Let's go!
Arc 3: Chapter 29
"I am talking about abolishing the Monarchy. Permanently."
The silence that sounded after was deafening. You could hear a pin drop.
Rosaline blinked owlishly. Alexander froze. Margaret was the one that finally broke the silence with her hoarse coughing.
"Preposterous," she spluttered, in complete denial of Ozpin's words. Dismissive too, if her tone was any indicator.
"The Monarchy has existed for hundreds of years since the inception of our kingdom. To abolish it would result in a civil upheaval so great that our kingdom would be destroyed!"
The table became alive with chatter and uproar. Yet, Ozpin remained silent, weathering the questions and accusations alike.
A quick glance towards the huntsman nobles revealed Henry Winchester giving the faintest of nods.
Taking a deep breath, Ozpin cut through the senseless chatter.
The table died down to a bunch of owlish gazes as nobles seethed and elected councillors gaped uncertainly.
"Times are changing. And Vale must meet these changes head on, or risk not only being left behind, but being left at a severe disadvantage."
The King glared at him, but Ozpin was more than happy to ignore his outrage.
"Times are changing," he repeated. "And they are advancing. We cannot afford to remain stagnant, or we risk collapse. Our economy is already under tremendous strain due to growing inflation and rising debt. A recession is inevitable."
Rosaline burned a hole through him with her ferocious glare.
"Need I remind you that economics is not your forte, Headmaster."
He didn't skip a beat.
"Neither is it yours, it would seem. Otherwise we would not be in such a destitute situation where our only salvation would be to take on more debt from foreign kingdoms and private enterprises. Or, perhaps, is that your intention all along?"
Alexander slammed the table with clenched fists.
"What you're suggesting is treason! No-one would do such a thing Headmaster. We all put the wellbeing of our kingdom first and foremost!"
Ozpin leaned back ever so slightly, as if disgusted by the general's flying spittle as he frothed.
"Perhaps not intentional. But, the current regime promotes nepotism through bloodlines. Favouritism through unregulated practices and commissions. And it has left Vale vulnerable."
The King cut through before anyone else could argue with the Headmaster.
"Things may not be perfect, Headmaster. But they have worked for us before, and they will continue to get us through to the future. Introducing such a drastic restructure of governance will only upset our bureaucracy. It will introduce anarchy."
He levelled a dark gaze with Ozpin, one which he returned without flinching.
"What you are suggesting could be interpreted as treason, even."
"Nonsense," Ozpin dismissed.
"I am not saying we dismiss the members of this council. No. Instead, the current caste system should be abolished. Nobility and bloodlines would mean nothing in terms of political influence. And to replace it, all members of the council would be rendered equal in authority. Authority that can only be obtained via election and vote. Not nepotism and birth."
Margaret coughed, her lungs expiring with each passing day.
"That's all fine and fanciful. Wishful thinking even. But the real question is how would you even implement such a system. And what of the treasury? There are so many questions regarding how on Remnant you would even parse executive control of estates. Because the way I see it – hack – without the nobility, there is no kingdom. There is no Vale!"
Rosaline nodded smugly.
"Precisely, Margaret. Without assurances, what's not to say that the majority of noble households will pull out of Vale and take their wealth with them?"
Ozpin fixed her an errant glance.
"By centralising the treasury not as a crown asset, but rather reforming as it a proper banking institution governed by the council."
Arthur shook his head with a scoff. He was hardly impressed with this plan.
"And what of the noble families? Where do you think the treasury gets its money from?"
"Aside from tax gains, the nobility of course."
Rosaline looked a little too smug for her own good.
"Then you've defeated your own proposal, Ozpin!"
"Far from it. The noble families that showed loyalty to the service of this kingdom would instead be restructured as government departments, similar to how Atlas operates. Only, positions would not be hereditary, but instead selected based on criteria of applicants."
Arthur looked appalled, as did Rosaline and Alexander. Margaret took to coughing like crazy, while many of the junior Democratic Councillors looked nervous and uncertain.
"Ozpin, I must be frank," choked Rosaline once she composed herself.
"Do you have rocks floating in your head? Who would even agree to such a system?!"
Henry sighed as he realised it was time. This was what Ozpin had been building up to. It was time to choose sides.
"Such a system would allow us to centralise Kingdom assets. Rather than let them sit and be monopolised," interjected Henry, already feeling that he had forever changed his life.
All eyes were on him.
"And what exactly are these Kingdom assets," slowly demanded Arthur, sending a glare to his fellow noble.
Ozpin answered in Henry's stead.
"Anything and everything already chartered as managed by the Kingdom. Including income and tariffs."
He shook his head in disgust.
"Really. There is no need for the merchants guild to monopolise trade when it already operates as a branch of the crown. Worse still, the only way to access income generated by the kingdom for the kingdom is to take out a loan?! This self-serving narcissism is exactly why Vale needs to be reformed and the Monarchy abolished. It is destroying our Kingdom!"
Arthur snarled.
"So you would have us toil for a pittance instead while you seize our wealth and assets like some Vacuoan warlord?! I think not!"
