A Series Of Unfortunate Circumstances [RWBY SI] [AHOIAC AU]

[shadenight123]

Chapter Forty-Six

Beacon at night was peaceful and quiet. It remained so until the morning after, when an air of tension made the rounds. Someone had broken the elevator leading to the headmaster's office, melted it with a Semblance or something similar.

While the professors had cordoned the area off and were investigating the tapes, they would hardly find anything of notice. All camera recordings had been erased, after all, and no backups were available.

I sipped my hot mug of chocolate, and cracked my neck to clear the kinks out of my spine. It had been a rough night on my part, and I was just meeting my team in the cafeteria.

Forming an alibi had been the matter of claiming the most obvious thing of them all.

"I just don't understand what putting make-up on has to do with fighting with one's wife," Jaune said. "I'm not that stupid. My parents do the make-up thing after every fight, but they never tell me what it involves..."

"Jaune, seriously, how many sisters do you have again?" Yang asked. "You're not that little anymore, you know?"

"Am I hearing Yang say that she'll explain things properly to Jaune, then?" I mused as I took a seat, my own decadent breakfast composed of chocolate cookies, chocolate chips, chocolate milk and pretty much everything chocolate-like under the light of the sun. "Blake?"

"I can confirm that," Blake said with a slow, methodical nod.

"I think he's just joking with us," Yang said with a huff. "Right?" she arched an eyebrow at Jaune, who snickered in return. "Why, you!"

"Still, wonder why someone would want to destroy an elevator," Blake remarked. "Must be a team angry at the loss?"

"They're investigating it," Yang said with a shrug, "Can't have been someone from Beacon. There's cameras and everything."

"Well, I, for one, am glad I don't have to take the stairs to any meeting with the headmaster anytime soon," I mused, sipping on my chocolate. "Though are you ready to rumble for today, Yang? The fate of Beacon's pride rests on your shoulder, since I'm sure you'd punch me if I was anything but supportive to your impending victory."

"Sheesh," Yang clicked her tongue. "Sure," she flicked her hair behind her, "I'll do my best." Then she grinned, and made an excited fist-pump motion in the air. "Just you wait! Team ABYSS will triumph!"

When the match came, for there was no reason it wouldn't come, I took a seat by Emerald's side. Mercury was on the roll-call for today, and I suspected he was ready to fight against Yang. I drummed my fingers against the armchair's armrests, and watched as the match-roulette program began to spin.

I knew what was going to happen. Yet, even so, I wondered what this would mean for the match that was meant to have a death in it. Then, the roulette came to a halt and I exhaled.

Pyrrha Nikos was on one side, as I had expected. Yet, rather than Mercury, Yang's face appeared on the other side. As that happened, I realized Mercury was walking together with the other potential fighters back into the arena's insides, but I doubted he'd wait for his turn in the locker room.

If anything, I reckoned he was headed somewhere else.

"Cinder says there are enough Grimm to launch the attack," Emerald whispered by my side. "Mercury's going to start deactivating the coliseum's floating system the moment the Grimm attack."

I looked at the crowd. I looked at the people. I looked at the families.

The midnight bell rings. Have you made your decision?

My fists clenched against the armrests.

You will live through this; and that will be the greatest of horrors. Do you understand that?

"I understand," I whispered whether it was to Emerald, or to my own conscience, I didn't know.

"Cinder wants me to have one kill the other when their aura goes low," Emerald muttered. "Do you...do you have a preference?"

I exhaled. I exhaled a long, hard breath.

"Try...try to have Yang lose her right arm," I whispered instead. "It will yield better results, and stick to people's memories longer."

Emerald glanced at me, briefly, and then a small smile settled on her lips. She nodded at my suggestion.

I shuddered inwardly, somewhat understanding what her thoughts might have been on the matter, and outwardly steeled myself. "What's our exit strategy?" I asked next, as the match began right in front of our eyes.

"When it happens, we rush as if to check on her," Emerald muttered, "But we're headed for an air ambulance instead."

"I understand," I took the deepest breath my lungs could hold, and then exhaled in an equally slow way.

You can still stop everything. Emerald, Mercury, Cinder-they are all within arm reach. But you won't.

I wouldn't.

They are your family. They will not abandon you. They will fight by your side. They will protect you, and you them.

They would.

You will never be Wren Schnee again.

I never was.

Yang's aura dropped, her Semblance activated. Pyrrha fought her in turn. Her semblance subtly making sure hits miss, and guiding her spear with added strength against Yang. I realized Emerald was concentrating on her semblance now, and brought my attention to our surroundings.

Yang's aura kept dropping. An alarm blared and I watched as Pyrrha took a couple of steps back, while Yang herself groaned in disbelief, and defeat. She smiled, and then was just about to graciously accept her defeat when Pyrrha bent her knees, and charged forward.

I watched as time seemed to slow down. I watched as Pyrrha's spear slammed into Yang's side and cleaved the girl's arm off. I heard the screams, and in a split-second, Emerald and I were rushing.

We weren't the only ones. Even Blake and Jaune were doing the same, but as the crowd grew terrified, as the darkness of their emotions echoed and increased in pitch, I could hear Cinder's voice come through the speakers of the Amity Arena.

"And what do we have here? Once more, a bloodbath. Once more, callousness and cruelty from the so-called sworn protectors of humanity."

We met with Mercury near the air ambulance, "Explosive charges set and ready to go," he said with a grin, a detonator in hand. His boots were matted with blood. The guards had not survived the confrontation.

My stomach was no longer churning. It was cold, and a feeling of unease had overcome my limbs. I climbed on the bullhead, glanced briefly at Neopolitan in the driver's seat, and then extended a hand towards Mercury, getting the detonator at my unspoken order.

"We'll let a few evacuate," I said. "Their terror will bring more Grimm in."

As my eyes fixed on the Amity Arena, my Scroll began to buzz violently. I glanced down at it, and realized it was Jaune calling me. Very calmly, I snapped the Scroll in half.

Flying swarms of Grimm were coming over the air. Griffons, Nevermores, and meanwhile Ironwood's army up in the clouds wasn't firing on them.

My fingers tightened the detonator's handle. A few bullheads were now evacuating from the coliseum.

"We can't keep hovering around here forever, Shade!" Emerald yelled, but I just looked.

One more.

Just one more bullhead.

Then I lifted the detonator up, and pushed.

The explosion began from the lower half of the coliseum. It rippled across it, and though I could not hear them, I felt them in my very soul, the screams of the terrified citizens of Vale that had come for the match, and would probably not survive the day.

When we landed in Beacon's courtyard, the Atlas robots were already in a rampage. The huntsman academy was on fire, and at the very top I could see flames and lightning echo around.

"You can go rescue Torchwick," Emerald said to Neopolitan, "Cinder will be please he did his side."

Neopolitan glared at Emerald, but then hurried off, leaving us three theoretically stranded in the academy. Yet, slowly but surely, the Grimm tide would increase.

I made my way to the upper floors of the academy. Since the elevator was out, I had to take the stairs. Emerald and Mercury were both behind me.

"Can't believe it's really happening," Mercury said, looking around. "Fucking weaklings dying one after the other, can't even face tin cans and Grimm."

That wasn't true. There weren't deaths in the huntsmen or huntresses, but the majority of them had no choice but to leave to protect the city. Only some students remained around, and the unlucky ones had already been found, and dealt with. The lucky ones had missed death by a hair's breadth.

The noise of fighting came to an end with a peculiarly strong blast, and by the time we reached the top of what once had been the headmaster's office, only Cinder remained standing, alive and smiling brightly as the flames flickered across her entire body, casting her face into an eerie, dark shadow.

"Everything is going according to plan," Cinder bemused, chuckling and turning to look at us. "But I ordered a death, not a wounding, grievous as it may have been."

"Call me sentimental," I said back, "but I thought it would be more efficient, and slightly gentlemanly, to give an ex-teammate a chance at surviving today."

"I see," Cinder muttered. "Ozpin refused to collaborate," she added. "I would have made his death quicker, but...we will find the Relic eventually," she chuckled. "Even if we have to tear down every brick of Beacon, and of Vale."

A sharp sound echoed, the rumbling of an angry mountain. I walked towards the opening of the tower, freshly created from a fiery magical blast. Chaos was rampant through Vale. Flames spread everywhere, robots fighting hunters and shooting indiscriminately.

A massacre.

An unforgivable slaughter.

And I watched as it happened, and gazed at the Coliseum coming down towards the outskirts of Vale.

Mercury clicked his tongue in disgust. "Not enough explosive to make it crash fully."

"It was more than enough," Cinder mused, and as the mountain top detonated, the Wyvern Grimm roared and began to fly. Blobs of darkness spread from its wings and fell on the ground across the city, coalescing into even more Grimm that immediately began their rampage.

Nobody was coming to Beacon's tower.

Nobody was attempting to stop us, even as the Wyvern began to circle atop us, ready to land as if summoned by Cinder.

I took a deep breath, feeling the smell of ozone linger in the air, the pungent iron of blood, and then my ears perked up as explosions rang in the courtyard.

"Foolish of them to come here," Cinder mused with another chuckle.

"Their head's stuck in a fantasy world," Emerald added, "Perhaps it's time they got it unstuck?"

"I could kick them around a bit," Mercury helpfully suggested.

I turned thoughtful. "Chernobog," I said.

"What did you say, dear?" Cinder asked.

"If we made a team," I mused, "we would probably be team CENB, or Chernobog." I tightened the grip on the handle of Magnistipula. "I'll deal with the children. One last act of mercy, I suppose."

"Your kindness will be the death of you one day," Cinder said with a dreadful sigh, "But very well," she gently kissed me on the lips once, "one final farewell, but if they do not leave..."

"Then I will crush them where they stand," I acquiesced with a slow nod. "I won't allow them to threaten your mission, love-dove."

Cinder smiled, and I neared the edge of the tower.

Just as I jumped down, the Wyvern Grimm landed atop the tower.

Magnistipula slammed into the side of the tower, slowing my fall down. With a deep, unsettling breath I flexed my arm and launched off the side of the tower.

I could see Pyrrha and Jaune, both rushing across the courtyard. I could see Ruby in her typical cloud of roses, and Blake running alongside them.

