Fun fact, last chapter pushed us over the 100 000 word count mark for Torchwick's Little Rose.
Kinda an achievement for me, glad to have you all reading this fic and giving me a reason to reach this milestone.
Anyway, sap aside, time to see if Weiss keeps noticing things she isn't supposed to. Frustratingly, I had this done yesterday, but I fucked up and accidently refreshed the page and lost one the more important parts here, and that blew the wind out of my sails instantly. Was really good and I hope I managed to recreate it but incredibly frustrating.
Also I almost laughed out loud in public when Cinder Fall followed this story. Given the irony of her part in last chapter, it was so damn funny to me haha. Ain't timezones wack?
As always, reviews are always appreciated.
Here we go...
The Vytal Festival...
A celebratation of Peace, Unity, Cooperation and Defiance made manifest by the largest tournament held by Hunters, to spread excite, happiness and a sense of protection to every single man, woman and child on Remnant that either watched from home or, like many would, attend in person at the technological marvel that was Amity Colosseum, the giant flying arena that was the made from the combined efforts of all four Kingdoms.
And it was Ruby's job to find out how Cinder wanted to cause chaos during the most televised and public event in the world. All while having to keep herself safe while also breaking out Roman.
Ruby, Neo and Weiss had since left the landing pads, making their way back to the dorms at Weiss' suggestion. Despite being morning, both huntresses in training were still exhausted, and Neo likely the same getting out safely from the Breach.
As Ruby entered her dorm, Weiss and Neo at her heels while the heiress chatted casually with her sister despite the mute being...well...mute, when Weiss started talking about things the two criminal sisters would rather not talk about.
"Oh, I just remembered, did Ruby contact you about the gentleman that came by to your penthouse?" Weiss innocently asked. Neo's head immediately snapped to meet Ruby's, eyes widening in surprise, and hinted with concern.
Ruby bit her lip as she looked away, not having expected Weiss to bring up that little run-in. She quickly spoke up, "O-oh that? Haha oh my bad, just Jet coming around Neo, usual things you know?" She tried to laugh it off casually, but Weiss' eyes narrowed almost imperceptively. Neo, seeing her sister's fumble, immediately waved her off before gesturing towards with a curious tilt of her head.
Weiss gave Neo a slightly confused look before the shorter girl pointed at Ruby and mimed signing something.
"Oh, my apologises, yes, Ruby did sign off on something for you. I didn't overhear anything being said, though I must admit, I am curious why this, 'Jet', fellow was nervous to be speaking to Ruby, of all people." Weiss explained, arms crossing thoughtfully. The sisters shared another look.
"Oh, you know, just a few accidents happened before, he gets a bit embarrassed talking to me sometimes." Ruby lied, taking a seat by their desk while Neo started to roam around the room, examining the beds with an impressed expression. "Oh the beds? Yeah, bunk beds take up less space and we really didn't want to figure out how to get proper ones from Vale." Neo flickered Ruby's bunk, noticing how little it swayed, before giving the smaller girl an approving nod.
The heiress drew up a desk chair and sat down, her back to the door.
Seeing how they had some free time now, Ruby put Crescent Rose on her lap and started looking over her baby with a critical eye, noting down every scratch, chip and crack. While most of them were rather minor, the crack she'd noticed in the haft would definately need fixing before it could cause any problems. Neo looked over Crescent Rose, before patting her on the back and tapping Hush twice.
Ruby let out a relieved sigh.
"Oh that's good, I'll give it a look over in a day or two, once I've had a chance to sleep." Ruby said with a smile. Neo inclined her head.
"Do you work on your sister's weapon for her?" Weiss suddenly asked. Ruby nodded as she fiddled with a few parts of Crescent Rose.
"Yep, it's a passion and Neo's always happy to let me see how I can make Hush better." Ruby elaborated as she pointed at Neo's parasol. "She calls it Hush, ironic huh?" Weiss gave the mute an amused smirk, one that was shared by Neo.
Weiss hummed thoughtfully, before staring at Ruby for a moment. Ruby went to speak before the heiress continued.
"Perhaps...you should offer the same assistance to your other sister?" Weiss cautiously suggested.
Neo paused before slowly turning her head to stare at Ruby in complete confusion. Ruby's eyes went wide as Weiss' word echoed in her mind. The conversation they had before they'd been captured quickly ran to Ruby's thoughts and she took a sharp breath.
