Welcome to Beacon (Rewritten)
Welcome to Beacon
A flight of Atlesian AT-38 Skygraspers buzzed over Rainbow Dash’s head as they banked over the rooftops of Beacon Academy. The blowback from their engines beat against Rainbow’s face and ran through her many-coloured hair; Weiss didn’t fare much better, her long ponytail bouncing this way and that, blown into her face as she tried to brush it away. The boys, with their much shorter hair, fared a lot better.
Rainbow shielded her face with one hand and watched as the Atlesian airships turned away; those airships anyway. The four Skygraspers – for Rainbow’s money, the best-looking airships in the Atlesian arsenal, even if they weren’t the best at anything but transporting androids – were not out here alone or flying over Beacon for the fun of it. Just like Rainbow Dash wasn’t up on the roof with Weiss, Flash, and Cardin for her health, or the health of anybody else, for that matter.
They were up here watching the Atlesian fleet arrive over Vale.
The skies over Vale – and over Beacon Academy – were filled with the panoply of Atlesian military prowess. The sleek, majestic black cruisers had long, lance-like hulls, with four squat and boxy laser cannons slung beneath and six spindly engines emerging from behind. The frigates, medical or otherwise, were smaller, but conformed to the same general shape, with long narrow hulls sharpening to a point like the tip of a spear while six wings jutted out from behind to control motion in all three dimensions; the combat frigates had a single cannon mounted beneath the hull, the medical frigates none. The carriers looked like civilian airships, but wider, with more space for the fighters and bombers crammed within. Skygraspers with their sleek bodies and fish-like fins; round and slightly bulbous AT-39 Skyrays; AF-22 Skyhawks that looked like flying cockpits with engines strapped to the back and guns underneath; squared-off and ungainly-looking AB-10 Skybolts with their racks of missiles underneath the fuselage and a manned gun turret behind the cockpit; the many-engined AF-55 Skydart also had a turret behind the cockpit, but it was unmanned and, in Rainbow’s opinion, mostly there to look cool. All of these airships, from the largest cruiser to the smallest fighter – the Skyhawk – soared through the clouds that hung over Vale, casting their shadows over the city and over the river that cut through the centre of it as they headed towards Beacon.
The first cruisers were already docking – or else had docked – on the blue-and-black pads just outside of Beacon, while more of the stately black vessels were still gliding in, coming into view one after the other while their supporting airships flocked around them, preceding their coming and covering their flanks and rear as they made their entrance.
Rainbow watched the cruisers come in. She watched the narrow, angular black shapes eclipse the skies as they passed overhead. She watched the dropships and the fighters and the bombers keep pace or else zoom back and forth between the warships and designated but unseen markers. And as she imagined all the firepower contained in each ship and all the manpower within it, Rainbow couldn’t avoid a sense of awe descending over her.
Atlas ruled the skies with its air fleet. With their absolute air superiority, they could bring the fight – and the pain – anywhere they chose. Only specialists operated out of range of air support from at least a squadron of airships, if not a cruiser; meanwhile, the mobile infantry blessed the navy and called in an airstrike whenever things got too tough. No matter how numerous the grimm were, no matter how ferocious, when you looked up and you saw that black lance shape overhead, you knew you were going to be okay because your friends in the sky were looking out for you. And when the enemies of Atlas looked up and saw those ships coming straight towards them, they knew fear because the heavy end of the heaviest hammer in Remnant was about to drop down on them with great force.
The air fleet was the heart of the Atlesian military, and those ships were the iron might of Atlas rendered in physical form out of titanium alloy and armour plate.
And now that heart had come to Vale.
“I’ve never seen so many ships outside of Atlas before,” Flash muttered as he gazed, his blue eyes wide, at the approaching fleet.
“Me neither,” Weiss conceded. “What are they all doing here?”
“It’s a goodwill visit in support of the Vytal Festival,” Cardin declared.
Rainbow looked at him. “Are you sure about that?” she asked.
Cardin looked down at her, and a muscle in his face twitched. It was something that Rainbow had noticed whenever he had to talk to her, like he was struggling not to call her a horse or something.
Actually, there was no ‘like’ about it; Rainbow was certain that was exactly what was going on. She… it would be a bit much to say that she didn’t mind, but he wasn’t actually calling her a horse, so she could live with the fact that he wanted to.
“My grandfather is on the Council,” Cardin declared pompously. “He told me that the Atlesians would be coming.”
“Hmm,” Rainbow murmured. “Doesn’t mean that he told you the truth.”
“Are you saying my grandfather lied to me?” Cardin demanded. “He would never-”
“Lying is a strong word for a grandpa telling his kid the official story,” Rainbow told him.
“Do you know something we don’t, Dash?” Flash asked, a touch of anxiety in his voice. “Did General Ironwood tell you something?”
“If he had, I probably wouldn’t be allowed to say it,” Rainbow replied. “But… no, I haven’t spoken to the General in a while.” She’d been… she didn’t want to say that she’d been too scared after everything that had gone down with Blake and the docks and all, but… yeah, she’d been too scared. Rainbow Dash didn’t need Pinkie’s powers of perception to see a dressing down in her future, and she wasn’t eager to bring it about any faster than she needed to.
“But you think there’s something more going on,” Weiss pointed out.
Rainbow nodded. “So far, I’ve counted six cruisers, two carriers, and three frigates; Atlesian warships operate in squadrons of four cruisers, one carrier, three combat frigates and a medical frigate, so there are probably at least two more cruisers and three more frigates left to come in. If they’re fully manned, each of those cruisers is carrying a rifle company, a military huntsman platoon, two companies' worth of androids, all their gear, and enough Skyrays and Skygraspers to move them all.” Rainbow gestured to one of Skydart squadrons, one with the wingtips of their fighters painted blue and marked with the insignia of a winged thunderbolt. “You see those airships? That’s Wonderbolt Squadron, the best pilots in Atlas and pretty good huntsmen too. All of this, and some of the best that Atlas has? You don’t come loaded for ursai unless you’re expecting to go on a hunt.”
“The White Fang?” Flash suggested.
“Probably,” Rainbow agreed. “It’s not like they’ve stopped. The General probably wants to make sure that all of the students are safe for the Vytal Festival, in case they try anything.”
“The White Fang,” Cardin growled.
“Hey,” Rainbow said, not just to Cardin but to all of them. “Don’t worry. The power of Atlas is here to protect you now!”
Cardin gave Rainbow a look like he’d like to shove her off the rooftop.
“Yeah, I’m kidding, but I’m also being serious,” Rainbow explained. “I guarantee it, nothing will get past all of that in one piece.”
“I hope you’re right,” Weiss said.
