Disclaimer: I do not own either RWBY or Star Wars
Wayle sat in a darkened chamber hidden away within the bowels of the earth. It was part of a group of natural underground chambers they had come upon while working underneath their headquarters.
After their forces had scoured them and ensured they were safe, Aureus and Roland had wondered what they could do with them, discussing storage as well as other facilities.
Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view, for them, Wayle had been in need of hidden facilities for his own purposes, and had commandeered the spaces.
Technically they had yet to be properly prepared for use, but even so Wayle had chosen to meditate down there, in a smaller chamber conveniently placed deeper within.
His only light was a few candles he had brought down, and the flickering flame cast interesting shadows all around the walls.
His mind was filled with tumultuous thoughts, and it was in order to sort this out that he meditated this time. His primary worry at the moment was something that had lain at the back of his mind for a long time, to some extent since even before he had come to Remnant.
How he should approach the Force.
He was already steeped in the Dark Side, that much was to him an undeniable truth. His ability to wield Sorcery left little doubt about how deep down he lay.
But he could still reach the Light, even if he was at a loss about what to do with it.
So what should he do?
Cast away the Dark and reach for that Light? He wasn't sure he wanted to know how his Sorcery would react to such an act.
Abandon the Light and embrace the Dark? He feared he would lose himself, and not without reason. He had felt the Dark Side stoking the flames of passion, be it for violence… or other things. He had even lost out to it a few times in the past.
It was a conflict that he knew full well weakened him. As long as it raged he would be unable to reach his full potential.
And right now he was quickly starting to come into a position where he couldn't afford to be weakened, now when he had something to protect… someone to protect.
It was in the midst of this turmoil that a vision came to him, unbidden. Fragmentary images, statues he was familiar with, both of Jedi and of Sith, then a glimpse of three individuals, a dark and terrible man, a graceful and kind woman, and a regal elderly man.
Then finally, a glimpse of something that was familiar to him from recent galactic history. A red and black mask, Mandalorian in origin, worn with both age and battle damage, with a visor for sight.
He shook of the vision, opening his eyes.
He had never been fond of heeding these visions. Always cryptic, always hard to decipher. Can be influenced by an outside source…
Still, he couldn't easily just ignore this one. He had a strong suspicion about its meaning, and that it was relevant to his current worries.
The question then was…
Could he achieve that which it suggested?
-Break—
After his moment of 'revelation', even if its usefulness was debatable in his mind right now, Wayle had returned to the main complex, and was currently enjoying the company of team RWBY.
"Well then, what do you all intend to do now?" He asked them.
Ruby was quickly getting better, but Beacon had been completely destroyed, and its ruins were currently suffering a Grimm infestation. After all that had happened it wouldn't surprise the young Sith if they decided to take independent action.
Or, far less likely, called it quits.
"I don't really know…" Ruby said, a sense of melancholy hanging heavy over her. "It's all gone and… she's still out there…"
"Cinder?" He queried.
Ruby nodded dejectedly.
"Yeah, I kinda want to make that bitch pay." Yang said. "She caused us much pain, hurt our friends... and killed team CRDL."
"While I held no love for Cardin and his troupe, they didn't deserve to die." Weiss interjected.
"While I'm loathe to feel sorry for them after all their misdeeds, I agree." Blake added.
A short few moments of silence filled the room.
"It sounds to me like you all have something in mind." Wayle said.
"Hmm… I guess…" The silver-eyed girl said.
"I mean… I'd love to beat the crap out of her…" The blonde brawler said.
The white heiress nodded absentmindedly, her gaze set on her partner. None in the room had any doubts as to whom she would follow.
But Blake hesitated, a conflict present behind her uncertain demeanour. "Well…"
All gazes in the room shifted over to her.
"Huh." Yang said, her gaze shifting over to Wayle for a few moments. "Yeah, I guess I can't say I blame you for being uncertain here."
"I…" The raven-haired Faunus shifted her gaze between her friends and teammates and her… boyfriend… with a cause she sympathised with, and was slightly responsible for…
"The choice is yours Blake. I believe we will all understand no matter what you choose to do." Wayle added.
She looked down embarrassedly, unable to maintain eye contact at the moment.
A soft knock on the door interrupted them.
After looking to the girls briefly, Wayle spoke. "Enter." He said.
A member of the administrative staff opened the door.
"My Lord." She said with a small bow. "An Atlesian vessel approaches, and is requesting permission to land."
"Atlesian? Military? Or…" He queried.
"It claims to be and has been identified as the personal transport of Winter Schnee." The staff-member replied, casting a not so subtle glance at the Schnee in the room. "They request an audience."
Weiss looked slightly perturbed, and Wayle heaved a soft sigh.
"Allow it. I will personally receive her, call for Ouka and Latune." He said and rose from his seat. "You will have to forgive me. Business calls."
He cast a glance at Weiss, but she remained seated.
The heiress noticed this.
"I'm your guest, if my sister remains as a guest herself, then I'll go see her." She said, although it was clear she wasn't happy to say it.
"May I tell her you are here?" He queried. "I know you have yet to send word to anyone of your current situation."
Weiss sighed. "I… Yes, tell I'm here, and fine."
Wayle nodded and strode out the door, closing it gently after himself.
From there he hastened through the building, meeting up with his apprentices at the exit towards the landing area.
"Master." They both said in unison.
