AN: The end of this chapter was a lot of fun for me to write!
Thank you to Gry24 and Lord Maximus for the help with this chapter!
Chapter 85
Aqua sat in her dorm room at Atlas Academy, having just gotten back from a physical therapy session. Even though she had Aura to help maintain her muscle mass, several months of inactivity had still resulted in a little bit of muscle atrophy. However, she had recovered from it a lot faster than the doctors had expected her to, thanks to her sneaking a little magic in on the side. She had yet to try any real combat since her surgery, as the doctors wanted to take a more cautious approach and make sure the new vertebra was going to be able to handle the strain first.
There was a knock on her door, and General Ironwood stepped in, with Aqua standing up (yay!) to greet him. Ordinarily, she would think she was a little underdressed to be addressing a general, since she was just wearing a tee-shirt and sleeping shorts, but he didn't seem to mind.
In fact, he had started to insist that she call him "James" instead of "General". Apparently, he allowed his friends to call him that, which she figured meant he considered her a friend.
"Aqua," he greeted.
"James," she said, the fact that she used his first name helped to alleviate the awkwardness that would have otherwise occurred from greeting a man that important in her pajamas.
"I know I've seen you on your feet before, but it's still amazing," James said. "Pietro really is a miracle worker."
"I'm not going to argue," Aqua said. "So, did you need something?"
"I seem to recall that Weiss Schnee was one of your students," James said.
"She was," Aqua confirmed. "How is she doing?"
"Last I saw, she was doing fine, if a little lonely," he responded. "In fact, the Schnee Family is going to be hosting a charity event to raise money for Vale in a few days. Weiss will be singing there."
"Oh, that's great!" Aqua said.
"Would you like to go?"
"Of course!" James chuckled.
"I'll be attending, so I can bring you as my plus-one," he said. "There will be a party afterwards, so you should be able to see Weiss yourself."
"James," she said in a fake scolding tone. "Are you asking your friend's wife on a date? I doubt Qrow would appreciate that." James started fumbling over his words, prompting Aqua to giggle. "I'm kidding. I know it's just so I can see Weiss. Don't worry. I'd love to go." James cleared his throat.
"Oh, very well then," he said. "It's a formal event, so I'll have the proper attire sent to your room shortly."
"Does that mean a dress?' Aqua asked, unable to hide the dread in her voice.
"Yes," James said. "And heels, and makeup."
"Great," Aqua said sarcastically.
"Oscar, supper's almost ready!" Auntie Em called for the boy from downstairs. He looked up from the book he was reading so he could shout back to her.
"What are we having?"
"Doesn't matter! You're eating it!"
"I never agreed to these terms!" he called back.
"It's part of the 'living under my roof' contract! Read the fine print, then come wash up!" Oscar closed his book and stood up from his bed, heading to his bedroom door.
"We have to leave," that annoying voice in his head that wouldn't shut up said. It was hard for Oscar to accept that he was going crazy. There was no other explanation, right? Only crazy people heard voices in their heads. He chose to ignore the voice and continue walking. "Oscar. Oscar!"
"I've decided you're not real, so you might as well give up," Oscar said, pausing before he could reach the door handle.
"I understand how you're feeling," the voice calling itself "Ozpin" said. "I went through the same panic and confusion." Oscar spotted a book that had fallen to the floor, so he picked it up and put it away on the bookshelf, muttering to himself the whole time.
"It's not real. It's not real. It's not real."
"I can assure you, you are perfectly sane," Ozpin said.
"I'm talking to a voice in my head," Oscar responded in a deadpan voice.
"I didn't say you were normal, I said you were sane. There's quite a significant difference between—"
"Shut up!" Oscar interrupted. "You think this is funny? It's not."
"We are in complete agreement on that matter, I promise you," Ozpin said. "Believe me, I wish this weren't the case. But as I've told you, our Aura, our souls are combined."
"I'm done listening to you," Oscar said, trying to shut down the conversation with his delusion.