"W-W-Weiss?" Ruby stuttered, but before she could say something Neo immediately turned on Ruby and grabbed the girl by her shoulders, staring deeply into her eyes and frankly terrified by indescribable expression in her sister's eyes. "S-She...I...You..." Behind Neo, she heard Weiss sigh before walk up next to Neo. She went to gently pry Neo off when the mute suddenly lashed out, shoving the heiress violently back, never taking her eyes off Ruby.
"H-Hey! Excuse me, I was hoping she'd already told you about Yang, but that is no reason to be rude!" Weiss shouted with a heavy frown. Neo, however, stilled completely when Weiss invoked Yang's name. Neo slowly turned her gaze unto Weiss, who's frown lessened slightly as confusion replaced it. "You...know about Summer don't you?" Neo slowly nodded and Weiss sighed before returning to her seat. "I found Ruby looking at the picture you gave her during our mission. I convinced her I would not inform anyone that did not know."
Neo finally relaxed her grip on Ruby, her attention still squarely on the heiress. Ruby winced and rubbed her arms, sore from her sister's iron grasp as Weiss continued.
"Ruby explained that you had informed her that Summer was in fact, her mother. And that according to Yang, who you already know, she was the stepdaughter of Summer. While we could all be dramatically mistaken by a similar name, I'm inclined to believe that Ruby is correct given the unlikeliness of two women with the same name at around the same time, died." Weiss sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I was hoping to talk about it more in detail, however I confess, the idea of letting you two get closer may have been somewhat premature."
Neo's head finally fell, and turned to gaze at her clenched, empty hands. Weiss gave the mute a strange glance before looking over at Ruby. The redhaired girl placed an arm around Neo, the mute flinching slightly, before nodding.
"Neo...knows Yang's uncle...they have history, the bad kind..." Ruby informed Weiss, who gasped slightly in surprise before standing up, chair falling back. "W-Weiss?"
The Schnee Heiress looked down at the two with a shocked expression, her hand inexplicitly falling to Myternaster's handle. Ruby and Neo tensed as the assassin's hand started to edge slightly towards Hush.
"T-The train, and the p-picture a-and sch-schmatic..." Weiss quietly muttered inanely to herself. "That man and The Breach..."
Ruby went to stand slowly, edging towards Weiss with her hands raised peacefully, when the heiress drew her weapon and pointed it at Ruby. Neo immediately stood up, Hush in hand and pointed at Weiss, blade already deployed and a glare that threatened death.
"Weiss...i-it's not what you're thinking..." Ruby begged as she felt her eyes grow heavy once again.
Today was a terrible day...
"You...you're with Torchwick..."
James Ironwood could never be accused of being unwilling to do what he thought he had to.
While some would attribute that to Mettle, a person's semblence was something based on personality, their actions and the life they lead. While Mettle would seem perfect for a General, he hated it with a passion, even when he let only a touch of it out, kept under tight reign and sheer bloody focus, he hated the detachment it created. Even if just to ensure his focus was still in the right direction, the lingering effects could still bring out the worst in James. He sighed as he took a seat in his personal quarters and opened a draw, revealing his personal stash of high quality whiskey.
Taking a small glass out as well, he pour some of the alcohol and quickly knocked it back, letting the firey liqour rush down his throat. Feeling a slight tingle from the harshness of the whiskey, James couldn't deny that sometimes, rank had privilages. Almost enough to make him enjoy the position of being a military commander of an entire nation.
Taking a moment to nurse a second glass, James opened his terminal and connected to the flagship's local network. A few moments later, he connected through to the engineering bay and the kindly face of Pietro Polendina, reclined in his custom mobility chair.
"Ah, General Ironwood, I'm glad to see you again, sir. You have my thanks for inviting me to Vale given what Penny informed you about." The kindly old man greeted, a pleasant smile on his face as he looked up from a scroll pad. Behind him, James could make out the form of his daughter, Penny.
"Please, Pietro, call me James, no need to be formal during a chat between friends." James replied with a smile of his own. "I trust Penny is doing well?" He asked curiously. "I apologise for having to have her leave the dance early, but I'm sure you can both understand my concern at the time."
Penny at this point, had noticed James and came over with a bright smile.
