Beta: ShadowMester234
The breach had cost Vale a lot. The reports were still coming in but at least three hundred people had lost their lives and many more were in critical condition. People were still in mourning but the backlash was already starting to show. By tomorrow it would be in full force. People were going to demand answers. Meetings were going to take place, discussions would be had and statements prepared, but before any of that could happen, Ozpin needed to know what happened.
That was why the headmaster was sat in his office with James, Glynda, Oobleck and Sulfur in attendance. The teachers and the general were behind his desk while the sole student sat in a chair in front of it.
Despite being at the center of the event, and having the focus of some of the most powerful and influential people on Remnant directed at him, Sulfur didn't look worried or nervous at all. Instead the way he kept tapping his foot on the ground suggested he was more impatient than anything else.
Begin able handed with any situations in a collective manner was a desired trait for all huntsmen, but considering one of the boy's teammates had been killed, the other currently passed out in the infirmary and last having submitted their intention to quit Beacon, his demeanor was off-putting, unnatural even.
"We just have a few more questions to ask you," Ozpin said.
"Go ahead, but I told you everything that happened. We went on that mission, discovered the White Fang's presence and tried to stop them from blowing a hole in Vale. Sadly, the grimm and the White Fang weren't going easy on us." He flapped around his almost completely bandaged arm for added effect.
"Please don't do that," Glynda reprimanded. "You'll aggravate the wound and maybe tear it open." She turned to Ozpin. "I still think this meeting should have been held in the infirmary if at all. Mr. Insure needs his rest."
"I'm fine," Sulfur insisted, "I can still walk and the painkillers I was given are working like a dream, can't feel a thing. Besides I'm sure the infirmary has a lot more pressing patients to look after than me."
Ozpin couldn't deny that. Injuries were always higher around the time missions were given, and while no student was in critical condition, as far as he knew, with what had happened, the nursing staff were probably overwhelmed with patients. If Sulfur said he was fine then more power to him.
"Back to your mission," Ozpin stated, ignoring the look Glynda was giving him, "there are still a few things I don't understand. Even though we had no knowledge of the White Fang activity, for that mission in particular because of the sheer number of grimm, it should have been inaccessible to a first-year team. How did team RSTT acquire it?"
Sulfur shrugged. "I don't know. There wasn't any indication that we weren't allowed to take it, and nothing stopped us when we did."
"Ozpin," James grunted.
"I know, let me handle it."
There were only two ways the system would have allowed team RSTT to accept that mission, none of them ideal. Either the system glitched or someone changed the mission settings without his knowledge, possibly the same person who attacked the CTT tower. He would have to look into it and see if whatever had happened had affected just that mission or all of them.
In the meantime, there was another question to be answered. Ozpin turned to Oobleck. "Why did you let team RSTT accompany you despite knowing the mission was only for second-years and above?"
The man under scrutiny nervously adjusted his glasses. "Everything sent to my scroll regarding the mission was correct and official, so I assumed there must have been some sort of change. It's not uncommon for a mission to be downgraded."
"Yet you didn't think to call me to confirm," Glynda said, shooting Oobleck a look that could boil water.
"I didn't want to bother you. I know how busy you always are." The man was sweating bullets.
"When it comes to the safety of my students, I am never too busy!"
"That's enough," Ozpin said. "Clearly our communication policy needs to be looked over, but this is not the time for arguments."
"Sorry sir," Glynda mutter, adjusting her posture and fixing her expression to the professional scowl the students were used to.
Ozpin sighed feeling a long night becoming even longer. He returned his attention to the student who had seen everything go down. Instead of the childish glee most student would likely have at seeing their teachers flustered, Sulfur seemed almost bored, his leg shaking up and down as his foot played a rapid rhythm on the floor tiles.
"There's something I would like you to clarify?" Ozpin asked. "You and Miss. Rose were missing when the unknown signal was fired, alerting the Oobleck and the rest of your team. What were you doing during that time?"
Sulfur rolled his eyes, tired of having to repeat himself again. "Ruby had left her post to chase after her dog. The movement woke me up and I followed, but before I caught her, she ran into the White Fang. The road collapsed while she was fighting them and she fell into the underground where she was captured."
"Why didn't you go back to your team and get help?"
"I sent the dog to alert the team since it could run faster than I could while I went after Ruby."
It's was the general's time to speak up. "Yet, you did not rescue Miss. Rose. Dr. Oobleck and the rest of your team were the ones to find her despite you having such a head start. Also, when your team finally did reconnect with you, you were in the already moving train nowhere near Miss. Rose. That is quite a bit of time unaccounted for."
Sulfur's eyes darken and his foot came to a stop with a solid thud. "I made the best decisions I could given the situation. The White Fang were on high alert after capturing Ruby, and she was being heavily guarded. I had no way of rescuing her without risking my life or hers. Then the grimm appeared and I had to take cover which is how I ended up on the train."
"Are you sure about that?"
"I am, general," Sulfur said, not backing down. "If you're looking for someone to blame, I suggest making our dear leader the scapegoat. It was her recklessness and inability to sit still that lead to the mission being a disaster from the start."
"No one is suggesting placing blame on anybody other than Torchwick and the White Fang," Glynda said, harshly. "Isn't that right, James."
That man visibly stiffened. "Of course."
Ozpin spoke up, trying to ease the growing tension. "Yes, well I think we can all agree that we don't have any more questions for Mr. Insure. You are free to leave. I know it might be hard with what happened but try and get as much rest as you can."
Sulfur didn't move.
