Arc IV - Linked Horizons
Chapter 30: Words of the Heart
"I have a feeling this isn't going to be just a social call?" Not one to deal with tense situations, I tapped my foot against the floor of the lift, the audible dinging in my ears growing louder
"Mars himself nearly killed us, and the entire world needed to be fooled into thinking it was just for show, so yes, I believe this isn't a social call," Thanks, captain obvious. Iota grumbled. "We're here."
Once the doors opened, I saw the familiar faces of Goodwich, looking oh-so-happy. Ozpin looked tired. And General Ironwood and some other guy were giving off to each other, with... Weiss' sister too? So they do look alike - she's staring impassively at me
"-I'm telling you, our enemy is here." The man in a crimson cloak finished what he was saying, with the general rested against the desk
"We know." Jimmy replied calmly, as the man seemed to become more agitated
"Oh! Oh, you know! Well, I'm glad I'm out there risking my life to keep you all informed!" He snapped, as Jimmy tried to interject
"Qrow..." Qrow? Strange way of spelling it
"Communication's a two-way street pal." He then whipped out his scroll, pointing to it. "See that? That's the 'send' button." I swear, how can that gold button be the use of 'every' function on a scroll? That's poor manufacturing and security if I've ever seen it
"They had reason to assume you've been compromised." Winter replied coldly, yet Qrow just kept rolling with the punches
"And I have reason to believe you don't need to be here. Seriously, who invited her?" Qrow asked as I kept to myself, seeing the anger fester in her eyes, all while the doors of the lift shut very, very loudly. And the room grew silent as I stood there awkwardly
Ozpin all but smiled calmly at my presence. "Ah, Sky, glad for you to join us on such short notice. I hope you are recovering well?"
"Aye... uh... should I..." I jabbed a thumb to the lift behind me. "Come back later... or..."
"No-No, actually, if you could just give us a moment to wrap up our meeting," I nodded, moving to rest against a neighboring pillar, crossing my arms
"Schnee, we'll discuss this incident back on my ship."
"But sir-" She tried to interject
"Winter. Leave." With a final salute, Winter made her way out, seeing Qrow wink at her mockingly. Yet, while she passed me, she stopped to inspect me for a moment, and I immediately grew nervous. Does she know about mine and Weiss' relationship? Kind-of awkward, would that make Winter my older sister... or is this just a thing between me and Weiss?
"You're Sky Zaffre, am I correct?" I nodded once, and she looked a little less tense. "Well, I wanted to know who you are ever since Weiss mention you in her letters."
"Oh!" It dawned on me. "Yeah, she did ask me if it was fine to do that, I said 'why not', she mentioned alot about you, how she really looks up to you and wants to become as strong you someday."
That made her show a smile, "Well, I am happy to hear that; until we meet again." She held out her hand, and being polite, I returned the shake, watching her go moments later
"Go on." Ironwood grunted, with the air in the room returning to thick atmosphere
"Your infiltrator isn't just another pawn." He then reached for his flask again, taking a drink. "They're the one responsible for Autumn's condition." Who?
"What!?" Goodwich gaped, Qrow looked back at us
"Despite what the world thinks, we're not just teachers, or generals, or headmasters," He continued. "The people in this room, the leaders of the other two academies, we're the ones who keep the world safe the evils no one even knows about."
"Its the reason we talk behind closed doors, why we work in the shadows." At this point, he was directly in Ironwood's face. "So you tell me James, when you brought your army to Vale, did you think you were discreet, or do you just not give a damn!?"
"Discreet wasn't working." He sighed, placing his scroll down, and playing a holographic projection of Vale, the ships that flew above it. It sickened me. "I'm here because 'this' was what's necessary."
"You're here because Ozpin wanted you here." Qrow retorted. "He made you apart of this inner circle, and opened your eyes to the real fight that's right in front of us."
