Yang sighed, making no obvious signs to hide her disappointment for anyone who saw her face. Her lips were upturned, and her expression bordered on pensive rather than subdued. Venting on a punching bag would be ideal, but even that was out of her reach through every fault of her own.
She was miserable.
Hence, she was too busy brooding.
Of all the days for her corgi to get stuck in postal service, it had to be the day everyone went to Forever Fall.
She'd had no choice but to bail on her carefully laid plans with Archer while crying tears of blood. The romantic dinner, concert tickets, and the daring dress she'd ordered to wow him was all a waste!
Zwei was her dog. A member of the family. There was no way she could leave him when he needed help over her own selfish personal relationship gains. The fact she'd hesitated for so long revealed her priorities, but in the end, there really was no other choice.
Yang was a person who valued her family and relationships highly. She couldn't ignore it when she was needed, but she could damn well speculate.
At the time, no; even now, she felt like she'd been conspired against. Her dad just so happened to message her there and then when uncle Qrow knew she was planning a date with a boy?
It was too suspicious, and although a childish part of Yang felt like Qrow had ratted her crush out to her overprotective dad, the less dumber side tried to use reason.
Uncle Qrow had been acting really tense in the day's leading up to Forever Fall, and the fact that even Glynda was adamant Yang not go, rang a few bells in Yang's mind.
Namely, if it had anything to do with that 'Maiden' business Qrow had stressed to her?
Did uncle Qrow tip off her dad to ensure she was occupied? Even so, she would have already been occupied with Archer anyway, so the notion was redundant. Therefore, Qrow must have ratted her out from some bro-code he had with her dad!
She refused to let this go so easily.
Alternatively, it never occurred to Yang that Archer himself may have a hand in her sudden misfortune.
All packages and deliveries go through Beacon's staff and administration for a screening process. As a new professor, Archer would have had access to package records and their content.
As it stood, Yang's sole suspect remained as just Qrow.
Right here. Right now.
He was no longer, best uncle.
It was a petty thought, but Yang was convinced of her speculations until everyone arrived back from Forever Fall and Yang's thoughts quickly moved elsewhere.
Yang inwardly flinched.
Not everyone had come back.
It was impossible not to notice the distinct lack of familiar faces even if she tried, and that was when everyone was departing the school bullhead in the morning.
Several gloomy hours had passed since then.
Now it was the late afternoon, and word was that first-year classes were under temporary suspension. Hence, the reason Yang found herself in her team's dorm. However, she was antsy.
The sheer awkwardness of her team, and the sudden 'disconnect' between them was readily apparent in their demeanors.
The moods were like night and day. Worse, Yang's attempts to alleviate the atmosphere were met with failure from the start.
Then again, her complaints were about a missed date and her own conspiracy theory, while Jaune, Blake, and Nora pivoted on darker themes.
Still, a bit of levity never hurt anyone, and Yang was feeling terribly smothered in the growing stuffiness.
Yang directed her focus on Blake, her direct partner, and the person bunking adjacent to her.
"So, ugh, partner." Yang wracked her mind for a suitable light topic before her darting eyes focused on Blake's unfinished notes and assignments. Perfect. "Aren't you glad Prof Oobleck took a sudden leave of absence? No more cramming mid-lecture, right?"
Rather than light banter, she gave her a look of panic that Yang recoiled from.
Oh. Seriously?
Yang wasn't ignorant about what that look could mean considering what she'd heard about Forever Fall.
E-Evasive maneuvers.
The pilot operating a creaky wooden tri-plane in Yang's mind began to teeter and veer to the left, smoke wafting from a sputtering engine.
Something, something else.
"Okay, okay at least Prof Port's lectures…mother f- okay, okay, why are your ears drooping?"
Blake couldn't meet Yang's eyes, but was more concerned about Yang's volume.
In a silent room, voices obviously carry.
Yang realized she'd been the only one speaking so far, and the imaginary tri-plane in her mind was finally spiraling into a nose dive to oblivion.
['Game Over.']
['User Score: T Minus - Failure.']
Oh for fuck's sake. Yang didn't do subtle.
"Him too?" She pressed.
Her team was being entirely uncooperative, and it was tickling her in all the wrong ways. Like an itch you couldn't reach but couldn't ignore, she inevitably grew less accommodating as her considerations lost out to her baser urges.
