Silver Moonlight

Igitur Qui Desiderat Pacem, Praeparet Bellum

By: Necron

There is a time to be born and a time to die,

A time to plant and a time to uproot,

A time to heal and a time to kill,

A time for peace,

And a Time for War.

CHAPTER I

The Story Never Changes

Athena looked out over the city of Mistral. Snow had begun to fall for the first time in ages according to Astor. The Grimm attacks in the surrounding countryside had dropped thanks to the weather, but nothing short of total extermination could stop them permanently. Even now, Mistral had to send patrols to nearby towns and villages to keep them safe from marauding Grimm. Fortunately, advances in technology by Hillphire Innovations made it much easier to respond to emergencies before they turned into tragedies.

Her scroll vibrated a number of times before she finally picked it up and unlocked it. There were a few messages piling up.

Ingrid: dudes, is your leader really still sleeping?

Echo: o.O

Echo: athena wru?

Perseus: i havent seen her leve her room

Perseus: xan-chan have u seen her?

Leon: hey dont bug him hes prolly wiht penny

Yuan: Who's xan-chan?

Perseus: bro where tf have u been?

Echo: dun b mean

Ingrid: athena?

Ingrid: athenaaaaaaaaaaa

Ingrid: cmon quit pulling a leon

Leon: wtf?

Echo: pretty sure shes talking about how you got all emo

Leon: emo? wut?

Echo: remember when lilly went missing?

Leon: i didnt get emo

Ingrid: yeah u did

Echo: yeah u did

Perseus: yeah u did

Leon: fck u guys

Yuan: Yeah you did.

Athena: yeah u did

Ingrid: ATHENA

Echo: ATHENA!11 3333

Perseus: yo boss u sleepin in?

Athena: nah just kickin it in my room

Athena: u guys tryna do somthing?

Echo: yuans dad is cooking breakfast again today

Echo: u gonna have some pancakes?

Athena: sure ill be right out

Athena stretched and yawned before pocketing her scroll. She hadn't bothered changing out of her pajamas when she headed out of her room. She ran into Astor in the hallway.

"Whoa," he said. "What the hell, I haven't seen you with your hair down in forever."

"You tryin'a hit on me?" she said.

"Maybe."

"Careful. That got you in trouble with your sister already."

He sighed heavily. "That's not funny."

She began laughing as she walked with him to the dormitory dining hall. Teams APEX and LILY sans leader had since taken up residence at the Haven Academy dorms. It was the first week of January and the crew was on high alert. According to the intel delivered by Ivory and Leon not that long ago, Dr. William Hillphire might have a contract out for his life. Though he did have his own security detail guarding him at all times, their enemy was much too crafty for rank and file soldiers to take care of.

"How did you get this entire dorm all for us anyway?" Athena asked Astor as they crossed through the common area toward the dining room.

"Haven's got this place reserved for, like, foreign dignitaries," he said. "Technically, that's what you guys are. And besides, you're all here on official business."

"So, then, what are you doing here?"

"I mean, I don't even have a friggin' team anymore since they all went to the new Instinct Academy over in Menagerie. I figure I might as well hang out with you guys. Besides, y'all seem to attract all sorts of exciting shit. What's it like in the Labyrinth anyway? I barely got a tiny peek, nothing you guys've seen."

"Trust me, you don't wanna know."

"There's the boss!" Perseus said, standing up with Echo.

"Where the hell is Xanthus?" Athena said.

"Reporting for duty!" Xanthus said from the doorway. His glasses were crooked. Penny straightened them up with a giggle as she walked past him.

"Xan-chan's been helping with stuff down at the Forge all morning," Penny said. "Mmm, is that Ren's pancakes I smell?"

"Sure is," Ren said as he finished up the last ones.

Meanwhile, Yuan headed into the dining room as well, his mother incessantly asking him questions regarding his well-being.

"Are you sure you didn't get hurt?" Nora said in rapid-fire.

"Yes," Yuan answered.

"Have you been eating right?"

"Yes."

"Your grades are okay?"

"Yes."