A mighty Atlas Paladin had just fallen on the ground in a nearby courtyard, Ren and Nora on it with older students.

Yet, I landed in front of them.

And I did not land alone.

"Shade!" Jaune exclaimed, looking relieved. "You weren't picking up your Sc-" his voice died in his throat.

I tightened my right fist around Magnistipula. "For the glory of Salem!" I snarled with all of the anger I felt within my soul, coming out in a haunting scream. It was an anger meant for me. It was a burning, hateful anger that I could let out only in this way.

By my side, the Beowolves that had landed snarled in turn, howling loudly. They would not attack me, but they felt my anger, my rage, my grief, and they grew excited because of it. Griffons shrieked up in the air, and a Nevermore cawed as flapped its massive wings right behind me, wicked talons at the ready.

"Shade-" Jaune's shock was short-lived.

My feet shattered the ground, my fury drove my weapon forward. The air itself rippled like a tornado.

The swing connected and Jaune's body flew against the ground with a sordid noise, a cannonball of armor and flesh that impacted and rolled leaving clouds of gravel in its wake. Ruby's scream of disbelief was echoed by her quickly rushing towards the blond boy's unconscious body.

"What are you doing!?" Pyrrha's voice was a haunting shriek of sheer fear and disbelief, a sorrowful lament that echoed through my ears as I smiled, as wickedly as I could ever possibly make it.

"Isn't it obvious?" I chuckled. "I am stopping you. Come, invincible girl. Let me put you into the ground." I felt it bubble within me, my rage. "Like I will put everyone else that dares stand against Salem, the leader of the Grimm."

I gritted my teeth. The muscles in my body tensed.

"Please, no," Blake muttered, her eyes wide, her cat ears trembling. Her face was ashen. Was her heart even beating, or had it stopped in the moment that realization had sunk in that indeed, all of the pain, all of the carnage, all of the deaths that were happening right there and then...were also my fault?

"Shade-we trusted you!" she screamed, fury and rage taking over her shock.

"That was your mistake," I growled. By my side, the Beowolves lunged forward. The Nevermore flew.

"Allow me to rectify it."

Then Magnistipula met Pyrrha's spear, and the screams were lost in a sea of steel.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter Forty-Seven

Pyrrha was good.

She had won our training spar under the watchful eye of Glynda.

She had a semblance that was indeed the worst possible one for the likes of me.

She didn't understand why it wasn't working.

I could see it in her eyes as she hastily dodged out of the way of a swing that would have taken her head, and instead simply ripped the air with the aftershocks. Her breathing was short and ragged, and her eyes were wide as she attempted to keep an eye out for where my next swing would come from.

She had a spear, but Magnistipula had more reach still. She wouldn't be getting close unless she timed herself well, and one mistake would mean her death.

She knew all that. She was frustrated by that. She was angry. She was grieving. She was a myriad of emotions that made her weaker than she would have normally been, and as I lulled her into a sense of false security, I pushed a button on Magnistipula's handle and the blade itself soared forward, the chain rattling as my range suddenly increased.

Pyrrha's hands went to the chain itself, her semblance at full force twirling the attack out of the way as I simply recalled it back, snaking it like I would a whip.

"Is this all you have?" I asked, laughing. "Man, and here I was expecting something more! Did you sit on your laurels as a hero, Pyrrha? Is that why you're so-" I twisted my arm, and the chain rattled, wind dust infused throughout it, "slow?"

Then it shot forth once more.

This time, though, it moved like a snake with its own volition. It spiraled and struck from the sides, Pyrrha hastily letting the attack slide over her shield as she attempted to get closer, only to then have to jump over the returning blade, and then bring her spear into rifle form to open fire upon me. The large slab of iron rose to protect me, and as I slammed my left hand against its flat surface, it soared forward like a sledgehammer.

Pyrrha flew back, the strike sending her down on her knees. I extended my right arm to my side, the chain rattling back into its place, the blade once more fixed.

"What a pathetic hero you are," I mused, "You're not worth it, Pyrrha."

"You-" Pyrrha ground her teeth, her eyes were filled with hate, "Why are you doing this!? Was-Was everything you did before just a lie!?"

I snickered, "You lack one important thing, Pyrrha. You're unwilling to kill. That's why, invincible girl," I sneered, "You'll never stop us. Today, Beacon falls. Tomorrow, Haven." I chuckled. "And even if you do come, even if you do attempt to stand against us, you'll fail." I shook my head, an amused grin on my lips.

"I'll stop you, Shade," Pyrrha growled, standing back up. "I'm not defeated yet."

"But you are," I said. "Because tell me, oh brave heroine...what's the point of fighting, if you cannot even protect the people you love?"

And as I said that, a loud harrumphing shriek echoed nearby, and the walls of Beacon exploded as a Goliath, in all of its majesty, appeared on the battlefield.

Pyrrha looked at the massive Grimm with an aghast expression. She then looked back, to where Ruby was fighting an increasing amount of Grimm while trying to protect an unconscious Jaune. Even Blake was having a hard time due to the numbers, rather than the skills of the enemy.

"In honor of your weakness," I said, "In memory of your naivety, and to forever cherish this wonderful moment...I'll let you, and your friends, leave. The humiliation at being spared by the likes of me will perhaps break your weak souls," I shrugged, "if so, it will be ever entertaining."

I began to walk towards the Goliath, who thumped its hooves on the ground. He would have charged already, but I stopped him on his tracks, standing right in front of him.

He knew better.

He looked at me, and he understood, and he suddenly knew better.

He shrieked loudly with his long trunk, but knew better than to test me. He was wise. He was ancient.

"I hate you," Pyrrha whispered.

I smiled, "I cannot hate ants," I answered back.

I glanced, very briefly, to where Blake had just finished dealing with the Nevermore, and was now gasping for air herself. She turned to look at me, and at the Goliath behind me. She tightened the grip on her weapons.

"Run," I said. "If you do, you'll at least die later. But you'll probably die tired," I turned thoughtful, "There's that to consider too, isn't there?"

More Beowolves growled as they began to rush through the hole opened by the Goliath, a few King Taijitu slithering through in turn.

"We have to run!" Pyrrha yelled as the Beowolves lunged without awaiting orders, the Taijitu quickly behind them.

I smiled, even as Blake's incoherent scream of rage echoed in the air, the cat faunus' wail of grief probably a sweet melody for the Grimm nearby. Still, she ran away too, stopping ever so briefly to aid Ruby in bringing the unconscious Jaune to safety, the reaper herself busy until then against the Grimm.

There would be no shining flash of silver light to harm my beloved Cinder. There would be no silver eye magic to freeze in stone the Wyvern.

Beacon would fall, properly, and Salem would be happy about it.

"Now, now," I said to the Goliath who attempted to walk past me. "You stay right there."

The Goliath took the step.

My blade rattled an inch from the creature's neck.

The Grimm stopped.

"Good boy," I said flatly. A chuckle left my lips. "Why should I apologize for the monster I've become," I mused, "When nobody apologized for making me this way?" the Grimm did not know, nor did it care to answer.

I just laughed, and shook my head. I didn't want to do the stairs one more time. I still felt it within me, that deep rage of mine. It burned. It hurt. Was it pain? I was used to it by then. Pain was meaningless, merely a transient state of existence. You either were alive, or dead.

Pain was just an in-between that meant nothing.

The moment I moved out of its way, the Goliath charged all the same. Still, I had given them time to leave. I had wounded their hearts, and that kind of wound would probably never heal. It was good. Those were the best wounds; those that left scars that would forever be a reminder of just how horrible life could be.

I shook my head again, and walked towards Beacon's cafeteria. It was on fire, there were broken tables, and melted chairs. The machines were broken, but not all of them. I reached for the kitchen's pantry and my fingers grasped the powdered chocolate. I grabbed a pot and burst a carton of milk atop it.

I whistled as I slammed the pot over a crackling fire, perhaps the product of magic since it didn't appear to stop.

That was how Cinder found me a few minutes later, having filled a large mug grabbed from the floor with the poorly prepared hot chocolate.

"Hey there, love-dove," I said amiably. "What's the plan now?"

"We demolish Beacon and look for the vault," Cinder said, drawing closer and then glancing at the mug in my hand. I extended it wordlessly, and she took a sip from it. She exhaled, her fingers tightening around the mug. "I..."

"Yes?"

"There is another relic, in Mistral," Cinder muttered. "Once that relic is recovered...Salem has revealed to me that she will no longer have need for us," she took another hesitant sip, "And will allow us leave, if we swear never to aid Ozpin or hinder her future plans."

I blinked at that. "What?"

"She will not need us any longer after we recover the relic in Mistral, and will let us leave," Cinder said, she looked at me. I looked back at her.

My fear was visible. Her eyes told me that my suspicions were the most correct.

"I know," Cinder whispered quietly. "I feel the same." She handed the mug back to me, and I drained it in one go. "We cannot risk angering her," she quietly added. Her right hand gently grabbed my shoulder, and she squeezed. "Which is why we have to be there by her side, together."

For if she was willing to let us go, then it meant she saw no further use in us.

My hand went to gently engulf Cinder's own on my shoulder, and I squeezed it back in a show of support. "Until the world ends, Ashelyn," I whispered. "Until it ends."

"You foolish, kindhearted man," Cinder choked briefly, but said nothing more.

And if she saw no further use in us...

...then she would just kill us, would she not?

 

[shadenight123]

Interlude - Thus Burning, We Scatter

Patch was peaceful. The silence was deafening. The sky was clear, and the sea tranquil. It was a jarring realization that the world didn't really care about how one person felt, but merely moved on with its spinning, and its bright fluffy white clouds going on over the horizon.

Ruby could hear the typical noise of training, and for a split second her mind went back to Beacon. Her memories soon were jarred by the flames, the Grimm, and His face grinning cruelly at them amidst them.

He had been their friend, hadn't he? And then...then it had all just been a lie.

Every smile, every kind word or helpful advice...just a lie. She walked towards the window, and looked down at her house's front garden. Pyrrha was there, training harder than she had ever seen her. The frustration at being lied to was big for her, but for Pyrrha, it was probably even worse.

He had been her very first friend; he had been kind, and wise, and it was probably obvious that there had been some kind of one-sided crush on the redhead's side. Yet the betrayal had broken something in the girl's heart, something that was perhaps never going to come back.

