Chapter Text
"You've run out of time, Ozpin."
"Markus, please. She will be here."
"The Ceremony begins in under an hour. I'm going to have to rewrite my entire speech."
"It's just a speech."
"Do you know what the press will say if they see I have a slip-up? They are all… oh, they are the worst."
"That's why she will be here."
"She's not going to show up. I just know it. She was hurt too badly."
"She has a responsibility to us. I know she will… huh?"
"Ozpin?"
"…"
"Are you still there? I can't hear you."
"Well, would you look at that? I just got word. Our friend has touched down in Vytal…"
The staging area for the Atlasian students was too small for Clover's liking. It was temporary: crammed in one of the backrooms of the Great War Remembrance Historic Site, the students of Atlas Academy were kept in wait as the Opening Ceremony went underway. Outside, a celebration was waiting: world-famous musical performances, traditional dances, and a parade of Huntsmen past were the beginnings of the Festival. There would then be the Marching of the Swords, where a thousand armed "troops" would march through the town square, engaged in fabulous sword-twirling techniques. Floats would come next, and toward the tail end of the parade, the current competitors of Vytal would emerge and ride in custom chariots, traveling through the swarm of thousands as they crossed the city of Li Caccia. The parade would then come to an end at Main Street, where a final ceremony would take place. But that was soon, and this was now, and now, the staging area was too small.
Not that Clover complained. He was never a complainer. He thought back to his own Vytal Festival nearly three decades prior, where he stood in this very room, not yet confident in his own abilities. Not much had changed about the space since then; maybe the curtains on the walls were a slightly darker shade of blue. But he had grown in experience, and now, it was his duty to mentor the same students who, hopefully, would share his fate.
Fifteen Atlasian students—the best of the best—stood around the cramped area, each dressed in their finest uniforms. Aside from a table with a few bottles of water, there was little for them to do except speak with one another. It was a surprisingly calm atmosphere, one not often afforded to those studying atop the Hydra. They separated mostly by gender, though they spoke entirely of the tournament. Would their parents see them from the crowd? What form would the brackets take? Who among them genuinely had a chance to win? Clover stood near the corner of the room, tablet in hand, running through the names of the chosen.
Moon Forester.
Jen Aurora.
Tii Tulf.
Fran Gurney.
John Ameson.
Yul Mhar.
Henrietta Chance.
Vil Lann.
Wilcom Finch.
Rush Harp.
Ciel Soleil.
Wayward Bound.
Coulson Smith.
Tiddilydingle Atlas.
Edith Chen.
And… her. Nowhere to be found.
Clover grimaced, though as if summoned by his thoughts, the door to the staging area opened suddenly. The eyes of the Atlasian students were turned sharply as Penny Polendina stumbled into the room, fingers clasping at the blue tie around her neck. She kept her head down, aware of the judging stares, as she hurried towards Clover. The stares lingered, however, and she didn't blame them. All of the school's hopes were resting upon her. They deserved better than her tardiness.
Clover tucked his tablet beneath his arm as Penny shuffled toward him. She clasped her hands by her waist and bowed shamefully.
"You are late," he sighed.
"My deepest apologies, Operative Ebi," Penny said hesitantly. "I… lost track of the time."
"Private Polendina, do you remember what we agreed on?" he asked, his gentle tone belying the gravity of his authority. "You are allowed to move unsupervised on the island as long as you give regular check-ins."
"It won't happen again," Penny promised.
"It cannot. Because you know as well as I do if you think about leaving—"
"I'm not going anywhere, sir," Penny said, tinged with desperation and disappointment. Her lip quivered like she was fighting back something. Clover considered punishing her but chose against it. She had already learned her lesson once. There was no need to repeat it.
"Our call is in five minutes. So be ready."
Penny's heels clicked together, and she stood up straight. She tried to wipe the emotion from her face as she saluted. "Sir, yes, sir."
She turned on her heel, though she didn't move. Where was she even supposed to go? She quietly scanned the room. The other students had stopped paying attention to her. She thought of joining into their conversations, but to do what? Stand there? Would they wish her luck? That would be nice… though for some reason, it also upset her.
Wait.
There.
On the other side of the room, standing by herself.
Penny met her cold, blue eyes briefly, only to be shunned a second later. Still, she felt herself compelled forward.
She crossed the room quickly, knowing her time was limited. Every step summoned a new memory and a rush of sensations. Titanium-plated knuckles crashing into flesh. A scream of rage. The walls of Atlas Academy tumbling down around them. It honestly felt like a lifetime ago, but it had been what? A few weeks? A month, at most? They hadn't spoken once since the incident, and the last thing she probably wanted was to speak with her. But Penny had changed since then, and she knew she might not get another chance.
Maybe Ciel really did want to talk, because she didn't move out of the way. Or maybe she was just too stubborn. Either way, Penny very awkwardly approached her and then stepped to her side. The pair looked out to the room of their fellow students together. Ciel said nothing to her. Penny expected as much.
