Chapter 53

We originally came to this restaurant because it reminded me of Waffle House back in America. Except it was centered around pancakes, but the reviews apparently said it had the best steak and eggs around. Emerald didn't eat steak often - and was more than happy to come with me to the restaurant.

Nora explained the situation at hand, and I listened intently. I was expecting this - Ren falling into the habit of pushing others away, and Nora feeling depressed as she felt herself being pushed away by her childhood friend and crush. It didn't help that Jaune and Pyrrha seeked time for themselves either, but Nora didn't blame them. Ever since they learned that Pyrrha would've died, the two were inseparable.

Still, they could have been a bit more considerate to the rest of their team. At the very least, they shouldn't hope that this situation would just sort itself out. Sure everything worked out originally, but…even if I had managed to save Pyrrha, we still lost a lot more. With the Grimm right on our doorstep there's nothing else for Ren to focus on unless we make him.

When Nora was done, I sighed and rubbed my eyes, clearly having prepared for this for a long time. I never talked about them much, but I really did appreciate the direction that the RWBY series took Nora and Ren's relationship.

Instead of the happy ending where they got together, like the path of romance that Jaune and Pyrrha had taken, the two put the idea of a closer relationship on hold for the sake of comfort, as well as the need to sort themselves out - Nora especially. I couldn't tell Nora that, of course. It was something she needed to handle herself, and Ren had things he needed to sort out alone as well.

I just hope Nora knows how much I'm rooting for her here. Nora and Ren are incredibly amazing characters, after all. They deserved their happy ending, just like Jaune and Pyrrha would this time around.

"You're gonna have to be direct," I finally said. "Ren will keep dodging the issue. He does very poorly under pressure, because he constantly feels like everyone needs him to be calm. But he's scared that he'll fail."

"That sounds like him..." Nora whispered. "He always took care of us when we were kids...even against the toughest Grimm. He was always the strongest."

"And now, he needs you to be strong for him. He won't say it - the last thing he wants is to feel like he's becoming unreliable," I continued.

"But he's always been so strong! Why would he feel like he'd fail us?" Nora asked.

"That's something you'll have to ask him," I said. "But know that he will never stop caring about you."

Nora looked down, deep in thought, before sighing with a light frown on her face. "If it's not too much to ask…is this how things went originally? Did I…succeed?.." Nora hesitantly asked, because of my potential reaction or because she might not like the answer she was given, I couldn't tell.

I developed my own mild frown as I thought hard. I didn't want to tell her too much and ruin her character growth, but I also didn't want to not say anything when she was asking for a helping hand in one of her greatest times of need.

"What difference would it make?" Emerald asked. She had been quietly eating her food this entire time. I know she didn't care much for the other's, so for her to throw in her own two cents was strange. Then again, she could just be trying to hurry this along so we could get back to our date. Yeah, that was probably it.

Emerald just rolled her eyes as both me and Nora stared at her with her own slightly widened eyes. "Knowing what he said originally wouldn't help with how much things have changed. Just look at me." Emerald said as she pointed a fork at her chest. "I was still supposed to be one of the bad guy's, yet here I am watching you snort pancakes like a vacuum cleaner. There's no way of knowing if his answer changed. So my advice? Find him, and beat it into him how much you love him, make sure there's no way he doesn't know what you're saying. If he says he loves you too? Then great. If not? Then at least you know, and can stop worrying."

Our table was silent after that. I honestly hadn't expected Emerald to be the one to give dating advice, and advice that was actually quite good. It would explain why she had been so forward after the initial confession, but it made me wonder if I had really been her first boyfriend. 'She might've learned to try and get Cinder's attention' a dark but amusing thought passed through my head.

Nora was clearly contemplating what Emerald had just said. Even if I gave her an answer, she would still want to hear it from Ren's mouth. Seeing her still thinking about it, I decided to give a, hopefully, vague enough but still useful answer.

"Ren…still pushed everyone away, things were a lot more stressful in some ways compared to what's going on now." Nora looked up as I began, her entire focus on me. "But, I know he didn't do it because he didn't care about you guys, he did it because he worries so much. You two finally sit down and have a heart to heart, and well...let's say that the answer you guys arrive at is uniquely you" I finished with a smile.

