Chapter One: A Miracle
Nora could hear the screams behind her. The sharp-edged cries of the Grimm. The panic of the crowd. She ignored it all in favour of the shining surface in front of her. This magical doorway that would not yield.
All had been going well… too well. While the Kingdom of Atlas was lost, they could rescue the people, evacuating them via these miraculous portals all the way to Vacuo. But then that woman had appeared again, with fire and murder in her wake. Yet they'd stayed focused. As Jaune said, the people were priority one… and so they'd rushed them along as Cinder Fall had struck down the members of Team RWBY one by one. And they'd done it: they'd gotten the people through, and Jaune had sent Nora to Vacuo to rally as many huntresses as she could to dogpile the witch who'd robbed her of a would-be sister.
And she'd done it. Despite finding that they'd dropped the civilians into a Grimm-filled sandstorm, she'd trusted Ren and the others to protect the people while she'd gathered whoever she could find. Behind her stood Happy Huntresses, Atlas Academy Students, and any others who could wield a weapon and aura. But they could not get through. The portal was seemingly impassable. She'd left Jaune, along with Penny and Weiss, to face Cinder alone.
She smashed her fist against the portal, but there was no give. She struck it again, then again. Tears flooded her eyes as she fell to her knees, a single hand still resting against the impassable barrier.
Beacon had been bad enough. The loss of a new home, the loss of new family. Yet this was worse. Jaune was counting on her. Her leader, her brother, trusted her. And she was letting him down.
There was a shimmer as someone passed through, appearing on their side. She looked up to see Winter Schnee, floating on sparkling pale blue particles. Any questions Nora had as to how Weiss's sister had suddenly developed magical powers were silenced by the light blue flames that emerged from Winter's mournful eyes.
Penny was dead. Winter was now the Winter Maiden.
Nora opened her mouth to speak, but then the surface in front of her began to vanish, dissipating upwards in a cloud of smoke. She reached out for it again, but her hand felt nothing as it passed through the vacant space, with nothing to grasp onto but air.
Jaune, Team RWBY, any others left behind. They were gone. And Nora Valkyrie had failed them.
-000-
In her wrath, Winter had smashed the surrounded Grimm. She'd even been able to push back the sandstorm to some degree, allowing them to take their bearings. It turned out that, Grimm and weather aside, they weren't that from the safety of the city of Vacuo itself. And so Winter led the bedraggled people across the desert to their new refuge. Whatever their previous divisions, it seemed as if Atlesian and Mantlean alike looked upon her as their deliverer, as if she were some kind of warrior-goddess.
Not Nora, though. She had unfinished business with Winter. Seeing the Maiden standing beside the column, still clad in her Atlesian uniform, the orange-haired girl stormed over.
"Nora, wait!" Ren called out, running after her.
"What happened to Jaune?" she demanded. She ignored the stares of the passing refugees, trudging through the sand. She ignored Ren, who'd caught up with her. She fixed her blue-green eyes solely upon the white-haired woman in front of her. A woman who seemingly could not return her look with one of her own. "Well?"
"I fought Cinder… after I obtained the Maiden powers," Winter began haltingly, a stark contrast to her usual disposition. "She already had both relics, and then… and then Weiss fell." She clenched her fists and gritted her jaw. "I would have continued to fight, but then we heard a scream."
"Salem?" Ren guessed.
Winter nodded. "Mister Arc said we needed to leave, and so we did. I flew to the exit, then happened to look behind me. That space, those portals, were all vanishing. And Mister Arc… Mister Arc was still running for the exit."
Nora could scarce believe it. "You left him behind?!"
"I didn't mean to! I tried to go back for him but couldn't stop. Before I knew it, I'd passed through."
Nora's fist struck Winter's face. Ren grabbed her arm before she could hit her again. "Nora, stop!" he yelled.
"She left Jaune!" she cried.
"And she lost Weiss," he said, tears in his own eyes. "She didn't mean to! Please! We won't help anyone by fighting amongst ourselves."
Nora stopped. She became aware of the watching eyes around them, many of them looking on with hostility. They could all hang for all she cared. Yet Winter still stood before her, staggered but unbowed from her blow. Her blue eyes, however, were pools of grief and guilt.
Winter could have stopped her attack if she'd wished, Nora realised. She was about the only woman here who could. She'd let herself be hit.
