Jwebb96: I am glad you enjoyed it, and thank you, Tyrian was quite enjoyable to write…he is delightfully insane. xD
Constipated Genius: I can sneak out an unexpected update from time to time…possibly like this one lol. Yep…with the door open Hildie works fast, she has been locked away for years after all, Olivia has her work cut out for her. I remember watching Vol. 4 originally and wondering what the point of Oscar's little cameos was…we needed more! And don't worry, we'll get more glimpses into the time skip and how Ember deals with his time with Salem…
Lelouch of Zero: Not by a long shot, he may serve to protect a certain someone…but he knows better considering she's the one behind the fall of Beacon. No doubt, that will be a veeeery awkward conversation.
Guest: Thank you! Funny enough I've watched her comedy videos and retrospectives but wanted to hold off watching her script fixing ones until after I finish Vol. 4 and 5.
Bookwyrm321: Many good questions and theories, all I can say is definitely maybe…I kid, I kid lol but it will be revealed pretty soon. :D
Amelia: Thank you again! :D It means so much that you've enjoyed my development/path for Horatio thus far. Indeed, he understands what occurred at the fall was an accident…he may wish to protect Cinder more than anything…it hasn't yet claimed his soul.
I was hoping to get one more chapter out before Volume 6 starts later this month. I cannot wait to see where they go in the story. And with that….onto the show!
Weiss Schnee walked the halls of the place she had called home before her time studying at Beacon. Her father had summoned her presence in his study; otherwise she would have been in her room as she had spent much of her time since returning. Being outside of it just reminded her of what she had nearly forgotten while away.
The hallways were enormous, the epitome of extravagance with paintings and statues of all shapes and sizes. She could not help but eye the enormous suits of armor flanking the grand staircase like a pair of watchful sentries. While it would draw the awe and majesty of anyone who saw it, Weiss could think of only one thing as she passed it all by.
It's so empty.
Hundreds could have comfortably packed the halls and rooms of the Schnee manor and often did at parties, gatherings and other such events. Most of the time however, only her immediate family and their servants could be found within. The sense of loneliness had been exacerbated when she was younger by Winter's departure to join the Atlas military…and her mother had never been around that often. Things were so lively at Beacon, with the hustle and bustle of school life she'd scarcely gone a few minutes without running into someone be it Blake, Yang or even R…
"Good afternoon sister," a voice snapped Weiss from her contemplation only then realizing someone was standing in her path. "A pleasure to see you out of your room for a change."
Her younger brother Whitley bowed cordially before her, a smile on his face that, to those who knew him, was eerily out of place. His hair was cut short, styled and slicked back, the blue eyes they shared locked on one another.
"Hello Whitley," Weiss replied as was only polite. "You're in a cheery mood today."
"Klein made crepes for breakfast," he shrugged his shoulders as if to imply there was no other state possible under those circumstances.
"What do you want?" Weiss sighed as she placed a hand on her hip and glanced away. There was no chance he was just making idle conversation.
"I heard father shouting with someone in his study earlier," the young man immediately started without even an attempt to refute her implication.
"Mother?" It wouldn't surprise her.
"No, she's already drinking in the garden."
Of course she is.
"There were two of them; pretty sure one of them was a man. I just wanted to warn you after hearing he wanted to speak with you."
"I'll…be fine," Weiss asserted, though gripped her arm defensively. The smile and sense of concern emanating from Whitley just didn't feel right.
"I know you will, you are strong…like Winter!"
"You…never liked Winter," Weiss felt the need to point out based on the absurdity of his statement compared to the little brother she knew.
"True, but you can't deny her resolve."
"You seem different," Weiss could no longer hide her confusion at the apparent change. She crossed her arms and stared down at him suspiciously.
"And you've been gone," he retorted without losing his smile or out of character cheeriness. "I'll have you know I didn't stop growing while you were away at Beacon."
Weiss honestly had no idea how to react.
"Anyway," Whitley smiled as he spun on his heels to continue down the hall. "Good luck with father."
"Thank you," Weiss allowed as much of a true smile to shine through as she had since arriving home other than when Klein was around. If Whitley could improve himself while she was away, anything was possible. Despite the sound of muffled arguments coming from her father's study, Weiss tentatively approached with hope that things could get better.
