Hello again! I hope you are all doing fine. Without any further ado, let's get to chapter 16. As always, thank you so much for following and reading the story- yes you will get tired of me saying it XD
November of 82, Miner's District of Mantle
Yang groaned in frustration as her feet carried her over the ever-busy Miner's District. All around the stone-paved road, seemingly unaffected by the chilling night air, countless little shops were going on business as usual, their red lights illuminating the blonde's path.
If only they could shed some light inside some people's heads as well, Yang thought. As soon as the words formed in her mind, however, she felt bad. Yes, Weiss had made her mad, acting way over the top since they had reached Atlas.
But, if she wanted to be honest with herself, it was not without reason; until Ironwood returned, they had been forced to lay low in Ms. Flinch's house in the lower city- an old friend of Ms. Calavera.
Well, after that one could easily guess why living in a place like that could make Weiss jumpy; the amount of people who wanted to lash out at her for the decades of suffering in the hands of the SDC was too damn high. And Yang's temper wasn't helping her friend at all.
She turned around and stopped at a stall with small, ornamental jewelry. Maybe a gift could help raise her spirits a little bit she smiled fondly, before raising an eyebrow in wonder about her line of thinking.
The sound of an explosion and the sudden shaking of the ground snapped her out of her confusion. She looked around and saw a lot of people running down the district, moving towards the northern part next to the pit- where the mines' entrances were located.
Yang ran towards the source of the noise, seeing that people had started gathering around the entrance to a small tunnel. She pushed around the crowd and managed to get out of it, standing next to the opening- or what used to be one.
The tunnel's exit had completely been sealed, piles of rubble totally blocking every possible exit. In front of it was standing a group of faunus, probably miners if their clothing and uncleanliness were any indication.
What drew Yang's attention even more, however, was the girl lying down in front of them, visibly wounded and battered. One of the faunus, a man with deer antlers, knelt over her and asked for someone to assist him cover her wounds.
The blonde rushed to the girl's side without any second thought. She helped her raise her head carefully; she was definitely dizzy. "Good" he said. "Keep her still, please." She complied, using the opportunity to study the girl.
She was wearing an Atlas' academy uniform and had her weapon, a huge sword, next to her. Judging from how tall and well-shaped she seemed, she could definitely put it to good use. Her hair was jet black and a pair of pristine emerald eyes was visible through her half-open eyelids.
As soon her lilac eyes fell on her, the girl let a pained moan escape her lips. "Hey" Yang said calmly. "Can you hear me?" Her eyes opened a little more "yes" she replied. "Where is…my team?"
Yang looked towards the surrounding crowd, puzzled. One of the miners got near her and replied sadly "the girl and her team were inside when an explosion happened. They helped us get out, those poor children."
Yang gazed at the girl and then at the man "you mean…" He nodded "we only managed to get this lady out before the tunnel collapsed." She felt the girl move in her arms, forcing her to apply more power.
"No, they are fine…" she whimpered. "They will not die like this…they are strong…" the huntress' face fell a little. Losing your team was no small-
"Please…" she fixed her stare at the girl, her mouth wide open as she was eyeing the miners "Please…they are my friends…my team…"
Yang Xiao Long narrowed her eyes as she gently let the girl on the ground. "Is there another entrance to this tunnel?"
The men around her looked at the huntress in fear. "Yes, but it's very dangerous." She rolled her eyes "tell me something new" and opened her scroll.
"Hey Yang!" her sister's cheerful voice echoed through the microphone "did you hear the explosion?" She gulped "Ruby, are you in for a rescue mission? Some huntsmen need our help, in…" she looked around "mine 43."
She could nearly hear the gears in Ruby's head spin. "We will be there ASAP!" she replied before closing. Yang ignored the incredulous stares she got and turned to the girl who was smiling at her "thank you… so much…"
She flashed her comforting grin "don't worry; we will bust them out of there for sure. By the way, I am Yang. What's your name?" The green-eyed woman licked her lips and replied. "Lumia… Lumia Starlight."
December 9th, 85
Vale City Suburbs
Albus Duskwood couldn't help but stare at the enemy in front of him. He took the piece of cardboard in his hand, examined it again and again and again. Dropping his shoulders, he turned his gaze towards the perpetrator. "What the hell Ruby?"
The silver-eyed girl, sitting on the other side of the game board, gave him her best fake innocent smile before sipping some juice. Next to her, Weiss rolled her eyes at the display while Yang tried her best to suppress a chuckle.
