Author's Note: New Chapter, enjoy!
Pyrrha stood as still as possible, attempting to match the look of professionalism and discipline that Winter seemed to find so simple. That cold calm never came, however, and she had to fight to stay still; her hands gripped tightly behind her back. She wasn't the only one who was uneasy, although Qrow had a different way of showing it. He was silent, leaning against the wall beside Winter but otherwise offering nothing to acknowledge where they were. If he still had his flask, Pyrrha was sure he would have been drinking from it. As it was, she was tempted to do the same, but she wanted to keep a clear head, seeing as they seemed to be so rare these days.
The Council had declined Atlas' request to lead security for the festival. The strongest and most powerful military on the planet was deemed ill-suited to the task. Pyrrha assumed they had their reasons, but her few interactions pertaining to the Council had always painted them in a poor light. The conflicting part was that Pyrrha couldn't guarantee that her side was any better. She trusted the General, he had fought beside them before she died and he had leapt at the chance to help her fight now, but for the first time since Ironwood and Ozpin's split, she couldn't help but think his actions might have been too much. Bringing an entire fleet to Vale was undoubtedly proving itself to be a mistake.
Ozpin had tried to warn him, or talk him down, she didn't know which because the General had refused to talk about it; instead he had called them to the war room the second that he could. Thankfully, Winter had already correctly assumed that fact and they had been ready, Pyrrha had finished changing into her combat uniform just before she received the notification.
Allos was strapped firmly at her waist, the belt there filled with every type of round she might need when fighting the White Fang. The armor on her shoulder and forearm was mostly clear, but the scratches and dents from her last mission were still noticeable in the bronze tint. She hadn't yet taken the time to properly clean and repair them, but thankfully the damage was mostly superficial. The armor over her legs, so similar to the set that she had once worn before dying, were in a similar state. The chest piece that the General had gifted her was under her shirt, the thin yet incredibly durable material fitting her almost like a compression shirt. She had left Amber's cloak behind, as much as it helped to hide her face and protect her from the elements, it would be a hindrance in battle. The fact she had allowed her hair to grow down to her upper back was bad enough, but that she could at least pull her hair back in a ponytail like she had before when her hair was still red.
Qrow had said that she looked like an actual Huntress when they had met outside the Generals Command Ship, not someone pretending to be one. Winter had agreed, though also pointed out that Pyrrha needed to properly maintain her gear. She thought Qrow had told some kind of joke in response, but in truth Pyrrha couldn't remember, she'd just been too distracted. Her mind was racing as she tried to figure out what their next move was.
Vale was about to turn into a battleground, and it seemed like nobody knew what to do about it.
"With the Council's decision we will have to focus our efforts on routing out the White Fang before the festival as best we can." General Ironwood gestured to a displayed map of the city. On it there were several highlighted warehouses as well as a few red dots located throughout the city he gestured to. "These locations are the known location of the old tunnels leading to Mountain Glenn, and are the most likely places for the White Fang to be smuggling supplies and men." He turned to Pyrrha. "You confirmed that the White Fang of your time used the Paladins as weapons during the Breach, but you also found them well within the city limits when you encountered them again."
"Clover and I theorize that the White Fang have taken over one such tunnel and have been building up the former smuggling routes there." Winter added, stepping forward and clicking a few buttons on the terminal before several of the red dots linked out, leaving only three left inside the city itself. "These are the only ones we have yet to search, but it is possible there are more tunnels we are not aware about. The records are… poor."
"They were covered up, you mean." Qrow scoffed. "Council didn't want people to panic after the fall of Mountain Glenn, didn't want them to understand just how truly connected the two cities were supposed to be. Most of the tunnels were sealed up and forgotten about, removed from the record so no one could trace it back to them."
"We have an informant who is familiar with the tunnels." The General said, though he offered no information on the person's identity. "They have listed several outlets on the outskirts of the city, and it is the one nearest to Mountain Glenn I suspect of being our culprit."