One that was reciprocated with a megawatt one from Nora, while Emerald just kept eating like nothing was going on. "Thank you. Both of you." Nora said as she looked between me and Emerald. Emerald just waved her off, but I could see the slight smile on her lips.

"So, what are you gonna do?" I asked as I crossed my arms, grinning.

"What I do best," Nora said with an even wider smile. "Break his legs!"

I couldn't help myself and laughed along with her. If only I could see Ren's face as Nora came barging in, hammer raised and screaming 'I LOVE YOU!' She quickly finished the rest of her pancakes in one bite, which was unsurprising yet still impressive nonetheless, given she had ordered a lot, and tossed down a few Lien cards. "I'll see you back at the base?" Nora asked.

I smiled. "See you, Thunder Thighs," I said. Nora giggled and waved a hand in an "Oh, you" fashion before walking out.

After Nora left, Emerald and I remained to begin ordering, when Emerald spoke up. "Thunder Thighs?" Emerald asked, and she looked down at her own lap - scratch that, her own thighs.

I laughed. "It's something Nora said the last time around. It was a gag or a joke or something. It was pretty funny though," I explained. "So, what do you wanna get?"

Brunch was uneventful, sharing pancakes while eating normal food that one would have for brunch - mainly steak and eggs, which were indeed the best around. Emerald and I spent the whole time talking and laughing, as well as feeding each other as normal couples do. After paying and leaving, Emerald and I made our way back to the streets, ignoring the others as we had planned on having the day to ourselves. Knowing about how rough the city was having it wouldn't help in any way.

We found an amusement park in an open field area, but it was overrun and abandoned - a ferris wheel overturned, and stalls torn down. The railings had been knocked over, and litter remained around the area. Hundreds sat in the park, using it as a shelter. It did make sense that there wouldn't be any recreational areas - not with everyone on edge by the Grimm and the sudden overpopulation from the evacuation of Mantle. We walked by the ex-amusement park turned outdoor refuge, continuing down the sidewalk through the immensely sized and packed city.

"Yeesh, you sure the city is a nice place for a date?" Emerald asked as a dirty look from one of the Atlesians walking by was shot at her.

"No. Just one spot we can have all to ourselves," I said reassuringly. "But first, we need to pick up food and stuff."

"What do you mean?" Emerald asked. I wouldn't answer her question, as I saw the location I was looking for - a small sandwich shop. "Wait, we just ate, didn't we?" Emerald said.

"This is for later," I said as I looked up at the menu. "Hmmmm, want the club? Or BLT?"

Emerald and I spent maybe fifteen or so minutes picking out a few sandwiches and chip bags, before leaving towards the edge of the city, nearing the mountains and away from the direction of Salem's Grimm. Luckily, with the hard-light shields in place, nobody was worried about people wandering out of the city. Patrols at the edge of the floating rock had been recalled, and there was nothing stopping us to get to the place we wanted.

A nice hike that lasted an hour and a half later - and Emerald and I were now on the sides of one of the mountains facing the glaciers on the far side of Atlas. It was gorgeous - with the large view of the mountains looking like static waves of a dark ocean at a distance. "I heard of this when I was digging around online," I said. I looked up any good spots on Atlas to be alone. Lover's spots and whatnot. And...they call this place the Iliad Watchtower."

"Sounds military," Emerald muttered.

"I know. No explanation for why...but it does fit Atlas," I said. "Normally it's closed because of the whole city quarantine thing. But they never said it was off limits. So I wanted to spend the whole day-"

"Fucking?" Emerald asked eagerly.

I flushed immediately at remembrance from last night, and I shook my head. "No," I said. "Just...cuddling. You know, spending time together. Hugging, kissing, talking and laughing together."

Emerald's eyes blinked as she stared at me. Then she smiled softly - her own cheeks darkening as she looked away. "That...that sounds really good. Nobody is around to take you from me."

I grinned back. "Yep. I'm all yours," she said. "Stealing my heart and all that."