Nicholas slammed a fist on the table, rattling it and making the civilian nobles and councillors startle.
"Do not speak of work as if you toil in the fields yourself or dirty your hands! Your legacy is only achieved through your ancestors ambition."
Those words did nothing except incense the already distraught nobles.
"His majesty is right," growled Arthur as he stood up, hands rooted firmly on the table. "This is tantamount to treason!"
Ozpin frowned. "How is presenting a solution to resolve our burgeoning economic and political crisis an endangerment to our Kingdom?"
"Because you are threatening to destroy the very fabric of how our kingdom functions!" Roared Arthur, losing his cool finally.
"An economic crisis purported by people present at this very table," snorted Merlin, arms crossed.
He shook his head in disappointment.
Rosaline felt her lips firm and tighten as she contained her outrage at the absurdity of this table.
"This kingdom is dependent on the nobility, Ozpin. Not this sham of a Democratic council," there were gasps among its members.
"And certainly not on the idea of centralising everything under some experimental bureaucracy."
Margaret joined in, her coughing episode temporarily over.
"No one would support this endeavour of your Ozpin. It is suicidal. The Kingdom would collapse before your ambition could ever realise itself."
Rosaline jumped in.
"Who here would even be willing to go along with this absurdity. Absurdity, which borders on betrayal to the crown. Treason," she stretched the word out deliberately, letting it sink into anyone harbouring doubts or uncertainties.
She smiled at Ozpin. He had overdone it. He had left himself open to weakness, and she was more than happy to exploit it.
"I support the Headmaster's proposal," said Henry slowly, enunciating each and every word.
If the Headmaster's proposal caused silence, then Henry's open support made jaws drop.
Rosaline's eye twitched.
Even the King's gaze snapped from Ozpin to the retired Huntsman, his irritation palpable.
"I support the Headmaster's proposal," he repeated.
"As do I," Carmine Adel gave an incline of her head.
Rosaline and the King went from annoyed to gobsmacked in the space of seconds as Nicholas Arc and Merlin Goodwitch also came forward to support the Headmaster's proposal.
To have the Headmaster acting out on his own was one thing. To have the support of some of the largest Huntsmen noble bloodlines was entirely another thing. And it was worrisome.
Ozpin looked over to Rosaline, and she swore it was no trick of the light as he was looking at her with a smug expression.
"Well, there we go. Perhaps we should put it to a vote?"
No. That could absolutely not happen.
"I would like to call a recess for today to allow everyone time to process today's discussion," Rosaline blurted out. Perhaps a little too suddenly as all eyes fell on her. Ozpin shot her a strange look, but he seemed otherwise unperturbed.
The King was quick to support her, and before she knew it, the council was adjourned.
Normally when the King had her back, she felt invincible. Now, however, she was uncertain. And she didn't like it. Not one bit.
The first thing she saw as she slowly came to was the blurry shape of two people.
The first thing she felt was the throbbing all over her face.
And the first thing she heard was the sound of said two people calling to her in a panicked state.
"She's waking up!"
"Oh thank goodness!"
"It wouldn't have happened in the first place if you actually knew what you were doing!"
"Sara, drop it. Things happen sometimes."
That must have been Hans. And the woman was the vice-captain, Sara. How long had she been out for?
She groggily sat up, letting out a pathetic groan.
"What happened? Ow…"
Instantly, the two stopped their bickering and focused on her.
Hans cracked a forced grin at her.
"Welcome to the land of the living kid. You took a helluva smack to the face," he tried to cheer her up, and she brushed her hand tenderly over her nose.
The skin felt majorly tender and swollen, and her cheek felt jagged and torn. Her hand came away with blood.
Sara leaned forward with a rag cloth, one stained with her blood already, and proceeded to try and dab some away.
She flinched in pain as the material made contact.
"What happened?" she asked again.
Hans winced as Sara sent a glower his way, but answered regardless.
"Recoil. You couldn't have known."
Sara stared him down.
"But you would have." It was accusing, and Ruby almost felt a little bad for the man, but Sara shook her head and instead focused on tending to her.
"I don't think your nose is broken, but the fact you were out cold has me a little worried. I've already called for our medic to come, but he's still a few minutes away."
Hans smiled weakly.
"Yeah. With a little Aura boost, he'll have you on your way."
Ruby froze. Aura boost?
Maria's words echoed in her head. Something about foreign Aura's interfering with her special lens'. Nice as these people seemed, they were still part of the military, and her Silver Eyes were not exactly something she needed to be broadcast to them.
She stumbled up to her feet, catching the two off-guard.
"U-um that's okay. I don't want to be a bother." Her words felt forced and too quick, but she didn't care. She needed to go.
The two soldiers stood up.
"Woah, where do you think you're going?" asked Sara, worry evident in her voice.
"I need to be back home," Ruby quickly threw out.
"Ruby, your face isn't exactly in good condition right now-"
"It'll be fine, the people I'm with can look after it, but really, I need to go!"
With that, she forced herself to move away from the two. Sara made to stop her, but Hans held a hand out, his face seeming resigned.