"That's great and all," Qrow finally stood from the wall, moving over to the holoprojector to stand in front of Ironwood directly. "But if they're smart, and everything I've heard about Taurus says that he isn't stupid, they've already shut down the use of those tunnels. Hell, they've already got everything they want in or out of the city, and the Breach is supposed to happen in less than a week."
"The White Fang are not nearly as well-organized as you assume, but it is true that Taurus seems to be cut from a different cloth." The General nodded. "That being said, the tunnels still have to be secured."
"We have bigger concerns." Qrow replied quietly, one hand resting on his belt where his flask used to be.
"We will position our fleet outside of the city, but I want them spread out so as to offer support wherever it's needed." Ironwood gestured to several locations on the display. "These areas are well outside of Vale's air space, the council should-"
"James!" Qrow snapped. "You brought an army onto Valean Soil, now you're positioning it to surround the city? Do you not see how this looks?"
"It looks like a defensive screening meant to protect the city of Vale." The General answered, never once taking his eyes off the display. "It's the most efficient use of our fleet."
Winter seemed to bristle slightly, but unlike Qrow, she remained silent.
"It looks like you are planning to attack." Qrow explained.
"I'm not."
"That doesn't matter!" Qrow yelled, stepping forward but stopping as Winter's hand grabbed his shoulder.
"Specialist Branwen has a point, sir." Winter had always seemed professional and calm, a paragon of discipline so long as Qrow was kept from the equation, but Pyrrha felt she had come to know her well. Winter never 'put on' her manners, that was simply the way she was. This felt different. Pyrrha couldn't recall Winter ever referring to Qrow in such an official manner, and the way she spoke was like walking on Dust; trying to anticipate whether your next step would cause an explosion. "Intention aside, it still appears as if we are positioning ourselves to attack."
"The council has tasked us with the eradication of the White Fang." The General didn't outright dismiss Winter's concerns, but he seemed to not care. "They know what we are doing."
"The citizens of Vale don't… Sir." Pyrrha added the latter quickly. While she felt that she could trust the General, Winter had known him far longer and even she seemed to be on edge. The added respect couldn't hurt. "To them it looks like Atlas showed up over armed and over prepared."
"This is the largest gathering of Atlesian forces outside of Atlas since the Great War." Winter quickly added as the General finally looked away from the projection of the city. Though he didn't speak, it was clear he was listening and Winter continued. "This is following a concerning pattern, sir. To many, it seems like Atlas is the aggressor, and that only serves to divide us when we need to stand together. Mistral has been given control of security, it is likely they will assign Colonel Aurelian to the task. They can not afford to fail or else they will lose what little legitimacy they have left. He is the best man for the job, and he has shown a willingness to work with Atlas in the past."
The General seemed to consider everything she said for several moments. None of it was wrong, but it almost looked like he was trying to think of a way that it could be twisted. Eventually, he spoke. "What do you propose, Specialist?"
"Withdraw a portion of our forces, keep them in Atlesian territory where they can respond within a matter of hours." Winter clicked a button on the display, and what had once been a map of the city of Vale turned into a regional map of the waters between Atlas and Vale. "When the attack comes they can come to our aid, but only once it's clear we are here to fight for Vale, not against it." Winter paused, taking a moment to breathe before continuing. "Give someone else command of the forces here in Vale and have them work with the Mistralian contingent when they arrive."
"No." The General refused the idea the moment Winter advised giving control of Atlesian forces, it was clear on his face even before he said it. "I will not hand our men and women over to less competent leadership in order to save face. Politics does not concern me, let the people hate me if that is what it takes to keep them safe."
"As you say, Sir." Winter deflated somewhat, stepping back from the projector and falling silent.