"I am sorry, Albus, but Menagerie Naval has to be put down before you capture my entire South Mistralian coast" she said as she put a considerably large Leviathan piece on the board, earning a groan from the man.
"Oh come on Al" Yang smiled as she counted her dark energy points "it could be worse." He face palmed "I am playing as Menagerie, meaning my only means of expansion is by sea and your sister just put a Leviathan next to my harbor" he spat. "How could it be worse?"
"You could be Weiss" Yang replied flatly, causing her girlfriend to stare at her, clearly aware of what was about to transpire.
"I spend all my dark energy and play Call of The Dark Queen. That allows me to permanently steal the Nuckelavee she used to attack Vale."
"Wait a moment!" Weiss protested. "I have eight AK-200s in the same space with it!" Yang grinned "exactly. And as the rules command, since you lost control of it, it immediately attacks…" she rolled the die "…and kills seven of them."
Weiss stared at her lover with her best deadly glare, her eyes literally shooting daggers at her. "Well guess who is going to sleep-" A voice coming from the living room cut her off "sorry to interrupt, but you need to see this."
All four players turned around towards the source of the voice, who happened to be Blake Belladonna; wearing a set of comfy-looking sportswear as she was seated on a couch with a mug of tea in her hand.
On a sofa opposing her, was sitting a young girl with very long white hair and skin pale enough to put Weiss' to shame, if one wouldn't count the discolored grey spots in her arms and legs.
Her slender form was covered in black pajamas and she was holding a beer as her pale pink eyes were focused at the TV in the middle of the room.
The images played were very familiar to the RWBY members; Lisa Lavender was showing pictures from the destruction of Yugure, with a totally not-flattering title being displayed below.
HUNTRESS' FAILED OPERATION LEADS TO THE DEATH OF MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE- NEW GRIMM APPEARS IN VALE
"You can't be serious!" Weiss shouted, bursting away from the gaming table and straight next to her teammate. The pink-eyed girl nodded "I would like to say I wasn't expecting it; but I would be a liar" she replied with a clear, melodious voice.
"Still, Alexandra" Blake turned to her "I kind of expected Lisa Lavender to be a little more… toned down." Weiss raised an eyebrow "I agree, but" yellow turned around to meet blue "she isn't wrong if you strictly look at it."
"You are right, but…" Ruby walked next to them "…it feels wrong when people who weren't there say it like this" their team leader finished Blake's reply, just before the door to team LEAD's apartment opened and two people burst in.
The first one was Erik Rust; a slightly tall and muscular boy with brown hair and deep, warm chestnut eyes. He wore a long red coat and carried several pizza boxes.
Behind him, Lumia Starlight walked in, laptop in hand, her jet black hair tied up in a ponytail. She removed a white coat from her broad shoulders and let her glass-covered green eyes fall upon her friends.
"I guess you watched the news, too. Gotta hand it to them; getting pictures from a restricted area is neither easy nor legal. Lavender has balls."
A series of angry nods were the first reaction the tall woman earned. She motioned to her friends to move to the living room, where everyone got seated around the TV, as Erik and Yang passed them the food and some drinks.
"So" Weiss turned to the leader of team LEAD "what did you find in the lab?" Lumia removed her glasses "can't we eat first please? I have been experimenting on Yugure's findings all weekend. I will tell you before the movie start; I promise."
"You are right" she mumbled, before she slapped Yang's arm away "hands off my pizza, you robot-killing fiend!" Yang chuckled and kissed her cheek, happy to see that everyone else was too focused on their food to care.
The sound of eating went on for a while, only getting disrupted by Ruby and Albus arguing about the former ones' plans about upgrading Crescent Rose.
After a few jabs were exchanged and many slices were consumed, Blake wiped her mouth and locked eyes with Weiss, both feeling it was time to turn to the serious matter.
"So, Lumia, care to enlighten us now?" the faunus solemnly asked. They got seated more comfortably, Weiss allowing Yang to hug her despite the permanent scowl on her face and Alexandra sitting on Albus' lap.
"Well" Lumia started "first things first. I examined the coffin's remains." She turned to Ruby "you were right, Gunhead. The coffin is ancient. And when I say ancient, I mean older than anything I've ever seen; Salem's castle included."
The silver-eyed girl gulped. She bit her lower lip "I never thought I would hate being right so much…" Alexandra smiled "it happens to me all the time, you get used to it." Albus merely rolled his eyes.
"Anyway!" the tall girl fixed her teammates with an angry stare. "The chains and the lock on the door, however, are considerably modern. The technology used on them can't be more than 10 years old."
