Dutiful Destruction

by Joey245

Three months after the defeat of Makuta and Team RWBY's return to Remnant, a new foe emerges with one goal: to eradicate everything on the island of Mata Nui. With Salem casting her shadow on Vacuo and tensions mounting among the refugees of Atlas, Ruby and her friends may find themselves strained as they fight for the worlds of Man, Matoran, and more. (Sequel to Destiny's Divide.)

21. Send Me a Kiss by Wire

(A/N): Welcome back! As promised, here's a nice, fluffy, lighthearted chapter all about characters in Vacuo calling their families and friends all around the world. Expect silliness, shenanigans, and plenty of cameos! (And before anyone asks, no - I likely won't be following up on most of the characters we get a glimpse of here. This is just my way of going "yes, these guys are still around, here's how they're doing now.")

Also, content warning for abuse in Cinder's section once more - that lady just cannot catch a break. Not that I'm about to give her one anytime soon, mwahaha.

---

As soon as Yang got back to her dorm room at the crack of dawn, the first thing she did was call her dad.

Well, that was her intention at least. What actually ended up happening was that her first two calls went right to voicemail, while her third failed to connect at all. Right now she was on her fourth attempt in the last hour, hugging herself with one arm and trying not to crush the Scroll in her metal hand. She paced the length of Team RWBY's room in Shade Academy at least a dozen times as the dial-up tone rang. And rang. And rang. And rang…

Her brow furrowed in worry and frustration. Wasn't the hours-old Amity Satellite being in the sky supposed to solve all the communication problems? There was plenty of bandwidth available, even with half the people in Vacuo doing the same thing as her - if not half the people across all of Remnant - so why wasn't her call going through? Was her dad ignoring her? Was he busy? Or had something happened over in Patch, something terrible and horrific that she was only learning about now?…

Fortunately, her fears were dispelled when the sleepy face of Taiyang Xiao Long finally appeared on her screen, golden-blond hair messily tousled and toothbrush in mouth.

"Hrm? Oh, hey Yang," he said sleepily - or at least, that's what his grunting best translated as. "Sorry, didn't realize I left my Scroll here in the bathroom until -"

Then it clicked what he was seeing, and the toothbrush went flying and clattering into the sink. "Wait. Yang?! What - how - when - huh?!"

It was all the blonde brawler could do but laugh, even as tears pooled in her eyes. Gods, he hadn't changed one bit.

"Hey Dad," she finally said with the warmest smile in months. "I'm guessing you haven't checked the news yet? Something pretty big happened last night, might wanna get on that."

"The news? What - wait a minute." Halfway across Remnant, the sleepy Huntsman's brain finally started warming up and connecting the dots. "The CCT network. Amity Tower. It's all back?"

"Amity Satellite, but yeah." Yang laughed softly and shook her head, finally taking a seat on one of the empty bunk beds. "Feels good to see you again, Dad. Things have been…pretty crazy in the last year or so. Wait, has it been a year since I left? Or six months? I can barely keep track of time anymore…"

A loud bark nearly blew out the Scroll speakers, and Taiyang staggered as a small dog with black-and-white fur practically leapt into his arms. "Heh, you and him both," he said with a laugh of his own. "Tell you what. I'll go brew some coffee, get Zwei his breakfast, and you can tell me all about what you and your sister have been getting up to. Hell, maybe you can go find Ruby and put her on the call, too! It's been ages since we all chatted…"

The glee she felt at seeing Zwei licking the hard-light screen faded almost instantly. "Ah…we might have to take a rain check on Rubes joining," she said while scratching a nonexistent itch on the back of her neck. "She and Uncle Qrow set off on an undercover op about two weeks ago, and they're under strict 'no contact' rules until they get back. Can't have leaks about what they're doing…you know how Ozpin likes his secrets, right?"

If Taiyang was disappointed that his youngest daughter wasn't able to talk, he hid it well. And if he doubted Yang's excuse, he hid that even better. It wasn't a complete lie, as Ruby and Qrow technically were on a mission for Ozpin - it just so happened to be a mission for the Toa, the Matoran, and everyone else on Mata Nui too. But she didn't dare tell her dad that the family's beloved little rose was in another world right now, or that there even were other worlds. That was a bombshell that deserved to be dropped in person, not over a phone call in the early morning hours.

After a moment spent masking his worry and concern - a worry Zwei casually interrupted with a high-pitched whine - he finally nodded in understanding and put on a smile. "Oh, yeah, good old Oz and his 'special assignments.' Used to do my fair share of them too, back in the day…well, I'll just have to catch up with her when she and Qrow get back." He blinked and did another double take. "Wait. Ozpin? Didn't he die during that attack on Beacon? Is he back already?"

"Oh, you already know about that reincarnation trick he does?" She chuckled. "Good, that saves some time…wasn't sure how I was gonna explain that whole thing. Honestly, not sure where to start with everything else."

"Well, let's start at what happened after you left," said Taiyang as he made his way from the bathroom to the kitchen, corgi tucked under his arm. "What did you end up choosing? Did you go looking for Ruby? Or did you try to find…her?"

It didn't escape Yang's notice that he paused for a moment, though the reason for that pause was beyond her awareness.

"See, that's the thing. In a way…I kinda did both."

And so began Yang's tale of adventures and challenges, from dive bars in Mistrali outskirts to pitched battles at Haven Academy, from taking the scenic route to Argus and fights with giant robots to missions and misadventures in Atlas's final weeks. She left out the parts involving Mata Nui and the people of Bara Magna as much as she could; the former would just sound unbelievable, and the latter would be revealed in a more official capacity eventually, so for now she just focused on the Remnant side of things in her story. Even that was a lot to go over, and even more to take in, as Taiyang took a seat on the couch halfway through her explanation and barely budged for the rest of it. Even Zwei perked his ears up at certain points, big brown eyes shimmering in concern for his favorite humans.

After a few hours she knocked back a can of chilled coffee to quench her thirst, giving her dad a moment to process everything. "Holy hell…" he breathed, shaking his head slowly. "I know Rubes said in her message that Salem was attacking Atlas, and that Ironwood couldn't be trusted anymore…but I had no idea things had gotten that bad. You're all out there in Vacuo right now, of all places? That can't be easy."

"It has its challenges," she said after draining the can in one long slurp. "But it has its bright sides, too. Folks are learning to live together, and we've found ways to make sure no one goes hungry or dies of thirst. Vacuans are starting to warm up to outsiders, and Atlesians are learning the value of getting some dirt under their fingernails. The Grimm are always a problem, sure, but now that we know what Salem is trying to do…they're not quite the boogeymen they used to be."

"I'll bet you've been punching your fair share of them, eh?"

"More than her fair share, even."

Yang gasped as she felt a pair of hands clasp her around the waist while a chin rested on her shoulder. She didn't need to turn around to know that Blake was kneeling behind her and squeezing her hips with those perfect thighs, having silently slipped back into the dorm room at some point. Zwei rolled onto his feet and barked happily at the new arrival, while Taiyang's eyes brightened.

"Ah…hey Blake," she said with a soft chuckle. "What brings you here?"

"Besides the fact that you're in my bed?"

"Eh, it's practically my bed too, considering how much time I spend here." Her gaze snapped back to the screen. "Oh, you remember Blake, right Dad? Well, we're kinda…dating now…"

Please don't do the thing please don't do the thing please don't do the thing…

Much to Yang's horror, Taiyang leveled the flattest, harshest, most tough-guy stare he could muster right at the feline Faunus over her shoulder. Then he got up, Scroll still in hand, and went over to the counter. To Blake's confusion, and to her inevitable embarrassment, he rummaged around in the breadbox for a moment before pulling out a fresh loaf of wheat bread, holding it in view as a stupid smirk sprouted on his face.

"Well then…I'd loaf to welcome you to the family, Blake."

Despite herself, Yang snorted and shook her head. "Ugh, Dad! That was so bad, no matter how you slice it!"

"Aw, c'mon! Giving her a bread pun was the yeast I could do!"

"Rye are you like this?!"

"You know you loaf it! …wait, dammit I already used that one…"

"Don't you mean you already used that bun?"

"Hah! That's what I'm talking about! You're always so quick to rise to the challenge!"

"What can I say? I have a knead for well-baked puns."

"…I am getting so many answers to questions I never knew I had," deadpanned Blake as she looked between the two Xiao Longs holding in their giggles.

Taiyang finally set the bread down and wiped his eyes. "Ah…haha…gods, I missed that…but in all seriousness, Blake, I'm glad you and Yang are happy together. She used to gush about you so much in her letters to me back at Beacon -"

"Daaaaad!"

"- and I'm glad she's got a partner she can trust at her back. She's strong, she's incredible, and she's got a big heart. Treat her well, and you'll always have sunshine in your life."

Now she felt like crying, this time not from holding in her laughs. "Dad…"

Blake smiled and purred as she nuzzled deeper into her neck, planting a kiss on her cheek. "She's the light of my life, Mister Xiao Long. I couldn't imagine treating her with anything less than the love she deserves."

"Dammit, this isn't fair - you're both gonna make me cry at this rate."

"Arf arf!"