"Have you ever been to Haven?" Ozpin asked.
"I told you I'm not going, and I told you I'm done listening."
"Do you think you could describe the Headmaster's office?"
"No," Oscar answered. "Why would I know that? I've never seen—"
"Try," Ozpin said. "Right now."
"It's probably…" Oscar said, closing his eyes and trying to think. "It's…" Suddenly, the image popped into his head, clear as day. "It's autumn-colored…with a large mahogany desk. There's a small table with chairs in a corner for guests, with a tea set that… I… I gave him." Oscar's eyes widened when he realized what he had just said. "Why did I say that? Why did I know that? Why did I say that?!"
"Because I helped build that school, and the tea set was a gift to the man running it now," Ozpin said, doing nothing to help alleviate Oscar's growing panic. "If you don't believe me, you can look it up. If I recall, your aunt has several books on Mistral downstairs. I'm certain you could find a picture in one of them."
"That…That's right," Oscar said, beginning to calm down. "I must have seen it in a picture." Of course there was a rational explanation for this. He didn't have the ghost of some old headmaster possessing him. Just a regular old voice in his head.
Oh, man, which one was worse?
"Oscar…" Ozpin said in a scolding tone.
"Stop talking to me!" Oscar shouted.
"I have a grave responsibility to uphold. We both do."
"I never agreed to anything," Oscar said, falling to his knees.
"No, you didn't," Ozpin said. "And neither did I, at first. But you do have an opportunity."
"For what?"
"Greatness, hopefully. Greatness in knowing that, when the world needed help, you were the one to reach out your hand. It won't come without hardship, without sacrifice, but I know you don't want to live the rest of your life working as a farmhand in Mistral."
"So you just decided to read my thoughts?" Oscar asked. First he was scared that he was going crazy, now he felt violated on top of that.
"I…Well," Ozpin said. "They're our thoughts, now."
"Get out of my head!" Oscar shouted.
"Oscar!" his aunt called. "Supper time! I better see clean hands!"
Aqua sat in the balcony of the theater, sitting next to the general in an elegant blue ballgown. Honestly, she had just regained her ability to walk, and now she had to strut around in heels? She had a feeling James was just trying to torture her. In addition to the dress and heels, she wore makeup for the first time since her wedding, and her hair was done up all fancy.
She looked good, but she couldn't help but feel like she was a child playing dress-up with her mother's makeup kit, she felt that out of place. Judging by the white hair and arrogant stance, she assumed she shared the balcony with the Schnee Family, or at least two of them. One was a white-haired man in an equally white suit, and the other was a boy, his hair the same color as Weiss, and honestly a little precocious-looking in his suit. She looked back down at Weiss, standing in the center of a stage, the spotlight on her.
She looked radiant.
She was wearing a longer gown, with a slit running up the left leg. She was singing, her voice melodic and majestic.
She couldn't say the same about the lyrics, though.
"I'm not your pet, not another thing you own.
I was not born guilty of your crimes.
Your riches and your influence can't hold me anymore.
I won't be possessed,
Burdened by your royal test.
I will not surrender.
This life is mine."
Aqua sent a glare at the back of the head of the man she assumed was Jacques Schnee.
Was this how Weiss felt about this man? Her own father? That he treated her like some possession? Some object to be used?
How could anyone treat their own children that way?
Weiss stood uncomfortably next to her father, listening to him talk about the business with a few investors she had never met nor cared about. This was a charity event, wasn't it? Surely the business talk could wait.
"Did you see the woman the general arrived with?" she heard someone ask.
"I did. She was beautiful. And that blue hair," Weiss's ears perked up at that. Blue hair? There was no way. "She must have been a Marigold." Weiss's expression fell. Of course.
It couldn't have been her.
"That's precisely my point," she barely tuned back into the conversation her father was having. "We offer Faunus the exact same wages given to the rest of our mining staff. Their argument's completely invalid right out of the gate."