"What about your girlfriend? Are you two good?"

"Yes."

Ingrid stiffened. Echo and Athena gave each other glances and smiles.

"What are you two grinning about?" Ingrid hissed.

"Good morning," Yuan said, sitting right next to her.

"Oh, good morning."

"Did you hear how soft she said that?" Perseus said to Athena and Echo.

"She's so sweet with him, isn't she?" Leon said.

"I am gonna scratch your eyes out!" Ingrid said.

"Eggs?" Yuan offered.

"Yes, please."

Once everyone was finally settled in, Qrow stumbled through the doorway.

"Grandpa Qrow, what the hell?" Athena sighed.

"S-Sorry," he drawled. "Has anyone seen my wife around?"

"I thought mom was with you," Astor said.

He shook his head, too much time between each movement. "I've been out all night."

"Getting drunk again, of course," Leon said.

"Noooo, not drunk. I've been gathering information and stuff."

"Yeah?" Athena said. "About what?"

"Supposedly, someone's spotted some suspicious looking people around. From Atlas. Although, from the description the guy gave me, it just sounds like someone from North Anima, not Atlas. Not stiff enough."

"Will you have some pancakes?" Ren said, offering him a plate.

"Careful he doesn't drop it," Leon said.

"Yeah, sure, I'll have two," Qrow said. "Oh, there's two there already! Whaddya know?"

Athena, Leon, and Astor all sighed in unison.

"Hey, Professor Branwen," Perseus said. "So, is this all gonna be on our official record and stuff?"

"You mean are you being graded?" he said.

"Yeah."

"Also," Xanthus interjected, wiping his glasses, "are our activities here sanctioned by Beacon Academy?"

"Keep up that kind of thinking and you're on your way to becoming Headmaster of your own academy," Qrow said. "Yeah, everything we're doing out here is legit, on the books and all that. And yeah, you'll all be graded on what happens out here."

"And so far," Penny began, reaching for some hash browns, "you've all been doing great. The hunting missions you've been out on for the past week have been very successful."

"Thanks to the snow," Astor said. "Jeez, is it ever gonna let up?"

"It's a good thing your mom thought ahead," Ren said. "Headmaster Lyon's idea to retrofit the entire city with snowplows and other snow gear probably saved us."

"Has anyone seen Ivory?" Athena said.

"That's a good question," Perseus said. "Wasn't she staying at the dorms with us?"

Ivory dodged a series of ice attacks before countering with her own, adding an Electric Dust attack for variety. Her glyph formation was too slow, however, and she found herself at a disadvantage rather quickly. Planning ahead, she projected a number of glyphs to use as platforms and shields, switching Elfenbein to Fire Dust before going on the offensive. The strengthening glyphs she had used on herself were about to run out and she needed to at least gain the upper hand before they disappeared.

Her opponent anticipated her moves, canceling out every single attack, breaking through her defenses. It was all Ivory could do to evade and block when she needed. She rolled to the side, projecting a glyph behind for one last attack, but she was simply too slow. She found herself face to face with the tip of her mother's saber.

"You've been getting a lot better," Winter said, withdrawing her blade and sheathing it at her belt.

"Thank you, mother," Ivory said, panting as she stood up and dusted her uniform.

"This is not idle flattery. Your work with your glyphs is the most innovative anyone's ever seen. After all, you're the only one who uses them to actively augment your physical abilities. Though they do actively drain your aura over time—such is the nature of our Semblance—they give you the edge you need in combat. Also, you haven't grown over-reliant on that technique. This tells me that you know how to employ your Semblance judiciously. But I think the most impressive thing I've noticed so far is your blade work."

Ivory held up Elfenbein, gazing at the intricate designs of her multi-cartridge Dust saber. She had crafted this weapon as a fusion of Myrtenaster's multiple Dust cartridge system and her mother's saber design. In her hand was the physical embodiment of the inspiration she drew from the two most important women in her life, her mother, Winter Schnee, and her Aunt Weiss.

"Where did you learn fencing like that?" Winter asked her.

"From you, of course," Ivory said.

