.
Frenemies For Life
.
"It's a bit broken."
"…"
"Okay, a lot broken."
"But we can fix it."
.
.
In the Grimm-infested wasteland of Spriggan, a lone castle stood on the barren black grounds. Its deepest chamber served as both saferoom and prison. And it was there, a sleeping Blake laid across Salem's lap.
The Witch soothed the girl while she recovered. Feral features stood out, after the girl's recent transformation. All around them were the remains of what could only be described as a massacre. Warriors torn limb from limb. A number of high-level Grimm mauled beyond recognition, degrading into nothingness.
And among the injured, Adam came unsteadily to his feet.
"Blake…! What happened to her?"
"Shhh…" Salem held a finger to her lips. "The moment has passed now. It appears the premature awakening of her new abilities was too much for her. She must dedicate some time to rest."
"What did this? What caused her to go so far?"
"What do you suppose, dear Adam? She did what she could to save yourself and Raven, no matter what it cost her."
Adam cursed himself. The consequences of over-consuming Bane were known to him. Thinking that Blake pushed herself for his sake and Raven's filled him with guilt.
"Do not be ashamed, Adam," Salem's voice pierced his thoughts. "She is not."
"But…!"
"Blake has always felt nothing but pride, when given the opportunity to protect those she loves. Admonishing such efforts would be disgraceful, no? Do not be crestfallen, my young knight. Be stronger so that you may return the favor in the future."
"I understand," Adam nodded resolutely.
"Good. Now, I ask that you call the council immediately. There is much to discuss concerning our next move."
"At your command," he stopped. "If I can ask, what is our next move? As it stands, we just invested a majority of our resources into the Atlas campaign. A campaign that ended in failure."
Salem stared blankly at the young man for a while, and then gave a soft chuckle.
"My apologies, dear Adam. I wasn't sure what you were speaking about for a moment," she smiled understandingly. "You see, I never held any expectations for 'that' campaign to begin with. Surely, you noticed the venture lacked my personal touch?"
"My liege?"
"You must forgive me. My concentrations were elsewhere. Though, this presents a good opportunity for a lesson. What you refer to as our 'resources'—our so-called Alliance Armada is nothing more than mere cannon fodder. The average person makes for such an unreliable soldier. Dreadfully incompetent in most crucial situations. They break under pressure more often than not."
The Witch's words resounded in the depths of the Adam's core. As if her words wormed their way into the pit of his stomach.
"No, dear Adam. Only a few chosen can be truly relied upon. I choose to place my faith in the individual, rather than the masses. Special individuals such as yourself and Blake." Salem continued to pet her future vessel, as the girl rustled softly. "And if it is an army I require, there is a force that dwarfs both Atlas and the Alliance easily by comparison."
Before Adam could ask what she could possibly be referring to, a fox-type Grimm strode in from the shadows. It obediently placed its snout in Salem's hand, before nestling against Blake's body. The ends of its multiple tails flared with heat to keep its ward warm.
The Grimm.
Of course, Adam knew the Witch could control them, but had no clue to what extent. Certainly, they could prove more reliable than the average foot soldier given the circumstance. They showed no fear, they fought to their deaths, they obeyed without hesitation in some cases. He himself witnessed how indispensable the Grimm were under Bean's influence.
The only question was—
"How many of the Grimm can you control?" he asked.
Salem only gave a shallow sigh.
"Only so many at the moment. Not enough to swallow the world, if that is your question." She allowed herself a small smile. "But with time…I will have them all."
A cold sweat trailed Adam's spine. The Witch did not lie, and even if he didn't trust that principle, the proof of Grimm inhabiting Spriggan was more than enough. A decent number of them bordered Nightmare-Class, but none ever so much as came close to the palace unless summoned.
To control all the Grimm in Remnant, it was difficult to fathom. But if anyone could wield such a might, Adam believed it would be Salem.
Another laugh escaped the Witch.
"The last chapter of this fairytale is dawning. I just need this one to grow just a little more," she brushed some of the hair from Blake's face.
"This, and one other."
.
X
.
Around the circular hall, a number of prominent figures sat along its theater stands. The room was based in Mistral's capital, just below where the meeting of the Four Houses took place. Although there were quite a few in attendance, a long stern silence pervaded the atmosphere.
"…So, what shall we do next, esteemed ladies and gentlemen?" Straw posed to the Alliance council.
"There isn't much. I'm sure we all have a firm grasp of the situation," Argent answered. "We shall build our armies in the meantime, recover our strengths. Then, we strike when ready. Has Atlas accepted our proposal for temporary armistice?"
"No word yet. It's been a week."
"Their new leader is probably toying with us," General Saru rubbed his scruffy chin. "The truce will come in time."
"—Wait! Can we afford to be so meek?! Instead of twiddling our thumbs, we should be pressing the issue!"
The one who yelled and slammed his fist on the table, was a young man wearing the steel mask of a bearded idol. He was the new Head of House Sable, and although he bore a different name on his promotion to Head, he was previously known as Jupiter Black.
"Am I the only one here, who understands what those fools are planning?!" he continued to make his case. "They won't simply sit back and wait. Their next move is obvious!"
"We're all aware what their next move is," Raven rolled her eyes, with her feet crossed on the table. "Better stick to what you're good at, assassin. Killing, not strategy—and not reading the room, apparently."
"What did you say?!"
"—Enough!"
The two's quarrel was cut short by Argent's raised voice.
"…Shared opinion with Sable," the small figure of Bean spoke out. His bodyguard Inna, stood by his side."Opposition taking active roles. We should proceed similarly."
The other members were taken surprise by the young boy's input.
Raven frowned.
The boy should know better. Why?
"Pure conservation is subpar option," Bean resumed. "Unorthodox offense required. Fortune favors the bold."
"I expected this kind of ignorance from Sable, but you?" Raven eyed closely. "You're suggesting the Alliance attack Atlas before they're ready?" she asked, before transitioning into a grimmer tone. "…Or are you actually suggesting we start war with Vacuo."
Meeting the woman's bloodletting stare, Bean nodded. The seriousness of the proposal fell on the room like a heavy curtain.
"Atlas Kingdom's next action: clear. Establish alliance with Vacuo. Only avenue of victory."
"The Mistral army will never march against Vacuo, Bean. The best of our troops and commanding officers are Faunus. A lot of them have deep ties to the Kingdom. So, why would you even suggest that? Unless you think the Vale army is enough?"