"I am… glad to see you, Ciel," Penny said with a smile. "You deserve to be in Vytal, and it is very good that your talents are being recognized."
Ciel said nothing. She didn't even look at her. Penny gazed at Ciel up and down, trying to read her.
"It has been a while since we last spoke. I want to say that—"
"Penny," Ciel grunted. "Why are you talking to me?"
The Weapon stuttered. "I… well…"
"Because I don't want to talk to you," Ciel said bluntly. She scoffed. "Honestly, I don't even know why you are allowed here. What you did would have gotten anyone else expelled, but somehow, you managed to worm your way back into Ironwood's good graces."
"Yes," Penny acknowledged. She didn't know what Ciel knew about her sacrifices. Probably not much. She had a new leg and a new perspective, but most of the details of her journey to Vault Ten were kept under wraps from the student body. If she did explain to Ciel what it took to stand here, would she even care? "I want to say that I am very sorry… for the damage that I caused and for repeatedly disobeying you."
"No, you aren't."
"I am."
"You are sorry you can't get away with it," Ciel said accusingly. "Do you think I just forgot how you treated me? You were given every privilege in the world, and you did nothing but abuse it. That's not really something I can just forgive."
Penny bowed her head in shame. "Ciel, you won't believe me, and that is acceptable. But I mean it… I am sorry for all the harm that I did to you. You did not deserve to be treated that way. Please, I… I want to make things right between us."
"What exactly do you think that entails?" Ciel finally met Penny's eyes, and her piercing stare rippled through the android's chest. Ciel crossed her arms, marching, circling Penny as if she were the manifestation of her doubts. "I'm genuinely curious: what could you possibly give me that I can't give myself? I have worked my entire life to get to this spot, and all you have ever done is interfere with that. This tournament is my chance to prove myself. Not ours. Mine. Why do you think I would ever want to spend another second with you?"
"Because you…" Penny stopped herself. Ciel stopped directly in front of her, and Penny could not withstand the pressure. The Maiden did not scare her. Ironwood did not scare her. But admitting what she had to… well, she didn't have a heart anymore. If she did, it would be beating too fast. "You are the only thing close to a friend I have left."
Ciel's eyes soften, if only slightly. Penny felt her shoulders grow heavy from her burdens, and she tried pathetically to explain herself. "I… I thought I could be something that I wasn't. I put my faith in too many people who I never should have listened to, and I was led astray. And now, I… I don't have anything anymore. They are gone, and General Ironwood is gone, and you…" Penny smiled again despite herself. "You were the only person who ever talked to me who is still… here. And I know it was never your choice. You were just following your orders. But now, things are different. I'm different. And maybe because of that—"
"Absolutely."
"But—"
Ciel shook her head, tired. "You really don't get it, do you? Penny… I never liked you. Not once. And do you want to know why? It's not just because of your loyalties. It's so much more than that." Ciel seethed. "You are naïve. You are so utterly clueless about everything that's going on around you that I can't even fathom it. It's like you're a child. You don't need a friend. You need a babysitter. And I cannot be held down taking care of you."
"Ciel," Penny pleaded. "If you would just—"
"Cadets! Form up!"
Clover's call echoed in the small room, and the students quickly moved into position. Ciel gave Penny one last disgusted look and then hurried to the room's center. The Living Weapon, alone, followed her into formation. The sixteen Atlasian cadets stood at attention in two rows of eight, eyes facing their temporary headmaster. Clover went over some details on his tablet as he walked past them.
"Everyone, wait here one moment. I will return momentarily."
Clover walked through the center, and Penny resisted the urge to look at him as he passed by. Where was he going on such short notice? They had to join the parade in a few minutes. He seemed troubled…
She did not have to wait very long to receive her answers. Clover left the room for a few short minutes, and the cadets waited in perfect silence. They did not question where he had gone, and they did not worry. When they heard the door re-open behind them, they expected to hear his instructions.
They did not.
They merely saw Clover walk by them… followed closely by another that nearly broke their composure.
Penny and Ciel felt their breath caught in their throat. He was… here?
Why?
How?
He looked unwell. His face was… god, had he shaven in weeks?
He seemed heavier.
Wearier.
A few of the students glanced at each other. They shouldn't have broken formation.
"Cadets!" Clover announced. "At attention! Your General is here!"
He stepped aside, and James Ironwood—disgraced and downtrodden—stood in front of them in uniform. He could feel their apprehension, and Cover spoke in his ear.
"Sir… the floor is yours."
Ironwood nodded to his replacement. A permanent sneer was fixed to his jaw. He turned toward the students and they snapped to attention, desperate to hide their fear.
"Cadets. Listen up," Ironwood growled. "Let's not waste time. You are all aware of the allegations against me levied by our Kingdom's enemies. They are false and slanderous, and you should not trouble yourselves with allegations, or the meandering, gullible thoughts of our weak-minded Council. Brave Operatives like Clover Ebi, as well as many others in our prestigious military, recognize these rumors as what they truly are: attempts to undermine the strength of our Kingdom. As such, while we will continue to operate publicly as if Clover has taken control of Atlas Academy, be well aware that all of his decisions go through me."