"I'm sorry," Winter said in barely a whisper.
Nora wrestled with herself, straining to hold back her own feelings. She saw now the mood that held Winter fast, knew it for the grip it held over her own heart. For as wroth as Nora was with Winter, it was a but a pale reflection of all she felt for her anger's true target.
Herself.
She scrunched up her eyes, trying to stop the bitter flow. She couldn't bring herself to speak, only to turn to Ren and nod.
"Er… Ma'am?" An Atlesian soldier stood nearby, breathless from exertion, and looked uneasily between Winter and Nora. Winter straightened herself.
"Report," she ordered, a tone of command in her voice once more.
"Shade's sent out scouts. They're at the head of the column, wanting to speak to someone."
Winter looked at Nora again, and their eyes met. They both nodded, some understanding in place.
"Take me there," Winter said, and followed the soldier as he led her away. Nora and Ren remained in place as they watched her depart.
"You didn't use your semblance on me," she said, looking at his face. At that long black hair and pale pink eyes she'd known so long.
"You, more than anyone, taught me we can't hide from our emotions forever."
She laughed, briefly and without mirth. "It has its place."
"I'd have used it if you kept going," he admitted.
She grabbed his arm, gave it a squeeze. "Thank you," she said, not even sure what she was thanking him for. Letting her feel her emotions, or having his semblance in reserve? Or perhaps for simply being there, like she'd always remembered. He responded by pulling her into a hug, a brief sob racking his frame.
They'd both lost their found family, after all. First Pyrrha, now Jaune, fully half of team JNPR swept away.
"I'm glad that stopped. We could do without our strongest fighters going at it."
Nora glared at the interruption. Emerald Sustrai, with mint-green hair, red eyes, and a dark complexion rather suited to these climes, sauntered over with Oscar in tow with her mint. Emerald Sustrai, who'd been Cinder Fall's acolyte, an agent of Salem.
Nora saw no deception in her face, no indication of a jibe. She'd chosen the right side in the end, had chosen to try and save the people of Atlas. And Ren apparently saw enough with his new spooky emotion-sensing powers to trust her. But after all they'd just lost, Nora couldn't forget the role the green-haired girl had played in the first death of Penny. Something that may very well have driven Pyrrha to her death.
Ren broke the hug, but with a parting squeeze that let her know he knew. "We need to work together, now more than ever."
Oscar nodded. The freckled farm-boy had taken his long coat off in concession to the heat, while red rims around his olive eyes betrayed his own feelings. "Ozpin agrees," he said, speaking for the immortal headmaster in his head. "And so do I. We can't afford any more conflict."
Nora's heart clenched. The two were sounding more alike day by day. "There're scouts ahead from Shade Academy, Winter's gone to speak to them. She'll doubtless want Ozpin with her when she speaks to their headmaster."
The boy's eyes shimmered as Ozpin slid into the driver's seat. "Yes, that's probably for the best. Theodore has a good heart but can be… difficult to deal with."
"Like Ironwood?" Nora asked with an edge.
Ozpin chuckled, a surprisingly carefree sound in these times. "Oh gosh, no. Those two got on like a house on fire: shouting, screams, people running for help."
"So he's good?" Nora pressed.
"James was a good man once," Ozpin said sadly. "Not even that long ago. We've all… made mistakes. We can't take anything for granted, but while trust is a risk, it is one we must make. We've seen the consequences of doing otherwise. But for good or bad, Theodore is quite a different person. Though I can't imagine he'll take this well."
The wizard gazed at the caravan of refugees that streamed behind them. And as much as Nora hated to admit it, she knew he had a point.
Ozpin looked back at them. "When I meet Theodore with Winter, I would like the two of you there as well."
"Us?" Ren asked.
"Yes. You've been involved in every step of this fight since the fall of Beacon. You were amongst the first to hunt for its attackers."
Another unwilling teardrop came to Nora's eye as she thought of a small group, gathered outside of a little home in Patch. She and Ren… and Ruby and Jaune… She was so caught up in the memory, she almost missed Ozpin's next words.
"…And because I trust you."
On any other day, Nora would have found that gratifying. Today… today all she could think is how little she deserved it.
-000-
As expected, Theodore was not impressed.
