RWBY: Team CRML

Chapter 17

A few weeks later, Vytal Festival

Inside of the Amity Arena, Chrome and his team were up against another team from Vacuo. Chrome was currently fighting their leader while Liam, Nicci and Marek kept the others busy.

Throwing both of his swords at his enemy, she slid under them with ease before charging at Chrome. "That the best you got?" she said while grinning.

Jumping back as she swung her halberd, Chrome recalled his blades. Not noticing they were heading back, one hit the leader in the back of the head while the other grazed her arm. The force of Chrome's swords caused her to stumble forward, giving Chrome the perfect opportunity to spin around and kick her in the face.

Falling onto her back from the force of Chrome's kick, he summoned a glyph above her and called countless icicles to drop on top of her, draining her aura.

"That's one down and out!" Port said over the speakers.

Looking to see which of his teammates needed help, Nicci was holding her own rather well against her opponent while Liam and Marek were easily taking care of their opponents.

Running over to help Nicci, she was knocked onto her back and had her aura depleted in one swift attack by her enemy. "Ooh, back to an even f-" before Port could finish, Liam and Marek both finished off their opponents. "And it's left with a three on one!"

"Yes, yes, it appears team CRML has quite the advantage!" Oobleck added.

As the last member of their opposing team noticed he was outmatched, he put his weapon away and chuckled. "I yield." he said, knowing he wouldn't be able to beat three of them.

"Good choice." Marek said while walking over to Nicci. Extending his hand, she accepted the help up.

"Thanks, Marek." she said to him.

"No problem."

"And that's the end of the match!" Port said. "There will be a short break before the next one!"

Smiling at one another, Chrome placed his hand on Liam's shoulder. "Anyone up for some victory food?"

"Me!" Nicci smiled.

"I could eat." Marek added.

Minutes later

Out in the festival grounds, team CRML sat at a ramen stand. They all ordered some food and each one of them pitched in for the bill. "So, you guys wanna-"

"Liam?"

The four of them glanced back as team RWBY approached. "Weiss, hey!" Liam stood up as Weiss rushed over to him, pulling him into a quick hug.

"You two have definitely gotten closer." Nicci commented.

Pulling away, Weiss blushed a bit. "You guys were awesome out there." Yang said as she and the rest of her team joined them.

"You were bad in your fight either." Chrome said. Yang and her team had already won their fight and were moving onto the doubles rounds. "So, who're you sending into the second round?"

"Me and Weiss." Yang replied.

"Really?" Liam glanced at Weiss. "Can't wait to see that."

Weiss smiled as she playfully pushed Liam's shoulder. "So, who're you sending into the doubles?" Ruby asked.

"We haven't decided y-"

"Liam and Chrome." Marek told them. "Nicci needs to rest and I'm not really up for more fights."

"Oh."

"Anyways, we're gonna catch some more fights." Weiss said. "Wanna join us?"

"Sure." Liam shrugged.

"I'll tag along." Chrome added.

"You guys have fun." Marek said. "I'm gonna head back to the dorms and get some sleep."

"I actually have plans with Violet." Nicci told them. "I'll catch you guys later."

She walked off, leave team RWBY, Chrome and Liam. "So, more fights?"

Back in Amity Arena, Liam sat next to Weiss while Chrome sat next to Yang. They all watched the next two fights together which was teams JNPR against team BRNZ and team SSSN against team NDGO.

JNPR and SSSN were both victorious, the two teams moving onto the doubles round. "That was close!" Ruby said as she leaned back in her chair.

"Looks like the dorks made it to the next round!"

"Emphasis on 'dork'." Blake said with a slight blush.

"That concludes the matches for today. Please leave the Coliseum IN A CALM AND ORDERLY FASHION!"

"Come on, let's go congratulate 'em." Yang said to her team.

As the six of them stood up, Weiss stared at the sky, causing Liam to bump into her and Ruby to bump into him. "Uh, what are you viewing?" Ruby asked.

"She's here!"

Weiss suddenly pushed passed her team and a couple of other students, heading for the exit. Ruby and Liam both quickly followed her.

Heading down to the courtyards, Weiss rushed to the landing pad where an Atlas airship was parked. "Weiss, what's going on?" Ruby asked. "Who is 'she'?"

Weiss finally stopped running, letting Liam and Ruby catch up just as a woman with white hair wearing an Atlas military uniform exited the airship. "Winter."

Getting a decent look at the woman, Liam quickly realized who it was. "Your...sister?"

"Winter!" Weiss shouted before the three run up to the elder Schnee as she turns to see them. "Winter! I'm so happy to see you! Oh..." Weiss suddenly curtsies. "Your presence honors us."

"Beacon... It's been a long time. The air feels... different." Winter said.

