#over Lien too but I’m always emotional over her. she’s always a small child in my mind

[cuteniaarts]

Part 2 of my set of presents for my dear @katkastrofa’s birthday, combined with a small belated commemoration of LaF’s tenth anniversary :)

I know I’ve said it countless times yesterday, but once again, happy birthday, Kat!! I hope this year brings you many, many good things, everything you deserve and so much more. Thank you for being my friend <3

[zozee122-2]

The War Ends at Dusk

This is my first fan fiction, so I worked super hard on it! This is the prologue, and the first chapter is finished so I will post that shortly. The premise is four years after the accounts of RWBY and Blake and Yang are awaiting the birth of their first child. Ruby, Weiss, Nora, and Ren are in the waiting room awaiting the birth of the bumbleby baby. The fic is centered around the bee family, and add a bit of found family trope and new age angst.

WC: 2,214

“Does anyone know how much longer this is going to take? I mean they’ve been in there almost 10 months!” Nora barked, getting up to stretch. Ren sighed and grabbed his partner’s hand.

“Patience, please Nora. This has got to be hard on Blake and Yang too.” Ren said ever ready to calm down his excitable partner.

Ruby chuckled, “Guess they’ll be as stubborn as Yang. Taking bets that they’ll be born tomorrow?” she said checking the clock on the wall which read 5:38 pm, the group had been there since Yang’s frantic group text that early morning that Blake was going into labor.

“I’ll put ten liens on that bet, Ruby” Nora said tossing Ruby a rolled-up bill.

Weiss and Ren collectively sighed at their partner’s immaturity and gave each other a knowing look.

“Ruby, your sister’s wife, your best friend, is giving birth to her first child have some sympathy.” Weiss retorted rubbing the bridge of her nose. The four of them sat in silence for a minute. It seemed impossible that they were here together to celebrate life. Something none of them saw in their future a mere four years ago when they were fighting for their lives and battling a unkillable creature. Ruby sat back in the hospital seat closing her remaining eye. She was about to be an aunt, she still couldn’t believe that they were all here like this, yesterday it seemed that Blake and Yang announced they were officially dating, yesterday that they were trapped in Purgatory without seeing any way out. Ruby smiled, she couldn’t quite describe how elated she was to celebrate this moment with her closest friends and family.

“You know,” Ruby started, “I don’t know if you all feel this way, but this feels unreal.”

Weiss looked to her best friend and smiled sincerely, “It does feel unreal. Like all the tribulations we went through as teenagers seems so close, yet so far away. I’m happy in a way that we were a part of the new future that we are giving to Blake and Yang’s child, to all future generations, that they will never have to worry about the things we did.”

“Never thought a future would exist for us like this,” Nora chimed in, taking Ren’s hand, “After everything, I am so thankful that I get to experience this moment. Can’t imagine what they must be feeling too and I’m glad Jaune is assisting in boosting her aura for childbirth.” She smiled and looked towards the birth wing.

Ren rubbed her hand with his, smiling contently, “When we became huntsman it seemed like a forever thing, like we would never be able to experience moments in life as precious as this. I felt like this at Yang and Blake’s wedding too. Their happiness and love for each other filled the room with pink petals, their emotions were so raw and real, I can even feel it today.”

The three smiled at him, “You always know what to say, Ren.” Weiss said, “I just cannot wait to spoil the little thing.”

The group laughed, “They just have to hurry up and get out into the world!” Nora yelled earning a strict look from one of the nurses. She uttered a soft apology while Ruby chuckled and in turn Weiss gave her a look.

Ruby sighed, “It is taking a long time, I hope she’s okay. Has anyone heard anything from Yang or Jaune?”

The four of them checked their scrolls, “Haven’t heard anything sense ‘Blake is 7 centimeters,’ and that was two hours ago.” Weiss replied, huffing quietly in annoyance.

“Hmm, well we could tell some stories to pass the time?” Ruby asked rubbing her chin.

Nora looked up at her, “Practicing your story telling skills on us before you have to tell famous, huntress who saved all of Remnant Auntie Ruby Rose stories?” Nora asked.

Ruby laughed, “Partially, I guess. So, yes, or no?”

Ren nodded, “I’d like to hear some, maybe some that we were not together for? Like what you’ve been doing now with Jaune and Weiss?”

Weiss looked at Ruby, not like her work now was anything confidential, just not something Ruby liked to talk about specifically. It hit close to her.

Ruby took a long sigh, she closed her good eye and raised her hand to touch her scarred over right eye, “I’d hate to put a damper on our good moods,” Ruby let out a long breath and Weiss put her hand on Ruby’s shoulder.

“You don���t have to talk about it if you do not want to Ruby, it’s not an easy topic to discuss,” Weiss reassured Ruby.

Ruby looked to Weiss, who has been next to her throughout her whole journey, never questioning Ruby’s judgement, the most loyal person Ruby has ever met. However, Weiss was right, this was not an easy topic to talk about. Especially when this only mattered to her, but she has not discussed this with anyone except her teammates and Oscar. She was reminded of her mother for a moment, and Maria who did not have a lot of information to give her either on the silver eyed warriors. After seeing Salem’s Hound, she promised herself that she would do whatever it takes to end any part of Salem’s tyranny, and as of late Ruby found several lackey groups that still practiced horrid experiments on silver eyed people.

“I could talk about it, but I am not sure where to begin, it is not a particularly easy thing to talk about. You remember four years ago in Atlas, the Hound that was after Oscar and Penny?”

Ruby could feel the atmosphere shift. Weiss raised her hand from Ruby’s shoulder to fix her hair bun. Nora’s shoulders slumped and her eyes darted to the ground. Ren let out a long audible sigh as he straightened in his seat.

Ren spoke first, “It, it is not something I like to think about,” remembering his own impudence, “but I will never forget it.”

“I was thankful that I did not have to see it in person,” Nora added rubbing her lightning bolt scar on her neck.

Ren folded his hands on his lap, “It’s never something I like to discuss either, if the students ever bring it up, I mean.”

Weiss nodded, “Ruby and I have been well…” Weiss looked to Ruby.

“We have been finding Salem’s old research facilities and finding silver eyed people being experimented on.” Ren and Nora collectively gasped. “Yeah, it is not something, well it is not an easy thing to talk about. The hardest part was finding out that Salem, even now that she is gone, still has her clutches across Remnant.”

Weiss rubbed Ruby’s back, “As a huntsman rehabilitations counselor, I focus on finding homes for the silver eyed people who have either been born into the lab, or who have lost family members…” Weiss trailed off looking at her scroll to check any messages.

Ruby picked where Weiss left off, “It is not an ideal situation, but through Weiss’ company we are finding homes that are taking children and teenagers and Oscar is letting adults live in some empty apartments in Vale.

Ren shook his head, “I hate that there are still veins of Salem’s reign throughout the kingdoms, but I am glad that there is you two that are liberating these people.”

Nora placed her hands on her thighs, an exasperated expression on her face, “I have a student with silver eyes, they’re so promising. I can’t imagine anything ever happening to them.”

Ren nodded in agreement, “Yes, they are a wonder, though I am not sure they know how to use their silver eye powers yet.”

Ruby nodded, “It might be best right now, for your student to not know, it will paint an even bigger target on their back.”

Weiss looked to Ren and Nora, of course they would be worried about their students, even though there was peace many dangers still lurked around the corners, still small threats of Salem’s powers.

“Nowadays, huntsmen and huntresses are returning home, all of the small lurking problems are ones for the younger generation now.” Weiss said giving a reassuring look to Ren and Nora.

“Remnant is safe, yes though there are Grimm still lurking about, thieves trying to steal maiden powers or relics, even bandit troops are still around. While these new huntsmen nowadays don’t have to worry about the fate of the world, they are just cleaning up our scraps.”

Nora stood and looked Ruby in the eye defiantly, “Ruby, that is why Ren and I decided to become professors at Beacon. People will always be willing to help those in need and we will be there to offer support, just like our professors and mentors did for us.”

Ruby sniffed and stood to give Nora a hug, “I will always count on you guys to do that for us, and if you ever need a guest talk about the silver eyed warriors or to teach your student how to use their eyes, I am here for you. All three of you.”

“You guys, I love the sentiment, but you should really save your tears for Blake and Yang’s child.” Weiss sighed.

The group laughed. “I am glad our parents were allowed to go into the room with them, but I am a bit jealous,” Ruby said and continued, “Dad is so excited to be a grandpa and I know Kali and Ghira have been waiting for this moment too. I don’t think I have been this excited for something in a long time.”

“I couldn’t wait to meet the little cub since the baby shower, I think I bought too many gifts.” Weiss sighed leaning on her knees.

“I am surprised you still have money after that spree,” Nora said sitting back down next to Ren.

Ren laughed, “I splurged a bit too much as well, almost my whole paycheck.”

“Mrs. Xiao Long-Belladonna! Do not run in the halls!”

The group stood up when Yang burst into the waiting room.

“Yang! Is everything alright?!” Ruby and the rest stood quickly.

Yang ripped the hair cap from her head and pulled her surgical mask down, beaming from ear to ear.

“Guys! You’re allowed to come into our room, there is someone I’d like you to meet!”

…

The gang followed Yang quickly down the hallway to the room. Jaune was waiting outside for them.

“Everything alright still?” Yang asked him, leaning an arm on his shoulder.

Jaune looked to everyone, his eyes heavy, “Yeah, they are resting comfortably. Though, that kid is a fighter, I used up all of my aura.”

Nora stood by her teammate to rub his back.

“We really appreciate it, Jaune. Now guys, please come in.”

The group of seven walked in slowly passing by Taiyang who was standing in the corner of the room, weeping softly. Ruby placed a hand on her father’s back.

“Alright, Dad?” Ruby whispered. Taiyang nodded and ruffled Ruby’s hair. Yang passed by to sit beside her wife. Blake reached up and kissed Yang sleepily. Blake held a bundled blanket closer to her chest and smiled happily to the rest of the gang.

“Well don’t just stand around like that you guys! No need to be nervous!” Kali said grabbing Ruby by the arm leading her to stand by Yang.

Blake and Yang laughed as the group nervously huddled around Blake’s bed. Yang gently touched the bundle which in turn made a soft gurgling sound.

“Hehe, our little guy just ate, he and Mommy are super sleepy now, huh?”

Weiss raised her eyebrows and stared at Yang, “A boy?”

Nora and Ren bumped fists, “We knew it!” Nora cried.

The baby moaned a bit at the sudden loud noise and Blake and Yang were quick to reassure their newborn son. Ruby and Weiss shot Nora a look and Ren rolled his eyes.

