Chapter 13: A Night Out


It had been a while since Neo had stepped foot inside the safe house. She still remembered when Roman bought it. She had only been 13, just shy of her fourteenth birthday. At that point, she still behaved like a shy little girl, despite being in the criminal underground for a long time. Her hair had been brown at that point before she had used her semblance to change it. It had been a different era.

Midtown was the perfect place for people to live. It was far away from the Crater and boasted the nicer houses in Mantle. Away from the edge of no tomorrow, or the Northern Wall, as people formally called it. It was a two-story townhouse, made entirely out of brick and mortar. It had a white picket fence and black shutters on the windows. A normal family home that was anything but normal. It hadn't been used in a long time, until now. Neo reached for her scarf, pulling out the key she had hidden beneath it. She looked around for a moment before sliding the key into the hole, stepping inside.

She grasped Hush's handle as she walked further into the apartment, noticing the light of the fireplace in the living room. When she fully stepped in, she saw the woman whom she most hated, staring out the window into Midtown, or rather, staring up at Atlas. She didn't even turn to face her, content with just looking upward.

"It's about time you showed up. I don't like being ignored, Neo."

"Sue me, I had work to handle and these protests don't make getting around Mantle any easier," her scroll chirped. This was enough to make Cinder turn to face her. She glared at the mute girl, who only quirked a brow, typing into her scroll. "Intimidation doesn't work on me anymore, I've faced far too much shit out in the wild for that."

"So it would seem… tell me, why or why did you decide to leave me all by my lonesome in Argus? We agreed to venture here together. Yet you broke your word… how can I trust you, knowing you've had a few months to foster solid bonds with Ruby and her lackeys?"

Neo narrowed her eyes, leaning against the door frame. "I don't know, but perhaps winding Adam Taurus up wasn't a wise idea. He hurt one of my friends really badly."

"Friends? How peculiar."

"I misspoke. Regardless of that, we had to prioritize getting to Atlas, it was something we had no time to decide." Neo said, reaching into her pocket. She pulled out her old scroll, tossing it to Cinder, who caught it with ease.

The black-haired woman opened the device, seeing the information that was on screen. She tapped it, her eye widening as she saw what was written inside. "Project Amity?"

"The Good General is cooking something big. He plans on turning Amity Colosseum into a new Communication Tower. A Satellite far from the reach of the Grimm. He plans to broadcast a message to all of Remnant."

"A message?" she queried, smirking. "What kind of message?"

"The kind of message that will light a fire under your ass. He plans on telling the world everything, about why he closed the borders, why he imposed the embargo. About the Maidens, the Relics, and most importantly of all, about Salem." Neo's scroll spoke, causing Cinder to turn around, glaring at her.

"He cannot be serious. The fool, a message like that will only bring death and destruction to Atlas, even his military isn't up to snuff. It'll just make Salem's entrance into Atlas that much easier."

"Is that a problem? The way you speak makes it seem like it bothers you." Neo said, making the woman growl.

"It doesn't bother me in the slightest, but Salem cannot arrive yet. Before she does, I must attain the Relic of Knowledge. As for you, our deal still stands, you may have Winter, so long as the Staff of Creation is brought to me." she said firmly, placing a hand on her hip. "Tell me, have you found a way to the Vault?"

Neo shook her head. "That place is tighter than a politician's asshole. You need Class S clearance to even get close to the vault. Not only that, I have no idea where they're keeping the Winter Maiden. I know she's being kept in Atlas Academy, but no one and I mean no one, knows where she is. I doubt even Winter Schnee knows where she's being kept,"

Cinder growled, hand bursting into flames. Her eye was glowing brilliantly, flames erupting from it as she glared at the woman. "I gave you an easy task and you've disappointed me. How is it that you've been here for so long and haven't found her location?"

"Oh fuck you! You think it's easy hiding among soldiers? To act and behave like a wallflower and get information for free? It doesn't work that way, sweetheart. You need to pay to get information, and sadly, information is a lot to ask for. I have been working my ass off earning the trust of everyone around me so that I could get you what you have now. And what have you been doing? Bitching, moaning, growling, and blaming Ruby Rose for all of your failures. Shut the fuck up and let me do my goddamn work."

Neo was certain her reply would have had more impact if she had the ability to speak. But it still held all of her anger. Cinder seemed to calm down, her flames dying down. She glared at Neo, who held her glare without backing down.

"I'm… sorry, okay? Do you think it was easy for me to leave Argus? Sailing across the sea at a low altitude was bad enough. I had to fight off Grimm, crash landing south of here. The walk wasn't that much easier for me either. I just… want to prove to Salem that I'm not worthless."

The mute girl frowned, looking away from her nemesis. Despite hating her, her words rang true to her. She knew what it was like to feel like she was useless. With speed she didn't know she had, she typed out a message, holding her scroll out to her. "No one is useless, Cinder. I don't know why it is that you work for Salem, but I'm certain she'll appreciate your efforts."

"Heh… don't misunderstand… the only reason I am here is to redeem myself. And in order to do that, I must acquire that which has been taken from me. The Relic of Knowledge and we must get it before it is sealed away in Atlas Academy's vault." she said, glancing back at the ice cream-themed woman. "Tell me, have the questions been used?"

"Questions? That thing can answer questions? That bastard Ironwood never told us what it even did. I just thought it beamed knowledge into your mind or something," the woman replied, causing Cinder to laugh.

"Oh Neo, you arrogant fool. Clearly, you've left yourself open and have had the wool pulled over your eyes. That trinket is much more useful than you think. It could have answered any 3 questions you wanted. The Staff allows you to create anything you want, but it cannot destroy anything. The Sword lets you destroy anything but it cannot create, and finally the Crown… it supposedly presents you with a choice, at the cost of something dear. I've yet to learn what that is,"

She flicked her cloak, stepping back to the window, staring up at Atlas. "The only reason Atlas floats is because the Staff keeps it afloat. All of the technology spreading through Remnant? It is only in development because the Staff let them create things. And when it falls into my hands well… let's just say finding the Spring and Summer Maidens will be a lot easier…"

Several explosions rocked the area, causing the pair to share a look. Neo darted toward the front of the house, stepping through the door. She looked to the distance, noticing smoke billowing from the outer wall. Several screams filled the air, followed by the roars of Grimm. Within a few seconds, Harpies, Sabyrs, and Megoliaths were hurtling through the wall, heading straight toward the people. She grabbed Hush, about to draw it when Cinder caught her wrist.

"What do you think you are doing?"

She gestured with her head, miming a few things at her. She didn't look amused. "You don't have to play hero when you are with me. Let the Atlas Military deal with them."

Neo let out a silent growl, wrenching her wrist free. "I AM the Atlas Military! I am not going to let those people die to the Grimm. I may be working for you but innocent people don't have to die." she mouthed, before dashing away, Hush tightly in her grasp. Cinder watched her go, eye narrowing in thought.

"So… your allegiances have changed, haven't they, Neo? I suppose I'll have to keep a close eye on you… a very close eye."

