Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 51

+++

The skies above Vacuo never looked so filled. All over, airships gathered and huddled in varying shapes and sizes. Down in the port below, ships were already unloading eager passengers dressed in their best. The city itself was transformed as streamers and banners hung from roofs and walls. It was cleaner now, the new rulers of the ancient city anxious to make it presentable. The souks and the bazaars teemed with life and chatter as merchants haggled and argued with tourists, the cafes and the restaurants and shisha dens burst with customers, flush with lien. Shade Academy erected four banners on each corners of its ziggurat. One for each kingdom on Remnant. It was a sign of unity after all for Vytal ended what was Remnant's deadliest war. 

For Emerald however, she didn't care for any of those. She only cared about the fact that she was with her friends and family. They hovered high in the air in the Wayland's personal airship, a sleek thing that was both a luxury craft and defensive vessel. Hidden among its silver frame was a list of personal defense systems that would be brought to bear if it came under attack. Thankfully, it would never be used and to Emerald, the airship was most likely to suffer an attack from the inside than out. 

She was standing on a open view deck accompanied by both her friends, Neon and Ilia. The former grasping the rails, happily letting out breaths of wonder as she looked over below and the latter sitting down a bench, far away from the rails. Her skin was as red as the bench she was sitting on. As she stood there, hands clasped together as lady should, she found it amusing that her friends were faunus. It was amusing since she was in a family of good standing and thus, she ought to have friends in the same circle. But Emerald saw how the others were and decided she would rather not. Besides, she was not born into wealth and it showed.

Neon sighed as she closed her eyes, letting the air wash against her face. The airship was starting to shift now, heading directly towards a massive shape on the horizon. "Emerald, have I ever told you how much I loved you?" she said, opening one eye towards her.  

"No, I do not think you have," Emerald replied in amusement, standing by next to you. 

"Um...should you two be standing so close to the railing? I don't think that's safe," Illia muttered, her eyes looking towards them worriedly. 

"The airship is shielded," Emerald explained as she attempted to reach out of the railing only for her hand to be stopped by an invisible field. "As long as its up, nothing can get in or out." 

Their awe for technology was short-lived as the airship picked up in speed, gunning straight for the Amity Colosseum. It was a massive coned shaped thing constructed after the Great War. Each section was built in each of the four kingdoms as a symbolic show of unity. What was left unsaid was that Atlas was the one that funded most of it in actuality since the other kingdoms were practically broke. The sun on their faces gave way to shade as the airship neared it. Unlike the busier lanes, theirs was for a lane exclusive for wealthier spectators. 

"I love being a VIP," Neon said, her tail swishing as they regarded the other airships. She then waved at them, earning a embarrassed sigh from Ilia. 

"Hiiii!" the girls heard. In one particular airship, there was little red-hooded girl enthusiastically waving at them before she got shushed by her embarrassed blonde sibling. Neon giggled. 

"HEYYYY!" she yelled back. The red-hooded girl tried in vain to wave back but she was quickly dragged away by her sister. 

"Cute girl," Neon chuckled. She turned back. "What do you think, Ilia?"

"I do not want to be seen with you ever again," Ilia muttered. The poor girl was laying on the bench, her hands over her face. 

"But here you areeee," Neon giggled. "Come here you!" 

She then rushed over to Ilia's side to tickle the chameleon faunus to death, much to Ilia's chortling protests. Emerald snorted in a unladylike fashion. At least they were enjoying themselves. She had invited both girls to join her as her entourage. Neon readily agreed, shameless as she was, while Ilia took a little bit more convincing. In the end, she agreed at the urging of her parents who couldn't come as they were away in one of the SDC's newest mine. Neon had no parents, living with an older brother that served in the army. 

Both girls were from vastly different backgrounds but Emerald did not mind. They hid nothing, they were honest, and outcasts much like her. She wouldn't trade them for anything else in the world. 

And they were both funny, she had to admit, as Ilia fell into giggling fits as Neon mercilessly tickled her. 

Their little bonding experience was interrupted as the doors that led back into the airship opened. Immediately, Emerald straightened up as her father and cousin entered. "Ah, there you girls are," Alexander said, his lips curled into a smile as he saw Neon tickling Ilia. Ilia gave of a strangulated cry of embarrassment as Neon stood up, tail swishing, as she waved at Alexander. 

