Author's Note: New chapter, new stuff, and consequences. Always gotta love the latter. Enjoy.
"I just want it to be known that this is entirely unnecessary." Pyrrha couldn't help but mutter as she entered the building, stepping past the security guards and into a hallway that led to the event room.
"Consider it noted." Coco smirked back at her, for once without her signature beret and sunglasses. Though, in all fairness, even she couldn't pull that off while wearing a dress.
Despite her own dress, standing next to Coco, Pyrrha still managed to look underdressed. Her friend had gone all out, as was to be expected, but it really went to show just how much more confident the girl was. Unlike Pyrrha's own it showed off all the skin she wanted seen. A slit in the fabric exposing her toned legs and the dip showing off her cleavage had already caught the eyes of several people on the short walk to the entrance.
"You look fine." Coco smacked her arm. "Stop worrying about it."
Pyrrha forced a smile on her face, even if she didn't feel the least bit happy. Looking down at her hands and arms served as a painful reminder of just how rough the last couple of months had been. The sleeves on her dress only went down to about her forearms, and while that did cover most of the scars, it wasn't all of them. A few of Tyrian's attacks had been aimed at her wrist and they had certainly hit their mark.
Coco smacked her arm again, this time a little more forcefully. The look in her eyes said it was only going to get worse the more often she had to do it and, despite this being a formal event, Coco had managed to sneak in her weapon, unlike herself.
"I'm sorry." Pyrrha muttered, shaking her head, and trying to stop thinking about what others might say when they saw her.
"What did I say about that?" Coco's eyebrow rose dangerously.
"S-sorry." Pyrrha blushed as she looked away.
Coco held a hand over her eyes as she sighed dramatically. "You're hopeless."
"I don't think I'd go that far." Qrow stepped through the entrance and instantly took the opportunity to side against Coco. Much to her surprise he was actually wearing a suit, although the way that he kept tugging at his tie made it clear what he thought of it. "She's just fighting her programing. That's why I prefer to stay out of the news."
"If you ever did something worth being praised over, that might change." He hadn't come alone of course, Winter walking at his side. Perhaps even more surprising than Qrow was what she wore. From what Pyrrha understood, Winter had been disowned from the Schnee family, but despite that, she was expected to maintain the image of high classness implied by her family's name. She no doubt had dresses worth more than all the clothes Pyrrha owned and, while that might not have been much at the moment, she was willing to bet that also applied to Coco's wardrobe. So it came as something of a shock to see her in the snow white dress uniform of Atlas. A suit not too unlike the General's, though clearly having been adjusted to accommodate a woman's anatomy.
"I am here representing Atlas." Winter saw her looking, thankfully not deciding to joke as Qrow might have. "Thus it is best I look the part."
"If she'd warned me I would have worn a dress." Qrow smirked, looking down at Winter for a moment before that look of amusement died. "Would have been better than this stuffy crap anyways."
"That 'stuffy crap' is worth more than that pigsty you call an apartment." Winter snapped back. "Besides, you are embarrassment enough without such an idiotic stunt."
Rather than look offended by the sharp comment, Qrow's smirk returned. "I have the legs for it."
"Somehow I am not surprised you know that." Winter glared back up at him from the corner of her eye, though the slight tug up on her lips betrayed the cold glare entirely. "At any rate, it is too late to change now."
"Give me ten minutes, I'm sure I coul-ugh!" Qrow buckled forward slightly as Winter dug her elbow into his sternum. "H-how does that fit the image of a Specialist?"
"I have no idea what you mean." Winter withdrew her elbow and dusted off her sleeve.
Qrow looked to the two of them to see if they would defend him, Pyrrha looked away before he could meet her eyes. She also pretended not to hear his words of treason and betrayal. It was at times like this when it was so easy to see the similarities between him and Yang, though she wasn't sure which of the two would be more offended by the comparison.
"The General should be in attendance tonight as well." Winter said, filling the silence that built up between them, her demeanor shifting back to the complete professionalism she was often known for.
Despite the shift away from comfortable joking, it was good news to hear. She hadn't heard from or seen the General since he had departed from Beacon. She understood that he was busy, and had complete faith that he would be fine, but it would be nice to see with her own eyes. Though she didn't say it, Pyrrha got the impression Winter felt the same way.
"The news coming out of Atlas has been… opinionated." Qrow chose his words carefully, his eyes shifting over to the girl standing next to Pyrrha.