Just as she turned away, she heard a shrill scream. She saw a man, holding a little girl in his grasp. He tripped over his own feet, turning in time to shield the girl. He backed away, seeing a Sabyr slowly approaching, licking its maws. He pushed the girl behind himself, forcing himself to stand up.

"Run, Cecilia!"

"No! I won't leave you, Daddy!"

He crossed his arms just as the Sabyr pounced, closing his eyes as he awaited his death. Only it never came. He opened his eyes, having heard something whiz by him. He noticed a flaming blade sticking out of the Sabyr's head, its body disappearing in shadowy whisps. He looked in the direction where the blade had come, giving Cinder a thankful look.

"T-thank you, Miss."

"If you don't want your daughter to be torn apart by these vile beasts, I'd advise you to hide. Now go!" she exclaimed. He scooped his daughter into his arms, speeding away up the street. She shook her head, closing the door behind herself. "Idiot, now is not the time to get sentimental."

xxx

"Aaahh… you hear that? That's the sound of a job well done." Cadence said as she stretched on the stage. The screams of Mantle's citizens along with muffled gunshots and Grimm echoed through the building. Those sounds made her absolutely giddy. "I wasn't expecting anything to come about from Ivy's speech but man… Jacques Schnee threw us all a curveball, props to him!"

"This is sick! You had those men blow holes in the outer wall, why? Why? How does letting Grimm into Mantle help anyone?" Harmony screamed, causing her daughter to sit up. She had a look of absolute fury on her face. "This is not how we raised you, Cadence. You wanted to become a Huntress!"

"That was before I was lied to! That was before I was abandoned by my partner! That was before a Nevermore decided to turn me into breakfast! Save your petty sentiments Mother, they are wasted on me. Cadenza DiCappriccio is no longer here, the woman that she's become has been reborn!" she said, holding her arms up high. "For the sake of the new world, we must let the Grimm cleanse us!"

"You have completely lost your mind!" Octavia shouted, standing at the edge of the stage. "Whatever that Salem woman told you must be a lie. You were not like this!"

"Hah… all she ever did was open my eyes. Dr. Watts reconstructed my body. Did you know how badly broken I was? When Tyrian found me, he was going to put me out of my misery. But Dr. Watts was taken with me. He called me his "Pet Project". He carried my battered and broken body back to Evernight Castle and I was enlightened. Sure being dipped in that pool was painful but I came out better than ever!"

Cadence stood up, looking down at her sister, crimson eye glowing brightly. "Why, I can do that to you too, Octavia. Maybe that way, you'd be a better dancer. It doesn't matter how many times you dance, how many times you train, you will never become the White Swan, all you'll ever be is nothing but a grungy ugly duckling. You aren't even fit to be called the Black Swan."

A gunshot tore through the quiet opera house. Cadence reached up to her face, feeling something hot on her palm. She looked at it, seeing a black liquid pooling in her palm. She let out a growl, reaching for her whip. "So, I'm gonna have to make you learn, won't I?"

"That's enough, Odette."

She lowered her arm, smiling brightly as she saw Arthur Watts walking down the aisle. He was followed by Antonio, whose face was completely pale. Harmony got a good look at him, gasping in shock. "But you… I thought you were…"

"Dead? Yes, that's what I wanted people to believe. I am doing my rounds and decided to see how my favorite experiment is doing."

"I'm doing wonderfully, Doctor. I'm so happy you've come by for a visit!" Cadence said cheerfully, jumping down from the stage. She gave the man a tight hug, looking at him rather fondly. "Octavia was being mean to me, will you cut her arms off for me?"

"Odette, darling, I can't just cut people's limbs off. Contrary to popular belief, I am a doctor, and doctors heal the wounded," he said, glancing back at Antonio. "Wonderful child you've raised here."

"She doesn't seem like she's mine these days,"

"That's because I'm not. I'm only here for convenience, and because you three idiots will make fine soldiers," she said, twirling a strand of pink hair around her fingertip. "Now then, Doctor, here's that object you saw no use in."

She held the Emotion Orb to Arthur, who felt himself grinning. He saw his reflection on the orb, feeling the urge to laugh. "I didn't think I'd ever see this thing again."

"Again? What do you mean by again?" Octavia questioned, glaring at the man. Harmony was hiding behind her oldest daughter, who still had her shotgun in her grasp.

"The explanation is simple, dear. I was on the team of scientists that created this. It is known as a Fear Energy Synthesizer. Its official name is the Crystal Nexus. An artificial device that was said to pull Grimm away from cities, by producing negative emotions through fear." he said, taking the orb into his grasp. "Alas, the project failed when we realized Grimm aren't attracted to Negative emotions alone. They're attracted to our aura, our very souls."

"Grimm are… attracted to our aura?" Antonio asked, earning a nod from the man.

"Indeed they are. By the time the scientists discovered that well… millions of lien had been pissed away on this. Because of this, the Council shut down the laboratory responsible for its creation. Fort Arrowfell was constructed over it as a coverup and then abandoned after a very strong 'horde of Grimm' put the soldiers at risk. The sole fact this was still kept there… well that is just hubris. Ironwood should have had his bases covered, yet this managed to slip through."

"It goes to show how much of a rage boner he has for protecting this shithole. Wait until Our Mistress arrives. He'll start wishing he put more time into earning the trust of Mantle's citizens, instead of getting them all pissy at him," Cadence said, laughing.

"But that works in our favor, doesn't it? If all of Mantle is against him, no one is going to fight for him. That makes things easier on all of us." Arthur said. An explosion rang out, just outside of the Opera House's doors. Octavia moved forward, reaching into her pocket.

"If you two are done pussyfooting around, we need to protect this place. Like it or not, if you are going to treat this like your base of operations, it can't fall. I don't trust Ironwood's lackeys to do shit."

"I must say, you are a daring woman, aren't you? Tyrian told me what you did earlier today," the doctor said, causing Octavia to look at him. "Killing some random journalist, trying to throw Ironwood off Ivy's trail… I'm afraid that won't work."

"And why do you say that?"

"Oh, you'll see." he chuckled, glancing back at Cadence. "I didn't just come by for a visit. Tyrian didn't just see your sister out there. It seems someone else has arrived."

The lanky man threw one of his scrolls at Cadence, who caught it with ease. She flicked it open, seeing the picture on the screen. It was a picture of Cinder, the woman was hiding behind a dumpster, just as a regimen of AK-200s walked past the alley she hid in. Cadence let out a giggle, which evolved into a shrill laugh. She tossed Arthur his scroll back, throwing her head back.

"Hell yeah! I can finally get my kick-ass maiden powers! That stupid bitch won't know what the fuck hit her!" she said, looking back at the doctor. "Have you made contact with her?"

"Not yet, I didn't think I'd be prudent to initiate that. For the time being, I believe it would be best to lay low. Let our Mistress arrive, once she makes contact, you swoop in, stab her in the back and steal those powers." the man said, picking at his nails. He looked up at the girl. "I must however ask… are you sure you are worthy of those powers?"