One glance at Straw, and the King of Vale vehemently shook his head. As if to say, "I'm just as confused about the boy's suggestion as you are."
"A method exists," Bean answered. "Does not rely on Alliance soldiers. Permission to act freely required."
"But you are starting a war with Vacuo?" Raven pressed.
"…Actions will not be blatant. Act of war will not be recognized." The boy thought for a moment. "Can be interpreted as Alliance motivated in time."
"Speak it plain and clear. Do you plan on starting a war by yourself and dragging us along with you?"
"I ask permission to move independently from the Alliance. Please disavow upon failure."
"Oh. What, now you're an assassin, Bean?"
"…"
Raven detected something hidden pulling at Bean's words. Her first suspicion was Salem, but if they were, she would be able to sense it.
No, this is something else.
Before she could press again, Jupiter spoke.
"Then, it is decided! Myself and Bean shall head a covert offensive to sabotage our enemies' alliance efforts. On the slim chance we fail, we are to be renounced of any relation to the Alliance."
"This is idiotic," Raven stated without hesitation.
Maybe getting under the swordsman's skin gave Jupiter a small taste of payback for the comment earlier, because the young man drew a curled smile underneath his mask before continuing.
"Now, now, I'm only following your wise counsel, Raven. I will, ah, yes, 'stick to what I'm good at', was how you phrased it? If it is strategy that is your concern, my partnership with Bean should more than make up for that shortcoming. Or is it your former mentor you are worried for? Rest assured, I will treat her death with the utmost courtesy. Although I must admit, taking the head of the infamous Fang of Vacuo would make a fine trophy."
"Hmph. As if either of you has what it takes to kill Temujin."
"—Enough!" Argent raised his voice a second time. With a small sigh, he intervened. "Is this Salem's will?"
"Yes," Bean stated. "Motivations: separate. Objectives: coincide."
Argent closed his eyes in deep pondering. When he opened them again, his scars and wrinkles set deeper.
"We wait until we've spoken with the Witch. Until then, all of us will consider the proposal put forth, as well as brainstorm any alternatives. I am of the same mind that we should not stand idly by, as a new enemy may come into the fold. But our options are limited. Whatever choices we make regarding Vacuo…must be measured with vigilance."
…
After the meeting ended and its members dispersed, Inna escorted Bean to a prepared armored limousine. Inside, the boy finally took the nervous breath he had been holding in for so long.
"Raven was angry. Argent also," he muttered with a tinge of regret.
"S'pose they would," Inna answered. "You just volunteered for a suicide mission."
"I see. They are afraid of losing a valuable asset…"
"No, pint size. They're afraid of losing YOU. Seriously, Bean. You wanna have a go at Vacuo? Against Temujin?" Inna shook her head in disproval. "Gotta be honest with ya, lil bud. This ain't yer usual brainy idea. What's goin' on in that noggin ah yers?"
"I…must go to Vacuo."
"Look, you an' me are partners till the last sun sets. I promised ya that when we saddled up. But ya gotta give me somethin'. I ain't got loyalties to a Kingdom I never been to, but if ya haven't noticed, I'm Faunus! Goin' against Vacuo is kinda…"
"I understand. I will go alone."
"Oh, brother." Inna reeled back, and smacked Bean across the face.
Redness developed on the boy's expressionless cheek. Though he didn't show it on the surface, the strike had obviously stung.
"Look, you. If ya ever say that again, I'll nail ya one even harder and I'll leave the next time. Got that?"
"…" Bean nodded.
"Geezus…!" Inna sat back with a huff, her hat tipped over her eyes. "…This has somethin' to do with yer pa, don't it?"
"No."
"What he say?"
"My father said nothing. He hasn't spoken to me since our return from Atlas."
Inna spat the stem in her mouth bitterly, and started chewing on a fresh one. "You mean, since we missed out on killin' Yang."
"…Correct."
"That's so fucked."
"My father grieves."
"An' what? You think bringin' Yang's head back on a silver platter is gon' change that?"
"I do not know. It was the last words he spoke to me. He desires vengeance on Victoria's killer. The order stands until it is completed."
"Damn foolish, Bean. Puttin' aside Yang was our friend, takin' her on is a one-way trip to a dirt nap. She's one of 'em Maidens. You read the report. No matter what Grimm ya can muster, it won't be enough against that."
"Methods exist. First, must consult Salem."
"Fer fuck's…" Inna was about to say more, when she saw the transparent sadness on the boy's face. She opted to stare out the window, into the passing scenery instead.
"So, what does going to war with Vacuo have to do with gettin' another crack at Yang?"
"Simple—" Bean answered.
"—Team ENMY will be tasked with establishing an alliance between Atlas and Vacuo."
.
X
.
"Are we sure this is the most responsible course of action?" Weiss furrowed her brow to the one sitting to her right.
Down the length of the Board table, several of the cabinet members revealed the same skepticism at the Black Queen's proposal.
"Is there anyone you would like to recommend?" Cinder asked.
"I would think Team CFVY would be the obvious choice," Weiss replied. "Given that one of their members is Faunus and the other two are actual Vacuo citizens."
"Ah, yes. The giant of few words, the blind one of even fewer, and the shy, little, bunny rabbit… and, of course, the shining example of diplomacy in Coco Adel. Yes, I'm sure they would make excellent ambassadors to the ruler of Vacuo."
"…You don't have to be so sarcastic about it."
"Only if my Queen provides a better idea, will I cease."
Weiss sighed, while holding her head in one hand.
"And I suppose Team JNPR is an unacceptable candidate, as well?"
"Team JNPR is much less interesting a choice."
"I'm sorry. Is 'interesting'—" Weiss air-quoted. "—now one of the qualifications we use to determine what ambassadors we send?"
"Would you chance the risk of boring Temujin?"
"…"
"We've all read the same files documenting the ruler of Vacuo, correct? She is notoriously known for being extremely eccentric, off-putting, brilliant, and exceedingly dangerous... I believe similar words bring to mind another certain set of individuals?"
"Hmph. On that part, we can agree," Weiss admitted.
"Therefore, I propose Team ENMY be tasked with the mission."
"I still believe there are better choices."
"Like who, for instance?"
"Like myself," Weiss nominated. "At one point, I possessed a line of contact with Temujin and her then diplomatic representative."
"And you believe Atlas will manage without you, so soon after your coronation?"
"I have no doubt you could in my absence. Besides, the Alliance just issued an offer of armistice, didn't they?"
