RWBY: Bonds Between Hearts
Chapter 47: Pulling the String of the Bow
WARNING: I own none of these characters sides from my OC(s). All rights go to their respective owners and properties.
This is nothing more than, well a fanfic, a story made up by a fan for entertainment and knowledge.
Everything in this fic is not canon and is only meant to give the audience a new idea of the works of each of the franchises in this story.
So please support me, my work and have some fun. Now enjoy the story. ^w^
Seven and half days.
That was how long it has been since leaving them. To recover. To reflect. To embrace. To broaden the mind into countless possibilities that her mind had created many theories and ideas throughout the work and self-reflection.
The Semblance had evolved to a broader spectrum. A theory in the mind had dwelled further into that matter thus leading to possibilities other humans can evolve their Semblances. Ruby Rose's Semblance was an example of evolution.
The machines that were reformed Guardians saluted to the hooded figure who strided across the hall. The fingers of the individual brushed against the wall, finding solace in the surroundings that became a new home. Cried. Overjoyed. Dreamt of the good memories instead of the bad. Wings of liberty from that bastard snake's clutches.
Alas that didn't mean it was over. Salem and her followers are still at large. The remnants of the Blood Tribe linger in the planet and vowed to ensure all Bloods are to be eliminated. Except one who was a former hybrid.
Lowering the limb, the hand brushed across the flowers of the garden, smiling beneath the hood.
"… Seven days hasn't it been?" The voice revealed a female underneath the hood.
"It has." A male voice responded. "Do you think it has been long enough?"
"That it is…" The young woman brushed a flower delicately. "So much has changed for me in such a short time…"
"Perhaps… is it good?"
"… Yes. It is." She plucked a flower, brushing her fingers against it, feeling its faint radiant glow beneath the cloudy sky. "And now it is best to fulfill my promise to them."
"Shall I prepare myself for your flight, my queen?"
The hooded individual's lips curled and nodded. "Yes, please do. One week has been enough as I promised them. Especially to my sworn brother."
XXX
Cody lost count how many days it has been since Evol has been permanently out of his life. He originally wondered if he would wake up and think of it as a dream but instead it was real. His first morning waking up with no worry of Evol. He would have cried but that was yesterday. True freedom from Faust. It's still hard to grasp that after so long this was his newfound freedom.
But it also costed him all of his power. Sure, he still has his magic and Semblance, along with his reflexes from his times fighting. But the bigger boost as a Kamen Rider was now gone from him. If he wants to truly help Yang and the others against Salem and possibly any Blood Tribe that remained as his sister warned, he will need that power again. Hopefully Lily will figure something out for him.
"Well, let's see how everyone else is doing today?" Cody muttered, turning to his little partner as the robot dragon flew onto his shoulder with a nod.
Exiting the room, Cody explored the base for a bit before striding to the research lab. He saw Pietro adjusting his glasses while staring at the machine Lily left behind that created the rupture in reality. Yeah many of the researchers were still astonished that Lily's intelligence had shown to light upon the astronomical discovery. Far as Cody knew Lily was extremely smart than he realized. Then again this was coming from a girl who made little robots that spew tar when she was little.
Let alone, leaving it here to be studied. Given how Lily was always protective with her technology. But maybe that also showed how much she's changed as well as trusts in Pietro for it.
But her warning went as follows 'it is never to be studied to create weapons otherwise kiss the trust goodbye'. But given how Pietro is? He doesn't have to worry about the doctor breaking his word. He made Penny after all, not to be a weapon but as his daughter and family.
"Pietro." Cody called out to the scientist with a smile.
"Ah Cody! Didn't see you there." The man laugh heartily.
"Just wanted to check up on you and Penny." He smiled as he walked over to his guardian with a gentle pat to the shoulder. "Still gawking over the machine?"
"How could any respectable scientist not be?" Pietro chuckled softly, "This could change so much for the support and advancement for Remnant! Of course I have to study is, since so far I'm the only one allowed to."
"Lily did make sure nobody else would touch it. Especially for Atlas." Cody reminded. "Well, other than you of course."
