Hello everyone! How are you doing? Hope you are all doing fine!
Chapter 72 is up. As always, I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks a lot for following/ favoring/ simply reading the story everyone! It's become a habit of mine to thank you, but I truly mean it!
See you all next week, until then have fun!
March 16, 86
Weiss' eyes opened, as the rhythmic sound of the train leaving another station interrupted her sleep. She blinked; the train cabin was dark and silent, save for the moonlight passing through the window.
She picked her scroll- it was 11 pm; not a great time for one's sleep to be interrupted. Excellent; I can feel the arrival of a splendid headache she internally groaned.
She let a low-tone sigh and sat on her bed. Her artificial eye was sore and itchy. I will have to stock some more when we reach Lakkard she thought, grabbing a bottle of lubricating eye drops from her bag.
"Feeling itchy?" Yang's voice cut the silence. Weiss tossed a couple drops in the left eye and blinked a few times to spread them as much as possible. She then turned to her fiancée, sitting on her own bed as well.
"I will get used to it; why are you awake of all people? You love sleeping during travels" she whispered in order to not wake up Blake and Ruby, both sleeping on the top bunk beds.
"I couldn't sleep; I was wondering whether I should text her or not" the blonde replied. "I- I hoped she would at least come to send us off; I did not realize Lumia was that mad with us- no, with me" she continued.
"Her comments hit too close to home, didn't they?" Yang averted her gaze and stared out of the window "I think I can finally feel a little bit of how sad and troubled Blake felt after the Fall of Beacon."
"And Lumia knows that" Weiss moved on and caressed Yang's chin. "Of all our friends, she is among the most prideful. If she didn't come in the station, it's how she copes with her guilt of making you sad."
Before the blonde replied, Weiss walked away and took off her blouse. "Baby you know how much I would like to, but Rubes and Blake are here." Weiss' eyes rolled "I am getting changed, you hormone-filled train."
"Changed?" "Yes; the train bar works until late. Let's go get a drink. Lakkard should be only a couple hours away and you need something to help you calm down."
A few minutes later
"You know, baby, when you are asking someone out to drink, the first thing that comes to mind is not apple soda" Yang pointed towards the large refreshment sitting half-empty in her girl's hands.
"It's not that your mug of beer counts as a proper drink either!" she replied, faking annoyance. "At least mine has alcohol inside it and not sparkling juice" the blonde jabbed back.
"You know how much I hate the taste of alcohol; spare me" Weiss took another huge sip from the soda, licking her lips in the cutest way Yang had ever seen someone drink. She smiled.
"That was a good idea you had" the brawler finally said. "We are in a very important mission and me brooding over spilled milk is not a good thing for anyone."
"You have always been like this" Weiss tossed a thin apple slice in her mouth. "You are never able to keep your calm when a friend feels bad- and that becomes even worse when you think it's your fault."
"Isn't it though?" she replied "Lu raised a valid point there." The pale girl smiled softly "Lumia is just staying true to her beliefs and so do we Yang. It may cause friction sometimes, but…"
She chugged down the rest of her soda "we are friends. In the end, they know this is how we operate and accept it as a part of us and you must accept their concern as well; it's only natural don't you think?"
Yang grinned, despite the melancholy not leaving her eyes. "Ok, got it. But that's enough; let's change subject. Anything new on your Grandpa's notes?" Weiss' eyes shone in excitement- a display as rare as magnificent.
"As a matter of fact, there is a new trick I want to try as soon as we get the chance to. Do you want to hear?" Yang stood up and winked at her "sure; just let me get us a refill."
A couple hours later, the four huntresses, well fed and moderately rested, walked out of Lakkard train station, each holding a small plastic cup of coffee in their hands.
Ruby wore a simple gray blouse with black trousers and red boots that reached halfway to her calf. A red jacket was worn on top, its white hoodie reaching below her messy black-and-red hair. Her cloak was carefully packed and stored in her backpack.
She wore a pair of gray leather fingerless gloves in her hands. Crescent Rose was folded on her back, along with her backpack that was hanging on her left shoulder. A silver side belt adorned her waist.
Weiss had a two-colored shirt, white on top and black on bottom, with light red stockings and low-heeled gray shoes. She wore a blue jacket on top, its collar covered by Kendrick's white scarf, and her swords at her thin belt.
Her hair was tied up in a small bun; save for a pair of long braids that fell over her face, framing her slightly heterochromatic eyes. A pair of silky pale gloves covered her hands, as she held her own bag on one.
