September 4, 12:30 AM

National Assembly Building - Scarlet Hall

Standing proudly in the heart of Patch's old town, the Kingdom's National Assembly was a sight to behold even in the darkness of night.

As the symbol of the Kingdom's independence, it was built to house the Council of Elders, made up of the five founding families during Vale's colonization efforts.

Today it is the heart of one of Patch's most unique traditions: The mostly public assembly of the kingdom.

A way for every person on the island to be part of the future of Patch. Something every citizen took great pride in since the treaty of independence was signed on Vytal.

And today this symbol of freedom and progress, renovated by one of the greatest but misunderstood geniuses of his generation, would once again be the stage for something that would go down in the history of Remnant.

Yes, tonight would be a night to remember. And once again, the most misunderstood genius would be there to record it for-

"What are you doing, Torchwick?"

Torchwick looked up from his little notebook, noticing his good friend, best lawyer, and all-around great man step up behind him. Putting his book back into his pocket, he took off his hat, tipping it in greetings. "Ghira, my friend, incredible timing. I was in the middle of writing down this momentous occasion for future generations."

It took all of Ghiras experience to keep from groaning. Instead, he sat down heavily beside Torchwick, with one seat between them as assigned beforehand, already feeling a headache coming. And the assembly hadn't even started yet. "Yes, I heard you talking to yourself as you wrote. What I would like to know is why you feel the need to write down today's assembly."

"Isn't it obvious?" Torchwick swung his legs around, letting them rest on the empty seat between them. He was sure Doctor Oobleck wouldn't mind. "If Big Red and Little Bluebal-"

"I wish you would stop using that vulgar nickname for Mr. Bleu. It's childish, even for you."

"I know, that's the whole point. I gave him that nickname back when I used to steal his lunch money. It's not vulgar, it's nostalgic. But fond childhood memories aside, we both know that tonight will be something special. If the dynamic Uno plus Sebastian go on stage, it's gonna shatter every single plan my old man has for the assembly. And I will not miss a chance to immortalize the look on his face. And so," He took the notebook out of his pocket again, tapping the cover once. "I decided that there is no one more qualified to do it than me." Neo was sitting on the other side of the two, nodding along with Torchwick while fiddling with a recorder in her hands. One that looked oddly familiar to Ghira.

"Besides, I got a few extra Police recorders from a deal that went not quite as planned." Neo smiled at that, making a quick cutting motion across her throat. "And as the responsible man that I am, I of course would never dream about letting such equipment go to waste. Plus, Neo really wanted to use one so," Torchwick shrugged, leaning back to try to get into a more comfortable position. His partner in crime gave a thumbs up in their direction, still not taking her eyes off the most likely stolen police equipment.

This time Ghira couldn't hold the groan, covering his face with one hand. Patch's criminal pair tested his nerves on the best days, but tonight they truly tried to push his limits. Torchwick ignored his friend's pain, finally settling down and putting his hat over his eyes. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm trying to get some shuteye before the interesting stuff starts-"

At that point Ghira started to ignore the man's rambling, letting his gaze wander over the hall to look for his wife. He found her still busy with the make-up crew. The two he left her with had called backup, with five of them now trying to get Kali to sit still long enough to get her ready. If he strained his ears he was almost able to make out the profanity she was throwing at them. He would need to apologize on her behalf.

Already dreading what he would have to deal with tomorrow, he moved on to find Summer and Sebastian. Even from here, he could see how both were trying and failing, to keep their cool. Summer was walking in a small circle, hands grasping at each other while she muttered to herself. Her head was sinking into her cloak with her eyes darting back and forth like a cornered animal. Tai was standing beside her, probably trying to calm her down with little success.

Sebastian meanwhile was having trouble standing upright. He was leaning heavily on Qrow while reading through the documents Ironwood had prepared. The man looked deadly pale. The blood loss must have finally caught up now that the adrenaline rush and whatever he took from the medic was wearing off. Qrow seemed to have reached the same conclusion, trying to get the man to take a swing from his flask. Only to have his sister appear behind him, smacking him over the head before taking Sebastian from him. He seemed not to notice, still focused on the papers in his hands.

Ghira couldn't help but laugh at seeing the two. It reminded him of his first trial. He felt like he would pass out any moment that day. Of course, that was only a simple carjacking, not an unplanned proposal during an assembly on national tv.

But he knew that both of them would do what was needed once they stood on that stage. Summer has faced far worse and she would soon realize that she had nothing to fear. And Sebastian, despite lacking that presence and confidence Summer had, was driven and ready to see their parents' mission become a reality after all these years.

Yes, he had full confidence that tonight would go just as the two planne-

"Looks like it's finally time to get this show started." Ghiras musing was interrupted as Torchwick sat up, elbowing him over the empty seat. He pointed at the assembly bailiff who was running across the stage, sweaty and out of breath. "Do you think they pay him enough?" Neo showed a thumbs down, now having the police recorder ready and pointed at the center of the room. "Still, I wonder what has caused such a fuss. The old man better not try to screw with my investments on the island again."

That made Neo turn around for the first time, ready to let Roman know that it was 'their' investments when she noticed Qrow and the rest of STRQ returning to their seats. Summer and Sebastian seemed at least somewhat more put together, though Summer's death grip on her husband's now scaly hand showed that it was more pretend than anything.

Getting her scroll out of her vest, Neo pointed it at Qrow. "[Qrow, you know why they are late? I want that dinner you guys promised]"

"Welcome to the thirty-sevenths public assembly of the Kingdom of Patch for the year 68 post-great-war.

We apologize for the unplanned delay today-"

"There's your answer," Qrow said as he sat Sebastian down between Ghira and him.

The bailiff waited a few seconds for everyone to sit down before continuing, the slight tremor in his hands and voice still noticeable.

"Due to unforeseen developments beyond our control, the Assembly will be postponed for a few minutes.

Please accept our apologies for this-"

A sigh of relief was heard throughout the Scarlet Hall as the bailiff continued his speech. Torchwick gave Neo a look, barely noticeable in the dim light of the hall. Neo didn't show any reaction, but a quick press on her scroll made a small light flash on each elder's desk, unseen by the rest of the assembly.

"-and again, we want to express our deepest apologies for this delay.

While the Clan Leaders discuss these last-minute events, let us begin with a review of the major points for today:

- As always, we will open with a moment of silence for our fallen,

followed by the official welcoming of our brothers and sisters of Kuroyuri to our island.

- Next will be the presentation of a project by the Foreign Minister of Vale, Mister Zumao Valefront,

for a project that the council deemed impactful enough to be voted on by the people of Patch.

- After the presentation and following vote, a special Q&A will be held,

followed by the customary celebration of the workers of Patch for their efforts and a well wish for Sanctuary for the coming school year.

As a reminder, the Q&A is not a place to discuss traffic fines, vacation days, or personal neighborhood disputes. We do not wish for a repeat of last year.

All personal grievances are, as always, to be directed to Julius Arc after the end of the Assembly.

I understand that previous Assemblies have been lax with these rules, but we have a great amount of international press present today and the council wants to keep things orderly."

A murmur ran through the crowd, many people holding tickets ready. This was not the first time their assembly had international visitors, with Clan leaders from Menagerie and the headmaster of Shade academy being regulars. But this was the first time an official representative of the Vale council would be attending in person.

The murmur in the crowd grew. Most thought this would be a routine assembly.

"And with this, it is my great honor to officially start the Assembly.

If everyone would please welcome our leaders."

The entire crowd stood up, cheers and applause greeting the five clan heads as they entered the stage. Leading them was, as always, Dana Winchester, the current leader of the Winchester Clan and administrator for the majority of the workforce on the Archipelago.

Despite her career as an opera performer long behind her, she greeted the audience with the same enthusiasm and flair as she had during her tours all over Remnant. And while the years may have started to take their toll, the elegance and grace with which she presented herself still showed why she was once one of the most successful singers in the world.

Unknown to those watching her, the attention and applause of the masses did not sate her ego. All it did was remind her of the critic who ended her career when he called her an 'overrated, tone-deaf fraud'. It was well known that the whole Winchester clan believed that the Faunus had a secret agenda to end their family. It started during the Great War when great-great-grandfather Winchester was shot by a mole Faunus from Vale. It continued with the scorpion that swindled grandmother Winchester into a business deal that almost ruined their family. A Faunus critic ending the career of Dana was just another instance in the line.