"And for once, I agree. As much as I want to protect and help people. Too many could be succumbed to their own ambitions and greed… I rather use this to give us the era of peace we all desperately desire for. And if you can get your freedom? So can we." Pietro pointed out with a smile.
"Ain't that the truth…" Cody nodded, before looking at his hand.
"Still miss being 'Cross-Z'?"
"It always was apart of me the moment I took up that belt… It is apart of me… I can't let it go just yet…" he rubbed his arm. "It's still hard to believe Evol is finally gone from my life…"
"When it comes to such trauma. It can feel like such a surreal experience that nothing seems real… But it'll fade eventually and you'll be able to see your life with much brighter eyes." Pietro smiled, patting the young experiment's side. "Now. As for Penny, she is on a mission currently. Just the usual Mantle business."
"I'm just glad she's still herself." Cody smiled somberly. "I just didn't expect that she could be rebuilt again since well… her soul and all that."
"You truly do see her not just as a person but a sister…" Pietro said as he looked up at the boy.
"Yeah, because a having a soul doesn't matter who or what you're made from. Just what you do with your life. That's what defines you."
Pietro smiled but alarms suddenly rang throughout the base. The soldiers are seen jogging across the hall, making the blonde peer from the lab. "What's going on?" Cody wondered.
"Our scanners picked up an intruder entering Atlas airspace. And its getting here fast." One soldier spoke up.
Cody frowned slightly before he decided to follow. Though he wasn't the only one as his friends caught up. "You guys heard too?"
"Yeah, whatever it is isn't good if it's moving extremely fast." Weiss crossed her arms.
"Yeah and-" Cody noticed Cross bouncing in joy. The little dragon immediately flew away. The only time he saw Cross like that was… "She must be on her way!"
"Are you sure?" Blake asked.
"Who else would Cross feel overjoyed about? He must be responding to her mechabeast."
"Then let's hurry!" Blake said with just as much excitement before she took off after the robot dragon.
"Lily must've brought catnip with her." Yang teased.
"I heard that!"
"Come on then, lets go greet her." Cody said to the others with a smile.
XXX
After clearing things up and having to convince the general to hear them out, they all cleared a landing path and waited. They stared at the sky until Cross returned to Cody. It elicit a roar in which a much louder version responded back. Flying fast was a familiar machine.
"That's Lily's mechadragon, Technosis!" Cody recognized.
"Deactivate the weapons!" Ironwood ordered.
Everyone watched as the massive silver and blue beast landed on its bipedal legs before crouching and using its left wing as a ramp.
It was nothing at first but everyone gasped upon who they saw. Elegantly stepping down was a figure dressed in a special attire.
The figure was wearing a hood over her head but it didn't conceal the noticeable moonlight white hair. Her bangs however no longer covered her left eye. There laid a noticeable black cloth around her eyes. Several locks of her hair framed her face as it rest just below her collarbone.
Her torso was adorned in a unique black gothic top with the shoulders having cloth that pointed outward, the collar of the dress hiding her neck. The collar itself is wrapped with a thin white belt. A small silver symbol of the three swords connected to half a chakram etched just above the bust area of the top itself.
The sleeves of the top were tucked into a pair of larger sleeves with the cuffs leaving a large opening but it didn't hide the black gloves she wore. Thin white plating rest on top of the large sleeves, tied with black ribbons.
Around the waist was a white belt with a piece of blue cloth fluttering on the left belt loop. Her skirt was short on the front but the back gracefully reached down just below the back of her knees.
Black stockings hugged her legs lovingly while thigh-high heeled boots reached up to her thighs.
Her heeled boots pressed against the metal flooring of the landing pad. It was silent before Team RWBY and JNR approached.
"Sis…?"
Surprisingly, the girl turned her head to the left where he stood. "Hello, Cody." The teen staggered. The Saint tilted her head, "Something wrong?"
"Y-You can see where I am?"
"I can."
Nora waved her hand over the blindfold until Vernage stopped her wrist. "Nora, enough of that."
"Woah!" Nora jumped back. "How do you do that?!"