Mistral Farm…
Oscar dug through the chicken coop; he saw the smudged tracks but had to know what happened. Under the guise of further work, he had snuck away from his aunt to investigate. Flashlight in hand, he was searching for how it got out.
"Front door locked, windows secured," he muttered to himself. "No structural damage and no others made a ruckus in the night but…"
With every other option scratched out, the young farmhand checked the straw directly beneath the missing hen's alcove. A confident smile accompanied a muffled shout of victory. Beneath the alcove was a small hole surely big enough for someone…or something to reach inside and have plucked the chicken while she slept. He'd have to get that repaired before nightfall lest it happen a second time.
Maybe add a little surprise for our chicken thief; he chuckled as he got to work. If he could catch whatever was taking livestock, his aunt would be sure to start treating him like the fourteen year old he was rather than a child. It won't take long, will just need tools from the barn, maybe a few of aunties old paints…then I can…
"GAAAAHHHH!"
Oscar dropped to the floor, heart pounding as he jumped back to his feet, hesitantly looking back around the corner. He had been making his way to the barn when he passed an old mirror hanging on the wall. He thought he'd seen something that sent a chill through him.
He looked at his reflection, turning his head up, down and side to side in an attempt to verify he most certainly didn't see what he thought he had. After a few tense moments he continued his path towards the barn to retrieve the supplies. For a moment, just a single moment, he could have sworn his hair had turned completely grey. Oscar laughed at the thought; surely it must have been a trick of the light…that mirror was absolutely filthy after all.
Patch…
Roland made his way up the stairs, food tray in hand, only a few minutes to 7:00 to go. Tai was preparing the rest of breakfast below and as usual Yang was a no show. For a change, little Zwei had decided to accompany him and stuck close behind.
Another day, another dollar, the young huntsman mused as he reached her door, raising his hand in preparation to knock.
"Son of a…!" He heard her shout within before he could take action, a loud crash occurring from within.
"Yang!" Roland cried out, throwing open the door without a second thought. "Are you alrig…?"
The room was a disheveled mess, the bed was unmade and various hairspray bottles were scattered all over the room. The loud noise seemed to have been a large brush colliding with the full-length mirror in the corner, somehow failing to break it.
And then he saw her.
Yang was still arrayed in her pajamas, a sleeveless orange top with her emblem stitched into the front and black shorts showing off most of her legs. She hadn't gotten dressed for the day yet. A look of pure anger and frustration was building on her face as if she was on the verge of screaming or crying. The look was so gut-wrenching he almost didn't notice the source of her animosity.
Her cascading golden locks, her pride and joy that meant certain doom for anyone who dared to draw near were in the worst state of bedhead he had ever seen. They were tousled almost beyond recognition, spiky in some areas while flat on others and frizzy all over. From the look of the warzone he had walked into she had been trying to work it into the previous style she was accustomed to wearing…with only a single arm at her disposal she had clearly failed.
"What are you doing in here?" Yang demanded, panting heavily as if she'd been yelling at someone until he walked in. "I told you to stay out!"
"I…I heard the shout, I thought you might…" only then did he notice he was still holding the breakfast tray and quickly laid it on the nearby table. "Is everything al…"
"No…no it's NOT alright!" Yang balled up her fist in frustration. "It was so…easy before, and now I can't even…"
Roland understood or at least tried to; he couldn't imagine trying to care for such hair as hers with only a single arm. Not alone at least.
"I should just cut the whole thing off."
Roland paled, his first reaction of making her laugh taking precedence over anything else in his mind.
"Who are you…and what have you done with Yang Xiao Long?"
"I'm…not being seen like this," Yang reached for an enormous pair of scissors nearby, bringing them up to her frizzled golden locks.
Roland thought fast, quickly locating a second set of scissors he grabbed a tuft of his own hair, holding them up to his shorter black strands. Yang saw his action and hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she tried to gauge his intent.
"Whatever you do to those follicles…I'll do to my own. Don't think I won't! I'm a man on the edge!"
Yang actually allowed a soft chuckle to escape though it was restrained and quiet.
"It would be so much easier than to look like this every morning," she sounded so distant, completely different from the girl he had met last year.
