F3: Welcome back to chapter 9 of Volume 5. Last time Star and company defeated Abigail and now the aftermath of the events. Though time to check with some of the others. RWBY is property of Rooster Teeth. OC characters that appear will be credited to the author(s). With that said Let's Dive In.
Volume 5-9: Find The Path.
Just as morning came Star and company could already feel the difference within the town of Kuchinashi. More people were out and not having to worry about others having to steal their stuff and it was definately calmer than it was before.
"Word got out that Abigail and her crew got imprisioned. The sheriff sent word out to the officals in Mistral and they'll be coming by later in the day to pick them up and be sent to Mistral Penitentiary." Arrastra said.
"That's good to hear. This place will be better off without them." Star replied with a smile.
"So what about you? You guys got some plans." Arrastra asked.
"Well... to be honest... I need to find my teammates. I'm worried about them and wondering if they're alright." Star replied.
"Well then... it a long way down from here you know. Only safe way down is an airship." Arrastra said.
Star looked at the panther faunus a moment before she spoke "Are you offering us a ride down?" Star asked.
"Hey. My airship my rules right. I can do what I want with it." Arrastra smirked.
"I'll tell the others to get themselves ready." Star added as she headed back inside to inform the others about the news.
Arrastra smiled a little as she went to go get her airship ready for flight. About ten minutes later Star and company met with Arrastra with her airship ready to take them where ever they need to go.
"Alright. The best thing I can do for all of you is get you all off this mountain. Everything else is on your own from their." Arrastra said.
"We can handle it. We couldn't ask you to take us any further without you all getting in trouble." Velvet replied.
"Yeah. We have to thank you for letting us stay with you so we can't ask you anymore of you." Cardin said.
"Agreed. At least this is the last thing you can do for us." May replied.
"No problem. Let's get going and I'll drop you four off." Arrastra said as they loaded themselves into her airship. After they all were loaded into the airship Arrastra took the controls and lift off from the air strip and before long they were in the air before making a rapid descent below the clouds. From her spot at the academy Yuuki watched the airship fly up and descend knowing that they needed to be on their way.
"Stay safe travelers." Yuuki said to herself before returning inside the academy.
It was a long twenty minute ride down as Arrastra had to be careful not to run into any rocks on the way. Luckily once she saw plain grass she began to land safely on the ground as Star and company exited the airship.
Star looked toward the airship and gave her a wave goodbye as Arrastra did the samething before taking off back toward Kuchinashi as her airship disappeared into the clouds.
Once the airship was out of sight the four of them looked forward and noticed two large mountains ahead of them far into the distance.
"That's where we're going." Star pointed out.
"Inbetween those mountains is the captial. That's also home to Haven Academy." Velvet replied.
"That would be a good point to meet up. Let's get going cause it's a long walk." May said.
"Then we better get stepping." Cardin added as they all began their journy toward Mistral.
=SPIR=
It has been three days since Weiss, Adam, and Pepper got on the ferry and making their way toward Argus. Weiss was currently outside watching the waters below her own reflextion staring back at her as some thoughts were running through her mind.
She heard heavy footsteps coming next to her and could already tell that it was Adam not even looking where he was coming from.
"Hey. Heard from the captain that we'll be arriving in about an hour we should get ready to dock." Adam replied.
"Yeah. Guess we should." Weiss said as she made stood up straight before heading back to the room however Adam stopped her a moment.
"Hold on Weiss. Is their something on your mind?" Adam asked.
Weiss stopped as she looked like she was in thought before she answered.
"I need to let you know that Argus has a military that belongs to Atlas. It actually lays on the edge of Argus harbor." Weiss replied.
"What are you saying? And why are you telling me this?" Adam asked.
"I'm saying this is that we want to avoid that area as much as we can. Plus considering no doubt that they'll know who I am and if they see you then they'll try and arrest you and more than likely try and send me back to Atlas to my father. Something I very much want to avoid." Weiss replied.
"So... we'll just have to be extra careful then. Besides you can always wear your hood up to cover your hair if your that worried." Adam said.
"I know it's just... I never want to go back to being his caged bird again." Weiss replied rubbing her good arm nervously.
"And you won't. I know that Pepper wouldn't allow that... I won't allow it." Adam said which seemed to make Weiss feel a little better as a small blush came to her cheeks.