Blake would disagree.
"Well, I think the bigger issue here is our society as a whole," one of the businessmen said.
"Why, you mean Atlas?" her father asked with a scoff. Weiss looked off to the end of the ballroom, and saw a large painting of Beacon Academy. She moved to step towards it, only for her father to grab her forearm and pull her closer.
"Where are you going?" he asked her.
"I'm… just a little thirsty," she said.
"Sweetheart, we have people for that," he replied, letting go of her arm and flagging a passing waiter.
"What? No, I can get it. I'll be right back, I promise."
"But companies like the SDC promised jobs," one of the businessmen said, the group apparently having continued their conversation while Father was busy scolding Weiss.
"I'm sorry, I tuned out for a second, but sounds like I'm the good guy again," he said, rejoining the conversation and seemingly forgetting all about Weiss.
"You? The good guy?" a new, familiar voice said. "Please, don't make me laugh."
Weiss turned to see who spoke to her father like that, seeing a handsome young man with black hair, wearing a black business suit and tie. It was a young man she was fairly familiar with.
His name was Noctis Lucis Caelum, the only child and thus heir of Regis Lucis Caelum, one of the wealthiest men in Atlas. Their paths had crossed a few times, and one thing became abundantly clear from the first time they met.
Noctis absolutely despised high society.
"Caelum…" her father practically growled. While Noctis always liked to be a general nuisance to the nobility, he seemed to enjoy bugging Weiss's father the most, especially with the little nickname he had given him.
"Seriously Mister Gelé," Noctis said, referring to Father by his last name from before he married her mother. "The day you put anything good in this world will be the day Atlas falls from the sky." He looked over at Weiss. "Actually, I take it back. You did put one good thing into the world. Hello, Weiss," he greeted, taking her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it. "Always lovely to see you."
"Noctis," she greeted with a polite smile.
"I heard you were at Beacon," he said. "I'm sorry you had to go through something like that. If you ever need anything from me, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you," she said. Like herself, Noctis had trained to be a Huntsman, which she suspected was the reason he always seemed to show more respect for her and Winter than he did anyone else in their family. Speaking of, Noctis turned his gaze to Whitely, who was standing obediently next to Father.
"How do your father's shoes taste, kid?" he asked. "Or did you finally grow a spine and stop licking them?" Whitely and Father both sent a glare at the young man. "Looks like you haven't." Noctis chuckled before turning away. "Well, I'm gonna mingle with the other 'elites'," he said. "Nice party, Mr. Gelé."
"Who does that cretin think he is?" Father asked as Noctis walked away. "Just because his family is wealthy, he thinks he can strut around like he owns the place." Weiss really wanted to comment on the irony of Jacques Schnee of all people complaining about someone doing that, but instead chose to sneak away while he was busy fuming.
Weiss silently walked over to the large portrait of Beacon, examining the plaque in front of it.
SHOW THE WORLD WE CARE
All proceeds go to the Kingdom of Vale
She knew that ostensibly, that's what this whole event was about, but it didn't feel like it. Not once had anybody seemed to care about what happened in Vale. What had happened to Beacon. She closed her eyes and huffed in frustration.
"Not having fun?" a very familiar voice asked. One that made Weiss's eyes shoot open. She turned around in disbelief, seeing the absolute last person she expected to see at a party for Atlas big-shots.
"P-Professor?" She asked.
Before her, in a beautiful blue ballgown, was Professor Branwen.
"Hey, Wei—Oof!" the professor tried to greet her, only to be interrupted by Weiss pulling her into a tight hug.
"I'm so happy to see you, Professor," Weiss said.
"Me too," the professor said, returning the hug. "And please, just call me Aqua now." They broke the hug after a few seconds.
"So, I see the surgery was a success," Weiss said, taking note that Aqua was very much not in a wheelchair like General Ironwood had said she was in.
"The general told you?" Aqua asked, to which Weiss nodded. "Yeah. Good as new. No implants or anything. New procedure. Highly experimental."
