staring awkwardly back before…
"W-well then! If you could continue with your erm… account of the night?"
Coco sat back with a huff as she crossed her arms. "Whatever," she grunted. "After the lizard arrived it…"
As she continued to recount the night's events, Coco's mind drifted back to the rooms furniture. She was almost sure that the room they were in used to be some kind of boutique.
"I tried to carry h-him." The girl sobbed into her hands, dark blue hair cut into a bob covering her face. "B-but we were moving so s-s-slow and t-that's w-when…"
Professor Oobleck frowned as he continued to rub her back. Sympathetically. "That's when the grimm caught up?"
"A griffon just swooped in." The girl wailed, tears falling down her face. "I couldn't even get out my weapon before he was gone! I'm a terrible teammate!"
Oobleck sighed as he continued to rub the poor girl's back, his mind wandering to similar moments in his career. It came with the job, but it was always hard consoling survivors after they've lost teammates… or in this tragic case, after they lost their entire team. Beacon was going to be in hot water once Haven Academy found out.
"A-and n-now I n-need to go back h-home and t-tell them what h-happened! N-not even a body to bury!"
"Please rest assured Sapphire that you won't have to go through this alone. Until you can get back home, the people at Beacon are here for you."
Slowly, the green hair professor continued to rub the girl's back. Her sobs subsided and ended. Before finally, she looked up at Oobleck, tears still running down her face.
"Thank you." Emerald said, offering a watery smile at the professor. Her eyes unusually bright.
Walking out of the interview room, Emerald sighed and ran a hand through her now blue hair. She had liked her own natural hair color. Blue contrasted horribly with her skin. But this was probably for the best… with a new hair color in a new hairstyle with a new outfit, all she had to do was use her semblance to slightly change her face whenever someone got too close. If Cinder properly altered the school records and she kept to herself, she shouldn't be detected for several weeks. Unless she was sloppy. Emerald was never sloppy.
Oh… that sounded bad…
Cringing at her own thought, she pulled out her scroll and sent a quick message to Cinder, hoping that her and Mercury were still close enough to Vale to get the message. With the CCT down, scroll calls had limited range. With luck, it would get through. But if not…
Her musings were interrupted as her scroll buzzed, a reply immediately arriving on her scroll. Taping on the envelope icon, she opened the message and started to read.
"This scroll number is going dark after this message.
E, good work. Me and Mercury will be removed from play in Vale. You are to maintain your position in Beacon and act as eyes and ears. Back up and your new contact will come with the reinforcements from Minstrel. His name is Doctor Arthur Watts. Follow his instructions to the letter and don't forget the Doctor part. He's very particular about his title. He has your number. Standby for further instructions. C"
Almost the second Emerald finished reading the message, there was another notification as an another one arrived. Unknown number, the profile picture being a simple 'W'. She swallowed slightly. She had followed Cinder for years without hesitation. To work under someone else she didn't know… she opened the message with trepidation…
And began reading her new instructions.
Glynda wearily eyed the tent and its guards her mouth in a thin line. Ever since Qrow lost their eavesdropper, she and Ironwood had moved the surviving Atlas forces to security duty. The men and women were eager to try and save face for their disastrous performance during the festival and had taken to the job with an almost fanatic passion, scrutinizing any and all passersby with extreme suspicion. Glynda had had to personally verify the identities of three students for the Atlas security guards to release them. She could understand why they were so rigid, but it raised one additional issue to solve onto of an ever-growing pile.
She was just one woman after all. She couldn't be everywhere at once.
"Glynda Goodwitch to visit General Ironwood." She stated, as she stowed her scroll to the guards as they leaned in for a closer look.
"Cleared." One of them said after a moment. "Apologies Professor Goodwitch but General Ironwood is currently meeting with the Council of Vale. He requested no interruptions until it has concluded."
Glynda sighed, "Could you at least let him know that I'm here?" Ever since their initial meeting to establish roles and priorities she had hardly seen the general. Both of them were preoccupied with the issues that came with a ruined Kingdom. Messengers and hastily scrawled notes had been the only interaction that the two had had in the last week and a half.
The guard considered the request for a moment, before nodding and disappearing into the tent. Leaving her with the other Atlas soldier.
Glynda sighed and crossed her arms shifting the folders she was holding to one side. They needed to meet in person at least one last time before she and the rest of Beacons faculty and students were moved back into school. Once she was in Beacon, it'd likely be months later before before the two could talk to each other again. And some things needed to be talked about.
After a minute or two, the soldier returned, "He's still in the meeting but he says that you can come in." The guard said gruffly, taking their original space in front of the tent. Turning their attention to everyone else passing by the tent.