"Since when have you ever taken the easy way out," Roland countered. "I'd rather see you in the mornings Yang, hair or no hair…but you were so proud of it. How many did you threaten with death for risking it? I don't want you to do something you'll regret."
"I…" Yang lowered the scissors at last, allowing him to do the same. "I just can't. I've been trying every…single…morning. I can't keep up."
"Maybe I could offer my services?" Roland finally got to the heart of the matter.
"You...style hair?" Yang asked slowly, a bit of her old self rising to the surface as she looked over the shorter cut Roland always sported, clearly disbelieving of his ludicrous statement.
"Two sisters remember?" He smirked back. "Granted you have more hair than they have…anything, but do you have any idea how many times I had to help them braid each other? They were competitive about EVERYTHING and needed an unbiased participant."
Yang absentmindedly gripped her long hair as if contemplating his words.
She wouldn't let her own father near her hair. Roland thought to himself as the silence grew between them. But maybe if she remembers just how important it is, she'll take a step back and realize she wouldn't want it gone. Once she turns me down maybe I can…
"Okay."
That single word froze Roland's mind, his look grew flat as his eyes bulged open. He couldn't comprehend what she had just said.
"Beg pardon?"
"You get one chance," her reply sounded uncertain. Despite that, she took a seat on the bed, fluffing her hair so he could get a better look.
Roland was screaming in his head, he never imagined in a thousand years she would have actually accepted his offer, genuine though it was. Overjoyed at her sitting down calmly, Zwei hopped up onto Yang's lap, curling into a ball before settling down to await the pets he knew would follow.
Roland recovered the comb along with scrunchies, hair pins, a bottle of hair spray and whatever else he thought may be needed. In his mind he was going to war.
One chance, don't blow it Rolly. You are working on a priceless treasure here.
Once positioned behind Yang, the young huntsman started by placing the hair pins in his mouth to free up his hands. Carefully to avoid the knots, he started to pull Yang's hair together. Due to the time gone without professional tending, it was rough to the touch yet still he felt like he was working with a glass flower, fearful the slightest mistake could shatter it.
Roland did not see Yang's face as he started the procedure, the hint of a blush spreading across her cheeks as she felt his hands intertwine with her golden mane. Yang could not have been more embarrassed yet at the same time thankful that she had someone who could make this moment possible.
Alright, Roland finally settled on a general plan for handling what lay before him. His experience with his sisters ill-preparing for such an endeavor. Where to begin?
Mistral Countryside…
Ruby shot up in her sleeping back, breathing heavily and dripping with sweat. Glancing around their makeshift campsite she realized the others appeared to be sleeping, all except…
"Bad dreams too?" Olivia asked. She was sitting up against a tree polishing Jackal.
"Just…probably too many cookies last night," the young huntress chuckled awkwardly.
"I told you we needed real food," Olivia reciprocated her smile as she shook her head. "Sugary snacks and long treks of walking usually don't mix well."
"Hehe, I'll just try to get some more sleep," she rolled over. However, as Olivia was unable to see, her eyes never closed…she dared not lest she see the face that popped into view every time she stared down to scope of Crescent Rose…
Atlas…
"I'm not talking about the good of the company; I'm talking about the good of Atlas! Our entire Kingdom!"
"That is a load of garbage and you know it."
"I beg your pardon?"
Weiss could hear the shouts well before approaching the door to her father's office. He and General Ironwood were still inside arguing over his "unnecessary paranoia" as her father had put it. Not wanting to interrupt, the young heiress slowly pushed the door open.
"Salutations Ms. Schnee! I am afraid your father and the General are still engaged in their prior appointment. Though I am certain they will be through soon based on their current path of interactions."
"Penny?" Weiss gasped as the familiar perky orange-haired girl revealed herself standing guard at the door. The last time she'd seen her was as a decapitated head amidst the chaotic evacuation. "What are you doing here?"
She'd been made a new body since the fall. It was clearly a more advanced design since the first; there was no way to tell from a quick glance that she was anything more than a young girl. It appeared they'd gone for a slightly maturer appearance almost as if she'd aged a year or two since Beacon. She was currently wearing an Atlesian uniform though with no rank attached. No doubt the topic of whether she should be considered a soldier or a weapon was still ongoing.
