Chapter 5
It has been two years since the Rose/Xiao-Long family adopted the kids.
Right now, the oldest of the siblings Riot is near Mantle with his sister Winter, Aunt Raven and Uncle Qrow traveling.
Why are they traveling near Mantle? To check out a mining site that lost communication for about a week now.
Raven: You sure it was a good idea taking them, Qrow?
Qrow: Technically it was yours. Plus, we're only investigating. If it gets too dangerous, we'll tell them to stay put until we come back.
Winter: You two realize we can hear you.
Qrow: And I hope you do Ice Queen.
Winter:*pouting* Why do you keep calling me that. Plus, my hair isn't fully white anymore.
That's right. Both Winter, Weiss and Whitley's hair now has a raven black spot in the middle of their hair. As Weiss told the others that the black hair was from their father and the white hair from their mother, she mentioned that his hair was dyed white.
Summer wanted to buy more hair dye for them, but they refused saying that this proves they're not a Schnee anymore but a Rose/Xiao-Long. This made Summer cry as she hugged her three kids in joy.
Riot: Also, I can protect Winter and myself, too.
Raven: True. But you're still not ready yet.
Riot: Yet. Plus, I know you, Uncle Qrow, Mom and Dad have been training and teaching Yang, Cinder, Emerald, Mercury, Roman and Winter here for Signal Academy.
Raven: Right. But why aren't you interested?
Qrow and Winter looked at Riot for answers too.
Riot: Someone must watch and protect the house.
Winter: But with your semblance and high aura, you can be the greatest huntsman in the world.
Riot: I thought you said I was the greatest older brother in the world.
Winter: And you still are.
Raven: You can become someone like me.
Riot: Aunt Raven, no offense. But I rather not. Also how did you set the oven on fire making cookies?
Raven: Uhhh...
Raven shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Riot's gaze.
Raven: It was an accident, okay? I may be skilled with my semblance, but baking has never been my strong suit. Let's just say it got a little...too fiery.
Qrow smirked, unable to resist teasing Raven.
Qrow: It was more like an inferno, if I remember correctly.
Flashback~
Raven: So, Summer left me in charge of you guys today.
Weiss: Actually, Mother left Big brother in charge.
Raven: Don't worry, he, Roman and Winter need a break. Also, who wants cookies?
Ruby, Weiss, Emerald, Whitley & Cinder:*raising their hand* Me!
Neo raises her hand too.
Yang: Do know how to bake cookies?
Raven: It's cookies. What could possibly go wrong-
Next scene shows the oven in flames.
Weiss, Emerald, Ruby & Yang:*running around in circles* Run away! Run away from the fire!
Cinder is seen protecting Neo from going close to fire. And Mercury tries blowing at it.
Riot calmly puts out the fire with a Fire Extinguisher.
Winter & Roman:*to Raven shocked & confused* HOW!?
Raven:...The risk I took was calculated, but maaaan am I bad at math.
Whitley: Mommy will be mad.
Summer:*coming back* And she is.
Raven: SUMMER I'M SO SOR-
Summer with her weapon in hand runs and jumps at Raven.
Summer:*sliver eyes active* SUMMMMEEERRR ROOOSSEE!
Raven: AAAAHHHH!
End of flashback~
The flashback ends, leaving Winter chuckling at the memory. They were all aware of their mother's fierce protectiveness and her occasional outbursts towards Raven's less responsible moments.
Riot: Good times, huh?
Winter: Definitely. Mom's reaction was priceless.
Riot: I still can't believe I put out the fire so calmly while everyone else was panicking.
Winter: It just shows how level-headed you are, Riot. You always manage to stay composed in chaotic situations.
Riot shrugged modestly, not wanting to boast about his abilities. He knew that his calm demeanor often reassured others and helped maintain order when things got out of hand.
Riot: Well, someone had to take charge. Plus, it's not like it was the first time we had to handle a little chaos around here.
Winter: True. Our family always seems to find themselves in interesting situations.
Raven: Till this day I still don't know.
Winter: At least we made sandwiches later after that mess.
Riot:*looks ahead* Is that the mine?
Qrow & Raven: Huh?*looks* Yeah.
Ahead of them was the mining site that was now on the defensive against a Grimm attack.
Qrow:*worried* Oh no...
Winter:*extremely worried & covers her mouth* The people...
Raven: Well, that explains the communications lost.
Riot: Say, I'm only seeing mostly the guards and very few of the workers. And don't most if not all the workers seem to be Faunus?
When Riot said that Winter looked at him in shock, then at the mine. Her shock turned to anger.
Winter:*angry* I knew it!
Raven & Qrow: Huh?
