Ambush

-Mistral-

Weiss and Neptune got out to search for Winter again. There were crowds wandering around the city. Mostly out for shopping, or seeing the performing arts. Amazing as the city is, it still didn't make it safe for them to let their guard down.

Neptune now wears a new outfit. A red Camouflage vest, with a black sweater under. And cargo pants with some patches, and his short leather boots.

To not show her face, Weiss once again put on her cloak again (with a hood over her head), and would look away from the crowd to not let anyone see her face, or Neptune helping blocking their way if they get too close to see her face to recognize her.

"That was close." Neptune said as he stood next to Weiss after a spy spotted the two. But the blue-haired boy managed to convince him that they had mistaken them for someone else. And to not cause a scene, the spy had no choice but to leave.

"A few more seconds, we would be goners." Weiss adds. Now, growing the sense of protection for one another, Weiss and Neptune held hands to ensure each other that they would be okay. But know that what happens next will never be.

"Last thing we needed was them figuring out about where we are." Neptune said. Then he looks at Weiss when he was thinking on how to locate Winter.

"Weiss, can I borrow your scroll for a bit?" Neptune asked. Weiss is confused for why. Until Neptune reasoned with her. "I think I can use it to trace your sister's last contact from earlier. This way, we can locate her." He suggested.

Rather to see her elder sister safe, Weiss nods and gives her scroll to him. "That can work. Do what you can." She told him. But then Weiss sees the dress she is wearing. She realized that she is now in Mistral, and didn't feel comfortable in the dress due to the strict upbringing.

"I think there is something I have to do first."

Weiss and Neptune stopped at the same clothing store they hid in from the Black Vipers. There, Neptune waits for Weiss as she chooses an outfit. She is in the fitting booth, trying on the clothes of her choosing.

"So, Weiss. What kind of outfit you want to wear for this?" Asked Neptune.

"Something that matches for this weather. To me, the clothes I wore can be prickly." Weiss replied to him.

"Babe, I know you look good in any outfit." Neptune smiled, saying that. But then realized what he just called her and blushed. "Uh, sorry. That just slipped!" Neptune apologized. Then, he slammed his own forehead. "Stupid!" He scolds himself quietly.

Weiss sighs. But smiled at the thought of Neptune's awkwardness coming back to him. While he seemed to mature, he will still be the silly boy that tried too hard to be cool. At least to her. And those thoughts caused her to giggle quietly. Weiss looks into the mirror and sees her usual hairstyle. "Hmm?" As her thoughts ran, she undos the right ponytail.

"You're just...too adorable." Weiss said in response to that flirty interaction. As Neptune checked his scroll for any calls. Weiss called out. "Okay, I'm ready!" She comes out of the fitting booth. And Neptune was stunned to see her new change of outfit.

Weiss now wears a baby-blue top, with a dark-gray, sleeveless cardigan sweater. Beige flare jeans. Along with the silver waist belt. And her hair now loose, long, but also with low curls. She still wears heels, but only they're short wedges.

Neptune was at a loss for words. Seeing her in the outfit. And how thriving she looks outside of Atlas. And the way she feels better about herself, he saw how Weiss became more beautiful than before. But he tried his best to keep cool for his girlfriend. The oufit seems to be the mix of regularity and style. But to Weiss, it seems right for her.

"You look...amazing." Neptune said in awe. Weiss smiled with her cheeks turned red. She approaches him, and places her finger to his lips. Now is it she who makes his heart melt. Next, Weiss kissed him on the cheek.

"You flattered me a lot." She said gently before heading to the counter to pay for the outfit. Neptune chuckled nervously. "Hi, I'm here to..." But Neptune speeds up to pay for her. "I'll pay for it!" He said.

-Kuroyuri-

Qrow, Saturn, and Tamaku arrived at the destroyed town of Kuroyuri. The place where the death of their friend, Li Ren, and his wife An took place.Saturn can not bear to look at this place. It reminded him of the death of his best friend, Li, who is also his brother-in-arms.

"I remembered this was a peaceful town. Where we used to take our kids to have their playdates." Tamaku said, seeing the dread of the ruins. Neither men ever thought of coming back to this place. It was a reminder of their failure to save their friend.