"Thanks. Guess I just really needed to hear it from you." Weiss said.
"Then glad that I did. Now c'mon we better start packing up. We still got a bit of walking once we get off." Adam added as they both headed back to the room to finish packing up.
An hour past and they arrive at a small port town that let others off and as Weiss, Adam, Pepper and Oscar departed from the ferry along with the horse that Oscar brought with him.
"So we're heading toward Argus right?" Oscar questioned.
"Yeah. If we follow this path ahead it should take us straight to Argus. Only about a three hour walk from here." Pepper replied bringing up a map on her scroll.
"Then we better start walking. The quicker we get their the faster we can get to the train station." Weiss replied and just like that the group was now heading off toward Argus.
About an hour into their walk there wasn't any grimm in sight which was rather concerning but also welcoming that they didn't have to fight grimm all the time though they still kept their guard up considering that Oscar was unarmed as it was a quiet walk.
Weiss dove into what provisions they had a tossed Pepper a snack bar for her to eat and handed Adam on as well to keep up their strength for the next hours they had. Though the silence was killing them so to strike up a conversation Weiss spoke up.
"Hey Oscar. Where'd you get the mare? She's looks well groomed." Weiss asked.
"Oh. I've got her in Shion. I was going to try and use the air transport to get to Haven but they've suspended all air travel for the time being." Oscar began.
"Didn't know they had one of those." Pepper said.
"Oh yeah they have them alright. Though after that a runaway horse came barreling through the town and I sort of calmed her down." He added.
"Guess it must help coming from a farm right." Weiss said.
"Yeah. Then I met the owner and said he couldn't keep up with watching her and he sort of gave her to me. She was his last horse and wanted me to take care of it." Oscar said.
"That was a nice thing you did." Weiss replied with a small smile.
"Yeah... though... I'm not sure if I should keep her. I mean don't get me wrong she's a wonderful horse but..." Oscar paused a moment.
"You don't know if you'll see her again with what were about to run into." Weiss finished as he nodded.
"Makes it harder to find a good home for her." Oscar added.
"You know. I'm sure their is a herd in the wild plains. Not a grimm in sight." Adam suggested.
As they walked further Weiss noticed something ahead of them that was rather odd rock formation that they were sticking out of the ground almost like spikes.
"This is a rather odd formation of rocks. I mean they don't just form like this like it's natural." Weiss added touching the rock formation.
"What do you think caused this?" Oscar asked looking at them strangely.
"It's almost like they were..." Pepper began but then an idea struck in her head before she smiled big.
"Of course. Only one person I know can cause something like this. Iona must've been through here." Pepper finished.
"Iona? A teammate of yours?" Adam questioned as Pepper nodded.
"Yeah. Her semblance can manipulate the earth around her to be used as a weapon. She must've been fighting grimm through here. Which means we're on the right track toward Argus." Pepper added.
"That's great news." Weiss replied.
"Though that must mean there were grimm out this direction so we should be cautious from here on out." Oscar said as they all agreed before moving onward to Argus hopefully they'll reach the train station.
They stayed on the safest path for the next two hours and they saw it just ahead of them the city of Argus. Though they noticed that the temperature had changed as a cold breeze swept through them making Oscar shiver a little.
"Did it get colder or is it just me?" Oscar asked trying to warm himself up.
"Argus is pretty much a border between Mistral and Atlas. Temperatures can reach below freezing during the night. The people here adapt to the temperatures or just some are rather used to it." Weiss replied as she herself wasn't bothered by it despite what she was currently wearing.
"Well theirs the Argus Wall right their once we cross that then we'll be in the town." Pepper said.
"Once we get in their are a few things we'll need to do first. One is to check the trains run times that way we can see when is the best time to get on. Second if the train is running late then we need to check into a hotel for the night and then we can be off by morning." Weiss replied.
"Alright. Just incase Weiss I want you to put your hood up. This town is also full of elites as well so some are bound to know who you are just by looking at you." Adam mentioned as Weiss nodded and place her hood over her head as they progressed toward the entrance of the city. Unknown to them that a bird carrying a message flew over them and into the city itself as it to had a destination it was head.
