Chapter 35 – An Old Man's Dream
Ruby
She stormed through the castle, her eyes focused on her objective.
Where are you Kragen?
What did you do?
As she walked with fists clenched, she could hear Qrow catching up with her behind. She slowed as he jogged towards her. "Ruby, wait!" He called out. She didn't stop, but she slowed her storm to let him walk beside her. She turned and looked at him. "What happened? What did Umbra say to you?"
"That someone used the Relic." She answered immediately.
"W-Whoa what?" Qrow stammered.
"I don't know, but that was the last thing he asked me. He just stopped me as I was about to walk away and asked me what we made with the Relic of Creation. I don't have a clue of what he's talking about… maybe he's messing with me… but… Kragen has pulled stunts like this in the past." Ruby explained as she followed the halls.
She wasn't wrong to think like this.
Kragen Nox has always been one to play fast and loose with strategy, doing things completely unconventional to gain the upper hand. It was what made him so effective against Vir Nominis Umbra, Demons and this whole conflict in its entirety.
"Okay… let's ask him then." Qrow agreed, patting her back and clenching his other hand into a tight fist.
"That wasn't all that Umbra said to me…" she said in a shaky voice.
"Okay?"
"He… well… wanted the same thing as the last times. Tried to persuade me to give up the Relics without a fight, and I refused. I think he knew I would… but now he's promised me that come midnight, when we see that campfire on the hill go out?" She stopped by one of the windows, which was in clear view of that campfire in the distance. Qrow stared at it with his daughter beside her. "… he's going to unleash the full force of the Oncoming Shadow on us."
"By the gods…" He stammered.
"We won't stand a chance…" Ruby stammered.
"Then we need to get those Relics out of here as fast as we can. Need their power contained and get them to the Embered Grove." Qrow reassured, placing his hand on her shoulder. Ruby looked up at him with genuine fear in her eye. But he smiled at her. She could tell he was just as scared as she was.
But she pushed her fears aside and kept walking towards Kragen's Office, and she slammed the door open, walking inside with purpose. Kragen jolted when he heard the bang, turning to see Ruby stood there. "What did you do?" She questioned, storming across the room towards one of her old mentors.
"Miss Rose? What are you talking abo-"
"Don't bullshit me, Kragen. Umbra asked me what we created with the Relic and I know damn well that you are the only person who would do something like that, and you have had access to it for the past few years. What did you create?" Ruby questioned.
Kragen raised his head, and he exhaled. "I can't tell you that."
Both Ruby's and Qrow's eyes widened at that one.
"You're fucking kidding me, right?" Qrow scoffed.
"After everything, you're still holding things back from me? EVEN NOW?" she yelled with anger. "You didn't even consider the possibility that Umbra really couldn't see where the Relics were through that spell protecting from outside forces? You just did it anyway?" Ruby questioned.
"That's where you are incorrect… you should know me well enough by now that I never make an action without considering the consequences." Kragen replied, standing firm.
"What… did you create?" Ruby asked again.
"I can't answer that." Kragen repeated.
"WHY? AFTER EVERYTHING? YOU STILL DON'T TRUST US? TRUST ME?"
"THIS IS NOT ABOUT TRUST!" He shouted back, hearing Kragen shout always surprised them. Ruby backed away as he slammed his hand against the table. He exhaled, calming himself down and sitting down at his table, pressing his hand against his head. "This… isn't about trust… this is a necessity."
"But why? Tell me that at the very least then… because by the looks of it you have just jeopardised the lives of everyone here by doing this." Ruby explained.
"He would have come whether or not I did what I did. What I did was to give us options." Kragen explained. "Options… that could help us win this." He told her. Ruby sighed and also calmed her nerves, pulling out a chair and sitting down in front of him.
"Just… tell me why…" she asked again, her voice softer now.
Kragen looked at the window. "I can't tell you all the details… Umbra's spies are most likely listening to us right now, and there is nothing we can do about that now." He stated.
Qrow looked out the window and saw a crow fly away just as he turned… who knows how many others were out there? Just listening to every word they said.
"What I can tell you though… is this." He said, leaning forward. "When you were away in Atlas? I was visited… by a ghost… by Summer…" He revealed, both Ruby and Qrow gasped when hearing her name. Eyes wide and their attention caught.
"S-Summer?" Qrow stammered.
