A/N: For the last time, I'm not fucking dead. I went to an academy and got married, and got a K9, so there were a few times when I wished that I was dead. But no, not dead. Also trying to go to school. More computer time, more updates maybe?
Chapter 30
It should not have surprised Arthur how easy it was to track down Qrow. Then again, the man did know that he was coming as backup, so maybe it wasn't all on him. The wilderness surrounding Vale was littered with towns that rose and fell with the same consistency as the Old West, so he was accustomed to the way of life there. Many came and went while indulging in drink and debauchery, or they simply passed through to the next population center. In some cases, towns rumored to be secure for years would be nothing but burned down effigies, full of nothing but sorrow and Grimm. In others, a bright new holdout would spring up, full of singing and dancing as the people enjoyed what safety they had.
Arthur had stopped into Pleasant Hill to load up on ammunition and food, but a message from Qrow had him renting a room for the night. And unlike the other towns he'd stayed in, Famine had to remain outside of the walls. It didn't sit well with either of them.
"What the hell kind of place won't even protect the horses?" Arthur muttered angrily as he leaned up against the wall in the lobby of the inn. There were vacant chairs, but the late hour and his frustration with Famine's treatment had him pacing and restless. He'd normally ease both with some booze and pleasant company, but he needed a clear head for whatever Qrow had to say. That, and Sienna would kill him if she thought another woman stepped into her territory. Not that he considered himself her territory, he just knew how she processed things like that.
The fire beside him crackled quietly, and there was little else to do besides watch a bunch of old regulars play poker at a table nearby. Arthur's Semblance and years of experience meant he had no interest in ruining their game, but it was entertaining to watch the guy on the right bluff every time he had a pair or better. The guy had folded on a perfectly good straight when Qrow walked in, joining Arthur in the corner of the lobby. The outlaw gave him a nod of greeting before he went back to watching the rest of the round. The Huntsman followed his gaze and shook his head when he saw the cards.
"Not really my style." Qrow said as he took a swig from his flask. "Got the wrong Semblance for that game." Given what Summer had told him about Qrow's Semblance, Arthur could only agree and lead the way to a booth in the corner. When they were both seated, Qrow produced his scroll and and pulled up a photograph, a young woman wearing a traveling outfit of muted browns and pale yellows.
"Her name's Amber, and she's been a special case for some time. Oz wanted her to stay and teach at Beacon, but the two of 'em don't really get along. She's a free sort, and up until now he's been content to let her roam. She's the type to help whomever she comes across." Arthur took the offered device and examined the photo, committing it to memory.
"I'm assumin' she's got some kind of special Semblance or something?" Arthur asked as he looked it over, then handed the scroll back. "What's different now? Why's Ozpin so worried?" Qrow went to say something else, but shook his head and pocketed his scroll.
"Everyone's got a rival, even powerful people like Oz. He's got one that's a real piece of work, and they've been fighting for a long time. Some of her people have been seen tailing Amber, and they know her connection to Ozpin. Our job is to convince her to come back. And if she won't come with us, we at least have to get these people off of her trail." Arthur nodded at that, realizing that this kind of work was very similar to what he'd done in America, although usually the fighting happened on accident. Planning to get into a scrap instead of falling into one was a welcome change.
"Sounds fair enough, if a little vague. He'll have to tell me more when we get back, if I'm going to be helping him out more often." Arthur allowed, then he motioned toward the barkeep for a couple of drinks. A few moments later, she brought over a pair of beers in bottles. The woman set Arthur's down in front of him, but when she put Qrow's down, it fell over and spilled. The Huntsman cursed and wiped up as much as he could with a few napkins, waving off the server's worried apologies with practiced resignation. As she hurried away to grab a replacement, Arthur looked back at Qrow as the Huntsman dabbed at his shirt and sighed.
"So, what's it like, living like you smashed a million mirrors?" He asked, refraining from drinking his own beer until Qrow's was replaced. The man in question tossed the soiled paper towels up onto the table and leaned on the table, watching the server rush to replace his spilled beverage.
"Well, it's great when I'm fightin' somebody. I'm sure you noticed that revolver of yours misfire?" A near impossibility, made possible because Qrow's Semblance messed with luck. Arthur nodded with a grumble, and Qrow waved it off. "Outside of a scrap, it does make things a little depressing. You ever tripped on someone else's shoelaces?" The Huntsman shook his head in exasperation, then took the bottle offered as the server returned.
"I'm so sorry, sir! Your next two bottles are on the house!" She apologized profusely, bowing several times before he waved her off. Arthur watched her walk away, then smirked at Qrow.
"Doesn't look like it's all bad. You got free drinks out of it." Qrow sneered at his optimism and started drinking from his beer. While he drank, Arthur swirled his drink around, looking pensive. When Qrow set his beer down, he leaned against the table and sighed.
"If it's fighting or sabotaging something, this Semblance of mine is perfect. But if I'm doing something for myself? Psh." Qrow waved it off as an impossibility. "From women to real estate, bad luck is not your friend. So, I dote on my adorable nieces and run all over Remnant for Oz." He said it nonchalantly, but Arthur could tell that Qrow wasn't happy with his lot in life. He could see how the Semblance would interfere with day to day life, and all that on top of Qrow's unique personality meant his chances with the ladies were pretty abysmal. Arthur had lucked out with Sienna, but Qrow would be fortunate to luck out at all.
"Well, sour luck hasn't affected Ruby and Yang. They took a few pointers from me, but Ruby won't stop talking about how 'awesome' Uncle Qrow is." Arthur made finger quotes to emphasize Ruby's words, and Qrow could only smirk. At least her praise still got to him, her own personal hero besides her mother.
"Yeah, she does take after the scythe. While Summer was on her little siesta, Ruby hardly let me out of her sight. I think she was worried that I would up and disappear too." The air of the conversation became heavier, and Arthur was reminded of what he had helped Summer to do. While she was staying away from her family, raising the girls had fallen on Taiyang and Qrow. While Yang clearly took after her father, Qrow had been the apple of Ruby's eye with his scythe and his wild stories of being a Huntsman. Even with Summer back in the picture, the young Huntress-in-training clearly still idolized her uncle. Were she not the spitting image of her mother, Arthur would have expected a sordid affair.