Blake laughed after the baby calmed down.

“Sorry, Blake. I know you’ve had a hard day.”

Blake laughed again and looked at Yang, “Nora, this was one of the happiest days of my life. He was a sucker to push out, but I would do it all again to share this moment with the person I love the most and my most prized possession, our son.”

Ruby smiled and moved closer to Yang, “So, are you going to introduce us then?”

Weiss grabbed Ruby’s arm, Ruby leaned in closer to Yang, and Ren, Nora, and Jaune linked together.

Blake unwrapped the small bundle a bit where two little, folded blonde cat ears stood up.

Weiss teared up, “He’s beautiful, Yang, Blake”

Yang smiled and kissed the small head, “Well, I mean he came from the most beautiful woman on Remnant, of course he’s beautiful.”

Blake and nearly everyone in the room rolled their eyes.

“Yang, please. I love you, but please.” Blake pleaded, “Even the baby hated your joke.”

Yang chuckled, “No, he didn’t. Look at the perfect little kitten.” She said taking the small baby’s hand.

“So,” Ruby pleaded her eyes beginning to water, “What is his name?”

Blake and Yang looked at each other then to their son.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Dusk Yin Xiao Long Belladonna”

[kaen-ace-of-diamonds]

Wandering Child

[AO3]

Word Count: 3600+ (oneshot) 

Genre: Family/Hurt/Comfort

Pairing: Emerald Sustrai/Cinder Fall

Characters: Emerald Sustrai, Cinder Fall, Emerald’s Mother (OC)

Summary: Companion to Phantom Thief. Emerald doesn’t like to think about the last time she saw her mother. But all that’s bottled up has to come out eventually.

Warnings for implied/referenced child abuse and emotional manipulation. Beryl Sustrai is not a nice woman and Cinder’s no damn prize either.

~0~

"Is anything better than finally finding your way home? Is anything worse than finally reaching home, and finding that you're still lost?"

- Matt Stover

~0~

The detachment of Emerald from home had been a gradual process.

She would do anything not to think about the very beginning of that process: unlocking her Semblance and getting herself quite literally thrown out of her mother’s home for it. There was about as much point to that as there was to taking a knife and slashing a stitched-up gash back open. Even all these years later, the shrill echo of the word freak still bounced painfully off the walls of her skull, and she could feel the sharp sting of hair being yanked from her scalp and the ache of a tiny arm being twisted and pulled by something much bigger and stronger. Better to run from that pain than to linger on it.

Even so, if she had been able to, she would have been able to pinpoint the stages she had wandered through since then. The layers of childhood naivete had stripped themselves away slowly, to be replaced by a solid guard of steel around her heart. First to go had been her hope that she would one day return home. She’d wandered the slums of Mitsubachi City with an unbearable tightness in her chest, imagining on loop that her mother would come running after her, scoop her up and carry her all the way back home, tell her how she had overreacted and how she was so, so sorry...a fantasy so stupid that it made her snort with derision now. Just the idea of the words, “I’m sorry, Emerald,” passing genuinely from Beryl Sustrai’s lips was laughable.

That stage hadn’t taken long to dissipate, in the long run. Only a few months. The next one had taken a couple years to let go of: the idea that someone else would one day come along to replace her mother. In the adventure stories and fairy tales she had read when she was little, if someone had a bad family, there would always be some great force of good that came to sweep them away, to someplace where they would be protected and happy. Perhaps her long-lost father, making his miraculous return to her life after going off to “work” one morning and never coming back. She still had one parent left, didn't she? He had said that he wasn’t leaving forever, hadn’t he?

It had taken her years to understand what her mother had known the instant she’d read his note: that it was all bullshit. Her father had abandoned them, thrown her away just as surely as her mother had. She knew she couldn’t call herself an orphan in the technical sense, but to have parents who wanted nothing to do with you had to be just as bad, the way she saw it.

The last thing to go had been something that Emerald hadn’t even realized she was hanging on to. Ever since being ousted from her childhood home, she had been roaming the streets of the city like a stray dog; sleeping on them, scrounging for food on them, and becoming intimately familiar with them. But that did not make them her home. For five years that stretched and blurred together into an endless torture, she had been operating under the impression that this was a temporary way of life. One day, far off as it might be, things would be better. Somewhere out there, was a place where she would be safe, where she belonged. There was someone who could find it in themself to love her.

How stupid she was. There was no person like that, and the only place that she would ever belong was the filth and hopelessness of Mitsubachi. Slowly but surely, her vantage points narrowed, until all that was left on her mind were surviving to the end of the day and finding a safe place to sleep at night. Tomorrows were both a luxury, and a cracked concrete road spiraling away into nothing.

So, on this particular winter day, that had begun no differently than any other, the only things Emerald had been thinking about was how to ease the ever-present pain in her stomach, and how to protect herself from the coming bitter cold. She wandered away from her usual haunts downtown, checking her red and numb fingers for signs of frostbite in between bouts of blowing on them and furiously rubbing them together. She knew, logically, that it could not set in so fast, but she had seen bodies, living and dead alike, with blackened and missing digits. She could not afford to take any chances.

This line of thought so distracted her, that at first she had passed by the alleyway completely.

She had entirely missed the puddle of fresh blood on the concrete, the shaking body curled tightly into itself against the brick wall, or the old backpack torn to shreds around it. It wasn’t the pained moaning and coughing itself, but the familiarity of it, that made Emerald do a double take and whip around to take a closer look. By now, she had come to pride herself on casting aside childish tendencies, and becoming as tough and guarded as any other criminal in this city. What she saw—what she recognized—at the end of the alley shattered all of that in a split second. The next thing Emerald knew, she was throwing herself forward and screaming, in a way she never thought she would again.

“Mom! MOM!”

The long brick alleyway passed in a blur, and she skidded to a stop, on her knees in the blood puddle. The part of her that was frozen instead of going wild with panic noted that Beryl Sustrai hadn’t changed one bit in the past five years. Same thinning, dark green ponytail curling over her shoulder, same worn-out jacket and faded jeans, same hissing of anger coming from between her clenched teeth, as she pressed down with both hands on her bleeding stomach. But when the woman lifted her head—blood trickling from her mouth down her chin as well—to see who was screaming for her, whose hands were pawing at her arms and shoulders, her dark eyes were shot wide with wonder and shock, both things that Emerald had never seen on this face before.

“E...Emerald...?” Breathless, as if she were seeing a ghost. “That’s...i-is that you?”

Tears were spilling down Emerald’s face now, as she looked through her mother’s fingers at the ragged bullet hole in her gut, but she was far too frightened to be embarrassed about them. “Yeah...it’s, it’s okay, Mom. I-I’m here. Who...who did this?!”

Beryl didn’t seem to be listening to her. She lifted one shaking, blood-slick hand to Emerald’s face, thin fingertips brushing her cheek, as though to make sure that the girl was really there. Her nails were just as sharp as Emerald remembered. “Oh, gods...you’ve grown up...”

The blood on her fingers ran four thick, warm-wet trails down Emerald’s face. The blood on her stomach was gushing like water over Emerald’s own fingers, as she ripped a large chunk out of her already-tattered pant leg to wad up and press against the gaping hole. So much, oh, gods please help her, too much...She had to get her mother out of here, she couldn’t save her here. She didn’t know where to go or what to do, but...not here, at least.

“I-it’s okay, Mom,” she choked out again, trying to slide her arms under her mother’s back and shoulders. But it was no good, she was too small, too weak, and Beryl was already deadweight. “I...I’m gonna help you...please, work with me here!”

Beryl made no effort to help Emerald by lifting herself off the ground. Though her eyes were quickly hazing over, there was a certain glint in them. Her blue-tinged lips pressed into the same thin, grim, but satisfied smile that they always would when a customer pressed Lien into her hand.

“Emerald...baby doll...” Not quite a soft, affectionate lilt, but it was Beryl’s best attempt at it.

“Don’t, no, don’t try to talk, Mom!” That was what dying—no, no, what hurt people were supposed to do, right? Save their energy? If it was, her mother hadn’t seemed to get the memo, still caressing her face and forcing more words out.

“Emerald. Sh-show me something. Make...make me s-see something.”

Emerald stopped short. “Wh...what?”

Beryl was still smiling blissfully. “Y-you can do it...make me see something. So...so it won’t hurt, wh-when I...”

Emerald’s blood ran colder than the winter wind around them, as the meaning sunk in. There was static in her suddenly-aching brain. For one long moment, she was eight years old again, tiny and terrified, her mother’s fury at her newfound ability a huge and monstrous thing. Her Semblance awakening had changed everything. She was no longer Beryl’s tolerated daughter, but a mind-altering parasite worming its way into her head, like her father before her.

(“You won’t ever do that to me again! I don’t care where you go, just get away from me!”

“Mama!”

“No! GET OUT!”)

She remembered being thrown against the wall, being dragged by her hair away from her mother and her home. She remembered sobbing herself sick, stumbling alone through the darkening streets with an arm that refused to bend with pain, just wanting her mama, wanting to go home.

She remembered. She always would, no matter how many walls she tried to hide the memories behind. Had Beryl thought she would have forgotten?!

Her blood was roaring in her ears, and she felt her fingers tightening on her mother’s shoulders, nails digging in hard. The smile was fading from Beryl’s face, replaced with a look of confusion that only enraged Emerald more. Her heart pounded painfully, and her head felt lighter with every second.

Now she was acting sweet to her?! When she wanted something?! After everything...After everything—!

Her lips curled into a furious snarl, and the voice that growled up from the back of her throat was more a beast’s than her own.

“You want me to make you see something?!”

She wasn’t looking for an answer. But if Beryl had tried to give one, she would never know what it was. The relentless pounding in her head and heart reached an agonizing crescendo, and before she knew what was happening, her vision went burning, blinding white.

She did not know how long it was before that whiteness cleared away, and she slowly descended back to reality. She blinked several times, feeling a strange numbness over every inch of her skin, as she remembered bit by bit where she was, and...what she had been doing...

Her hands twitched up in surprise, when she registered that there was still hard, bony shoulders under them. The heavy scents of blood and cold rushed up into her nose again. Without thinking, she looked down, and reflexively recoiled. Her back slammed against the brick wall at the end of the narrow alley as another scream ripped from her throat.

Beryl lay there on the concrete, like a car-struck dog on the side of the road. The flow of blood had stopped, but the stains were still wet on her stomach and hands. Her face was like a grotesque wax sculpture, twisted and frozen into a mask of utter horror, her dull bloodshot eyes bugging out of her head and her mouth stretched inhumanly wide open.