"That's right… it was like she was still with us… just like all the times she has swooped in and helped you. I think she's always been watching over you… over us all." Kragen explained, and Ruby clasped her hands together as she listened. "She was the one to ask me to do what I did… and promised me that when the time came… that it would be worth it. I can't tell you more than that. I'm sorry. If Vir Nominis Umbra learns of what I did, he could create countermeasures and our plan to defeat him will be made null and void."
Kragen sighed. "Not even Yenna or the Architect know what I created… they knew I used it and I told them why… but they understand why I can't tell them. It is not a matter of distrust… it is a matter of knowing that Vir Nominis Umbra has his ear pressed to our door now."
This just added even more questions to the conflict.
What is my mom's plan?
Why and… how is she still helping us despite her being dead?
I know Kragen believes in the Squires of Light… the souls of the fallen rising once more to fight back against the darkness…
… but how much of that story is even true?
Ruby looked at him, and he sighed. "And… I assume that this means… that Umbra is sending the Oncoming Shadow to attack?" He asked.
"Yes… honestly, he was always going to, because he knew I would never surrender the Relics. We have until midnight, when the campfire he has lit gets stomped out. Then the full force of the Oncoming Shadow will attack." Ruby answered. Kragen nodded his head and stood up from his desk.
"We will face a force unlike anything in Remnant's History tonight… worse than Vale, worse than Atlas… worse than Arkhonex…" He explained, and that sent shivers up her spine. "Which is why I have made sure we have everything we possibly can to slow the attack on." Kragen assured. "To buy us time."
"How much time do we need for the Relics to be contained?" Qrow asked.
"… the Architect calculated somewhere between 1 and 2 in the morning." He answered.
"One or two hours… that's how long we have to hold them back? Gods…"
"Then I believe it is time we bring everyone together into the War Room. And we should start making plans to ensure that our defence is the strongest we can possibly have it with the few hours we have left." Kragen explained, walking past them.
But he stopped by Ruby. "I'm sorry, Ruby… I am… for not telling you… I just…"
"… it's okay. I understand… and so am I… I shouldn't have snapped at you… I just…"
"I know." He assured, squeezing her shoulder gently with his hand. As he walked away, she looked at his room and took another deep gulp before turning to Qrow to follow him.
The feeling of dread was thick in the air.
They knew what was coming tonight…
… the question was simply how many would make it out alive?
Jaune
"Just… stay with her, okay? We'll be back soon and let you know what the plan is." Jaune assured Ren, and he nodded, walking back to Nora in their room, making sure she was okay. He walked with Pyrrha beside him. Both their hearts were hammering, seeing so many people rushing to work already.
Everyone was in a hurry already, but they could tell that things were about to go down soon. Pyrrha moved her fingers between Jaune's and they clung to each other, looking at one another with both love and fear in their eyes. Jaune smiled at her and she stopped him, pushing him against the wall and kissing him passionately.
They shared this moment of passion together for a minute or two before exhaling and holding each other close, pressing their heads together. Pyrrha's lip trembled, but Jaune gently caressed her cheek, looping a lock of her crimson hair around his thumb. "We'll make it through this. I promise." He assured.
"You don't know that…" Pyrrha stammered. "I just… I just want you to know… that I love you… I love you so much. And despite… everything that happened… I don't regret a second of what we've had together."
Jaune smiled and pulled her closer. "I love you too… and everything we've had? Was better than I could have ever dreamed." He said to her, before kissing her again. They pressed their heads together, and then she pressed his hand against her belly, smiling.
He smiled back, but they turned when they saw Kassius and Yang both walking down the hallway that they were just on as well, with Coco behind them. They both shook off the nerves and followed, walking with Coco towards the War Room. "You guys feel the same way as the rest of us?" Coco asked, sounding nervous.
"Terrified." They both answered.
"Well, that's good to hear." Coco chuckled.
They opened the door and found the War Room, with everyone assembled.
Kragen was at the end of the large round table with Yenna and the Architect beside him. Ruby was here with Oscar and Qrow.
Blake was here as well with Mazen and Sun.
Ortega with Penny.
Kassius and Cinder with Yang and Weiss.
Ozpin, Glynda and Maria.
And Cordovin with the two remaining Atlesian Colossi Pilots.