She watched the crowd like a hawk, paranoid that every Faunus she could see was the one that would try to end her for good. Turning around, she looked for her husband, who was currently behind the stage taking care of their son Cardin. She would not risk her beloved child and have him sit outside where any Faunus could do him harm.

Following closely behind Dana to make sure she didn't hold up proceedings again was Graham Torchwick, knowing full well what was going on behind the smile of his fellow council member.

Making sure Dana had taken her place he sat down on his own with a heavy sigh. The documents detailing Zumao's proposal sat in front of him ready to be reviewed. As the owner of most of Patche's mines, forges, factories, and construction companies, his vote on this project would be the most important one. And the good minister seemingly loved to make his job difficult.

Taking the first few pages, he discretely looked around the room, finding his son at his usual place. He smiled at the sneer that was sent his way, with Neo waving at him enthusiastically. His son loved to talk a big game, but despite his harsh words and regrettably harsh actions in the past, he knew deep down Roman was a good man. Just like his adopted daughter. Her recent love for teaching had filled him with such pride.

And now that his children's more questionable businesses were going through a rough patch he finally saw an opportunity to set the two straight once and for all. If these two could leave their crime days behind and inherit his position, Patch's future would be bright indeed.

It seemed like a pipe dream at times, but his son's surprise friendship with STRQ was the first ray of hope in an otherwise dark chapter in their family's history. When Neo then came to him with stories of 'her' kids and how they grew under her tutelage he knew that his vision was not as far-fetched as he thought. And if he got his daughter to turn away from crime, he knew his son would follow.

That was just the kind of dynamic the two shared.

It was the third Elder that entered that had to deal with most of Torchwick's crimes. Julius Arc took his seat, head held high as he smiled at the crowd. As head of the Arc clan and civil security on Patch, he was used to dealing with everything from homicide to rowdy teenagers. Yet he always tried to find the most peaceful solution, choosing diplomacy over brute force. Unfortunately, Roman had a knack for keeping his hands clean in the eyes of the law, often being able to simply take his smuggled goods from the port after not much more than a friendly word. And the few times he couldn't, many shipments would simply vanish into thin air, never to be seen again. Of course, as much as Julius hated it, the man's sheer brilliance when it came to black market dealings has helped Patch far more than he liked to admit. Especially regarding high-value Dust types that Schnee industries kept a monopoly on.

Thankfully he no longer had to deal with the man directly. Most of his children and children's children had joined the police and his eldest granddaughter Saffron was handling customs now. It may just be a rumor but even the criminal duo seems to have trouble getting their goods past her.

Most people warned him to involve his family so heavily in his work but Julius knew that the next generations of Arc's were needed to keep their island as peaceful as it was. An opinion his family shared with him.

All except the lone boy of the youngest generation of Arcs. Little Jaune had been enamored by the tales of huntsmen and huntresses since before he could walk. The wild stories Maria would tell him as a baby didn't help and the boy had been adamant about his choice ever since. Seeing that there was no convincing the child otherwise, the whole Arc clan made sure to prepare the boy as best they could.

Besides, one huntsman out of 33 grandchildren was a respectable outcome, no doubt. Julius took his water bottle, smiling at the countless little scrabbles of his grandchildren on it that showed their support for today's assembly. Taking a swing he looked up, waving at his family that took up a good fifth of the entire auditorium. The applause of the crowd was momentarily drowned out as the entire Arc clan let their support for their grandfather known.

With the three minor clans seated, it was time for the two major clan heads to enter. First was the Chief Administrator of the archipelago and head of the Bleu clan, Grant Bleu.

With his lawyer's jacket slung over his shoulders, Bleu walked to his desk. Taking a moment, he spoke a quiet prayer, remembering who should be at this seat right now. A routine he has done every time since he took on his role. With the crowd applause still going, Grand pulled his chair back, standing firm behind his desk. With his back straight and arms folded over his chest, the man still cut an impressive figure. Despite being close to eighty years and having gotten quite the belly, the bulging muscles of his arms showed that he was still fit.

Seeing the assembly once again filled to the brim with the sons and daughters of Patch filled the old man's heart with pride. He made no effort to hide the smile on his old, scarred face as he soaked in the atmosphere. To hear his people so happy and carefree let him know that all the work they did was worth it. And what better reward was there than having the people of Patch be here today once again to support him and his fellow elders?

Grand spent a few more moments enjoying the applause before looking back to see where the last member of the council was. His smile vanished as he saw Maria slowly hobble up the stairs, leaning heavily on her cane. No one who had spent more than a few minutes with the woman believed her attempt to seem frail, but that has not stopped her from playing the part. "Laying it on a little thick tonight, don't you think?" He spoke softly over the sound of the crowd, just loud enough for Maria to hear it. "Your grandkids aren't even here tonight, so there is no one left that believes your little show."

Maria laughed loudly at that, remembering the time Ruby and Yang had ignored every and all rules to rush on the stage to help their poor grandmother to her seat. Even she wasn't quite sure how they'd gotten past the security personnel that quickly. But as funny as a repeat performance would be, it was better that her grandkids and their two friends weren't here tonight. "Look who's talking, boy." All pretense of frailty forgotten, Maria jumped on her seat with a grace that defied her age. Pictures of her family stood on one side, the other was filled with the same documents Graham had been muttering over for the past week.

While the Bleu Clan was tasked with the jurisdiction of the kingdom and public administration, the Rose clan had been the protectors of the people from the darkness of the Grimm since the first boot touched the shores of the islands during Vales colonization. Or they used to, at least. Maria frowned as she looked at the oldest photos on her desk, faded from age. Countless faces stared back at her, judging her for being the only one left to take this seat. Putting on a carefree grin born from years of practice in ignoring personal issues, she turned to Grand. "Can we get started? I still need to whoop your ass at poker after this and these old bones aren't getting any younger. And don't hold back, if these rascals want to play in the big leagues they better be ready for it."

"Citizens, sons and daughters of Patch!" Grant began his opening speech, leaving his desk behind as he approached the edge of the podium. "Once again I welcome you to this public assembly! Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to help us decide the course of our kingdom."

Grant adjusted the microphone on his collar for a moment. "Before we begin, allow me to express my gratitude on a personal matter. As many of you know, my son's 49th birthday is in only a few weeks. My dear Setre lost his life during the fire that took not only him but most of the Rose clan from us. To this day we remember the protectors of our island. Among them were people I considered family, including Rouge Rose and her daughter Scarlet. It may come as a surprise for many, but I was there that night." A gasp ran through the crowd that had fallen silent during Grant's retelling. "My grandson Sebastion, barely more than a baby at the time, and I had accompanied Scarlet and Setre to the mansion. The two were going to ask the clan to accept both their love and daughter that night."

The murmur rose, some shouts ringing through the audience as the open secret of Patch was admitted live on national television. It brought the exact reaction Grant had expected. He waited a few moments to let the people calm down, glancing back to see Maria nod. All as planned so far. He looked back up, looking for the familiar face of his grandson and Summer. He found them easy enough in the crowd, with Sebastian staring at him slack-jawed while Summer had her hands clasped over her mouth. Good, they needed to be able to adapt to unexpected curveballs if they wanted to get anywhere tonight.

In contrast to most people in the audience, an old married couple in the front seats smiled at Grant's grand reveal. Diataiyang and Hima Xiao Long, people he considered good friends for decades, had tipped him off that James had sent one of his Ace-Ops to break into Maria's house just before the Assembly started. Together with Hong Li's retelling of their travel here, it was clear what Sebastian's plan was. He wasn't sure how his coward of a grandson suddenly found the courage to revive their parents' secret project, or how he managed to convince Summer to agree to it, but if they thought he would hand them Patchwork on a silver platter…

They would have a rude awakening.