"Not you too, buddy…"

As if to spare his daughter any more overwhelming affection, Taiyang looked around the room with a pensive frown. "Well, since I'm up and about, I should probably get an early start on chores. I'm sure you girls are really busy, too, what with the…everything going on. Take care of each other and yourselves, and let me know when Ruby and Qrow get back."

"I'll have them call you the second they're safe and sound," promised Yang with a nod. "You'll keep Patch safe for us, right?"

"That's always been the plan…although the Grimm haven't attacked here for a good while now…" The elder Xiao Long hummed. "In fact, depending on how the next few weeks go, I might be joining you all in Vacuo - I'll have to check with Glynda and the other Hunters in Vale, to make sure they've got enough folks to cover both Patch and the mainland. If most of Salem's focus is on Vacuo these days, it makes sense to have as many hands there as possible to help."

"Arf! Arf arf arf!"

"…yes, Zwei, you'll come too if I go."

"Arf!"

Yang's heart was so full it nearly burst right in her chest. Fortunately Blake was there to speak for her when she was too stunned to do so, smiling warmly with flickering feline ears. "I think we'd love to have you, Mister Xiao Long."

The older brawler waved his hand. "Please, Blake, just Tai is fine."

The feline Faunus smirked. "You got it, 'Just Tai.'" She gave a knowing wink to Yang, who cringed in her seat.

Taiyang, of course, had the opposite reaction. "Hah! I like her already, Yang. Alright, see ya later!"

"See ya, Dad. Love you."

"Love you more, my sunny little dragon."

And with that, the call ended, and Yang fell back into Blake with a sigh that was equal parts happy and tired. "Whew…he's doing just fine. That's a relief. And here I was afraid he was just sitting at home, wasting away with worry."

"He's strong, just like you." Blake gave her some more soft kisses, tracing a trail along her jawline. "If he does end up coming to Vacuo, he'll be able to see that strength firsthand."

She gave a knowing smile to her partner. "Y'know…you're not on call with my dad anymore, you don't have to compliment me to butter him up."

Another smooch, this one right where her neck met her chin. "Did you want me to stop?" she whispered haughtily.

Her heart thundered as her breath tickled her ears. "No…I…never want you to stop, Blake…"

Yang surrendered herself to those arms she loved twisting her around and pinning her to the bed, as the perfect form of Blake Belladonna climbed on top of her and came closer, closer, and yet not close enough. Not yet.

"Then I never will, Yang. I'll never stop loving you…no matter how many silly bread puns you and your dad make."

…I'm toast, thought Yang, which was all she had time to think before Blake's lips crashed against her own with a taste sweeter than any found in a bakery.

---

"…okay, cameras are set and lights are almost in place! We're going live in fifteen minutes!"

Winter paced the length of the borrowed studio with her hands locked behind her back, stealing glances at the activity swirling around her. Elm and Joanna were making some last-minute adjustments to standing light fixtures, while Harriet and May had their gazes glued to their Scrolls. Marrow weaved between the "film crew" and barked orders to anyone standing idle, tail wagging in excitement no matter how much his face contorted in stress. And Fiona was at the back coaching Raanu and Ackar on Remnant television etiquette, occasionally pulling tripods or additional cameras out of her palms and handing them off to anyone who asked. Winter wasn't sure when or how the sheep Faunus had gotten her hands on so much filming equipment, but maybe it was better not to question it.

It certainly made the prospect of a worldwide interview less daunting.

Robyn came over to her with a comb in hand and a patient smile on her face, having finally given up trying to apply makeup to the Winter Maiden. "Well? How are you feeling, Winter?"

"Like a spring wound too tight," she answered tersely, fighting the urge to flinch as Robyn vainly tried brushing her bangs. "I don't know how Ruby found the courage to address all of Remnant…or how you prepared yourself for your campaign speeches."

"Well, I'd tell you to imagine the audience in their underwear, but I don't think that'd help much here." Robyn barked a laugh and pushed another defiant white lock into place, which sprung back as soon as she pulled the comb back. "Jeez, your hair's stubborn…did you fly through a wind tunnel on the way here?"

"I'm a Maiden," deadpanned Winter. "I'm always flying against the wind."

"Then you should really invest in a hat or something, to keep your hair from tangling while you fly. Or a hood. Maybe even a hairnet." Her friend made two more ineffectual strokes before giving up with a sigh. "Eh, actually, y'know what? I think it's fine. Gives you a rough-and-tumble kind of look, makes you look like you've been putting your nose to the grindstone and helping Vacuo non-stop. Which, of course, you have been doing, but this'll let folks outside the desert know."

Winter raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware my appearance could say so much."

"On live television, presentation is everything." Robyn smiled and tucked the comb into her belt, giving Winter's hand a squeeze with two warm palms. "Don't worry, I'm sure you're gonna do great. And I'll be right behind the cameras if you need a save. I don't think Lisa's gonna needle you that hard with her questions, but you never know with reporters. Just give the truth as best you can. It'll be enough."

Something in Winter compelled her to give Robyn's hands a squeeze in return, making some part of her heart flutter mysteriously. Before she could question it Marrow came back over with a pad of paper and a pencil tucked behind his ear, opening his mouth to say something…before he noticed the joined hands, and promptly backpedaled. Clearly whatever he had to say could wait a little longer.

Strange as it was to admit, knowing that Robyn was the one who organized this interview - and that she was there every step of the way - brought some measure of peace to the Winter Maiden.

Eventually, the time came to face the music. Robyn withdrew with an almost reluctant expression, leaving Winter behind with cold hands and a colder pit in her stomach. The front LEDs on the cameras lit up with an ominous red. The standing light fixtures focused their beams on a single spot along the back wall, one that the Maiden stepped into with a breath to steel herself.

"Okay, places people!" called Marrow. "Broadcasting in three…two…one…"

Harriet and May joined their Scrolls together to form a large screen of hard-light, one that flickered on to show the image of a stern-looking woman with purple hair and piercing eyes.

"…welcome back to the Vale News Network! I'm your host, Lisa Lavender, and tonight we have a very special guest - an interview with the Winter Maiden herself! Miss Schnee, can you hear us?"

Winter took another deep breath, let it out slowly, and nodded. "Yes, Miss Lavender, I'm receiving you loud and clear."

Mentally, she kicked herself. That was a military response.

Lisa took it in stride with a small smile and a nod of her own. "Well, it's certainly a relief that you're receiving us at all, especially all the way out there in Vacuo. The world was certainly shocked when Ruby's message went out a few months ago, and doubly so when the CCT came online again the other day. There's a lot of questions swirling around in the minds of Remnant, and I'm honored to be the one to ask them."

"Just as I'm honored that you chose me to answer them," said Winter almost reflexively. She caught a glimpse of Robyn grinning behind the cameras.

"Excellent. Then let's start with the obvious - how is the CCT network active again? We're getting unconfirmed reports of a new tower in low orbit around Remnant…but that shouldn't be possible, right?"

So they were already starting there, were they? Well, Winter supposed the biggest Goliath in the room couldn't stay unaddressed forever. She gave a meaningful look over to Fiona, who nodded and nudged Raanu and Ackar to join her in the spotlight. The Agori and Glatorian stepped into view of the cameras with all of their usual confidence, giving the first worldwide look at visitors from beyond the stars.

"It was impossible purely with Remnant technology," explained the Winter Maiden with her hands clasped behind her back. "But we had help in establishing the Amity Satellite from the good people of Bara Magna…a world beyond our own."

To Lisa's credit, her stunned silence lasted only twenty seconds.

---

"…I think I'm gonna need either more whiskey, or less. I'm not sure which."

Glynda rolled her eyes as she adjusted her posture, doing her best to ignore the bearded man's remark as he wiped down glasses behind the bar counter. Then again, his surprise was justified - as soon as those alien figures had appeared on the video screen, she'd nearly fallen off her own stool in shock, and it was only decades of experience as a Huntress and a Headmaster's aid that prevented such an embarrassing tumble. Given how many people were using Junior's club as a safe haven these days (much to the chagrin of its proprietor, who'd been "convinced" his criminal empire would have no profits with no people in Vale), it was important to maintain decorum and dignity. Especially now, more than ever.

She pushed her glasses into place and studied the figures on the club's main vidscreen a bit more carefully, taking note of the weathered crimson-gray armor and the glowing eyes and the robotic parts interspersed through their bodies. One of them was shorter, with limbs as long as its own torso, while the other was so tall its head barely fit in the frame. They were a far cry from the bug-eyed, green-skinned aliens that so often appeared in Remnant's science fiction stories…indeed, there was something almost human about them under all the metal and gruff.

Lisa Lavender quickly masked whatever shock she had under a professional reporter's facade. "…Miss Schnee, I'm going to have to ask you to clarify. Are you saying that Remnant is currently hosting alien life?"

"That is exactly what I'm saying," said Winter, who stood between the two figures without so much as flinching. "I present to you Chief Raanu, head of the Bara Magna Outreach Committee and ambassador for his people, as well as his right-hand warrior Ackar. When they heard we were planning this interview, they requested that this be the way they reveal their presence to the world."

