"The late headmaster Ozpin was many things. Wise beyond his years, calmer than the deepest sea. Clever with a joke. Dangerous with his cane. A pillar for many to lean on. But, above all else. He was a man I am honoured to have been able to call friend."
Ironwood muted the video when his Ace-Ops stepped into his office. Having seen it for what felt like a million times. His speech heartfelt, coming from the heart instead of the pen of any ghostwriter or machine. Yet that didn't stop the flame war that was happening on the CCT.
Vale was wounded. Casualties in the thousands. People were calling for blood. Demanding answers.
'Not my blood thankfully.' James thought, taking the small mercy for what it was. It had cost him an arm. The bigger part of his left leg, and some ribs. But he, and the Atlas soldiers who had been stationed at the ground were seen in a favourable light. 'The only good piece of news in what feels like a decade.'
Standing up, he turned his back to his operatives. Taking in the view from his office. The coast of Vale was off in the distance. The crashing sea surged under them. And turbulent grey clouds stretched as far as the eye could see.
"Clover, Winter, thank you for coming at such a short notice." He said, turning and walking over to his desk. Clicking a hidden button that turned his office into the most soundproof room on Remnant. Nothing of what was to be shared could be known. He had already had Penny fine comb everything in the room multiple times just to be safe. "Before I brief you about your mission, humour me, do the two of you believe in fairytales? In magic?"
Clover and Winter shared a look. The man's light carefree smile falling as Ironwood stared sternly at him. Even when the world was crashing around him, Clover always wore a smile. A cocky smirk. His semblance giving him a sense of confidence that bordered on arrogance.
'But what can you expect when your semblance quite literally makes you the luckiest man on Remnant?' Ironwood thought idly.
Winter looked better now that she had gotten some proper rest and having changed out of her torn and tattered uniform.
"No?" Clover answered for the two of them. Winter, dutiful as ever, deferring to him with a nod as he was her superior officer.
"Well, gent and lady, the world is a far more magical place than you previously imagined." Ironwood said sharply, ripping the band aid straight off. Waving his arms as multiple screens playing videos came up. With another wave of his arm the burning hellscape that was Vale's Old Dock showed itself. Pyrrha Nikos creating spears out of nothing, Cinder Fall wielding fire as if born with it, Jaune Arc duelling Adam and Mercury at the same time while surrounded by towering walls of flames.
"Simply put. The tale of the four maidens is true. So is the tale of the Wizard for that matter." Ironwood started. "However, that is not the matter at hand. What matters is that the previous fall maiden was assassinated, half of her powers stolen. We managed to save the other part, and the rightful fall maiden is Pyrrha Nikkos. What you see, what remains of the Valean Old Dock, is the aftermath of two half-maidens duking it out."
"Excuse me?" Winter asked, a shiver racing through her. Ice blue eyes turning into pinpricks.
"There is nothing to excuse, soldier. There is a reason magic has been brushed out of the way. We have been thankful that the previous maidens have been kind, preferring peace and diplomacy over using power to get their way." James shared with a heavy heart. "Unfortunately, you have both seen the aftermath of what that power in the wrong hands can do."
"What is the mission?" Colver asked, eyes never leaving the frozen image of Cinder. "Find her? Kill her?"
"No." Ironwood replied flatly Much to their surprise. "Your mission is far more important. Look." Waving his hand, three different videos played on repeat. From Jaune spewing a bloody mist from his mouth, conjuring chains of gold to get a hold of the grimm dragon, too the giant crimson moon that trapped the dragon, to the last shot of him stepping up from rubble, casually healing his all but severed neck with a flick of his hand, before disappearing into a cloud of mellow white clouds.
The video's quality was grainy. No matter what Penny had tried to stitch together a video. Between shaky scroll cameras and bad security footage, it was a miracle they had something so clean and coherent.
"That is Jaune Arc." James said simply. "As of right now, he is the only other person beside the Maidens capable of performing magic."
