Salem traced the hilt of the Sword of Destruction. Its design was ornate and decorated with jewelry. For a weapon meant to bring forth destruction, it is much closer to a blade for ceremonies rather than actual combat. She could see herself even mistaking it as such if it wasn't for the power that emanated from within. It is for that power that she had attacked Vacuo to begin with. Never mind the Summer Maiden, she was nowhere to be seen. With the Grimm, Salem only needed to brute force her way into the Vault and take it for herself.

She sat on the throne inside her Grimm, Monstra, a large flying Grimm in the shape of a whale. Her seers have given her vision on the state of the other kingdoms. Atlas had broken through the veil that covered them while the people of Mistral went through their exodus towards a new home. Given enough time, she expects that the other kingdoms would come to the aid of Vale at the first call for aid.

Maybe I should help them along. She sighed. Would it even matter? Even if they had united now, there was no guarantee that even if the Relics would be brought together signaling the return of the Brother gods that her immortality would finally end.

Why am I even doing this? I had made my attempts at summoning my own and yet… Was she always meant to be cursed? Was she always meant to be trapped in a tower? No. There is no other way, is there?

Her eyes were brought back to that seer that showed her Mistral. In particular, she focused on that familiar that had been brought here from some other place. Jeanne d'Arc as her subordinates managed to gather. There she was, living as one of them despite her circumstances. She even had the fiery eyes that the other four Maidens had. Ozma had broken the rules by doing that, why couldn't she do the same? What was it about that familiar and her anchor that Salem lacked? Was there anyone who would even answer her pain?

Suddenly, she heard a sound. "Who's there?" she demanded. Her grip on the sword was tight. She was uncertain what it would do to her if she used it but she had no doubts in her mind that she would still be alive by the end of it. It was only by the fact that she was on a moving creature that stayed her hand.

For a moment, she swore that saw something. A figure clothed in white had been in her presence for only a second. A huntsman? No, it couldn't be. It was impossible. She would have seen them coming, if not her Grimm. Salem scanned the room and had her Seers scan the rest of Monstra. There was none. There was no one else there but herself. Not even her subordinates in this generation as she dismissed them all, let them free to do as they wish.

"I must be seeing things," she said, massaging her temples. She was tired, exhausted, and in want of a drink.

She sat back on her throne. Resting her head against the back of it, she closed her eyes and let herself rest. How many times have I done that now? Too many, perhaps. She never slept. Though her eyelids were shut, she could never dream. I'm tired. Just… tired.

Had Salem had a clock nearby, she would have heard the monotonous ticking of hours passing by. Monstra wasn't a slow Grimm but neither was it fast. It had been a deliberate choice of hers since she wanted to give humanity that chance to unite. She was hardly ever even throwing her Grimm against them. If any of their huntsmen and huntresses were actually dying, then that is on them.

Her muscles ached. Her mind hurt. Her heart numbed. Still, she pushed on with her plans. There was nothing else that she could think of. The meaning of life and death? What is there to learn? She had been a grieving woman who had lost her husband. It had been possible to bring him back. Those bastard gods actually did bring him back even after spouting their balance nonsense.

She stood up. Perhaps a walk will do her good this time; she doubted it. The wide and spacious place of the throne room gave her much to walk in many circles as she pleased. She kept going even as her feet ached. Afterwards, she went to get a goblet from the dining area of Monstra to get a goblet.

Alone at her table, Salem poured water. She should have brought something stronger.

Right. She remembered. I'm all out of wine. Not like she would be enjoying that anytime soon.

Then, she felt a warm presence. While familiar from the one before, she only noticed that warmth for it had lasted a moment longer.

"Who's there?" she demanded again. "Show yourself!"

But whoever that was, the figure did not.

Gripping her goblet, Salem took a sip, expecting water. Her eyes widened as she double-checked the contents of her cup. True enough, it wasn't water anymore but wine; the best wine that she had ever tasted. One that she never hadn't tasted since—

The surprise didn't stop there. When she put down her cup, there was a plate there ready for her. It was a slice of cake. A familiar slice of cake; one that she hadn't seen in many centuries. By the standards of today, it would appear to be rather plain, perhaps even tasteless. But it wasn't the taste that made Salem pick up the fork that had been there with the plate. It was the memories that had come with it.

How long has it been? She asked herself. Why are you here?

In that instant, the memories became clear. She could still see her old friends and families. Guests and nobles that had attended that once momentous occasion. It had been her second greatest day. Second only to the days when she and he had a family of their own.

"Who are you?" she asked. There had to be someone there. "Why are you doing this?"