"Is something wr—"
"You know I have my own question that I want to ask," Sulfur stated. "What is going on with my partner?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come on now, everyone saw the light that turned the grimm to stone, and quite a few even saw the girl that did it. What is she?"
"I don't know what power Miss. Rose possesses or how she used it. Rest assured, though, that we will investigate and ask her about it when she wakes up. You will be the first to know if we discover anything."
"Uh-huh, I'm sure. Just as sure that it's a coincidence that the girl with special grimm killing powers also happens to be the one offered a position at Beacon two years early. You won't mind if I do a little research on my own, will you? After all, it can only help fill in our lack of knowledge, and it would be boring for me to sit around doing nothing all day."
"I think it would be better to focus on healing," Ozpin said, his composure, built up over many lifetimes, not cracking one bit.
"I didn't hear a no," The errant student chuckled. He stood up, gave the teacher's clumsy bow that would have been better suited at an old royal court, and left.
"You can leave too, Bart," Ozpin mentioned.
"Yes, I think I will—again, I'm very sorry for what happened," Oobleck stumbled
"Don't hold yourself at fault. No one can predict how a mission will go. Not even you."
"I suppose not."
Dr. Oobleck walked away, for the first time in a long time not running around on a caffeine high.
Once he was gone only the two headmasters and the deputy headmistress were left.
"That boy isn't right," Ironwood informed them.
"He's just worried about his partner," Ozpin defended.
"He didn't look worried at all. Everything that happened to him and his team, yet he sat there like he didn't care."
"Everyone copes in different ways."
"He also wasn't being honest with us. From everything we've heard I'm sure he was the one that shot the flare."
"That might be the case, but if he did, it was only him trying to alert his team. Perhaps he was embarrassed to admit it after learning how much of a mistake it was."
"Did he looked like someone that would be embarrassed about anything?"
"It is not your job to judge the mentality of my students."
"It is when he lied to us about a mission that cost hundreds of innocents their lives." The heat was rising in Ironwood's voice. "He's not normal and very well might be dangerous."
"There's no proof he lied about anything," Ozpin reminded his colleague. "That said, I do agree that his behavior wasn't something I like to see. I'll have a psychologist talk to him later."
"Do you think he might be working for her?" Ironwood whispered.
"No I do not," Ozpin said shutting the general down. "Are there any other concerns you would like to address."
"Yes, there is. What are you going to tell the public about the petrified grimm? Your student was right when he said everyone saw it, or at least knows about it, and they're going to demand answers."
"We will simply say that it was a student's semblance that went out of control. We won't mention names and no one, even those who saw it firsthand, will have no reason to claim otherwise."
"No one except the people that know about her real semblance. A list which Sulfur is a part of. Lying to the public will basically confirm we're trying to hide something."
"We'll deal with that if it comes up."
"It will."
"I appreciate your input but nothing is certain."
Glynda watched the two men go back and forth as she had for many years now. One would think that given the seriousness of the situation they could put their bickering aside but no. They were both good people, she knew that, but they each had very different ideas about how things should be run, and it was a rare day when one admitted the other was right.
"What about Torchwick?" she asked, putting a stop to their childishness.
The general straightened up, presenting a very military pose in an attempt to impress her as if she had not just seen his shouting match. "He's safely aboard my airship. No one is coming to rescue him and there's no way he can escape." James expression suddenly turned sour. "Unfortunately, he's not talking. Well actually, he's talking a lot just not about anything important."
"It's still early, I'm sure he'll open up once he gets bored," Glynda reassured.
"Possibly." He didn't look like he had much faith in that. "There is something else I would like to discuss, however. It's about the Vytal Festival."
"What about the Vytal Festival?" Ozpin asked.
"You're not going to like this, but I think it should be canceled?"
"James, you can't be serious?" Glynda said, completely taken aback.
"I am. With what's been going on we can't guarantee everybody's safety. There's too many forces at play right now, and the city needs to recover."
"That's all the more reason to have it," Ozpin argued. "With the grimm invasion and our defenses weaken people need the entertainment and happiness the Vytal Festival brings in more than ever. If you cancel it now the negativity might be enough to bring grimm back into the city. That's not even mentioning all the preparation and lien that's already gone into it. The students from the other academies are already here as well."
"I realize all that, and I know it won't be a popular decision, but we've already had an organized terrorist attack that killed hundreds. The White Fang isn't going to stop, and I can't think of a more appealing target than the Vytal Festival. They'll definitely try something."
"And it's our job to make sure we stop them. Safety has never been a guarantee but no Vytal Festival has ever been canceled before. Besides, even if I agreed with you, I'm not the one that gets to decide. The council makes those calls."
"I know you have enormous sway with the council. If we support each other and tell them our concerns, I'm sure—"
"We can save this discussion for another day. For now, we need to focus on mitigating the disaster that did happen, not the one you perceive might happen."
Yang didn't know what to think when Russel told her Blake had disappeared. They had been called back from their mission, Vale was in a panic, her sister was unconscious in the infirmary and now their team leader was missing.
They searched all over Beacon, but there was no sign of her. They tired her scroll but that didn't lead anywhere, and later Sky noticed that a lot of Blake's things were gone as well. It seemed clear that Blake hadn't been captured or forced out, but had left on her own volition. For what reason, they had no idea.
The best course of action was just to inform a teacher. Miss. Goodwitch promised them that she would look into it. She tried to reassure them that it was very likely that Blake had family somewhere in the city and had just rushed off to check on them after what had happened.
Yang took that for what it was but she, and from the looks of it Miss. Goodwitch too, didn't really believe that. So, with that in mind, Yang hobbled back down to the infirmary to sit by his sister's bed.