Glynda passed by, ducking her head to enter the tent. The second she entered, paper filled her view. Paper printed maps, paper notes stickied and hung on other pieces of paper. Strung from string and pinned to bulletin boards.
"Ironwood? Are you in here?"
A metallic hand wearily raised itself above a bulletin board, before sinking down, indicating where the man was in the mess.
As she approached, quiet mutterings became audible as the General came into view.
"Yes sir. Of course, sir. We'll be ready for their arrival. Be sure to let me know if there's anything I can do- "
The general cut off, looking at his scroll briefly before pocketing it and rubbing a hand across his face. Ironwood was a mess. Although his appearance was were immaculate as usual his face told a much more different story. Black bags laid under his eyes and slight stubble lined his face. He wearily reached for a cup of coffee. Expertly navigating the mess on the table to grab said mug without even looking
"Glynda… It's good to see you." The general said wearily as he took a deep swig of his brew. "How are the students doing?"
"No casualties." Glynda replied, examining some of the papers on the table between the two. Damage reports and witness reports. Profiles detailing the grimm and White Fang movements during the crisis. Estimated cost of repairs for the different sections of the Kingdom. "A lot of them are going to be bedridden for the next few weeks and a couple may need to give up on being a huntsman, but no deaths. A miracle all things considering."
General Ironwood seemed to collapse with relief, gripping his mug tightly as he took another deep drink. "That's good" he gasped, "They're too young to be brought into something like this." He nodded to himself. His eyes distant.
"I brought you a report." Glynda said, raising the folder in her hand before placing in on the desk in front of him. "Highlights from the interviews with the students. Detailing White Fang movement, a couple more details about Cinder, Emerald, Mercury, and Mint and a report detailing the more severe injuries."
"That's good… that's very good." The man said, distractedly as he opened the folder and began to read the pages.
Glynda looker over at him with concern. She had only seen the general like this once before, Mountain Glenn. When he had lost his entire team. To see this look again...
"How many died?" she asked quietly.
General stiffed and set down his mug, his stormy eyes refusing to look at her.
"Seventy." He rasped out.
"That died? Or…?"
"Percent."
"God… James…"
"It was my idea you know," he said, talking over her. "Have the Paladins leading the charge while the robots gave cover from the back, additional suppressing fire. A perfect platoon to minimize casualties and to allow for maximum efficiency… Instead it turned into a death trap the moment the virus took effect. They had no chance." He cut off, clearing his throat loudly as he picked up a paper from the desk.
"Even after…" he continued, grabbing a pen to scribble something down before reaching for another sheet of paper. "The surviving troops did their job and helped get most of the citizens to the safe zone… but without support from the airships… they had limited ammo and limited information…"
Glynda moved forward to rest a hand on his shoulder. Gripping it tightly. "What have they said?" She asked. Ironwood didn't ask her to clarify.
"They're letting me keep the school." He replied dully, his eyes still locked onto the paper. "But I'm out of favors with the Atlas Council. Anything more and I'll probably be removed from power. If I keep my head down for the next few years and go along with some of the council proposals I'll probably get back my influence. But anything sooner…" The paper crumpled in his hand as he tried to casually set it down. "My replacement as Atlas's leader of troops in Vale will be here with the reinforcements from Mistral and Vacuo. I'm afraid I won't be of much use to Oz- "He paused, swallowing before continuing. "Be of much use to you going forward."
Glynda stood there, mind racing to find some kind of reassurance she could give the man. Any kind of comfort. "How's the clean-up effort going?" she asked, trying to stall for more time.
General Ironwood sighed and moved onto another sheet, not pausing in his pace. "Fantastic, all things considering. We have construction teams being assembled and once the roads are repaired, we'll be able to allocate resources to the most damaged areas. Starting at the walls and moving inwards."
"That's good" Glynda said, "Do they have a time frame for- James what is it?"
The General had froze, paper dropping from his hand as he turned towards the Beacon Professor. "Glynda… this report holds no mention of the creature." he said slowly, causing Glynda to freeze.
The two stood there, footsteps of people moving throughout the safezone outside the tent only sound that could be heard. Before finally, Glynda spoke.
"Your right." Glynda said. Rubbing her face with one hand. "We thou-"
"Don't shut me out!" Ironwood shouted. "I know it was my mistakes that led to this and that I played into their hands! But I need to know! I can't just be-" He took a deep breath, trying to calm his suddenly racing heart as he looked at Glynda, at her tense form and her hand on her wand. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before letting it out in a long slow hiss.
General Ironwood looked up at Glynda, a desperate broken look in his eyes. "Please… don't shut me out of this." He asked quietly.
