Chapter 17: Another Homecoming
"So I'm gonna be gone for the next two days. If anything I won't be missing school for the most part. So that's good." I tell Pyrrha as I dodge her strike.
"Yeah, but at least you'll be going back home to visit and see your old friends right?" Pyrrha asks sending another kick my way.
"Yea! I get to see Fi and Marrow back again. Also, I get to see Pietro again after so long in person." I grab her leg and spin my body around making her follow my motion, sending her towards the ground.
"Right... Marrow and 'Fi'..." She gets right back up and rushes me, throwing a few fast punches my way.
"What's wrong? I told you about her before. She's a nice girl, one of my first friends back in Mantel." I tell her while blocking her attacks, soon her punches are becoming more and more heavy.
"Nothing is wrong Seth?"
"Pyrrha you are not good at lying, in fact I think th-"
OOF!
She quickly sweeps my leg and I fall to the ground. Once on the floor, I see her looking down at me, with a smug look.
"Care to repeat that?"
"You know jealousy is not a strong suit for you, right?"
"I'm not jealous Seth. I am perfectly fine." She says while holding her hand out for me to grab.
"Look I'm just saying, If anything I think she is not gonna be happy with seeing me again." I grab her hand and I pull myself up from the ground.
"Why not?"
"I mean... I kind off left without saying goodbye and I haven't tried to keep contact with her at all for the past ten years. Sooooo."
"Weren't you five. I think she would understand. She's your friend after all."
"Yea, maybe but that still doesn't mean you got to be jealo-"
OOF!
"Let's keep training, we only got two more days before you leave."
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Sigh..." Yea lets."
When the day came that we had to go to Mantel. The morning has one hell of a start.
First, we had to wake up early just to be able to get to the Argus Military base. Apparently, anyone who wishes to go to Atlas or in our case Mantel had to pass through customs just to enter the kingdom. Something about security checks which I can understand. But since I'm technically from Mantel there for Atlas, I thought I had an easy passage... Well, I was wrong about that.
The moment my Mom try to explain where we were going, and I'm going to be frank here. An 'Old Bitch' decided to belittle my mother for leaving the 'greatest kingdom in the world.'
Tsk. What a joke.
Mom took it like a champ though, but I can see that she was beyond pissed at the Old lady.
But in the end, we were able to get past them, the only bad thing was I wasn't able to keep my weapon on me, it had to go with the rest of the luggage. Apparently, I was still considered too young and naive to be carrying around a weapon next to the passengers.
"How are you feeling?"
"Annoyed, you?"
"Angry, but at least we got past that. Now we can focus on Mantel, we will have to meet up with Pietro. He said he had to deal with something at his shop so that will be our first stop. After that, he is inviting us to visit someplace in Mantel."
"Hmm. I wonder what that could be? Well if anything I think I might enjoy this little vacation."
"You should but keep in mind, Mantel has been in a state of emergency recently."
"Huh? Why is that, did something happen?"
She tells me to get closer to her so she can whisper something in my ear.
"Pietro told me that recently there have been reports of White Fang all around Mantel recently."
"Should we be worried then?"
"From what he said, they have only been spotted, technically they haven't done anything illegal yet. But just promise me that you will stay away from them if they do anything bad. Okay?"
"Yeah, I won't cause any problems. I mean Mantel is a big place, the chances of us seeing them are pretty low. But I'll keep that in mind."
White Fang huh, Being in Argus we don't really get those groups there, If anything the people there are really peaceful, Also I don't think having Atlas forces will make the best idea for having meetings there. But from what Pyrrha told me when she came back from Mistral, there was a rally for the group. Well, I don't really care, If they don't bother me, why should I bother them?
Still though... I close my eyes and see a big group of people with a mixture of tails, ears, and scales and in front of that group, I see two individuals. One was a tall male, wearing black with a mixture of red, holding what looks to be a katana. The other was a smaller girl wearing black and white, but this one had cat ears and amber eyes.
Opening my eyes. I just sigh at what I just saw.
'I really hope nothing bad happens today.'