She was just so tired of everything.
The nurses didn't spare her a second glance as they moved from patient to patient. The aftermath of the breach had mostly tapered off throughout the night, at least in Beacon. The general hospitals in the city were probably still flooded with people. A vast majority of people in the Beacon infirmary were here thanks to aura exhaustion. The other cases were the one who got injured ranging all the way from minor bite and claw marks to broken bones and pierced organs. Then there was Ruby. Nothing was wrong with her physically, but she hadn't woken up since she collapsed after—well after whatever she did.
Yang wouldn't have even known about it if Ruby's teammates hadn't told her. At any other time, Yang might have been overjoyed at learning of how much of a badass her sister was, not thinking of the implications, but with Ruby in a state like this, that had so clearly been brought on by using that power, the implications were all she could think about.
Of course, she had interrogated the remaining members of team RSTT but that hadn't gone anywhere. The soon to be ex-member was only able to give Yang an account of what she witnessed which wasn't much, and when Yang ran into Sulfur, who really should have stayed in the infirmary, he had asked her the same questions she had been wanting answers for.
Dead ends all around.
Yang groaned and rested her head on the side of the hospital bed. "I don't think Beacon turn out how either of us expected," she spoke. "Fighting grimm and being heroes was supposed to be fun, but I guess we were being stupid. You're probably going to blame yourself when you wake up but you shouldn't. Nobody could have predicted it and you did better than anybody could have expected. It was because you were there that so many people were saved even if you don't think so. Team RSTT did amazing things even if half of them are gone now."
That's what was going to hit Ruby the hardest, the loss of half her team and Zwei too. She was going to curse ever being team leader, and probably regret coming to Beacon two years early at all. At worst Ruby might fall into a depression and Yang didn't know if she could stop her. Dad had lost it when one of his teammates died, and while Ruby and her team nowhere near as close as Tai and Summer had been, Ruby loved her team and would've done anything for them.
Yang ran her finger through Ruby's hair. "I know it might not mean much but I think you're a great leader. Certainly, better than mine. You're still here while my partner just went and abandoned me."
Just like everyone else.
"Didn't even say a single word, and I have no idea if she's coming back. She said she was going to be more open with us. What a load of shit that was. I just don't understand why she couldn't just talk to me. I would have listened; did she think I wouldn't? Just how selfish can she be? I thought we were friends!"
Yang's eyes had turned red even if she didn't know it and her finger held Ruby's hair in a vice grip. It was very possible that the rising level of her voice and the building anger was what caused Ruby to stir.
"Yang," she whispered.
"I'm right here," Yang replied, leaning in and letting go of her sister's hair to find and grab her hand. "Everything is okay. You're in Beacon's infirmary."
"Yang, is that really you?" She sounded so weak.
"Of course, it's me," she said trying to laugh it off. "Who else could it be."
"How do I know?"
Yang paused. What a strange thing to ask? "Well, you could open your eyes," she suggested noticing Ruby still had them closed.
"I don't want to," Ruby said shaking her head furiously. "It's going to hurt."
"I can get you some sunglasses if you want."
"No, it's not the light it…" Ruby was sweating profusely. Yang could feel it just from holding her hand. It felt like a wet sponge, a very hot, wet sponge. "…it hurts to see. I don't want to look. It burns."
Ruby was shaking and scrunching her eyelids as tight as she possibly could, but something was still dripping from them. It definitely wasn't tears. In fact, it was like nothing Yang had ever seen before. If she had to describe it, she could only say it was what remained of her aura. A liquid aura that was so shiny and filled with life.
Yang wasn't given any more time to look at it, however, because that's when Ruby began to scream. A nurse rushed over, looking completely shocked that this was happening, before calling over another one.
Yang froze. Her sister was in horrible pain, screaming in agony right in front of her, but she couldn't do a thing about it. "You need to leave," a nurse said grabbing her and pulling her away.
Yang growled and dug in her heels. "I'm not leaving my sister."
"I know you're worried, but let us handle this. Will find out what is wrong and we'll make her better."
No you won't, Yang wanted to scream. They didn't know anything about what was happening to her. They didn't know how to treat the aftermath of using supernatural eye powers. Yang wouldn't be in the way of anything!
However, she still left because while they couldn't do anything about Ruby's eyes, they could probably do something about her pain. The more pressing reason, though, was that Yang just didn't want to be in that room and watch her sister suffer. She supposed that made her a coward.
Even out in the hallway, she could her Ruby's screams and it took every ounce of power she had not to walk away from that too. Her hands were turning white from gripping her arms so hard.
The screaming lasted for five minutes—five whole tortuous minutes of the most painful cries Yang had ever heard—before the nurse finally put Ruby under. Yang was let back in and approached Ruby's bed on shaky legs. Her sister was sleeping but it did not look peaceful at all. Sweat continuously gather on her forehead and she tossed and turned so much that her blanket had been removed so she wouldn't get tangled up in it. A few machines that Yang didn't know the purpose of hung around and attached to her sister. The nurses were trying to look busy, but just as Yang suspected, their faces gave anyway that they didn't have any idea of what to do.
The cause was clear, however. It was that damn power. Yang didn't care how amazing it was or how it had saved the city. She didn't care that the media was calling it the greatest weapon against grimm since dust rounds. It was hurting her sister and that was all that mattered. It had to be cured or stopped or sealed or whatever needed to be done to end Ruby's suffering. The problem was nobody she had talked to had a clue as to what this power was let alone how to deal with.