"Oh, yes. I'd almost forgotten," Cinder smiled. "How long has it been since?"
"A week. We've kept them waiting a week…"
"Ah, so we have."
"So, you have. We've been waiting on you this whole time."
"My humblest apologies. In that case, I believe we should issue our acceptan—"
"By unanimous agreement of the Board, Atlas will formally accept the Alliance's agreement for armistice!" Weiss rapidly spoke, cutting Cinder off.
She then, looked to a certain Board official and motioned them to go with a hand. The officer couldn't jump out of their seat fast enough, as if waiting specifically for those words.
"Are you ever going to tire of these antics, Cinder?"
"Now, now, you must address me as the formal 'your Majesty' and otherwise in the company of others."
The edges of Weiss' mouth wrinkled.
"Of course, my Queen. Back to the subject at hand. I believe I would make a prime candidate for this mission. If I took part in the talks myself, it would communicate the great deal of trust and importance we place in building the bridge between our Kingdoms."
"And you wish for me to manage Atlas without you. I think not," Cinder vetoed. "Although, you are not incorrect in being the ideal candidate for the role—the idea of you traveling outside the kingdom is not negotiable."
"You can manage without me. And your cabinet members would also be glad to be rid of me!"
Weiss immediately wished she hadn't said that. There was a time and place for blunt speech, but this wasn't one of them. Frustration had been building since she took office and it decided to peek its head here first.
Ever since she was named co-regent, Cinder and Weiss argued constantly. At first, the disagreements were short, but in time, grew more extensive. In a certain sense, they could be called growing pains. A result of feeling out the process and getting acclimated to one another.
But this situation split the Board into factions. Especially in light of the fact that Cinder included supporters of Weiss as she had for herself.
"—Which cabinet members, may I ask?"
"What?" Weiss asked in surprise, before quickly recovering. "I apologize for my rude words. I shall—"
"There is no need, Weiss. I believe now is the perfect time for transparency." Cinder stood from her chair and turned to the rest of the Board. "Those of you opposed to the inclusion of Weiss Schnee into our leadership, please make yourselves known."
None of the members made a single motion.
"Do not be shy. It's not as if I don't know who you all already are."
Among those Cinder knew for sure, there were also those who fell victim to Weiss' Silbern Mafia schemes in the past. They held an obvious grudge against the White Queen over that. Some of them, siding with Cinder solely on that basis.
After a few breathless moments, hands slowly raised. Cinder eyed hard the last person that was reluctant to raise his own, but did so under the Black Queen's prolonged stare.
Weiss wondered what the meaning of this was, when Cinder spoke again.
"Well, here they are. What shall you do with them, my Queen?"
"…'What shall I do'?"
"They are your subjects. All of them. You can dispose of them as you will, or simply have them demoted. You could even banish these individuals from the Kingdom and relieve them of their possessions with my full support."
Weiss did her best to check her expression. She locked eyes with her fellow regent. There was a playfulness there, but also an overt seriousness in her words. Out of the corner of her peripheries, Weiss saw the nervous swallowing and sweating of those with their hands still raised.
"Please, cease with the crass jokes, my Queen." Weiss folded her hands and spoke authoritatively. "Of course, no repercussive actions will be taken,"
"Oh? I was half expecting you to issue the command, 'Off with their heads'," Cinder teased.
"I would appreciate it if you limited such frivolous behavior in the future."
"I see. Your pardon then, my Queen." Cinder smiled and turned to the rest of the cabinet. "I know some of you question my intentions of sharing rule with Weiss Schnee. Why elevate someone to oppose me at every turn, you may ask? Well, because it is simply her role and my own to second guess one another, as it is for this Board. If one of us is steering the rest towards a cliff, I expect you to notify us of our stupidity, rather than loyally following us to our deaths."
"That is correct," Weiss added along the line of thought. "We do not have the convenience of standing on ceremony or political niceties. Our discussions must be candid and without reserve. If this Board of Directors is to succeed the flaws of its predecessors, we must be…pliable in our discussions, but steadfast in our principles."
"Well spoken."
"…That said, I am still opposed to Team ENMY being elected as our representatives. Seeing as we will not get any farther arguing, I suggest putting the matter to a vote."
"Agreed," Cinder nodded. "Those in favor of deploying Team ENMY to Vacuo, please raise your hand."
Across the long table, the votes were cast. When the final count was tallied, Cinder flashed a broad smile, while Weiss shook her head in exasperation.
"Then, it is decided," Cinder announced. "Team ENMY is to head the diplomatic mission of establishing an alliance between our Kingdom and Vacuo."
Weiss let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
"What could possibly go wrong?"
Immediately a woman burst into the room and stopped as all eyes fell on her.
"What is it?" Cinder asked.
"Um, Ma'am. It's a private matter—"
"If you're afraid of embarrassing us, do not be. What is it?"
"It's the, uh…patients. Ma'am. They've…escaped the hospital."
The two Queens exchanged looks.
"Hm. I expected that to happen much sooner," Cinder commented.
"I'm surprised they stayed as long as they did," Weiss agreed.
"And just when we decided on an exciting new task for them."
"Again, I find myself asking—"
"—What could possibly go wrong?"
.
X
.
"Oh, god. Everything is going totally wrong!"
"Chill, jedi mind trick. We got this. Just be cool *hic*"
"Dude… You are so drunk."
"Shhh. They'll hear us."
"They can't hear me. Only you can."
"Shhhh…" a drunk Coco whispered in her mind, while hiding her lips behind another drink.
In one of the shadier parts of Atlas, Coco was playing poker at an underground casino. By her side, was her partner Velvet, and spying on her opponents' hands was none other than Emerald. The mint-haired girl used her Semblance to project the cards she saw into Coco's brain along with her voice.
"Fold the next hand!"
"What? But he doesn't have shit!" Coco argued.
"You gotta slow play 'em, dumbass! If you take every pot, they're gonna get suspicious! In fact, I'm pretty sure they already are!"
"They don't know jack shit, Emmy. I got this!"
"FOLD THE HAND, you dumb bitch!" Emerald mentally shouted.
"If I wanted to lose lien, we would've went to one of your boss' casinos."
"Hey, bunny ears! Stop your partner or we're gonna lose any hope of robbing this place."
Before Velvet could stop Coco, the drunk girl pushed all her chips into the large pile in the middle.
"All in!"
"Sonuva!"
"Hah!" Coco's opponent laughed. "Read it and weep, girl. Full house!"