Blake was moody, and scowling. Her hands were clenched together in fists and she had barely spoken a few words. Yang was recovering in her room, and she too didn't really want to talk. It was eerie. It was strange. It was wrong.

"I can't forgive him," Blake said in the end, looking up from her corner of anger, looking straight at Ruby. "After everything that happened-all those people, dead. And-" she choked on her words, "He's worse than the White Fang," she said in the end, "The Grimm, of all things, the Grimm."

"I..." Ruby hesitated, but then she slowly nodded. "I know." She didn't want to believe it, but what else was there to believe? Beacon was no more. Vale had lost so many people. The hospitals were packed full, and even Patch's clinic was filled beyond capacity.

Jaune and Ren were with her father, something about men having to look out what other men did because all men were wolves in disguise or something like that.

Out of everyone else, Jaune was the least, and yet also the most, affected by Shade's betrayal. He didn't even remember being struck by the giant blade of his. He didn't know what he had said. Yet, he too couldn't believe what had happened.

Nora was nowhere in sight. If Ruby had to hazard a guess, she'd say she was with Ren. They weren't that far from one another since Beacon's fall.

"Do you think..." Blake muttered, "Do you think the Schnee knew?"

Ruby blinked at that. "What are you saying?"

Blake's fists tightened. "She was chummy with Shade from pretty much the very beginning. Maybe he told her, just so she'd leave-"

"Blake," Ruby muttered, "It's the Grimm we are talking about."

"Yes, but the Grimm own the majority of Dust mines," Blake dryly retorted. She glanced at Ruby's eyes, and then sighed. "But...but maybe it's just me," her shoulders slumped. "I just-I just couldn't do anything."

"I know," Ruby whispered back, drawing closer. "I couldn't either, but...we're still alive," she added. "And we can, no, we have to do better."

A frustrated scream came from the courtyard, and Ruby hurried out of the room and towards the source of the sound. Pyrrha was there, her spear firmly embedded in a nearby tree's trunk, and it was pretty clear by just how deep it had gone that it hadn't been a gentle blow.

"Pyrrha!" Ruby exclaimed, "Is..." she knew nothing was all right. "Are you..." she knew Pyrrha wasn't managing. "Think of the trees."

The last one was definitely not what Pyrrha probably needed to hear. Ruby herself winced.

"I'm sorry," Pyrrha muttered, looking sheepish. She pulled the spear free and the tree cracked further, before bending in half. Pyrrha winced at the loud noises, and then sheathed her weapons. "I just can't sit still," she said. "After what happened-" her fists clenched. "I just can't."

Ruby attempted a sympathetic smile.

"With how things are..." Ruby hazarded, "We should try to recover."

"Do we even have the time?" Blake said. "You heard what he said, how arrogant he was-after Beacon, it would be Haven's turn."

"We can't let that happen again," Pyrrha snapped. "We have to stop him, to stop them, and their leader-and we have to do it before more people get hurt."

"He was toying with us," Blake whispered. "I wasn't fighting him, but...Pyrrha," she looked at the girl, "Do you even think..."

Pyrrha took a deep breath. "I don't know. When I sparred with him, it felt strange-I...I don't even know his Semblance, but he didn't need it against me. It could be arrogance, or..." Pyrrha wilted at the thought.

"We still need to do something," Ruby said in the end. "If it's Haven they're going after, then Haven is where we're going. We do need to continue our schooling anyway!"

"What...What about Yang?" Pyrrha asked. "Is she-"

Ruby winced. "I'll...I'll talk to her." She tried to smile. "I'm sure she'll agree with us."

---

Weiss shuddered. Her body was sore from training. She didn't know whether this was tough love, or just plain abuse on Winter's part. Her bed felt soft, and as her eyes stared at the ceiling of the Schnee manor, she couldn't help but wistfully close her eyes and let her mind go back to when things made sense, to when things were better.

"Do you want a bedtime story?"

Winter used to be kind. She used to smile, be gentle, and then...then it had changed.

"I won't always be there to protect you. So, you need to learn how to protect yourself."

She winced as she shifted on the bed. She had probably pulled a muscle. She groaned at the sudden spike of pain. There was a knock at the door, and she bit the inner side of her cheek as she slowly tried to get back on her feet.

She really wanted the pain to stop, but it would be meaningless.

"You saw what they did to our brother-" her body shivered in place of her soul, the pit in her stomach growing slightly larger at that, "Do you think begging someone to stop will make them stop?"

She managed to open the door, and sighed in relief when she realized it wasn't Winter, or her mother.

"Klein," she said with a small smile. Then she winced, "Does...does mother want to see me?"

"No, miss," Klein answered, lifting up a tray. "I thought you could use some hot coffee to tide you over the day." His eyes changed color and his face softened noticeably, "You look like you could use it, little Snowflake."

Weiss sighed as she took the cup, and drank from it quietly. It felt warm, at least.

"Klein..." she mumbled, "do you think..." she sighed again. What was the point in asking? Still, what was the point in not asking? "do you think things will get better?"

"I wouldn't know about that," Klein answered, his eyes shifted color again, "But what I do know, lass, is that if you want things to get better, you gotta take that first step yourself!"

Weiss felt the hint of a bitter smile rise on her lips. "You make it sound easy."

"Why, it's not easy, but it's not difficult either," Klein mused. "It's at the just right difficulty, if I can say so."

Weiss finished her drink, and placed it back on Klein's tray. "Thank you, Klein."

She hummed as she made to turn, "Oh," Klein said, "It has been a while since I last heard that."

Weiss sighed. "It was...my brother's favorite humming," she muttered, "I had nearly forgotten about it," she continued, "But then I met a huntsman in Vale who hummed the same tune, and the memory came back."

"It is quite the catchy melody," Klein acquiesced, "I never did manage to find the song."

Weiss turned thoughtful. "The huntsman was from Mistral, so...perhaps it's a traditional song? Brother-he used to travel with...that man, so he might have heard it there."

"That seems the most likely answer," Klein nodded. "Just...do be careful." He added as his eyes shifted color, "It wouldn't do for the madam to hear it."

Weiss grimaced. "I know."

Still, as Klein left, Weiss now had an interesting idea in her mind.

Her Scroll was in her possession once more, since while mother had it taken away, her older sister had given it back in order to gauge her aura for their training, and had forgotten to get it back at the end of it.

She did wonder whether Winter could ever forget something, or whether it was just a smudge of kindness that she used to have rubbing off.

Still, as her fingers found the contact address of Mister Night, she pushed the button for the call.

She wondered how the tournament had ended. Had Yang won? Had she not? Did he finally remember the name of that song?

"The number you are trying to reach is unavailable right now."

She clicked her tongue.

She tried the number again. "Due to a technical error in the CCTS network, only local calls are available."

She blinked at that.

Had they decided to update the CCTS network specifically to annoy her?

The door to her room was opened with curtness a few minutes later, even amidst her failing attempts to get a connection. She had been half-inclined on opening the window and sticking her arm out, but she didn't want to give anyone the idea she was attempting to escape.

She hastily fumbled to hide her Scroll, but Winter's eyes had already zeroed on it. "Weiss," she said, coolly. "Your Scroll. I forgot to take it back."

Weiss tightened the grip on it. "I-Sister," she said, "is the network down?"

Winter walked forward quickly, and extended her hand. "The Scroll, Weiss. I won't ask nicely again."

Weiss blinked. "What? Why?" she slowly stood up and took a step back. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, if not your utter lack of discipline," Winter snapped back, coldly. Her hand moved quick enough that Weiss could do nothing but fumble at the attempt to keep her phone, which she failed at. "If you still have the strength to be rebellious, you have the strength to train. Five minutes, then I want to see you back in the training room."

"But Winter-"

There was a crunch.

Weiss stared, eyes wide, at her Scroll getting broken by Winter's bare hand.

"You'll get a new Scroll for the training," she continued, before turning to leave. "This is what happens when you disobey, Weiss. Do you think I enjoy doing this?"

"I wouldn't know," Weiss spat venomously out, "is it enjoyable, stepping into father's shoes?"

Her cheek stung.

Yet, even as her cheek burned and stung from the slap, Weiss kept her mystified eyes on Winter. "I hate you," Weiss whispered.

"Hate me all you like," Winter said, curtly. "Five minutes, the training room."

She then left, quickly.

Weiss collapsed on her knees, a hand to her wounded cheek and a sob half-trapped into her throat.

"Play with me, big brother?" "Uh-uh! Let's ask Winter if she wants to join us?"

"Someone does need to keep an eye on you two rascals, after all."

 

[shadenight123]

Interlude - Through Frost, Despair

It always began with the birthday party. Winter knew it, and yet in the spur of the moment forgot. It was a dream. A nightmare that revealed her guilt. She was the oldest one. She had a responsibility towards her siblings.

Whitley's rebellious phase had been stomped out earlier than Weiss', which was why she never had nightmares when it concerned her youngest sibling. Yet, whenever Weiss was involved, she couldn't help but remember.

In the dreams, it was always the eyes that got to her. She would be standing by Weiss' side, saddened by their father and her younger brother not being there, and then the door would open and they'd come in. Her father was just a shadow in her dream, an imposing shadow with dark, crimson eyes and a voice like thunder.

Her brother would be there, in the point of intersection between the stairs, the dining hall, and the exit. He'd look at them, and he'd be afraid of his next choice.

Sometimes, she cried at him not to come. Sometimes, she tried to rush towards him and grab hold of his hand. Yet, inevitably, he'd slip away like a shadow made of mist, and the nightmare would begin.

The videos-they didn't start that badly. They were horrible, but they weren't horrifying. He'd be a bit tussled. He'd read something given in front of him. His voice would crack a bit. He'd be nervous, and she'd be terrified for him.

She could see the fear in his eyes.

"It has been three weeks...they say if they won't get their concessions...they will break one of my fingers."

She remembered the fighting in the house. Her mother had always been meek, and quiet. She had fought her father once, and had then nearly gone back to the bottle. Yet her fighting didn't stop, not when the videos kept coming, and nothing appeared to be done.

"He's our son, Jacques! He's your son!"

"The board of directors does not want to get involved in this personal matter."

"The company cannot be more important than your son, Jacques!"