The smaller alien gave a wave and a smile beneath his helmet. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lavender…and, by extension, all of Remnant as well. The people of Vacuo have been nothing but kind to us, both Agori like myself and Glatorians like Ackar here. I can only hope we manage to endear ourselves to the rest of your world, as well."

Lisa hummed. "I see. So some of these newcomers are…warriors? Forgive me for being so brazen, but I'm certain a lot of people might be concerned about a potential alien invasion -"

The taller one - Ackar, presumably - cut her off with a cough and a wave of his hand. "We fled our homeworld to escape one war," he said in a gravelly tone. "We have no intention of starting another. The only thing we've rallied our swords against are the Grimm, and those who would align themselves with your Salem."

Another brief pause, so quiet a pin drop would have been deafening. Eventually the veteran reporter regained her composure and set down her stack of cue cards, evidently ready to go off-script to address this new development.

"Well that is…hopefully reassuring," Lisa said. "In that case, it's an honor to be among the first to interview aliens such as yourself, along with the Winter Maiden. Let's start with the obvious question - how did you get here?"

"We walked." Raanu paused for laughter, then smiled again. "In truth, we had set out on a spaceship to escape our world, as Ackar said, only to crash-land in Vacuo approximately two weeks ago…"

"Auntie Muffin is gonna flip when she hears this," groused a black-haired Huntress as she passively looked up from her own Scroll, as if world-shattering news like this was just a momentary distraction.

Her white-clad twin sitting across from her sighed. "Miltia, she probably already knows. There's a lot of Spiders in Vacuo, after all."

"Don't be ridiculous, Melanie." Miltia rolled her eyes and resumed typing. "Scorpions live in the desert, not spiders."

"Ugh, you know what I mean." Melanie hummed thoughtfully as she stared at the screen. "Also, not to be, like, super shallow, but…doesn't that Ackar guy look kinda hot?"

The scarlet-wearing twin flinched in her seat with a face like she'd just sucked a lemon. "Eww, Mel! Eww!"

"What? Look at him, he's so tall! And those are some really broad shoulders…and that voice…"

Miltia cradled her head in both gloved hands. "I cannot with you sometimes."

"Oh, like your taste in boys is any better," scoffed Melanie.

Glynda did her best to ignore the shallow shenanigans of the sisters, sipping on her water instead. "Well, in any case," she mused with a hum, "let's just hope these visitors from Bara Magna prove they can carry their own weight. Between losing Beacon, witnessing the fall of Atlas, and everything that happened in Mistral… we're straining to hold ourselves together as is."

"Sure would be easier to keep order if your old boss was still around, lady," muttered Junior. Then he shook his head. "Wow, now that's something I never thought I'd say…"

Her reply was cut short by a buzzing sensation against her hip, prompting her to turn down the news and pull out her Scroll. The number that appeared wasn't one she recognized and the profile picture was blank, which were usually red flags to ignore the call, but she felt compelled to answer all the same. An unfamiliar face filled her screen, a freckled boy so young he would've still been attending Signal Academy - if the school system in Vale still existed.

"Who is this?" she demanded, pushing her glasses into place. "How did you get this number?"

Despite the boy being a stranger, he gave a smile that was maddeningly familiar, and Glynda's heart dared to hope for the first time in a very long time.

"Hello again, Glynda," said Ozpin in a borrowed voice.

---

Kiina hated the word "crazy." It had always just felt like an easy way to dismiss someone's ideas and opinions, a way to shut them down without giving them a chance to make their point. Why waste time arguing with a crazy person? Why try to listen and understand someone whose views challenged the status quo, when there was always a way to disregard and discredit them by labeling them as mentally ill? Sure, there were cases of actual insanity and madness - like Malum stripping down and living with the Vorox after being exiled from Vulcanus - but all too often it felt like a cop-out. People had called her crazy for wanting to visit other worlds well into adulthood. People had called her crazy for her fighting style in the arena. And people had definitely called her and Azina crazy when they returned from their expedition into the ruins, with knowledge of how to leave Bara Magna behind and fly to the stars.

And yet…if someone had warned her thousands of years ago that she would one day listen to her two oldest friends address an entire planet, that she and others she knew would do so while dressed in local garments instead of armor, and that a human girl with untapped magical power and a canine companion would feel safe enough to hang out in their home away from home?

Well, Kiina might've just called that oddly-specific fortune teller crazy all the same. And she'd have been wrong, too.

She looked up from the video and cast her gaze over the house, making sure no one had tried to kill each other in the last five minutes. Sure enough, everything was the same as it was during her last check-in; Gresh was sitting in the bed below hers glued to his own Scroll, while Metus had claimed one of the red-covered "couches" along the wall of the house with a third device. On an identical piece of furniture across from the Ice Tribe Agori, Petra and Berix were huddled together with yet another Scroll balanced on the latter's leg, the pair of them up to their necks in a soft velvet cover. Azina sat on the floor a few ilms away from a black beast as big as her, tentatively reaching her hand forward and reeling back whenever Toto tried to affectionately lick her. While all of them had shed their usual suits of plating and servos, Gelu was the exception - he was still kitted out in his usual ice-white armor, laying on his preferred bunk and covering his eyes in an attempt to sleep.

Satisfied that everyone was safe and content, Kiina returned her attention to the interview, eager to see what questions this Lisa Lavender person had for her oldest friends -

"Hey Kiina, check this video out! It's all about the history of bread!"

…well, that didn't last long.

Kiina groaned as she once more tapped the mute icon on her Scroll, silencing the news broadcast and cutting off Raanu's explanation of what led to their arrival. She threw the covers off her armorless form and looked over the bunk bed's edge, reluctantly resolving to see what Gresh was showing her this time. The excitable young Glatorian's smile was on full display without his helmet, as was his toned crimson-orange skin and rippling green-lined muscles as he sprang to his feet…and it took her longer than she'd like to admit for her glowing green eyes to actually notice the video playing on her friend's device.

"It is often said that farming is the backbone of civilization, that the first Kingdoms were founded on fields of wheat cultivated anywhere two rivers crossed. But that is no mere legend - recent archaeological evidence by Valean scholars suggests that agriculture has been part of humanity's story for over twenty thousand years…"

Metus sat up and let out a snort of derision. "Only twenty thousand years? That's cute. Pretty sure you were still a Glatorian-in-training at that point, Gresh; back when humans figured out that putting seeds in the ground made for free food, you were learning which end of the sword was the pointy one."

"Aw, c'mon, I'm not that green," protested Gresh with a pout.

"You look more orange to me, Mister Gresh! Miss Kiina and Mister Berix are the green ones now!" Petra giggled as she looked up from where she was snuggled with her strange, shifty little friend. "It's so weird, seeing you guys without armor…but kinda cool, too!"

The Water Tribe Agori next to her gave a shake of his helmetless head, letting his long golden metallic hair flow over them both. "What can I say? Your human clothes are very comfortable. Fashionable, too!"

"They sure are!" said Petra with another laugh, looking over at Gresh. "Although they might be more comfortable if you wore them right. The socks go inside the shoes, not outside, and the pants are supposed to go up to your waist instead of your knees. Also, the shirt's on completely wrong - your arms and neck are supposed to stick out of them, not your legs."

"I wondered what that third hole was for…" mused the Jungle Tribe Glatorian as he pulled his garments off to comply with the Summer Maiden's suggestions. "Cover your eyes, kid! I don't wanna have a really awkward conversation with your dad when you get back."

The little Summer Maiden complied and brought the blanket over her face. "Okay, I'm not peeking! But shouldn't Miss Azina and Miss Kiina cover their eyes, too? Dad said that girls and boys shouldn't watch each other change…"

"I'm good," deadpanned Azina. "It's nothing I haven't already seen when fixing his servos or patching up his bio-frame."

Berix smirked. "And I don't think 'Miss Kiina' would dream of missing the show -"

"I will skewer you to the wall if you finish that sentence," growled Kiina, trying to ignore how hot her cheeks felt - or how her eyes kept wandering that way.

Gelu, having apparently given up trying to sleep, finally sat up in his bed and looked down at the little human. "So, Petra. How's the, um…elemental training going? Have you come any closer to mastering your power?"

Petra lowered the blanket to reveal a sudden frown. "Not really…I haven't had any magic lessons with Miss Winter in a week, and even though I've been doing the stuff she taught me every day, it's still not working. I practice twice every day, first thing in the morning and right before I go to bed. I'm doing the dancing thing, the breathing thing, even the sitting thing…but nothing happens. Sometimes I hear whispers I don't understand as I'm falling asleep. Sometimes I feel my hands get hot or cold. But I'm not flying, or throwing fire, or making my eyes do that cool glowy thing. And I don't wanna go back to her until I do, y'know?"

Toto whimpered in empathy, rolling away from Azina (who sighed in relief) to be closer to his little friend. Berix laid a hand on her head and rubbed gently, a gesture Kiina had caught Emerald doing to her on more than one occasion. All of which the green-haired human had vehemently denied, of course.

"I wouldn't worry too much, kid," said Gresh as his head appeared in what was probably the correct shirt hole. "You're a smart little human, and tough as nails to boot. If anyone can figure this out and become the best Maiden this world's ever seen, it'd be you."