"So, you tell me James went off the rails, that the entire kingdom of Atlas fell to the big one, and then dump an entire kingdom of refugees on my lap!" he near yelled, slamming a hand on his desk. The deck survived the hit, but sudden blow told Nora where the crater in the wall had come from. His office was large and well-kept, save for the cracks that radiated out from said hole, and several gaps along the wall where portraits had obviously been removed. As for the man himself, he was different. An older man with thin, shaved, hair, but one who was also clearly in good shape, near bristling with youthful energy. Yet Nora had to hold back a laugh: he was clad in the most ridiculous get-up, with a checked vest that exposed his physique, and a blue cape that hung from his shoulders, held in place by a silver chain. He looked more like a wrestler than a professor. Which was probably for the best, she thought, considering how much he disdained that title.
"We can offer defensive assistance," Winter said. "We have the survivors of the Atlesian army, our cadets, and some independent huntresses. Not to mention my own powers–"
"That's all well and good," Theodore cut her off, "but – as you doubtless noticed – Grimm activity around the city is sky high."
"Why?" asked Nora.
"Because of that damn broadcast! Public mood dropped like a stone when that came through, and Grimm gathered soon after. And considering I run the only huntsman academy on the planet, I have no idea how Mistral or Vale can be faring!"
"Oh," Ozpin said.
"'Oh' indeed! Was that your idea, Ozpin, or that Ruby's? Reckless either way."
"It was General Ironwood's idea," Winter answered, before pausing, looking aside in recollection. "Although… originally he only planned to tell the world once we'd secured Atlas, restored global communications, and were in a position to help."
"Humph," Theodore groused. "Better, but not by much. Didn't take him to be the sort to run such risks. Then again, compared to the broadcast that went out…"
"We had to do something!" Nora cried. "The people needed help!"
"Who from?!" Theodore shot back. "We don't exactly have the airlift for an army here. And you announced that the Grimm had a queen, that she was attacking Atlas and the only military force on Remnant was losing, and then told the whole world that she can't be destroyed! And then got cut off! What you did was bring the Grimm down upon my people!"
Nora shrank back, stung. She was the only one here who'd helped with that, she realised. The only one still alive. And even their success was a failure. Another to add to the list.
"We… I didn't know."
"I see that, Girl," he said more gently, "but it's done nonetheless." He turned towards Ozpin. "Is it true?" he pressed. "That she can't be destroyed?"
"It is."
"Did you know?"
"I did."
Theodore clenched his fists. "You should have told us."
"I should have. I'm sorry." Ozpin replied. "I feared betrayal: a self-fulfilling prophecy, I fear."
Yeah. Nora felt sick to her stomach. They'd been so scathing of Ozpin, and then repeated the pattern in Atlas. And both times… distrust had fuelled distrust and torn them all apart.
Theodore huffed and sat heavily down into what seemed like a little-used chair, strangely subdued for such a flamboyant man.
"She's moving openly. We can hardly keep her secret anymore," Ozpin pointed out.
"Perhaps," Theodore said, "though to tell all of Remnant that. And to mention the Maidens too! There are those…" he shook his head, voice trailing off. He rubbed his forehead with one of his gloved hands before looking back up. "She's going to come for us. We have the only functioning huntsman academy, and we're going to have a Maiden acting openly in our defence."
"Salem's going to come for us anyway," Ozpin said. "The Relic of Choice is well hidden, but she controls the lock."
The Autumn Maiden. Cinder Fall, Nora thought with a growl.
"She also has Knowledge and Creation," Ozpin continued, as Theodore's face paled. "Shade houses the only relic that's currently secure from her."
"She… has two relics?" Theodore whispered. "Creation? Oz, how are we meant to stop her?"
"We have some time," Ozpin reassured him. "She needs to keep us divided. If she moves too vigorously, she risks uniting us, and she daren't do that."
"Why not?" The sixth occupant of the room spoke for the first time. Professor Rumpole – and she embraced the title – was an exceedingly short woman, with a tawny complexion and extravagantly long brown hair, with the braid reaching down to her very ankles. Despite the obvious visual differences, however, her demeanour reminded Nora of nobody more than Professor Goodwitch.
"Because she wants to die," Ozpin explained. "But she is cursed to walk this world so long as it turns. Her plan is to gather all the relics and summon the Brother Gods to judge humanity. If mankind is divided, they will destroy Remnant, and so – Salem hopes – grant her the release she craves."