I was surprised when Emerald's smile died down a little, and I felt a pang of anxiety in my gut. Did I say something wrong? I reached over, and luckily, she didn't lean away from me. But she still looked bothered. "Uhh, did I say something? I'm sorry, I-" I said awkwardly

"Umm...I don't like being reminded of thieving...it's what I did for my entire life...and a lot of it was from Cinder telling me to. That and...well..." Emerald said, and I recalled just how terrible her life had been. At once, I was crushed with the sheer stupidity of my words - trying to make what clearly had been a rough spot for her a good thing for the sake of a romantic line.

"Sorry," I whispered as I looked away. "I shouldn't be reminding you of that...things are different now."

"Hey, things are different. Because of you. Never forget that," Emerald said.

"Alright then. No more remarks on stealing and stuff," I said, regaining a bit of my confidence now that I know that the mood wasn't ruined. "I promise I won't do that again."

Emerald grinned. "I appreciate that," she said as she leaned against me. The two of us sat against the rocky wall, Emerald removing her weapons and setting them aside as she nestled her head in the crook of my neck.

I sighed gently as I rested my hand around Emerald's back and on her waist, pulling her closer. It was a tad bit cold up here, but the sun smiled down upon us, and the two of us kept each other warm.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Emerald said quietly, and I felt a tad bit confused at her apology.

"Why? It wasn't your fault," I said as I looked down, kissing her forehead affectionately. I heard and felt her giggle for a second before she sighed.

"Not the thief thing. Just...well, being possessive," Emerald whispered. "Seeing that redheaded crazy girl talking about her partner made me realize...well...I might be a bit clingy."

"Why is that something to apologize for?" I asked. "I mean, I almost died. I had to fight alongside Tyrian of all people against a hundred White Fang guys surrounded by explosives and Dust."

"I heard about that. You and Tyrian? Together?" Emerald asked. I saw her expression, and I held in a snort at just how bewildered she seemed.

"Long story," I said as I leaned my head back against the rock wall. "Honestly...that night. I needed that. And I think you did too..." I looked back down at Emerald next to me. "It was my first time."

"I figured," Emerald said as she looked back to the view - the sunlight illuminating the snowy tips of the various mountains below, as well as the glaciers that lay far beyond. "No offense, but you didn't know what you were doing."

I pouted. "I thought I was doing well," I muttered.

"You were. Just...sloppy," Emerald remarked. We shared a blush before I kissed her forehead again. "Just...you're one of the truly good things that happened to me. And...I'm not sure if what I'm doing is normal. I feel like I'm being too...too lovey dovey or clingy. Ugh, Mercury would kill me with jokes and teases for being like this."

"Right. Mercury," I mumbled, now feeling rather distracted.

"What about him?" Emerald asked.

I looked back at my girlfriend. "I don't want him to die. He's had it as bad as you..." I said softly, remembering my sympathies and worries I had for both Emerald and Mercury, as well as how their upbringings allowed Cinder to manipulate them oh so easily.

"Yeah. His dad was a piece of shit..." Emerald said, and I was surprised that she sounded a bit pained when she said that. Then again, Emerald really did care about him - especially when she tried to deter him in Volume 8. I was happy when Mercury seemed to take Emerald's advice to be careful when he and Tyrian were en route to Vacuo.

Vacuo...

I wonder if Mercury was on the way there now. Perhaps with Hazel, since Tyrian was clearly still here. Reese was at Vacuo as well, as was Sun, Neptune, and the rest of SSSN and ABRN. CFVY was in the desert wasteland of the kingdom as well. I hope they were doing alright, especially since the chaos was about to go there. Moreso if we weren't able to save Atlas.

I wanted to believe that I could save Atlas and everybody on it, including Mantle. But if I knew anything from playing the Mass Effect trilogy, sometimes there was no saving anything. What if anything I did or planned ahead of time would amount to nothing? What if in the end, everything we all worked for meant nothing?

What if I couldn't save anyone? What if I failed?

"Hey!"

I squeaked and looked back down at Emerald, a worried expression on her face. "Hey...are you alright? You're crying..." she said. I realized that my vision was blurry - and I quickly wiped my eyes clear of any tears. I hated when this happened...