The world had seen the footage of the battle, everyone knew what she was. Many were up in arms over Atlas "going too far," or "playing gods," with her creation, she had seen the Atlas news feeds even contained to her kingdom as they were. The general had defended her every step of the way, assuring the masses that while born from their latest experiments into aura…she was far from being solely a weapon. Few of the more vocal proponents seemed to believe his words.
"General Ironwood has made me his personal attaché," she announced proudly. Despite the backlash of her reveal which she was fully aware of, it had failed to break her indomitable cheer.
"Your dust embargo has already cost me millions!" Jacques Schnee continued to argue behind her. "Do you have any idea how many competitors I've had to reconcile with just to turn a profit?"
"So this IS about you?" Ironwood countered.
"It is…good to see you again" Weiss stepped forward, embracing Penny as the girl looked on confused. Nevertheless, she eventually reciprocated the gesture after several seconds.
"Ms. Schnee," General Ironwood only then noticed her presence. "My apologies, I should have been gone by now."
"Yes dear," her father interrupted. "And do be careful around that…thing," he motioned towards Penny.
"We're friends," she asserted though her argument was timid and quiet. Penny's smile beamed brighter all the same at those words.
"We'll continue this…later," Ironwood's glare at her father was positively terrifying at the jab towards Penny's humanity. Between his look and his more grizzled appearance due to the stress since Beacon's fall, he did not look like someone it was wise to upset.
"I-indeed," Jacques looked hesitant to test his patience. "Klein will show you out."
"Don't worry, we know the way," he rebuked him as he made for the door. "Until next time Jacques."
Weiss stepped aside politely to allow him a clear path to the door. Penny did the same then bowed in an identical fashion. "I do hope we can work together again Ms. Schnee," she smiled before following the general out.
"Did you forget your manners while you were away?" The head of the Schnee family muttered while Weiss still faced the door. He missed the scowl that warped her features for a moment yet were gone by the time she turned around.
"No father, I'm sorry for not knocking." She followed him as he meandered over to his desk, plopping down in the cushioned seat on the other side.
"Can you believe there are still people that blame Atlas for what happened to Beacon? To Vale?"
"Well, they weren't there."
It's a wonder Ironwood wasn't stripped of his rank." Jacques continued to rant; it was hard to get him to stop once started. "I suppose the council trusts him, for better or worse."
"I…trust him," Weiss felt the need to add. "He and Penny, they mean well."
Jacques Schnee spun in his chair, leaning on the table as if to express how exhausted he was at the situation.
"Thanks to him, Atlas is forbidden from exporting dust to other kingdoms. A 'precautionary measure' as he puts it, until we are certain no one is going to declare war. How anyone could possibly find that to be sound logic is beyond me."
He just wants to make sure
"Which is why the Schnee Dust Company will be holding a charity concert in the coming weeks."
Weiss finally allowed some emotion to bleed through her cold demeanor as she opened her eyes wider, shocked at what she'd heard her father say.
"We need to show the people of Remnant that we are on their side," he continued. "That we are ALL victims of the fall of Beacon."
"That's…wonderful news!" Weiss smiled. She couldn't believe it, first Whitley showing some kindness and concern for once in his life and now her father was actually trying to help after the fall of Beacon? It was too good to…
"I know," he adjusted his suit as he internally patted himself on the back. "And I think it would make a lot of people happy if YOU performed at the event."
"Ex…cuse me?"
"Many forget that you were there. My own daughter, a Schnee, on the grounds defending another kingdom. We need to remind them and we need to show them that the Schnee family is just as strong as ever!"
He is making this all about him…
"Are you asking me if I'd like to sing, or telling me?" She could barely look her father in the eye.
Jacques leaned forward, his own gaze never wavering. "I think it would make a lot of people happy." Weiss sighed heavily, his reply was all she needed to hear to know the answer to her question. She hadn't sang since the Vytal Festival with Flynt.
"I'll start practicing…"
"That's my girl, and do adjust that lopsided ponytail of yours before the concert…it looks ridiculous."
Outside…
Weiss slowly closed the door with a click, proper etiquette demanded to make as little noise as possible…just like her father wanted for her most days. The smile she had at the idea of her father and brother changing had already faded to be replaced with her solemn cold she had gotten used to wearing.