There was no answer. There was no figure. All she had was that sense of comfort and momentary peace. Relief that lasted for only a minute in centuries worth of ceaseless agony and loneliness. One thing she was certain was that it did not come from those who had cursed her with this immortality. This one was gentle. Kinder.

Her plate had been cleaned with the exception of a few crumbs. When was the last time she had enjoyed a meal? When was the last time that she had been human?

Then, she heard a whisper. "Wait."

/-/

Celebration was had there in Argus. Word had reached them that Atlas' ships had broken free of the Grimm that had confined them to their own borders. With the fleet now spreading out, Argus was one of the first cities that would receive aid, serving mainly as the staging point of mankind's counterattack against the Grimm.

Normally, efforts to ensure their safe entry should have been top priority. But as it was, Argus was arguably the safest place in all of Remnant right now. Protected from all manners of threats, there hasn't been much Grimm that could present any sort of threat. Huntsmen, soldiers, and trained civilians all stood together. Even those who had once been held hostage by the Branwen tribe were standing alongside their now former captors as comrades, after an understandably awkward phase.

Leading this charge was none other than team JNPR, namely Jeanne with her banner. Raven, despite being older and thusly more experienced than most, stood aside out of choice; it was not the kind of leadership that she wanted to take. Ozpin, on account of being in the body of a farmhand, had to take a backseat on that one as well. Both were always there as advisers though, behind the curtains. Jaune himself was with her and often are the two seen when making decisions.

After that meeting with one Caroline Cordovin, the two Arcs spread the news which was led to that celebration.

"How many do you think they'll send?" asked Nora.

Jaune shrugged. "They never said. Doubt that they would send the entire fleet."

"Things are turning for the better in Atlas." Ren nodded, sagely. "Perhaps, things will become better for the rest of Remnant."

Pyrrha was there training the civilians. With wooden shields and spears, she had taught them simple thrusts while keeping their shields up. With Jaune's aid, those volunteers also learned to stick together with those shields. It wasn't like the team attack that the pair had but it was close. They were already trained well enough but that didn't stop them from continuing their practice.

On the walls, soldiers were patrolling and keeping watch over the horizon for any Grimm. There weren't any, certainly not enough to be cause of alarm. The huntsmen and huntresses-in-training were enough to deal with the occasional ones there. Sometimes, a group of the trained civilians were capable of doing so, with a huntsman shadowing them, of course.

Life, or as close as it can be here anyway, kept going but with renewed liveliness. The prospect of aid was welcome, especially on relief. While food and water hadn't been a problem here in Argus, the same was not necessarily said on everything else. Namely, those necessities that needed Dust was still rather low and ammunition is essentially gone. Huntsmen and huntresses limited themselves only to the melee aspects of their weapon designs. Avian Grimm were mostly dealt with by Jeanne and Raven on account of their Maiden powers.

There was one where they might have needed more as there was a pack of Grimm that were descending upon them. However, Jeanne had stepped forward alone.

With the familiar glow of her eyes, she raised her banner and swung it as though it were a sword. Powerful lights came out of her and blasted the pack of Grimm into nothingness as though they have been burnt to ashes.

"When did you…" Raven asked.

"Maiden powers," Jeanne replied; her eyes continued to glow. "Been trying out some things that I never could have done otherwise."

JNPR didn't really question it, Jaune and Pyrrha especially; they were used to it and have seen her do some fantastical things when she thought she was alone.

The signs of Atlas' arrival where not missed by anyone in Argus. Those vague shapes in the distance flying in formation could be none other than Atlas. If they had been birds or Grimm, their wings would have moved as it got closer but it did not. As they approached, Argus' landing docks were clear of any other airship.

It was a small squadron at best. Mainly comprised of ships meant for the delivery of relief, there was a small escort of armed airships whose guns went unused with how clear Argus' airspace was. The familiar Schnee Dust Company logo was on one of them.

"Weiss," all of team JNPR spoke in unison. There was only one person they would recognize under that would bear that logo.

The airships descended and the soldiers were the first on the scene. To say that those on the airship were surprised to see that not a single soul from Argus rushed in for whatever relief that they had brought with them, especially concerning food, it would be an understatement. The people of Argus were patient and were willing to wait longer. Surprise painted their faces, probably at the sight of a people that should not be as healthy as they are.

There were murmurs among them, not one that most could hear. Jeanne spotted an old raven among the crowd though. She shook her head at her fellow Maiden listening in. She doubted that there was anything worth listening there.

The familiar sight of Weiss Schnee was met with their own gladness. It was the older but similarly looking person that accompanied her that made them wince. Was that Weiss' older sister? JNPR couldn't recall if they had met.

"I don't think you have," Ozpin, through Oscar, said. "Winter Schnee, Atlas Specialist. I would even go far to say that she is to James the same way Glynda is to me when I was headmaster."

