Give Me a Sign/I Can Feel You Falling Away
James Ironwood was in his office at Atlas Academy. Although the school year had yet to begin, he had been spending a lot of time here. The camera showed a blue carpeted floor with various golden designs on it, navy blue walls and snow blue ceiling. His desk was a black steel desk with two compartments on the right side. In front of his desk were five wooden chairs with blue velvet and arms with blue cushioning. Behind his desk was a black office chair and a picture of Atlas's symbol on the wall. On that same wall were two different windows, both of which were covered with blue curtains. There were also two filing cabinets placed side by side in the upper left corner.
As he stood at the wall of windows behind his desk, he brought his hands in front of him and clinched them into fists. As he did this, both of his hands had white gloves covering them. The camera leaned slightly upwards, showing that his hair was slightly messier than usual. He sighed aloud to empty air before the door opened.
A middle aged woman with grey eyes and black hair in a top bun entered the room, shutting the door as he made his way back to the desk. She wore a long sleeved black button up shirt. Some of the buttons were undone, creating a modest v-neck. Her knee length white skirt was paired with black pants and black combat boots. To complete the look, she wore a white belt with a few pouches tied to it and a sheath for her sword on her left side.
"You have requested my presence, General?"
"I have. I need you to do me a huge favor. First, I need you to go to this address and deliver this message." She looked at the address written out on the envelope he gave her. Xiao-Long/Rose Family Home, Patch, 7513 Thunder Road. "Once that is done, do not leave immediately. Ask Taiyang Xiao-Long to measure the length of Yang's left arm so that I can properly create or find a prosthetic arm to replace the right one that she lost." He gave her a writing pad with a pen attached to it. "Record the information and return back here with your findings. Can I count on you?"
She smiled. "It would be an honor, General Ironwood."
"Excellent. I almost thought you wouldn't except the mission."
The huntress gave him a confused look. "Why wouldn't I? Playing messenger has become an important job in the recent months. And not everyone is cut out for it. Second class messengers are dropping like flies. According to a newspaper I read just yesterday, in Atlas kingdom alone, 566 deaths have been reported, along with over a thousand injuries. It is also possible that the other kingdoms and the faunus haven of Menagerie could be higher in numbers. The world doesn't just need messengers; they need capable first class messengers who know what they're doing."
"I see your point. And to answer your question, I thought you wouldn't except it because you still have children back at home."
She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? My sons have already graduated."
"But what about the youngest one? Your daughter, I-"
"She is no daughter of mine, General." the woman interrupted. "She is a coward. A selfish, incompetent, cold-blooded coward who can't succeed in anything."
Before Ironwood could respond to her comment, a loud knock on the door was heard three times. "Come in." Ironwood answered.
Emerald Arc walked into the door, now wearing a satchel with an emerald sticker in the center around her left shoulder. She retrieved a letter from the satchel and handed it to General Ironwood. "A letter to the General, from Caroline Cordovin."
He raised his eyebrows in alarm. "Cordovin?" The general grimaced. "Oh dear..."
"I must forewarn you General-" the emotionless messenger began. "you aren't going to like hearing this news. Judging by your expression, you may already know what this is about."
"I'm afraid I do." The first and second class messenger stood to the side as the general opened the envelope and read the letter, both of them reading Ironwood's expression. "Oh good gods..."
"What is it?" the woman asked.
"Argus Harbor Max Security Prison has been destroyed." The huntress gasped and covered her mouth in horror. "Caroline Cordovin was horribly injured. Captain Grey injured. Warden Cumin dead, killed by Athena Bruna... Not many survivors. Thirteen guards remaining... Assistant Warden Paprika horribly injured... Barely surviving..." He groaned, suddenly feeling a wave of fatigue wash over him.
"I know it is a lot to take in." Emerald said to him.
"Oh dear..." the woman stated. "That's not good at all."
"It isn't. Oh, Mrs. Khloris, I nearly forgot." He handed her five hundred Lien. "The first part of your payment. You will receive the remaining half once you return here after completing the task."
She smiled. "Thank you, General." The huntress turned to Emerald, looking at her. "You're a second class messenger, aren't you?"