"I got her to carry a sidearm, at least. No matter how often she spars with her sister, Ruby is terrible in close quarters. You'd think she knew how to throw a punch, but the best I've seen so far from her is a kick that sends her flying away more than it does damage." Arthur pointed out, and Qrow raised his bottle in salute to that. Arthur's own cautionary tales, carefully tailored to avoid any confusing details, had provided enough insight to Ruby for her to carry a small pistol and practice with it alongside Crescent Rose. The small semi-automatic had yet to receive a name, but it was nickel plated and kept under her left shoulder.
Yang had been given the opposite inspiration. When faced in sparring against Arthur and his accuracy and Semblance, the blonde brawler had never been able to reliable land hits on him. Even when she rushed him recklessly without regard for the damage he was dealing, Arthur was able to tag her in the arms and legs and dip out of her reach. And even if he didn't avoid her, he transitioned to his rope quickly and immobilized her before she realized what was going on. The young brawler had been furious, and started employing shotguns into her gauntlets, Ember Celica.
"I'm glad you get along so well with the girls, mister outlaw. From what Summer said about you and your old friends, I worried that you would be a bad influence." Arthur was somewhat disappointed in himself that he had no defense against such an assumption. Still, he allowed it with an incline of his bottle.
"With a mother like Summer, I don't think I have an option. Besides, they're good kids. They're smart, strong, and they have some pretty big dreams. Better off than I was when I was their age." When he had been that young, Dutch had been teaching him to pickpocket and steal from people at the local general store while they were gathering supplies. Any chance he had to make sure kids didn't turn out the same way, he'd take. Besides, they were kinda cute in their own way. Ruby's flying tackles were difficult to get used to, but she was a good kid anyway.
"That makes two of us." Qrow agreed, and the two men clapped their bottles onto the table before finishing them off at the same time, drawing the attention of the bar keep. When she dropped off another pair of bottles, Arthur opened his with a grunt.
"So, what's the plan for tomorrow? Same as usual, hunting the girl down to see if she'll listen to us?" Arthur asked after a swig. Qrow grimaced, but his shrug meant that the outlaw hadn't been far off.
"Amber has a noble streak a mile wide; she can't help visiting villages that are just shy of what they need to survive. She's smart enough not to keep a schedule, but she's still predictable. Judging by the ones that have already seen her this month, we've got a few to check just north of here. If we get nothing there, then I'll need your tracking skills for the spots in between. Think you can handle that?"
"Don't seem too hard, especially if she's on horseback. That's a print you can't forget too easily. Anything else to know? Maybe something on these folks followin' her?" Arthur prodded, and the question seemed to remind Qrow of an important detail. The man of bad luck sucked his teeth and winced, choosing to drain a good bit of his beer before replying.
"My absolute bitch of a sister dropped by with some information. Apparently, a few of her bandit friends saw a kid come into the bounty offices, looking for the man that killed Marcus Black." Arthur chewed on the information for a moment, then sighed heavily when Qrow finished his statement. "Apparently, he shares a striking resemblance to Black. That same kid has been seen in the group trailing Amber. So it looks like you've got some baggage coming along on this job."
Of course. Arthur thought bitterly. He briefly thought of Downes' son, the young man that had been so angry with him after Thomas Downes died. Such anger in those eyes, from a boy that didn't know enough about the world to become a killer. Revenge is a fool's game.
"Well, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. If he's anything like his father, the kid's got some serious problems." Arthur muttered. Qrow rolled his eyes at that, and the two shared a sigh of reluctant disappointment. No matter how hard they worked, something always seemed to pop up and drive a pin in their side.
The rest of the night passed pleasantly enough, and Arthur checked into the inn on the bottom floor, allowing Qrow to keep his room on the second floor to avoid any unwanted attention. Qrow had even told him to meet outside of town, though Arthur thought that was a little overkill. If someone saw both of them walk out the front door, what did it matter where they met? But Arthur didn't argue, he just accepted it as one of Qrow's many strategies that had kept him alive for so long. The man had dealt with whatever shadowy types that were in play for a lot longer than Arthur had, so the outlaw trusted his judgment.
Qrow went unseen the next morning, even though it was well past ten o'clock when Arthur saddled up. Either the perpetual drunk was suffering a perpetual hangover, or the man had snuck out before Arthur had woken up. So long as he made it to the meeting point Arthur didn't much care, but it wasn't the first time the man had disappeared on him. Arthur thought back to when he and Qrow had dove off of the waterfall while fleeing Raven's bandit tribe, unsure of how much of Qrow's laid back attitude was legitimate and how much of it was put on. He had taught Ruby how to use that massive scythe of hers too, and sparring with her had shown Arthur that there was skill involved in manipulating that heavy weapon.
An hour passed with Arthur on the road, and he was starting to get irritated. Nothing Qrow had said in the last night had indicated that he was doing anything else, so what was taking him so long? Arthur had tracked bounties on less information, but having Qrow around was half the point of coming out. Without the tottering scarecrow, he'd be hard pressed to prove that he worked for Ozpin, and he doubted that this Amber girl would trust him more if he approached her anonymously.
Finally fed up with his aimless stroll, Arthur maneuvered Famine over to the shade of a tree that was thirty feet from the road, far enough to provide him with privacy without denying him a view of each direction. He settled into a crouch near the tree, idly carving shallow splits into his rounds to pass the time. He'd learned that the rounds hit a little harder wit the right notches, though they didn't penetrate as well. A perfect round for unprotected targets, or unarmored Grimm. It also took his mind off of the fact that despite Summer trusting both himself and Qrow, their relationship had stayed at acquaintances. Qrow was somewhat aware of his background, or at least what Summer herself knew. And Arthur knew that Qrow was a member of Team STRQ, and Raven Branwen's brother. Despite moderate curiosity, Arthur couldn't bring himself to delve into the complicated relationship that was their team, but he knew that Raven was the odd one out. Qrow had no problems disparaging his sister or praising his nieces, but Arthur never got him to speak about himself much. His Semblance was bad luck, literally, and it carried over to his experiences with women. Beyond that, the man was an enigma.
