AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for all the support this series has gotten here and on Tv Tropes. We see the aftermath of the battles and where some of our characters are going next. I had a lot of fun with the dialogue here, especially between some of the Rwby characters and their long-awaited meetings. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
Chapter 39 – Mending
Yang.
The group made it to the airships landing platform, the glyph fading as Weiss struggled to breathe, "Hey, don't push yourself too hard." Yang said as she helped Weiss stand up.
"She's right," Musashi commented, looking around at the many officers putting out the flames, "It looks like the others managed to defend this place without us."
"That's good, but Nobu still needed medical treatment." Weiss then looked over to see a few orderlies running over with a gurney. They picked up the Grimm Archer before rolling her away, but one then approached the white heiress, "I'll be fine, just focus on her." She declined the orderly's helped, causing him to nod before following the others.
"Wow Weiss," Yang commented with her arms crossed, "Looks like you two become good friends on this little adventure." She said before seeing someone in the corner of her eye, a man who caused her to gasp, "Hey, what is a White Fang member doing here?" The blond brawler asked as she looked at the White Fang Swordsman, her eyes turning red, "Weiss, is that… him?"
"Schnee, who are those two?" Adam said towards Yang and Gilgamesh, "Friends of yours?"
"Yeah, and friends of Blake," Yang said as her fists clenched, "You Creep!" She said before walking towards the White Fang Swordsman. Adam scowled as he extended Wilt slightly out of his sheath.
However, Weiss stood between to the two, looking back to her teammate, "Yang, no." She said with the blond brawler gasping, "You can't ruin this."
"You're defending this dipshit!?" Yang asked Weiss, pointing at Adam, "This guy should be rotting in a cell for the rest of life. He is a pathetic, no-good, spineless, murdered who abused our friend!" Yang called out as her eyes remained focused on Adam, still glowing red, "An irredeemable prick who I intended to beat the crap out of right now."
"Well, your friend is certainly better at insults than you, Schnee." Adam commented, causing Yang to grit her teeth, "But that appears to be all she has." Gilgamesh was about to walk with Yang, but Musashi held him back, shaking her head. The two remained silent as they watched, The King of Heroes slightly gritting his teeth.
"Weiss, get out of my way, now," Yang ordered as her blond hair started to glow.
"No, he is a part of this mission and-" Weiss was saying but was cut off by her teammate.
"I don't care about this mission!" Yang said before putting her right-hand Weiss left shoulder, "Get out of my way-"
Suddenly, with her left hand, Weiss slapped Yang across the face. The blond brawler's face turned left as her right cheek was redder than her eyes. Yang was speechless as the white heiress scowled back at her friend, but slowly lowered her hands, "This was the last mission Winter was a part of. She died, so I have to make sure it is completed." Weiss confined as Yang's eyes widened, "I am not going to let anyone ruin it… not even you." Yang turned around to face Weiss, but the white heiress had turned back to Adam, "What happened to the others?"
Adam broke eye contact with the blond brawler to look back to Weiss, "We repealed the enemies that were responsible for those firebirds. Sigurd is talking with the Chieftain about this situation and these new developments." He said before Musashi noticed Adam clenching his right fist, "However, Brynhildr is dead." He said as she swordswoman gasped, the white heiress looking down in dread. Gilgamesh and Yang remained speechless, feeling sorrow for someone they had never meet, "As for Reines. She is alive, but her golem appears to be unable to reform."
"…" Weiss then looked back up to Adam, "What do we do now?"
"Sigurd wants us to focus on recovering," Adam said before turning around, walking away, "At least until Reines wakes up, we are on our own."
"Understood," Weiss said before walking to another direction.
"Wei-" Yang said as she reached out for her friend but was cut off by her friend instead.
"Thank you for your help with that enemy," Weiss responded without breaking her stride, "But now, go back to where you came from." She said with Yang having a look of sorrow, her eyes returning to lilac. Gilgamesh and Musashi did not say a word as they watched the blond brawler lower her head in shame.
Adam.