Vernage paused and took a deep breath. She lowered her hood, revealing she had changed her hairstyle. Her wild hair was combed more neatly, giving a more refined appearance to her new look. A black ribbon rests on the back of her head, parting her moonlight white hair in two midway.
"Mayhap I should show you."
She reached up to her blindfold and lowered it, allowing them all to see the state of her eyes. Blake covered her mouth as did Ruby. The emerald eyes were now pale white but there laid a faint green glow beneath it. The scars that ran across her eyes showed the damage had been done.
Vernage raised the blindfold to them. "As you all remember, Evol blinded me in our final confrontation. With Evol's rewritten Blood Technology under my control upon the Replacement, and my Semblance of Technomancy, I invented fireproof, synthetic fabric that holds lightning-proof nanoscopic machines which painlessly connect to my nerves upon wearing it. In a sense, it is my own way of seeing the world around me. It wasn't easy due to the countless test runs I made from scratch," she explained. "I can mentally command the blindfold to activate and deactivate. To see and not see. Without it I am blind as a bat. Though the only thing I would be able to 'see' is those with magic. Much like Cody and Ozpin."
"Well, it is good to see you again Lily." Ironwood's greeted.
"You sure have changed." Qrow noticed.
"My time of self-reflection made me realize change was needed." She looked at her outfit, smiling. "To honor mother and Arthur."
"It's still good to see you again…" Blake smiled happily, soon walking up to Lily and embraced the saint in a loving hug.
"Same here, Blake. Now, I believe my creation must proceed."
"Uh no offense Vernage but your pet is well… huge." Qrow informed.
"Oh dear me, perhaps I should apply my Semblance again."
"Again?" Weiss repeated.
Lily stepped to her creation and rested a hand on the dragon. Data erupted around the machine and they witnessed it shrink, revealing a young figure.
His matted down short hair was a shining silver whereas his eyes were a brilliant blue color. His skin was as pale as Weiss.
He wore a metallic silver short-sleeved yet hooded crop jacket. A black shirt clung onto his torso with the pendant shaped as a dragon with golden horns rested on his collarbone. Hugging his legs was baggy metallic silver legwear held golden markings. His shoes were like boots but reached above the ankles as the rims were silver.
"HAAA?!" Everyone exclaimed in astonishment upon seeing Technosis become an android via shift.
"My queen sought to ensure I have my own freedom instead of returning to her data rift that is her Technomancy Semblance." The young man bowed politely. "I hope we can get along as friends."
Ruby's eyes widen as she knew this voice… This was… Cyclops's voice. The young huntress soon walked over to the changed machine before hugging it. "Y-You're back…" she said softly to it.
"Pardon?" Technosis blinked. "Have we met before?"
Ruby looked up, stunned, "You.. don't remember me? What you said to me…?"
"Remember what the Emergency protocol was." Lily reminded softly.
"Then… he is gone…" Ruby said sadly, letting go of Technosis as her head hanged low.
"So Lily. Um.. I don't wanna seem like I'm rushing or being impatient. But did you find a way for me to regain my rider powers?" Cody asked her, hoping she did.
"Ah that…" She reached into her sleeve and procured a vial of a dark violet liquid.
"That looks like Grape Juice…" Weiss pointed out.
"Three days ago, when exploring Eden, I came across this substance. I assumed it was contaminated water but it wasn't. This… was something unexpected to appear after the Replacement." She raised it slightly. "This is a liquified Nebula."
"Liquid Nebula?" Cody questioned.
"I call it Phantom Liquid."
"Oh! Oh! I want a sip!" Nora proclaimed with excitement.
She was karate chopped by Technosis. "You will do no such thing unless you wish to become a Smash." He admonished.
"Aw poo! I wanted to get super strong too." Nora pouted with her arms crossed.
"I have already sent other Guardians to investigate other areas because I cannot risk contamination or people becoming Smash." Lily explained. "After several simulations of dwelling into its contents… the risks are high but… not if you previously inhaled its vapor." She popped the cap open. "So! Shall we test it, Cody?"
The young rider smiled as he took the vial and started to chug it down like it was a can of soda until the last drop. "Hmm… it does taste like Grape Soda… Just flat." He commented.