"What. The. Fu—"
"He cheated. Pretty obviously too."
"You're a cheater!" Coco roared.
The moment she stood, a number of pistols trained on her, Emerald, and Velvet.
"Funny you say that," the opposing poker player twiddled his cigar under his thick mustache. "Cause I'm pretty sure the three of you here are running a fix—in MY parlor."
Emerald held her hands up, while assessing their predicament. It was a dank room full of criminals and gangsters, but they knew that walking in. What she didn't know was how drunk Coco had gotten, or how paranoid the crime boss here was.
"Oh, crap. I'm pretty sure this guy owns the place," Emerald told them.
"And you didn't feel like mentioning that sooner?!"
"I was paying more attention to his cards and the money in his pocket! I mean do you see his face?! He looks like he needs a lawnmower with that much facial hair!"
"Can't you just machinegun fire them with hallucinations?"
"Does it look like I'm hiding a Godmother between my tits?"
"…Are you?"
"NO, you stupid drunk!"
"Damn it. Hey, if you didn't notice this guy was the boss, you're just as drunk as I am!"
"Shut up! Let me think. We can totally do this," Emerald panicked."We might be a little tipsy, but we can outsmart these don't have any proof we were cheating!"
"Well, now they do."
"What?"
"You just said all that out loud."
"FUCK! I'm SO drunk!" Emerald yelled.
"I knew you bitches were cheating!" the casino owner shouted.
"Fuck you, you did!" Coco flipped him off. "You assholes didn't know shit!"
"They know we're cheating!" Emerald said aloud.
"Yeah, only cause you yelled it."
"Alright! We can still salvage this. We, um. The money—shit. You cheated too, and that makes it even cause…fuckin'. Okay, I'm blanking. But the important thing is, we don't escalate."
Coco knocked over the poker table, spilling cards, chips, and drinks all over the floor. Amidst the confusion, she grabbed the boss' tie and pressed the barrel of her gatling gun under his jaw.
"Nobody freakin' moves, or your boss get it!" Coco hollered.
"Welp! That dialed the shitstorm to a hundred real fast."
"Hurry and grab the cash!"
"We are SO wasted."
"—Oh, no…" Velvet could only whimper. The girl seemingly more embarrassed than anything else.
While Coco held the owner hostage, Velvet and Emerald began scrounging up as much of the chips and lien off the floor as they could. Emerald was especially clumsy and giggly. And being the only one sober, Velvet could only lament the situation her two drunk companions had gotten her in.
"We are so fucked," Emerald laughed.
"Emerald! Hurry up, you sloppy bitch!" Coco scolded, while failing to stifle her own laughter.
"Shut up! You wanna pick this shit up?! They're really slippery for some reason."
"Whatever! That's enough! Let's bounce, um, Weiss. Weiss Schnee of the heiresssss dust company?" Coco slurred.
"You got it, Yang jiao bong."
The two robbers grouped together, dragging their hostage towards the only exit. Velvet followed, trying to hide her face with her ears.
"All of you will remember this day!" Coco hiccupped. "—as the day, you let Nora Valkyrie and… who were you again?"
"Velvet! Velvet sexy bunny!"
"—What?!" Velvet cried.
"Okay," Coco went along. "You all remember the day you let…us! Get away! Neyahahaha!"
With that, Coco and Emerald kicked the crime boss into the gangsters about to leap at them.
They quickly ran through the door and jammed it close from the other side. Stumbling clumsily into the streets in an uncontrollable laughing fit, they sprinted down the alleyway. Bits of cash and poker chips spilled as they bid their escape.
"Where to next?!" Coco huffed.
"I got a lead on a place not far from here…!" Emerald panted.
"—We're not done?!" Velvet cried.
"Do they have drinks?!" Coco ignored her partner.
"Think so!"
"Then, lead the way!"
Deeper into the city, the three ran. Their stumbling feet and loose change continued to echo up and down the street.
The night still having more in store for them and their comrades.
.
X
.
(Earlier that day)
"…What are you guys doing?" Yang asked.
While parking her bike with Neo in tow, Yang spotted Mercury and Team JNPR sneaking through the parking lot.
"Came to visit?" Mercury asked.
"Yeah. Security is pretty lax, huh?"
"More in keeping people in than out."
"I'm honestly surprised you didn't try to break out sooner. Where you guys off to?"
"There's this ice cream pancake thing going on downtown. She—" Mercury pitched his thumb at Nora. "—thinks she can eat circles around me."
"Psh. I know I can," Nora scoffed.
Upon hearing the words "ice cream pancake", Neo immediately hopped off the bike and joined the others.
"Figures. Where's Em?" Yang asked.
"Iunno," Mercury shrugged. "She and Coco started daring each other to do stuff. Things escalated. Next thing we know, they wanna knock over a casino or something. Did not sound solid on their way out."
"Mad lasses," Yang replied nonchalantly. "And, Ruby?"
"Think she went to check on Penny."
"Great. Well, you guys have fun, I guess. Don't eat so much you get sick. We'll probably have work soon."
"You're not coming with?" Mercury asked.
"Nah. I'll find my own trouble. Check you guys later."
"—Wait!" Pyrrha called out. The scarlet warrior flashed a cheerful smile on her approach. "Shall we have a night on the town of our own?"
Everyone expressed varying levels of confusion. Yang did too, but eventually understood the inside message in Pyrrha's offer.
"It's a date," she answered, pulling a red helmet from the bike compartment and tossing it to her. "Don't wait up, Jaune. I'll have her back pretty late." Yang winked, and then flipped down her helmet visor.
With a wave to her teammates, Pyrrha hopped on the back of Yang's bike, and the two drove off in a cloud of smoke and screeching tires.
…
"What just happened?" Jaune gawked at the figures that already disappeared.
"They said they were going on a date," Mercury answered.
"What does that mean?"
"Iunno. Probably gonna paint each other's nails, try out clothes, or talk about cute boys."
"Really?"
"…No, dude."
"…"
"Wait, aren't you and Miss Perfect dating now, or something?"
"Well-We never established… I mean, we—"
"Okay, I'm already tuned out." Mercury continued walking. "Time to eat half my bodyweight in pancakes!"
"YAAAAAAAARRRWWGGGH!" Nora roared with a primal battlecry.
…
As Yang pushed the bike to its limits, swerving passed multiple cars and running several stoplights, the blissful freedom of speed enveloped her. Her and the passenger clinging to her back.