"Hot coffee, Ms. Schnee? I always find he keeps his study dreadfully cold."
The head butler stood before her, tray of hot coffee already in hand. He was on the shorter side, a tad stout and balding with the most adorable mustache that never failed to raise Weiss' spirits.
"Thank you Klein," she accepted the cup and took a quick sip. Despite the pick-me up, she just couldn't keep the momentum, her smirk faded away as she considered all that had happened.
Klein seemed to notice, after a moment of awkward silence he cleared his throat.
"Do you know what I think?" Covering his face with the tray, he lowered it dramatically. "I think it's to balance out all of his hot air!" He mocked with laughter, his eyes were now a shade of red versus the dark amber they had been a moment ago.
"Klein!" Weiss gasped with a whisper, glancing back at the study door to ensure her father hadn't heard, only risking a giggle of her own upon realizing he hadn't.
"Oh…oh no…." Klein warned her as he reared back his head and letting out a sudden sneeze and then another. After the first his eye cycled to a sky blue and with the second it became a bright yellow.
"Ah," he sighed, his demeanor suddenly much softer and gentler. "There's my little snowflake. That Penny friend of yours was positively a delight; I don't care what your father says about her. Would you like me to invite her over for coffee sometime?"
"I don't think father would…"
"Oh pish posh," the cheerful persona of her butler smiled. "So many people from your father's various partners will be staying in the mansion the next few weeks. "I am sure one friend or two snuck in won't be noticed."
The idea of having another familiar face around made Weiss feel at ease. There was only one person who had made life in the manor bearable after Winter left…
"Thank you Klein…for everything."
Mistral Countryside…
"Oh we're lost!" Ruby lamented as she held out the map, twisting it this way and that as if it would make more sense at a different angle.
"Calm down Ruby," Olivia held back her laughter as Nora and Ren attempted to do the same behind her. "We are on the main road, not even Roland has a sense of direction so bad to get lost following that."
"Besides, Shion isn't far from here!" Jaune added. My family used to visit all the time."
"Oh yea," Ruby smiled at the memory. "Don't you have like four sisters?"
"Seven," Olivia corrected.
"That really does explains a lot," Nora looked away teasingly.
"Hey…what is that supposed to...?"
"So what did you guys do there?" Ruby called back from the front, drawing him to the map.
"Oh all sorts of stuff! Over here is a great hiking trail," he started pointing at the map. "And over here…"
"He loves telling this part," Nora whispered to Olivia as Jaune became absorbed in the map, pointing out every little location he could think of. "He even wanted to shadow the village sheriff for our first mission at Beacon…you know before we got the day off for that whole Merlot thing."
Olivia kept the smile, but couldn't help remembering back to the mission to seek out Dr. Merlot's island. She had spent much of the time in Forever Fall fighting alongside…
Neo? Ray? Make up your mind.
Shut up
"My sisters always gave me pigtails," Jaune continued his familiar anecdote. "I consider myself more of a warrior's wolftail personally."
"But…that's just a ponytail," Ruby pointed out hesitantly.
"I could give you a few pointers," Olivia snapped back to reality as she whipped her own ponytail to the side for emphasis. "Guys…" she gasped as she looked ahead . Ruby and Jaune were so entranced in the map they hadn't noticed the sight before them, or the smoke blocking out the blue skies. Ren and Nora were the next to drop their jaws in horror.
The village of Shion was still far in the distance, but they could see perfectly. Olivia pulled out her rifle, staring down the sights. The village looked dead; buildings were damaged or destroyed including the guard tower which had been reduced to smoldering rubble. A black pillar of smoke rose into the air far beyond, they could not see any sign of movement.
"Clear," Olivia alerted them, signaling the team to rush forward until they were finally amid the cobbled streets.
"Start looking," Jaune flipped over to his role as leader almost immediately. "There could be survivors!"
Nodding in understanding, the team scattered. As Ruby, Ren and Jaune went up main street, Olivia and Nora went through what had once been the market square. All the doors had been smashed open, bodies littered the streets and many of the vehicles and stalls they could see were stripped bare.
Bandits no doubt, they took everything not nailed down. Probably used the CCT Tower's destruction as a chance to do a few raids when they couldn't call for help. Based on the claw marks and generally messiness…the Grimm were not far behind.