Ozpin trusts him, or at least as far as the old man trusts anybody. Arthur reminded himself. Whether that was a good thing or not for Arthur and Sienna remained to be seen. Arthur had split about fifty rounds when he heard footsteps, and Famine looked over toward the road expectantly. Sure enough, Qrow's lanky form could be seen passing through the trees, and the man had his hands in his pockets as if he were out for a stroll.
"Howdy, partner." Qrow said with a patronizing drawl. "Ready to get this show on the road?" Arthur gave the man a frown that said he wasn't amused, then stood up and dusted the shavings from his pants. He stored most of the modified bullets in his pouch, though a few of them went into the loops of his gun belt.
"I was ready when I left the inn. You're the one who insisted we waste all this time dodging imaginary tails." Arthur said with some snark. "What are you so afraid of, anyway? You said these folks were after Amber, not us. Unless there's a whole army of husbands runnin' around pissed about what you did with their wives?" Qrow smirked and gave a smug shrug. Arthur had meant it as a joke, but he knew from Ruby and Yang's shared embarrassment that their uncle was something of a womanizer.
"There is some danger of that last part, but I don't want to help our enemies any. If they lost her trail, they could pick it up again just by following us. And I don't feel like getting jumped on the road either." Qrow leaned up against a tree, crossing his arms. "And on the off chance she does want to come with us, I don't want them to figure out the route we're taking on the way back." That suspicious nagging feeling in the back of Arthur's head again, and this time he gave in to his curiosity.
"You told me that this Amber girl and Ozpin had a falling out, but I can't really think of a reason why he would want her back so badly. Does she know something he don't want folks to know? Or did she take something from him?" Arthur held up a hand as he saw Qrow go to answer. "I ain't saying tell me his damn life story. But I wasn't born yesterday; situations like this don't just happen without cause. Now I'm putting my ass on the line for you all, and I would appreciate a little bit of cooperation."
Qrow winced at the amiable outlaw suddenly putting his foot down and ran his hand through his hair. Arthur could tell that he'd put Huntsman in a tough spot, but he had a lot riding on this mission. Not just the danger to him, but to Sienna and Blake as well. Qrow was close enough to Ozpin to know how the old man worked, but trusted by Summer to do the right thing. Yeah, it sucked to put the screws to him, but the alternative was to go into the situation on blind faith. After Sean had been shot and a half dozen other experiences, faith was no longer in Arthur's toolbox.
"Ah shit." Was all Qrow could say. The normally drunk Huntsman slouched a little more than usual, and he made his way over to where Arthur had been sitting. Qrow rubbed the stubble of his beard, and his slouch seemed more pronounced.
"Look, I'm not trying to keep ya in the dark on purpose. This is one hell of a rabbit hole you're sniffing around, though. The kind of thing that you wouldn't believe." Arthur understood the gravity of what Qrow was trying to get across, but the outlaw couldn't help smirking.
"Considering I hadn't seen a Faunus, Grimm, or Aura until months ago, you'll find I'm pretty open minded these days." Arthur quipped. The Huntsman raised a brow at that, but remembered Summer's outlandish stories about the Van der Linde gang. If Arthur really was from some place that didn't have Aura, then everything here really was crazy for him. The fact that he took everything in stride probably meant more about Arthur than it did about Remnant.
"Fair enough, I suppose. Alright..." Qrow took several swallows from his flask before he fully leaned up against the tree. "Normally this discussion starts of with, 'what's your favorite fairy tale', but I suppose you haven't heard most of those. Oz has been at this for centuries, as far as I know. He's admitted to being the last King of Vale, but I can't really point him out past that. Remnant's got a problem with history, you see." Arthur felt his jaw go slack for a moment, then he brushed it off before Qrow could see it. He'd seen a lot of strange things over the years, quite a few more since he'd come to Remnant, but his healthy skepticism fought against the idea of an immortal enemy. Or Ozpin being immortal, for that matter.
"So, what? He's lost count of his birthdays or something? That's a little hard to believe, ya know." Centuries...Arthur shook his head at that. Oz had given off the feeling of an old man, despite his lack of obvious wrinkles or weathering. But living for that long seemed outlandish even in this strange world of magic that wasn't magic. Qrow shrugged, fully expecting Arthur's incredulity.
"Like I said, one hell of a rabbit hole. Oz tries to keep things on the level, but he's been through so many allies, traitors, and everything else that he keeps things pretty close to the chest. Hard to trust when you've been screwed over as often as he has." Qrow sipped from his flask and held it out, but Arthur denied the strong smelling drink with a waved hand. "I think the only reason he agreed to send you on this little trip is because of the skills Summer said you had and the fact that Sienna's predicament gives him leverage." Arthur opened his mouth to respond, but just shook his head. It was a harsh truth, to be certain, but it was kinder to state it out loud than leave it unsaid. And given what Qrow was saying about Ozpin's age, the man's obsession with chess pieces seemed a bit less philosophical. He was used to moving pieces around the board. That didn't mean that Arthur appreciated being one of those pieces, however.
"With thinking like that, I can see why Amber wants to steer clear of him. That still don't tell me what he wants from her." Arthur's tone was only half joking, and Qrow picked up on it.
"All of the legends that run around here have a bit of truth to them, and Ozpin said that a few were literal. There's one that goes around that's popular with younger girls. The Four Maidens, I think is the official title." Qrow waved a hand in a so-so gesture. "It's different in each region, but every story boils down to the same thing: an old wizard got tired of trying to help people, and four young women came along and helped him out of his funk. In return, he gave them the powers of the seasons, and they set out across Remnant to help the people within the Kingdoms. Apparently that one is pretty on the spot."
The power of the seasons? It sounded like some sort of weather based Semblance, but Qrow's knowing stare told Arthur otherwise. If it was just a run-of-the-mill Semblance, it wouldn't be worth a whole fairy tale, and the presence of an 'old wizard' definitely sounded like Ozpin. More questions whirled around in Arthur's head, but the sun in the sky wouldn't wait for them. If he was gonna start tracking or get any closer to this Amber girl, they were wasting time.
