In the grand probability of endless potential and opportunity, there exists a timeline where everything goes right, rather than wrong. A timeline where events play out as close to the current one, yet key subtle differences alter and change the fates of those touched. Within the endless reaches of time, space and opportunity, we find ourselves in the underbelly of Mistral, where a hooded figure made her way throughout the streets, arguing with a mind inside her head.
"Why are we in this lowlife place?"
"Remind me again who lived with the cowards of the Brawnen Tribe?"
"They aren't Branwen anymore thanks to me", Aschen hissed as she covered her face. Now they weren't looking for her specifically, but a former member of the tribe here in Mistral could end bad. For those seeking trouble.
"Right…anyway we're looking for a Spider. Then we can get information and get us where Ruby and the others are", Cinder's voice sang with buttered words.
"And I care…why again?", Aschen hissed. She knew 'why' but the way this obsessive lunatic kept talking about 'little Red' was starting to annoy her more, more than she feared being hunted by Salem's forces.
"You know why! And Little Miss Malachite can give us the information", Cinder smiled at her. Earning Aschen a weird look from a vendor given she had glared back at him.
"Ugh…I hate spiders"
…
"We're stuck here!", Yang groaned as she kicked Bumblebee that lay there in a pile of snow as they sat at the edge of the frozen lake, "a third of our traveling party gone, no transportation, Ruby's foot is broken or sprained and on top of that this defenseless old hag is tagging along"
"Old Hag? You watch your tone whippersnapper! I'm Maria Calavera and I can teach you a thing or two!", Maria said as she tapped her goggles which were malfunctioning. Guess they took a hit during the crash.
"Lay off Yang. We need to stay calm. There might still be Grimm out and about", Qrow says as he steps between the two and shoots her a look.
"How did any of that happen? That swarm wasn't normal behavior!", Weiss admits as she gently looks at Ruby who was attempting to stand, supporting her.
"Because of this", Ruby holds up the Relic of Knowledge, making the chatter and small talk die down instantly. Weiss gasps, Blake overlooks the group and scoffs, Yang gives a growl. After a moment, with Oscar helping Maria, Ruby continues: "I noticed them swarming around Oscar. And given that Salem wants the Relics, it's easy to theorize they're drawn to it by way of Salem's…stuff"
"is that true?!", Blake and Yang ask in unison as Oscar looks around.
"Wow hey, I'll ask him but…", suddenly he has his eyes roll back before Oscar's voice mannerisms change, "...I admit that is indeed a good insight in the situation, miss Rose"
"Wait..you knew this and didn't tell us!?", Yang hissed, visibly angry as she kicked up snow.
"We agreed no more lies, Ozpin", Weiss backed up Yang, who in turn added: "that includes lying by omission old mad!"
"Firecracker..", Qrow raises his eyebrow as he notices a flicker of long ago. Raven started off like this. But for now Yang refused to listen to him and kept pressing. "What else are you lying about?!"
"Miss Xiao Long..now is not the time", Ozpin, now in control, attempted to explain but was cut off by Yang once again. "We are way past that point, old man. Time for answers, cards on the table!"
"Ruby speaks the theory that I hold as well. But there's no way of knowing for sure. Regardless, informing you of this, would only have caused further friction. We have enough on our minds and needless worry won't do us any good", Ozpin explains as he walks towards the group.
"You know…I'm getting real tired of people deciding what's best for me", Weiss remarks as Ruby limps forwards. Yang couldn't stomach such a statement; "and what good is lying about Lionheart?! Why give that man a respectable sendoff?!"
"Because that is what I believe. Leonardo deserved a peaceful ending. His reputation ruined, solves nothing so I chose to lie about what happened. Besides, what am I to do? Just explain to all of Mistral that Salem killed him? No I'd rather keep the peace and remember Leo for the years of service and not the missteps", Oscar's body walked even closer, now surrounded by team RWBY as Qrow and Maria stood and looked.
"Missteps?!", Yang's eyes flared in red, "He tried to kill us!"
"What the Professor did was reprehensible and unforgivable. I won't argue differently. But does one lapse really outweigh a lifetime of good? Haven't we all regretted things we did or done? You only knew the man you met, not the friend I entrusted. A man before Salem got her claws into him", Ozpin further explained.
"But we're supposed to be in this together. That means trust! It's not like we're gonna turn our backs on you and-", before Yang could realize what she was saying, especially under the context, Ozpin snapped at her.
"Do you really think Leo was the first? That he muttered those exact same words? Especially you…Yang Xiao Long?", Ozpin pointed a finger at Yang. Raven had been just the same as this. He could see the wheels in her head turning, making the same assumptions as Yang, Qrow was oddly the one to defend her. "Hey Oz..that's not fair"
"I'm sorry. You all must realize that my behavior and actions are backed by experience. I've reincarnated more than just Oscar. I don't want to suggest and don't have any reason to assume you'll all betray me. But I have been burned before and as a result I've learned to keep my cards close to the chest. You'll have to forgive an old man who's set in his ways", Ozpin iterated.
"Is that why you're walking closer and closer to Ruby? Because of your 'old ways'?", Yang said as Weiss pushed herself forwards, causing the limping Ruby to hobble backwards.
"No I just want to hold the relic. It'll be safer.."
"You said it was used up…it doesn't matter who holds it..right?", Blake added in. Finally adding to the conversation as she also formed a line against Oscar who was getting dangerously close to Ruby, the relic dangling off her hip.
