Ruby opened her eyes and stared silently at the roof of her team's dorm before nervously reaching towards her Scroll and turning it on. Flicking through her contacts, she pressed on the most recent message her scroll had received from the contact known as 'Best mom,' and read the message with bated breath.
['Cursed Arm was repelled…the countermeasures worked little Rose.']
Ruby was noticeably less moody than she'd been after the events of Forever Fall, forcibly putting them to the back of her mind before she could drown in them.
Too many had died, and it was killing her inside. She hadn't eaten as much as she used to, and she constantly huddled under a blanket in her team's dorm room, hands clutched over her Scroll, and eyes blood shot as she waited for updates.
While she was still confined as a student, her mother had more than enough means to orchestrate better plans than she ever could.
A part of Ruby still blamed herself for the events that transpired in Forever Fall because if she'd stayed with Neo and the others when Cursed Arm attacked, she and Shirou would have contained the situation rather than chase after it.
Yes, she regretted her choice.
She'd been unable to stop the impulse to aid her uncle Qrow and the others in their ambush of Cursed Arm, never knowing that the butterfly effect could shift the target to her cohort instead.
Shivering, Ruby remembered that Cursed Arm's target was Yang. If Yang had gone to Forever Fall, then- Ruby shook her head.
Small mercies, but her actions had still let her save Yang.
Yet the same could not be said for those that died who weren't supposed to.
Ms. Goodwitch, Prof Port and Oobleck, and half of her classmates…
Ruby reaffirmed once more that too many had died at her recklessness, but hardened her heart because more would perish from inaction.
['Cursed Arm was repelled…the countermeasures worked little Rose.']
Ruby read the message from her mother again with renewed fervor.
She threw off her bed sheets and hurriedly dressed up for class.
Starting from today, she'd be a new Ruby Rose. Stronger, brighter, maturer.
Harrowing as prior circumstances had been, they directly tempered away the naivety that had once stained Ruby's eyes with enthusiasm.
No longer did she poses the demeanor of a simple child, but a burgeoning poise of what a hero should be.
Good.
Noting Ruby's changes to overcome her struggles and strengthen her mentality, Shirou let out a sigh of relief in his dematerialized form. He was pushing Ruby to grow faster than she should have, but alternatively, his duty as a Servant was to fulfill his Master's wishes.
"Shirou!" Ruby called out. "I-"
"Shut up!" Weiss hissed, covering her ears with a pillow as she glanced at the time. "It's six in the morning! You're too old to still be talking with imaginary friends!"
"He's not imagin-"
Off the side, even Neo was shoving a lit scroll towards Ruby with 'Quiet Baby Leader!' in bold text. Only her hand was sticking out of the blanket with her scroll, but the words were conveyed.
As for Pyrrha, she was the smart one and called dibs on the shower while Ruby was inattentive.
If Ruby wanted to be a Hero that saved others indiscriminately, then ironically, the situation would push her into that.
Just, ugh, not any time too soon.
"W-What, hey! No fair!" Ruby banged on her team's washroom door.
"RUBY!" Weiss screamed. "We still have another hour! Keep it down!"
"Pyrrha I was awake first!" Ruby pouted.
"I'm sorry!"
"Ugh." Weiss hung her head and gave up.
/-/
"In light of recent events, I will be filling in for Ms. Goodwitch for the immediate duration of the school term."
Archer paced back and forth as he stood in the combat room sparring arena. His hands were clasped behind his back, and he was ignoring Yang's actions to draw his attention. Too much was now at stake to be idle for what was to come.
The Vytal festival was set to occur in a little more than two weeks.
"Are there any questions?" Archer paused and stared at the class.
"Yes-"
"That only have to do with today's lesson?"
"Ugh."
Of course, it was only Yang who hadn't been to Forever Fall that still maintained a semblance of liveliness.
The combat lecture had never seemed so empty with half the cohort missing, but admittedly, Archer liked the solemn expressions on the faces of those that remained. It denoted that they were ready and willing to grow stronger at any expense.
Hell, even Team CRDL looked like proper Huntsman now with the way they stood at attention.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Archer emanated a heavy atmosphere as he allowed his mana to permeate over everyone.
Magic was foreign to them, but they could certainly feel a weight pressing down over their shoulders.
"The goal is to prepare you all for this year's Vytal Festival, and although unfortunate circumstances have transpired, that doesn't mean we are defeated." Archer cleared his throat and gave Yang a long stare, finally dissuading her from going to far before she was ousted by the grimness of the others. "So, I expect you all to give your best."
Clapping his hands, Archer began the day's task.
"Get in a line," he said, pointing at the perimeter of the combat arena.
Whispering to one another, Ruby and the others did as instructed.