"And I am grateful," Ironwood replied earnestly, as Qrow rolled his eyes
"Oh well, you got a real funny way of showing it." Qrow snapped back, but Ironwood never let up once
"The people of Vale needed someone to protect them. Someone who would act." He began, oh god, he planned this! "When they look to the sky, and see my fleet, they feel safe, and our enemies will feel our strength." This only made Qrow laugh
"Y-you think they're scared of your little ships!?" Qrow snapped, before pointing out towards the horizon. "I've been out there, and I've seen the things she's made, and let me tell you... they are fear."
"And fear will bring the Grimm." Ozpin refocused us all. "A guardian is a symbol of comfort, but an army is a symbol of conflict."
"There's an energy in the air now." He then pointed to his head. "A question in the back of everyone's minds... If this is the size of our defenses, what is it were expecting to fight?"
"Ugh, way to raise the pressure, much like Red you have an affinity for changing the atmosphere in the room in a heartbeat." Iota shut it. I shrugged. "You know I'm right."
"Iota, shut up, also... yeah," I sighed, rubbing the back of my head before focusing on the elephant in the room. "Okay, someone want to share with me, Eric and Iota how Mars, the Horseman of War snuck onto a floating arena undetected and escaped!?"
"We are at a loss as well, security footage shows him entering the complex, but simply vanishing after your fight, no one can seem to locate him." Ozpin explained while I crossed my arms. "I apologize for my lack of answers, this not only put you in harm's way but many others."
"No, don't do that," I waved him off. "You'll make me feel bad. I just... can't understand why he wanted to fight me now? He's had so many options, and every time he's been so sure of this 'Salem' person winning in the end. like he's already won the fight."
"Hold on now!" Qrow spoke up again, pointing his flask at me. "How does he know Mars and Salem? I thought we already had anyone who knew of them under our noses?"
"Sky here is... a new exception," Ozpin soon gave everyone the rundown of mine and my sister's situation, how Mars took us from our world, about Cognitum and Mars' constant watch of me, and with the other Horsemen being present at the Breach
It didn't take long for Qrow's expression to change from confusion to surprise, opting him to take another top-up of alcohol with a surprised blink. "Huh."
"Really, nothing?" I motioned my arms out, with Qrow merely grinning stupidly
"Believe me, kid, once you've heard and seen the things I have, two people from another world doesn't sound too crazy... more importantly, you have just the weapon to take Mars on and win, I think you'll be just fine." Well, didn't expect that answer, felt good to know I wasn't going to be that red herring
"Now, I know this has been brief, but the day after tomorrow, I would like for you to join us again with Miss Nikos, we have more to discuss one that date." Ozpin requested me and Pyrrha? Why did everyone look so stern about it? Must be more about Salem and Mars. "You can return to your dorm now."
"Okay... but Ozpin?" He and I locked eyes as I asked him one, single question that plagued my mind. "Ruby told me something Mars said to her back on Merlot's Island, while he watched our friends nearly become a Grimm's chew toy. I... don't know if you know, but I just wanted to ask?"
"What is it?" He motioned for me to ask away, and my chest felt a little tight, my heart thumping at the mystery and possible darkness hidden in my question
I took a breath, then breathed slowly. "Did Mars kill Summer Rose?"
Complete silence. The looks of conflicting and sorrowful expressions were clear to me how sensitive the topic was, even to Qrow, who I slowly saw his right hand ball up slowly. My hand grazing Cognitum out of reflex.
"What did Miss Rose say to you?" Even Ozpin sounded... sorry, almost guilty of asking me. But I needed to know whatever I could find, for Ruby, after all she's done for me, I wanted her to know the truth about the very thing that sent her down the path of a Huntress
"She said Mars told her Summer died because of her Silver Eyes, that they were so rare that both time and the Horsemen saw to their end, and... if not for her eyes she might have lived longer," Every word hurt saying, even Ruby found it difficult to tell me, and that only made me feel worse inside. "He said he was foggy on the details, but I don't believe that, not one bit."
"..." Qrow still continued to stare at me angrily. clearly, me mentioning the name was hard on him, did he and Summer know each other? We're they teammates too?