"Nothing?" Yang guessed.
Lily gripped Cody's cheek, her blindfolded eyes staring into his eyes and saw the faint hue that indicated the Hazard. "Technosis."
"Scans indicated his hazard level is at its previous peak once more." Technosis revealed.
Cody gasped before he was hugged by Yang, "Ey, congrats on becoming a Kamen Rider once more!" She giggled, happy for her boyfriend.
"Thank Lily… Otherwise I'd feel left out on all of the fun you'd have." Cody chuckled and hugged the brawler back.
"There is one problem."
"What?" Suddenly the air churned as Lily's smile became grew into a smile that he knew too well. "Oh crap."
"Training is needed for your body to readjust to its previous state." Her blindfolded eyes moved. "I want to include Weiss and Ruby alongside Clover. Four against one. Oh! And with Pietro's and Ironwood's permission, for Penny to battle Technosis."
"HAAAAAA?! But I don't need it! I've kept up with my daily training with the Ace Ops!"
"Are you talking back to your dear sister?"
Cody remained silent only for him to shot his flames out as boosters as he attempted to run away from Lily. But Cody noticed he barely moved. Looking at his collar was a large hovering claw.
"I might need to include punishment for you afterwards." Lily decided.
"Blake! Someone! Please tell Lily that this isn't necessary!" Cody pleaded to the others, comically tearing up as he thought the nightmare was over!
They all whistled innocently, looking in other directions and not at him.
"Traitors! Every single one of you!" He cried out comically.
XXX
Training was as follows - a four versus one fight.
Lily remained standing in the center of the training field, the blindfold dangling in her hand. Surrounding her was Weiss, Cody, Ruby, and Clover. Summons, Rider/fire, speed/silver eyes, and luck. The rules were to force her to yield even after she loses Aura.
Their friends and comrades watched from the viewing glass.
"Who do you think will win?" Oscar asked.
"Are you really asking that when it's so obvious?" Blake pointed out to the farmer. "It has to be Lily due to her Semblance and magic. She is a walking armory after all."
"But… has she even had any real practice with this new condition?" Yang pointed out. "Sure, she has a way to somewhat see things.. But has she fought with it after against Evol? Maybe this is more of a test for herself than actually training Cody again."
"We just have to watch and find out."
Lily stared as she slowly blindfolded her eyes after flipping the hood over her head, feeling the minor change in her vision. Her brain registered the information before seeing her surroundings. She waved her hands, allowing two claws to form and grab Virtuous Steel and Lionheart, whereas she created two swords that look capable of becoming a firearm. She crossed her blades whereas the hands spread the blades apart like wings. "I won't rely on Saint Rogue armor in this fight."
"Well at least we get one handicap." Weiss sighed.
"We're doomed… doomed to be thrashed by her!" Cody wept out.
"You honestly think that we will lose, Cody? We just have to remove her blindfold." Ruby stated.
"And then… then she'll make me do more training! I don't want that!" Cody cried out, showing he was freaking out having to fight against Lily again.
Weiss rolled her eyes and slapped him. "Get a hold of yourself you dolt!"
"AHH! I'M BEING ATTACKED!"
They looked at Yang who gave a sheepish smile then at Cody. "You wanted to transform right? Then act like it, Cody!" She yelled. Cody soon flinched, snapping out of his stupor and freak out as he looked to Yang. "Do good and tomorrow on my day off, we'll have a date!"
Cody stood still for a moment before smiling with a nod as he turned back before strapping on the Sclash Driver, surprisingly. "Well that worked…" Weiss groaned out.
TSUBURERU!
NAGARERU!
AFUREDERU!
Soon, the armor formed after the beaker solidified his armor.
DRAGON IN CROSS-Z CHARGE! BURAAA!
"Yosha! Let's win this fight!" Cody said, enthusiastic to fight now.
"… Begin." Ruby was the first to act, soaring across the air and down towards Lily. The saint telepathically commanded the metal claw and raised Lionheart, allowing her scythe to clash. Her vision saw Weiss cast a glyph for Cody who was speeding towards her. Clover immediately moved clockwise and threw his line.
