Welcome to Desert Oasis

[Upcoming Season 10]

A desert can be a harsh place to live. So it can be questionable of (Why?) someone though, that it will be a good idea to settle there. Maybe it was for its defense advantage or some hidden secrets spoken only on old tales around a campfire. Maybe it was from the wast distance from anyone else who not daring to accepted the harsh rules of desert. Or, maybe it was just a stubbornness of humans who found a trick or two, that allow them to call this place a home. And so-- a kingdom of Vacuo survived to those days the test of time. Which is a bold statement; because even if the supposed dark clouds on the far horizon cannot be seen, they presence can definitive be feel deep in the heart.

One way or another, a Crow Branwen an elite huntsman, was sitting at round table at some room or hall; maybe a tavern, inn, a gild, or (Whatever)… He was sitting whit a face expression that he is in a pinch or another trouble that require a careful approach. That trouble was not coming from the glass of water in his hand, but from his companion on the table.

Because on the opposite side sits a Winter Schnee [F] a current 'Winter Maiden', and she was unhappily unfriendly, radiating instant hostility to not just the man siting on other side, but as if to the world itself or in general. On closely inspection a train eye can see that one can described her as if she was siting on needles. As if something, was eating her sanity during those few days and it was not related to her family. (Especially not related to her sorrow about losing her younger sister during certain evacuation.)

Maybe the huntsman hinted that she is feeling something related to her powers of maiden or even further out of the plane of regular mortals, and in order to easy her mood, (and maybe brainstorm some ideas or plan), he (somehow) managed to drag her out. But… to say that he heavy failing on his objective was a light assumption.

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A break-point in this misery to watch, arrived when he felt a somehow familiar feeling. He averted his head to glanced at (something?) near him. The woman with a frown, followed his gaze and got even more restless when she saw something like a distortion in space. Soon (this abnormality) grown into red-black vortex. Crow on spot realized that this was actually an effect of her sister semblance, that allow her to create a personal gate-way between two places. Somehow he had a conflicted feelings about seeing his sister from a bandits camp. Especially when his current companion across table, (not on date by the way), can possibly blow up and pick a fight, the second she walk in.

Of course the (crowd?) around noticed that red-black thing too and it caused an uproar.

But the chaos begging the moment when a group of four yelping teenagers (or adolescents), practically fell out of it, as if they all tripped on the doorstep. [June Arc, Ren Lie, Nora Valkyrie and Pyrrha Nikos in middle of the group hug.]

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Everyone around just stared whit eyes wide open at that event in disbelief, questioning whats going on.

But as fast as this group make a pile on the floor whit a choral 'Uff!'; the blonde guy suddenly realize something important as he in slight alarmed panic raised his head to shout. "Oh no!-- Move!! Or the others will fall on us!" It was a call on time, because they barely managed to escape from the landing zone by barrel-roll, jump out, or similar.

They successfully avoided being hit by the next duo that fallen out of the vortex. [Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee] Those two, were carrying a ridiculously big travel bag on they back. Someone can speculate, that this bags were made from a tablecloth wrapped around a huge pile of loot or personal stuff like clothing, to make a ball. Then using the remains of the corners of that tablecloth to tied it up around the girls upper torso; so it look like a backpack. (Or it was a giant leaves knitted together.) As expected this duo also tripped on the doorstep and fall out. They also yelped and because of the bags; both of them lost they footing and were falling forward.

But this time, there was Pyrrha the public champion of arenas, whose muscles memory kick in, when the emergency order to clear the landing zone arrived. She swung her body in so elegant way, that she practically got up on one foot and stepped out of the hitting line. So, when Weiss was falling out of the vortex, flying around her, (Yelping), Pyrrha already stood on her feet. As (prodigy to be a young champion of Remnant) she subconsciously reach out her arm to catch the (falling) lady. As Pyrrha make a full turn around the horizontal axis; She swung that bag (and the lady), in 180 degree. As the red haired girl stole the white haired girl from that fall; the bag just drooped on the floor and roll alone, while the princes ended up in the champion arms.

