Train Station
The train station buzzed with activity as the late afternoon sun bathed the platform in golden hues. Amid the bustle of travelers, Ghira, Kali, and Sun stood with Blake, their expressions a mixture of pride and quiet sadness. This wasn't just a farewell; it was a step toward a new chapter.
Blake pulled away from her parents' warm embrace, taking a moment to memorize the look of pride in their eyes. "So, what's going to happen with the Menagerie militia now that Sienna's leading the new White Fang?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.
Ghira placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "The majority of our people are eager to help," he said with a proud smile. "Many have expressed their willingness to travel to Vale to aid in its restoration. It's a chance to show the world who we truly are."
Kali chimed in, her tone filled with maternal warmth. "We'll finally get the opportunity to bridge the gap between humans and Faunus, not with anger or fear, but with hope and action."
Blake's gaze lingered on them, her heart swelling with gratitude. "That's... incredible. I always knew we could be more than what people expected of us."
Ghira nodded thoughtfully. "It might not be easy, but it's a path worth walking. Who knows? This could redefine the relationship between humans and Faunus for generations to come."
Blake's chest tightened. She wanted to be there, to see it unfold—but she also knew her place was with her team, ensuring Salem didn't tear the world apart before those bridges could even be built.
Turning to Sun, Blake hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "Thanks for everything, Sun. For being there, for helping me when I couldn't help myself... and for sticking around even when I made it difficult. You're... one of a kind."
Sun grinned, his usual playfulness lighting up his face. "Please, please, don't stop now. You're on a roll—praise me more!" He rested his knuckles on his chin, striking a mockingly arrogant pose.
Blake let out a soft laugh, rolling her eyes as she playfully punched his arm. "Don't push your luck, Sun."
Rubbing his arm with an exaggerated wince, Sun's expression softened as he looked at her. "It's not gonna be the same without you, you know."
Blake's playful smirk softened into a more solemn expression as she looked down at her hands. "It won't be the same for me either," she admitted quietly, her voice wavering. "But... you'll be okay. Besides..."
Her gaze drifted to the platform, where Neptune was animatedly chatting with Weiss. For a fleeting moment, the scene felt like a glimpse of a better world—friends, family, and a future that didn't feel so hopeless.
"...You have your team with you. And I'm also here, where I belong."
She turned to Sun, whose warm smile carried both understanding and encouragement. For all the teasing and playfulness they'd shared, Sun had been her rock when she needed it most. The thought made her chest tighten. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a firm, heartfelt hug.
Sun blinked in surprise, his usual bravado momentarily slipping as he froze. Ghira's jaw dropped, stunned by the unexpected display of affection, while Kali's eyes sparkled with barely-contained excitement, hands clasped together in front of her chest.
"Thank you," Blake murmured, her voice steady but laced with emotion. "Thank you for everything. I really mean it."
Sun, recovering from his shock, let out a small laugh and hugged her back, his arms resting gently around her shoulders. "O-oh... uh... heh," he stammered, clearly unsure how to respond. They stayed like that for a moment longer before they gently pulled away.
Sun grinned, trying to lighten the mood as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Guess you're all set here with Rinko, huh? Are you gonna chase after him?" His tone was teasing, but his eyes carried genuine curiosity.
Blake stiffened, caught off guard by the question. "W-what?" she started, but her words faltered. Letting out a sigh, she followed Sun's gaze down the platform to where Rinko sat with Ruby. Ruby was perched beside him them, enthusiastically explaining the intricacies of Crescent Rose to Rinko, who listened with his usual calm attentiveness.
"He and Yang..." Blake's voice dropped to a near whisper. "They got together."
"What?!" Sun's eyes widened in disbelief. "When did that happen? You told me back in Menagerie that you liked him! What—did I miss a memo or something?" His voice was a mix of shock and concern.
Blake's ears drooped slightly as she gave a bitter smile. "It just... happened. I didn't even know until recently. I thought..." She shook her head, unwilling to finish the thought. "It's fine. I'm happy for them."
Sun frowned, studying her expression. "You sure about that? Because I know when you're trying to put on a brave face."
Blake sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging. "I don't know, Sun. I thought I had time to sort out my feelings... but I guess I was wrong. I just want them to be happy." Her voice faltered as she spoke.
Sun placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his usual playful demeanor replaced by rare sincerity. "Hey, listen. You're allowed to feel what you're feeling, Blake. It doesn't make you a bad person to feel hurt or jealous. Just don't let it eat you up, okay?"
Blake glanced up at him, her golden eyes glistening slightly. "Thanks, Sun. I mean it."