“I am right,” Rainbow insisted. “If any of you were losing sleep over the White Fang – or anything else – you can stop now.” She turned away and walked through the door that led down from the roof and into Beacon’s spacious complex of dorm rooms.
She was not quite as confident as she had made out in front of her fellow Atlesians and Cardin. Yes, the force that General Ironwood had dispatched to Vale was a formidable one, and she had no doubt that it was strong to fend off any attack... that it saw coming. But that was the thing, wasn’t it? The Atlesians were masters of straight-up warfare; their guns, their ships, their soldiers were the best in the world. But the White Fang didn’t fight straight up, at least not if they could avoid it. They snuck around, they lurked in the shadows, they struck when you least expected it – like at weddings. The whole might of the Atlesian fleet hadn’t prevented Chrysalis from nearly abducting Cadance or from nearly managing to kill them all before the cavalry arrived. Just because Blake had turned out to be just seriously misguided and not a White Fang infiltrator didn’t mean that the White Fang wouldn’t manage to do the same thing here.
All the same, Rainbow would rather face a situation like this with a fleet nearby than without. Firepower made up for a lot of deficiencies in a fight.
Rainbow arrived back at the RSPT dorm room and pulled her scroll out of the pocket of her sports jacket to open the door. She found her teammates gathered around the right-hand work desk, where Twilight had her scroll out.
Ciel looked up. Her expression betrayed her unspoken curiosity.
"I saw six cruisers before I left, plus two carriers and support frigates," Rainbow said as she closed the door behind her. "They've got all kinds of birds in the air, close escorts and outriders. Someone wants to make a big entrance."
"That confirms the chatter we've been hearing," Ciel replied, "and that someone is General Ironwood."
Rainbow's eyes bulged a little. "The General came here himself?" Headmasters didn’t travel to other academies for the Vytal Festival – someone had to hold down the fort back home and teach the students who weren’t travelling – which meant that the General was here as, well, the General. This White Fang stuff must have him seriously concerned.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Twilight must have tapped into the channel the Atlesian forces were using – it wasn’t technically breaking the rules; they did have access to the secure military channels after all – because the speakers were projecting a mass of radio chatter into their room as the various ships and squadrons coordinated their movements over Vale.
"Thunder Child, you are clear for docking pad two; please start your approach now."
"Affirmative, Control; Thunder Child beginning approach now."
"Hey, Spitfire, looks like we've got civilians watching us. How about we give 'em a victory roll?"
"Negative, Misty; maintain formation and set course."
"Aww, Captain, you never let us have any fun."
"Cut the chatter, Soarin’; this is a business channel."
"Glorious, you're coming it too steep for docking pad three; please correct your angle of approach."
"Roger, Control, correcting now."
"Resolution, hurry up and finish off-loading ASAP; Valiant is on approach and requires the deck."
Ciel picked up a notepad on which she had scribbled several names. "So far, chatter has identified cruisers Thunder Child, Endeavour, Glorious, Courageous, Resolution, Valiant, and Vigilant. Thunder Child, Endeavour, and Glorious are with the First Battle Squadron, so I would expect the Hope to make an appearance also; Courageous, Resolution, and Vigilant are with the Fourth Squadron, so the eighth ship will be our old friend the Gallant. Carriers will be Joseph Colton and Nicholas Schnee."
"You've got the order of battle for the entire fleet memorised, don't you?" Rainbow asked. She wasn't even surprised anymore.
"And the reserve list," Ciel clarified. "In any case, Valiant is General Ironwood's personal flagship, hence he must be leading this expedition."
"Mister Ironwood… he isn’t just coming to watch me fight in the tournament, is he?” Penny asked.
Rainbow frowned. “No, Penny, he wouldn’t need a fleet to do that. It probably has something to do with the White Fang activity. He doesn’t want to send all of the students down here for the Festival without any cover in case things go… in case the White Fang try anything else like they did at the docks.”
“Do you think so?” Twilight said. “I mean… it’s not like you can call in an airstrike against terrorists.”
“Uh, we already have,” Rainbow reminded her.
Twilight blinked. “Okay, yes, but they weren’t acting like terrorists at the time,” she said.
“I get what you’re saying, but any backup is good backup, and any way that we can get backup sooner is a good thing in my book,” Rainbow replied.
"General Ironwood is not bound to explain his reasoning to us," Ciel declared. "But perhaps he is attempting to overawe our enemies with a display of force, so that they will dare to step into the light again."
"You’re right,” Twilight agreed, with a slight sigh in her voice. “But at the same time… I don’t know, it’s probably nothing. Just… a feeling, like there’s something more going on.”
“Despite the asymmetrical nature of the conflict, the General’s actions make sound strategic sense,” Ciel said. “With Vale’s huntsmen deployed to the outlying settlements to combat the unusual grimm activity in the provinces, our forces are well-placed to fill the void as a deterrent.”
“You mean we’re going to scare off the bad guys?” Penny asked.
Rainbow grinned. “Yes, Penny, that’s exactly what it means. We’re going to scare the bad guys and make the good guys sleep safe at night.”
“Like Ruby and Pyrrha?”
Twilight chuckled. “I’m not sure that either of them need the help sleeping, but… yes, our friends.”
Rainbow's scroll buzzed before either Penny or Ciel could reply.
"Twi, turn that off," Rainbow said, gesturing to Twilight’s scroll. Twilight cut off the Atlesian comm chatter by closing up her scroll before Rainbow opened up her own.
She was confronted by the face of General Ironwood. "Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow Dash stood to attention. “Sir!”
"Team Rosepetal is to report to docking pad one and board the Valiant immediately once it docks,” General Ironwood declared. “I’ll see you immediately when I return.”
"Return from where, sir?" Rainbow asked.
The look on General Ironwood’s face told her that such questions were beyond her purview.
"Right," Rainbow muttered. "Will do, sir."
"Good," General Ironwood said. "And Rainbow Dash?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Congratulations on a successful operation," General Ironwood said, the hint of a smile playing across his face. "Pass my compliments onto your team."
Okay, I might just survive this after all. "Roger that, sir. It's appreciated."
"Understood. Ironwood out."
Rainbow folded up her scroll as the general’s face disappeared. “I think we might not be in quite as much trouble as I was worried about,” she said hopefully.
“Really?” Twilight asked. “It’s hard to believe that we could not be in trouble after what happened.”
“Oh, we’re definitely in trouble,” Rainbow said, “but we might not be in so much trouble.”
Professor Ozpin stood at this window, watching as the Atlesian students disembarked from their warships and set off down the path that led towards Beacon proper. He had asked Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck to meet them and show them to their dorm rooms. The Haven students would be arriving later and would be greeted by Professor Peach.