"Hello General Ironwood! I heard about the attack, is everyone okay?" The android girl with a bigger heart then most asked, a tone of concern clear in her voice. James just smiled and waved at Penny.
"Hello Penny, you know you can call me James as well like this, but don't worry, emergency services evacuated the civilians and huntsmen teams along side our own Knight units efficiently sealed the Breach." James reassured the girl, who visibly relaxed. "I hope I'm not taking up too much time, just wanted to check with how Penny's coming along."
Penny saluted brightly. "Yes, General! I'm cyber-warfare ready!" James and Pietro shared an amused chuckle.
The doctor patted the girl on her shoulder with a smile. "Yes you are Penny. But remember, next time you start noticing strange things going on in your systems, make sure to tell someone immediately." He reminded with a knowing look. Penny wilted slightly in embarressment.
James decided now would probably be the best moment to bring up the extra work he was going to have to put on Pietro.
"Speaking of which, Pietro, I know you have a number of projects, but I have something I need your full attention." James began to explain. The elderly man immediately realised what James was getting at, as his eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
"I take this is about security during the Vytal Festival?" The intelligent man questioned, and James nodded as Pietro continued, "I see, I can understand your concerns. I'll look into throwing a few tricks to keep the Knights safe. Failing that, I should be able to stop an infiltrator long enough to prevent a tragedy." He hummed thoughtfully. "I'm not sure if the Knights will have enough hardware to outright prevent intrusion, and the Paladins are still going through refinement tests. I'll do my best, but if you are worried about a cyber attack, I'd suggest keeping them in reserve."
James nodded as his leading scientist's suggestions echoed throughout his mind. Perhaps he raised a good point? Despite their enhancements, they were not yet perfect for civilian interactions compared to the rank and file. And given their use during the Breach, it would make them appear as a valiant defenders coming at a time of need. Admittedly, it would weaken the inital response forces, but given they already had reason to suspect whoever Salem was using here had a technological edge, it would be even more devastating if his forces were turned to devestate the inital defences.
"You raise a good point, I'll discuss this matter with the Council, it was agreed we would bring them to inspire confidence, and given their performance during the Breach, I'd say we've done that now." James said confidently. Pietro nodded in agreement, even if he wasn't privy to all the Council's dealings, he did have a vested interest in doing the right thing. Much like James, and many other specialists and experts he took onto his staff, he only accepted those that's first priority was the protection of Remnant first.
To this day, that stingent requirement only failed once.
"Do you have any requests for me, sir?" Penny asked curiously. James felt his smile return as he remembered Penny mentioning how she had made some friends at Beacon.
He leaned forward and took a sip from his glass.
"Well, Penny, I do have something I think you'd be happy to accomplish." He said ambigiously while Pietro quickly caught on and gave the General a thankful nod.
"Whatever you command!" Penny replied with a salute. Perhaps her friends would help her understand normal behaviour better, he thought amusedly to himself.
James just laughed and shook his head. "No, Penny, it's not a command, but I think you'll enjoy it. Given that your father is finished improving your systems, why don't you go visit your friends back in Beacon, make sure they are doing well after the Breach if they were still here."
Penny's smile went even wider as she happily jumped up and down slightly.
"Oh, thank you SO much, General Ironwood, I do hope Ruby is safe and happy!" The robotic teen cheered happily.
James tilted his head curiously. Ruby had befriended Penny? Curiousity and perhaps a slight hint of paranoia ran through his head, though he quickly dismissed it. The young huntress may have been caught up in the recent events, but he had to admit she had worked diligently and loyally during the Breach according to the reports he had gotten.
Besides, he already stepped on Ozpin's toes already, no need to push his nose into the man's personal buisness if the girl was no immediate threat.
There was a knock at the door.
Everyone inside froze immediately at the sound.
Neo capitalised on the moment before Weiss could think to react. The mute girl raced forward and slid past the Schnee heiress' guard, quickly wrapping an arm around the girl's throat and pressing Hush's blade hard against her neck, the warning clear. Despite this, Weiss writhed in Neo's grip but the assassin's grip was like steel. Neo quickly looked over at Ruby, and tilted her head at the door meaningfully. Ruby paused, completely lost on who to help, when Neo and Weiss suddenly disappear into nothingness. A moment of shocked uncertainty, logic reassured itself on Ruby and she quickly moved to open the door.