"I'm glad," Weiss said, before settling herself down in a corner of the room. She looked out at all the people still mingling in the party. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you look so…"
"Silly?" Aqua asked.
"Not at all!" Weiss said. "You look gorgeous!" She really did. It was just that she was so used to her former professor wearing either her combat gear or a basic blouse and skirt that seeing her all dressed up for high society just seemed…odd. "You just look different, is all."
"Tell me about it," Aqua groaned. "The only other time in my life I got this gussied up was my wedding. And least then I had the man I love carry me home afterwards." Weiss giggled.
"So, you've seen the wonders of Atlas. What do you think of it all?"
Aqua rolled her eyes from the slight teasing tone in Weiss's voice.
"One word comes to mind: Stifling," Aqua said, picking up a drink of water from a passing waiter, looking around the party to examine how the people spoke and interacted with each other. "All these people, focused on their money and the power they think it gives them. They don't even care about anything outside of their own little bubbles. Even after living here for over a decade I still find it surprising how some people choose to live."
"Not up to the standards of Master Aqua?" Weiss asked with a small smile.
"Need I remind you I was raised in a temple on a world the size of a small mountain. The only wealth there was knowledge, the only way to climb the ranks was hard work," Aqua said in slight annoyance, seeing the look on Weiss's face. "The fun was from travelling to all the different without knowing what to expect. And for someone who seemed miserable before you seem to be enjoying yourself now."
"Yes, well that was when I was alone with my thoughts," Weiss admitted sheepishly, looking down at Aqua's legs for a second. "So, you got your legs back with no implants. No chance of them short-circuiting."
"The general was insistent that I be as good as new," Aqua answered. "Admittedly I'm a little rusty but I've kept up some forms of practice." With that Aqua held up a hand and a piece of cheese flew into her hand, surprising Weiss.
"How did you—"
"Magic is more than just spells, Weiss," Aqua said as she took a bite of the cheese. "I had to find something to do before I was shipped all the way here."
"So, it's like Professor Goodwitch's?" Weiss observed.
"Well, I haven't taken it that far yet," Aqua replied, looking around and seeing no one had noticed. "Seriously, no one is looking around?"
"They care more about people looking at them than looking around," Weiss said sourly.
"Speaking of people looking at you," Aqua said, giving Weiss a playful nudge with her shoulder. "Who was that strapping young man you were speaking to earlier? He seemed awfully friendly with you." Weiss couldn't help the blush on her face at Aqua's tone, making the blue-haired woman laugh.
"Hey!" Weiss said, upset at being teased. "And if you must know, his name is Noctis. His family is one of the wealthiest in Atlas, almost as wealthy as mine. And, uh…" she started fidgeting uncomfortably. "If I'm being perfectly honest, he's probably the man I'm going to marry one day."
"What do you mean?" Aqua asked.
"My father insists that the Schnee Family is 'superior stock'," Weiss said, making air quotes with her fingers as she said this. "Funny coming from him. He married into the family."
"He did?" Aqua asked.
"Yes. And because of that, he feels that it's only right that as a Schnee, he's extremely selective over who he allows me to marry. He's sent so many suitors my way that I've lost count. I've rejected every one so far. My father's always hated Noctis, but his family is too wealthy for him to reject him outright. He's always treated me with respect, so I figure he's my best option. All I have to do is keep rejecting the other offers until Father finally bites the bullet and suggests Noctis."
"What if you fall in love with someone else?" Aqua asked.
"I don't really have that luxury," Weiss said sadly. "Not if Father doesn't approve."
"Unbelievable," Aqua said. "I can't believe anyone treats their own daughter that way. You deserve to fall in love with whoever you want to. You deserve to live the life you want to. Not the life he decided for you."
"Thank you," Weiss said, looking up at Aqua fondly. She found that she couldn't help but wonder…
What would her life have been like if she had someone like Aqua for a mother? Someone who wouldn't spend all day in a stupor. Someone who would stand up to her father and let her live her own life.