Maybe this would only be a momentary flash of intense pain and Ruby would be back up on her feet by tomorrow, or it could be everlasting effect and Ruby wouldn't be able to open her eyes ever again. Each of those outcomes were just as viable and just as likely with the scant information she had.
She needed to know more. A lot more, as soon as possible, but who to ask? If the teachers knew anything they should have already said something. The same went for her dad and uncle Qrow since Yang had already called them about Ruby's condition after the breach was settled. That only left an outside source, but it wasn't like she knew any information brokers.
A lightbulb went off her head. Actually, she did know one. He probably wouldn't be happy to see her. Scratch that he definitely wouldn't be happy to see her, but that was too bad for him. Ruby was in trouble and he was the only one that might have answers.
It was time to pay the club another visit.
Yang rode down the shadier streets of Vale. People on the sidewalk, dressed in baggy clothes, eyed her, or Bumblebee, or maybe both as she drove past. She stopped in front of the club and rested her bike on its kickstand. The two suited goons, guarding the entrance, looked scared as she walked up to them. Understandable if they were the same ones she kicked the crap out of the last time she was here.
"Watch my bike," she said getting right into the face of one. "If anything happens to it I'll beat you so bad that you'll be walking with your head below your ass. Do I make myself clear?"
The man nodded frantically.
"Good," Yang said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder before entering the club. Ten steps in she was met with the barrels of at least a dozen guns. Her eyes flashed red. "I suggest you put those down before I really get mad."
"Everyone stop!" a gruff voice shouted from behind the bar. "Don't shoot her. The last thing I need is for this place to be destroyed again." The thugs listen to their boss and lowered their weapons.
"Glad we could come to an understanding." Yang moved forward letting the thugs split as she walked towards the bar. It was still pretty early for the club to be open, so it was basically empty. The only customer looked to be some drunk passed out on the counter. Yang gave him a three seat berth as she took her seat.
"What are you doing here, Blondie," Junior said taking his position from across the bar.
"I want information."
"The last time you came here for that it didn't end well." Junior looked around the club nervously.
"I think you mean it didn't end well for you." She wasn't in the mood for games or conversation. She was on a mission, and she didn't have time for even the slightest sidetrack. Every second wasted was another second Ruby suffered.
She slammed some lien on the counter, lien she had taken out of her savings. Junior was surprised, eyeing her with suspicion. His hand slowly moved over the counter as if asking for permission. Yang nodded and he swiped the money like it had been on a burning grill. "What information are you looking for?"
"It's about the breach."
"I can't tell you anything that the media hasn't already said. There isn't a cover-up if that's what you're thinking."
"No, it's not the breach itself. It's what happened to the grimm after that. My sister was the one to do it, but now she's at Beacon going through unimaginable pain because of it."
Junior leaned in, interested. "Tell me more."
Yang's eyes narrowed and the ends of her hair started to glow. "This isn't something to be passed off onto the next person that pays you. What I tell you never leaves your mouth or anyone else's."
Junior backed off. "I understand. Being an information broker is as much about not telling secrets as it is telling them, so tell me about your sister. I'm guessing the story Beacon told about it just being powerful semblance, was a pack of lies?"
"Yeah, Ruby's real semblance is being able to burst into rose petals and move real fast, not shoot a wave of light and turn grimm into stone."
Junior pondered it for a moment. "Is it possible she awakened a second semblance, or that the trauma from the breach caused it to change? It would be unheard of, but semblances are part of the soul, so theoretically, it doesn't seem impossible. It also might explain why she's in so much pain."
Yang sucked on her lip as she thought. That explanation might make sense, but it didn't sit right with here. From the brief conversation they had when Ruby woke up, Yang was confident it was still the same Ruby as always. "No, I don't think so. This was something different. It was almost," she was hesitant to say this especially since she didn't actually witness it, but she didn't know how else to describe it, "magical."
"Hee, maaaagic," the drunk snorted in half conscious.
Junior didn't laugh at her, at least, just shook his head like he was clearly cobwebs from his head. "I'll admit what happened during the breach wasn't normal, but we're both just speculating. I'm sorry, but I don't have anything to tell you that might help your sister. I'll keep my ears open, but I wouldn't hold out hopes. Information like that isn't going to pass along the street if it even exists at all."
Yang balled her hands into fists and scowled causing the man to back up a bit probably remember the last time he couldn't give her the information she wanted. She wasn't mad at him, though, not this time. It had been a long shot that he would know anything about Ruby's condition.
"I have another thing I want to know," she said. "My partner disappeared last night and I have no idea why. She's done this before and I want to find her and yell at her until she's begging for forgiveness."
"Now, this is more up my alley." Junior seemed to light up as adjusted his tie and stepped back up to the edge of the counter. "What's their name and what do they look like."
"She a black-haired girl with amber eyes just a tad shorter than me. I've never seen her dress in anything that wasn't black and white, and her name is Blake Belladonna."
"Belladonna? Is she a faunus?"
"No, why?"
"No reason. I guess it's just a coincidence. I'll make sure to keep a look out for her. Anything else?"
A horrible sounding groan stopped Yang from answering. "What a pain," the drunk said pushing himself off the counter and into the real world. His eyes were hazy and his jaw hung loosely as he twisted his head and neck to look around the club probably in an attempt to figure out where he was.
Yang normally would have ignored him, but he looked oddly familiar. Two bunny keychains with opposing expression jangled as the guy shifted to look at the only other person sitting at the bar.
Now that she saw his face, Yang remembered that he was the guy at Forever Falls that her sister had found. Also, the person who apparently groped her, she thought bitterly.