"Worthy? I don't know anything about that… but I've certainly earned them. If not through my hard work then through my virtue. I was ready to throw away my life to become a Huntress. I let myself be brainwashed by Ozpin's ideals. But no longer, I will use those powers for the greater good, that being, helping our Mistress." she said, looking away from the man. "That's how I'll earn my ticket to the next world~"

"Sir! There are Grimm in the courtyard!" an usher shouted.

"Fucking hell, will you stop spouting about powers and the next world and do something? For fucksakes!" Octavia shouted, darting forward. Cadence sighed, flicking her wrist. Her whip returned to her, shifting to its sword form.

"Pardon my sister's lack of manners, Doctor. She wasn't taught how to behave herself,"

"Don't fret, Odette. You focus on what you have to do, and I will be enjoying the fruits of your labor. I must get going, Tyrian is in my ear and he's laughing up a storm. I can only imagine the carnage he's bringing to Mantle." the man said, giving the pinkette a bow. Antonio watched the man go, turning back to his daughter.

"Just what have you embroiled yourself into?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Father. I hope when they arrest Ivy they don't come looking for you too. Alas, I have work to do. Mommy, stop hiding like a little wuss, grab a gun, and start shooting! The faster you learn the easier it'll be to adapt~" she said, jumping off the stage. She gave her father a kiss on the cheek before leaving, skipping merrily toward the entrance hall.

"Antonio… What do we do? Our daughter is unhinged!"

"There's nothing we can do, Harmony. That traumatic experience changed her… and it's all because of that bastard teammate of hers. If he was standing in front of me, I'd shoot his face off."

"Don't blame him for her actions. He was busy just like everyone else during the battle of Beacon. Our sister's actions are nothing but her own. I want nothing to do with her." Harmony said, swiveling on her foot. "I mean it, if she came here to bring us more problems, she should have stayed dead,"

He watched his wife go, reaching into his pocket for his flask. He unscrewed the top, only to find it was empty. He frowned, shaking his head. "Goddamn it all,"


Location: Atlas Academy

Levi frowned as he leaned against the back wall, scroll in his hand. He was watching a live news feed from Mantle. The Atlas Military had partially been deployed, dealing with the first brunt of the Grimm that had started attacking the city. Yet despite everything, three days had passed. Three days of absolute chaos and pandemonium on the streets. He and the rest of his team had been recalled after the first evening, as had all the Atlas Academy graduates. The Military had been activated and the General needed all of the Huntsman and Huntresses back in case Atlas was breached. Of course, that didn't happen, but it didn't change things.

As the camera feed changed, there were images of protesters being shoved in the back of police cars. Thousands of arrests had been made during the night, belligerent protesters who had been looting, vandalizing, and even flipping over cars. The Police had opened fire on several people, and hundreds had been injured. He didn't know what the death toll was at, but it was already in the thousands. He made his blood boil.

All of this wouldn't have happened if Jacques hadn't called that press conference. That was the catalyst, it had given the 5th Street Cobras everything they needed. Several of their members had been arrested. King Cobra, their leader, was also being hunted down all across the Kingdom. Setting charges on the perimeter wall had been his call, and because of him, fear and panic spread throughout Mantle. That attracted the Grimm…

"Fucking bastard, if only I had found out his identity. If I wasn't taken off the case, maybe I'd have found something else." he muttered under his breath, closing his eyes for a moment. He looked back at the news report, seeing several campaign posters, all of them being covered in paint. Devil horns had been drawn on Jacques, while someone drew glasses and a mustache on Robyn's. Even Ivy's hadn't been spared. It added a bit of humor to an otherwise terrible situation.

"Mantle is still being subjected to citywide lockdown. Although the rioting is finally under control, how does it feel that a majority of those involved were your supporters?" the reporter asked, holding his microphone outward. To Levi's surprise, it wasn't Ivy he was interviewing, but Robyn Hill. She had a look of disappointment on her face.

"I do not condone rioting, especially when our city is being denied aid for the hardships we already go through. Jacques Schnee's latest stunt had severe consequences, consequences that will take months to repair. It is nothing but an insult, holding an entire city hostage for his political gain," she spat, causing the reporter to shudder. "I understand their anger, but ask that they show it not in the streets, but in the polls today,"

The interview cut back to the studio, where the anchor sat, smiling at the camera. "That was candidate Robyn Hill's response to the last three days of rioting. The Polls have been open since 8 am, and already, we are seeing an increase in Robyn Hill's votes. Jacques Schnee is close behind, holding 32% of the votes while Miss Ivy Brown carries the rear, with 18%. In last place is last-minute candidate, Pearl Whistier with 1% of the votes."

"Who the fuck is Pearl Whistier?" he audibly said, causing the others to stop and look at him. Weiss let out a sigh, shaking her head.

"Levi, we came to the training room to train, not watch the news." she scolded, causing him to frown.

"Can you blame me? After the last three days of standing around worrying, I just want to see how things are going. The General didn't even let us fight for that long," he said, ears drooping down. "I feel so useless… what's the point of being a Huntsman if I can't help the people?"

"I asked myself that, but we have our priorities too, Levi," Jaune said, forcing a smile onto his face. He held his hand out to him. "Come on, a little hand-to-hand will make you forget that political bullshit."

Levi looked at his hand for a moment, chuckling as he clasped it. "Fine, but don't go crying to Nora when I beat you silly,"

The pair stepped back toward the center of the arena, and without warning, Jaune ran forward, throwing a punch at Levi's face. He blocked it with his prosthetic arm, throwing a kick at the man. He darted forward, somersaulting into a downward kick, which Jaune easily blocked, using his aura as a shield. Levi swept his legs around, landing a triple kick on his face before kicking off his armor, sending him tumbling back into a wall.

Levi darted forward, leaping into the air in a backward somersault, bringing his leg down on Jaune, who ducked out of the way in the knick of time. He reached for his waist, drawing his sword, his shield popping open as he took a hold of it. Levi tilted his head, glancing at his friends.

"You see this? He said hand to hand and he goes and pulls out his sword. That means I was winning,"

"I said some hand-to-hand, not that I'd stick entirely to it," Jaune said, swinging at the faunus's neck. He deflected it with his arm, sending the sword down, kneeing Jaune in the chest. He threw two swift punches at him, both of which were deflected by his shield.

Levi dropped into a flip, dodging the horizontal slash thrown at him. He twirled his body around, simultaneously drawing Overture from his holster, extending his blade. He threw a forward jab, parrying with Jaune who threw a downward slash. Levi turned on his heel, redirecting the strike with the recoil of his weapon. He snapped his fingers, several glyphs flashing around Jaune.

He looked around, eyes darting in all directions before throwing a slash, slicing apart an ice shard. He turned back, blocking a fireball with his shield, timing his blocks and slashes. He turned around just in time to avoid a horizontal slash from Levi, sparks raining from their clash. Levi pressed forward, throwing a sweep, firing Overture. The recoil was enough to slam Jaune to the ground, knocking the air out of him. Levi flipped out of the way, avoiding a fire slash that would have done severe damage to him.

"Man, those two are going at it!" Yang said, looking surprised as the two men fought hard. Ruby nodded, eagerly watching the two.

"Who do you think will win? Jaune or Levi? I can't decide!"

