11
There was a dark cloud hanging over the RWBY dorm come morning. It wasn't hard to tell why. When they had gotten back, Yang had falteringly told the others what had happened, the video they had seen. Blake still saw the images in the back of her mind, a self that wasn't her but could have been. The video had shaken Blake and she had known what was coming. She couldn't imagine that Yang was taking it all that well.
Looking down at her scroll the message from Carmine was waiting, having been sent to all of team RWBY.
Training ring, 8:00 a.m. sharp. Don't make me come get you.
Weiss had already taken the shower before Yang could even roll out of bed and Ruby was busy blearily setting her combat outfit out. The blonde's feet touched the floor and Yang stretched with a loud yawn, her eyes a little less lifeless than usual.
"Yang." She turned to look back at Blake, head tilted as she started stretching her arms, who asked in a low whisper, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." The answer was quick, too quick, but even as Blake's eyes narrowed, Yang beat her to it, "No really. I'll be fine. It's just… weird. I can't get it out of my head."
"Well…" Blake began, "If you need me to, I'll listen."
Yang let out a small but genuine smile, "Thanks partner."
The bathroom door closed as Weiss came out and swapped with Ruby, who had been half dozing against the door the entire time. Eventually they made their way to the training rings, it was early enough in the morning that the only person there was Carmine. Standing there imperiously with her arms crossed as she waited for them to file in.
"Morning girls." Carmine addressed the assembled team in varying states of awareness, "Glad to see you bright eyed and bushy tailed. Now start warming up."
It was with some grumbling that team RWBY started stretching and then jogging around the ring as Carmine explained the training they would be doing, "We'll start off with all of you against me. After that I'll take some time to go over each of you individually then you'll pair off together."
That certainly got their attention, some more life being injected into team RWBY as they put a little more energy into their steps. After a few laps to get their blood flowing, Carmine called them into the arena. It was the largest one in the center, designed for team versus team combat. The team was awake, though she noticed Yang was looking a little bit down, and seemed up for the challenge.
"I'll give you guys one minute to strategize," Carmine brought out her scroll and synced both team RWBY's scrolls and hers to the projector. Aura readouts popped up and a timer above it, sixty seconds that started ticking down, "But not a second longer."
She sat back and watched the team start whispering furiously to each other, a small, nostalgic, smile on her face. Even without being able to hear them she could imagine what they were saying and what their strategy would be. Yang and Ruby would offer what advice they could on her weakness, or what had been her weaknesses. Some of those still remained, though over the years she had worked through blood and tears to fix them.
With just a handful of seconds left, RWBY got into position. Carmine thumbed something on her scroll, causing a holographic countdown to appear above the ring for everyone to see.
5
Ember Celica slid into place over Yang's wrist as she took her place in front of the team, fists held in front of her and at the ready.
4
Gambol Shroud came out with sheath in one hand and blade in the other, her position offset from her partner, ready to rush in with her but not as the main focus.
3
Myternaster was thrust tip down into the floor as Weiss took a deep breath, a glyph spreading out below her.
2
Crescent Rose deployed to its full length, the barrel of the sniper leveled at Carmine as Ruby chambered a round with a familiar ka-chunk.
1
Bloom and Scatter remained in their holsters as the timer hit zero, Carmine instantly disappearing in a flash of rose petals even as Yang's weapons themselves barked, propelling her forward and at the young professor. However Carmine didn't intend to engage her sister just yet. She knew her team and knew the crux of their teamwork.
Weiss was to hang back and offer support through the use of her semblance as both Blake and Yang engaged the enemy. That made her rather immobile as a result, something Carmine was eager to capitalize on. Petals flowed all around Yang as the professor flew past her and her partner who had charged in her shadow. She rematerialized just steps from Weiss, her palm poised to deliver a brutal attack to her temple but as it descended she had to check her attack and instead leap up, bringing her legs just over the blade of Crescent Rose as it scythed through the space she had just been in. Of course Ruby would have her partner's back, Carmine turned her head to the incoming blonde missile that was Yang, having redirected her charge. Just as her feet touched the ground again she pirouetted on the spot, her hand snapping out to catch Yang's wrist. Using the momentum against her, Carmine threw the girl at Weiss who had only just brought her rapier up to attack. Quickly she turned the blade aside as she was hit full flank by her teammate.