"Uh, hey Ruby? You and Weiss...doing okay?" Jaune Arc asked as the door opened, looking in briefly before continuing, "Me and Pyrrha overheard some shouting, sorry by the way, and just wanted to make sure you two were okay, given what you had to deal with..." He trailed off with a confused expression, likely at Weiss' apparent disappearence.
Ruby jumped slightly before biting her lip before she replied.
"Oh yeah, sorry Jaune. Just...some personal things, you know how it's like?" Ruby quickly explained, praying that Jaune's usually oblivious nature would hopefully not bail on her right now. "She just went into the bathroom to cool off." She added, pointing vaguely in the direction of the bathroom. Jaune gave her a concerned look that made Ruby's heart shake in fear.
Then he spoke up, concern and affection clear in his tone.
"I get it, Ruby. You know you two can talk to us any time, me or Pyrrha. If you guys need to." The huntsmen said comfortingly, causing Ruby to feel her heart crack even more knowing she was openly decieving Jaune, one of her closest friends along with Weiss.
"Thank you Jaune...I appreciate the thought, though you might want to get Pyrrha to talk to Weiss..." Ruby said in a small voice. Jaune, confusion still clear on his face, nodded and patted the girl comfortingly on her shoulder. The blonde man closed the door for her, and Ruby turned to the corner she had last seen the two girls. The spot shattered like glass as Neo's semblence disappeared, revealing Neo and Weiss, still holding the heiress silent with Hush against her neck. Ruby gave Neo a firm look, "You better not have hurt Weiss." She said with a frown. Neo just returned with an equally hard stare. "At least let go of her, you know what you can do."
Neo let out a wordless sigh as the world around them took on a slight shine to it as she released the heiress. Weiss immediately made to run for the door when Neo quickly sweeped her legs out from under her. Despite being on her back, Weiss lashed out with a boot, kicking the door loud enough to cause it to rattle, even as Weiss screamed at Ruby as the redhead carefully pull Weiss back, despite her partner's attempts to break free.
"I can't believe this! You were working for Torchwick this whole time!? How could you side with a monster like that?! WHY!?" Weiss' screams echoed in Ruby's mind, even as no one came to investigate. Neo's powers had many useful aspects but it couldn't stop her partner's damnations.
It made Ruby's heart, already weak from having to lying to Jaune's face, break.
"I'm sorry, Weiss. I didn't want it to happen like this." Ruby whispered in a quiet voice as Neo slowly edged towards the door. Despite holding her from behind, Ruby knew Weiss would have made it out if she let go.
"How can you be SORRY?! He's a monster th-"
"He's my adoptive father."
Weiss immediately froze in Ruby's grasp, as her head slowly turned to try and face Ruby. Despite most of her face being hidden from Ruby's sight, she could see a single, tearful eye gazing into Ruby's own.
"W-What?" Weiss whispered with stunned shock.
"He found me when I was very young, after Summer died. I didn't lie when I told you anything. I never knew her, and Roman only told me recently after Qrow mentioned her name to me. That's why I've been so hurt recently..." Ruby started to explain, pausing briefly to turn a stunned Weiss around. The heiress' face was covered in tears, and Ruby could only help but break more as her face was twisted in an expression of confusion, fear, anger and shock. "He and Neo raised me, taught me how to lie, to cheat, to steal and survive. We did bad things...but never anything evil to anyone that was innocent." She paused to give Weiss a moment to process what she was saying.
"B-B-But...W-Why?" Weiss tearfully muttered, still as lost as Ruby felt.
"Someone is behind all this, and they forced Dad to steal so much Dust, and then to work with the White Fang. He told me that it was part of the plan to get captured when Neo took you away..." Ruby confessed, Weiss' eye quickly darting to a still frowning Neo, who made no reaction to Ruby's confession. "But we have no idea what Cinder is up to or how to get out of it..."
Weiss' gaze returned to Ruby, recognition appearing in her despairing eyes.
"W-Wait, C-Cinder? Cinder F-Fall?" She asked, Ruby nodded, and she felt the heiress go limp in her grasp. "And s-she must be working for someone else if she could b-break into B-Beacon of all places, m-maybe even the h-headmaster of Haven...?"
Ruby nodded again as she sat the Schnee down on her bed, all traces of aggression having fled from the exhausted heiress.