"You misunderstand. The company has decided that our son has no importance, not me."

"YOU ARE THE COMPANY, JACQUES!"

In her nightmares, the videos got worst. Bruises would start to appear on her brother's face. A broken lip, fresh scars would be shown on his chest and back.

"It's...it's been four months now," he would whisper. "I...I want to go home. Can I?"

If her nightmare was merciful, she'd wake up there and then. If it wasn't, it would continue.

She couldn't forget, and she had no intentions of forgetting.

"Specialist Schnee," General Ironwood's voice woke her from her brief dozing off. She coughed in her closed fist, trying to maintain her composure. "Do you need a moment?"

"No, sir," she said. Her eyes were on the pictures.

The pictures that had been brought back by General Ironwood after Beacon's fall. The ones that couldn't have been sent, the ones she had personally requested and the ones of general interest to the research and development department.

And amidst all of those pictures, all of those bits and tidbits of data, one picture was now haunting her.

It was related to Adam Taurus' death. It had been, at first, a poor picture. There was too much light. It showed a rooftop in the distance, from which a miniature lighthouse seemed to be shining. Of course, the image had been darkened.

And her nightmares had materialized in front of her.

"It wasn't me, and it couldn't have been my sister," she said.

General Ironwood slowly nodded. "You confirm that is the Schnee semblance at work, then?"

"I...it cannot be," she added, but the picture showed the familiar snowflake motif. It was the only thing visible. "I-It can't be." A lump formed in her throat.

How could she have missed him?

"This is not an easy thing," General Ironwood acquiesced. His voice was tight. "With the situation as it is, with the kingdoms in chaos-I need you operative at one hundred percent."

"I...I understand," Winter muttered, her fingers tracing the Schnee symbol on the picture. "Is...is the autopsy report of Taurus available?"

"I can give you one day," General Ironwood said. "No more. You'll have access to what we got from the Vale police before the loss of communication. Keep this information on a strict to know basis, specialist."

Winter carefully nodded. She didn't realize she had walked out without saluting, but she did realize she was sitting at her desk, her Scroll connected to the holographic projector that formed her screen. She looked at the picture, and then swallowed.

Mother needed to know.

It would make her further worried. She already was worried enough with Weiss, and with Beacon's fall-she wouldn't rest easy.

She had to take care of her family.

It was the only thing that mattered.

"Winter, since your brother's unfortunate passing, you are once more the heir to the company-"

"Father? He's not dead. They just stopped showing him-"

"He is dead, and the sooner we put him behind us, the better. He was a poor heir anyway; obeisance should always come first. I am sure you won't make the same mistake as he did."

"F...Father? H-How can you say that! He was your son, my brother!"

"Do sentiments really run in this family so strongly? Defy me like he did, and you will see what happens, girl."

She hadn't defied him, not like her brother had done, she had said nothing, she had done nothing, and her family had been shattered because of it.

"They killed him! They killed him and you allowed it to happen, Jacques! How can you even call yourself a father!? I understand not loving me! I made my peace with it, but your children, Jacques! Your own children!"

"That's why we have more than one, woman."

She still remembered her mother gasping and running away.

Just as firmly as she remembered plunging her blade into the monster's throat, and watching him bleed to a death he clearly deserved.

"Miss...you'd better give me the weapon so I can clean it."

"K-Klein? I-I don't know what-"

"Miss, just give me the weapon so I can clean it, and go get something warm from the kitchens, all right? Mister Schnee is simply resting."

"B-But I-"

"Miss, just go."

"T-Thank you."

"Just doing my duty, Miss. Just doing my duty."

She could make things right.

She had to make things right.

Even if it meant getting hated, she would make her family whole again.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter Forty-Eight

The Relic was not at Beacon. The Goliath had demolished it down to the last brick, and the underground was being extensively searched. Yet, it was a terrifying blow to the world all the same, and we had a report to make to Salem herself.

I dreaded the idea of meeting the woman in person, and yet couldn't shy away from an encounter in which she specifically demanded our presence.

Mercury and Emerald were by our sides, while I had no idea what had happened to Neo or Torchwick. Were they still alive, or had they been deemed unnecessary and thus dealt with? The most important thing, however, was that their reputation was still intact.

I had thrown myself to the wolves, so to speak, but in so doing no one had seen the rest act with the Grimm. For all that everyone knew, I was the sole responsible actor in the fall of Beacon. It was ironic how the world would probably wish for my head, and my head alone, while leaving out everyone else.

I was the man who had sold the world.

I had sold Beacon to the Grimm, and for what? Who knew. Was I a delusional madman, or was I a harbinger of a greater chaos?

Still, with the communication systems down I could show my face pretty much anywhere that wasn't Vale or Patch without problems. Not that I was interested in doing that, but as I looked at the horizon aboard the flying vessel that would lead us back into the Grimm lands, I couldn't help but ponder on our next move.

Mistral was clearly the next target; there were few to no huntsmen, Lionheart was a traitor, the Relic of Knowledge was there, but we needed to find the Maiden, which would be another issue entirely and finally, I didn't know how we'd manage without the White Fang.

Would we end up using more Grimm? They hadn't been a part of the plan, but they could be. Would Mistral actually end up destroyed? Would a whole city of people just have its life snuffed out to a sea of darkness?

"What should we expect from your boss?" Mercury asked, catching my attention as he came to a halt near me.

"Cruelty and evil," I answered back. "Make no mistake. She may appear human, and she may even give the appearance of kindness, but she harbors no such feelings. She can snap your neck if she so wishes, and she won't merely because it won't make you suffer enough. She can use magic," I heard him snort, "And do you really think I am the person who jokes about this?"

He grew quiet as he realized I was staring at him. "Fuck," he muttered. "Still, she'll be pleased, no?"

"That Ozpin died...yes, that Beacon fell, yes," I grimaced, "That we didn't find the relic she tasked Cinder to recover...it depends." I took a deep breath. "But there should be a high chance none of us will lose our heads, provided you keep extremely quiet."

I then tapped the side of my head, "Your thoughts too. She can read them."

"Now you're just yanking my chain," Mercury said with a smirk, but it quickly disappeared when he realized I meant it. "Fuck."

"Aye," I said with a slow nod. "Just do your best and keep your head low. She won't bother with you if you don't make yourself noticeable. She probably thinks all humans are below her."

"You should be careful about what you say, Shade," Cinder's voice came mellifluously from behind me, "You never know if our mistress is hearing or not."

I shook my head and turned, even as Mercury hastily excused himself. "If she hears, she hears. She has no reason to be displeased about the truth, unless she suddenly decided to open a charity and help people rather than murder them with Grimm?"

Cinder sighed, and came to a halt by my side. "She'll be pleased," she said. Whether it was to convince herself, or to convince me, I had a good guess on which was which. Her fingers found mine, and we held hands as nature left the place to desolation, to a purplish evil sky and to flying, black shapes.

"I love you," Cinder said.

"I love you too," I answered back.

"You stayed," Cinder whispered.

I blinked at that. "Why wouldn't I?" I muttered back, feeling Cinder's fingers tense. "Were you worried?"

Cinder took a deep breath. "You always were kind," she murmured. "You made the world your enemy for me," she looked at me, her eyes slightly misty.

"You are worth a thousand worlds in my eyes," I answered back.

She smiled at that, and for the briefest of instants I saw the innocence of Ashelyn's smile. It was gone as quickly as it had come, but it had been there, unquestionably.

Our arrival wasn't heralded, nor was there much fanfare to go about. Yet, Salem knew we were there. A Seer Grimm waited for us. Emerald remained silent by Mercury's side, though she too didn't look at ease. I gave her a smile, but it worked little in assuaging her fears.

Still, after we followed the Seer Grimm for a while, we came to a halt in front of Salem's throne room. "Be on your best behavior," Cinder whispered, glancing at Emerald and Mercury, who both stiffly nodded. Then, she stepped inside first, and I walked behind her.

"Cinder, dear," Salem spoke with a gentle, affable voice. Like everyone's favorite grandmother, and everyone's most terrifying witch, she could seamlessly mix the two. "You have returned and, I am told, you have succeeded in destroying Beacon."

Cinder slowly bowed her head, "I have," she said. "Ozpin is dead, the maiden's power fully in my possession, but I could not find the vault. It was hidden too well."

"No matter," Salem mused. "Time is something we have in abundance, and while the Grimm scour the kingdom of Vale for it, the humans will cower behind the walls of their precious city...for as long as we allow them to." She folded her hands on her lap, seated as she was at the head of the table that had Doctor Watts and Hazel on one side, and Tyrian on the other.

Tyrian actually clapped with glee. "Well done, well done," he sneered. "Failing the Goddess was never an option now, was it?" he cackled as he said that, but Salem merely clicked her tongue once, and he grew quiet.

"You were already informed on your next objective," Salem continued. "However," her gaze shifted towards me. "There is a mistake that needs to be rectified."

I arched an eyebrow and tensed.

Salem merely smiled. "I will not force a gift on an ungrateful child," she said, "however while dear Cinder will cooperate with Lionheart, I am expecting you to aid Hazel in his upcoming task."

I glanced at the giant man. He gave a slow nod and stood up.

"Very well," Hazel acquiesced.

I gave the briefest of glances towards Cinder, who did not appear outwardly worried. Then I turned and left by Hazel's side.

"Where are we headed?" I asked.

"Menagerie," Hazel said, and I frowned.

"Why?"

Hazel kept walking, but differently from Tyrian, he had the decency to explain things, if only the smallest amount necessary. "Tyrian found allies among them," he acquiesced. "We are headed there to ensure they stick around."

"Shouldn't Tyrian handle them?" I asked.

Hazel looked at me, and I looked back. The unspoken message was clear. Tyrian could behave himself only if kept in a dark room for most of the time, and he definitely wasn't a people's person.

"What kind of allies did he found?" I asked next, dread rising in my weary soul.

"White Fang," Hazel grunted. My heart skipped a beat as my hands clenched into fists. "You will behave yourself."

"I will do as I am told," I retorted, "No more, and no less."

Hazel gave a slow nod. "Then, behave."

Differently from Cinder, or Watts, or perhaps even Tyrian...Hazel did not know how to drive a Bullhead. Neither did I, for what it mattered.