As soon as the airship landed we were able to get our stuff from the cargo hold, me only getting my backpack and weapon and Mom only bringing one Bag with her. She always did say 'Travel light no matter where' So I guess I'm starting to take her word for it.
"Okay! So now all we have to do is take a ship down to Mantel and then we need to go meet up with Pietro down at his shop."
"Alright easy enough so where should w-"
THUD!
"Oh sorry I didn't mean to bump into yo-"
"Watch it next time kid." A girl in a hood said to me and starts to walk away.
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"Well good to know that the people are still dicks here." I just mutter to myself.
"Well, Welcome to Atlas the most strict place in Remnant. Now let's go find a ship to Mantle."
With a simple nod, we start to head in the direction of the exit to go find another ship. Soon we will be in Mantel, I really want to see how much it changed over the years.
Mantel... Man, this place looks more depressing than I remember it was. For the most part, I feel like the buildings have improved since I was last here. I'm seeing more tall apartments and many tall buildings in the distance. Also, it's not too cold as I remember, Mom did tell me that Atlas had improved the heating system down here, so I think that is one good thing.
As we turn a corner, I start to remember some of the buildings that were still here. Really this is taking me back to when I was still a little boy.
"Man, this place still hasn't changed a lot huh?" I ask Mom.
"For the most part not really, If anything only the people have changed for the better or the worst." She says the last part looking across the street where people were out drinking.
Really this early in the Morning.
"Here we are!"
I look back at my Mom and see her standing in front of a building.
"What is this place?"
"Really you forgot? This is Pietro's workshop. It just got a big upgrade in the last few years that it turn into a clinic for the people of Mantel."
A clinic. I just look at the front of the building and see a big green light-up cross.
"Huh... Time really does change a lot."
"Yes. Let's go to the side door, There we can enter."
Moving to the side of the building we soon start to see a few people leave from it. Waving back inside, From here we can hear a voice inside.
"Next time don't try and lift more than two heavy boxes at a time or else your arms will fall off!"
We soon enter the place and see Pietro sitting behind a desk.
"Welcome to my shop. How may I-"
He looks up from his desk and sees the new people that enter his shop. To his surprise. He soon smiles at the newcomers.
"Saff. It has been so long how are-"
He then turns to me and he soon leaves his desk and moves toward us.
Yo, He upgraded his robotic chair!
"Saff and Seth how are you two? It's been so long since we last saw each other in person."
"It's good to see you too Pietro how has it been." I see my mom walk to him and give the man a hug.
"It's been good. better even." He then turns to me.
"Hey Doc. How are you." I say to him.
"Seth... Look at you. You have grown so big, my boy." He starts to move to me.
I put my bag and weapon on the floor and move in for the hug that he was about to give. This man has helped us so much over the years not just my Mom. But me as well, he taught me about Dust, Math, engineering, and science. I see this man as a grandfather that helps when he can.
Letting go of the hug he soon looks down at my weapon.
"Did you make this?"
"Uhh. Yea I did, took me a long time to make but in the end, I was able to finally build it on my own."
"Hmm. You know with a little bit of tuning I can maybe-"
"Okay, you two we are not here to talk about weapons we are here to celebrate." My Mom soon intervene.
"Right of course." He soon checked his watch to see the time.
"Hm. She should be here by now."
"Who should be here?"
"Oh well My-"
The door behind us soon opens and the person behind us talked.
"Father I am here just on time. Oh, I see you have some guests."
My Mom and I both turn to the new person that has arrived.
In front of us, we see a girl with short orange hair, green eyes, and pale skin.
"Welcome back. Saff, Seth, I like you to meet Penny. My daughter.
"Salutations!"
"You had a daughter?" I can hear my mom say to Pietro.
I, on the other hand, was having an episode right now.
For some reason, I just keep staring at the girl... No at Penny. I close my eyes and saw something that brought me fear.
I see Penny and Pyrrha both fighting in a ring, soon Pyrrha uses her semblance on Penny's weapons, and then... I see Penny...
"Are you okay?"
I open my eyes and see that Penny is right in front of me.
"Shit!" I take a step back and fall to the ground.
"Seth, are you okay?"