=SPIR=
Meanwhile back at the Branwan camp it had been three days since Synin lost to the her sisters offspring and even still after losing it left a very bitter after taste in her mouth that made her even more crueler to her men and woman that were at the camp as she punished all of them for their incompetence. Plus the amount of clean up needed after dealing with the aftermath of their escape didn't settle with her either.
Most of their stolen items were destroyed and the food was soiled thanks to them so they needed to resupply with stuff like that. She knew of the village Shion was just ten miles away from them so it wouldn't be too hard to get to them and raid them of all of their supplies while also burning that village to the ground if it meant sending a message.
However just as she was finishing her plans Shay came inside.
"What is it? Can you see I'm busy." Synin growled not happy about being disturb.
"My apologies but our scouts have spotted three people approaching the gates." Shay said.
"Are they armed?" Synin questioned as he nodded.
She smiled a bit as she finally found something that could distract her from all of this maybe even able to sink her sword into some flesh.
"Well then we better not let them wait for us." Synin said as she got up, grabbed her weapon and headed out of her tent with Shay behind her.
As she headed out she noticed that the three people Shay talked about were already in the camp surround on all sides by her men. She saw that two of them were males but one of them was rather tall and the other about average height and the other was female just slightly taller than the average guy. However also noticed something strange about them... they weren't frightened by her men one bit but instead they were rather amused.
"So... I don't know if you three are stupid or brave coming into the lions den. If shades over their is your leader than I would have to go with the top option." Synin replied.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't have my men kill each one of you." Synin added.
The female only seemed to chuckle a little before going into a full blown laughter like a manic that seemed to got under the skin of the people around them.
"My apologies for the laughter its just so damn funny that your little camp of bandits stand any form of chance against us." The female replied.
"I think you need to watch your tone. There's plenty of us and only three of-"
Shay didn't finish as he suddenly found his throat in the clutches of a grimm hand and it was squeezing him before in one swift motion snapped his neck as he fell dead.
Synin stared shocked as she saw where the grimm arm was coming from and saw it was coming from the female of the group.
"You're... part grimm... how is that even possible?" Synin questioned rather flabbergasted by this sight.
The female wagged a finger at her mockingly "Tsk tsk. That's not how you should treat a lady without asking her name first." The female said almost completely unfeeling after she had just killed someone right in front of the entire camp.
"Okay... just who are you?" Synin said.
"That's better. Coco Adel. And these two are my associates Fox and Yatsuhachi. We serve the soon to be queen of Remnant." Coco replied.
"Queen of Remnant? This some kind of fantasy for you kids. I don't like it when you go and murder one of my own bandits. He's a hard one to replace." Synin stated.
"Oh if I wanted to I could've killed everyone here in a blink of an eye. As for being called kids..." Coco said removing her shades as her black and brown eye stared at her while the other half looked liked it had been burn by something as it covered by a large eye patch.
"I've been around far longer than you have." Coco said with a wild smirk on her face.
"Then from the looks of it you're here for something isn't that right. State your business then." Synin stated firmly.
"Very well since you've asked so nicely. My queen requires your assistance in recovering of a item that means of great importance to her plan." Coco stated.
"And what is this item? Surely she knows what it is so why can't your queen go and get it." Synin said.
Coco chuckled at that statement "Because she lacks the means of getting it. She needs the power of a maiden to do it." She said as that got Synins attention. She read stories about the maidens in general and that their was some significance to them.
"Lower your weapons. All of you." Synin ordered as they did just that.
"Perhaps we should speak about this matter inside." Synin said inviting them to her tent.
Coco had Fox and Yatsu wait outside while Synin men dragged Shays body away to be buried.
"I've read stories about the maidens. Thought they were just that stories but guess now I have my reasons to believe they're real now. Along with these relics am I right." Synin said pouring herself some tea.
"You catch on quick Ms. Branwen. My queen desires these relics but their is more than just needing the maidens to open the vaults that are beneath the academies that hide them. They require keys... artifacts if you will in order to open them as well. The maiden is not enough to open them." Coco replied.
"I'm guess you need my help for this difficult task correct." Synin said taking a swig of her drink.
"My queen would be grateful for your assistance but only you. Your people would have to remain here. My other associates have already begun their plans to attack Haven Academy where one of the relics are being kept however from what my queen has informed me only the Spring Maiden can open it along with the artifact." Coco stated.