"We're supposed to find that comforting?" Rumpole snorted.
Ozpin shrugged. "I find some solace in the fact that there is no victory in strength, not even for her. And like I said, it gives us time."
"Time is something we don't have," Theodore said. "It's not just a matter of Grimm. There's housing. We certainly don't have enough vacant homes for everyone. And food: do you see many fields around here? And when resources get scarce, people will fight like rats in a sack, especially against those for whom they hold generational grudges. And there are those who'll take advantage."
"The Crown is defeated," Rumpole reminded him. "They've been discredited for their crimes."
"The name is sullied, but the sentiment endures. It'll roar to life now."
"I'm sorry?" Ren interrupted. "The Crown?"
"A conspiracy, led by two former students of mine," Theodore explained. "They resorted to slavery and mind control in an attempt to restore Vacuo's monarchy and avenge it upon the other kingdoms."
"Most of them are behind bars," Rumpole insisted. "Jax and Gillian Asturias are both under lock and key, and Jax is hardly a threat to anyone in his state."
"And we didn't catch all of them!" Theodore barked, rising from his chair with both fists on his desk.
"We found Bertilak Celadon's body."
"And our students tell us he'd already broken with the Crown!" Theodore pointed out. "Carmine Esclados has yet to be found! And there will be others. Those who'll be only too willing to hearken to such ideals. Or pretend to them."
"Salem has a potential source of agents, then?" Ozpin asked.
"Doesn't she always?" Theodore grunted. "Though perhaps we should turn to the problems we face right now, rather than those we must meet down the road. We'll have to ration water."
"We don't have too many farmers," Winter offered, "but we have some. And we have a range of technical skills among our people we can offer in exchange. I'll have a survey of our people done. We are prepared to work."
Theodore nodded. "That'll help, in part. So will fighting the Grimm: we'll need the pressure off if we're to trade for food elsewhere."
"We'll do that, of course," Winter agreed.
Theodore gave a dour chuckle. "I doubt they'll give us any choice."
"Most of the Gomera district has yet to be rebuilt after its collapse," Professor Rumpole added. "You'll have to make do with tents and anything you can build for yourself, and it'll be cramped and crowded beyond measure, but it'll get your people within the outer walls at least. I'll send some students to guide your people to the right gates."
"Thank you," Winter said. "If you've any spare materials, we'll make use of them. We have plenty of hands at least."
"You'll have them," Theodore said, with a wave at Rumpole. "I'm not heartless. And while many in this kingdom may have little love for your countrymen, I know a massacre on our doorstep will just pull in Grimm like dung attracting flies. Anything else?"
Ozpin exchanged looks with Winter, who shook her head. "I think that's all for now," he ventured.
"Then I think we all have enough work to get on with rather than sit chatting around here," Theodore announced, striding past them in his eagerness to leave his own office. "I'm sure we'll have all too great a need to jabber in the future."
They turned to follow him, with Professor Rumpole leaving with them too. She turned away upon exiting the office, doubtless moving to her own tasks, while Theodore led them down to the open-air meeting grounds just below his office. He waved them on, likewise turning aside to speak to a waiting student. As they made to cross the meeting grounds and descend to the Academy's lower levels, they could see a number of curious eyes waiting for them. A good portion of the student body were gathered, far more than Shade was accustomed to have. Amongst them, Nora could see some familiar faces from the Vytal festival and even Beacon itself. Team CFVY were over on the left, and then…
"Oh no," Ren whispered quietly. Sun and Neptune of Team SSSN were approaching them. Old friends, particularly of Team RWBY. Another reminder of their loss. Of the 8 who made up Teams JNPR and RWBY, Ren and Nora were the only two left.
"Hey Ren, Nora," Sun called out, the blond monkey faunus looking a little confused but wearing his usual easy smile. "You anything to do with all the people out there? We saw the broadcast; are the others here? How's Blake?"
Nora could feel Ren stiffen beside her, but she laid a hand on his back. Time to step up. "I'll tell them," she said.
-000-
The following week was one of mourning, sorrow and work. Simply gathering the refugees into the ruined district took long enough, as did marking out the ground for tents and any shacks they could build. Sanitation proved a challenge too, especially since – as Theodore had warned – supplies of water had become constricted. Fortunately, enough engineers were on hand amongst the Atlesians to direct the work, although due to Vacuo's long and potted history the foundations of the area were treacherous indeed.