"And I need to help my Dad get away from Ironwood on top of us needing to stop whatever Cinder's plan is..." Ruby whispered quietly as she sat next to her partner. Weiss just stared at the floor with empty eyes. Neo walked up, and apologetically rubbed Weiss' shoulder. She looked up at the mute girl, before looking at Ruby.
"And here I hoped I would finally escape expectations and be able to live my own life before taking over the SDC..." Weiss muttered quietly, almost to herself, before she calmly stood up and walked to the door. Neo moved to grab the Heiress again, but Ruby grasped her sister's hand. As Weiss reached the door, she turned to face her partner. "I...won't tell anyone...not yet...I need...t-time." The heiress stuttered, before the shine around them disappeared as she opened the door and left the two sisters to themselves.
Turning to face Ruby, Neo raised an eyebrow before gesturing vaguely at the door.
"Just...give her some time to think, please Neo?" Ruby pleaded, squeezing Neo's hand, as she returned to checking over Crescent Rose with a sad frown. Neo merely shrugged before she disappeared in shards of glass.
Ruby just sighed and waited...
And waited...
And waited...
And wai-
The door opened, and Yang and Blake casually walked in. Yang smirked at Blake, who just rolled her eyes, before the two's eyes turned to Ruby.
The reaper had to admit, she was both as surprised as she was unsurprised that it was her teammates, as opposed to soldiers, the professors, or even just police.
"Hey Ruby, surprised Weiss isn't here." Yang greeted, as she took a relaxed seat by the desk while Blake moved to her bed. Ruby just shrugged half-heartedly before returning her attention back to Crescent Rose. The Faunus girl's ears flickered towards Ruby under her bow. Blake looked over at Ruby and gave her a quizzical look.
"Ruby...is everything okay?" The former White Fang member asked curiously. Ruby just shrugged again, not even looking up.
Her teammates shared a look, before Yang got up and walked over, arms crossed slightly.
"Is something going on between you two? Did something happen before you two wandered off last night?" Yang questioned, before a cheeky smile appeared on her face. "Did she confess her undying love for you?"
Immediately looking up at the blonde, Ruby glared at Yang, who just chuckled even as Blake gave the blonde a deadpan stare.
"Heh, that got your attention, Miss Moody? Shouldn't be stealing Blake's job, you know? So, what's up with you?" Yang smirked, even as she stood firm under both her teammate's glares. "Or is something to do with what's been bothering you recently?"
Ruby just scowled and returned to working on Crescent Rose.
Beside her, Yang just sighed, before snatching her weapon from Ruby's lap. The redhaired girl almost snarled at Yang as she got up, anger quickly replacing the lethargy that had come over her.
"Give. My. Weapon. Back." Ruby quietly demanded, her arms trembling in rage that ANYONE would dare to take her weapon from her, much less someone that might have been her own sister.
Yang just shrugged. To the side, Blake's eyes went wide in surprise, completely taken aback by Yang's audacity and the sheer fury in the small leader's voice.
"Fight me, and I'll give her right back to you." The brawler declared, smirk still prevalent on her face.
Ruby's mind drifted towards thoughts that would have made Neo shiver in delight. She wanted a fight?
Ruby would give her a damn fight.
The fifteen year old quickly disappeared in a flash of rose petals, as her boot whipped towards the back of Yang's head. The huntress in training swayed to the side, the boot missing by inches, and stepped forwards. Ruby rushed forwards as well, body low, as she went to sweep Yang's feet out from her. In response, Yang simply blocked the strike with her own leg, aura crashing against aura. Despite the sting, Ruby spun and planted her boot in Yang's sternum, pushing the girl back and out the window.
Laughing, Yang launched herself further backwards, landing in the tree opposite of their dorm, grip still keeping close hold to Crescent Rose. With a challanging smirk and hand gesture, the blonde brawler jumped out the tree, landed, and rushed off.
"Ruby, don't!" Blake shouted and went to grab her, but Ruby immediately rushed out the window, semblence raining petals across the ground as she chased after Yang.
"Get back here, you fucking bitch!"
'Sheesh, Ruby was REALLY pissed off...' Yang thought as she dodged another roundhouse kick, blocked a hook and stepped back, smirk still on her face but lessening slowly.
