'Thought' "Speaking" {On the Phone}
"Here you go Em." Aqua said, giving Emerald a scroll. "Call me if anything happens and come back."
"And you promise that I can call whenever, and you'll answer." Em said, taking the scroll.
"Promise." Aqua said before kissing Emerald on the forehead. She then stood up and looked at Tai. "Thanks again for doing this."
"Oh no problem." Tai said from the doorway.
"Ready to go?" Qrow said walking over.
"Goodbye Emerald." Aqua said as she walked away from the house with Qrow.
"Goodbye Mom, see you when you get back." Emerald shouted waving at Aqua.
Aqua & Qrow got on the ship that took them to Beacon Academy so they could catch an Air Bus to Atlas.
"So are you going to give me the rest of the information for the mission or is it some type of surprise?" Aqua questioned taking a seat near the window.
Qrow sat down in the seat next to Aqua and explained, "We've going to be meeting with general Ironwood about the darkness in the world first then we need to take care of some Grimm down in Mantle and afterwards Ozpin needs us to look into a hotel for the rich because we've been getting reports of shady actives."
"Got it." Aqua said, looking out the window. "So, anything I should be on the lookout for when I meet this General Ironwood and how come I have a feeling there more to this mission than what you're telling me." When Qrow refused to look Aqua in the eye she knew something was up. "What else is in Atlas Qrow?"
"My daughter." Qrow answered
"I'm sorry, your what?" Aqua questioned. "Is it like some family genetic to have kids but leave them so you can come back later or something."
"No, it's not, I think anyway it was about ten or eleven years back I was going through some crap and had a one-night stand with a woman that just wanted to forget her problems." Qrow explained. "When all was said and done, she was gone in the morning, but then she somehow got a hold of my number and told me I had a daughter."
"Are you hoping to see her?" Aqua asked, looking at Qrow.
"My daughter or the women?" Qrow asked not looking at Aqua, Aqua then immediately punched Qrow in the arm. "Okay yes I hope I can see the kid. That hurts, you know."
"Good it was supposed to." Aqua said with a bit of joy. "Do you know her name at least?"
"Yes." Qrow answered.
"You going to tell me or what?" Aqua asked, getting annoyed again.
Qrow sighed then answered, "Her name from what her mother told me is Winter Dove Schnee."
'Schnee where have I heard that name before?' Aqua thought then remembered talking to Raven and learning about Dust. "Schnee Dust Company."
"Yep, I have a daughter with the former head of the company." Qrow admitted softly. "Willow Schnee."
"Wait former?" Aqua questioned.
"Yeah, her husband Jacques Schnee took the company over after her second child was born." Qrow explained, annoyed. "Used the fact she had Winter as an excuse that she was un-trustworthy."
"Was she engaged to him or something when she was with you?" Aqua quickly questioned.
"Nope." Qrow said, popping the P. "She had lost her father to an illness and wanted someone to love her for a moment. That asshole just wanted all the power he could get."
Aqua pinched the bridge of her nose and thought, 'dear Keyblade ancestors I'm starting to see why he wanted to have company on this trip. He wants to see her but not cause a scene'
"Attention passengers, we are not entering Atlas air space." the captain announced.
"Look outside." Qrow suggested. "Trust me It's one heck of a sight." Aqua looked out the window and saw a city in the sky with giant chains connected to the ground below. "Once we landed, we'll head straight for Atlas academy. I want to get the annoying stuff out of the way first."
"Sounds fair." Aqua said, leaning back in her chair. Once they were off the ship Aqua started shaking. "You weren't kidding about the cold. I'm glad I chose to wear leggings under my shorts."
"Yeah, now come on, the sooner we get to Ironwood the sooner we get out of the cold." Qrow said walking off to the big building.
Ironwood looked over some documents when a soldier came in.
"Sir, there's a man and woman here to see you, both of them are huntsmen." the Soldier said.
"Alright, that must be the ad that Ozpin told me about." Ironwood said putting the papers he was working on down. "Let them in." the soldier nodded his head then opened the door of Qrow and Aqua. "It's good to see you Qrow, and this is?"
"Aqua Eraqus at your service." Aqua greeted offing her hand.
"Nice to meet you," Ironwood said back as he got up from his chair and shook Aqua's hand. "I'm General Ironwood."
"Ironwood, Ozpin said that there was a hotel you need some outsiders to look into." Qrow quickly said.
Ironwood's face then became grim and said, "I wish I could say that your time is perfect but just two days ago, we found the bodies of the owner and her daughters, with their throats slit." Aqua gasped in horror as Qrow's eyes grew wide.
"Well shit." Qrow said, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry."
"Don't be, I should have checked that place out months ago but as you know the rich pay the taxes." Ironwood said back leaning back in his chair. "Sorry you had to waste a trip out here."
"Don't be you couldn't have known this was going to happen." Qrow claimed. "I guess I just go to the other reason I'm here." Qrow stepped a bit closer to the desk. "Hey Aqua, you mind giving us the room."
"Sure. just don't take too long." Aqua said, turning around and leaving the room.
Once Aqua left the room Qrow looked back at Ironwood and asked, "Ozpin is hoping you're having some luck with the Winter Maiden."
Ironwood pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing then said, "Not really, her age is really starting to get to her, and she refuses to meet any candidates we've offended."
"You're still better off than Lionheart, the girl ran away the first chance she had." Qrow explained.
"WHAT!?" Ironwood roared.
"Yeah, Ozpin's not happy either, which is why he's having the other checked in on before sending out a search team for the girl, but Raven thinks it might not be needed." Qrow explained.
"Why's that?" Ironwood questioned.