Heart growing heavy, even before saying them, the words on his tongue felt heavy. But he was General first, and Headmaster second.
"The mission is simple. Find him and find out where he stands. If possible, try to convince him to come to Atlas. Gently. What magics he used to heal himself can set medicine forward by decades. Centuries if he is willing to share and to teach."
"And if not." Winter asked sternly. "What if he is against Atlas. If he harbours resentment in his heart for Atlases involvement in the 'Scorching of Vale'."
"That is the worst possible scenario. However, should it come to it. You know what to do." Ironwood ordered with a heavy heart. The words tasted rotten in his mouth. But his duty to his people, to his nation came first. "The rightful fall maiden is in his team, following his order. Together with what magicks Arc is capable of, they cannot be aimed at Atlas. We can fight grimm, we can fight in cyberspace, but curses? Hexes? Against something that can't be measured, can't be understood, that can turn our best and brightest into our enemies with a single snap of his fingers?"
"Understood." Clover and Winter nodded resolutely. The weight of the situation settling over them.
"Where do we begin?" Clover asked, taking a step forward.
"How confident are you in your luck?" James threw right back. Waving his hand as a map of the world appeared in the air. With his good hand he reached into a pocket and pulled out an eight-sided die. Clover snatching it out of the air, looking at it, before sending him a look of disbelief.
"One is Atlas, Two is Mantle, Three is Vale, Four is Vacuo, Five is Menagerie, Six is the dragon shaped continent, Seven is lost at sea, Eight is roll again." James explained, staring firmly into Clover's eye. "What are you waiting for? Roll."
Clover looked at him, finding nothing but unyielding resolve. Shrugging he stepped forward and threw the dice onto his desk. Rolling before revealing a two.
"Again." Ironwood ordered calmly.
Clover nodding, taking the die and rolling it again. Rolling another two.
"Again." Ironwood ordered again.
For the third time the die rolled over his desk, only to reveal a two.
"Three out of three." Ironwood stated with a raised eyebrow, turning to them with a flat stare. "Well, operatives, you know where your quarry is. Go find him."
"Sir, I don't want to question you. But are you sure this is the proper way?" Winter asked, not withering the slightest under his stare.
"Proper? No. Not in the slightest." James replied, taking the die and rolling it. Showing a seven. Gesturing for Clover to roll again, a two looked up from the die for the fourth time. "However the world is a far more magical place than you could have ever thought possible. It's not protocol, but lady luck seems to favour the number two. So, Clover. How confident are you in your luck? Think you can find a needle in the haystack?"
"Never caught a magician before Sir. However I can't say I'm not feeling lucky." Clover smiled in challenge.
{-ooo-}
"Ughhhh." Cinder groaned, opening her eyes. Blinking away the stars as she sat up. The familiar chilling air of Salem's tower quickening her right up. An ugly bitter taste in the back of her mouth.
"Here you go, medicine." A familiar insufferable voice called out from her side. A bottle of orange prescription pills pushed into her hands.
Popping of the cap, she rolled a pill out and threw it into her mouth. Almost swallowing before she read the label. Furiously spitting as she coughed.
"Cyanide! You gave me cyanide!" Cinder bellowed, fire escaping from her as she glared at Watts. Her furry washing away her headache and what tiredness that clung to her.
"It's the kinder option." Watts shrugged noncommittally. Waving away he flames with his clipboard. "But since you are awake. Our Liege have summoned us. Now."
A shudder raced through Cinder. One of fear. Cinder feared few things. But Salem? Salem demanded respect simply by breathing. Power rolled off her in waves when she simply drank from her goblet. Every word was a command to be obeyed, what horrors in her dungeon sacrilege to life itself.
"Watts. Where is my hand?" Cinder demanded. Staring down at the empty stump where her left hand should have been. Only having noticed it now, when she had thrown her legs the edge of the bed. One hand not gripping the edge like she had wanted. Fury burned through her like never before.