Synin slightly chuckled "Well then... it's a good think I know who the Spring Maiden is. My older sister Raven Branwan has that power you seek. They are more than likely heading to Haven Academy this very minute." Synin stated.
"So I take it you'll help us acquire this relic then?" Coco questioned.
"I'll help but on one condition. You can kill Raven all you want but she has a daughter... she's my prey." Synin replied.
"Fair enough." Coco replied as she exited the tent with Synin right behind her.
Coco motioned the other two to follow her as they were leaving the camp entirely but now Synin had a job to do and that was get to Haven Academy first before her sister and her friends which was going to be a task in of itself. She wanted that girl to pay for humiliating her.
=SPIR=
Inside Argus Weiss and company began to navigate their way through the city trying to locate the train station and hopefully pay for their tickets and head toward Wind Path and then to Haven Academy if everything went their way. However their was just one problem... Argus was so big that it was very to navigate and could get lost very quickly.
"Okay I thought I was sure that the train station was around here." Weiss replied as they continued to wonder the city.
"Just admit Weiss we're lost." Pepper said.
"Oh like you could do better." Weiss added crossing her arms.
"Alright let's calm down. It appears we stepped in here before even getting a layout of the area. Let's get back to the main road and we'll go from their." Adam said as they tried to get back on track.
It took them ten minutes to get to the main road which was lined with houses.
"Okay. Now this can be easily solved by asking someone where the station is. Maybe they'll know where to look." Adam added. With now an objective in mind they tried to ask other people around but everytime they tried to ask someone they're either completely ignored or getting a snide comment from the citizens.
"Well were getting nowhere with this. It's like they don't want to help us." Pepper replied rather annoyed at that fact.
"However I've noticed that some people are rather nervous about something." Adam said.
"Maybe they're still affected by the Beacon attack or could it be something else entirely." Oscar replied.
"That's true. Somethings got them spooked and its making them all worried." Weiss said.
Adam put a hand to his chin as if in thought before thinking "Well if we're going to look into this than we need to check into a hotel." Adam said which got Weiss's attention.
"But I thought we were going to see about the train schedule first." She said.
"Yes. Pepper and I we'll check out the train schedule. While you and Oscar check into a hotel for the four of us. We'll meet up their." Adam suggested.
"Sounds like a plan. Also keep a lookout for anything that has gotten people on edge." Oscar said.
"Alright." Pepper said and just like that the two of them split up as Pepper went with Adam and Oscar went with Weiss.
Weiss still kept her hood up just incase someone recognized her which was something she didn't want to risk it. So with that said they wondered the city for about ten minutes before locating a hotel. Oscar and Weiss walked inside and much to their surprise the inside of the hotel wasn't that very busy as they approached the reciptionist desk.
"Excuse me miss." Weiss said getting the womans attention.
"Yes can I help you?" The woman stated.
"We'd like to book a room for four." Weiss said as the women typed on her computer looking for any available rooms.
"We do have a room available for four people. How long are you going to be staying with us?" The woman asked.
"Just the night." Oscar said as they woman put that down.
"Alright. So just to clarify that's four people for one night correct?" The woman asked to confirm as Weiss nodded to confirm.
"Very well." The woman said before handing Weiss a keycard to their room.
"Your room is on the second floor room 203. We hope you enjoy your stay." The woman replied as Weiss and Oscar left.
"So should we check out the room first or see what the city has in store?" Oscar said.
Weiss debated a moment at which was the better choice before making her decision.
"To be fair I haven't had a descent meal in a while. Maybe see if any of these resteraunt are any good and faunus friendly." Weiss replied.
Oscar looked at her weirdly "That's oddly specific." He added.
"Well even though I'm wearing this long jacket I am a faunus. Even though I was originally human." Weiss said.
"Really. How'd that happen?" Oscar asked. Weiss dug into her pocket of the jacket and pulled out the Faunus Heart and showed it to him.
"Ah. The Faunus Heart. Tragic that story is around that one little artifact. One touch of human blood turns you immediately to a faunus and cannot be reversed." Ozpin said to Oscar.
"The Faunus Heart." He said.
"Of course Ozpin must've told you about it. Pepper and I found it during our break and my hand got cut and once it touched it I became a faunus. A lynx actually." Weiss replied as if it doesn't bother her.
"It must have been touch trying to learn how to be a faunus right." Oscar said.