"When the girl ran off, she had a daughter with her, and it turns out the Branwen tribe was close by when the girl ran off." Qrow answered, walking over to the window behind the desk. "We found the women, but the kid was gone."
"So, the girl might be the new Spring Maiden and she's with the Branwen Tribe." Ironwood said getting up. "If you need help."
Qrow chuckled a little then said, "That's the thing the kid isn't with them anymore." Ironwood looked at Qrow oddly. "The women that was in the room earlier is the girls adoptive mother."
"I think I'm going to need a bit more detail Qrow." Ironwood said firmly. Qrow then told Ironwood what happened with the Branwen tribe after the story. Ironwood couldn't help but laugh. "So, you tell me that you go to save your niece only to save the girl that might also be the new spring maiden."
"Yep, now since the kid is too young the power might be dormant at the moment." Qrow continued. "So, we won't approach her until she shows the signs."
"Fair enough." Ironwood agreed. "I doubt Oz want's the mother to know."
Qrow lied and shook his head then said, "Since the kid needs to have friends, she's brought her over to Tai's place. Also, only you, me and Goodwitch know about the girl being with us and Ozpin wants to stay that way until we know for sure the girl is the Maiden. We can't be putting a target on her back when we don't know if she's the one we're looking for."
"Got it." Ironwood said. "Thank you for informing me of this."
"No problem, by the way are you alright?" Qrow said. "Ozpin's a little worried you're burying yourself in work."
Ironwood sighed then said, "I'm starting to understand why Oz has a second like Glyndia around."
"Maybe it's a sign you need to think about getting a second in command." Qrow suggested.
"Maybe you're right." Ironwood said, leaving back in his chair. "I can't keep doing all this work by myself."
"Well then I better give you something less to worry about by taking care of some Grimm." Qrow said leaving the room.
"Thank you again Qrow for the update." Ironwood said as the door closed. He then made a phone call. "Hello, yes could you send Clover up to my office."
As Qrow left the office he saw Aqua seating on the ground meditating.
"Are you good to go?" Aqua asked without opening her eyes.
"Yep, now we just need to get down to Mantal and take care of some Grimm." Qrow said as Aqua got off the floor.
"Then you have a meeting with a little girl." Aqua said as they got to the elevator.
The first thought that came to Aqua when she got to the wall's protecting Mantle was'why do these walls seem so outdated compared to what I've seen in Atlas.'
"If you're wondering about the old walls and town." Qrow said seeing Aqua eyeing the wall. "Then all you need to know is up in Atlas is where the rich live while down here is where the poor reside. Here discrimination is higher than anywhere else thanks to the Schnee dust company and its crappy working conditions, but the people need the work to feed their families."
"I wish we could help them." Aqua said seeing a fauns woman holding a child begging for change.
"You can, even if it's something small." Qrow said, taking some cash out of his pocket. "You'd be amazed by what one small act of kindness can spark." Qrow then walked over to the woman and gave her the money. As Qrow walked away two more people gave the poor women some money. "Summer always told us that one small spark can easily start a fire."
Aqua nodded her head as they continued to make their rounds before heading out to take care of the Grimm. After taking care of the Grimm in front if him, Qrow watched Aqua fight and taking out a few Grimm along with some minor Heartless.
"Still having trouble with your Semblance?" Qrow asked.
Aqua chuckled then said, "Like you wouldn't believe. I guess my magic and the aura of this world don't like each other."
"Didn't you tell Ruby that the Keyblade comes from the heart." Aqua nodded her head. "Well, our aura and semblance come from the soul, so I guess you could say that you're trying to use two powers at once or that you're using an ability that's foreign to you."
"Guess you're right." Aqua said letting her Keyblade disappear.
"Besides, getting your semblance is never easy." Qrow explained as they made their way back to their ride. "Raven got her when you got emotional for the first time, ended up making a portal right to me when she was injured and needed to have somewhere to rest."
A thought then came to Aqua and asked, "What are Summer's and Tai's semblance or is it a secret."
"Oh, Tai can store kinetic energy to make himself stronger." Qrow answered. "As for Summer she had the ability to locate anyone so long as she had an object they had."
"In pressive." Aqua said, a bit amused. As they drove back to Mantle. "So, tell me do you want me to come with you or do I stay at the hotel till you're done?"
Qrow sighed, "I would like it if you went back and did the report for me while I deal with my personal business." Aqua nodded her head in understanding.
When they got back to Mantle Aqua headed into town to find a gift for Emerald promising that once done, she would get to work on the report, as Qrow to the shuttle back to Atlas. When he got to the station, he was surprised to see someone waiting for him outside the station with a limo. The man was a short, slightly heavy man with balding brown hair and a bushy mustache wearing a white long sleeved dress shirt under a black vest with a cyan tie along with black pants and shoes.
"Are you Qrow Branwen?" the man asked, seeing Qrow walking closer.
"Yes, and you are?" Qrow questioned.
The man bowed and answered with, "My anime is Klein Sieben, I work for Mrs. Willow Schnee."
"I see," Qrow said, then took a deep breath. "Is she waiting for me or are you here to tell me to stay away?"
Klein scoffed then said, "My lady has been waiting to meet her real father for a while now." he then looked Qrow up and down. "And I must say you're not what I expected."
"Yeah, well a friend is helping stop drinking so I'm trying to be a better man." Qrow admitted. "Does she really want to meet me? I figured I'd be hated by both of them."
Klein smiled then said, "I think it would be wise for you to come with me to see for yourself." Kelin opened the car door and offered Qrow a seat in the back. Qrow sighed then got into the car then they were off to see the one-night stand and daughter.