Somewhere Far Away
"Hanna, Lily, Tam and Penelope fought till the end, the last of the renegades were dead around them." Qrow offered Cindy a glass of beer, who just accepts it without much of an issue. "When I found them after the white light, they already bled out, but their hands still gripped tightly around the flying flag of the Patrol. I couldn't even get their hands off it, they held onto it like stone. A death grip."
He takes a swing of the flask.
"Hell, they died with a smile of victory." He grimaced as if remembering something. He looked at the leader of CTDK, whose eyes were tearing up at the thought.
"How did Emily's parent take the news?" She asked in a quiet voice.
"They knew what happened once I showed them her broken weapon. I said she died trying to take down a warlord." Qrow looked out the window at the island in the distance. "She died a valiant death… "
Cindy sniffles again.
"She didn't like to be a main hero in the books." Cindy gripped her cup. "She wanted to be the hero that is always in the shadow, the sidekick."
Cindy remembers all the times of their childhood playing pretend in the creek by their house. Going into the forest until night where they would camp out and watch Grimm migrations. The time they both got into Beacon.
And the time they were both chosen into the R.F.P. Where Emily would cover them during a dangerous infiltration mission with her sniper team as Cindy and hers storm into the building.
And the last time they laughed together.
"So any news from Argus or Vale?" Cindy asks Qrow, wiping her eyes.
"Vale is under military occupation by Mordred, and the city looks like a horror movie. They're there until things go back to normal in communications is established." Qrow takes a swing from his flask. "ROCK is back on Altimar, Mordred is almost fixed and is awake in Vale."
"Oh." Cindy sighs and takes a long drink. "So enough of me, how is Ruby and Yang?"
"Scarred is the right word now." He mumbles. "But safe. Yang's needs to get used to things again. And Ruby… She's… she'll be fine They're strong."
"She's special alright." Cindy looks at the mid-day sun. "Any word of ROCK? They disappeared after the base was established."
He hummed and leaned back into his chair.
"Well there's good news from them." Qrow smiles a little.
"Cyres is four months pregnant with Akaia's child." Cindy nearly spat out her drink. "They're happy about it too. They're expecting a girl in a month."
"She is?!" Cindy coughed a few times. "Didn't she fight Cinder and hordes of Grimms in one night?!"
"She's one hardcore woman." Qrow chuckles before his mood became serious again. "Cindy, I need you to listen."
"Right now, something is set into motion. The Remnant Frontier Patrol no longer exists and there are three factions at play for their own goals. Us, trying to undermine the plan before a world war starts. Mordred, who is shadier than Ironwood about his plan and possibly wants us out of the way. But either way, he wants to find Ozpin as well and has our back." He clasps his hand on Cindy's shoulder. "The rest of EBNY is in shambles, they're going to need time before going off the grid. But you and your team have a choice: go big, go home, or go missing. Either way, there will be many more sacrifices before this is all over."
"Which road do you take?"
Vale
In Vale, the Imperial Shadows are taking occupation of the desolate and grim city. They have set up a forward base in the west side of the city. Dozens of otherworldly ships are spotted hovering over the city where the Atlesian military once did. The sky is painted in swirls of white and pink as strange things seem to fall from the sky every while. Great buildings and tents were set up as their dwindling army grew slowly. The armored warriors would take in and guard the citizens that were left behind by evacuations.
No one knows who to fear, the Imperial Shadows marching down the streets or the hellish sights in the sky as their ships would come and go.
But one thing they do appreciate is them aiding the rebuilding process. Argus is seen repairing buildings and roads with Glynda occasionally, speeding up the process of rebuilding slightly. And his men would help find any missing people in the rubble of the city with the local Huntsmen.
Led by Argus, he is currently overseeing the entire city while trying to figure out a way to remove the Dragon from the remains of the CCT.
Mordred is partially moving about, tended in their base camp, he would oversee the process of rebuilding his legion to a working force while taking care of the city.
ROCK, or rather Akaia is would venture not too far from the base after Cyres' announcement to her. But Cyres would occasionally venture out to clear out the Grimm and create walls of hardened ice around settlements with Mel. As expected, Akaia became a bit protective of Cyres
-Unknown-
Gaheris marches up the steps of the jagged stairs of the otherworldly domain of hers. His rusty red armor is charred and cracked from the explosion that little red girl kicked him into the ship's motor and it still barred scratches and scuffs from the duel with Emily Trent. His halberd is stained with dripping blood of his last victim. His mechanical arms folded on his back as his lens glowed as if they are on fire.
His footsteps clanked against the jagged steps as he reached top. He faces the back a woman with white hair styled in a way that seemed impossible and dressed in a black robe that covered her body.
He cleared his throat to give his presence.
"I did what you commanded, Salem. What is my next move?"
Aaaand that's a wrap for this volume!
Stayed tune for possible filler chapters and Volume 4!