When they were all assembled, he would have them gather in the Amphitheatre and welcome them all to Beacon for the new semester, but for now, he would let them find their rooms and get settled in.
“I feel safer already,” Glynda muttered.
Ozpin chuckled softly. “Indeed. One begins to wonder how we managed without them.” It was probably a little unkind of him to mock James’ well-meaning efforts, but the fact was that he could not help but see such efforts as fundamentally misguided.
There would be no victory in strength. Ships and armies would avail them nothing in the end… and might do much harm beforehand, if they caused the spread of panic.
It was a pity that James couldn’t see that for himself.
Ozpin turned away from the window and the unsightly cruisers dominating his docking pads; just in time, as the elevator doors opened and James Ironwood strode into the office.
“Ozpin,” he said genially as he walked in, the shadows of the gears that ground above falling across his face. “Glynda. It’s been too long.”
The corners of Glynda’s lip twitched ever so slightly. “James. How is Luna?”
The smile faded from Ironwood’s face. “Safe in Canterlot, as always.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Ozpin said. He picked up the teapot that sat on his glass desk. It was a little odd to keep a teapot full of hot chocolate, but as the headmaster, he was allowed his eccentricities. “May I offer you a drink?”
“Thank you,” Ironwood said.
Ozpin poured a Beacon mug, marked with the double axes, full of hot cocoa and held it out to Ironwood, who accepted it graciously.
Ironwood pulled out a metallic flask.
“Drinking?” Glynda asked archly. “At this hour? And with cocoa?”
Ironwood chuckled. “Cream from Atlas; I know what kind of refreshment I’m going to be offered in this office.” He poured a dash of the white liquid into the mug.
“Glynda?” Ozpin said, offering Glynda a cup.
“No, thank you, Professor,” Glynda said quietly.
Ozpin set down the teapot and picked up his own cup of hot chocolate. It was still warm upon his tongue, thankfully. He swallowed. “How are your students?”
“I feel as though I should ask you; you’ve been teaching the best of them for the last semester,” Ironwood replied.
Ozpin chuckled at that. “I’m told that Miss Dash is one of the stars of the leadership and combat classes.”
“You have taught her well, I admit,” Glynda muttered.
“But you have many more students than Team Rosepetal,” Ozpin reminded James.
“And I’m teaching them to be the best huntsmen I can,” Ironwood repeated.
“Huntsmen?” Glynda repeated. “Or soldiers of Atlas?”
Ironwood glanced at her. “Soldiers of Atlas are protectors of the whole world.”
Glynda stared at him evenly. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
Ironwood raised his chin a little, although he seemed to not be trying to look down upon her. “I do,” he declared. “These children will do Atlas – and all of Remnant – credit when they graduate. Or sooner, if they are allowed.”
Ozpin was silent as he walked around his desk and sat down in his metallic chair. He didn't regret for a moment bringing Ironwood into his inner circle, although Qrow might disagree with him; James was brave, stalwart, and even reasonably loyal. Ozpin did not believe he could have chosen anyone better to run Atlas Academy on his behalf. But the man had no tact, no subtlety, and Ozpin's attempt to teach him both had, sad to say, met with failure. Their present situation was a case in point.
He swallowed a large amount of his rapidly cooling cocoa. "What would you have me do, James?"
"I want you to trust me as I have trusted you for so many years," Ironwood declared. He leaned heavily on the desk. "You have your favourites. You choose them, and you prepare them, and when the time is right, you bring them in. Qrow, Glynda... I have people too, good people who could be valuable assets to our cause if you would only consider-"
“You want to submit one of your students to be the next Fall Maiden?” Glynda said, her voice almost disbelieving. “Knowing what it could do to her?”
Ironwood straightened up, silent for a moment. “That… that’s the irony of it, isn’t it?” he asked, almost to himself. “How are your students, Ozpin, Glynda?”
Glynda almost smiled. “Some of them are a pleasure to teach, others… less so.”
“As you yourself have pointed out, we have our favourites,” Ozpin said mildly. “Some impress more than others.”
“Sometimes, we are impressed by different students,” Glynda remarked pointedly.
Ozpin leaned back in his chair. This was not the first time that he had had this argument with Glynda, but it was a pleasant distraction from the discussion with Ironwood. “You cannot deny the skill of the individual members of Team Sapphire-”
“And you can’t deny that Team Iron are more balanced and coordinated,” Glynda insisted. “Miss Xiao Long doesn’t have any of the emotional oversensitivity that is weighing down Miss Nikos.”
“You would have me choose her for the Fall Maiden?” Ozpin asked. “Goodness knows what Qrow or Tai would have to say about that.”
“They might understand,” Ironwood said. “As I said, it’s the irony: the ones we care about the most are the ones that impress us the most, and those that impress us so much… are the ones we might have to throw into the fire.”
“We bear a heavy burden, James,” Ozpin agreed, “a burden no living man should have to bear. And that is why we do not place this burden upon the children.”
“At this rate, we won’t have a choice,” Ironwood insisted. “She’s coming for you now.” He sighed. “It’s not just the dust shops in Vale; the White Fang are interdicting the rail line to Cold Harbour with alarming regularity. They’re planning something. Something big.”
“Isn’t that why you brought your fleet?” Glynda inquired archly.
“It is,” Ironwood confirmed. “But… I’m just not sure that our children are going to have time to grow up as we might like.”
“We all fear that, James,” Glynda murmured.
“Which is why we must do our best to hold the line,” Ozpin said, “as best we can.”
Weiss stood to the side of the path leading from the docking pads to Beacon – or vice versa – and fiddled with the hem of her skirt as the Atlesian students emerged from the belly of the cruiser to march down the grey path towards Beacon.
'Marching' was the correct description for what they were doing, for the Atlesian students moved in a more regimented fashion than the Beacon students that Weiss was used to. They did not exactly move in a single formation, but each team kept to a straight line, members aligned perfectly, moving in lockstep as they advanced. Which was not to say that all traces of individuality had been vanquished from the Atlas students; although they wore their uniforms of grey and white, a few appeared to have found some way of personalising them, like the girl with the long white hair who was wearing a purple cape decorated with moons and stars over her uniform, like a more garish, slightly older Ruby. But there was a discipline to them that the Beacon students lacked, exemplified by the way in which they did not talk, or else talked so quietly that they could scarcely be heard above the clanking of the androids – the new AK-200 variant, pristine and white and practically shining – who shepherded their column along, even as they were led by Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck, who both talked enough to make up for the relative silence of the Atlesian students.
Few of them looked at Weiss or Flash as they waited for the visiting students to pass; few of them turned their heads in any way. A metallic knight scanned both of them, but Weiss presumed that it had access to the student records, or at least to face ID for all the Beacon Students, because it took no action against them.