Then Tamaku remembers that before Sage was born, he and Sai were enamored with this town. How they would want to raise a family there. And the cherry blossom tree used to bloom in a beautiful presence.

It was pink, the tranquility of the color. Whether it's Winter or Fall, the tree never wilters. Until the Grimm massacre happened. That night, it never bloomed again.

The tree was said to bloom when love is in the presence. That's where Tamaku and Sai used to sit in front of to watch the pedals rain. "Before Li was gone, Sai and I used to talk about moving there. But it was cut short when the Grimm showed up." He recapped."I was supposed to be the leader. But one of my own teammates was killed. Had I known, maybe Li and An would've been alive."

-Kuroyuri, 20 Years Ago-

"Over there." Sai pointed her finger at a small empty house. Tamaku stands next to her, looking at the house. Unsure on how to put it. But if that's what she wants, he will be more than happy to give it to her."You sure? I don't mind buying us a big house." Tamaku assured her. But Sai insisted.

"Well, it's enough for me. For us to build a family. We can invite your father to live with us as well." Sai said. "Plus, it has a balcony on top. Where we can see the sky." She then came closer to her husband as she held his hand.

"Well, if it's enough for you..." Tamaku turned to her and held both her hands as they smiled at each other. Feeling happy to chose a house to live in. "Then it's enough for me." He agrees.Later, Tamaku and Sai joined their friends at Li's house, after he invited them for dinner. Though they graduated from Beacon and Haven, they all kept in touch with Taiyang, Summer, Saturn, Raven, Qrow, and Mai. Along with them at dinner night was Li's wife — An. And also Saturn's wife — Lydia and their 5-year-old son, Pluto. The huntsmen and huntresses friend group were 24 at the time. There was laughter, joy, and joking around. Qrow was still in his drinking habits he had trouble getting over. But Taiyang and Raven made sure he drinks less to not him make a mess. Summer looked dismayed seeing Taiyang and Raven getting close since they got married at the time. Sai noticed this and came to Summer. "Still into him?" She asked. Summer filder her arms. She never said a word and would tell Tai and Raven that she is happy for them since their wedding. "Well, it's nothing personal. I'm just happy Tai is happy." She tried to let go, at least for her friends' sakes. Sai sighs as she shakes her head. "Summer, just admit you're not happy about this."

"Aw!" Summer groaned when Sai could read her like a book. Her face blushed, she still loves Taiyang. But she kept quiet. "Just look at him. He adored Raven cause she is full of ambition and raw strength. Me? I'm just a leader who cannot say anything to him. They're my friends, so why not be happy for them?" Summer laughed, but not for the better.

She looked at Taiyang and Raven. But when Tai glanced at Summer, she jerked her head away and put her white hood over her head. She hoped to get over her feelings and focus as a huntress. But it was hard when close to Taiyang. "You're the leader, Summer. You can't keep quiet forever. Raven, on the other hand. She may be strong, but not emotionally. I'm surprised you still put up with her even with her grumpy behavior." Sai said, crossing her arms.

"Hey, she isn't bright, but she's not evil either. Raven is resourceful. All she does is act like a team player. I still don't see what else Taiyang sees in her, but I'm sure there is one reason he loves her. Regardless, them and Qrow, they are my friends. We fight, we laugh, and we thrive till the ends of Remnant."

"I was only a one-person army. To be fair, I never play nice in Shade Academy." Sai recalled being the most angriest student in Shade Academy. Getting into fights when one of the students insulted her. Another time, she would rant about how terrible the real world was when she had bad days. Sitting alone in the cafeteria. Due to abandonment issues by her biological parents, Sai feared the same thing over the years. Not getting close to everyone.

"Oh, come on. You already got Taku. You have no idea how lovey-dovey he was that he gives you ice cream every time on Saturdays." Summer giggled. She remembers how much Tamaku would glance at Sai."Please, he just can't seem to leave me alone. Even though he heard of what I was like in Shade. To be fair, I never had any experience with men. But when Taku and I became official. I knew he is my first and last love. And I wouldn't change it."