Every inch of her trembling, Emerald forced herself to creep back over to her.

“...M-Mom?”

She didn’t dare get too close. Arm’s length away, maybe a little less. She reached out to hold her hand out in front of the nose and mouth: no breath, no tiny clouds of warmth in the winter. Though every instinct she had told her not to, she leaned in to press her fingers to the neck, but the second her fingertips touched flesh, she scrambled back again with a shriek, heart racing again. She hadn’t been expecting a pulse, not really, and she had known it would be cold but she hadn’t known what it was like to touch something so—

Dead.

Emerald sprinted for the other end of the alley faster than she had thought possible. Not onto the street, no, someone would see the blood on her legs, her face, her hands, oh, gods, oh, gods, what had she just done?!

What did I make her see?! It’s my fault, it’s my fault, oh my gods, what did I do?!

Hide. Somewhere to hide. Nowhere was safe, she would never, ever be safe, but...somewhere to hole up for a while. Get this blood off of her, get it off, and then forget…. Sobs shook her body, burning her throat and wracking her chest as she ran. She had to forget, she had to make them stop, she had to get away...get away...

~0~

The first split second after waking up was one of stark, unthinking terror.

Emerald had no idea where she was, only that it was dark, her chest still hurt, and she was still sobbing her heart out. Gods, why was she doing that, a tiny, disgusted part of her brain protested, she hadn’t done that in—wait—how long had it—?!

There was something soft underneath her, and warm hands sliding under her shoulders that made her jump. She would have leapt up and bolted away, throwing up an illusion behind her to cover her escape, as she did every time she woke up to someone grabbing at her. But the gentle voice murmuring down to her grounded her firmly back in reality.

“Shh, Emerald, Emerald...”

A pitiful whimper came up from her throat, quite without her permission. She glanced down at herself. She wasn’t thirteen years old anymore, but sixteen. There were brand new clothes covering her skin, not blood. No blood. Not anymore. And she wasn’t alone, or in danger. It was Cinder next to her in their tent, Cinder’s eyes looking at her with concern, Cinder’s arm wrapped around her shoulders...

“Emerald, it’s okay. You’re okay. It was just a bad dream.”

Before she could think about what she was doing, she was throwing herself from the bedroll and burying her face in Cinder’s chest. Cinder allowed it, hugging her close with both arms.

“I...i-it wasn’t a dream! It really happened!”

“What happened?”

Emerald’s breath hitched -- there was so much to tell and she had never breathed a word of it to anyone, ever. But before the walls could come down over the memory again to stop her, it was all spilling out of her mouth like vomit.

“I, I, my m-mom, she...I u-unlocked my Semblance when—when I was little, and, and I was s-s-so happy, to show her...”

“I should hope so. You have a rare gift.”

What Emerald’s body did was supposed to be a laugh. She choked on another sob instead.

“She...She was disgusted by me. I tried so hard, but...n-nothing I ever did was good. My i-illusions scared her, a-and it made her s-so angry, that I could do that. She...” Her stomach swooped again, and she swallowed hard. “She s-screamed at me, hurt me, called...called me a freak, like my father. And...a-and then k-kicked me out and...I don’t...I don’t understand! What did I do wrong?! Why did she throw me away?!”

“I don’t know, Emerald.” Cinder’s calm and even tone, the hand running soothingly over her hair, only made her cry harder. Here she was, bawling and clinging like a little kid, but Cinder wasn’t angry at her at all. “It was a cruel and foolish thing to do.”

Emerald couldn’t seem to catch a proper breath. “She...she...sh-she thought I was a, a m-monster. And, sh-she was right!”

“Now, why would you say that? ‘Monster’ is the last thing I’d ever think about you.”

“I...” She had never said this out loud before, had barely even dared to think it, and it felt like choking up a sharp rock: “I killed her. I-it’s my fault, I killed her!”

Her eyes stung wildly, and she pressed her face harder into Cinder’s chest. For the next few minutes, she tried to speak but couldn’t, while Cinder continued to hold her close and stroke her hair. After that time, when Emerald’s breathing started to calm a little, Cinder gently prodded, “What happened? Was this when she threw you out?”

“N...n-no. I...I was eight when she d-did that. I d-didn’t think I would ever s-see her again, she...she told me to stay away, s-so I did. B-But...Three years ago, I found her, i-in the street. I—I was so scared of her, I hated her, e-ever since I got my guns I’d th-think about shooting her, a-and my dad, all...all the time...”

Cinder hummed sympathetically. “It didn’t happen the way you imagined, did it?”

“S-Someone actually shot her, r-right through her stomach. And it was cold, a-and there was so much blood, a-and I ran over, I...I just wanted to help...”

“If she was shot where you say she was, then there was nothing you could have done to save her. It isn’t your fault.”

Emerald shook her head frantically; Cinder wasn’t understanding.

“She...she thought there was. She...smiled at me. Told me I could...make her see something. S-So when she died, she wouldn’t know she had. She’d forget she was h-hurting. A-And I could have done it. I, I could have done it. B-But...” Cinder waited patiently for her to force it out. “I...I got so angry. I was hurting her, just yelling in her face, and then...Everything went all bright, and...Oh, gods, it hurt!”

“You used your Semblance, unconsciously. What did you make her see?”

“Th-That’s just it, I don’t know. I couldn’t see, it...knocked me out for a minute, I guess? B-But...When I woke up...She was d-dead. She was dead, and she looked terrified of something, a-and I, I know p-people’s hearts can st-stop, if someone scares them that b-b-bad...”

“Well.” Cinder’s voice was carefully level, as if she were trying not to laugh. “She did ask for it.”

Emerald startled slightly in her arms. “But I...She was dying, and she...she was m-my mom, I-I shouldn’t have, I should never have—!”

“Shhh...” Cinder was stroking her hair again, soft and gentle, and Emerald sank into her touch. So warm, so safe, she had never known an embrace like this. Not even her nights of sleeping in her mother’s arms, back in her very earliest memories, had felt like this. “Shh. Questions of should and shouldn’t aside, it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t realize what you were doing.”

“I...I...I should have controlled myself. S-Semblances aren’t supposed to do that...”

“It happens. Stress and trauma activating them is very common, actually. And such occurrences aren’t exactly voluntary.”

Emerald tentatively wrapped her arms around Cinder’s waist, and then tightened them into a hug when Cinder did not object. “It was my fault. I sh-should have...I could have just ran away then. Or...ignored her, and...g-gotten her somewhere, maybe. Th-there weren’t any hospitals nearby, and...I didn’t know any back-alley p-people, but...”

“Listen to what I’m saying, Emerald. It was too late before you even reached her.”

“I-I just wanted to help...”  

“If she wanted your help, she should have kept you, embraced you for everything that you are. But she chose not to.”

Emerald sniffled ungracefully. “I only wanted to make her happy...”

“Oh, I have no doubt of that. But you can’t help somebody who doesn’t want to be helped.”

She managed to stifle another whimper, and tried to tense her body up to stop its trembling, but that part wasn’t as successful. “I should have...I-I should have...”

“Shh, now. What’s done is done. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Emerald...wasn’t quite convinced of that, but didn’t want to push whatever vague points she’d been trying to make. Her head felt light and dizzy, and it felt like there was a hard rock in the pit of her stomach. And of course the stream of tears down her face felt as if it would never stop.

“I...I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she mumbled into Cinder’s chest. “I never...I mean, I-I try not to think about it, and I u-usually can. B-but I, I’ve never...just lost it like this. I swear, I’m not really like this. I haven’t c-cried like this since she...”

“I believe you, don’t worry. It’s because you’re safe now that you can talk about it like this. No one will stop you.” Cinder snickered softly, and added, “And the Grimm know to stay away.”

Emerald suppressed a shiver, remembering how Cinder had ordered the hunting Grimm in the woods away from her just the other day. There was no one like Cinder in all of Remnant, she had realized that day. It wasn’t just that she was fearless and strong, but that she had chosen to use that strength to take Emerald under her wing. She couldn’t imagine the warm hands stroking her hair ever yanking it, like her mother had, or the arms holding her so protectively ever turning rough on her. She hugged Cinder tighter; as long as she stayed by her side, she was safe now.

“There’s...a lot to tell. A-and it’s late, I’m sorry, I don’t want to keep you up...”

“Nonsense. You’ve clearly needed someone to lend an ear for a long time, haven’t you?”

“...I guess so. Yes,” Emerald agreed, already trying to organize all her thoughts so they’d come out the right way.

She felt Cinder smile against her hair. “So tell me. Anything you want. You mentioned your father? Why did she think you were like him?”

Emerald took a deep breath, and began...

[nezzfiction]

ENMY Chapter 54 - The First Profane Maiden

Chapter Synopsis: As tensions between Yang and Cinder rise, more insight is revealed into the Fall Maiden's mysterious ambitions.

Team RWBY is disbanded, and Yang must find herself new allies. For her, that might very well be yesterday’s enemies. Joining up with the likes of Emerald, Mercury, and Neo, the four will comprise Team Enemy.

Links to read the series: Ao3 or FF.net

Or hit the jump below

.

The First Profane Maiden

.

The best people possess a feeling for Beauty.

The Courage to take Risks.

The Discipline to tell the Truth.

…And the Capacity for Sacrifice.

Ironically, their Virtues make them Vulnerable.

They are often Wounded.

…

And sometimes,

Destroyed.

.

.

In the midst of a forest experiencing the peak of winter, Raven stood on an unnatural patch of lush, green grass. With her was a young boy, whose height barely reached her waist.

“She’s gone, Argent. It’s what Bean and I said,” Raven spoke into her scroll.

“……Are you sure?”

“Bean can’t sense her, and I can’t find a trace of her in the Never Realm. If that wasn’t enough, this should convince you.”

Raven turned on the camera on her scroll and transmitted a video feed of what was before them.

Centered in the patch of luscious green land, was a headstone carved of finely polished boulder. The workmanship was uncanny, and the environment just so. The ones who erected the monument made certain it would withstand the tests of time.

On the headstone, it read:

One who Championed the Future.

Who stood tall among Remnant’s finest Huntresses.

Headmaster of Haven Academy.

Loved by Friends, Family, and Students.

Here rests, Victoria Stein.

…

Argent recognized the craftsmanship immediately.

“Masa…” he let out a soft mutter. “If she was the one who made this, it cannot be a lie.”

“I’m sorry, Argent.”

“…...Both of you should return to the armada. You’ve been away long enough. If you are attacked now, there would be no assistance.”

“I am truly sorry.”

“Are you?”