Before them, they had a large holographic three-dimensional map projected above the table of Dragonspire Keep and all the surrounding landscape. "Vir Nominis Umbra is coming." Ruby began with her hands pressed against the table, all eyes and ears on her words. She pushed her hands away from it and walked around the table as she spoke. "The enemy we face? There is no room for negotiation. He will show us no mercy, and he has told me he done pulling his punches. He has enjoyed the conflict against us, but now he aims to wipe the board clean. And his target… are the three Relics that we have here in the Keep." Ruby explained.
Ozpin placed both his hands atop his cane that contained the Relic of Knowledge, whilst the Architect brought up images of the canes which held the Relics of Choice and Creation.
"Any idea on how big of a force Umbra is gonna throw at us?" Cordovin asked.
"He promised the entire Oncoming Shadow will be unleashed on us. And I don't doubt his seriousness about that. By now all the Kingdoms have fallen and now they will be targeting us for the Relics." Ruby answered.
"In other words, expect a fucking ocean of the bastards?" Kassius assumed.
"Pretty much, yeah." Ruby agreed.
"Great… yeah that's just great." Sun sighed, pushing his hand through his blonde hair as he stepped away from the table to digest that information.
"Look… I'm not going to stand here and lie to you all. This will not be a battle that we can win, not conventionally. And… in truth… I fear that tonight will be the last day for the Silver Eyed Warriors… for many of us." Kragen explained. "But defeating them here is not the mission… our job is to buy time. So the Relics and the raw energy that they put out can be safely contained in the canes we crafted, so they can be transported to the Embered Grove. Once they are there, Umbra cannot get to them. Even with the Relic of Destruction… the force-field that is protecting that place has power hitherto unheard of. No Grimm or Demon can pass through it." Kragen explained.
"Then we can fight the bastard on our own timetable." Mazen stated.
"And find out what his weakness is so we can kill him once and for all." Cinder added.
"Then what's our first line of defence?" Ozpin asked. Kragen turned and nodded at the Architect to highlight the structure of their defences.
"Our first line is here, far out and judging from where Umbra has placed that bonfire, the Grimm will be coming straight at us. Meaning our Defences have already been smartly placed. The first defence will not slow them much, just enough to trip them up, makes their charge a bit slower. A bunch of chopped down trees, boulders, ice. As much as we could get, it was one of the biggest parts of this project to set up." The Architect explained.
"It should help slow them a bit, even after it falls." Ortega agreed, nodding his head.
"Then, we have the Shield Pylons that Cordovin kindly sent over to us before the Shivering Dominion began. They will be activated in between the first barrier and the first of the outer walls. It may keep the Grimm back for a while, but eventually the amount of force against the Hardlight Dust will cause it to break down." The Architect explained.
"That's where my men will come into play. We will hold the first Outer Wall, with my Colossus and our vehicles and weapons on the wall. We will hold them off until we are forced to retreat." Cordovin explained.
"Are you sure that's how you want to play it? We've seen what a fraction of the Oncoming Shadow are like in an attack like this. They will overwhelm you fast." Coco warned.
"We know the risks… but our vehicles will be wasted anywhere else. We can at least buy you all some more time." Cordovin stated, her arms behind her back. Yang looked at Kassius and they both exhaled nervously.
"After Cordo's people retreat, the final wall will be ahead of the Oncoming Shadow, and they will breach it and head straight for the Keep. We have dug multiple traps into the snow, hiding them so Grimm fall into them, breaking them apart." The Architect explained.
"What kind of traps?" Mazen asked.
"Spike traps, that kind of thing." Yenna answered.
"Old school, I like it." He chuckled.
"After that… it will be all out war. We will have a sizeable chunk of our forces outside the walls, since we cannot hope to have everyone inside. We have Ortega's tanks and remaining Acolytes to help." The Architect explained.
"What remains of my Fleet will help break the Grimm up with our bombs and cannons, and keep their air forces back as best as we can. Rain fire on the fuckers." Ortega said with a smirk.
Penny smiled.
"What about us? Us Maidens have a lot of power." Pyrrha asked.
"Already thought of that." Kragen assured, turning to Yenna, and the Architect highlighted one of the nearby peaks to the Castle's left.
"The four of us will be over here, and we will attack once they begin their charge on the Keep, and we give them everything we've got." Yenna answered. Cinder nodded with a smirk, clenching her hand into a fist.
"Once we are forced to retreat inside the walls, I will bring my Silver Eyed Knights, Maria and Ruby out with me, and we will use an old technique I came up with. Light Up The Night. We will all use our Silver Eyes at once and freeze the Grimm to stone, making it harder for the Grimm to get to the walls through their petrified allies." Kragen explained.