"I am." She paused briefly. "What about it?"
Mrs. Khloris raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you sure you're cut out for this task?"
"I'm positive that I can do this. Don't underestimate a second class messenger."
The huntress was perplexed at her seemingly high confidence. "Are you not even scared? You're doing of the most dangerous jobs on the planet and you are ill-prepared for it."
"I'm not scared, because I know the risks I'm taking and have prepared for them to the best of my ability. The Grimm will not get to me." She turned to the general. "Now, if that is all, I will take my leave. Have a good day, General."
Unsure of how to respond, he just watched as she exited the room. She's a strange one. Ironwood thought to himself. And why is she emotionless? Is it all an act or...? No, Ironwood, that's absurd.
He looked at the letter again, sighing heavily.
"She's dead." Mrs. Khloris said.
"Oh, don't count her out yet, Emily. Some second class messengers are resilient. I got a feeling that she'll be around for quite while. She seems to control her emotions very well. Almost too well..."
I wish I had her ability to remain calm under pressure... Ironwood secretly thought.
Emily scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. "She's a strange one. But who really knows what will happen?" She looked at the address on the envelope. "Nonetheless, I better pack my bags. It's a long way to Patch. See you soon, General."
"Good luck, Mrs. Khloris."
She exited the room and as she went into the hallway, she got out her scroll, checking the date and time.
17:00
January 9th
Emily pocketed her scroll and walked through the hall as the scene transitioned to...
Ilia and Hector searching the city of Kunchinashi for Maura's messenger. With a credible lead, she was sure that she would find Adam.
"Alright." Ilia began. "According to the note I found, Maura's messenger should be in the southern part of the city, wearing a White Fang mask with green stripes on it. Let's split up and cover more territory; I'll take the west, you take the east. If you find her and discover Maura's location, call me and tell me where to meet you. Same thing if you find Adam."
Hector gave her a thumbs up. "You got it, boss."
As the two faunus split up to cover more ground quicker, Ilia found herself in a part of the city with many stores nearby. As she walked by an ice cream shop, she saw numerous people sitting at outdoor tables, many of which were in pairs. The groups consisted of two female pairs, one male pair, and four different male-female pairs. One of the two female pairs was laughing and giggling, and the other one had both girls staring into each others eyes lovingly.
Couples all having fun. Why couldn't me and Blake be like that? Then again, that desire is a foolish one, Ilia. She was never interested in you to begin with. Not romantically anyway. I was always jealous of her relationship with Adam. Ah! She mentally chided herself. Come on, Ilia, focus! You're here to find and aid Adam Taurus, not be tormented by ghosts of the past.
She looked at the couples, eating ice cream and other sweet treats. In the very back however, two cloaked figures, a slender one in black and a white one that was bulkier speaking with a black haired, black eyed woman at a table. The woman wore a long sleeveless black robe reaching to the floor with a sweetheart neckline, along with a silver heart onyx necklace where the black heart was encased in a silver heart shape. She also wore circle-shaped onyx earrings and black opera length gloves.
Not even paying attention to them, Ilia sighed, sadly turning away as her skin turned green. Her eyes became bright blue and her hair and spots turned dark blue. No one noticed the tormented lesbian as she walked to the wall on the next nearest street, slumped her back against it and sighed. But she heard another voice with hers. She turned her head and turned to see a masked man's face right by her.
"Adam?" she asked.
"Ilia?" he asked her at the same time. She blinked silently and asked her, "What are you doing here?"
Her color palette turned back to normal. "I was sent to find you by Fennec and Corsac. If I may ask, what brings you here?"
"I've been trying to find Maura Celandine so that she can aid me with my plan, but so far, it feels like I'm on a wild goose chase."
"Well you're in luck." She smiled, getting out her scroll. "Check this out."
She showed him the note Maura left behind. "Hmm. A messenger with green stripes on her Grimm mask. Where are we going to find a messenger like that?"
Ilia's scroll started to ring and she looked at the caller ID, smiling. "I think we might have a lead." She pressed answer. "Hello?"
"Ilia, I found Maura's messenger." Hector's voice answered. "She's over by Bullet Square. Get over here a-sap!"