They were left alone, waiting.
Where was Winter? Weiss couldn’t see her, and yet, Winter had messaged her that she would be arriving with the student body. Weiss hadn’t connected that at the time to the idea that Winter would be arriving as part of… well, part of what might be the largest expedition to set forth out of the north since… since the end of the Great War.
Who would have? Nothing like this has ever happened as part of the Vytal Festival before.
No Vytal Festival ever took place against the backdrop of rising White Fang attacks before.
Although, to be frank, at this moment, the threat of the White Fang worried her less than the threat of Winter’s disapproval.
“Is this how you act when you’re nervous?” Flash asked.
Weiss pouted… but only for a moment, because it was hardly something that she could deny. “I take it that I’m usually better at concealing the fact?”
“To be honest, I can’t say I’ve ever noticed you nervous until now,” Flash admitted.
Weiss favoured him with a gentle smile for that, because it was nice for him to say so, even if she didn’t think that it could possibly be true. “It’s important for me to make a good impression,” she said. “Winter… Winter is everything that I aspire to be. Well, everything except a soldier of Atlas. But as a gifted huntress, as an…” she stopped short of saying ‘as an independent woman’ because she was not quite ready to air her family laundry in front of Flash at this time. She was, however, willing to admit, “As someone… tall, Winter is the sort of person I hope to become. Just as I hope she will agree that I’m off to a good start.”
“And you’re sure that you want me here for that?” Flash asked.
“You’re my partner,” Weiss reminded him, “I’m sure that Winter will be keen to meet you.” She paused. “And the truth is… I’d rather wait with someone.”
“Weiss.”
Weiss turned. The Atlesian students had all departed now, proceeding down the tree-lined path and into the spacious courtyard. Now it was her sister who was approaching from the ship.
Captain Winter Schnee was a tall young woman, seeming taller by the way that her bearing was ever so martial and erect, her back arched and her head held high. She had the classic Schnee features: eyes of icy blue and hair as white as snow worn in a high, severe, tight bun, with a long fringe brushed across the right hand side of her face without concealing any of her features. She was dressed in the white and blue of an Atlesian specialist: a dark blue waistcoat with a white jacket over the top and grey thigh-high boots over white britches. In concession to the weather here in Vale, the arms of her jacket were slit from shoulder to elbow, exposing her arms to view. She wore a sabre at her hip, and Weiss knew that there was a second blade concealed within the hilt of the first. Her black-gloved hands were clasped behind her back.
She approached them briskly, her boots tapping upon the stone of the path that led to Beacon.
“Winter!” Weiss cried out enthusiastically and took a few steps towards her elder sister before remembering her place. She was a Schnee, the Schnee heiress in point of fact; she must have poise and dignity. She curtsied. “It is a pleasure to meet you again, sister. Your presence honours us.”
Winter regarded her with a gaze as cold as the north itself. “Indeed,” she said softly. She sniffed. “The air feels different to when I was here last.”
“Someone probably hadn’t just parked a fleet overhead when you were here last,” Flash said.
“Flash!” Weiss hissed.
Winter's gaze fell upon him. “Excuse me… young man,” she said. “I don’t believe that we have been introduced.”
Weiss cleared her throat. “Winter, allow me to introduce my partner, Flash Sentry.”
Flash bowed. “A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
Winter arched an inquisitive eyebrow. “Partner?”
“School partner,” Weiss clarified.
For a moment, it seemed as though Winter would smile. Instead, she merely bowed, very slightly, from the waist. “A pleasure to meet you, Flash Sentry. Thank you for shielding my sister’s side in battle.” She paused for a brief moment. “Am I right in assuming that you are the son of Silver Sentry?”
Flash sucked in a breath. “You assume correctly.”
“I suppose it is no stranger to find you here than it is to find Weiss,” Winter observed. She returned her attention to Weiss, and now, she did smile, if only a little. “How have you been, Weiss?”
Weiss smiled. “In addition to being named team leader, I am consistently one of the highest performing students-”
“I’m not interested in your performance; I’m interested in you,” Winter clarified with obvious impatience. “Save your defence of your grades for father when he calls. How are you? Are you enjoying yourself here at Beacon? Are you making any friends?”
“I’m not a child, Winter,” Weiss complained.
“No, you are the dolt who flew a locker into the middle of a firefight,” Winter remarked acidly. “What in Remnant possessed you?”
Weiss felt her face chill. “You… you know about that?”
“'Further assistance was rendered by Weiss Schnee and Flash Sentry, who conducted an aerial insertion directly into the combat zone using Beacon’s rocket lockers,'” Winter said, as if she were reciting. “From Rainbow Dash’s after action report on the incident at the docks. I ask again: what possessed you?”
“It was the only way of getting down to the docks in time,” Weiss replied. “There were no airships available, and it would have taken far, far too long to drive, let alone to walk.”
“So you chose to risk your own safety?” Winter demanded. “You could have been killed simply by reaching the combat zone. And what made you decide to rush into battle with the White Fang in the first place?”
“That is my fault, ma’am,” Flash said. “Friends and fellow students were in danger; I couldn’t just let them die.”
“It was my decision,” Weiss insisted. “I am the team leader, and the decision on our unusual method of entering the fray came from me. All consequences also lie with me.”
Winter regarded them both silently for a moment. “I think Grandfather would have been proud of you,” she said.
Weiss’ eyes widened a little. She could not prevent the smile from spreading across her face. “Really? You think so?”
“I do,” Winter confirmed. “I, on the other hand, think that this incident demonstrates that you still have a great deal to learn.” Her tone softened. “But you still have a great deal of time in which to learn it. Come, show me to your quarters.”
“My… you mean our room?”
“I wish to make sure it is up to standard,” Winter elaborated.
“Of course,” Weiss said without a trace of the reluctance she felt entering her voice. “This way.” Flash walked beside her, and Winter just a step behind, as they led her back towards Beacon.
They met Team RSPT coming the other way, dressed in uniform like the other students, their faces – Rainbow’s face at least – grim and solemn.
“Ten hut!” Rainbow called at the sight of Winter, and she and Ciel slammed their boots onto the ground. Penny and Twilight were a little slower off the mark in that regard.
Rainbow saluted.
Winter returned the salute. “At ease.” When the four students took the position, Winter added, “You’re on your way to see the general?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good luck,” Winter said, “and congratulations on a successful engagement.”
Weiss’ mouth hung open. She turned to face her sister. “Wha- why do they get congratulated while I get called a dolt?”
“They didn’t fly into battle in a locker,” Winter reminded her.