"Heeyyyyya Mister Wayland," Neon greeted him, her eyes lidded and seductive. At least, she tried to be. Alexander only laughed. 

"I see you're all enjoying yourselves," he chuckled as he turned to look at Emerald. "Emerald, I will be meeting a few people in Vacuo today. You and the girls go have fun, alright?" 

"We will," Emerald nodded. 

"You already know the hotel we are staying at, right?" Alexander asked. Emerald nodded. She of course knew since her father/cousin drilled into her their itinerary. 

"I do," she nodded yet again. 

"And you have a private bullhead if you want to explore. Just don't leave the city, an-" Alexander droned on and on, repeating the same ground-rules for them. Again, Emerald repeated it all in her mind. Do not leave Vacuo, return to the hotel before nine PM, do not follow strangers, and so much more. Still, she stood quietly and let Alexander speak. She was a good daughter after all. 

"Don't worry, Mister Alexander, sir. We'll keep an eye on Em!" Neon said, still flashing her smile at him as she leaned against Emerald. Ilia quickly walked up, saluting awkwardly. 

"Y-yes! She'll be safe, we promise!" she stammered, ignoring the reddening of her skin. 

"Of course. With two of you girls with her, she's the safest person in all of Remnant now," Alexander belly laughed. He shook his head as he then took out his scroll. "Now, here's your pocket money," he declared. 

​Ilia's eyes widened as she hastily tried to wave him off. "No no, there's no need! I have money on my own!" she cried. Her parents had given her an allowance to spend on herself. It wasn't much but it could last her for the duration of the festival if she was wise in her spending. 

"Oh, I could never say no to you Mister Alexander!" Neon beamed, shameless as she was. 

Their scrolls vibrated at the same time. The three girls took theirs out and watched in silence. Neon chuckled darkly and gremlin-like, Ilia was on the verge of a panic attack while Emerald simply nodded. "Thank you, cousin." she said. While she already had a considerable allowance, she would never say no to extra cash. 

"Thank youuuuu, Mister Alexander," Neon grinned, her colorful eyebrows wiggling. Her brother was nice enough to also send her an allowance. It was a considerable one, if she had to be honest. It was his way of apologizing to her for being away most of the time. She also had been saving for the trip. She didn't really expect Emerald to invite her. She would not go out of her way to be shameless but she would never say no if it was offered. 

"That's too many zeros!" Ilia chortled. There was enough in her account that she and her family could live off her 'pocket money' comfortably and more!

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Oh, sorry. Was it too low?" 

"No no! It's enough!" Ilia shrieked. Emerald laughed at the faunus's fortunate misfortune. She shook her head and decided to come to her rescue. 

"We have more than enough. We won't try to give you a headache," she promised, turning back to her father. 

"Of course," he nodded. "Well, that is all there is to it. If you need anything else, you know how to contact me." 

"I will see you when the matches start," Emerald promised as well. Alexander then walked up, pulling her into a hug she did not resist, then pulled back. He gave the three of them one last final smile before turning away. As he left, Ilia collapsed on her knees muttering under her breath as Neon gave an excited cry. 

"Oh my god, oh my god, he is so fucking-" Neon breathed in. A predatory look came upon her face, her tongue licking her lips. "I am going to give him babies, I swear!" 

"Please stop openly lusting after my cousin," Emerald sighed. 

"I will privately lust after him then," Neon nodded all sage-like. 

"You're fifteen, you shameless hussy!" Ilia screamed, her skin bright pink. 

Neon chuckled endlessly. "Ooooo, hussy huh? I see how you look at him, you know." She then shrugged. "I can wait. He'll only be more delicious in time."

"I like girls!" she shrieked. Neon blinked as well as Emerald. Ilia's face scrunched in realization. She buried her head in her arms. "Oh. My. God. I just-" Ilia took in a quick breath. "Neon, I hate you. I hate you so much, I can just-" 

Neon however adopted a forgiving look on her face. She knelt next to Ilia, patting her on her back. "It's okay, Ilia. I know you probably feel many conflicting emotions now but it is fine. I, Professor Neon, will guide you through this." 

"Fuck you, Neon," 

"Oooo, spicy!" Neon chuckled. "And heh. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Kill yourself!"

Neon's laugh would echo through the halls

+++

​I re-entered the airship with a frown. 