"Sorry. Just...sometimes I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. But everyone around me expects me to," I said. "If I let them down, there's thousands...maybe millions of lives at stake, and I have to save them...but I don't know how. I-I thought I did...I thought I could plan, but with every change I make, every change that happens because of me..." I whisper, feeling my breaths shorten and quicken in pace. Emerald's hand pressed gently on my chest, and I tensed up, realizing how hard my chest was hurting.

Emerald leaned against me gently. "Everything is changing," she said quietly. "It isn't your fault. It won't be your fault. This is war - not a test. Not everything is in your control. You can only try your best."

"What if it's not enough?" I asked. "What if the best I can do can't do a damn thing to help everyone?"

Emerald looked down. "It's good enough for me. For your friends. They love you...and they know you only ever want to help," she said.

"But the people...the whole kingdom. I have to save them. I want to...I don't want anyone to die," I said, and Emerald squeezed me in a tight embrace. I blinked back tears and the urge to cry over my girlfriend. I absolutely hated feeling useless - it made me feel terrible in the worst ways possible. "The Gods themselves sent me here, if I can't even do this-".

"Shh," Emerald said, and I could tell she was fighting the urge to do something - judging by how hard she was trembling as I embraced her back. "It'll be alright," she whispered.

"I'm just scared," I confessed. "I want to help, but what if I made things worse? What if I got RWBY and JNPR into something worse? What if I-"

"Stop," Emerald commanded, and I felt her as she began to stroke my caracal ears. That action alone did wonders in calming me down, but not enough to stop worrying. But it was enough to make me quiet down and listen to her. "You will stop worrying about that...you picked a hell of a time to worry about it now..."

I remembered that we were supposed to be on our date, and that this was the second time that I was probably ruining it. "S-sorry, I-" I began to say.

"Enough. No more words. No more worrying. And no more crying," Emerald said as she leaned back from the hug and kissed me on my cheeks, right where tears were streaming down. I flushed at the affectionate action, and she smiled in concern at me. "It's just you and me. Until the day is over, it's just the two of us."

I saw an angel in Emerald. Her soft green hair blew lightly in the mountain wind, and her smile seemed almost perfect, her soft expression leaving me captivated. She was right - worrying wouldn't help. And I didn't need to be concerned with the world right now. Right now, all I needed was the perfect girl that had chosen to help me.

Call me a romantic, or cheesy as hell, but Emerald was perfect. I don't know how I ever got her on our side so early, or how I even got her to date me...but I was so glad that I did. And given any luck - I wouldn't screw up my chances with her, despite me being from a world that didn't belong.

And for the first time ever since I arrived on Remnant, my lack of belonging didn't bother me so much anymore. I kissed Emerald harshly, and she fought back with as much ferocity as I initiated. We didn't have sex on the mountain - all we needed was our embrace to be happy.

I truly felt at peace that day - when I was there with her.

- Atlas Training Rooms: a few hours later -

"Again," Ren grunted after being beaten back by Elm once again. He was fortunate enough to catch her in the training rooms, and even luckier that she agreed to help him train, but he still couldn't get her to go all out no matter what he did. It was frustrating.

"Nah, let's call it quits for today. All you're doing is tiring yourself out now. We can pick this back up later," Elm said as she walked over to Ren, offering him a hand. The kid was good for his age, but he couldn't really compare to an Ace Op, but nothing a little help from her and her team could fix. General Ironwood already had plans to get everyone to peak fighting ability.

"You can go" Ren continued to pant, as he refused the hand and tried to get up. "I've still got some things I still want to try. Do you have any advice?"

"Aside from learning to take a break?" Elm asked with an unimpressed lifted eyebrow, before she sighed. "Your mobility seems to be your greatest asset, finding a way to improve it would be your best option. Perhaps visiting Pietro and getting some tech like Harriet's. Or perhaps Vine for an aura technique? I read in your report you used one to blow up the head of a King Taijitu Grimm. In initiation, if I recall."