He moved forward through the ranks before any of the students had time to doubt. "And let me assure you that our Kingdom is under attack. We have not seen an assault of this scale since the Great War. Not only is our enemy engaging in misinformation, but they are seeking to destroy the very foundations of Atlas. This tournament is about more than just simple glory. Victory in this tournament is necessary to secure our Kingdom's future. There can be no errors. No second-guessing. No failures… none."
He paused next to Ciel, and his blue eyes flashed onto hers. She did not reciprocate, but she quivered under his sight. "Do I make myself clear?"
Ciel and the others shouted back. "Sir, yes, sir!"
Ironwood lingered for just a moment, then continued moving down the formation. "You sixteen are the best and brightest that our Academy has to offer. You were chosen not just for your skill, but your discipline and commitment to everything that makes Atlas great. It is on your shoulders that we place the weight of our future, and it is your responsibility to uphold that greatness. You are to show your opponents no mercy! Is that understood?"
"Sir, yes, sir!"
"You are to fight until your bodies can no longer move! Is that understood?"
"Sir, yes, sir!"
"You are to sacrifice everything to preserve our Kingdom! Is that understood?"
"Sir, yes, sir!"
Ironwood reached the end of the row, where Penny was silently shaking. He sneered, placing a hand on her collar. He felt her wince and mouthed the words only to her.
"You are to serve faithfully… or suffer the consequences." He leaned in close to her ear. "Is that understood?"
Penny's eyes shifted onto the General for a second. Just long enough to see his rage—at her, at the world, at everyone who sought to deny him what was rightfully his. In fear of it turning on her, she looked straight ahead, toward the only path left, and pretended she saw nothing.
"Sir, yes, sir."
"So, Velvet, what exactly is this weapon?" Coco asked, taking a casual sip of water. Velvet sat cross-legged on the floor. Fox, Nora, Ren, and Coco all stood around her, waiting for an answer. They didn't mean to be intimidating. Those jackasses at the Vytal Committee didn't provide any seats! They were the only ones in the staging area so far, waiting for the others to arrive. They better soon. Coco had a plastic bag at her feet full of gifts and she didn't like wasting money.
"It's a bit hard to explain," Velvet admitted. "It's sort of like, well… it doesn't look like a traditional weapon."
"Does it blow things up?" Nora asked.
"Sort of?"
"Sort of? What does that mean?" Nora shook her head in disgust. "I mean, you either blow up or you don't! And if you don't, what's the point?"
"This won't be a problem in terms of the rules, right?" Coco asked. "Like, you can sub your current weapon out?"
Ren spoke. "It should not be. Vytal rules are meant to simulate genuine combat situations. As long as you register your weapons with the Committee before the fight, you can bring almost anything."
"Maybe it's just a bazooka," Nora said to no one in particular. "That'd be fun."
"A bazooka would severely limit my mobility," Velvet countered. "Though, I guess that's not really a unique problem anymore…"
Velvet's sour mood was lifted when the door opened, and the massive frame of Yatsuhashi appeared in view. Velvet gasped excitedly and jumped to her feet. Yatsu only had a second to react before she jumped on him, wrapping her arms around his torso.
"Yatsu! I haven't seen you all day!"
Yatsu did not return the hug. He did pat her gently on the back, and for Velvet, that was good enough.
"Yeah, where you been?" Coco asked. "You don't want to go shopping, you haven't answered your Scroll… You trying to avoid us, Daichi?"
The giant stammered nervously. "U-Um, no. Of course, not… I j-just needed to… clear my head of a few things. So, I took a walk around Li Caccia."
Coco stared at him suspiciously from behind her shades. Velvet promptly ignored all signs and kept hugging her beloved. Yatsu gently pushed her away and hurriedly changed the topic.
"How was your training today?" he asked. "Do you think you'll be ready for the tournament?"
"We were actually just talking about it," Fox said. "Velvet is going to get an old weapon from her family. It's going to help compensate for her lack of Aura."
If Yatsu was meant to be impressed, he wasn't. Velvet could only see horror on his face.
"You're going back to your family? But I thought—"
"Look, it's just a one-time thing," Velvet promised him, gently squeezing his hand. "It's very frustrating, believe me. I wouldn't do it if I didn't have to. But this is for all of us, for the tournament. Then I'm cutting myself off from them."
Yatsu didn't respond. He thought she had already promised that. Did she not understand the consequences? Yes, they needed all the help they could get. Vytal was bigger than them. But he couldn't believe she gave up on her training so quickly and returned to the people she swore she hated. He had spent all day wandering the city, thinking about his next steps. This only deepened his resolve.
"Velvet. We need to talk about something."
Velvet cocked her head. "Um, okay. But can it wait until after the Ceremony?"
Yatsu sighed. "I suppose."