"Well, let's get on the road and you can tell me more if ya feel like it. I doubt I'll make sense of it before we find her." Arthur started getting Famine ready for the trip. Qrow made his way towards the road, moving slowly so that Arthur could follow and continue the conversation.
"If you say so. Like I said, this is something people like you and me have been wrestling with for a long time. Me, Glynda, Irondick, and Summer have been in on it for a minute. Summer wanted out of it to take care of the girls, and Tai hasn't really wanted to come out on missions ever since Raven left him. So Oz has been on the lookout for new blood for a few months." The Huntsman pointed his chin at Arthur was a sarcastic tone of voice. "Welcome to the club, cowboy."
Arthur shook his head and pulled the reins toward the road, guiding Famine gently along. Normally he'd saddle up and ride, but he wasn't going to let Qrow walk on his own. He liked the drunk a little too much to be like that. When Arthur passed through the trees onto the open road, Qrow stood with his arms crossed. When he saw that Arthur was more keen on leading his horse than riding, Qrow shook his head.
"No time for trotting, Morgan. We've got a lot of ground to cover before you can start sniffing her out." Before Arthur could make a comment, Qrow started jogging down the road away from Pleasant Hill. Arthur watched him for a moment and started to mount up in the saddle. He paused, however, when he heard was sounded like the rapid beat of wings. When he looked back toward the direction Qrow had gone, he saw nothing but a small black bird taking to the wind, watching him with piercing red eyes. He looked around to see where Qrow had gone, and the bird landed on his saddle horn, nearly startling Famine. The crow tilted its head to look at him with a single crimson eye, then fluttered its wings and took off in the direction they were going.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Arthur muttered, starstruck with one foot in the stirrup. The crow – or rather, Qrow – cried out indignantly and circled around, waiting impatiently for him to follow. It snapped him out of his funk, and he took the saddle with a curse and a hand on his hat. "I'm getting too old for this shit."
"Too slow!" Sienna's bark was punctuated by the meaty smack of her fist crashing into Blake's cheek, sending the Belladonna girl sprawling across the dirt alley for a few rolls before she got her feet underneath her, panting in a slouched ready position as her Aura flickered. Sienna nodded at the quick, if somewhat clumsy, recovery and said nothing. She stood with one hand outward in a relaxed stance, the other behind her back. It wasn't a cocky or conceited stance; the clink of chains could be heard as Sienna coiled her chain. Blake's weapon was deployed as both Gambol and Shroud, the cleaver sheath held in a reverse grip. She had been using it for slashes like she would with Gambol, but Sienna's fighting style and unique weapon made hit and run attacks like what Blake relied on costly.
Blake feinted to the left, her heel digging into the dirt as she shifted her weight. Sienna watched as an afterimage of the young Faunus rushed towards her, before blurring away and revealing a flying kick from the side. Sienna ducked and used her empty hand to push the kick upward and set Blake off balance, before her chain wrapped fist came up and drove into Blake's chest. Or rather, it would have if it wasn't revealed to be a clone. The faux Blake vanish in another blur, and Sienna leaned forward to avoid a vicious swipe from Shroud. The ex-White Fang leader drove her fists into the ground and launched backward, sliding under Blake before she could deliver another strike. Both of them stood up to their full height at the same time and closed the distance, Sienna's chain was useless at this distance and remained wrapped around her arm and fist while Gambol went back into Shroud to allow for heavier blows. The two Faunus met and began swinging at each other, blocking with their weapons as often as they dodged using agile footwork. Blake's speed and strategic use of her clones kept Sienna on her toes, but experience and her protected arm proved difficult to get past. The showdown finally shifted when Sienna drove her foot inside of Blake's guard while tried to spin. The unexpected motion caused Blake to stumble to the left, and Sienna followed her down to the ground with her body on top of Blake's, keeping an arm around the girl's neck and applying pressure as her body trapped one arm. They both crashed into the dirt hard, Blake crying out as her breath rushed from her lungs. Just as she felt the blood choke set in, her yellow eyes narrowed and she vanished, switching places with a clone and leaving behind a doppelganger made of Ice Dust and freezing Sienna in place. The sudden cold was a shock, and her trapped arm and body made it impossible for Sienna to react as Gambol's edge rested against the back of her neck.
"Yield." Blake's voice was breathless and ragged, but Sienna couldn't help the small amount of pride she felt at finally being defeated. Sienna simply nodded, and the ice sculpture of Blake that she had in a choke hold melted away, the Aura being used to fuel it gone. Sienna stood before the melt turned her clothes into a cold, muddy mess and saw Blake wearily putting Gambol Shroud on her back, the young Huntress-in-training breathing heavily from the exertion.
"Those clones still take a lot out of you, I see." Sienna commented, brushing some dirt from her training clothes. "Still, it was a gamble that paid off. Well done." Even though Sienna was no longer the leader of the White Fang, she still managed to get a goofy, self-satisfied smile out of Ghira's little girl. Blake relaxed a little and nodded, wiping sweat from her brow.
"The Ice ones are the hardest. I can't just leave it behind and run; the clone has to be maintained or it starts coming apart immediately. But I should have it down before Monday." She explained sheepishly, the rare praise from Sienna catching her on the back foot. Sienna hummed in response and grabbed two towels from the back wall of the alley, where she had left them hanging from Blake's window sill. She tossed one to Blake and began to use the other to wipe herself down, though her eyes were never obscured.
"Against human opponents you will have to be quick and resourceful, but the Grimm don't always require such subterfuge. Don't tire yourself out trying to fool beasts, they are already foolish as it is. Still, a marked improvement from when you first asked to join." Sienna huffed reluctantly. "While I still think you need a more weeks for conditioning, I doubt Beacon's entrance exam will prove that much of a challenge for you. To my understanding, the teamwork aspect of it is the true hassle."