It took him a while to work through the alcohol and put it together, but he seemed to recognize her as well. "You're…um that girl. Whas you do-un here?" He sounded kind of angry but it was hard to tell with the slur.
"What do you care," she replied, not wanting to interact with him or his nasty breath any more than she had to.
"Wanna make sures you're not gonna hurt anybodies. Like ur sister."
Yang stood up, eyes glowing crimson, and slammed her both her hands on the counter. "I'm trying to help her! Can you even imagine what it feels like to know your little sister is suffering from something that nobody understands and you can't do anything about?" She didn't want to cry especially not here, but her emotions were boiling over. She couldn't help it when the tears slid down her cheeks. "It feels like you're being drowned. It's painful to even breath and your whole body feels heavy, but you have to keep going because you don't know what will happen if you don't."
The guy recoiled and his eyes shifted downward. "Damn it," he muttered, "it wus her. Guess, Silver-Eyed Warriors aren't so come-un."
Yang was on him in a second grabbing the collar of his shirt and swinging him around. The sudden motion didn't do any favors for his stomach, but she didn't care even if he puked on her because he had made a mistake
She had never said anything about Ruby's silver eyes being the cause.
"What did you say!"
"Blondie, let's just calm down," Junior said but Yang didn't listen.
"Why did you call her a Silver-Eyed Warrior?"
"Get off me!"
"What's happening to her."
The guy pulled back and punched her in the face. It was a weak attack that didn't even drop her aura, but it startled her enough to get her to let go, but it didn't take long for here to get angry. This guy knew something she needed and she was going to get that information one way or another.
He didn't stand a chance as Yang rushed up and delivered her own blow to his face at full force not thinking about how he might not have aura or be too drunk to use it if he did. Luckily the guy's aura did flare to protect him, but it didn't stop him from being sent halfway across the bar and crash into a table.
He vomited after the impact rolling away just slightly while holding his stomach and his head. Yang didn't give a damn about his state of being, though, as she stomped towards him ready to deliver another firecracker if he didn't comply. "Tell me everything you know or your hangover is going to be the least of your worries."
His only response was a painful groan.
Yang readied herself for round two, but before she could start, a chain, that came out of nowhere, warped around her arms and torso pinning them together. She tried to wiggle free but she was quickly pulled up and back causing her to fly in an arc across the club and land painful on the dance floor.
The chain came undone at the halfway point, so Yang jumped to her feet and deployed her shotgun gauntlets, looking for the person that sent her flying. They weren't hard to find as a green-haired girl, who Yang also recognized from Forever Fall, walk onto the dance floor wielding two chained weapons.
She looked pissed.
"What do you think you're doing?" Each word was punctuated with some serious killer intent.
"I am trying to save my sister, so get out of my way!"
"No."
Something hit her from her left side despite the other girl still standing in front of her. The force snapped her head to the right, but she blindly fired a blast in the direction the hit came from. It didn't hit anything and Yang was subjected to what felt like a kick to the underside of her jaw. By the time she managed to look down the space was empty and the green-haired girl was nowhere to be seen.
"Damn it, stop hiding a fight me for real!"
"But I am," a voice very close behind her said. In a fraction of a second Yang was able to spin around and deliver a barrage of punches. Unfortunately, there was nothing there. Instead, a few bullets peppered the back of her skull before she ducked away.
Yang knew she was quickly going to lose at this rate, so she jumped up into the air and aimed her fist downwards.
"Nononono," Junior cried from behind the counter, but it was too late. With her semblance enhanced strength, she punched the dance floor, shattered it and sending a shockwave out in every direction. A girlish grunt echoed from behind, and Yang was quick to take hold of her advantage, rushing the girl while she was still recovering.
The girl huffed clearly not having time to use her trickery and instead went with an overhead swing as Yang approached. The blade caught the top of Yang gauntlet to which the girl followed up by pulling the trigger of the weapon.
Yang blocked all the shots with her other gauntlet and when the ammo ran dry she pushed forward and grabbed the girl's arm. Since she was using both hands to hold her weapons, there was no way for her to defend against a grapple which Yang exploited by tossing her over her shoulder and sending her crashing into the already broken floor, keeping hold of her arm.
While on the ground she lashed out with several kicks striking at Yang shins and side. They were sharp and painful but Yang didn't let go. She sent a straight directly into her opponent's abdomen. She tried to block by bringing up the weapon in her unrestrained arm, but at this close of a range, it was easy to see who held the advantage.
Yang's fist landed true causing the other girl to hack up saliva and air. Yang pulled back for another, but the girl swiped her blade at her other arm finally forcing Yang to let go, and allowing the girl to flip backwards and put some distance between them again.
She had stumbled a bit in her acrobatics proving that the gut punch had done some damage, but that didn't stop her from using her blades on chains in a full out assault. They swung in large arcs cutting up the already destroyed floor and even nicking the ceiling in some places. Yang had to work fast to block or dodge the green blades and even the occasional bullet when the girl lined up her swing and the barrel of her gun just right. The green-haired girl was also very purposely keeping her from moving into Ember Celica's effective range.
Since all Yang could do was play defense and look for an opening, it was no surprise that some attacks got through. A scratch to her thigh, a hit to her shoulder, a bullet to the upper arm, it was all manageable until one of the blades came in from a blind spot. It didn't quite make it to her body, but what it did cut was her hair. It wasn't just an unnoticeable bit either. A good inch or two of her mane, on the left side only, were shaved off.
Time slowed down as she watched the golden locks fall the ground. Eyes went red and her body combusted. The shockwave from the change was strong enough to knock the chains off course giving Yang the chance to close the distance.