He smiled warmly. "Anytime. That's what I'm here for, remember?"
Blake nodded, a small but genuine smile forming on her lips. As the train whistle blew, signaling their soon departure, she felt a strange mix of emotions—loss, hope, and a bittersweet acceptance.
Raven, clad in a long, dark cloak and a facemask that obscured her features, stood silently in the shadows of the dimly lit clearing. With an almost imperceptible sigh, she extended the Relic of Knowledge toward Qrow, who stepped forward and took it from her hands with a firm grip.
Qrow examined the relic for a moment before giving her a nod of gratitude. "Appreciate it, Raven," he said, his voice gruff but genuine.
Raven glanced away, her voice low and steady. "Take care of Yang, Qrow."
"I always do," Qrow replied, his tone softening. "Don't worry. She's got a good team, and she's stronger than you think."
A faint, almost invisible flicker of emotion passed through Raven's eyes before she turned on her heel to leave. But before she could step into the shadows, she froze, her sharp gaze catching sight of Yang standing just a few feet away. Yang's bright, lilac eyes locked with Raven's, her expression unreadable.
"Mom," Yang called out, her voice calm and devoid of the venom or anger that had laced it in the past. Despite her covered features, she could sense it was her mom.
Raven stiffened slightly, "Yang..." she replied, her voice quieter than she intended.
Slowly, Yang began walking toward her, her boots crunching softly against the ground. Raven stood frozen, her usual composed demeanor faltering as Yang stopped in front of her. Without hesitation, Yang wrapped her arms around her mother in a warm, heartfelt hug.
Raven's breath hitched.
Her hands hovered in the air for a moment, unsure, before she tentatively rested them on Yang's back. She felt the weight of the moment settle over her like an avalanche, breaking through her usual defenses.
"Thank you," Yang whispered, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "For helping us."
Raven closed her eyes briefly, letting the words sink in. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to return the hug, her grip firm but hesitant, as though afraid to hold on too tightly.
When they pulled apart, Raven's crimson eyes lingered on Yang's face, her usual stoic expression softening just slightly. "Stay safe," she murmured, her voice low and unsteady, almost swallowed by the silence around them.
Yang smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest as she nodded. "I will."
Raven held her gaze for a moment longer before stepping back. Her eyes darted toward Qrow briefly, a silent acknowledgment passing between them, before she turned and walked away. As she moved behind a large stone pillar, her figure vanished. Moments later, a raven flew out from behind the pillar, its dark wings cutting through the open ceiling toward the afternoon sky.
Yang watched her go, her emotions swirling but not overwhelming. For the first time, she felt... okay about her mother. Qrow placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, grounding her.
"You alright, Firecracker?" he asked, his tone softer than usual.
Yang kept her gaze on the ceiling, where the raven had disappeared into the night. "Yeah... I think I am."
Qrow smiled warmly, the pride he rarely expressed slipping into his expression. "Good. Let's head back. Ruby and the others are waiting."
Yang gave him a nod, her fiery determination rekindled. Together, they made their way back to where the others were gathered.
At the station, Selene stood, holding a stack of heavy bags as if they weighed nothing. The strain that would have broken most people didn't even make her flinch.
"Master Rinko, we're prepared to go," she said calmly, the bags balanced effortlessly in her arms like paperweights.
Rinko chuckled, still a bit impressed by her superhuman strength. "Alright," he replied, pushing off the bench where he'd been seated. "But first, I need to make a quick call."
As the group started organizing themselves, Rinko stepped aside, pulling out his scroll.
"Winter," he muttered to himself before selecting her names on the contanct.
The line rang only twice before Winter Schnee's composed, no-nonsense voice answered. "Good afternoon, Rinko."
"Hello, Winter," he greeted back, keeping his tone casual. "I need a favor."
Her voice remained polite but wary. "What kind of favor?"
"We need a transport from Argus to Atlas," Rinko explained. "Will that be alright?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end before Winter's voice, sharp with confusion, cut through. "Argus? What are you doing in Argus? Aren't you supposed to be here in Atlas with Weiss?"
Rinko paused, momentarily caught off guard. "Wait... you didn't know?" he asked, a flicker of realization dawning on him.
"Uh..." Rinko hesitated before answering, trying to figure out how to explain. "We're... in Mistral right now."
"What?!" Winter's voice shot through the line so loudly that Rinko instinctively pulled the scroll away from his ear. Even Selene glanced over at him in mild curiosity.
"Mistral?!" Winter's voice was incredulous. "How is that even possible? The borders are locked! Who authorized this?"