The young white lady was in blush as she was confused, looking from bottom up at her savior who had her secured in his arm (hug). Weiss was in shock... No!-- She was charmed and defenseless, like a proper lady in the arms of hero. "Well, that's a proper rescue." [Told me about getting an extra points for a performance.]

And we shall not forget that Ruby hit the floor and make a single (roll?). But the bag rolled over her, leaving her behind. He rolled away, until it crashed somewhere and stop.

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Of course June, seeing that flawless (rescue of a lady in trouble) performance make a whine as sound of defeat. But, he was quick to make a warning shout as he realize that they are not done. "Quick!! Prepare yourself, for the heavy one!!"

This shout alarmed the rest of the people around. Someone from them were reaching for they weapons... But… as nothing was happening… And the second of stiff silence were echoing through the hall... people starts to be visibly nervous. So once again, June realized something and slightly panicked. "Wait! She did hinted something about bribing our way out,-- but she doesn't said anything about;-- that she itself, will be the payment?!…" He was clearly overthinking things. But even if he didn't say the details, people can make a quick assumption of what he is trying to say. "Do she intended, to do this sacrifice for the team, from the beginning? But-- but somehow, she managed to keep her smiling mask on?"

As the team of adventurers who just arrived got uneasy; from the portal finally pop-out another group. [Neopolitan, Yang Xiao Long and Raven Branwen] Of course Neo was undercover changing only her dual color of eyes and half-side on hairs to match together. Raven had her white grim like face mask back on her face and Yang grinned wildly whit her dragon red eyes as if she had a blast level of fun.

This trio, dint yelp when the they trip over the doorstep. Even though Yang had her arms around the neck of the other two, the trio were accustomed to this type of (entry onto the scene). As if they were jumping from roof of the building down to the street, they in sync move one leg forward, and touch down flawlessly in nearly crouch down position. They stopped with a bent knees and in mere seconds they stood up… And as if the muscle memory kick in even for them, they (as a trio) make a (cool?) or (bad-ass?) (entry onto the scene) pose.

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A silence was ready to make an echo in the (hall?)…

But, it was interrupted by John, who just stated the obvious. "Okay that was a definitively a cool one. But next time, tell us ahead that you wanting to steal the show."

As seconds passed during the blonde guy speech, the shock from unexpected interrupting the state of boredom, was dispersing; some people around finally realized that the one in the grim mask is a really bad news. The uproar in the crowd was a clear indication that there will be an explosion of emotions and the fight was inevitable.

But… Winter Schnee, was in her own turmoil of emotions. She was previously like the one who are sitting on needles. In that state she saw that distortion in space that (caused?) a pain in her hearth. She saw drop out a group that shall be marked as lost in battle. Then her hart nearly stopped working when a certain black-white duo in battle skirts drop out. Then her eyes nearly colored itself in red blood veins when something unexpected that belong into a (wanted criminal poster) exited the gate-way. At that moment she somehow loosed her cool [cold] posture, (or nerves), when she clearly ignored all the others people who (raised from the dead?) and focused on the final trio. One was a young (brown haired?) girl, definitely whit a big label 'Heavy suspicious'. Second was the blonde shotgun gauntlets user whit face expression as if she finally got battle thirsty insane. And the third one was an obviously that wanted bandit. Fully armed and dangerous. Maybe the white woman mistaken the already spoken up words and stuff that happened, to think that her baby sister is pursued by this-- (menace)… Maybe she just snapped from all that stress, sorrow, anxiety and such… But she succumbed to her anger and let the wrath control her body. She risen her tightly clenched fist and shout: "That's enough!" --She slam her fist onto the table so hard that a cold shock wave erupted from that hit and went across the entire hall, cooling down hot heads. But not hers. She stand up from her seat, knocking the chair back, and she draw her cord like blade toward the black haired woman. "What she!!??-- doing here!!?"