Ruby didn't hesitate, she ran.
Hans watched as she ran out of the courtyard, beyond the gate, and head back into the city. All the while clutching her face tenderly.
He shook his head slowly.
"What a strange little girl," he mumbled. Sara was not as understanding.
"Why the hell did you let her go!? And why'd you stop me?!"
Hans frowned.
"Kid doesn't want our help."
"So?! You're just going to leave her? If that was your daughter- "
"I'm not going to force the kid to feel uncomfortable. She trusts us, but only barely."
Sara stopped, pursing her lips.
"Besides, she's stronger than what she looks."
He chuckled to himself.
"She didn't even shed a tear!"
It took all her willpower to not cry, but the fact her eyelid was swelling probably made it infinitely easier.
By the time she stumbled home to the pub, Roman was already standing outside eating an apple while chatting to Neo.
He glanced errantly in her direction, offering a small wave as she ran up to the door.
"Oh, hey Red." Then his eyes bulged out and the half-eaten apple in his mouth tumbled out.
"Holy- what the fuck, Red?!"
Neo wheeled on her, her eyebrows going up in surprise.
"M-nothing," she mumbled, looking away from the two awkwardly.
Neo was instantly all over, peeling back her hand to examine her face with an expression that flickered between mortified sympathy and murderous scrutiny.
"It's not that bad," she protested. However, the way Neo and Roman were fussing over her made her start to question that.
"Not that bad?! Red, what the hell?!" Roman was gobsmacked as he quickly ushered inside the pub.
She snorted to herself. She couldn't imagine what Hei would say in their stead.
Her heart sank, and her eyes widened all of a sudden.
Oh no. Hei. She whimpered. He was going to kill her.
Seated in the kitchen with her face bandaged, she hung her head low. The ominous pacing of shoes on the hardwood floor could be heard, penetrating the miserable silence.
"Ruby. What did I tell you."
Hei's voice was eerily calm. He would have preferred if he was shouting at her. This was worse, and she felt even more shame.
"I'm waiting for an answer, Ruby."
She didn't answer, finding the floor more interesting to look at.
"Always let someone know where I am," she finally mumbled.
"Always let someone know where you are," Hei repeated, much more forceful.
He shook his head.
"Who did this to you," he all but demanded.
Ruby looked up.
"No-one!" she denied.
"Ruby, it's okay. Just tell me who, or where it happened. You don't have to be afraid. I'll straighten them out real good. They'll never hurt you again."
Especially once their buried six feet under, was left unsaid. Ruby wasn't oblivious to how Hei would react.
"No-one did."
Hei didn't seem convinced. "Really? Then how come your face is all busted up?"
"I fell?"
"You fell?" Even Hei didn't seem convinced. She certainly didn't do a good enough job of sounding sincere.
"Yes," she repeated, this time a little more certain.
"I slipped and fell."
"And where did you fall exactly?"
Crap. She couldn't let him know she was off visiting the Wall Garrison for lessons on shooting. He wouldn't approve.
"Down the alley…."
He scrutinised her, letting the silence build up in the hopes of finally unnerving her enough to spill the beans.
She met his gaze.
"Look, all I want is for you to be safe."
Hei sighed. He swore that's all he seemed to do. Sigh, sigh, sigh. But what was he supposed to do? Gah! He shook his head. Just when things seemed to be going alright, and then this happened. Still. Aside from a nasty bruise, and maybe a scar, the young girl had come out alright. And no-one was after her or knew about her eyes.
He felt relieved at that small mercy at least. However, that wasn't to say he would be forgiving.
"I'm sending Melanie to Maria's to help out for a week and a bit."
Ruby swallowed nervously. She didn't like where this was going.
"You're going to accompany her, and you're going to listen to them and do as she says, and help her for the next two weeks."
Her heart sank.
"And that means helping Maria out as well."
Aw. Crap.
"But she's so old, and bossy?!" she protested.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. She was still a child.
"She's also been kind enough to help you out, so you can do the same for her."
She'd probably protest him on that, saying that just because she was old didn't mean she was infirm. Still, he needed something to punish Ruby with for her adventures. A little bit of extra chores to sap her energy and free time for a week or two ought to set her straight he figured. And it was the next safest place for her aside from the pub. Plus, Melanie would be around to look after her.
"Look, just, do as I say. I don't need another Roman to deal with."
She pouted something fierce. It was cute – NO! Bad thoughts! She was trying to manipulate him with those stupid puppy eyes.
He felt his resolve waver as she stared at him. Add the bloodied bandage to the mix, and now he was starting to feel awful.
He made the hard decision.
"That's my decision and it's final. Now, if you're not going to go get some rest after giving your face a reset, then you can go help Tony with whatever he needs done.
She hung her head miserably. Tony was even more boring than Maria. Always work work work with him.
Still, with nothing better to do now that she was under house arrest, she might as well go make herself useful. So off to Tony she went.
The very next day found her in a sombre mood as she stood at the entrance to Maria's territory. She did not want to be here.
Maria was nice, sure. But she was also… eccentric.