"Then we all stay within the castle, and we all defend the Keep from within." The Architect concluded.
"What about the Refugees?" Oscar asked.
"We're going to keep them here, in the old town. It was specifically designed here, nearest to the back of the Keep so the people would be safe, and we ensured that there is a tunnel to get them out. That tunnel will also be one of the escape routes."
"One of?" Blake asked.
"There are two tunnel systems that funnel through Mt Dragonspire and out the other side. We already have some airships landed there to get people out. We will ensure that the civilians get through theirs early to get away when things get bad, but when things really fall and the Relics are ready for transportation? The other tunnel is on the east side of the castle, underneath the Castle itself. It will take us to our other airships to fly out of here and head straight for Arkhonex." The Architect explained.
"And… we have a little surprise in store for Umbra when he does eventually take the Keep." Kragen said, showing glowing red dots in the high peaks of the Mountain. Holographic explosions are shown, and a simulation of an enormous avalanche sweeps into the castle, burying it and everything inside.
"You'll… destroy Dragonspire Keep?" Ruby asked with wide eyes.
"To buy us all time. I will do whatever I must. And besides… if I can't have Dragonspire Keep… then nobody can." Kragen said with a smirk, making Ruby chuckle.
"Classic Silver Eyed way." Ozpin chuckled.
"There's still a factor we must consider." Weiss said, all of them looked at her. "The wildcards… Umbra, the Knights of Grimm, the Higher Demons… and the ones that worry me a lot right now, Kannix and the Hound."
"Yeah… they are the ones that will be harder to predict." Ruby agreed.
"The Knights will most likely wait, like the Higher Demons. But yes, Kannix and the Hound are indeed the wildcards. Especially Kannix. He is an expert in sabotage." Kragen agreed.
"We know, he's the reason Atlas was destroyed by the Oncoming Shadow. He destroyed the Shield Pylons to let them in and escaped." Yang said.
"And the Hound…" Oscar said.
Yang winced when she thought of Raven… what she had been turned into, the way she was screaming.
"The Hound is the most unpredictable of the bunch since we know little about it, since this is the first creature like this we have seen. So we must be vigilant and keep our eyes peeled." Kragen agreed.
They remained quiet for a few moments, knowing that this may be the last day they would all see each other. "In case… not all of us leave this place alive tonight… it's been an honour."
They all smiled and stood tall. "The honour is mine, Miss Rose." Kragen responded, bowing his head to her. He then looked at everyone. "We should all prepare for tonight… do whatever you have to do to get your heads in the game."
"It's going to be a long night."
Coco
Walking out of the War Room after that meeting made her feel dizzy. She was pretty certain that was the same way that everyone else felt, honestly.
It was hard… no; it was impossible to really comprehend how many Grimm were going to attack this place come midnight. And that alone scared the hell out of her. As she walked down the steps, she turned and saw Velvet first, who ran right into Coco's arms, hugging her affectionately.
They hadn't really been able to talk to Coco and make sure she was okay after being captured by Umbra. Fox stood up with Yatsuhashi beside him, and Velvet looked at Coco with a nervous tremble on her lip. "He didn't hurt you, did he?" she asked nervously.
"No, no… he didn't hurt us. He just showed up and surrounded us with Knights' Bannermen. Didn't leave us with much choice but to cooperate." Coco assured as she sat down at a bench with her team.
"Fox told us about Starla and Weiss." He said as he sat down.
"Yeah, that was a surprise. They just sparred for a while… was weird seeing the Knight of Loss being so… happy." Coco said.
"You think her curse is close to being broken?" Velvet asked them.
"I hope so… but I think only Starla can break it. We can just help her along the path. But she's gotta be the one to take that last step." Coco stated. Fox nodded his head.
Coco went quiet, and she wrung her hands together, shakily exhaling as her mind drifted back to the War Room discussion. "Hey… what's wrong?" Velvet asked, gently holding her hand.
"Yeah… what did you guys discuss in there?" Fox asked.
"Vir Nominis Umbra is coming. And he's sending the full force of the Oncoming Shadow on Dragonspire Keep. They're gonna be here tonight… at midnight." Coco told them she always felt it was best not to drag it out, just rip off that band aid of truth as quickly as possible. Their eyes widened with the same fear she had been seeing all around her.