"Okay. And also, it feels like I shouldn't have to say this," Velvet sighed. "But can we not tell Blake about this? At least, let me find a way to tell her."
A new voice appeared. "Tell me what?"
Velvet gasped. Yatsu had never closed the door behind him, and his giant frame successfully blocked her view. She had no idea that Team RWBY was coming down the hall, fresh from their presidential meeting. Velvet nervously retreated to the rest of her team as Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and lastly, Blake, entered the room, their eyes heavy. They strolled past Yatsu and planted themselves with the others. Blake purposefully moved as close to Velvet as possible.
"You got something to say?" she asked.
"Uh, no! Not really!" Velvet said nervously. "I'll tell you tomorrow."
Blake didn't believe Velvet for a damn second, but like, she was exhausted, so she didn't bother questioning it. It was probably something stupid with Velvet. Always something stupid. Maybe Weiss could tell her, but she never bothered asking about the training, and Weiss didn't seem keen on bringing up anything that would cause drama.
Whatever. She'll be pissed tomorrow.
"Hey, hey, how did your meeting with the President go?" Nora asked excitedly. "Did you get to see all his wrinkles?"
"We did," said Yang. "Though honestly, that was the only thing that happened."
"Don't be coy," Coco scolded them. "You gotta let us know."
"They are being honest," said Weiss. "Nothing happened. He said he would be interested in working together after he rambled for ten minutes. That was it. For such an important meeting, he found a way to make it incredibly dull."
Coco snickered. "Yeah, that sounds like Pygmalion all right. Did you know he used to be attractive? Like, a million years ago? Crazy. But then he lost his mind."
"For the record, we turned him down," said Blake. "We have no reason to ally ourselves with him. It's best we maintain our independence."
"For once, we agree on something," Coco nodded. "Pygmalion is a dick."
Ruby nodded along, though she said nothing. Boring Presidential meeting aside, there was a lot to talk about their day. First, they needed the last members of their team to arrive. They occupied the time with small talk. A few asks about Li Caccia, favorite sights, the food sampled, the musical performances during the parade… all things that didn't matter. Thirteen minutes later, Jaune and Pyrrha finally arrived at the staging area. Jaune wore a button-down shirt and khakis, which Ruby guessed was his version of an appropriate outfit. Pyrrha was decked with golden jewelry from head to toe, practically glistening in the studio lights. She kept muttering things to Jaune, who responded just as quickly.
"A fancy dinner, then? Something incredibly expensive."
"Pyrrha, it's fine."
"It's really not fine."
"It really is! I don't want anything!"
"I feel awful."
"It was a simple mistake… hey, everyone! Sorry we're late."
The twelve of Team NYBF were finally reunited, and Pyrrha's tiredness was apparent to all of them. It was slightly concerning, given they needed her of all people in tip-top shape. They needed to calm her down, whatever was wrong.
"How did your date with Bianca go?" Ruby asked. That was the wrong question. Pyrrha groaned in pain.
"It was… fine. I'm sorry."
"Pyrrha, I don't mind that you double-booked," Jaune insisted. "Accidents happen."
Pyrrha hung her head in shame. She wasn't supposed to have accidents. She couldn't afford them. Not now.
"Well, that sort of leads me to what I wanted to talk about," Ruby announced. "I understand we all had a busy day. A lot happened. We should go over everything we learned."
"Do we have to?" Blake yawned. "I'm not really in the mood for an info dump."
"If you can name every person on Team BRIR, we don't have to—"
"Okay, fine, dump it on me. Dump it on me like the garbage I am."
Ruby thought so… about Blake not being able to remember the names. Not her being garbage. Either way, she decided to go over all the Huntsmen they had encountered during the day. She didn't know if she would have to fight any of them, but it was crucial to remember. Gathering the information from the others, she was able to put together a brief overview of everyone they encountered, plus a few they heard stories of from a commotion earlier that day.
Bianca Prisma. Team BRIR. Senior from Haven. The Prodigy. The best there ever was… or at least, she used to be. Could copy the Semblances of others. Had a friendship with Pyrrha.
Roane Ashwood. Team BRIR. Senior from Haven. Cocky. Outgoing. Big red pigtails. Loved setting things on fire. Had huge muscles, too.
Ivy Thickety. Team BRIR. Senior from Haven. Uptight. Had some plant-related abilities. Very much did not like meeting with Team RWBY.
Ruda Tilleroot. Team BRIR. Senior from Haven. Shy but sweet. Could tunnel herself into the ground and swim through it as if it were water. Very much did like meeting with Team RWBY, especially Blake.
Arslan Altan. Team ABRN. Sophomore from Shade. Monk of the Solemn Faith. Strongly opposes technology. Does not like talking to people. Doesn't use any weapons to fight, but not to be underestimated.
Bolin Hori. Team ABRN. Sophomore from Shade. Chill guy. Didn't cause any problems. Probably not going to amount to much.