"On the table over there." Watts said easily. Staring at her like she was nothing but a petulant child.
An ugly shrivelled up hand laid at the table. Splotches of dark purple bordering on black dotted it. Her index and ring finger already pitch black and shrivelled. While the flesh where it was cut of was an ugly dark purple. Multiple vials of blood surrounded it. From red, to gradually blacked and blacker blood. Until the last vial that was filled with only a black sludge.
"That can't be right." Cinder whispered, standing up and walking over to her cut of hand. Something dark and cold grabbing her heart in a death grip. "That's impossible."
"Improbable." Watts corrected. "If it was impossible, it wouldn't have happened, now, would it?"
Wiggling his moustache, he opened the door and disappeared out. Cinder hot on his heals. Not willing to risk Salem's displeasure. 'I'll get my answer's out from him later.' She swore, starting down on her stump. A hollowness in her chest only matched by her apoplectic furry.
"Ah, Watts, Cinder, thank you for choosing to join us." Salem said politely as she gestured for them to sit down by the grand table. Their 'Queen' dressed in flowing black ropes that pulsed with red as if alive. Her skin bone white, with black veins running over the exposed part's of her skin. Above her hand a ball of something floated. Roiling and churning around like blood, radiating pure malice as it struggled against what magical bindings Salem held around it.
"Please take a seat. We have much to discuss." Salem ordered, tone as always mild and polite.
That was Salem, the biggest monster in Remant. Always mild and polite. Almost cordial, as if she really was a Queen of a ghost kingdom and they were her court of loyal retainers.
Her throne room luxurious, but also bare. Containing nothing but her jagged throne of black volcanic rock that pulsed as if alive. A table made out of tainted purple dust crystalised over millennia. Worth more than entire kingdoms. Bone white throne-like chairs for her retainers. The dark sun shone through the many windows. Dark, blackened almost, even the sun was unable to truly shine in Salem's domain.
Taking her seat, Cinder hid the relief she felt when she didn't find Tyrian. The mad zealot pushed her up the walls on the best of days.
"You have disappointed me, Cinder." Salem started softly. Not even bothering to throw a single glance her way. Seemingly obsessed with the roiling blood in the air. "Am I not a kind liege? What you desire, I grant. What resources you need, I offer. And all I expect in return are two simple things. Loyalty, and competence."
The words hung in the air as Salem turned to them. Burning red rubies bathed in pools of inky black tar. Yet for how inhuman her eyes were, there was no anger to be found, only a flat disappointment mixing with curiosity and delight together with some sadistic undertones.
"You came to me craving power, to never be the little girl used and abused in the Glass Unicorn again." Salem shared easily, brining up her past with the same tone of someone talking about the weather. Cinder seethed, but she held her silence. Knowing she was already in a hole. It only remained to find out how deep, and how to claw herself out. "And I gave you power, did I not? I gave you grimm to sharpen yourself against. I gave you everything you needed to know about the maidens. Even down to who they are, and where they were last seen. And I gave you a foolproof method of taking their power for yourself. And you failed."
Standing softly, Salem took a single step down from her jagged throne. The windows shattering. Power, far more primordial and uncomprehensible than Cinder thought possible rolled of her. With another step, Cinder felt a mountain crash into her. Every breath burned, just her heart beating felt exhausting.
"But I am a merciful liege." The words rolled from Salem's mouth, the weight on Cinder's shoulders all but gone. "Am I not? I believe in second changes. Everyone makes mistakes. I divined for you where the maiden was moved. I helped for you to gain an advantageous position. Yet, again you failed. However, my dear. You are lucky. You found me something that is worth giving you a third chance for. Watts' your findings."