Even through their clothes and the blistering winds, Yang could feel Pyrrha's heart racing. Occasional laughs tickled her ear. It was adorable and innocent, exactly the way she remembered.
It felt like ages ago, since the two did something like this. Back before, in their school days. The first night the two personally bonded.
Pyrrha was late training one day, when she saw Yang sneaking off to get her bike out of the academy's garage. Never having taken part in any form of delinquent hijinks, the fighting prodigy asked if she could tagalong. Together, the two enjoyed a time they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
If history was repeating itself, Pyrrha didn't need to ask where they were going or what they would be doing. After a quick stop at a costume shop, Yang drove them to their main destination in the shadier part of town. They walked through a dimly lit alley to the back entrance of a building. The two never took their helmets off, keeping their identities completely secret.
Apparently, Yang had called ahead, while Pyrrha was trying on costumes, because the facility's doorman let them in immediately.
In the empty locker room, Pyrrha and Yang donned their flamboyant guises.
"I can't believe we're doing this again," the scarlet girl giggled.
"Me neither," Yang chuckled, as she stared down at their bright get-ups. "I'm laying off the Maiden powers, by the by. It's no fun if I use them."
"I'm sure we'll manage."
When the pair finished, they walked down the hall to the stage entrance.
"Ready, partner?" Yang raised her fist.
"Of course, partner!" Pyrrha bumped it.
Together, they pushed the doors open to spotlights casting down on them. Rows of audience members clamored and cheered. Intense music played in the background. At the same time, the booming voice of an announcer echoed the grand arena.
"Our next match features a pair of newcomers! I don't know about you folks, but I think these gals might've gotten themselves into something more than they can handle! Doesn't matter cause it'll be entertaining all the same! Introducing, the young(?), the mysterious, the colorful! I give you tttthhhhheeeeeeee mighty, morphing, POWWEERRR RANGERS!"
Still wearing their yellow and red bike helmets, Yang and Pyrrha strode down the walkway to the caged ring at the center. Instead of their regular clothes, they wore skin-tight suits matching their colored headgear, with white gloves, white boots, and long scarves. Although they were surrounded by boos and jeers, the two unabashedly walked down the flashingly lit aisles.
As they stepped into the ring, their corny outfits could not have contrasted more to the tough hulking figures opposite them. It was an underground fighting competition, and the participants were encouraged to have special quirks to sell the spectators and gamblers. But the appearances of Pyrrha and Yang could only be interpreted as a joke.
"Before we begin, would the fighters like to say something? Some final words, maybe?" the announcer joked.
Yang quickly snatched the microphone.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!" Pyrrha joined.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"GOLDEN TORNADO!"
"CRIMSON BANDIT!"
""POWER RANGERS BLAST OFF AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT!""
""SURRENDER NOW OR PREPARE TO FIGHT!""
Embarrassing poses were struck at the ending of their speech. The whole arena went silent at the spectacle, before breaking into tidal waves of laughter.
"…Yeah, let's kill these clowns," the other fighters said to the delight of the crowd.
As the announcer cleared the ring and traded places with the referee, Yang and Pyrrha's opponents approached.
"I can't tell if you guys are crazy or just plain stupid, but this is real y'know? Have either of you even thrown a real punch in your lives?"
"Yeah," Yang cracked her knuckles.
"I've thrown a couple."
.
X
.
"Just a little bit more…" Ruby scrunched her face with immense focus. "There!"
Penny rotated her wrist after its new adjustment. With a small flick, one of her swords folded instantly out of her hand.
"That. Is. Sen-sational! You've gotten very good at tuning my body, Ruby!"
"Oh, stop! I'm still leagues behind Masa."
"Don't say that. I'm sure in a couple more centuries you'll be more than a match for her skill!"
"Uh… yeah! Sure!"
The two conversed cheerfully in a high-tech version of Masa's former lab. While Ruby started working another part of Penny's body, the genius weapon tech entered the workshop with a tray of coffee mugs. The doctor lifted one to her lips as she observed Ruby's craftsmanship.
"This one expected to make corrections, but it seems you've inherited your mother's brain for mechanics."
"Ehehe~" Ruby scratched her head in embarrassment.
"Do not stop. Continue your attempts to repair Penny's ankles, this one suggests, wishing to observe the approach you take."
"Uh…okay."
The young girl resumed with removing the protective panels to access the insides. As she continued tweaking Penny's systems, she threw furtive glances Masa's way. The tech watched her emotionlessly with the infinite black pools of her eyes.
"You have a question you wish to ask of this one?"
"Yeah…" Ruby spoke with an awkward tone. "I was wondering… Did you used to work with my mom like this?"
"Yes. Summer frequently hired this one to work on her weapons, while personally managing its upkeep. She often replicated what she observed with passable accuracy, this one remembers fondly."
"Oh… That's neat."
More awkwardness ensued as Penny hummed the tune to Daisy Bell, oblivious of the wires sticking out of her.
"Were you two friends?" Ruby asked. "You and my mom, I mean. It sounds like you knew a lot about her?"
"…Your inquiry is vague and contains too many unknown variables, this one straightforwardly requests more specification."
"Oogh! Well… I guess what I really wanna know is, are me and my mom similar?"
"You have your mother's eyes…Is what this one thinks you expect to be said, this one attempts at a joke." After being met with a stale silence, Masa feigned a short cough. "Although you possess the silver-eyed gene your mother carried, your habits and behaviors bear more resemblance to your fathers and Yang Xiao Long."
"…"
"That is obvious, considering they are the ones who raised you. Your mannerisms are ingrained by those you have the most exposure."
"So, I'm nothing like my mother?" Ruby saddened at the thought.
"…There are similarities, this one admits hesitantly. But there is a greater wealth of differences."
"Oh."
A subtle sheen briefly reflected in the girl's glazed eyes. Like an emotion threatening to pour out if she eased up for an instant. Ruby's hands stopped moving and drooped in place.
"I knew your mother, yes," Masa slowly worded. "Likely understood her on a depth few others did. And you may not want to hear this, but I think it is fortunate you do not take after her."
At the sudden flow of candid words, Ruby saw Masa display a range of emotions she normally did not.
"Summer Rose was a complicated being. She displayed a certain effect on her environment and on those around her. She also possessed a peculiar way of thinking—a messiah complex, as it were. From what this one observed, Summer Rose could have passed for a creature all too similar to the Grimm."
"WHAT?! What do you mean?!"
