Howdy folks, how's it going?
So, some of you might be quite surprised to see this update today, right? For those of you who did not see my last update to Through the Eternities, or haven't checked my profile recently, the situation is thus: Real life situations have cut into my time and energy to get things done, to the point that I decided that the only way I could keep writing was to change the way I do my updates. From now on and for the foreseeable future, updates will happen every two weeks, keeping up with my current story rotation, but as you might have noticed, chapters will be a fair bit shorter as a result. My apologies for the inconvenience, but it was really the best solution I could come up with.
Some more story related things at the bottom.´
As always, special thanks to Chaos Productions for his continued help and input.
And as always I own neither RWBY nor LoL
Now, enjoy.
/
From his vantage point right next to one of the landing pads by the Beacon Cliffs, Ozpin had an unobstructed view of the entirety of the Emerald Forest, a sea of trees as far as he could see, and the whole skyline above. It was a sight that the headmaster intended to enjoy for as long as he could, knowing full well the fleet that'd be occupying the space very soon. Something that he quite pointedly had not agreed with, but alas, being the headmaster of a huntsman academy can only give you so much clout…
A problem for another time however, as the man kept surveying the horizon calmly, both hands casually resting atop his cane. Really, maybe he should have dropped by the cafeteria on the way for a mug of cocoa after all…
It was just as the thought crossed his mind that something caught his attention. There, in the distance, three black dots against the early evening sky, swiftly growing larger as they closed the distance. A curious thing, the headmaster considered with a raised eyebrow, especially since he was fairly sure he had been told to expect a single transport ship. His curiosity only increased as more details could be made out, and he quickly recognized the two smaller ships escorting the larger one as being of Atlesian make. Just what sort of trouble had his students gotten into? Even considering which particular students these were, and the risks they had all been aware of given who was targeting young Arc's collection, this should still have been a simple retrieval mission.
It wasn't long after that that the transport ship and its escort arrived, the quiet of the evening briefly interrupted by the roaring engines as each made their landing in a different platform, the biggest ship opting for the one right next to the headmaster, who just looked on placidly, as the doors opened, and out came the students, led by… My word, that was a lot of blood. It was in hindsight a good thing he hadn't had Glynda accompanying him for this, or the woman might have had a conniption.
"Should I send for Dr. Foster?" He inquired, only really so calmly because at a glance there was no one in the approaching group the looked overly concerned. Tired and unhappy and traumatized, perhaps, but not concerned.
"Uh, what?" Arc started at the question, sounding quite out of it, which considering everything the young man had been through recently, up to and including whatever had just happened, was fair enough, then glanced down and cringed. "Oh, uh, no, won't be necessary, Professor, it's not my blood, or any of ours, it's just, well… That one White Fang guy had a chainsaw. It backfired. Horribly."
The Headmaster could only raise an eyebrow at the statement, before glancing around the rest of the student group, of which, unsurprisingly, only Miss Rose looked unbothered (that she was among the ones completely unsullied by blood was, if he was being honest, a surprise all its own…). At least Arc had the small fortune of wearing mostly red. Poor Miss Schnee was quite likely deeply regretting her usual choice of stark white attire right about now…
"I see…" Ozpin replied neutrally. "Perhaps it'd be best if you all went ahead and got yourselves cleaned and rested, and we left the mission report for tomorrow morning?"
It probably said enough about the situation when Miss Schnee didn't even deign to reply, the heiress simply marching stiffly towards the dormitories, her stern face a mask that did little to conceal the discomfort and horror at her current state. He should probably prepare some therapy sessions.
"I, I suppose that might be for the best. But…" Mr. Arc replied hesitantly. "We still gotta get the stuff into the Academy."
"I stay, Jaune." Ruby cut in, causing her fellow team leader to turn towards her. "Make sure things safe, talk some stuff."
Mr. Arc seemed to hesitate at that, clearly reluctant to leave her to handle this next bit by herself, but ultimately tiredness and disgust at his current state won out. "Ok, then, we'll leave you to take care of things here then. Please be careful moving the stuff."
The rest of the students were quick to voice their agreement and gratitude at his proposal however, and it wasn't long before they vacated the premises, until only Miss Rose remained. At which point, Jax finally deigned to leave the ship.
"So," The headmaster inquired as he shot the champion a dry look. "How angry should I expect the council to be when I inevitably hear from them about whatever happened?"
"Like you ever gave a shit about what that bunch of useless politicians thinks, kiddo." Jax replied equally drily, his trusty lamppost casually resting on his shoulder. "And for the record, I didn't do anything more than beat the crap of some idiots and destroy some big mecha-suit thingie. Property damage was minimal."