"Next thing you know you're going to tell me that Goodwitch-"
"Yang," Blake finally said, narrowing her eyes and muffling Yang's mouth with a hand. She was staring uneasily at Jaune on the other side of the room. He looked more and more defeated with each name spoken. "Not now."
Yang's brow twitched. She had never been a soft-spoken person let alone when the entire team-minus-Juane had already agreed where the blame did not lay.
"Our leader just needs to get his head out of his ass."
"Yang!"
"Whaaat?"
Yang crossed her arms, insensitively. She was presently unable to relate with her team members. All she was doing was reacting, and as far as she was concerned, this was a non-issue.
"I'm tired of this atmosphere. It's like we're standing on tenterhooks. Look, from what I've heard, it's not Jaune's fault. It's not anyone's fault! Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's the one who's not listening?!"
Blake pursed her lips. It wasn't as if Yang was being unreasonable, but there was context that Yang lacked in order to justify her words.
"You just don't understand Yang," Black said, shaking her head and trying to put the matter to rest.
However, Yang wasn't about to let the topic go after Blake had finally responded in the dourness of the mood.
"I understand that he saved who he could." Yang said, trying to bulldoze through the negativity and lift everyone's spirits. "That makes him a hero in my books."
Yang's approach required cooperation.
Cooperation was dead from the start.
"I didn't save them, Yang," Jaune sighed, clenching his hands into fists while glaring at the way they still trembled. "I killed them. I couldn't act when I needed to. I couldn't defend who I wanted to defend. Worse, I chose one side and abandoned the rest."
"And people are alive for it!" Yang stressed, but unfortunately, there was no easy answer. .
"If I'd been braver, if I'd helped the professors instead of just standing there like a helpless idiot, maybe no one would have died before the Huntsman of Red arrived."
"Nora, do you hear this guy? He did well. So what if he could have done better? He saved that Ren guy too, didn't he?"
Nora's expression looked complicated, and she was the only one who could give Yang's level of crazy a run for her money.
"..."
Not a word of support escaped Nora's mouth.
Jaune was blaming himself for abandoning half of his classmates, but it was Nora who knew full well that she'd strong-armed Jaune to make that choice. Push came to shove, Ren was worth more to her than the others, and she didn't know what she would have done had Jaune chosen to not heed her whims.
Fall out and mutiny was likely.
Nora would never stand still and watch Ren die in front of her when she had a means to save him. The means however, came with a cost:
Half the class, and a burdened team leader.
Nora was just as guilty for those deaths, and she knew it. She weighed her options, and she'd chosen her outcome.
She had no right to speak about right and wrong right now, let alone try to comfort Jaune.
The room quickly devolved back into silence.
Yang's expression fell. It was hopeless.
"I see how this is going. Fine then." Yang muttered while Blake, Jaune, and Nora winced at her defeated tone. "I think I'll just step out for a bit. Cool my head."
Yang walked out of her dorm and slammed the door behind her.
Why was everything suddenly so frustrating?
Yang habitually glanced back at her scroll, mouth twisting into a muted frown.
She was an older sister, and Yang knew that Ruby had also gone to Forever Fall. With classes temporarily suspended and Ruby holding up in her team's dorm, Yang hadn't seen hide nor hair of her.
Naturally, she tried to contact her.
Ruby wasn't responding to her texts, and that girl always responds with at least some form of acknowledgment.
A ping notification responded to Yang's text about how Ruby was doing, but far from relieving her, it only added to Yang's confusion about everything.
[It's my fault.]
Yang furrowed her brows. What sort of message was that supposed to be?
Ruby was pulling a Juane on her?
[?]
First it was Jaune's fault, now it was her sister saying the same thing!
Yang quickly replied with question marks, but Ruby never answered again, making Yang contemplate the merit of breaking down the door of her sister's team and pressing Ruby for an answer.
Gylnda would have been all up on Yang's case if she did such a thing, but Glynda wasn't around anymore.
All the more reason not to. It felt cheap.
Yang nearly pulled at her hair, and she loved her hair.
Her friends were all making her frustrated.
Everyone that had returned from Forever Fall had subtly changed and became moody. Even Pyrrha was no exception and word was that she was still in Beacon's combat training rooms.