"She became a living embodiment of the positive feelings around her. Summer shined so bright, too bright for those closest. She filled their emptiness, in the cracks where they were most broken."
"So? How is that a bad thing?"
"Because, Ruby Rose, people must fill those cracks themselves. To believe you can save everyone for them, is pure folly and the height of arrogance… And if you disappear one day, you leave those you helped more broken than when you first found them."
"…"
"In the absence of such blinding light, darkness reappears ever more consuming. You have seen yourself the damage her leaving did to Qrow Branwen and Taiyang Xiao Long. This one can only imagine the gaps she left in Raven Branwen's heart."
Masa picked at a piece of Penny's steel skin. Her fingers traced along its newly welded repairs.
"Summer Rose realized the core of this problem too late. How does the saying go, this one attempts to recall? Do not seek an easy life, but the strength to live a good one? Summer learned she eased the pain of her loved ones, but rarely gave them the strength to endure it. This was not her fault, but that did not lessen the guilt she felt."
As Ruby sank into somber, Masa wondered if she did the right thing by divulging what she did. With a trace of hesitation, the weapons tech laid a gentle hand on the young girl's head.
"No, Ruby Rose. You are very much different from your mother. You are more grounded, more…human."
"…"
"A strong presence of virtue is not indicative of the absence of flaws. People are not meant to be messiahs—or gods." Masa paused at the words she spoke. "To pursue anything of the nature is foolishness. Endless sorrow awaits those… so very foolish."
…
"—I've never met your mother, Ruby." Penny suddenly held Ruby's hand. "But I think you're terrific without her!"
"Penny…! I really appreciate that, but you're squeezing my hand!"
"I do believe you may have increased my grip strength without adjusting my source code."
"Got it! I think I hear tiny bones snapping! KgghhhAA!" Ruby breathed a heavy exhale upon being released.
After rubbing the soreness in her hand, she turned to Masa once more.
"I think I get it. Then, I have something else I wanna ask."
The small engineer nodded. "Ask it."
"You're…an immortal, aren't you? Like Ozpin and Salem. What exactly does it mean to have silver eyes?"
An indescribable mood came over Masa, and Ruby wondered if she asked something she shouldn't have.
"Your mother asked me the very same question once upon a time. This one refused to answer. Though, Summer understood the true nature of it eventually, I sometimes wonder if by telling her, she would have been able to avoid some unnecessary mistakes. It was possible this one was simply too afraid to tell her the truth. Guilty of the same crime of trying to ease her pain."
Ruby said nothing but listened.
"This one shall choose to tell you—"
"It begins with the first fairytale."
.
X
.
*BUUUURRRPP*
"Nice." Mercury complimented Nora over the towers of empty plates. "But you guys know you're cheating, right?"
"We're still eating ahead of you!"
In the crowded diner, Mercury, Nora, and Neo had already eaten more than enough ice cream pancakes to make their meals free. Now, they were trying to set an all-time record.
Little to the owner's knowledge, Neo and Nora had been working together the whole time. Nora eating the pancake portions, leaving Neo with the ice cream half. Not only did they finish countless plates this way, the rate at which they devoured their morsels was completely in synch.
Meanwhile on the other half of the table, Ren and Jaune were in a food coma, face down in half-eaten plates of desert and bleeding syrup.
"Should we…call someone?" Mercury stared at the two desert-covered corpses.
"Nahhhh! This happens all the time!"
"This?" Mercury lifted Jaune's unconscious head by his hair, before letting it slam into the plate again.
"Oh, yeah. They like to be melodramatic about pancakes."
"…Your team's weird," Mercury said without any registration of irony.
Suddenly, a number of bells and whistles went off in concert. At the same time, confetti began falling from the ceiling.
Nora gasped.
"My pancakes! Wait, these are sprinkles. This place is the best!"
The owner strutted out with a number of tickets in hand.
"You've just tripled my diner's previous all-time record! Please enjoy these tickets to the Ultimate Cage Fighting Arena!"
Mercury took the slips of paper and examined them.
"Seriously? This is the prize? I thought it would've been something like a life-time coupon, or whatever."
"Definitely not!"
"You want us to leave, don't you?"
The owner leaned close.
"PLEASE…!"
"Yeah, okay, time to bounce."
Mercury threw Jaune over his shoulder, while Nora took Ren.
Once outside, he read the tickets again.
"Front row seats to tonight's tournament. He really didn't want us to stay."
"Mercury~" Nora belched and tugged his arm. "I'm still hungry~"
Neo pointed to her open mouth to communicate the same.
"Seriously? Wait, without Yang or Em here, am I the mom now? Aw, crap. I don't want to be responsible."
"Meeerc. Fooood~"
More ice creeeaaammm~
Nora and Neo tugged at each side of his arms more incessantly.
"Well, there's gotta be some grub at this cage fighting thing."
.
X
.
"So, this is the next shithole?" Coco started. "What games do they run? Blackjack, Craps, Russian Roulette…"
"Isn't that last one a death game?" Emerald asked.
Coco only stared blankly at her.
"Life's not a game unless you bet it, Emmy."
"You got, like, serious issues, Coocoo—the kind only a mental asylum can quarantine. And, no. None of the above. They run some sort of fighting ring."
"Yeah? Illegal?"
"Only the preliminaries. Once the fighters get to the big time, supposedly, it gets legit."
Emerald produced three tickets that read 'Ultimate Cage Fighting Championship Tournament'.
"Lifted it off the casino boss back there. Front row seats."
"These fights fixed?"
"Wouldn't be gambling if they weren't."
It was Coco's turn to be skeptical of Emerald's mental faculties.
"Emmy, I think your friends and family are scared for you. It might be time to see a shrink."
…
…
"""Ah."""
The once separated groups reunited in the seats closest to the cage.
"So, how'd the casino heist go?" Mercury asked.
"Smooth as silk," Emerald answered confidently.
"She's lying," Velvet added truthfully.
"Yawn city for the most part. Boring, but easy."
"We almost died."
"You know, it was all been there done that, so I wanted to try something different!"
"We were caught cheating after five minutes."
"Winged the shit out of a tough situation like champions!"
"They panicked and took the casino owner hostage."
"And robbed those suckers blind!"
"We lost more lien than we started. And we were chased by gangsters with guns."
"Fun times!"
"They vomited, while running over here. I've never been more embarrassed in my life."
"So, how'd you guys turn out?"
"We ate a lot of pancakes," Mercury replied.
"…That it?"
"It was pretty good."