This left Ruby and Blake. The loud discharge of Crescent Rose going off alerted her to the attack coming and she dodge the scythe as Ruby flew at her in a cloud of rose petals. Even as she missed, the girl turned in mid-air, weapon coming around even as she sailed by, to fire several shots at Carmine, forcing her to throw herself to her right. As she did Blake leapt out of the blindspot created by her missing eye, scoring a superficial hit on her arm as she let her aura take the hit so she could chamber a kick with enough force to send the girl flying back a few feet giving her enough time to fly back into rose petals and close in on Weiss and Yang. Her sister jumped up, throwing out a wild haymaker with all of her force behind it. Carmine deflected it to the side with a circular motion while spinning and driving her elbow into the side of Yang's head, staggering her to the side and letting her have a straight shot at Weiss, but her old partner wasn't one to play meek.
Myternaster immediately leapt out for her throat, narrowly missing as Carmine leaned to the side. Bringing it back she thrust in rapid succession, each being diverted by a hairsbreadth. A telltale sound behind her had her smirking as she dispersed into her semblance, Myrtnaster piercing through where her body had been at the same time Yang's fist pushed through the cloud of petals that had been her head. The two barely had time for their faces to register surprise as Weiss stabbed into Yang, aura dipping greatly.
Ruby was ready, racing in with her semblance to try and catch Carmine where she would re-appear. Both came to a stop at the same time, Ruby already having Crescent Rose swinging and Carmine phased back into her semblance for a split second, letting the weapon pass through her. In the blink of an eye her face was thrust into her younger self's, her hand settling on the haft of the scythe.
"Excuse me, I'm borrowing this." With a vicious smile she planted her boot into Ruby's stomach and twisted while she kicked her away, brandishing Crescent Rose with a flourish, letting it rest behind her as she turned to face her old team.
Team RWBY hesitated as Yang helped her younger sister up, "Just stay back Ruby." The young girl looked ashamed and like she wanted to object but everyone there knew she was useless without her scythe.
Good, maybe this would prove a point, "Yes, Ruby. Just stay there. There isn't anything you can do right now."
Maybe the smile was overkill by the way Yang's eyes lit up scarlet and she pushed off the ground, dashing towards Carmine.
How boring. Yang's fist came in high as she hauled it back to deliver a devastating right to her older sister. She never got there. When her supporting foot slammed down she found it hooked by Crescent Rose and with a bark it was yanked back viciously, taking a chunk of her aura and tearing her leg out from under her. Carmine wasn't done, leaping forward and driving the head of her scythe into Yang and slamming her into the ground.
Her head snapped to the side in time to see Blake coming out of her blindspot again, the swing hitting the haft of the scythe as she vaulted up and twirled around it like a pole, delivering a kick straight to Blake's head, her foot sailing through the clone she made. Blake completed her backflip and Gambol Shroud came up, squeezing off a handful of shots. With Crescent Rose now in her hands, Carmine used a combination of evasion and long sweeping cuts to deflect the bullets.
"Yang, move!" Shouted Weiss as glyphs appeared all around Carmine in the air. Seeing the dome of glyphs, the blonde rolled over and ducked out of the area just as Weiss came gliding in, her foot touching the first glyph and her fram blurring as she was accelerated to massive speeds. Sparks flew as Myternaster was deflected by Crescent Rose, Weiss nothing but a streak of white as she started bouncing between glyphs. Carmine was forced to evade, parrying with Crescent Rose as she spun around, keeping her eye on the speeding heiress.
She felt proud of her old partner, even if she'd only managed a couple glancing blows, but that wouldn't change what she was about to do. Whispering an apology in her mind as Weiss reached her penultimate glyph in the series and Carmine took a non-defensive stance. It was far too late for Weiss to stop and so she sped towards the professor who swung her scythe right into the girl's way. The blade clotheslined her and a bark from Crescent Rose had the weapon jump forward even more as she used the momentum to fling Weiss across and out of the arena.
As she rolled to a stop, her aura flickered and failed.
Weiss was out of the fight completely and the rest of RWBY sat there stunned. Carmine pressed the mechanism on Crescent Rose, folding it into its rifle form, and tossed it to her younger self, who looked on the verge of tears.
"Weiss." Ruby croaked, "Are you okay?!" Carmine allowed her the moment to go check on her partner.
"Wasn't that a little harsh?!" Yang rounded on her.
