Chapter 22: A Catch…

He knew at least three would enter… besides himself; the question was, Should I risk more lives? He looked over at Yang, who was reading a text from Ruby, and thought, your putting your life as you know it into my hands; lust for the adventure, the thrill of it. She looked over at him, "Hey, c'mon. We gotta meet up with Rubes." Nick gave a smile, "So, what does Potshot want?" She gave him a look, thinking, 'Potshot?' He already has a nickname for Ruby? That's kinda… nice. She rolled her eyes and said, "She just wants to talk… Here, see for yourself." She tossed him her scroll; he read the text.

Hey, meet us at our room. Bring Nick, we wanna talk. –Ruby

He looked up, thinking, Oh, come on, are we sharing secrets? He turned to Yang, tossing back her scroll, "well, lead on sun dragon." For a brief moment, she paused and gave him a suspicious look. Then she turned and forged ahead, down hallways and corridors; but she slowed, right before they got to her door. She turned and looked deep into those enchanting eyes of his, so wonderful… He looked away with a flash of sorrow on his face. So much pain, she thought, what tortures this man –this real, honest man– is beyond me.

"Hey," she said, reaching out, "You wanna tell Rubes, about us?" She cupped his cheek with her new hand, wiping away a stray tear. He smiled and leaned into her. "I don't think it's much of a secret," he said softly, "besides, I think she and Weiss have one of their own." "What–" she managed to say before they kissed. Their lips were locked for a long time, and Yang tried to get deeper; but, reluctantly, they separated with a sigh.

"Eew, you're disgusting!"

Yang glanced over at Ruby and Weiss, standing in the open door. Weiss smirked, "So, what have you two lovebirds been up to, besides the obvious." Nick turned to them, "oh, likely no more than you two." Ruby looked on, confused, "huh, whadaya mean?" she looked over at Weiss, who was a little pink in the face, "Uh, Weiss why are you blu–" Weiss turned away abruptly. "I don't like your implications, Nicholas," Weiss said as she hurriedly walked back in.

Nick's eyebrows shot up. Yang looked between them with a mischievous smile. "Umm, anyway," Ruby said, her cheeks flushing, "C-come on inside, Uncle Qrow'll be here soon. We're gonna talk." Nick sighed, as Yang entered with Ruby. He was about to follow, but suddenly he tilted his head, catching the sound of determined, quick footsteps.

The girls looked out at him, right as he looked down the hall. "Hey, are you coming?" Yang called. Nick turned back to them, seeing Weiss, Yang, and Ruby watching him. He took note that Ruby and Weiss were sitting together on a bunk. He walked over and sat next to Yang. "Yang," Ruby said, fidgeting only a little, "me and Weiss have–" Weiss suddenly looked up and called out in surprise, "Winter?!"

Winter stood framed in the doorway, looking at each of them, a blank expression on her face. "I would like to speak with Nicholas, privately," she addressed authoritatively. He looked on, glancing at Weiss, "The answers no." Winter looked at him with her icy gaze, "Why?" Weiss turned to her blood sister. "Winter, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of us. Besides," she looked back at Ruby and Yang, "It seems we all have some news."

What news, Yang thought, is our secret that known? She looked at Ruby for an explanation. "Oh!" Ruby said, catching her sister's intent, "me and Weiss–" "Weiss and I," Winter corrected as she fetched a glass of water from the small sink. Looking at everyone, Nick and Yang sitting together, and Weiss next to her, Ruby continued, "Well, we wanna become sisters."

Winter's spit-take was priceless, her expression one of surprise and shock. She coughed and sputtered, inadvertently inhaling some water; drowning out the sound of footsteps. "What?!" she managed to ask. Just then, Qrow appeared in the doorway, and saw Winter bent over trying to catch her breath. "Uncle Qrow!" Ruby announced. Qrow looked back at Ruby, and at Yang and Nick, "What'd I miss?"

Winter cleared her throat, "I will not stand for this!" She looked at her sister and said, "You would abandon your family, for this… motley crew?" Weiss stood up, "Father discredited, humiliated, and rejected me; and mother numbs herself too much with alcohol to notice." Winter stood there, dumbfounded and seething. Qrow eased around her, taking out his flask.

Winter followed him with her eyes, but then turned her gaze to Nick, seeing his thoughtful, thousand-yard stare. "Do you have anything to add, Nicholas?" he focused on her, catching the derision in her words. She's gonna be fun to work with… "Honestly," he said, eyes steeled, "I don't see anything wrong." Nick looked at Ruby and Weiss, "maybe peculiar, but not wrong," He turned to Yang, and a warm, kind smile lit up his face. "But," he huffed as he averted his gaze, "this does reaffirm my conviction that they shouldn't stay here."

Winter glared at him, "Are you saying that they should come with us?!" Ruby and Weiss looked at each other; they said nothing, but both shared the same thought, 'Come with us,' where are they going? They looked back at him. Winter was furious, "I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS OUTRAGE!" Nick squared his shoulders, but calmly said, "Then sit."