Blake had chosen a violet thin button shirt with dark purple trousers. White, knee-high boots with purple striped bindings and similar-colored pouch belts in her waist and thighs accompanied her outfit.
Her hair was let down, forming frills, reaching to a checkers-themed scarf draped around her neck. A white coat with long tail hugged her form, covering Nightfall and Envelop that were strapped on her belt.
The last and tallest member of the group had chosen a simple outfit, with yellow sleeveless blouse and jet-black pants with pouches. A leather brown jacket was on top, its sleeves pulled up to the elbows.
Brown leather knee-high boots, brown belt and her orange scarf added to the cowboy style, along with a brown cowboy hat she had bought to use here while her black one was being repaired in Vale's tailors.
Ember Celica was always there, covering her wrists. She stopped for a moment to fix her hair, forming a rich golden ponytail that fell down her muscular back. Lilac eyes narrowed, taking in their surroundings.
The view from the station was nothing extravagant- Lakkard seemed to be a flat, rural city. It had wide roads separating a series of two-story houses and a considerable amount of trees were spread around.
Street lamps illuminated the night roads and a pleasant silence filled the area. "Well, that looks like a nice place. Dull, but nice" Yang said, sipping her ice coffee. "So what do we do?"
"According to what we know, Azure's card was used for ordering a few materials from Atlas. Cornfield was specifically stated as the orders' destination and it is supposed to be south of the city" Blake answered.
Everyone turned and stared at Ruby who had assumed a thinking pose. "Normally this is the point where we would go and find out about the village's location and its history, but at this time of night…"
"We can always ask the policemen patrolling the city" Yang smiled. "If we manage to find a veteran one, they must know quite a lot about the place- or at least more than absolutely nothing."
"This is actually a good idea" Weiss acknowledged. "Your compliment would be so much better if you didn't sound so surprised, baby" Yang commented, earning a few laughs from the other two girls.
After a few minutes searching in the dimly lit roads, glad for the moon's help and Blake's eyesight, they managed to come across a middle-aged looking man in a police outfit.
"Good morning~" Yang cheerfully greeted the man, giving one of her cutest grins. "I see Lakkard is a pretty safe place, having such a hard-working police force!"
"Hmmm?" the man's eyes narrowed as he turned his flashlight on her. "Well, the city is a pretty quiet one altogether; but it is too early to take a stroll, young lady."
"I- I mean, we- are pretty skilled, so don't worry" she replied, pointing her metal thumb to her back where the rest of her team stood. They all greeted the man, who returned the gesture.
"We just arrived here; took a train from Vale" she continued, her smile still bright. "Ah, looking for a hotel? I can suggest a few nearby that are cheap and good for travellers" he kindly replied.
"To be honest with you" Yang dropped the playful manner and took out her huntress license, making her teammates glare daggers at her back.
"We are huntresses in a mission. We have to get to Cornfield as soon as possible and I was wondering maybe you knew a few things about the place and how to get there."
The man sent her a perplexed stare. "Cornfield, you say?" "Yeah; we are in the middle of a mission and we have to get moving now. I take it a seasoned officer like you could help us with that" she smiled again.
The man rubbed his chin "have I seen you around before?" he finally asked. "This is-" "we are from Vale, so maybe you have come across us at some point?" Weiss interjected, walking next to Yang.
"Wait- you are team RWBY!" the man's eyes opened in recognition. "I see… the higher-ups finally decided to act on the matter!" he exclaimed in a considerably friendlier tone than before.
"The higher ups?" Ruby asked, earning another confused stare from the man. "We were not properly informed" Yang butted in. "We only were told to investigate Cornfield, that's all" she closed her eye at her sister.
"I see…" the man straightened his shoulders. "Could you please follow me to the police station? I think the chief there will be able to explain everything."
-o—
The tall, thin, mustached man sat down behind his desk. "Thank you, officer. You can return to your shift now." The man respectfully bid his goodbyes to the man and to RWBY, before stepping out of the office.
"The name is Thomas Bright" he said, addressing them "ex-huntsman and current Chief of Lakkard's fourth police station. It is a pleasure to meet the famous team RWBY."
"Thank you very much" Ruby said. "We are happy to-" "Or, at least that is what I would have liked to say, Ms. Rose. I just finished calling the SHU headquarters back in Vale" he said, making them all stiffen.
"Commander Goodwitch told me that there is no official assignment from the state of Vale and implored me to arrest you if you ever again flash your license in public like that, Ms. Xiao Long."