Her opponent retracted her blades and changed her stance ready to engage in close combat, but before Yang could make it something strange happened. The solid ground she was running suddenly shifted into something more liquid and when Yang step in it she found she couldn't step back out; it had hardened around her feet.
The girl in front of her smirked and brought the guns forward. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel.
"Emerald, stop!" The drunk said stumbling forward holding a stick of chalk in his hand, for some reason. He tripped over a broken piece of the floor and nearly fell flat on his face but just barely managed to catch himself.
The girl, now known as Emerald, gave Yang one last glare before holstering her weapons and rushing off towards the drunk, placing herself underneath his arm when she got there.
Yang took the time to test the strength of her encasing. It was a lot looser than she originally thought. A good four or five tugs would probably set her legs free. It would be a perfect time to attack while they were distracted.
A blade tickling the side of her neck stop her. "Don't even think about it," the red twin said with smug satisfaction. It was only now that Yang noticed that pretty much everyone in the club had a gun trained on either her or Emerald.
They only lowered slightly when Junior stomped onto the once again destroyed dancefloor, his face red hot. "All three of you get out," he spoke through his teeth. "If you want to kill each other you'll do it far away from here, and please do kill each other. It would save me so much headache."
The three teenagers were escorted outside at gunpoint, and then another two blocks away after letting Yang grab her bike. Once they were what was deemed a safe distance away from the club, they were left to sort out their problems by themselves.
"Tell me everything you know," Yang said sounding like an Atlas integration specialist.
Jaune rolled along his neck as he tried to meet Yang's gaze, but after a bit of unrewarded effort, he was content to just look up at Yang's chin with his head being nested on his collarbone. "You're Ruby's sister, right?" He asked like he was tested the words for the first time in his life.
"I am and I that's why I want you to tell me what's going on," she repeated. "What is a Silver-Eyed Warrior? Why can Ruby use that power? Why is she suffering? You obviously know something!"
The girl holding him repositioned them so she was between Yang and him. "How about you lay off! Jaune doesn't owe you anything, so how about you go deal with your own problems instead of pushing them onto someone else."
Yang wanted to punch this girl so bad. It would be easy with her preoccupied with her drunk boyfriend, but she managed to hold herself back.
Good thing she did because the drunk threw an arm up in the air as a signal to inform everyone he was ready to speak. "We'll help you."
"Jaune!"
"We're caretakers," he said, arm flopping down like the bones had been taken out. "This is something I have to do."
Yang didn't know what he was talking about, but as long as he was willing to help it was fine. That was all she wanted. "I appreciate it. I'll show you—"
Emerald darted back just as Yang held out her hand, keeping her precious boy toy from Yang's reach. "Not so fast. Jaune needs his rest before he does anything. We'll work on your issues in the morning."
"But Ruby needs help now!" Yang yelled.
"That's too bad. Even if Jaune was in the best of shape it doesn't work like that. We aren't miracle cures. That's research and investigation that needs to be done before we do anything."
"Then let me come with you. The two of us can do the bookwork while sleeping beauty takes his nap. The main thing I'm looking for is information, anyways."
"Not a chance," Emerald stated without any room for negotiation. "An unhinged battle maniac like you isn't getting anywhere close to our house. If you really care for your sister then step off, be patient and let us handle it."
Yang growled not even close to being happy with the arrangement, but eventually, she caved. She wrote down her scroll number and shoved it in Emerald's face. "If I don't hear from you soon, I will find you," she threatened.
Then she hopped on her motorcycle and drove off.
Jaune was back in the penthouse, or he was pretty sure that was the case. The world was very fuzzy and spinney right now. The colors looked right and the couch he was sitting on felt luxurious, but what if it was just one of Emerald's illusions?
"Drink this," the girl in question said, handing him a glass.
"What is it?"
"Just drink it."
It tasted like slugs, and getting it all down was a trial in itself, but Jaune didn't spit it out afraid he might make the demon lady angry. Though once he got passed the taste he did feel a little better and could think a little clearer. The details of the world were starting to come back. His partner was standing in front of him and—oh boy, she looked really pissed.
Ending their vacation by accepting a job from the person she had just got into a bar fight with probably hadn't been the best decision he ever made. It was time for apology mood. "I'm really sorry, I should have asked you—"
"Where were you?"
"Huh?"
Emerald cracked her teeth together and her muscles stiffened. "Where were you," she asked again.
"I was at the club. Where you found me," Jaune answer, confused.
"You were at the club this whole time!" Emerald screamed.
It hurt Jaune's head and he winced to make sure his partner knew. "Why are you so mad? We weren't planning on doing anything. I don't see why it matters?"
Emerald fell back and stab, her mouth frozen in an "O" shape. She looked completely stunned. "Why does it matter?" she said sounding completely defeated. "I don't know maybe it's because a day ago the city was invaded by grimm and hundreds of people die. Maybe it's because you never came back and none of my calls went through. Maybe it's because I spent all of last night and all of today looking for you, fearing the worst, only to finally find you, drinking yourself stupid and getting your lights knocked out by a blonde brawler, but otherwise in perfectly fine shape What were you thinking! Why didn't you tell me you were okay? I thought you left me!"
Tears pricked out the corners of Emerald's eyes, and even with his impaired vision, he could tell that her arms were shaking. He dug into his pocket, in search of his scroll, in some desperate attempt to prove her false and wash away the five-ton weight of guilt that was now pressing on him, but when he got it, his scroll was completely dead.
Had he really been at the club for almost twenty-four hours? That didn't seem possible, but as he thought more about it the memories started to return. He had been so mad and so miserable after learning he was partially responsible for the breach that he didn't know what to do. Yelling at Roman had only made the feelings worse, and he just wanted the guilt to go away.