Someone who never made her question whether or not she was even loved.
"But really, does it come as any surprise, what happened to Vale?" Weiss heard someone asked. Her eyes widened in anger, looking at a blonde woman in a tacky dress with obviously fake breasts. "It was a long time coming if you ask me."
"Honey…" the woman's husband said, trying to get her to stop talking, but she brushed him aside.
"Weiss?" Aqua asked in concern.
"What?" the trophy wife asked with a laugh. "You said the same thing last night. If they're so arrogant to think they can get by without proper kingdom defense, then I say good riddance."
"SHUT UP!" Weiss yelled, shocking the woman and making her look at the heiress. The room fell silent, all eyes on her.
"Weiss?" she faintly heard her father question her.
"You don't have a clue!" Weiss continued yelling, now addressing the whole room and not just the one arrogant woman. "None of you do!"
"Excuse me?" the trophy wife asked, sounding offended.
"You're all just standing around talking about nothing! Worrying about your hair, your money, your stupid problems that don't mean anything!"
"Weiss, that's enough!" her father said, grabbing hold of her wrist.
"Let go of me!" she shouted, trying to pull away.
"You're embarrassing the family!"
"She said let go," Aqua said, grabbing hold of her father's wrist.
"Stay out of this!" her father yelled. "This has nothing to do with you!" Weiss finally managed to wrench her wrist free, losing her balance and falling over in the process. However, she heard the sound of one of her glyphs activating, and turned to see a glowing white Boarbatusk standing next to her. Her eyes widened, and then the creature charged at the woman, who was pleading for mercy.
"Qrow!"
Weiss blinked as the boarbatusk was slashed to pieces by a crystalline copy of Qrow and Aqua who had her Keyblade out. Weiss could hear shocked gasps and whispers, including from her father at seeing Aqua summoning.
"Arrest her!" the trophy wife shouted, prompting Aqua to turn her glare on her. "What are you waiting for?! She's insane, she should be locked up!"
"Oh, would you just shut your mouth already?!" Aqua shouted. "Don't think we didn't hear what you said about Beacon! I was there! People died! Are you really so arrogant to think that what happened to Vale can't happen in Atlas?! Newsflash: Atlas was in charge of defending Vale! And the nerve of you, talking about how Vale deserved what happened to it, at a charity event for the people that died in the attack! People like you make me sick! People that are so stuck in their own little bubbles that they couldn't care one bit about the suffering of others!"
"Who do you think you are?" Weiss's father demanded. Aqua turned her wrath to him.
"And you!" she said. "Don't you ever lay a finger on that girl again!"
"I'll do with my daughter whatever I damn well please!" her father shouted. "Now get out!"
"Now, now," a new voice said. "Let's not be too hasty here."
Everyone looked at the newcomer, who wore a dark coat and hood that completely covered their face.
"Who are you?" General Ironwood asked, stepping forward to confront the stranger.
"Me? Well, I was planning to say that I was tonight's entertainment, but it's hard to top a show like that," the man said in a friendly tone. "Thanks a lot, Weiss. I lost my chance to look cool."
"What do you want with my daughter?" Weiss's father asked.
"Oh, we're old friends. Didn't she tell you about me?" Everyone turned and look at Weiss as she and Aqua finally got a good look at the man, their eyes widening.
"It's you!"
"You know him?" Ironwood asked.
"He's the man you pulled us all into a dream to attack us after out last mission before the festival," Aqua answered, pointing her Keyblade at the man. The man just chuckled.
"I'm flattered you remember me, Aqua. Seeing you able to walk again brings me great joy." Ironwood pulled out his gun.
"You should leave now. I'm placing you under arrest."
The man raised one hand and suddenly almost everyone in the room was lifted off the ground and pushed against the walls. Aqua used her Keyblade to protect herself from the spell but was still pushed back a few feet as the man created a barrier around himself and Weiss.