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Qrow stand up to calm down the frosty freezing-boiling head. But his intention failed instantly, when she was just too much cold toward him. He dint even finish half of his line, when she mercilessly swung her blade toward him. She hits him, and his aura barely protected him from being sliced. But, he was knocked back and fall back onto the floor.

John run, and stood up in Winter way towards her black haired enemy, making his plea. "Why are some people so quick to jump into conclusions!!? Its not what you think. So please!, everyone!, just calm down!!"

On contrast, Yang chuckle in amusement, because from her perspective, the scene must look differently, or at last amusing. "Somehow I starting to understand that sometime, everyone need a roasting scolding." [talking-to]

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But the white woman, whit a battle ready posture, already approach the blonde guy and stop in front of him, staring at him whit eyes full of wrath. She spoke up a single warning. "Step-- aside!…" She even leaked her powers of Winter maiden as her eyes lit up whit magical flames from overflowed power. [Damn, when they said: 'She had a fire in her eyes.' I though they meant it figuratively.]

John, staring at her, froze like a deer blinded by the lights of hasty approached car. He awake only when Pyrrha called his name. Then he whit a silly expression escaped to the side.

Black haired woman on other side, reach for the hand of her daughter that hung down from her shoulder and push it away. As she got out from the hug, she start walking toward the white counter part. She reach for her mask and push it up from her face to reveal her cold stone face and her even colder red eyes. She focus her strict stare on the white one as if she wanted to say: 'With (Who?) do you picking a fight?, restless little girl.' But instead she spoke slowly and dangerously. "That little trick of yours, will not grant you any useful advantage. Not against me, and not against Salem." On a short moment, her own powers of Spring maiden manifested when her eyes lit up whit magical fire. "Its exactly the opposite. Its the curse of death. That even if (You!) escape it. It will newer stop to feed on those who tried to stand too close to you. All those noble speeches and ideals will always crumble against the manifestation of the worst, that person can do. So tell me!:-- Did that sorrow from the earlier total defeat,-- (managed to eat away yours hart)?,-- the same way, it eat out mine?"

Not just the crowd around, but everybody there can see, how much the face of the Winter maiden twisted in (pain from the hart) as the Spring maiden words hits where it hurt the most. This pressure was clearly to much for her as her leg tried to make a step back. And as she was losing to that feelings, someone can notice that count-down of seconds; until she completely losses her nerves.

Even Crow who managed to stand up, give up on approaching Winter in her current state, but he was been on stand bay still trying to figure out what to do.

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Only now Ruby managed to raise her head from the ground and look around. The moment she see a certain huntsman whit a red cape as he had a standing on the side, she spring up to the air overflowed by joy. "Uncle Qrow!!" Within a mere seconds, she practically jumped on him, laughing, forcing herself into his arms and on his neck hugging him dearly in welcomed reunion.

It dint take him long to get down on his knee, to hug her back and to rest his head on her shoulder as she was resting her own on his shoulder.

The moment Weiss saw how nice is the hug between Ruby and Qrow, she got this urge to do the same whit her family member.

Pyrrha noticed that rising desire of the young maiden in her arms to rush to her big sister side. Without any word or hint from Schnee, Nikos released the white-haired girl from her arm, softly forcing her to stand on her own legs.

It was like a releasing a leash on a puppy; the younger sister runs toward Winter. The older sister was so out of her usual pace that she look like she having a mental break. Only after Weiss called her name she awake from her (blood thirst) and whit strict glance look-down at who calling at her. It take her second or two to realize who it was.