We were halfway through from Solitas when Ironwood contacted me about someone who had wanted to see me. I agreed of course, considering who that someone was. But he had to meet me and not I go to him. I was not someone to be summoned like an underling after all and it was only polite. Ozpin would only want to see me for two possible reasons I could think of, he wanted a favour from me or he wanted to invite me into his group to fight Salem. I banked on the latter possibility. I had been helpful with Ironwood after all and my Silver Shields had ensured that the Relic of Destruction would be in their hands. 

​And hence, I left my airship as quickly as it arrived. Emerald had initially just wanted to hang around with me but considering she had invited her two friends along, she decided she wanted us to be together after she had hung out with her friends. It was funny in a cosmic sense that her two friends managed to be both a soldier for Atlas and someone who wanted to destroy it in another life. I did not need to fear their safety to think about it. Both Neon and Illia were capable fighters as well as Emerald. Just to make it reasonably sure, I instructed Land to be on stand-by with an extration team should something happen. 

Considering how Vytal Festivals were like, it was not an unreasonable fear to have. 

Back to Vytal however, Amity Colosseum was a work of true engineering and art. Kept high with gravity dust, it could seat a hundred thousand people comfortably and still have plenty of space for people to roam around in. Considering the nature of its contests which was teenagers beating the shit out of each in the arena, the spectators were protected via a hard-light shield which kept them safe from the arena. At the bottom of the seating were specialty chairs reserved for VIP's. For much more important people however, there were private booths at the top where they could stay. It was there I was going to go and meet Ozpin. 

And meet we would. 

The room was more stately than I expected. But then, I did pay much to have the best booth in Amity. Below, I could see the masses mulling about on their seats waiting for the first contests to go. It was between Haven vs Shade. Mistral was at a crossroads at a moment considering the south had effectively seceded from Mistral's effective control. It was amusing in a dark sort of way that the news of Mistral's sundering was second compared to the ongoing Vytal Festival.

But I was pretty sure that was going to be overshadows with what I had in mind soon.

As I sat on one of the many luxurious couches in the booth, it did not take long for a knock to echo at my door. Turning to it, I reached for a button that allowed entry. The doors slid open and in marched a familiar face. I stood up in respect. "General Ironwood," I welcomed him with a smile. 

"Mister Wayland," the man greeted. "Congratulations on your ascension." he then added. As I was about to reply, a new voice joined. 

"Indeed," said the man. He was green-clad and tall, a spike of white hair on his head and thick glasses on his eyes. He bore a cane of black and white metal. His bearing was humble but in deeper inspection revealed quiet power. "It is gratifying to see the young rise up to the mantle. Always, the young is the future and as far as I can see, Royal and Imperial is in good hands." 

​My smile was wide but did not reach my eyes. "Professor Ozpin," I greeted him. 

"You know of me?" He asked, surprised. 

"How could I not. The Headmaster's of all the Academies are known. Plus, General Ironwood spoke praises about you," I said, offering some flattery towards his way. 

"How kind of you, James," Ozpin laughed. 

Ironwood chuckled. "Of course. From one colleague to another." 

I then motioned for the couches. "Come then, sit, and let us get to talking." 

Ozpin had a look of surprise on his face. He seemed pleased. Perhaps it was because I wanted us to get straight down to business. I sat first of course, as the host. Ironwood followed next with Ozpin last. Outside, the din and cheer of a hundred thousand audience went wide. 

"So, what did you need of me, Professor? Surely Beacon isn't planning to buy aircraft and cannon now?" I joked. 

"A tempting offer but I feel the Council would protest such misuse of Beacon funds," Ozpin laughed. Nice. He can joked around. I can dig that. 

"But we are here to discuss aircraft and cannon, Mister Wayland. And more." General Ironwood coughed. I turned to him and saw the seriousness on his face. I hummed, awaiting for their grand reveal. 

"What do you know of the Grimm, Mister Wayland?" Professor Ozpin asked. 

"Creatures of pure malevolence and evil. No natural explanation, absolutely murderous to all that has life. They prefer to harm humans or faunus however," I answered. I wasn't going to put up the textbook definition but mine. 

"To all that which has a soul," Ozpin nodded, his cane standing next to him. "Anything which bears that which makes us alive, the Grimm will be there to hunt it." 

"I thank then, the Grimm, for providing my family the means to make our bread," I grinned. "Bullets, rifles, machine guns, bombs...all possible because of them." 