"I'll wait inside." Coco looked relieved for the opportunity to leave what was quickly proving to be a serious conversation.
"It's to be expected considering the circumstances." Winter said. Perhaps it was due to the time she had spent around the Specialist, or maybe it was partly due to her own experience with Weiss, but Pyrrha couldn't help but notice just how tired Winter sounded when she said that.
"I just wish there was a way to do this without seeming like racist assholes." Qrow muttered.
Winter bristled under the comment. "The General would never-"
"I know Winter, I know. We all do." Qrow nodded his head towards her, Pyrrha smiled to show she agreed. "But that doesn't change the fact it looks like that."
Winter stared back at him for a moment before sighing, looking away from him and towards the main hall. "I will… have a talk with him. See if there isn't some other way to go about this."
"James will appreciate that." Qrow smiled, before turning back to her. "What do you say we get this show under way, don't want to keep your date waiting after all."
Pyrrha felt her face heat up, her blush growing even worse when she noticed the amused look behind Winter's eyes as she looked back at her.
"L-lets get this over with." Pyrrha cursed her stammer, especially as Winter and Qrow chuckled softly at it. Despite the embarrassment, it did help dispel some of the tension from before.
Qrow offered out his arm for Winter to take and, in the most pompous accent he could manage, asked for her hand. Winter rolled her eyes but took his arm, Pyrrha falling in beside them as they entered the hall. They had been told a specific time to arrive, as the honored guests for the evening the city of Vale needed to show them off to the masses. The majority of the news crews and journalists had been outside, only a select few allowed to enter lest they ruin the entire event, but it came as no surprise to Pyrrha when the first thing she saw upon entering the room was someone hurriedly taking their photo.
Coco stepped through the small crowd gathered there to approach her. "Try not to look so uncomfortable, they've been told to get photos at the start and then leave you alone for the rest of the evening."
Pyrrha smiled at her friend, trying to make her appreciation as evident as possible. Coco seemed to notice it and offered her one in return, before helping to pull Pyrrha towards where she assumed they would be sitting.
Coco made a show of pulling out Pyrrha's chair, bowing slightly as she took the offered seat. Pyrrha couldn't help but roll her eyes, even as a far more honest smile graced her face. Qrow, never one to be upstaged, did the same for Winter before stealing a bottle of wine from a nearby table and pouring her a glass. The Specialist rolled her own eyes as well, sparing a momentary glance with Pyrrha before taping her glass to Qrows.
It was amusing, and far more entertaining than her experience would have led her to believe. It was only then that she realized why this felt different. She had never gone to an event like this with friends, only by herself; this way was much better.
Pyrrha stepped off the stage with a sigh, working to keep her face towards something resembling happiness. The actual ceremony had been short, the three of them called up as one of Vale's councilmen thanked them for their service to the city. He'd said some lines about how it strengthened the bonds between Vale and Atlas before an attendant stepped forth and presented each of them with the medal. Apparently, Winter was representing all of the Soldiers from Atlas who had participated and the individual awards would be given in due time. A surprisingly kind gesture that Pyrrha was grateful for.
The Soldiers from Atlas had really done the bulk of the work, from securing the perimeter to defusing the bomb; it had been an Atlesian operation from start to finish. She had simply charged in when told to and it felt wrong that she be recognized when they weren't. She made a mental promise to thank them later, even if it wouldn't mean much. The various people in attendance had given them their full attention but, as soon as they stepped off the stage, had gone back to whatever they had been doing earlier.
As she stepped down off the stage however, she didn't head back towards her seat with Winter and Qrow. While she had been up there she'd spotted General Ironwood standing towards the back of the room and she intended to speak with him. While Coco might not appreciate Pyrrha leaving her alone with Winter and Qrow, it was only for a few minutes so she'd survive. Probably.
"Ah, Miss Amber was it?" Sadly, when left alone, it seemed that Pyrrha was as much a target as ever. "Do you have a moment to talk?"
Pyrrha fixed her eyes on the back of General Ironwood's uniform, trying to keep track of him through the crowds. "Actually I was j-"
"Excellent!" She felt a warm hand land on her shoulder. "I hoped to speak with you about the state of things in Vale."
The crowd closed around the General, blocking him from her view for the time being. Sighing, Pyrrha addressed the man standing in front of her. She didn't know him, of that much she was certain, but she did vaguely recognize him as one of the Councilors that had been up on the stage while they presented medals. He wasn't the one to speak, nor was he one of the ones who helped the attendant actually present the medals, but rather he had stood off to the side for the majority of it; never offering anything more than a polite clap when it was expected.