Raven paused, and was about to flare with anger, when she remembered all the things that happened between them. Also, the man was clearly grieving. This was a time for understanding, not defending some petty sleight.

“I am, Argent. You have my sympathies.”

“…”

“I’ve lost siblings before. It was when I was young, and we were never truly close, but I know the pain. I doubt you’d take the offer, but if you ever want to talk… the offer stands.”

“I see.”

“Arge—”

“I must inform Henry. He will not believe it coming from someone else.”

“Tell my father—!” Bean tried to hop within screen view. Raven leaned lower to him. “Tell my father, I am sorry I failed him.”

The Prime Minister shook his head.

“You did not fail him. It is us that failed her. You must take great care, Bean. Your father would not be able to stand losing you as well.”

“I… I understand.”

“Stay close to Blake and Raven.”

“…Instructions will be followed.”

Bean was about to say something more, but shut his mouth.

Raven immediately caught it and knew. It was these precious few moments, these small and humble words that held the most importance. But if never spoken, something would be lost forever. Time can never reverse, and matters left unsaid was a tragedy she experienced too often herself.

She gave Bean a gentle prod on the back. The boy looked up at her face, which all but told him to speak his mind.

“I… I never knew the subject called, Victoria Stein. She… was my mother?”

Argent expressed a bit of confusion. “I suppose, in a sense.”

“I would request her information disclosed to me.”

“…I can arrange you access to her archives.”

“I meant—I request the Prime Minister personally disclose the information to me,” he spoke quickly, but awkwardly. “Father does not speak of her much. Curiosity, peaked. Personal interaction, no longer viable. Would like to know.”

Finally understanding the meaning behind Bean’s words, the elder man smiled. His eyes glossed, unable to bury his emotions.

“Yes. I would be happy to speak about Victoria with you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“No. Thank you, dear boy. We shall be in touch soon.”

The call ended.

Raven and Bean stared at the grave for a while.

“My gratitude, Commander,” the boy said.

“……Remember this, child. Never leave anything unsaid. Ever.” Raven sliced open a portal and plucked a white rose from it. “Never give in to the chance that the words you leave someone aren’t your last. Cut a few simple words short—and you can carry regrets that will eat at you for the rest of your life.”

“You reference previous experience?”

“……Yes.”

“A mother?”

“No. Someone whom I loved more than anything and anyone in the world.”

“They sound important.”

“Yes.” Raven spoke a silent prayer before laying the rose at the grave.

“She was my moon on peaceful nights.

And the bell that chimed my happiness.

Now, the nights are dark.

And my ears can’t hear a thing.”

.

* * * * *

.

“…”

“…”

“That. Is not disturbing in the slightest,” Cinder groaned, waking up to the blank, empty stare of Penny from across the room. “I believe sleeping arrangements had myself and my subordinates in one room, with the rest of you in the other.”

[I was ordered by Emerald to announce when you were awake.]

“An order she did not think through thoroughly, it seems.” Cinder saw the beds beside her empty. “Where are they?”

[Training, as per usual scheduled routine.]

“Training. I remember when those two shuddered at the word.”

The woman threw off her covers, dressed, and went into the living room.

There, she found Team ENMY sitting with their backs against each other, eyes closed. From what Cinder could tell, they were probably in the middle of running a hallucinated simulation. A practice she had originally designed.

[Cinder has awakened!]

Penny yelled through her internal loudspeaker.

“BAH!! Freakin’ hell!” Emerald gasped, along with her other teammates.

“Em, don’t just bring us out like that!”

“Yeah. It’s my fault your friend freckles over there almost gave me heart failure.” Realizing that her boss was awake, Emerald swiftly regained herself. “Evening, Cinder. Me and Merc didn’t want to wake you, so we thought we’d let you sleep in a bit longer.”

“I see. Never do so again.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“I will oversee your next training session. It would do well to grasp how much you two have grown—and what more you have to improve on.”

“About that, do we even need training anymore?” Mercury cut in. “I mean, bringing up the obvious here, but we’ve got two powerhouse Maidens.”  

“I’d hate for the both of you to return to your old slothing habits. So, yes. Your training will resume as it always has, but under my supervision. Have our fake identities been prepared?”

“Just *huff* got ‘em!” Junior ran in out of breath, while passing out several passports. “Only the best, for the best.”

They each took their forged credentials with an obvious scrutiny.

“‘Masamune’? You’ve spelled this one’s name incorrectly.”

“‘Hermes’. Sounds like an STD.”

“What in the hell is an ‘Aladdin’? Is that a guy’s name?”

“‘Rapunzel’? Really?”

“‘Cinderella’. Hm.”

“GUYS. That’s the point of fake IDs. They’re fake. They’re not supposed to actually sound like you.”

“I can’t believe we’re paying you for this,” Emerald clicked her tongue and badly threw a stack of lien to Junior, which he almost dropped.

“No. Of course, no ‘thanks Junior’ or ‘you’re the best, dude!’ Forget that I saved your lives that one time.”

“You had keys in your hand, and you tossed them to us. I wouldn’t exactly call that saving us from a giant, lava assassin, but sure. AND we paid that debt back, and then some. So, no more milking that tree.”

They all gathered around the dining table to have some breakfast/dinner. While Neo, Yang, and Masa were on the cooking shift, Emerald read through news articles on her scroll.

“Can you believe this? ‘Heroes or Menaces?’” She showed them the title of the news article and the picture below of Team ENMY laying waste to a street full of gangsters. “Conveniently forgot to mention that those assholes attacked us last night for the bounty.”

“Heh, chumps. But seriously, what exactly happened to these two?” Junior asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean, how did blondie get a massive upgrade. And I remember this one being freaky before,” he nodded to Cinder. “But these two just solo wiped the concrete with all my business rivals. Like, what’s the deal. New workout routine? Steroids? Or new workout routine AND steroids?”

“None of your business, beardo. Back to what’s really important, our fame just kicked up a few notches. Will these fake IDs hold up?”

“Of course! You can see for yourself. Perfect replicas of Vale Army IDs to get you train access, then Atlas personnel credentials to get you the rest of the way. I pulled a lot of favors to get you these. All you need now are pictures. My advice, don’t look like yourselves.”

Neo instantly morphed into her dark-haired, green-eyed persona.

“Were is so easy for the rest of us,” Cinder commented.

“Mine says I was injured in combat?” Mercury furrowed his brow. “Says I lost both my legs from an airship falling on me.”

“Better than me,” Yang snarled. “Says here, I got my arm decapitated by one Ruby Rose.”

“LOOK. I thought it would sell better if your backgrounds read soldiers returning to Atlas as injured combatants,” Junior huffed.

“That’s actually pretty smart,” Emerald approved.

“Not too insensitive?”

“Oh, it’s insensitive. But it also tickles me, so whatever. Looks like Mercury has to put on the old, ‘you hit me with your car’ routine again.”

“How’s this?” Mercury cleared his throat. “THEY GOT MY LEGS!!! OH GOD! THOSE BASTARDS GOT MY LEGS!!! THE AGONY~~~!!!”

“Okay, maybe we add shattered jaw to your list of injuries.”

“I still can’t believe everyone bought that,” Yang commented in disbelief.

“Like suckers for suckers. How about you? Think you can act like when you first lost your arm?”

“You mean, when I was angry all the time and hated all of you, and didn’t talk?”

“Yup.”

“You just want me to look angry all the time and not talk, don’t you?”

“Yup.”

“……Yeah, I can do that,” Yang rolled her eyes.

“Great. Only problem is, unlike the rest of us, anybody with eyes will recognize you a mile away. Maybe, do something with your hair?”

“Dye it black,” Cinder immediately recommended. “I think it would look rather fitting,” she grinned.

Emerald, Yang, and Neo simultaneously twisted their expressions at her words.

“That. Was a joke.”

“Ha-ha,” Emerald tried to laugh forcefully. “Um, also, I think you might need to change your appearance too.”

“I do?”

“A lot of authorities know about you—especially Atlas officials. And you’re also really…”

“Yes?”

“……Eye-catching,” Emerald blushed.

“Hm. I suppose you’re right.”

“Someone, gag me now,” Yang moaned from the side of her mouth. “Oh, but I could ugly you up a bit. Then, no one would recognize you!”

“A haircut, then. Something short.” Cinder turned to Neo, who was setting the last dinner plate. “If you would do the honors?”

The petite girl nodded cheerfully.

Waiting until they were out of earshot, Yang whispered to Neo with a chuckle.

“Hey, do you think you can mess up cutting her hair?”

The girl violently flicked her nose.

“GAH! Really? I thought you’d be all for doing that.”

Neo puffed her cheeks and jabbed Yang’s chest with her finger.

“Okay, okay, I got it! You take your hobbies seriously.”

She continued to poke her.

“‘Friend’, huh? Cinder is?”

Neo nodded with crossed arms.

“…Why?”

The petite girl threw her a hard look.

Just because you hate her doesn’t mean I have to too.

Don’t be stupid.

Neo turned and walked away.

Back at the table, Emerald continued reading off various news articles.

“Mistral’s pushing hard from the east. ‘Vale forces are faltering.’”

“All according to plan, it seems,” Cinder commented.

“They’re losing the war on purpose?”

“Calculated retreat. Vale’s army is drawing them as close to Atlas’s forces as possible, while making it difficult to gain ground. They plan to force the war into a long-term contest of attrition. It’s the only viable option they have.”

“Hm? ‘Atlas campaign is halted’?”

“…Elaborate.”

“A large portion of the Atlesian Fleet has been recalled back to the Kingdom. They’ve taken a secure post in Vale, but right now, it doesn’t look like they’re continuing with the invasion.”

“Has a reason been given?”

“Nothing said here.”

Cinder held her chin in thought.

“I don’t like it. We’re moving up our departure time.”

“I must reach Atlas as soon as possible.”

.

* * * * *

.

“So, they finally got their asses over here,” Coco muttered, while watching an incoming ship from the harbor.

“It’ll be so great to see them again!” Velvet smiled excitedly.

As soon as the ship docked, a Faunus girl stepped off its outstretched plank.

“Always have people begging to be smuggled out of Atlas—but smuggling people in?” Ilia shook her head. “Well, I got your order. Including two Shade Academy students, safe and sound.”

Filing off the boat behind her were two male figures. One with short hair and an enormous glaive mounted on his back. The other with dark orange hair and whited irises.

“Did you boys miss us?” Coco smirked.

Velvet ran up to Fox and Yatsuhashi, and threw her arms around their necks. They supported her weight as they hugged her back.

“It’s great to see you again, Coco,” Yatsuhashi replied.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get sappy on me. We got a lot of work to do. Team CFVY’s reunion party can wait. There’s a big meeting starting soon.”