"Unfortunately, they never got the chance to receive that blessing, as one of the worst tragedies in the history of our island occurred that night. A gas leak set the mansion of the Rose clan aflame in moments, condemning countless people to a tragic end. I can still feel the heat on my skin, and smell the biting smoke in the air. If it weren't for the bravery of Setre and Scarlet, none of us would have made it out alive that night. They sacrificed themselves for their children, heroes till the very end. And this may be the talking of a senile old fool of a man, but I believe that they still watch over us even today, protecting the children of Patch. And because of their courage, their heroism, I say we do not look back today and mourn the loss of those we have lost. But celebrate and honor those that were lost in Kuroyuri. They too gave their lives to protect their children and loved ones so that they could see a brighter tomorrow. So I ask you, not as an elder, but as a fellow citizen, to join me in a minute of silence to remember those we lost and thank them for their sacrifice.

The other clan heads each lowered their heads, showing their respect for the brothers and sisters lost in Kuroyuri. The rest of the assembly quickly followed suit, paying respect to the fallen.

Maria sat in her seat, the silence of the hall making her feel as if she was suddenly alone with her memories. They came without warning, the harsh words after she was adopted into the clan for sharing their silver eyes. An outsider, unwanted, untrustworthy. And now the only survivor along little Summer. She had no right to sit here, yet she could not leave the seat empty. The last woman that sat in this seat saved her from the darkness that had swallowed her life. So Maria took this burden until Summer was ready to take it from her.

Maybe tonight was finally the time when the Rose clan would return to Patch. The rest of the elders were aware of the possibility and supported Summers' claim. Even if some did so begrudgingly. Maria already attempted to let Summer take the seat, but it was clear that the girl was not ready to take on the responsibility. So she remained on her post, giving her daughter the time she needed.

Still, if they want to revive the Patchwork project, she would make sure they were ready for it.

As Maria dealt with her old demons, up in the stands Summer fought with her own. The bravado when she got swept up in the rush of finally deciding to do this was quickly replaced by certain dread. It had settled like a heavy stone in her stomach, radiating cold through her body. She shivered in her cloak, desperately trying to stay silent. Who was she to continue the legacy of the Rose clan? She was a nobody, a simple girl that was only good for killing Grimm. Now she was supposed to convince an entire kingdom to follow her idea?

And on top of it all, Grant revealed the secret they told her was so important to maintain the honor of the Rose clan.

Was this a test? Now? She could barely keep from losing her lunch at the thought of going on that stage and her own mother along with Grant decided they needed to play mind games with her. She wasn't made for this, she was just a normal girl, despite the entire world trying to tell her differently. No one would listen to her, and no one would follow her. And it was all her fau-

"Summer." The low whisper of her name together with a warm hand on her own brought her back to reality. She looked to the side, seeing the concerned face of her wife only inches from her own. "It's ok, we are here. You don't have to do this alone." Summer blinked a few times, the world around her slowly returning to her. Her head turned to the other side, showing her husband holding her hand, smiling gently at her.

Beside him sat Qrow, a confident grin on his face. "Raven is right, Sum, we've got this."

"Sum, look at Grant." Tai discreetly points towards the stage, showing Grant staring back at them. "You see his expression? You know what that means."

"I… I think so." Summer closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to get her thoughts in order. "He gave us the same look when he told us we would be going to Beacon instead of Haven."

"Exactly." Tai kissed her cheek. "He's telling us that he doesn't think we have what it takes. And what do we do when someone tells us we can't do something?" He took Summers' other hand, holding both together as he gave her his best boyish grin.

"We… we…"

Raven's hands joined Tai's as she leaned over. "You know what we do when the odds are against us, Sum. What we've always done." Raven's smirk was as confident as it was encouraging.

"You tell her sis. Now come on, Summer, say the word and STRQ will show the world why we are the best." Qrow sneaked an arm around Summer's shoulders, joining the trio around their leader.

She looked at them, feeling her nerves finally settle. They were right, STRQ had never backed down from a challenge and never failed to win the day. This may be a different battlefield, but that only meant they needed to use different tactics. And if Summer was good at anything, it was improvising.

Mirroring her team's smirking faces, she nodded once. "Right, time to show them who they are dealing with!"

Getting up as the others settled back into their seats, Summer strode over towards Sebastian, who had a much harder time than her as he stared at his grandfather. She stopped in front of him, tilting her head when he didn't acknowledge her. She waved her hand in front of his face, but still nothing. Summer was wondering if he had even blinked since Grant challenged them. Grabbing him by the shoulder she shook him gently. "Seb, you there?"

Gasping for air Sebastian looked around frantically as if expecting an attack. Only when he noticed Summer leaning over him did he stop. "Summer? Are we-did we?" He lost his train of thought, shaking his head in an attempt to dispel the fog that had settled over his thoughts. "Right, right, the assembly. We gotta-I gotta." He grabbed the documents he dropped before, turning pages far too fast to be able to read a single word on them.

Summer grabbed the papers, forcing him to look back up at her again. "Relax Seb, we got this. Mom and dad had a great idea, and we will make the rest of Patch see it." She helped him up, handing him back the papers. "And as Grant said, they were heroes. It's time we lived up to that legacy."

"You're right, lets-woah!" Summer didn't let him finish, grabbing him by his shirt to drag him along with her. Putting one foot on the seat in front of her, Summer activated her semblance, zig-zagging over the crowd to land on the stage. Applause followed her little show, the people of Patch shouting her name.

The reaction of the elders was mixed. with Julius seemingly amused by the huntresses' antics while Dana jumped to her feet, clapping along with the audience. "Finally. I was wondering how much longer we had to listen to the old man babble before the exciting part of the evening starts."

The spotlight had focused on Summer and Sebastian, the two now the sole focus of the entire assembly. Julius, despite his smile, got up to try to get some semblance of order back. "Summer, I know you never cared much for the rules but this is highly irregular-"

"Are you going to stop them?" Graham had put his feet up on his desk, leaning back in his chair to enjoy the show that was about to start.

Julius paused for a moment, choosing his next words carefully. "This is a very unusual assembly. I guess I can allow it just this once." With that he sat back down, giving his support for Summer to make her case.

Summer herself noticed nothing of this, her gaze firmly locked on the paintings decorating the south wall, showing the Rose clan along with Setre. Paintings of the family she never got to know but one she hoped she would be able to make proud today. Turning away from her late family, she looked to Sebastian who was still trying to find his balance. With a slight elbow to his side, she leaned over to whisper. "You ok Seb?" Getting a weak nod from him she turned around to face the stares of her mother and Grant. "You said that you fought Grimm today, right? So tell me, are they truly something to be afraid of?"

Sebastian sank into himself as Summer spoke. Shacking, he looked over his shoulder, cold sweat running down his back as he saw the stern look on his grandfather. And while Maria may no longer be able to stare, she somehow felt just as menacing sitting behind Grant. "Summer... I don't know..."

"Hey, it's ok Seb. Everyone gets scared sometimes, no matter what they faced before. I deal with them, you just focus on the technical stuff." Summer gave him her best confident smile, patting him on the back before her semblance rushed her forward a few meters, blowing wind into the two elders' faces. "I am Summer Rose, proud daughter of Setre Bleu and Scarlet Rose. Tonight I am here with a proposal. Something that will end the isolation of our kingdom. No one can stand alone on Remnant and it is time we realize this."

Neither Grant nor Maria answered her, both silent as the moments ticked by. Just as Summer was about to say something, Grant burst out laughing. "Well, that's quite the claim, girl. And you will have all the time you need to convince us after Minister Zumao's proposal." Grant said as he sat back in his chair, Maria hitting his leg with her cane for stealing her line, the entire council now sitting down. "If you would collect my grandson and return to your seats-"

A sudden crack from the upper part of the hall interrupted him. Tai, arms scaly and clawed, had ripped out an entire row of seats, taking it down with the help of Raven and Qrow. Ghira followed behind them at a more subdued pace, visibly amused by the whole thing. The rest of Team STRQ put the seats down in the middle of the auditorium before sitting down. Summer laughed as she grabbed Sebastian, leading the poor man to his new seat.

Grant watched while Julius groaned, muttering something about bad examples while Dana resumed her applause. "I guess that will do." He watched Ghira join them, sharing a quick nod with the lawyer before he sat down to talk with his grandson, both now looking at the documents Sebastian had been working on since they came in. Slamming his hand on the table to get the crowd to calm down he said. "If there are no further interruptions, I say it is high time to start this highly unusual assembly!"