Thankfully, horses were apparently a thing.

Unfortunately, horses were still slower than flying machines that did not tire.

It was going to be a long trek, an even longer mission, and I dimly realized that even if I did have a Scroll, I would be unable to call Cinder since we'd literally be Kingdoms apart.

That, more than the dead people I had left in my wake...

...was what grieved me the most.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter Forty-Nine

I was without a Scroll. I had no way of contacting Cinder even if I wanted to. Hazel was as talkative as a rock on his best days, and as a house plant when he really got serious about it. The horses were peaceful animals that had long since gotten used to the Grimm, and the creatures of darkness gave them a wide berth too, perhaps because Salem had ordered it to be so.

We camped without worries for the Grimm, and we met with travelers along the way that we didn't attempt to kill, nor harm. Hazel was the most peaceful and humane of Salem's underlings, and perhaps the one I was the most comfortable working with.

Yet, I would never forget that he had no qualms in killing huntsmen, and huntresses, merely because ordered by Salem. His hands could crush skulls, and no amount of whimpering, no amount of begging, would stop him from killing if Salem wished it so. He did not relish the act, he did no enjoy doing it, but he would do it all the same.

All for the sake of his dead sister, though I was not privy to that detail, nor would he speak of it even when pressed. We just traveled in silence, a quiet somber mood following us wherever we went. Money wasn't a problem, although we couldn't stop longer than necessary.

When we finally saw the coast, and the sea, my heart skipped a honest beat of interest. The seagulls shrieked, and I felt something stir deep within my chest.

We found a passage on a ship, with a Faunus captain who asked us to pay a pricey ticket and then had us stand below deck together with our horses.

"We do not have to kill unless it is necessary," Hazel finally spoke with the clear indication that he had more to say, and I merely glanced at him from the patch of dirty straw I had claimed as my sleeping spot for the upcoming days of travel.

I remained quiet, and waited for him to continue. "We have a contact who is willing to lend the White Fang's aid to our cause," Hazel growled. "If we aid them, they will grant us a meeting with the White Fang's leader herself."

"And what kind of aid are we supposed to lend?" I mused.

"We will find out," Hazel acquiesced.

"What if they ask us to blow something up, or kill?" I asked once more.

"Then we will," Hazel said. "Salem has seen merit in a temporary alliance with them."

"Temporary," I mused, "Because once their utility is done with, they'll be food for the Grimm. Like we will."

Hazel gave a slow nod, not even bothering denying my words. "You should remember," Hazel said, "Our wishes come through completing hers."

"When her wish is mankind's destruction, I do wonder who'll be faster. Us in achieving ours, or her in destroying us all," I retorted dryly.

Tyrian would have attacked by then. Hazel didn't care. He had but one purpose, and he had but one goal. Nothing else mattered to him, at least not the words; he'd probably stop me if I attempted anything, but as long as I spoke, I could probably get away with insulting Salem without problems.

"You made your choice," Hazel said.

"And you made yours," I retorted. "You don't like it either, the extra killing."

Hazel grunted a non-committing answer, and then said nothing more.

Our arrival in Menagerie had me hoping for a bath or a shower, or I'd even take a dip in the sea if none of the other options were available. Hazel looked unflinchingly uncaring, but I simply felt miserable. I just hoped Cinder was fine, and that whatever we had to do in Menagerie didn't involve too much carnage.

My first steps on firm land had me sigh in relief. "I could use a shower," I grumbled.

"Once we have made contact," Hazel said flatly, starting to walk down the street. With me by his side, and my weapon on my back, we cut quite the picture that the faunus around us couldn't help but stop to glance our way.

Menagerie didn't have many Grimm, the local beasts apparently were even fiercer than the creatures of death and destruction. I wondered what they even had that could go toe to toe with a Grimm and win, but then dimly realized it didn't matter.

What mattered was that we left the main streets of Menagerie for the dark, seedy alleys, and the Faunus' gazes of curiosity morphed into scowls. There was a dingy bar, and there wasn't even a name for said bar. The dimly lit interior would have been hell for any human, but a cozy place for the Faunus within.

We moved with care, reaching the counter as the barman beyond it merely sneered in our direction.

"The Albain brothers are expecting us," Hazel spoke, curtly.

The faunus, probably a hippopotamus one judging by the large, round tusks jutting from his lips, simply narrowed his eyes at us.

"Are they now?" he muttered. He glanced to the side, and shook his head.

Some faunus that had been nearing stopped on their tracks, and quietly walked back to their tables.

"We'll see if that's true," he added. "Take a seat, and wait."

Hazel did just that, while I simply placed my back against the counter and let Magnistipula slide from my back and stand patiently by my side.

None of the White Fang sympathizers neared us in the meantime. No one asked us if we wanted a drink, or if we wanted the lights turned on. Seriously, their customer service was truly horrendous.

"They'll see you," the Hippo-Faunus grunted at his return, "But no weapons."

"Then I'll wait here," I said. "Two's probably a crowd," I added, looking at Hazel. He looked back, but then nodded.

"Don't start anything," Hazel acquiesced.

I arched an eyebrow, "I am not Tyrian."

He gave a slow nod, and walked with Hippo-Guy into the back of the pub. I remained there instead, looking at the door.

Quietly, I probably faded in the background. Some still shot me dirty looks, but when they realized I wasn't even looking at them, they stopped.

My fingers drummed on the handle of Magnistipula. I wondered if Cinder was fine. Were Emerald and Mercury helping her? Was Cinder sad I wasn't there? Was she taking her frustration out on Emerald? I wasn't there to intervene, and I wouldn't even be able to talk to them even if I did have a Scroll.

The thoughts rummaged in my head, so much that when somebody stepped into the bar, I didn't even notice until they were right in front of my face.

"And what's a human doing here?" the light blue-haired faunus spoke first. She had dark-blue veins across her body, and her azure eyes stared harshly into my figure.

"Seeko doesn't want trouble, the Albains' called them," another Faunus from a nearby table pointed out, probably referring to the Hippo-Faunus.

"Them?" the blue-haired faunus asked.

"His partner's in the back," the other faunus answered with a faint shrug.

"Fine, I don't care," the blue-haired faunus grumbled. "Just move, you're in my seat," she added, looking at me.

I arched an eyebrow. The rest of the counter's seats were free.

"Didn't you hear me, human? You deaf?" the faunus insisted, baring her teeth, "You're in Menagerie, chump. Want to find out what it means when a human comes here?"

"Trifa," the other faunus she had come with said her name. "Look at his weapon."

Trifa snorted, "What, the bigger it is, the-" then she stopped as she took a good look at Magnistipula, as if making two plus two in her head, and quieted down.

She took a step back, and then clenched her fists and spat to the side, taking one of the still free seats by the counter without another word.

I didn't bother asking what it was about.

I waited for Hazel's return, and as the minutes went by, I began to ponder what our purpose here was going to be.

Finally my partner in crime returned, and as he stopped to briefly consider the situation, he quietly gave a nod of approval at the lack of dead bodies.

I walked out with him.

"So," I said. "What's the target?"

"Ozpin's executioner," Hazel said, "A man with a large sword, dark hair, and dark eyes."

I blinked at that. "That's-"

"Branwen," Hazel said, taking the thoughts from my head and driving them into the dirt. "Qrow Branwen-their prisoner got his eyes wrong, but it was night, and a Faunus' vision turns to white and black without much light."

"They want us to kill him?" I ended up asking, nonchalantly.

"They want him alive to execute him, in honor of Taurus' death," Hazel said.

"And we had to come here, of all places, to know we'd be sent on an errand only the Gods know where?" I muttered under my breath.

"Branwen is tricky to find," Hazel said, "But he has family," he added. "And he is unlucky."

"What does that even mean?" I queried, clicking my tongue against my teeth.

"We are hunting him," Hazel said, "We will find him."

"I sincerely doubt we can find one man in the entirety of the Kingdoms, with the CCTS network down, and without the slightest clue on where he might, or might not be," I drawled out.

"Tyrian would be a better tracker," Hazel acquiesced. "But we will begin where he has taught in the past and go from there."

"And where is that?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"The island of Patch, near Vale," Hazel answered, confirming my suspicions.

"You know that?" I blinked. "How would you know that?"

Hazel stopped, ever so briefly. "A classmate we had in common told me, before I killed her. It was in Atlas, a decade or so ago."

"That's cold," I mused.

He looked at me. I looked back at him.

We spoke no words. We made no jibes, nor jokes.

I wondered how he remembered, but then realized that perhaps he remembered every death he had caused.

I vividly remembered the huntsmen and huntresses I had to kill to prove my loyalty to Salem, after all. And if I did, then why wouldn't he?

We left Menagerie the very next day to hunt the unluckiest man in all of Remnant...

...for only he could be the target of the most horrifying case of mistaken identity in history.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter Fifty

Returning to Vale was easier said than done. Getting a ship from Menagerie was easy enough; having said ship lead you to Vale was harder. Honestly, the trip back required less time than the trip forward, but it was clear that it wouldn't have been an easy trek for anyone other than us.

The Grimm, for one thing, were pretty much pressuring Vale's defenses non-stop and its surrounding roads. The sea routes into the city were the easiest to get into, but also the priciest. There was a thick air of tension, even as the huntsmen did their best to keep the situation under control.

"I will go to Patch," Hazel said as we stood on a rickety fisherman's boat, the fisherman in question nowhere to be seen when we stole his boat. Hazel was capable of sailing, and I was good enough that I didn't hit my head against the sail itself most often than not. "You will head into Vale."

"You do realize people know my face, yes?" I mused.

Hazel took a deep breath. "Wear a mask."

"Seriously?"

Hazel glanced at me. "Tyrian would have been better."

"Somehow, I'm starting to think the same thing," I muttered. "At least, I could have stayed with Cinder."

Hazel said nothing. He just grunted. "There is an information broker in Vale," he said in the end. "Find Junior and give him this," he extended from his pocket a credit card. "Should be enough to get him interested."

I took hold of the credit card, and gave him a quiet nod. "Understood."

"I will find you there once I'm done in Patch," Hazel added. "Don't start anything."

"When have I ever started anything?" I asked, receiving no reply from the man that returned to sailing the ship towards Vale's docks.