Kiina's hearts did backflips in her chest. How did he just…know the right words to say to someone who needed encouragement? It obviously worked, as soon Petra was smiling again as she nuzzled into Berix's shoulder.

"Yeah…Emerald tells me the same thing," she said with a sigh. "She comes and visits sometimes, along with Mister Berix. Guess I've just gotta keep trying, keep doing what I learned, and maybe I'll get it right someday." Petra hummed thoughtfully for a moment, then looked around with little gray-green eyes. "Did you guys have any magic back home?"

"Not unless you count Berix's disappearing act anytime there were chores that needed doing," quipped Kiina as she laid down once more.

"C'mon, I'm right here."

"You heard me."

Metus regarded the bantering pair with a hum, then tapped his ice-blue chin. "We did use to have Great Beings that could manipulate matter itself, much like how you Maidens can use the elements…but they all got themselves killed in a civil war that broke our planet, so we can't exactly go ask them for help."

And just like that, the Maiden's good mood vanished. Leave it to Iconox's most infamous merchant to throw a cold, wet blanket on a perfectly good fire.

"Oh…right," said Petra, curling just a little tighter up against her Agori friend. "Mister Berix said you guys had a really big war in the past. If you don't mind me asking…what were you fighting over? Was it important?"

"That depends on what records you consult," said Azina, standing up and adjusting the ruffles of her long-skirted dress. "Some legends say that the Great Beings discovered a powerful energy source at the core of Spherus Magna, and everyone fought to claim it for themselves. Other stories say that tensions were brewing between each Tribe's creators for eons, where one accidental death pushed everyone over the edge into all-out war. There's other versions that exist, like how every Tribe was building more and more dangerous weapons they were itching for a chance to use, or how vanity and jealousy were vices not even the Great Beings could resist…but they all end the same way. We don't know for sure how it started, and the ones who were there certainly aren't talking about it." She cast a pointed glare at Metus, who just shrugged as he rose from the couch.

"Look, all I'll say is that when you get to my age, some things are better off forgotten," said the icy merchant, staring first at Azina then at Petra. "You younglings weren't there, and you should be grateful for that. End of the day, it doesn't matter how the Core Wars started - the reality is that the idiots who made us have been gone for a hundred thousand years, and they left us behind to rot in the ruins. And now we're trying to stop a crazy lady from doing the same thing here, to your world. Want some advice on magic, kid? Don't bother. All the power in the world couldn't save us, and it won't save you either."

And with that, Metus made for the door and stormed away, leaving a cold silence in his wake. Kiina stared at where Metus had been sitting perfectly happy and content a moment ago, feeling equal parts annoyed and sympathetic. While it wasn't fair of him to unload like that onto a child, she recognized that the outburst came from a place of pain instead of malice. She wasn't old enough to have seen Spherus Magna before the Shattering, but she knew Glatorians who'd served in the Core Wars - and with each passing century, that number was whittled down by madness or death, their minds breaking before their bodies. She'd seen Ackar and Gelu and other veterans wake up screaming some nights or stare lifelessly into the empty skies, fearing they were still trapped in a war that ended a hundred thousand years ago, and they were the lucky ones who hadn't lost their minds or will to live. How horrific had the Core Wars been, if the struggle of daily life on Bara Magna seemed easier?

"…I'm sorry," said Petra eventually, no longer meeting anyone's gaze. "I didn't mean to make Mister Metus mad."

"Ah, he's always like that," said Gelu with a scoff and a wave of his hand. "Give him a few hours to clear his head, and he'll be back soon enough."

"A little too soon, if you ask me," groused Azina, sitting down in Metus's former seat with a huff. "I get not wanting to talk about it, but how are we supposed to avoid the mistakes of the past if we won't even talk about them?"

Gelu shrugged. "It's like he said, some things are better forgotten. Your dad can probably vouch for that."

Gresh blinked and rushed to Petra's other side, laying a hand on the back of an anxious Toto. "C'mon, we can't have Remnant's best Maiden frowning while she visits. Let's focus on the present - it's the only thing we've got control over, after all. Berix, see if you can find something online that she'd like to watch, something that'll brighten her spirits. Yang had a recommendation for me the other day…what was it she called them? Cat videos?"

The treasure hunter grinned as he swiped his Scroll, his smile brightening as Petra's mirth returned. "Ask, and you shall receive. Cat videos…cat videos…um. How do you spell that again?"

And so after a little guidance from the Maiden, as moving images of four-legged feline creatures danced across Berix's Scroll - to Petra's delight, Berix and Gresh's intrigue, Toto's curiosity, and Azina's abject horror - Kiina smiled and turned her attention back to the news broadcast once more. When she'd muted the interview, Winter had taken a step back to let Raanu and Ackar say their piece; now she was front and center once more with a tight frown on her face.

"…all that is certainly interesting, but I think it's time we pivot back to one of my original questions, Miss Schnee. Namely, why are the people of Atlas out in the Vacuo deserts in the first place?"

She didn't need a mastery of human body language to know just how tense the Winter Maiden had suddenly become.

---

"Alright Adrian, show Uncle Jaune your new trick! Go to Mama!"

In the warmth and safety of the Cotta-Arc household, Saphron aimed the lens of her Scroll at her growing baby boy sitting on the floor among all his toys. After staring back at her with those adorable eyes and chubby cheeks of his for a moment, Adrian grabbed onto a footstool and slowly, clumsily, pulled himself up onto two unsteady onesie-padded feet. He looked back at his blonde mom for guidance (or maybe just to make sure she was watching), then let go of the furniture and toddled over to a waiting, kneeling Terra. Little Adrian fumbled the last few steps, but his other mom was already waiting to catch him and hold him close to her chest, cooing and praising him all the while.

On her screen, Jaune's big blue eyes brightened in delight. "Oh my goodness he's walking! He's actually walking! Eeeeeeee that's too cute!"

"I know, right?" Saph giggled as she leaned back into the sofa, glancing between her little brother in her palms and her wife and son across the living room. "He just started doing that about a week ago…give him a few more months, and he might be walking like a pro!"

"Ah, they grow up so fast…"

"Unlike a certain little brother I know," she said teasingly.

"Saaaaaph…" Jaune groaned and pouted - yep, still the same pout he'd had since he was five - then smiled at the camera. "So, how've things been in Argus? Y'know, since our little 'adventure' there…Cordovin hasn't been giving you guys too much grief, has she?"

"Actually, she's been an absolute sweetheart," said Saph with a wistful smile and a giggle at Jaune's confused expression. "No, really! You guys really left a big impression on her - she and her men have been helping the folks out around town, instead of just sitting in their base all day watching the shores. As she puts it, 'the happier people are, the less we need to worry about fear drawing in Grimm.'"

Terra plopped down next to her with Adrian still in her arms, sighing as he once more tried to grab for her glasses. "Of course, that was after she did a lot of soul searching. You remember how she was all 'might of Atlas' this, 'might of Atlas' that, right?"

"How could I forget? That was like all she ever talked about!" Jaune laughed for a moment, then sobered as realization dawned on him. "…oh."

Saphron allowed herself to frown for a moment as she glanced from the Scroll to the living room vidscreen, which projected the images of two white-haired women from two different places halfway across the world. Though the audio was muted for now, the closed captioning diligently transcribed the conversation - which had moved on from alien life on Remnant to a description of Atlas's final days and downfall. She still remembered the days that came after news finally reached them about their northern neighbor, all the fear and uncertainty and the shock and the confusion, and how she still sometimes saw Cordovin standing at the edge of Argus's bluffs with a lost look in her eyes…

Terra's hand slipped into hers, and Adrian crawled into her lap. That was enough to bring her back to reality, back to the life she'd built, back to looking at the Huntsman standing where her little brother used to be. Jaune gave a comforting smile that nearly outshone the Scroll conveying it, and she returned it with warmth in her heart.

"Well, it's good to hear that you guys are still safe over there," he said with a small laugh. "Where else am I gonna get my teasing from, if not my big sis?"

"Don't you have, like, a dozen sisters?" Terra asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Seven, counting me," corrected Saph with a playful smirk. "And believe it or not, I'm the nice one."

"Jury's still out on that, Saph."

"Big talk for someone with hair long enough to make a ponytail."

"You mean a warrior wolf-tail, right?"

"Sure, let's go with that." Saph giggled. "Hey, it looks better than I expected from you being out in Vacuo all these months. I half-expected someone as gruff and hairy as Dad to show up when I called you!"

Jaune snorted. "Please. Like I could ever grow a proper beard."

She laughed again, then looked at the time with a hum as the baby in her arms started fussing. "Well, I think this little guy's about ready for his nap, so I'll have to call you back. Stay safe out there, alright Jaune?"

"Of course," said the Huntsman with a nod. "Oh, and tell the rest of the family I said hi! If I don't call them myself first…still working up the courage to do that, heh."

"I'm sure they'll be happy to hear from you." Saph nudged Adrian. "Say 'buh-bye, uncle Jaune!'"

"Buhbwabahaja!"

"Nailed it!"