Others were coping in their own ways, none of which Yang could relate with.
Yang was the sole person among the first-years who was feeling alienated, and not because she was ignorant. Gossip runs wild among students in any facility, and Beacon was no exception, especially when something this big happens to the first-years.
Yang heard what had happened to some extent, but the problem was that she didn't experience it. The weight and gravity of this difference was like a wall preventing Yang from connecting to anything substantial.
There was no depth.
Blake and the others whispered of a 'Cursed Arm,' and the only impression Yang had was that they were speaking about a dead man from Archer's lecture.
She believed them, yes, but her impression of Cursed Arm just wasn't the same.
Yang was prudent enough not to voice her doubts at the overwhelming insistence of her own classmates.
Glynda, Port, and Oobleck's sudden absence also gave credence to their appeals. Weiss went as far as to assume that Glynda, Port, and Oobleck's reported absence was Ozpin's way of damage control to keep a lid on negativity both for politics and to avoid drawing Grimm.
The Vytal Festival was coming, and it would attract thousands of spectators to bring positive energy. It would be disastrous if all that energy turned negative out of fear and apprehension.
Isolated, Yang gravitated towards a happy place.
As a professor in Beacon, Archer had an office, and his own office hours. With classes suspended, he should be free.
Yang wanted to see Archer; ask him for counsel.
The same thought was mirrored by someone else that was also heading in the same direction.
This culminated into a head-on collision near the door of Archer's office.
Yang bounced off a person roughly her size, her head banging against a cloak caked with layers of sand that stuck to her school uniform.
Aura made the impact negligible at best, but still, it was annoying.
A hitched breath echoed in Yang's ears, but she was too busy grumbling to register it.
"Hey, watch it!" Yang mouthed, patting herself off while picking herself back up onto her feet.
She stared at the person she bumped into and promptly fell into a daze.
Summer walked with her shoulders hunched, and her eyes teary from pieces of Vacuo's sand caught in her mask. In her haste, she hadn't even changed out of her sand-swept attire and returned to Beacon in hopes of making it to Forever Fall.
Obviously, she'd failed in her endeavor.
She was miserable.
She'd arrived too late, the magic weapon she'd been able to procure, unable to play a role in Forever Fall's tragedy. If she'd just been a bit faster, if she hadn't had her reservations about Ruby and her future diary, maybe she would have had more time to act?
All she had now was regret.
Qrow already messaged her about the results of the ambush on Summer's request. A call would have been troublesome.
With everything she said would happen, actually happening, she had a feeling Qrow or Ozpin would ask for more details. The more excuses Summer made, the more holes could be poked into her story. Best to avoid it where possible.
It wasn't as if her information was omnipotent. Something had already gone wrong because the ambush site wasn't where it should have been, resulting in an attack on Glynda and the others.
Summer felt nauseous just thinking about it. The notion that she could have prevented it made her sick to her stomach.
She should have called off the trip, damn the consequences of throwing away the advantage of future knowledge by disrupting the flow of events. Glynda died, Port died, Oobleck died, and so many students…
Summer felt her breath tighten. If she was feeling like this, then how did Ruby feel, let alone the mental trauma of the surviving first-years?
'All I wanted to do was be a hero.'
Swallowing her reservations, Summer had to refocus.
Now was not the time for this.
If you fail, try, and try again until you succeed. She couldn't shirk responsibility and pretend she knew nothing. Instead, she had to act, and that led her directly to Archer's office without any breaks.
Her greatest allies and trump cards beyond magic artifacts or weapons, were Archer and Shirou, the Huntsman of Red and the famed Rose Mercenary.
Summer would rather have Shirou stay alongside Ruby to keep her safe rather than put him on the field.
Meaning that Summer's best collaborator was none other than Archer. His role, and his capabilities would be pivotal.
There was no time to rest, so was already enroute to Archer's office from her moment of arrival.
Clouded thoughts and anxiety left her mind wandering, dulling her perception to the point she made the mistake of bumping into someone right in front of Archer's office.
"Hey, watch it!"
Summer froze, the voice all too familiar.
Yang Xiaolong collected herself, and then stared intensely at Summer who couldn't help fidgeting.
Like Ruby, there was no way a simple mask was going to throw off Yang's perception now that they were face to face.