Even with that infernal bow on, Sienna could see Blake's ears lower slightly. She'd never been particularly social growing up in Kuo Kuana outside of Illia and Adam, and her Huntress career was going to start with a test to work with total strangers. In all likelihood, human strangers. Sienna knew that Blake's tenure in the White Fang and Ghira's efforts gave Blake some rational caution when it came to humans. Arthur obviously was an exception to the rule, but frankly the outlaw was the exception to a lot of rules. If someone had told Sienna several years ago that she would be sharing a bed with a human, she'd have taken it as a threat and personal insult. And yet here she was, beating the stuffing out of her friend's daughter and missing her cowboy, though he'd only been gone a few days.
"Hopefully I can get a team with some people like me." Blake muttered, and Sienna's eyes once again rose to the bow that Blake used to hide her ears.
"Go in with that thing on, and you're just as likely to irritate your own people as well as the humans." Sienna sniped, and Blake turned away slightly with a hurt expression. "I say this not to attack you, but as a warning. Those of us who cannot hide their heritage so easily will see it as cowardice instead of caution. I understand your reasons for wearing it, but I don't agree with them. Be wary of who you are around and what you do." The warning wasn't just for the sake of the bow. Though Ozpin was allowing them entry into Beacon Academy for a variety of reasons, he would be a fool not to observe them. And he had a former White Fang operative enrolling as a student and the not-quite-deceased former High Leader of the White Fang on his doorstep. Any interactions with their own kind would be closely monitored, as Ozpin would be watching for a second rising of the White Fang. Not that she would blame him.
"I will, Lady Khan. Don't worry." It sounded more like she was placating than complying, but Sienna just let out a long sigh. It was difficult, approaching things from a civilian standpoint instead of as a leader. Even before she had taken over after Ghira, she was used to issuing orders and moving on. Things nowadays seemed a lot more personal.
"I do not mean to nag, and I know you understand the gravity of our situation. I just worry about matters outside of my direct control. That," Sienna sent Blake a playful glare. "and you have a history of seeking out more trouble than you can handle sometimes."
An embarrassed blush spread across Blake's pale face, and she walked past Sienna in an effort to enter the home and at least pause the conversation. She was halted by Sienna's hand on her shoulder, however.
"I AM proud of you, Blake. Don't mistake that. But don't allow a little bit of pride cloud your judgment. Especially with Adam and Tyrian at large. We mustn't get careless." With that, she released Blake's shoulder. The young Faunus nodded back at her with a small smile, then walked inside the apartment, presumably to get started on a shower. Sure enough, Sienna could hear water running in the bathroom after a few moments. Once she was certain that Blake wasn't going to be bothering her for the next few minutes, Sienna's posture slackened and she winced, rubbing her shoulder where it had hyper extended during the fight. She wasn't old by any means, but it definitely felt like these spars were taking more out of her. Normally she would just attribute it to fatigue from a stressful day or a particularly rewarding training session, but she had to grudgingly admit that Blake was getting better. She was still nowhere near the level of the the Khan herself, but the young Belladonna was improving in leaps and bounds compared to when she had just joined the White Fang. And Sienna knew that it was foolish to take credit for that over a few days of sparring and instruction. Adam had been an effective teacher, and she knew that he would be more formidable that he had ever been in their frequent teacher-student spars. That one of his students had managed to land a hit made Sienna feel sloppy and undisciplined, something she would correct in the coming days. Though she was far too old to enroll into Beacon Academy as a student, she would be accompanying Blake to Beacon at the beginning of the week. While Blake demonstrated her prowess as a Huntress-in-training, Sienna would finally be having a face to face discussion with Ozpin himself.
Using Arthur as a go between had been fruitful before Ozpin knew that she was in the Kingdom, but continuing to do so now would simply be weakness and allow her words or intentions to be misconstrued. While she trusted Arthur to act with their best interests in mind, as shown by his participation in this trip he was on, she had a better understanding of the political machinations in play. And with everything that was as stake, she was certain that Ozpin would come up with a part to play. There were no free rides in life, and shielding her from both Atlas and the White Fang would require a lot of effort on the Headmaster's part. Sienna was keen on satisfying that debt as soon as possible.
The next day brought a mild Sunday breeze with it, and both Sienna and Blake were up early. Blake put together a modest breakfast and was working on some of Beacon's required reading while Sienna went through her morning calisthenics. Once they had gotten ready for the day, Sienna led the way to the Bullhead docks to book passage to Beacon. The two didn't speak much besides commenting on the differences between Vale and Menagerie, keeping mostly to themselves instead of discussing their business around strangers. Blake was dressed in the same attire she'd used in the White Fang, her black vest with white blouse and her white shorts with purple stockings. Sienna was dressed in less conspicuous attire, a thin brown jacket that came down to her hips with a loose fitting black shirt underneath it, and a beige pair of comfortable cargo pants and brown boots. The attire didn't stand out in Vale, but Arthur would have asked her if she'd lost her regular clothes in a fire. The point, however, was to make the clothes as unlike her as possible to prevent someone from recognizing her prior to her meeting with Ozpin. So far, it had worked.
The ride to Beacon was uneventful, if a bit boring. Once the city of Vale dropped away from them, the Emerald Forest just seemed to stretch on and on until it butted up to the perpetually autumn Forever Fall. Neither seemed happy to see the distant red canopies, reminded of Adam's train raid that had brought Blake to Vale in the first place. Whatever Arthur's relationship with Weiss Schnee, it would take quite a bit of effort to reverse the White Fang's negative effects on the world.
Now docking: Beacon Academy. The message blinked over the door accompanied by a gentle chime. The Bullhead gently settled down on one of Beacon's many landing pads. A few moments after the craft came to a stop, the doors opened automatically to begin discharging passengers. The myriad of students and administrators filed out in an orderly fashion, some of the students talking excitedly about finally standing on Academy grounds. For Sienna and Blake, it was just a greater reason to get deeper into the grounds to accomplish what they came to do.
Once they cleared the landing pad and actually stood amid the well kept lawns and towering steeples of Beacon Academy, the two Faunus could take the time to appreciate the architecture around them. While the Academy got a lot of press for the invaluable service it provided, actual footage of the grounds themselves didn't do it justice. It was white, tidy, pristine; completely removed from the problems of the world to focus solely on training the next generation of Remnant's defenders. To Blake, it felt like the beacon of hope that it had been named after. To Sienna, it felt more like an ivory tower.