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This younger girl meanwhile entered Winters personal space. Younger sister body language told the older one, that this girl wanted to jump at her… engage in skin-ship... But the (ladies education) kick in and Weiss stop herself from doing it at the last step. Obviously she was not threaten by the strict glare or mystical fire from the eyes of maiden. Her eyes spoke clearly that the only thing she wants right now, is to hug her big sister. Hesitating to make the last and final step forward, she was nervously trampling on the spot, steeping the floor.

Seeing this pure expression the white haired woman melt, completely forgetting what she was doing and on subconscious level she opened herself, by rising her unarmed arm away from her torso. Like if goose lifting its wing to invite the duckling to hide under the wing. The next moment her little sister capture her torso in a warm hug. This acted as a shock therapy that (confused?) the winter maiden to the point she cut-out her maidens power output and drop her hostility.

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The black haired woman dint say a single word, or have any change on her cold stone expression. She turn her head to face the Yang-Neo duo. But her glance moved on that (still open?) portal behind those two. This duo noticed her focus and Neo instantly crossed her arms in 'Don't go in!' gesture. But Raven dint intended to go in, and just by simple hand gesture 'Move to side!' she moved them from her way. Skilled eye of observer can tell, that this current portal somehow bother her to the point, she decided to give it her attention. Normally, someone will expect, that the portal will shut-close itself the moment its don't needed, but this one was still open, like a proper gate-way. So she step in front of it and raised her hand toward it. It took some time of her, concentrating to overtake control over it and finally close. Then she look at her daughter. "This is where we parts our ways for the last time. Newer,-- call me again! Because I will not..."

Not letting her finish that sentence, Yang pushed herself on her mother torso and hug her mom tightly. Putting her head on mother shoulder, she closed her still red eyes. She spoke up kindly. "Even if I am muscle head, I am not a stupid. So stop pretending that you are okay! Because you are not." Rawer tried to push the blonde from her body, but was hit whit a bomb of fact. "I saw that girl.-- On the relic site.-- Dead... She was not just a decoy.-- She was my replacement.--"

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Raven eyes move to side to glance at her daughter. "Don't act like its more personal that it was. You make yours decision to stay out of our tribe." It was just a slight change in tune on her voice, but it was already a warning. "Now let me go!"

But the blonde grinned to the face of the danger. "Oh commo~on. Stop running from your family. Look!: I decide to adopt someone. Or, it was just happenstance to not let her go."

Blake, (from safe distance, leaned into the scene that was they dialog and), to state… No!, she need to explain that Yang hug the girl whit daddy issues into a big-sis like submission. Then crack her unstable ego whit a shotgun shell shot into the fire-cam. It was to start the camp-fire, but the girl in question faint off when she though, that it was a point-bank shot to finish her off, when she exhausted all her means to fight.

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As the black haired woman coldly glanced at the cat-girl, from her own gaze was not clear if she buying that story. Then she glanced at the Neo in disguise, who had this drop of cold sweet on her check on stressed up face as she was on purpose don't making any response reaction. But this girl dint aver her gaze from any eyes that look directly at her.

But once again the blonde daughter sound nearly crazy as she was still drilling under the skin of her mother whit her words. "Do you want to know her better? I can give you her resume as a certain sidekick for a (mobster from Valle) and once again a sidekick for an (apprentice of a dark queen)."

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Ravens examined the clothing of the little girl. "Our clan is not a summer camp. Especially not for a city rats."

And Yang still not let her go. "You had no obligation towards that tribe of forest potatoes. You just keep them around you as an excuse to at last pretend that they are your family. Its funny how much you failing to act as they matriarch. So stop pretending that you ignoring the rapid decrease of prey on hunting grounds of yours. Life of nomad turns you to be soft, if you thing, that you will spends yours last days peacefully, while starving to death. As if you trying to convince yourself, that yours claws become dull from your rising age."

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The leader of bandits dint say anything. But as her eyes move back to the young huntresses, there was this sinister glow on her pupils. "Do you mocking me?"