Neo looked a tad interested in Archer's intentions, but the overwhelming majority appeared apprehensive.
There was something different about Archer today, something more pressing about his demeanor.
They would be right.
"The assignment is simple." Archer stood at the center of the arena, staring at everyone. "Reach me, and you're free to leave early."
Weiss raised a hand.
Archer nodded at her.
"How is this considered training?" Weiss asked, a notepad in her hands.
The rest were just as thrown off by the lack of difficulty. Everyone had Aura that protected them from harm, so there was an ingrained lack of danger and pain that made them courageous. Granted, this was if their Aura wasn't broken.
Reaching Archer didn't seem difficult until the air grew stifled with magic energy and murderous intent.
"To pass this class, you must overcome fear." Archer merely stood in place, but it was a blade was pressed right against everyone's necks. "Should you overcome it, none of you will ever freeze up when action must be taken ever again."
"Bitches. What's there to be afraid of?" Vernal scoffed, more than used to the threat of death in the air. "He's a teacher. He won't attack to kill-"
Vernal suddenly hissed, a hand feeling the side of her cheek where a sudden sting caught her by surprise. Bringing her hand to eye level, she and the others saw a trickle of blood.
B-But Aura?
Vernal's pupils dilated before she hurriedly glanced up at Archer. He was holding a red spear different from the one they'd seen before.
"Lecture seven on Remnant's Champions of Light," Archer said in reminder.
"D-Diarmuid?" Weiss stammered while Pyrrha and Ector's eyes sharpened. "Then that magic spear…?"
"Found in an old ruin. Gae Dearg, the crimson of spear of severance/(exorcism). It cuts through curses, magic, and naturally, Aura as well."
Archer chambered the spear back, holding it languidly in a loose stance.
"Vernal is correct. I can't kill any of you, but Beacon has an extensive medical department."
With the threat of Cursed Arm in Remnant, it was clear that Archer had upped the ante.
"So, will you come one by one, or will you come as a group?"
Ruby swallowed stiffly.
An Altesian air ship docked in the council space of Vale where Vale's dignitaries stood in waiting. Some had mixed faces, while others appeared relieved. The few remaining were visibly displeased, but there was nothing they could really do.
Ozpin was the preferred choice due to his Valean citizenship, but to have a foreign country do the job was undoubtably a blow to Vale's image.
Regardless, James Ironwood would be in charge of the Vytal festival's defenses. His reputation preceded him, and he was a no-nonsense sort of man who got the job done and effectively.
Ozpin in contrast, was eccentric at best, reliable now and again, but not always.
A row of standing middle aged men and women was the first thing James bore witness to as he disembarked from the Bullhead.
"General." The councilmen greeted.
"Councilmen," James greeted back while walking.
Naturally, the councilmen trailed after James with pleasant smiles masking their inner sentiments.
This wasn't the first time James had been in Vale, so his measured steps took him to the same guest office he'd used in his last visit, but not without inquiries.
"How do you intend to handle a terrorist situation?"
"Are those robots?"
"How many Huntsmen or Huntresses do you have on hand from Atlas?"
"Is an entire Altesian military fleet necessary?"
"Has research on Vermillion's sun really born results?"
"Are those the weapons equipped with 'sun energy?'"
James maintained a straight face under the constant barrage of inquiries, but he was a level man and kept his decorum long enough to slam the door in their faces with much protest.
Migraine setting in, James opened the guest office door a creak and addressed the dissatisfied faces of the Vale council with measured patience.
"I'll answer your questions later. Write them down and I'll send a report to your offices." James said while glancing at his watch. "I have an appointment starting in five minutes. Please vacate with the confidence that I will guarantee the festival's safety to the best of my ability. That is all."
Standing stiffly, the council could only prattle before a spokesperson was elected to speak on everyone's behalf.
"If it's the general saying that, we can be at ease." The man said.
James clicked his tongue and waited for the group to leave, finally closing the door behind him with much to think about and much to do.
Vale's safety would be under his discretion, and Ozpin's warnings about what was to come were already putting James on edge. Something bigger than he'd ever dealt with before was building on the horizon and no amount of preparation could seemingly circumvent it.
The only real boon was the breakthrough in Polendina's research to augment the energy of Vermillion's Sun into inert Dust Rounds.
Testing revealed the light and potency of the bullets to greatly deter and damage Grimm. Proposals were underway to arm artillery, gunships, and personal defences with the new rounds. It would surely make a fortune for Vermillion in regards to selling their Sun's light energy.
The petition of kingdom councils seeking to designate Vermillion's Sun a universal resource was going to be ground for another heated debate.
As long as it didn't lead to war, James felt the internal bickering and frictions among the kingdoms was putting the cart before the horse.