“Where is Weiss anyway?” Ilia asked.

“…She’s got her hands full with something else.”

“Uh huh. I was wondering if the rumors were true.”

Coco tilted her sunglasses down.

“What rumors?”

“They say the heiress is dead.”

“She isn’t. It’s business as usual.” She tilted her sunglasses back up. “Vel?”

Velvet let go of her reunited comrades, and handed Ilia the data for the next batch of Faunus waiting to be smuggled out of the Kingdom.

“Alright. Well, along with your friends, this week’s shipment of Dust is underneath the floor of the lower deck. Just crack that baby open, when you wanna move it out.”

“Our people got it from here.”

Ilia nodded.

“…Send Weiss my best, then. Tell her she should show herself at the next shipment.”

“Does she need to be here?”

“No, but yeah. She does.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ilia’s tone lowered and she rested a hand on her hip.

“It means, me and Temujin made a deal with her, not you. No offense. If she’s not around, our business is done. That’s just professional practice.”

“I don’t get it. She’s here, she isn’t here. What does it matter if you still get what you want?”

“Heh,” Ilia chuckled. “See, that’s why you don’t. You’re a mercenary. You’ll work for anyone who pays the right price. People like us? My people? We only work with those we trust. And as weird as it sounds, we trust Weiss to do what’s fair.”

“You’re right. That is weird.”

“Look, I’m sure you’re a really cool gal with your shades and brand-name clothes, but if I don’t see Weiss next week—you don’t see me. We crystal on that?”

“…Yeah. Fine.”

“Now, if that’s all, I got a job to do.”

The girl walked past them and vanished into the streets.

Once Ilia was gone, Velvet walked to Coco’s side.

“This is bad.”

“I know. One thing at a time, Vel. One thing at a time.” She turned to Fox and Yatsuhashi. “Alright, you two.” Coco led them to a waiting car, and tossed them a pair of trench coat jackets and sunglasses from the trunk. “We’re hitting the ground running on this.”

As Team CFVY was driven to the Silbern Mafia meeting, Velvet filled their comrades in on the situation.

“This information is classified and should stay between us. At the moment, Weiss is asleep and we can’t wake her.”

“Do you know who’s responsible?” Yatsuhashi asked.

“Someone who we thought was an ally, Hades,” Coco snarled. “Apparently, he fed her magical fruit or some bullshit. Did the same to the Winter Maiden too. Now, they’re both out of commission.”

“With Weiss gone, Coco and I have been running the organization in her stead,” Velvet continued. “Unfortunately, the work is becoming more harrowing. We need help, which is why we asked you two to come.”

Yatsuhashi and Fox nodded with recognition.

“We’ve tried to cover for Weiss’s absence, but as you’ve seen at the docks, rumors are starting to spread of her disappearance. To be honest, there are a few individuals who are trying to take over Silbern. That, and we are entering strenuous relationships with the other organized groups in Atlas, including the White Fang.”

“This sounds worse than you described,” Yatsuhashi said.

“Much worse. Feel like trailing it back to Vacuo?” Coco snickered.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Knew I kept you guys around for some reason,” she jabbed him with her elbow.

The team reached the meeting place and entered the abandoned theater. Members of the Silbern Mafia had already filled in the seating. Compared to when Weiss was in charge, the cascading waves of discussions did not cease upon their arrival. Something that irked Coco at the back of her mind.

As they strode down the aisles, murmurs and whispers rose. Some commented on how Weiss failed to show again. Others questioned who the two new members were. Everywhere they turned, it seemed doubt dwelled in their numbers.

As the acting boss, Coco couldn’t help but aggravate under the difference of treatment between her and Weiss. If she was being honest, she thought she made a better leader. At first, the girl thought it was because the members were averse to change, but she was growing to realize it was something else entirely. She touched on it earlier in her conversation with Ilia. And she certainly felt it now.  

Weiss had a specific personality—a charisma. She inspired people and drew their trust. She was tough, but fair to all. People had faith in her judgment, because in a way, she made herself completely transparent. There was no questioning her intentions. Within every action, they could see Weiss truly aspire an equality in the Kingdom. For not just people to rise, but to rise together.

It was something Coco could not do.

She took her seat center stage with the rest of her team standing at her side.

Not a second after she did, one member stood and puffed out her chest.

“I propose a vote on new leadership!”

Team CFVY froze immediately, while the rest of the auditorium nodded and voiced agreement with the proposal.

Is it over already?

Yatsu and Fox just got here.

I thought we could get them to calm down if we produced results, but we might not even get a chance to.

Crap!

CRAP!

“I…”

“Once Weiss returns, you may place forth a request to vote for new leadership,” Velvet’s voice echoed with the acoustics. “Until such a time passes, we will operate as business per usual.”

“Except we can’t!” one of the members yelled. “One of the aristocrats must’ve gotten her. We need to pay them back!” another shouted.

“Everyone, calm down.”

“We should just join the White Fang, instead. It was stupid trusting a Schnee,” a Faunus protested.

“Please, you all know the good she’s done.”

“She’s right! If Weiss Schnee isn’t leading this outfit anymore, I’m outta here!”

“Weiss will return shortly. We promise that. She is currently busy with another emergency.”

“Liar! Our birds at the Schnee household told us she hasn’t been there for a while now.”

“…!”

Velvet was going to make another excuse when Coco held her hand.

“You tried. You really tried, but it’s okay.”

“Coco?”

She sighed, and depressingly thought, ‘what would Weiss do in this situation?’

…

Yeah, okay, let’s give it a shot.

“Alright, everybody. Listen up,” Coco stood.

The audience was still in an uproar of debate.

“EVERYONE, SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW!!! OR I’LL OPEN UP SOME NEW EARS FOR YOU!!!”

““…””

“Thank you. *Ahem*. It’s true, the princess is out of commission—for now. She’s sleeping away while we’re all freezing our asses off trying to revolutionize a Kingdom. Typical, right?”

A few chuckles came from the crowd.

“While Weiss is getting her beauty rest, we need to pick up the slack. A lot of you have followed us this far. When she came out with her true identity, not one of you left. That means something. I know it does, and I know you guys think so too, cause let’s be honest folks—none of us expected anyone to stay after that. But here you guys are.”

Coco took a deep breath.

“All we’re saying, is hold out a bit longer. The princess isn’t dead. We’ll find a cure, and when we do, she’ll be back on her feet. Come on, who else is going to fight for you like she has? Is there anyone else you’re willing to trust like that? The White Fang? The other crime syndicates? The aristocrats? Let’s not kid ourselves.”

Much of the audience nodded with some mumbles of acceptance.

“Look at all of you; Faunus, Human, poor, rich, middle-class, military, civilian. Weiss was able to bring you together for a reason. She doesn’t just fight for one of you, she fights for all of you. And I think, that’s worth waiting around for. At least for a little longer.”

The theater was silent for a long stretch of time.

…

Then one voice spoke up.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Coco was surprised, since it was the first question about Weiss’s well-being. She coughed and shrugged.

“She literally ate a bad apple, got sick, and fell asleep. Like, not even joking.”

The audience erupted into laughter. Atmosphere in the abandoned building eased.

A few words of, “Food poisoning? She’s sick with food poisoning?” or “I guess the boss is still mortal, after all” made their way through the crowd.

“Um, if the temporary leadership needs help, the Mantle Loyalists will provide support!” a young girl piped up. “Also…”

“What?”

“If we’re talking about a sleeping princess and a cure to wake her up....”

“……You’re going to suggest that? REALLY?”

“A true lover’s kiss should do it!”

More laughter erupted down the rows of seats.

“I volunteer!”

“Me! I’m a great kisser!”

“I don’t know. I think the boss is likely to the kick the crap out of anyone who disturbs her beauty rest! Hahaha!”

As more of the members joked, Coco fell back into her chair shaking.

Whattaya know.

Sometimes honesty is the best policy…

Just as she was starting to relax, Velvet came to whisper in her ear.

“On that note, I think it’s time we tell Ruby about Weiss.”

“……Yeah. Been putting that off for a while, but the kid’s better off hearing it from us than anywhere else. Was not looking forward to that conversation.”

The thought dampened Coco’s mood, but at least the most immediate problem was resolved. She wondered if Weiss would ever understand how strangely she affected these people. How she inspired them.

Now, all we need is for our princess to wake her ass up before Ilia’s next shipment.

.

* * * * *

.

A jolt of energy passed Yang’s senses and made her look outside the train.

Their group had been traveling with Vale’s reserve armies for a few hours now. The train had stopped to refuel, and most of the passengers were fast asleep. Including Neo and Masa, who nestled closer to her on each side.

Ever since gaining her newfound powers, Yang found no problems dealing with the weather. Her perpetual warmth was quickly taken advantage of by her teammates, who clung to her like a lifesaver from the cold.

Along with her self-sustaining heat, she gained what she could only describe as a heightened sense of energy. Her eyes did something similar, but this was different. Almost as if Yang could read into the space where fabric of reality and Never Realm overlapped. And it was this strange form of intuition that revealed to her a burst of power some distance away from the train.

She looked across their compartment, and saw Emerald and Mercury without their own Maiden body-heater. Yang remembered Cinder leaving earlier, but pretended not to notice.

After carefully untangling herself from her allies, the girl made for the fluctuating energy signature outside.

…

…

“Are you guys actually asleep?”

“No, but I was enjoying the peace and quiet, Mercury. Plus, it’s too cold to sleep without Cinder or Yang around.”

Emerald, Mercury, Neo, and Masa opened their eyes and sat up.

“Okay, so everyone’s thinking the same thing I am, right?”

“No one. Ever. Thinks the same stuff you do—”

“What’s our new team name? Are Masa and Penny included? Cause I kinda feel like they shouldn’t be.”

“We are not, this one says firmly, not wanting to be associated with your team’s infamous reputation.”

“Cool.”

“Merc. We have more important things to worry about than team names.”

“CYNEM is what comes to mind.”

“Not a high priority. And what the hell is CYNEM?”

“Cinnamon. Like cinnamon cruncha munch.”

“You’re only thinking that cause it’s one of your favorite cereals.”

“So?”

“We’re not naming our team after a freakin’ cereal.”

“Fine, but you explain to Cinder why her letter’s not in the name when that fun topic comes up.”

“Burn that bridge when we cross it……… And it’s CMYNE. Carmine, you dumbass.”

“What the hell is carmine?”

“It’s a kind of red color. Which makes more sense than ENMY, actually.”

“Ah, yeah. Now that I think about it, our team name does kinda break that rule. How come we went with that? I mean, you noticed when you first came up with it, right?”