Glynda stood there, observing the man, taking in the bags under his eyes and his ruffled clothes. "When did you last sleep?" she asked.
"When was Sunday?" The general countered, standing up to move closer to Glynda. "Listen…"
"Like I was saying…" Glynda continued, cutting off the man. "We thought it would be best if we debriefed you in person at a more secure location. To properly discuss what we learned."
General Ironwood didn't speak for several moments, his face turning slightly red as he sat back down. Coughing, he turned back to the report, picking up where he left off.
"So… You're not going to-"
"No."
"And so I was just-"
"Yes."
"And you really weren't going to-"
"James."
"…sorry… and thank you Glynda."
"Of course. Now get some sleep James. You're no good to anyone like this."
"Ren, was his room 203 or 230?"
"203 I believe."
"Hey guys! I think I found him!"
"Nora! You can't just yell in the medical ward. There are people trying to rest here."
As Ren, Nora and Pyrrha slowly made their way through Beacon's Medical Ward, a tight feeling began to well up in Ren's chest. It had been a full two weeks since that night. Two weeks since the White Fang had made their attack against Vale and Professor Ozpin has spirited Pyrrha away for a reason that the girl still wouldn't explain to them. Two weeks since last time he saw Jaune.
Two weeks since he saw his friend and team leader had turn into a dragon.
And now they were about to visit his hospital room.
Would he look the same? Would remnants of his transformation be apparent? Pointed canines and draconic eyes? Could he breathe fire as a human? How did he have the ability? How did he physically change?
Would he explain it to them?
All these questions in Ren's head spurred him on as he quickly followed Nora, eager to get to the room so he could...could…
Do what?
"Ren, could you slow down a little?" Pyrrha called, limping after him, her crutches allready replaced by a giant cast supported by a medical boot. Ren grimaced to himself and slowed down, waiting for his teammate. Further down the hall, Nora turned in and opened the door, the first of team JNPR to enter.
"Sorry," He said as Pyrrha caught up to him. "It's just…"
Pyrrha nodded, offering a small smile, "I know." she replied, the two of them falling into step down the hall.
After Pyrrha's refusal to take Ren's word, they had fallen into an odd limbo. Not the relaxed silence that accompanied them during the school year, but a tense, questionable one. Both agreeing to not address the elephant in the room until Jaune was awake, to either confirm Ren's claims or dismiss them.
Ren reached the door first, holding it open for Pyrrha as she passed through, a grateful look on her face. Ren followed in behind, closing his eyes briefly. This is it. He told himself. First time seeing Jaune after that night.
Ren opened his eyes and looked at his friend.
Jaune looked...normal.
Only a few bandages coated his arms and legs now with an IV inserted into his arm. He laid peacefully on the bed, his breathing stable. If Ren didn't know better, Jaune looked like he had just been sleeping after a long day of training with Pyrrha. No battle for the fate of Vale. No dragon transformation and no fangs peeking out the boys lips or scales coating his skin. He looked, normal.
Ren let out a slow breath and walked over to take a seat next to Nora who had picked up a medical chart on the desk next to Jaune. "He's stable." she told them as she leanned back in the chair. "His aura's been channeled directly into healing his wounds so he hasn't had time to actually replenish his reserves. They estimate a few more days before he wakes up." she said, scanning further down the page.
Across the room, Pyrrha let out a breath as she pulled a chair closer to the bed, her eyes still locked onto her teammate. "What were the injuries?" she asked quietly.
"Burns all across his back, a stab wound in his left shoulder, bite marks on his neck, lot's of blood loss, several minor cuts and bruises." Nora read off, setting down the clipboard to observe her friend. "Good going fearless leader." she said with a smile. "Glad to see you're okay."
The three of them sat together, a comfortable silence falling over them. Finally they were all back together in the same room. It felt right, in a way that seemed to remove stress that the three of them hadn't even realized they had been carrying until that moment.
As Nora leaned back to rest against Ren, Pyrrha grabbed Jaune's hand to lightly brush her fingers across his knuckles, Ren considered Jaune, taking in his unconscious form. He looked small in the hospital bed… With questions still needing to be answered, the pink haired boy had to admit that it was incredibly reassuring to see his friend safe and away from danger.
He looked out the window aimlessly, unwittingly meeting the gaze of a crow that had landed on the windowsill. Things were beginning to look up. They were back at Beacon, all four of them were together again. Now all they had to do was wait for Jaune to wake up…
And explain himself.
"Kaww…"
AN: And now it's finally time. The stage is set, the spotlights there. All that we need now is Jaune Arc. Please enter, Stage Left.
Oh and don't forget to drop a review! Now that we've passed 100, I'm going to start looking for some actual art for the cover.