Jaune laughed, cheeks rosy and eyes sparkling in delight, before he ended the call and the Scroll went dark once more. Saphron nuzzled against her wife's shoulders for a moment as she let out a sigh of relief and worry all at once, an act that was met with a pat on her back and a kiss on her forehead. After tilting her head up to return the smooch (and after forcing herself to stop at three kisses) she cradled the sleepy little baby to her chest and mustered the strength to rise from the sofa, making her way to Adrian's room as her wife unmuted the news.

"…I see. That must have taken quite a lot of bravery to stand against him like that, Miss Schnee."

"My only regret is that I didn't stand up sooner…"

---

Whitley tapped off the news program and closed his Scroll as soon as the topic of Atlas and Ironwood came up. He didn't need to hear this part, he and everyone else in Vacuo right now had already lived it. While he understood why Lisa Lavender was keen to get answers and explanations about the fallen Kingdom, it still felt almost cruel to get them from Winter. To grill and interrogate someone who was still healing from the tragedy, no matter how much she hid her wounds.

All the same, he had more important things to worry about right now.

"Have the chair people candidates arrived, Klein?" he asked as he marched through the halls of the Schnee house, wishing for once that it was as large as their old manor so that he had more time to prepare himself on his walk.

"They're gathered in the dining room waiting for you," replied the dutiful brown-eyed man trailing behind him. "Miss Soleil even apologized for her lateness, despite arriving fifteen minutes earlier than the others."

"Of course she did," said Whitley with a smile and a roll of his eyes. "What about Albus? Is he sufficiently distracted?"

"Your mother's Summons are giving him plenty of appropriately-sized targets to hone his hunting skills, so there's no need to worry about your little feline friend interrupting the meeting."

"Very good. And what about the remote invites we sent out to Solitas? Were they received?"

"Received, returned, and ready to join the call," Klein reported as he pulled out his own hard-light screen, swiping to forward their contact info to the blossoming businessman. "Just set your Scroll on the projector to connect with them, and the meeting can begin whenever you wish."

He nodded. "Thank you, Klein. One more question."

"Yes, Master Whitley?"

They came to a stop at the dining room door, and Whitley took a moment to look over himself. Ever since leaving Atlas he'd worn more or less the same thing every day - a white dress shirt, sky-blue vest with matching pants, and shoes that constantly felt one size too small. But now he stood in what could best be described as "business casual," with a short-sleeved blue polo shirt and white cargo pants and comfortable enough sneakers. Mother had offered to try and find a proper suit and tuxedo on the Vacuo Bazaar, but he'd turned that down. He didn't want to stroll into his first board meeting dressed like a smaller version of his father. He wanted to be himself.

"How do I look?"

Klein seemed to understand the unspoken meaning behind the question, glancing up and down before smiling warmly with eyes of gold. "Like the most friendly, approachable young man in all of Vacuo, sir."

"Exactly the answer I was hoping to hear. Thank you." He smiled, then turned to face the door. "Okay…first executive meeting of the SDC since…everything…with board members old and new. Just going in there and pitching a better future for our company and for Remnant. No pressure, right?"

A warm hand clasped his shoulder and patted affectionately. "I know you'll do very well, Master Whitley."

He was beginning to understand why Weiss was so fond of the funny family friend. He nodded, gave another smile in thanks, then pushed the door open on its squeaky hinges.

Everyone turned to look owlishly at him as he stepped inside, already seated at the table on mismatched chairs and stools. A pair of dark-skinned Huntsmen were the closest to the door, and thus the first to greet Whitley: the sharply-dressed Flynt Coal gave a tilt of his head and a tip of his hat, while a familiar one-eyed mountain of a man nodded with a grunt. Kali and Ghira gave small polite waves from their side of the table, gestures matched by a badger-clawed Faunus and an ivory-armored Agori across from them. And at the front of the table, a Huntress with a blue beret stood straight-backed with eyes locked onto her golden wristwatch, barely even glancing at him even as he passed her by.

"Two minutes until the meeting starts," reported Ciel before taking a seat at the table's end.

"All the time in the world to get set up," remarked Whitley as he wheeled a well-worn blackboard into position. It was crude, messy, and covered in layers of chalk dust that refused to be erased, but it would serve its purpose. At least until he could get a proper display large enough to suit his needs. "Thank you all for coming, especially on such short notice. I hope you weren't too offended or blindsided by my…rather brazen offer to join the new SDC's board of directors. Know that if I fail to impress you today, you're more than welcome to walk away."

Flynt smirked and leaned back in his seat. "Hey, if you're even half as gutsy as your big sis was during our Vytal match, I'm on board to be on the board."

"Same here, Pancake," offered Slate with a wry grin. "If you really wanna have an old duster like me around, I can't say 'no' without a damned good reason."

"I'll admit, it was…surprising to receive an invite," rumbled Ghira. "But Blake speaks quite highly of both you and Weiss, so I'll trust your judgment for now."

The badger Faunus nodded with a smile. "And Fiona says that Robyn talks about your other big sister all the time, and how much she's doing for Vacuo. Looks like that runs in the family, huh?"

"That's what we hope to see," mused Kali, looking at Whitley with guarded eyes but a warm smile all the same. "My husband and I are going to stay committed to the Faunus Rights Movement, mind, but if your goals and ours align…well, I can't promise anything for now but an open ear. Or four." Her feline ears flicked meaningfully.

"I couldn't ask for anything else, Missus Belladonna," said Whitley with a nod. "Kirbold, did you and Ciel bring the samples I asked for?"

The Agori hefted a basket of fruits as big as his torso onto the table. "Picked 'em fresh just this morning from the best trees in the Orchard."

"Perfect. Then without further ado, let's bring the rest of the board candidates into the call."

He took a breath to steel his nerves, then set his Scroll down onto a plastic white box and tapped a button. Instantly the amplified hard-light nodes within the projector came alive, displaying a screen so lifelike Whitley felt tempted to reach out and touch it. Said screen displayed feeds from a tired (if warm) older woman with a burgundy jacket, a trio of old men in tarnished suits, a middle-aged balding engineer with chestnut-colored eyes, and a pair of young fisherwomen clad in blue. All with their own signals, Scrolls, and war stories etched into their faces.

It was half the number of people he'd hoped to see, but more than he feared he would.

"Miss Camilla," he said with a warm smile. "Glad to see that you managed to make it out of Atlas alive, and that you brought some of our Kingdom's finest minds with you. I hope things haven't been too hard for you over in Dormir?"

The former councilwoman gave a fatigued smile of her own. "It's been…difficult since the fall of the capital, but those of us still in Solitas are a hardy bunch. The Ayu family has been nothing but good to us, and Essen's guardians have diligently been protecting both their village and ours from the Grimm." Her smile fell as she shook her head. "I'm just glad we managed to find an airship and escape the city before things got too bad. Others…weren't as fortunate."

One of the old men snorted in derision. "You call living out in the boonies 'fortunate?' I've eaten nothing but fish for the last three months!"

"Well this is a fishing village, Mister Alban," said Zure Ayu, her sister Cye nodding and humming beside her. "It'd be strange if we ate anything else."

"That's no excuse!" Alban crossed his arms. "Its not even the good kind of fish…"

"He's got a point," mused another old Atlesian, his face turning as yellow as his tie. "I get nauseous every time my husband fries up anything that comes out of that lake. What I wouldn't give for some aged caviar…hell, I'd eat it out of tins at this point…"

Whitley resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He'd said similar things not long after Atlas fell, after all, so it'd be hypocritical of him to judge. But that more than anything gave him a cue that it was time to start the meeting proper, at which point he picked up an apple-like Dustfruit with silver skin and bobbled it in view of the projector's camera array.

"Then I have some very good news for you and your sensitive stomach, Mister Mustard. For all of you. I called this board meeting to pitch my idea of the SDC's future…and the catalyst for that future is right here, in the palm of my hand."

Halfway across the world, seven pairs of eyes blinked slowly as they stared at the unfamiliar object.

"A…fruit?" The last old man adjusted his wine-red glasses. "Are we pivoting to food production?"

"Something like that, Mister Orchid," said Whitley with a laugh. "Let me bring you up to speed on what I've been doing out here in the desert…"

And so began his tale about discovering the Dustfruits, as well as a demonstration (thanks to Ciel and her Aura) of how they worked and what they could do. He left out the parts about how the original seed had come from Mata Nui, and instead implied that it was possible thanks to technology the Bara Magnans had brought - a small white lie that didn't stray too far from the truth, and kept from overwhelming his board members with the prospect of two alien worlds to think about. The board, both present and virtual, stayed silent through most of his speech, but the faces on the latter spoke volumes. Camilla looked hopeful yet skeptical. Scarlatina's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. Alban, Mustard, and Orchid cocked their heads to one side. Cye and Zure exchanged glances.

When he was done explaining their abilities and how every type of Dust was viable for growing a tree, he pulled the blackboard over and wrote even as he kept talking. Diagrams and charts and numbers flowed from his hand as freely as his words, every sentence punctuated by the sound of chalk striking slate. Now he had everyone's attention, including the people with him in Vacuo. For once, the business and public speaking lessons Father had forced upon him proved useful, as he spoke clearly, convincingly, and confidently.