Reese Chloris. Team ABRN. Sophomore from Shade. Skater punk. Vulgar to a fault. Loved antagonizing people she thought deserved it. Loved jumping off high things. Had a tendency to get hit by cars. Invincible when she felt like it.
Nadir Shiko. Team ABRN. Sophomore from Shade. Didn't know much about him, but he had pink hair and apparently got tazed trying to enter Champions' Village. So… make of that what you want.
Nebula Violette. Team NDGO. Senior from Shade. Pretentious bitch. Could turn into diamond.
Dew Gayl. Team NDGO. Senior from Shade. Mopey bitch. Loved to text and complain.
Gwen Darcy. Team NDGO. Senior from Shade. Weird bitch. Loved to do knife things, apparently.
Octavia Ember. Team NDGO. Senior from Shade. Serious bitch. Loved to hate others.
Ne0N Katt. Team FNKI. Freshman from Haven. Massive popstar. Had terrible fashion sense and talked with slang that no one really used. Could transform sound into energy. Had new merch for sale. Loved replacing O's with zeroes.
Ivori and Kobalt Koffine. Team FNKI. Freshmen from Haven. Adopted brothers and assistants to Ne0N Katt. Mostly stood around to let her take the spotlight.
Brawnz Ni. Team BRNZ. Freshman from Shade. The fucking worst.
Nolan Porfirio. Team BRNZ. Freshman from Shade. Not the worst but is friends with Brawnz, so worst-adjacent. Also, Nora wanted him dead for hitting on Ren.
Blake sighed. "Okay, so two top teams, one-quarter of an interesting team, and a bunch of losers. Got it."
"The biggest target is Bianca Prisma," said Ruby. "A copy Semblance and the skill to utilize it. I've followed her for a while. She's dangerous, though I think Pyrrha actually knows that better than anyone."
Pyrrha awkwardly looked away. "Um… well…"
"You have fought her before, right, Pyrrha?" asked Weiss. "What is she like?"
A bitter memory flashed before Pyrrha's eyes.
"She's the best. That's it."
Pyrrha tightened her lips, refusing to say anymore. The others waited impatiently, and eventually, Blake sighed.
"Well… okay then. We should watch out for Bianca," she reasoned. "The rest of BRIR aren't slouches either. That fire chick seemed pretty dangerous."
Weiss grinned. "What about Ruda, Blake? What about her?"
Blake gave her a nasty side-eye. "What about her?"
"She seemed like a pretty big fangirl of yours."
"So? I don't care."
"Do you think she has a giant crush on you?"
"Are you trying to tease me? Because, like, it's not fucking working."
"Why is your face turning red then?"
"Wha—no, it isn't! Shut up! Yang, step in and help your girlfriend!"
Yang just shrugged their shoulders. "It was pretty cute how much she admired you."
Blake groaned. She didn't care. So did not care in any capacity. Not at all. Assholes.
"Of the people you just listed, BRIR are easily the biggest threat. I agree with that," Coco stated, noticing Pyrrha shudder out of the corner of her eye. "But Team NDGO? They are a bunch of rich, Atlas wannabes. I don't even know what they've accomplished."
"They are still a top team with more experience than most," Weiss reminded her. "We shouldn't dismiss anyone's talents."
"Can we dismiss Ne0N Katt's talents?" asked Blake.
"We shouldn't," said Ruby.
"She's a celebrity. A gimmick."
"So are you, technically," said Fox.
"Yeah, but we are celebrities because we are good at fighting," Yang countered. "Ne0N is a celebrity because she makes okay club music."
"I'm surprised you don't like her music, honestly," said Coco. "It's right up your alley."
"It's way too sugary," Yang complained. "Her rhymes are forced and we think she doesn't go hard enough with the base. It's like club music for people who have never heard club music."
"Fair," said Coco. "I just hate her because of her fashion."
"It's the worst," Yang groaned. "It gives us actual migraines."
Pyrrha interrupted. "Um, about her actual combat abilities…"
Ruby sighed. "Yes, turning sound into energy is actually rather powerful. We should be cautious against."
"Fine," Yang rolled their eyes. "I'll punch her extra quietly."
"Speaking of punches," Fox groaned, rubbing his shoulder, which was still sore from earlier. "Arslan Altan. She hits really hard."
"Eh, how hard can it be?" Nora asked. "She doesn't use weapons. That's a huge disadvantage."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Ren said contemplatively.
"Do you really think she can do well in Vytal?" Pyrrha asked.
"She made it to Vytal in the first place," Ren argued. "She is a member of the Solemn Faith. Those involved use their bodies as weapons in and of themselves. Her mastery over her own Aura is unprecedented compared to anything we've previously encountered. If the stories about the Solemn Faith are true, the feats she is able to accomplish should serve as a formidable test."
"But those are just stories," said Weiss. "You don't think they are all true?"
"You were one of the few who saw her firsthand," said Ren. "What do you think?"