The matter with Cursed Arm was of a higher precedent as Ozpin conveyed through a trusted source that Cursed Arm would surely strike the Vytal Festival.
Based on intel he'd gathered from Vermillion, there was a period of time where all electronic signals and communications were jammed or hacked. This warranted caution in regards to Atlas's mechanical soldiers, in the case of Cursed Arm possessing an ally adept in mechanics and technological engineering.
James sighed. It was just one thing after another on top of the welling grief at Goodwitch and the others passing.
The burden only seemed to grow heavier and heavier.
Five minutes later, and a knock echoed from the door.
It was right on time.
From the moment James had gotten the text of her arrival, Winter Schnee had given an accurate measure of her estimated arrival time.
Always on point, that woman.
"General." Winter saluted as she stepped into the room.
James eased his expression, nodding warmly at the one Schnee he actually liked. He gestured for her to be at ease and pointed at a chair she could make herself comfortable on.
"Glad to see you're back, Winter." James said before noticing a peculiarity.
"...Yeah." Winter replied somewhat distantly. Her thoughts were obviously elsewhere.
James curled a brow, noticing that Winter's voice distinctly lacked the confidence he was used to.
Vermillion was her last assignment, and he'd yet to hear a personal recollection of events from her.
Despite his busy schedule, James made the decision to clear it all.
He'd make time.
Winter was pale, her hands balling into fists at the memory of her near-death experience in Vermillion and the thought she'd be facing that monster again in Vale.
No, in a Vale with her little sister she had to protect.
"Report." James said.
-Two Weeks later.
-Vale.
/-/
It had been a long time since Adam had set foot into this human kingdom, but it didn't quite match with the picture he'd always imagined it would be with a Faunus uprising.
Tch.
Diplomacy somehow won out in the end due to Vermillion's creation, and Adam had found himself too absorbed in teaching a new generation to indulge his darker and pettier thoughts.
Actually, he was still in a state of suspended disbelief that the goal of the White Fang could even be achieved, but it did.
Much of it had to do with the Huntsman of Red's initial appearance and generosity for his fellow Faunus.
If a Faunus as strong as the Huntsman of Red could put aside vengeance against mankind to create a city for his fellow brother and sisters, then Adam could contribute just as much.
Stepping out of the Bullhead from Vermillion, Adam was met by the sight of Vale's bustling city landscape.
Faunus in the streets were still rare and far between the masses.
But that will soon change.
Like the Schnee Dust Corporation, Adam had been briefed that Vermillion had a monopoly on their Sun's light energy which proved highly effective against Grimm.
Given another decade, it wouldn't be far fetched for the other kingdoms to be reliant on Vermillion, and from there, Ghira insisted that he could administer favourable Faunus policies that the other Kingdoms will have no choice but to accept.
Therefore, the path ahead was already clear.
A bloody sword and uprising were no longer the answer.
Sienna's decision to become head of Vermillion's security force rather than a military general advocating for war like the Albain brothers, spoke volumes.
For Adam's part, his objective was easier.
Faunus supremacy in quality of Huntsmen and Huntresses and-
"Hey teach, any advice for the tournament?" One of the student teams in Vermillion's recently established Huntsmen Academy asked.
Of course, there was only a single acceptable answer.
"Win." Adam said curtly.
Someone else cleared their throat.
Adam glanced at the nervous chameleon.
"Right. Thought as much." Ilya murmured, wetting her lips and hardening her resolve. "We meant something more concrete, Adam."
Frowning, Adam was about to insist that Faunus do not need a sound strategy to be effective in combat, but gave pause as his scroll rattled with a notification.
His mouth opened then closed, before a low chuckle escaped his mouth.
While someone like Weiss might have wanted to scope out of the competition, someone else was far more cunning.
Adam's lips tugged into a smile as he read the file Blake had sent him.
Blake…the double agent.
"Alright," Adam gathered attention, Ilya perking up. "I'll tell you all who to watch out for."
For Vermillion.
At the heart of the Grimmlands within a dark spired castle, a pale witch sat alone in the interior throne room. Her legs were crossed, and she rested her head languidly on the back of her hands.
Floating over the ground, a jellyfish-like Grimm known as a Seer quietly made its way towards her and hummed. A wave-like transmission of energy spread out and caused the witch to perk up.
Her heart stirred with anticipation for the first time in centuries, red eyes gleaming under a veil of darkness.
So, it begins.
Salem opened her eyes, standing up from her throne and entering the castle's terrace overlooking the front courtyard filled to the brim with Grimm.
She would do her part and finally set into motion, the beginning of the end.
She began her pilgrimage to Vale.
An army of Grimm followed at her back.
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