- Ruby ?! - Oscar exclaimed, not believing his eyes. Ruby populated his thoughts and suddenly she was there, in the flesh.
- Um, hi Oscar, I know it's late but ... Can I come in? - She lowered her eyes, her face red. Oscar noticed that he was in fact with his bare chest exposed before her. He stumbled backward, making way for her to enter.
- Yes of course! Feel free! Just ... Give me a minute, I'll be right back.
She went in and went to sit in front of the fireplace, rubbing her hands together. Oscar sprinted up stairs and came back fully dressed and with two cups of tea in record time. He sat down on the soft rug beside Ruby and handed her a cup.
- Sorry for the delay. Drink it, you're blue with cold. - He said.
- Thanks. - She took a long drink and sighed with satisfaction. She finished the tea with three more long sips.
-I thought you were still at Anima. - he started softly without warning, probing why Ruby was there. - When we spoke last week you were in the middle of a subjugation.
- Yes, but things got ... complicated. - The lack of Ruby's eternal joy and contagious energy was beginning to cause Oscar to panic. It was not often that he had seen her friend like that.
- Tell me what happened, Ruby. Whatever it is, I'll help you sort it out. - He said, taking her small hands and nestling them between his. Her eyes filled with tears.
- It's a baby Oscar! A baby! - She cried, freeing her hands from his to cover her face. - I do not know what to do!
Oscar's mind went completely blank. Gods, Ozpin would not know what to think at a time like this! Was Ruby pregnant?! When did this happen?! Who...?! Questions stacked chaotically in Oscar's mind and he needed all his willpower to dig them out.
- The father...? - He started, trying to form a coherent question in shock.
- There is nobody. The grimms ... - She choked on a sob.
She was pregnant and she had lost the child's father to the grimms?! Oscar did not know what to do other than pull her into a tight hug. She hugged him back, wetting his shoulder with warm tears. They stood for a long moment like this, with Oscar cradling her in his arms as they reassembled. When Ruby's tears finally broke, Oscar spoke softly.
- Do you want to keep this child? - She sniffed.
- I would if I could, but I'm a huntress, Oscar. I could not take care of her and work at the same time. - He swallowed hard.
- I could help you ... - He took a deep breath, taking courage to say what he intended. - I'll never replaced her father, but ... I could help raise her.
- I knew you'd say that. - Ruby laughed softly, moving away to meet his eyes. - But the baby is not the only Oscar. We found dozens of children.
- What? Did you find it? Are not you pregnant?! - Ruby's eyes widened, as confused as he.
- What? Not! Why did you think that?!
- You come to my house out of nowhere, asking for help and crying over a baby! What did you expect me to think?!
- Well I...! I...!
They stared at each other in amazement. Ruby's lips quivered, coming dangerously close to a smile.
- Ruby Rose, don't you dare laugh at it. - She let out a small, strangled chuckle at his anger. - That's not funny! You almost gave me a heart attack- oh great.
He gave up rebuking her as she burst out laughing. He tried to look angry, but the cheerful sound took a weight off his chest. As long as Ruby could laugh like that, everything would be all right. He waited for her laughter to die before continuing.
- Now that you've finished laughing at me, tell me: What's the problem? - She took a deep breath, losing some of the laughter in her eyes.
- In recent months we have visited several villages destroyed in the war and escorted the refugees to the capitals. However, most of these refugees were children, Oscar. Adults and even teenagers were left behind to protect the younger ones and died. - She twisted her hands. It was difficult to explain to another child, again and again, that her parents would not come back.
- Oh Ruby...
- And that was not just in Anima. All other kingdoms are suffering the same fate. And now, orphanages have no more room for new children. On my last mission, I came back with a baby in my arms and the principal told me she could not keep it. If they put a child beyond their capacity, the government could close the place for irregularity. - Her voice trembled. - So I brought her to Vale, but the orphanage here is close to the same problem. I did not know what to do to resolve this, but I thought maybe you could.
- I?
- Yes, Oscar! I understand battles and grimms, but you know how the world works! Please tell me you can help us. - She begged, grabbing him by the sleeves of his pajama shirt.
Oscar stopped to think about it. This was a serious government problem. All kingdoms were weakened after the war. All investments were focused on rebuilding cities and farms. Homeless people arriving from shattered villages were immediately hired for labor. So they could pay for their own food and housing, avoiding beggars piling up on the streets. However, this could not be done with children. They were a non-return expense whose governments could not cope with. And from what Ruby said, there were many of them. Oscar sighed, rubbing his temples to ward off a headache.
- Yes, Ruby, I think I can help. - Ruby smiled broadly, but he promptly rebuked her. - But it will not be easy. I'll have to deal with something that Ozpin fled like the plague.
- What do we have to do, Oscar? - She asked apprehensively.
- We'll have to deal with politicians.