"In the past, a great deal of our company's toxic business practices came from excavating underground Dust deposits," he said as he circled a set of expense figures. "Surveying, tunneling, mining, processing, and shipping…as Dust became harder to find near the surface, the cost to mine it rose exponentially. When those startup costs began eating into profit margins, my father decided to minimize other expenses however and wherever possible. Slashing benefits packages for mid-level workers. Cutting corners in health and safety inspections. Underpaying miners and refusing to compensate them for injuries sustained on the job. And that's to say nothing of the horrific abuse that SDC employees endured at every level with an underfunded human resources department…"

Not just the employees, either.

He stopped that thought before it could leave his throat, shook his head to clear it, then continued to fill up the blackboard with more figures and graphs.

"But the Dustfruits and their source trees have proven they're able to be grown anywhere, requiring only water and sunlight and firm enough ground for their roots to take. This ease of adaptation, combined with the quantity of fruits a single tree can produce in its lifetime, means that we'll never need to mine for Dust again. Why would we, when there's a more cost-effective and safer alternative? Even if we sell our products at a fraction of the price we once charged for - say, at cost of labor plus five percent - the overhead of orchard maintenance and shipping will be low enough that we're guaranteed some level of profit and growth. Enough to ensure our workers are paid well for their efforts, at the very least, and to maintain our internal infrastructure."

The people seated behind him, along with the faces on the vidscreen, watched him carefully as he flipped the blackboard over to its blank side. Chalk still in hand, he took a breath and prepared to deliver his closing line.

"My plan for the future of this company will focus on three core values. Sustainability…"

He wrote an S so big that its curves grazed the wooden frame.

"…dependability…"

Another letter, a D, as big as the one next to it.

"…and most importantly, change."

He wrote the last letter - a C that took up the remaining space on the blackboard - then slapped the newly-formed acronym as all present murmured thoughtfully.

"That is the new plan for the SDC." He took a moment to catch his breath, then turned to look at the potential board members. "Any questions?"

Camilla was the first to find her voice and regain her composure, humming thoughtfully. "While I don't doubt your intentions and ambitions, Mister Schnee…I must admit, the board you've gathered there in Vacuo is quite eclectic. It will be a daunting task to rebuild the SDC from nothing, after all. Are you certain they're qualified to help with that?"

"More than certain," he answered without hesitation, gesturing to each present member in turn. "Flynt Coal's family once ran a Dust shop successful enough that my father saw them as competition, so they're well acquainted with the properties and finer aspects of our products. Ghira and Kali Belladonna are the faces of the Faunus Rights Movement following the dissolution of the White Fang, while Dusky Tyme is seen as something of a communal father figure among Mantle's former denizens. If anyone could hold us accountable for the welfare of workers, whatever their race or gender, it would be them."

"Plus I was a miner union rep back when I was younger and full of fire," said Dusky, badger claws clicking together as he smiled warmly. "Your dad used to fear having meetings with me."

Part of Whitley doubted anyone could be afraid of such a kindly old Faunus, or that he'd ever raised his voice in anger…but the rest of him knew that if there was one thing Jacques had ever feared, it was a good man.

"Ciel Soleil is an unparalleled expert in numbers and logistics," continued Whitley. "She wouldn't have become the overseer of the Dustfruit Orchard here in Vacuo otherwise. Kirbold was a miner back on his planet who involved himself in every step of his work, to the point where he used to accompany and guide any caravan and expeditions shipping his ore…just as my own grandfather once did when he started this company. And Slate Ashwood has been a Huntsman in Remnant's most demanding Kingdom for over forty-two years - he has the stories, and scars, to prove his knowledge and tenacity. All of them have their own wisdom to contribute, wisdom in things I could never dream of knowing…and so I trust their judgment, more than even my own."

The faces gathered around him glowed in pride. Even Ciel faintly blushed. The virtual board members seemed convinced enough, though Alban's face was tightening into a frown. Judging by how his gaze seemed to keep falling on Kali, Ghira, and Dusky, it wasn't hard to guess why he was displeased. But that wasn't Whitley's concern. Not yet, at least.

Will Scarlatina was the next to clear his throat. "You mentioned that when you and the Vacuan City Council first started planting the Orchard, it was declared as a free and communal resource for everyone in need. How do you intend to sell people something they can already get on their own? It'd be like selling seawater to the people of Patch."

"The Dustfruits themselves may be readily available to anyone, but there will always be a market demand for processed Dust." Whitley erased the big SDC on the board and began writing again, drawing charts and graphs he'd memorized in anticipation for this kind of question. "Munitions, specialty mixtures, bulk orders, electrical systems, aviation components…these are things that the world still needs to rebuild, and all of them require specialized labor to create. And as your daughter can attest, Mister Scarlatina, Hard Light Dust has many uses in our electronics-heavy world, a demand that far outstrips the current supply. People will always be free to make their own bullets and meals at home, but not many people have the knowledge or skill to make their own circuits or airship engines. That will be the service we provide, and the product we sell - drawing forth the hidden potential of Dustfruits, and giving people more tools to improve their quality of life."

"We've already had other Vacuo settlements pay us to come and start orchards in their towns and villages," added Slate gruffly. "I'll bet the other Kingdoms'll be more than willing to do the same, once word spreads about the Dustfruits and what they can do."

The old engineer nodded in assent, humming thoughtfully. "Yes…I can see that. So the SDC will transition to selling specialized labor and services, rather than focusing solely on raw materials?"

"More or less," answered Whitley with a nod of his own. "It's not too far off from what our manufacturing subsidiaries were already doing - this will just become our primary business model going forward."

Most of the board members gave a similar reaction to Will…the exception, of course, being old Alban. His face was as white as his namesake, as if he'd seen the ghost of his own stock portfolio coming back to haunt him.

Zure shared another look at her sister, then glanced back at the lens of her Scroll. "Your plan is sound, but…well, the SDC wasn't well-liked in the best of times, and there's especially not much love for Atlas these days. Even those of us still in Solitas have less-than-favorable opinions of the way things used to be, and bringing an old company from those days back - even in such a different form as you're proposing - is a hard sell to a lot of folks. How do you plan to hire these specialized craftsmen, secure investors, or even find people willing to carry a shovel for the company name?"

"The same way my grandfather, Nicholas Schnee, built the company from the ground up," he answered without hesitation. "Like him, I plan to stay involved in things at all levels, oversee every expedition and new business venture, and fulfill promises. Not to the point that I'm micromanaging, of course, but enough to be present and aware of what we're doing. I want to make the Schnee name something that people can say with value again, instead of vitriol. A force for the good of Remnant, not just our shareholders."

Whitley faced the board of directors and placed both his palms against the table, leveling the most serious expression he could muster. "Let me make this perfectly clear from the start - I am not Jacques Gelé, nor do I have any aspirations to be like him. He was a man only in service to himself, someone who filled his own coffers as the people in his company suffered, someone willing to make deals with Salem's lackeys just to further his own agenda. I refuse to be anything like that. I won't make his mistakes, I won't follow in his footsteps, and I won't echo his hateful ideals. I will build a company that is kind to both the hands that receive, and the hands that give. Whether those hands belong to Agori, Glatorians, humans or Faunus -"

"Enough of this! You've slandered a good man for too long! I'll not sit here and silently watch as you thoughtlessly destroy everything Jacques built, you ungrateful little brat!"

Ah. He was wondering when Alban would finally burst. He turned his attention to the old man on the screen and shot him with a glare his sisters would've been proud of, which did little to dissuade Alban's rage.

"You must be mistaken," he said icily. "Ungrateful? Perhaps that's true. Little brat? If you ask my sisters, that's most definitely true. Destroying everything Jacques built? I should certainly hope so…but thoughtless? I studied finance and business, Mister Alban, and I've put plenty of thought into this plan. So what gave you the notion that I am thoughtlessly destroying my own company's legacy?"

"You'd turn us into a gods-damned charity!" hissed the old Atlesian noble. "How are we supposed to turn a profit if we just hand out the goods practically for free? How do we keep market dominance when anyone can just take these fruits? And what's all this talk about 'worker welfare' and 'equal pay' and all that other crap? Has the sun fried your brain out there?"

"Of course not, that's what sunscreen is for." He noticed Camilla move her hand over her mouth, no doubt to stifle a small laugh.

"Don't mock me!" roared Albus. "I won't participate in this farce any longer! I've served your father on the board for over twenty-five years, I won't see this company run by some little boy with a bleeding heart who invites animals onto his own damn board! They belong in the mines, not some cushy office job! That's all they're good for!"

Kali's ears folded against her head. Ghira furrowed his brow. Dusky seemed to shrink into his seat. That was quite enough of that. Whitley's gaze hardened as he reached over to his Scroll, swiping and scrolling through the settings screen with a thoughtful hum.

"And here I thought I was rebuilding bridges by extending an invite to you, as I did for the other two former board members…" he mused. "But if you want to burn them down yourself, by all means go ahead. I can only wish you luck in your future endeavors, and thank you for your past service to my company. A pity that your severance package burned alongside the rest of the Kingdom, but I'm sure the market will be kind to an old noble like yourself."