"Definitely Jaune! He can recover his aura, Levi can't do that!" Nora boasted, earning a laugh from Weiss.

"You forget, Levi has a utilitarian Semblance. His aura may not recover like Jaune's, but he can certainly whittle it down enough to where he can't do anything,"

"You're just saying that because you wuv him~"

"I do not, Nora! Stop acting like a child!" the former heiress hissed, turning her attention back to Levi. Her cheeks flushed red as she watched him. Time seemed to slow down around him as he moved in slow motion, a glowing time glyph beneath his feet. She felt herself smiling, pride surging through her. "He's taken a liking to that glyph, it is one of my favorites. Glad I was able to teach him."

Nora giggled, jabbing Ren's side while pointing at Weiss, making kissy faces which she completely ignored. He rolled his eyes, his attention back on his team leader. Alto was watching everything unfold, mentally jotting things down. "I can't wait to have a go at Jaune myself. I've been training hard with the Ace-Ops! I've incorporated a lot of Aria's style and Pyrrha's stance changes into my own. I wanna see how far I've come!"

"Perhaps waiting until Jaune recovers from this bout will be ideal. I don't think he can take Levi and you as well," Ren advised, patting her head. "I've seen your improvements, I'm sure he'll be impressed."

She grinned, ears happily twitching as she watched the fight. Jaune let out a shout, sending a wave of hard-light at Levi, who angled his blade in time to deflect it. He spun his weapon around, simultaneously loading a shell into it, firing it at Jaune who had no choice but to block it with his shield.

Levi darted forward, swinging his sword to and fro, loading bullets whenever he could. The recoil of his weapon increased the strength of his strikes, the energy making Jaune wince. He finally pulled back, cylinder spinning to a stop on the Rock Dust Gem, his estoc glowing brown. With a cry, he swung his weapon, gritting his teeth when Crocea Mors parried it. He didn't lose momentum, summoning a brown glyph beneath their feet, a powerful sandstorm erupting beneath them.

"Ack… pfew… that's cheating, Levi! You can't just summon a sandstorm!" Jaune shouted, using his shield to block the sand. It finally died down, his eyes widening when he saw several glowing glyphs surrounding him. "Oh shit, this is-"

The ticking of a clock filled his ears as Levi darted forward, blade glowing white. He jumped from glyph to glyph, delivering a hard hit with each pass. He placed a vermillion glyph beneath Jaune's feet, blasting him through the air. The miqo'te faunus let out a shout as he flashed above the blond swordsman, taking him by surprise. Levi brought his sword down on him, simultaneously firing his last energy round, the recoil of which sent Jaune tumbling to the ground.

Everyone cringed, expecting Jaune to have lost the fight. But as the dust settled, it showed Jaune having used his shield to soften the blow, much to Levi's surprise. He landed in a crouch, slowly rising to his feet as he loaded more bullets into Overture.

"I gotta admit, I thought that one had ya."

"It almost did, but I thought on my feet, it's a skill of mine." Jaune boasted, causing Levi to chuckle.

"Yes, I am aware of that. We can continue if you'd like, but my aura doesn't recover like yours does. I'd rather not waste what I have left." he admitted. Jaune looked disappointed but nodded, sheathing his sword.

"A good huntsman knows when to call a fight. Good match, dude. You've become a force to be reckoned with. Weiss has certainly been teaching you all her tricks hasn't she?" he asked, making the man chuckle.

"Sort of, that little Time leap of mine was something I once saw her do. Took a bit of timing but I think I have it down pat."

"Still, the fact that you teleported above me was pretty sweet. I wish I could do that," he said, causing Levi to tilt his head.

"Teleport? What are you talking about, I didn't teleport."

Jaune looked at him in confusion. "Are you serious? You didn't launch yourself toward me, man. You were on the ground one second and the next, you were right above me. Didn't you see that weird spinning glyph beneath you?"

Levi shook his head, glancing at the others, who mostly shrugged. Jaune sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, I might've been seeing things. Kinda hard when you have sand in your eyes."

"Guess so, sorry about the sand by the way,"

"Nah, don't apologize, dude, it was a fight to test our skills," he said, turning back to the others, a grin on his face. "Now, who wants to-"

"Me! Me! Me!" Alto cried, shooting to her feet, Milo in her grasp. "Let's go, Jaune! I'm gonna kick your ass harder than Nora swings Magnhild!"

For a second, Jaune thought he saw Pyrrha standing before him. He swallowed the lump in his throat, tugging on his collar. "Let's make sure we-"

"No more talk, we fight!" she shouted, dashing toward him. Jaune let out a scream, which was drowned out by the wolf girl's excited laughter.

xxx

"Nice! Your recovery time is getting better," Oscar cheerfully said. Jaune had a smile on his face, while Nora congratulated him. The olive-haired boy looked toward Ruby, who had been dashing toward a nearby pillar.

To his shock, he saw her split into three distinct blurs, petals swirling around each one as she reappeared behind the pillar. She panted for breath, wiping the sweat from her brow as she looked around, blowing the stray petals out of her face. Oscar recomposed himself, giving Ruby a quizzical look.

"Have you always been able to do that?" he asked. Ruby tilted her head, a finger on her chin in thought.

"Not really… I don't really think about it, it just kinda happens."

Oscar nodded, a frown flashing on his face as he looked at the others. "Your semblances are evolving, and yet, I haven't unlocked mine."

"You bet we'll all be jealous when you finally get it," Ruby said, trying to be cheerful. She looked back at Ren, who had remained in his meditative state. He once told her that this was not only the best way to improve his semblance but also extend his aura. She was impressed with how focused he was, given all of the training and chaos going on.

She looked to the back of the training room, seeing Levi continuing his own training. He let off a couple of shots, launching himself backward through the air. He caught himself on a hard-light glyph before launching himself forward, slicing Winter's Nevermore entirely in half. He rolled across the ground, slashing at the hundreds of smaller birds aiming to overtake him. Just like Jaune had mentioned before, he managed to quite literally teleport out of the way, but it was so quick he probably didn't notice it.

An alarm started beeping loudly, causing everyone to stop what they were doing. Oscar and Ren hastily stood up, standing up straight as the alarm died down. The training room doors slowly opened, allowing the General entry into the room.

The man had a look of pride on his face as he stepped in, looking around at all of them. "Well, it seems Clover wasn't kidding. You're giving this your all. I am proud of how far you've all come."

"We… we sort of have to, given the way things are," Ruby said, deflating a bit. Ironwood didn't waste a moment, reaching into his pocket for his scroll. He projected the current poll results for them to see. They gathered around, staring at the candidates.

Robyn was currently at 70%, while Jacques held 29% of the votes. In a twist of fate and perhaps irony, Ivy Brown was at the very bottom, holding 1% of the votes. Levi stared at the numbers, holding back the urge to laugh.

"Oh… even all of the shit you pulled couldn't have saved you, Ivy. I hope you enjoy going to jail you dumb bitch," he replied. The General looked at him, saying nothing before proceeding.

"They're not doing so well, are they?"