A while pasted as Adam just walked through the airship, scanning the area as if he was looking for someone. Eventually, the White Fang swordsman made his way to the morgue. Upon entering, he found Sigurd looking down at ta steel casket that held his departed beloved, "Chieftain has been notified of the situation." Sigurd spoke, but his eyes remained on the casket, "He also confirmed no faunus citizens were hurt in the struggle."
"That's good," Adam responded, "Sienna Khan can't ignore us anymore, not after this." He said but Sigurd did not say a word, causing the white fang swordsman to sigh, "…I'm sorry. If I had held my own against that opponent, you could have saved your wife."
"If I had gone to my Brynhildr, it would be your body I am looking down at right now." Sigurd responded, "The Seasonal Maidens are not to be taken lightly." Adam remained silent as he saw a small smile form on Sigurd's face, "Brynhildr… She had always told me that, while she hated being given this power, she had wished she was given the Winter Maiden abilities." The King of Warriors said as a tear fell onto the casket, "Because she knew how much I loved snowy landscapes."
"…" Adam remained silent, but looked down at the casket, "She was a kind woman." He spoke before seeing another of Sigurd's tears fall on the casket, "Is there anything else you need of me?"
"No, get some rest," Sigurd asked, "Please, I just need some time alone."
"I understand," Adam said with a nod, "If you do wish to talk more, I will listen."
"Thank you," Sigurd responded as Adam left the room.
As the White Fang Swordsman exited, he saw Musashi leaning against the wall, a smile on her face, "You're getting better at talking to people." She commented.
"It is still not something I am accustomed too," Adam responded before turning away and walking down the hall. Musashi giggled as she followed him.
Weiss.
Weiss was in her bathroom, wrapped in a towel. The shower walls still misty from there recent use. She walked by her mirror while drying her hair with a second towel. However, upon revealing her hair in the reflection, she was reminded of all the length she had lost. The white hair now barely went past her shoulders, the edged still jagged from the ax cut.
Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. After exiting the bathroom and throwing on her spare pajamas, she discovered Yang, "Hey," the blond brawler said with a smile while she held a comb and scissors, "Thought you could use a stylist." Weiss did not say a word as her teammate enter, "Let's just talk while I fix your hair."
The white heiress sighed before the two reentered the bathroom. Yang took a towel to cover Weiss from the neck down, "…Are you trained in this?" Weiss asked as she sat down on the toilet seat.
"Sure, I do this for Ruby and my dad all the time." Yang said before washing her hands and the tools, "You know, you're taking this a lot better than I would have."
"Yeah, well," Weiss said while sighing, "You do spend a lot of time taking care of your hair."
"Weiss, that's not what I meant," Yang responded as she finished cleaning, then started combing her teammate's hair, "If I found out my sister died… I don't know what I would have done with myself."
"…I didn't know either…" Weiss confined. "I drank, just…hoping if I forgot that she died…I could avoid the pain of losing her."
"See, I can't even do that anymore," Yang responded, "But, you're better than that." She said before running her right index and middle finger through the white hair, then evening the ends with her scissors, "I'm sad I never got to meet your sister…Do you think we would have gotten along?"
"As partners on a mission, no. Her attitude for rules and your need to break them would have caused chaos." Weiss said with Yang smirking, "But, as just two older sisters…yeah, I think you would have gotten along her then."
"I see," Yang said as she continued to even out the split ends, "Did you tell Ruby yet?"
"… I called you first," Weiss responded, causing Yang to slightly smile.
"If you want, we can call her together," The blond brawler offer, "She might give you a better perspective than I could."
"No, I'll talk to her later." Weiss answered as Yang pivoted the white heiress body, allowing her to focus on the back, "When I complete this mission, I'll go visit Ruby….And, I need to tell her uncle…that I never delivered his message."
"Weiss…" Yang said in remorse, "Do you want Ruby to use her reality marble on you? So, you could see Winter again?"
"…Only when I complete this mission." Weiss responded with a slight giggle forming in her voice now, "I want something to be proud of when I see my sister again."