"Yes." Watts coughed, standing up and looking down on his clipboard. "I have combed through what Atlas have on our new player. As it stands now, Jaune Arc have shown himself able to perform multiple things thought impossible. Conjure gold from nothing, create a barrier of sorts to trap the grimm dragon, survive having his head all but chopped off, healing said wound, and able to move at inhuman speeds. The hypothesis is that he has a mutant hyperactive soul that allows him multiple semblances."
Watts took a deep breath. Looking as if he had swallowed a lemon. Turning to stare at the ball of roiling malice Salem held suspended in the air. "However. Due to the residue of power left behind by the curses, that I have so graciously been allowed to analyse. That hypothesis is simply untrue. The power residue exists in a state of existence similar to the quantum observer effect. It exists, it can be touched, it can be manipulated. However it can't be scanned, taken pictures of, and otherwise behaves in a way that defies all otherwise known laws of physics. It can be hypothesized that he is either capable of science, centuries, if not millennia before Atlas. Or that he is capable of magic."
"Thank you, Watts." Salam replied politely. The ball of roiling blood coming to stop over the table. "This is the magic residue from Scion Arc. Never in my long life have I seen something so delightfully malicious." Salem almost purred the word, a delighted smile on her face that would have sent Tyrian on a holy crusade.
"Cinder. Your third chance come's with an ultimatum." Salem shared, not even bothering to look away from her look. "Our young Scion have left two curses on you."
"But I dodged one." Cinder all but shouted, having to fight to keep her temper in check. Remembering quite clearly that only one of the eye-beams had touched her. At least that was the only thing she could think of. Her focus had been completely on killing Nikkos.
Salem hummed; her throne rising from the ground. Sitting down a goblet of wine was poured magically. "Cinder, dearest. Curses often take time to settle. It is so with your magic, and it is so with all magic. It is simply in the nature of curses to need time to 'set'. What you saw or what you think you dodged was simply a simple trick of misdirection. Curses cast in combat only require two things. Direct line of sight for the victim. And time to set."
"Excuse me?" Cinder coulndt help but ask in disbelief.
"Why are you so surprised? I offered you to go through my library to learn how to master you magic. You however wanted to chase the maiden. If you had simply not been so hasty, this is something you would have known." Salem lectured, disappointment slipping into her voice. Sipping from her goblet she turned to her. "I am not against sharing my knowledge with those in my employ."
"As for the curses." Salem sipped on her wine, not giving Cinder a single moment to think. Forced to sit and be lectured without a change to say anything. 'She's treating me like a child.' "You are in luck. There are ways to mitigate the effects. In fact, that is why you are alive right now. And not a splatter of blood and gore on my walls."
"What are they." Cinder asked, having learned the hard way to not demand anything from Salem.
"As it stands you have two, three really, ways to cure yourself. Or at least delay them." Salem shared. "The first is killing the other half-maiden, or any other maiden. The maiden's magic is keeping the curse at bay. It won't heal you, but it will buy you time. The second is to take the spring maidens power and learn the healing aspect in it to properly cure yourself. The third, and most obvious, is simply to beg the caster of the curse to remove it."
Cinder took a deep breath, the fire in her stomach burning warmer and hotter by the second. She had begged enough in her life. She would never return to who she once had was. The scared little girl was gone, killed by her own hands.
"No." Salem said strongly, power roiling of her. The shadows growing deeper as she turned to her. "The Arc family is under my protection. If you try as much as to raise a single finger against them, I will shatter your soul and sew you back together as my toilet paper. I have plans for them. And they do not include your meddling. You forget yourself Cinder. I need a maiden. That doesn't have to you. As it stands, another half-maiden exists. You have half a year before the curses turn lethal. You either become the Fall Maiden, or you will die. Pyrrha will take your place."
"She will never agree. You don't know her. She's to kind, to uptight." Cinder threw back instantly. Having all but lost all feelings in her limbs.
"Women far more noble have come to my side on their hands and knees." Salem replied easily with a self-assured little smile. "As it stands, you find yourself in a race of sorts. Tyrian have already thrown his support in for Ms Nikkos, having left to finally reunite with his 'son' while you were unconscious. And from what little I have gathered about our champion, it is that where Jaune goes, Pyrrha is quick to follow. Do with that what you wish."