"I wasn't going to hurt her." Carmine replied nonchalantly, not wanting to admit she had hit the heiress just a little harder than intended, "Besides you have more to worry about than her."
The look of confusion lasted only a brief second before she noticed Carmine hands resting on her weapons. Slowly she drew Bloom and Scatter from their holsters, letting them hang at her sides, relaxed.
She couldn't have felt prouder of the way they formed up, not that she'd expected less. They'd earned this, even if they wouldn't appreciate it. Now she was going to take them seriously. Show them how wide the world really was and how far they needed to traverse. It was especially important for Yang. Hopefully a lesson learned here would let her keep her arm.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Carmine paused but got no response other than hearing the sound of Crescent Rose's charging handle, "If you won't come to me, then I'll come to you!" She shouted, gleefully kicking off the floor and bursting into petals.
They were ready for her, of course they were. She only noticed the subtle shift in Yang a split second before the girl moved, Ember Celica coming up and emitting a large blast of fire, not a focused shot. Immediately she left her semblance, feeling the singing pain of the fire fade as she took the brunt on her aura. She burst through the flames to see the sole of Yang's boot fill her vision and she managed to turn her head to the side, snapping Bloom up and depositing a point blank round into her sister's leg, causing her to cry out and spin away.
This let her deal with the other two threats. It seemed as if it had finally sunken in with them that they needed to take the spar seriously. Ruby flew up next to her, scythe swinging for her neck while Blake ducked low and had Gambol Shroud slicing towards her knees. Carmine threw her body into a mid-air spin, the weapons both narrowly missing her and in the same breath extended Bloom and Scatter right into both girls, letting out a single shot each that spun her the opposite direction and knocked the two back.
No sooner had her feet touched the ground again that she was off after Blake. A swipe with one of her hand scythes had the girl frantically using a clone to escape and fended off the following swipe with Gambol Shroud. Carmine grinned as they exchanged rapid blows, ramping up her speed incrementally and watching as Blake got overpowered. Gambol shroud was knocked away and she instinctively dodged to the side with another clone but Carmine was ready for it, Scatter hooking her by the ankle and stopping her in her tracks, she could even see the moment of realization in her eyes as Bloom hooked around her neck.
Pulling her into her semblance they both became a blur of black and red petals, shooting into the air just as Yang and Ruby reached them. After reaching an apex the, the blurred duo began to descend at an even faster rate and just before hitting the ground they rematerialized, Blake having no time to react as she slammed into the ground, red petals scattering about as Carmine dispersed her own momentum by using her semblance to dash to the side. A loud noise sounded, a buzzer that signified someone else's aura entering the red as Blake was eliminated from the fight.
To their credit the two members left didn't stand there and gape like idiots. With no time to rest, Ruby was on her older self, Crescent Rose flashing in in wide sweeping slashes as she spun around. A glimpse of determined silver eyes, almost angry, nearly gave her a shiver. It was weird looking at a younger version of yourself and she was still having a hard time getting used to it.
Yang came in, her left hook streaking in for a kidney shot that Carmine avoided by deflecting Ruby's weapon into her path, forcing her to check her hit and back off with a frustrated sound. Delivering a swift kick to Ruby's head she turned to deal with Yang who rushed in as her sister fell back. The two sisters had enough practice against one another that they knew each other's abilities well but neither had had enough practice together to be able to work together in such a close situation well. Crescent Rose was just too big a weapon to wield next to an ally easily and it was that she took advantage of.
As Carmine traded blows with Yang, Ruby tried to come in again from her blindspot. It was a good tactic and might have worked if she hadn't expected it. The moment her younger self disappeared she duck down, underneath the strike and grabbed Yang's arm, pulling her into the path of Crescent Rose. The blonde cried out as she stumbled back, aura sparking but holding as she took the hit.
In that moment where Ruby's eyes went wide and she made to apologize to her sister, Carmine struck. Both Bloom and Scatter buried their muzzles against her chest as she squeezed the triggers, both weapons barking at the same time as the dust rounds impacted her aura, causing it to spark crimson. But that wasn't all, as she flew back from the force, Carmine fired again and again until Ruby dropped, aura in the red and the buzzer sounding.