"I take it the White Fang did attack the collection while in transit, then?" The headmaster inquired further, in the tone of someone praying for patience as he turned toward Ruby.
"Yes." She confirmed with a slight nod. "Didn't make it."
"Clearly. And I take it your Atlesian escort had something to do with that?"
"Oh, about that, and you are going to love this, kiddo." Jax stated, clearly already amused at whatever it was that he thought was about to happen. "As it just so happens, we did have a little outside help on the side."
With that, both he and Miss Rose turned back towards the ship, as out came… Well, this was unexpected.
"Ah, Miss Polendina, I presume. This is your preferred name nowadays, yes?" The headmaster said by way of greeting as he nodded towards the approaching redhead. "I'm delighted to make your acquaintance at last. I take it you're the one to thank for the escort?"
"The pleasure is mine, Headmaster. I assume you have heard of me, then?" Penny replied with a polite smile, after taking a moment to look around, her eyes drawn to the enormous figure of the Beacon Tower, a fairly common thing for people arriving for the very first time. "And yes, I was all too happy to assist my friends, especially when it comes to… something so close to home to me, shall we say."
"James did make mention of a special student that had his attention the last time we talked, but it was Miss Ruby here who gave me the truly important details." The headmaster replied, turning to look around him, between the two champions and his student. "With that said, I do believe we have much to discuss. Just allow me to call in Professor Goodwitch so we can get these artefacts moved in beforehand."
And get a few mugs of cocoa while he was at it, because the Headmaster had the feeling that his night was still far from over.
/
"Care to explain, Cinder, how what was supposed to be a simple recovery mission failed so spectacularly?" The red-headed figure on the other side of the screen all but hissed. "We dedicated more resources than should have ever been needed for this, and we have nothing to show for it."
The polite manner in which the question was asked did not do much to hide the rage simmering beneath, but all the same Cinder was completely undaunted, and far better at hiding her own anger at the gal on display. Compared to her benefactor, Adam was just a harmless brat throwing a tantrum.
"It is hardly my fault if all your "resources" proved insufficient, Adam." The woman replied, just barely managing to keep her amusement at the Faunus outrage from her voice and expression. "My agents provided the necessary intel, and the intel proved to be accurate. How you acted upon what you were given, well… I believe it was you yourself that said that this was the White Fang's problem to deal with."
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to steal that Paladin from right under Atlas' nose?!" The masked man retorted, clearly incensed by her uncaring demeanour, good. "And I might have not been too bothered with that, weapons, transports and supplies can all be replaced given time, if there hadn't been so few of my men that got away from this "heist". I lost my Lieutenant, and some of the best fighters of the Vale cell that I personally trained. Those losses can't be recouped so easily!"
Cinder almost rolled her eyes at that. Adam could try to play the leader looking out for his underlings all he wanted, and she was sure it worked really well in cementing their loyalty towards him over Sienna Khan, but she had no doubt that he wouldn't give those under his command a second thought the moment they stopped being useful to his goals. Not that she was in any position to judge him for that, mind you, but at least she didn't make pretenses of it.
"The losses are a setback, I'll admit." The woman conceded that much with sympathy that she didn't really feel. "Do they compromise our other… endeavors?"
For a little while silence fell around the room, as the White Fang commander glowered at the woman and she simply stared back with a calm, but piercing look.
"Not as such…" Adam eventually replied, being the first to relent in the stare-off. "I will have to reach out for some reinforcements, but our operations should proceed as intended."
"Small mercies, then." She stated with a gracious smile, showing a sympathy that she wasn't really feeling. "Worry not, Adam. This attempt may not have worked, but I can guarantee that you and your will get everything you wanted out of this partnership of ours in the end. All you'll need to is stick to the plan from now on."
"You had better not be making more of your kind's empty promises, human." Adam retorted warningly, with a discontent, but ultimately conceding sneer. "We will do our part. You'd best do yours."
And with that the masked man rudely cut the comm with no further word, leaving Cinder to smirk triumphantly. That had gone exactly as she had expected it to.
"Ma'am." The ensuing silence was broken by Emerald speaking up, the green-haired girl looking towards Cinder with clear confusion. "I gotta ask… Why do you seem so pleased with this? I thought the White Fang were supposed to get the stuff?"
"Oh, Emerald, Emerald, Emerald." The dark-haired woman chuckled, clearly amused by the girl's lack of understanding. "I never actually expected them to succeed."