He was a larger man, though less so in height and more in sheer size. To call him portly would have been a kindness, and likely less than accurate. His face was all smiles but it never seemed to reach his eyes. He reminded her of potential sponsors, namely the ones who never knew when to take no as an answer.
"I was thrilled to hear that dear old Ozpin has finally started to take some responsibility for the security of Vale." The man continued to smile, even as he blatantly insulted the man she was supposedly working for. "Better late than never, but the results certainly speak for themselves."
Pyrrha bit back her irritation, but she could already feel the vestiges of her good mood withering away in the face of this man. "The Headmaster has many responsibilities which take his time."
"Of course, of course, I meant no offense." The man backpedaled on his insults instantly, smiling in what he likely thought was an apologetic manner. "Ozpin has always had the best interest of Vale at heart, but he has been Headmaster of Beacon for quite some time. One must ask themselves how he has fared in it. "
Masking his insult as concern, Pyrrha had to fight the urge to roll her eyes at the insinuation. Was the Headmaster under extreme stress? Certainly, but who among their group wasn't? This man didn't know the first thing about Ozpin other than what the Headmaster wanted him to know. He didn't know of Salem or the Gods, and he certainly didn't know of the Relics or the Maidens. While Ozpin had his flaws, he knew better than anyone the danger of defeat.
"I believe he is the best qualified for the position." Pyrrha chose to defend him. He wasn't perfect, and had made plenty of mistakes, but he grew from each of them. Something she doubted could be said about the man standing before her.
"Yes, he was." The man continued to smile. "But with your recent success against the White Fang I dare say you have as much experience as he does in such matters." Pyrrha was stunned, her eyes widened as he spoke. Surly she was mistaken, he couldn't have been implying what she thought he was. "Maybe it is nearing time for a change in leadership?"
He was, and Pyrrha didn't know how to feel. While that might have been the desired effect, it was certainly not in the way the man most likely intended. She was angry that the Council would so readily throw away Ozpin, but also disappointed that someone who had been trusted by the people to lead them could be so incompetent.
Pyrrha was far from the best choice for such a position. Whether it be her age, experience, or simply a matter of drive, Pyrrha had no rightful claim to take something like the position of Headmaster. She wouldn't even entertain the idea. This man either didn't know what it truly took, a sad sign of ignorance considering how important the Council was to the running of the city, or he was willing to overlook all of that to try and place someone he thought he could influence there. The former was worrying, and the latter was disgusting.
It turned out the sickening man was lucky if nothing else, as another stranger approached them before she could so much as think of responding.
"Councilmen Greenwood, it's a pleasure to see you." The new speaker wore a uniform Pyrrha didn't recognize but was most certainly military in nature. He spared her a momentary glance before giving the councilmen his full respect. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Actually we-"
"We were just finishing up." Pyrrha jumped at the chance to end the conversation before she did something she would later end up regretting. "Please enjoy the rest of your night, Councilor."
The man, infuriating as he was, wasn't completely brain dead and bowed his head softly. "Think on my offer, if you ever change your mind it can be arranged."
Pyrrha smiled as politely as she could, but even she could tell it fell short. As he stepped away she sighed in relief, turning to look at the stranger who saved her. "I suppose I should thank you." She didn't however, instead eyeing him skeptically.
He was older than the Councilor for sure, his brown hair flecked with gray, but his face lacked the same lines. While the skin around his eyes did crease, it was clear the years had been kinder to him, and the marks quickly vanished.
She still didn't recognize the uniform despite the extra attention she gave it, a mix of green and cream colors that she was certain she'd never seen before. There were medals on his chest as well as a few sewn on insignias, but again it was nothing she knew the meaning of. The only thing she did recognize was on his shoulder; the familiar symbol of Mistral stitched into his uniform.
The man chuckled softly. "I am not here to proposition you. You looked uncomfortable speaking with the councilor, I wished to help." Pyrrha hummed softly but didn't comment. It could have easily been a lie, but the man's smile did appear far more genuine than the last. She would simply have to wait to see.
"Thank you for the rescue." Pyrrha bowed her head slightly.
"Think nothing of it, Councilmen Greenwood can be… well, I'm sure you noticed."