Personally, Pyrrha thought it was a good plan. It would make Atlas seem more reasonable, and at the moment that was all she wanted. A reasonable stance against the Grimm and Cinder, because as things were going, she didn't know how well the battle would go, assuming that it happened at all. Cinder had yet to claim a Maiden, and with Penny and Pyrrha both under Atlesian and Beacon protection, that was unlikely to change. Raven was also unlikely, her Semblance allowing her to flee the moment she was in danger. Cinder's only choice was the Summer Maiden, and she had been gone for decades according to Qrow and Ozpin. Without the Maiden powers to bolster her, would Cinder even try to attack them so directly?
The White Fang was weakened as well, at least, Pyrrha wanted to believe so. Without the Paladins the Breach would never succeed, but without a Team RWBY to interfere with their plans, it was difficult to say how successful the attack might have been before as well. Now the White Fang had the chance to build up and strike when they were ready. Atlas was scouring the area and couldn't find a single hint of them, even with half of its fleet here. What was the point of having so much strength gather together if all it did was frighten the people you were meant to protect?
"The attack on the Festival is still the most likely to occur." The General spoke, bringing Pyrrha's mind back to the present. "At the very least, I doubt any kind of attack until after the dance. In Specialists Nikos' own time, the Breach was a warning of things to come, but it is possible even that attack may be scrapped to better prepare for the festival. Make no mistake, that remains the best target."
"What do we do in the meantime, sir?" Pyrrha asked. Regardless of current events, Pyrrha desperately wanted to take action. That had been what chafed her the most about working with Ozpin, and it was the reason she appreciated Ironwood so much.
"Specialist Branwen will lead the search outside the city along with a squad of other Specialists." The General looked over to him, and for a moment Pyrrha thought Qrow might object simply to being difficult, but after several long seconds he remained silent. His glare never lessened however. "Specialist Schnee will continue to search out the tunnels from within the city itself."
"What of my investigation into the assassination of Councilor Greenwood?" Winter asked, her voice sounding almost suspicious.
"A secondary priority." The General paused for a moment. "Focus on the task at hand, I will assign another agent to deal with it. They can also search out the ones behind Vale's sudden employment of Mistral. It is highly likely these agents may be working for Salem to weaken the alliance between Vale and Atlas."
"Which agent will be assigned the task, sir?" Winter asked, drawing Pyrrha's attention. She caught a glimpse of Qrow looking just as confused as she felt, and she was at least grateful that she wasn't alone in that.
"That is unimportant to your mission." The General responded. "Specialist Nikos, you will continue to train the Winter Maiden. Her skills may be necessary in the battle ahead, and I would rather her have the proper training to use them."
That was it? Winter and Qrow were going to be risking their lives, and Pyrrha was going to stay at Beacon? "That's not-"
"May I advise furthering Specialist Nikos' own training, sir?" Winter interrupted before Pyrrha could object fully. "She never attended the proper courses for her position, there is much she needs to know if she is to remain a Specialist."
"Very well, see that you send me updates on her progress." The General responded. "You are dismissed."
"Sir." Winter snapped to attention, and though Pyrrha attempted to match the action, it was clear she didn't manage it as well. Qrow didn't even bother, turning the instant he could for the door.
Pyrrha and Winter followed closely behind, stepping out into the usually cold hallways; this time they felt like a relief. She hadn't ever been very fond of meetings with important people, though she had learned to deal with it early in her tournament career. Talking with Ironwood had seemed different at one point, like he was more human or down to Remnant. She had been able to speak to him as a friend even, and yet the conversation they had just had felt cold and distant. It reminded her far too much of her earlier life.
"I apologize for-"
"Don't." Qrow didn't even let Winter finish. "Don't try to defend him. Don't apologize for him. Just… don't." Pyrrha expected Winter to object to his interruption, but instead she sighed and fell silent.
"I guess I should go find Penny." Pyrrha sighed. "She's been getting better, but there's still a lot she can learn."
Qrow nodded, before turning to Winter. "Where are those Specialists he wants me to take?"
"I'll show you." Winter replied, before nodding at Pyrrha. "When you are done with Penny, come find Clover or myself. He is of a similar rank to me, and would be able to get you started on your Specialist training."