The katana met Cody's melee weapon but saw the line coil her sword in her real left hand. She grunted and forged a third short sword and clipped the line before spinning like a sharp top, sending the three teens away.
Luck was seen as a significant obstacle but one that can be handled. She bent down slightly and whispered an inaudible word before dashing towards the leader of Ace Ops.
"Ruby!" Weiss called.
The red cloaked girl nodded and fired her entire magazine. First two were blocked but just as the last three inched close, the bullets impaled her… but what they got was unexpected. She became data.
"Wha-What?"
"Wait there she is!" Cross pointed as Lily ran behind a block.
"No, there!" Weiss pointed.
"Did she make clones of herself?!" Ruby gawked.
"Hardlight clones." Ruby turned around but gagged to the kick that sent her to Clover. "Mere copies that can only fight with no Semblance or magic but as real as any person of yours truly for a short time. The wonders of technomancy"
They saw one sitting on a block, wiggling her fingers while the katana was over her shoulder. The second held Lionheart with a firm stance. The third held two swords, the very one who kicked Ruby. "What is real and what isn't? Is it an illusion? Or a reality?" They asked in unison.
"Any plans on this one?" Ruby looked to her teammates for assistance.
"Their fighting skills are equal so revealing the real thing is troublesome. But if a good blow is made then we cut down another obstacle." Clover advised. "Cody think you can handle the one with the katana?"
"With pleasure."
"Ruby, Weiss handle the one with the two swords. I'll handle the one with that large sword."
"R-Roger!" Ruby saluted. Following his suggestion the four went for their chosen target.
"How versatile did Lily become during her stay in Edem?" Jaune uttered.
"More than enough that she most likely can take on the entire world and still win…" Qrow noted. "She really did embrace what Vernage wanted her to be."
Her Semblance evolved to create and recreate the technology in her own two hands. Far as he knew, she could use an open mass of land to create her own home. With the gifts Vernage passed down to her, her high intelligence from the previous saint's lessons, and time in Faust, it had broadened the girl's mind to the point she sees the world from both sides - the good and the evil. If she hadn't joined Cody upon defecting, she would have still been in Faust, not expanding her prowess and simply allowing Evol to eat the world.
"Chance!" Cody cried out, jumping towards the distracted Lily as he struck her with the Twin Breaker - Attack mode, before using Lock to chain up the one he was fighting. He grunted when the katana struck his torso, causing sparks to bleed off. He saw the hovering claw that held it and not the supposed clone. He leapt back, deflecting the strong strikes by the rapid momentum of the katana.
"Cody, duck!"
"Wha-!?" It was too late as the Rider saw Lily spun midair, slamming her heeled boot against his helmet. She idly caught her weapon the claw dropped before she raised it and stabbed the ground. Metal arms erupted below the Rider and constricted him.
Having enough, Weiss spun the barrel of her Myrtenaster and copied the stab, bringing forth her Arma Gigas.
"I've always wondered which of our summons would be superior, Lily." Weiss suggested with a sly smirk of pride.
"Hmm…" she stared. She would have requested her Technosis but she granted him freedom. Ah, maybe her most recent one? Her mind registered the information like a computer, recalling its design, properties, and functions. Then with a tap of her blade against the floor, the four claws she created flew back to her before energy erupted from each one, materializing limbs. Limbs that connect to a body. Body as knightley yet lean. A body that created legs. A head formed, revealing a faceless helmet but it reflected like a mirror. It was half the size of Weiss' Gigas but it looked nimble.
"Meet Unit 06 - codenamed Asura."
"Asura? As in the houndish Grimm with six limbs?" Weiss questioned.
"Unlike that monstrosity this is fitted with a more knightley appearance for a warrior of my design and have four limbs instead. Asura, assist."
By her order four blades erupted from its back like a porcupine which it took in each hand. "Let us dance with blades in our names, shall we Schnee?"
"Arma Gigas! Take the stage and bring us victory!" Weiss shouted as she pointed her weapon to the Asura.