Pyrrha hummed once more, but avoided saying anything lest someone overhear. As infuriating as he had been, it was fully possible he had been trying to coax a response from her. If he felt some kind of animosity towards Ozpin it could have been to weaken the Headmasters image to the people. Whether that was true or not she would likely never know, but it was an annoyingly possible idea.
A silence fell between them, though not one from any kind of distaste for the other. They were strangers, and it was the silence of two people who didn't know what to say. While awkward, it was an improvement compared to only moments ago. Looking over her shoulder, she caught the eyes of another person she recognized as having been on the stage and she sighed. Were she to step away from this man they would strike.
"I don't recognize your uniform." Pyrrha looked up at the man, turning her back on the people looking for their chance to approach her.
He looked over her head before answering, no doubt seeing the people there, before smiling back down at her. "I wouldn't expect you to, it is rather new and has yet to be issued out to all of our forces." He turned his shoulder to her, showing the symbol of Mistral. "It's to be the dress uniform for Mistral's Armed Forces, due to my position I was given one before they are officially implemented."
Pyrrha's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the fact Mistral's military even existed. It took her a second to remember that Atlas had been forced to withdraw from Mistral after their mission against Lionheart, so it made sense, but seeing it so soon? She didn't know what to think.
"Where are my manners?" The man smiled, though it was clear he didn't miss the surprised look on her face. "My name is Colonel Aurelian, current commander of Mistral's Huntsmen." He held out his hand.
Pyrrha took it without thought. "Amber, though I suspect you already knew that."
The Colonel nodded. "I am familiar with your work, I was the one charged with investigating the Lionheart case." She tried to hide her wince, but thankfully he didn't comment. "I'm in Vale on official business, but the Council saw fit to extend an invitation."
"What business does the Mistrilian military have in Vale?" Pyrrha couldn't help but ask, only after she realized how accusatory that may have sounded.
"Among other things, I was trying to arrange a meeting with Headmaster Ozpin." Pyrrha's eyes narrowed suspiciously, only for the man to hold up his hand. "That is not why I am speaking with you, however. I can reach out to Ozpin on my own time, and it is only one goal. I'm afraid the rest is quite boring, trade negotiations and manufacturing deals."
"What…" Pyrrha hesitated, but in the end her curiosity won out. "What is it you wished to discuss with the Headmaster?"
"With the Lionheart investigation over, the Council has tasked me with clearing out the countryside of potential threats." The Colonel explained slowly, the smile falling from his face as he spoke. "Despite the rather substantial increase in our funding, I don't have the manpower at my disposal to remove the largest of these threats."
"Grimm?" Pyrrha assumed. It was the most obvious threat and, with him seeking help from Headmaster Ozpin, it added up.
"Sadly, no." The man's voice dipped and was tinged with disappointment. "While it is true our Huntsmen population is hurting with what that traitor did, the older generation has stepped out of retirement to fill in the gaps. We can trust them to face Beowolfs and Ursa but our biggest threat is people. Bandits that have been considered outside the reach of law for far too long."
"And you don't think the older generation can handle them?" Pyrrha asked, not sure what to think. Despite dedicating her life to being a Huntress, she had never once considered what it would be like when she reached the age where she could no longer fight. As sad as it was to say, it was fairly rare that people in their profession lived that long anyways, not unless they retired early.
"They might be able to, but without knowing what we are up against it would be a risk." The Colonel sighed heavily. "Were it twenty years ago I would have led the hunt myself, as it is… I am afraid many of us have lost our edge."
Pyrrha tried to smile. "You don't look old to me."
He chuckled softly. "I have aged rather well, but when you reach sixty years of age things stop healing like they should. Old wounds start to act up, hopefully it is something you will come to understand one day."
While for some that may have been rude to hear, for Huntsmen it was far from it. Being able to grow old spoke of skill, experience, and a life well lived. "If it's an issue then why were you given the position?" Pyrrha asked.
"All of the younger more qualified Huntsmen are dead or unwilling to trust the council after what Lionheart did. I was once a prominent Huntsman, back when I was closer to your age, and they believe that my reputation can make up for their shortcomings."
The fact there hadn't been anyone better to offer the position too spoke volumes for the trouble in Mistral. That so many had been willing to put their lives on the line once again should have been a good thing, but it wasn't. It being necessary was terrifying. All it would take was one properly timed Grimm invasion and Mistral would collapse. Right now their hope rested on a generation of people who were quickly growing too old to fight, the push for militarization might well become the last act of a dying nation. That didn't mean the situation was hopeless however.