I hate it when you're right.
When WE'RE right.
Frustration welled in Olivia as she and Nora checked everyone they could, none stirred. From the look of things it had happened days before, likely before they had even bested the Geist.
"The airship dock would be ahead, maybe it…"
Nora didn't finish her sentence as it soon became clear that the very ship they sought was the source of the billowing smoke blotting out the sun. From the look of things it had been shot right out of the sky trying to take off, having crashed back into and destroying the humble village dock.
"That's impossible," Nora overlooked the destruction. Olivia understood her confusion, it appeared that the source of the damage was scorched and burned through just as the guard tower had been. It looked as if it had been electrocuted…but was far larger than any standard lightning dust could have done.
It almost looks like it was…
Struck by lightning, very astute boss. I'm getting all tingly just thinking of what these bandits had with them to do THAT.
"What kind of weapon did this?" She finally muttered, Nora could only shrug.
"Jaune," Olivia pulled out her scroll and opened a short-ranged channel. "No luck on finding survivors so far, airship is a no go…looks like we are going to Haven on foot. Any luck on your end?"
"We," his voice sounded solemn and distant. "We found the village huntsman…but he didn't make it. Let's make sure there's no one else we can help. There has to be…someone who made it…"
"Roger that, over and out. Let's keep moving Nora…Nora?"
The perky pink Valkyrie was staring at the ground, unknown to her Ren was doing the exact same thing on the opposite side of the town. Before her imbedded deep in the ground was an immense hoof print. The shape was relatively normal, however the size was many times even the largest horse on the planet. She did not alert Olivia, merely looked on with a look of apprehension in the full knowledge that she had seen that shape before.
Salem's Domain…
"Okay," Emerald continued as she had been the last several hours. "You want to bend your index finger like this…and your pinkie like that. Just a bit more…perfect."
Cinder was sitting on the edge of her bed following Emerald's instructions while Mercury stood watch out front to warn of anyone incoming. She was walking her through the hand gestures she would need to know. The Fall Maiden never thought she would require such a skill, however until her vocal cords healed it was unavoidable. She had learned the basics and made use of them, but made sure Emerald taught her the advanced signs.
"Now, if you want to express appreciation for a service completed, just do this…"
Cinder followed along, memorizing every contour and intricate movement to ensure she mastered it perfectly. She would not settle for less.
"Cinder," Emerald started sheepishly. "I wanted to let you know something."
Salem's pupil turned towards her disciple, eye narrowing as she could sense the hesitation in her voice.
"While…you were asleep, I broke a promise. And I think you should know about it."
Months Earlier…
"Okay, you may enter."
Horatio stepped into the room at the approval of the green-haired fighter; she had completed changing Cinder's bandages and massaging her muscles during her days of inactivity. Cinder was still asleep on the bed atop the covers, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. She was tossing somewhat as if dreaming.
"Any better?" He asked as he had every morning for the past week.
"Same," Emerald sighed, sitting across from him at the desk they had moved away from the wall. She had become accustomed to Horatio's presence over the last several days and seemed to now trust he had no nefarious intentions. "The last meal was better."
"And I didn't set the kitchen on fire," he attempted to soften the tone of the room with humor. Emerald never cracked a smile; he couldn't very well say he was in a smiling mood himself.
They had seen no sign of their foreboding benefactor since the first night; she appeared content to wait out Cinder's recovery. The sleeping girl was restless, eyes clenching, was it in pain, anger or something else? Horatio felt so helpless…his semblance good for little more than combat and manual labor.
Some Guardian I am being…
Reaching into his vest he revealed the one thing he had gotten out of Beacon before the fall, the novel provided to him by Tukson so long ago.
"And while most religious groups will have you believe otherwise," he started reading at the beginning. "The creation of Remnant is attributed in the most ancient texts to not one but two gods working with and in spite of one another."
Emerald raised an eyebrow as she pulled out her deck of cards. "What are you doing?"
"I thought it might help if she heard us, you know in case she still can. I wish I had different material but this is all I got."
Emerald nodded, motioning towards him so she could take a look at it. Right before he could hand it off Cinder let out a loud gasp, causing him to jump and allowing the book to fall to the floor. Horatio rushed to the bedside to ensure nothing was out of the ordinary; her remaining eye was fluttering beneath the lid rapidly.