"Yea... I'm alright."
"My apologies. I did not mean to scare you." Penny said to me.
"Umm. No, it's fine, sorry I just zone out there. Umm. I need to use the bathroom. If you excuse me."
I quickly get up and leave the room and head toward the bathroom.
"Was it something I said?"
The moment I got inside the bathroom I take off my sunglasses and look in the mirror. My eyes... My eyes have tears. Why? What was that? What did I just see?
I turn on the sink and splash some water on my face.
'What the hell was that? Pyrrha and Penny fighting and then...'
I picture what happen and that made me sick to my stomach. Shaking my head I try to remove that image out of my head.
'No, I must be tired, I mean it's still early in the morning. That has to be it. That has to be it.'
I look at myself again in the mirror and see a tired face in front of me.
Sigh...' Maybe coming here was a mistake.'
I put on my sunglasses and start to leave the bathroom.
As I walk back toward my Mom and Pietro I can see Penny just standing with them. I guess my mom is trying to understand when and where did Pietro get a daughter. Hell, even I'm curious too.
I see my mom look at me. "Are you okay?"
"Yea, If anything I must be tired from the trip here, we did wake up early."
"If you want we can postpone the little trip I had planned," Pietro tells me.
"Nah, it's fine. If anything once I get moving I will get the energy to continue. So let us not change what you had in mind."
"Are you sure?"
"Yea, it's fine. By the way Penny sorry for acting like that earlier."
"It is alright." She just simply said with a smile.
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'Don't think about it.'
"So where exactly are we going again."
"It's a surprise. But you did say that you wanted to get more hard light dust correct?"
"Yea, I did. I was hoping that being here in Mantel I can maybe get some more."
"Well, you are in luck because I know a place where they make it."
A place where they make it? Only a few places make them and it's those fancy high-tech places that will charge you an arm and a leg just to get one canister of dust.
Right now we are in a private airship one that Peitro was able to obtain. I have no idea how he was able to get it. But man this airship was really fancy. I turn my head and see Mom and Pietro talking with each other in the back, they must be catching up with one another from the last time they have seen each other.
I turn my head to my left and see Penny sitting next to a window seen outside of it. Well with nothing better to do I get up and go toward her.
"Hey, Penny how are you?"
I see her turn her head toward me and smiled.
"Hello, Seth. I am fine. Thank you for asking."
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Fuck do I really got to carry this conversation?
"Soooo, Nice weather we are having."
What the hell was that? Why is it hard to do this!
"It is exactly 38°Fahrenheit. Way cooler than yesterday's weather.
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Okay, I don't know how to talk to this girl.
"Yea, I can tell. Back in Argus, I guess we don't really have too many cold days. But it does feel relaxin', to say the least."
"How is living in Argus feels like?"
"Well, compare to Mantel it's less, well let's just say more friendly."
"I see."
"You never seen Argus?"
"No, I have been in Atlas for the past three years."
"Really? Where are you originally from?"
"Oh. I was from. Mantel." Hic.
"Really from Mantel as well?"
"Yes" Hic.
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"Okay... Well what di-"
"Ladies and gentlemen we have arrived at your destination."
Sweet we are here. I get up and stand up to stretch.
"Come on let's go and see where your father decided to take us."
"Yes. Let us go."
As we step out of the airship we are greeted by a huge building with the initials S.D.C.
"Seth, welcome to Mantels only Schnee Dust Company facility. Here is where you can get any Dust you want."
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"How much will It cost me?"
As we arrive at the entrance of the facility we are stopped at the front door.
"Halt. This place is only authorized for personnel."
"It's alright they're with me."
"AH. Doctor Polendina. Welcome, you are here with guess I see."
"Yes. I am here with my daughter and a friend and her son. We will be here for the next hour. You can confirm it with the General himself if you wish."
"Right. Just give us a second to confirm your visit."
The man soon leaves. Leaving us waiting on his return.
"This place is very secure isn't it?" I tell Pietro.
"Why yes. This facility is owned by the Schnee Dust Companies, however since it's in Mantel, They have to hire Atlas tech to protect this place from any intruders."