"It's been a long time since we've trained in person like this. There must have been another source for your inspiration."

She shook her head. "I've watched all of your videos and studied every single technique."

"But those are not my techniques alone."

Ivory was silent.

"I notice a bit of my sister's style in your fighting. Not that it's bad or anything. It's important for you to model yourself after all of your inspirations, not just one. However, I must note, as an instructor, that you've emulated some of her less efficient techniques. You've added a lot of artistic flair to your style. You sacrifice a great deal of energy for what are essentially useless movements."

Her mother was right. Much of her movements were, indeed, a waste of energy. But it was impossible for her to rid herself of these bad habits now.

"I'm not saying you should purge yourself of them," Winter said. "After all, your style is your style. What I will suggest, however, is to try and figure out techniques that are equally as aesthetically pleasing while also carrying tactical purpose."

"I understand," Ivory said.

"Good. Well, I think we're already late for breakfast."

"Hey, you two," Qrow said from the doorway to the training hall. "I figured you'd both be here at dawn, so I brought you breakfast."

"I'm surprised you're able to walk straight," Winter said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Actually, he barely made it here upright," Astor said, walking past his father and taking the plates from him. "I'll get these off your hands before you friggin' drop them."

"Hey, hey, I can do it just fine, okay?" Qrow protested, but he didn't have the necessary balance to go after Astor.

"Try and catch me, then, old man!"

"What? Old?"

"Here ya go," Astor said, handing the plates over to Winter and Ivory.

"Thank you," Ivory said, taking a bite out of the ham. "Who cooked this morning?"

"I'm guessing Ren," Winter said, "from the taste of this pancake."

"Yeah, no one cooks like Yuan's dad," Astor said. "And no one eats like his mom. It's like they were made for each other or something."

"Has your mother returned?" Winter said.

"I don't even know where she is."

"She informed me that she was headed to a meeting with some of the city officials."

"Oh. Well, she didn't tell me or dad."

They all looked over at Qrow, who was gripping the doorjamb to keep from falling to the ground.

"How much did he have to drink?" Winter said.

Astor shrugged. "Mom and I are already used to this crap."

Ivory sighed before handing her half-finished plate to Astor and heading to Qrow. She shouldered him off of the wall.

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm fiiiine," he complained.

"You can't even resist right now," Ivory said. "Let's at least get you to a couch."

He grumbled all the way to the common area.

"Seriously, Hillphire, will you be fine with just your guards?" Hollie said.

"Yes, I will be all right," Hillphire answered. "You forget that I, too, am capable of defending myself."

"Don't worry," Yang said. "We'll be looking out for him, too."

"He is paying us handsomely, after all," Raven said.

"As long as there's money involved, huh?" Hollie said.

"We have to eat, you know," Yang said.

"Goodness, you, too?"

"Yup. And besides, we have two other teammates to feed. Ain't that right, Lucia, Aurora?"

"Mm-hmm," Lucia said. "And Aurora's still a growing girl."

"C'mon," Aurora said. "Do you guys really have to use me as an excuse?"

"Anyway," Hillphire began, "the City Council has already made its decision. No action will be taken against Atlas at the moment. After all, we don't want to risk any conflict prematurely."

They all turned to the television set. The news anchor was talking about the rising tensions between Atlas and Vacuo.

"Increased tariffs on incoming goods from Vacuo?" Perseus said as the group huddled around the television set in the dormitory's common area.

"Is that bad?" Leon said.

"Of course that's bad," Xanthus said, pushing up his glasses. "This will only serve to increase tensions between the two countries."

"Dad's likely to counter with stopping trade with Atlas altogether," Perseus said. "He's already struck trade agreements with Vale and Menagerie."

"The lines are starting to be drawn," Winter said. "A hundred years ago, Vacuo and Vale allied themselves against Mistral and Atlas. It may be the same this time around."

"What good will come out of another war, though?" Ingrid said.