If it was any consolation, Melanie was not keen to be here either. Hei had not been too impressed with her attitude the day prior. Neither had been Miltia, though that was more on account of having her breakfast spoiled.
Now, she had to spend the next several days chaperoning Ruby. Among other things.
Things had gotten much better between them. Saint was still a sore topic for everyone, so no-one brought it up if it could be helped. However, there was still an age gap of nearly ten years between them. Melanie didn't want to be stuck babysitting a literal kid, and Ruby didn't want to have to deal with a 'teenagers moody shenanigans' as Roman put it.
Such shenanigans included all the smooching and icky stuff that had both her and DJ blushing whenever it got mentioned.
She personally didn't get the big deal about it, even if it was something that did technically ick her out. They were happy, and that was all that mattered? Right?
"Look, I'm not happy to be here either, Ruby." As if sensing her thoughts, Melanie spoke aloud. Her arms were crossed as she scowled at the teenage boys comprising Amber's crew. They all wilted under her glare.
Any notion of trying to hit on her was long since discarded years ago. Her and Amber had a spar. When Melanie lost, and hadn't that come as a surprise, one of the teens had tried to ask her out. Melanie did not hesitate in introducing the Malachite kindness to him. The beating had been so bad that Maria had effectively banned anyone from interacting with her, and vice versa. At least, not without supervision.
"Well well. If it isn't my favourite duo!" out sauntered Amber with a confident sashaying of her hips. She had gotten a slight wardrobe upgrade. She still wore her old cargo pants and boots (which she had made sure were reinforced with steel plating after that incident with Hei). However, instead of a basic singlet, she wore a more fanciful tunic which covered her shoulders. Her clothes were a sight cleaner as well. In fact, everyone's were. The current deal with Hei had done wonders for Maria's wards.
Melanie was not as keen to see Amber. She scowled in her direction.
"No need to be so hostile," placated the darker-skinned woman.
"Oh shove it," bit back Melanie.
Ruby lightly smacked Melanie's thigh. It didn't hurt, but it got her attention. Her glare made Melanie's own falter.
"That's not nice," chastised the youngest of them.
"Yeah," nodded Amber. "That's not nice." She refused to lose that damned smile, and that made Melanie seethe. She was so insufferable. And uppity of herself! Still, the look Ruby was giving her wasn't making her feel any better either. She'd let it go. For now.
"Sorry, Ruby. You're right. We shouldn't be upset at a dog if it hasn't been trained well. That's on the owner."
Ha. Take that!
Amber shrugged.
"I feel like that statement applies more to you than me, but sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night kid."
Melanie's eye twitched. And then she went and called her that. Kid. As if being two years younger than her meant anything.
Before anything could escalate, Maria's voice resounded.
"Amber! Be a dear and come help me with this will ya!"
Amber didn't even hesitate.
"Coming!" she cast a glance towards the duo.
"I'm assuming you're here for a reason. Might as well tag along." She didn't wait for a response. Ruby ran to catch up, and Melanie cursed as she had no choice but to follow.
No-one batted an eyelid when they saw Hei's people. It was considered normal if anything. Things were good between the two groups.
"So, what brings you lot down here? Next shipment is still a week away?" Amber was curious. Had things changed?
It was Ruby who answered.
"We're supposed to help you guys and Maria around."
At Amber's raised eyebrow, Ruby sheepishly added. "We may have gotten in trouble with Hei."
"We? Oh piss off," snapped Melanie, though there was no real heat behind her words.
Ruby frowned.
"But we're both in trouble with him?" she was confused.
Amber watched with amusement as the two bickered.
"Roman said it was because you were sleeping with DJ."
Melanie looked mortified, while Amber did a spit-take.
"Wait, this bitch is getting laid?!"
Melanie's response was to simultaneously flip Amber off while spluttering that's not at all what was happening to a confused Ruby.
"Why is sleeping together a bad thing?"
Melanie went red as she vehemently shook her head.
"We're not doing anything like that Ruby! Roman's an idiot. You know that. He doesn't know about half the shit that runs out of his stupid mouth!"
Amber giggled as she leered at the flustered teen.
"My my. Someone's a bad liar."
"Will you fuck off! We're not!" Melanie whined. Even Ruby would admit that to see the normally stoic and harsh girl act all flustered and embarrassed was kind of amusing. Sort of. She just didn't get why sleeping was something to be embarrassed about.
"Why is sleeping so bad? I do it all the time? I always sleep around if I can." It was true. Sleep was just so beautiful and comfortable.
Amber couldn't help herself. She burst out into laughter, clutching her sides while Melanie looked mortified, shouting an indignant 'Ruby!'
"Don't say it like that!"
"What? Why not? It's the truth. Sleeping around is nice!"
Amber collapsed onto her knees with a wheeze.
"That sort of sleeping is for the bedroom! Not that I am!" Melanie denied.
Ruby looked confused.
"How? You can sleep anywhere? I don't sleep in just my bed. I sleep in the kitchen. I sleep in the bar. I sleep with Roman and Neo sometimes." Melanie blanched.
"Please don't say it like…."
Ruby was on a roll.