"I think she would be happy to see you regardless," Yang responded with a slight giggle in her voice as well, but then calmed down. She knelt before taking locks of the white hair near the back of the ears, braiding them together, "I'm sorry about before. I didn't realize how serious this mission was for everyone. And how much this mission meant to you." She continued as Weiss remained silent, "I want you to succeed and I'll do whatever I can to help." She said before sighing, "Even if it means putting up with …Adam."
"You mean it?" Weiss asked as Yang took the snowflake scrunchy off the sink, putting it in the white heiress' hair.
"Sure, I mean, you did for this long." Yang said before she and Weiss stood up, "Well, what do you think?" The blond brawler said as she stood out of the way of the mirror, allow Weiss to see her new hairstyle, "Your length and volume is about the same as Mordred's when she lets it down, so I went with her look as inspiration." She said as Weiss felt her bangs, then saw the ponytail tied in the back by her scrunchy, "Still, you've taken better care of your hair then she has, so it's a lot sleeker."
Weiss smiled as she looked at the braids, reminded her of ones her sister had, "I like it," She said as Yang smiled. She then turned to the blond brawler, hugging her friend, "Yang, thank you."
"Anytime," Yang responded as she hugged her back, "You know, I consider of you and Blake as much my sisters as I do Ruby."
Suddenly, Weiss eyes widened, "Oh no, Blake!" She said upon stopping the hug, "You said she's in trouble."
"Yeah, and she has not been returning any of my calls. I think she ditched her scroll or destroyed it." Yang said as she walked out of the bathroom, Weiss following, "Either way, I don't know where she is."
"Well, can't you find her the same way you found me?" Weiss offered as an idea.
"My mom already pushed herself to send me and Gil to find you." Yang said as she sat on Nobu's bed, "Besides, while I don't know where Blake is, I think I know who she is going after." She said as Weiss sat on her bed, "Musashi filled me on this whole White Fang Killer thing that you have been working on. I think Blake heard about it on the news and is trying to find this bastard herself."
"You think so?" Weiss asked with Yang nodding, "Yeah, that does seem like her." She said before cupping her hands, "I get why she is doing this. And even why she didn't tell us…but still…"
"I know, she has a hard time letting us know when something is wrong," Yang responded, "Point is, we need to stop these White Fang Killers before Blake becomes one of their victims. Hopefully, we can run into her before she does something stupid." She said before smiling, "Then all three of us can say hi to Ruby together."
"Heh, you're as optimist like our team leader," Weiss responded with a smile.
"Who do you think she got it from?" Yang said before the two laughed. However, when the laughter stopped, Yang looked down at her shaking hands, "We'll stop her from getting hurt, I know it."
Suddenly, the two heard a knocking on the door. They got up to see it was Gilgamesh, who had a slight smirk, "It seems like you two are back to being friends." He said before focusing on Weiss, "I made a contribution to Menagerie. One that will be more than cover the damage of my…intervention."
"That's very nice of you," Weiss responded, crossing her arms, "And also pretty out of character." She said with him slightly chuckling.
"Hey Gil, I need to talk to you for a second," Yang asked with the two walking away. Weiss went back into her room to change into her spare outfit. As the door closed, Yang spoke to her boyfriend, "I need you to go back to Patch and stay with my parents. My Mom has only enough focus to make one portal back to her."
"You wish for me to take it alone and protect her from bounty hunters." Gilgamesh inferred. "Even with the club owner dead, that may not stop others from showing up."
"Yeah. My Dad's strong, but if any from Apocrypha shows up, it's not going to end well." Yang responded, "I'd go with you but-"
"It's okay, I understand," Gilgamesh cut her offer, glancing back to Weiss; door, "You're a good friend to those in need." He said after turning back to the blond brawler, "Just remember, you do have a family to return to."
"I will," Yang said as she leaned in, kissing the King of Heroes.
After the two were locked in passion for a few seconds, they pulled away from each other. Yang smiled at Gilgamesh; her lilac eyes gleaming. However, he saw her eyes change to red as she looked at someone approaching from behind the King of Heroes. He turned to see her rage-filled eyes were focused on Adam. Gilgamesh sighed as she turned back to Yang, "I'll find a place for your Mother to open the portal, stay safe." He said before looking to Weiss, who had just exited her room, "You as well, Queen of White." The King of Heroes said with both Yang and Weiss smiling. He then turned around and started walking but stopped as he was face-to-face with the White Fang Swordsman, "Mongrel." Gilgamesh said, waiting for Adam to get out of the way.