"Down boy, she does that every so often, not much we can do about it."
"Can't you? I mean…doesn't your semblance let you make others see whatever you want?"
Emerald paused as she studied his question. "What's your point?"
"Well, can't you make her…see something soothing? Something that could calm her down?"
Emerald pointed her cards at Cinder's sleeping form. "Does it look like she's seeing anything right now?" The frustration in her voice cut through him.
"Come on Emerald, you're more clever than that and you know it. If what we see is processed by our brains then there is a chance she could still see what you show her. Where's the harm in trying?"
Emerald eyed him threateningly; she didn't like it when he took such a tone. "I swore to her after we met…I'd never attempt my semblance on her…"
Horatio looked at her exasperated; he understood why it would mean so much, but there was a difference between the letter and spirit of the law. "You think she wouldn't want you to use it to ease her pain? If that's your worry just blame me and tell her I forced you to do it!"
Emerald just glared at him as if to say "I'd like to see you try." If only to shut him up she turned towards the bed, laying a tentative hand onto Cinder's head, massaging her temple with the other. Horatio could only watch as she focused with no way to determine if she was actually doing anything. After several seconds Cinder arched her back, Horatio feared the worst until she eased back onto the bed, her breath now coming slow and steady. Her eyes were fluttering, but not with the manic fury they had previously. Emerald leaned back, surveying her work and ensuring nothing had been made worse.
"It worked!" Horatio leaned over and wrapped her in a tight bear hug only realizing too late how inappropriate it seemed. "I mean…good work," he settled on an uneasy handshake, more surprised than anything that Emerald did not attempt to break it off first. "What did you show her?"
"Her ripping your head off," she snapped. The young man threw his arms up in surrender as he leaned back, continuing to read passages from his little book. Emerald started playing solitaire, thankful she had recalled so many details of the night she and Mercury had watched a naïve artist draw a woman he had just met by the sea.
Present…
"Would you have actually believed me if I said he forced me to do it?"
Cinder raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.
"Yea…I didn't think you would. I can't really picture loverb…Ember ever being so forceful. I don't know what it is about him, when he asked…it just seemed to make perfect sense. He had no ulterior motive in the slightest."
Cinder laid a hand on Emerald's shoulder, she instinctively shirked back still remember when she'd been struck for speaking out of term though it had been a long time since that day. The hand was gentle, Cinder shook her head…letting her know there was no animosity for her action. She knew full well what he was like, and how hard it was
"Thank you," Emerald laid her hand atop Cinder's and squeezing.
A knock at the door alerted them that someone was approaching. Emerald quickly stepped back to a more respectable distance, standing at attention as if she were also there to protect Cinder as her disciples.
"She is," Mercury cleared his throat, "here to see you."
Cinder nodded, granting him approval to let the visitor inside.
The ever unsettling presence of the jellyfish-like seer Grimm filled the room as it floated inside, positioning itself in front of the young woman while completely ignoring Emerald nearby. Even Mercury and Emerald both tensed up at its passing. In an instant, an image of Salem appeared within its depths staring into her pupil.
"Cinder, I would like to have a word with you at once without delay…"
Patch…
Tai leaned forward, his own breakfast was getting cold as he and Pyrrha waited for Roland to return. Normally, the kid would drop off Yang's food and be right back down but this time he was nowhere in sight. He thought he'd heard something upstairs but couldn't be sure if he was just hearing things. That was either a possible good sigh or a really bad one.
"How is your leg feeling Pyrrha?" He asked the solemn Spartan if only to make conversation. "I'll be heading out soon for supplies, do you need anything?"
"No sir, it is...better," Pyrrha replied slowly. "Though if possible I would like to use your workshop."
"May I ask why?"
"I…" She hesitated. "I want to make something, to keep busy and prepare for when I can help again."
Tai nodded, understanding the frustration of not being at the frontlines more than most.
"Be my guest, though I am afraid I haven't used it in a while, might have trouble finding materials to…"
He heard footsteps making their way down, Roland must be done.
"Roland, I hope you like it cold because..." He immediately froze as he stood from the table, his fork dropping to the floor along with his jaw.