The corridor outside of the General's office aboard the Valiant, the corridor in which Team RSPT waited to receive General Ironwood's displeasure, had no windows but was brightly lit nonetheless. It was a pure white, sterile kind of light, illuminating a sterile grey metallic corridor with little in the way of distinguishing features except the arcane direction signs painted on the wall, indecipherable to the uninitiated. There were places aboard this ship that were monuments to Atlesian technological achievement, but this corridor wasn't one of them. The door into the office was barred by a marine guard - his face concealed behind his helmet - who stood to attention before the door and never so much as glanced at the huntresses waiting nearby.
Rainbow and Ciel stood at ease; Twilight, whose position in the military was unclear, stood awkwardly with her hands clasped in front of her; Penny fidgeted like a bored toddler.
"Officer on deck, ten-hut!" Ciel barked as footsteps began to echo down the corridor.
Rainbow stood to attention on reflex, her foot slamming down onto the deck as her hands snapped to her sides.
General Ironwood strode down the corridor, his stride brisk and martial.
Rainbow and Ciel saluted, but he strode to the door without acknowledgement of either of them or Twilight.
It wasn't until Penny said, "Good morning, Mister Ironwood," and offered him a cheery wave besides, that the general stopped in front of his door.
General Ironwood turned slowly. His expression was grave as he returned the salutes of Rainbow and Ciel, but all of his attention was clearly fixed on Penny herself. When he spoke - to her and only to her - his tone wasn't without warmth. "Penny, under the circumstances, from now on, it would be best if you called me General."
"Affirmative, Mister General!"
The General chuckled. It was a strange sound to come out of his mouth. Rainbow found it practically disconcerting. "That's not quite what I meant, but never mind. It's good to see you again. And you, Twilight."
“Uh, it’s good to see you too, sir,” Twilight said tremulously.
The door to the office slid open at the General’s approach with a hydraulic hiss. “Inside, all of you,” he commanded.
Twilight winced.
“Hey,” Rainbow whispered. “It’s going to be okay.” She was pretty sure of that, for Twilight at least.
The office into which they followed the general was smaller than his actual office back at Atlas Academy, and every bit as bare and austere. Of course, this space had more excuse for that, given that there was less room and probably not a lot of call to keep random stuff around on a warship that the General didn’t use that often. Nevertheless, the barren, grey space with a large window overlooking the city beyond reminded Rainbow of the office in which she, Ciel, and Twilight had stood when General Ironwood had first formed Team RSPT and assigned them to guard and guide Penny on her path to becoming the future of Atlas. Now, in a space that was identical in every way bar the size of it, they waited to hear what the future of that team might be.
They didn't sit down, and General Ironwood did not invite them to do so. He stood with his back to them, staring out of the window with his hands clasped behind his back.
The four of them stood to attention - or an approximation of it, in Twilight's case - before his desk and waited.
"At ease," he said, without turning around.
Rainbow and Ciel moved to the correct position, feet apart and hands behind their backs. Penny was sloppier in her movements, but managed to do the same. Twilight made no move at all. Rainbow felt her palms begin to sweat. Couldn't they just get this over with?
General Ironwood continued to stare out of the window. His office was facing away from Beacon, looking out over Vale and over the fleet that he had brought with him. Most of the airships which had escorted the cruisers in were starting to dock by this point, leaving only a few Skyhawks flying CAP. But you could still see the cruisers, hovering suspended in the sky above the city and the school.
Finally, after a wait that - whatever its actual length - felt agonising to Rainbow Dash, General Ironwood turned to face the four of them.
"Twilight," he began, "how is your examination into the possibility of wireless swords going?"
Twilight looked down. "I'm afraid I've made no progress worth reporting, sir."
"Never mind; I know you'll crack it eventually," General Ironwood said. He almost smiled. "I saw your parents before I left Atlas; they asked me to make sure that you were well and eating healthily."
Twilight cringed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, sir."
"Never be ashamed of your family, Twilight," General Ironwood admonished. "We fight for many reasons: for the glory of Atlas, for the honour of the army, for the preservation of mankind; but most of all, we fight to protect those who are dear to us. Don't forget that."
"No, sir. I won't."
“Councillor Cadenza and your brother also asked me to pass on their best regards,” General Ironwood added. “They hope to see you soon, at the Vytal Festival at the latest.”
Twilight licked her hips. “Permission… to speak, sir?”
General Ironwood’s expression did not alter. “Granted.”
“Will that be safe, sir?”
Rainbow found herself holding her breath.
“It will be,” General Ironwood replied after a moment, “now that our forces have arrived to make safe the city.”
Rainbow let out the breath she had been holding.
“I’m told that it was you, Twilight, who informed Professor Ozpin about the incident at the docks,” General Ironwood said, continuing to address Twilight.
“Yes, sir,” Twilight admitted. “I-”
“If you’re about to apologise, don’t,” General Ironwood said, cutting her off. “It’s something that your team leader should have done.”
Rainbow swallowed. Yeah, this is going to be… about what I thought it would be.
General Ironwood’s attention switched from Twilight to Penny. “So, Penny… how was your first taste of real combat?”
Penny was silent for a moment. “I… I don’t know what to say, Mi- General.”
General Ironwood’s brow furrowed. “Why not?”
“Because… because I didn’t protect my friend, Mister General,” Penny declared. “Doesn’t that… make me a failure?”
General Ironwood stared at Penny, his small dark eyes staring into her much larger, greener orbs. “Penny,” he said, “you have been designed with extraordinary gifts. You will be a great huntress one day, perhaps the greatest. But ‘one day’ is not today. You’re still young and with so much to learn. That is why you are being entered into the Vytal Tournament, that is why you’ve been given teammates to learn from – although I’m not particularly happy with some of the lessons they’ve been teaching you – and that is why you are in school, with the other aspiring heroes of Atlas who, like you, have a lot to learn. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I… I’m not sure,” Penny admitted.
“It’s okay that you didn’t succeed completely in your first engagement,” General Ironwood said. “By all accounts, you conducted yourself well and bravely. That’s enough for now. There will be other times… Gods know there will be other times; and next time, you will do better than you did before, and the time after that, you will do better again until you have achieved all your potential. Twilight.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Take Penny back to her dorm room,” General Ironwood said quietly. “You’re both dismissed.”
“Yes, sir,” Twilight repeated. “Come along, Penny.”
“What about Rainbow Dash and-?”
“They will be along later,” General Ironwood informed her.
“Oh. See you later, then!”
“Come on, Penny,” Twilight insisted.
Rainbow kept her face to the front. She heard, but did not see, the door sliding open to let Twilight and Penny leave the room, and she heard it hiss again as it shut behind them.
All traces of the avuncular fondness that General Ironwood had been displaying towards Twilight or the paternal concern that he had demonstrated towards Penny vanished as soon as he swept his gaze over Rainbow and Ciel. "Dash, Soleil, give me one good reason why I shouldn't throw you both in the brig."