"Better Robyn than Jacques. Given that bullshit he pulled three days ago, the fact that it got people killed, he doesn't deserve to win." Yang said, cracking her shoulder. She rested her arm on Oscar's shoulder, taking him a bit by surprise.

"It's the lesser of two evils really. Jacques pulled his stunt and held Mantle hostage, causing the people to riot. Ivy ordered those goons to attack the outer wall, even though she denied it, and Robyn is a thief with a 'you can trust me' smile on her face. Mantle is basically fucked, but hey, at least Robyn will do something for them." Alto said, hugging Oscar from behind. Due to him being shorter than her, the back of his head was right where her bust was, making him flush.

"Um… perhaps we could-"

"Whatever the case may be, Robyn winning will be beneficial for both Mantle and Atlas. This election, however, doesn't bode well for our stability," Ironwood said, interrupting Oscar, whose face only grew hotter.

"It could be a chance to work with Robyn. It'll help get Mantle on your side, General," Ruby said, causing the man to shake his head.

"The likelihood of that working–"

"She's right, sir," Nora said, cutting the man off. She had a serious look on her face as she looked directly into his eyes, not backing down from his hardened gaze. "You have to do something about Mantle. These last three days have been hard on all of them. The deployment of Atlas troops forcing everyone into their homes, some against their will, only angered them. They're pacified because of your orders. If you could get Robyn to trust you…"

"Perhaps if you open up to her, she'd understand that you're being framed," Jaune added, grabbing the man's attention. "Levi and Weiss uncovered everything, Ivy was the one who killed those people and made Mantle believe it was you. I'm sure that serial killer out there is someone she hired to stir the pot, make everyone distrust you more. Once she's arrested and it all comes to light, the chance will arrive."

The worn General sighed, bowing his head slightly. "You make a good point… it could work. But only if she's open too."

As Nora is about to speak, Ren cuts her off, hands folded behind his back. "I take it you are here for more mission assignments, sir?"

"You could say that," Clover said, as he entered the room, followed by Qrow. Ruby eagerly waved at the man, who waved back. They stood by the General, a small smile on his face. "The General and I want you to take the rest of the day to recuperate."

"You're giving us time off?" Blake asked, taken aback by Clover's words.

"Ordering it," Ironwood said, a firm tone in his voice. "After tonight's election, we'll be waking up to a very different Atlas. I need you to be rested and ready for whatever that may bring."

Ruby bowed her head, a pensive look on her face. Levi glanced at her, wondering what it was she was thinking about. He looked at Overture for a moment, his reflection glinting off of the brass receiver.

"Time off huh… I have no idea how I'll spend it."

"Actually, there's something I've been meaning to share with you, Mr. Athan. The rest of you are dismissed for the time being. Winter, come along would you?"

"Of course, sir." the white-haired woman said. She shared a look with Weiss, who wanted to say something. Levi coughed into his fist, grabbing the man's attention.

"Would it be too much to ask for Weiss to accompany me? It's just, with Trivia being injured, and everyone else here focusing on other things… I uh-"

"Yes, I'm sure Miss Schnee would love to accompany you. She'd helped train your semblance a lot, hasn't she?" Ironwood said, earning a nod from Levi.

"She has, if not for her well, I'd probably still be fighting with a weapon that didn't suit me. Trivia kicked my ass into gear when it came to fighting. And Weiss corrected my sloppy performance. The old adage holds true, trust no one but a woman to fix a man's poor posture."

"Mr. Athan, you must stop complimenting my sister, her face is already crimson. If you keep doing that she might pass out,"

"Shut up, Winter!"

Ironwood laughed as he led them out of the training room. They followed closely behind them, trying to regain their bearings for the time being. "Tell me, Levi, did your mother ever teach you about your heritage?"

"No, she didn't. She said that Miqo'tes of the past could do a great number of things with Dust. There were various techniques passed onto Silver Eyed Miqo'tes. Techniques that, with the aid of Dust, would be vastly similar to actual magic. Sadly, my mother passed away before she could impart that knowledge onto me, and it wasn't until I read that notebook that I even realized my eyes were Silver."

"I see, quite a shame. You are but one of the few remaining men in existence with the ability to do things like that. Miqo'tes of the past were knighted, even became Grand Wizards. Those skills are invaluable to them, to you." the man said, stopping in front of a room. He held his scroll to it, willing it to open. He gestured for the young man to enter. "It is because of that, that I believe you are ready."

Levi stepped into the room, the lights turning on the second he did. The entire room was white in color, several tiles making up the walls and floor. It almost looked like the training room, but it was different. There were large spotlights hanging from the ceiling, pointing in all directions. He also spotted what looked like cameras at every corner, even on the floor. He turned around to face the General, a look of curiosity on his face.

"What is this place?"

"A special place, it was built to assist certain students with their abilities. Your former teammate, Sonata Piccolo, made use of this room. To hone her Semblance as well as fight virtual copies of herself. Your mother used it to train her Maiden Powers to their greatest potential, and now you will use it to unlock your potential."

"What… exactly are you talking about, General? I understand that Miqo'tes have immense stamina and powerful abilities. But Y'shtola said in her notes that only specific people were allowed to pass those skills forward," Weiss said, looking at Levi, who gave her a nod. "Salem attacked what was left of Eorzea Village, and those Miqo'tes were slain."

"That is indeed true. But one Miqo'te did make it out alive," the man said. He typed something on his scroll, swiping his hand forward. The lights above them whirred to life, pointing downward. Levi watched as a holographic figure began taking shape.

He let out a gasp, shock written on his face when he saw the perfect image of his mother. Right down to the armor she wore. She looked up from the floor, locking eyes with his. He didn't know what to say, stunned that he was even seeing her. He looked at the General, who pressed his lips into a thin smile.

"What is this? A hologram of my mother?"

"That is correct. It may be difficult to see her, but Y'shtola specifically asked for all of her data to be recorded. With Atlas's technology progressing, we've been able to make a near-perfect replica. Her intention was for you to use it, so that you too may tap into your lineage." he said, gesturing to the virtual miqo'te.

"The General is right, Levi. I have hidden many things from you, but the time has come for you to reach your potential. Your Semblance isn't what you believe it is. It is something you inherited from your mother, your birth mother. Once you finally grasp its secrets, you will be unstoppable," the hologram said.

"Just like the Schnee Semblance, you have been gifted with Glyphs, Levi." Winter began, stepping before the young man. She held her hand out, summoning a small Nevermore from her palm. "While we can summon constructs of the creatures we defeat, you can do something entirely different. Once you have created a glyph, it retains the property of the element you assign to it, but it does much more than that. Your Semblance, with proper training, can give you the ability to wield the very elements assigned to them."

"Water, Fire, Lightning, Wind, Earth, Energy, Shadow, Gravity, Hard-Light, Ice, Plant, Steam. These are the very elements present in our world, the elements left behind by the Brothers. The building blocks of everything that is around us. It is these very elements that your Glyphs will allow you to master. You will learn to wield the elements as you would your weapon, for they are your weapon. Your Silver Eyes are just the beginning, Levi Athan. Your Miqo'te heritage will decide your future. Like the many Grand Wizards before you, it shall assist you in the time to come, but only if you master and hone it on time," Ironwood said, finishing his impassioned speech with a smile. "Do not be afraid, this is your destiny, young man."