"It's not that. I've asked enough of you girls already. Simply let me carry the burden that I..", before he could finish Oscar's body froze. As if walking into a wall. Straining, the vocal mannerisms changed again. Oscar was fighting for control. "He's…trying…to prevent…you…afraid…we'll…find out…what he's…hiding"
Falling to his knees, Oscar keeps struggling to remain in control. "Her name…is…Jinn. Say her name…she'll appear!", Oscar's voice sounded even more labored than before. Ozpin must have really not wanted them to know.
"Jinn?", Ruby asked, merely repeating the name as the world around them seemed to grind to a halt. Snowflakes stopped dwindling down and a figure appeared. A blue skinned woman who greeted ozpin. "Hello Old man…what questions have you for me?"
"What knowledge can I bestow upon you, girl? Blessed by the God of Light I can answer three questions once every century and lucky for you I still-", Maria, wondering how in the Grimm time was stopped like this, along with the shocked RWBY and Qrow, suddenly turned to Oscar, who's vocal mannerisms had changed again: "THAT'S ENOUGH"
"...two questions..this century", Jinn shamelessly finished. Defeated, Ozpin caused Oscar to close his eyes and sigh.
"Hey..you said they were used up", Qrow added, little slower than usual.
"Ruby…please", Ozpin begged the girl not to do it. Qrow turned and raised a hand, wanting to aid his niece: "Hey.."
Before he could finish, a black sword and silver steel rapier were pointed at his face while a searing pain hit him as he staggered back. Looking up he saw the angered eyes of Blake and Weiss, but the loathing in Yang's fire red irises made him see his sister. Qrow took a moment to catch his breath, stood back up and looked Ruby dead in the eyes before he smiled: "you do whatever you think is right…kiddo"
"Jinn…what is Ozpin..", Oscar sprang up and sped his way behind the three girls. Almost he reached Ruby before he was grabbed at the hand, Qrow had managed to catch up to Oscar and restrain him, "...hiding…"
…
"YOU…can't"
With those words, the vision and story of what Ozpin had been hiding finished. Standing there, everyone looked around. Yang, who had only been standing a bit further away, felt a few pieces click together in her mind, yet for a second, didn't let that sink in just yet. She saw Ruby, limping on one foot, Weiss grasping to hold herself up as well as her sister and Blake who trembled like a twig.
"Salem…can't be killed", Blake muttered. "We…we all heard that, right?"
"That's no guarantee. She said YOU..not we", Ruby said, looking around and feeling the negativity itself. And if she could, Grimm would come as well.
"She was right…", Ruby looked up at Yang, a little support was welcome, especially with this heavy burden like this. Except when she reached out for Yang's hand, Yang slapped it aside. "Raven was right…you can't be trusted. SHe warned me of you. You lying two faced…"
"Yang…", Ruby spoke softly, but Yang was done with it. The lingering panic attack back at the train, the stress and near death experience some had falling down, she exploded: "You heard what he didn't reveal! Lies, deceit and half truths! How is that ok!?"
"Professor…", Ruby asked, ignoring her sister, who rolled her eyes and kicked up snow, "..what is your plan exactly with Salem?"
There was a long silence. The crew started to get angsty when Ruby gave a soft nod. One that Blake noticed and suddenly she gasped in shock. "there is none…is there…stalemate..you mean to prolong this inevitably!"
"It's…all I can think off as I look for a plan…a hope..a ray of light", Ozpin said. Crying his eyes out. This hurt so badly. Not because they found out, they were smart kids they would have eventually. But the painful sting of failure as he recalled all the lives he'd spend in vain. The deaths. The loss. The four girls back before…Remnant. "RAAHHHH"
It wasn't the pain that initially stung. It was who punched him. Bouncing through the snow and smacking into a tree, Ozpin, the broken and abandoned man out of time, saw Qrow, shivering in anger that might even rival that of Yang. Who looked surprised. "No one wanted me. I was cursed! I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world. I thought I was finally doing some good!"
"But you are!", Ozpin wept harder. No not after Leonardo…not so soon after losing a lieutenant like that. Not Qrow, my final eye…
"Meeting you…was the worst luck of my life", the words hit like a knife through the heart. Ozpin had been burned before. But to lose someone so loyal and driven as Qrow? This was far too much. They thought they could do this for so long and not be a little difficult. Perhaps they are right after all. And they might even find it easier without him. "Perhaps…I'll make it easy then"
And in that moment Ozpin was gone. Oscar came into his body and yelped loudly! "Hey…that hurts you know"
"Are you ok?", Ruby limped over, caressing his cheek, having torn away from Weiss who was staring at Yang, both understanding that the words Raven had spoken as bitter and toxic as they were, were true all along. Ruby asked: "What happened?"
"He's…gone", Oscar said in shock. Raising his hands to protect himself as Yang lost her temper at that: "WHAT? THAT BASTARD! TELL HIM WE'RE NOT DONE YET"
"You don't understand. He's gone..left..like he went deep inside our mind..I mean my mind..", Oscar was overwhelmed with fear. Our?! No I'm Oscar. I don't want to become like Ozpin! I hate this! Weiss wondered out loud: "He just left us?!"
"What are we gonna do now?!", Blake wondered, afraid of the future with this level of darkness hanging over them. Qrow, unable to take his anger out on Ozpin, his mind swirling with the deaths of so many, including Summer, saw a flash of his sister before his mind's eye, smiling at him in an 'I told you so' manner before she faded and became Yang. Unfocused, intoxicated from the alcohol he had on the train, pushed Qrow over the edge. "Why'd you punch me, Yang?"
"Because you are the biggest loyalist Ozpin has. I wasn't gonna let you hurt Ruby", Qrow gave a snarky smile as he put his hand on Harbinger and glared her down, "oh like you did way back in the day trying to find that deadweight mother of yours!"