I pocketed the card and resumed avoiding the sail until we finally touched land, and from there I watched at Hazel sailed off without waiting for the port authorities to come investigate.

I hurried into the crowd of people too, easily giving the slip to the guards and entering Vale proper as the crowd of people was thicker than normal. There were refugees from the outskirts of Vale into the streets, people begging for money, and a general air of misery that was incredibly enticing for the Grimm.

It was a surprise no Grimm had made it into the city yet, but eventually they probably would; humans needed to sleep, while Grimm didn't.

My steps brought me to the industrial area, and from there to the seedy underbelly of Vale. I knew where Junior's bar was, having been there once before. I still didn't want to head there immediately, since it wouldn't be open until the late hours of the night.

I still needed to check if it was still around, or if it had been destroyed by the Grimm attack on Vale. If it had, then I'd need to find someone else, and my job would get considerably harder by consequence. Though I could always lie to Hazel, and send us on a fool's chase, or on the right direction...it all depended.

I glanced at Junior's club, still standing, and exhaled in relief. Good. I'd return later in the night, and-

"You."

I stopped. I glanced to the side, hand already on Magnistipula. Then I realized that the figure that had spoken to me was no one I knew. For one thing, she was wearing a jersey and a pair of trousers. Her light blue eyes were barely visible below the hoodie that was covering her head, and as I furrowed my brows trying to remember where I had seen the woman before, she took the wind out of my sails.

"Do you want to earn more Lien than you could ever think about?" she asked, and now both of my eyebrows rose.

"Ehm...are you serious?" I asked.

The woman looked at me owlishly. "Is that not how these things work?" she asked, "I am offering you a lot of money, if only you do me a favor. That is how it works, correct?"

"I...I guess?" I muttered in disbelief, shaking my head. "Just-Lady, do I know you?"

The woman sighed, and then pulled her hoodie back to reveal her white hair. Puzzlement left the place to realization. "You are...Weiss' sister."

Winter Schnee looked back at me, arching an eyebrow. "You know my-ah, there was a reason you looked familiar," she said, nodding slowly. "Very well, then this might be easier than expected. I request your assistance in an important family matter. You will be handsomely rewarded if you help."

I inclined my head to the side, "Uh...what matter, and why are you here? Aren't you supposed to...I don't know, be in Atlas? You're a...what's the name, a Specialist or something, right?"

Winter bristled. "I see that my sister cannot keep information quiet to save her life," she shook her head, "But I have tended my resignation and am no longer part of Atlas' vaunted specialists."

"I...I see?" I was puzzled. I was perplexed. "Still, what do you need?"

"The vile cur that has a business establishment within the premises," here she pointed at Junior's club, "has information I need, but refuses to give it to me. I have been scouring Vale for all information brokers and their knowledge on Adam Taurus' death. Of all of them, only this...this man refused to deal with me, and the Schnee money."

"Which makes him suspicious," I said, quietly understanding what was going on.

"Indeed. Some attempted to lie, and were promptly dealt with. However he refused flatly, claiming something more terrifying would happen if he spoke," Winter's eyes hardened, "Which is why, I would like something extremely terrifying to happen to him, in order for him to come to terms with what may or may not happen if he does not collaborate."

"You want me to threaten him? Seriously? Aren't you capable of doing the same?" I asked.

"I already have applied all of the intimidating tactics I knew of," Winter said, looking slightly peeved. "They all proved ineffective."

"If they were anything like how you approached me with such an offer, I don't doubt it," I muttered. "Did you...offer him more money?"

Winter looked away. "The reach of the Schnee industries is vast, and I may have mentioned cutting his suppliers off. He laughed."

"So...you threatened him with something that anyone who has access to a Black Market of sorts can just ignore?" I turned thoughtful. "Did you threaten his family?"

"What? No!" Winter said, looking shocked. "That would have been too vile."

"Threaten his body?"

"And what if he sued?" Winter retorted.

"Did you...at least attempt to insult him a bit?" I asked, trying my hardest to keep a chuckle from escaping my throat.

This situation was utterly nonsensical, and if not, quite funny at the very least.

"I repeatedly put into question his financial abilities and his shortsightedness," Winter grumbled, "But then I was escorted out."

"I see..." I said with a sigh. "Well, he'll open shop later tonight, I guess." I inclined my head to the side. "How is Weiss doing, by the way? I lost my Scroll during the attack, and even if I didn't..." I grimaced.

Winter lifted her chin up. "She is currently in Atlas Academy training the hardest she can," Winter said. "She will not repeat the mistakes she made during the tournament," she continued.

I made a small smile. "I see, could you tell her I said hello, the next time you meet, then? I'm sure she must be worried about the friends she made while in Beacon, but they're all fine."

"Where is the rest of your team, by the way?" Winter asked.

"Oh, one of my teammates has family on Patch, so we're their guests before deciding on where to go since Beacon's...fall," I said, as naturally as I could. "We'll probably head for Mistral. I have some friends over there, so..."

Winter nodded at that, "I understand." Then, she came to a halt by my side.

I blinked at that. "Uh..."

"I have nowhere to be for the rest of the day," Winter said unashamedly. "I will be following you, if you'll allow it, so next time I am more versed in the seedy, criminal side of Remnant."

"Did you just nonchalantly call me a criminal?" I muttered in disbelief.

"No, of course not!" Winter exclaimed quickly, "Though you do appear more experienced about them than I," she added. "You must have had some encounters with them. Mistral is not the safest of places."

"No place is truly safe," I mused with a chuckle, "Not as long as humans inhabit it, that is," I grinned, and then I shrugged. "I have some time to kill. We can probably find somewhere to spend the afternoon."

"Very well," Winter said with a slow nod. "Do escort me."

I died inwardly. I kept dying inwardly.

I had a mouth...

...and yet I could not scream.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter Fifty-One

I watched with a mixture of fascination and extreme puzzlement as the figure of Winter Schnee managed to fumble, and fail miserably, at the ancient art of getting a drink by the counter of a bar while also ordering snacks to go with the drink.

I did not snicker, for to snicker would be rude, but I still did most valiantly manage to get 'beverages and typical bar food'. The place was pretty much deserted. The few guests of the establishment were the disreputable sort, getting their alcohol fix by some manner of virtue while others simply nursed glasses of water and kept their eyes glued to the television screen.

The large mug of beer in front of me had come at a premium. The glass of white wine in front of Winter was thrice the normal market price. The man behind the counter had actually put the best platter of food he had managed to make, and I could see that more than a few people were looking at us with envy on their faces.

The fact they were eyeing the food made me puzzled, but I was sure the situation in Vale would stabilize itself relatively soon, just as long as they took in aid from the other kingdoms.

Yet I pushed those dark thoughts away and sipped my beer quietly. "How's the situation in Atlas?" I asked, attempting to break the ice.

"Atlas will persevere and find the baseless accusations towards it rejected," Winter answered. "Some unknown third party accessed Beacon's tower and hacked into Atlas' robotic defenses-we believe it was Roman Torchwick and his associate..." she grimaced, "But with tensions so high, it would be impossible to search for him more thoroughly in Vale or its premises."

"I see," I remarked, "You're not looking for him though, are you?"

"No, I am not," Winter said, sighing. "I resigned from my position as a Specialist. I...There was something very important I had to do, and I could not do it as a member of Atlas' military."

"Ah," I said, "Adam Taurus' murderer, why do you want to find them?"

Winter took a deep breath. "I suppose since you agreed to help, I should at least be a bit more forthcoming."

I shrugged, "If you want to."

Winter glanced at the glass of wine, and then grimaced. "It is my belief that whoever killed Adam Taurus may be a person...close to the Schnee family, who has gone missing for quite a while." Her fingers traced the sides of the glass. "I do not know why he has not revealed himself sooner, but perhaps he doesn't know who he is to begin with," she took a deeper breath, grabbing hold of the glass and bringing it to her lips.

She placed the glass down a second later, "I need to find that person, and there is little I, or my family, will not do to bring him back home."

I gave her a slightly sorrowful look, though the vastness of my emotions remained hidden, what little there was threatened to slip out. She interpreted it as simple pity, though, which was probably for the best.

"I see," I said with a slow nod. "Though if I were you, I'd be extra careful." I drummed my fingers on the surface of the table. "Whoever killed Adam Taurus was strong, but the fact that Junior wasn't willing to tell you, a Schnee, who it was...is telling."

"Something not even the Schnee fortune can buy," Winter said, a bitter smile on her face, "Somehow, it's the source of my greatest troubles."

"Money doesn't buy happiness," I answered back, "But it's better to cry in a bullhead than on a donkey."

Winter blinked at that, and then chuckled, "I guess there's a saying for everything, isn't there?" she wistfully smiled. "But if this Junior does not wish to part with the information with words, then I have no qualms with using violence," she tightened her fists, and looked at her reflection in the glass. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"Then you'd have to run away from the city," I mused.

"That will not be necessary," Winter answered, shaking her head. "Money is good at something, and when that something is lawyers, then everything eventually solves itself."

I chuckled, "Spoken like a true mob boss, or well, should I say mob lady?"

Winter rolled her eyes, but a small hint of a smile began to settle on her face. "I do not think that such a thing qualifies me for a role in organized crime." She sighed. "But I do wonder..." she looked at me, "We've never met before, have we?"

I snickered at that, "Well, we kind-of did. Once. You were done training Weiss, and stepped out as we came in," I pointed that out, and Winter shook her head slowly.

"No, it's-never mind," Winter exhaled, "It's just the stress. I'm glad my hair's white, keeps it from showing."

"That's the weight of responsibility," I mused. "I solved that problem by getting married," I added, "My wife makes the decisions, and I simply adore her whatever she decides we should do."

"Oh? Really?" Winter said, "you trust in her so much?"

"I think that's what true love is about," I answered with a faint shrug. "You either love someone so truly, so intensely, that nothing else matters...or you don't. I'm a bit of a passionate man," I grinned, "But my wife's fire-proof, so she can handle my fiery love."

"Complete abandonment to another's whims?" Winter remarked, "It doesn't sound that great of a thing."

"If you truly love someone, it means you found them worthy of your love," I pointed out, "Which means that if you have found someone worthy, then they must be someone you would never say no to."

Winter chuckled, "You sound like your head is in the clouds."