"Our first order of business is to welcome our brothers and sisters from Kuruyuri. Please welcome their leader, Hong Li. "

September 4, 12:44 AM

National Assembly Building - Green Room

He paid no attention to the tv in the Green Room. The small room behind the auditorium was empty except for him, the staff that was attending him having left to watch Summers challenge the council in person. But the huntress's stunt had not only captivated the locals, oh no. That would be too easy.

Every news station on Remnant had set their eyes on tonight's unexpected turn:

'STRQ challenges Patch's council leader!'

'The legendary Summer Rose won't stay silent and stands up to Grant Bleu's abuse.'

'Is Summer preparing for a hostile takeover of Patch?'

'The Rose Clan rises from the ashes!'

His scroll hadn't stopped beeping, the Vale Council demanding an update on what was going on from him. He had no time to answer them, to focused on watching the news. The stories kept becoming more ludicrous by the minute. This whole situation was very quickly spiraling out of his control.

There was no way this could happen a second time.

It was impossible.

Ridiculous!

Summer had, once again, turned the situation he had spent years planning upside down in a matter of moments. And this time she didn't even know he was here! The everlasting man put his scroll down, muting its excessive beeping. He needed to think. If tonight was to succeed, he would have to adapt his plan fast. His speech had been tailored specifically to win the support of the council in a very specific order to assure the full support of Patch.

But Summer was an idiot. Despite her capabilities as a leader, her Beacon scores showed that thinking ahead was not her strong suit. Yet despite that, the woman had the infuriating ability to sway entire nations and bitter enemies to her side with little more than a word.

If only she would have seen that he was right. What wonders they could have accomplished together.

Yet, her bleeding heart blinded her to the necessity of sacrifice. Fifteen years ago she stood against him, breaking his control over Qrow and managing to convince one of the most selfish criminals, Roman Torchwick, to risk his own well-being and freedom by working together with James Ironwood. Together they not only repelled his invasion of Vale to secure the Crown of Choice but also managed to end his life as Ozpin. He held his stomach for a moment, the phantom pain of a stab wound momentarily distracting him.

"The relationship between Patch and Kuruyrui may have been born out of ancient folklore, but I knew that you would not abandon us in our hour of need.

There are no words to express the gratitude I and every single citizen of Kuruyuri feel for what you have done for us-"

Hong's speech was full of emotions, tears visible even through the television. Ozma could see the burden that lay heavy on the man being lifted as the reality of his people's safety started to sink in. Despite struggling to stand straight, there was an energy in his voice that reminded him of someone he had been long ago. Before his failure, before aura, when the people saw him as a hero and a savior.

The situation may be dire right now, but even he could not help but rejoice that the innocent people of Kuroyuri were saved now. The Nuckelavee had no doubt been another of his beloved twisted creations, born from her endless hatred for the gods and humanity. An abomination to bring pain and suffering to the innocent. Thankfully, one of his oldest and finest students had been there to end its miserable existence.

But this was no time to be happy. Magic swelled within him, suppressing the souls that tried to distract him. A less powerful spell, only muting the feelings of his past lives. But this body did not have the strength to take more right now. And the people of Patch needed him tonight, he could not afford to fall apart now. They may believe themselves safe with the blessing of RedHeaven, but it would not stop Salem.

No one alive could stand against her.

Even in his prime, her powers far surpassed his own. Only his skill in spell weaving and experience had given him a fighting chance. But the people of Remnant were weak, their aura and semblance sad shadows of the power humanity once wielded. The only chance they have is found in unity. To stand against the darkness together. Only then could they stop Salem.

The thought of his beloved still hurt. Even after all this time, all she's done, his soul yearned for her. To return to a simpler time when it was just them and their family. An impossible dream.

But… perhaps she could help him tonight. Invoking her name may be just what he needed to defeat Summer and get his plan back on track. A chuckle escaped him as he picked up his scroll again. Oh, the irony. Even after all these centuries it never ceased to surprise him.

"Kuroyuri was founded in the face of adversity after the Mistral leaders expelled us and forced us to work fertile lands for them.

But despite all, we have endured. And that determination, that love for our home, will be our gift to the people of Patch.

So as you say here:

ʻAʻole e pau nā keikikāne a me nā kaikamahine a Patch i ka hakakā a me ka ʻakaʻaka

(Patch's sons and daughters will never stop fighting and smiling.)."

Hong's speech ended under thundering applause, loud enough to be heard all the way to the little room Ozma was planning in. His heartfelt honesty had touched countless people. The news report still running on the tv showed that it had reached far beyond this assembly. People not only on Patch but in every kingdom cheered for the people of Kuroyuri. Even Ozma himself, having watched entire nations rise and fall, could not help a small smile.

The thought of the reaction of the Mistral's council maybe helped a little.

But as amusing as their reaction would no doubt be, it was time. Rising to his feet, Ozma adjusted his suit, fixing his wristband and making sure everything was in its proper place. He left the suitcase behind, walking out of the room with a new plan ready. Summer was not the kind of opponent he could attack directly. No, if he wanted to succeed tonight, he would have no choice but to beat them at their own game.

He waited patiently as the applause slowly died down. One of the employees, Median he believed, signaled him that it was finally time. Ozma adjusted his tie one last time, muttering to himself.

"Tonight, I will set the salvation of Remnant in motion, if you like it or not Summer. As you say on Patch: ʻO ka manawa hōʻike (It's showtime)."


"Now, it is time to introduce a special guest for this evening.

Please welcome foreign Minister of Vale, Zumao Valefont."

The spotlight followed him across the stage as he walked, accompanied by much more subdued applause. The people were noticeably less excited seeing someone from Vale. Still, Hong's heartfelt speech had helped soften them up for him. A much better start than what he had planned for.

He was not blind to the feelings of the crowd though. A great deal of mistrust and trepidation was palpable in the air. No matter, he had worked with worse before, and at this point, winning over the people of Remnant to his cause was almost a hobby of his.

All he needed to do was proceed carefully. Even with all his experience, a single misstep could ruin his plan tonight. This was the only chance to convince Patch to agree to his proposal. No matter what, tomorrow would bring forth a new kingdom thanks to Summer. At that point, he would no longer have the opening he needed to fulfill his mission. The salvation of Remnant rested on his shoulders alone tonight and he could not afford to fail.

Which meant that he would have to swallow his pride and play STRQ's game. With the team firmly planted in the middle of the hall, ignoring them was impossible. No, he would have to confront them directly if he wanted to regain his footing. So with a smile practiced over a thousand lifetimes, he approached his former students and murderers.

But how should he play this?

A friendly smile wouldn't be enough, Raven had taught Summer long ago not to trust a friendly face immediately. A polite show of support would not help, Qrow seemed already vary of him, he would pull Summer away in moments. Maybe something simple, a show of appreciation? No, Tai and his parents taught Summer to take this as an invitation. She would take their conversation over in a heartbeat.

This needed a different approach. And Summer still had one weakness he could exploit: Her family.

"Miss Summer Rose-Xiao Long-Branwen, it is an honor to finally meet you. And I see that your reputation for the unorthodox is well earned." Ozma offered his hand cordially, keeping a healthy distance from the imaginary circle around the huntress' family. "I must admit that I was quite taken by your passionate declaration. It is true that none of us can stand alone in this world. I am looking forward to this proposal of yours."

Summer did not respond to him, having taken his hand for a weak shake. It struck him how much of the young girl that first came to Beacon he still saw in her now. That same girl that would gorge herself on sweets one day, then fearlessly stand before an entire army of criminals in a strange city the next.

He ignored Raven's scoff at his praise but let go of Summer as she grabbed her wife, almost as if she wanted to protect her from him. The woman's paranoia and protectiveness haven't lessened since their Beacon days it seems. Not missing a beat, he turned to the right, offering the same hand to one of his oldest students. "Mister Bleu, a pleasure to finally meet in person. I do not doubt that your project will succeed. Your work at Sanctuary Tower was always stellar and I and my fellow councilmen are looking forward to the day you will take over your grandfather's work."

Pleasantries done with, Ozma gave a light bow before moving to the podium. He couldn't spend too much time on STRQ or it would arouse suspicion. Taking the small microphone from the bailiff he secured it on his collar before opening his laptop. A few button presses and the large screen behind him lit up. The lights dimmed. It was time.