"Weiss!" Aqua shouted, rushing up to the barrier and slashing her Keyblade at it in an attempt to break it.
"Now then." The man reached behind him and, to the shock of Weiss and Aqua, pulled out Weiss's Myrtenaster.
"How did you get that?!" Weiss shouted in surprise and anger that this man had likely gone into her room without her permission. The man ignored her question as he tossed the sword to her, which she easily caught.
"Prepare yourself. I have come to test your skills as a Huntress."
"No!" Father shouted. "Weiss, do not engage. Let the general and the huntress with you take him down."
"Aqua, if you interfere everyone in this room will die," the man said, silencing almost everyone. Some tried to run for the door, only to find it sealed by a glowing barrier.
"What do you want with Weiss?" Aqua questioned, reluctantly lowering her Keyblade but staying close by.
"As I said, I want to test her skills. I want to see her worth as a member of the team your youngest daughter led," the hooded man answered. Weiss looked between the man and her father who was glaring at her to stand down. "Of course, if you refuse I could always leave and test Ruby instead. Of course, given her mediocre performance during my last test I wouldn't expect much of her. She failed to protect herself before just like she failed to save her friends at Beacon. Honestly, without her teammates and mother holding her hands she's barely worth the effort. I guess the Keyblade chose wrong this time."
"Shut up!" Weiss shouted, adopting a combat stance. She was lucky her gown had a slit in the side so she could move more easily. "Fine, you want a fight? You got one!"
"What?!" her father shouted.
Weiss charged at the hooded man, letting loose a series of thrusts at him with her blade. The man easily dodged and summoned glowing ethereal blades in his hands that clashed with Weiss's sword. He easily blocked and parried her strikes, spinning and dancing back as he did.
"Not bad but your form is rusty and rigid. Clearly staying in that fancy mansion hasn't done you any favors," the hooded man taunted.
"Shut up!" Weiss shouted.
She used a bit of Fire Dust to unleash a wave of fire at the hooded man, who crossed his blades into a "X" and released a shockwave that sent the fire tight back to its owner. Weiss cried out, having no time to react but her Aura took the brunt of the assault as she slammed into the barrier and slid down.
"Well, that was disappointing," the man said as he slowly approached her. "For all your training and focus on perfection your maybe even behind Ruby. I expected a little more from the Huntress who held her own against the remnant of Vanitas for an impressive amount of time. If this is Beacon's best I guess their teaching just wasn't up to snuff." Weiss looked up, watching as the man raised his blade to finish her off, but the sheer anger she felt eclipsed her fear.
"SHUT UP!"
There was a flash of light and the man jumped back, dodging the slash from a giant sword that actually left a small gash on his arm. He looked down at the small cut and then up at the giant glowing white armored figure that had appeared before him. The giant raised its sword to attack again, but the man vanished, reappearing behind it. Several gashes appeared on its body before it dissolved into nothingness.
"Maybe I spoke too soon," the man said, looking down at Weiss.
"Leave her alone!" Aqua shouted, trying to break through the barrier again. "Mickey!"
The hooded man watched as Aqua summoned Mickey. They combined their Keyblades, creating a sword made of light to break through the barrier. The man raised his hand.
"Stopza."
A spell covered the entire room, freezing everyone outside of the barrier in time. He then approached the exhausted Weiss.
"Not a bad start but you had better keep practicing. Not just your summoning technique but your skills with the sword as well," the man said, much to Weiss's confusion. He had just tried to kill her, now he was giving her a lesson? "Your emotions of doubt that your father planted in you are what have been impeding your progress. Let go of his expectations and control and let your heart be your guiding key instead. But have this as a token for at least not disappointing me." He knelt down and placed a small piece of jewelry in her hand. Depicted on it was a mighty dragon. "I suggest you look for a teacher." He looked over at the frozen Aqua. "Probably her. You've already learned a lot from her. Maybe she can help you keep improving."