At first Summer wanted to flee, but there was no need for misunderstandings now when Yang was already too deeply involved as a Maiden. Besides, it was impossible to keep her distance forever.
"Yang, uhm, it's good to see you?" Summer hesitantly said, body tensing for any sign of rejection.
The sound of Summer's voice was the final confirmation Yang needed.
"Summer?!" Yang swallowed, pupils dilating from shock. "I thought you were dea- no wait, where have you been, if you were still alive?!"
After Yang got over the shock, what came next was a mix of relief and doubt. Raven's abandonment had left Yang with mental scars, and at least with Summer, she'd always thought there was nothing Summer could have done being dead and all.
But now...Summer's alive?
It was like she'd been avoiding the family. L-Like Raven!
Yang nearly growled. "Do you know how much I, ugh, no dad and Ruby-!"
Summer lifted her mask by a crack, revealing the face beneath for a fraction of a second, and stunning Yang into silence.
Summer pulled the mask tighter over her face, such that there were no gaps.
"I had reasons, little dragon." Summer said weakly. "Forgive me. I'll do my best to explain, but I need to speak with Beacon's newest professor before any of that."
Summer quirked a brow. There was something strange in the way Yang was reacting.
She expected relief, or even a reconciliation of some sort after her revelation, but things went down a weird turn when it came to Archer.
"About what?" Yang grew prickly.
Summer felt her mouth dry, unable to determine what she was feeling.
"About that." Summer shook her head and tried to move things forward. She shouldn't waste time. Say what was necessary and then move on. "The Shadow War. Qrow must have told you a bit about it. It's dangerous, and Archer will be of great help."
"And you don't care if it puts Archer in danger?"
'Y-Young lady, what's with that accusing glare?'
Suddenly, Summer was starting to get an idea of what emotion she was currently feeling as a mother dealing with a surrogate daughter's sas.
Pure unadulterated indignance.
How cute.
Yang was defending that womanizing bastard.
"It's Archer's choice to make," Summer said, grinding her teeth and trying to be patient. A vein popped over Summer's temples, but somehow, she maintained a rational tone. "Moreover, he's capable, and his magic relics can prove pivotal in dire moments."
"-So you're just using him?"
'Patience Summer. Patience. Your youngest has already been ensnared, you must not let the older one fall into temptation too.'
For the longest time, all Summer had been able to do was watch, but no longer.
"No, Yang that's not it." Summer said, trying to sweeten her tone, but failing as irritation bled into it. "Remnant needs his help. Beyond the Huntsman of Red, he's the only one who can."
Fortunately, for Summer's sanity, her words managed to throw Yang off track and lower her guard.
"Can what?" Yang asked, crossing her arms and refusing to let Summer go without an answer.
"Put an end to this Shadow War." Summer nodded with resolution. "If it's him, and if things go differently from what was written, he'll fight for sure to-"
"Keep me safe."
'M # #$ %#$% %^$%^ That bastard! HOW?!'
Summer's mind blanched.
The level of corruption- was it still salvageable?
Yang blushed, craning her chin up and letting out a soft demure smile. "I know already. Uncle Qrow said a Witch was after me, and Archer would never stand by and let anything harmful come my way. He'll keep me safe."
"The bast- ahem, Archer will move to keep everyone safe," Summer stammered, nearly choking as her expression twisted into a hideous glare. "The distinction is important."
"Hehe," Yang was cupping her cheeks with her hands, a dreamy expression flickering across her face. "Hehe."
"Tch." Summer gave Yang the stink eye, her arms crossing.
The girl's mind was full of flowers and ponies. She wasn't listeni-
["I need it!"]
Summer and Yang froze, both turning in the direction of Archer's office. Evidently, someone had beaten them to the punch, and that person was agitated beyond normal measure.
The voice was yelling loud enough to echo straight out the door.
["It's not rightfully yours!"]
The reply was muffled and sounded more like murmuring, but the one yelling was only getting more agitated.
["You bastard! I could have put it to better use! Do you know how close-!"]
Summer and Yang glanced at each other before Yang began to creep towards the office door.
Summer wasn't far behind.
The one screaming was all too familiar to Yang and Summer.
"What are they talking about?" Yang whispered, her feelings complex. She soon pressed her ear to the door in an attempt to eavesdrop when Summer didn't answer.