“Sure, but I thought the team was going to be super temporary, so I didn’t care. Now, we’re just stuck with it.”

“I like it though.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“I don’t really wanna change it to whatever the hell carmine is.”

“Naming’s hard.”

“So, next question.”

“God! There’s more?”

“Who would win in a fight between Yang and Cinder? I mean, really.”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Everybody knows you love Cinder, but let’s be real. Who do you think would win?”

“……You know what? No. I’m not gonna guess who would win if they fought.”

“Not even if we put lien on it?”

“……No! I’m not doing that!”

“I think Yang would win.”

“Merc!”

“What? I’m not saying I’d let Yang kill Cinder if it ever happened. I’m saying maybe, possibly, if they fought, 1v1, no handicaps, final destination—Yang might win.”

“That’s messed up. Why?”

“Just a feeling I got.”

“Mr. Mercury’s assumption is accurate.”

Emerald and Mercury whipped their necks to Masa, accompanied by a crooked stare.

“Wait, why do you think Yang would win?” Emerald asked.

“Hm. It is true they are both Maidens, and under correct circumstances, neither would be stronger than the other.”

“But?”

“But Cinder is fundamentally flawed, this one surmises. Her power is incomplete.”

.

* * * * *

.

On the edge of a ridge, Cinder clutched her burning eye and screamed.

Fire and pillars of molten glass rose around her like a hellish nightmare-scape. The earth itself broke out in an endless bramble of dark, polished crystal. The Maiden warped the surrounding environment itself by raw power alone.

At the edge of her manifested territory, glass shattered from a mighty blow. Cinder knew who it was, without seeing her. As more ash and fiery flakes fell from her body, the woman felt her Aura overflow, begging to be unleashed.

Her counterpart appeared from the tree line. Glowing feathers rose in her wake. Eyes piercing with crimson. Yang didn’t seem at all surprised to see the other’s outbreak.

Cinder stopped covering her eye. She stopped trying to fight the pain. Instead, she embraced it.

Although Yang just arrived, she read into the air and knew what to do.

Her arm cocked and triggered, propelling her towards her opponent. In response, Cinder erected a wall of molten glass spears to block her. Flame plumed and bust down the barrier.

The Fall Maiden propelled back with rocket propulsion. In her hands, she materialized a bow and arrow. She pulled the string made of energy, and loosed a number of razor edged projectiles.

Yang parried every one of them with her gauntlets. When Cinder reached groundside, she closed in and brought the fight into close quarters. A furious combo of kicks and punches were exchanged, miniature shockwaves detonated with each meeting.

Though the battle bordered on cataclysmic, it was nowhere near a life or death conflict between Maidens. If anything, it was a simple spar. No more than an exercise, or flexing of muscle.

…

…

When Cinder finished expending her excess energy, she sat on the cliff of the ridge.

“You can’t control it, can you?” Yang stood next to her. Not close enough as friends would, but not so distant either. “Do you know why it’s happening?”

“It is none of your concern.”

“Yeah. It actually is. I keep wondering when that’s gonna happen to me.”

“You have nothing to worry about, I’m sure.”

“…What’s that mean?”

“Nothing. Unlike you, I must devote special care in keeping my power in check.”

“Didn’t look that way just now.”

“I merely thought it was convenient you were here, and took advantage of the opportunity presented to let off a little steam.”

“Hmph. Right.”

Cinder grimaced. She disliked Yang, but even more so in this moment. This moment of weakness.

“If you’re having trouble, tell Emerald and Mercury about it,” Yang said. “They shouldn’t have to put up with you fronting like you’re alright.”

“It is not a concern.”

“You think they don’t notice, but they do. The way you toss and turn in your sleep. We all know. How you have nightmares of still being stuck in the Never Realm. They’re just too nice to tell you.”

“…And you are not so nice.”

“No. I’m not.”

“Heh,” Cinder chuckled. “Not very compassionate of you,” she remarked with a snide.

The two stared out into the open space for a while. Nothing but still air in their surroundings. Any ambient noise was muffled by snowfall.

…

…

“Why are you doing this?” Yang asked.

“Doing what, pray tell? You’ll have to be more specific.”

“All of this, what you did before, what it all leads to. Why do you want to destroy Atlas so bad?”

“Emerald and Mercury haven’t told you?”

“No. I didn’t want to put them in that position either. Figured it was better to ask you myself.”

“I simply want what is rightfully mine.”

“And what’s that?”

“The keys to the Kingdom…… along with my personal freedom.”

Something about Cinder’s words and tone struck a chord with Yang.

“Freedom?” she asked.

“Yes. Don’t you feel the same?” Cinder asked back expectantly.

“You already have it. You can walk away, find some small place to live with Merc and Em, and just—”

“There are those who will never stop hunting me, never stop wanting me dead. In order to live my life, I must have power. It is my raison d'etre. My calling. Surely you understand that more than most. I can read it on your face. You seek your own brand of freedom. The two of us…”

“If you give me that, ‘you and I are not so different’ spiel, I will literally knock your tongue down your throat.”

“Hmph,” Cinder scoffed. She plucked a few frosted blades of grass in her hand. When she blew them into the wind, they turned into burning embers. “Emerald tells me you’re fond of fairytales. You and your sweet little sister.”

“…”

“Have you heard of the First Profane Princess?”

“……I don’t like that one very much.”

“I’m sure you don’t.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s where my story starts. You want to know why my first ambitions involve the crushing of Atlas? Then, allow me to tell you a tale. One unfiltered and unsoftened for the ears of children.”

“……I’m listening.”

…

With that, Cinder began to narrate with an enticing, smoky voice.

Long ago existed a prosperous Kingdom.

As a nation, it was young. Only one of the few permanent settlements to exist outside of Mistral.

The environment was cold and harsh for living. An everlasting Winter all year round made survival rather treacherous. A commonality among mankind’s pioneering years.

Though the Grimm that inhabited the lands were powerful, the land also yielded large amounts of Dust, with which the people defended themselves by. The citizens of the Kingdom struggled, but for the most part, grew happy. This was considered due to the benevolence of the royal family, or more commonly known then, as the Mantle Monarchy.

The Queens chosen to lead the Kingdom were famed for being exceptionally selfless in their rule. They gave resources freely. They never taxed heavily. They worked tirelessly for their people, overworking themselves to the point of sickness.

How admirable, is it not?

This trend continued until the turning point of one of the Monarchy’s fateful generations.

Two sisters were considered candidates for the throne. While one was a true heir, the other was only a step-sibling.

Now, I’m sure you’ve heard the most popular part of this tale.

To choose the next ruler, a test was conducted. Whosoever’s feet fit perfectly into the shoes owned by each presiding generation, was the one meant to rule.

An inane concept, substituted for something greater. If there ever was such a thing, it was created to make sure those of a specific genealogy inherited the throne.

And we know what happens next.

The true heir was favored to rule. She was benevolent and selfless, just like those that came before her. She was loved by the people. And with the throne, and the power that came with it, the heir was set to bring more good to the Kingdom.

But the evil step sister grew jealous and greedy.

She killed the true heir.

But because she was not a full descendant, her feet did not fit the shoes. So, she sliced off pieces from her feet. Some say her whole heel was carved. She did so until the shoe fit.

The First Profane Princess.

And with her, started a Game of Thrones, as it were. The royal family blackmailed, injured, and murdered each other for the right to rule.

That is what the former Kingdom of Mantle is known for now.

Now, comes the part where I ask how much you’ve been paying attention.

So, Yang Xiao Long.

Have you discerned the tale underneath the tale?

…

“……The Profane Princess didn’t just kill her step sister for the throne.”

No. She did not.

“She killed her for the Fall Maiden’s powers. She was the first to kill a Maiden to gain their powers.”

And started a bloody tradition that continues to this day.

The First Profane Maiden.

My ancestor. My legacy.

Cinder formed a shard of blazing molten glass in her hand.

“That’s… pretty terrible.”

“The ‘evil’ step-sister is painted rather convincingly as the antagonist, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Is there any other way to look at it?”

Cinder crushed the polished crystal in her hands with an ear-splitting snap.

“What the stories and the histories forget to mention is that war loomed on the edges of the Mantle Kingdom. That the First Profane Princess killed the step-sister she cherished with all her heart, because she knew she was too weak, too selfless to win the war for them. In a sense, she too was so selfless as well… And it led to self-sacrifice. The princess took actions knowing full well what those around her and in the future would call her. A monster.

Cinder formed a twisted smirk.

“Virtues have a way of weakening one, even if they have the power, they refuse to use it out of some misplaced sentiment. That was the fault of the true heir. She would have surrendered her Kingdom away for the sake of peace, if allowed to live. Knowing that, I wonder who was truly the antagonist of the story.”

“You’re not going to convince me you or your ancestor were misunderstood victims. This lesser evil, greater good crap is just something people hide behind to do messed up shit.”

“And you believe those most purest of virtues are in the right? Surely, you’ve learned better than that on your journeys.”

“I know owning principles isn’t everything. But throwing them away and making your own rules is just as stupid. Like everything, there’s a balance. Right or wrong doesn’t exist. Only the actions and decisions people move forward with, and the consequences after.”

“My. No wonder you were deemed worthy.”

“……What do you mean by that?” Yang kneeled beside Cinder and grabbed her collar. “What do you mean by that?” she asked again through gritted teeth.

“So, very compassionate is Yang Xiao Long. A true Maiden of Spring. The first in a very long time, I think.”

“Answer me!”

Yang’s temper boiled. She was called compassionate and worthy by Victoria Stein upon accepting the Maiden’s inheritance. Back then, she assumed they were just parting words, but were they more?

Cinder grabbed Yang’s wrist and peeled it off.

“There was an older way the Maidens were chosen. Not by those who had slain them, or those held in their final moments. They originally meant to stand as judges for their successors. The inheritance was promised to those who held the purest virtues given on the premise of the very first Maidens.”

Cinder touched her freshly short hair for a second, and continued.

“In the beginning, the Four Maidens went in search of a key to helping their people. On their journey, they met a powerful old man that gifted them with the Magic to save their Kingdoms. For Mantle, at its earlier conception, was ripe with corruption, the immortal gifted the Maiden who exemplified Selflessness. For Vacuo’s Maiden, whose lands were the most defeating of all, he gifted their most Hopeful. And Vale, whose people suffered from sickness and poor health, he granted power to its most Compassionate.”

Yang paused.

“That’s why there’s something wrong with your powers,” she tensed. “You killed for your inheritance.”