Vacuo had been under enough pressure that Shade's students were carrying much of the burden of its defence. Winter wisely liaised with Theodore, placing the remains of Atlas's forces – and herself – under his direction as they worked together to try to protect the city. As expected, the mood of the refugees and increasing tensions amongst the city's natives attracted the Grimm in even greater numbers, but they managed to stave off the assault for the time being. Winter herself was in the forefront, burying herself and her grief in fighting the Grimm.
On the fourth day after arriving at Vacuo a Manta arrived, carrying Qrow, what was left of the Ace Ops, and Robyn Hill. Robyn took to assisting the refugees, rejoining her Happy Huntresses, while a chastened and grieving Ace Ops took their place amongst the city's defenders. As for Qrow… he'd been frantic, seemingly hoping he'd arrive to find both Ruby and Yang in Vacuo as planned.
Nora had been there, with Ozpin and Winter, to give him the unhappy news. She was the only eyewitness among their group, after all, the only one who knew Yang and Ruby and witnessed them fall. She saw the veteran huntsman shatter as they told him the truth.
She was scarce surprised that he returned to drink.
As for Nora herself… she endured. Too many people were counting on her to give up, as much as she felt just like curling up and crying at times. She was grateful for Ren, even as he was a temptation too. She knew now he loved her too, and she'd always loved him. But her realisation that she didn't know who she was without him, that she had to be sure of her own identity before she committed to more, was as true now as it was in Atlas, however tempting it'd be to just fall into each other's arms.
Still, she was glad he was there. Like he always had been. They helped each other.
They'd assisted with some of the work of the camp, but there were many hands to help with that, and far fewer qualified huntsmen. So, she'd led the remains of Team JNPR back into action, dragging Emerald along too. She didn't strictly qualify, but it seemed few knew what to do with her, and there were at least some amongst the students of Shade who held an understandable grudge. Plus, they needed a third: whilst Oscar had fought alongside JNPR from time to time, he was unable to join them now. Ozpin's ability to contribute to planning meant the boy and the professor were often needed to collaborate with Theodore.
Shade Academy, despite its size, was already overfull due to the students it'd acquired from Beacon and Haven, so there was no room for Nora, Ren, or Emerald to stay there. They shared a tent in the refugee district instead, suffering in the privations of the people they'd tried to rescue. Yet they were often needed up at the Academy to receive combat assignments for the day. Nora tried not to feel too guilty about the opportunities that gave them for a proper wash. Despite her mixed feelings, however, such occasional luxuries were a welcome respite after the rigours of battle.
It was on the eighth day after they'd arrived at the city that things changed. Per their custom, they'd made their way up to the Academy in the morning to find their first assignment. Initially they'd often been deployed outside the city, attempting to cull the herds. The last few days, however, had seen them on the wall, sent first to one gate, then to another, as the apparent siege tightened. Nora wondered which they'd be sent to this morning as they climbed up the Academy's levels. Its tiered structure loomed over the rest of the city, which from the upper levels of the academy seemed like nothing other than a sprawling maze, given shape only by the divisions between its districts and the wide street that bisected the centre of the city.
Nora shook her head from such thoughts as they arrived at the top, turning to entering the meeting grounds that occupied most of the upper level. Students dotted the edges, doubtless here for similar reasons that Nora and her team were. Team Leaders would be intermittently summoned to Professor Rumpole's office, and then return with their assignments for the day.
"Hey Guys," she heard Sun greet them. Outwardly cheerful, he looked much the same as always, with spiky blond hair and tanned skin, which one got a good eyeful of with his open jacket. For those who knew him, however, he was uncharacteristically subdued. Grieving, after the news Nora had shared.
"Sun," she nodded back, finding it hard to summon some of her own cheer. She looked over the rest of his team: Scarlet, Sage, Nepture and Nolan. Team SSSNN was five-strong now, having acquired Nolan, formerly of team BRNZ. Nora felt a wince as she glanced at him. JNPR's match against BRNZ felt like a different life now. Yet just a few days after that, JNPR lost Pyrrha… and Nolan had lost the entire rest of his team.
"Here for an assignment?" Sun asked, trying to sound carefree. The other four picked themselves up from the wall they were lounging against.
