Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of The Dragon and her rook. Enjoy the 1200-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum, and Rooster Teeth do.

(Atlas, Alsius, 1 day after Cordially Invited.)

Ironwood frowned and looked at his scroll. He knew Skyler was in his office busy. He was also aware Yang was busy working out on a mission out in the tundra.

"Has he said anything to you since yesterday?" Ironwood asked, turning to Winter over his shoulder.

"No," Winter said, her stance not changing at all despite the subtle change in her eyes.

Both knew Skyler was furious with them from the talk with Jacques. Ironwood had gotten a notification from FNKY that his and Yang's Manta was the first one to return. He had gone straight to his office until midnight, slept, then woken up, spoken with Yang, seen her off… Then locked himself within his own office for about 3 hours.

"I didn't know he was taking the fight so personally," Ironwood said, folding his hands under him as he turned to look over his shoulder. "Was there anything that caused him to believe this way?" Ironwood asked Winter which got a hum.

He was aware that he had been focusing his attention elsewhere. The Atlesian general had thought that he had been clear about the pragmatic reasons behind his campaign. He required the power of another seat to get around the council. The only other way to secure the power needed to fight Atlas's enemies more effectively. Martial law, which wouldn't help anyone and would just bring the Grimm like a fresh dinner bell in shark-infested water.

"I can go speak to him if you require, sir," Winter stated, frowning as she looked at Ironwood. "He's known me quite a while and I'm sure he'd be aware enough to talk. The colonel is many things, stubborn doesn't seem to be one of them." Winter added while she walked to the door.

Ironwood looked at the map of Atlas, already knowing this had gotten more complicated. Battle lines had been drawn, and he was afraid his nephew had chosen to distance himself from their military.

(In Skyler's office)

"Have you guys gotten things under control there?" Skyler asked over his scroll, looking out the window in his office. "I've gotten several more squads I can send over. The Grimm have been getting worse from what I've heard." Skyler stated, sighing as he walked back to his desk.

There was a pause as the sounds of screeching Sabyrs and the unmistakable click of Ember Celica. The dying roar of a Grimm was the sign that the blonde brawler would be fine.

"You ok to talk when I get back?" Yang asked as Skyler hummed.

"Ye-…" Skyler started to say before there was a knock upon the door, snapping Skyler from his thoughts as he sighed. "Yeah, meet me at the library unless you know somewhere else. I'll send a manta to you. See you soon, firecracker." Skyler said and switched off his scroll.

"Skyler?" Skyler heard as he rubbed at his temples. "May we talk? I'm…Aware of how you might be feeling still. I didn't come on the general's orders." Skyler heard from Winter as he slowly stood up.

His thoughts about his uncle were still fresh in his mind. There was a SHARP divide about what was good for Mantle and Atlas… And what was simply good for the council. He didn't serve them, they squabbled and screeched for any morsel of power they could gobble up.

"And why should I believe that?" Skyler said, leaning on the door as he did so. "You haven't exactly impressed upon me the fact that you care. You didn't ONCE seem fit to tell me what my uncle was planning. You expect me to do whatever I am told without even ATTEMPTING to ask. I am not a child; I am a soldier." Skyler said before finally sighing and deciding to open the door.

Winter stood there as Skyler crossed his arms at the Atlesian soldier. He trusted this woman; he had allowed himself some small measure of belief that Winter was fighting for the greater good.

She frowned seeing his scowl as he cleared his throat.

"Name one reason I should have to not turn and lock the door?" Skyler asked, tapping his fingers on his arms. "I TRUSTED you. All I asked for was a little trust and some sort of plan that isn't 'POLITICS PARTY.' My uncle doesn't care about Atlas, he cares about his approval rating." Skyler hissed, crossing back to the window.

"And what would you have done if you knew about this right away?" Winter asked, trying to put some bite back in her voice. "You've been fighting everyone as soon as you've got here. Merlot's forces have been busy tracking you across Remnant. It isn't like we haven't been trying." Winter said only for Skyler to hold up a metallic finger.

"My uncle has been focused on the election." Skyler started and lowered the finger. "He's not ONCE given a general battle strategy for us to battle Merlot. NEITHER of you explains what's going on here. He orders Robyn's arrest without explaining WHAT she did to warrant it." Skyler said, slowly lowering his other fingers to make a point.

Winter was silent a minute or so as Skyler rubbed at his temples and walked to the window. He watched a manta drift by, its exhaust bathing the window in blue tint for just a moment.

"I remember when this place used to stand for something," Skyler stated, his voice far more pained than it was a few seconds ago. "Now what do we stand for? Marching in the street while everything burns? You're shocked that I'm doing my own thing at the moment? I don't have a choice. I don't know who to trust right now." Skyler said, taking a seat at his desk as he turned to look at her.

Winter said nothing, only pausing to clear her throat as she turned and left. She was well aware that uncle and nephew were at an impasse, both wanted what was best for Solitas…. It was just clear to her they had FAR different methods of protecting the kingdom than she assumed.

Skyler sighed and turned on his scroll before hitting a button on his scroll. It sent a signal to dispatch a manta to Mantle, picking up RWBY which he knew was on a mission. He didn't know what was going to happen next. That scared him more than anything in the world.

"This is a living hell," Skyler said, pausing only to lean back in his chair, drained of all energy.

He didn't want to think about what came next even if it killed him.

Author Notes

Phew. The next chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be a bit delayed and such. The next chapter is going to be in 2-10 months and will show more of Skyler's plan and talking with Yang. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Yang is 1200 words Friday, Ruby 900-1200 Tuesday, Winter 1500 Wednesday alongside 1500 Neo, Pyrrha 1500 Saturday, Elm 1200 Friday, Penny 900 Sunday, Raven 1200 Thursday, Cinder 1200 Friday, Weiss maybe 800 alongside Willow and Elm 1500 Sunday.