"I'm a bit of a dreamer, I'll admit," I said. "But rather than talk about things like love and life, how about some lighter arguments? Like, hello there, Miss Schnee, I am Shade."

Winter blinked. Then she brought a hand to her mouth as a chuckle left her lips. "I never did present myself, did I?" she chuckled a bit more, "I am Winter. You can call me that."

I smiled. "Then I will. So, Winter, what do you think about the weather? Warmer than Atlas? Feel like melting?"

Winter hung her head slightly down, "That-Why does everyone say that of the people of Atlas? We're not made of ice-"

The conversation went on. It stuck to lighthearted, gentle, nice to talk about themes and subjects.

When night fell, and it was time for us to go, I craned my neck and readied my most flawless of poker faces. I didn't need Junior's information on Qrow, but I did need to avoid causing a scene.

The Club was in full swing with the music, and a lot of people were dancing as if their lives depended on it. They were probably attempting to forget about the misery of their lives, taking in the loud music and the alcohol, but my attention went to the bar.

"We'll have to wait until it empties," I mused. "He won't talk to us so early into the night about the other side of the business, but I'll get us some drinks in the meantime. Wine as earlier this morning or something stronger?"

"Wine," Winter said, and I gave her a nod before quietly walking through the crowd, who parted like the red sea at the sight of an armored, tall man with a giant sword on his back.

Junior saw me, because it was hard for him not to. I smiled. "Hey! A glass of wine and a bottle of beer," I placed my elbow on the counter, smiling brightly at him.

He grumbled under his breath, but served me all the same.

"Thanks," I smiled as I took hold of the drinks and left the lien on the table, way more lien than necessary for the drinks, "A candle's flame is the answer," I added as he looked down at the lien, and then straight at me. "When the Schnee comes knocking again, the candle's flame is the answer," then I jabbed a finger behind me, and I could see realization dawn on Junior.

He gave a curt nod.

"Fine," Junior said, taking the money, "enjoy your night. I'll see you later."

I walked away from the counter, drinks in hand, and gently placed one in front of Winter who had in the meantime found a table by the side.

"It's my first time in this kind of disreputable establishment!" Winter yelled over the loud music.

"Maybe you shouldn't yell that!" I yelled right back with a grin.

One glass of wine became two.

By the third, Winter decided to have enough courage to throw herself onto the dancing ring. I laughed at that, and then decided to valiantly accompany her when it became clear she didn't know how to dance.

I gently pushed out of the way a couple of half-drunk men attempting to make a dance-pass at her, and by the time she got tired, and returned to her seat, I was quite certain she was pleasantly buzzed.

She placed her head against the soft plush sofa that acted as a chair for the side-tables, and a lopsided grin remained on her face. She muttered something which, over the loud music, I couldn't hear.

"Didn't catch that," I said, pointing at my ears.

Winter snickered, and shook her head. "Nothing!" she yelled back.

The music, the dancing, everything simmered down as the night went on and by the time the customers began to leave since the bar and the DJ had finished their services, I gave a gentle tap on Winter's shoulder, waking the woman up from her nap.

She blinked and quickly got back to her best work-behavior.

As we neared Junior, the man tensed ever so slightly, and then growled. "You again." He then glanced at me, "at least you brought muscle this time around."

Junior was a man of the world.

"You cur," Winter said, coughing in her fist, "as much as it would pain me to start something in this establishment, due in no small part to the financial damage you might incur while-"

I amiably coughed, and Winter glanced at me. "Right, Shade, please do take over."

"We want info, and we're willing to pay for it," I said with a dreadful sigh. "Nobody needs to get hurt, and nothing needs to get broken. Just give us a name and we'll be on our way."

Junior clicked his tongue against his teeth, and then cocked his head to the side. "Eh, if it gets you out of my hair, I'll settle with having a loss." He cleaned a glass, and placed it on the rack next to other ones. "You're looking for Torchwick. He was vividly interested in the White Fang, and asked me how to find them."

Winter was about to open her mouth, perhaps to claim Junior a liar, when I piped in. "Torchwick never does something by himself, he probably has associates," I mused. "Would you happen to know where he's gone now?"

Junior shrugged, "That's something even I ain't privy to. He's laying low. Word on the street is that he jumped kingdom-"

I sighed, "If he's gone to Mistral or Vacuo, finding him would be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Still," Winter muttered, "I have to try."

Her mood sobered up near-immediately as she walked out of the club. I glanced at Junior ever so briefly, and then nodded slowly in his direction before following her outside.

"Well, I'll be heading to Mistral with my team soon enough," I mused. "I can look for him there?"

"Thank you for your help," Winter said instead, "But that isn't necessary. Torchwick is a dangerous individual, and you are just a student," she glanced at me. "This is a family matter."

"I understand," I said with a faint shrug, "Good luck, then. I hope you find whoever you're looking for."

Winter sighed, and then she smiled, "I hope so too. However," she continued, "I do owe you for your help. And I did promise I would pay you."

"I can't really take money from Weiss' sister," I said while shaking my head. "What are friends for otherwise?"

Winter's lips twitched in a hint of a smile, "Would you be free tomorrow?"

I blinked at that, "Probably, yes."

She nodded, half-lost in thoughts. "Then we can meet by Vale's main square, say at noon?"

Both of my eyebrows rose at the same time.

"Sure?"

"Excellent," Winter said, nodding. "You did mention your Scroll was broken during Beacon's fall. I suppose you have yet to replace it?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Then, at the very least, I will provide you with another. Think of it as a gift," Winter said, hastily.

I felt, for the briefest of moments, a thousand-yard stare start to form within my body. I quickly squashed it down. I tore it to shreds within myself.

Then, I nodded. "I guess...are you sure?"

Winter sighed. "It would make Weiss happy to hear from her friends at Beacon," she acquiesced. "She could use some cheer."

"How can I refuse when you put it that way, then?" I replied. "See you tomorrow, then."

Winter nodded, and waved me goodbye as she headed for her hotel room. I watched her leave, and then made to turn and head for whatever cheap motel I could find to spend the night into, when a whistle caught my attention.

I glanced to the side and Hazel's figure cut an imposing, and terrifying, shape half-hidden in the shadows.

I neared him quietly, "Did you find Qrow?" I asked.

"No," Hazel said, flatly. "They didn't know anything in Patch."

I nodded back at him. "I had more luck. Qrow's headed to Heaven academy."

Hazel crossed his arms in front of his chest, "I see. Who was the woman?" he asked next.

"Winter Schnee," I mused. "She wanted information out of Junior, and I aided her in getting it. Nothing that concerns us," I continued, "we can leave with the first ship headed for Mistral."

Hazel looked straight into my eyes, and I looked back into his. "Very well," he conceded in the end.

I didn't know whether to feel relieved or not...

...but the bittersweet feeling within my soul tasted all the bitterer because of it.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter Fifty-Two

Mistral was vast. We knew, however, where Qrow was headed. Well, we knew because I knew, and I knew because it was easy to remember. That it coincided with seeing Cinder again was merely coincidence, though Hazel never voiced his doubts about it.

Still, we couldn't take a bullhead for the city itself; we had to trek. On the positive side of things, the trekking itself wasn't that hard. We stole horses on the third night in Mistral, just to better merge with the local underground culture, and by the seventh, we were pretty much on our way to Haven.

Now, we could have taken a train, but taking a train would leave a trace of our passage through their electronic systems, and while we weren't properly wanted men, I didn't doubt people being on the lookout for us.

Thus we stayed low, we traveled mainly by evening and night, and camped with the Grimm nearby merely grumbling their displeasure about not being able to eat us.

"I wonder how they know," I mused aloud.

"They do," Hazel said.

"Yes, but how," I asked back, as the fire crackled in the night and a Beowolf had just finished prowling forward towards us, only to turn around a moment later, visibly displeased. "Do we smell like Salem or something?"

"Grimm are attracted to negativity," Hazel said. His eyes were on the fire. "They can sense her presence in our thoughts."

"Interesting," I remarked. "By the way," I continued, "I think we need to stop for a few days in the next village, if they have a blacksmith of sorts."

Hazel moved his gaze from the fire towards me, "Why?"

"My weapon's too recognizable as it is," I answered straightforwardly back. "I need to alter its appearance a bit."

Hazel mulled the thought. "I will see you in Haven." He then stood up, and began to walk away.

I blinked at that. "Wait. You're not-"

He disappeared into the undergrowth, and I dimly began to feel as if Hazel wasn't really a human being, but some kind of Terminator-like existence that didn't feel tired. My heart squeezed in my chest as I found myself alone in the middle of the night, for the first time away from anyone's oversight.

Or perhaps, this was just a ploy? Did it even make sense to leave me alone? What if I took things even more calmly, what if I just didn't show up? But then, that would mean leaving Cinder alone with Hazel. Perhaps that was why he had decided it was fine to go ahead; he knew I'd never voluntarily be late to anything that involved my wife.

Because he knew, and trusted in my love for her, he could be at ease. Seriously, however, did the man not actually need to sleep?

As I mulled those thoughts over, puzzled and perplexed, a Grimm decided to prowl closer once more. This time it was an Ursa. It sniffed the air as it came to a halt, baring its teeth in my direction. I looked straight at it.

The Ursa looked back.

I arched an eyebrow.

The Grimm began to turn away, and as it did, I extended my left hand towards it. The Ursa stopped, flicked its ears just like a bear did, and bared its teeth in a growl. Something told me it would defend itself if attacked, but otherwise, it would leave to look for prey that it was allowed to kill.

I wondered if the link with Salem could be broken.

My thoughts took a darker turn, a bubbling seething sensation slithering through my mind as the tightly repressed emotions within me began to seep out. Thoughts I didn't want to think. Words I didn't want to speak. Sadness I didn't want to feel.

The Ursa stopped trying to run away, but it didn't get closer either. It just looked at me, like a succulent steak.

I was daring it to take a bite of my outstretched arm. I was dangling while covered in barbecue sauce over a tiger's pit, and yet the Grimm held on to its ironclad will.

I clenched my fist, rage taking over my sadness and grief, and willed the Ursa closer. I wanted it closer; the creature of Grimm panted, salivating copiously and taking a few hesitant steps forward.