"I mean it is fall, so, eh, it's probably colder." Ruby said softly.

Weiss punched Ruby in the shoulder, causing her to gasp in pain before turning back to her sibling. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Classified." Winter replied.

"Oh, right. Well, how long are you staying?"

"Classified." Winter said again.

"Of course."

Ruby looks pensively around in the silence while Liam is just silent, not wanting to interrupt their reunion. "Well... this is nice... I think." Ruby said.

"You're going to love it here! I know you travel a lot, but so much of Beacon is different from Atlas!" Weiss said excitedly. "Vale, too. The government and school are completely separate! Can you believe it!? I-"

"I'm more than familiar with how this kingdom handles its... bureaucracy. That is not why I came."

"Right! I'm sorry!"

"Nor did I come here to watch my own blood fail so miserably in battle. But it appears that I have no choice in the matter." Winter added.

"But, we won!"

"Only a novice would refer to that as a victory. I counted at least three strikes missed." Winter glanced at the two AKs accompanying her. "Leave us." The AK-200s obey, walking two steps backwards into formation as she sighs and smiles a little more warmly at Weiss. "How have you been?"

"Oh, splendid! Thank you for asking. I'm actually in the very top ranking of our sparring class! And the rest of my studies are going wonderfully, too! I'm-"

Winter suddenly slaps Weiss on the head. "Silence, you boob! I don't recall asking about your ranking, I'm asking how you've been. Are you eating properly? Have you taken up any hobbies? Are you making new friends?"

"Well, there's these two." Weiss gestured to Ruby and Liam.

"Heh, boob."

"I see. So this is the leader you wrote of. How appropriately... underwhelming." Winter said.

"Uh... Thank you!"

"Greetings, Ruby Rose. I wish to thank you for taking an interest in my sister." Winter told her.

"Oh! Uh, yes, of course!" she attempts to salute and curtsy. "The honor is in my... court!"

"Hmph." Winter then turned to Liam. "I don't recall you writing about this boy."

"Oh!" Weiss smiled. "Winter, this is Liam. My, uh, my boyfr-"

"Liam?" Winter repeated while getting a closer look at him. "Branwen?"

"You know me?" Liam asked.

"I know your father." Winter replied. "Anyways, I have business with the General and your Headmaster. But, seeing as I'm early, why don't you take me to your quarters?" Winter asked.

"Really?"

"Yes. I wish to inspect them and make sure that they are up to my personal standards." Winter said.

"Of course. Just so you're aware, the bunk beds only look unstable." Weiss told her.

"Bunk beds?"

As the two walked off, Ruby and Liam shared a quick glance. "She knows uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked.

"I guess." Liam shrugged. "She didn't seem like a fan, though."

"You could tell just from that?" Ruby asked.

"Hopefully she doesn't mind me dating Weiss." Liam added.

"It seemed like Weiss was about to tell her, but Winter interrupted."

"Yeah." Liam shrugged. "Wanna grab some-"

A somewhat loud explosion came from further up the courtyard. "What the-?"

The two of them ran over to see what was going on. Pushing passed people, Ruby and Liam found themselves next to Weiss. "What's going on?!"

"Some crazy guy just started attacking my sister!" Weiss said, gesturing to the fight going on before her.

"Oh no! Who would do such a th-" Ruby turned to the fight and saw who it was. "That is my uncle!"

"What?!"

"Kick her butt, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby shouted.

"Uh..." Weiss looked to Liam. "Liam?"

Liam took one look at his father and immediately began rubbing his forehead. "He's drunk..."

"Can't you do anything about him?"

"Not when he's like this." Liam told her.

"SCHNEE!" Ironwood boomed as he walked through the crowd.

"General Ironwood, sir!" Winter lowered her weapon.

Ironwood approaches Winter with Penny by his side. "What in the world do you think you're doing?"

"He started the altercation, sir!"

"That's actually not true. She attacked first." Qrow told him.

"Is that right?" Winter searches for words, only to realize Qrow is right. She looks down in shame. "And you." Qrow points to himself in mock confusion. "What are you doing here?" Ironwood asked him.

"I could be asking you the same thing."

"I-"

"Now, now, everyone." Ozpin said, intervening beside Glynda Goodwitch. "There is a sanctioned fight happening just around the corner at the Colosseum, that I can assure you has better seats... and popcorn."

"Break it up, everyone! We will take care of this mess." Glynda glared at the three.

"Let's go." Ironwood and Winter walked off as Liam avoided making eye contact with Weiss.

"I am real sorry about my father." Liam told her.

After a few seconds of silence, Weiss sighed. "It's fine."

Liam looked to Weiss as Ironwood called Qrow to follow. "So...anything you wanna do?" Liam asked her.

End of chapter 17