A Much needed Talk

-Mistral-

Weiss and Neptune visit Saturn's garage next to his house. Neptune hadn't seen the place in a long time since his father forbade him from entering again after Pluto's death. Before that, Neptune used to spend time with his father and brothers in the garage to observe them using raw dusts to amplify on their weapons.

And sometimes sell the broken parts that were put to good use, good as old once Saturn repairs them. He enjoyed those times. Weiss felt nothing but a bit nostalgic of how there are some old motorcycles and tools, even weapons, the collection of gear. It reminded her of those times her grandfather would told her about machines used in her great-grandfather's career as a miner. Unlike the other girls in Atlas (the ones who hate getting their hands dirty), the gears fascinated her when her grandfather, Nicholas showed her the old mining place in Solitas.

"I never realized your father is a genius. Aside from your mother being a lawyer." Weiss took a look at one of Saturn's old weapons. One is a short spear with a dust crystal that seemed to be drained from color aside from the glow.

"Well, it's more of a side job since Dad is a huntsman. But I'm not complaining." Neptune admits. "I love the place anyway. Haven't been here in a long time."

"You sure it's alright to come in, even if your father forbade it?" Weiss was unsure.

"We might need some stuff before our next move. Who knows how armed the White Fang and the Black Vipers can be." Neptune adds. "Take whatever you need."

"Fair point." Said Weiss. As the two grab some necessary materials for their weapons.

Weiss saw a picture frame with a diploma from Haven Academy. With the name — Saturn Sky — on it. "Why did your father changed his name when he enrolled to Haven?" She asked.

Neptune wasn't sure what to make of it. He knew his real last name was Vasilias. But it seems his father was always hiding some things. "Wish I knew. But the smallest detail my dad told me was that his family disowned him long ago, and want nothing to do with that name. I guess it has something to do with the past." Neptune replied. "Whatever it is, he's hiding something. Maybe that's why Pluto was gone."

"What about you? Why changed back to your original surname?" Weiss also asked.

"Well, I guess I was trying to find who I was. Maybe to feel close to my dad since he kept himself busy. But before that, my sister, Ceres, changed her surname to Vasilias after she became a doctor. I guess it was to prove that she is no coward to show her real self. Dad was against this before, but it didn't matter to her." Neptune adds. "I guess I have done the same thing because, I wanted to prove I will never be afraid again. But I am just same old Neptune. I guess Dad is running away from his past. Just like how I sometimes run away from mine."

Everything they both try to find out, it was a mystery. The way Weiss sees it, it might be Saturn's way of protecting his children. Unlike her father, Jacques, who only sees his children as tools for succession. Weiss doesn't care if her father disowns her. Cause she already disowned Jacques after he tried locking her up.

"I guess your father only wanted to give you a normal life." Weiss said. "To be honest, I wish my father had the decency to just let me be. Let me have my own activities instead of the ones he planned for me. Have the friends I make instead of the ones he arranged for me to meet. All the more reason I went to Beacon."

Weiss sees a desk, there, a picture of a young Saturn with a woman with purple hair and eyes, holding a baby boy with sky blue hair, but also with one blue eye, and a purple eye. It has to be Pluto when he was an infant.

Neptune went to the living room, having to look at Pluto's memorial shelf one last time before parting ways from his former home. If there was one thing he has to let go, was the grief, but it will never mean he won't miss his happy memories.

After visiting the house. They returned to the apartment. They are watching a movie. They do not want to think of anything bad that will happen next.

"I never thought we'd have moments like this." Neptune said. Weiss glanced at him with a smile. "I kinda dream we have this. You, and me. Seeing a silly movie. And ended up liking it." Weiss adds.

They saw a scene in the movie, and they both laughed. Neptune's face turned solemn, seeing Weiss' smile brightened brought him joy. But at the same time, it worried him that after everything that has happened, those joys can get taken away soon.

"Weiss, I want you to know, that there wasn't a day I never thought of you." Weiss blinked. But seeing his expression of heartache and sorrow, this got her worried as well.

"When you went back to Atlas, I felt nothing but aching, in my own soul. A world without you, it pained me even more. And that kiss we had last night, it just filled the gap of the void I always felt in a long time. Before we met, I always dream that I saw you. And it was beautiful. Little did I knew, that dream already came true when we finally met at Argus when you're heading to Beacon." Neptune tells his own feelings. Recalling before heading to Haven Academy when Weiss was about to head to Beacon. How it made his heart beating at the sight of her.

Then he came closer to ber and touched her cheek. Weiss places her hand above his to where her cheek is at.

"However, because we have our differences. I was afraid I was never any good to you. That I would get in the way of your life. And that I have to stop loving you. But my own heart, it won't let me get over it. Because I already lost too much. I don't want to lose you too. After the things I said at the Vytyl Festival, I understand if I am not someone you want to be with."