"One time, I even slept in a storage crate out the back!" And hadn't that given Tony a fright. Poor guy came out into the dark room to do inventory to suddenly find something alive breathing in the room. Man thought it was a bear or even Grimm that had snuck in.
"It wasn't comfortable the first time," she remembered before cheering up with a proud proclamation. "But I can fit now!"
"Holy shiiiiiiiiit!" wheezed Amber.
"What have you been teaching this poor child!" It was hard to chastise a person when you couldn't contain your laughter.
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" seethed Melanie.
Ruby looked confused.
"What? What did I say? Why are you laughing?!"
Amber stood up slowly.
"Ah. That made my day," she chuckled before ruffling Ruby's hair. She violently shook herself out of the bigger girl's grasp.
"When you're older."
Ruby wanted to scream. Why did everyone keep saying that. She wasn't little. She was growing to be a big girl! Just you wait and see! The milk would kick in. One day….
"What's this noise racket going on," came an old and grumpy voice.
Maria had walked outside of her tent, or hobbled more like. The way she gripped her cane was a clear indicator of the need for support.
"I said I needed your help ten minutes ago. What's taking you so long girl?!"
Amber hobbled over to her, her ribs aching from laughter. There was no injury, just pain from such intense laughter that it took all her energy just to hobble over to Maria.
"Sorry, Maria. I'm here now."
"Hmm. Well, about time. And what brings these two here?" she shifted her attention suddenly to Melanie and Ruby.
"Last I checked, your appointment is not for a little bit yet Ruby."
Melanie had been sceptical of Hei's claim that Maria, who was blind, could see and distinguish people according to Aura. But she could, and it amazed her every single time.
"They're in trouble with Hei, so he's sent them to work for us as punishment."
Maria gave a small chuckle at Amber's answer.
"Did he now? Well that's awfully generous of him. For how long did he say?"
"A couple days," muttered Melanie. Unfortunately, Ruby also happened to answer at the exact same time.
"Two weeks," she chirped. She might not have been enthused about being stuck here, but she wasn't going to lie and be dishonest.
Maria grinned.
"Really? Well, that's absolutely wonderful to hear!"
Amber shot a grin that she struggled to suppress in Melanie's direction.
The other girl caught it. "Fucking shove it!"
"Oi!" snapped Maria, all traces of her nice, elderly demeanour gone.
"What have I said about using that sort of language around here! We have children present."
Amber scoffed, struggling to suppress another bout of laughter that threatened to explode.
Maria ignored her.
"So what did you two do this time?"
Now that she mentioned, Amber was curious. Ruby's face was all bruised and swollen.
"Yeah. What did you do? Does it have anything to do with why your face looks like it went for ten round smack-down with a Beringel?"
Ruby suddenly found interest in the ground. Melanie was more than happy to answer in her stead.
"She broke the rules and went out for a little wander unsupervised. You're lucky no-one actually hurt you."
"I swear, it was just a fall!" protested Ruby.
Amber and Melanie both shared a doubtful expression.
Why did no-one believe her.
She pouted.
"At least I didn't get caught sleeping," she muttered. It must have been somewhere bad if everyone was making a big deal of it. Maybe she slept in Hei's bed? Either way, if Melanie was going to throw her under the cart, then she would return the favour. Call her petty. Because she was.
Amber snorted, her face ready to explode with laughter. Melanie flushed.
"I wasn't –" she decided to give up.
Amber struggled to fight the urge to laugh, and with great care, she swallowed said urge.
"That's the thing. How on Remnant are you getting laid? Especially with your personality?"
Melanie looked affronted.
"Oi! What about my personality!? You want a knuckle-sandwich bitch?"
Maria groaned.
"Oh my gods, why do I have to be the one to put up with all this horseshit…."
Amber smirked. "Ha! You can try. But it wouldn't end any differently than it has before."
"Bring it!" by now Melanie was right up in Amber's face. Her fists were clenched and she was rearing to go.
"Normally I would, but I wouldn't want to beat up someone already knocked up. That's called domestic abuse." Amber's sly look was getting under her skin. If she didn't accept her offer to fight right here and now, then she was going to punch that smug look off her face!
"I said bring it. If you won't, then I will. Either way, you're going to get a mouthful of fuck you!"
"GIRLS!" snapped Maria, forcing them both to look at her with surprise.
"If it gets you two to shut up, then go have a spar. Just don't come back a cripple and whine about it." She tapped her cane, fed up with their antics already.
Ruby's eyes widened with excitement.
"Oh cool! I wanna watch!"
Maria turned her head in the two older girl's direction. Even though her eyes were covered with a bandage, her gaze seemed to harden. As if sending them both a warning.
"I swear, this better not be you trying to get out of work. Or worse, your generations attempt at flirting."
Amber guffawed in surprise. "What?!"
Melanie was equally revolted. "Ew, what the fuck granny?"
Maria shook her head before starting to hobble back inside.
"Whatever. Come back when you've all calmed down. Not like I'm going anywhere."
Amber's smile was thin as stared down Melanie, who was a bit shorter than her.