Yang's teeth gritted and her shoulders dropped. "I apologize; I just wanted to show Officer Hamley that we are not here in order to stir any trouble- I am sorry" she stated in an uncharacteristic for her manner.
Weiss slowly grabbed her arm, rubbing the top of her palm with her thumb, making her smile. "As Yang said" Ruby picked up "the mission may not be official, but it is really serious for the SHU" she explained.
"In addition" Blake added "it would seem you have a situation in your hands that has to do with Cornfield, if Officer Hamley's words are to be trusted."
"Well" the man tapped his fingers on his desk "despite me not being fond of trusting unauthorized people butting in, you are team RWBY. You may be able to help with our current predicament."
He opened a drawer and pulled out a small file. "Before I explain, let me ask; how much do you know about Cornfield?" "Not much- actually almost nothing except for its name" Ruby admitted.
The Chief took a deep breath and pulled out a map. It showed extensive plains, surrounded by a long mountain ridge on their west, east and south.
"This is where we are, the city of Lakkard" he pointed towards a large spot on the north. "Engulfing Lakkard Valley and separating us from the southern coastal province of Clarond is Crone Mountain Ridge."
He made a small circle with his index finger, showing them the entire field that spread between the mountains and the city, painted a vivid yellow on the map.
"Since the ancient times, Lakkard has been a valley of corn; more than half the city's income comes from it. Despite it being a seasonal crop, the mountains prevent cold winds from the sea, making it a really warm place that helps us harvest corn twice a year- on April and August."
"I see… this is why the other city is called 'Cornfield' isn't it?" Yang's voice was heard. "Indeed. This is why the town was called that" the reply came at once, making them all blink in confusion.
"Was?" Ruby asked. "Cornfield was a rich town, located at the edge of the valley, next to a large lake formed by Weave River. Its location made possible for the natives to fish in the pretty abundant lake.
In addition, the valley has a unique phenomenon; winds blow from Lakkard towards Lake Weave and Crone Ridge, making the local climate ideal for growing corn, despite the presence of large bodies of water.
Meanwhile, lots of local huntsmen patrolled the area dealing with the occasional Creeps and Beowolves, while explorers dug new ores and valuables from the nearby mountains. It truly was a prosperous town."
"And then Grimm came" Weiss ominously added. "Nobody could have predicted it. It was a day like any other, about fifty years ago, when numerous survivors fled through the fields to Lakkard" he nodded.
"They said that a massive amount of never-seen-before Grimm had swarmed the city, tearing it down in less than a single day. Those who survived were the ones living in the outskirts and had the time to flee."
The huntresses lowered their gazes. "It's like Grimmwater again" Ruby said. "Such stories are fairly common around Remnant, so it doesn't surprise me" Blake told her.
"That is the story of the town set in stone half a century before us. But this is not the reason I need your help" he said. "You see, after that day, Grimm population has been extremely dense around there, despite not actively moving towards Lakkard at all."
"That's a weird kind of behavior" Yang pointed. "They should normally run all over the valley and try to pummel this place down. Unless…"
He nodded in approval "unless a really ancient and intelligent Grimm is leading them. Cornfield is considered, after a lot of persuasion from our part, a type 1-disaster zone after all."
He opened the file "people in Cornfield usually harvest only the corns that belong to the 'safe zone', about 45% of the valley surface." The man pointed at a red line separating the fields in half.
"The reason is, more than 200 people in the last fifty years who have passed the safe zone and ventured to the south have gone missing. A few returned, but judging from their stories, didn't spend much time inside it, nor did they go too deep in the zone."
"Two hundred people…" Blake whispered, as the four girls skimmed through the file, their hearts heavy seeing all the names and photos of humans and faunus who filled the 'missing person' Lakkard archives.
"I see a lot of huntsmen among them" Ruby noticed. "We learned that the Grimm residing in Cornfield are not to be trifled with after a lot of sacrifices" Chief Bright said in a sad manner.
Ruby made a respectful motion with her left hand towards the fellow huntsmen who were listed in the file. "I assume there has been a recent incident that you wish us to deal with, don't you?" Weiss asked him.
"Exactly" he replied. "A group of students from Lakkard Mineralogy University lost their way while on a field trip and entered the zone a couple days ago."
"Oh no…" Yang's face dropped. "Did you try-" "Yes we did. And of course lost contact with the team that was sent to track them as well, Ms. Schnee. I think you understand what the possible outcome is."