"So that's why everyone is in such a hurry." Yatsuhashi said, resting his arms on the table.
"Got a big fight ahead of us then… wouldn't have it any other way." Fox said with a smirk.
"Guys… there's a big chance that… we may not walk away from this one. What he threw at Atlas is nothing compared to what is coming for us tonight. More Grimm than we've ever seen." Coco explained.
"Yeah… well… we've made it this far, right?" Velvet said, surprisingly confident for someone so timid. But she had become a lot more courageous in the past few years. They all had to grow up very fast to survive this world.
"Yeah… from surviving Beacon together… to the Volcanic Chain Isles, to being kidnapped by a crazy scientist and experimented on…" Fox listed with a chuckle, rubbing at some of his scars.
"It's been a wild ride." Yatsuhashi agreed.
"But guess what? We survived all that… who knows? Maybe we can make it through tonight as well. See this whole thing through to the end." Fox suggested with a smirk.
Coco smiled, feeling invigorated by their confidence despite the suicidal nature of staying to fight here. She was never planning to run, but she would not ignore how bad their odds of survival were.
"You guys are so great, y'know? I'm so glad we ended up together." Coco said with a bright and proud smile, blushing.
"Aw shucks, stop… gonna make this tough guy cry." Fox said, his voice breaking.
"Already am." Yatsuhashi sniffled, but Velvet just tightened her grip on Coco's hand, then just smiled lovingly at her, resting her head on Coco's shoulder. Coco wiped a tear from her eye, then she pulled out her sunglasses and put them on, cracking her neck, putting her fist in the middle of her group. They all looked at her with smiles.
"No matter what happens…" Coco began.
"… through hell and high water…" Fox continued, putting his fist in the middle.
"… no matter how big and hard they fall…" Velvet added, also thrusting forward.
"… Team C.F.V.Y will always be together." Yatsuhashi concluded, putting his fist in the middle.
An old childhood tradition of theirs that they still loved to do when things felt they were at their darkest. They all wrapped their arms around each other in a warm embrace, Yatsuhashi warming them all in his enormous arms, keeping them close.
"Hey guys!" They heard Sun call out. Team C.F.V.Y all turned to see him stood with Sun, Penny and Oscar. "Wanna come to the shooting range with us? Oscar and I wanna settle a bet." Sun chuckled.
"A bet you're so gonna lose." Oscar challenged, making Sun laugh.
"Ooh, little dick measuring contest? Hell yeah I'm in." Coco chuckled, standing up and joining them. Velvet rolled her eyes, following her, Yatsuhashi and Fox following suit.
"Really? Gonna have a blind man on a shooting range?" Fox joked.
"Bro, you're probably the best shot out of all of us, c'mon!" Sun replied.
"Heh… hell yeah, I am." Fox chuckled pridefully.
They all arrived at the shooting range with their weapons, alongside some training rifles there as well. "Where's Blake? Worried you're gonna embarrass yourself in front of your High Leader?" Coco teased.
"Oh I asked her, but she has to do… "High Leader Stuff" y'know?" Sun said.
"Oh, the poor thing, she's missing out on the spectacle." Coco chuckled.
They drew their weapons and Oscar spun his revolvers through his fingers whilst Sun spun Ruyi Jingu Bang's chains around with ease, a confident smirk on his face.
Coco smiled, despite it all?
Even if tonight was going to be their last?
At least it was with the people she would be more than happy to die for.
Qrow
He sat at the place he found himself stuck at for so many years…
… the bar.
Yet this time, he looked at all the alcohol, and he felt nothing. No draw to drink a single drop of the stuff. He felt no temptation. Nothing at all.
He closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head as he remembered that time in the Mistraalian Mountains when they were searching for Arkhonex. And Winter caught him drinking again… not long before he broke up with her. He stared at the glass of water he had in his hand, thinking about her. "I'm sorry, Winter… for all of it. You deserved better than what you got." He said with a sigh, drinking his water.
As he sat there, he drifted into a memory… a memory of times long past.
Back when he was a teenager at Beacon Academy, sat at the seemingly endless tables of the Cafeteria. He had a lunch in front of him. He couldn't really remember what it was he was eating, mainly because it just wasn't to his liking. But at the same time, his mind was far away, thinking about the responsibility he and his sister had to the Branwen Tribe. Training to learn how to kill Huntsmen and Huntresses… to defend the group no matter the cost.
Not like it mattered in the end.