Wayle did not respond, merely motioning for them to follow.
They fell in step behind him as he passed, Latune on the right and Ouka on the left.
As they stepped outside he saw the Airship, a sleek vessel of modest size, clearly meant primarily for Winter herself, with the possibility of carrying a squad, maybe two.
It reminded him of the Fury-class, although he wasn't entirely certain if this vessel was armed, much less capable of superiority missions.
He dismissed these musings as the vessel set down, the ramp lowering to reveal the elder Schnee sibling, accompanied by a couple of Atlesian soldiers.
Her eyes scanned her surroundings quickly before settling on him, and she didn't seem overly amused.
Of course, seeing as she was a Schnee that didn't say much at all.
"Wayle Tyran. I must say I'm surprised to see you receiving me personally." She said in a neutral tone.
"I felt that it would be remiss of me not to receive an emissary of Atlas personally while I am available." He replied.
"An interesting thing to say for one with such lofty aspirations." She said.
Wayle narrowed his eyes, just ever so slightly, for just a moment. If Winter noticed she made no indication.
"Would you rather we take this inside?" He asked.
The Specialist seemed to take a few moments to consider the question.
"We'll take it inside, it is starting to get a bit chilly, while I myself am fine, I don't know about yourself." She then replied.
"Well then, follow me." He said, motioning for the other party to follow and turned around, and as he did so, sent Ouka a look that said they were going to have a talk.
Ouka for her part did not react much, although she made a miniscule gesture of affirmation.
Wayle then lead Winter and her guards to the meeting room, where they sat down facing each other, with their respective escort standing behind them.
"Would you like a drink? There is fine coffee, and a quite exquisite blend of tea, although they might not be up to your refined standards." Wayle asked once they had settled down.
Winter shook her head. "I'm fine."
"Well then. If so, let us get down to business. Why are you here?"
"Firstly, Atlas is requesting that the Army of Union share their information on the fall of Beacon."
"Fair enough. I will have my people compile a file on the incident, containing what we know of it."
A slight sliver of surprise appeared in Winter, though she quickly suppressed it. Then she took a deep breath.
"Next, the Atlesian military is receiving quite a bit of harassment from the Schnee Patriarch regarding the finding of his daughter, who is still missing after the incident. You wouldn't happen to have taken her in, or at least know anything?"
"As a matter of fact, Weiss Schnee is currently a guest of mine, recuperating alongside her friends from the incident." Wayle replied with a smile.
A clear sense of relief surged through the elder sibling, although it was then replaced with a sense of unhappiness.
"Then, I'm afraid I have to inform you that the Schnee Patriarch has also requested that she be brought home as soon as she is found."
"I fail to see why you are telling me this. That is something you will have to bring up to her directly."
Winter sighed. "May I see her?"
Wayle smiled again.
"She said she would see you if you stayed as my guest."
"Then I am in your care. Men, return to my ship. It would be rude to bring an armed escort while staying as a guest."
The two Atlesian soldiers saluted uncertainly, but regardless followed her command.
"Latune, see to their successful return."
Latune bowed and followed.
"Now, while I would love to show you to where I assume Weiss to be, I have business to attend to."
Wayle snapped his fingers, causing Aureus to suddenly enter the room through a hidden door.
"Your wish is my command my Lord." He said with a bow. "Follow me Miss Schnee. I will guide you to our guests."
Winter looked slightly surprised at the display, yet Wayle sensed it was not at what had happened, but at whom had heeded the command.
He supposed it was because Aureus wasn't exactly a common servant or something, and really shouldn't be doing that, but they hadn't hired any yet, and Aureus was just that determined to serve.
Once all others except for Ouka had left the room, including Felis, Wayle spoke up.
"Ouka, mind explaining what those 'lofty aspirations' are?"
"In order to facilitate your ascension Master, myself and Aureus have used our agents to plant the notion of granting you the Kingdom of Vale amongst its population."
"I see… If Winter heard about it, then so have Ironwood. Bothersome…"
"Is this a problem for you Master?" For once worry entered Ouka's voice.
He sighed. "I am not certain. But I would appreciate if you consulted me about plans like these before carrying them out. I had originally planned to take other routes…"
"I'm terribly sorry Master!" This time she actually panicked slightly.
"Do not worry about." He held up a hand placatingly. "It has increasingly started looking like a plan like this is for the best."
She heaved a sigh of relief.
"But I must ask, why would the people of Vale bestow such an honour upon me? I have neither royal nor noble blood."
"But you have a certain… presence of hegemony, and blood can be ignored if public support is strong, such were Aureus' words on the matter."
He gave off a small chuckle. "And why would they support me for such a position?"
"The strength of your character has won over many of our members already, and your prodigious might has reminded many of the tales of the last monarch of Vale."
He tilted his head slightly in confusion, considering her words for a while, before realisation struck him, causing him once again to chuckle.
"I see… They look at the failures of the present powers, then back towards glory past… 'If we had another great warrior King, would things be better?'" A distinctly amused smile spread across the young Sith's lips. "I need to control Vale regardless for that plan to work… it would be fantastic if I could gain it peacefully."
"All for the future of Remnant."
Author's notes: Urgh. Hey look, it's a new chapter! And I have no idea about its quality. Please give feedback, preferably constructive, but since that never seems to happen I'll just settle for opinions.
I hope you enjoyed, and that you have a nice day.