Rinko sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Didn't Father mention this to you?"
There was a long pause, followed by a frustrated groan. "I changed my number," Winter admitted reluctantly. "He doesn't have my current one—and neither does the rest of the family."
Rinko blinked, taken aback. "Why would you do that?"
Winter's tone turned colder, her professional facade slipping just slightly. "I don't need Father's meddling in my life, Rinko. It's hard enough managing Atlas's affairs without him breathing down my neck every step of the way."
Rinko sighed.
"Well, now you know. Can you send a ship for us?"
Winter exhaled sharply, her voice softening a fraction. "I'll see what I can do, but getting clearance won't be easy. I'll call you back when I've arranged something."
"Thank you, Winter," Rinko said sincerely, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Rinko tucked his scroll back into his pocket, a thoughtful expression on his face as he rejoined the group. Selene raised an eyebrow at him, tilting her head slightly.
"Well?" she asked.
"She's working on it," Rinko replied simply, his tone more relaxed than before.
"Good," Selene said, adjusting the bags on her arms with ease. "Now let's make sure we're ready when she gets here."
Nearby, Neptune and Weiss stood together, sharing a rare moment of sincerity. As they pulled away from their hug, Neptune tried to play it cool. "Have fun on your trip, Weiss. Too bad I'm not tagging along. Who else is gonna keep you in check?"
Weiss allowed a small, genuine smile to grace her features. "You're always such a cool dork."
"Heh, you know me," Neptune replied, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
Before their moment could linger too long, Sun and Blake approached from behind. Sun, being his usual energetic self, clapped Neptune on the back with enough force to make him stagger forward slightly. "C'mon, man! If you're worried about Weiss, have some backbone!"
Neptune immediately straightened up, his blue eyes narrowing as he turned to Sun. "Oh yeah?" he shot back, his voice low but dripping with menace. With a swift motion, he grabbed Sun's tail.
"Then why don't you lend me some of yours?" Neptune said, his tone both menacing and oddly smug as he held Sun's tail firmly.
Sun let out a yelp of surprise, his usual confidence crumbling in an instant. He recoiled, clutching his tail protectively to his chest as if it were his most prized possession. "H-Hey! Not cool, man!" he whined, his face a mix of indignation and mild panic.
Blake let out a rare, genuine laugh, her amber eyes gleaming with amusement. Even Weiss chuckled softly, shaking her head at the ridiculousness of the two boys.
"Honestly, you two are impossible," Weiss said, her tone exasperated but fond.
Sun, still nursing his pride, pouted as Neptune crossed his arms, satisfied with his small victory.
Before the banter could escalate further, the station's intercom buzzed to life, announcing the final boarding call for their train. The mood shifted as the group turned their attention toward the platform where Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Qrow, Rinko, Selene, and Oscar were already beginning to gather their belongings.
"It's time," Blake said softly, her gaze lingering on Sun for a moment longer.
Neptune nodded, his usual bravado softening as he looked at Weiss. "Guess this is it. Take care of yourself, alright?"
Weiss nodded firmly. "You too, Neptune. And try to keep Sun out of trouble."
"No promises," Neptune said with a wink, though his voice carried a trace of sincerity.
Sun, finally recovering from his earlier embarrassment, gave Blake a thumbs-up. "Take care, alright? And don't forget to keep an eye on the Schnee twins," he added, his tone half-joking but layered with meaning.
Blake's expression softened as she nodded. "I will. Thanks, Sun."
As the group began to board the train, Ruby waved at Neptune and Sun from one of the open doors. "See you guys! Don't cause too much trouble while we're gone!"
Neptune saluted her playfully, while Sun grinned and cupped his hands around his mouth to shout, "No promises!"
From the train, Weiss stood beside Ruby, watching Neptune and Sun shrink into the distance as the train began to move. Weiss raised her hand in a small wave, and Neptune returned it, his usual swagger giving way to something more genuine.
Blake, standing near the door, watched Sun for a moment longer before stepping back into the train. The rhythmic sound of the wheels on the tracks filled the air as the train carried them toward Argus and the unknown challenges that awaited.
For Sun and Neptune, now standing alone on the platform, the station suddenly felt a little too quiet. Neptune shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing at Sun. "Well... think they'll be alright?"
Sun grinned, though his smile was softer this time. "Yeah. They've got each other. And besides, Blake's tougher than all of us combined."
Neptune smirked. "Hm, alright."
With that, the two turned and began walking away, their banter already picking up where it had left off, the weight of the goodbye balanced by the knowledge that their friends were heading toward something bigger than all of them.
[End]