"The Deputy Headmistress is our point of contact for today." Sienna reminded Blake, pulling her from her observation of the school around them. The two headed toward the Cross Continental Transmission tower, a massive obelisk dedicated to the communication network that spanned all of Remnant. It made sense that the tower be kept under the watchful eye of Ozpin, though Sienna wondered if he had ever used its Beacon location as leverage. Men like Ozpin weren't keen on sharing power, and having his office built at the top of arguably the most precious resource in the Kingdom was something of a power move. Ozpin was the headmaster of Beacon Academy and his daily work to help the four Kingdoms was obvious, but in the event he faced any true political opposition his control over the CCT could cripple an opponent with a few keystrokes. The primary tower in Vale was the true connection for the Kingdom, but Ozpin's control over it was not subtle.
"Isn't she the one overseeing my exam?"` Blake asked as she trailed behind Sienna, letting the older Faunus lead the way to Ozpin's office. Sienna nodded ahead of her.
"I spoke with her briefly when I was scheduling this meeting. While I speak with the Headmaster, she will see to your entrance exam. She strikes me as demanding, but not unfairly so." Sienna still had her reservations about the woman until they met in person, but her initial impression wasn't terrible.
"Oh. Great." Blake sounded less than enthused, but this was effectively her entrance exam for the next four years of her life. After the past six months, she needed a win. Quite frankly, they all did. Aside from finally finding a decent guy, Sienna had been suffering setback after setback herself. That all changed today.
A circular lobby greeting them behind glass sliding doors, where nearly a dozen attendants of various color and gender stood ready to process requests from students and faculty. The count of Faunus and human was three to seven, not a terrible representation to Sienna. Ozpin's reputation for meritocracy seemed to be at least partially true. After speaking with one of the attendants, both women were directed to the bank of elevators along the back wall. Once the floor was selected and the doors closed, Sienna relaxed her posture slightly. While Blake's worry was almost entirely on the academic reasons for their visit, they were still wanted criminals until they could clear their names. Being surrounded by uniformed people, even students, raised Sienna's hackles somewhat. Even if most of them would wilt under her gaze.
The elevator opened up into another lobby, one that seemed almost entirely dedicated as a waiting room or atrium. Comfortable seating, calm lighting, a pair of restrooms, and little else. Standing in front of the elevator bank with a clipboard sized device was the infamous Glynda Goodwitch, her eyes glancing up from it to regard the two Faunus. Blake hesitated to step forward first, so Sienna led the way out of the elevator.
"Deputy Headmistress. A pleasure to meet you." Sienna offered politely, though her face remained neutral. Goodwitch did not react to the formal address, but simply nodded her greeting as well.
"Lady Khan. You are early, but not so much that we cannot accommodate. I'm afraid there will be a slight delay before you can meet with the Headmaster. I understand he is currently in talks with General Ironwood." When Sienna's ears flattened at the mention of Atlas' most prominent military commander, Goodwitch shook her head. "I doubt the discussion has anything to do with you or the White Fang, Lady Khan. Or at least, not directly. To my understanding, the General's plans for this year's Vytal Festival are a bit...excessive." A cold edge crept into her tone, but it was not directed at either Sienna or Blake.
"I see. I am early, so I have no problems waiting. Blake was wondering about her entrance exam. As I have no experience in the matter, I was hoping to hear the explanation as well." She looked back at her protege, who could barely conceal her look of betrayal before Goodwitch cleared her throat.
"That is no problem at all." The blonde woman fixed her glasses, then turned to face Blake. "Because there is some academic requirement to your admission, the first portion of your exam will be a basic understanding of your education, both applying to Huntress matters and general knowledge. Once that has been determined, I will examine your weapon and test your knowledge on its design and upkeep. After that, a short spar will assess your combat skill. Do you have any questions, miss Belladonna?"
Blake wilted slightly under the stern gaze of Glynda Goodwitch, but thankfully her time with Sienna had granted her a resistance to 'the look'. She shook her head, and Goodwitch acknowledged with a nod.
"Very well. Lady Khan, another professor will come collect you when the Headmaster is ready for you. Doctor Oobleck, if I were to wager. In the meantime, please wait here." Goodwitch tapped a few more commands into the device, and an elevator next to the one Blake and Sienna had used opened up with a gentle chime. Goodwitch stepped toward it, allowing Sienna a brief moment to speak to Blake. The older Faunus patted Blake on the shoulder and gave her a small grin.
"You've got this, Blake. Don't let me down. Arthur would never let you hear the end of it if we have to come up with another plan." The thought of the outlaw grilling her mercilessly because she couldn't get into a school was not a pleasant thought, but Blake hid her displeasure with a flick of her bow.
"Don't worry about me, Sienna. Good luck with the Headmaster." With that, Blake followed the Deputy Headmistress into the elevator, casting one last look back at Sienna before the doors closed. The elevator hummed as it descended, and Sienna was alone in the waiting room. She looked around and sighed, briefly wondering what exact decision in her life had brought her to this moment; seeking asylum from the Ozpin himself while the White Fang paraded around Remnant as a murderous shadowy version of itself. She took a seat on one of the couches, its soft cushions only allowing her to relax so far before she felt like it would swallow her whole. The Faunus struggled forward until her butt was on the edge of the frame, leaning forward in an effort to salvage some dignity. Granted, no one was physically present to witness her floundering, but she wasn't naive enough to believe that Ozpin didn't have her on camera.
A few minutes passed without incident, with Sienna's only means of passing the time on her scroll. It took a grand total of ten seconds to inspect the room, so she spent her time checking Arthur's location and messaging Ghira some details about Beacon. After she had ordered Blake to call her parents, Kali and Ghira had both relied on her for more information. It seemed that keeping her parents in the dark was not a new behavior for Blake.
The elevator chimed again, and Sienna stood up expectantly, brushing out what few wrinkles her outfit had gained in her brief respite. When the doors opened, they revealed the professor that Goodwitch mentioned, though she had failed to properly describe him.