Rainbow came to attention. “Sir, Ciel only followed my orders as Team Leader, the responsibility for my mistakes is all mine.”
“You bet your ass the responsibility is yours!” General Ironwood snapped. “You tried to kill a Beacon student! The daughter of the Chieftain of Menagerie! What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that she was a member of the White Fang, sir, and posed a continuing threat,” Rainbow replied. “In my defence, she was a former member of the White Fang.”
“A former member of the White Fang who fled rather than engage you,” General Ironwood reminded her. “A former member of the White Fang who posed no immediate threat to you or your teammates. Once Ozpin informed you that he was aware of the situation, if you weren’t satisfied, then you should have contacted me, and I would have talked to Ozpin myself. Or you could have contacted Vale PD and passed on your suspicions to them. What you should not have done was take your team on an unsanctioned kill op in the middle of Vale! So I’m going to ask you again: Dash, what in the gods’ names were you thinking?”
“I…” Rainbow hesitated for a moment. “I was scared, sir.”
General Ironwood was silent for a moment, and expressionless. “'Scared'? Of Miss Belladonna?”
“Of the White Fang, sir.”
General Ironwood’s face was impassive, expressionless, completely inscrutable. “I understand your feelings towards that organisation,” he said, “but I can’t have a team leader who flies off the handle every time the White Fang comes up, especially not in the present circumstances. Are you going to be okay, Dash, or do I need to ship you back to Atlas and find somebody else to chaperone Penny?”
“No, sir, that won’t be necessary,” Rainbow declared loudly.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, sir, it won’t happen again,” Rainbow insisted. “I give you my word, sir.”
General Ironwood looked into Rainbow’s eyes, weighing her, judging her. “I’m glad to hear it,” he said softly. He leaned down and pushed a button on his desk to activate the intercom. “This is General Ironwood; send her in.”
The door opened, and Blake Belladonna walked in slowly, diffidently, with clear reluctance into the office.
“You wanted to see me, General?”
General Ironwood straightened up. “Thank you for coming, Miss Belladonna. I asked you here so that, on behalf of my student and the Atlesian military, I could apologise for the way that you’ve been treated by some of my students.”
“That’s not necessary, General, uh, sir,” Blake said quietly. “I… there were a lot of misunderstandings all around.”
“Nevertheless, Atlas students should aspire to a higher standard of behaviour than was demonstrated in your case,” General Ironwood declared. “The threats of violent assault made against you were unforgivable. And yet, I hope that you can find it in you to forgive regardless.”
Blake looked at Rainbow Dash. “That’s… this is very kind of you, General Ironwood, but Rainbow Dash and I have already made our peace. Unless you’d like us to shake hands to prove it.”
General Ironwood smiled, if but thinly. “That would give me some piece of mind, yes.”
Rainbow didn’t hesitate. She thrust out her hand. “I’m sorry, Miss Belladonna. Please accept my apologies for my… rash and… thoughtless… conduct.”
Blake’s eyebrows rose. “Accepted, provided you accept mine for my own assumptions, about you and Atlas.” She took Rainbow’s hand and clasped it, firmly but warmly.
“Thank you, Miss Belladonna,” General Ironwood said.
“Although, to be frank, General Ironwood, I would prefer it if you extended this degree of courtesy to all faunus living under Atlesian rule, not just the one whose father happens to be the High Chieftain of Menagerie,” Blake said.
Seriously? Now, of all times? Can you not let it go ever?
General Ironwood didn’t seem offended. “Progress is slow, sometimes, I admit,” he said, “but we are making progress. Your actions at the docks were very brave, Miss Belladonna, although some might question the wisdom of your actions.”
Blake let her hand fall from Rainbow’s grip. “I’ve never been the kind of person to see something that needs to be done and wait for someone else to take care of it. If I see a situation, then I jump in. I’ve never seen any reason why I shouldn’t.”
“Is that what happened to you, too, Dash?” General Ironwood asked. “Did you see a situation and decide to jump in?”
“Pretty… yes, sir,” Rainbow replied. “Although, with Penny, our training, and the fire support from Gallant, I thought we were better equipped to handle the situation than most.”
“I see,” General Ironwood said. “Miss Belladonna, may I ask you how you knew that the White Fang were going to be hitting the docks that night?”
Blake hesitated. “I… would rather not say, General.”
Rainbow’s eyebrows rose. Blake, what are you doing?
“Miss Belladonna,” General Ironwood said, “I am here, my forces are here, to defend this kingdom against its enemies, the White Fang prominent amongst them. Now, I believe that the White Fang are preparing to strike a great blow against Vale, and I fear that if they are allowed to continue their preparations unchecked, then my own students, and all the children present or soon to arrive at Beacon, will be placed in grave danger. So I ask you again: is there anything that you can tell me to help me stop this?”
Blake inhaled deeply. “I appreciate your willingness to help, General,” she said, “but I don’t believe your forces are the best equipped to handle this situation. And so… my answer remains the same.”
“I see,” General Ironwood murmured. “Thank you, Miss Belladonna; that will be all.”
“General,” Blake said softly, before she turned and walked out of the office.
“Thoughts?” General Ironwood asked once the door closed behind her.
“She knows more than she is letting on, sir,” Ciel declared.
“I thought as much,” General Ironwood replied. “Will she talk to either of you?”
“She might speak to Dash, sir,” Ciel said.
“I… I’m not so sure, sir,” Rainbow admitted. “She doesn’t hate me anymore, and I’ve tried to get her to see what we’re about, but… it seems she still doesn’t trust Atlas.”
“She’s not the only one, unfortunately,” General Ironwood muttered. He turned his back on Rainbow and Ciel and once more stood before the window looking out over the Atlesian fleet. He clasped his hands behind his back. "Tell me, both of you, what do you see?"
"The strength of Atlas incarnate, sir," said Ciel, a note of pride entering her voice.
"'The strength of Atlas incarnate,'" General Ironwood repeated, musing over every word. "That's almost poetic, Soleil."
"Thank you, sir."
General Ironwood was silent for a moment or two, gazing out of the window at the array of force at his immediate disposal. "The four kingdoms are in a time of peace. To what can that peace be attributed?"
"To the might of Atlas, sir!" Ciel declared, the pride in her tone growing fiercer still.
"Indeed?"
"Indeed, sir; Atlas possesses the strongest military on the planet; every other kingdom is well aware that they could not hope to stand against us in war and that we would side against any nation that went rogue and attempted to disrupt the state of peace for its own selfish ends. We guarantee the security of all other nations against their neighbours and the grimm, and thus, we preserve peace between them."