"What did you say!?", Yang's hair flared as she raised her arms for a fight, but Qrow wasn't scared: "You heard me! I've always done all I could to protect Ruby!"
"Right because that's all you care about!", Yang hissed back, walking closer to her uncle. "You always made sure she got special treatment. I had to pick up the pieces for myself. You're no better than her!"
"Well neither are you! Just as vile and egocentric as that b-"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!", to everyone's surprise Ruby, who was holding strong, standing there with a purpose and a fire in her eyes, silenced the infighting and glared everyone down. "We need to get moving! This negativity is a dinner bell for the Grimm and I can't fight properly like this"
"There's a trail over there", up until now Maria had been quiet. Yet she had to admit it was good to see that someone among these loud angst bundles had a functioning brain on their shoulders, "usually that leads to something. Perhaps a farm or small settlement"
"I dunno who you think you are old hag but-"
"SHUT UP YANG", At the angry outburst of Ruby everyone seemed to get their sense back, if but a little. But it was true, in moments like these, Ruby sank into her role as leader and performed. Holding everything together. "Maria, lead the way. I'll limp with you if it means getting out of this cold"
"Ruby you can't walk with that foot", Weiss said as she moved to support her team leader, before Yang pushed her bike towards her. Her eyes softening a little. "She's right, hop on Rubes"
Thankful, Ruby sat at the back, as they slowly trekked their way over the snow covered landscape. While Ruby wondered if Maria could handle it, she was more spry than most of them, eagerly leading with a big pep in her step. Giving Ruby a moment to look at Oscar who was still doing poorly, something Qrow also noticed as he walked up to Oscar. "Hey kid…sorry for the punch"
"I'm…just gonna end up as another of his lives..aren't I", Oscar cried to himself. Causing Ruby to step in verbally: "Off course not. You're your own person!"
"Don't lie to him Ruby, Tai and I taught you to be better than that", Qrow said as he emptied his flask into his gullet and walked towards the front. Making Ruby angry. Why am I so angry nowadays? Has Haven caused me to grow up or something? I don't like being angry. Not at my friends and family. She clutched a small bundle in her pouch, the final gifs she had bought in Mistral. As they slowly advanced along the trail.
…
"Careful little girl…Cinder isn't here to protect you anymore", Tyrian hissed as he drew his own cheek over Emerald's weapon, drawing blood while glaring murder and dagger into her eyes.
"Back off freak!", Emerald felt the hand of Mercury on her shoulder as he pushed Tyrian back.
"Big words…for a small child pretending he's tough", Tyrian said as he imposingly glared at Mercury. "Don't misunderstand…I'm in mourning too…because you three failed our Queen…and I'll be mournful when she kills you all!"
With that Tyrian lost it in his maniacal laughter as Hazel escorted the Cinder loyalists up towards the throne room. Sitting there, she was a horrible nightmare. Emerald trembled in fear as the three of them knelt before the table of the Inner Circle.
"Explain to me…how you failed so spectacularly"
"Adam's forces were a no show. He attacked when-", Hazel attempted to shift the blame, noticing the fear of Emerald. Before he was instantly interrupted by Salem.
"Stop! Let me rephrase the question: Who is responsible for your defeat?"
THere was a long moment of silence before Hazel stood up and sighed. With Adam's betrayal at least this wouldn't count as a lie. "I take full responsibility"
"But that wouldn't be fair would it!? We all know who's truly to blame!"
Shadow Hands, the same one that Cinder had had, shot out from the floor and brought Hazel to his knees. Seeing the big guy reduced to a mewing whelp before Salem's feet deepened Emerald's fear even more. Something not helped when her eyes looked directly at the thief's form and hissed her name with cold hatred and anger.
"Emerald…", After she said the name, she took a step closer. "I want you to tell me who's fault it is. NOW"
After saying all the words she stood next to Emerald, who shivered like a twig in winter. Panicked and terrified, she closed her eyes and blurted out the first thing that came to mind: "RUBY"
"Strike one"
With those words Shadow Hands also shot out and grabbed her ankles, anchoring her in place. As she did so Emerald gave a scream. Before Mercury could interrupt, Salem shot him a dangerously lethal look and he shrinked in place. "Leonardo! Adam..RAVEN"
"...Final chance.."
"Emerald's heart raced as she felt the hand on her shoulder, with each name more arms wrapped around her, uncomfortably tight, as if trying to constrict her. Was she trying to suffocate me? As Emerald wondered she noticed that Hazel was trying to slow his breathing as well. With her fear now complete she shattered as tears leaked down her cheeks: "CINDER…we failed because of Cinder"
"That's right. I want you to understand that failure", Emerald flinched when the Shadow Hands let go of her, only for a soft white hand to land on her shoulder. The long claw-like nails gently raking over her skin. Not drawing blood but being dangerously close to causing damage. "Understand that Cinder has to learn a…unique lesson…before part of her returns to us"
"That's preposterous. How could you know that she's alive?", Watts asked in a moment of skepticism, earning him a chewing out from Tyrian and glare from Salem. Quickly he apologizes for his words, Hazel is let go as he slowly gets up.
"I never said she was alive. But I know that Cinder's essence was passed on to a new troubled Soul. And in turn she'll also come home to us. As long as she and you all remember and learn the reason that we do this. Love. Justice. Reverence. But the moment you put your own desires and needs ahead of mine, as Cinder did, they will be lost to you. And that is no mere threat but a promise. A promise that all of your desires can only be achieved through me."
"Ma-am…I have…more to report", Hazel knows he's threading on thin ice. But this has to be reported. Ozpin is still alive among their enemies.