"What does the curses do?" Cinder hissed out through clenched teeth. Fire raged inside, but she kept a lid on it for now. Knowing she coulndt afford to fail. A quick look down to her stump, and she already saw a spot of purple growing.
"Ah, so the child can learn." Watts snarked. Rolling his eyes at her.
"One is simple, I'm sure you have been familiarised with it by now. Necrosis." Salem lectured gently. "It will grow, but it can be mitigated. It all depends on how ruthless you can be to yourself. As standard as curses are. If the curse were to reach your torso, your heart? Well I leave that to your imagination."
Cinder didn't need that remainder, something dark and cold gripped her heart. With a snarl fire appeared as she cauterised the stump. The pain burned, but she didn't let that stop her.
"The second? Now that is a masterpiece. So subtle, so devious, so sadistic." Salem complimented purring the words with a little smile as she looked at the floating ball of malice. And what grabbed Cinder's heart clenched. Cinder didn't fear much, she did however fear something that Salem complimented. "If the Necrosis curse sits on your body, this one sits in your soul. That's why only the spring maidens aspect can hope to fix it."
"What does it do?" Cinder asked.
"Simple my dear, it turns you into a ticking timebomb." Salem smiled. "Evey man, woman, faunus or not, are a walking chemical factory. And an explosion doesn't need much. Especially not when everything already is provided. When the time is up-" Salem snapped her fingers. The sharp snap reverberating through Cinder's entire body. "-boom."
"I told you the pills were the kinder option." Watts snarked with a shrug. Rolling his eyes at her.
{-ooo-}
Horseshoe village was a quaint little town gripped by anger and furry. Their capital had just been scorched. Every man, woman, child, cat and dog were clamouring for revenge. However that didn't stop the bar from staying open. In fact it saw more customers. Men and women come to drink and vent their angers.
"Uhuhaha." Ugly crying, filled with tears and snot, echoed from the corner of the bar table. A cloaked figure staring at his scroll as he cried.
"I get ya brother." The barkeep nodded in understanding. "I too cried when I saw the news."
"I… I have a granddaughter." Tyrian cried, big fat tears racing down his cheeks. "I was gone for… for a week for work. And my son already has a child of his own. I'm… I'm so… so… happy."
That was all me managed to get out before pulling the barkeep into a crushing hug.
"I'm happy for you. Truly. Still remember the day where my kid let me hold my own grandson." The barkeep rumbled, affectionately patting him on the back. Not a single ounce of offence taken.
"Hear hear!" A drunk bar patron raced his glass. "Best day of my life I tell ya."
"What are you waiting for mate! You a huntsman, right? Then get your ass in gear home." Another patron heckled with a light smile. "Remember to send a picture of you holding your grandchild! I'll hang it on my wall in your honour! We need good news like this when everything is so bleak and black."
"Really?" Tyrian asked, looking up with big ugly tears welling in the corner of his eyes.
"Sure! Promise on my name!" The drunk patron nodded. In a second Tyrian was gone. Sprinting out the door so quick he tore it down by running into it.
"You're fixing my door Tyson." The barkeeper sighed, going back to washing the glass with a little frown. Swearing he could hear an overjoyed voice shouting 'let's us teach her the wonderful artful expression that is murder' on the wind. Shrugging his shoulders before continuing to wash the mug.
{-ooo-}
Sweat raced down Adam's back. His lungs burned. His arms felt like lead. He could barley see through the haze his vision had deteriorated into. Yet he never stopped swinging the hammer. Feeling a thousand small ghostly hands pushing him forward. Pushing away his exhaustion bit by bit as the souls of every slain faunus urged him on. Their mad whispers pushing him on.
Wilt was gone. Used to kill Arc.