"I... none of us know what happened to her, all we know is that Salem's actions were her cause of death, but how we don't know."
"Yeah, speak for yourself!" Qrow grunted, and I decided to leave, my head lowered to look down at my feet in annoyance
"Ozpin... I don't know everything about Salem or this secret fight against her, but Ruby... she's always been there for me, no matter how bad things got she always made me stronger, but to see her... so confused and lost... to see her upset..."
I turned my head back to him. "I'm going to kill him, I'll take everything from him so he can't even crack a smile," I vowed, walking away from them and towards the lift again. "I don't want to see her cry, not after all she's done for me."
"None of them are going to lay a hand on my friends. Count on it." Soon after, the doors shut between us
[Later That Night...]
When I got back to my room, I came in silently as I glanced at either side of the room. Weiss was happily sleeping, with Zwei wrapped around her arm, Erika was in her own room, so that wasn't a problem. Yang was snoring, that was easy to spot, and Blake was as silent as ever. And so, I walked up to the open blinds, peering towards the city ahead. The golden glow sparkling in the moonlight of a shattered moon.
"Specter... you there?" I thought, Iota and Eric long gone into my subconscious
...
Nothing. "If you are, did you know who Summer Rose was? Did Mars have anything to do with what happened to her? Will... will I suffer the same fate as her if I continue down this path? I just... hope you can help me figure that out. Until tomorrow I guess."
At my internal problems, I let out a small yawn, so I just kicked my shoes off, and removed my jacket, I was too tired anyway, my body still hurts from today. Quickly, and silently, I climbed into bed, where Ruby slept peacefully, and so I quickly slipped in beside her, as I stared up at the ceiling.
"You're back..." I jumped a little, my body shuffling to lay on my side, facing Ruby who was nose-to-nose with me, her silver eyes half-lidded from only just waking up
"Sorry, did I wake you?" She shook her head, smiling
"A true huntress never rests." Ruby soon yawned after that, chuckling nervously upon seeing my coy expression. "Ehehehehe."
"Oh I'm sure, and that was fake?" Her hand lazily pushed a finger to my lips, while I tried not to laugh
"Shhhhh... is this working?" I don't know, you tell me?
"Depends, how long do you want me to keep retorting until you give up?" I mused, her eyes flashing confidently at the challenge, but while that happened, I found myself caught in her eyes again
She didn't even go to sleep just to wait for me to get back, even after the meeting with Ozpin I spent most of the afternoon wandering Beacon, chatting with Coco and Fox, the latter telepathically, and also discussing philosophy with Doctor Oobleck. Yet here she was, waiting for me like always. I was always behind when it came to raw fighting and skill, and yet Ruby was always the one to wait for me, always here to help me.
Am I... putting her in danger? Being close to her meant she and all the others would be targets too for 'Salem' and the other Horsemen. Without much thought, I wrapped my arms around Ruby, almost like I was scared to let her go even as she froze for a moment.
"U-umm..."
"I promise," I whispered, as I gazed toward her, while she looked at me, our heads resting against each other as I held back the fear of what might happen. "I know you don't need it, and, this may sound stupid, but... I promise I'll protect you, no matter what."
At that, Ruby couldn't help but giggle slightly, as a warm smile crossed her lips, my eyes relaxing slightly at that. She looked a little red with embarrassment, something crossing her mind as she moved in closer, her body pressed to mine.
"To the ends of the earth..." She whispered back, as I blinked before her lips tentatively pressed to my own just as softly as the first time, it was only for a moment, but her rather corny line didn't bother me as much, and it was something she wanted to say, even if I didn't need to hear it too. Her head rested under my chin, and I was at peace
"Sure. I'll protect you, to the ends of the earth."
To Be Continued...
Emotions everywhere! And I know I've been posting Destiny over this, but it's either one or the other and I can't do both in my line of work IRL. But here is the feels, and I love it! Hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!
Next Chapter: A Man With Two Souls
Sky and Pyrrha are brought to Ozpin's office, where truth is often hidden in legends and fairy tales.