Neptune steps away from Weiss as he looks away. But was stopped when Weiss hugs him from behind. "No, don't say that. I was hurt for when you tried to push me away. I did the same cause I was angry too, but I was also caught up with preserving my grandfather's legacy that I was about to lose anyone I love. But instead, I miss Beacon, I miss my friends. I miss you. And it hurts more."

Neptune felt his pain decreasing again. He felt satisfied to help Weiss get out of her own shadow. But he found himself stuck with his. He turned around to see Weiss in tears. Not of sorrow, but of joy to be with him. To finally reunite with the friends she missed.

He hugged back. Wanting to be in her life. They wanted to kiss each other. But they didn't. Instead, they take things slow for now. They agree not to tell everyone that they became an official couple. Not even to their families. So they enjoy the embrace for a few minutes.

-Anima-

Team RNJRSS and Tigress were sat around the campfire. After the confrontation with Tyrian, they settles. Sage is treating her wound. With a green remedy that can't remove the poison, but enough to hold it off until they get the medicine.

Tigress looked at Sage as if he were familiar to him. That same look when rhey encountered in Oniyuri. "You know, you're so much like your father. You've grown up." She said.

Sage looked at her, confused. Perhaps in his theory, she could be a relative of his. But that's the question for another day. Shoji laid her on the elder huntress' lap to comfort her. In return, Tigress gently strokes his head.

Sage applies the medicine on her abdomen. "Hold still." He told her. Tigress nodded. Ruby and Jaune came to her for some questions. "It can't remove the poison, but it should hold for a while until we get the medicine." Sage assured.

"Thank you... young man." Tigress said to him.

"So then earlier. You called me by my name. How did you know me?" Ruby asked, curious about the mysterious huntress wearing the mask of a tiger.

"There wasn't much I have to say. But what I can tell was that I knew your parents." Tigress reveals. Ruby gasped. The fact that she knew her parents.

"I knew Taiyang, and Summer. I was a huntress like your parents. I met you when you were an infant, Ruby. But I left that title a long time ago." Tigress told her the little of details as she could.

"If you were a huntress, why hiding yourself? And why was that assassin after Ruby?" Jaune asked. Not feeling he can trust the ex-huntress. In her eyes, Jaune felt like she was hiding something. "Who is Salem?"

Tigress sighs, now knowing she is not in a state to get away from the questions. Not sure if it can be better to reply. So she can tell who the enemy they are facing is.

"She is an entity. That many warriors faced years ago. She is also the cause of the Great War." Scarlet doesn't seemed bothered, thinking she was making things up. And that she might try to talk them out of it.

Nora and Ren looked at each other. Nora's hand was over his hand. It was no surprise that something big will happen. But those threats were worse.

Sage didn't seem bothered because he heard the name Salem before. He overheard his father talk about the name before when he was meeting with some friends.

"Have any of you children heard of the Brothers? The Deity siblings?" Tigress asked.

"Yes we heard the tale before. But for the record, we are not children." Scarlet huffed sharpening his sword with a rock after the overuse in combat.

"Pay attention. Cause they weren't just mere myths. But rather what you need to know." Tigress takes a deep breath, and continued with the story. "The Deity Brothers were gods. One of light and destruction , and the other is dark and creation. They are like yin and yang. Neither can exist without the other in the balance of light and dark. They are also the creators of the relics; choice, knowledge, creation and destruction."

"Pardon me, ma'am. But the relics were never found. You think this has something to do with Beacon crashing down?" Ren asked.

"In a way, yes. That woman, Cinder Fall. She is working for Salem. If you heard of the story of the Four Maidens, you must understand that what you didn't know that each of the huntsmen academies were built to guard the relics. The four maidens were one of the original gaurdians of Remnant. If any of them died, they must give power to the last person in their thoughts."

This brought back memories when Pyrrha revealed to Jaune that she was selected to become the Fall Maiden. It gave him the shivers thinking about it. How it made him feel guilty for trying to encourage Pyrrha for something very dangerous.

"Not long ago, Pyrrha was selected to become the Fall Maiden. But Cinder has the Fall Maiden powers. If someone receives the Maiden's powers, won't it effect their soul, or cost them their own selves?" Jaune asked. Worried the next girl will be the next Pyrrha. Deeming Ozpin responsible for Pyrrha's death as part of the reason she felt bound to honor.

"No, not exactly. However, the successor might receive the memories of the previous maidens before. Each of the maidens have been represent for the four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall."

"What would you do if that was your daughter being forced to be the Seasonal Maiden?" Jaune asked Tigress. The others looked at him with concern.

"Jaune?" Asked Ruby, not wanting to let the stress get to her best friend. Cause that's what he considered him to be.