"Well that's reasonable" Blake interjected "anything else?" Lumia mowed down a large slice of pineapple pizza.
"You were fright about the lock. It was neither picked nor destroyed. Someone opened it normally." Everyone in the room froze, exchanging looks with each other, Yang being the one to finally voice their thoughts.
"Wait a second, Lu" she raised her hand "you mean to say that someone released that thing? I thought Blake simply misunderstood." Erik rubbed his eyes "unless this Grimm has the ability to pick locks."
The black-haired girl sighed "someone who knew the combination for this door was in Yugure with you and wanted to set the monster free. Someone very not-Grimm" she concluded.
"I can't believe what I am listening!" everyone gasped as they turned to the source of the sound. Ruby had gotten up, her entire body trebling in anger, tears of rage falling from her silver eyes.
"Someone let this thing free? They let this monster into the world? WHY? So many people died! Why would they-" she stopped, realizing that everyone was looking at her in worry; Yang especially had gotten up and stood next to her.
"Rubes" she gently hugged her sister, who hugged her back momentarily and then turned around "I am sorry", she said as she walked towards the balcony "I just hoped we wouldn't have to fight people for once."
-o-
The snow had been continuously falling; the chilling cold did little to deter the red-cloaked huntress, as she watched the city lights flutter in the deep, white-coated night. She smiled, allowing happier thoughts to occupy her mind.
The sound of the sliding door getting opened made her sigh. As she turned around she was surprised to see Lumia instead of her sister standing behind her, smiling softly.
"Before you ask, I convinced Yang to let us have a little talk between team leaders" she said. "Sorry…about before. I guess I had a lot of things in my mind" Ruby replied, turning back to enjoying the view.
"I didn't know you liked city lights, Gunhead" she walked next to her. Ruby smiled "on our first date, Jaune and I were so nervous we ended up strolling the roads of Vacuo. At some point we managed to reach a hill without even realizing it."
She let her gaze linger for a while, eyes beaming in reminiscence "we just stood there, taking in the view of the city, hugging each other…it was… one of the best nights of my life" she wiped her eyes with her thumb.
"Since then, every time I feel bad, I try to find a place like that and just admire the lights; it reminds me of how amazing the world can be; it fills me with hope, like he always did."
"I see" Lumia nodded "then I guess the entire pep talk I had gotten prepared is needless, isn't it?" Ruby turned around and looked at her, determination evident in her eyes.
They walked inside, meeting the gazes of their friends. "Ruby Rose, you-" Weiss started but her partner cut her off "I am sorry, guys. I just needed to get it out of my system." She flashed them a brilliant grin, making all tension evaporate.
"It's fine as long as you are fine." Yang smiled. "Don't even think about it; that's what friends are for, aren't they?" Erik added. "YuP" she chuckled, before crossing her arms in her 'leader pose'.
"It's time for us to act; we may know very few things about the enemy, but there is something we can at least for now do- gather information."
"I can search the Vale archives for the chains' type and material" Weiss said. When everyone looked at her in confusion, she gave off a short groan before explaining.
"Nobody would ever mass produce these things, which means that either the culprit has a private laboratory, or he made a special order about them."
"Oh I see" Yang merrily replied "you want to check who made these and find out their client."
Weiss winked at her "when they were made, tensions between kingdoms were high; the possibility of making them outside of Vale is very low. And there are not so many steel manufacturing companies in Vale that could satisfy such a request."
Blake was the next to talk "I can search in Vale City Library for any cases in history with common traits to Yugure; it could help us establish possible connections or draw at least some parallels."
"Sounds like a lot of research." Alex pondered. "Do you want some help?" The faunus smirked deviously "Thanks, but Sun will probably tag along, so there is no need to worry."
"We would like to help as well, but our next mission in in two days. Sorry, but finishing the tests is the only think we will probably manage to do until then" Lumia apologized, her teammates' frowns matching her own.
"It's fine" Ruby gave an affirmative nod. "I will talk to commander Goodwitch tomorrow afternoon to let us some more free time to do our research."
Yang tilted her head slightly "why in the afternoon, though?" Ruby gave her sister a sad smile. "Because I have a duty to perform in the morning; I am visiting Melia Pale's grave."
Author's Notes; besides lightening up the mood a little, the board game scene is my own way of venting about RT not having released it yet. I am a board game fan myself and I have been waiting to see if they will show us more of this interesting Conquest of Remnant style of board game. However, if you think it is way out of place in the chapter, please feel free to tell me, so I will avoid doing stuff like that in the future; thanks a lot in advance!