Almost instantly, Winter drew her sword and lunged at him. With a refined reaction speed, Nick leapt up, with a cheer from Yang and Ruby, bringing out his right shoulder. He ducked under the swing of Winter's blade, ramming his shoulder into her gut. He wrapped his arms around her waist with a vise-like grip. His momentum carried them both to the floor. He rolled off her into a crouch, ready for a counter-attack. Winter got to her feet, and made a motion with her hand. A glyph appeared right in front of Nick, and before he realized it, he was sent sailing into the hall. He slammed into the wall, the back of his head foremost. Winter strutted over to his limp, unconscious form and put a boot on his chest. "Your insolence has gone far enough," she said with a sneer. The ring of another sword behind her rang out. "And your arrogance has gone too far, Ice Queen," Qrow said, holding Harbinger in one hand, his flask in the other; Yang right beside him, Armed with Ember Celica and Ready to brawl, Ruby deploying Crescent Rose. But in front of them all, was Weiss, Myrtenaster out, pointing her blade at her older sister.

Nick groaned beneath her. "Back away from him," Weiss intoned. Winter stood there speechless, almost unbelieving the situation. Gritting her teeth, she stood in stubborn defiance and raised her saber. Yang's eyes turned crimson; and she was about to charge, but Qrow held her back. Weiss strongly said, "I am no longer a part of a family that saw me as an image of the company, and tried to imprison me for who I am. My friends," she motioned behind her, "accepted me when Father wouldn't, and not for what I could do, but because I was their friend. And you blame me for wanting them as a family?"

Winter paused, and then backed off. "I don't."

Yang shook off Qrow and ran to Nick's side. She cradled his head, and whispered, "Nick, can you hear me?!" His eyes slowly opened, and he coughed. He sat up, looking around. Ruby came over, asking, "Are you ok Nick?" he looked up at her and grunted. Turning to Yang, he motioned to her that he wanted to get up. She put an arm around him, as he put his arm on her shoulders, and she hefted him up. Winter looked on with a smirk, and Yang said, "Get that smile off your face –" she stopped herself for Ruby's sake, But Nick squeezed her shoulder; an expression of the shared sentiment. Ruby stepped up next to him and said, "even if half the things Weiss said aren't true, you could've at least supported her, and not attacked her." Nick, leaning on Yang for support, weakly uttered, "Ruby, let it fall."

Yang looked at him, as did the rest of them. "I am trying to protect her," Winter stated, "and this insolent… jerk, doesn't understand that she's too inexperienced to join this mission." Yang glared at her with blazing eyes, angered at Winter's slander. "I ne'er said," he grunted next to her, "That they would come." A moment of silence passed between them.

They filtered back into the room, Nick under the supporting arms of Yang shuffling in last. When they got through the door, an Idea came to Qrow. As the two sat down, He closed the door, locking it. Nick took a breath. "Actually, I want as few people on this mission as possible," He said, voice stronger. That perked some interest, and Ruby took a chance. "Ooh, can I come?" she eagerly asked, and next to her, Weiss rolled her eyes at the comment. Nick looked at her, "No… We are going places far too dangerous to the human mind." "What do you mean, 'too dangerous for the mind'?" Weiss asked, "where on Remnant could possibly be that hazardous?" Nick looked to her, dead straight into her eyes. "I never said it wasn't on Remnant."

That stunned them to silence.

Nick coughed and said, "you know, you two are a valuable part of this… well, family I s'pose. Weiss, take care of Ruby and keep her out of trouble. Ruby train up and take care of Weiss, help her if her family visits; they won't be too happy with your news." "The Atlas Academy is safe," Winter proudly stated, "Even from Father." "yeah," Nick said, "That's what worries me." Winter squinted, "what do you mean? No one can get in without authoriz–" "It won't matter if the barbarians are at the gates," Nick retorted, "when the Dragons are already inside!" before anyone could process what he said, Nick turned to Qrow, "Qrow, keep an eye on those frosty flowers o'er here." Qrow nodded. Nick slumped over, eyes rolling into his head. Yang quickly caught and held him. A soft moan escaped his lips. Qrow immediately stood up, and was about to leave, when he overheard Yang and Nick whispering to each other. "I'll be fine; I just need to rest." Nick said, but Yang wasn't having it, "You're concussed, you need to stay awake." The two were looking at each other, both with admiration, though Nick looked strained. Qrow smiled to himself as he passed by.


Five tall strangers stood in their midst, all unseen. Their countenances were sharp, listening to the conversation of their charges. "They are not ready," one said, almost leaning over Weiss. "The gauntlet is coming," another said, sitting next to Winter, "they will be tested, each in their own way." "They Will be ready," a third, standing near the door stated, "the time is nearly at hand." A fourth, renowned for saying little, spoke up, "why them? Why are they the ones chosen?" the one near the door moved over to Qrow and said, "they are not all gathered here, Belladonna is on her way to menagerie, and Nikos…" he fell silent. Finally, the fifth, sitting behind Nick and Yang, said, "she is in that place. These will bring her back. I will watch-care over them." The being by Qrow looked on, fully knowing what awaited them.