"Sure," she replied, as the others – well Ren and the members of SSSNN, anyway – exchanged their own greetings. "Know where you're going today?"
"Not yet," he said, wearing a smile.
"It's going to be one of the gates," Neptune offered. With his blue hair and a bright smile, he seemed his usual self. Only a tight look around the eyes suggested otherwise. "It always is."
"Yes, but which one?" Scarlet snorted. "There's fifteen of them. For a supposed intellectual, you miss all the important questions."
"Dude, not cool," Neptune complained, but Sun stepped in, with an affectionate thump on Neptune's shoulder, and a glance in Scarlet's direction.
"Easy everyone, settle down. I know we're eager, and I'm sure wherever we go there'll be plenty for us to do." He gestured back at Nora. "Though perhaps not the sort of craziness you'll get up to."
"I suppose we are the licensed huntsmen," Nora said, more for form's sake than because she really felt it.
"Yeah, I still can't believe you firsties qualified before we did," another voice said. Nora turned to see Coco Adel. The smirking fashionista had changed little from their time in Beacon, at least on the surface, with her stylish clothes, beret, her shades and her handbag. The latter seemed quite out of place, were it not for the fact that Gianduja was also her minigun. She swept her eyes over their little band, expression hardening as she caught sight of Emerald. "Especially considering the company you keep."
Emerald looked away, but Ren spoke up. "We wouldn't have been able to save those we did without Emerald. She chose the right side in the end, and we need to work together."
Coco lowered her sunglasses to look at Ren with her dark brown eyes. "Oh, I'm professional enough to 'work together'. Things haven't been plain sailing here either and I'm not stupid enough to start anything. I'm just surprised you guys are so quick to forget what she did. What she helped with."
"We're not," Nora cut in. She heard Emerald's intake of breath, and felt Ren's gaze rest on her, but she kept her own look levelled on the woman in front of her. "But I believe people should be able to fix their mistakes. It's… it's what our friends would have wanted."
Coco grew sombre as her face softened. She pushed her sunglasses back as she sighed. "Maybe you have a point.".
They stood in silence for a moment, before Sun broke into the conversation. "Where's the rest of the team, Coco?"
"Oh, don't you worry, Sun," Coco said as a grin returned to her face. "Velvet and the others will be along soon enough. I just hoped to see Rumpole first."
"Nora! Ren!" Nora turned to see Oscar, hopping down the steps from the offices above. The students around him stared at him as he weaved his way across the meeting ground, doubtless wondering why a lad too young for the academy had been meeting with their professors. He ignored them, focusing on Ren and Nora. As he drew close, Nora could see him panting heavily from exertion.
"We've got to get to the Weeping Wall," he said, before he glanced aside seeing the other students beside them. "Theodore says there's a disturbance."
"Why does Theodore want us to deal with it?" she asked, catching onto his name-dropping. Doubtless this request was coming from both Theodore and Ozpin. "What sort of disturbance?"
He looked a little cagy as his eyes flickered at Coco and Team SSSNN. "There are two trees growing,"
"Trees?!" Coco scoffed. She turned towards Nora. "I didn't know you handled gardening disputes."
"Visibly growing," Oscar added. All eyes turned on him as they realised what he was saying. Magic. They all knew it existed now; how could they not after the appearance of the evacuees? And Ruby's broadcast had drawn back the veil on Salem and on the Maidens of the Seasons. But for those who hadn't experienced the journey Nora and Ren had – or Emerald, on the other side – much of it was still shrouded in mystery. "We don't know who's responsible. We've tried contacting Winter, but she's tied up fighting a large pack of Grimm."
"Do you think it's her?" Emerald asked, worry lacing her voice.
"The timing is suspicious," Ren offered, more evenly.
"Could be," Nora said. It's not like there are many other candidates. "But we won't find out standing here. Either way, we're checking it out."
"We can help," Sun quickly offered. He shrugged in Nora's direction. "It'll help you if someone can show you the way."
"Thanks," she nodded. She glanced at Oscar, who had paused, that little tell that said Ozpin was talking to him. Their eyes met.
"That seems wise," he said. His eyes turned towards Coco. "It might be an idea to take team CFVY too."
"Sure," Coco acquiesced. As Oscar turned, she lowered her voice in a hiss towards Nora. "How does the kid know who we are?"