Her summon charged forward in which the Asura leaned back, avoiding the heavy swing but in turn, it kicked the helmet of the gigas upward.
The saint dashed, hopping on the heavy sword, over the summon and her blindfolded eyes focused directly at Weiss. A cluster of petals however fluttered from the corner of her gaze.
"GOTCHA!" Ruby shouted, scythe raised as she swung it towards Lily. The curved blade was going for the midsection but the girl held her weapon close to her side like a pole, clashing against it. Ruby felt the saint's other hand grip her cloak and threw the hood over, covering her silver eyes and used her as a faux battering ram against Weiss. The two were going to crash but Ruby hastily used her Semblance to prevent herself and Weiss from losing more Aura, all the while fixing her cloak.
"Good save Ruby." Weiss complimented.
"Thanks… but I couldn't get her."
"At least you tried." Weiss corrected as the girl smiled from the nice words. "Arma Gigas can still handle that knight she made."
Her ice blue eyes saw her summon handling the machine. It kicked the Asura to the ground, unable to turn over and raised its hefty blade. Yet Lily wasn't fazed… as if…
Just as the blade came down, the knight-esque head rotated a full 180 as did its arms and legs, catching it. The lower arms thrust two swords into the larger arm of its foe. Rolling aside, its body followed the rotation. It leapt with a spin, impaling the torso before it used all four arms and ripped the Gigas' head from its ghostly body.
"No!" Weiss gasped from seeing her summon be defeated. "How did your knight-?!"
"Gyroscopic mechanism. Even if it is not facing you, it mirrors its positions to ensure it immediately faces you like a mirror.
'Its face!' Ruby realized the reflection on its head.
"Asura, dismiss." It did as told. "Now, let us finish this dance here and now."
With a snap of her fingers, gravity took hold via magic.
"U-Using… magic? Not… fair…" Ruby grunted as both she and Weiss was now on the ground, struggling to get up.
"I said I wouldn't use my armor. Never mentioned magic."
"C-Cheats! I call cheats!" Ruby pouted.
"In battle there is no cheats. Only life and death." Lily chopped Weiss, knocking her out first. The claw did the same to Clover and Cody. "You have to think of how it begins and ends if this were a real fight against the enemy, Ruby. They could have died."
"I know that…! Of course I knew this… its not like I'm being arrogant because of who I am…" Ruby lowered her head with dismay.
Lily knelt down, Ruby felt a finger poke her forehead. "Being who you are defines you, little Rose. That is what I see now. One I hope you continue to see." Lily then flicked Ruby's forehead, taking her Aura that also sounded the victor.
It was clear Lily had learnt much when she left.
XXX
Cody grumbled, nursing his neck with an ice pack while his Aura healed him. He earned praise from his sister but also scolded for a few things he messed up on during the spar.
"Ugh… some things haven't changed…" Cody groaned out. "At least she is here now…"
"Glad as well to be back to your fighting self too?" Yang asked, handing him a drink.
"More than you know." He smiled, taking the drink and having a few sips. "Fighting her got me to remember old tricks and stuff I do as a Kamen Rider."
"Oh? Any old tricks you can have with me?" Yang winked, teasing the rider.
"Heh, only if you're ready for it?" Cody teased back.
"Stop flirting!" Weiss shouted out to the two. "Honestly!"
"Still reeling your summon getting its ass kicked by something half its size?"
"Shush before I tell your sister to up your training." Weiss glared at the rider. "My neck is sore no thanks to that hit…"
"I'll say." Cody would have to agree.
"Speaking of!" Yang hooked her arm around Cody's, "You still owe me a date."
"Huh? But I lost…" Cody questioned.
"True… but I still wanted to have one, regardless if you won or not. I just said the first option just to get you out of your freak out." Yang playfully winked.
The blonde rider laughed sheepishly, scratching his cheek. He smiled slightly. "Sis… really changed."
From a smart tomboyish girl to an extremely intelligent yet caring young woman who has embraced her newfound role. There was so much he wanted to tell her upon his dream coming true. To cure all the experiments wherever they are and ensuring Faust is no longer existent. She made the impossible possible.
"Least she isn't stuck up at times like before."
