New Divide
No one had spoken a word as they made their way silently back to the lodge they were staying at. It was eerie to say the least. Clouds had begun to cover the shattered moon that normally shown so bright. It was not a time of reflection, but for the WBY of the team, they couldn't help but to let their mind wander.
The meeting, they felt, hadn't been all that revealing. To some extent the intel of Ruby's suspicions was confirmed. The next part though is where it had gotten troubling, "Military base?" Ruby's tone reflecting the surprise that had marred her face, "What military base?"
"The one outside of Mistral that protects the city from Grimm attack. Unfortunately, that is where my intel ends other than Leo should be back to the school by the weekend."
Malachite's words echo in their heads, but it wasn't so much as the woman's voice that has them worried. It was Ruby's expression-the dark shadow that came across her face and her eyes darkening in thought, "Come on Malachite. You do know more than you are letting on." Her voice purred dangerously, leaving no room for deceit; or anyone wise enough would not have dared to even try.
"I am good yes. However, I know how to pick and choose my battles." Came the arrogant reply, before the explanation, "It's a military base Ms. Rose, even I cannot nor would I risk my spiders to infiltrate them. That would be suicide on my part."
"And the council? Surely if he had a mission, they would know something. You would know something." Ruby challenged.
The predatory smile that graced the older woman's lips was creepy in nature as she stared at them, moving towards the door to open it, signaling that their time was up. As they made their way towards the door, her tone was eerie, a chill that ran down their spines, "I know one thing young reaper, it's that they know nothing." They had watched as Ruby paused in the doorway, "I'll be in touch Ms. Rose to fulfill our deal."
Being brought back to the present, Weiss looked ahead as Ruby led them back through the path; her strides deliberate and full of purpose, like a lone wolf on a life-or-death hunt. She sighs, and moves to call out to the reaper when she feels a hand on her shoulder. Blake shakes her head and holds up a hand to wait. Yang too seems to agree with her partner on this one, which was unusual.
Then again, reflecting on what they learned over the past day and a half, it really shouldn't have been, "We have to say something." Weiss argues silently to the duo.
"Like what?" Yang asks in a hushed tone, "Hey sis, so you got the information you needed but yet already knew about for the most part…now technically you owe a debate that you really shouldn't pay. How does that feel? Yeah right. That would be a really great thing to start with." She says sarcastically.
"Guys really?" Blake asks as she notices the glares between the freezer-burn pair before stealing a look forward, but sees that Ruby isn't paying much attention as she keeps walking. Then looking back at her other two teammates she says, "Now isn't the time. Besides, that was a lot of information if you really dissect it down some."
"But was it worth the price Ruby paid?" Weiss asks as she crosses her arms, "She owes Malachite a favor. Who the hell knows what or when that will be?"
They look at their leader as Ruby suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky. Slowly, the trio looked at one another before staring at Ruby's gaze. The contacts that had kept her eyes a secret having been taken out once they left the pub, were once more silver, and yet the brightness was dramatically dull, matching the lost expression she wears as she stares upwards. Blake, Weiss, and Yang stood back, watching their leader closely, "What do we make of this?" Yang asks a little wary.
"I wish I would have known about this. Perhaps I wouldn't have done this today." Startled, they paid closer attention to Ruby as her voice echoed in the eerie silence. They didn't even think she was paying attention to them.
The lodge was just barely making a silhouette in the distance, signaling they were close to their destination. As if sensing their confusion, Ruby finishes with while pointing upwards, "It's a Black Moon."
"A what?" Weiss asked as she followed the gaze upwards.
The clouds fully engulfed the moon, making it as if it were encased in a dark shadow. An uneasy feeling settling over them as Ruby responded, "The moon first became shattered when the Brothers abandoned Remnant after defeating Salem's rebellion." Then as an afterthought, she added, "Actually, it was the Brother of Darkness that was mostly responsible. Always wanting to make a statement that one." No one commented on how she knew that fact, "That much I can tell you, but the Black Moon? It's an omen. A bad one at that."
"Really?" Blake asks after a moment of silent looking between the former heiress and the brawler, each wearing a look that said that they had no idea what Ruby was talking about.
"I forget where I was when I first heard it." Ruby answered absentmindedly, "Vacuo or maybe it was in Menagerie. One of those places. Anyway, legend has it that anything that happens during the time of a Black Moon is a bad omen. It is basically prophesizing the coming of the shadow of death."