Really, the last thing Yang wanted was to abuse Ruby like this, but between her mood recently and now something eating her up with Weiss now likely being involved given the girl's absence. Yang ducked under a boot from behind as Ruby disappeared with her semblence. Around them, fighting in the centre of Beacon near that cool statue they had, a crowd had gathered around. Some people cheered as Yang throughly outclassed Ruby in hand to hand, while others urged Ruby to keep up the pressure. As she deflected another punch from Ruby, she overheard a pair of students questioning why Ruby's rather notable weapon was in her hands.
When a few people started to laugh, Ruby immediately paused and levelled a glare so fierce into the crowd, several people started to back away under the enraged girl's gaze.
"Who the fuck is laughing!? I'll split your damn-" Suddenly, Ruby, as well as Yang, found themselves restrained by a purple aura.
Well...shit...
"What is going on here!?" The furious and disappointed tone of Professor Goodwitch echoed throughout the sudden silence. All hints of conversation immediately ceased as students began looking around in abject fear, wilting under their deputy's intense glare that flew around. Their combat professor pushed her way through the crowd, a concerned Blake close by her heels.
Yang nodded at her professor casually.
"Sup, Miss G, sorry, we had some team issues to sort out." Yang called out, even as she felt herself cringe as the combat professor's glare turned on the blonde. "I, uh, was hoping to reach the sparring rings before she caught up with me..." She shrugged apologetically. Behind Professor Goodwitch, Yang felt her blood turn cold as she spotted Uncle Qrow march up behind the teacher with an amused smirk that hid a promise of a 'spar' later.
Before he could make some kind of comment, Goodwitch turned her glare on Qrow, who raised his hands defensively, before returning to the two members of Team RWBY.
At this point, Ruby had ceased trying to pull herself free of the professor's semblence, and turned to just glare at anyone that met her eyes. Even remaining unbowed by the infamous Goodwitch Glare. Undeterred, the professor waved her riding crop as the two girls floated over to her.
"You will be explaining yourselves before the Headmaster, Miss Xiao Long, Miss Roslinen. Do not, for a single moment, think your actions during the Breach will save you from a severe punishment for this travisty." Professor Goodwitch announced, before turning look around the gathered crowd. "And if I catch a single student so much as looking at the tower, they will find themselves joining these two."
At the declaration of detention and punishment, the gathered crowd all conincidently remembered they had something else to do or somewhere else to be, and started to evacuate the area, avoiding the glare of their teacher and quickly vacating the plaza.
Ruby's wrathful glare returned to Yang, who smiled apologetically.
To be fair, she was being honest with Goodwitch...
Weiss didn't know why she was in the Emerald Forest.
As Myternaster decapitated a Beowolf, she turned on her heel expertly, rapier flourishing, and a wave of ice spikes slammed through the skulls of a pack of Beowolves. Compared to the Grimm from Mountain Glenn, the routinely culled Grimm of the Emerald Forest were levels below those that she had fought earlier that morning.
Letting out an uncharacteristically furious yell, Weiss flew forwards under her glyphs' power, impaling an Ursa. The bear Grimm tried to swipe at her, but she flipped back and launches several bolts of Dust that blew through it's weak hide, slaughtering the beast. With another flourish she launched a wave of ice forwards, coating the ground in frost. Several of the Grimm charging and howling at her suddenly slipped and bowled over each other. Myternaster's revolver spun in Weiss's hand, as a wave of flame flew forwards to incinerate the Grimm with another, unseemly shout of anger.
As the Grimm began to disappear into black smoke, trees burning around her. Exhausted even more than she began, she waved her weapon one last time as a fine mist of ice flew out her rapier, coating flaming trees in frost and forcing the fires to die out. The Schnee heiress fell to her knees as fatigue took her strength away from her as the fury in her veins wore off.
Her free hand slowly went to her pocket, pulling out her scroll. Scrolling through her few contacts, she found the number she desired before her thumb paused above the call icon.
What was she even going to say? Would she even pick up?
Weiss noticed her hand shaking.
Letting Myternaster fall from her hand, she gripped her wrist gently until her shaking hand calmed.
She pressed the call icon.
Taking a sip from his iconic mug, Ozpin leaned forward, his hands steepling on his desk. He waited as he heard the elevator before him dinged, and opened.