Pyrrha nodded and turned away, just as Winter and Qrow did the same. Their conversation was still somewhat audible as they walked in the opposite direction.
"Heh, can't help but notice you said 'similar' and not equal." Pyrrha recognized the reading tone in Qrow's voice easily. "Pretty sure he could kick your ass. He even gave me a good run for my money when we were sparring last weekend."
"Oh? And you think I couldn't beat you?" Winter's voice didn't sound nearly as smug as Qrow's, but it was clear by her words that she was trying to match his tone. They both needed it at the moment, all of them did. Pyrrha couldn't hear Qrow's comeback as they rounded the corner, leaving her to continue on her own in silence.
Pyrrha slowly found her way down and out of the ship, weaving herself on a path towards Beacon's guest dorms. Penny didn't actually need sleep per say, but a room for herself was easy to manage and helped her keep her disguise of being a regular girl. It had taken both Coco and Pyrrha explaining that to her to make it happen, left to her own devices Penny would simply wander the school working on whatever tasks she needed to complete at all hours of the night. Apparently she did that often in Atlas, so often in fact people had started to assume her Semblance was related to sleep in some way. Considering her new abilities, it had been agreed that it would be best for everyone if they made sure such rumors never worked their way into Beacon.
A side effect of Coco and Pyrrha's discussion with her, was that Penny often stayed in her dorm unless otherwise asked out. It was a balancing act, something Pyrrha and the rest of Team CFVY had struggled to understand, but it was one of those quirks that wasn't too crazy for a Huntress or Huntsmen. None of them could claim to be completely normal, and Penny was no expectation. Robot or not.
Shockingly enough however, Penny wasn't there when she arrived. Or she didn't open the door when Pyrrha knocked at least. A scroll call later revealed why.
Coco had a strange habit that Pyrrha had noticed, she gravitated towards helping people who she believed needed it. While that alone was not an odd thing, it was the degree that she did it. For most people, helping those you cared about was an obvious thing. People like Ruby and Coco though, they wanted to help everyone. Coco was a bit older, more mature about it, but she had never lost that same sense of care. She had noticed Pyrrha's own issues long before anyone else, going out of her way to help a stranger at the gym who she didn't know. She had done the same for Penny, though obviously in her own way.
"Sensational!" Penny cheered just as Pyrrha walked into their Team's dorm. "I can't wait to wear it!"
"You're uh… wearing it now." Velvet coughed into her fist, pointing out the obvious fact that Penny was not currently in her standard outfit, rather, a light green dress that was shockingly familiar.
"Is that the dress you plan on wearing to the dance?" Pyrrha asked as she walked over towards her bed, drawing Allos' Sheath from her belt loop and setting it down.
"Indeed!" Penny beamed. "Friend-Coco said the green would match my eyes and bring out my hair. All studies I could find agreed with her."
"I know my stuff." Coco replied absentmindedly. "Now stop moving, I'm trying to get an idea of what to do with your hair."
"Is something wrong with it?" Penny asked, tilting her head to the side and drawing a frustrated groan from Coco as the act pulled the hair from her hand.
"Nothing wrong, just short." Coco gestured back towards Pyrrha for a moment. "Hers was the same way before she grew it out, way easier to make her look good now. Shorter hair is harder to work with."
"I could have my father extend it if you like." Penny offered, finally straightening her head and holding still long enough for Coco to get a good look.
Coco's hands paused, wrapped in orange curls. "...You can do that?"
"I am a synthetic being, my hair is artificial." Penny nodded. "I could also have it dyed and straightened if you would like."
"No, no that's not necessary, I like the challenge." Coco went back to her task, moving the girl's hair around and looking at her in the mirror that Penny held before her as she tried to best position each strand. Velvet was close behind, offering what assistance she could, as Yatsuhashi and Fox sat on the far side of the room.
If she was quick, Pyrrha was pretty sure she could escape without being noticed.
"Pyrrha still hasn't picked out her dress for the dance." Fox was the one to actually catch her, drawing Coco's eyes away from Penny's hair and towards her own.