Just thinking of him sent his fury spiking to impossible levels.
"Rivers of Blood; Mountains of Corpses. If that is what it takes. Then that is I will make." He swore. Looking down at the two red hot swords. Raising his hammer and bringing it down with force.
{-ooo-}
"Again, thank you for allowing me to stay here Mr Xiao-Long." Ruby heard Weiss say, looking up from her scroll as she saw the heiress that had come home with them. Vale having been too hot for her with the strong Anti-Atlas sentiment that hung over the city.
"Think nothing of it, Weiss. You are a friend of my daughters. My home is your home." Her dad replied with a warm smile.
"Pssth. Hey. Sis." Yang whispered, leaning up from her own couch. A teasing little smile on her face. "Think Weiss is learning something new about herself?" She smiled. Gesturing with her head at Weiss.
Weiss stood gobsmacked. A light blush dotting her cheeks, while pinpricks of tears welled up in her eyes. For once, the heiress was left speechless and completely gobsmacked.
"Thank you. Truly." Weiss replied gently as dignified as she could.
"Think nothing of it." Her dad smiled warmly. "However, if you do want to do something. Why don't you help me set the table? An extra set hands could be helpful, especially if my daughters are going to be lazy."
"Dad, chill." Yang grumbled, even if she sighed and threw her legs over the couch and stood up. Rolling her eyes as she moved to help. A homemade pizza already in the oven. Ruby's stomach grumbled even if she didn't feel any appetite in the slightest. The 'Scorching' playing on loop in her mind. A thousand questions on her tongue.
Like what had happened. Had she done the right thing? Had the children she saved been saved? What was going to happen next? Where was Jaune? What was Jaune? How could he heal his neck? Act so nonchalantly after almost dying.
'Did I even really know Jaune?' Ruby thought to herself. Shaking the lingering doubt away as she got up. Plastering on a tired little smile as she got up to help, Weiss, Yang, and her dad. The guilt she felt for what she was going to do pooling in her stomach. But she needed answers.
For what she saw. For what she sees.
Sitting on the counter, invisible to everyone else sat her mother. Spectral blood pooled from her missing arm. Brain matter dripped down from the side of her skull. Her womb torn out, leaving a hole right through her. Her own axe was impaled into her chest. Two empty eye sockets stared hollowly at her. The skin on her face pulled up into what should have been a smile, yet her mother coulndt smile. Her jaw torn right from her skull. Impaled and biting into her own heart.
Summer Rose was dead. And it hadn't been a quick death. Neither had it been a kind death.
'Who hurt you?' Ruby wanted to ask. Having woken up screaming the first time she had seen her.
"That, I won't say, my little flower." Her mother's voice echoed gently in her ears. Almost as if she could read her mind. Exactly like she remembered in her dreams. But it was different, sorrowful, filled with nothing but empty promises. "I don't want you to follow in my footsteps. Me and my father's killer are not someone who can be killed by steel or weapons. Immortal. That is what she is."
The thousand questions on her tongue only grew more numerous as she huffed. Pretending she didn't see her mother as she helped decking the table. If the other's thought her to caught up in her memories, then she wouldn't explain it to them.
'Not that they would ever believe me.' She rolled her eyes. 'Maybe Jaune will?' She coulndt help but think. It was impossible to forget the ghost that wrapped around his neck. Nor the possessiveness that had been in her eye when she had looked at Ruby. 'Jaune said something with her. Worked together with her.' Her mind continued, remembering how they both had held Crocea Mors as something had surrounded the blade.
The more Ruby thought, the more she grew certain in her decision. It didn't remove the guilt, but she was desperate for answers. And so far everything pointed back to Jaune in one way or another. He might not have all the answers, but she hoped he at least could point her in the correct direction.
"There you go girls. A Xiao-Long household special." Her father smiled, taking the pizza out from the oven and quickly cutting it up. Reaching through Summer as if not there.