Umbra killed them all without even raising a finger… they all just dropped dead…
Suddenly someone crashed into the other side of the table he was sitting at, and a pair of enormous silver eyes were gazing at him. "WHAT'S UP SLEEPYHEAD?!" Summer Rose squeaked, making Qrow yelp and falling backwards off his seat. Summer broke into a fit of laughter, snorting and hiccuping as she laughed, slapping her knee.
"Summer! What the hell?" He grumbled, climbing back up onto his seat, saving his gross lunch anyway.
"Whatcha doing?" Summer asked.
He sighed. "Eating…"
"Don't look like it." Summer noted, poking at the untouched salad. She laid backwards across the table, pressing the back of her head of soft black and red hair against the table, her big silver eyes looking up at him. "Not to your liking?"
"Nah, I'm used to eating grubs in the woods. Stuff is too nice here." Qrow joked, flicking a piece of cabbage onto her nose. She giggled, picking it up and eating it. "God… you really are something, Summer." He joked, feeling his heart flutter whenever she spoke.
"Thought you'd be hanging out with Tai?" she asked him.
"Eh… we had a fight again." He sighed.
"Ah… about the skirt?" Summer asked.
"Oh, gods, you heard about that?" Qrow groaned, covering his face in embarrassment.
"Tai said you had damn good legs. You oughta do it again sometime. I'd love to see that." She teased, pinching his cheek, but he shoved her hand away.
"C'mon…" He sighed.
She tilted her head like a curious puppy, propping her head on her fist. "Man… you really are down in the dumps. How bad was the fight?" She asked him, but Qrow didn't answer, just kept poking his food with his plastic fork. Summer narrowed her eyes. She knew he heard her, so she stood up and stood on the table, walking across it. Qrow's red eyes widened, not expecting her to just walk across the table to his side of it.
Some people looked at her, but she really didn't care.
She sat down and looked at him, being the great Team Leader she always was. "C'mon… talk to me." She requested in her gentle voice. Qrow could never refuse her when she spoke. She was just too adorable for him to say no to.
"We were sparring and I beat him again… and he just started yelling at me. Guy was just going nuts, and I didn't know what to say back at him… so I… hit him." Qrow sighed.
"You just hit him?" Summer asked.
"Yeah, I know… we're as bad as each other… can't control our temper. Was surprised that Glynda broke up the fight honestly… I think we were too scared of her to argue." Qrow chuckled.
"She is a force of nature, that girl." Summer giggled. She turned and flicked her hair from her eye. "Go talk to him when you're ready. You were both in the heat of the moment… once you've cooled off, you can talk and mend things."
He sighed. "Can't… you go talk to him for me?" He nervously asked her.
She smiled brightly, shaking her head. "Nope. It has to come from you… you big cutie." She squeaked, making Qrow blush.
Summer kissed him on the cheek, making his heart skip a beat, and she stood up from the table. "You'll figure it out." Then her eyes turned to the lunch. "Oh… and yeah… the stuff's gross, right?"
"Oh, it's rancid."
"I swear Professor Ozpin is secretly trying to poison us, but hey… didn't hear it from me." She whispered.
"It'll be our secret." He agreed, raising his pinkie finger, and she looped hers around his and they held tight. Summer winked and turned, walking away energetically from him. Qrow watched her go, and his heart was always hammering whenever he saw her.
He knew beautiful girls… and later in life even more beautiful women… but none were ever as beautiful as Summer Rose.
Those times seemed so long ago… before he knew about Salem, before the Knights of Grimm… before Vir Nominis Umbra…
Back in the present, Qrow ran his finger around the edge of his glass, listening to the song of its hum. He closed his eyes, sighing. "I miss you so much, Summer… I just wanna… see you again…"
But for a moment it felt like he felt her hand on his and he turned, only for a moment, seeing her beautiful face before it faded away. He closed his eyes, closing his hand into a fist. "She would have probably said… let's jump in head first, that's the funniest way." Ozpin's voice appeared from behind him. Qrow turned to see the old Professor stood, with his hand atop Mihi Vindicta. He walked towards him and sat on the barstool next to him.
Qrow chuckled. "Yeah… yeah, that sounds a lot like my girl." Qrow agreed.
"What can I get you, sir?" The bartender asked, cleaning the glasses with his towel.
"Just a water, please." He answered.
"Two waters comin' up."
Qrow turned to his old headmaster. "I'm proud of you for giving up on the alcohol, Qrow. You've come a long way."