That's where the idea to go out drinking came from. Jaune had never had more than a few sips, but he knew about the drinks dulling properties. Now, he knew that turning to alcohol wasn't a healthy thing to do, but at that moment he didn't much care. The only issue was that he wasn't of legal age to get some, but he knew Junior's club wouldn't be doing ID checks.
That was how he ended up at the club, but I seemed impossible that he could have been there for as long as Emerald claimed. He'd be dead if he had been drinking nonstop that entire time for one, but the main point was that the club wasn't open 24/7. Junior should have kicked him out once he overstayed his welcome, so why hadn't he.
A vision of him holding up a pure white SDC card, and buying the entire club a round of drinks with it, gave him his answer. Jaune quickly slapped around his clothes looking for his wallet and by some miracle, it was still there with everything in it. Hopefully Whitley did bother checking what went into Jaune's "expenses".
Fragmented pieces of that night worked their way back into Jaune's consciousness. The club had been packed with people celebrating their survival of the breach. There was shouting and dancing all around, but Jaune never left the comfort of his barstool.
There had been many shots, the exact number being lost to Jaune forever, but at some point, the twins had taken to stay with him probably drawn in by his apparent wealth. They talked to and even flirted with him. Jaune talked too, probably far too much. He couldn't remember any specifics, but he was sure that he had let something slip that he probably shouldn't have. Whether they believed any of it was another story.
Eventually, the time had come where he couldn't drink anymore, and instead of letting him collapse and get run over by a car on the way home, the twins had convinced Junior to put him up for the night. He remembered one of them had led him to the apartments by the arm, but he couldn't remember anything that happened after. Did they get up to anything? Was Jaune no longer a virgin.
Jaune's cheeks flush, but he shook his head in dismissal. If something as momentous as that had, then he would have remembered. Besides the twins were sexy and flirtatious, not prostitutes banging guys just for their money. Neither of them liked him enough to go that far.
Still, the thought lingered.
What Jaune did remember was waking up the next morning, or it may have even been midday at that point, and feeling like complete garbage. It wasn't just from the alcohol, there had been nightmares. A sea of blood and mountains of corpses. Hungry grimm stomping through the red sea in search of wailing children. It was hell and it was all his fault, so with the crushing realization of reality hitting him, he decided to return to the club and continue his alcoholic marathon.
All the while not giving a thought to calling Emerald or letting anyone know that he was okay.
What a sad piece of shit that made him, turning to alcohol and ignoring the only person he could really talk to about it. What had he been thinking? The answer was that he hadn't been. He had bothered to, only wanting to react to his emotions. From everything he had been doing as a caretaker, he would have thought he had learned to use his head a little more but apparently not. He was still the same kid who ran away from home to try and become a hero without an ounce of training to his name.
"I'm sorry," he said, head bowed down low.
He didn't know what else to say to his partner. Nothing would make what he did okay. He probably deserved to be hit and yell at, and he was prepared for it.
However, Emerald didn't do either of these things. She just sighed and let her shoulders drop. It felt like she had just given up. "Whatever, I'm going to bed. Do whatever you want."
Her room door didn't slam shut. It was closed completely normally, but afterward there was the soft click of a lock being turned.
Jaune felt worse than ever.
There would be no sleep for him that night. He just couldn't with all the emotions and thoughts running through his head.
The alcohol was slowly working its way out of his system; Jaune having searched many websites for hangover cures and trying most of them. He still felt far from good, but he was functional, enough so to get started on the job he had from taken Ruby's sister. He may not have been in complete control of himself when he had accepted it, but he meant what he said.
He didn't know the girl well, but it was his fault that she had to use her powers. If he just hadn't followed Roman's orders then none of this would have happened. His fingers dug into the desk he was working at and he bit the corner of his mouth.
There was no way to change the past, but Yang had come to him for help and he was in a position to do just that. It was what a caretaker should do, help people affected by forces they didn't understand. That's was what he had set out to do from the beginning and he would do just that.
There was just one problem.
In both his journal and the original book there was only one mention of silver eyes. Jaune had looked again and again because he couldn't believe it, but no matter how closely he read the information just wasn't there. Not even the story Roman had told him on the scroll was included.
Silver eyes oversee the death of magic.
That was it. A footnote tucked at the bottom of a page about negotiation techniques. There was nothing that he could use to help Yang. Ruby would continue to suffer and he wouldn't have any answers.
Unless…
Jaune gazed over at his phone, charging on his bedside table. Did he really want to use his third and final call? It was so soon after his second one and basically about the same topic. He felt like he should save it for something really important. Then again what could be more important than saving someone?
Besides, Jaune thought angrily, did he really want to have a connection with Roman anymore. If he used up his call that would be it. He could forget all about that traitor and start again. He could be the hero he always wanted to be and not the apprentice of some heartless monster.
Not giving himself time to double guess himself, Jaune grabbed his scroll and dialed the number. Even with Roman in custody on General Ironwood's ship, he still got an answer.
"I'm not surprised often, kid, but I truly didn't expect to get a call so soon."
"Shut up, Roman. I'm just here to ask my last question and when that's over you and I are done. I never want to hear from you again."
"Going through a rebellious phase, are we?"
"Silver eyes. How do I stop them from causing pain to the person who used them?"
"So, this is about little Red. She exhausted herself and now she's paying for it, is she?"
"Just answer the question."
"I can't. I don't know."
"What?"
