Chapter 18: Fight or Flight

XxX

Weiss

"I'll arrive in 5 minutes, sister. See you soon." Weiss smiled widely at her phone, heartbeat accelerating. Winter was almost there and - she looked around at her team - she might actually be impressed by them. The others had taken her wishes for propriety and decorum seriously, it appeared. Either that or Ruby had forgotten how to speak. Either way, it was the most silence Weiss had enjoyed in a noncombat scenario for months. It was almost unnerving, how quiet it was. Too quiet. She nodded at her partner.

"Winter's almost here. Are you ready?"

Ruby nodded, smiling slightly.

"Yep! And I'm really looking forward to finally meeting her! Anyone who you give this much hype to has to be cool."

"Don't worry, Ruby," she replied. "My sister goes far beyond 'cool'."

White and black glyphs spun into existence around them before Ruby could respond. A few moments later, Winter dove into the black glyphs, summoned wings prominently out as the momentum redirecting sigils aided her flip. She landed in a textbook three point landing, wings flashing into nonexistence. A moment later, she stood and faced them, giving the members of the team a once-over. Weiss's heart leapt into her throat-

"Acceptable. You had information for me?"

Ruby nodded, stepping forward slightly.

"We did -we do. Weiss?"

"On it," Weiss responded, gathering her Aura before freezing the spaces beneath the doors and in the hinges. Blake stepped to the window and closed it as Weiss froze the sill. Winter hummed slightly as she examined the defense.

"Rudimentary but effective. You might, however, wish to add something like this."

She flicked her rapier twice, rows of tiny white glyphs spinning into place along the ice. Weiss's eyes widened. Of course, the glyphs blocked force of all kinds - pressure and sound included. Satisfied with her addition, Winter turned back to them.

"What do you have?"

"We have traced the dust thefts in Vale back to Roman Torchwick," Weiss began. "Additionally, we've uncovered evidence that Torchwick and the White Fang are a single faction. He has been observed ordering them around at several of his operations, including but not limited to our altercations with him at the docks and in the warehouse district."

Winter nodded.

"This much accords with rumors we'd received, but it's nice to have it confirmed. It is, however, not what I came for. You have something about an inside man?"

"Yes-well, we have evidence suggesting the presence of one," Weiss continued. "The first altercation at the docks was against Torchwick in a prototype Atlesian Paladin. Unless you're aware of any thefts, that means he must have gotten it from the inside. Additionally, Torchwick heavily implied having a friendship or partnership with some sort of governmental higher-up multiple times, and all but confirmed the rumor of Atlesian rehabilitation programs."

"Leaving behind for now your ability to fight and win against a Paladin, is this all you have? It's useful but nevertheless insufficient evidence to mount any specific case. I will however keep my eyes open, and it does fill in a few gaps."

Ruby stepped forward.

"Have any SDC ships been stolen recently? Or sold?"

Winter hummed for a moment.

"Not that I know of, no. Why?"

"Torchwick was flying one during the docks raid. Looked like a pretty new-model Bullhead. Any idea where it could have come from?"

Winter's eyes widened.

"That does change things. I'll need to look much deeper into this. Thank you."

She turned towards the horizon, staring off into the distance. Blake spoke up after a few seconds.

"So, what happens now? You go back to Ironwood and look at what we've given? And we just sit and wait?"

Winter turned back to face them, smiling slightly. A series of glyphs swirled into existence behind her.

"Hardly. I was, however, considering the next step. I believe I've come up with an answer."

"So?"

Winter's next words stopped Weiss's breath cold.

"I want to test your potential as a team. I will attack you in five minutes precisely. Win."

She launched herself up and over the side of Beacon's cliffs as Weiss stood there, stockstill. After a second, Ruby tapped Weiss's shoulder.

"Well, that just happened. So, Weiss...what does your sister do? How does she fight?"

Weiss closed her eyes, shaking off the sudden rush of excited fear that threatened to overtake her.

"She fights with a semblance similar to mine. Glyphs allowing for force redirection and battlefield control. She can also summon simulacra of foes she's beaten, either in whole or in part. You saw her Nevermore wings on the way down, and she has countless more like that. She's incredibly strong, fast, and precise."

Ruby nodded.

"So, we can't overpower, outmaneuver, or overrun her. Does she have any weaknesses?"

Weiss's eyes widened.

"I can't just answer that!" she responded, tone scandalized.

"Fine, does she have any habits we can exploit?"

Weiss paused, thinking back to the fights she'd seen her sister in. Not many were losing ones.

"She can sometimes overcommit to engagements she thinks she's winning? And she definitely likes to have fun with her fights. She won't end us quickly. Also, she cares deeply about testing my strength."

A smile flashed onto Ruby's face as she turned to her sister.

"Qrow-tocol?"

Yang grinned back.

"Sounds like it."

Ruby turned back to Weiss and Blake.

"Alright. Yang and I have practice fighting this sort of opponent. So here's what we're going to do..."