"Nobody came back…" Blake whispered, making everyone's faces drop even more. "I understand you have an important issue to deal with in Cornfield, but…"
Chief Bright took the file and closed it with a grim look on his face "they all had families that deserve to know what happened. We are willing to compensate if you would just spare a little of your precious time-"
"We will do it" Ruby interrupted him. "And there is no reason for you to pay us" Yang stood up and stretched her arms "after all, we are not here on official business, are we?" she winked at him.
"We will have to search the fields first as we walk through" Weiss stood up as well. "How much does it take to reach Cornfield on foot?" she asked the Chief.
"Less than two days, I would say" he replied, giving a grateful smile. "We will need provisions and a map" Blake addressed. "Also, we have to know the place where their signal was last seen" she added.
"I… don't know what to say" he told them. "Thank you so much." Ruby was the last one to get up from her chair "thank us after we bring them back, Chief" she rubbed her shoulders and finished her coffee.
"Bring them back?" he asked in confusion. Ruby quickly typed the new data and uploaded them on the EOL. "I refuse to give up on them, at least until we find their bodies" she exclaimed.
"Ms. Rose…" "She is like that. Always the stubborn optimist, but it's one of the things that make her who she is" Yang told the man, making her sister blush.
"On another note, can you please help us find the stuff we need? The shops are still closed for the night" Weiss explained. "Of course!" he picked up his scroll. "When are you planning to leave?"
The four huntresses exchanged a quick stare to affirm they all were on the same page. "As soon as we get ready" Ruby grinned, determination etched on her face.
-o—
"That's so like us" Yang exclaimed as they walked out of the city, now having added their combat equipment to their travelling attires, the dawn gently welcoming them. The first light of the day spread across the fields, dying them a golden color as far as their eyes could see.
At the end of the golden plains, a massive mountain stood, towering over them like a protective shield. "Are you dissatisfied we decided to help, Yang?" Ruby asked her.
"On the contrary; I am glad, Rubes. It would have left a bitter taste in my mouth if we ignored those people, even if our mission is that much important. It wouldn't have felt like, well, 'us' if you get me."
Ruby stopped and stared at her sister, eyes narrowed. "You still feel bad about what Ms. Goodwitch and Lumia said, don't you?" she said, whispering to not let the others who walked ahead hear them.
"Oh boy" Yang's lilac orbs opened wide in astonishment. "You have started to read me- my big sis privileges are getting lost." "And now you are joking to try change the topic" silver eyes narrowed even more.
"Weiss is taking your 'anti-Yang' training way too seriously" the brawler commented in a straight manner. "Thank Dust, or things like this would pass by unnoticed" Ruby remarked "so, care to talk to your baby sis?"
The tall girl exhaled deeply, beginning to walk again so that Blake and Weiss wouldn't get worried over them. She had discussed it with both of them already and didn't want to drag them in this topic again.
"It's the feeling that we failed our friends, somehow, that's all. And I am glad we are helping people here- it makes me feel our bout with Lu and Glynda was an exception."
"As always; you are getting oversentimental when anything happens to any of us" the brunette commented. "Like you did with Jaune? Or with Weiss in Grimmwater? Or when you thought we were lost in Aegis-"
"Point taken!" Ruby pouted. "This is for challenging your big sis in 'big sis' territory, Rubes" she patted the reaper's head, ruffling her hair as they walked "but thanks for trying- it means a lot to me" she smiled.
"I am sorry to disrupt your sister bonding time" Weiss' voice was heard from ahead of them "but we just finished checking the map" she added as the two girls reached them.
"This is where both the students' scrolls and the rescue team's GPS last gave signal" Blake drew a small circle on the map. "It is inside the type 1 zone and will force us to divert east from our original path."
"I have no issues with that" Ruby said, "but I would like to spend as few nights out in the open as possible. Fighting Grimm while exhausted is never a good idea."
"Which is why" the faunus nodded "we are going to pick up the pace, check this part and then move to spend our first night here" she tapped a small building on the map that was near their search area.
"Is this a millhouse?" Yang asked. "Yes. If we do not stumble upon any serious trouble, we should reach it by dawn, take refugee there and then manage to find Cornwell before tomorrow night falls" the cat girl explained.
"Ok then" Ruby took one step forward "Blake shall lead the way and Yang will guard our back- let's get moving guys!" she then marched on to the golden fields, a complaining faunus trying to catch up with her enthusiastic strides.
P.S. I want to give my thanks to FenMa for once more helping me with team RWBY's clothes and outfit design. Woe is me when fashion is included and her help in both that aspect and the proofreading has been invaluable.