"We'll be right over." She hung up and pocketed her scroll. "To Bullet Square!"
The two faunus darted to the nearest back alley and ran through alleyway to deserted street to another alleyway until they arrived at their location. Sitting on a bench were Hector was standing was a woman with long black hair tied back, a long green dress with black tights and a green ribbon around her right wrist. As foretold, she indeed had a White Fang mask with green stripes on them.
Ilia and Adam approached the woman. She gave them both a puzzled expression. "You're not Sienna Khan."
"Maura's messenger, I presume?" Ilia asked.
"Indeed." The messenger stood up and bowed as she introduced herself. "I am Daphne, messenger of Maura Celandine. Are you three Loyalists or Revolutionists?"
Hector raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Huh?"
The chameleon faunus scratched her head in confusion. "I'm afraid I don't follow."
"I know what she means. She's asking if we're allied with Maura or her rival Athena. Maura leads the Loyalists while Athena leads the Revolutionists. There's been a civil war for power brewing between the two factions for who controls the Mistralian White Fang branch." Adam answered Ilia. He turned back to Daphne. "And to answer your question, neither. We're not from here."
The messenger looked at him suspiciously. "So why do you seek out Maura?"
"I wish to speak with her, peacefully." Adam stated half-truthfully.
Daphne studied his expression carefully, taking off her mask looking at him with her bright green eyes. As she did this, the Valeian leader showed no signs of uneasiness. She sighed and put her mask back on. "Alright. I will lead you to her, but I'm watching your every move, out-lander."
Adam was not intimated in the least as the scene transitioned to him, Hector, Ilia and Daphne walking up the mountain to a small cottage.
"This is where she lives. Now to get in, you'll have to know the secret knock to acknowledge that I trust you. But since I'm here, I'll just do it for you." She went up the door and knocked hard on it three times, tapped it thrice, knocked hard twice and tapped it two more times. The door creaked open. "Hello? Ms. Celandine?" She entered the house and the others followed her lead. "You have visitors." Silence reigned. "Maura?"
They were shown searching the living room, with the four White Fang agents seeing nothing in the living room. Daphne walked away to check the bedroom. The other three agents walked to the kitchen. Hector opened the fridge and freezer, but there was nothing in there. As Adam looked at the wooden table, he saw not just one, but two circle marks, one on each end, on the table where glasses of water or some other beverage had been.
"I don't get it. Where is she?" Ilia asked.
Upon this, Daphne returned back to the kitchen. "She's gone!"
"What?!" Adam exclaimed. "But why would she just leave like this?"
"She probably left so that if a Revolutionist found her note, she wouldn't be discovered and turned into the authorities. The price on her head is super high and everyone, from civilians to soldiers and huntsmen and huntresses are joining the hunt to turn her in."
"So that's why her note said 'for Sienna Khan's eyes only...'" Ilia mumbled to herself.
"Great. Just great." Adam sarcastically remarked. "Now my job has been made a lot harder. We have no idea where Maura went or who's with her."
"Are you sure that someone is or was with her?" Ilia asked.
"There had to be." He pointed to the marks on the table. "There's two different glass marks on the wood table. Someone was with her last night. But whom?"
Hector looked at the messenger curiously. "Could that have been you, Daphne?"
"No, not me." she answered. "I haven't been here in two weeks."
Adam sighed. "I just don't get it. Where could she have gone?"
Several hours earlier, before the sun rose, Sienna and Maura were exiting the cottage with their backpacks on. Donning their cloaks (and masks in the case of Sienna), they cut the lights and shut the door.
"Hopefully, the lack of light will help us to escape easier." Sienna stated. "Let's go."
"Wait." Maura threw her arms around Sienna. "Thank you. I owe you big time."
"Don't thank me yet." She looked into her friend's eyes. "We still have to prove your innocence. Let's move."
And so, the two ran off into the night, the camera showing the moon and the stars.
Back in the present, as the sun set painted the sky with yellow and orange colors, Sienna and Maura moved through the woods. "So what are you going to say to them?" Maura asked her.