XxX

Ruby

Ruby glanced back at her team as they took their positions. She absently spun her Crescent Rose in and out of scythe form as the mental countdown in her head ticked lower, joined absently by the calming voice of her aura.

Ten, nine, eight, seven - ready yourself, Rose. Feel yourself within. Three, two, one - Ruby readied her weapons. The others did the same, glyphs spinning up beneath each of them. Ruby scanned the horizon. Nothing. Nothing but the glint of the sun off of a silver cloud-

"Incoming, 9 o clock!"

White glyphs shimmered into place on that side as an ice wall grew to augment them. A second later, the ice wall shivered, vibrating in place. Weiss winced as white glyphs appeared around the wall, blue lights visible from the other side.

"Hard hit, but not hard enough. She's probing us. Maneuvering."

"Got it. Smoke."

Weiss flicked her rapier twice, black and white glyphs spinning up and forming a ring. Blake smashed a Smoke dust crystal on the ground. Ruby nodded to her partner as Blake and Yang vanished within the growing cloud.

"You ready for this?"

Weiss smiled, unease slowly leaving her face as the cloud of smoke engulfed her.

"Only one way to find out."

Ruby grinned at the now enshrouded Weiss before launching herself into a spin, rose petals blurring forward, reflecting off of the first glyph and sending her on a path through the outskirts of the fight. Nothing left now to do but win.

XxX

Yang

Her gauntleted fist snapped out, smashing through another glowing Beowolf. It's eyes flickered in surprise as it dissolved. Yang sighed as she returned to a fighting stance, eyes scanning the cloud for any signs of unexpected glyphs or the telltale light of Winter's summoning. Nothing. Whatever she was doing, it was subtle-

A blue-white rapier hummed past her face, stabbing into the ground before dissolving into particles of light. Yang grinned, launching herself towards the rapier's source. The cloud parted, revealing Weiss's sister standing in a small clearing in the smoke, facing the other direction. Her hands were outstretched slightly, blue glyphs playing back and forth on the ground like a tiny Auric dance troupe. Yang smiled slightly. Guess that power took concentration. She chambered her fists, lunging forward, firing a shell to speed herself up once she was in unreactable range - a hand parried hers.

"Reasonable skill and technique," Winter said, head turned halfway towards her, glyphs flickering on her arms for an instant before vanishing. "As expected from the team's CQC expert." Ice crept onto Yang's wrist. "But, overall, insufficient."

Ember Cilica hissed slightly, water steaming off the hot metal. Yang inhaled slightly before firing a shell forward, spinning into a forearm strike which was deflected just as easily as the punch. The followup elbow even more simply, the Fire Dust shell which launched it spiraling off into the air above the cloud. Winter looked disappointed, glyphs snapping into place on her body.

"I must say, I expected more from you. Are you only capable in life or death situations?"

Yang grinned, counting down in her head and mentally positioning herself, foot sliding slightly back into a fighting stance.

"First, would it be the worst thing for a huntress to save their energy for saving lives? Second, Weiss wasn't kidding about you." She could hear a faint whistle, moving very rapidly towards them. Perfect. "You are overconfident."

Winter's eyes widened, glyphs blurring up around them. A moment later, Weiss blurred into the clearing, rapier point clashing with Winter's, ice and fire bursting into steam as the sudden attack pushed Winter back. Yang began walking forward slowly.

Weiss and Winter's blades danced back and forth, glyphs flashing into and out of existence as Winter's gradually began outspeeding Weiss's. After a few moments, Weiss was clearly on the retreat, Winter's greater technique and Aura reserves enough to overwhelm her. Yang picked up speed, only a few meters away as two dust bullets slammed into her back. She mentally sent a high-five Ruby's way as her eyes flashed red, fist and hair igniting as her empowered strike snapped straight into a block from Winter's off hand. Yang disengaged before launching into a blistering series of attacks, making sure to sync her rhythm up with Weiss's attacks. Soon enough, Winter's defenses and ripostes fell into that rhythm. Yang and Weiss met eyes for a moment before redoubling their assault, blade and fists moving in tandem, keeping up a consistent, predictable rhythm. Winter spun and weaved in and out of their strikes, her eyes looking almost bored.

"Is this all you have for me, Sister?"

Weiss smiled back silently. A moment later, off-beat from her and Weiss's strikes, Ruby launched from the cloud of smoke, scythe spinning down to strike at Winter's unprotected back. The scythe's tip stabbed into Winter's aura, white light flickering at the base of her spine. Winter tensed, turning for an instant to face Ruby, losing focus on the fight for just a breath. It was all they needed. Yang's hands snapped out, locking Winter's wrists as Weiss slammed the hilt of her rapier into her sister's blade. Winter's rapier, falling in what felt like slow motion, dropped onto the ground. Yang and Weiss flashed a quick look at each other before Weiss raised her rapier to Winter's throat.

"Surrender?" Her voice was uncertain.