That left only Yang who didn't hesitate to come flying at her, eyes blazing red and hair glowing a bright yellow the brawler roared as she initiated a blistering series of lightning fast punches. Carmine had to cross her arms to guard against the barrage until she felt it let up for a fraction of a second, knowing what was coming next she felt more than saw the uppercut coming underneath her guard and immediately turned her weapons blade out and fired while drawing them down. The cross slash empowered by her blast caught Ember Celica just before her face, metal on metal sparking.
Carmine smirked over at Yang and lashed out with her foot to catch Yang behind the knee but she got her leg turned in time and instead her boot only caught the edge of her leg. Yang's other arm came over and hit her in the shoulder, Ember Celica emitting a blast of fire, forcing her to let go of Yang and back away. Aura flared and protected her as she brought Bloom and Scatter back up, firing at Yang who ducked and weaved around the bullets. Her hair glowed even brighter, right arm coming up in a strong hook. The punch sailed through a cloud of rose petals, Yang's glow petering out as the force in her punch dissipated.
One of Yang's biggest weaknesses in her semblance was that of potential wasted energy. She had to take damage to build it up and had been doing so since the start of the spar. Once activated it could not be canceled. She had once described it to her that she could push and move the energy she stored. It was why her hair glowed the way it did, like a battery of sorts, and when she needed to use it the energy had to be consciously moved. The energy moved to her arm would be spent whether or not it hit.
All the damage she had taken thus far was wasted, the one punch she'd needed to land had hit only air and Yang had nothing but her own impatience to blame. Carmine could hardly blame her now. Her sister was young and the lesson the Yang of her own time had received on the matter was far harsher.
That wouldn't stop her from hammering it home, however. Carmine reappeared behind her sister, who to her credit realized her mistake and tried to spin on the spot. It was too late however, a booted foot catching her in the back of the knee. As her leg impacted the ground, Bloom was shoved into Yang's face, red eyes staring down the barrel and her aura hovering just barely out of red.
For a split second it looked like she might try and fight back anyways but eventually brought her hand down, tapping the ground three times to signal her forfeit. She let out a sigh as Bloom and Scatter went down, folding back up and into their holsters before Carmine extended a hand out to her sister to help her up.
"That was fun!" Carmine exclaimed once all of team RWBY was assembled on a nearby bench. The four sets of glares she got indicated that maybe the feeling wasn't mutual. Instead she put her hands on her hips and looked at each in turn. All four of them were in varying states with Weiss looking the worse for wear. The heiress had a great red welt along her neck that made Carmine want to flinch and the flushed red glare told her exactly who she blamed for it. Not that she was wrong to do so.
"Well I guess we should go over what we learned from this, yeah? Let's start with you, Weiss."
The heiress blinked in surprise before looking down in thought for a moment, "I focused on being the rear guard and supporting the others. This let you catch me by surprise."
Carmine's smile widened, "Yep! Though remember that I was the leader of team RWBY for over a decade. I know all of you inside and out and probably, in some ways, better than you know yourselves right now. Don't let it get to you all too much. As you stand now, the team is very formidable. And not just because of your individual strength. The teamwork you can, and will, foster can elevate you beyond anything you can dream of. Would you believe me if I said that even for all the skill I have now, I still couldn't beat my Yang in a one one one?"
Every head looked up at that, all in surprise. It was no real wonder, to them she probably looked like an incredibly faraway goal, but what she was now was a product of the harsh times she had been through. So many moments had come down to do or die and they had scraped through by the skin of their teeth time after time and had grown because of it. Each of them had the potential to be her or to surpass her. It was a fact. Whether or not they could would be up to them and she would do her best to drag them to that potential.
"Ruby." Carmine addressed her younger self, "I'll work with you to develop your semblance. Other than that you need to work on your timing and teamwork. You're capable by yourself but you need to remember that you are not on your own. Crescent Rose is a large weapon that's unwieldy at the best of times, so knowing how to attack around your allies will be important."
Ruby meekly nodded as Carmine turned to the next one.
"Blake." She observed the almost defiant look the faunus girl gave her, "Your teamwork is good, you work well with Yang in the vanguard but you're too quick to fall back. Creating openings for your team is the best way to use your strength, I know your old partner didn't need to rely on you like that but you aren't around him anymore and need to adjust your style appropriately."
The face Blake pulled was one that was intimately familiar to Carmine. Her thinking face, she liked to call it though normally it had always been about the White Fang.