Suddenly, he motioned for silence. A shadow, unseeable, passed down the hall. The leader took his hand from his sword hilt. He looked at Nick, right as he made his parable. "we have to keep up appearances," he said, and motioned to the one sitting behind. She reached behind his head and touched. Nick's eyes rolled up, and he collapsed.


Jaune Arc sat, looking at his armor as he polished it. he could see his own reflection; and he paused to look at it. He sighed and thought, here I was, trying to convince myself she was gone… and now we're going off in the morning to go bring her back. He looked at the improvements he had made for it. I thought it was a good idea to have better armor. He glanced at Crocea Mors and added out loud, "better make that weapon too."

Putting on his armor, a bit clumsy and awkward affair, he picked up the sheathed sword and made for the armory. There were very few cadets in the halls. Before he knew it, his mind was overwhelmed by the endless hallways. "Oh no," he mumbled, "don't tell me I'm lost."

He never heard the approach, but he jumped when somebody laid a hand on his shoulder. "Excuse me sir," a young cadet said, "are you lost?" Jaune looked at her and floundered, "I, umm… well you see…" He sighed and said, "yes, could you guide me to the armory?" She smiled and nodded. "Follow me, sir," she said as she clipped around.

It didn't take them too long. When they arrived at the door to the armory, the cadet spun around to face him. Jaune, unfortunately, didn't stop in time; and he ran into her, nearly toppling them over. "ooh, I'm so sorry!" Jaune apologized, his face turning red as he tried to untangle himself from her. She cleared her throat and replied, "no matter, simply be careful next time." She huffed an embarrassed sigh and said, "here you are, sir."

Jaune thanked her; and as she turned and walked away, he said, "Er, my name's Jaune, Jaune Arc. I never caught yours." She walked away, but said over her shoulder, "Cadet Fern." Jaune watched her go, and then heaved a sigh. "Oh, I'm such a klutz."

The armory was nearly automatized, so he could easily upgrade his sword by himself. Jaune settled in at a terminal, and placed Crocea Mors in a scanner. Then, after a moment, he started redesigning the sheath just a little.

He had a cool new function in mind.

"Hey c'mon! Hurry up!" Jaune heard Ruby say when she entered. Right behind her in the hall was Yang, "Uungh, Ruby, If you're in such a hurry you could help." Jaune turned around to look. Ruby stood near the entryway, anxious and exited. Yang finally walked in, dragging something.

"You know," she said, "you could've just come with us, instead of having to drag you." Jaune gawked as he saw Nick, stiff and rigid as a plank, being dragged in by his shirt collar. "I told you, I don't need another weapon." "What are you talking about!?" Ruby exclaimed, "every huntsman needs a weapon; and one that compliments them!" Nick looked over at her as he was dragged by, "but I'm not a huntsman." Yang suddenly dropped him, and he hid the floor with a thud. Just as fast, Nick sprung back and off his hands into a crouch.

Yang grabbed his shirt and held him fast, "You're sticking around, and You're getting a weapon. Is that clear?" a hint of a smile curled on her lips. He looked her in the eyes, "transparently." She let him go, and breathed a soft sigh. "So!" Ruby said, nearly jumping on him, "where to start? Oh, how 'bout this?" She rushed in a cloud of rose petals, and came back with a shotgun in hand.

Nick took a sidelong glance at Yang, "I think that's already… covered." Ruby blinked, then looked between them, "Oh." She rubbed the back of her neck, cheeks turning pink. Nick walked down an aisle of weapons, breathing a soft chuckle ending in a sigh, and the sisters followed.

Jaune turned back and took up his upgraded sword. He slung to his belt and briskly walked over to join them. Nick, right as Jaune entered the aisle, stopped and turned around, as did the sisters. Jaune slowed and raised his hand in greeting. "Hey Jaune," Ruby said. Nick cleared his throat to get their attention, looking into each of their eyes, all three pairs; silver, blue, and lavender.

He looked to his left, and then to his right; emphasizing the weapons on the racks. "Right now, the only weapon I need is this," he said as he drew his knife. It gleamed in the light; and they could see a mottled pattern in its metal, like it was made from two metals. Yang asked, "are you gonna make something from that, Alice?" both Ruby and Jaune looked at her, and Ruby snickered, "Alice?"

Nick stood there and said, "no, I'm not. I will make one when it's time." Jaune looked again at the blade, and asked, "What's it made of?" Nick turned to Jaune and replied, "This knife is very special. Your sword is made of steel." He motioned to Crocea Mors and continued, "This blade is made of an ethereal metal, Vorpal."

A/N: well guys, thanks for waiting. things have been tough, real tough. for one thing, I've been wanting to rewrite the story, changing a lot of things. I've fallen into a writer's trap; waiting to introduce my character until several chapters in. I feel like thing's in here could be different...

for two, I've needed to attend actual life. finding work *gag* and finishing school.

and three, my drive to write has waned, like I'm ... I guess... moving on.

I'm still watching the series. Vol.6 is Rockin' so far... better than the other two. but still I have imagined Nick... or rather Alistair... being in the series.

ANYWAY, the Reviews!

MCMike: good to see ya again, Mike! how'd you like this one? Good? Bad? Somewhere else?

Alright, I guess I'll see ya'll later!