"You, We, are special my little flower." Her mother whispered, floating up and coming over to her side. "Have you not noticed? You have always been different. Able to conjure up weapons and blueprints that would make even the most trained blacksmiths nod in appreciation when you were but a little bud. Creation, Life, it is an aspect of you that cannot be denied. Not smithing, not drawing or doodling will stress you. Your hate for Grimm, strong as it is, is both from you and from your blood. Even if you never wanted to be a huntress, warrior blood runs in your veins. You cannot simply sit still when you see injustice happen before you. You, like me, my grandfather and those who come before him, all share this. We are Silver-Eyes Warriors. The strongest warriors against grimm, and one of the reasons enrolled you early."
Ruby wanted to protest, biting back on her tongue and nibbling angrily at her pizza slice. Wanting to say something back, that she had been enrolled early by merit of her talent. However the more she thought, the more unsure she grew. Leaving her sullen and frustrated.
Her family thankfully leaving her to her thoughts as she glared at the pizza slice like it owed her money.
"Our eyes are more than just pretty. They are powerful. In the eyes of every silver-eyed warrior lies the power of preservation. An extension of creation, that we all are blessed with." Her mother lectured gently. "In time you will come to understand. In time you will learn. And I will be with you every step on the way. I might not know what awakened in you for you to be able to see the dead. However, I'm happy. Now I can teach you what I never thought I could. Like my father passed the torch to me, it is now my time to pass it to you."
Ruby nodded softly, a strong and gentle warmth burning within. The guilt wouldn't leave her, but she coulndt say having her mom's blessing warmed her heart in ways she coulndt explain.
And, in a small, selfish part of her, she was happy. It had always been her, Yang and dad. But there had been many moments where she daydreamed about what her mom would have been like. And now she could see her, could talk with her. Even if she coulndt exactly look into her eyes, she liked to think there was warmth in those empty sockets. A warm strength she wished she too had.
"I'm going to bed." Ruby said, quickly finishing up her pizza. "I'm not feeling to well."
Yang and Weiss shared a glance, something invisible going on between them. However Ruby was too caught up in her own head to notice. Disappearing into rose petals before appearing right back in her room. Quickly checking if the bag under her bed was still there. Nodding to herself while she climbed into bed. Already dressed in her gear and waiting until the night. Hiding her scroll under her pillow as she went decided to get some quick shut eye.
Only to wake up a moment later, a soft vibration combing from under her bed. Softly sitting up, she looked out from the window. Resolve brimming in her chest as she looked out of the window.
Ever so carefully sneaking out from bed, she grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulders. Soundlessly opening her door before giving one last look at her dad's door.
"I'm sorry. I have to do this." She whispered softly, not at all surprised when Summer came floating through the door. Sneaking down the stairs, she sighed in relief, glad that Zwei had slept with her dad tonight. Quickly tying on her boots, she silently whispered one last goodbye before sneaking out. Making it a single step before a teasing voice called out.
"Took your sweet time, huh sis?" Yang grinned, leaning at the side of the house. A duffle bag similar to hers by her feet.
"You dolt!" Weiss whisper hissed from the other side of the house. Arms crossed, Myrtenaster on her hip, and a bag by her feet. "Did you think that what. We would allow you to sneak away on a clearly idiotic mission without coming with?"
"You guys." Ruby whispered, tears welling in her eyes. 'If only.' She thought, looking around, almost desperately for two golden amber eyes. Her shoulders falling as she sighed. Knowing that she was expecting too much. Blake had all but disappeared after the Scorching of Vale. The last time she had seen her, she was bolting away alone. With only her weapon tied to her hip.
"So what's the plan sis?" Yang asked with a frown. "Find the bitch that snuck bombs into the tower?"