"You know, after that comment, I might have to break a bone or two."
Melanie's smile was all teeth.
"Of yours? Sure. Let me help!"
Old Ruby would have been nervous at the prospect of a fight. New Ruby couldn't help but get excited. This was going to be so cool!
Word travelled quick that there was going to be a fight between Amber and Melanie, so of course all of the teens and kids were quick to flock to the makeshift ring to watch.
Amber had cemented her reputation as the strongest fighter amongst them all, and while Melanie was certainly strong in her own right, she always lost against Amber unless she was tag-teaming the confident girl with her sister.
Still, a fight was fight, and people were excited to see blood spill. Metaphorically speaking that was. Maria would have their heads if anything serious were to happen. Perhaps the only reason she allowed such a fight to happen was because both contestants had an active Aura. Or maybe she was just tired of trying to stop it. Better to let them wear themselves out here in the safe confines of home than in the outside world.
Amber stretch her back and arms, fingers interlocked as she grinned and took in the adulation of the gathering crowd.
Melanie shrugged off her jacket as she entered the makeshift ring. A roughly circular wall made of assorted scrap and junk, about knee high, marked the territory of the ring.
It was quite spacious. People gathered outside of it and hung off the railings and windows of the surrounding buildings.
"I'll make sure to go easy on you," offered Amber. Ruby wasn't sure if she was being sincere or cocky. Either way, Melanie wasted no time in lunging forward with a vicious left hook.
"For the last time, I'm not pregnant!"
Amber dodged the strike, catching Melanie's high kick with her hand.
"Girl, I meant since you keep losing every time we do this," Amber dismissed.
Melanie snarled, jumping back.
Ruby watched with awe.
Miltia was acrobatic and fluid when she fought. Melanie, however, was a vicious brawler. But she wasn't just limited to fisticuffs. She kicked, she bit, and she wasn't averse to using tricks. The streets and Mistral left no choice for fair fights.
Amber was no different and never took offense to it. If anything, she enjoyed it. Ruby had realised long ago it meant that her opponent was taking her seriously. And that amazed her.
She often wondered what it must feel like. To be so confident in your own skills and abilities that you never feared nor worried about your opponent. That you could afford to treat a spar in such a cavalier manner.
It must have felt like every single time she trained and sparred with the twins. From their perspective. And that was to say she never really experienced victory a lot. At least when the twins were being serious. But, she was getting stronger. Or at least, that's what she was told anyways by Miltia. She often questioned if that was simply her trying to make her feel better about losing.
The crowd gasped as Melanie suddenly landed a resounding spinning kick on Amber's head, making the older girl stumble back.
Melanie didn't let Amber get a reprieve, however, instantly tackling the older girl in the stomach and knocking her to the ground.
She began to rain a flurry of punches upon her face.
Aura served to protect her, but Amber preferred to not let her face take the brunt of the assault, instinctively raising her arms to block the vicious assault.
Ruby watched as Melanie's lips moved in a vicious sneer. It was too hard to hear what she was saying over the raucous cheering and respective booing of the crowd, but it looked an awful lot like she was saying 'fuck you' over and over.
Ruby flinched. As much as it was exciting and cool to watch, she couldn't help but think such a beat-down was bit mean-spirited at this point.
And then Amber suddenly shoved Melanie off of her with a mighty kick.
It must have been Aura-enhanced because she went flying backwards.
Ruby frowned.
Aura certainly enhanced your attacks, but it was also very taxing. Most people had a very finite amount to begin with, and to waste it on such a heavy attack often meant you had to sacrifice future protection unless you could take an Aura-shard to replenish depleted reserves quickly.
It was inefficient and wasteful. Sure, there were exceptions like Neo who could use their Aura to power a Semblance, but even then, most reserves weren't that great. Neo only had a little extra gas in her Aura reserves to permit using her Semblance, otherwise she would be forced to take an Aura shard.
To use it in this spar seemed wasteful. Then again, it was very thrilling to watch, and Amber, Ruby had learned, was a bit of a spectacle girl. She loved to show off her prowess.
Skilled she may be. Humble she was not.
Then again, she was the defacto leader for all of these people. At least, after Maria anyways. It probably served to reinforce her position through such feats and displays.
Melanie was on her feet just as quickly as Amber, and the two charged into each other. Each was a whirlwind of punches, kicks, and respective parries and redirects.
It only lasted for a few seconds however when Amber suddenly went low, and Melanie overextended her strikes.
Instantly, Amber uprooted the smaller girl and now Melanie was the one purely on the defence.
The crowd cheered and roared in approval.
Ruby felt offended, and she glared at everyone. No-one paid any attention however, too enraptured on the fight.
"GET HER MELANIE! YOU GOT THIS!" She called from the sidelines. Her cheers were drowned out by the crowd, but Melanie must have head, or sensed, her support as she cast Ruby the briefest of glances.
In between raining blows, she grabbed a handful of dirt. Amber let loose a foul curse as she was suddenly blinded by a cloud of dirt stinging her eyes.
She didn't relent in her assault, but she could see, even if it was temporary.