Levi looked up at the hologram of his mother, seeing the smile on her face. He saw himself in her eyes, they were silver, just like his. His mechanical hand shook a bit, but just as he was about to grab it in order to steady it, he saw Weiss grab it. She gave him a comforting smile, sweeping some hair out of his eyes.

"Don't let yourself become scared, Levi. For your entire life, your heritage was hidden from you, and it took digging it up from a notebook to realize who you are. I'll be here for you, just like you are here for me, and my friends."

The silver-haired man gave her a nod, looking back at the General. "When can I start?"

"Right now, if you'd like."

"I would. My mother always said I was special, I always thought it was just a mother being a mother. But it's time for me to make those words a reality," he said, drawing his weapon. The dust cylinder spun around, clicking loudly before coming to a stop. The virtual copy of his mother smiled, drawing her own weapons.

"Whenever you're ready,"


Location: Atlas Academy

"Haah… goddamn it dude. Who knew a damn hologram could put someone through the wringer?" Levi asked as he lay on Ruby's bed. He hissed a bit, his arms still hurting. "I hope my aura can make the pain go away soon, I'll be far too stiff to do much of anything,"

"Even with the little time you had in the simulation room, you made immense progress."

"Progress? You call a hologram of my mother kicking my ass six ways from Sunday progress? You, my dear, have a skewed idea on what progress is." the man replied, sarcasm drenching his voice. Weiss rolled her eyes, leaning against the edge of the bunk beside him.

"Don't be such a baby. You acted the same way when we started properly training your semblance. It'll be hard at first but you'll get there. After all, you've seen how my sister trains me."

"Yeah, like a damn drill sergeant. The Atlas Military doesn't fuck around,"

"So what exactly was it that the General whisk you away for?" Yang asked, looking away from her mirror. "Because Levi, you look like death."

"The General prepared a special simulation for Levi to use. Professor Athan requested all of her battle data be turned into a hologram. He believes she'll be able to help Levi unlock his true potential as a miqo'te. He gave it his all but-" Weiss glanced at the man, who hissed as he moved. "-Well… it's left a lot to be desired."

"At least you're on your way, Levi. I've heard loads of legends about Miqo'tes from my Father. I'm excited to see what you'll be able to do in the future," Blake said, a cheerful tone in her voice. The young man sighed, shielding his eyes with his prosthetic arm.

"Yeah… the future."

Blake set her mascara down, stepping toward Ruby's bunk, hands on her hips. "Don't be like that, Levi. You leave the brooding and negativity to me, okay?"

"Pfft, brooding? Negativity? Blake, you are absolutely glowing. Did someone give you a halibut or something? This is the happiest I've seen in you in a long time," he said. She chuckled, sweeping her long black hair over her shoulder.

"Can you blame me? We got the night off. It might sound childish but after nonstop fighting, training, killing Grimm, and watching Mantle explode, I just wanna do something fun. Even if that means going for a simple walk through Mantle." she said.

"Just as long as you are careful. Just because the Military managed to quell the riot and hastily repair the wall doesn't mean the city's in the clear." Ruby said, looking up from her scroll. It was showing a live report from the Daily Mantle, the news organization covering live television news.

"We still have hours ahead of us, but as votes come in, it looks more and more certain that Robyn Hill will fill the open council seat." the news anchor said. Weiss narrowed her eyes, walking across the room, peering out into Atlas.

"You know, there's no way my father could've thought layoffs would do anything but hurt him. So why announce this three days before the election?"

"I'dunno shit about politics, but it seems to me like some failed political move. Maybe he thought layoffs would encourage Mantle to vote for him." Yang said.

"Well, it's certainly better than hiring someone to murder innocent journalists closing in on your money laundering scheme," Levi said, sitting up. He stared at the latest report from Mantle. There was an image of a homeless man on screen, along with the headline "Homeless Man Found Dead in Alleyway." He stared at it longingly, shaking his head before closing the device, glancing back at the girls. "Won't matter in a few hours. If Robyn keeps gaining support, then at least one of the lesser evils will be up here in Atlas."

"Well anyway, we should probably get going," Blake said, sliding some extra magazines into her pockets. Ruby looked up at her friend, head tilted slightly.

"Where are you off to?"

"Team FNKI invited us out dancing. I thought it would be a good idea to distract ourselves from that damned election," Yang said, checking her weapons over. Ruby pouted her lips.

"I thought you said Team FNKI was annoying?"

"That's the best part, Rubes! When you're in a dance club, no one can hear you~"

"Yang, you are just evil," Levi said, crossing his arms. "Neon is a sweetheart, and Flynt has a real killer flow. You can't deny that hat isn't doing him wonders."

"He is quite the looker, I'll admit. But he'll have to do more than just split into four of himself to impress me." the blonde woman said with a laugh. They jumped a bit, the door sliding open as Nora stepped into the room.

"Ruby, come on! We're gonna be late!"

"Oh right, I almost forgot." the red-clad girl said, shooting to her feet. She grabbed Crescent Rose, placing it behind her back along with some magazines. Weiss shook her head, a look of defeat on her face.

"I still cannot believe you are going to that thing,"

"Just because Ironwood dislikes Robyn doesn't mean we all have to. From where I'm standing, both of them seem to be trying their best to help Atlas. As to who's doing a better job…" the orange-haired girl trailed off.

"Well yeah but-" Weiss let out a sigh, hands on her hips. "A victory party?"

Team RWBY's leader shrugged, walking past her best friend. "The invite's still open if you wanna come. Penny's working security,"

"Oh my god, she's hitting the griddy!" Levi suddenly said his attention fully on Yang, who was doing weird movements. Blake was laughing, holding her scroll up as she recorded the event.

"I swear to the Gods, with each passing day I lose brain cells," Weiss said, a look of sheer contempt on her face. Jaune, Oscar, and Alto stepped into view, the blond man speaking up.

"Uh hey, Alto, Oscar, and I are heading to the movies if anyone wants to-"

"Eyeup." the former heiress said, swiveling on her foot.

Levi noticed Weiss leaving and shot up to his feet. "Well you two, I hope you have fun at the club. Give Neon, Flynt, and the others my regards. And Ruby, tell Penny I look forward to teaching her how to play Uno."

"You got it, have fun, Levi. You've certainly earned it." Ruby replied, bumping fists with him. He caught up with the others, taking his place beside Weiss, who looked annoyed.

"Oh, here I thought you were witerally gwiddying with Blake and Yang."

"Never say that again, Weiss, please." he deadpanned, earning a sigh from the white-haired woman. "So, what movie are we watching?"

"We're stuck between a horror movie and a comedy," Jaune said, showing him the options on his scroll. "Alto wants to see "The Wreckoning 2" but Oscar said he wants to see "Project Y"."

"Isn't Project Y that movie where a bunch of high school kids throw a party, do drugs, and blow up their house?" Levi asked, earning a nod from Oscar.

