Chapter 9- How to Borrow A Airship
Once Oscar, Snowla and Okami arrived back to Saph and Terra Cotta's home after their little adventure the trio walked inside discussing possible dishes for dinner. "How about my aunt's famous chicken casserole? Terra Cotta might have bought all the items needed for it plus it'll feed everyone too." The farm hand offered, as he shut the door behind him. "That sounds really good and if were missing any ingredients I don't mind running out and grabbing them." Snowla said happily, royal purple eyes alight with hunger as her tail swished back and forth. "Looks like were good to go as for ingredients. Let's get cooking." Oscar said with a grin as the duo began preparing dinner. Okami watched the human and faunus cook, the scent of freshly cooked chicken and freshly chopped herbs greeted the canine's nose as his tail wagged like a furry blur. Popping the casserole into the oven Oscar smiling at his and Snowla's handiwork that began to bake. "Now all we have left are the dishes." He said turning away from the stove to find Snowla already washing a few of the dishes standing on her tiptoes. Chuckling at the sight Oscar walked over to help the shorter girl dry and put away the dishes, afterwards the duo walked into the living room to relax, Okami following after the two and making himself comfortable on the couch. An hour later Snowla's lion ears perked up at the sound of voices coming from outside as Oscar got up from the couch and made his way to the door with the lion faunus following after the farm hand, opening the door the pair saw everyone standing outside in the cold. "Oh. We were wondering when you'd get back." Oscar said with a smile. "Welcome back everyone." Snowla added, grinning. "Oscar! Snowla!" Everyone cheered, causing the youngsters to look at everyone else with confusion followed by being tackled in a huge group hug by the young huntsmen and huntresses whilst the adults all watched smiling. Ruby helped the pair to their feet laughing as they groaned in pain. "You both had us worried sick." Weiss said worriedly. "Are you okay?" Ruby asked. "What are wearing?" Nora asked looking Oscar up and down curiously, as the young man rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Is something cooking?" Terra Cotta asked, a savory aroma entering the living room. "We thought you all could use a good hot meal after looking for us apparently." Oscar explained. "It's my fault we were all out there in the first place. Oscar I am so sorry for earlier. It was way way out of line and what I said-" Jaune began though the farmhand cut him off. "No it's okay. These past few days I've been scared of the same things you were. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be...me but I do know that I want to do everything I can with whatever time I have left." Oscar replied. "Good. This team isn't the same without you Oscar." Jaune said with a smile when the smoke alarm began to go off. "The casserole!" Oscar and Snowla cried out. "Were on it chefs." Saph said as she and her wife went into the kitchen to save their dinner. "Your combat gear looks good." Ruby said causing Oscar to smile at the red huntress. When she noticed her uncle was heading upstairs. "Where are you going now?" She asked. "I don't wanna get in the way of your celebration." He answered. "You've been gone all day, just sit with us." Qrow sighed. "Look Ruby I'm glad you kids worked out whatever all that was but the fact is were not a single step closer to Atlas." "Actually… I think I have an Idea. But its sort of a no going back kind of idea." Jaune explained. "Well let's hear it." Ruby said. "With Cordo on watch only Atlas airships have the clearance needed for zolotas. So.. we steal an Atlas airship." The blonde huntsman said with a sheepish yet awkward smile causing Saph and Terra Cotta's son Adrian to giggle. "That's not just breaking the law, that's definitely worse." Weiss said, not exactly loving the plan. "How are we even get onto the airfield?" Yang asked. "That… part I haven't quiet figured out yet. But I-"
"Okay stop just stop. Look if this thing goes south it's not something we can just fight out way out of. This is the Atlas Military were talking about. For your sake just drop this full thing." Qrow said, knowing full well the risk of this hare brained plan Jaune came up with. "I want to hear him out." Ruby said definitely. "Ruby-" Qrow began but his niece beat him to the punch. "I want to hear him out! I know your trying to protect us, that your scared we can't do this but right now I don't really care what you think! Just because you don't have an idea doesn't mean were out of options. Oz hasn't been here to tell us what to do but we still managed to get this far without him. We've been in bad situations before and we didn't need an adult to come save us or tell us what to do. We just did it our way. And I say we do it our way. And if you think you can keep up with us kids we'd be happy to have you." Ruby said as Maria started to chuckle. "Looks like you didn't give her enough credit either." Qrow looked over from the old woman to his niece, seeing the determination in her silver eyes.
The Next Day...
Seagulls cried overhead of the Atlas airfield as Weiss followed Cordo to one of the various Airships pulling along a large suitcase, Saph holding Adrian in one arm and holding Snowla's hand in the other as two Atlas guards walked behind them. "I was relieved the hear that you came to your senses Miss Schnee. Many of us were devastated when we heard you'd be attending... Beacon Academy. Knowing that you'll be returning to Atlas just warms my old heart." Cordo said with a relieved smile. "It was time to get my act together and return to my roots." Weiss replied. "Oh I can't wait to see you follow in your sister's footsteps." "Absolutely." Weiss said with a cringing smile. "I'm sending two of my best guards to personally escort you. Make sure General Ironwood hears that part." Cordo said with a chuckle. "Allow me to assist you with your bag." One of the guards offered, picking up the suitcase from behind. "My what a heavy bag." The guard commented. "Oh that's alright." Weiss said trying to pull her bag away from the guard. "Allow me to assist as well." The second guard said joining the first guard as the three began playing tug of war with the suitcase, something Cordo and Saph noticed. "Just like we practiced you two." Saph said, Adrian and Snowla both nodded before the pair began crying rather loudly. "Oh no. Look at that these two are just going to miss you so much. You should hurry on out of here." Saph said as the guards noticed the crying children and went over to console them, performing various silly gestures giving Weiss the chance to board the airship. "That was too close." She said. "Is everything okay?" Ruby's voice emitted from Weiss's earpiece. "Calling me heavy. It's all muscle!" Maria said from within Weiss's suitcase causing it to rattle slightly. "Were on board." "Alright we'll all watch our scrolls, the second Weiss is out of the com towers range, that will mean she's out of the radar's range too." Ruby said to the other members as they stood on dirt beaten path along a seaside cliff. Meanwhile Yang and Blake made their way to the communications tower, Terra Cotta giving the pair some instructions on what to do so the city wouldn't lose communication. "You sure I shouldn't come with?" Yang asked as Blake began walking to the tower. "More intruders means were more likely to get caught, besides stealth isn't exactly your…" The cat faunus looked over to the blonde brawler who had a slightly annoyed look on her face as she crossed her arms. "I mean your great and I'll hurry back." Blake said nervously. Yang smiled at this. "Go on. I'll be waiting for ya." Blake smiled and made her way to the tower.