And Oscar did it as soon as he woke up the next morning. He came in contact with all his acquaintances who had some influence. He got favors. He analyzed everything he could from the situation in which the kingdoms were, discovered what they needed, and analyzed what he could offer. Oscar put all the cards he could in his sleeves and set up a meeting.
Politics itself was a battlefield like any other and entering it uninvited was like a war. He needed to gain the confidence of mayors, be introduced to senators, show his potential to the county itself, before they were willing to listen to his ideas. All this would have been impossible, but he did it in little more than a month, thanks to his magic and prestige.
- Are you telling us to cut part of the budget for agriculture and civil construction for social assistance?! - One of the faunus of Vacuo exclaimed. - If we do that, the economy will break!
- That will not happen if we reduce spending in these sectors considerably. - Oscar explained calmly. Regardless of his fame, the young man was having difficulty gaining the confidence of men and women twice his age.
- And how do you suggest we do that? - One of the councilmen of Atlas questioned skeptically.
- Our society has become extremely dependent on machines. They are expensive, consuming money in their construction, maintenance and fuel. The amount of Dust that a simple tractor consumes to plow one acre of land is already a waste per se. This reflects on the value at which the product will be sold in the market and the lives of the people in the city who consume it. So if we replace the machines with man labor, we will be saving hundreds of thousands of liens.
- But a person can not possibly do the work of a machine. - Another Atlasian said, laughing at Oscar's foolishness. - The cost to employ the number of people needed to replace a single machine would already be similar and they would never do the service at the same speed the mechanism.
- That would be true in the old world. Today we have magic. - Oscar said simply. - Many began to notice on their own, but a single person can command the land to plow itself in half of the time of a tractor. More than that, it is possible to force the shoots to grow in hours, rather than days, creating flowers and fruits in the middle of winter, if necessary. With some training, a bricklayer can build a house like building blocks. You know this is possible. Glinda Goodwitch herself did, before she even received the gift of magic. Now anyone is capable of the same, if taught so.
- And this is a knowledge you're willing to share... - One of Vale's councilmen asked cautiously. - At a price, I suppose.
- But any of us can develop these techniques without his help. - A Mistral's councilwoman disdained.
- Yes, but there are advantages to accepting my help. Oscar countered. - Following my instructions will save you all accurate months of searching, trial and error. And all I want in return is for the children to be properly cared for. Imagine the source of despair they are at the moment. All terrified, mourning the loss of their families, piled in tight houses, without any structure to keep them happy and healthy. They are a beacon to any grimm in miles. Ensuring their happiness will improve citizens' morale, create respect for government, and keep society whole. And I believe that we all want to avoid the utmost to deal with even more destruction when we not even finished rebuilding our cities.
The councilors argued among themselves. One by one, they voted. And one by one the realms agreed to the terms of Oscar.
There was a great explosion of progress. Oscar took a month to educate a team of instructors and it took them another month to form their first class of wizard farmers and builders. After that, the world exploded in motion. Ruined streets were repaved in days. Walls erected in just minutes. People stopped to admire the builders working, seeing houses rise in a matter of hours.
And the councils took Oscar's warning about keeping the population's happiness a priority. Public squares were founded, with playgrounds full of toys. Entertainment venues, such as theaters, cinemas and museums, were prioritized in the restoration queue.
But above all this, the first project of all kingdoms was the reform of their governmental orphanages. Oscar made it a point to watch, with Ruby, the reconstruction of Vale's orphanage. Oscar recognized Ms. Poppins, whom he had seen months ago, along with the little blond girl who had approached him on the street. He even tricked them out of the orphanage, announcing that the government had financed a tour of the city's new amusement park, and had put them all inside a bus. At the end of the day, when everyone returned, the orphanage was completely different. The building now was twice the size, completely remodeled, and stocked with new sectors like a library, infirmary, and a large playground outside.
While the children rushed in, being followed by their caretakers, Miss Poppins followed directly to Oscar. He and Ruby said goodbye to the workers and appreciated the happiness they brought the children. Poppins carried Amber in her lap, the little girl Ruby had brought from Anima.
- I have no words to thank you for what you have done for us. - The woman said to Ruby, her voice startling melodious, even on the verge of tears. - When you said you were going to do something to help us, I would not have imagined anything like that.
- Nah, I did nothing but ask for Oscar's help. - Ruby dismissed the thank-you, suddenly terrified of her attention, as was typical of her. - He had all the trouble dealing with the county.
- Thank you, Master Oscar. - Poppins whispered, a single tear trickling down her pretty face. - We will never forget your goodness.
They left feeling light and even when Ruby left again the next day, Oscar did not suffer as much as the first time. He had the feeling that she would return again, with or without a request for help, as reliable as the arrival of spring after winter. All he had to do was wait.
What he did not expect, however, was to answer the door a week later to find Miss Poppins waiting for him where Ruby was once before.
- Good morning, Master Oscar. - She greeted him with the sweetest of her smiles. - Could you spare me one minute of your time?