"No. Or maybe." Ruby amended with a frown. "It's… I want answers. I… I saw Jaune. After the crimson moon broke and the dragon exploded. That was Jaune. He crashed into the building he was in. His head was falling from his shoulders, a red katana falling out from the wound. But he got up. Healed himself up as if it was nothing. And just, went on as if nothing had happened. Find Jaune, and we will find out what happened. Don't you think it was weird they got detention for nothing?"
"Now that you mention it. Team JNPR was distant after the livestream." Weiss mumbled with a frown. "There was a shift in how the teacher's treated them. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but they were stricter than before. Held to a higher standard for no reason."
"So that's the plan? Find Juniper and co, get some answer. And then rub head's together for what to do next?" Yang asked, nodding to herself seemingly satisfied.
"Works for me." Another voice answered from behind her. In an instant Ruby stood stock still. The rock sinking in her stomach as she turned around. Looking up at her dad, a duffle bag thrown over his shoulders. Zwei barking to announce himself by his feet.
"What? Did you really think I was going to let my daughter's, and their friend set of on a blind mission right after Vale City was Scorched?" He asked with a rhetorical roll of his eyes. "No. I'm coming with. And that's non-negotiable."
"What? Dad." Ruby all but wined. Not knowing what to feel.
"Qrow is going to meet us by the ferry stop. He was supposed to be your friends minder." Her dad said with a frown. "This has Ozpin's fingerprints all over it. I don't know what he wanted. At least it was not making another Team STRQ."
"Excuse me, but what do you mean with another?" Weiss coulndt help but ask with a frown.
"The world is a far larger and more magical place than you could ever imagine. We were his agents of sorts. Helping him deal with the kind of missions your normal team would call suicide runs." Her dad smiled, somewhat fond reminiscence in his eyes. Before he quickly shook his head and clicked his tongue. "We thrived in it. But if he wanted to create another team of that calibre. Then I don't know what he predicted the future to hold."
"You don't much like the previous headmaster, do you, Taiyang." Weiss asked with a frown.
"The reason Yang and Ruby grew up motherless is due to Ozpin." Her dad said with tired apathy. "A last mission, and then he would let her retire. She never made it home."
In an instant Ruby snapped her head to where the spectre of Summer floated. The spectre nodding softly.
"So the headmaster was a right bastard, then?" Yang crossed her arms. Hair flickering and looking one second to burst into fire.
"Please." Weiss snarked with a roll of her eyes. "No person in power is ever clean. You don't become the youngest headmaster of an academy so prestigious like Beacon without having some skeletons in your closet."
"Oh, Ozpin had skeleton's in his closet." Her dad nodded, taking a step forward and placing a supportive hand on her shoulder. "But you are the leader here, Ruby. I will follow you lead. Maybe step in here and there when the situation calls for it, but otherwise I will follow your lead."
"Then, take the ferry, meet Qrow. Then to Mistral." Ruby said, a feeling in her gut that made her just know where Jaune were.
"You really are your mother's daughter, huh." Her dad smiled with a soft shake of his head. "She too would also just belt out a location, and we would just, find what we were looking for that. Almost like she had a sixth sense or something."
"Then, Team RWY plus T and Z setting of!" Ruby shouted, taking an exited step forward. Zwei barking loudly before trotting forward and going first.
{-ooo-}
"Nora, your stomach is waking the dead."
"I'm sorry, ok. It's been hours since we have eaten. And I'm hungry."
"Are we there yet?"
"Soon, Violet. Soon."
"Hey! I think I see a barn in the distance. You think anyone would mind if we were to crash with the cows for the night?"
{-ooo-}
Note: And the board is mostly set. Atlas is after Jaune. Salem is after Jaune. Cinder is after Jaune and Pyrrha. Adam is Adaming. Ruby, Weiss, and Yang are after Jaune and Co. And Tyrian just want to meet his son and granddaughter.
Note: Violet is alive. She shares the same type of immortality as Jaune, but with a few caveats.
Note: Ghost looks exactly like they did when they died.
Note: I have gotten the deadline of my exams. So this chapter was written as a way to destress.