"Yes. Because of them," Ozpin agreed. "And...because of their Queen." 

​A heavy silence permeated around the room. Save for that of the excited yelling outside. 

"Queen?" I snorted, straining my lips to not burst into laughing. I mean, they wouldn't begrudge me for that. It sounds stupid to the uninitiated after all. "What do you mean?"

"The Grimm are not mindless creatures, Mister Wayland," General Ironwood answered. I imagined Ozpin asked Ironwood to say that considering his no-nonsense reputation. If the General of the Armies is telling you that the nightmare creatures outside have a leader, you best fucking believe him. "They have had a beginning." 

​I leaned back on my couch, putting on the airs of someone that was incredulous of what they were saying but still willing to humor them.

"Alright...tell me how they began then, General. Professor," I said, eyeing both men.

​Professor Ozpin looked into my eyes. "Tell me, Mister Wayland. Do you believe in fairy tales?" 

+++

A beautiful girl was locked in a tower.

She was lonely, imprisoned by her Lord father.

She wished to be free of it, to see the world her books told her about.

​She sang and wept, hoping for a warrior to save her. 

Many tried. Many failed. 

Until one day, a wandering warrior heard her cries. 

He broke through and rescued her. 

​And they lived happily ever after.

Until they didn't

+++

Salem eyes opened slowly.

That dream again.

Alone in her private chambers, the Queen of the Grimm was free to be as she wished: herself. She sat up on her bed, soft and consuming. As the ruler of the creatures of Darkness, she really did not need to sleep. Or eat. Or do anything that even remotely resembled living. There were times when she decided that she could indulge in base desires such as sleeping. She found herself refreshed after such a thing. It brought her a clarity she otherwise wouldn't really have normally.

Her room was decorated and furnished much like as she remembered it, palatial and rich. The only thing which stood out being the bright computer that stayed lit in the corner of the room, waiting to perform her command whatever it might be. It was a frivolous flight of fancy that drove her to purchase that entertainment simulation of statecraft. She had read everything there was, learned all that could be. She had found the current methods of entertainment humanity put forward as petty and mundane. Well, except that simulation program. 

​It was not a game, as her more modern servants called it, but a simulation. 

​She sighed. The simulation was merely that, mimicry. It did not have the tiny webs of true subterfuge much like the one she was spinning now with Vacuo and Vale. It was not hard to pull the Vacuans along, incompetent as their rulers were. She had to admit some disappointment at seeing Vale fall so easily to her influence. She had expected more of Ozma's chosen headquarters but then, he wasn't really the one leading it anymore, was it?

He was now a quaint educator living in a tower. 

He wasn't a particularly bad teacher. She was more than aware of the life she led, sheltered and protected from the terrors of the outside from her imprisonment. While many would have lost their patience and left her, he stayed behind with the gentlest understanding. 

She scoffed.

​Again, she was praising him. 

Ridiculous. 

​Oh how she needed interaction again. Her servants were far too terrified of her to talk on equal terms which was good. They were servants, not equals. Servants do not speak with their masters on equal footing. That was unheard of. 

She had found unexpected solace in the CCT net. Particularly with that one use, GreenDay. He was introspective, wise, and most importantly, literate. She could spend and indeed had spent quite some time chatting with the man and she knew he was a man, she could pierce that with the way he expressed himself. Alas, he had told her he was going to be busy attending that Vytal Festival happening in Vacuo. 

While that was a good opportunity to start some chaos...Salem had decided against it for the meantime. Strangelove had assessed that with the rising of tensions around their overthrow of the previous elites as well as Mistral splitting in two, continuing it some more would be an overreach and she agreed with that sentiment.

Better to let them heal in their false peace, let them slowly forget, then strike when the least expected it. After all, Mistral represented an opportunity. Perhaps she should send Watts over there and offer his support to either the Rebels or the City. 

Yes, Salem decided. Let them play and fatten themselves in peace in Vacuo. No chaos there, she decreed.

Afterall, GreenDay was there. It would be a pity if he would die and she would have to find another literate soul on the C-Net.  

There was going to be a time when the Kingdoms would fall and she would pry the Relics from the ruins of the Academies. 

Then and after then, she will call the bastard gods back and render judgement upon them. 