"I'll talk with the Headmaster." Pyrrha nodded.
"Thank you." He didn't sound pleased with it however. "I am sorry that I must ask such of you, but I'm afraid I am left with little choice. The Branwen tribe must be dealt with."
Pyrrha's breath caught in her throat.
"Amber." General Ironwood stepped beside her. "I have been looking for you."
"General." Pyrrha turned towards him, intending to introduce him to the Colonel she had been talking to, only to freeze when she finally looked at him. It was the first time she had gotten a proper look at him all night.
His hair was messier than usual, and the uniform he wore lacked the same care of only a few weeks ago. Above all of that he looked exhausted, both mentally and physically. The bags under his eyes hadn't been there the last time they had spoken and he had clearly gone without shaving recently. It was a far cry from the controlled man she had watched depart for Atlas.
"General Ironwood." The Colonel held out his hand. "It's good to see you."
"Aurelian." Ironwood took the man's hand. "I see Mistral hasn't wasted any time in replacing us." Pyrrha was shocked, still reeling from how different he looked and was unable to process how uncharacteristically confrontational he was being.
"Needs must, James." The Colonel didn't look offended, if anything he looked understanding. "You more than anybody know that the safety of the Kingdom is our priority."
"If that were true you shouldn't have ordered my men away so hurriedly." Ironwood withdrew his hand, his face stern and unyielding.
"That was the Council's decision, not the Military's." The Colonel sighed. "We would have preferred a slow transition to allow us time to adjust, as it is…"
"If there is anything I can do to help…" Ironwood hesitated for a moment.
"I may take you up on that." The Colonel smiled, holding up a small card for the General to take. "In the meantime, I believe it best we stay in correspondence. It is in everybody's interest if we avoid another Great War. What say we try to keep the peace?"
It was an olive branch, though sadly only an informal one. No matter how powerful these two men were they couldn't stop a war single handedly. It would certainly help if peace was the goal of both sides though.
The General took the card and pocketed it. "Atlas has no interest in a war."
The Colonel hummed. "I believe you. Despite what the politicians say, you did Mistral a service by removing Lionheart. While I can't fix everything that was done, know that you have my personal thanks."
"That means more than you know." Ironwood smiled, it was a subtle thing but it helped to relieve the stress he wore so evidently on his face.
"There is one last bit of advice I would like to give, if you'll accept it." The Colonel offered, waiting for Ironwood to nod before continuing. "If you wish to avoid war, you should consider how the current state of Atlas looks to the rest of us." He turned away from the General, smiling back at her. "Have a pleasant evening Amber."
She waited for him to be gone before turning towards the General, wincing slightly at the scowl on his face. That same look was washed away a moment later when he saw her watching him.
"Is everything… okay?" She didn't know how to phrase it, instead relying on the rather blatant Rubyism that she had seen work so many times before. He was a General, older than her and far more experienced, but he also looked so tired that she couldn't help but be concerned.
"It's nothing I can't handle." He smiled for her benefit. "Though there have been a number of interesting developments that you would no doubt like to hear." She waited for him to continue, when he made it clear he didn't intend to, however, she scowled up at him. The smile he wore grew just a bit more honest. "Not here, it can wait until tomorrow morning. Go enjoy your evening."
Pyrrha hesitated. "Why don't you come sit with us, Sir? I'm sure the others wouldn't mind."
"I would be honored."
She smiled widely at him, gesturing for him to follow her as they walked back towards their table. When they made it back to the table they found it mostly abandoned, Coco sitting there with her scroll out and aimed at the dance floor. It didn't take her long to figure out why. As it turned out, Qrow couldn't dance. Winter was pulling him along in a way that made it look nice, but only so long as you didn't look at their feet. It was amusing to see and she made sure to ask Coco to send her the video.
When Winter and Qrow finally made their way back towards the table, she couldn't resist the urge and sent the video to Yang. Qrow's Scroll partially exploded a few minutes later before he muted it and glared her way.
As the event drew to a close and the attendants all started to make their way home, Pyrrha took one look back at the stage, and was surprised to feel a bit saddened that it was ending. Even though it had been stuffy, formal, and perhaps a bit crowded, she had had some fun with it all, all that she'd had to do was bring along a few friends.
Author's Note: This chapter was a bit of a pain because I didn't know where to end it off and thus it went on a little longer than usual.
Oh well, hopefully it was all enjoyable. If not, be sure to let me know in the reviews.
Sincerely, SE