Weiss wasn't sure. She was not surprised Ren took Arslan's strength seriously, given their similarities. She still felt stung by Arslan's comments on her lack of Aura. It was enough of a mountain to overcome. Why was Ren drawing attention to it?
"The rest of her team doesn't seem problematic," said Pyrrha. "I am somewhat concerned about their unusual Semblances, but it seems that Arslan is the one who carries them to success."
"Look, we shouldn't be counting out anyone," Ruby claimed. "The fact of the matter is this. Everyone who is chosen for the Vytal Festival is a strong Huntsman. They beat out all of the other students from their school. We cannot let our guard down around any of them. Treat each fight like we are battling the most dangerous opponent we can. We can't afford to lose easy battles. If we have to…"
Ruby went quiet for a moment, then shook her head. "No. Forget that. Absolutely not."
"What?" asked Blake. Ruby regretted opening her mouth.
"I was going to say… look," Ruby sighed. "This tournament is dangerous for us. There are no restrictions. We shouldn't hold back from victory. But, we're… we're not murderers. Okay?"
A horrible hush fell over them. That… were they really going to talk about that? They had done their best to avoid thinking of such things. When the chips were down and they were struggling in the heat of battle, there was a chance they would have to do the unthinkable. For those of them in the room responsible for taking a life, it left permanent mental scars. The people who they would have to kill… they were just kids. Pawns in a game they didn't even know they were playing. None of them deserved to die. Ruby's order was clear. She didn't want any more of them to deal with that burden. They would fight as hard as they could, but they would do everything in their power to keep their opponents alive.
But it was also Vytal. The Grail was within reach. They might face the awful choice between taking a life or throwing away the world. And if that came, what then? They could only hope that the moment never came.
Coco slowly raised her hand. "Oh, yeah. One thing though." She sneered. "About Brawnz Ni."
Blake narrowed her gaze. "Kill him."
Yang grunted. "Yeah, we're killing that dude."
"So killing him," said Weiss.
Ruby shook her head. "Guys, no."
"I'm gonna kill him multiple times," said Nora.
"Guys, I know he's awful, but—"
Ruby was cut off by Velvet raising her hand. "I would also not mind if he was murdered."
"V-Velvet?" Ruby stammered.
Blake pointed at Velvet. "You—zip it."
"Sorry."
"Too far."
"So sorry."
Ruby sighed. "Thank you, Blake—"
"But I get to murder him."
"Blake—"
"Actually, wait. I'm gonna stab him in the dick."
"Fuck yeah," said Yang. "Adam that bastard."
"Rip that shit off," Blake said eagerly.
"Guys, you're being terrible," Ruby whined, burying her face in her palms.
"Ugh, it's gonna be so disappointing if he faces a guy," Nora complained. "I wanna see a lady bash his face in."
Coco snapped her fingers. "Boys! Hey, boys!" Jaune, Fox, Yatsu, and Ren turned toward her. "If one of you fights Brawnz Ni in the first round, throw the battle so one of us can get a crack at him!"
"Coco, please," Ruby sobbed.
"Won't that just boost his ego?" asked Fox.
Coco considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Good point. Okay, new plan. If one of you faces him, tell him you are a feminist. Then, stab him in the dick."
Ruby did her best to repress her screams. Change topics. Please change topics. Pick literally anything else to talk about. Ruby scanned the room between her fingers. She saw her hope. There. On the ground by Coco's feet.
"Coco!" Ruby shouted eagerly. "What is that bag you have with you? Did you buy something?"
"Rip his dick off and—huh? Oh, right! Shit, I almost forgot!" Coco leaned down and rummaged through her bag. "We spent all day trying to find gifts for all of us. And we eventually found this shop that made custom jewelry. So, I dipped into my savings, and I bought us… these."
Coco cupped her hands, showing off her treasure: a dozen hand-beaded bracelets. They were little more than custom tiles around a thin bronze cord, but the words Team NYBF were spelled on each. Two gems were placed on either side, each bracelet showing a different color.
"Everyone has one that matches, so find yours and put it on," Nora instructed, snatching one from the pile. "Mine is pink."
Ruby did as she was instructed. She located one bracelet with sparking red, and assuming it was hers, she stretched it out and put it onto her wrist. She held it up to the light to study it. The cord was surprisingly sturdy, unlikely to snap in the heat of battle. The gems seemed authentic, or at least, convincing fakes. She wasn't sure how much money Coco spent, but for all twelve, it couldn't have been cheap. From a glance, it seemed almost childish to have friendship bracelets, but friends were so hard to come by these days, and Coco and Nora's enthusiasm was contagious. The others found their appropriate bracelets and slipped them on. Even Blake, reluctantly, wore her gift, mostly because Yang kept prodding her.
"Thank you, Coco. Nora and Ren, too," said Ruby. "These are really thoughtful."
"They are so cute, right?" Nora said. "I always wanted to get friendship bracelets for JNPR, but I could never find the time."
"Well, we got them now," Coco stated. "I know it might not seem like much, but it's a reminder that no matter what happens in the tournament, we're always going to be here for each other. Whatever disagreements we had, or are going to have later… right now, we're in this together."