"In reality, nothing," Qrow said, "but all the old guys are eager to send their young men and women off to die for causes that aren't even their own. At least that bastard Sergei's not giving some bullshit excuse like 'spreading democracy' or some other garbage like that. He's been pretty transparent about his dislike for Vacuo's policies toward former Atlas territory on Sanus."

"The Dust mines," Ren said. "I thought they settled those disputes a long time ago."

"It was settled," Winter said. "The international committee arbitrated in favor of Jupiter Enterprises."

"And General Holland didn't like that," Hollie said from the doorway.

"Heeeey, beb," Qrow said, still sprawled all over the couch.

"Ugh. Did no one stop him from drinking a whole liquor store again?"

"I thought he was with you last night!" Astor said.

"And I thought he was with you!"

"Oh my gods!"

"My words exactly!"

"Hang on," Athena said, increasing the volume on the television set. "Ingrid's mom is about to make a statement."

"The Kingdom of Menagerie acknowledges the tensions rising between Vacuo and Atlas," Queen Blake Belladonna began, "but in the interest of peace and neutrality, Menagerie will distance itself from any conflicts between the two kingdoms. We will continue to trade with both nations as their laws permit, favoring no one over the other."

"But what about the anti-Faunus attitudes that continue to persist in Atlas?" a reporter asked her.

"Those rumors are unsubstantiated," Blake answered. "Until we have witnessed definitive proof of Atlas-government-sanctioned systematic discrimination against the Faunus, we will treat those rumors as nothing more than that. We may have a history with them, but that was twenty years ago. In the name of progress, Menagerie is willing to extend a hand of amity to any nation that wishes to reciprocate."

"Your Majesty," another reporter began, "are you at liberty to discuss the new Dust deposits that have opened up in the eastern half of the continent of Menagerie?"

"Such formalities are unnecessary," she began with a smile, "but yes, I am at liberty to speak on that matter. As you've heard, we have been moving into those sections of the continent in order to begin mining at once."

"Will this Dust be exportable?"

"That all depends on the Council of Menagerie. The issue will be up for a vote whenever the time comes."

"I had no idea Blake was such a statesperson," Nora said as the news changed over to another topic. "She used to be so quiet, remember?"

"Yeah," Ren said. "It's good to see that she's taken responsibility for her people. It's in her blood, after all. Her dad was chieftain of their settlement before it became what it is now."

"I keep forgetting that we have a princess in our group," Perseus said.

"Yeah," Echo said. "And, like, actual royalty."

"Guys," Ingrid sighed before hiding her face behind her hands.

"And to think she was almost my princess," Leon said, reclining in his seat.

Ingrid grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it in his direction. He only barely dodged the throw.

"Penny, do you think you could train all of us?" Yuan asked her.

"Hmm?" she said. "Oh, yeah, of course. You're all still officially Beacon students, after all. And Qrow and I are still officially your instructors."

Yuan looked at the back of his hand. After some concentration, he summoned a rune onto his flesh. It was the same as the one that had appeared during his union with that otherworldly being, though he had no idea what it was.

"Unfortunately," Penny began, "I don't think anyone can help you with that."

"I know," he said. "Although, I think I kinda know how to use this new power. Sir Elyan, the, uh, Wraith-Knight that I made a pact with, he's still there. Even though he made himself completely subordinate to me, he hasn't totally disappeared. I don't hear his voice at all, but it's like I know what he knows. Barely, though. I have a feeling there's a lot that I still have to learn."

"What's it like?" Ingrid asked him. "Having something like that inside you, I mean?"

"I can't describe it. When I first awakened to it, it was like a huge surge of power. It felt like my body was literally gonna tear apart, but it didn't."

"Actually," Leon began, sitting upright.

"You did tear apart," Ingrid said.

"Huh?" Yuan said.

"No one ever told you?" Athena said.

"Your body was actually ripped to shreds by that power," Penny said. "That's what I detected and that's what Ingrid saw with her own eyes."

"Yeah," Ingrid said. "You sorta exploded."

Yuan looked down. He did remember something of the sort, but it was all hazy. How was it that he survived that, then?

"Let's take it one step at a time," Penny said. "Training halls, everybody!"