The same happens to the eyes of shotgun gutless user, as she opened them. (But none of them saw it.) "Then, why are you okay, by letting yours pray to escape?-- The murderer who spilled the blood of your tribe?-- When she back-stab the one, you treasured the most?"

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Raven stared at her daughter whit face expression of a murder, as to say; that she will slay the girl if she will continue to speak.

But that was like pouring a fuel into Yang's inner fire. She somehow feel how her mother feels, and it nearly seems that she is fully prepared to pick up a fight whit someone, who make that frostling from Atlas to get nervous. A truly display of insane determination. Or just a birth of fearless tank.

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Of course a breakthrough in the current situation come when an Oscar managed to arrive at the scene. He had been out of breath as he must run towards this place. Maybe he saw them from somewhere across the street or city. Or maybe as a reincarnation of Ozpin (or Ozma), he followed some kind of mysterious signal. He manage to look-up and saw those two maiden woman radiating displeasure, and be hold down by the duo of they younger family relatives. The boy itself looks like he was more exhausted that he should be. "Great, do you know the sayings: (Two cooks on the same yard, always fight.)?…"

It was like if he was talking to himself. "This comparison its not use for a duo that don't getting along from cultural standpoint..."

"Being a maiden do not guarantee that they will get along like a sisters..."

"What I am saying?! We are still one maiden less and we running out of the time!"

People around look at him as if he had gone crazy, and even Yang move herself a little bit to be able to look at Oscar. Her eyes pupils were still red.

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Nora take that literally as she got really hipped/fired-up. (I mean she got really, really fired up.) Shouting: "I am on it!!", she moved to the window or niche and lean out. As she intake a lot of air into her lungs, she released it all whit an unrivaled yelling of some trivial nonsense onto the entire city of Vacuo.

We shall stop for a moment and think what she actually done. On one side of coin, it sounded like an utter gibberish. But on other side of the coin, someone can recognize that she used a desert folk dialect. As if she was trying to say: ("Hey you!, the old fairy potato. If you wanna know why you brain is itching, get to us!") It even has this feeling like it was directed to certain someone, but it was more like the (insult version?) of that line.

If we will pay attention to the surrounding characters around, someone got this (Oh shit!!) expression as if they figured out (who) that crazy girl trying to lure out of the hole.

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And truly… it worked.

Everyone noticed how some heavy steps, hasty and angrily, approached that (fine) establishment.

Then the steps went silent...

The doorway whit closed door exploded as if they were, from other side, hit whit a heavy hammer. No! Part of the door frame that holds the doors knot and locking mechanisms, got obliterated from outside. As the door was still connected to the hinge, they swing-flow to full open... But as the door slam to the wall (or what ever was there), they bounced back to swing-fly back as fast as they got in… They dint stop on that missing part of door-frame as they normally shall… So, they slam/ crash onto the person who kick them out in the first place and they broke onto pieces… Once again the door bounce, (now only a quarter of it remains), went back into the room… until the last hit on the wall make the door holding mechanism to give up, as the hinges were thorn out of the door-frame.

After the noises of falling pieces of debris ceased, a person that looks like a macho dwarf like elderly woman whit a smith apron filled whit metal bending tools walked in. On her forehead was something like a pitch black smelt works eye glasses half mask. Plus she was holding something like too much heavy metal forging hammer. She was like a walking rock golem and she was ready to kick some asses… (Of course; in a bad-ass style.) "Who dare to have a such filthy tongue?"

The crazy orange girl as if it was a dance move, she swirl next to the granny whit a happy smile on her face and singing voice in her throat. "Its me, Nora~a♪"

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The (grumpy?) elder at first dint look at the girl. As she (chewed on empty?), she just swung the hammer to one hand and let the heavy head slide to floor, so it can rest there. Then she used her free hand to grab Nora shoulder and pull that girl closed to her face. Only then she turn her head to look at who speaking to her, pulling out one of her eyes as if she was staring through a magnifying glass. She dint bother to make a verbal response to confirm she recognized Nora, but instead she force reveal the girls skin to look at the veins like scars on her body. "What happened, that you got these?!"