"Traitor!" Pyrrha shot back, turning to look at Coco. She recognized the look in her eye, that eagerness and planning expression both reassuring and intimidating. "I would love to, but I'm afraid I only came to get Penny. The General has asked me to increase the frequency of her training."
"I am combat ready!" Penny turned to look at her, taking a step forward before being stopped by Coco.
"Not in that dress you aren't." Coco stated firmly, before turning to look at Pyrrha. "Don't think this gets you out of picking your outfit, we still need to talk about who you're taking to the Dance as well."
Pyrrha winced, she hadn't put any extra thought into Jaune and her since she had given him the option to back out after the attack following their date in Vale. Coco said it was foolish, but even now Pyrrha felt it was the right thing to do. No matter how much she liked Jaune, the fact was that everything was different now. Being her friend was a risk, being anything more than that was even more so. Dating her wasn't simply a matter of wounded pride or humiliation, it posed a life-or-death threat.
She still hadn't decided if she was willing to put him in danger like that, especially when he didn't have all the same information she did. It was such a familiar dilemma that she nearly laughed. She hadn't been able to tell Jaune about the Maiden Powers when she had been chosen the first time, how was she supposed to tell him about Salem now? A part of her screamed to just tell him, to not repeat the mistake she'd made before, but she was also uncomfortably aware of the consequences that would have, for her, and for him.
Looking at Penny's dress, she felt her stomach churn. Some things were so similar to her past life that they might have been the same at first glance, Penny was wearing the dress she had worn during Pyrrha's last life, but the circumstances were so dramatically different. Penny was the Winter Maiden now, she was a part of the shadow war against Salem, her life was in more danger now than before; but Pyrrha refused to let things go the same way they had. She wasn't going to let Penny die again. There was no doubt that Penny was a different person now than when Pyrrha had known her before, her experiences and circumstances having changed her greatly.
Coco and Team CFVY were no different. In her last life they had been nothing more than acquaintances, but now they were her closest friends. Even her Team, the people she had once considered like family, were different now. Distant friends at best, shaped entirely differently because they weren't a part of Team JNPR. They were part of Team RWAN and RNBY, split over two teams.
Pyrrha was the same. Where once she had been Jaune's partner, a member of Team JNPR, now she was someone else. She wasn't the same legendary champion that she had been either, now, she was something stronger yet less renowned. She was a Maiden, one with experience using her powers, and while she didn't carry the same recognizability that she'd previously had, she had always been grateful for that. Things were so familiar and yet so different now that she couldn't help but wonder whether any of them were the same person at all.
It was a thought that terrified her, even if she wasn't quite sure that it should've. It felt almost selfish for her to want things to just be the way that she understood them to be, but it was something she couldn't deny that she wanted. It was also something she had been warned against, focusing too much on her past, on the future, would leave her blind to the present.
"That can wait though." Coco quickly said, seeming to pick up on Pyrrha's sudden shift in mood even if she didn't know why. "For now, Penny can change, and we can all go hit the sparring rooms."
Pyrrha winced again. "He wants me to train her powers."
"The forest then." Coco stated. "We can all go, make a Team exercise out of it."
Pyrrha knew better than to argue, nodding and turning to reclaim Allos from her bed. She would be grateful for their company. For all the things that were different, for everything that had changed, Pyrrha feared that none of it would matter, that not enough had changed to prevent the same disaster from her past life.
She would take any distraction to avoid thinking about that, because ultimately, there was only one way that they were going to find out.
Author's Note: Something I have realized is that I write very dialogue heavy scenes, where not a lot is happening action wise, which I don't personally mind, but I am curious what you guys as the readers think. I ran into some trouble in this story trying to keep it actiony at times and it suffered as a result, but obviously I don't want to go too far in the other direction.
At any rate, let me know what you guys think in the reviews. Good, bad, mean, or enlightening, I look forward to hearing from you all.
Sincerely, SE