Another press showed a map of Remnant and its kingdoms. Clearing his throat once, he opened his arms, addressing the crowd.

"Sons and daughters of Patch!" And with that, the battle had begun, the entire kingdom now focused on him. "Allow me to forgo the pleasantries. You heard my name enough tonight and so much has already happened in this assembly. I will not exhaust you with grand speeches but ask that you only listen to my vision, my dream, for not only Patch but all of Remnant. I have come here tonight because to make this dream a reality I will need your help."

A faint murmur ran through the crowd. A plea from Vale was not something anyone would have expected but it was exactly the reaction he needed. He had their attention now. "Only a few decades ago our world faced one of its greatest tragedies. Something almost as devastating as the Grimm." Ozma moved from his place at the podium, now standing directly at the edge of the stage. "The scars of the Great War run deep. Even here, in this isolated paradise I can see it. Why else would Patch feel the need to protect itself so fiercely? That fear and distrust is the true horror that we are burdened with and I can not stand by and watch it fester."

Turning back, he showed the next slide, pictures of places closest to Patch that were ravaged by battle. The BlackBurn coast north of the island, where Vale had fought against Mistral. Scenes from the legendary Olinol Promenade in ruins. "No corner of our world was spared. Where there wasn't fighting, there was fear and Grimm. Injustice and cruelty. It was every man for himself if you wanted to survive another day."

"We have made great strides in the decades since then. The fact I can stand here among you today to talk, to share my dream with you, is a testament to it. But it is not enough. This war started because we, as people, grew apart. We no longer recognized our fellow man. All we could see what the place they were born in."

The whole hall had turned silent at his speech, everyone present captivated by his words. The distrust that had been so keenly felt before had all but vanished. Just as planned. A little more and the support of the people for his plan was all but guaranteed. A few more slides showed, carefully chosen to represent every kingdom.

"Ask yourself this: Why, after everything we suffered, are we still not seeing that we are not so different? Do you truly believe that we have no common ground we can share? That one's kingdom defines one's character? Are we destined to return to the ways of the old world, before the Great War?" He could see the uncertainty in the crowd. They were questioning their very way of life and he would not let up now.

The plan had been to continue his speech, but he now had a new opportunity thanks to his former students. Returning to the group he waited a moment for the spotlight to engulf all of them. "The legendary Team STRQ, the pride of Patch. You have been all over the world, helping everyone. Never caring where someone is from, their beliefs, or their race. Surely you would know the answer to my question."

Summer had not looked away from the scenes of war he had still on display. An unintentional effect but one that played in his favor now. The rest of the team was unsure how to proceed with their leader distracted. Perfect. "I see that even you do not know the answer. I don't blame you, it is not something one can simply solve at a moment's notic-"

"Isolation." The word rang clear through the hall despite Qrows low voice. Ozma looked at him in surprise, not having expected his former friend to speak up. "Ever since Beacon fell, communication between the kingdoms has been difficult. Even with the boost to the CCT, it's not enough. And a single Grimm attack was all it took."

His shock gave way to the first genuine smile he had this evening. Even three lifetimes later his old friend still found a way to support him. "That's correct. The isolation of the kingdoms is threatening to erase all progress we have made. I knew if anyone would understand it, it would be you." He gave his former confidant one last grateful smile before turning back to the podium. He missed the sudden shock on Qrows face as he did.

A new picture was shown, a great wyrm sitting frozen atop a tower. "Beacon's fall was the worst blow to Remnant since the Great War. No Grimm attack was as devastating to the world. It was only thanks to the heroism and selflessness of its students that it did not spread further. But we now must learn from this tragedy: The Cross Continental Transmit System was the right step, but Beacon showed us that it is not enough. We need something beyond the reach of both man and Grimm. For that, I have devised a plan that will allow for a system that will remove these weaknesses. Something that no one could ever hope to attack."

A few taps on his computer showed a looping series of pictures, showing aerial shots of a ruined city. "These are pictures of an Unknown Territory named Great Ville. Taken before a team of huntsmen entered the area to take care of an unusually high gathering of Beowolfs."

"Yes, I remember that. We got these as intel last year during a joint operation with Vale." Tai pointed at the pictures, remembering the mission.

Ozma chuckled good naturally at Tai's interruption. "Indeed, one of the first official operations from the Huntsman Guild that used the Eagle Satellites as a means of safe scouting." He showed the next slide, a large workshop with one of the mentioned Eagly Satellites in the middle.

"Fascinating, but get to the point, boy. What does this have to do with your proposal?" A sharp wack was heard as Maria hit the desk with her cane.

Ozma only smiled serenity at the old woman, bowing slightly in her direction. "My apologies. I tend to get carried away when talking about my life's work. Today, satellites are only used for scouting missions into the deepest of Grimm territories. But I see a better way to use them. Imagine this: A system of these satellites deployed from multiple points on Remnant, all far beyond the reach of danger. A system that would connect every corner of the planet without fear of failure or destruction. A system that would not be controlled by the kingdoms, but by the people.

He raised his hands in the air as his voice grew louder. "That is my dream! A world that is united, where people are free to share their hopes and dreams with the world. I have spent countless hours creating something that will make this a reality. Tested and developed outside of the influence of the kingdoms, a gift to each and every one of you: The StarLine Project!"

A new picture showed the depiction of a satellite above Remnant, sending and receiving signals from the CCTs below. "The StarLine Project is based on a simple system that mimics the Cross Continental Transmit System. Professor Armstrong, one of the leading scientists and Patch native, has graciously provided me with a more easy-to-understand explanation of the project."

"As most people know, the planet we call home is protected by our atmosphere. It is divided into multiple layers, based on Dust effectiveness. But only two are of interest to us today, the Exosphere and Thermosphere. The two outermost layers are so inhospitable that even the Grimm can not travel that far."

"Dust loses its properties the further away it is from Remnant, with a 90% reduction when reaching the outermost layer. It is effectively rendered useless at that point. But just one layer below at a point called the 'Galilus Line' where the Dust remains up to 50% effectiveness. More than enough for what we have planned."

"The StarLine satellites will work on a special artificial Dust mix: The Electrogravital Dust. This mixture will be able to both power the satellites and keep their orbits stable. The same mixture is used in Atlas to keep the city in the air, proving the concept. Once launched they will be able to remain in the air indefinitely, with solar arrays charging the Dust. They will be untouchable."

"There will be two types of satellites: Three main systems, the StarMothers, that will act similar to the CCT'S. They will remain stationary over key points, connecting to the already established towers on the ground and the second type of satellite. These smaller units, the StarWalkers, will orbit Remnant in a mash pattern, receiving and amplifying the system's signals to reach every corner of the world. These units will constantly be monitored by a team of experts from all kingdoms at the new space base of Feng Dao in Mistral, with logistical support from Feldspar in Vacuo and Gardesto in Atlas."

"Now, this is a very simplified explanation of the Starlink Project. Still, if there are any questions, please feel free to voice them. I may not be a scientist but I worked enough on this to be able to answer most questions."

There was some hesitation from the crowd. The people were unsure if he was serious or not, but one after the other people started to raise their hands, some even eager to learn more about StarLink. Step one was a success. Now he just needed to convince the more skeptical members of the council, the people were already ready to support him-

"And what do you need Patch for?"

A hesitant voice broke Ozma out of his musing. He turned to it, meeting the silver eye of none other than Summer.

Despite the hesitation, her gaze was firm. "Don't get me wrong Mister Zumao, it sounds…. amazing. Something like this could change Remnant forever." She rose, her voice now clear and confident. "But nothing you told us so far has anything to do with Patch specifically. So why come here today?"

It took all of Ozma's willpower to keep the friendly smile on his face. Of course, Summer would be the one to challenge him in this crucial moment. "Again, I apologize. I got caught in the moment for a second time tonight." Her power to sway people to her site truly was something to behold. Already people seemed unsure again, lowering their hands once more. "A complex system like this that is supposed to work on a global scale takes a great deal of resources. Including very specific components not easily found. One of the most important ones is electro-iron. And the largest deposit is on-

"Azure Basin Island." Graham rubbed his head. Of course, this was what he needed. And that was the reason the documents he received were so vague about specific resources the project required. "And not only do we have some of the purest deposits on Remnant, but we are also a stone's throw away from Feng Dao."