Summer shook her head at Yang's behavior. Rather than follow in Yang's example, Summer steeled herself and pushed open the door just in time to hear one final shout.
"His blood would have been on your hands!"
The scene happening within was suddenly revealed.
Raven was yelling, hands gripped over the lapels of Archer's clothes. Her eyes were bloodshot and filled with frustration and misplaced animosity.
Noticing Summer and Yang's entry, Raven went stiff. It was difficult to read Raven's thoughts on the best of days, but recently, she'd been entirely unreadable.
"Damn it," Raven cussed.
Roughly shoving Archer away Raven stormed off with her head bowed low to a window she opened and then jumped out of.
It was a hasty retreat. She seemed unwilling to face Summer or Yang.
Fixing his ruffled clothes, Archer let out a tired sigh before turning his attention to Yang and Summer.
"Sorry," he said, voice slightly higher to convey the awkward stiffness in the room. "There was a bit of a disagreement. Can I help you with anything?"
Summer hesitated, but Archer continued after spotting Yang with Summer of all people.
A relieved smile came across Archer's lips. "You brought Yang? She finally found out, didn't she?"
Contrary to Archer's relief, his words instantly put Summer on guard.
"Get your sleazy eyes off her. This isn't about Yang." Summer shook her head and stood protectively in front of Yang, but Yang peeked her head out regardless.
"But it can be?" Yang hinted, expression hopeful. .
"Yang! Not now!" Summer had never felt so close to the end of her patience. "Keep quiet and keep still, or I'll kick you out before you're corrupted-"
Archer coughed, dumbfounded. "Are you treating me like some kind of disease?"
"Shut up and focus!" Summer made no move to deny it. Her eyes were being quite expressive, but in the end, she managed to focus on what mattered. "Listen, Archer. I took liberty with the Rose Mercenaries and deployed them to certain areas."
Roman had been a smartass at every instance. With him there was no such thing as 'asking' for a favour. Summer learned the trick though. Roman only moves when you threaten him, Neo, or his hat.
Archer opened, then closed his mouth. "You used the mercenaries and didn't tell me?"
"I'm telling you now, aren't I? It's not as if I just moved them without a reason." Summer licked her lips and leaned forward, filling the room with tension. "This is going to sound unbelievable, but my eyes have strengthened and let me see glimpses of the future."
Those were bold words. No, rather than bold they were insane for any average person.
Logically, Archer had his doubts. "Am I supposed to just believe that?"
"Yeah, are we supposed to just believe that?" So did Yang.
Summer growled.
"You both can, and you both will. For now," Summer drew the words out. "Let's talk about the Vytal festival."
She forced the issue, leaving no wiggle room to consider anything else.
Between the Lines.
/-/
Mistral was the home of both Pyrrha Nikos and Ector Verdant, and it was renowned for its tournaments and lively atmosphere.
It was neither as strict as Atlas, as bare as Vacuo, or as free as Vale, but it was nicely situated on average.
And it was boring as hell.
"Man this sucks."
A silver haired young man grumbled while scoping out the perimeter of a building with a stoic gray haired partner by his side.
Their names were Mercury Black and Forge Steelheart. Both had their stories for joining, but Mercury's was simple. Archer supposedly had one of them 'magic relics' that could heal even the worst of injuries. For Mercury, this alone was worth a shot.
The two were prospective members of the Rose Mercenaries that were suddenly instated on 'Scarlet's' recommendation. Something about vouching for their future capabilities. Roman was skeptical, but sometimes 'Scarlet' could unnerve him to force an issue.
This had been one of those times.
"You know Steelheart?" Mercury drawled without an ounce of elegance. "You should learn to live."
No answer.
Mercury's partner was really too serious for his own good.
"Why was I partnered with you? Banter and bickering would have been better than a wall."
Forge grunted in response, his gaze focusing ahead of him.
Idle talk was just talk wasted.
"Mercury-"
"Let me guess, time to work?"
"..." Steelheart sighed, but didn't deny it.
Mercury grunted before growing contemplative.
Why were they suddenly sent to Mistral?
Despite how serious 'Scarlet' had been, Mercury began to heavily suspect that his direct superior…was an airhead.
What was so important about keeping an eye on Haven Academy anyway?
Thanks for reading!
Next update: To be announced
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The Lonely Peak
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