Sai sees her necklace that Tamaku had given her. It was the emblem of a Phoenix. Smiling at the golden chained jewel that he crafted for her. Her face lit with a smile as it sprakled at the moonlight. As his declaration of love.

Tamaku was talking to Li, but he caught Sai's glance. He smiled as if he had never seen his wife glow up with a grin. She is the sun to his moon.

"See, that face you just made when you're not listening to anyone else." Summer broke Sai's trance looking at Tamaku. Her laughter can be heard, but quietly.

"Summer, maybe Taiyang may not realize this. But even if he won't love you back, you can't hold those feelings forever. All you have to do is fight your battles to fight for your worth. But to me, I think Taiyang knows your worth, but he just doesn't see it yet." Sai rejoins her husband to have dinner with him.

Summer watches her leave the spot, then glanced back at Taiyang, who was enjoying his time with Raven. How she wished it was her next to him. But she didn't want to ruin his happiness. Summer cannot help but watch his devotion to Raven. How he adores her. Raven seems different around Taiyang. Although back in Beacon, she wasn't interested in him at first. But it seems their connection grew overtime.

-Ha Lao, 6 years later-

A funeral was held at the Temple of Ren. 4 years after Summer's death, Li and his wife An were killed in a Grimm attack in Kuroyuri. Taiayng, Qrow, Tamaku, Mai, her husband Choi, Mi, Saturn and the children were attending the funeral. But Yang and Ruby were left at their grandmother's house, due to Taiyang not wanting his daughters to experience loss again after the death of Summer.

Though Li left the clan on his own accord, Mai decided to give Li and An a traditional funeral as any member of the Ren Family would do. Their surviving son, Lie Ren did his best not to cry. But his tears threatened to run down his face. Nora, taken in by the family, came to Ren to comfort him.

Mai came to her nephew's side to give a speech. "My own brother would've been the head of the Ren Clan had he not leave. But tonight, he showed me that instead, we have to write our own story. Even if my father is traditional bound to honor. I know he would smile to see Li fighting for what he wants. When it comes to An, the woman who opens his heart, and helps him find the peace in our battles. He is a brother, a son, a father, a husband, a friend, and a warrior. And as his sister, I want to say that I am proud to have him as my brother." Mai gave a speech, fighting back tears. Now that she is the head of the clan.

Li and An's tombstones were buried next to Li and Mai's father, Liu Ren, the previous head of the clan. And Liu's wife Mi Ren I.

-Kuroyuri, 23 years ago-

Saturn and Li were playing chess. As young students. Saturn tries to make the first move nove with a knight pawn. Li thought is a strategy. Moving his first knight towards Saturn's knight piece. "So let me ask you this? Is a war something worth fighting?" Saturn asked. "Is winning even worth it?" He moved the next piece towards the front. Li picks up a rook and moved it to the side.

"Do you even believe in winning a war?" Li asked. Unsure, Saturn would hear everything about war and battlefields as a child. Thinking back to the times when his siblings, including himself, were put into rigorous training against each other. He can remember the cuts and bruises he had himself. And his brothers and sisters suffered by those wounds. They had no doctor to rely on. No medical help.

"No." Saturn said as he moved a rook in front of Li's knight piece and removes it. "To me, Father thinks it's a chess game where we obliterate our enemies." In Li's turn, he moved the horse piece and took out the knight as well.

"War isn't something it can be won. Rather it is the determination of fate itself." Li said. "However, more we fight for what we believed in, more it has to be realized once our eyes opened. If you had to fight in it, what is it that you believed in?" Asked Li.

Saturn stopped to put the game on hold. Holding his own chin with his finger. "Just peace. Where families can thrive, no evils rising, where life can be celebrated. No violence, or any fear. However, I know that not every battle can be won. The least I want to do was just be with friends and family. A family that I want to have with Lydia. I don't believe in winning, just fighting for what you want in life. And fighting for whatever it is right."

Saturn then takes the king piece from Li. Winning the game. Li smiles, knowing his best friend and brother-in-arms would come up with an answer like this. Speaking from the heart. Li leaned back to his seat and holded his arms. "There you go, that's your answer." Li replied.

-Anima, Present-

Winter is scouting in the forest to see fire dusts being mined by the Black Vipers guarding the cargo ship.