Winter:*angry & sobbing* I knew Jacques was using Faunus for the hard and dangerous labor! But I didn't believe it! I didn't believe it. And seeing it now...*sobs*
Riot rubs Winter's back to comfort her.
Meanwhile, Qrow and Raven have a look that says, "I'm going to murder that thing".
Qrow: We should try and save as many of the miners as possible.
Raven: And the guards?
Qrow: Not our problem.
Raven: Great plan.
Raven then turns to Riot and Winter.
Raven: Stay here, we'll be back. Riot, protect Winter.
Riot nods his head as the two went to try and save the miners.
Winter:*still sobbing* ...We...We should help them...
Riot: But they told us to stay for safety. And I was told to protect you.
Winter: But!
Riot:*princess carries Winter* That doesn't mean I will assist you while I protect you.
Winter: Wait Riot, I can run on my own feet!
Riot:*crouches* I know.
Winter:*confused* What are you-
Riot uses his semblance and jumps high in the air this also clears the snow around him. And while in the air he flies to the Dust Mine.
Meanwhile with the unprepared Winter:*screams in panic, confusion, shock & fear* AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
With Qrow and Raven flying there in bird form.
Qrow:(in bird) We're almost there, get ready.
Raven:*hears something*(in bird) Say, you hear some-
Riot speed blitz past them, while Winter scream fades in and out.
Winter: aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHHHhhhhhhh...
Both Raven and Qrow fall to the ground back in human form with both of their heads in the snow-covered ground.
Raven & Qrow:*in pain*...owie...
Raven groaned as she lifted her head from the snow, shaking off the disorientation caused by the unexpected collision with the ground.
Raven: Ugh, remind me to never fly with you close by again.
Qrow, still lying face-first in the snow, mumbled a muffled response.
Qrow: Noted... and I think I have a mouthful of snow...
Raven chuckled despite the discomfort, then pushed herself up onto her feet, brushing off the snow from her clothes.
Meanwhile at the Dust Mines
Faunus Worker:*running away* Come on! We got to get out of here before they blow the entrance!
Many workers ran, some limped, others tried to crawl.
Two kids were running with the adults and other kids.
Kid: Come on Ilia! We're gonna make it!
Ilia:*crying & tried* But Adam...My Mommy and Daddy are still...
Adam: I know! But I also know they'll make it.*quietly* Mom...You better make it, too.
The two were able to make it with the others, but then...
Faunus Worker: Sweet Mother of a Mantle! Centinels and Megoliaths coming in!
As he said that about 10 Centinels, 5 Megoliaths and 50 Beowolves came rushing in.
Adam:*looks around in a panic* W-Where are the guards?!
Faunus Worker 2: I think they just-
Before she could finish her sentence. A noise that sounded like a missile was coming. And got closer. And closer...
Before the 10 Centinels, 5 Megoliaths and 50 Beowolves arrived.
Riot: I see the mines.
Winter:*sighs in relief* Thank goodness. Also.*shocked* YOU CAN FLY?!
Riot: Yes. It's my semblance. Also don't get mad for what I'm about to do.
Winter: What do you mean?
Riot: I will catch you at that spot where I'll land.
Winter: Wait what?
Riot throws Winter a little high in the air.
Winter: WHHHHYYYY?!
Riot then launched himself like a missile and hit the ground away from the people and VERY close to the Grimm.
The second he hit the ground it exploded.
The workers thought it was an actual missile until they realized it was just Riot in a superhero landing pose, surrounded by dead Grimm and a completely burned area. Wearing now a white cape and purple scarf that blew in the wind.
Riot: Is anyone hurt?
Everyone:...
Riot:*looks up* Knew it.*catches Winter* Told you I'll catch you.
Winter:*dizzy* Papa? Ruby is stuck in the cookie jar again.*shakes head then looks around* Where are the guards?
Faunus Worker: They left us...
Winter: And is this everyone that made it?
All the workers and kids looked back at the mine that's now caved in.
Adam:*sighs* Sadly yea.
Riot:*looks down* I wish we made it here earlier.
Faunus Worker 2: We all say the same thing. But,*smiles* thank you for saving us tho.
Faunus Worker 3: Yeah, thanks kid.
One by one, everyone began to thank Riot. It was then Qrow and Raven came to see the burned area, the caved in mine, about 153 people now safe and Riot and Winter.
Wait.
Qrow & Raven:*shocked* RIOT?! WINTER?!
Qrow:*looks back and forth* What and how?!
Winter: Riot's semblance.
Riot: My Semblance.
Qrow & Raven:...
Riot and Winter exchanged glances, knowing that they had some explaining to do. The grateful workers, sensing the tension, gave them some space as Qrow and Raven approached, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity.