"It's a long story," she said. She didn't know if Ozpin planned on revealing the truth about himself any time soon, but she didn't have the heart to weave any new deceptions.
-000-
When they arrived at the Weeping Wall a crowd had already gathered. According to Sun the place had often been a centre of community life, most recently being home to a shrine to those who'd been abducted by the Crown. The wall itself stood 40 feet tall. 10 feet wide and three feet thick; hardly a towering object in this city. The reason for its fame came from the water that seeped from the pale stone of the wall, water drawn up by the porous rock from the remains of the ancient oasis Vacuo had been built around. That water was collected and sold as 'Vacuo's Tears'.
They were far from the only tears shed recently, mused Nora.
Yet the crowd were not gathered around the wall as was their wont, but around what seemed like two great trunks that stood nearby the wall. It seemed strange, but then the assembled teams were met by a sight that was stranger still. As they watched, the two trees were visibly stretching upward, branches growing outward and bursting into verdant life as leaves grew before their eyes.
For a moment they were all spellbound, but Nora threw off the shock. "We've got to clear a space," she said, still unsure of what was going on, but certain they didn't want any civilians getting too close.
"On it," Sun said, beckoning his team. "Scarlet, Nolan, you take the left; Neptune and Sage take the right. Let's get the crowd to pull back and make a perimeter."
Team SSSNN set to, wading into the crowd, pushing and jostling to make a space. As they negotiated with the crowd, Nora turned towards Oscar, who looked on the trees with a wide-eyed expression that Nora was sure had been mirrored on her own face.
"Anything?" she asked in a low tone.
He shook his head, still staring at the trees. "He says it reminds him a little of Vault he made beneath Haven, but…" His voice trailed off.
Nora looked back, to see the trees still growing upward. Team SSSNN had successfully opened a space around the plants, while to her sides Team JNPR and CFVY stood ready. She began walking towards the trees, the rest in tow, moving past some of the crowd into the very edge of the space SSSNN had cleared. The tops of the trees had now stopped growing straight, seeming to incline towards each other.
"I'll give you this," Coco said, "I've never seen anything like that."
"Welcome to our life," Ren replied drily. Nora resisted the urge to snort in laughter.
The tops of the trees had now bowed over, growing towards each other. Something itched at Nora's mind as she looked at the whole, at the two straight trees that shot upward until they curved together at their very crowns.
"Any idea what this is?" Neptune asked from his position nearby, keeping the gawking crowd in line.
"Knowing our luck, something bad," Emerald muttered, and Nora couldn't disagree. However, she kept her eyes locked on the growing plants as the prickling sensation grew. She watched the very tops of the trees touch and then began to coil around each other, growing together as the two trunks become intertwined into some form of arch…
"It's a portal!" she hissed in recognition, pulling Magnhild from her back. Ren and Emerald both drew their weapons.
"Is that bad?" Neptune asked, glancing between the archway and Team JNPR.
"I'll give you one guess as to the only one who now has the power to make these things," Emerald shot back, prompting Neptune to reach for his own weapon.
Nora glanced aside at Team CFVY, to see Coco had already unfolded Gianduja into its minigun form. Fox, Velvet and Yatsuhashi were likewise poised, moving with that team's characteristically silent coordination.
Coco caught Nora's glance and gestured with her gun. "I caught the gist, Valkyrie." Nora nodded back and turned her attention back on the trees.
"Alright, further back, people!" Sun called out, trying to urge the multitude away. Murmuring rose as the crowd pushed back. Nora pushed these noises aside as she saw a familiar looking shimmer appear at the top of the archway and begin descending, filling the space beneath. She levelled Magnhild in its grenade launcher mode. She was glad to see the others do likewise.
The portal glowed, its surface now opaque enough that one could no longer make out what lay on the other side. It sparkled, much as the others had done, and yet nothing else happened. It took her a moment to realise the crowd had also fallen silent, dumbstruck by the appearance of such magic.
Sun drew alongside her. "So, what do we do? If nothing happens, do we send someone through?"
"No!" Ren's shout echoed her own alarm at the notion. "We don't know where it goes, and we don't know if anyone who passes through can come back," Ren explained. "It could be a one-way trip."
"Okay, bad idea," Sun said, waving his hands. "What do we do?"
Nora glanced at Ren, then at Emerald. Neither seemed to have any more ideas than she. Oscar looked equally befuddled, and if Ozpin were offering anything, it wasn't being shared. Coco simply shrugged.