"Yes! It's all going according to plan!" Jaune cheered, when he saw Nora and Ren were looking his way. "Uh I mean Rodger." Jaune said into his earpiece which Nora and Ren chuckled at. Oscar saw Ruby looking rather worried, her gaze set on her uncle Qrow. "Hey this is gonna work." He said encouragingly. "Yeah...your right." The red huntress said.
Weiss sat atop a metallic bench watching her scroll as the bars began shifting from white to gray before getting out of her seat and heading for the cockpit and proceeded to beat the two guards single handedly and boot them out of the airship with a single parachute. "THIS PARACHUTE WON'T EXCUSE YOU OF YOUR TREACHERY!" One of the guards shouted as the black glyph around them swiftly disappeared causing him to cling onto his partner for dear life. Weiss sighed as the doors shut close as she returned to the cockpit alongside Maria. "And your sure you know how to fly this?" The heiress asked, somewhat skeptical of the old woman given her lack of sight. "Missy I was the Grimm Reaper. What part of best huntress of her generation don't you understand?" Maria asked. "Right but your eyes." Maria just laughed as she plugged into the airship. "You were saying?" She asked. "That you said your eyes were in need of repairs." Weiss argued only to be hushed by the old woman. "That was ages ago." She chuckled. Piloting the Airships whilst the others watched from the ground below, making sure Weiss was out of range. "Alright guys this is it." Ruby said as they went into the next phase of their plan. Cordo watched as the other Atlas guards kept an eye on the radar when one spoke up. "Ma'am there appears to be something on radar." Cordo walked over to the guard. "And who would be so foolish enough to enter out airspace unannounced?" The elderly woman asked. "It's us apparently Ma'am." The guard replied. "Airship 51 this is Argus base we see you've circled back what's your status over?" "Why can they see us?" Weiss asked. "Somebody dropped the ball. Don't worry I've worked with Atlas forces before I know there jargon." Maria said picking up the receiver. " Argus base this is Airship 51 thought we were going to scrub due to FOD but were back up across the board over." "Airship 51 return to base immediately or you will be seen as hostile over." "I thought you said you know there jargon!" Weiss said. "The jargon was fine but our pilots aren't elderly women." "Well they got me there. My mind really is going. Why would you kids let me fly this thing?" "Calavera! You and those insolent children are up to something aren't you?" Cordo's voice could now be heard. "You thought you could undermine MY authority? If you don't return my ship this Instant! I will make an example out of you. I will show you the true might of Atlas!" The sound of something crunchy being chewed was now heard over the intercoms. "You hear that Cordo?" Maria asked as she continued chewing on cashew nuts. "That's the sound of me not caring!" Maria laughed. "Ruby were in trouble up here. Cordo is on to us and Maria isn't helping! Why is the radar still up?" "We don't know. Blake isn't responding." Ruby answered, worry lacing her words. "What do we do?" Oscar asked. "Keep this ship in one piece." Yang said as she rode off for the tower. "Maybe we should fly over to help Yang and Blake first?" Nora offered. "Damn it! Cordo's gonna scramble her fighters. We've got maybe 90 seconds before there in the air and all over Weiss and Maria, This is all my fault." Qrow said dejectedly. "What are you talking about? Your semblance?" Jaune asked. "Every choice up until now has led me here and I dragged you all down with me. Oz, myself and the others. Were responsible for the mess the world is in right now. I shouldn't have come at all. Shouldn't have let any of you come. What was I thinking?!" Qrow asked. "Were all in this together. And were all going to do the best we can, that's all anyone can do. And I know its what you have always aimed for. We would have come wheter or not you let us So stop talking like were your responsibility because were not. But we can still use Qrow Branwen on our side." Qrow was silent for a moment letting his niece's words sink in before laughing. "How'd you grow up so fast?" "I had good role models to teach me." "Guys? She's not sending out fighters." Weiss said over her earpiece. Everyone turned back to Argus and the Atlas airfield to see the a large mechadroid leaving the two small mountains that resided on the airfield. "Clearly the people have forgotten they live in peace thanks to the awesome might of Altas!" Cordo's voice echoed from the mech as it raised its arm cannon into the air. "Consider this a reminder!" Cordo said as she fired off a large blast of lightning dust at the airship.
A/N: Hi everyone I have for all of you the next chapter for Lioness of Lore. And good news I'm feeling a bit better now! ^_^ Still sick though but not as bad. I was still stuck on tonight's chapter but I pulled through. I hope you all enjoy it. And Please review it makes me happy to know you all like my story and motivates me to keep going. See you all in the next chapter.