Some long-neglected cognitive awareness finally clicked within the old man's brain. "Wait, you're firing me?"

"I am. Farewell, Mister Alban."

"You can't just do that -!"

BEEP. With the tap of a finger, Alban was kicked and blocked from the call. Silence echoed throughout the dining room, as Whitley stepped away and folded his hands behind his back. Everyone looked at him with a mix of shock and (hopefully) awe, fully attentive to him and what he said next.

"Now…is there anyone who shares sentiments with Mister Alban, and wishes to join him in early retirement?" he asked after a moment's pause. "Please say so now, so we don't have an HR incident later."

Flynt barked in laughter. "Now that's gutsy. I dig it."

"I think our goals will align quite nicely, actually," purred Kali.

"To think a Schnee would actually stand up for us…" rumbled Ghira as he stroked his beard, nodding thoughtfully. "Miracles really do happen, it seems."

"Knew there was a reason I was starting to like you, Pancake," said Slate with a wry smirk.

"I've been waiting decades to see that old ass get the boot," chuckled Mustard heartily.

"Same here, old friend." Orchid looked at Whitley with a proud smile. "I see a bright future for the SDC, with you at its helm."

"Not just the SDC." Camilla no longer bothered to hide her warmth. "For all of Remnant. You have bold ambitions, Mister Schnee, and the conviction to see them through. There's not much I can do these days, but my services and connections are yours however you see fit."

"Then let's turn the meeting in a more productive direction," said Whitley as he nodded to Ciel, who opened a stack of folders and started laying sheets of parchment across the table. "There's a number of cracks in the foundation of the world and our company right now, and we'll need to rebuild that before we try expanding. Our first long-term project should be on resuming airship manufacturing…for that, we'll need foundries, factories, and of course designs that adapt the Dustfruits."

"Sounds like a fun challenge," said Scarlatina. "Let's get started."

And so the next few hours were filled with discussions, debates, and pitches from everyone present, physically and virtually. To Whitley's delight, none of them walked away or threw a fit. All of them contributed ideas or concerns of their own, pointing out things he'd overlooked or never thought to worry about. A warmth settled into his heart amidst the fatigue and the stress, the satisfaction of a job well done. There was plenty yet to do, but he had a good feeling that he was laying down good roots for the family company to grow into.

He just wished Weiss was there to see what he was doing, how he'd taken her gift and given it back to the world.

---

Cinder's footsteps echoed through the halls of Evernight like roaring thunder, perfectly matching her stormy mood. How was this happening? How did this keep happening? The people stuck in Vacuo were supposed to be tearing each other apart, not working together to rebuild the world she broke! First was the news that Team RWBY had come back. Then there were those damn aliens. Then they started growing food from nothing but Dust and seeds - seeds they wouldn't have had if Ruby and her little friends hadn't returned. And now they were putting satellites in the sky? What the hell was going on out there?! And why weren't Tyrian or Mercury doing anything to stop it?!

Why wasn't Salem doing anything about it?!

Well, no more waiting and watching. Cinder didn't get this far by sitting back and letting others walk all over her. She took what she wanted, what she needed, and damn the consequences or anyone that stood in her way. Which was why she stormed through the castle of darkness, made her way to a section she knew was off-limits, and marched right up to the pair of Skrall posted outside Salem's private chambers.

"Let me through," she growled.

The alien warriors eyed each other for a moment, before narrowing their optics and glaring at her. "Your Salem has made it quite clear she is not to be disturbed," said one.

"She will call for you when she feels you are needed," rumbled the other.

"Well right now I don't much care for how she feels," hissed Cinder, eye ablaze with amber flames. "Move out of my way, before I move you."

The first Skrall huffed. "You think your magic can intimidate us? We have our orders -"

"Then consider my request to let me pass a new order. Unless you want me to tell Tuma about your sudden streak of disobedience?"

"Lord Tuma said we only need to heed the words of Salem herself," clarified the second. "He said nothing about listening to the commands of others. Unlike you, Skrall value obedience."

Her anger burned hotter. "You'd better start listening to me, because obedience doesn't mean anything when the one giving the orders locks herself away like a brooding child!" A fireball pooled into her palm. "And if I have to incinerate the both of you to get her attention, then so be it!"

The Skrall drew their swords and widened their stances, only for a clicking noise overhead to make everyone still their hostile intent. A Seer floated down with outstretched tentacles, its surface cloudy and misty and its maw poised to bite. So Salem was listening from her self-made prison. Good.

After a moment, the Skrall nodded and stepped aside. "You may enter, but we will be watching you," drawled the first.

Fine. Cinder had plenty of things to say, and she didn't care if the giants were listening. She willed away the fireball as the Seer floated away, as the thick oaken doors swung open with a nauseating creak.

Salem's private bedroom was a place she had rarely seen before, somewhere not even her most loyal lackeys had been allowed to visit freely. It looked like something out of a fairy tale, with a large canopy bed draped in silky black curtains and a mattress softer than the feathers used to stuff it. Cabinets and desks and four child-sized chairs lined the walls, while a vanity with a cracked mirror rested next to one massive stained-glass window. A chandelier of silver and gold hung overhead, and a fireplace with long-spent charcoal and centuries of ash sat alone and neglected in the corner.

It would have been regal, beautiful even…if it weren't for the scratches and scorch marks tainting every ancient surface.

The woman herself sat facing away from her in her bed, silver hair unbraided and flowing freely, cloak pulled down to reveal her ashen-white shoulders and crimson veins. "What do you want, Cinder?"

The same thing I've always wanted. She bit back that thought, then narrowed her remaining eye as she stormed into the room. "You know why I'm here. What's the plan? What are your orders?"

Salem barely raised her head at that. "My orders remain the same. We watch, we wait, and we gather our strength -"

"And how much longer will we do that?" spat Cinder. "You've no doubt seen the news in Vacuo at this point. They're growing food and making fresh water out of nothing. They're growing closer with each other and with the Magnans. They relaunched Amity and the CCT network. How long would you have us wait? Should we let them bring Atlas back into the sky as well before we strike next?"

"You focus too much on the short term, just like always." The Queen of Grimm scoffed. "Let them have their toys. Their food…their weapons…their new solutions. It will all be meaningless in the end. Everything will return to dust, as it should have stayed."

Cinder snarled and felt her blood boil. "Why are you so calm about this? Why are you just letting them get back everything they've lost? After all the work I did to break them -!"

"All the work you did, Cinder?"

She felt the bottom of her heart fall out as Salem finally rose and turned to face her, blackened eyes contrasting sharply with her ashen skin. The Fall Maiden took several steps back in an attempt to placate her suddenly-enraged mistress, but she knew it was too late.

"You mean to say that you created the Scarab, the Grimm that let you steal the Maiden Powers? That you awakened the Wyvern from its slumber, and guided it to attack Beacon? That you wrote the virus that turned Atlas's own technology against a terrified world? Was that all your doing, Cinder Fall? Or were you merely coasting along on the good graces of others, as you always have?"

Cinder opened her mouth to speak, but a wave of pain coming from her artificial arm made the words die in her throat. Despite screaming, despite writhing, she forced herself to face the enraged Queen of Grimm.

"Let me make this as plainly clear as I possibly can, Cinder Fall," growled Salem, hand taut with control over the Grimm appendage. "You have done nothing. You have accomplished nothing. Everything you do, everything you have, has only succeeded because I orchestrated it. Beacon fell because you followed my will. Haven stands because you did not. Atlas was won in my name, conquered by my hands, broken by my fists. I told you as much when I made you my vessel for the Maiden powers, yet you have forgotten this truth. You have deluded yourself into thinking that you know better. That you are better. That retrieving two Relics and delivering them to me like a well-trained hound means that you now stand as my equal!"

Salem barely even moved as she flung the false Maiden away by her arm, slamming her painfully against the vanity with enough force to shatter the mirror for good. Glass shards dug into her back and landed in her hair. The hard wood knocked the wind out of her. Despite how much it hurt, Cinder kept herself on her feet. She knew it would only hurt worse if she stumbled.

"So remember well what I say now, little Maiden," seethed the Queen of Grimm as she took menacing steps closer, "because I will not say it again. You are what you are because of me. Without me, you are nothing - and if you do not fall in line and obey me, you will be returned to nothing. Your victories are mine. Your spoils are mine. And your failures - of which there are many - are always mine to correct!"

Her final shout echoed through Evernight Castle, loud and forceful enough to make even the Skrall wince. Cinder grit her teeth and sucked in a breath as Salem inched closer, trapped between the immovable furniture at her back and the unstoppable force in front of her. The witch raised her hand, and she squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for the slap she knew was coming.

Instead, she felt that hand caress her cheek softly, as Salem let out a calming sigh.

"Oh…but what good would it do, for us to shout and scream at each other now?" Her words were soft now. Serene. Almost soothing. "Your magic grows with each passing day, as does your will to survive and take what rightfully belongs to you. You hunger for power, Cinder Fall, and soon you shall have the feast you crave. I ask only that you be patient, for the right time to strike. I will have my Sword, eventually…and you will have the power needed to take it."