Weiss watched in stunned silence as the man turned and walked away, vanishing into a pillar of darkness. The barrier and the time spell broke, freeing everyone.
"Weiss!" Aqua rushed over and knelt down next to her. "Are you alright?"
"Uh…Uh-huh." Weiss slowly nodded, allowing Aqua to help her up.
"Where did he go?" Ironwood asked, looking around the room.
"He's…He's gone," Weiss said, staring at the charm in her hand. "He vanished."
"He couldn't have gotten far," Ironwood said as security guards busted down the door. "Lock down the entire building! We're looking for a man in a dark coat and hood!"
As Ironwood left to conduct the search, one which Aqua and Weiss would turn up with nothing, Aqua looked to Weiss and the charm in her hands.
"Get away from her!" her father barked angrily as eh marched up to them. "How dare you disobey me?!" He knocked the charm out of her hands and dragged her off, leveling a sharp glare at Aqua as he left the room.
Aqua watched as the wretch Weiss called a father dragged her out of the room, shaking her head in sadness before kneeling down to pick up the fallen charm.
I sense a powerful magic in here. That man… Aqua thought. Now what is he up to?
"Excuse me?" Aqua turned around and saw a stout, balding man with a mustache walk up to her. "If you'd like, I can make sure that the charm is returned to Miss Schnee."
"Oh, sure," Aqua said, handing the man the charm. "I didn't catch your name."
"I'm Klein," the butler answered. "Klein Sieben. I work as a servant for the Schnee Family."
"Aqua. Aqua Branwen," Aqua replied. "I was Weiss's teacher back at Beacon."
"Oh, so you're the one she spoke so highly of," the man said happily. "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for taking such good care of Miss Schnee."
"You really care about her, huh?" Aqua asked.
"I do," he said, smiling fondly.
"Make sure you take good care of her," Aqua said. "I've only gotten a glimpse of the kind of man her father is, and I already can't stand him. I can't imagine what it must be like for her to have to live with him."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," Klein said. "I wouldn't hurt a hair on her head." Aqua smiled at the man.
"I think Weiss is lucky to have you."
"Hey, Noct," Noctis's teammate Prompto greeted him as he entered the door of their office down in Mantle. Prompto Argentum was a young blond man, sitting on the couch playing the team's favorite game, King's Knight, with their other teammate, Gladiolus Amicitia. Gladiolus, or Gladio as the team called him, was pretty much Prompto's polar opposite. Where Prompto was thin, Gladio was bulky. Where Prompto was a little on the short side, Gladio was tall and imposing. Where Prompto was blond, Gladio had dark brown hair. "How was the party?"
"Eventful, surprisingly," Noctis answered, taking off his suit jacket and hanging it up on the hook near the door.
"Really?" another voice asked, this one belonging to their final teammate, Ignis Scientia. He was a tall and thin man, with dark blond hair and glasses. He was in the kitchen making dinner, rounding out their team.
Together, they were the Chocobros.
…Prompto picked the name after winning a game of King's Knight.
"I'll tell you about it later," Noctis said, vaulting over the back of the couch to sit between Prompto and Gladio, pulling out his scroll to join their game. "I invited Robyn and May over. Something tells me they're going to want to hear about this. For now, we should keep an eye out for a guy wearing a long black coat with a hood."
"Got it," Prompto said.
"So, Noct," Gladio said, nudging Noctis with his elbow. "How was Weiss?"
"Lovely as always," Noctis repeated. "Almost made wasting my time with those stuck-up jerk-offs worth it." Something about Weiss had always made her seem different to him than the other high society types. He always got the impression that she genuinely wanted to help people. Something that was only confirmed when she left Atlas to study to become a Huntress at Beacon.
He just hoped her father wouldn't be able to crush that altruistic spirit of hers.
"So when are you gonna let us meet her?" Prompto asked.
"Depends," Noctis answered. "When are we gonna meet your girlfriend?"
"Uh, I told you, it's complicated," the blond said.