Time was her ally with this. A hundred years, a thousand years, she had waited longer. The so-called humanity of this time was weak. Sure, they might have made wonders but they were limited by Dust, a pale shadow to what it truly was. They had no where else to go. 

But here.

+++

Felix yawned as he took a step out of his cabin, a mug of steaming hot coffee in his hand. He was a fisherman just like his father and the man before him. As such, he and his boat set out for the Bay of Vale in the unholiest hours of the morning. Fishing was hard work, yes, but it paid well. Because of his sacrifice, he could send all four of his children to school. Felix was an ambitious sort. His eldest wanted to continue the work, tradition and such, but the rest had their own dreams. His second wanted to be a Huntsman, his third wanted to be a doctor, and his youngest wanted to be an officer in the new Royal Army. Fine professions, in his eyes. His lovely wife was concerned about their youngest child wanting to serve in the army. He only needed to point out what was the difference when their second child wanted to be a Huntsman?

Besides, having a daughter in the army would be good for their family. Compared to being a Huntsman, it did promise them steady income. The honours she could potentially gain was good too and post-service opportunities were attractive.

Until then, he would have to keep supporting her and her dream. Who was he to squash that, a humble fisherman?

He then noted the fog. A terrible portent in days past but with the advent of radar, it wasn't much an issue anymore. Felix didn't have to worry about navigating around his own boat however. And so, he walked forward, greeting fellow fishermen. Then, he noticed a dark shape in the distance. He walked up, sipping from his mug.

"Mornin Goldeen," he greeted his first mate. Goldeen stood quaintly on bow of their ship, frozen in place. He was a faunus, a dog one. Most people didn't want to hire them but Felix didn't really care much for their reputation. As far as he could see, Goldeen was a good man and worked just as hard as anyone. He was a fisherman, not some old world lord. What use was politics in the sea?

"Don't tell me you can't hear that?" Goldeen muttered, turning to him.

"Hear what? Grimm?" Felix asked, slightly alarmed. There were sea borne Grimm, the most common was shark grimm and the worst being Sea Feilong, massive snake like dragons. Felix wouldn't even bother defending himself against that. The hell was going to do about massive sea creatures that could breath out lightning?

Goldeen shook his head. He held his ear out. "No...listen!"

And so, Felix humored his first mate and held his ear out. Then, he heard it. The pulling of waves, the groan of metal. The distinct engines of tubboats. Goldeen pointed his finger forwards. "There!"

Felix glanced ahead. Indeed, he could make out some rough shapes in the distance. And lights.

"This is the SNS Midsummer's Eve to F/V Lucky Mary," the radio suddenly called out. Felix turned to a nearby barrel where a radio set sat. The voice was that of a young man. A navy man. "This is the SNS Midsummer's Eve to F/V Lucky Mary. Do you read, over?"

Felix walked quickly for it and picked it up, Goldeen still remaining standing on the bow. "Yes, this F/V Lucky Mary. I read you, over."

SNS meant Solitan Naval Ship which meant the Atlesians were here. Felix didn't mind them since they did possess a capable navy that also helped clear up and protect the sea lanes. Sea transport was still the most viable way for mass transport of goods and people after all even despite the existence of things such as airships. It was not fast but it was reliable.

"F/V Lucky Mary, we advise you shift bearing starboard by 25 meters, over." The voice spoke up.

"Might I ask why, over?" Felix asked. That's a large stretch. He however complied and waved at the bridge. Not a second later, the Lucky Mary shifted with a groan.

"Transporting heavy cargo, over." the Solitan naval man replied simply.

What was so heavy that it needed an entire stretch of sea just to move? Felix's question was quickly answered as the dark shape drew closer. It was by all accounts, massive. It looked as if the Solitans were pulling along a building. Five tugboats were pulling it along with strong rope. There was a hum as up above, the lights of multiple Solitan Airships made themselves known. It was a veritable armada.

The light of the sun was starting to rise now, the darkness of the sky purged by the golden-light of the sun. It revealed the dark shape to be a long tubular thing. A rocket, he realized. It had four smaller thrusters on its midsection and one massive booster on its bottom. Never before had he seen such a thing. On its side, a painting. The Spear of Solitas and atop of it, a stylized eagle with outstretched wings. And a name in bold red letters.

SOLITAS

​

+++

​A/N: Ngl, Salem and Ozpin's story is sad as fuck. It is easy to sympathize with Salem...then you remember she did murder the shit outta their kids.