"Young man. I do not know what you're implying..." Tigress tried to speak. But Jaune interjects. The feeling of those decisions made for Pyrrha had felt like a sting of pain since he thought she was forced to take those powers. It was all because of thebfeelings of regret.

"Qrow, Ozpin, Ironwood. They were all in on this when they selected Pyrrha to be the Fall Maiden. You weren't there, I saw the fear in her eyes. And because she felt like she didn't have a choice, she got killed because of it." Jaune snarled.

"You think she's the only one who been through it before. I cannot say I completely understand you. But I know this feeling before. Being in a position you didn't want, but took it when there is no other way. I have been through it before." She interjects. Causing the group to be silent.

"I don't have any similarities to anyone. But I was never given any choices before. I was raised to become a witch's apprentice. I was abandoned as a child. I remembered wanting a purpose. But it cost me almost everything when some others pulled me from the dark side. These friends of mine became dear to me. But I almost forgot I used to... work with Salem."

Jaune squnited his eyes and looked away. But he kept listening. Ruby went wide-eyed, feeling the revelation was too big for her.

"What about Salem? Why working with her?" Ruby asked.

"Salem is no human, nor grimm. But rather both. She is the ruler of all the Grimm, and controls them to her own will. Your uncle Qrow and I had been investigating for a while. She was the one who planned Beacon's downfall. A dark sorceress that Ozpin attempt to defeat time and again. But failed. Like I said, I knew of this because I used to work with her. When I was wandering in the desserts of Vacuo, Salem found me. Though I hated her ways, I thought it was better than to be stuck at an orphanage. I was taught the dark arts of magic. As her apprentice, I was grateful. But as time went on, I fell in love with the outside world when I entered Shade Academy. And then Beacon. I couldn't bring myself to betray my friends. But now, I don't have anything else, since then I never saw my former master again. But then..."

Tigress experienced flashbacks when Summer died in cold blood. A tear was dropped from her right eye. "I lost my will to fight when a friend got sacrificed by Salem. That's when I knew I cannot be close to anyone ever again." Tigress explained.

"Ruby, the real reason Tyrian is after you, was because Salem wants you. She has been hunting down Silver-eyed warriors like your mother."

"Is this another reason Salem is hunting us?" Ruby asked. Seeing her own eyes at the reflection of herself from the puddle. Then she sees her mother through the reflection.

"Those eyes... is what Salem feared. The Grimm feared it because they are light. The means of destruction. In ancient times, the lineage of silver eyes became the very thing to bring hope to Remnant. The first silver-eyed warrior was cursed by the god of light aft he experienced fear itself." Tigress explains the legend. "Ruby, your eyes are very special. But it seems you have yet to use them at will. I know another huntress who has those and she can teach you." Tigress explains.

Ruby was about to consider the opportunity to experience her power that she cannot use yet. But Jaune wasn't happy to hear it.

"Hold on a second, Ruby, we can't trust her." Jaune interjects placing a hand on her shoulder. Losing Pyrrha was bad enough. But losing the rest of his friends would be worse.

Ren intervenes by speaking out. Being a peacekeeper to Team JNPR. "Hold on a minute, Jaune. Let's hear her out." Jaune had no choice but to agree, since she can be one of those key figures to the mysteries around them.

Ruby understood the fact that Tigress only made a mistake on siding with her former master. After all, she was abandoned. If she can be redeemed, maybe she can try to help those who are lost.

"Get some rest. We need to keep moving tomorrow." Tigress told them. Nora didn't argue cause she is tired. Ren volunteered to be on watch. Jaune felt dull as he was shaken by the events. Ruby took a quick glance and has to walk Jaune anywhere before rest.

"Come on, Jaune. Let's just take a walk to keep your mind cleared up." Ruby pulled Jaune from the campfire to help clear his mind. But none of it will make him feel better. Scarlet then fills his gun with dust to prepare for the next day.

Sage feeds his wolf as a reward for helping out with the journey.

"So, why help us now?" Asked Sage.

Tigress look into his eyes. Trying not to give any true detail. Sage can read her expression that there is much she cannot say. "Alright, I understand." Sage replied.

"Quite the reader." Tigress said.

"That's impossible. Magic can't be real. It was nothing but tricks and special effects." Scarlet rebuffed. Not believing the thkng about magic. He puts another wood log into the fire to keep warm.

"You'd never know, young man." Tigress continued. "But be aware for what might be ahead next." She finishes.

Author's note: Sai (as Tigress) meets her son, Sage, for the first time in 19 years after his birth. Since she can't be around him due to Salem.

Neptune reveals to Weiss that his father changed his original surname — Vasilias — to Sky, and does the same with his children to keep them safe from enemies.

Unfortunately, Ceres changed back to her original surname to show that she is no stanger to helping others.

Also another chapter of RWBY Volume 1 Redux will come that might show the rest of the story before Volume 4 Redux. Enjoy.