Elm would be lying if she said she wouldn't have scoffed at the idea that a shrimp like him could do such a thing. So she decided to test him out when he asked for help training. He was annoying to catch, but she had to deal with Harriet, so he was a push over by comparison. He also seemed to prefer using his weapons over any sort of martial art, which was what she mainly came for, but his hits still packed a punch.

"I see, thank you," Ren said as she lightly bowed his head to her.

Giving him a big grin, Elm clapped him on the shoulder, jostling Ren and forcing him to catch himself. "As long as you give me an even greater fight. But seriously, don't push yourself too much, I get that you and your team have a lot riding on your shoulders but you'll end up hurting yourself sooner or later. Let the professionals handle this as well," She finished, as she tried to give Ren a stern but reassuring look.

Ren bowed his head once more, and when she saw she wasn't going to get much else out of the boy, Elm left. Ren stood alone in the quiet arena for a minute, getting his breathing under control and absorbing everything Elm had told him.

THUD

The sound echoed around the room as Ren used his semblance to forcibly calm himself, his fist left in the dent he had made in one of the artificial training hazards. He truly wanted nothing more than to leave it up to the professionals, as they were still just kids. But they had failed, they weren't enough to stop Salem. They didn't have time to waste on resting. They didn't have time to go out and have fun. They needed to get stronger, so that they stood a chance without losing everyone again. But he seemed to be the only one that understood.

Ren pumped more aura into his semblance to help curb his rising frustrations, as he removed his fist and tried to settle into a meditative position to help clear his mind.

'It isn't really their fault,' he thought as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. They had been assured General Ironwood had things under control, but with the change in Salem's plans and further revelation's about the original future, Ren wasn't as idealistic.

Just as Ren was about to rise and continue training, his quiet solitude was interrupted.

"HHHHIIIIIIIIIIYYYYYAAAAAHHHHH!" Nora screamed as she flew towards Ren, Magnhild high above her head, ready to crush anything in its path. Ren's eyes bulged at the sight, making a frantic roll to avoid the incoming weapon. Magnhild hit Ren's previous position, violently cratering it and sending everything nearby flying.

Ren rolled for a bit, before digging Storm Flower into the ground and righting himself. "Wha-Nora?! What are you doing?" Ren asked as he stared, shocked at his teammate and closest companion. She would be the last person he'd expect to attack him so...so enthusiastically. Even when made at him she'd usually prefer the silent treatment or pranks. This was definitely new, and something even Ren couldn't expect.

"You and I are going to have a nice and long chat about our feelings, and I'll break your legs to stop you from running if I have to," Nora said menacingly as she pulled her hammer from the crater and started making her way forwards. She still wasn't too sure about using this method, but if this is what it took to get Ren's head straight then so be it.

"You're not thinking straight," Ren said as calmly as possible, and he was never more sure about that fact than ever before. Nora had never been this violent before - especially not towards him.

"Well maybe I am!" Nora shouted back as she took another swing at Ren. He immediately backflipped over the swing, and grappled up on one of the hard-light training towers a dozen meters away. Nora was right behind him, slamming her hammer down and using the momentum of the head coming down to send her body flying up towards Ren.

"What is this about, Nora?" Ren pleaded again, as he hopped onto one of the floating platforms, firing at Nora to help slow down her relentless charge. However he made sure to stick to the legs, not wanting to hurt her badly.

This didn't stop Nora as she just used another explosion to get her on the same platform as Ren, almost like she had done during initiation. "You know what this is about! You're pushing everyone away, pushing ME away, instead of acting like a team" Nora said, punctuating her point by taking multiple swings at Ren.

Ren avoided most of them, being so used to her fighting style helped, but he was tired from training earlier, and couldn't help the glancing blows that slipped through. "I'm not pushing anyone away! I'm trying to prepare for Salem, while the rest of you think it's better to go out galavanting!" Ren replied fiercely, the adrenaline and indignation causing his meticulous control of his emotions to slip.

"I'm the only one that seems to be trying to put up a fight!" Ren shouted, as he sidestepped another swing, before grabbing on and letting it drag it along it's path. At the apex of the swing, Ren let go and swung out bis leg, nailing Nora in the bag and sending her staggering.