Standing several inches taller than Sienna, the man in question wore a collared dress shirt that was untucked on his left side, and brown slacks with brown shoes. He wore a haphazardly tied tie that was yellow with green diagonal stripes, and his glasses shone even in the soft light of the waiting room. His green hair was spiky and all over the place, giving off a chaotic vibe that matched his wide grin. But Sienna was completely unprepared when he opened his mouth.
"SALUTATIONS, Sienna Khan!" The man said quickly, zipping forward with almost inhuman speed. Sienna had raised her had in anticipation for a shake, but she was not prepared for the man to nearly rip her shoulder out of place from the vigorous motion. "Headmaster Ozpin has sent me to retrieve you for a very important meeting! To my understanding, it is one of utmost discretion and with involve your assistance here with the school and how the school can assist you in turn! My name is Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck, and I hope that you can count on me for any assistance during your stay here!" The man's syllables came out at a million miles an hour, coupled with the most violent hand shake Sienna had ever experienced, the man was quite bizarre. As annoying as his quirks were, she sensed nothing but raw enthusiasm for the man, though his lack of professionalism in the face of a dignitary did irk her somewhat.
"Thank you, doctor. I appreciate the...enthusiastic greeting. Please, lead the way." She extricated her hand from Oobleck's before he decided to charge into the elevator while she was still attached. Thankfully, the man simply bowed and waved toward the elevator before zipping back to it, hands behind his back as he patiently waited. Sienna was almost expecting him to vibrate with the amount of energy the man had. Oobleck quickly pressed the button that led to Ozpin's office, and the doors drifted shut with another chime.
"How have you found Beacon so far, Lady Khan?" Oobleck asked, no doubt seeking to pass the time. It was an understandable gesture, but the man's very speech grated on Sienna's nerves. It was likely something she could come to tolerate with time, but the Khan wondered if she would allow it.
"Larger than I expected, and the students arriving showed no signs of treating Faunus poorly. It's not something I'm used to in institutions, even Huntsman academies." She gave him a level stare. "Blake advocated for Beacon over Haven and Shade, and Arthur's recommendation carried enough weight for me to agree to this choice. I only hope that Beacon earns their support" Oobleck did not flinch at that, though his full reaction was difficult to read behind his obscuring glasses, but he shook his head vigorously at the insinuation that the professors would simply allow discrimination.
"Absolutely! I had planned on speaking with her after Glynda puts her through her paces, but I pride myself on weeding out such deplorable behavior! As Beacon's resident historian, it is my responsibility to see the students learn from the mistakes of the past so that they do not repeat them! Though I will admit," He slowed down just a little, his eyes cast downward. "Not all of the students are receptive to my lessons. Some find the inspiration to correct themselves in Glynda's classroom instead of my own. She has an eye for problems and a suitable response when they push back." His involuntary shiver told Sienna everything she needed to know about Goodwitch's approach to problems in her classroom. It seemed she and the blonde had more in common than she first realized. And Oobleck seemed to be an ally to the Faunus as well, even if that was all she had focused on in their brief conversation.
"If it means anything, the Beacon attendees that I have crossed blades with in life have been formidable. Regardless of their ethical choices, they are all talented fighters. I can only assume that you have something to do with that." It was an attempt at a compliment, but Oobleck shook his head.
"No, I'm afraid that teaching the students how to fight is Glynda's area of expertise. My focus in on why they fight." The elevator chimed, signaling the end of their conversation. "The Headmaster will be able to answer any further questions. If I do not see you again before you leave, Lady Khan, I wish you well."
The doors opened into a wide open office, overshadowed by the massive inner workings of Beacon's clock tower. Seated behind a desk with a massive window overlooking the school was the unmistakable crop of shaggy white hair belonging to Headmaster Ozpin himself. His desk had two comfortable chairs situated in front of it, but when Sienna stepped from the elevator she was alone in doing so.
"Thank you for retrieving the Lady Khan, Bartholomew." Ozpin's voiced carried from behind the transparent screen on his desk, his eyes dancing over a written report that had words too small to see from Sienna's view. "I'll be in touch with you about the field trip to Mountain Glenn, though I make no promises." It was a gentle dismissal, but a dismissal nonetheless. Behind her in the elevator, Dr. Oobleck offered a near supersonic salute.
"No rush, Headmaster! The trip is not planned until next semester, and I have made arrangements in the event that it is not feasible!" With little more than an absentminded nod from the Headmaster, the doors closed and Sienna was alone with one of the most powerful politicians in Vale. And considering Oobleck's quirks, it was certainly the lesser of two evils.
Despite the fact that she had been announced, Ozpin spent several minutes scrutinizing the report in front of him as opposed to greeting her and beginning the conversation. In her position as the High Leader of the White Fang, she would have taken it as a grievous insult. But the fresh scar on her face was just one of many reminders that things were not as they once were. She also had the sinking suspicion that Ozpin was using the prolonged silence to test her.
"Apologies for my rudeness, Lady Khan." Ozpin said when he finally spoke, minimizing the screen so that he could look her in the eye. "I just received some information that may have merit in our discussion, and I wanted to be fully informed before I brought anything up with you." Sienna raised an eyebrow, wondering exactly the report had contained. She reminded herself, however, that dangling unknown information was also a tactic to get her to show her hand if need be.
"Sounds as if you have your hands full, Headmaster. Did my meeting catch you at a bad time?" She probed for weakness, but Ozpin simply spread his hands and shrugged.
"At this time, I have several ways to proceed. Hopefully, I can explore some more fruitful avenues with your expertise. But I get ahead of myself." The Headmaster leaned forward on his elbows, clasping his hands together in a relaxed grip. "How can I help you today, Lady Khan?"
He had already set the stage to segue into her doing something for him. While she knew that avoiding a transaction-based agreement was nearly impossible, Sienna still sought otherwise. If her freedom or quality of life was based entirely on Ozpin's goodwill and promise that she would receive such, she had no true leverage to force his hand. Arthur's actions in Mistral would hopefully curry favor, but unless it's hiding some scandalous secret, they weren't getting any firepower to use against him. And she doubted that Ozpin would send Arthur to go reclaim something or someone that would be used against him purely on Summer's good word. So any ground she could gain in this meeting would be beneficial, so long as she did not sacrifice too much to obtain it.