Raven: Riot, Winter, care to enlighten us on what just happened?
Timeskip to the next 9 days
At Rose Xiao-Long Household Nighttime
We see Ruby, Neo, Weiss and Whitley by the front door waiting for both their uncle, sister and brother to arrive back from their trip. Roman, Yang and Cinder kept watch just in case the four run out if they hear the smallest noise thinking it's them. But they too were also waiting for them.
Summer meanwhile was trying to make a large cookie with the help from Emerald and Mercury.
Mercury: I feel like we need a bigger oven.
Summer: Remember, the last one got burned by "You know who" so we are going to work with this oven.
Roman: Or make the world's biggest cookie by having it baked outside with a large baking pan.
Everyone looks at Roman wide eye.
Roman: What?
Ruby, Weiss & Whitley: That's...
Summer & Emerald: GENIUS!
Yang: On no...
Cinder: You doomed us all!
Roman:*mumbles* Me and my big mouth...
Just then the front door opens.
Neo: "Big Brother! Big Sister! welcome back-Papa?"
Out the door first came first was a defeated Taiyang, a VERY sober Qrow, a VERY drunk Raven who tripped and fell on the floor face first and just inchworms to couch where the rest of the other two adults.
Summer: What in the name of strawberry?
Then finally, Winter who's holding a Redhead Bull Faunus' hand(Adam) and Riot giving a piggyback to a sleeping Chameleon Faunus(Ilia).
Winter: Everyone. Meet Adam and Ilia.
Adam: H-Hey...
Ilia is still asleep.
Riot: They are also our new brother and sister. Adam is the same age as Roman, Winter and I. And Ilia is the same age as Ruby, Weiss and Neo.
Summer then now notices the bandage wrapping around Adam's left eye.
Summer:*to Adam* What to your eye, Adam?
Adam looks down and says with a little venom.
Adam: The SDC.
Summer: Oh okay. Excuse me.
Summer walks to a coat closet and starts rummaging through it.
Cinder: Uh...Mom? What are you looking-
Summer:*cheerful* Found it!
Ilia now wakes up.
Ilia: Found what?
Summer:*smile* My Emergency RPG of course!
The adults: SUMMER NO!
Summer: SUMMER YES!*kicks front door open* I'M COMING FOR YOU JACQUES!
Adam: You know what? I like this new family.
Ilia:*chuckles* Same.
As the chaos ensued, with Summer determined to take on Jacques Schnee and the others trying to calm her down, the atmosphere in the room shifted from surprise to amusement. The newfound siblings, Adam and Ilia, observed the scene with a mix of curiosity and amusement, finding themselves quickly getting caught up in the unique dynamics of their new family.
Ruby: This is... unexpected.
Weiss: Leave it to Mom to have an emergency RPG ready.
Whitley: I didn't even know we had one.
Adam: Well, this certainly isn't a dull family.
Ilia: No kidding. I think I'm going to like it here.
Cinder, who had been quietly observing the situation, couldn't help but chuckle. She understood that this was just another day in the eventful lives of the Rose/Xiao-Long family.
Cinder: Welcome to the madness, Adam and Ilia.
Qrow, who had managed to sober up slightly, rubbed his temples and tried to diffuse the situation.
Qrow: Summer, put the RPG down. We can handle this without resorting to blowing things up.
Raven, still on the floor, raised her head and mumbled groggily.
Raven: Speak for yourself, I'm all for blowing things up.
Qrow: Not helping, Raven.
Summer, after a moment of consideration, reluctantly set the RPG aside, realizing that there were better ways to deal with their family's issues.
Summer: Fine, fine. But mark my words, Jacques won't get away with his mistreatment of Faunus workers. We'll find a way to make things right.
Adam: I appreciate the sentiment, but revenge isn't the answer. We need to fight for justice, not vengeance.
Ilia: Adam's right. We must approach this with a clear head and a plan. Violence only begets more violence.
Winter: They're right, Mom. We need to find a way to expose Jacques' actions and hold him accountable.
Riot, still carrying Ilia on his back, nodded in agreement.
Riot: We'll fight for justice together, as a family. But let's do it the right way.
Ruby, Weiss, and Cinder joined in, offering their support to the new siblings and reiterating their commitment to the cause.
Ruby: We've faced tough challenges before, and we've come out stronger. We can do this.
Weiss: Together, we'll make a difference and ensure that no one else have to suffer like Adam and Ilia did.
Cinder, with a mischievous smile, added her own silent vow to the mix.
Cinder: And if all else fails, we'll let Mom unleash the RPG.
The room erupted into laughter, a mixture of determination and light-heartedness filling the air. In that moment, they found strength in each other, knowing that as a family, they could overcome any obstacle and fight for a better world.