Yang shakes her head and believes it is safe to approach her sister, "Oh please. You do not believe that superstitious nonsense, do you?"
She goes to place an arm around her, but Ruby steps away while blocking Yang's attempt to do so, "Normally I would say the same and agree with you, expect I've experienced it." Blake and Weiss approach the two sisters as Ruby's silver gaze looks back up to the moon, "It was one of the battles that was supposed to be the turning point of the war. The outcome should have been in our favor…a blackness settled over the field and the locals warned us to not attack. To wait until the first light of day, we didn't listen. We had the upper hand and chose to act…it was the wrong choice." Ruby's voice trails off, "I had never been the god-fearing kind of person, or if the literal Gods did not abandon Remnant I'd pray to them."
"What for?" Weiss asks.
Ruby looks at her and starts to lead them again up to the lodge, "Deliverance."
Blake, Weiss, and Yang stared after her, the unease settling around them as they stared upwards once more, "How much of this do we believe? Like is this really an omen?" Yang mutters out.
"Your sister is a time traveler. Our headmaster is a reincarnating wizard. We are fighting an immortal witch destined to destroy Remanent. Anything I am missing?" Weiss asks looking at Blake with her hand out as she emphasized her list on her fingers.
"Your mother and Uncle can turn into birds apparently. Magic is real. The maidens are real. Basically, any fairytale we know? Let's just assume it's real, so why not this?" Blake adds pointing to the sky.
Yang frowns darkly, "Even though I could have done without the blatant sarcasm, I was actually afraid of that." She nods towards Blake.
Weiss and Blake look at her sadly, "Look, I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I was merely stating facts." Weiss said, "But let's be practical about this, 'Omen of death'? Seriously, how many possible times has the moon darkened in our lives, and just because Ruby just now noticed this, it has to be something?"
They started their walk again, Ruby already halfway up the walkway, "But we do have to question it a little bit." Blake spoke up after a minute or two, "According to Ruby, Pyrrha was supposed to die at Beacon. Already, it seems like she had cheated death a few times. Ruby has alluded to doing some…unspeakable…things." A darker look crosses the blonde's features, as well as a chill emanating from the former heiress on her other side, "She also just made a deal with a crime boss, an unspecified deal. A favor…who knows what Malachite would have her do." They said no more on the matter as they approached the entrance, Ruby had already snuck back inside presumably entering their room. The trio share one more look before locking up and heading up the stairs themselves, unable to fathom what else could happen due to this 'Black Moon'.
-Snoopykid-
The same moon that Ruby Rose was watching with dread and grief, in another part of Remnant, someone else was relishing in its blackness. It was as if staring into the voided pool she had plunged herself into, it was pleasing to see, almost calming her thoughts, "Your grace?"
Salem doesn't take her eyes off the moon, "You may enter Arthur." Arthur Watts enters the room; the echoing of his steps is the only sound in the solstice, "Tell me, what do you think?"
His stoic expression lacks into a one of confusion as he finishes his approach. Briefly glancing at her, he follows her gaze to the shadowed sky. He studies it for another moment, trying to figure out what exactly she is asking of him. After offering up no answers, he says, "I'm sorry, but I am not following."
She looks at him in amusement and motions to the sky, "The moon." Her voice is soft like silk, but everyone knew better than to actually believe that is her true personality, "Tell me, what do you think about it."
"It's clouded by the clouds. Hard to see beyond that." He responds.
Salem laughs, her tone not changing much as she turns her back towards the large windows, "For a man with superior intellect, you sure do opt for simple answers." He scowls at her insult, but quickly schools his features when she turns to face him, "It is a Black Moon."
"And what is the significance?"
"A silly legend really." She mentions off handedly, "To make a long story short, basically it prophesizes death; or any actions done on such a moon is doomed to failure."
Arthur cannot help but chuckle at the notion, "A silly superstition." He composes himself, "Surely you do not believe in such a thing?"
"By no means, however one can never be too careful." Salem said waving him off, "That legend in particular has been around for a long time. Besides this is only the second time I am seeing such an interesting phenomenon."
Arthur nodded the scientific part of his mind fascinated with the implications that there was one other event than the one they were witnessing, and she was around to see this event, "Fascinating." He admitted, "What does this have to do with us?"