"I only know the story about how sliver eyes came to be. I don't know anything about how they work. I just know that nobody can reckless swing around a power like that and not expect to pay for it, and I'm willing to bet she'll be paying for a long time.
Jaune was speechless. Not even Roman knew. Was that it then? Did Yang just have to hope that Ruby would get better on her own?
No! Jaune refused to be helpless again. There had to be away. Someone had to know. "In your opinion, who is the most likely to know about silver eyes."
"Hang on there, kid," Roman seemed genuinely worried for some reason," I know since I didn't know the answer to that last question it doesn't count, but you really shouldn't ask something like that."
"Someone has to know how to help Ruby. I want to know who."
Roman sighed. "Fine I'll tell you, but just because I am doesn't mean you have to go. In fact, I strongly recommend you don't."
"Just tell me."
Roman sighed again. "If answers about silver eyes are going to exist anywhere there's only one place they would be. The ruins of Cryphilictal."
Memories of the past
A young Roman adjusted his tie, looked into the mirror, clicked his tongue, and adjusted it again. But now his shirt had a wriggle in it and was that a stray hair!
Roman put both hands on the counter and groaned. What was even the point? He may as well leave. He was a novice at best only invited as a plus one, nobody would care if he stepped out. It was better than embarrassing himself.
Patting down his shirt in a way that still left it unsatisfactory, Roman exited the bathroom. The Schnee mansion was impressive and the man who owned it even more so, but it was just too early for him to be here. Some of the greatest caretakers in the world, Nicholas included, were chatting in the library. He couldn't just casually join them unless he too had a spectacular achievement to recount or a new idea to discuss. Both of which he was severely lacking in.
Still exiting would mean going through the passage that was located in the very room he wanted to avoid. No way he could face anyone looking the way he did. Maybe he could use the front entrance this one time.
"Do you not like crowds either!"
Roman nearly jumped out of his skin at the loud sound that had violated his headspace. He spun around, a stream of purple light running from his sleeve and wrapping around his pinky finger like a ring, ready to challenge the person that dared to surprise him.
What greeted him was a tall man wearing a suit, but was the sloppiest thing Roman had ever seen. One shoulder of the jacket was slipping off, the tie wasn't even close to being tied correctly, and his dress shirt looked like it had been balled up before being worn.
Roman already wanted to puke, but that wasn't all. The man had a juvenile nevermore chained to his shoulder. The creature squawked and flew about while trying to peak and claw at the man's face. He didn't seem to care, his aura blocking the attacks, but Roman could definitely see tiny scars where it hadn't.
"What are you doing?" Roman asked before he could stop himself.
The man seemed confused before he followed Roman's eyes to the nevermore. "Ah this, I'm trying to tame grimm. If I keep by my side at all time I'm sure it will get to use to me and become docile."
Great, he was one of those caretakers. People who discovered the unknown world not through research or luck but through madness. The only difference between them and the insane was that they happened to be right. Roman wanted nothing to do with him and made that very clear in the way in walked away.
He didn't know why he expected the man to be able to take the hint. "Hey, I know you, your Randell's son, aren't you? Man, I get all my suits from him."
Note to self makes sure to blacklist this man. Anybody who disrespected the merchandise like that didn't deserve to step foot in the store.
"So, what brings you here, to this world?" he asked.
"That is no matter of yours," Roman replied.
"I don't see why it can't be. I love helping out the newbies."
"I don't need any help from you."
The man sighed like Roman was being the unreasonable one. "Try to offer some advice and get shot down immediately. Well, don't blame me if you die. You know they say I'm cursed."
"I would be shocked if you weren't."
"Ha," the man barked causing the nevermore to increase its frenzy, "at least you have a good sense of humor. Oh, and also you can come out now. I know you're there."
"Eek!"
Well now you've given yourself away, Roman thought.
A teenage girl walked out from behind a corner with her head held down and a blush across her face. She was perhaps a few years older than Roman and was wearing a fancy blue dress that went perfectly with her snow white hair. She was very lovely and beautiful which were thoughts that Roman quickly had to purge from his mind. If he tried to do anything to Nicholas' daughter, Willow Schnee, he'd be dead before nightfall.
"Well, if it isn't the princess of the castle. What can we do for you?" the madman said.
"What were you talking about?" Willow said after mustering up enough courage.
"Nothing important. My friend and I are completely normal people nothing strange about us at all."
The nevermore squawked.
"Anyways," the man grabbed Roman by the shoulders, making him want to die, "let's go back to the library and talk. I'm sure they're missing us by now."
Roman was highly doubtful, but the man's grip was too tight to ignore, and so he was lead away. He only took one glance back at the girl, and for a brief moment, their eyes meet. Her's were so determined. Even pouting and looking about ready to throw a fit for being treated like a child she hadn't given up.
Roman admired that. He found himself hoping she'd stay like that forever. It'd be a fitting image for the daughter of Nicolas Schnee.
So, Sulfur got about the reaction I expected. Few people really liked him, but few people really hated him. What I actually got far more complaints about were people feeling like I was going to railroad this story straight into the main RWBY plot. Looking back at the chapter I can totally see why people would be afraid of that, but while writing, it didn't even cross my mind. It was just me having the advantage of knowing how the story goes.
It was because was because of that that this chapter went on a little longer than it was supposed to. Originally it was meant to end after Yang rode off, but I bleed the next chapter into this one to hint at the next arc.
As for anyone still worried about this story suddenly just following the main RWBY plot, looking over my story plan I can see only one more place where the stories merge in any way like the breach (it probably pretty easy to figure out if you think about it) and one other point where they kind of follow the same path for a brief bit.