That was all Melanie needed to flip wrap her legs around Amber and flip her onto her back.
As the two began to grapple, some of the boys near Ruby began to cheer a little too earnestly.
"KICK HER BUTT!" she screamed. She wanted Melanie to win. She was biased. So what?
Amber, sensing the battle was changing, became a bit more desperate to win.
She brought her knee into Melanie's groin. Hard. And repeatedly.
Girls and guys alike in the crowd who had a good view winced at that.
The groin on a woman was just as sensitive as a man's. Many nerves and blood vessels travelled there. No matter her resilience, or her Aura, that sort of pain was not something anyone wanted to experience willingly.
Melanie's grip slackened and Amber finally managed to push her off her.
However, instead of backing off on the assault, she doubled down. Only this time instead of her knee, she used her steel-plated boot instead.
Melanie screamed in pain.
Ruby's eyes went wide, and she screamed out 'NO!'
It went unheard.
Amber finally relented on her assault, and Melanie lay crumpled in a painful heap, groaning.
The chatter of the crowd began to die down, and Amber's words could be heard.
"Give up. You lost."
Melanie was many things, including stubborn. She refused to submit or yield. Slowly, she clambered to her hands and knees.
Amber shook her head in exasperation.
"Really? After all this? You still want to keep going?"
Melanie stood up, a resentful look in her eyes.
If she wanted a beating so bad, then Amber was more than happy to oblige her.
"Fine then. Your choice!"
She reared back before firing off a powerful punch. It was easily telegraphed, but an exhausted fighter wouldn't of had the stamina to react in time.
Amber's arrogance cost her as Melanie surprised her. She did indeed have the stamina still to fight her.
She dodged the throw. Too late did Amber realise her mistake. She had overextended in her arrogance.
Melanie dodged the strike with her body, her hands coming up grab her arm and force her into an armbar, and then a chokehold.
Suddenly, Amber found herself pressed up tight against Melanie with her arm rendered useless and in a painful position.
"You give up," uttered Melanie coldly.
Amber struggled, but Melanie kept a death-like grip on her body.
Anger surged through her. She refused to be beaten, let alone like this.
With all her strength, she tried to flip the smaller girl over her back and shoulder, but she held on tight.
"Fuck off, will ya?!" she screamed. Melanie refused.
"Yield!" she retorted.
Her pride refused to let her.
Amber jabbed her free elbow into Melanie's stomach. Hard. She grunted but held on tight, her grip tightening.
Amber tried again, but still she refused to let go.
Melanie must have gotten pretty sick and tired of Amber's stubbornness, because suddenly the hand attached to the arm wrapped around her neck clamped down on her face.
Amber let out a defiant scream which suddenly turned to one of pain as Melanie began to drive her thumb into the older girl's left eye.
"For fuck's sake, give up you stubborn bitch!"
Amber hated defeat. She would never yield. Yet, in this moment, the fight had gone from a spar to downright street-violence.
A person who is afraid can do many things to survive. And right now, Amber felt afraid.
It was too quick for anyone to notice in time, but Ruby had a keen eye.
She saw the way the dirt around Amber suddenly swirled up for no reason like a mini-windstorm.
She saw the way it concentrated around her.
Amber let loose a defiant scream. One that was suddenly overtaken by a deafening sonic boom as the air around her exploded outwards.
Everyone nearby was knocked down to the ground, including Ruby.
Dirt and debris went flying, and everyone cried out in surprise.
Melanie went flying backwards, her back slamming into and through the barrier erected around the sparring ring.
And standing in the middle of the ring was Amber who suddenly looked very nervous.
Ruby pulled herself up to assess what had even happened.
No way that was a Semblance right? If it was, that was pretty cool she would admit.
Her eyes quickly roamed around, taking in everyone who was getting up slowly, albeit disoriented from the sudden outburst of energy.
The sound was still rumbling throughout the distance like a crack of thunder would.
Her eyes took in Amber who looked on the verge of a panic attack.
"Oh, fuck…."
She was looking in the distance at something near the edge of the ring.
She was looking at Melanie when Ruby followed her gaze.
Melanie who was slumped up against the destroyed barrier, and who was not moving….
Rosaline frowned as she sat with just Alexander and the King now. The others had left, Margaret included. She had cited she needed a break from the stress. Honestly, it was a wonder the woman was even alive at this point, what with the amount of cigarettes she smoked daily. Between that and her age and it was doubtful she was going to stay that way much longer.
"This proposal Ozpin is trying to push has me worried. To strip away the monarchy would effectively castrate the noble families."
"No," Alexander frowned.
"Not the ones loyal to him. They would benefit from this. Otherwise they would have never sided with Ozpin. He must be offering them something."
The General, brute as he may be at times, was far from stupid. He understood politics. He understood how to navigate them. And he understood and recognised when a major political shift was inbound.
"You assured me that if we dismissed Ozpin from his position that we would improve the stability of this kingdom."
It was the King who spoke, and he was far from impressed. His narrowed eyes scrutinised Rosaline, and she felt herself suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"He has the support of over half the major noble lineages. Very influential and powerful ones at that I might add," he continued, stating what was clearly the obvious.