"Hawk squad is in position. We await your order." A falcon faunus Atlesian solder, who is in the same ranks told Winter, awaiting her commands.

Winter looks at her comrade with a serious look. "For now, take the skies. Check for any ground control from above, Lifray." The soldier, now called Lifray, nodded to her and sneaks around the ground to find a safe spot to fly from the ground.As soon as Lifray found an empty spot where no one was around, he gets into a stance and spreads his falcon wings. And flies upward to keep watch from the air for any enemy fire.Unbeknownst to them, Weiss and Neptune were in the opposite direction. Neither the Vipers and Winter's team faction noticed their presence.

"I think we're a bit closer. Winter should be around the area." Neptune said. Weiss is delighted that she will see her sister again. After buying a new outfit, Weiss still keeps the cloak to not be identified by facial features.

But she hides her smile while still following the trail. She spoke to her boyfriend. "You should consider becoming a detective, Neptune." Weiss adds, acknowledging his investigating skills. Neptune turned away with a smile and hint of red shade in his face.

"Y-yeah. Well, that's a career I planned to have if I can't be a huntsmen. What about you? Is there anything you want to have for a career, even as a huntress?"

"Well, there is one, or two if that counts. Now that you mentioned it, maybe I can start a new business that..." Then a sound was heard. Weiss and Neptune turned to see a cargo vehicle far from the bushes and trees. And a cart of dusts. "Get down." Weiss whispered, pulling Neptune to the bushes to remain hidden from sight."

Check it out, it looks like they are collecting dusts." Weiss said. Neptune uses his scroll to record anything that might give any leads.

Winter waits for the right moment to prevent the dust cargo from being deleivered. She didn't notice that Weiss and Neptune are nearby.

Winter then sees through her binoculars. Waiting patiently for the movement from the Vipers to begin.

Weiss and Neptune were too late to catch up. "Looks like there is a chase going on." Said Weiss. "All those dusts meant something is gonna happen. But what?" Weiss inquires.

Then one of the White Fang members started the engine of the cargo vehicle and drive away. Then the Vipers got onto their hoverbikes to follow them.

Winter sought this chance as she put away her binoculars and rolled the pedals on her hoverbike along with 3 more soldiers behind her. They all gave chase after the cargo and the Vipers.Winter gave her team a hand command to follow her. They all drive their hoverbikes out of the shadows under the trees to pursue the Black Vipers' cargo.

Weiss and Neptune were too late to catch up. "Looks like there is a chase going on." Said Weiss. "All those dusts meant something is gonna happen. But what?" Weiss inquires.

"And it looks like Winter was there too." Weiss and Neptune tried to find any vehicles left to use to catch up, but to no avail as they were already taken.

Unbeknownst to them, Ilia spotted Weiss and Neptune on sight. Seeking through binoculars and zooming the lenses onto the two. She felt the urge to strike at them. But need the right moment to. As doing so now, would lead to their escape.

Ilia then dialed her fellow White Fang members through her scroll. "Not yet, we'll have to wait until tonight. That's when we start the ambush. The trap is set in motion. Focus on capturing Winter Schnee for now."

Lifray was flying through the skies seeing from above. As predicted, the chase goes on as he sees the Black Vipers on their vehicles. With Winter and her team behind the enemy party. "Commander Schnee, target sighted!" Lifray contacted Winter. "Very good, soldier. Keep following them while you can." Winter replied back with her comm.

Author's note: Sorry for the short chapter again. Here we get a perspective of Li and Saturn's friendship prior to their days as official huntsmen of what a battle was supposed to be. Saturn confides in Li of his reluctance to fight, and Li gives his perspective of what becoming a huntsman means and fighting in the battlefield means.

To be honest. When I rewrite Weiss and Neptune's relationship, it reminded me of the relationship between Kid Flash (Wally West) and Tigress (Artemis) from the Young Justice series. And it was one of the things I might have to add in tbe Volume 1 Redux, which is what I am doing too.

Also, we get a perspective from Summer's point of view of her romantic feelings for Taiyang. And how she feels after he married Raven. And Sai giving her advise on how to tell Taiyang her feelings.