Winter Schnee was clearly the one in charge here. She was out there giving commands though she too had been momentarily paused at the unexpected sight before her.

"Didn't the soldiers send reports whenever they could?" asked Jaune.

"They probably didn't believe it." Jeanne shrugged her shoulders. "Or maybe they kept it as rumors."

It Pyrrha that first met with Weiss. Their reunion was one with hugs with Nora having held all of them. JNPR may not be her team but Weiss had been involved with them enough anyway. Weiss had worn more blue in her outfit now, a light blue.

"How are you people so… healthy?" Weiss had the same surprise as the rest.

"Well…" Pyrrha's eyes pointed at the two blondes. "I wouldn't say that it's a long story. But it's a story."

Thusly, JNPR recounted their journeys here. With Oscar around, they also had to add the apparent circumstance of their former headmaster. The addition of the Relics, of Salem, and of the miracles that concern the two Arcs of the team.

Weiss, understandably, needed time to gather her bearings. "I already knew about Salem," she said. "But this? No, I'll need some time."

"We could go to Saphron's home," Pyrrha suggested. "Jaune and Jeanne's sister," she quickly added.

Cordovin was responsible for bringing the other Atlas soldiers up to speed, namely Winter who served as the commanding officer of this relief effort. Dust had been the primary resource that were distributed and many of the once darkened houses now possess light and Argus regained many of its amenities that they had initially surrendered.

"It's…" Weiss shook her head. "It's like the Grimm never came here at all."

"It really does, doesn't it?" Pyrrha replied. "You wouldn't think that if you saw the other side of those walls."

"Even then," Jeanne added. "You wouldn't think it was that bad."

Despite the offer, Weiss declined. "I think I've seen my share of Grimm stains enough to last a lifetime, thanks."

With Dust supplies having been spread out and homes now having light even during night, the only matter that remained is that on the other kingdoms. From there, it was Weiss who would have the answers, if any.

The shaking of her head said otherwise. "There hasn't been any word at all. I can at least tell now on Mistral's end but Vacuo and Vale had been absent. Argus is pretty much the only place that has any sort of contact with Atlas. I hope my team is okay."

"I'm sure they'll be fine," Jeanne assured her. "Vale has been rebuilding when we left. They're probably the most prepared kingdom out of the four."

The Cotta-Arc home was getting crowded with the addition of Weiss. Though, she won't be staying here at night having had her own lodgings alongside Winter, she was a welcome guest in the home. Adrian certainly is a fan and that feeling was mutual. One only need to see the adoring eyes Weiss had at the sight of the little baby. It got to a point that they needed considerable effort to get the two to separate.

Both Weiss and Winter were able to witness these miracles the next day. The sight of Jaune leading many of the fishermen out to the waters was one that none of them could imagine, Weiss especially. It wasn't anything too amazing or too fantastical, it was much closer to simply being an odd sight. They didn't even go that far to search and they returned with quite the catch. The nets were so full that the boats were close to capsizing.

Brought to the kitchens, Ren was hard at work with the other cooks as they clearly exchanged recipes here with one watching and nodding over the other. Nora was among the few who spent that time carrying the heavy load and Jaune's catch of the day.

Pyrrha could be seen training the civilians and even the occasional huntsman-in-training.

"It's…" Winter commented. "It's impressive that you managed to do all this. And to bring the Branwen tribe along as well, feels like our presence is unnecessary."

"We had help," Jeanne answered. "We never could have gotten this far without the others."

"Speaking of the Branwen Tribe, where is—"

"You wouldn't find her," Jeanne interrupted. "Even if you went to her post. She keeps to herself and her tribe. Doesn't want to get involved unless necessary." What was important was that she was doing her part during the day time.

When the tour around Argus had finished, Winter had to excuse herself as she needed to make a report. Unlike Cordovin apparently, Winter did not limit said report to rumors and placed it as it appeared. The odd peculiarities were left out though and attributed as either luck or strange semblances. She specifically left out the details when it came to the names of the people here.

Later, Raven Branwen was found to be in a hurry, surprising everyone; she had been looking for them. JNPR, Oscar, Weiss, and Winter were caught off-guard at the usually reserved huntress and leader of bandits.

"What's wrong?" Jeanne asked. As a fellow Maiden, out of everyone there barring Ozpin, it was she that could get along the best with Raven. It wasn't saying much in actuality given their alliance but it was something.

"Gather your allies," she replied. She had been panting. Had she got here on foot rather than through flight? "I can feel it through Yang and Tai. The Grimm have made it past Vale's walls. I'm bringing you all there."

AN: Thank you, Raven, for making travel efficient.