"Yang." The blond girl cocked her head, "You need to temper your aggression and learn some patience. Not stopping to analyze the situation can place you and your team at risk and don't get me started on your semblance. You're far to eager put it to use and don't think about when and where you'll land your hit. I take it I don't have to explain how I exploited it?"
"No." Yang sulked, she always did hate to be shown she was wrong.
"Good. I'll ask dad to help you with your one on one. Hand to hand is more his and your expertise, not mine. And that brings us to.." And she looked over to the last remaining member of team RWBY.
"Weiss." Her voice softened towards her old partner, "Your glyphs are strong and you can back up your team like no other. This makes you a prime target. I know you can hold your own just be more mindful about when and where you use your glyphs, though I think your summons can help with that."
Weiss opened her mouth to retort but closed it a second later, looking off to the side, "I will keep that in mind."
"Wise words, Miss Rose." The voice sound out behind them.
"You always had suspicious timing, Oz." Carmine called back as she turned around to find Ozpin and a larger than normal entourage. He was accompanied by Glynda like usual but also two more figures dressed in white Atlesian uniforms. General James Ironwood stood stoically by his side and behind and to the side, mirroring Goodwitch, was Winter Schnee.
"Suspicious? Curious, I thought I had already notified you of their impending arrival just yesterday." Ozpin quirked a single eyebrow up.
Carmine's grin said the timing of the spar had little to do with coincidence, out of the corner of her eye she could see Weiss stand up and try and make herself presentable, though she didn't call out to her sister, likely far too conscious of the Headmaster and General in their presence. She could probably throw her old partner a bone, "Don't mind my students, they just finished some intensive sparring."
"So we saw." The General intoned, his face not betraying a single thought, "For first year students to handle themselves so adequately against a Professor of Beacon speaks well of them."
Carmine almost couldn't help laughing aloud as even Winter stood a little taller, unintentionally mirroring her sister, at the naked praise, "What can I say, I'm a good teacher."
Winter coughed into her hand, "I do believe your teachings had nothing to do with it, Professor."
Hook, line, and sinker, "Well now that you mention, I don't think I'm the perfect person to be teaching Weiss" Carmine disappeared into petals and reappeared next to a startled Winter who would have recoiled had she not had an arm around her shoulders, "Surely her sister, so skilled and capable, can teach her a thing or two? Perhaps about a certain family ability?"
She could almost see the warning bells go off in Winter's head, the suspicion rise. Looks like neither Ironwood nor Winter had been told yet, though that was by design. The information she had should only be shared in person, it looked like Oz really understood. Perhaps the only person paranoid enough to take her completely seriously. Was it paranoia if it was justified? Either way she was going to enjoy the bombshells they were about to drop on these two.
"That sounds like an excellent idea. Winter you can help your sister in your free time, if you wish." The General turned to Carmine, "Miss Rose, Ozpin says there are some things we need to discuss?"
"Indeed." Ozpin interrupted, motioning back out of the training area, "And that is something best discussed behind closed doors."
"I'll follow along in a sec, Oz, I just need a few more words with the team." Carmine called out, turning towards RWBY as Ozpin and the others walked away, Winter shooting her a very suspicious glare.
"Well-"
"Were you talking about the summons?!" Weiss interrupted her, she almost laughed at the insistent expression on the girl's face before nodding.
"Yup. I really don't know much about your semblance. The only one who can help you with it is your sister."
"But.." Weiss bit her lip, eyes downcast as she mumbled, "But I can't do it. Don't you think Winter has already tried helping me?"
Carmine sighed before placing a hand on her shoulder, "Weiss, you forget that even now you've grown far more than when you first arrived at Beacon. And besides," She leaned in to whisper, "I know for a fact that you're capable of doing it. After all, my Weiss could do it."
Even as she drew back she could see the questions dancing on Weiss' lips, but instead she turned to the others, "Make sure to practice with each other while I'm gone and keep in mind what I said earlier."
With one final pat to Weiss she turned around and headed for the door, smile falling off of her face as she followed after Ozpin.
General Ironwood. The man was the head of the Atlas military and held two seats on the Atlesian Council making him one of if not the most powerful person in that kingdom. He was also in Ozpin's inner circle, a small select few with knowledge of Salem. Series to a fault the man was dedicated to protecting his kingdom at all costs and a man that personally left a bad taste in Carmine's mouth.
After all, the last time they had seen one another, he had been trying to kill her.