…
"I must say…you turned out to be quite the interesting customer…Vernal of the Branwen tribe"
"I am no longer that person", Aschen hissed as the guards of Lil Miss Malachite flexed their muscles. Vernal could hear the voice of Cinder egg her on. Kill them, show them what you can do. Before she shook her head.
"Well, I don't care what you go by. There's a nasty rumor that the Tribe abandoned you"
"Wrong. The Tribe didn't do anything. It was…", Aschen's voice stopped. She knew who's fault it was. Raven caused all those issues. And she wanted her dead! Good, girl, feed that anger. Give into your desires, Cinder once more soothed her mind and snaked into her heart.
"Well regardless, that means you were with Cinder at the Haven thing weren't you?"
"How did you…", Aschen's eyes flashed in shock. For the past week or so she had lived among the Mistral underworld, stealing and cheating her way into money so she could buy the information from the Spiders. Yet what she didn't expect was that Lil Miss could get her hands on this sensitive data.
"Don't insult me Vernal"
"My name is Aschen, not Vernal..not anymore", A vile anger bit into her heart. An anger that Cinder used to worm her way even deeper. "Don't you forget it, Malachite"
"Funny you mention that…did you know my daughters operate in Vale? And according to the news there, someone's looking for…Cinder Fall. Any idea who that could be?"
"Why would I care if someone is looking for that dead B-", Careful! Aschen closed her eyes as an angry spark shot through her mind and soul. She glared at the image of Cinder standing behind Malachite and growled at it. Causing the guards once more to brandish their weapons.
"You're in no position to argue. See someone is looking for her"
"Well they can keep searching. Cinder's dea-", once more there was a sharp pain in her mind as Cinder reminded Vernal that she was pretty much alive. Instinctively Aschen raised her hand and formed a plume of fire in her hand to throw it at Cinder. Yet there was a gasp that drew her attention. Standing close but cloaked in shadows, was a girl with a unique tricolor scheme going. She'd be kinda adorable, if there wasn't this awkward and intense silence. Aschen was about to speak up when there was a gasp in her mind. Cinder looked at the figure and began laughing. As she spoke and revealed the name of this girl, Neopolitan, a former associate of Cinder, the girl began walking closer. Unsure of what to do, Aschen's focus shifted ever so slightly, allowing Cinder to control her for a second. "Well well, if it isn't the henchgirl. I had big plans for you"
In that one second, Cinder noticed the hatred in Neo's eyes, Aschen got control back and blinked her eyes. What just happened? Yet before she could react, the girl slapped her with that parasol, shattering into glass shards that slashed into the Aura of Aschen. Which shimmered for a second.
"Hmm, dinner and a show"
"Whomever you are, I have no desire to fight you", Aschen tried, before the girl attacked once more. A figure attacked, shattered into glass before another appeared. Without a weapon, Aschen was weaker than others. In a previous life Raven had taught her to fight with weapons, not with fists. At first she could stand the attacks. Little by little she managed to block what few strikes she received. Before Neo attacked more ferociously. That dumb umbrella of her hit harder than Aschen expected, hitting her in the gut and face. Staggering back, Gwain hissed; "Whatever your quarrel is…I'm not Cinder!"
Neo didn't care. She pushed her attack more, Hush's blade slipping out and drawing a few lines of blood. Defense wasn't working anymore. Aschen dashed for one of the guards and swiped their sword, somersaulting over the attacking small girl and blocked the parasol strike. "Will you listen to me?"
Neo didn't let her speak. She hadn't informed with Junior and the Twins, hoping to find the woman who killed her one thing she desired and longed for. The murderous runt that dared kill her Roman! After the Twins put her into contact with Mistral's Lil Miss, she had gotten so close. And then the news of Cinder being dead?! No Neo couldn't afford to believe that. As her hidden blade drew more and more rivers of blood from this disguised woman, she got closer and closer to revenge. Traveling far, with the lone purpose of killing Cinder! This was just a disguise. It had to be! Plus she had used that fire in her palm! That's what Cinder did to force him into that fight. What eventually cost him his life! And this wasn't gonna end without bloodshed!
"STOP HITTING ME!", Aschen, seeing and feeling her body become more wounded by the second, recalling her near death by the very witch inside her soul now, as well as the vile woman that birthed her, kickstarted a need to survive. A strength of character that Raven parted in her. With a roar she blew a wave of fire that forced Neo back, and caused the big woman to lose her temper as well.
"Ok that's far enough. Now take it outside before I lose my establishment!"
Aschen had barely time to register until a blade ran her through, piercing through her shoulder and forcing her through the window. Lacerations all along her face, arms and legs made her into a barely standing woman as Neo appeared, the real one, according to Cinder. As she wore that idiot's hat. But before Neo could finish, she was shocked by lightning striking just before her feet. Gasping, she watched as Aschen's body began to glow in fire. From her left eye a plume of flames caressed her skin, making it scar over. Her iris flared so bright, it's colour faded to white. Blind from one eye as Aschen's arm and parts of her body were set ablaze in a bright silvery gray glow as she screamed at Neo. "LISTEN TO ME! I'm not Cinder! I am the Maiden who inherited her powers. Not that I wanted that! Sorry but the death of Cinder is on the hands of Raven. Who I want dead! Yang and Ruby were also there!"
That outburst stalled Neo's attempts to kill the 'Cinder wannabe' enough for Aschen, now irreversibly scarred and changed, part of her hair was now an ash coloured split down the middle. Her left eye burned and scarred, blinding her from the socket as the heat had boiled her eyeball. Bleeding had stopped, the wounds seared closed. She listened to a suggestion from Cinder in her mind and sighed.