"Thanks… although… I'm surprised. I don't think I've ever seen you drink booze." Qrow stated.
"I did… a long time ago… I was in a similar state that you were for a while. But, thanks to my immortality, it gave me time to… learn from my mistakes. And I learned that being drunk just makes you stupid." Ozpin stated, making Qrow chuckle.
"I can attest to that." Qrow agreed. They both looked at some soldiers who were here in the bar. Most of them were drinking and partying to their hearts' content. "You think all these people drinking is a bad thing?" He asked Ozpin.
"No… everyone knows what we're facing. All these people want to have one last night of joy before the chaos comes. Some like to use the alcohol to calm their nerves… others most likely are doing it from despair. But the truth is… it is their choice. But those who choose to better themselves by giving it up entirely? That is where true strength lies." He said, looking at Qrow.
Qrow smiled and raised his glass of water to him. "To the perils of self betterment." Qrow said, Ozpin chuckled, clinking his glass against his.
"I wanna thank you, Oz…" Qrow said, and Ozpin looked at him.
"For what?" He asked.
"For accepting me into the Academy. For taking a chance on me… on the rest of my team. I would probably be dead now… just some sick bandit out there who'd picked a fight with the wrong person. If it weren't for you, I don't think I'd be here. It wasn't a smooth ride to get here… but I'd do it all again. Maybe change a few things… but pretty much all the same." Qrow said with a smile.
Ozpin smiled. "As would I… I made many mistakes, more than any man, woman or child… but… if we win this? Then perhaps… perhaps it can make things right. As right as they can be." Ozpin said.
"I like to think it will." He said. "But… say we win. What's next for you? Will you finally be able to rest?"
"I'm not Wymerus Ozymandias anymore. That man died a very long time ago. And whilst I still love the family I lost, I have grown and moved on from that loss. I won't be able to rest until I know that Remnant and its people have a secure future. If I survive? I will stick around and do whatever is within my power to help build a new… and better world." Ozpin explained.
"Gods… yeah… it will be a new world, huh? Gonna be a lot of rebuilding… may need to learn how to hold a hammer." Qrow joked.
"Maybe learn some painting too." Ozpin agreed, chuckling with him.
The two continued to joke and reminisce and think of their dreams for the future.
Of a new world…
Ruby
She looked at Weiss, sat next to her on a step, checking her for any injuries. "I'm okay, Ruby. I already told you that a while ago." She reminded.
"I know, but I'm your B.F.F and it's my job to make sure that bald bastard didn't hurt you." Ruby said as she kept looking for injuries. Weiss rolled her eyes, then Ruby stopped. "Okay, you're in the clear."
Weiss gasped sarcastically. "Oh, by the gods! Thank you, Ruby Rose! You're my hero!" She pressed her hand against her head and fell onto Ruby's lap, making Ruby's eye widen with shock at her friend laying there. Weiss stayed there though, crossing one leg over the other, and Ruby rested her hand on Weiss' shoulder. "He didn't hurt you though, right?" Weiss also asked.
"Oh, look who's being all concerned now." Ruby chuckled, but Weiss looked up at her with genuine concern. "No. He didn't try anything… to be frank, I would've been surprised if he'd try anything. In all the months we've actually known him, he's never actually done anything dirty like that."
"Apart from disguising himself as Blake to murder Sienna, pinning the blame on her." Weiss remembered.
"Well, yeah… there was that. Gods, I can't figure him out…" Ruby sighed.
"I think that's his intention… mess with our heads so we can never guess what he will do." Weiss presumed.
"Probably, yeah… he's a piece of garbage, but you can't help but admire how good of a strategist he is." Ruby admitted.
"Gotta respect your enemy to understand them." Weiss said, Ruby nodded.
"Even if it's hard as hell." Ruby chuckled.
Weiss sat upright, and she looked at Ruby. "I wanna… I wanna say thank you, Ruby."
"Thank me?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah… I mean… I was such a bratty little bitch to you when we first met… but… I can't imagine my life without you. You've helped me be so much better than who my father was turning me into… and despite… all the bad that has happened? I will always owe all the happiness in my life to you. You're the best team leader… and B.F.F… a girl could ever ask for." Weiss said with a gentle smile.