Not letting this opportunity go to waste, Ren sped toward Nora, intent on quickly taking her down so he could finally get this mess over with.

Nora however proved why it took either Yang or Pyrrha to take her down, by recovering shortly after and swinging around to meet her friend head on, catching Ren's swing and leaving them in a lock. Ren knew he couldn't beat Nora en pure strength, he would need to try and disengage to pepper her with potshots from afar.

As Ren kept backing up however, Nora surpassed his pace with two of her own, not letting him get away from her. "You're not the only one fighting Ren! The entirety of the Atlas military, team RWBY, Jaune, Pyrrha, Markus, and yes especially you! We're all trying, even if we're not here everyday running ourselves to the ground!" she cried. "Why can't you think of anything other than yourself?!"

Seeing no way out, Ren fell backwards and pulled Nora along with her hammer, before pulling up his legs as he landed on his back, and flipping her over himself.

"Don't you see Nora?" Ren began as he slowly began pulling himself to his feet. Nora was right about him running himself into the ground, he was exhausted and still covered in bruises left by Elm, but he wouldn't give up. He couldn't.

"Everybody tried their hardest in the original timeline, they had months to prepare! They had all the resources of the Kingdom of Atlas at our disposal, and yet we still failed!" Ren shouted, completely forgetting about the fight, as he shouted at Nora who stood across from him. "Right now we have an army of Grimm on all sides and we still lost two academies despite having knowledge of the future. And we have NOTHING to show for it!" Ren gave one final shout.

Ren huffed and puffed, finally getting his worries off his chest. Usually he would be the last one to seemingly quit in these sorts of situations, but he would also be the first to point out how hopeless their situation seemed.

Nora slowly walked towards Ren, leaving Magnhild where it lay. She winced at the thought that maybe she shouldn't have ambushed him like this, but she was finally getting him to open up, and she wouldn't waste the opportunity.

Laying a hand on his shoulder, Nora tried her best to convey as much support and determination as she could. "But we have, Ren," She began once he locked eyes with her. "We still have Pyrrha, we still have Ozpin, Ironwood trusts us completely and Robyn Hill is doing her best to work with him. What's the point of working so hard to win if you can't enjoy that win with us? With me?'" Nora finished sadly.

Both were silent for a long moment. Nora worried that Ren was trying to clamp up again, that all her efforts here had been wasted. Nora was preparing to grab onto him and shout as much as she had to, to convince him that this wasn't the right way. But Ren went to speak before she did, and what he said saddened her even more.

"What would be the point of celebrating if I couldn't even protect any of you?" Ren said, admitting one of his darkest fears to Nora. Her will was more than enough to crumble his own, breaking down the walls that he had spent so much time putting up. 'Why did I even bother with her around?' Ren thought amusingly. 'I should've known she'd just break them down with her hammer.'

His already low Aura, that she had made even lower, wouldn't allow him to cheat by using his semblance anyways, so he didn't bother stopping him from being honest with himself or her.

Nora just hugged Ren tightly, as if trying to ingrain the feeling into his very being and proving that she would never leave. Ren returned it just as fiercely.

"You're a big dummy, you know that?" Nora murmured into his shoulder. "I was terrified as well when I heard we had lost Pyrrha originally, how we lost so many of our friend's to Salem. But that's why we need to stick with each other, Ren" Nora continued, before lifting her head and trying her best to look into his eyes from their embrace. "We've always worked best as a team, we'll always have each other's backs."

"I'm sorry," Ren let out a sigh, but could keep the smile off his face. "I just…I thought that if I focused hard enough on the task, that I could contribute and actually be doing something important. We're just orphans Nora, orphans thrown into a war for the fate of Remnant," Ren said, the smile on his face starting to fall.

"I know Ironwood's got a plan for us - and I know we're helping Mantle - Team RWBY's-" Ren began to ramble, the smile on his face continuing to slowly die.

Not wanting to see it go, Nora bonked Ren on the head, getting his attention back on her. "Hey, none of that. We'll get through this, together," Nora said before giggling. It was music to Ren's ears. "Honestly we'd be lost without you. Who'd be the one to keep a cool head and make me pancakes?!".