"Then… what was the goal here? Why tell them where the trinkets they wanted were and then stay out of it?" The girl prompted further, still clearly not grasping the situation, but then Cinder hadn't brought her along for her mind, and she was in a good enough mood to feel like being charitable for once.
"Because this way, we have put Adam in a position where he knows he cannot retrieve what was stolen from him without our assistance. The miserable failure of "his best men" proves as much." The woman replied, glancing down at the table and all the different folders and documents strewn about. "And more to the point, with those items safely stored away in Beacon, now he may growl and hiss and bark all he wants, but he will stay the course, because now we both have something we want out of that place."
"I see." Emerald replied, sounding genuinely impressed by such a simple ploy, before a thought seemingly struck her. "What about sending Neo after the Rose girl, though?"
"A token attempt. Disappointing that she couldn't do it, but hardly unexpected." Cinder replied, her smug smile giving way to a small frown. No person that had her benefactor so on edge would have been so trivial to dealt with. "We will have to plan around that more carefully, and for the moment, we have ample time for that. Neo will serve another purpose very soon."
The smug smirk was quick to settle back into the woman's expression at the thought. For once, it felt like things were getting back on track.
/
Far away from the halls of Beacon or the plots of Vale, a man stood in his office, staring out the window towards the city below and the mountains beyond with a stillness akin to a statue. He barely even reacted when the door opened, and a woman marched in, white of hair and with the garb of a specialist of the Atlesian Military, a perfect picture of discipline.
"Sir," Winter Schnee greeted with a salute. "You requested to see me?"
"That I did, that I did." General James Ironwood replied with a slight no, before turning around, letting his subordinate see the concern on the man's face. "There have been developments in Vale."
"Sir?" The specialist prompted, demeanor strictly professional but yet curious. "I take it there has been a new report from Penny?"
"From her and the detachment assigned to her, yes. The White Fang seem to be more active in the city than previously thought. They are after something, and it seems to have put them into conflict with the students at Beacon Academy." The man's steely gaze softened lightly as he looked towards his subordinate. "It would seem your sister was involved in the most recent such event."
"Weiss? Is she alright?" The woman immediately inquired, sisterly concern briefly overpowering military protocol, but the General was hardly going to begrudge her that.
"Do not worry, she is unarmed." Ironwood quickly reassured with a slight smile. "But all the same, the issue persists. We cannot allow the White Fang to cause any more trouble that could jeopardize the upcoming Festival."
"I was under the impression that it's exactly because of that the fleet is mobilizing." Winter stated primly.
"Indeed. And it is also why you'll be going on ahead."
"…Sir?" The woman replied, suddenly quite confused.
"You are to head to Beacon before the rest of the fleet, with a small detachment of your own, to reinforce Penny and take stock of the situation on the ground. I will be clearing it with Ozpin shortly." The General explained promptly, before giving the woman a friendly smile. "You are free to take the opportunity catch up with your sister, of course. I understand it has been quite a while since you last saw each other face to face and…"
Ironwood stopped when he noticed something quite odd. He had been expecting the woman to accept the mission as she always had, and at worst be slightly off-guard but happy for the chance that was being provided. Instead however, for the first time since he had met her, his best agent seemed rather hesitant and… concerned?
"Is… everything alright, Winter?" He inquired, quite confused by such an uncharacteristic demeanour. The question seemed to snap the woman out of it however, as her eyes suddenly widened.
"Oh, yes. Yes, General, there is no issue." She replied, coughing embarrassedly and taking a moment to return to her usual prim and proper demeanour. "I will… begin making preparations immediately. My thanks for the opportunity."
"…Think nothing of it, Winter." Ironwood replied at length, deciding it was probably not a lapse worth overt concern. "See to it then, dismissed."
The specialist saluted at that and about turned to exit the room, barring the General from seeing the cold frown that settled upon her face as she left.
/
To start things off, I must confess that I was a bit surprised by the number of people who were confused by the end of the last chapter, but I supposed it is on me for not writing it well enough. So just to clarify, the White Fang Lieutenant's untimely demise was not because of anything that Weiss did. It was Ruby using the Teleport Summoning Spell using Weiss as a focus to get back to the party. This will be touched upon in one of the discussions of the next chapter.
Meanwhile, the plot thickens. There's still more fallout from this little failed heist to be had next chapter, and in the next few following ones some revelations will be had…
Now, too weeks from now will be the next update to Beneath a Broken Moon. Though I should probably give fair warning, that one has a decent chance of being even shorter than my new short average, since I will be doing A LOT of travelling on that weekend.
Cya all on the next one, stay safe and take care.