"Nothing in particular. I just thought it was interesting. It's not like there is anything to do until our friend returns to his office. Now what is it you wanted?"
"I finished Tyrian's prosthetic. He is testing it out now." Arthur holds back a shudder. Honestly, how he got paired with that lunatic, he would never know.
Salem nodded and took a seat, hands folded in front of her and smiled wickedly, "Excellent. I am sure you made him very happy."
He motioned to his seat and she nodded in permission, "He was 'over the moon', you could say." Understatement really. Massive understatement.
"I'm glad. Truly I am, but that is not the only reason why you are here."
"Neopolitan reported back in. Apparently Qrow Branwen made it to Mistral and was looking for Leonardo."
Salem nodded, not that impressed, "To be expected. It has no baring on us, we are prepared."
Arthur nods in agreement, "True, however after he left, she observed him for a little while. It seems that the children have made contact with him." He waited for a few moments for a reaction, seeing none other than a raised brow, he continued, "She did not stick around for long and is currently making her way back to us."
Again, no response to his news. Salem was in silent contemplation. This news was not all together surprising. She pushed away from the table and with deliberate movements crossed over to the windows once more to gaze at the moon, "Anything else?" She asks eventually.
"A new boy was with them. As I said, she did not stick around to find out much, but from what she observed he seemed pretty important." He watches as she only nods to show that she was listening, "It could be nothing."
"It's something." Salem purred out in response, "I am just not sure what yet." Cinder was supposed to have killed Ozma, but this boy that showed up now…it couldn't be…could it? "What of Ms. Rose?"
Arthur pulled away from the table to stand, but made no move to go towards her this time, "Seemed pretty tired and perhaps slightly troubled. Again, she did not stick around to find out." Nothing is shown on her face that he could see from the reflection in the window, "Do you want to postpone and regroup until we know their plans for sure?"
"No. As I said we are prepared. Besides there are things already in motion that we cannot stop even if we wanted to." Especially if their friend with the White Fang had anything to say about it, "In fact, I have a job for you and Tyrian to do once he gets acquainted with his new tail."
This perked his interested, "Do you know what is coming up in Atlas?" Salem asks before he could get the chance to say anything.
It took everything he had not to snort as he tried to hide his expression away from her. It was a place he looked at with fond memories. In fact, he'd rather not have any memories of that place at all, "I see by the look of displeasure you do not know."
Momentarily startled, he looks her way and sees a glint of amusement in her eyes signifying he wasn't successful at the attempt, "No I do not I'm afraid. Anyway, why bring up Atlas? We should still be focusing on Haven with this latest development."
"Because we will need to act fast and Atlas is the next domino. Things are happening and I think we can all use some entertainment."
"How so?"
"With some lovely fireworks, but not the kind you would think of." She turns away from the window, "It will be a celebration that no one will forget."
"Why is that?"
She laughs lightly that send chills down his spine, "It's an election year and we will definitely make it a year that no one is going to forget. Now go get Tyrian and bring him back here, and while you are at it, if you see Cinder bring her to me as well." He bows and leave her. Looking back towards the moon, she steels her gaze thinking once more.
This new boy is of no concern to her. At least not yet. However, Ruby Rose on the other hand…well she still cannot pin-point the exact cause of her feeling of why this girl was plaguing her, but what she did know was to not make hasty judgements. After all she has lived over a couple thousand lifetimes, and one learns patience along the way.
The Black Moon prophesizes death and failure. She had no intention on having neither happen to her. That was why she wasn't changing course in her plan to move forward. The door opened once more, this time a different presence in the room, "How well is your training going?" She asks sensing the person in the room.
"Wonderfully."
Salem catches Cinder's reflection in the mirror, "Are you willing to test that theory?"
Cinder watches her Queen closely and all of a suddenly a Beowolf appears and lunges at her from her blind spot. As if sensing the beast, she turns and sends a fireball it's way, where it hits true and the creature disintegrates into black smoke. Standing with a calm proud smirk on her face, she says, "Easy."
Salem chuckles softly, "Oh that wasn't your test." She waves her arms outward from her body and soon Cinder found herself surrounded by twenty different species of Grimm, "This is. Pass this test of mine and I will deem you ready. Failure is not an option."