"Honestly, I'm not sure." Sienna answered. "I'll need time to prepare a speech. Normally I just let the words come to me, but the stakes are too high to rely on my natural charisma and persuasion. I'll also need time to rehearse before I enter the court hall."
"Perhaps we should stop for an evening meal and you can get started on the speech?"
"That sounds like a good plan. There's not much daylight, so hopefully, I can get finished on the introduction before the sun sets."
The scene transitioned to the two faunus ladies setting up a campsite. A montage began as Sienna sat down on a log, getting out a notebook and pen. The High Leader began to write while Maura gathered some twigs and arranged them so that they would easily burn. She lit a match and dropped it onto the pile of twigs, letting it burn. She got out a metal rack and set up a big pot to hang from it. She started preparing ingredients as Sienna continued to write.
The montage ended after the sun had set and sky turned dark blue. It was a moonless night, but there were a few stars present.
"Well that's about all the daylight left." Sienna said, putting the notebook and pen done. "I got done with the introduction and a little more."
"I'm surprised at you. Working so hard..." She ladled some vegetable soup into a bowl. After putting a spoon into it, she handed it to Sienna.
"Thank you."
She blew on her soup before eating it.
"The walls are really closing in on me..." Maura stated. She put down her down bowl sadly. "Do I really have any chance of surviving the end of the civil war?"
"I'll keep you alive. I won't let you be damned for Athena's actions." Sienna took a small sip of water from her canteen and continued eating.
Sienna's words are reassuring, but I'm still scared. I'm starting to break, I'm falling apart. Have I become undone? Maura looked up at the few stars that were in the sky. Is it possible that those stars are already dead, giving off the last light they have? I don't know. But these stars may be my last hope. She held her hands in prayer. To the stars above, I ask of you- Give me a sign. A sign that everything will be alright...
At that same time, team JNPR and Ruby were walking through Vale. Now far from Cachée, the quintet traveled a long dirt road paved through a forest. Up ahead the road continued in an open area with a fence. On each side of the fence were slight green hills with patches of green grass shattered around them, along with mountains in the distance. On the other side of the road was another forest.
The sun was setting, but it could not be seen with the dark clouds hanging over the land.
"Here we are; the kingdom line." Jaune stated. In front of them was a picket sign reading, You are now leaving Vale. "Once we exit this forest, we'll officially be out of Vale's territory and in the outskirts of Vale."
Nora gave him a disgruntled look. "So where we go from there?"
"That, I'm not sure." he timidly answered. "I've rarely traveled to Vale's outskirts."
'Rouge' took her hood down and looked around. There was no one around them, but she still couldn't help but have a bad feeling stir in her gut as a cold chill came over her. Suddenly a vision came to her.
Amber had her arms restrained by a younger Emerald and Mercury. A younger Cinder was shown putting on a glove with a strange symbol and a Grimm bug creature protruded from it.
"Please don't..." she pleaded in a whisper, to no avail.
The raven-haired woman payed no heed to her and started to drain her power, a black substance latching onto the fall maiden's left eye and her right eye glowed a bright orange. As Amber screamed in pain, Cinder smirked as her right eye faintly glowed yellow and orange.
"Pyrrha, are you alright?" Jaune's voice asked.
The vision ended as abruptly as it began. Her friends looked at her in concern.
"I'm fine." She lied. "I was just lost in thought. Now then, shall we continue?"
Not bothering to question her, the quintet continued down the long and lonely road as they stepped into the outskirts of Vale's kingdom. As they went forward, Pyrrha put her hood back up and thought to herself, It seems that Cinder and her allies took down Amber easily. But how is that possible? Was she inexperienced with her powers? If so, the same can not be said for Cinder. She is very skilled at using the maiden powers. Or the fire aspect if nothing else. Do I really even have a chance against her? I nearly died at her hands. And while I've become weaker, she is getting stronger. I'm falling away, breaking down. Everything...
Part of her wanted to reach for Jaune's hand, but she didn't.
Even Jaune can't comfort me now. Nearly everything seems lost... I've come undone... Out of the light of the sun, I hide in the darkness. Is light everlasting? Or does every light flicker out one by one, until nothing but darkness is left?