Weiss nodded at that "Oh you have no idea. Trying to control your urges is not easy. Plus having your senses heightened startled me for a moment. Luckily I had some people to help me out with controlling them." Weiss added.
"Though if your a faunus then... what is your trait anyway? I know you don't have an extra pair of ears and it appears you don't have any claws then... oh." Oscar said finally realizing what her trait was.
"Yes. I have a tail. Though this overcoat hides it pretty well." Weiss replied as the two of them headed out of the hotel. Much to their surprise Adam and Pepper were waiting when they got out.
"Apparently we got word that grimm has delayed the train for about three days. So we're going to be stuck here for quite a bit." Pepper replied.
Weiss groaned "Great. I just made reservations for only one night. And this place gets cold during the night." Weiss added.
"Not much we can. But we got bigger things to worry about." Adam stated.
"What's that?" Oscar questioned.
"Once we got their we noticed that they're still looking for Weiss and they place posters all over the place we you plastered all over. Along with a reward of two million lien for anyone that finds and reports you." Pepper answered.
"Great. Just what I need. Jacque still looking for me." Weiss grunted at that.
"Calling him by his first name. You must really hate him." Adam said.
"I refuse to call him father as long as... I..." Weiss began but then something caught her attention that her view was drawn toward the small park before walking toward it.
"Weiss?" Pepper said with worry before following right behind her along with Oscar and Adam.
They arrived at the park and everyone noticed immediately what stood out the most that made Pepper and Weiss's heart ache. Standing tall like a guardian was the stone statue of the deceased Pyrrha Nikos wearing her full armor. In her hands is her shield held in front of her body while her sword is sheathed behind her back.
Below the statue was a stone with her name encribed and the words 'In Honor of Pyrrha Nikos. One of the many students who fought valiantly at The Fall Of Beacon.' Just below it was her emblem of an arrow flying through a shield.
"Is this..." Adam started but paused as he couldn't find the words to say more.
"Pyrrha. One of the greatest to ever come to Beacon. She... was also a great friend." Weiss said as she didn't know that tears started flowing down her face.
"Someone that you could rely on to help you when the chips are down. Or someone that'll listen to your problems." Pepper added trying to hold back her own tears but failing.
Ozpin remained silent as Oscar and Adam listened.
"Why is it always the good ones that have to die? Especially since she had so much to look forward too." Weiss said but no one could answer that question.
"Wonder how Iona took the news? Those two were inseperable like sisters. No doubt Jaune isn't taking the news well." Pepper added a sad look on her face.
No one said a word after that as they all stood their staring at the statue of Pyrrha. For Adam he wondered what this girl was like before she died, what her goals were, what she dreamed about. It was still all a mystery to him that made him further question the goals of the White Fang if they were pure or just completely out of spite for humanity.
Suddenly his nose picked up a scent that was coming closer and it was rather very much familiar almost too familiar that made him panic.
"We need to go. Now." Adam said firmly which got all their attention.
"Why? Is something wrong?" Pepper asked.
"No time to answer we just need to-" Before he could they heard a small gasp behind them that sounded like a womans voice.
They turned around only to find themselves face to face with someone that Adam wasn't ready for just yet. The woman in front of them is a faunus around her early thirties with amber eyes and a dark skin complexion with wild chin length hair with an asymmetrical bob style. On her head are a pair of bengal tiger ears along with numerous tattoos that resemble tiger stripes all along her body. On her tiger ears she wears two studded earrings with three on the right and one on the left.
She is currently wearing a blue winter coat with a scarf around her neck.
Adam gulped nervously as he knew exactly who was in front of them.
"Sienna Khan." Adam muttered as Weiss went wide eyed at that name staring at the woman as almost no one made a move.
Then the most unexpected thing happened. Sienna grinned at them.
"Well... you're going to catch a cold if you stay out this long. Follow me." Sienna said as she gestured them to follow her which kinda surprised them but mostly Adam as they followed Sienna not even sure what was in store for them.
F3: And thats chapter 9. Looks like Weiss is about to meet Sienna for the first time. Wonder how that'll go. Meanwhile Coco is making her move to recruit Synin to help with destroying Haven. Let me know in the comments for this story and don't forget to follow and/or favorite this story please and thank you. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'm Out.