"Right," Gladio said with a chuckle. "That's code for 'she doesn't exist'."
"She does, too!" Prompto argued. A knock on the door stopped the teasing from continuing, and Ignis opened up the door to let in two women, both wearing long coats. One was blonde, and the other had blue hair.
The blonde one was named Robyn Hill, and the bluenette was May Marigold, part of a group Robyn led called the Happy Huntresses.
…Again, Prompto picked the name. They really needed to stop betting things on King's Knight.
"Hey, Specs," she said, greeting Ignis.
"Miss Hill," Ignis greeted politely.
"Hey, Sis," Prompto called out.
"Squirt," she said in greeting. "So, Princey, what's so important that you asked for me and May to come down here?"
"General Ironwood showed up at the party with a blue-haired woman," Noctis reported. "Heard people saying she was probably a Marigold." May bristled at that.
"So he's got bad taste in women," May said. "Big deal."
"When has Ironwood ever bothered to bring a date to one of those parties?" Gladio asked. "Let alone a Marigold. He has about as much tolerance for nobles as we do."
"Yeah, it is weird," Robyn said.
"You know what's weirder?" Noctis said. "This supposed Marigold woman clearly had Huntress training, and could summon like a Schnee."
"Huh?" May asked, her eyes wide. "But, would that mean that…"
"Who knows?" Noctis asked nonchalantly. "Just figured it would be something you'd find interesting."
"Yeah," Robyn said, her hand on her chin. "It is."
"Do you know what happened to her after the party?" May asked.
"I saw her leave with the general," Noctis said. "Don't know where he brought her, though.
"I'll get on that after dinner," Ignis said. "It shouldn't be too hard to find out where they went."
"Thanks, Iggy," Noctis said.
"And thank you, Noctis," Robyn said. "You were right. This is definitely something we need to look into. I think we should pay this mysterious Marigold a visit."
AN: Okay, I know people were waiting for the Tyrian fight, but one more chapter, I promise.
So, the reason I was so excited to write this chapter was because I'm putting the Chocobros from FFXV in this story! The backstories I came up with are a little in-depth, so I'll explain here.
Noctis is the only child of Regis Lucis Caelum, one the wealthiest men in Atlas, as stated in the story. In fact, the Caelum family was loosely related to the last King of Mantle, hence Robyn's nickname of "Princey". That particular branch of the family, however, proved itself popular with the people by siding against Mantle during the Great War, thus allowing them to keep most of their wealth after the war. Noctis himself has no interest in politics and would rather be a Huntsman, but due to his good relationship with his father, he doesn't want to ruin his father's legacy by completely bowing out. So, he does his best to balance his Huntsman work with the usual elbow-rubbing expected of someone in his position. But he makes his disdain for the elites clear.
Gladio's father has worked for years as a bodyguard for Noctis's father, which is how Noctis met him. He also has a younger sister named Iris, whom has a huge crush on Noctis.
Ignis has also known Noctis since they were kids, Ignis's family having been employed as his father's servants. The two of them got along well, so, like Gladio, Ignis followed Noctis to Atlas Academy to become a Huntsman.
And finally, Prompto. He's the only one to come from Mantle, and not Atlas. He was orphaned in a Grimm attack at a young age, and had to try to survive on the streets of Mantle. He quickly realized he would need to resort to stealing to survive, but the first person he tried to steal from happened to be Robyn Hill, who had just started attending Atlas Academy. Robyn took pity on him, and instead of reporting him to the police or sending him to an orphanage, she chose to take him in herself. (I'm having it be a thing that students of Atlas Academy don't have to stay in the dorms if they live in either Atlas or Mantle, and that's how Robyn was able to be there for him.) Because of this, Prompto was inspired to become a Huntsman to follow in his Big Sis's footsteps, and the whole team gets along well with the Happy Huntresses.
So, next time, I promise will be the Tyrian fight.
As always, thank you very much for reading, and I'll see you all next time!