"Arthur told me about your arrangement, though he was vague on the details of the individual you sent him to find. He has put himself in danger time and again for my sake and the sake of those we care about. While I recognize the complicated and difficult situation presented by the actions of myself, the White Fang, and others involved, I was hoping that we could work together to improve the situation." Sienna kept her voice level and neutral, knowing full well that trying to argue from a position of power in her current predicament. Ozpin tilted his head to consider her words, then gestured that she should continue.
Sienna crossed one leg over the other. "I predicted that the White Fang's violent extremism would only increase after my assassination attempt. What's more, I know the identity of those in power within the White Fang. Using that knowledge and the fact that my assailants have declared me to the rest of the White Fang, I can provide an effective defense against them."
For several moments, the only sound in the office was the methodical clockwork going on above them. Ozpin continued to stare at her, processing the information while Sienna returned his gaze with her head held high. The constant striking of the clock added a sense of gravity to the discussion, one she would normally have had no trouble weathering.
"I was hoping that you would offer your assistance in the matter, given your expertise on the subject. And I'm not so foolish as to believe you would offer your services for free." A neutral statement, promising nothing. "However, I made it quite clear to mister Morgan that the true problem with your exile lies in Atlas, where I hold precious little influence. I won't turn down your help, but you must have something else in mind besides some forlorn hope that I can just make stacks of criminal charges in another kingdom disappear." For the first time in their exchange, Sienna smiled. Ozpin was not hostile in this exchange, and he had opened the door to exactly what she needed.
"No, but you have connections to the people that can sway such decisions. Or rather, the person. I understand that General Ironwood will be in Vale this year for the Vytal Festival." Ozpin's eyes narrowed at the mention of his friend. "All I ask is that you find some of his problems that I can fix with my name and information. In return, I would ask that he take my assistance into consideration when it comes to certain people on Atlas' wanted lists." Sienna, Blake, and even Arthur had been added to the bounty boards all over Mantle, and the greed of the cold born hunters was seldom matched. Marcus and Tukson had also pointed out the scarcity of the good, honest Faunus within the White Fang prior to their departures. It felt less like a betrayal when she considered that she had been the last one standing in that regard.
"I'm certain the good general will be eager to receive any intelligence you can offer. As to his willingness to drop charges, I'm afraid the Schnee family has been the most common victim in such proceedings. Not even James could sway that Goliath." That Ozpin even entertained the thought at all meant it wasn't hopeless.
"I have a connection within the family. Or rather, Arthur does. In fact, I believe there was a press conference recently about her choice to attend Beacon Academy." Sienna's grin widened when Ozpin sat up slightly. "The incident with the Schnee mansion in Mistral was far more complicated than the tabloids let on. Arthur saved young Weiss Schnee from going the way of her house. He has had several conversations with her since then, and my sources in Menagerie and the White Fang reported several donations to Faunus only orphanages, housing developments, and college funds using discretionary Lien from the Schnee coffers. We made a connection."
Ozpin leaned back in his seat entirely, processing the information as he slowly spun to face the wide window behind his desk. That he hid his face while doing so meant that it was new information to him. That, or it could be a ploy. Several minutes passed before Ozpin turned back around to face her. His expression was completely serious, but even Ozpin's legendary poker face couldn't hide the smirk he wore.
"Alright. You have my attention."
Qrow had brought him along for his tracking abilities, but Arthur's scowl didn't quite set in until he actually had to use them. The drunk Huntsman stood a few yards away, casually keeping an eye out for any wayward Grimm or possible ambushes. Arthur himself was looking at the bitter remains of a camp, though it was hardly much of one. For a trained Huntress that preferred to live alone and on the move, she couldn't cover her tracks very well. And there were additional, more recent tracks that had Arthur on edge.
"Well, you want the good news or the bad news first?" It was a rhetorical question, but the exasperated sigh from Qrow was loud enough to be heard clearly despite the distance between them.
"I'm really more of a good news kind of guy. Call me an optimist." Qrow's sarcastic reply would have made Arthur snort, were he not examining the newer prints with curiosity. One set was distinctly heavier than the other, and their harsh, unforgiving edges suggested metal boots or something similar. A prosthetic, maybe?
"Camp's only a few hours old. Coals are still red, and there's a faint odor of perfume. Her horse was moving at a slow pace when she left, too." Arthur stood up with a groun, dusting his hat off with the back of his hand before placing it on his head. "The bad news is, she's got someone following her. The prints are old enough to have come after she left, and there's three different sets. Whoever is following her is ahead of us." Qrow swore and started uncapping his flask with irritation, while Arthur drew his rifle from the saddle. Nothing about the tracks in front of him indicated that there was company nearby, but all bets were off when it came to tracking people. If they thought they were being followed, tracks almost always led into an ambush.
"It's too early to call this in to Oz. If she's this close, I may be able to see her from above." Qrow stated, thinking out loud as he approached. "Which direction did she head toward?"
Arthur indicated with a vague finger in the direction the horse tracks had traveled. He heard the flap of wings that signaled Qrow's transformation and departure, but his eyes were still focused on what was left behind. There was little to the campsite besides a few holes left over from tent anchors, the log she had used to sit on, and the rough circle of stones to keep the fire contained. One of the stones, however, had been carelessly tossed next to the log. Arthur picked it up and hefted it, turning it over in his hand. Judging by the indentation in the dirt, it had been tossed after Amber had broken camp. One of her stalkers must have picked up the stone before tossing it aside. What made Arthur's gut twist was the perfectly driven triangular hole in the stone, matching an arrowhead. Whoever had shot the rock was decent with a bow, and he wasn't so sure he would hear them coming. Arthur dropped the stone to the ground and walked over to Famine, silently praying that they got the jump on Amber's pursuers and not the other way around.
Some five hundred yards ahead of Arthur and Qrow, a young brunette woman came across a starving orphan on the road. She reached into her bag, offering an apple and a smile.
Damn you, GJH. You made me return to this.