"You want revenge for your boss, take it up with little Red…Now if you're done trying to kill me, lets find some food so we can talk", earning her a sassy point at the mouth from Neo.
…
"We need things to get warm", Ruby said, her face stern and focused, full on leader mode. As she hubbled on one leg towards a wall and leaned on it. She saw in the faces of her teammates that things were dire and depressing. Cold had bitten into their bodies and was causing them issues. So time to do something about it. "Weiss, look for blankets or anything we can burn. Yang, go with her. Qrow, secure the building, Blake…help me find a place to sit"
Assigned their tasks. Things progress much like the canon timeline. Blake lights the fire. Weiss is terrified of the bodies she finds. So shaken she barely registers when Blake puts a blanket over her. Qrow does a sweep, finding more bodies in similar positions along the property. The storm intensifies, meaning they have to spend the night in the creepy farm. Once more Ruby gives orders as they search for food, Qrow orders people to move in pairs. Blake offers herself and Yang to search for vehicles, seeing Weiss in her blanket and being distraught, Ruby offers her to search for food, if she's willing to support a dolt who's foot is sprained. Earning a giggle thanks to the callback. As they both leave, Maria begins sifting through the books and smirks. "Some information might light our way"
Yang and Blake's conversation progresses the same, until she has a flash of Adam standing in the window. "Do you think Adam's still out there…"
"I don't think so. After Haven he was seen fleeing but I'm sure the Court has him in custody by now. So don't worry about him", Blake smiles as she puts a hand on her shoulder, "He can't run forever. Sure he's strong, but most of that comes from his focus, motivation and discipline. He always knew what to say and how to act, even in the most dire of situations"
"Please don't let me stop you from drooling all over him", Yang said, her eyes cold and tired. She looks over the cart they found and quickly summarizes that with a quick tinker, they could hook that up to Bumblebee and wheel out of here no problem.
"I don't drool over him. He just inspired me to fight. Taught me to survive. Sure I left him after that dust train robbery as I had to find my own path. But I've found that now. You and Ruby and Weiss. So cheer up Yang, I will protect you if he comes for us", Blake said, meaning what she meant. Yet there was doubt in her heart. She had seen the look on Ruby's face when they were at the train. There was hardly any good teamwork between them left. Were they even a team at all?
"Don't patronise me", Yang gives an emotional outburst, causing Blake to recoil. "You've been pretending I'm weak ever since Haven. And quite frankly I'm sick of it! I don't need you to protect me. I can handle myself. This being proof"
Holding up her arm, she rolled her eyes at Blake. "What? Gonna run away now?!"
"Yang…where is this coming from?!", Blake said, wounded that her friend was so dismissive of her.
"I'm on to you. You think that just cause you're being overly nice and 'protective' I'll forgive you for running. Well I'm not sure if I can. Who's to say you won't bolt like a scared cat a second time?", Yang said, spitting acid. Blake's eyes shimmered as she had tears in them. Noticing this Yang just groaned. "Tears? Oh forget it. We can hook up this thing to Bumblebee and be on our way tomorrow. I need sleep"
…
"Ruby…thank you", Weiss said with a weak smile as they stumbled through the pantry in hopes of finding anything edible.
"No problem…but let's not mention that we found a wine cellar. I doubt my uncle can deal with what happened. I've never seen him this messed up. Luckily the alcohol can help us maintain a fire", Ruby said with a faint smile as Weiss supported Ruby into the next part of the pantry, where they found a wine cellar door, bolted shut.
"Are…we still going to Atlas? I mean…you heard Jinn. If Salem really is unkillable. What's the point of us trying?", Weiss said, a cold shiver passing down her spine as they got closer to the cellar door.
"Hey…she said that Ozpin couldn't stop her. She never said that nothing can stop Salem. There's a way Weiss. If we can be a team..", Ruby stopped for a moment. Were they really a team? Back at the train, Ruby had to rely on Qrow, Jaune, Ren and Nora. She needed to get her friends back on the same page. Yet she had seen more and more falling outs in the last few days than ever before. The silence hung a little as Ruby glared off, gazing into nothing as her thoughts swirled and danced. Before she let out the most adorable squeak! Terrified of the sudden burst and change in energy, Weiss shook from her depressed daze. "What?! What is it?"
"FOOD!"
"Canned food…", Weiss rolled her eyes. That's so dangerous. WHo's to say how long that's been here? Would that even be edible?!
"Oh trust me, enough salt will make anything taste good! And it's still before the expiration date!", Ruby smiled with a childish innocence, making Weiss crack a smile.
"I guess it's better than something", she smiled at Ruby, before her smile faded like snow in spring as she glared at the locked wine cellar door. "But I still hate this place"
…
As food was had and the time had passed, Ruby found herself watching the team by the fire. She sat isolated, in the dark on the stair upwards. Her uncle was looking through the window, watching and observing, as the snowstorm intensified. Ruby sided as she looked at the four friendship bracelets she had bought back in Mistral. Maybe this would be the time to share them?! As she gets up to join, she finds her uncle opening another bottle and drinking half of it in a single tug. SHe pockets the bracelets and walks up to him. He barely reacts to his niece. Mentioning that the storm is getting worse. He promises to keep watch, keeping the fire going as the snow begins piling up more and more. Ruby nods asking if he's ok. Earning a sarcastic 'sure' before she walks to her friends once more. Giving the order to get some shut eye as one by one they fall into wonder and sad realization.
Ruby couldn't shake her doubts. What if she was wrong about how she caught that thing Jinn said. What if she'd never manage to become the hero in the books she loved so much. Her decision to save the train and sending herself and the others off the mountain hadn't exactly ended well. She clutched her pocket in her sleep, four coloured bracelets in red, yellow, white and purple. Will my team ever get back together?