Coco extended out her braceleted fist toward Ruby. The show of unity wasn't lost on either of them. Before the Vault, they were at each other's throats. Within the Vault, they nearly came to blows. Ruby accepted responsibility for pushing Coco too hard, though she was never sure if Coco forgave her. She finally got her answer. Whether it was merely from desperation or a true desire to move on, they were allied once more. Ruby met Coco's fist with her own, and one by one, the rest of Team NYBF joined in. Twelve fists in all, joined together.
Forget about the drama.
Forget the arguments.
There were no teams in Vytal, but they would fight as one.
They would win.
And nothing would break them apart.
What happened next was obvious.
The door to the staging area was kicked wide open. There was no warning or care for the poor door's health. It swung nearly off its hinges as the last team of Beacon finally arrived. Team NYBF broke off their unity to stare them down.
Calaheart Luvcano—the powerful Forger, barely fit into a spring dress.
Luci Wyld—the animal-talker, dressed in white robes and carrying a falcon on one shoulder.
Nevan Jupitarian—the creeping death, a black, long-rimmed hat atop their pale head.
Vivian Jupitarian—the King of the Huntsmen. The lightning thrower. Pink hair tied in a bun and a white trench coat floating behind her like a cape. Violent blue eyes fell upon Team NYBF, and she licked her red lips.
"No, please… don't let me stop you."
Team NYBF didn't budge. If she wanted a reaction out of them, they refused to give it.
"Vivian Jupitarian," Ruby stated. "We didn't see you around the city today."
"Oh, my team was hitting the books," said Vivian. The rest of Team JJWL spread through the backroom like a wandering plague, eyes keenly fixed on their prey. "You know, we'd never miss a chance to study."
"I somehow doubt that," Coco sneered. Vivian just laughed. Of course, they knew she was only a puppet. The real threat entered behind her.
Ruby hadn't seen Ozpin since they arrived. He seemed slightly tired, leaning more heavily on his cane. Though, for all she knew, it was something to throw them off her game. He said nothing to her, and he did not have to. There was nothing for them to speak about. They knew the terms of their war. There was no need to gloat about their successes. She could mention how they met the President, but she knew he was already aware. He was just here to give a head count.
"It's good to see everyone is already here," Ozpin said calmly. Ruby narrowed her gaze. There was no sign of Goodwitch anywhere. Could he not bring her backstage? One less headache. "We're going to be leaving in twenty. We're just waiting for someone." Or maybe not.
The members of Team JJWL kept to the other side of the room, mostly ignoring NYBF's presence. They were impossible to ignore, however. Ruby could feel the tension coming from the other teams. They had mentioned the copying power of Bianca Prisma, the Aura mastery of Arslan Altan, and the despicable beliefs of Brawnz Ni. But the real danger was in the room with them. The others were threats, sure, but nothing terrified her as much as the possibility of Ozpin's loyal soldiers taking the Grail. They would surrender themselves to their headmaster's whims, and he would use them to decimate his enemies. Vivian Jupitarian with the power of the Holy Grail was something Ruby didn't even want to think about. As Ruby saw Vivian and Ozpin talking to each other, she had to wonder… did the King of the Huntsmen know what was at stake?
Something must have caught Vivian's eye. A wayward stare. A stray comment. Either way, she strode confidently across the room, moving toward Team NYBF with a smirk. They became quiet as she parked herself in front of them.
"Whatchu got there?"
Her eyes wandered to their wrists.
"None of your business," said Pyrrha.
"Awww… you wearing friendship bracelets," Vivian cooed. "That's adorable. Don't suppose you thought to get me one."
Coco pushed her way to the front of the group. "Get lost, Vivian."
Vivian laughed. "What, I'm allowed to talk to my Beacon teammates. I mean, we're all in this together, right?" She went down the row, listing all their names just to prove she could. "Coco, Velvet—lost the eyepatch, shame—Weiss, Ruby—what's with the single glove? You modeling or something? Yang…" She smirked at Jaune. "Hey, hey, pretty boy."
Jaune gulped in fear, and Pyrrha grabbed his arm, pulling him behind her.
"And Pyrrha. Wassup, girl?" Vivian grinned. "You know I heard rumors going around. Filthy rumors about Beacon's golden girl doing filthy things. I didn't believe it, but looks like it's true."
Pyrrha gritted her teeth, but it only drew further laughter from the senior. "Oooh, I'm triggering a nerve, ain't I? I'll remember that for later. But actually, there was something about you that was bothering me real bad the other day. What was it… oh, that's right! Saw the rankings come out. You know, the Expert's Poll of who was gonna win the whole tourney? And who did I see at the top of the list but you! That's weird, right? Incredibly weird. Because, I'm pretty sure that the only time you and I ever fought, I whooped your ass so badly you had a nervous breakdown."