"I saw the trailers for it and it looks hilarious. They strap a party cannon to one of the heftier guys and he tackles a cheerleader into the pool while blasting her boyfriend in the balls." the teenager replied.

"Why would anyone want to see that?" Weiss asked, earning a nod from Alto.

"Exactly! That movie is going to be nothing but drugs, sexual jokes, and potty humor. A refined lady of my tastes deserves a bit of horror! Blood and guts galore!"

"As if we don't get enough of that on a daily basis," the miqo'te said, crossing his arms.

"Okay, do you have any suggestions?" Oscar asked, causing the young man to frown. He pulled out his scroll, doing a quick search.

"Hm… how about this," he said, handing the scroll to the boy. He looked at it, brows furrowing.

"Titanic?"

"Oh… that sappy romance movie about that ship that sank 100 years ago?" Alto asked, causing Levi to frown.

"It isn't a sappy romance story! It is based on true events! Back before Atlas existed and Mantle was a kingdom, two lavish ships were charted by Harold and Foxx. They were to be the largest passenger vessels created by the hands of man. The older sister, Olympic, went on to have a full-service career and even served in the great war 80 years ago. But her younger sister didn't suffer that fate. On her maiden voyage to Argus, she struck a berg and sank. This ship was conditioned for anything, Grimm attacks, Dust, you name it, but it was a thick piece of ice that brought her down. A tale of hubris, in an era where humanity and Faunus-kind were prospering." Levi said, a far-off look on his face.

"It's still a sappy romance movie. I saw it when I was little, why is it in theaters again?"

"I think it's because of the 100th anniversary of the sinking. I have never seen the movie myself but I wouldn't mind seeing it. Especially if it's based on true events." Weiss said. Jaune and Oscar shared a look.

"I guess that's fine, we've never seen it either so it'll be a fresh experience for all of us!"

"Yes! Awesome! Just for that, I'll pay for the tickets and the snacks! My treat." Levi said, earning surprised looks from his friends.

"And what inspired this stroke of generosity?"

"What, can't I be courteous to my closest confidants?" the miqo'te said, ears twitching as he gave the woman a grin. "I've always wanted to see this movie on the big screen. The last time I saw it was before the Fall of Beacon when my mother returned from a mission in Vacuo. I assume that was the one where she got her Summer Maiden powers. It's a movie I hold dearly, so sharing it with my friends will feel like she's there with me."

"Oh that's so sweet~" Alto giggled, feeling giddy. "Okay then, even though I've watched it before, I'll watch it too. I never experienced it on the big screen, so it technically counts as a brand new experience."

"Excellent, then let us go. The theater awaits us, and hopefully this time, we can get through the movie without a psychotic murderer coming after us." Levi said, taking the lead of the group. Jaune, Alto, Weiss, and Oscar shared a look, none of them wanting to recall what happened in Argus.

xxx

"You know, the point of going out to the movies is not to focus on this election," Weiss said, causing Levi to put away his scroll. He gave her a sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry, curiosity is killing me," he admitted, looking around the theater. It was far nicer than the one in Argus, with bright red carpeting and a large concession stand. There was a bar in the center of the foyer, along with a large arcade near the entrance. The smell of buttery popcorn permeated the area, reminding him of the last movie he'd seen. "You know, I'm looking forward to seeing this movie again. Given the last time I ended up in a high-speed chase, I hope it goes smoothly,"

"I'd like not to remember those moments. I still remember listening to those gunshots as well as your shouting. It wasn't a pleasant thing to tune into," the replied, glancing toward the ticket counter. Oscar and Jaune were purchasing the tickets, while Alto was getting all of the snacks. Levi had been distracted so they decided to take care of things, all paid for by him as he promised. "Thankfully, we all came back from that, despite what it led to."

Levi noticed her clasping her chest, right where Adam had branded her. He frowned, trying not to remember her pained screams. The edges of that blemish were visible, but she had used makeup to hide it. Despite that, if one looked closely, one could see that horrible scar. Something she'd carry for the rest of her life.

"Weiss I…"

"No, there's no need for that," she said, giving him a smile. "We made it out alive, that's what matters. Let's just try to enjoy this, okay?"

He nodded, slowly heading toward the ticket counter. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, glancing up at the ceiling for a moment. "Um… I've been meaning to tell you this. The day I visited your father… I met your mom. I was going to tell you but… you know with the wall being attacked well…"

She had a neutral look on her face, a far-off look in her eye. "Was she… okay?"

"She was drunk," he replied, biting his lower lip. "I didn't like seeing her like that. Hearing her slurred speech, her cursing your father, saying that vodka took the pain away. It reminded me a lot of those days I spent alone. Where I thought I didn't deserve to live, where my only way out were those blue pills my mom had. What your father did to her is horrible."

"I know… I've known for years and I did nothing. I adore my mother, but watching her slowly destroy herself felt like a fever dream. I remember when I was a bit younger, before heading to Beacon, I got into an argument with her. She had this menagerie, a sick personal zoo filled with animals. She loved watching the animals and drinking, it was awful." Weiss said, looking away from the man. "I thought her losing grip on reality was something she deserved. It wasn't until the heavy drinking began that I realized she was just a victim of my father. I want to help her, I want to save her, but… goddamn it, I don't know how."

"Getting her to kick the habit is the first step, I already did that for her. I flushed all of her alcohol, but she's got servants to bring her more. Weiss, what your mother needs is you, and Winter, and even Whitley. She needs the three of you there. She wants to see you again, and told me to tell you that she loves you." Levi said, placing a hand on her face, forcing her to face him. "I think it's time for you to go home."

She gave him a bittersweet smile, holding his hand against her face with her own. "I'm not ready for that, Levi. I don't want to see her like that."

"Better to rip the bandaid off now before something happens. We might live in Atlas, but I don't think replacing your diseased organs will solve anything. It's only alcohol now, but at any time it could be something worse," he said, earning a nod from the woman.

"I'll… go see her. After the elections are over, and we deal with everything, I'll go see her. But you have to keep your end of the promise, understood?"

"Yeah… I'll go talk with Sona. I've been avoiding her for far too long," he said. His ear perked up as he heard Jaune's calls. He was holding the tickets above his head, waving at them. He chuckled, shaking his head. "That idiot, he's making a scene."

"He clearly doesn't understand when people are having a moment," she answered, rolling her eyes. She slipped her hand into his, pulling him along. "Now come along, before we miss the beginning of that movie."

"But of course! But I have to warn you, I know way too much information about this ship, like to an unhealthy degree. When I was growing up, I fell in love with her and I wanted nothing more than to learn everything I could. This movie is my favorite, not just because of the story, but because my mother and I watched it a lot. It's my last way to connect with her," he said, a flush on his cheeks. "So uh… yeah, don't mind my awkward excitement or me spouting off random facts during the movie."

"I won't mind at all, I think it's sweet that you can geek about something like this."

"Ugh, finally. Come on, the previews are already starting and we need to get to our seats!" Alto said, shoving their tickets into their hands. "Hope you like extra buttery popcorn and Dr. Piper because that's what we got."

"Hell yes! Alto has learned the true value and deliciousness that is the king of sodas." Levi said a grin on his face.