As Yang for Raven and Weiss for Winter, even Nora don't fear this elderly woman. "Oh, in short: We needed to break into Atlas Cross Continental Transmit System. But they put this impenetrable force field, right in front of the access door. There was no time to waste, so~o, I voluntarily take the shot for the team and smashed my hammer onto it, drawing all that electric power onto my semblance. It was a fierce battle, but the power of my heart, conquered the cold technological obstacle, that was in our way to save the world." And she proudly raised her clenched fist.

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Once again the grandma chewed on empty, but her (grumpy?) expression dint change. "Hmm, I supposed you telling the truth." She let that girl and on spot she scolding slap Nora's shoulder by back of her palm, whit so force that can send a fragile person to fly. "How do you plan to catch a male whit it?"

But that dint change the happy expression on the orange girl. "I already have my prince." And she catch up on Ren's shoulder.

The boy in question make a proper posture of greetings to greet the elder in all honor that deserve. "For a record, I was just a son of the leader of the village that is for now deserted due grin attack. It taken some time of preparations, but we managed to slay that combined grim that was to much for regular hunters and defenders."

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The granny look at him, but dint bother to make any reaction. "I leaving." She pickup her hammer and turn back, to walk out thought that door.

But Nora stop her, by moving in front of her, still having a ton of fun. "E, e, e~e! [No! No! Noo!] You cant back out from this one. There is a maidens summit." [Summit- a meeting of government leaders from several countries. Or the highest point of a hill or mountain.]

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The granny stop and turn back. She instantly noticed Schnee and Brawnen. And she (growl?) angrily as if she hated what she saw. "Don't tell me that those weakling calls themselves a maidens!?" And she spit on the floor.

As crazy the orange haired girl was, she lean toward the elderly from side to properly introducing her. "This is my grandma, she is su~uper strong. And-- a maiden."

Of course, revealing that secret so bluntly, caused an uproar on audience.

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But this granny was not impressed. "I am old and I don't give a fook. So, scram back to what ewer frosty cloud or hole in forest, you come from. I am not interest to going on a Salem and what ever monstrosity she created in her heartless delusions. I had spoken!…" She was ready to leave, but she stop herself because she saw that those two other maidens dint protest. It even seems that they are okay whit her decision to ditch this nonsense. For some reason, this fact must scratch her nerves, because she chewed on empty once more. After that... For a moment, for a one opening of eyes between two blinks, her eyes got ignited by the maidens powers.

As if it was a reflection, Winter's and Raven's eyes do that same in response without them even want to do.

But even (Yang's?) eyes do the same.

A~and there was a fourth one… Even if it was a tiny trace… One of Pyrrha's eyes faintly light up as if she had still some of the maiden power in her, even if it was a single percentage.

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The elder woman noticed that something don't suit the mathematics formula when there shall be only four maidens in total. She used her (elderly) experience to make the shortest route to her (problem) and step forward to the blonde black duo. Then she raised her hammer and aimed its head at Yang's face. "Drop it!"

But the asked girl expression tell clearly that she doesn't get, what she is talking. "What?"

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So the grandma rephrase herself. "I'm saying: Cut-- it-- Of!,-- lassie!" [Lassie- a girl or young woman.]

Yang dint followed for a moment but when she saw the anger in the elder face, she suddenly and in surprise realized something. "Oh… Ou~u… I…" She roll her eyes in circle until she make a big silly smile. "I don't know how-- to turn it off."

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That was a big and wrinkled blood vein that bood-up on that macho grandma forehead. "Don't worry. I will figure out something." It was a correct assumption to think she will smack the girl whit her hammer.

And of course Raven clenched her fist angrily. But her face dint make anything to know, only that she pin point her cold stare at her daughter.