"We'll have to…" Nora began, before she was cut off by a shout from Velvet.
"Look!"
A figure emerged from the portal. They all levelled their weapons again, but the figure took no notice of them at first. She just knelt over, seemingly catching her breath, before she began looking around her in apparent wonder. Nora then took in their appearance: the red and black clothes, and that distinctive red hood.
"Ruby?!" she said in disbelief.
Ruby Rose looked right at her with her silver eyes and burst into a smile. "Guys! It's you! It worked!"
Another figure passed through the portal, clad in a blue and white costume, and marked by distinctive white hair. Ruby turned to help her up.
"Weiss!" Nora breathed. She turned to Oscar. "Get hold of Winter again. And Qrow. And the rest of the Schnees. They need to be here!"
Another two figures – blonde and black-haired – appeared, supporting each other.
"Blake?" Sun called out.
The black-haired girl of the pair looked up, her cat ears clearly visible. "Sun?!" she called back. "Is it really you?!"
"I should be saying the same to you," he replied in wonder, stepping forward, unseen weight seeming to just fall off him.
The blonde girl laughed and looked up, revealing the purple eyes of Yang Xiao-Long. "Yeah, it's us, we're back! So, are you just gonna stand there?"
With a hoot Sun ran towards them. Picking up Blake, he twirled her around as he laughed, before letting her down and taking Yang in a hug. The mood lifted as those around them broke into smiles, watching lost friends reunite. Yet Nora returned her gaze to the portal.
Please, Please, Please, she begged silently.
A fifth figure stepped through, a tall, broad-shouldered man in armour, his face hidden by a helmet. Those around her clearly didn't recognise him. But she caught sight of the plate and its pattern. Some things were clearly new: the helmet for one, and had he been having another growth spurt she hadn't noticed? And yet that was his armour, with Pyrrha's sash.
"Jaune?" she whispered.
"That's Jaune?!" said Coco, lowering her shades.
Neptune tilted his head. "You know, I think it is," he said after a moment.
Coco gave him a disbelieving stare.
"No, really." Neptune pressed. "We saw him in Haven. He'd picked up new armour by them, and really bulked out. He'd changed quite a bit from Beacon. Who knows what Atlas did to him?"
"Jaune!" Nora called out to him. She couldn't see his expression, but the armoured man turned. Turned and looked at her.
It was him.
With a cry, she dashed forwards. Reaching him she leapt forwards, before squeezing tightly with her arms. He seemed slow to react at first, as if uncertain. For a moment she worried he blamed her, but then an armoured gauntlet fell on her shoulder and squeezed back.
"Nora, is that you?" It was his voice, a little lower than she remembered, yet still his voice.
"It's me, you goof," she laughed as she wept. Ren joined them not as moment later, throwing his own arms around them both.
"I'm… it's really good to see you both," Jaune said.
"We thought you were dead," Ren whispered.
Jaune gave a half-strangled choke from behind his helm. "There were times… I thought so too. Sorry."
Nora just squeezed tighter. Normally Jaune or any of the others would protest her grip at some point, but he'd clearly learned to weather it.
A sudden shimmer caught her attention, and as she looked back towards the portal, she saw it, trees and all, begin to vanish, starting at the bottom just as the other had done. What looked like solid tree and glowing barrier just dissipated into glowing particles, rising to the top till all was gone. She looked sharply back at Jaune.
"We were the only ones coming through," he said, and she smiled once more. She could hear the loud babble of the crowd again now, but it had a happy sound now, filled with curious chatter. Looking around her, she could see similar scenes of joyful reunion. And Oscar's thumbs up, just before he was hugged by Ruby, told her more was on the way.
Warm tears fell from her eyes as she smiled. The night had been, but the sun was rising. It was a miracle. Despite the pain, everything would be just fine.
Author's Note:
This is a short story idea (four chapters long) that impressed itself upon my mind after seeing that image from the Volume 9 trailer, and then one particular piece of fanart that was clearly inspired by (but went far beyond) it. This isn't replacing A Semblance of a Team, which I am still working on: it's just the muse dictated I write this, and eventually I couldn't put it off. Plus, Volume 9 might actually get a release date soon (one lives in hope), so the window before this might all become an AU may grow short.