The huntsman of Team HERO was coming downstairs and alongside him was Yang. She had her orange sleeveless top on with baggy grey pants. She was walking hesitantly but the young man stayed with her the whole way down, food tray in hand still covered with uneaten food. What stood out most of all was her hair; the previously tangled and disheveled locks were now bunched together into a single large, albeit somewhat messy ponytail held by a purple scrunchie. Roland had done what he could to give it volume to stay together until a more permanent solution could be tested. It wasn't close to her immaculate hair from before, but it was a start.
"Sorry I'm late dad," Yang smiled flatly as they reached the table and holding out the tray. "Breakfast got a little cold."
"I-I'll have it warmed up in a jiffy!" Tai proclaimed as he collected the uneaten food from every plate on the table as well as hers. He quickly started loading them into the oven and started pre-heating as Yang took a seat beside Pyrrha. "How…is your day going?" He eyed Roland suspiciously, amazed how such a turn-around occurred.
"That is…a long story," Yang smiled. "But breakfast as a family again sounds…nice."
Boat to Menagerie…
Esmerelda rolled over on her bed, it was comfortable but she could not relax. They had been at sea for several days and she had scarcely left her room except to get food. It was obvious, she was getting restless.
I'm sure I can spend a few hours each day on deck and still keep a low profile, she rationalized. The General would surely not mind. Grabbing her weapon shrunk down to its scimitar form she made her way above deck.
It was breathtaking, the sun, the view of blue in all directions as far as she could see.
The boat I'd taken to Vale was much smaller, I wonder if it even still sails.
Esmerelda had absolutely no sea legs when she was so little at the time, remembering how sick she'd gotten and been unable to even look out a window. She'd only made it to the mainland by pretending she was in an especially unsteady house amid a storm.
She was with me all the way to the academy…I wonder how she's been doing back home. Can't imagine she'd be very pleased with my career choices.
As the young huntress gazed out across the sea, yet could not help but notice a shape walk past. She had gone to the highest point on the vessel and had quite the view…but the newcomer appeared to be focused on the lower deck.
They were dressed in a brown robe completely covering their features, how they hadn't been asked to change clothes by the staff was anybody's guess. She would have though having someone lurking on the ship in something so baggy in the humid air would raise a few flags. As subtly as she could, Esmerelda glanced down towards the deck he was staring to intently.
He was watching a young faunus woman with cat ears, she was wearing tight black pants leading up to a long-sleeve white coat. At the angle she was at, Esmerelda could not make out her face. She had some sort of black weapon on her back; however with her long curly black hair covering it, she couldn't make out any details.
"She a friend of yours?" She asked after creeping up behind them unnoticed.
As expected, the stranger spun in surprise; clearly he'd been up to something.
"Well…I suppose she was…is I mean. We go way back and we…Ezzy?"
Ezzy?
Esmerelda stepped forward, grabbing the brown hood and yanking hard, revealing short spiked blonde hair. She also succeeded in opening the robe itself, giving her an ample view of an open white shirt revealing a stunning set of abs.
Good lord you could grate cheese off those! She could not help but think and blush red each time she saw them.
"SUN? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing!" The monkey faunus and leader of Team SSSN pushed back, pulling the hood back over his head. "What are you doing on a ship heading to Menagerie?"
"Nono, my question first," Esmerelda asserted. "I'm not the one going full stalker on some girl here."
"Some girl? Ezzy, that's…"
He did not get a chance to finish as a strong wave suddenly buffeted the ship, knocking him into her. They gripped each other for support until the rocking stopped, only then noticing what an awkward position they were in and letting go.
The uncomfortable moment had no time to gain momentum as the two suddenly realized how overcast it had suddenly become. Looking upward simultaneously they discovered it was not due to clouds…but the shadow of an immense serpent-like Grimm towering over them, burning eyes boring into the ship as it looked over everyone onboard with a ravenous need to destroy everything.
"You have GOT to be kidding me!" They both shouted in perfect harmony.
Friends divided walk their own path on a collision course with conflict and strife. As with the first chapter, an art piece depicting Roland and Yang in Patch was completed by AzaryaS entitled "A Sword and Her Shield" on DeviantArt. Once again she could not have captured the scene better. As always, Read and Review…but most of all Enjoy! :D