We shall not forget that the Winter maiden got a shiver as if she got a goosebumps. But she also pin point her stare at the blonde female whit red eyes.

Weiss obviously noticed that and before her sister have chance to spoke up, she bark at Yang. "Hey! Are you been annoying my sister this entire time?!! How dare you!!?" But she nearly choked up when the culprit just swung her hand in care free way stating: 'I don't know it.'

Ruby who calmed down and get down from her uncle, was already analyzing the situation to come up whit a plan. Or she just realized something important. "Wait, do this nuisance effect that Yang produced to summon her mum, apply on all of the maidens?... And when they are together, it multiplying the itching?... If Oscar noticed our arrival back to Remnant… And granny pinioned the signal at Yang… Then it must, that..."

The red-hoodie young huntress was not the only strategist on the party, as June freak out catching on her though process. "Ruby, are you trying to suggest; that Cinder know exactly (where!) is the rest of the maidens?"

That line create a big grin on Yang face as if she was ready for a battle. "Excellent…" Everybody turns they gazes on her, waiting for an explanation. "If the mommies material are on end of the nerves, going insane… imagine what that neurotic bratty thief Cinder, must be experiencing right now. If she anything like she was when she attack the Atlas to destroy it, she is probability already on her way here. A~and, she will definitely be like a mad dog, trying to back-stab who she can and steal all maiden powers for herself."

Blake saw a lack of prudence of her partner idea and she steeped into that imaginary circle of discussion. "That will only work, if Cinder will arrive unsupervised. But don't forget she stole for Salem the wand of creation. And they have the lamp of Knowledge. That's two relic."

Oscar was nervous as if he was also effected by the nuisance produced by Yang. But as he stood up into the circle, he took on a surprisingly convincing voice as he shout: "We need to talk! Now!!"

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His demand confused the trio of maiden woman's as if they had this 'dejavu' feeling that something like this happened before. Or this boy reminded them of someone. This moment of hesitation was enough for a quick action from a support staff.

Qrow kicked a round table in so way, that the furniture slides to the center of the scene.

Pyrrha acted swiftly and stopped that table before it slid away or break apart by hitting something or someone.

The duo of boys [June, Ren] swiftly move some chairs for the black-white laddies to sit on it.

Qrow swiftly moved to her sister and whit Yang practically forced Raven to sit behind the table. Plus they hold theirs palms on her shoulders, so she will not get up.

Weiss seeing that, dragged Winter to the negotiations table, giving her this (I command you to do it!) stare. On other hand she calming her that she will stay on her side not letting her arm to go.

And of course Nora was like a happy puppy when she offer the chair to (her?) grandma. Even through that old face, one can read from it, that the granny dint like it; but as she sit one that chair, she let slide her hammer on floor, letting the handle to stick directly up.

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For some reason Oscar grabbed Pyrrha Nikos by her hand. "You to! Sit!"

But the girl yelp and waved her hand in denial. "I am not a maiden! I failed! I died."

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To break that shackles of shame that tortured that young woman, he shout at her. "Ember saved you!! I don't know the details, but she send you off! Off the Remnant. To escape something... That's means, she chose (you!), to be the fall maiden. Even whit the one percentage of maiden powers, left in you. There is a high chance to snatch away what was means for you to protect and cherish. Cinder is only a thief not worthy of that blessing. She doesn't have the slightest idea of what will Salem do to her, when she finished that dark task for her."

But it was not enough to free the spirit of that girl as her voice was shivering. "I do not know, if I ever will be enough to bear that responsibility."

June step to her from other side and took her other hand. "We will see that together. I Think, its time to give a try, to truly challenge the destiny. You survived. We found you and took home. Now, is time to prove, that nothing was for vain."

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The grumpy grandma observed how they put the red haired girl onto the fourth chair filling the last side of the imaginary four-leaf. "Are you done?... Then lad, tell me this: Are you a family member of Osbin? Actually, I don't care either way. Just do something whit that blood eye puffy blonde or I smash myself so hard, that you can start to call this lassie as a maiden." And she, without even looking, pointed her thumb on the orange haired girl next to her.