Alexander scowled into his hand, stroking his beard contemplatively.
"Dismissing him now will only further divide those families against us."
"It will invite a civil war!" the king cursed.
"How do you plan on dismissing him now?"
"As King Regent, you have executive powers which you could exercise," suggested Rosaline. It didn't work as the King shook his head.
"There must be due cause. I cannot start a precedent of dismissal without it."
Alexander glowered darkly.
"Treason is as good a cause as any."
Rosaline rolled her eyes.
"By that metric, then all of those who sided with him in support of his proposal are guilty of it as well. Do you really think it wise to antagonise the major Huntsman families with so brazen an accusation?"
Alexander snarled. "Then what are we supposed to do? Roll over as he threatens to undo all our hard efforts?"
The King cleared his throat.
"What does your benefactor have to say about this?"
Rosaline froze.
Alexander answered in her stead.
"Shion… has been silent."
The King scowled, muttering something along the lines 'of course' under his breath.
"Then what about the original plan? The one you assured me of two years ago."
"As coincidental as events lined up, it is inconclusive to point the onus of Powderman's death as orchestrated by Ozpin. We have circumstantial evidence –"
"Theories," the King cut off. "Theories is what you offered. I am not interested in theories. I want concrete proof."
Rosaline felt herself frown. She had been trying. It wasn't exactly an easy thing to politically corner the Headmaster, who himself was savvy to their council's workings.
"We have stalled his workings. His overreach is at the very least curbed because of how much scrutiny he is under."
The King sighed, leaning his aging head onto a pale, bony hand. Age wasn't doing him any favours either it seemed.
"A grab for power it may be, but we cannot underestimate the threat of the Grimm at the end of the day. Huntsmen are best suited to combat it, and we are sorely lacking."
Alexander nearly choked.
"A good thing as well! If he has any more, he could very well start a coup at this point. The army is more than sufficient to counter Grimm. With the new armaments we purchased from Atlas, we have a much more significant advantage against the Grimm."
"He doesn't need any more Huntsmen if he wants to start a coup. He already has plenty. But he constrains himself to operating within the bounds of the law. The legislature, and the bureaucracy," he responded, sighing at the General's concerns.
"Ozpin may be many things, but radical, he is not." It was his Huntsman nature. Honour and service to the people demanded that he respect their will.
Rosaline was on the same thought process, but where the King lambasted in contrivance, she looked deeper and saw something. And that's when an idea hit her.
"Actually…." She began. The King straightened in his throne.
"Perhaps the answer is not to resist his proposal and fight it, but instead lean into it."
Alexander looked at her incredulously.
"Are you serious?"
The King looked at her curiously, silently demanding an explanation.
"The Headmaster is looking to subvert the Monarchy, and is using the support of the Huntsmen families to do so. Well, why not use the same framework that he is proposing against him? His plan is dependent on swaying the Democratic council to his side with promises of power. Essentially that's all it boils down to at the end of the day."
"So what, offer a more tempting carrot to them instead? Versus the stick?" Alexander raised an eyebrow.
Rosaline chuckled lightly.
"Not only that, but we push the incident of the Bloody Market and Powdermans death even harder. We go public with it, and use Ozpin's new framework to appeal a sense of choice from not only the council, but the masses as well."
Yes, she had it all figured out. She couldn't help her smug, certain smile.
"Under his proposed legislature, he could technically be voted off the council then."
Alexander looked at her with a pleasantly surprised expression, cluing into her plan.
"The only way for him to maintain his position at that point is to halt the proposal. If he refuses to step down after a vote, he could face charges of Obstruction to the Crown."
The King nodded slowly, a small smile adorning his face.
"Yes. This seems like a sound idea. However," his smile fell.
"There is a lot to work out."
"And we're out of time," Alexander scowled.
"Not exactly," the King responded, suddenly contemplative.
"This issue, while dependent on a vote, can be delayed. After all, we have a diplomatic visit scheduled from Menagerie to establish an embassy within the next two weeks."
Rosaline felt even more confident in her scheme.
With the faunus diplomats arriving, it would be foolish for Ozpin to act out and force the issue. If he did, he would be risking weakening Vale for the whole world to see. While Vale was on decent terms with Menagerie, they were by no means friends.
Any weakness, perceived or real, would be capitalised on by the foreigners. After-all, she would if she was a diplomat and saw a similar situation play out in a foreign kingdom.
"He would be foolish to act out when they arrive. So we can buy ourselves a few weeks to prepare for this new setback," agreed Alexander.
Like the King said. Ozpin might be feeling bold and adventurous, but he was constraining himself within the confines of the law. He wasn't some radical element that would act uncontrollably.
The nobles smiled. All too easy.
"Oh, by the way, who was the diplomat arriving?" asked Rosaline. She was a little bit curious.
The King looked off to the side, as if trying to recall. After a moment, he answered.
"Ah yes. Viceroy Meg Scarlatina. And apparently, the High Chieftains wife, Kali Belladonna, will be accompanying her."
Next chapter: Monday 10th February