Ozma kept the fake smile firmly plastered on his face as he turned to Graham. "One of the most important goals of this project is its financial independence. For that Vytal agreed to oversee the distribution of resources provided by the kingdoms. While we could export the electro iron from Vacuo, the added cost could jeopardize the equality StarLink is based on. So it falls on Patch to make this possible.

Portraying Patch as the only hope of the project seemed to pacify the crowd but Graham remained unimpressed, scowling at the Minister. Maria once again slammed her cane on her desk, forcing Ozma to turn to her. "The majority of Patch's infrastructure depends on our electro iron. Funding a project of this size could jeopardize this kingdom. How much do you expect us to give, and how much are you willing to pay, boy?"

"The price is open for negotiation. Furthermore, I have permission from Vale to offer additional supplies and resources to compensate Patch."

"Why would Vale offer so much instead of retaking Beacon? Even if the tower itself is beyond repair, many of what your project needs could be salvaged from it." Ozmas' eyes twitched. Now Ghira started to question him. "Vale has never made any moves towards Beacon. Now seemed like a good time. The majority of the needed electro iron could be recovered this way."

"We considered that, Mister Belladonna. But putting aside the risk such an operation puts on both the military and huntsman, we can not forget that we can not predict how a Great Grimm would react to such an attempt. Little is known of these Grimm and what little we do know shows that their powers and abilities are far beyond that of others of their kind. So it was decided that the possibility of reawakening WorldEnder was too great. But since the StarLink project depends on a four-point network, Vale has stretched its resources to build a new CCT at Signal-"

"WHAT?!"

Qrow was on his feet in moments, jumping on the stage and stalking up to Ozma. "So you are telling us that this embarrassment of an academy gets its own CCT while Sanctuary is not even recognized? Singal graduates are considered a joke-

"The tower is not a reward and I appreciate it if you would show the proper respect for people that commit their lives to protect others." Ozmas' tone turned icy as he spoke. "Vale has hosted one of the four towers since the system was created and it will host one of them again. My proposal was simply what kickstarted its construction."

"Why not build it here?"

Silence followed Qrow's question. The notion seemed ridiculous. The very thought of one of the towers outside the four original kingdoms was something no one on Patch had even considered. Yet as what Qrow said started to sink in, more and more people started to talk. Ozma could feel how the idea resonated with the crowd. But Qrow wasn't finished yet. "This StarLight thing seems like something amazing. But Vale already failed to protect its tower and if we don't want a repeat of that then we need the new tower to be protected by the best. Sanctuary has proven time and time again that we are the best. There is no safer place to build it than here."

Cheers followed his little speech. The people were on their feet, shouting their support for CCT on Patch. Ozma watched them for a moment, dumbfounded. This was worse than he could have imagined. "If Vale agrees to this, Patch is ready to supply your project with all the electro iron it needs" Graham's offer was like oil on the fire, the entire hall now chanting 'Patch' over and over again.

"As I said-'' Ozma struggled to make himself heard over the roar of the crowd. "The building of a new tower is not a reward. I would never question the competence of Sanctuary huntsman but please understand that this is simply not feasible. Signal is still young and has struggled where Sanctuary has excelled yet despite that, Sanctuary still relies on it to sign their hunting licenses."

"And why do we need to do this?" Summer had joined Qrow on stage, both now standing in front of Ozma. "You said to yourself that we should respect the people that dedicate their lives to protecting others. Then why are we seen as less? Why do we need to leave our homes to gain permission to protect this world? You said that Remnant is isolated and fractured. Shouldn't this be the opportunity to break away from what separates us?

"The discrimination of the academies has been going on for far too long. If you would support Sanctuary and agree to a CCT, the kingdoms would have to accept us. And once that happened, every other academy on Remnant in the same position would follow. You would single-handedly unite the entire huntsman community. This is exactly what you told us you worked so hard for." Qrow finished for Summer, both now waiting for his reply. The crowd had calmed down slightly when the two came on stage, waiting for his reply with bated breath.

Once again Ozma couldn't help but laugh at the irony of the situation. A lifetime ago, this fire and conviction drew him to Qrow. Now, it was what stood against him. A part of him raged at the audacity of these children to question him. What did they know about the world? Nothing! They did not sacrifice everything to save Remnant as he had. He could feel his magic rage with him, ready to erase them once and for all.

But instead of lashing out, he directed his magic inwards. He could not afford to let his emotions get the better of him now. The force of his spell almost made him buckle but he held firm. The voices and emotions of his past lives once again silenced.

The time for promises and platitudes was over. "Despite how it may seem, I did not come here today because of the convenience of your resources. I came here because I thought that Patch, out of every kingdom, would understand what is at stake here." He walked around the podium calmly, stopping right in front of Summer and Qrow. "The Cross Continental Transmit System is working beyond its capacity already. What would you do if Salem were to attack once more? If we lose another tower, Remnant would be hers for the taking." Ozma shook his head at the two like a disappointed parent, walking past them to address the crowd directly. "I came here today because it was my firm belief that Patch would set aside their misgivings to do what is right. To help ensure that the tragedy of Beacon could never happen again. But it seems like you would let pride rule your decisions and condemn innocent people to the same fate-

"How dare you accuse us of-"

"Do you wish for Salem to succeed, Qrow?" The question was like a slap to the face. "Do you, Summer? It is the only explanation I can conceive when I ask myself why you two would be so adamant about trying to profit from my plan to unite our world against her. Have I misjudged the great Team STRQ this much? I truly believed you to be above such things, but it seems that in the end your fame is more important to you than Remnant."Qrow clenched his teeth while Summer looked on in shock at the accusations.

"HOW DARE YOU-" Sebastian flew out of his seat, halfway up the stage.

"ORDER, ORDER!"

"I take no pleasure in this Mister Bleu." Ozma remained perfectly calm as he spoke, a sea of tranquility as the people raged around him. "You know how hard it was to come this far, how much greed and distrust I faced getting this project started. How at every turn I had to fight to keep it away from the hands of those that saw only to profit from it. I came here last because I believed with all my heart that it would be different. Yet all I see is the same selfishness."

"ORDER, DAMMIT!"

Raven had followed Sebastian on stage, grabbing him to keep him from assaulting the man. "I'm warning you, you are going too far-"

"Ah, the former Miss Branwen. I suppose as a bandit the thought of further communication blackouts sounds like a golden opportunity. Tell me, how many defenseless villages did your family raid after Beacon fell?" Even after they killed him, even now that they stood against him, he took no pleasure in watching Raven crumble as he used her past so viciously. But he could not give them an inch, not now. He did so once before and it cost him his life. He walked past Ghira and Tai, both having followed to restrain Qrow. He took his place behind the podium once more, adjusting his tie.

"DAMMIT, I SAID ORDER!" Grant slammed his fist on his desk, the sound of breaking wood accompanying it.

Maybe it was foolish of him to think that STRQ would finally see that he knew what was best for Remnant. Very well, if they wouldn't stand with him, then the only other option was to remove them from the playing field. "Sons and Daughters of Patch. I understand your wishes. I know that your desire for recognition is not born out of greed but from the pride you feel for your kingdom. But the time has come to look beyond our borders. You have the opportunity to save not only Patch but all of Remnant. Do not let the selfishness of those that failed the world once already distract you from the truth-

"OZMA!"

The sudden shout of his own name took him by surprise. Before he knew what had happened, Qrow had barreled into him, throwing both of them and the podium he just stood on to the ground. A strong hand grabbed him, too strong for this untrained body to break. He could feel his magic surge through him, ready to remove the hand and the man it was attached to.

"Damit! SECURITY, get him off NOW!" Luckily, before Qrows actions unknowingly exposed him, multiple people in uniform surrounded them. The weight and pressure vanished moments later.

Grant was beside him, shouting orders. "Get him to the infirmary. And I want STRQ in the back rooms immediately. Get everyone else out of here!"

The guards wasted no time, forcing everyone to leave the assembly except the five Elders. Grant sat back down on his desk with a heavy sigh. "This did not go as planned…"

One of the guards came up to Julius, confirming that STRQ was detained and the rest of the public had been escorted out. Dana walked past them, stopping at Grant's desk. "Well, this is a fine mess our glorious huntsman team landed us in. What are we going to do?"