From all of the characters that gathered around the round table only John and Ron spoke up a commentary. "Nora as a season maiden?"

"Will we be safe?"

The girl in question got this facial expression of sudden realization of being the chosen-one and a pride overflow her to the point she melted. And she wiggle her hips, whit a blush on her face she talk back. "Grandma,-- I and Ren are really a couple. You don't need to pull any matchmaking strings."

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But that elder clicked her tongue. "I will kick my bucket in this adventure for sure. So be prepared for it! And if you failed to recognize, those two already set up on theirs replacement. Even if the black one dint have a choice."

The girl in yellow colors proudly pull out her chest and as she removed her hand from a mothers shoulder, she in a good gesture, slapped the shoulder of the man next to her to pat him. "Aren't you proud Uncle? You will be the next maiden!"

But Qrow dint take it as a joke as he massaged his face. "Yang-- its you. Or do you not find it odd, that yours semblance is so flashy compared to the others. Maybe it is not a semblance at all, but just a manifestation of maidens powers. The only explanation to a question (When?); must be that she become a maiden before she give a birth to you. All other questions are trivial."

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Ruby went around the table until she stand next to Pyrrha. From that place she saluted her siblings. "Glad for you sister." Then she raised her hands to make a silly bunny gesture whit her fingers. "By the way: I am a silver-eyed warrior, that shall be enough from my side to join the battle."

To wonder, the granny this time make a reaction to that statement. "I can feel that children naivety leaking from every corner of you body. Like if I was looking at yours mother. She was bound to underestimate her opponents. Same thing staining yours actions."

Yang stop wondering about why her mom do what she do (like abandoning her) and she knell down toward Neo whit a question if she think that Yang is more bad-ass like a mystical season maiden or as cool swag rebel. But the girl dint answer, instead she blushed heavily as she stared at Yang face from a close distance. On which the blonde lovely pushed her cheek on the little check and hug the girl saying that there will be probability no one, who can take this sidekick sucker, from her grasp.

Meanwhile Oscar walk around to the blonde. As he put his hands on her ears, he tried to fulfill the request to stop the nuisance that originate on the young huntresses. But when he removed his hands he look nearly sad. No, he was sad and his voice confirmed it. "I am sorry to everybody here. But we are out of time.-- I can feel it.-- I sensing a massive amount of grims approaching.-- Salem, is on her move. She heading towards the Vacuo."

A silence echoed once more in this hall.

.

As granny chew on empty, she turns her head towards the barman or what ever it was. "A bottle of yours finest! And don't bother to ask for a money. Its my last.-- The toast before my last battle.-- The toast to this maidens summit. Or what ever it will left from it. So, lads… make the plan quick, simple and cunt." On a question if she wanted to say cunning, she just wave it off whit a line that they heard her good the first time.

Nobody complained, not the party, not the audience. Everybody know that complaining is pointless.

.

.

What will be theirs next move?

How the next great war about Vacuo will look?

Will be Ruby and her friends, be able to save the Remnant? To solve mystery behind the trial of goods bestowed on Salem by the brothers?

To see the answers to those questions… we must wait.

And for now, please accept the toast… toast of awaiting for the next season of RWBY.

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.

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[Notes]

One episode to go. Dang this episode take so long to chew through it. And it went quite in different direction I firstly imagine. So have a compassion.

(20. Aug 2024) At this point the story got ahead of its timeline, creating a different branch of events. If we look back at the scene with Pyrrha defeat and burst into particles leaving only her metal headband/crown behind, at that point I though "Hold on! That's a comeback plot." Maybe there is a lot to if that was not told in show and only mentioned in books and comics, but then there was the chibi gig with: "Nothing-- bad-- happened..."