“Indeed. On the other hand, you removed the thorn from a lion’s paw, as it were. Compassion,” Cinder repeated with emphasis.

“And what about the Winter Maiden?”

“I’m not sure. I can fathom a few guesses, but whatever virtue Mistral’s savior personified has been lost to time.”

“Hm,” Yang repeated the words. “Hope. Selflessness. Compassion.”

“An optimistic ideal. But we know the flaws that lie there.”

“…”

“Hope can lead to Naivety. Selflessness can lead to Sacrifice. And Compassion…”

“Yeah?”

“…Blindness. You can see so much of what makes someone flawed that you forget they are that same darkness no matter what reason they have. How often has your compassion blinded you to what things truly are?”

“Not for a long time,” Yang answered bitterly. “And?”

“And, what?”

“The First Profane Maiden. The Mantle Monarchy. Where do you come in?”

“Mine is not so grand a tale. Twenty years ago, the Monarchy was overthrown. In its ruin, rose the capitalist empire of Atlas. My family was stripped of power. The Fall Maiden’s inheritance, taken and hidden away.”

“…”

“To ensure we would never rise again, we were hunted. As a child, I was almost killed simply for bearing my last name.”

“……And then, my mom saved you.”

“Yes. Raven did.” Cinder’s expression softened, before hardening again. “And I swore I would never feel so powerless again. To live a life that wasn’t my own—at the whims of Atlas or Salem. Never again. I’d die before that happens a second time.”

“…”

“As such, my only option, the only way I can exist, is through the destruction of Atlas.” She spoke with a fire. A confident certainty Yang had so rarely seen in others. An almost undeniable draw, like gravity. “And I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t enjoy watching its disgusting Kingdom burned to nothing but shadow and ash.”

Yang closed her eyes.

She hated how much she could empathize with Cinder. Powerlessness and the desire for freedom were things Yang knew too well. They were more than enough driving forces to cause anyone to seek less-than moral methods. She compromised in her own way, after all. Not to the lengths Cinder had, but in another time...

The woman took Yang’s chin in her hand, and they locked intense gazes.

“Emerald was born to be a thief.

You were always meant to fight.

…

And I?

My destiny

Is to Rule.”

[moonsandstar-s]

The Final Warning - Chapter XXXII

Chapter XXXII - Winter Turning 

Summary:  As the year draws to a close, peace has finally dawned. The time for unity has arrived. In the Vytal festival, it is time for heroes to rise, bringing glory to their kingdoms. But as autumn dies, the first winds of winter blow over Remnant, chilling the hearts of the people; breathing doubt into their souls. Long-buried secrets will triumph, and every action will have a consequence. Ruby must reconcile herself with her own fate. Weiss struggles to escape her legacy. Blake cannot erase memories. Yang’s search leads her into more peril than ever— but none of them can outrun fate. Shadows turn on shadows, and bonds shatter as they are tested to the limit. For in dividing them, they will fall and burn; at the eye of the storm, no peace lasts forever. In the end and beginning of time, there is a place where the sun never rises, and the dead delight to teach the living. A great danger is rising from the darkness. It’s time to take sides. The final warning is coming. The first chill of winter is the most deadly; it is the chill that kills more than any other. The first betrayal is the most damaging; it is the act that shatters bonds of love and trust, crushing even the strongest heart, tearing teams apart. AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/7745314/chapters/23362938 Weiss

Weiss shivered as the airship touched down on the northeast coast of Vale, the body of the ship shuddering as it ruddered towards its landing.

“Stop shivering,” Yang snapped, her voice soaked with irritation. “It’s not even cold in here.” She seemed antsy, on edge; she kept drumming her prosthetic fingers against the window of the airship, creating a repetitive clicking sound that drilled into Weiss’s mind annoyingly. But it wasn’t hard to guess what she was thinking about, and Weiss didn’t blame her; she couldn’t get her mind off of her partner, either.

They departed the airship, and Weiss circled around to the front of the dock as Yang went to the back to get her motorcycle from the luggage-holder of the ship. She came back soon enough, lugging it behind her and looking distinctly frazzled from the influx of people.  

They both hopped on the cycle, and Yang didn’t gun the engine, but she drove it slowly, and they weaved out of the crowd of people leaving the airships and swerved onto a road that wound away towards the distant shadow of the city. Cars slowly drove on their flanks, avoiding the patches of ice that dotted the road.

“Do you think we’re doing the right thing?” Yang asked abruptly, her voice almost lost in the wind. Weiss could see her stiffen ever-so slightly.

Flummoxed, Weiss ducked her head, trying to get out of the biting wind. “Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know.” She gripped the handlebars, segueing into another lane and speeding up. “You know me. A lot of the things I do are done in moments of blind passion and emotion… and I usually end up regretting them later. The Vytal Tournament, trying to save Blake’s life, coming to find you…. this is just another thing I did out of an emotion I felt. Determination, I guess. But I can’t help but worry if it’s another decision I’ll regret.”

Feeling awkward— she had never been good at comforting others, not when her go-to was scathing sarcasm— she said, “If going to find your sister and the girl you lov—lost,” she tacked on hastily, noticing how Yang had bowed her head at the word ‘love’, “is something you feel you might regret, then of course you don’t have to do it… but it’s the right decision, Yang. You could have stayed at Patch, surely, and spent your life wallowing there— but you’d have always wished for better, if I know you. You would always be pondering the ‘what-ifs’. And even if you do end up regretting it… you saved me. You got me out of Atlas. Maybe you didn’t succeed in saving Blake, but you did a good thing, the right thing, when you came for me. If what I’ve heard about your mother from Ruby is true… you’re a far better person that she is, in any case. You didn’t give up on your team.”

“Thank you,” Yang said very quietly, before pulling the motorcycle around and swinging it into a dirt lot in front of a run-down store. “We’re here. I’ll go inside and restock, you can fill up the tank, and then we’ll be on our way.”

She hopped off, parking the cycle and striding across the earthy lot, puffs of dust billowing up in her wake. As Yang disappeared into the shop, Weiss looked up. A murder of crows were swooping overhead, calling out their harsh, raucous cries into the dawning day, and she remembered Ruby and Yang’s uncle, who had fought her sister so long ago. Qrow. He’d seemed dark and restless, and Weiss could sense the same restlessness, the same searching longing, inside of his niece, Yang. Yang had acquired a guarded loneliness, like a lone wolf, and Weiss feared that it might never be extinguished.

Turning her mind to more hopeful thoughts, she thought of Ruby’s eyes, her laugh, her hope, and a pang of longing went through her, filling the Bond that was not yet shut down or broken. A pang of sadness echoed back to Weiss— Ruby’s sadness.

I’m coming for you, Ruby, she breathed out on a longing exhale, looking up at the sun, and wondering if somewhere, some place, her partner was looking at the sky, too. I’m not giving up.

Not yet.

/ / /

Yang

The interior of the ramshackle little shop was dark, and the walls were piled with messy assortments of supplies— pottery, postcards, jewelry. The back corner was filled with more sensible items— an ATM, nonperishables, lighters, and Dust, though it was a very basic selection of small samples: there was only fire, water, and earth Dust. Yang looked down at her prosthetic with a little smile— the fire Dust within it, connected to her Aura itself, burned so much brighter than any dusty sample of Dust could hope to achieve.

She walked to the back, picking a lighter and some dried meat, granola bars, water bottles, and piled them into her arms before turning around and walking back to the storefront. The shop’s owner was waiting behind the cash register when she strode up. It was a stern-looking woman, with two-toned eyes— one glittered icy blue, and the other a bright gold. She had two white Faunus ears perched atop a mass of thick silvery-white hair that was pulled back into a braid.

And Yang realized, looking at her, that she looked oddly familiar.

“Good afternoon,” the woman greeted her, her tone silky with an accent Yang couldn’t place, one that sound vaguely like Vacuo or Menagerie— they always sounded like they had a burr in their voices, making their ‘r’s roll. “Will those be all of your purchases?”

“Er, yes.” Shaking away her thoughts, Yang piled her supplies on the counter, exposing her prosthetic as she did so. The woman looked down at it, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, followed by sympathy.

“Are you a victim of the Fall of Beacon, child?”

“I am,” she replied, a touch of defensiveness in her tone.

“Pardon me. I mean no harm; it’s just that I’m curious. The effects of that terrible night are very far-reaching, as you know… especially among the Faunus. The leader of the White Fang was killed in the attack, we heard… they’re reforming, certainly, but it will be a long process. Regardless… I am sorry, young one.” Her golden-amber eye looked even brighter as sunlight fell through the dusty window, and then with a flickering flash of recognition, Yang realized who the woman looked like.

“I’m sorry,” Yang said. “This might sound weird, but you… you look really familiar to this girl I know. Like, really familiar. Do you know a girl named Blake? Blake Belladonna?”

The woman’s eyes widened in shock. “I— yes, I do. I take it you do, too.” Her ears lowered slightly, twisting back in uncertainty. “I am Khione Belladonna. Blake’s aunt.”

“Oh,” she managed. “Oh my God.”

“And I recognize you, as well,” Khione marveled, her expression lifting in recognition. “She spoke of you, in that talk we had all those months ago. You’re her partner. But if you’re her… where is she?” A look of horror clouded her eyes. “She wasn’t killed, was she?”

“No,” Yang muttered. “Almost, but… no.”

“I see.” Khione lifted a brow, and began to clean out an intricate pottery bowl with a grimy-looking rag. “It is good to hear, that she is alive. If both tyrannical leaders of the Fang are dead…”

“Blake killed them both.”

Khione didn’t look too shocked at that, but a brief expression of surprise flitted over her face. “She avenged her father… and herself, in a way. Ayran murdered him, you know. And Adam Taurus murdered— in spirit— the bright little girl I knew, and turned her into a broken creature. Blake set things right. And she followed the advice I gave her so long ago. Now,” a brief sigh escaped her, the exhale shaking her shoulders, “I can be at peace.”

Yang frowned. “Are you… is this place someplace that makes you happy? Alone, on the outskirts of Vale?”

“Yes… I am happy with my place in life.” She set down the rag she had been cleaning with, her eyes boring into Yang, icy azure and warm gold. “Though my brother is dead, as I’m sure you know of Brian Belladonna, and my niece has fled… the world is healing, and most importantly, the world always goes on, despite that which may blight it and try to harm those who inhabit it. Remnant is a remarkably strong place, full of those of good character, much like yourself.” She looked thoughtful, before pressing a bundle of Lien into Yang’s hands, and waving away her protests as she bagged the items on the counter and handed them to her, free of charge. “Go find her, you understand? I told her not to give up, once. To follow her heart above all else. Now I will tell that to you. Go. Do not give up on my niece, young one. Find her.”