Weiss had nightmares. Recalling the way how a sharp piece of glass slashed at her eye. She'd always be mocked by Jacques for being 'no longer perfect'. And now she was going back to Atlas. A thought crossed her mind as she still had the revolver and the name card. She felt obliged to return that to Atlas, yet she'd still have to return to the place she had desperately tried to get back to.
Blake's dreams were mixed. On the one hand she was glad that she was back with her friends. Yet she felt sad that her relationship with Yang had seemingly turned worse than before. And honestly, Blake understood why. She had abandoned her in a moment when Yang needed her most. Yet she also owes Weiss her life. If it wasn't for the Heiress, Blake would have died at Haven, even if Sensei had attempted to save her. Where was he? Was he even arrested? Would the Court forgive him for the deeds he did?
Yang was off worst. Her painful reminder of Qrow as a deadweight, while the betrayal of Ozpin stung, caused a dream to rise where Raven laughed at her. I told you he was a snake. You and your uncle. Caught in a timeless war that Ozpin sacrifices people for. Stalemate. And now you're being just as stupid as that sister of yours. And the bleeding heart of Summer. Don't blame me or anyone, Yang, I told you to question and think for yourself. But you chose the side that was doomed. Don't expect anyone to come to your aid.
Damn Ozpin! Qrow said as he downed a third bottle as the hours slowly slipped by. He was drunk, more drunk than ever before. He had longed to belong. Not with that pointless useless tribe. He and Raven were the right age, they were sent to learn how and when to deal with Huntsmen. A strength the tribe needed if they wanted to survive. As Qrow's gaze drifted into the sky and slowly faded to dreamless slumber, all he could think off was that he'd have to abandon these kids. He was cursed, a bad luck charm, forever the bringer of ill omens. He'd need to go solo once more. The tribe wouldn't want him back, courtesy of Raven, not that he wanted that, he hated the tribe. Cowards and worthless wastes of space. His dreams turned even viler. He saw Tai chase him off, furious as Yang and Ruby lay dead at his feet, too late to save them from the Beowolves. He saw Summer glare at him, yelling and loathing him since he was a bandit. She'd never wanted him close to her kids again, the crow of bad luck. He saw Ozpin looking at him with disappointment. His mind sank deeper and deeper, the grip on the empty bottle slipping as it clattered to the ground.
"Ahh!", Ruby gasped as she sprang awake and instantly felt the warmth of the blanket vanish from her body. A pounding headache, as if she hadn't slept enough, rang as she slowly got to her feet. Well foot. And made small jumps on her good foot towards the curtain. As she opened it she expected it to be the bottom of the night, given how bad she felt. And yet.., "overslept…"
"Close the window", Weiss bemoaned as she turned away from the light and nestled herself even more comfortably. Ruby saw the dead fire and groaned. Qrow. She hobbled over, using the barrel of Crescent Rose as what leg support she could as she found not three but seven bottles of alcohol. Wow, he'd been busy. She shook his shoulder: "Wake up uncle"
"Leave me alone…", came the sleepy reply. His breath smelled of liquor, his movement was slow and wobbly. He must have been plastered. She reached for the bottle that he dropped. In a moment of anger, one that came out of nowhere, she chucked the bottle at the wall, causing it to shatter as her teammates got up from the noise, shocked. What's going on? What happened? Who broke something? Yet the one who barely reacted was Qrow. He lazily opened his eyes, rubbed his forehead and looked Ruby dead in the eyes, yet almost didn't see her.
"Why'd you do that…I was just resting my eyes", he said, the darkness of the room not showing how he'd messed up.
"You promised to keep the fire going", Ruby said accusingly before she sighed and hugged him. "You can talk to me if you're hurting…you know that right? Yang too!"
"Heh…Yang wants me gone for all I know. And I don't blame her…you should to, kiddo", Qrow said as he reached for a bottle. Making her frustrated as she slapped the bottle out of his hands. "HEY!"
"We have to get going!", Ruby ordered as she glared at him, disappointed. Qrow froze as he saw her look. She was just like Summer when she was angry. Things progressed from there. Ruby ordered Blake and Qrow to get the flatbed, Weiss and Yang improvise a carrier hook, Oscar bemoans that everyone is still sleepy so shouldn't they go to bed? As the two push the flatbed near Bumblebee Yang VERY enthusiastically says she's done. Her voice so dead and emotionless it caught Ruby off guard. "Done…can I go to bed now?"
"All we have to do is hook this thing up to Bumblebee and we can get the Grimm out of here", Ruby said, leaning on Crescent Rose before a loud snap caught all their attention. As Qrow was pushing the thing in place, suddenly the tire blew. Air hissing as it went out of the rubber. Frustrated, he reached for his flash as he kicked snow around. When his flask was empty, he gave a groan. Maria added salt on the wound. "You people are just beacons for bad luck, aren't you?"
"Quiet hag!", Qrow spat as he kicked the tire and walked as far away as he could, hoping to prevent more bad luck from happening.
"I'm starting to think the universe doesn't want us succeeding at all", Yang said, staring at the broken tire with not even a shred of emotion. "after all, the avalanche, the lake, the tire, Grimm hunting us, our teamwork being the worst ever"
"It's almost as if we chose a hard life and haven't spend time training or getting back in shape", Ruby said, trying to argue against her sister.
"She's right though. All we do is fight barely able to get by. On the train you were far more successful with Jaune and co. Perhaps we should just disband and move our separate ways", Blake said, her eyes just as 'dead' as Yang's voice had sounded.