"—I should have went with all of you instead," Velvet's ears folded over her face.
"Well, to each their own!" Emerald cheered. "Hey, if Neo's here, where's Yang?"
"She and the perfect girl went off on some mystery date," Mercury replied.
"Gee, I wonder what fun she could have with the straight-lace."
The lights in the arena dimmed as powerful bass music shook the ground. Fighters walked out from opposite ends and met in the middle of the cage. A pair of barely-clothed gladiators threw mean looks at the opposing pair wearing brightly-colored tights.
"I know that helmet," Emerald muttered.
"I know that arm!" Mercury yelled excitedly.
I know those boobs! Neo jumped up and down in silent cheer.
"What?!" Jaune jolted straight. "Are you guys saying that's Yang?!" he asked, while the "Power Rangers" performed their speech and struck their poses.
"That's definitely Yang. Where's the bookie?" Emerald started searching the crowd. "She better not throw this fight! HEY! What's the max limit bet?! I got an investment to make back!"
"So… the red one is Pyrrha?" Jaune mumbled.
"Calm down, Jauney boy," Mercury said. "Let's not—"
"She looks so cool!"
"…Oookay. Wasn't expecting that."
Neo held up a large signboard that read: "KICK NAMES AND TAKE ASS, BABY! "
Meanwhile, Emerald chained a list of curses into one long word with only the end being remotely understandable.
"—CRAPSACKDINGLEBERRYLOSERS. IF YOU DON'T WIN, I'M GONNA SHAVE YOUR HAIR OFF AND SELL IT TO YOUR HARDCORE FANS! I DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE TO USE MAIDEN POWERS TO BRING THIS WHOLE HOUSE DOWN!"
"You're still plastered, aren't you?" Coco raised a glass.
Emerald answered with a low burp, and met the toast with her own.
"GO, PYRRHA! GO, YANG!" Nora stood on her chair.
"BREAK THEIR LEGS!"
.
X
.
(Hours later, on the front steps of the Mantle Mansion.)
"You are Queen Regent of the Atlas Kingdom," Weiss stated.
"I am," Cinder confirmed.
"Which is the most lucrative nation, with the most booming economy in all of Remnant."
"Indeed."
"And you and your cohorts choose to live…here."
"Yes."
"In a decrepit house, which you've made no attempts to renovate or reconstruct despite your vast income of wealth."
"Correct."
"…"
"Always good to remember where you come from, Weiss. And as offensive as it may be to your highly-refined tastes, myself and Team ENMY have grown quite fond of this nest."
The two sovereigns stepped over the weeds covering the lawn, making the lengthy trek between the main gate and the house.
"I've been meaning to ask," Weiss started. "When do you think we should dispatch them to Vacuo?"
"Tomorrow should suffice," Cinder answered matter-of-factly.
"Tomorrow?! We only decided this afternoon. Will they even be ready?"
"Hm hm hm," Cinder chuckled. "Team ENMY has made it habit to always be ready."
"And Vacuo? Would they be amenable to receiving such a sudden envoy?"
"From what I know of Temujin, the woman is rarely caught off-guard as well."
As they opened the front doors to the living room, they came upon a decent collection of individuals. Most of whom, were lying on the rug lazily. Strange as the mixed groups were, what made it stranger was how well they were getting along.
"Wait, so let me get this straight," Ruby gave them all a doubtful look. "Emerald, Coco, and Velvet robbed an underground casino and held a gang leader hostage. Yang and Pyrrha entered an illegal street fighting ring and won the Ultimate Cage Fighting Championships in corny costumes. And the rest of you ate half your body weight in ice cream pancakes?"
"True story," Emerald answered slovenly.
The whole room of people froze at the sight of Weiss and Cinder's entrance.
"…For the sake of convenience, I believe the Queen and I will pretend not to have heard what was spoken in the last twenty seconds." Cinder strode to Emerald lounging on the ripped-up sofa. "Had a good time, did we?"
Emerald stood and sobered immediately. She glanced to her team with a knowing look, then back to Cinder.
"So—Vacuo?"
Cinder nodded, "Vacuo."
"Figured as much," Yang stretched her back. "Better go pack while I'm still awake."
"You and I need to swing by Maz's quick," Mercury added. "Our gear needs to be outfitted with heat resist."
"There's a ton of intel to go through, isn't there?" Emerald dreaded.
"It should serve as adequate reading material for the flight over," Cinder consoled.
"Ugh. Is it as hot as they say it is?"
"Even more so."
"Great. Just when I was getting used to freeze-your-nipples-off Atlas. Now, we gotta hop it to hotter-than-a-devil's-asscrack Vacuo."
""Pfft"" Mercury and Yang both snorted.
"What?"
Neo held up her sketchbook that read, "You said ASSCRACK".
"Freakin' dopes," Emerald scoffed.
Cinder flashed a devious smile. "Are you not curious as to the time of your departure?"
"What, we're not out of here by tomorrow?"
"No, I only asked to make a point. You will be deployed in the morning. Time is of the essence, after all." Cinder handed the team leader a thick folder on her way out.
As Team ENMY dispersed with routine speed, Weiss and company were left in amazement at how quick the shift in mentality came.
Cinder turned to the other Queen.
"I told you—"
"—They are always ready."
.
X
.
*Knock knock*
Yang turned to the open door of her room to find Pyrrha standing there.
"Hey, you," Yang greeted with a slight flirtatiousness.
"I was wondering if you needed help packing."
"Sure, help me with this will ya?"
Together, the two sat on a suitcase to press it shut. Yang locked the latches to make sure it wouldn't open again. When the two hopped off, Pyrrha threw her friend a discerning look.
"Is this all you're bringing with you?"
Yang shrugged.
"Our team's had to turn and burn on at least three emergency situations. We've gotten into the habit of packing light. This suitcase is practically a luxury."
"I see…"
Yang motioned to the terrace for Pyrrha to join her. They leaned against the railing, gazing up at the cloudless sky full of stars.
"Sorry to just up and leave like this," Yang apologized. "I wanted to stay longer, help bridge the gap. But I think you guys will be alright without me."
"'Bridge the gap'?"
"Between you and the gang."
"….You've noticed."
"More like expected it. I had a lot more time to think about what would happen if I brought you back than they have."
"I see. That explains your openness. With the others, it's like there's a certain—distance."
"They're afraid. I was, too. Still am, if I'm being honest."
Pyrrha watched Yang, who had a forlornness linger her features. A deep inhale of the cold braced them both for what their conversation would entail.