"Human," Adam responded, waiting for Gilgamesh to get out of the way.
"…" Gilgamesh waited with his hands in his pocket.
"…" Adam waited; his arms crossed.
"…" A few more seconds of silence paces, eventually leading to both walking out of the other's way, "Douchebag." Both thought as they pasted each other.
Musashi had an uneasy laugh as the King of Heroes passed her, then let out a sigh. However, the look of worry returned as Adam stopped in front of Yang, "Oh boy." Musashi said with a reluctant sigh, "Not again."
"So, do you intend to stay here?" Adam asked the blond brawler, whose eyes remained red.
"Yeah, so get used to me." Yang responded, then pointed at him with her right hand, "Let's get one thing straight. I'm here to help my friends, not you. If you betray or stab anyone any of us in the back." She said before clenched her right fist, "I'll stab you in the back, with your sword."
Adam did not say a word but looked down at her right hand. His mind drifting for a bit before looking back to Yang, "Yeah, that sounds fair." He said with a smirk, while her eyes remained red towards him.
Weiss and Musashi both let out a sigh of relief, but the white heiress spoke up first, "Why did you come to find us again?"
"Reines is up and wants to talk to us." Musashi spoke, "Same with Nobu." She said with the white heiress slightly gasping, "Come on, let's go." Musashi led the way as Adam followed. Weiss started to walk behind them while Yang closed her eyes. After opening them, the blond brawler's lilac irises had returned, but she kept an eye on the White Fang Swordsman.
Meanwhile.
In the middle of the sea, Vitch floated on her back before opening her eyes, squinting at the midday sun, "Well, that could have gone better." Vitch said before seeing a Yu on firebird nevermore familiar. The Spring Maiden then blasted herself out of the water, landing on the back of the firebird, "They were much stronger than we thought. Now, I need new clothes." She said before smelling her own aroma, "And a shower."
"Thanks to my blood, the Summer Maiden is dead, but she passed her powers onto someone else." Yu said as before biting her lower lip, "I was so close to attaining that power for myself."
"We always have other maidens." Vitch as she rung out the water from her tail, "Quetzalcoatl confirmed that one woman wasn't the new Fall Maiden."
"Yes, but I know how to find the real one," Yu responded, "I drank enough of the Summer Maiden's blood to pinpoint the other two maidens from around the world." She said as the firebird began to rise, "After we get the other two seasons, we can retry for Summer with guaranteed success."
"Now, that sounds like a plan." Vitch responded, "But first, a short stop so I can get a new outfit." The Spring Maiden said while looking at her tattered outfit, "Then, I say we go after the Winter Maiden first."
"Why? The Fall Maiden would still be inexperienced with the powers." Yu commented, "I have no idea how long the Winter Maiden has been honing with her abilities."
Vitch leaned back as she sat on the firebird, "Well if she's an old bat with the powers, it should be easy pickings then." The Spring Maiden commented as she had a smirk, "I do wonder what will happen when we get all the seasons together." Yu did not respond, her arms crossed as she gazed into the distance. Vitch sighed before her eyes glowed in a pink light, "Either way, it's going to be interesting."
AN: There you go, the groups have been rebalancing. Yang officially joins Weiss to get rid of the White Fang Killers. Speaking of Weiss, her new hairstyle is essentially the Mordred cut, but with sleeker white hair. Means no long braid for her future, but I think this style fits her for this context. Yang manages to put up Adam for the sake of her friend, while Gil goes back to keep Raven and Taiyang safe. Yu and Vitch are going towards the Winter Maiden, who is still a mystery of the current holder of that power, (Like I said, it will not be the cannon one from series, I just made a reference to it here). Next chapter will be the last one for a while as I end this season of the series. With it, expect there to be a lot of setup for things to come, and a certain big reveal at the very end. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