Some part of her knew it was just an act, that Salem was only pretending to care to soothe the wounds she'd inflicted.

The rest of her nuzzled against the ancient palm all the same, eagerly devouring every crumb of affection before it slipped away.

"Now…" intoned Salem as she pulled back with a poisoned smile. "I do have something for you to do in the meantime, something you may even enjoy. The Skrall in attendance here at Evernight conduct spars three times a day, as per their culture, but they tell me they've grown tired of slaughtering rejected Grimm from the Shadowlabs. They have requested a worthy opponent to test their might against, one who uses the magic their brothers in Vacuo will one day face. I volunteered you for this task; perhaps that will give you an outlet for your restlessness. And perhaps, it may just make you a stronger fighter…strong enough to take the power you hunger for."

Cinder perked up almost immediately with a wicked grin. So she was allowed to test the Skrall in combat? She had actual opponents to hone her powers against, instead of mindlessly blasting Grimm?

Perhaps waiting and watching wouldn't be so bad, after all.

---

"…well, this has been quite the informative evening, Miss Schnee. Before we sign off for the night, is there anything else you wish to declare? Anything that hasn't come up in the questions so far?"

Winter was tired, more than she'd ever been in her life. Her lips were chapped and dry, her throat felt like it was full of cotton, her legs felt locked in place from standing in place for so long, and she was sweating from the overhead lights beaming down on her for hours. The last thing she wanted to do was keep talking, but after giving a nod to Raanu and Ackar (who had never once retreated from view of the cameras), she took a sip of water and did just that.

"Only that in the near future, we will be making another worldwide announcement," she declared with all the confidence and strength she could muster. "Similar to Ruby's message several months ago, but not as a call for aid - as a promise for the future. Both ours, and the people of Bara Magna."

Intrigue lit up in Lisa's eyes. "I see. Can you elaborate on that?"

"Not at the moment, as many things related to it are still in the works," said Raanu with a shake of his head. "Bringing Amity Satellite online was just the first step in this new project - our ultimate goal is to unify all of Remnant, to break down the walls that divide without erasing the things that bring uniqueness. This project is in its nascent stages for now…but hopefully, with global communications online, we'll be ready sooner than later."

"And when we're ready, we hope the world will listen," finished Ackar. "For now, thank you for listening tonight. When we set off from Bara Magna, we fully expected that we would be alone in the universe…we never even dreamed we'd find a world as welcoming and warm as this one."

"Then we'll certainly try not to disappoint you, Mister Ackar." Lisa gave a warm smile that actually felt genuine. "Thank you all for being lovely guests tonight…and thank you, dear viewers, for watching. The world has been silent for far too long - I'm honored that my voice is the one to break that silence. Good night Vale, and anyone else listening."

The fancy overture rang out as the cameras and the Scrolls went dark, and a weight seemed to fall away from Winter's shoulders as soon as Marrow barked out that they were done broadcasting. All at once the mask of professionalism dropped from everyone, as they left their positions and passed along equipment while chatting excitedly. Ackar and Raanu gave her nods before they walked away, more than willing to socialize with their new friends - especially when Fiona clapped her hands and pulled an entire table full of sweets and snacks out of thin air, to the delight of absolutely everyone.

Winter herself didn't feel particularly hungry, or thirsty, or anything but tired. Everything felt like a haze as she trundled over to a big plush armchair, slumping into it with an exhausted sigh and a muffled squeak. Why had she decided to stand for the entire interview? There was probably some justification she'd told herself, some reason for not taking a seat even when her legs felt like they'd give out, but it escaped her at the moment. In any case, no one was watching. No one would care if she sat down for the first time in…

In…

Huh. When was the last time she just sat down? Not for meals, not for meetings, but for rest? The memory escaped her, as did the memories of her laying in bed and waking up. How long had it been since she slept? Maybe it was too long ago.

Or maybe it wasn't long enough.

The idea of being alone with her thoughts was not a pleasant one. Winter shook her head to clear it, then blinked away the fatigue and settled her gaze on the party forming around the newly-materialized table. Paper plates were loaded up with cured Vacuan meats and Atlesian-styled pastries. Plastic cups were filled with juices squeezed from chilled Dustfruits, as everyone ate and drank and sipped liquids of every color and flavor imaginable. Marrow and Fiona blushed every time they "accidentally" bumped into each other. Harriet did her best to maintain her scowl, even with her back pressed against Elm's side. May was passionately explaining some culinary facts to an intrigued Raanu and a confused Ackar. Even Joanna was cracking a small smile.

Part of her wanted to be over there, too, chatting and laughing and congratulating them on a job well done, but the rest of her silenced that desire. She knew that if she joined the crowd, the party would have a very different tone and atmosphere. That everyone would suddenly start walking on eggshells again, just as they almost always did around her - when they weren't blaming her for everything wrong in their lives, at least.

"Jeez…you look like you've been fighting Grimm for twelve hours straight."

Winter turned to the sound of the voice, and saw Robyn standing next to her. The taller blonde was balancing a stack of shortbread cookies on a plate, which itself was balanced on the rim of an ice-blue juice cup. At first she wondered why Robyn had come all the way over here to eat her snacks…then she noticed that her friend was holding them towards her for an awkwardly long time, and the intent finally dawned on her.

"I…almost would have preferred that," she groused as she reluctantly took the plate and set it down on the armchair's edge. "What kind of juice is this?"

Robyn shrugged, the act drawing Winter's attention to her bare shoulders for a maddening minute. "Not entirely sure…I think it came from a Water-Ice Dustfruit that looked like a papaya and smelled like turpentine. Tastes great, though! Like lemonade, but sweeter."

"Ah, so you've tried some of this already?"

"Yeah." Her face went red. "N-not that I drank from that cup, obviously! That'd be gross and weird…a-anyway, you should eat. Gotta keep your magic up, right?"

That was a compelling point, even if she hadn't used any of her incredible power tonight for once. Winter hummed as she sampled the cookies, savoring the taste for a moment before washing them down with the strange juice. Much like Robyn promised, it was rather sweet…yet deceptively complex, with a tart undercurrent that kept the sweetness from being overpowering.

In a way, the juice almost reminded her of Robyn herself.

"I'm surprised you're not joining the others in their post-broadcast celebration," said Winter as she gathered the crumbs from her plate, sprinkling them over the frosting of her last cookie. "You're the one who organized this, after all."

Again Robyn shrugged, this time smiling as she caught her friend staring at her muscled biceps. "Maybe, but you looked lonely over here. Can't exactly let the star of the show throw a pity party for herself now, can I?"

Winter popped the crumbling cookie into her mouth, then sipped her half-empty juice cup once more. "I suppose not," she finally admitted once she'd finished swallowing. "Then again, I hardly feel like a star right now. I'm almost afraid to watch any kind of broadcast tomorrow - they're sure to replay footage from the interview, and the last thing I want is to relive making a fool of myself…"

"Hey, none of that now." A warm, gloved hand settled onto her own shoulder and rubbed in comfort. "You did great, Winter. You handled every question Lisa pitched your way, and you even managed to throw a few curveballs back at her. You were calm, clear, concise, and honest, mindful of your words and careful in how you said them. Even when you had to talk about the hard stuff - when you had to be the one to deliver bad news - you never once wavered or tried to change the subject. You weren't making a fool of yourself. You were showing the world just how strong you were. How strong you are."

She dared to look up and see Robyn smiling down at her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of her breath flowing over her skin. "Honestly, you could've gone into politics with speaking skills like that. You would've made a great rival - better than your old man, at least."

The Winter Maiden gave a small shadow of a smile before losing her nerve and looking away, directing her attention to the half-empty juice cup cradled in her hands. "Thank you…though I doubt anyone would've voted for me. Not with you as an opponent."

"I'm sure you would've had more voters than you think, Winter. You can be…quite persuasive."

Before Winter could say anything else, she felt something brush against her cheek for a brief moment. A kiss, as gentle as a butterfly landing and leaving just as smoothly. Her breath hitched, her grip on the juice cup tightened, and her eyes widened all at once. She turned and looked at Robyn - for who else was close enough to do that? - and as she suspected she found the blonde woman leaning over the armchair's side, eyes halfway closed and mouth pursed.

"Bold move, Hill," remarked Harriet from the tables with a chuckle, which earned an elbow in the side from May. Fiona's ears perked up, Marrow's tail started wagging, Elm and Joanna exchanged knowing looks, and even Raanu and Ackar tilted their heads with fascinated hums. All of those reactions were lost on the Winter Maiden, who was still staring at Robyn Hill in shock, surprise, and…something else.

"Robyn…?" she breathed, feeling like icy crystals were forming in her lungs.

Her friend blinked several times as her face burned crimson. "Ah. Um. Glad I could help with the interview, have a safe trip home! Tell Klaus and Albein I said hi - I mean Albus and Klein - uhIgottagotakecareofsomethingimportantokaybye!"

And like that she left the studio with haste in her step, leaving a very confused (but not upset) Maiden behind.

---

(A/N): Why yes, that IS an Owl House reference at the end there, why do you ask?