"We're afraid we're nothing like you remember, Pyrrha," Yang explained. "You're like a piece of the past, from a time when we were all a lot more… innocent." Her fists tightened. "We're nothing who we were before. Well, some of us more than others. It's scary thinking how you'll judge us—by the choices we've made and the people we've become."
Yang sucked a sharp breath.
"It's terrifying…"
Pyrrha immediately braced the girl's shoulders in a way the closest of friends did.
"'We are never the same people we were yesterday'. That was something my teacher taught me. It's called growth, Yang. For better or worse, you are never supposed to be the same person you once were, or else it means you haven't developed as a person at all."
Yang rubbed her eyes at Pyrrha's answer.
"Simple as that?"
The scarlet-haired girl responded with her trademark smile of encouragement.
"Simple as that," she hugged Yang tightly. "Besides, I have no right to judge any of you, nor do I want to. I'm just glad to be here with you now. Though, I must admit, some changes are a bit disorienting. I'm not blaming you!" she waved her arms. "Just disorienting."
"Hah. I wanted to help with that, too. It's a lot to come back to. Remnant at war, suddenly waking up in the middle of Atlas, your murderer bringing you back to life, not to mention a few cosmetic changes," Yang stretched the steel fingers of her prosthetic.
Pyrrha traced along the alloys embedded in the mechanical frame. The girl admitted the first time she saw Yang, she wasn't exactly sure it was her. Eyes permanently stained red, clothes of a darker fashion, a twist in her behavior that wasn't previously there, and an Aura that felt like a star constantly exploding. But deep down, she sensed the girl she knew way back when. A bright and passionate soul.
In fact, there was something else that stood out the most. A difference she would have thought impossible, no matter what events transpired during her absence.
"You and Weiss were the best of friends," Pyrrha started. "I knew you and Blake hinted at something romantic. Weiss and Ruby had each other. But you and Weiss were bound by something special. So, it surprised me to see you two acting the way you do now."
"Yeah…" Yang sniffed bitterly. "Burned bridges, I guess. I almost kill her sister, she breaks our code. Some things can't be fixed after they're broken."
"'Code'?"
"You know, the oath the three of us made back in Beacon? The promise to fight fair and honorably and all that. Guess it was all a kid's dream to think that would hold out." Yang hesitated. "Or maybe it never existed in the first place."
"It does. Always."
Yang blinked at the stern tone Pyrrha took. When she turned to her friend, she saw an expression of disappointment and even anger she had rarely seen before. Though the news clearly disturbed Pyrrha, Yang smiled on confirming it was also important to her.
"Don't hold it against Weiss. What's between me and her is between me and her. Plus, she was also trying to save her Kingdom from Cinder. Hard to weigh that against some offhand promise."
"She broke a sacred trust. An oath holds true, regardless of any circumstance. That's what makes it an Oath."
Yang shook her head. "Back to you. I would suggest reaching out to Ruby first. She's always been solid in her own way. Then, Jaune, and the rest will come. The distance'll disappear in no time."
"…Yes…Jaune. He's being a little—"
"Evasive? He's probably the most scared out of all of us. But you guys are head over heels for each other, so I'm sure if you just get in there, and kiss him in the face or something…"
"YANG!"
"And really just take him by the butt…!"
"STOP IT!" Pyrrha shook the girl to stop talking, with blushing red cheeks.
The girl eased and felt the comfort in Yang's words. She wanted to repay the assurance in return. Her eyes met with the other's.
"Thank you, Yang. I'll make sure to have a word with Weiss later."
"…Anyone ever tell you you're kinda scary when you're angry?"
"A degree of fierceness is vital in all aspects of a warrior's life."
"Another thing your teacher taught you?"
"Not at all—" Pyrrha bore a wide and proud grin.
"—I learned that particular lesson from you."
.
X
.
(In the distant Kingdom of Vacuo)
Glynda Goodwitch and Minerva Calico strode the halls of the Hanging Gardens.
"How are you acclimating to the school, Glynda?"
"It's nothing short of inspiring. Professor Port and I were just discussing how your students show more promise than full-grown Huntsmen and Huntresses."
Minerva chuckled with a sense of pride.
"Welcome to Vacuo, my dear."
"Which leads me to wonder, why none of the Shade Academy students ever make it to the finals of the Vytal Tournament," Glynda questioned with a conspicuous stare.
"Perhaps our students are nervous when it comes to competition stages?"
"I somehow doubt that."
The two arrived at the throne room to find only those in Temujin's inner circle present. Among them were a pair of children, siblings more specifically. A boy and a girl, both preteens. Round ears stood atop their dune-colored hair. But what was most striking about their appearances were their eyes—
Irises that shone silver in black.
"I've gathered you here for an important announcement," Temujin called them to order. "Mouse and Knives have had a vision."
""Atlas moves,"" the two spoke simultaneously.
"That was quick," Minerva commented. "It seems rumors of their new leadership are true. Who will they be sending?"
""The Jewel Who Sells Lovely Lies. The Quiet Mirror Who Makes the World Scream. The Bird Whose Broken Wings Now Shine with the Winds.""
"Emerald Sustrai, Neopolitan, and Mercury Black," Glynda interpreted. "They plan on sending Team ENMY."
While the members discussed this development, Temujin never took her eyes off the siblings.
"And the last one?"
""She is coming.""
"Who?"
""The Crown Who Rules the Stars, and Sees the Life In All Things.""
"…"
The whole room went silent at the ominous description.
""Death in One Hand. Life in the Other. The Engine of Change and Destiny."" the siblings continued with an emotion that bordered reverence as much as fear.
""She is coming—""
""The Empress.""
.
.
.
.
NOTES
-Did Raven and Cinder bang in the last chapter?
A: Yes. A lot.
-How long have you been planning to bring Pyrrha back (and Penny)?
A: A. Long. Freakin'. Time.
-The Tower/Well of Meer is based off the Well of Mimir in Norse lore. It's a long explanation, please google if interested.
-Cinder losing her eye is also parallel to when Odin sacrificed his eye in order to gain Wisdom from Mimir's Well. In the series' case, she gained insight into herself and attained the Fall Maiden's true Inheritance.
-Gjallarhorn is the signal of Ragnarok, and also what Odin used to drink from the Well of Wisdom.
-Is the end near?
A: Probably.
.
Thanks for reading so far, as always.
The Vacuo arc is about to start!
See you in the next chapters, everybody!