"I prefer Mr. Pibby myself but-"

"Ew gross! Jaune who drinks Pibby? That soda is disgusting!" the wolf faunus exclaimed, causing him to push his chest out a bit.

"It is not! I have many a fond memory of drinking Pibby with my sisters while watching Tim and Johnny!"

The two continued their bickering, while Oscar followed along, just listening to their input. It wasn't long before they entered the theater, just as the final previews ended. They quickly found their seats, the theater being surprisingly empty for what was once a box office seller. That just meant they would be able to enjoy themselves without disturbing the people too much.

"Well ladies and gentlemen, I hope your asses are ready because this is a long one," Levi joked as he took his seat. Oscar let out a chuckle while Weiss just sighed.

"Honestly, I think I'm going to have to send you to finishing school. That'll turn you into a proper gentleman,"

"Bah, you like me the way you are, don't you darling?" the silver-haired man said, giving her a wink.

She flushed, looking away, nose held high. "Just pass me my soda, would you?"

He did so, a grin on his face as he caught the crimson hue on her face.


Location: Mantle Cinema

Levi sat back in his seat, the movie only had a few minutes left. The ship had sunk, the moment it did the chattering in the theater died down. Some of the women who hadn't seen it before had been softly sobbing, while everyone else sat in sobering silence. Chief among them, himself and Jaune. Oscar had been completely entranced by the film, splitting his time between it and hugging Alto, who despite having seen it before, was babbling like a child. He had expected Weiss to be the same, but she just sat in her seat, her eyes firmly locked on the screen.

"Perhaps in hindsight, a comedy would have been better. A tragic movie like this… after all of the shit we've been through… yeah, that was my bad," Levi thought to himself, as he reached for some popcorn. He jumped a bit when he felt Weiss's hand, shifting his gaze toward her. She gave him a bit of a smile, gesturing for him to go first, but he silently declined.

"There's a boat, Jack."

"Oh goddamn it, Jack why? You didn't have to die!" Alto cried, breaking into sobs, which of course threw the rest of the theater into a similar state. Oscar sunk in his seat, while Jaune held back laughter.

"You know Levi? This was a perfect movie, I only wish I had my own lady to bring," he whispered to his friend, making him laugh.

"I suppose so. You could have brought one of those Thirsty Moms Nora was talking about,"

"Yeah no, screw that."

"Fair, but hey, I hear Neon's available."

"Hell no, Neon is Nora after snorting sugar dust, I can't handle that."

"Shhhh!"

The pair jumped a bit, several teary-eyed women glaring at them. The pair sank in their seats, their gaze returning to the screen. They remained silent, continuing to watch the movie. He heard Weiss gasp beside him when Rose revealed she still had the diamond, surprise on her face.

"She had it the whole time?"

"Mhmm…" the faunus said, closing his eyes. "You look for treasure in all the wrong places, Mr. Lovett. Only life is priceless, and making each day count,"

Weiss looked at him oddly, earning a sheepish smile from him. "It's a… deleted scene, can I have the last of that soda?"

She rolled her eyes, handing him the cup. Not long after, the final scene began, showing the ultimate fate of the protagonist, as she passed away in her sleep. Levi choked up a bit at this scene, sitting up a bit.

"You know… the thing that I adore about this movie is this scene. Despite everything, Rose kept her promise to Jack. She found love, had children, did everything she wanted, and died warm in her bed, just like he said she would… and her return to him, to their eternity…" he trailed off, ears drooping. "That goddamned flute."

He heard sniffling beside him, his gaze falling onto the woman who sat beside him. Weiss wiped away her tears, gritting her teeth together. "Dammit, I was holding it in so long."

He pulled her into a hug, letting her cry into his shoulder. He glanced back at Jaune who merely grinned, giving him a thumbs up. He'd certainly have a lot to talk to him once they got back to Atlas Academy, that's for sure.

The movie finally ended, and after making sure they had their trash, the five Huntsman left the theater. The girls were still sniffling, but the tears had long since dried. After a brief stop by the restroom to freshen up, they headed back to the foyer, everyone being cheerful all around.

"Man, who knew watching a movie would make us forget about all the shit we've been dealing with eh?" Jaune asked, looking at his scroll. "And it's still early too, we can watch another one if you guys are up for it?"

"Maybe a comedy? After all the crying I need to laugh," Alto said, causing Oscar to pump his fist.

"Yes! Project Y, here we go!"

"Anything but that one, please. I do not wish to witness the escapades of high school-aged teenagers engaging in adult activities." Weiss said, tugging on her glove.

"Fine, can we go watch Skibidi Toilets vs the Camera Heads then? I saw the trailer and I think it's gonna be one of those fun bad movies." Oscar said, a hopeful look on his face. Levi was about to speak when he heard his scroll start beeping. He reached for it, pulling it open.

"Hey, do you have time? We need to meet up."-Neo

"I'm gonna have to pass on that second movie," he said, showing his friends his scroll. They instantly understood why. Alto deflated, ears flat against her head.

"Aw… I really wanted to hang out more. It's felt like forever since we've been able to just kick back and relax."

"The night's still young, you know. You guys go watch another movie, I'll go meet up with Neo and come back. Then we can take a stroll, laugh at Jacques' failure to win the election, have a pint at the Winchester, and wait for everything to blow over." Levi said, holding his mechanical hand out in a fist. "How's that for a slice of fried gold?"

"Yeah boy!" Jaune cried, bumping fists with him. Weiss crossed her arms, shaking her head.

"We are not old enough to drink."

"But we're huntsmen and huntresses, so the bars don't care," Alto said with a shrug. Levi pocketed his scroll, making his way toward the doors.

"You just have fun, okay? Hopefully, this meeting doesn't take too long, I might be able to come back in time and sneak in," he replied, giving his friends a wink.

"Hey Levi,"

He stopped, glancing back at Weiss who had a look of concern on her face. It changed to a small smile, sheepishly looking away from him. "Um… be careful, okay? The streets are still dangerous."

"I will, don't worry,"

He gave them a wave, exiting the theater. He shot off a message to Neo, telling her he was on his way. He got a reply within a second, telling him to meet her near Uptown, which thankfully, he wasn't too far from. He held his hand out, signaling a cab, and with a quick read of his destination, they were off. He just hoped Neo didn't have bad news for him.


A/N: I must include Titanic in everything, it seems. It was inevitable that it would happen, it is what it is. There was originally meant to be an extra scene with Team FNKI in this chapter but it had gotten far too long as it was. I had to cut it out and was debating on making an omake for it. I haven't decided if I will or not. I did make an Omake for the next chapter, however, because I had a lot of plans and the chapter got way too long. I'll be posting that omake as its own thing because it's hard to place it in between chapters so when that is posted likely after the next update for this story, do give it a gander. It is kind of important to the story as it ties up some loose ends but well, I wish I could have squeezed it in as a main chapter. If I did, it would take restructuring of Chapters 14 and 15 to make it work and it just wouldn't work. So yeah lol. Make sure you hit that griddy if you are liking this story so far. That's about it, see ya.