Pyrrha refused to let Vivian get to her. That was a different time. A different her. She was unprepared. Unfocused. If she had the misfortune of meeting Vivian in the tournament, the result would be different as well. Of course, Vivian could read her sudden resolve like an open book, and let out a tired groan.
"Oh, what? You wanna start trading punches now? I mean, I guess I could fit in a warmup."
"You're gonna regret those words," Nora said, waving her fists. "If you don't stop causing us trouble, we'll have to make you. And you don't want to mess with us all at once."
"No, I guess not," Vivian shrugged. "Then I'd actually have to try."
Nora and Coco nearly started trading blows right there, but Vivian was suddenly pulled backward. Nevan slinked around them and rested their chin high up on her shoulder. They slyly grinned, dark blue lips slowly tracing out their terms.
"There's no need for violence, at least not before the tournament," Nevan said calmly. "All our qualms will be settled then. There's no reason we can't be friendly with each other until then."
Coco, Pyrrha—hell, everyone from Team JNPR and Team CFVY felt that was stupid. With all the scars Team VLNC left them with from that damned unprovoked assault, the idea of spending any time with them was absurd. Hell, some of them could barely wait until the fighting began so they could finally get their revenge. But they found themselves silenced as Ruby chose to speak on their behalf.
"We can agree to be cordial. Isn't that right?" she asked her teammates on NYBF politely, though something beneath her words indicated it was more of an order. Ruby could feel their frustrations, but she did not care. They needed to stay focused and avoid any unnecessary distractions. Of course, it was easy for her to say that. Her encounters with Team JJWL were limited to a bad dinner and an actionless standoff on a helipad. She heard of their brutality only in stories. It gave her a cushion, from behind which she could judge them without malice. It might piss off the others, but she knew the others of Team RWBY would agree.
They would form a truce. For now.
Pyrrha and Coco didn't have a chance to protest. Vivian simply threw up her hands in defeat, amused at the outcome. "Hey, I was just playing around anyway. I'll play nice the next few days. You cool with that, Nevan?"
Nevan smirked. "Of course. But just to be clear, if we do ever fight each other in the tournament…" Their smile turned cold. "I will be going for the most gruesome murders I can think of."
Silence fell over them. The words were so monotone that they couldn't tell if it was a joke. Team RWBY was inclined to believe it was. As for the others…
Well, it didn't matter. Ruby shut them down with a glance. It was her way, or no way at all. Pyrrha and Coco would stew in their resentment, waiting for their opportunity to fight. It would happen eventually. If they all kept winning, their paths were bound to cross. Hell, if they were really fortunate, they could even get Vivian in round one. What could be a sweeter revenge than seeing the King fall so quickly?
"Then it sounds like we have a deal," Ruby stated. She held out her gloved hand. "No drama between us for the next few days. Then… we fight."
Vivian stepped up, swallowing Ruby with her shadow. She grabbed Ruby's hand, nearly crushing her fingers.
"In a few days… I win."
They stared into each other's eyes for a long time, waiting to see who would break away first. Ruby felt the pressure on her hand, in her smile, from the others staring at her. But she held firm, her resolve unshaken.
In the end, Ruby did look away first. Just not for any reason she could have expected.
She hadn't noticed it when it happened, but someone new was standing in the entranceway.
Someone Ruby never thought she would see near their headmaster again.
Ruby's hand went numb, and Vivian caught her looking over her shoulder. She grunted in frustration at being ignored, and when she too turned around to see who caused the interruption, she growled.
"Ah, there you are," said Ozpin cheerfully.
"My apologies… it's a bit of a maze."
Ruby stared at the new person in shock. She… she was actually here…
"Um, who is that?" asked Blake.
No one answered her. Not Weiss. Not Pyrrha. Not anyone who recognized her. They couldn't believe their eyes. They had heard the rumors, but…
"It's been far too long," said Ozpin. She hugged him tenderly. He didn't expect that.
"Seriously, who is that?" Blake asked, taken aback by her friends' stunned silences.
The woman shook the hands of Cala, of Luci, and then, carefully made her way across the room. Ruby was taken aback by her beauty, her power, the sheer confidence she took in every step. She looked exactly like she did in the videos, if only a bit older. Short, blonde hair. Lips of blood red. She wore a golden locket around her neck and a short blue dress with feathers sprouting from its hip. Her back was open, revealing a black tattoo of two heels pressed together, forming a heart in the negative space. Ruby gulped as she approached.
She was here. In the flesh.
Meeting Bianca, but this was an entirely different matter altogether.
The Huntress who befell a terrible fate.
The Huntress who swore to never return.
The Huntress who hadn't been seen publicly in years, and no one thought would ever be seen again.
Returned to host the 25th Vytal Festival.
Returned to where she belonged.
The Champion of the 24th Vytal Festival.
The Scorching Sorceress.
She held out her hand and smiled at Ruby. Her glassy blue eyes fell onto Ruby's silver pair.
"I'm Cinder. Cinder Fall," she said warmly. "It's so nice to finally meet you…"