My eyes narrowed as the creature came to a halt with its furry head against my knuckles.

I poured aura into my hand. It was one thing to attempt something, it was another to attempt it while being unguarded.

The Grimm was whining, pitifully.

It wanted to bite, but it couldn't bite. Its primary imperative goal was fighting with its shackles.

Hadn't Salem come after the Grimm anyway? Wasn't the biological imperative stronger then, than the shackles the immortal witch had put on the Grimm?

The Grimm snarled. It seemed to like the logic of my thoughts. It widened its maws, and then sharply closed them on its own teeth. Its claws dragged across the dirt. It was fighting a losing battle, and for the first time in its life, things weren't as black and white as it remembered them to be.

Conflict was the mother of innovation, strife was the father of evolution.

The Grimm's head snapped right and left, debating with itself.

It would have been animal torment, if it weren't for the fact that the Grimm was just a concentrated puddle of desire to destroy, merged with the shackles that prohibited it from destroying the likes of me.

It slowly got up on its rear paws and roared.

I could sense it, Salem's shackles being shattered by the sheer desire for murdering the likes of me.

The next second Magnistipula slammed through the Ursa's stomach, turning the Grimm into dark ashes which the wind scattered away.

I smiled.

A low chuckle left my lips.

A Beowolf came prowling out from the undergrowth next. I clenched my left hand again, bringing it towards him. Aura flickered across my hand, shimmering and glowing in specks of white.

Then, I opened my palm. "Like moths to the flame of grief," I said in a hushed whisper, the chuckle in my throat growing louder still.

A second Beowolf followed the first out of the undergrowth. A pack was made by more than one lonely wolf, after all, and as the group of five creatures of Grimm emerged, I slowly stood up from the crackling bonfire that needed more wood to it, less it die out.

Was this Aura manipulation, or was it merely an offshoot of a Semblance I did not wish to make public?

I couldn't know, but I dimly realized I didn't care about finding out. I had an idea. It was a brilliant idea. It was a shining idea.

It was the brightest idea I could ever have.

My left hand slammed into the first Beowolf's face, and I snarled in unison with the creature's own growls. Something pulled and twisted within me.

"Suffer me now!" I roared, the winds picking up around me as the fires blazed ever so slightly more. An acidic taste filled my tongue, and the Grimm whimpered as it died, my fingers clutching its darkened ashes.

I then chuckled, the other Beowolves standing nearby, wishing to fight, but being shackled not to.

"Would have been too easy," I mused, "But I've got nothing but time."

For if a Semblance was the unique manifestation of one's Soul...

...then why could my will not forge it anew?

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter Fifty-Three

There was something strange going on. I realized it dimly as I had nothing but time to think, and no one to talk to. My horse was a gentle beast, and as it trotted alongside the road, I mulled my feelings over. There was something...foreign, rumbling about inside my chest. I couldn't place it, but I could feel it.

Perhaps destroying Grimm with my semblance yielded a different result? Taking the power of the defeated into oneself was a part of the Schnee semblance, if more connected to summoning them than to literally taking their strength.

Yet, wouldn't it be a fitting thing? To acquire strength the more Grimm I consumed, to have their deaths become my power?

I shook my head. It felt different from my Semblance. It was there, and the more I felt it, the more it felt like some kind of rolling seed that threatened to blossom, and yet refused all the same.

It was like having a piece of food stuck in my teeth. It annoyed me to have it there, and it annoyed me even more it wasn't going away, or that I didn't even know which teeth it was bothering to begin with. Still, my eyes glanced to the undergrowth. The Grimm had begun giving me a wide berth, even wider than before.

Intrinsically, I felt it was as if they knew something was wrong, but they too couldn't place it.

The road I was on finished by the sides of a small white wall, tall enough to keep the Beowolves out, but not big enough to keep Goliaths from rampaging through. It wasn't a big village, but it felt familiar, and did actually have a blacksmith I could go to.

Well, though I said blacksmith, the person in charge of the forge was capable of altering huntsmen weapons. The man took one look at my weapon and at the modifications I wanted to make, neatly detailed on a list, and then gave me a curt nod.

"Two days," he said.

"Make it one, and I'll pay double," I replied.

The blacksmith looked at me. He then looked down at Magnistipula, lacking its hilt, safely strapped by my belt. "You keeping the hilt?" he asked next.

"The modifications don't require changing the mechanisms," I said. Also, it wouldn't do to remain weaponless. One never knew when people would wise up, after all. The blacksmith nodded, and I bid him goodbye after leaving him an advance payment.

I stretched as I stepped out of the blacksmith shop, with a promise to get my weapon by the morrow. I had a full day ahead of me, and while I could spend it smashing my fingers through Grimm skulls, there were better things I could be doing.

I was in Mistral, which meant that I was no longer internationally away from Cinder, but only nationally. This meant that the repeaters worked, and I could finally talk with my wife.

The village I was in had a blacksmith, and thus it meant it saw hunters come by. If it had hunters, it had means of contacting said hunters, and by consequence, right next to the huntsmen's signboard was a computer center.

I stepped inside, and after finding an empty spot I composed a number which I knew by heart.

It rang four times. The first ring was probably Cinder looking for her Scroll. The second ring was wonder at who it could be. The third ring clearly was Cinder coming to the conclusion it couldn't be anyone other than me, and the fourth ring was her finding a quick hidden place to contact me from.

As her face appeared on the screen, a smile blossomed on my face. It was mirrored by the smile on hers, "Love dove, I missed you-" I managed to say with the grin still firmly fixed on my face.

"Dear," Cinder said with the smile slowly turning into a frown, "Where's Hazel?"

"He went ahead, should be reaching you soon enough," I answered. "I had to make a stop to get my weapon modified a bit-"

"Did it break?" Cinder asked, "What did Hazel have you do? Was it dangerous? I know you headed for Menagerie, what was that about?"

I kept the smile on my face. "It was nothing that bad, love-dove. We're on the hunt for Qrow Branwen, seems he's the one who killed Adam Taurus-"

Cinder's eyes narrowed. She stared straight into my eyes, and I failed miserably at keeping my smile. I winced, as if under the judgmental stare of the strictest of tyrants, the greatest of enemies, and all of the adorableness of my wife evaporated, leaving the place to the firm determination she harbored within.

"I did not see fit to notify anyone about who was responsible for the untimely demise of Adam," Cinder whispered, "That they picked on someone else is a blessing, but if Hazel finds the truth out, he will refer it to our master." She shuddered, "We will kill Qrow first, dear. Dead men speak no truths, or lies."

I nodded. "He's headed for Haven, and probably not alone."

"Then that suits me just fine," Cinder said with a small smile now appearing on her face, "I will prepare him a warm welcome." Flames flickered from one of her eyes to the other. The flames in her eyes disappeared soon after, and her smile returned to full force. "But enough about that. I missed you; tell me what you did, and don't leave anything out."

I chuckled, and then began my tale. It was quite boring, the more I recounted the days spent in silence with only the horse as a viable conversation partner. Cinder's smile remained adorable even through a heavily edited retelling on what happened while in Vale, but it began to slip the moment I told her I had to wait in Junior's club for the working hours to end.

"You were not accosted by anyone during your time there, were you, dear?" Cinder asked, her voice now soft, and threatening to become a growl.

I snickered and shook my head, "Who'd ever want the likes of me but you? Also, what makes you think I'd be without my ring?"

Cinder nodded, and then brought her index and middle finger to her lips, and then to the screen itself. "I have to go now," she whispered, "I can feel Emerald fretting. The moment she understood I was talking to you, she began to act like an overexcited dog. She's been good enough recently, so she does deserve a treat."

"Cinder," I said with a chuckle, "please be nice."

"Only when I'm near you," Cinder whispered back, "You're the better part of me, after all."

"Oh, and I'm the cheesy one?" I retorted with a snicker, getting one back from Cinder herself. Then, she gently handed the phone off.

"H-Hello!" Emerald's voice came through hesitant, but then excited at realizing I was indeed real and in the flesh. "Shade!"

"Hey, Emerald," I answered back, "You doing all right? Eating properly? You look a bit on the thin side."

"I-I am," Emerald retorted, a silly smile settling on her lips. "When are you coming to Haven? How far are you? Is everything all right?"

"I have no idea how the terrain here in Mistral is, so I'll arrive when my horse manages to. Could be weeks, could be days," I answered, "Have you found any interesting literature to read?"

"The people from Mistral have a strange taste in literature," Emerald replied, scrunching her nose up. "It's all about people mastering martial arts and doing stuff with it; I don't like it that much."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," I said, "Well, then I guess there's little I can read-"

"There are some stories which are okay," Emerald said hastily. "We...we could read them together?"

"Sure, and with a warm cup of chocolate as a side," I added with a nod. "How are things going with Mercury? You manage not to kill each others without me playing referee?"

"We can," Emerald said, smiling. "Most of the time. I think he misses you too."

"Oh, that's nice to hear," I said, smiling right back at her. "I'd stay longer, but I need to find a place to catch some rest for the night. I'll call Cinder tomorrow before leaving, maybe try to get a more definite timetable. Promise to be good and eat your vegetables?"

Emerald giggled at that like a little child, but nodded. "I promise I'll eat my vegetables," she said. "And I'll do what Cinder asks me to do."

"That's what being good is all about," I said with a wink before closing the conversation and standing up from my seat.

I whistled, and made to walk out.

"You're a huntsmen, aren't you?" a voice caught my attention, and stopped me dead on my tracks. I turned towards the source of the question, and found an old man manning the entrance of the computer room.

"Guilty as charged," I said.

"You don't have one of those fancy Scrolls?" the old man asked, and I simply shook my head.

"Broke fighting some Grimm, not getting a new one anytime soon," I said with an awkward smile.

The old man had a solution for that, which apparently was the reason he had called out to me in the first place. There was a Gheist that had made its nest nearby, and there was a good reward for anyone who dealt with it.

Mistral huntsmen would normally take care of it, but the request had been up for weeks now, and nobody was coming.

Some people were starting to get anxious something was wrong in Haven, after all, and it just wouldn't do to keep such negativity in the air.

With a smile on my face, I clasped the old man's hand and accepted his offer.

Just because I had chosen Cinder's side...

...did not mean I had wholly traded all of my humanity.