"Even so," General Ironwood said softly, "there are those who regard this peace we are enjoying as a natural state of affairs, a status quo that will sustain itself, but I see a fragile thing that must be protected from all those who would disturb it." He turned around, seeming sterner now, and older than before. "Those like the White Fang. Last month, a train carrying weapons, munitions, and a large number of prototype models of our new heavy support mech, the Paladin, were stolen travelling south from Cold Harbour to Vale. It was far from the first military or Schnee Dust Company train to be hit on that line. I hope I don't have to tell you how dangerous advanced weaponry could be in the hands of terrorists, and when combined with the quantities of stolen dust… the possibilities verge upon horrific.”
“Is that why you brought the fleet, sir?” Rainbow asked.
"I brought the fleet because I'm not about to leave you hanging, Dash," General Ironwood replied. "Nor any other of my students."
"I appreciate that, sir."
"Not everyone does," General Ironwood muttered.
"Sir, are you referring to Atlas students or to elements of the Valish authorities?" Ciel asked.
"There are some," General Ironwood said, "who feel that my coming here was a mistake. That the presence of our forces will only endanger fear and panic."
"They'll panic more if the shooting starts with no one to help them, sir," Rainbow declared. "Sir, you asked what we see when we look out the window. I… well, Ciel already stole all of my best lines, but I see… well, to be honest, General, I see you’re ready for a fight, but apart from that… I see protection. I see a… I don't know exactly what it is, sir, but it's saying 'nothing's going to hurt you tonight.'"
"You make it sound almost like a mother," General Ironwood observed.
"Isn't Atlas mother to us all, sir?" Rainbow asked.
"A good point," General Ironwood conceded, "and I hope that others come to see our presence in the way you do, at least a little."
"They will, sir," Rainbow said loyally, "and in the meantime…"
General Ironwood looked at her. "Go on, Dash."
"Sir, I know I screwed up with this Blake Belladonna stuff," Rainbow said. She bowed her head. "I know that… that I let you down, even though I said I'd never do that. But if there's anything I can do then you can consider me volunteered for it."
"You haven't let me down, Dash," General Ironwood said. "You made a mistake; there's a difference. I never expected you to make the right call every time; granted, the call you made was a pretty damn bad one." Rainbow winced as General Ironwood continued, "But as far as I'm concerned, everything I saw in you when I got you that place at Canterlot is still there."
Rainbow swallowed. "Thank you, sir."
“That said,” Ironwood continued, “there is still the question of your punishment.”
Rainbow swallowed. “Of course, sir.”
“Professor Goodwitch tells me that you're doing well here, excelling in leadership and combat,” General Ironwood said. “Miss Belladonna just forgave you. But you still screwed up, and while that in itself is forgivable - there hasn’t been a student in the academies who hasn’t messed up at some point - our mistakes are meaningless if we don’t learn from them. Which is why, for starting an unsanctioned fight with a fellow student, you’re going to be cleaning out the mess hall and the kitchen here on the Valiant this weekend. And I expect them to be spotless.”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
"In addition to Rainbow Dash’s offer, you may consider my services at your disposal also," Ciel declared. "I believe that if Penny and Twilight were still here, they would say the same."
General Ironwood did not reply, not at once. "There are some," he said, "who think that you're too young to get involved in this business, being mere children as you are. They say that you deserve to remain children."
"Would these be the same individuals who think that people should be more afraid of us than of the White Fang?" Ciel asked in an arch tone.
"Their opinions are not ours, but that doesn't mean that they should be dismissed out of hand," General Ironwood informed them.
"If you say so, sir," Rainbow replied. "May I show you something, sir?"
General Ironwood raised one eyebrow curiously. "Go ahead."
Rainbow got out her scroll and shuffled through her photos until she found one of Scootaloo, taken on their first camping trip with Apple Bloom, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, and Rarity. Scootaloo beamed up out of the scroll as she sat in front of the campfire. Rainbow put the scroll down on General Ironwood's desk.
General Ironwood glanced down at it briefly. "Adorable," he remarked dryly. He looked again. "This is the girl you mentor, isn’t it?"
“Yes, sir,” Rainbow said. “She’s twelve years old, and she's the one who deserves a childhood. She's the one who deserves to be sheltered from all this. Like Ciel's little brothers. They're the kids here. We chose this, sir, and we're ready."
"I agree, sir."
General Ironwood straightened up and handed Rainbow her scroll back. "I admit that part of me is a little worried to hear you say that. A part of me would like to keep you out of harm's way as much as possible. But another part of me is very proud of both of you."
Rainbow puffed out her chest a little; she hoped it wasn't too noticeable, but at the same time, she just couldn't help herself. "Thank you, sir," she said quietly.
"If you want to help, then start by working on Miss Belladonna," General Ironwood ordered. "As you noted, she knows more than she's letting on, information that could help us get a handle on this thing. You're probably the best placed to find out what she knows."
"Understood, sir," Ciel said.
General Ironwood nodded. "That's all. Dismissed."
"Yes sir!"
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...We have a mini-Qrow in our midst.
The pony and the cat are going on a stroll to fight a lethal and determined terrorist group with a team of two only.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well this can only end in blood and tears... And maybe fire.
Just hope it's not Sunset and Blake's blood.
So Sunset did figure out just how "random" her teams selection was. Called she would be too suspicious about the deck-stacking.
Also, its nice she's willing to trust them with half of her secret.
Anyone else read the X-Wing books back in the day? Because this sounds familiar and I love it.
I also really enjoy Rainbow's characterization in this. She's professional and soldierly, but in that cocksure flyboy/spec ops kind of way... which is exactly what she is. It fits her to a T.
9323185
Sure did. Enjoyed 'em to a tee, too.
Oh look it's BlackSun.
This was an absolutely fantastic chapter in many ways, including that this is your biggest single chapter yet. Well done.
First, I must offer my compliments with the first section, Rainbow Dash and her team go through Atlas and meet with Ironwood. Just a few chapters ago, we were going through the land of Mistral and its culture, and now we're doing the same (albeit not in Mantle) as we see Atlas ideology and this story's first live depiction and introduction of General James Ironwood, with just as much thought and insight as there has been for Mistral and Lady Nikkos. Once again, my compliments to the author.
And for the great highlight of this chapter: Sunset has revealed her magic to her Team at last. Aside from the many future ideas, opportunities and paths this big reveal will open up for the dynamic of the story and their group (there will be a lot of questions), including her eventual approach to Ozpin, all of those can wait for now. I believe the most important gemstone from this moment is how much it means for Sunset, what a big step this was for her. She opened up a big part of herself to her friends, which she has never done before. She trusted them with it. If Laughter is what brings the fun and joy among friends, Honesty is what builds the trust between them.