Ruby teared up, and she pulled Weiss close, embracing her in a warm hug. They held each other for a while, Ruby holding the back of her head of white hair. Weiss smiled, holding Ruby tight. They looked at each other, then Weiss smiled, touching her shorter hair. "Plus, you helped me try a new look… soooo…"
"Looks damn good on ya." Ruby giggled, making Weiss giggle as well.
Weiss turned and saw some more people struggling to lift some supplies, so she stood up and kicked Myrtenaster into her hand. "I oughta go help where I can." Weiss said, winking at Ruby. Ruby smiled as she walked away, watching as she helped use her glyphs to lift the crate back onto the cart.
Ruby looked at her hand, seeing the old burn scars where her final fight against Tyrian marked her. It still felt strange to no longer be haunted by him and Roman… by the Whisperer.
She felt so free.
She turned her gaze and saw Neo, sat alone, tapping her foot, just waiting for the sun to set. The sky was turning red as the sun started to set behind the horizon. They still had roughly five hours before the Oncoming Shadow would arrive.
Ruby stood up and walked over to her former enemy, and sat down on the bench with her. "Hey." She said to Neo. The silent girl smiled softly at her, looking at everyone once more afterwards. "How're you holding up?"
Neo looked at Ruby and exhaled shakily, and she raised her hand, showing how much she was shaking. Ruby nodded her head. "You too? Yeah… same…" Ruby agreed, showing how much her hand was shaking too.
Neo turned to Ruby, and she started signing to her.
"So… are you ready? To die?" Neo signed, Ruby raised her brow.
"We're not gonna die." Ruby said.
"You don't know that." Neo signed back, Ruby chuckled.
"You're right… I don't. Guess that's a force of habit of mine… but no… I'm not. I got so much I wanna live for. Things won't be easy if we win. We'll have a whole new world to rebuild. But… at the same time… it will be a new start. For all of us. Everything we were, everything we did… good and bad… we can use everything we learned and rebuild ourselves as well. Build a better life for ourselves. Isn't that something worth dreaming for? Worth fighting for? Worth dying for?" Ruby asked her.
Neo looked shocked by her words, then her face softened and she smirked.
"Did ya write that down first? Or make it all up in your head?" Neo signed.
Ruby shrugged. "Eh, a bit of both."
Neo smiled a silent laugh. She had such a beautiful smile, and Ruby rested her arms on her legs. Then she looked at Ruby again. "I'm sorry."
Ruby looked at her. "For all of it… I was…"
"Don't. I understand, really I do. You were angry, and you thought I killed Roman. And you were stuck in a hard position, and were scared of Umbra." Ruby said.
"But still… I…"
"Neo… the fact you are here? With us? Right now? It shows that you're not like Kannix. Not like Umbra, not like the Higher Demons. You were trapped, just like the Knights of Grimm. Ozpin broke away. Starla is close… they all are. And you did break away." Ruby looked at everyone who was walking around. "It wasn't exactly the easiest road… but I'm happy you're here, Neo. I'm glad you didn't die."
Neo smiled.
"You too… despite how much I tried to put you down." Neo signed back.
Ruby chuckled. "You got me good a couple times, by the way."
Neo shrugged with a smile.
If there was one thing that Neo and Cinder taught Ruby… it was that there was always more strength in forgiveness, than in wrath and vengeance.
Author Note - Soon...
Sorry this chapter took me a while to post, had a break for a few weeks since my family were on holiday and just wanted to chill tbh, combine that with the stuff about RT... and... yeah. BUT ALAS I love my story and RWBY no matter how shitty the company is so here we are lol.
I love writing chapters like these, the calm before the storm ones, characters just preparing and having time with the ones that they care for. Also let it be known, that the coming Battle of Dragonspire Keep Arc is one of those that I have had planned for so damn long. Like... ever since the creation of the faction XD. Cannot wait to do this battle, it will be so hype.
So many moments were fun to write, Ruby confronting Kragen was a personal favourite. I wonder if anyone has any guesses on what Kragen made with the Relic? And of course... Summer... she is the wildcard right now, makes you wonder what she has up her sleeve.
Was fun coming up with the plan for their battle against the Oncoming Shadow as well. It's hard to imagine defences against an infinite flood of monsters, but I think this plan is the best they could come up with given the circumstances.
One of my favourite moments in this chapter though was that flashback with Qrow, getting to see baby Qrow and Summer was adorable to imagine. I would love to see that in the show some day. Just Team STRQ when they were at Beacon.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - A Night To Remember
- Matt