"Well, Weiss usually has to keep team RWBY in order, even if she gets riled up sometimes. And I'm sure Yang or Jaune could make my recipe no problem..." Ren finished lamely, running out of excuses to stick with his ideals. Then again, Nora was a force of stubborness to be reckoned with - and he knew trying to fight it was futile in the end - for better or for worse.

"That's not the point Ren!" Nora cried, shaking Ren still within her hug.

"Sorry…" Ren laughed lightly. "You know I've never been good with talking."

Nora lifted her head again from his shoulder, gazing into his eyes as she lifted a hand and cupped his cheek. "Then screw talking," She said before the two locked lips in a passionate kiss.

- Iliad's Watchtower

I blinked as I sat up from cuddling against Emerald. "Somehow, I think I missed something important," I said.

"Oh?" Emerald asked as she looked up to me.

"Yeah," I said, before shaking my head, leaning back against Emerald. "Ah, it'll come back to me later."

"Yeah. So..." Emerald said. "Back to talking."

"Yeah. So, it's basically a galaxy-wide extinction event that happens every 50,000 years, called a cycle. And it's been several million years by now-," I said, falling back to explaining my favorite video game trilogy of all times. "-and this race of intelligent machines comes in from dark space to basically slaughter everyone and restart."

"Machines? Like the knights Atlas makes?" Emerald asked.

"No, these are giant living spaceships, like two kilometers long," I said. "They're called Reapers. Well, they're called something else but we don't know what so we just call them Reapers." I was unfortunately interrupted by a scroll call. Sighing and backing away from Emerald in order to pull my scroll from my pocket, I answered. "Hello?"

Winter's face appeared on the screen of my scroll. "Onissa, you have been called back to headquarters at once," she said sternly. I could hear Emerald grit her teeth at Winter's voice, and I sighed.

"Alright, on the way," I said before cutting the call. Looking at Emerald, I frowned at her anger, and looked down awkwardly. "Sorry. Duty calls and whatnot," I mumbled.

"It's fine. Should've expected it," she said. "Still, I thought we had a few days off."

"So did I," I grumbled. "I'll ask about that. For now, we have a long walk ahead of us."

Emerald smiled and brushed up against me. "We'll survive," she said. I smiled back before kissing her on the lips briefly - a little but hard peck to her lips. Giggling, she kissed back before the two of us made our way back down the mountain, down the long path that led back to the city of Atlas and its huntsman academy.

- General Ironwood's office, 2 hours later -

Emerald hadn't been called, so she went to the dorms while I made my way to the headmaster's office. As I walked, I couldn't help but wonder why I was being called - especially since I was still on leave after the White Fang debacle. Luckily, the thinking distracted me from the long walk, and I made it to my destination in what only felt like a few minutes.

I walked into the office to see Specialist Winter Schnee, General Ironwood, and Ace-Op Team Leader Clover Ebi standing at the large circular table. Near the table was all of team CRDL as well, in their combat attire with weapons on their backs or belts.

Penny and Liya stood in the back of the room, by General Ironwood's desk. "Markus!" my Beacon partner said, and she ran over to hug me. I was definitely surprised by the hug, but I returned it moments later. "What happened, are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah. White Fang stuff, it's all over now," I said as the two of us separated. "What about you?"

"We are discussing something very important!" Penny chimed in.

"How important?" I asked. Surprisingly, Liya didn't answer right away. She looked away from me, almost as if she were hiding something. "...what's going on?" I asked as I looked around - seeing Winter's and Clover's hardened expressions, as well as CRDL's somewhat confused faces - indicating that they were likely in the dark as much as I was. It didn't seem to be the case for Penny and Liya, however. "You called me on the first day off on leave. How important is this?"

General Ironwood sighed as he crossed his arms. "I suppose there is no way for us to sugarcoat this, especially given the circumstances we find ourselves in. We want Miss Eyla to become the Winter Maiden," he said.

I blinked. Surprise was etched on my face, and I couldn't say any cognitive sentence in response to that for a while.

"What?" I finally whispered.