"There isn't much we can do," Graham muttered, the documents for the StarLink spread over his desk. "Vale will want a lot of electro-iron for this project."

"Define a lot." Maria's voice had lost all of its usual mirths.

"Well, we better hope that we don't need to build anything extensive for a while. Even if I were to double production we would be behind for years."

"Shit." Grant and Maria said at the same time. "This is not feasible. The people of Kuroyuri would sit in the dark for months. Even if we only build the absolute minimum." Grant rubbed his nose, eyes closed as he tried to think.

The situation had gone from bad to worse faster than any of them could have predicted.

"We do have options but frankly, I don't like any of them. After this showing Vale has ground to make further demands. Personally, I'm not inclined to give them anything after the way Zumao humiliated our people but I'm not sure if we can afford that. And if they build their CCT they have all the reasons they need to not part with any of their iron reserves. Once again Vale wants us to pay for their plans." Graham threw the papers to the ground before getting up and joining the rest of the council around Grant's desk.

"I'm sure I speak for all of us that we will not accept this plan without Vale agreeing to let us build the new CCT on our island." Dana leaned against the desk nonchalantly. "I am sick of Vale looking down at our academy. We all have worked far too hard to let Signal of all places host the new tower. It's quite frankly insulting."

"I'm with Dana," Julius said, finally standing up, the photo of his family clutched tightly in his hand. "Vale tricked us when they asked to have this assembly on live television. Now they can blame us if the StarLink project falls through. And while I don't agree with Zumao's tactics, I do think this project is worth fighting for. But I won't kneel to Vale to make it so. That leaves us only one option." He looked around at each of his fellow elders. "We have to trust STRQ." The others nodded in agreement. "We will need to prepare. STRQ won't win this battle alone. If we want a shot at this, they will need our help."

"What are we going to do about Qrow? The boy did attack a council member on live television." Maria looked at Grant.

"We will do what we must. We can use his psychological background to lessen the blow, he has a well-recorded struggle after the fall of Beacon. Together with Zumao's provocation that may be enough to keep the worst from happening." Maria sunk into herself, looking her age now more than ever. Still, she trusted her daughter.

With a chuckle she jumped off her seat, slowly making her way backstage.

At least this isn't a boring night.


Recess - Side #1
Outside the Scarlet Room, Press Lobby Number 4

"I can't believe- To think he would- It's an insult- How dare he!"

Sebastian kept muttering to himself, having circled the small room they were escorted to for the past few minutes. Ghira looked at his old friend with worry, fearing that the man might do something he would regret later. Torchwick and Neo, having sneaked after them under Neo's semblance, joined Ghira in watching the man pace. Even the criminal duo had nothing to say, the tension in the room was almost palpable.

Sebastian looked ready to storm out at any moment to finish what Qrow started. Only the two security guards outside that had asked them to stay here for now kept him from following through.

Ghira understood his feelings well. More than once he had sat in similar rooms after a case went south, pacing and worrying about what to do next. Of course, over the years he had learned to deal with it, and Roman and Neo seemed even more at ease than him. Though where Torchwick got his coffee from he couldn't say, he was sure the man did not enter with it. But Sebastian had no experience with these situations and every moment that passed only made him more angry and anxious.

He knew that talking to him would not help right now so all they could do was sit here and wait. Recess was twenty minutes but only five had passed so far. This was going to be a long wait.

A soft poke in his site made him look down, seeing Neo leaning over Torckwick, looking up at him expectedly. "Miss Neo, what can I do for you?" Her stare remained, now accompanied by a light scowl. Ghira scratched his cheek, unsure what the woman wanted from him. He never quite learned to read her as Roman does.

Seeing that her point wasn't getting across, Neo took out her scroll. "[Unless someone pulls a miracle, we are fucked. You got anything in that lawyer's head of yours that gets us out of this?]"

Ghira smiled, a sad one but a smile nonetheless. It seemed like the duo was more worried about Summers' plan and Qrow than he thought. Still, there wasn't a magical solution he could give her. "This isn't a show, Miss Neo. There are no dramatic twists we can use to turn the entire thing around. Zumao played his part perfectly and as sad as I am to admit it, Qrow played right into his hands. If we want to win this, it's going to be a slow battle."

"Wonderful, how I love having to play the game of politicians." Roman took a sip of his coffee looking less than pleased. "Imagine if for once in their lives these blockheads wouldn't jump in without thinking."

Neo turned to him, arms balancing on his legs. "Yes Neo, he deserved it, but that doesn't change our position." She pouted for a moment before having an idea, giving Torchwick a wicked smile. "No, Hush will not help us here today." She didn't lose her grin. "I'm serious Neo. If we want to get our little booze huntsman out of this and Summer her little project, no assassinations."

She held his gaze for a moment before pushing herself off his legs and falling back into her seat. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head away, her parasol now resting idly on her lap.

Sebastian finally stopped his pacing, joining the three. "No matter what we do, there will be consequences. Zumao seems to think whatever that will be will be worth it." He wiped the sweat from his brows. "Summer was questioning him which turned public support against him and Qrow tried to force him to agree to the idea of a tower for Sanctuary. Zumao isn't the most popular person both on Patch and Vale and the StarLink project didn't earn him any favors. So getting Summer out of the picture along with her team was the best move he could make."

"Yes BB, he played us like a fiddle, starting all the way back when he asked to have the assembly on live tv. You don't need to explain it to us." Torchwick interrupted Sebastian's explanation. "What we need to focus on is how to beat him at his own game."

The man opened his mouth ready to respond but faltered. He understood what Zumao had done but finding a way to beat him eluded him. He started pacing again, trying to find something, anything they could use. Neo meanwhile had stopped her moping, tapping Hush against Torchwick's leg. "You got an idea, my dear? Because I am as tapped out as the time we were trapped in that Mistralian brothel trying to smuggle paintings." She jumped out of her seat with a twirl, her scroll held out with a single word on it.

"[Framing]"

Torchwick leaned forward, chin resting on his hands as he thought about her idea. "So you want us to frame Zumao? That could work." He muttered to himself as Neo nodded enthusiastically, patting Hush lovingly.

Sebastian groaned as he watched the two, sinking into his chair in defeat. "Does it always have to be about murder? Can we please try to find a legal solution? Just this once?"

Torchwick had joined Neo, now facing Sebastian and Ghira. "Oh Seb, we aren't talking about murder." Neo looked up at him at that, confused and disappointed. "We don't need to kill anyone to frame our dear Minister. Zumao came to us because he needs us, then made sure that should we decline he had a backup plan." He took off his hat, twirling it around his finger. "I must admit, I'm impressed. It's almost as devious and brilliant as something I would do. I can see why the man stayed on the council for so long."

Sebastian jumped to his feet. "So what, you're saying that the only option we have is to stab him in the back?" Neo peeked up at that, hush raised. Sebastian turned to her. "Figuratively Neo! See this is why I never understood why STRQ likes you two so much. We will not break the law to get what we want. That goes against anything Patch stands for. And I will not have Patchwork be based on murder, lies, or blackmail!"

He breathed heavily, feeling more tired than when he fought in Kuroyuri just hours before. Ghira came up behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "And we won't. But despite their… unusual approach, both Roman and Neo wish to help you, Sebastian." His words had the desired effect of calming Sebastian down. "We just have to come up with something that will help us even the playing field with Zumao. Something that will allow us to fight back without having to resort to underhand tactics. Something-"

"That won't come."

The four of them turned toward the entrance of the room and the unexpected interruption. Maria was standing in the doorway, leaning heavily on her cane. Grant stood behind her, his large frame taking up the entire door. "You kids have screwed the pooch. There is no miracle that's gonna pull your asses out of the fire tonight."

Grant moved past Maria, entering the small room. Sebastian let out a small squeak as his full attention was focused on him. "Recess is already half over and this is the best you can do? Motivational speeches and half-baked plans of murder? I expected better from you." Grant shook his head in disappointment. With a wave of his hand, he signaled the guards in front of the door to close it. They would need some privacy for this. "When I learned you convinced James to have someone break into Maria's home to steal documents for the Patchwork project I thought you finally had grown a spine. Yet here you are, cowering like a babe once again. Is this how you want your parents' dream to end?"