"Hey that's not happening! Come on guys we've hit a few roadblocks. Nothing we can't handle!", Ruby said, now having to argue with both of them. "We knew it would be easy but…"
"It's not just that, is it, Ruby? We signed up to save the world, not cause a timeless stalemate of death and loss", Oscar said, rubbing his forehead. Oh great now it's three of them, Rose groaned.
"Last night…I kept wondering…", oh no, not my bestie as well? Ruby's heart began to lose strength, her shoulders slumping ever so gently, "why are we even going to Atlas? It's just wasted effort"
"Weiss we have to!"
"Why though? Ozpin tricked us all. The Beacon relic is sealed away, the others are similarly locked in schools that she knows house these blasted things. WHy not just toss that thing and be done with it?!", Yang said, emotionally dead and cold.
"We can't. That would be…"
"No different from Blake running away. Or Ozpin siccing us on this suicide mission. We can't even properly fight together. I agree with Blake, for once, we should just disband and give up", Yang continued, earning the ire of Blake.
"Hey I said I wasn't running away! I'm staying right here", Blake was patted on her shoulder by Weiss, "Exactly. Even if we all need to work on our form"
"Oh please, there's no point for all of this. Raven was right all along and I'm the stupid one who didn't accept that", Yang hissed, the argument having started. Maria rolled her head and added: "You all really need to stop being so negative"
"Mind your business Hag!", Yang hissed dismissively.
"That's enough Yang", Qrow throws out.
"Like you don't call her that. And why are you still here. You're probably the reason our luck is this bad", Yang hisses.
"Stop that Yang, you're sounding just like your mother", Weiss snaps.
"Maybe because she was right, princess!", Ruby's ears begin filling with tears. As Blake steps between Yang and Weiss, "Don't say that, Weiss has not been that person since forever. She crashed on a plane just to get back to us. And we're forcing her to return to Atlas"
"So you care about Weiss but not me, is that it Blake?", Yang's eyes spark for a second but stay lilac the whole way.
"STOP IT ALL OF YOU", Ruby's eyes are rivers of silver tears as she holds up the relic and the friendship bracelets she had bought. Weiss notices them and there seems to be a light that returns to her eyes, if but for a moment, "I was gonna give these at the train but things just happened! I was hoping we'd get to hold onto these and be friends again, but it seems I was wrong. None of you seem to want to be a team anymore. And I am so tired of it"
There's a moment when nothing is said, as Ruby's words linger in the air. As she holds the relic and the bracelets, she's leaning on one leg near the well for support, as Qrow gets up seeing that outburst, he wonders. Tempted to walk closer and hug his niece, but the depressive realization that she was talking about her friends and not him made him hesitate. Suddenly there's a sound from the estate, causing Ruby to look at it and accidentally put weight on her sprained foot. Yelping, she drops to the side and reaches for her foot. In that split second she has a look of intense terror on her face as the bracelets and the relic tumble into the well. Shaken awake by her pained yelp, Weiss steps forwards and supports her, as Ruby whines. "No I didn't…the relic..the bracelets…dammit"
"Language…", Weiss said, trying to brighten the situation.
"No we have to go get the relic back", Ruby said, oh clumsy idiot! Thinking that about herself she turns, but Yang and Blake both refuse to move.
"Why? Good riddance I say. Let's just go away", Yang opted.
"All we have to do is fix the stupid tire…farmboy, see if you can find a spare", Qrow said as he stumbled from the fence towards Bumblebee.
"I'm NOT LEAVING without the lamp!", Ruby said, she wanted to put her foot down but the throbbing pain from earlier still makes her just put most of her weight on her good foot. Blake sighs and volunteers to come along. Weiss adds the three of them will accompany her.
"Get the stupid lamp, Oscar fix the stupid tire…so we can get away from the stupid estate and do the stupid thing and go to stupid Atlas. It's all so stupid", Qrow rants as he gets up and walks towards the house. Maria tilts her head. "And what are you going to do?"
"Do one final stupid sweep of the stupid house so my stupid semblance doesn't Grimm everything up again", Qrow says as he walks past Maria who calls him stupid and vanishes inside. Ruby groans as she is lowered into the well with Gambol's ribbon, followed by Weiss who supports her, but not before stepping her open heeled shoes into the well water. "Ahhh cold! That cost me fifty lien in Mistral!"
"I'll get you a new pair in Argus", Blake smirks as she also lands in the water. Ruby looks up, but there was no sign of Yang. Defeated, she reached for her weapon as a crutch, yet Weiss quickly grabbed her and smiled. "Look, I'm sorry for earlier..I'll be your support, always"
"We will", Blake said, taking Ruby's other arm as they both slowly looked for the Relic. After a moment there was a splash as Yang appeared behind them. "Let's get this stupid thing…"
After what felt like ages, Ruby found the relic somewhere downstream. Relieved, she picked it up before she sighed and gave a quick look around the area. No sign of the bracelets. She sighed. Oh well, not like they'd be important anyway. As she turned to face her friends there was a sickening whisper of nothing. Quickly she held her hand to her mouth as she spied a shape walking around the corner, aimlessly. A Grimm?! Here? Must have gotten in the tunnels somehow. She slowly gestured to her team to be silent and walk back to the well entrance. Moving slowly as to not make a noise, they managed to maneuver back to the main area, close to the well entrance. It would be hilarious how accurate this scene feels to a scene from one of her videogames, Grimm Hazard, if it wasn't so terrifying in real life. As they rounded the corner for the final stretch there was a scream. Who did it didn't matter, as suddenly the entire hallway was filled with these slow corpse-like Grimm. Slowly they shuffled and staggered closer. Ruby reached up her weapon and shot the one closest to the well, but her bullets barely had any impact, the high caliber bullets didn't so her any favors as more and more of them seemed to become aware of them. A loud scream made Ruby feel the weight of Crescent Rose turn triple as heavy. Blake sank to her knees and Yang had her arms drop down without even an effort to raise them. Weiss was too busy supporting Ruby but she couldn't hold her up much longer, all of a sudden.
