Chapter Seven: New Beginnings
Downtown Vale in Midday
Walking through the streets of Vale, Neo finds herself confused by the gesture, after all, isn't that what any friend would do? To Neo, it feels almost as if she were being rewarded for brushing her teeth, almost feels arbitrary to her. She finds herself feeling almost guilty for accepting the gesture.
"Come on Neo, you're lagging behind!" Ruby said loudly.
Realizing she had spaced out, Neo catches up to her friends, grabbing Ruby's hand, typing, 'Is all this fuss really necessary? I'm sure you would've done the same for me, I didn't do anything special…'
"Yes, it is. If it wasn't for you, who knows what would've happened to us." Yang replied.
Slightly confused, neo bluntly typed in reply, 'But, if I'm honest, it kinda feels arbitrary, like a, "CONGRATULATIONS!" you're not a complete psychopath…'
"Where did this come from all of a sudden?" Blake asked as she raised an eyebrow.
Slightly uncomfortable, neo types, 'I don't know… I just feel it's a bit much, like, I'm certain you would've done the same for me, I mean, you're my friends…'
Neo noticed after she said that, Yang looked away from her, flinching ever so slightly. This confused Neo at why that happened, and it frustrated her a bit she couldn't figure out why. Like she couldn't figure out where to put a puzzle piece that was right in front of her.
Confused, neo looked at Yang, and typed, 'I've considered you my best friend since you and the rest of your team rescued me… did you… not feel the same way…?'
"I… honestly didn't know how to feel about you, Neo..." Yang replied honestly.
Saddened by this, neo types, 'Oh…'
"It's because I didn't know if we could trust you. Can you honestly blame me for feeling that way?" Yang told her, trying to be open and honest.
Now, close to tears, Neo types, 'I guess not… I guess I made the mistake of thinking we were on the same page in regards to our friendship…' neo sighs before continuing, 'I… I thought you were my friend…'
Yang flinched at this, then knelt down in front of Neo. "If it makes you feel any better, what happened last night helped me make a decision. I've decided that I should give you a second chance."
This didn't seem to help things much, as Neo flinched, typing, 'I thought you and your team gave me that chance a while ago… I saw you as the older sister I never had…'
Yang sighed at that, looking visibly upset. "To be honest, I wasn't willing to trust you yet because I was worried you'd just revert back to who you used to be once your memories fully returned. But, now, I see that that's not the case. You really have changed."
Neo sighs a shuddering sigh, typing, 'Did our heart to heart we had mean nothing?'
"I'm not saying it didn't. I just… wasn't sure you could be trusted yet despite understanding why you did what you did." Yang told her before, to the surprise of everyone there, pulling her into a hug.
Confused, Neo was tense at first, not expecting this, before softening up, and hesitantly wrapping her arms around Yang's waist, hugging back.
"Why don't we celebrate this breakthrough in relationships by taking our little hero out for some snacks?" Ruby asked.
Still a bit confused, neo nods.
Yang pulled away from the hug and smiled at that. "That sounds like a great idea."
They arrive at the theater down the street and the group of five begin looking at the movie posters. One immediately sticks out to Yang.
Yang grinned a bit as she pointed at one of the movie posters. "How about we go see Vacuo Chainsaw Nightmare?"
Neo, taking one look at the poster, sheepishly types, 'How about something a bit more age appropriate?'
Yang smirked a bit as she looked at Neo. "What's wrong, short stack? Scared?"
Neo nods, typing, 'Yes. Terrified actually.'
Yang giggled at this. "Can't handle a little blood and horror?"
At this, Neo types, 'I have a weak stomach, and I don't feel like having nightmares for the next month.'
Yang shrugged at that. "Fair enough. How about we go see Come Fly Away by Pixie Studio instead?"
Immediately, Neo nods, typing, 'Much better! I could use a happy, light hearted film!'
Later after the movie
Neo walks out of the theatre, crying like a baby, sucking her thumb.
"Way to go Yang. You made her cry." Ruby said sternly.
"How was I supposed to know it was gonna be depressing!?" Yang replied defensively.
"It's a Pixie studio production! Of course it would be depressing! Do you remember how long you cried after Stuffy Tales 1!?" Ruby yelled.
"I thought we agreed never to talk about that!" Yang responded.
"Don't tell me you cried at that?" Weiss asked as she rolled her eyes.
"Like you didn't." Yang snipped back.
"She probably didn't." Blake answered.
"Well, we don't call her the Ice Queen for nothing." Yang said.
Still crying, Neo types, 'My daddy, Roman wouldn't let me see that movie, said it wasn't made for kids…'
"First time and last time I will ever agree with him…" Yang muttered.
Later back at the Academy
As our group of five entered back into the academy, Neo had begun to calm down enough to be a person. When they rounded the last corner before their room they were stopped dead in their tracks. Lying next propped up against a wall was Emerald, however the condition was something no one could expect. Nearly every part of her body had some form of cut, bruise, or other form of trauma, and she looked out the nearby window with the longest thousand yard stare any of them had ever seen.
Before Neo had a chance to hug her, Yang glared and got into a defensive stance. "What're you doing here!?"
"If you're gonna beat me up, just get it over with. I don't care anymore…" Emerald replied in a cold, despondent tone.
"What happened to her?" Ruby asked horrified, barely able to speak.
With everyone distracted, Neo ran over and hugged her. With that Emerald, as if being resurrected from the dead, gave a shocked look at who was hugging her.
"N-Neo…?" Emerald asked, her words infused with shock and awe.
Neo hugs tighter, typing, 'I have no idea why you're hurt, but everything's gonna be ok… I'm here…'
With that Emerald threw her arms around Neo, and using what strength she had left held her close. She then began to cry, sobbing deeply into Neo's shoulder as the distinct sound of a cane on flooring could distinctly be heard. Everyone except Emerald looked to see Ozpin walking onto the scene.
"Greetings everyone." Ozpin said as he leaned a bit on his cane.
"What is she doing here?!" Yang demanded.
"She was a double agent the whole time Ms. Xiao long. I have simply reabsorbed her back into the fold after she completed her mission." Ozpin explained bluntly.
"Do you honestly expect us to believe that load of crap?" Yang asked.
"Why don't you ask Emerald then?" Ozpin asked simply in return.
Everyone else then looked at Emerald expectantly at that, waiting to see what her response would be. Emerald, not wanting to defy Ozpin and risk more "enhanced interrogation" simply nodded, a look of fear in her eyes. The look of fear confused Team RWBY and Neo.
"If you could be so kind as to help Miss Sustrai with her wounds at the emergency tent. By now there should be some space and extra medical supplies." Ozpin ordered, "And I do recommend you five to get to know her better. You are all now on the same side of things."
At that Blake and Ruby helped her up gently, after Emerald was gently pried off of Neo. As they walked off Ozpin observed them. When they rounded the corner he smiled.
"All according to plan…"
Meanwhile at Salem's tower
Tyrian was kicking himself as he neared the door to the throne room. He failed his queen miserably. In his mind he frankly deserved any punishment she could devise. He was surprised to see the doors already open, and Salem sat on the throne, stroking a ghiest in her lap like a cat.
"So I assume the children are outside?" Salem asked with a playful smile.
"I regret to tell you, my queen, that I failed. I had to flee before reinforcements arrived. I was not able to capture even a single one... " Tyrian said, dreading what is to come.
However the pain never came. Not even an angry shout. Instead he heard a faint chuckle. This forced him to look up and Salem looked… surprised. And in good humor about it...
"Finally! Things finally take an interesting turn!" Salem said with a smile.