"Grandfather, I-"

"Don't 'grandfather' me, boy! When you started this plan of yours tonight you decided to sit at the big boy's table. I'm not here to clean up your messes or hold your hand." He had grabbed Sebastian by the collar, towering over him. "I put a lot of trust into you when I allowed you and Summer to interrupt this assembly. I saw that fire in your eyes and for the first time it was like your father was standing before me once again." He let him go. "But this is how far that drive takes you?"

"Mr. Grant, in all fairness." Ghira stepped closer to Sebastian. "Both of them lived up to your challenge tonight."

"And you can't forget," Torchwick leaned forward, hands resting on his cane. "Little Seb and Red are boy scouts at heart. No amount of drive or conviction will help them against someone as cutthroat as Zumao."

The sigh that followed betrayed how exhausted Grant truly was. "You think I don't know that? I didn't expect them to play the minister's game, or to win it. But that doesn't excuse attacking the man on national television!"

"Little Qrowy may have thrown the first punch, but you? You were the one who started it, boy." Maria continued. "Tell me, what was your plan after grabbing Zumao? What would have been different if Qrow didn't decide to lose what little common sense he has?"

Sebastian had no answer. He put both hands over his face, struggling to keep from crying. Grant's face softened as he slung one arm around his grandson. "I know this isn't your fault. We knew Zumao wouldn't play fair but none of us considered that he was ready to humiliate Patch so openly. If I didn't know better I would be sure the bastard somehow planned this."

Neo and Roman exchanged a look, both looking worried for the first time tonight. "So gramps, what's the plan? Are we gonna give in to his demands?

"There aren't many other options," Grant gritted his teeth as he spoke.

"He got us right where he wants us." Maria jumped on one of the empty chairs. "If we refuse the project because Zumao doesn't agree to host the new tower here, we will be seen as selfish. He can blame the failure of the entire project on us. And since negotiations with Schnee Industries for rare Dust types have gone less than well we aren't in the best position, to begin with. If we don't agree to this, we won't only be seen as the bad guys, Vale may very well have grounds to question our independence."

"Come now grams, surely it can't be that bad." Torchwick looked shocked. "You are telling me that we are not only about to have to pay for half of a global communication system, but we may also lose our kingdom?" Neo shocked her head vehemently, Hush's blade drawn and glittering in the dingy light of the little room.

Ghira tried to calm down the duo, stepping between them and Maria. "Let's not jump to conclusions. I have worked with Zumao before, and while his rather ruthless showing tonight seems out of character, I do not believe that he has any plans to weaken our position as an independent kingdom. Let me talk to him, maybe I can find a way to negotiate-"

"It's pointless." Sebastian had sunken to the floor, his defeated whisper barely audible. "We lost. There is nothing we can do anymore. I'm sorry grandfather but I…" Quite sobs interrupted his words. "I failed you, all of you. I failed dad and Scarlet." The sobs grew louder. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry."

The others could only watch as Sebastian fell apart. And with it the dream of reviving the Patchwork project.

In a single night, Zumao had not only destroyed the last dream of the Rose clan but maybe the very idea of Patch itself.

Never before had the future of the kingdom looked so bleak.


Recess - Side #2
Patch National Assembly - Maria Calavera's office

"God dammit, Raven! Ozma is out there and all you can do is sit here and yell at me?"

"I don't care, Qrow! Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"I at least did SOMETHING instead of watching how that man once again tried to ruin us!"

Tai could hear his wife and brother yell all the way down the hall. He had gotten a bottle of water from a nearby vending machine, hoping that the two would have calmed down a little while he was away. He gave the lone security guard at their door a weak smile. The poor boy was shaking, no doubt wondering what he would do if any of them decided that they didn't care much for the order to stay here until recess was over.

"Mr. Taiyang-" The guard whispered before Tai could open the door. "Pl-please remember that Elder Bleu asked that you and your wife return to the assembly hall after recess."

"Don't worry, we will make sure to be there." 'And keep my idiot brother-in-law from making this night even worse.' He gave the poor security guard the best smile he could muster, despite how angry he was. Qrow had always been… passionate. But unlike his sister, he never managed to learn to control it when the situation called for it. Though never in his wildest dreams did he think this would get them into this situation.

Closing the door behind him he was immediately greeted by Qrow. "Tai, finally! Please talk some sense into your wife so we can get out of here and take care of Ozma before he does anything worse!" He was stunned as he listened to him. Even after what just happened, this was still what Qrow focused on? He could feel his arm shaking as he clenched his fist in anger, scales starting to cover them again.

He loved Qrow, all of them did. But this was one step too far.

Raven had not looked at him as he entered, leaning against the small desk Maria usually occupies. Her gaze was cast downward, a slight shake in her shoulders showing that she was close to losing it. Anger was replaced with worry as Tai walked past Qrow, ignoring him to comfort his wife.

No words were necessary. He gently touched her hair, kissing it as he whispered to her. "I will deal with him, don't worry." Turning around, he took a small pill out of his pocket and he got along with the water. "Qrow, drink this."

Qrow seemed confused for a moment. "What? Tai, this is not the time for your stupid ideas. We have to go! At least you have to understand what's going on here!"

"And what do you want him to do?" Raven had moved to the door, blocking the exit. "Do you want Tai to storm out there with you and assault a man again?" Her voice sounded tired. "Do you want to make sure that this night, one of the most important nights of Summer's life, is as bad as you could make it?"

"What? No! This isn't about Summer, Ray, this is about-"

"You." The simple word stopped Qrow in his tracks. "Like always, it's all about you. Your vendetta against Ozma. Your need to 'redeem' yourself for something that was never your fault."

Qrow shook his head in denial. "No, you don't understand! None of you have seen what he is capable of!"

Raven was in his face in less than a second. "Have you forgotten that we were the ones that fought Ozma? All of us stood against him as he tried to destroy Vale. We know exactly what he's capable of. But still, so what? Even if he truly is Ozma and not just another innocent man falling victim to your paranoia that still doesn't change what happened. Summer needed us tonight! And instead of thinking things through for once in your life you went and RUINED IT!" She stumbled back, hands around herself as she looked away. Taking a shaky breath, she said. "Do you really care so little about her?"

Qrow snarled. "What are you talking about? This isn't about some stupid clan politics! Can any of you focus on the importa-" A fist interrupted him, slamming him into the wall. He slid down to the ground, dazed and confused. When he looked up, he saw Tai standing over him, clawed hands still held out where he hit him.

Raven stood next to her husband, her sad face a stark contrast to Tais' anger. "Of course you would say that. You weren't there when we comforted Summer as she cried because the thought of shouldering the legacy of her family was too much for her. You didn't soothe her worries or hold her as she fell apart. You were away to chase your revenge or the next bottle." She kneeled to look him in the eye. "We accepted it because we knew it was important to you because we knew you needed to do this. Even though we wanted you home with us."

She got back up, turning towards the door. Stopping in the doorway, she turned back to him. "But it seems that you don't care for your family. So go ahead, leave to chase your stupid revenge if it's so important to you. Just stop hurting the woman we love in the process." She left, the door closing softly behind her.

Qrow watched her leave, stunned. "Is… is that true?" Tai met his pleading look with indifference.

"You know it is. But you never bothered to ask. You heard what Raven said. Leave, or stay here. But if you try anything else tonight, I will stop you myself." With that he turned to follow his wife, slamming the door behind him. Qrow sunk into himself as he listened to their footsteps grow silent, the oppressive sound of loneliness now pressing on his senses.

Old memories came to him. Pictures of his past flashed before him, mixing and overlapping. Beacon, Ozpin, STRQ… even her. It felt like his head was going to explode as he sat there. They were right, it had all been about him.

After they ended Ozma's mad assault on the kingdom, he thought it was his mission to find his new host and make sure he would pay for what he did. Make sure that no more innocent people would be hurt. But maybe it really was just an excuse from the start.

He started laughing, a sad small sound without an ounce of humor. "Good job Qrow. Once again you let your family down." The laugh turned into tears. So he sat there crying in the lonely room, for the first time realizing what he had done to the people he loved.

"... ... ... ... I-I'm sorry…"