And that is why this represents a big step for Sunset, with one of the virtues, one of the Elements, of Friendship. Another major step in learning Friendship and one day gaining the greatest of friends. To becoming a better person and a better pony.
And with Rainbow Dash and Blake, it appears that she will soon be learning more of Loyalty first hand as well. I wonder..... when she comes to embrace these virtues, (with more of Generosity and Kindness as well), when she learns the first five of the Elements, is that not when the Sixth Element is unlocked? Where Sunset may finally unlock Magic?
smooth progress and there is always something to look forward to.
I've been looking forward to this.
Chapter 48: Blake throws her hat in the ring.
All joking aside, I like the character work going on here, the development of the relationships with and between the Atlesians.
Sunset's probably still a bit bitter that Rainbow Dash thinks she's behind that Anon-a-miss thing. Not only was it gratuitously evil, it was clumsy. If she'd done it, she would have covered her tracks better.
Great story. I look forward to future interaction between the Faunus. I remember that chameleon girl said she was in love with Blake. So BlackSun seems like an interesting potential pairing. Not that i'd mind TwiSunset. But in crossovers I tend to prefer crossover couples. I think most people do.
Im guessing Sun, and possibly Velvet could play some role to being Faunus.
9322900
Ever heard of army of two?
Has everyone forgotten about the frog in this chapter? Please let the frog live there is too many people in that room to not notice it.
Edit: I mean don't let it get trampled under feet.
9323185
The first and pretty much only Star Wars EU books I ever read (I think the only one I read was Truce at Bakura), yes Rogue and Wraith Squadron were what I was thinking of with the Wonderbolts as well - that, and it was a way that Rainbow Dash could simaltaneously aspire to join a squadron of pilots and be training to be a huntress.
9324011
It makes me very happy to know that those books were the inspiration, and it just fits so perfectly in this world.
And now all I can think of is Wes Jansen and that fricking Ewok joke in Wraith Squadron. "Yub yub, Commander."
.... hot damn.😍
okay I thought of a Blake and Sunset ship name, distorted sunset, false sunset and sunspots. tried to focus on the fact on that both Blake and Sunset have something to hide
9324011
When I looked up Skygraspers, all I got was a bunch of Gundam and mecha related pics.
I Just want to point out that Jaune is more right than he knows when he calls Sunset a Magical Girl. Sunset fits the definition of a Type 0 Magical Girl to a tee, at least according to Rika from " Aporia".
Part of what throws off Jaune (and Sunset) is that most people when they think of a Magical Girl they think of Types I-III. To quote Rika again
This is a very interesting tidbit. Pyrrha absolutely does not fit this declaration. However our resident pony certainly fits. Plus having previously lived in Atlas, getting this information would be easy for Ironwood. I wonder how this will affect this in the future
So... What happened to the frog?
When, Immediately when he returns.
and then closed behind her with a hydraulic hiss,
Magic is, too an extent, magic
1. Meant to be a full stop.
2. To.
Yessss, Sunset, yes. Continue thinking like that, let the SunLight shine forth!
Is that a stab at RWBY Chibi I see there?
9382137
No, I really think it sounds like a cop show like Castle or Instinct or something that would be on ABC or Fox
9382137
You mean the sketches with Sun and Neptune? They're canonically junior detectives. That's what they did when RWBY went off to Mountain Glenn in Vol. 2.
9468701
I know. Was trying to be a bit funny.
Penny does act like a weirdo, but I'm surprised that Sunset already reached the conclusion that she's a robot. That's a pretty far leap. Sure, the swords on wires is pretty bizarre, but it fits pretty well in the world of Semblances and Mechashifting. Even though Sunset is paranoid, it seems like she would be less likely to come to that realization, since as an Equestrian she's less likely to turn to engineering technology as a solution or explanation to something. Doesn't this mean that even more people should have been able to see through Penny's guise? What's going to happen when she gets in front of live television audiences for the Vytal Festival tournament? I suspect that Scipio just wants to hurry up to the part where people can address the issue of transhumanism. I thought it was odd when Scipio retconned thiings so that Penny's team knew about her true nature, but I realized it was the best way to tell a story with Penny until the show finally introduces us to her "pit crew" in Atlas.
9323185
Agreed, even though Rainbow Dash is part of Equestria's armed services, I wasn't sure how a care-free character like her was going to be incorporated into a world like Remnant, let alone the Atlesian military. But Scipio really knocked it out of the park. I believe that part of what makes it really work is that there's not a constant parallel trying to be drawn between the two versions of Rainbow Dash. For instance, there's no point where Scipio tried to work in the ability to live inside of a cloud.
9553295
I mean, I thought she was a robot right away, even without the wire swords when i first saw her on RWBY.
I have often found myself coming back to this chapter for Sunset bringing her team in on Magic. Its a very amusing chapter for that alone, and I will often come back solely for that segment. Ruby calling Sunset a Witch and Jaune bringing up "Magical Girl" (after she stole his comics no less, so she absolutely knows what he means) is delightful, yet so is Pyrrah's reaction (particularly as it is contrastingly nonvocal).
However, I have skimmed, if not skipped, the first part of this chapter as the Might of Atlas arrives. There is a lot of good, juicy detail in those segments, and reading it for those details was a delight. Also Rainbows comments to Winter always entertain, even before the reread. But the sheer detail of the Might that not only Ciel talks about, but that which even Dash can identify (and questioning its necessity) is especially pleasing. I think I didn't give the details much thought to memory, but I am pleased they're all there for what they say about the characters themselves. I do have a better picture of the world at large at this point after the reread, I must say.
I particularly love this bit, especially with the hand on shoulder and her sheepish retreat of it.
The problem with big military power is that it creates fear, sooner or later you'' have to use it. Probably for an attack. And the wounds take long to heal.
It's that never undying part of me that ships Sunset and Twilight. Hope there'll be some ship tease.
Didn’t Lady Nikos give Sunset a sword instead of a knife?
10490854
That was a change in the rewrite, which hasn't quite caught up to this chapter yet.
And there’s the dressing down for Rainbow Dash that we’ve been waiting almost two months for.
Always wondered why why Ozpin and his circle never done more to curb the racism. It's a wound that fester and weakens the body. And it's fertile ground for their enemies.
Anyway good chapter. Though, still say the "Patriotism" should be brought down in-universe. Probably by some World View breaking event. There is just too much build-up to waste. So there's only been hints than any deeds.
The Thunder Child, huh? Is that a War of the Worlds reference? If so, I don't have hopes for its long term survival, even if it's as heroic as its namesake
I wonder if keeping Penny a secret from the public is going to be a mistake.
Ah wuh... what?
10843717 That is one Tartarus of a way to assess dominance.
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Engender?