Winter smiled thinly, faint glyphs flickering in and out of existence as the cloud of Dust smoke began to drift into the clearing.

"You do seem to have me disarmed and at swordpoint. Do you think that means I am defeated?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly, a faint white light glowing over more and more of her body as glyphs shimmered into existence over more and more of her skin.

"Or do you think that means I'm going to have to take this fight seriously?"

The glyphs on her body flickered and pulsed, for a moment, a wave of force launching the three around her back. She tensed, hands shifting on her rapier as blue wings formed on her shoulders.

"It is impressive that you made me deploy a contingency, though."

Yang grinned, beckoning her forward, trying her best to channel her uncle.

"Show us what you've got, then."

Winter's smile turned into a scowl. She launched forward, wings blurring her into full speed. An instant later, she garroted herself on the Aura-hardened ribbon Blake had thrown into their path and collapsed to the ground. Blue Grimm summons flashed into existence surrounding her before RWBY could capitalize.

"Make that ... two contingencies."

Yang raised her hands, rechambering her gauntlets, muscles tensing to jump into combat once more when -

"On second thought, I suspect your headmaster would prefer I leave the grounds...unbroken. Your performance has been satisfactory." The summons vanished as Winter stood, banishing the smoke around them with a flick of her wrists.

"So you'll help us?" Ruby asked, grinning widely.

"I will, yes. I may need some time to work out the precise logistics, but I can promise you that we will be following this as deep as it goes." Winter paused for a moment, smiling to herself. "Give me a few days. I will have further instructions for you then." She paused, turning to face Weiss. "And, sister? You've done well here. I'm glad to see that. If you'd like, we can talk more about your progress in a few days, perhaps over a light meal?"

Weiss nodded hurriedly.

"Yes, sister, I would like that very much. And thank you."

With that, Winter left as quickly as she'd arrived, vaulting off the cliffside as her wings formed around her. Yang turned back to the others.

"So, I think that went about as well as we could have expected? Also, Weiss, I...schnee where you get it from."

XxX

Pyrrha

Her feet carried her forward without conscious thought as she forced back tears. It wasn't supposed to have been like this! They were supposed to be partners, to be friends, not to be at each other's throats! All she'd wanted was - was - was to keep Jaune from making the same mistakes she'd made, from building walls so strong they kept anyone from fixing you when you broke, from-she stopped her thoughts. Wallowing wasn't productive. Her legs sped up, carrying her towards the practice arenas. If she needed to be better, she'd just have to be better. This fight had been her fault. So she'd fix it, be the warrior her family and friends and team needed her to be. So she'd train and train, til her muscles and aura broke and healed and broke again. That'd fix it. Then she'd know the words to say, the things to feel, the emotions to show and hide to make everyone around her happy.

She turned the final corner into the empty arena rooms, deftly slotting her scroll into one of the slots for agility training, dialing every setting up to the maximum but leaving the projectiles blunted and wooden. Today of all days, she needed a challenge. She settled back into a fighting stance, subconsciously channeling her semblance into her armor as the first wave of wooden spheres fired out of the wall. She could feel herself settling into the rhythm of parries and dodges necessary to weave through each and every ball, but it wasn't enough. Her thoughts kept being drawn back to the words spoken minutes before, so she slowed herself down, removing her aura from her armor, did whatever she could to distract herself for a second - the rapid fire of wood suddenly cut out. Pyrrha looked up at the entrance to the training ring, startled. The silver-haired student from earlier - Mercury, she remembered, gave her a slight nod.

"You looked like you weren't getting what you needed out of this one. Any interest in trying your luck against someone with a bit more bite to them?"

She paused for a moment before a smile found its way onto her face. A good fight, against someone unafraid of her? Sounded like just what she needed about now.

As the two of them slotted their scrolls into one of the other arenas, the man turned to her.

"Why the wood? It didn't seem like you were at any risk of being hit, so why make life easier on yourself?"

Pyrrha paused before forcing out a chuckle.

"Oh, no sense in taking risks, you know? My team's not here to help if I get injured."

"Training without your team? Seems like a bad idea," Mercury responded as they both took their positions. "You never know when being alone might make the difference between death and life." He sprung forward, spinning to aim a kick at her chest.

A/N:

Uh, so, yeah, I am alive, whoops, that 'once a week updating' sure was a thing that was supposed to happen. I'm not going to make any promises about not vanishing besides 'I'm really going to try to not have this happen again', and I will say that the next 2 arcs are pretty much fully plotted out at this point (one should hope so, I've had 18 months to do it).

Storywise:

RWBY vs Winter: Yeah, Winter is an absolute force on the battlefield. I've always felt that it's unusual that summoning was more of a special attack than anything else in the show proper, and I've updated fighting styles accordingly. Also, no prizes for guessing where Winter's planning to take the team.

Pyrrha and Mercury: Cliffhanger? Nahhhhhhhhhhh. Also, can you spell 'Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms'?

Please review!