"Has that ever happened before?"
"A few times yes. But they never pass the front entrance."
Huh. Well, that's good to know. Looking around I can see many cargoships around the place.
"Alright Doctor Polendina. Your authorization has been granted. For your guests here are some badges for the stay. However, that young man will not be able to carry his weapon. Either leave it here or give it to the mother."
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Meh, that's fine.
I take out Saltatio Favillae and hand it to my mother. Which in turn she takes.
"Don't worry Sweet heart it's in good hands." She grabs my hand and pulls me in to whisper something.
"I know you still have those two flash grenades. Don't do anything dumb while we are here."
I simply just smile at her.
How did she know?
I just take the badge from the man and put it around my neck.
"Okay now follow me and we can head straight to where we need to go."
With that Pietro enters first followed by Penny. We soon follow after him.
POV ?
"Remember the mission. Group A will deal with anybody that is inside the facility. Meanwhile, Group B will enter from the back as soon as Group A makes contact. Group C will go to the Main hangar and gather as many Dust containers as you can and load it onto the getaway airship. Is that clear?"
The group nods their heads at their orders.
"Good."
If you were to tell me that for my 16 birthday, I would be having a tour around a facility and having Pietro explain to me the Importance of Dust. I would had laugh at your face.
But now I am really regretting this trip to Mantle.
"Now remember Seth, Using dust on oneself will cause damage to the body Even though you have Aura, the lasting effects can be dire."
Please someone stop this Man!
"Ah Doctor Polendina, I heard that you just arrived and. Is that you Miss Sapphire?"
"Jillian is so good to see you again. It's been so long."
"It has. How have you been? Wait is that Seth? My look at you. You turn out to be a handsome young man haven't you."
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"I'm sorry but who are you?"
"What! You forgot about me. I use to babysit you when you were a baby."
"..."
"I was the nurse that brought you into this world."
"... Doesn't ring a bell."
"You use to call me Jill."
"Oh yea, the fake nurse! Now I remember."
"Is that really all you remember me by? That fake-"
I just hug her.
"Nah, I remember you always baby-talking to me and taking care of me."
She returns the hug.
"Look at you let me see your eyes."
She raises her hand and removes my sunglasses.
"Yep, the same baby boy with the same white eyes. I'm still surprised that you never turn blind."
Well, people always assume that.
We hear someone clear their throat and turn to Pietro.
"Jillian was there something you needed from me."
"Oh right! Doctor, we were able to finish those schematics that you requested, and we need you to have a look at them."
"I see. Well give me one second and I will go. Saff, Seth if you can excuse me I really need to have a look at this."
"No problem Pietro." "Yea take your time Doc."
"Thank you both. Penny, do you think you can give them the rest of the tour? Once you finish you know where to meet with us."
"Of course Father I will do my best."
"Actually. How about I go with you Pietro I want to catch up with Jillian." My mother chimed in.
I just turn to her to see what she was doing. And see her just wink at me. I think even she didn't want to continue with this Tour herself.
"But...But.."
"Wonderful Seth Let us continue with our Tour." I feel Penny just grab my arm and drag me with her.
"But!..."
I turn to see my Mom waving her hand and mouthing 'I'm sorry!'
As Penny continue with the tour, I just kept on looking at her. That image that I had earlier of her was really putting me on edge. How, I mean I just met her but why would I have this picture of her like that?
"Seth is something wrong?"
"What. Oh no, nothing is wrong Penny."
"You seem to be not having fun at all."
I'm really not, to be honest here.
"Nah it's just. I have a lot on my mind recently."
"Oh. Really? Would you care to talk about it?"
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Do I want to talk about it? I mean, maybe it can help but to say that I saw you die is really not the best way to start a conversation with a person you just met. I just put my hands in my pockets and turn to her.
"Penny... Have we... Ever met before?"
"I don't think so. I have no recollection of us ever meeting before. Why do you ask."
"Are you sure? Because I-"
CLICK CLICK
"Hands in the air."
We both look in front of us and see a group of four Faunus pointing weapons at us.
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This is not going to be a fun day.