“Thank you,” Yang managed, before she grabbed the bag and fled the shop, bursting out into the lot and blinking in the bright sunlight.

Trying to smooth out the stricken look from her face, she strode back to Weiss, who was plugging up the gas tank of the motorcycle and climbing back on. She nodded in approval as Yang shoved the re-stocked duffel at her, hands trembling slightly, before she did a double-take.

“Wait a minute, what’s up with you?” Weiss asked incredulously. “You look as though you’ve just seen your own ghost.”

“I saw someone.” Weiss still looked dubious, and Yang turned her face away so Weiss wouldn’t see how her mask of cool confident bravo had slipped, revealing her true, desperate uncertainty, and alarm.

“Oh, really? And who would that someone be?”

Deciding that lying wouldn’t really get her anywhere, Yang sighed and turned the key in the ignition. “Blake’s father’s sister.”

“She has an aunt?” Weiss’s voice was astounded. “I didn’t even know she had any surviving family left.”

“I knew it— she told me about it a long time ago— but Blake wasn’t ever really big on the idea of family by blood. She never talked about them much, but I thought her aunt was long gone. Neither of them really cared much for each other. I’d assumed she lived in Vacuo or Menagerie, not Vale. I didn’t expect to see her here, that’s all… it surprised me.”

“I would have thought it was nice, to see her… anything related to your partner, really.” Weiss sounded a bit wistful, and Yang guessed she was thinking of Ruby. “Especially after the Fall… it’s good to see that some people we know are alright, don’t you think?”

“Maybe it is, for you. All it is for me is a reminder of what I have lost.” Her voice darkened as though a thundercloud had passed through it.

“Of what you’ll soon regain,” Weiss said softly, surprising Yang.  

“Maybe,” she murmured, before staring up the cycle and pulling out of Khione’s lot with dust billowing up in their wake, the rising sun ahead of them, and Atlas behind.

She did not look back once.

/ / /

They made good time, whizzing through roads and pathways until the sun began to fall. They entered a path that cut through a woody grove, and Yang slowed the cycle down so they wouldn’t crash.

As they cautiously bumped and jolted down the rickety path, a dark shadow melted out from the woods ahead of them, red eyes burning with hunger. It was a Grimm, and Yang knew that they would only grow in numbers as the two girls neared Beacon; the old haunt of the school, still drenched in bloodlust, sadness, and fear, would be an irresistible breeding ground for them. Yang pulled the motorcycle to a stop and they both hopped off, tensing up.

“Do you want to take it down?” Weiss said, one hand on Myrtenaster.

“Might as well,” Yang reasoned, obliging as she twisted Ember Celica on her left wrist. “I’ve got to see how this prosthetic thingy works at some point, right?”

Weiss looked briefly amused. “Well, let no one say you aren’t fond of the hands-on approach.”

“Don’t sound so scandalized! Trying to kill a Beowolf is child’s play— they have even less brains than Neptune.” Leaving Weiss rolling her eyes, Yang charged forward down the mountainous path, towards the Beowolf. It lunged with a snarl of rage, and she ducked and rolled as the wolf leaped over her. Eyes narrowing, she swiped out as white claws flashed for her face, the prosthetic glowing like an ember. The strike caught the wolf in the ribs, and it growled gutturally, backing up.

Yang shot out her fist, uppercutting in a sharp left hook, and the Beowolf yelped once as the force of the impact shattered its jaws. Another hit snapped its neck, and it faded away, leaving her barely tired.

“Not too shabby, I think,” Yang said, before she turned around as a deep snarl echoed above her.

“Watch out!” Weiss shouted, her eyes widening, but as Yang turned around, she was too late to react as another Grimm launched itself towards her, closing the span in seconds. Just before its claws hit her face, a brown-colored streak shot out from the woods and plowed into the wolf’s side, sending them both rolling to the side in a flurry of snarls. Yang backed away as the wolf faded away to darkness with a whimper, revealing its attacker, who was barely winded.

“You two shouldn’t be out here,” they chided, looking sternly over their glinting black sunglasses. “Don’t you know that the bad things come out to play in the woods?”

Suddenly the attacker’s appearance registered in Yang’s mind, and she opened her mouth to speak the person’s name, but Weiss beat her to it.

“Coco?”

/ / /

Weiss

“Since most of us come from Vacuo, like Velvet, and Mistral— Yatsu and I— we can’t get home,” Coco explained as she led Weiss and Yang through the thin woods. “They’ve stopped airships and boats going to and from all kingdoms, except Atlas and Vale, because of Dust shipments, and the General’s request. And, of course, we can’t stay in the city; it’s been quarantined till they clear out all the Grimm and bodies. Most students have just cleared out and been on the move, camping around and helping each other, but we’ve set up in an old hunter’s cabin here. There’s not a lot of Grimm, and it’s far enough from the school that we don’t get all the negativity… but it’s close enough for news.”

“What do you mean ‘we’?” Yang asked, looking tired and frazzled— another distinct difference between her and the energetic, confident Yang, Weiss noticed— as she hopped over a tendril of brambles. “Just you and your team, or…”

Coco rolled her eyes. “No, we’ve actually got Flynt, Dove, Russel, and Sky— from Team CRDL— with us, can you believe it? We had Team TEAL earlier on… I liked them better than what we’ve got now. Talos was an excellent Huntsman, Amber wasn’t afraid to make sure the boys kept their mouths shut, Leah could do wonders with keeping the worst of the weather off of us, and Eliás was brilliant at keeping our morale up… but they left to go help Glynda repair Vale about a week ago. So now it’s the seven of us.”

“Those boneheaded bullies?” Weiss interjected, shocked. “They’re with you?”

“They’ve mellowed out, believe it or not. They… changed, after Cardin and Neon died. I can’t say I liked them much before, and I can’t say I like them now, but… they know what it’s like to lose a teammate, and so do we, so we have some common ground with that. We’ve been getting along together.”

“And hell has frozen over,” Yang muttered, but she didn’t sound genuinely venomous, and her eyes gleamed in the half-light with something that looked like pity. Looking away, Weiss hopped over a fallen log, and she thought she could see a tendril of smoke twisting up through the trees ahead, followed by the gleam of lit windows.

“When supplies run low,” Coco explained, “we send two runners to nab some from the city. I was out patrolling the border to clear out any Grimm— lucky for you, or else, you’d be wolf meat.”

“Over my dead body,” Yang said with a little snort.

“It most definitely would have been— you’re right on that.” Coco’s gray eyes darkened. “Well, that’s what we’ve been up to, in the past few weeks… and what about you two? Where are you headed? Remnant’s a lot more treacherous nowadays. Most people are holing up at home, clinging to what they have left… it’s not often you see two kids out on the run.”

“We’re going to find our team,” Weiss said, puffing for breath. Riding on a motorcycle for days, and being in her father’s manor, had robbed her of her usual competence and endurance, but only this journey would be able to give it back to her. “First to the southernmost reaches of Vale, and then to Mistral… however we can.”

Coco didn’t look surprised. “As good as a mission as any, I suppose. I wish you luck. And without further adieu, we’re here!”

They pushed through one last cluster of trees and brush and came upon a little log cabin, dusty glass windows gleaming with light, and smoke curling up in gray puffs from a brick chimney. As they arrived, the door swung outward, revealing Velvet, who let out a cry of startled excitement.

“Coco! Is that Yang and Weiss?”

“No, it’s their exact doppelgängers,” Coco retorted, but her voice was affectionate. “I didn’t see anything on the borders— just a couple Beowolves, and I hauled these two out of becoming Grimm meat. They’re not staying with us, but they’ll drop in to say hi.”

Coco brushed past Velvet and lightly kissed her on the cheek before vanishing inside— a new development, Weiss thought in surprise; they must have confessed their feelings to each other after the Fall of Beacon made everyone realize how fragile life really was— and Weiss chanced a glance at Yang, who looked suddenly lost and helpless, her eyes downcast and filled with misery. However tough she had acted, she was obviously pretending she was okay, hiding all her sorrow to be strong. It wasn’t hard to guess who she was thinking of.

‘We must be going soon,” Weiss said hastily, filling the silence as they walked in. “Our journey is long.”

“Sure thing, but we can help you restock a bit, can’t we?” Coco swept one of her arms out, rolling her eyes. “Welcome to our humble abode.”

There were old mud tracks on the floor, and a cluster of boots piled by the door. A merry fire crackled in the grate, and the cabin was filled with the smell of something cooking over the fire in a black pot. A worn rug was slightly askew in front of the hearth, and a large, old sofa held four teenage boys, who were fiddling with their Scrolls. In the kitchen, messing around with a pair of knives and a rather-large looking chunk of cabbage, was Yatsu.

Velvet shut and locked the door as Coco crossed the room to join Yatsu in the kitchen, tossing a sharp reprimand over her shoulder at the boys. “Look sharp, idiots, and you might recognize that we’ve got two guests.”

Dove and Russel grunted a welcome, flicking their gazes up to look at Weiss and Yang, before losing interest. Sky only narrowed his eyes at the two of them, before rising and stalking out of the room to a dark hallway, which was fine by Weiss; she’d never liked Team CRDL, anyways. Flynt, however, stood up and nodded to them both. “I remember you,” he informed Yang, with a grin that seemed slightly hollow, his eyes flatter without their arrogant twinkle. “The Xiao Long girl that kicked Neon’s ass.” He looked a little sadder at the mention of his partner, but he plugged on. “Good to see you’re okay. I’m sorry about your arm, though. That’s tough luck.”

Yang nodded, the faintest touch of curtness in her body language, and Flynt raised his eyebrows.

“So where’s the girl that threw herself in the lava to try and take me out, huh? Blake, right?”

“She’s gone,” Yang said flatly, in a tone that sent chills down Weiss’s spine, before she turned around to join Coco in the kitchen, leaving Weiss in the room with Flynt, Dove, and Russel.

“Did I say something wrong?” Flynt looked worried.

“She’s just taking the losses pretty hard,” Weiss said softly, and he shrugged.

“Well, I guess we all are, in a way. It was good to see you both— even if I do think your father’s company is a washout.”

Believe me, Weiss thought grimly as Flynt turned around and stalked down the hallway, so do I.

But I’m gone now. I’m gone; I’ve fled… I chose my own destiny, didn’t I? And that is here, with my team… he can’t hold me down anymore, truly. I chose to come with Yang, no matter the impossible odds… Weiss stared into the fire, and felt her heart lift ever-so slightly; despite whatever awaited her and Yang, she was free now.

Free, and never to be confined again.