Cody laughed but paused. "Uh… Yang?"
"Plus she doesn't seem to be foul-mouthed like that one time after she helped us out during the festival. I mean sheesh, might as well put it in a dictionary."
"Yang." Weiss called.
"And it's hard to believe she went from a batshit crazy girl to a calm girl who sounds and speaks like a literal saint."
"YANG!" Cody and Weiss barked.
"What?" Yang paused to the looming feeling that made her spine shudder and the hair in the back of her head nearly quiver. "She's… right behind me isn't she?"
The duo nodded. Yang turned around and her lilac eyes met the covered eyes. The smile however gave way to the air of emotion. "What is this I hear about myself being 'batshit crazy' and stuck up?" Lily asked.
"I uh… W-Wow! Did you get some new conditioner? Cause you're hair is glowing!" Yang said, trying to distract the saint's upcoming rage.
"How about I show you what else I learned during my time of self-reflection in Eden?" Yang's eyes darted down to see the woman's hands individually cracking a few joints as if she was readying a mean swing.
"H-Hey now! No need to get violent here! I-It was just reminiscing how you've changed for the better!"
"By calling me batshit?"
"U-Uh…"
"I'll give you five seconds, without a need for my special blindfold. One."
Yang swallowed.
"Two."
Yang looked to Cody, Weiss, and Blake for help, but they were both backed up and hands raised. This was all on her. Immediately she bolted out the room.
"Three…. Four… five." Lily took a deep breath.
"Uh… Sis? If you said you were going to chase her without a blindfold…"
Lily sent a sly smile. "I never said I was chasing her."
"Then who?"
"My queen." The teens saw the humanoid technosis who was carrying a bound Yang over him. "I brought her as I was told by you and bound by the restraints. She had quite the stamina to worm a few feet away."
"Thank you Technosis." She gently patted the android, earning a smile.
"You're welcome." He bowed before his silver hair was ruffled upon Cross seen sleeping. "Is there anything else you require?"
"Ah yes, can you go to Mantle to make preparations for a stall so we can assist the folk?"
"Of course." He gently set Yang down, brushing her clothes before handing Cody his little dragon. "Your friend is such a devoted machine like myself."
"He's no machine to me… He's family." Cody smiled softly, "And um… I hope you aren't gonna do much? I was looking forward to my date with Yang…"
"Y-Yeah! Our date! You wouldn't crush that, right?"
"Not to worry, Lady Vernage has ordered me to ensure the restraints that bind her will deactivate in time for your affectionate outing."
"And… how long will they deactivate?"
"When is your date?"
"Five hours."
"That long."
"SERIOUSLY?!" Yang comically exclaimed. "What if I need to go or something like that?!"
"Oh that will deactivate but it will then latch onto you when it is done."
"Oh come on! This isn't fair! Sides, it's not like I wasn't wrong…" Yang pouted.
"You still called my lady, batshit."
"Well she was!" Yang flinched to the hand that raised. "N-Nevermind!"
"Thought so." Lily readjusted her blindfold. "Now go do what I requested, please."
"Understood." Technosis bowed and gave another bow to Weiss and Cody before leaving for Mantle.
"Today officially sucks…" Yang pouted with a frown.
"She is kinda right." Cody chuckled. Yang pouted before giving a headbutt to him. "Hey, easy there girl."
"Don't make me bite you…"
"In more than one way?" He teased.
"Ahem." Lily raised a finger. "Do keep your flirting activities at a minimum and to yourselves."
"Ugh, yes mom."
XXX
As the sun set, Lily was having a meal in her room, looking at the city and Mantle below from her spot. Just only noticing the aura of the people down below. But she then sensed something as she turned her head to the door, as it opened before Blake came in.
"Hey…" Blake called to the saint softly.
"Ah, Blake." She conjured a seat. Her free hand fumbled at first but Blake moved the chair for her.
"Thank you." The Faunus took a seat. There was awkward silence in which Lily took another sip and said, "Are you okay?"
"Still… a bit stunned." Blake confessed, "So much turmoil, stress and pain over these last few years… But now? It feels like… everything is going to be okay for once."