Glynda and Qrow exited, a pair of girls between them being levitated by Glynda's semblence, while Miss Belladonna walked quietly and apprehensively behind them. While Qrow's niece seemed to maintain her usual casual attitude, Ozpin felt his eyes drawn to the other restrained girl.
Ruby Rosline face was a rictus of fury and defiance. Given that her prized scythe was in Miss Xiao Long's hand, he quickly surmised what must have occured and let out a sigh.
"If you would, Professor Goodwitch?" Ozpin asked politely. His deputy gave the two girls a warning stare, before waving her crop and releasing the two girls. Yang smiled at him while Ruby just looked away, her anger clearly unrepenting. "Now, I would like to know what led to two of our most promising students to brawl in the middle of Beacon, instead of properly sparring in our training facilities." Ozpin commanded, a long experienced tone of expectation, curiousity and command tinting his words. The two girls in front of him flinched, however Ruby started to train her focus on Ozpin. Despite her attempt, fear had long since been forgotten by Ozpin, and all he felt was concern and disappointment in the girl that was a spliting image of Summer.
Yang raised her hand, is if in class, and Ozpin merely nodded at the student.
She took a deep breath before she began to speak, "Professor, Blake and I just got back to our dorm, Ruby was there and she clearly was torn up about something and Weiss was no where to be seen. We asked her if something was wrong and she decided to ignore us. Given her mood the last few weeks, I decided we had to sort all this out and...uh..." Yang trailed off, uncertainty finally coming to her tone.
Her uncle spoke up.
"And so you figured taking her weapon and pushing her into fighting you would tire her out and force her to tell you. Ain't that right, Yang?" Qrow said expectantly, likely being perfectly on the dot with how his niece behaved. Yang herself flinched at her uncle saying her name, rather than the usual nickname he used.
"I see, but that does not explain why you began a brawl with your teammate in the middle of my school." Ozpin commented, looking back at Yang, who continued to wilt under her professor's and uncle's expressions.
She gave them a small shrug.
"I did try and run for the sparring rings..." Yang offered weakly. Next to her, Glynda sighed before nodding at Ozpin.
"She did say that was her intent, likely not remotely accounting Miss Roslinen's speed." Glynda confirmed, her tone taking a lecturing edge as her eyes turned back on the blonde, who nodded embarressingly. Ozpin sighed as he shook his head before turning his head to face Ruby.
The redhaired student still defiently glared at Ozpin.
"And what, Miss Roslinen, would you like to say regarding the matter?" Ozpin inquired. The girl said nothing. "Miss Roslien, that was not a request. While we always encourage independent thought here at Beacon, when such matters begin to effect the students around you, I am forced to involve myself in such affairs." Ozpin warned.
The girl said nothing, continuing to glare at the Headmaster.
Next to her, Qrow let out a frustrated groan before pulling out his hipflask, taking a large chug from it. Ozpin and Glynda levelled displeased glares at his blatent drinking in front of students.
Qrow just scowled and looked at everyone present.
"For crying out loud, we all know what the damn issue is, maybe not Yang, but us adults certainly do." Qrow started as he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
Ozpin, for his part, narrowed his eye's at Qrow, while Glynda gave him a look of surprise and uncertainty. She looked towards Ozpin, eye's asking for guidence.
This, of all times, was not the time for Qrow to lose his patience.
"Qrow..." Ozpin quietly said, warning echoing through his tone clearly. Yang looked between her uncle and Headmaster, confusion growing as she glanced between the men. Next to her, Ozpin just barely noticed Ruby's, until now, unrepenting expression fell slightly as her legs tensed and her eyes widened slightly.
The huntsmen, however, just gave Ozpin a deadpan stare in return.
"Damn it, Oz, I'm sick of all this pussyfooting around. Besides, it doesn't matter, I've already got my confirmation it at the dance." Qrow announced, making Glynda recoil back slightly in shock while Ozpin's normally unflappable expression went white as his eyes widened. Between them, Ruby Roslinen took a step back, body trembling.
Yang Xiao Long, however, stared at her uncle, completely confused by her uncle's words.
"Uh, Uncle Qrow? What are you talking about?" Yang's voice echoed in the room, a hint of fear in it.
Qrow just stepped besides Ruby and gestured to the young, redhaired girl with a red cape at his side.
"Yang, meet your sister. Ruby Rose, daughter of Summer Rose." Qrow said as Yang's eyes widened.
Don't you love cliffhangers?