"RUN", the loud commanding voice of Maria echoed behind them. Revitalized, they attempted to get away. Slumping through the water, which felt like liquid rubber. They were slower than before, as they went from one hallway to the next, seemingly surrounded by these Grimm. Ruby's foot was screaming at her with the pain spiking with every step, her Aura trying it's best to prevent her from taking more damage. But between panicked hops of speed to get away from these monsters and the threat of dying in a sewer, Ruby's adrenaline and survival instinct was pushing that ankle to it's limits. Until the horde behind them got even larger, giving a loud and angered scream. Weiss fell to the floor, dropping Ruby with a painful thud as she smacks to a stone floor and whines, her foot not liking the actions she was taking. Yang and Blake crawled a little further, but also lost the will to move. Maria got furthest, staggering on her stick until she hit a staircase.
"An exit", she said weakly, Ruby crawled further as she tried to get Blake to move. Until the clanging of steel shook her from the mental battle she was fighting. SHe saw Weiss dropping her sword and just lay on her side, eyes dead and dull. "Weiss…get up"
"It's…fine…", she said, her voice barely audible over the groaning and wailing from the Grimm. Ruby crawled back, towards Weiss, but she couldn't lift her arm as her strength of will faded. She saw one of those thin skeleton hands reach and grab Weiss' foot, slowly dragging her towards the pack, several others opening their mouths as they leaned in to bite into Schnee flesh. Ruby had a flash of memory, Pyrrha on the top of Beacon tower, the arrow she prevented from being shot in her desperation to save her, protect her friend. Weiss…one of the Apathy leaned in, drool dropping on Weiss' pony tail as it's fanged maw reached for her neck. SHe's gonna die…and it's my fault. Ruby's heart ached, her mind swimming with a fight to move or give up. She blinked once… "WEISS"
A flash of Silver kills the three trying to eat Weiss. All of them gasp as their will to survive spikes once more, the 'drain' they felt vanishing for the moment. Staggering to her feet, Weiss grabs Ruby, lifting her to her feet. "Wha…thanks Ruby"
"What just happened?", Maria wonders outloud, as Blake bolts up the stairs. "It's locked"
"Out of my way", Yang says as she bounds up the stairs, before the roar of the Apathy pack once more cripples their will, Weiss falls to her side as Ruby falls backwards, hitting her head. Yang staggers on the stairs. "No…noo.."
Maria looks at Ruby laying there, eyes gazing into nothing, the others either given up or about to. She looks at the ashes of the first three dead and something clicked. She stumbled towards Ruby and forced her to look at her. "Ruby…your bracelets…why did you buy them"
"What…?"
"Focus girl…the bracelets", Maria said as she raised the four of them and held them up, showing Ruby, who's eyes blinked, a little bit of light returning to them. "Think about the people who love you. The way they make you feel. Focus on them. Focus. Life is beautiful. It is precious…and it must be protected"
Ruby struggled. She recalled Pyrrha, ankle shattered. Jaune's pained expression as the train carried him to safety. Ren's wisdom and food. Nora's obsession with pancakes and always being the heart of the party and fight. Her uncle sitting by the fire smiling as he and Tai told her bedtime stories. The smell of Summer tucking her in, reading The Girl Who Fell THrough The World. Weiss playfully running away in the train earlier, dancing in Beacon, singing in the shower. Blake reading a book, running after a laser pointer, eating an unhealthy amount of tuna. Yang smiling as she punched Cardin and saying 'nailed it'. Yang hugging her in the morning when Summer had vanished. Yang beating up a bully in Signal who was picking on Ruby. She smiled as she saw the bracelets, Maria having leapt after the group when they descended when she realized what was living in the well system and accidentally found those before she found the girls, causing Ruby to recall a simpler times. She got up and glared at the Apathy, causing a bright flash of silver to fill the room. Wiping them all out!
For a second there's a breath of relief as life comes back into the girls. Maria smiles at the carnage that Ruby managed to pull off. Yang punches the cellar door open as they stagger into the room where they had found the food yesterday, Blake blinked: "We're back in the house?"
"Uncle Qrow get up!", Ruby said as she reached for the passed out Qrow who sat at the drinking cabinet. He was completely wasted, instead of doing rounds he was drowning his sorrow once more. Startled he got to his feet; "hey..get off me"
"We're leaving, stupid", Maria said as she walked out with a purpose. The groaning of more Apathy on their heels, Yang rushed out, Blake supporting Ruby as Weiss turned to the hallway. No they need to die. She watches as Qrow reaches for another bottle, having flashbacks to her mother, she reaches for the bottle and chucks it at the cellar entrance. "Not yet"
"Hey what are you…", Qrow wants to scold the girl for taking his booze, yet as he follows her eyes and spies the Apathy beginning to walk up the staircase, he freezes and glares in shock. "What…"
Weiss coats Myrtenaster in a blaze of fire and sets the liquor ablaze. As Blake carries Ruby out, Weiss shoves Qrow, as they make their escape. In silence. Maria explained what happened from the journal. Weiss apologizes for losing hope, Blake dismisses it, it was the Apathy, but Yang is silent. There was more between them than just the Apathy. And sooner or later that would come to a blows.