"Except Salem and the remaining Bloods."
"Yeah…"
Lily set her mother's favorite tea onto the dish and onto the table. "I know what I did had only removed one monster but it didn't to the others we must face." She murmured. "All my experiments were solely to Evol… something I was clueless to see."
"You weren't wrong to focus on Evol, Lily. He would have eaten our home. Our world due to his full power. You… Brothers you made the impossible possible by permanently destroying Evol and rewriting everything he had touched."
The Saint inhaled air and exhaled, her dull damaged eyes staring at nothing. All she could see without the blindfold was those with magic and still learning to see the Aura of people. Her mother had kept a myriad of her studies during her days of reincarnation discussing so much scientific knowledge outside the usual curriculum academies teach nowadays. Not easy as it sounds especially with blind eyes that still hurt now and then leading to numbing it with her Aura or magic
"You should've seen the first few days Cody realized he was normal…" Blake chuckled softly. "Many times he would forget and get injured from his recklessness. And other times, he just breaks down but in a happy way…. You truly did give him what he sought for, for so long."
"I am glad to hear he is happy," Lily smiled. "Every time he smiled… he would hide the pain Faust brought to him… but from your words, it seems his smiles hold no facades."
Blake nodded, before she shuffled her chair closer to Lily, only for her to gently place her hands on top of Lily's and laid her head on the saint's shoulder.
"Though… you also owe me for all of this too… It was so hard for me on the times you tried to sacrifice yourself for us…" Blake said somberly. "I love you… and I don't want you to do such things alone anymore…"
Lily smiled softly. Blake moved her head slightly, her ears flattened slightly as her hand was hesitant. "Lily… may I… um…"
Lily said nothing but Blake noticed the saint moved her hand a few times before finding hers and allowed the tips of her fingers to touch the scarring across her eyes. It ran close to the temple of her head, running across the eyes and upper bridge of her nose and brows, and near the right temple. Her moonlight white hair hid some the scarring. "Can you… see my hand?"
"… only its touch… I am still learning to see the Aura of people as my mother written in her books."
"Well… let me also be your eyes for when you're not fighting, okay?" Blake smiled softly. "I-I know you have your black blindfold to see around you and…"
"I wouldn't mind it now and then, Blake."
Blake looked at Lily, a smile on her face before the two leaned in as their lips touched. Blake feeling such joy and relief as they shared a gentle kiss.
XXX
Technosis idly hummed as he prepared the wide stall for his ladyship. The stall will serve better meals than the stuff they had been devouring. The poor souls. They have been living in discomfort due to the embargo and his ladyship, as the saint she is, wanted to provide succor for them.
He inhaled the air around him, the warmth from the ventilation systems touching his artificial skin his ladyship gave him. As Eden's mechadragon, he is fast, powerful, defensive in her name. As android, still the same but smaller.
Grabbing a metal box made by her hands, Technosis paused to notice a man observing a piece of the equipment his ladyship made for the stall. His skin was rather on the tan side with dark hair and a rather bushy mustache and a parasol. Something about him was familiar in his databases within the memory/data core. "Pardon me sir but this is my ladyship's forged equipment. I recommend to please wait until her food stall is made and halting any observation as per her creed. Technology to never be used for war or bloodshed."
"Oh yes yes… of course. I'm just marveled by it is all. Truly such fascinating and beautiful craftsmanship." The man said with interest, but his eyes also showed bitterness.
He detected that emotion. "I repeat, please release that for it belongs to my ladyship." The man noticed Technosis' eyes gleam from blue to gold, his grip on the edge of the crate slowly being crushed.
"Alright, alright. No need to tell me thrice…" The man said, before leaving from the spot. Though he 'dropped' a small hardlight piece on the way out, a smirk on his face as the man left the area.
Technosis released his grip and double checked the equipment the man touched. No sign of any tampering or implants of any sort. Looking over where the man had gone, his blue eyes drift to the stone sidewalk to notice the object. His artificial optics stared calmly. "My Ladyship… can you come to the intersection in Mantle? I found something odd you should see." He reported.