In a grassy field, Yang lay on her back and stared at the sky through the fingers of her mechanical arm. Sunlight streamed through her fingers, lighting her violet eyes and reflecting off her golden hair. The field was in a secluded area of one of Vale's many parks. It was a good thing for her, as even now she was considered a great beauty. Though she regularly appreciated and returned the affection and attention shown her by interested men and women, she wanted seclusion for the moment. Today, there needed to be some silence in the outside world. There was plenty of noise inside her own head at that moment.
As she lay there, she thought. She contemplated the past, pondered the future, and did everything she could to not think on the present. The combined councils had met recently in secret regarding Vale's recent discovery. Suffice to say, the additional details now provide by Vale did not improve the quality of dialog between the Four Kingdoms. More information led to more questions; actions led to criticisms; and, without either Mercury Black or Emerald Sustrai lifting a finger, the Kingdoms were at each other's throats.
Only quick thinking by Councilwoman Coco Adel prevented another war by suggesting a trial for the two renegades after the conclusion of Ren and Nora's mission. Yang wanted to kiss the older woman for coming up with that, and wanted to flatten Councilman Whitley Schnee of Atlas because of who he suggested for judge.
Cardin BLOODY Winchester! Of all the people to suggest, he suggested Cardin Winchester!
Cardin, after the fall of Beacon and through the War, had become a Soldier of some note. After the end of hostilities, he changed careers from huntsman to lawyer; chasing the criminals who followed Salem down with the pen rather than his mace.
His reputation was that of a fair and impassioned barrister, but Yang knew the truth: Cardin was a sanctioned psychopath, a hanging judge in purest form. If it hadn't been for her own maneuvering, several neutral towns and villages would have been burnt by Cardin's blind zeal. Now, that man had the final say in the fate of two people and the fate of five Kingdoms.
"There you are." A familiar voice said. With a start, Yang sat up and looked into Blake's golden eyes.
"Where else would I be?" She asked back, her surprised tension slowly draining.
After all the years, she still felt on edge when surprised. The aftereffects of the war's stress remained as deep a wound for her as the stub her mechanical arm was attached to.
Blake stiffened slightly at the brisk response, but regained her graceful stance shortly after. She and Yang were close, and always had been. Sun had helped the two reconcile after the battle of Haven, and they remained close thereafter. They were always friends, occasionally lovers, and as permanently in each other's corner as anyone could possibly be.
A breeze carried the scents of the sea and the mountains across the field; blowing Yang's hair to the side and gently ruffling Blake's dress. Blake moved and sat beside Yang, brining her knees up to her chest in a loose hug.
"You're worried about how this is going to go, aren't you?" Blake asked.
"I'm surprised your not." Yang replied, "If this goes the wrong way, we're going to have another great war."
"Maybe, but another fight was always bound to happen." Blake said quietly.
Now, That's a surprise! Yang thought in shock. Blake had always been an advocate for peace. It was her life's work, and Yang could not fathom how that could be Blake's line of thinking. "Why do you say that?" was all she asked.
"Because that's what we have to think." Blake said, "If we ever think that everything will be fine, we will do exactly what Ozpin did; become lax, and make ourselves vulnerable to the next version of Salem."
"That's certainly a cheerful way of thinking." Yang said, turning to Blake, "If that's the case, why are you in the 'do nothing' camp?"
Blake turned to Yang, the setting sun casting a bronze glow her skin, Damned if she isn't still pretty Yang thought.
"Because our job is to keep that next fight away, if only for one more day." Blake said.
…
Jaune grimly watched the Soldiers drill.
Thursday's were dedicated to practicing weapons skills and formation fighting, a holdover from TaiYang's leadership of the force, and Jaune insisted that the practice continued. He thought of some of the darker days during the past two decades, nighttime raids and daytime tragedies. Drills like these prevented debacles like those. Drills like these prevented the many mistakes he had made.
He remembered those fights, and what it had nearly cost.
Your semblance won't always save them. A dark corner of his mind spoke, showing images of an impaled Weiss and a wounded Qrow. It displayed, prominently, a rocket locker blasting off.
"That won't stop me from trying." He growled back at the darkness.
He heard steps behind him, he turned to see a young faunus lieutenant walk up. The gigantic frame and nervously twitching rabbit ears gave him away.
Velvet and Yatsuhashi's son. Jaune thought. "Yes, Soldier?" He asked.
"Sir, the Counsel requests your presence." The young man saluted.
Jaune saluted back, "Tell the Counsel I'm on my way." He replied.