Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 47

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​The splashing of water echoed against the round hallway. There was no greater offense to the senses than the sludge he was walking on. But, it was for a good purporse, Qrow reminded himself as he tried to ignore how wet his socks were now and the piles of shit he had to avoid walking on. It was his mantra to keep himself sane, he insisted. It was for a good cause, he repeated. It was a good cause.

He halted just as he crushed something underfoot. 

"You know, you could have asked us for boots and we'd be happy to lend you one," Robyn said, looking over his shoulder. Her voice was slightly muffled, a bespectacled mask adorning her face. 

"The outfit stays on," Qrow breathed out, walking ahead. An huntsman's clothes were a part of who they were. No way in hell was Qrow ditching his fit not even for one night. Robyn shrugged, snug and safe in her overalls and boots. Her other huntresses were similarly dressed and unimpeded by the smell. 

Dozens of plans were tossed around in getting the Relic of Destruction out. Among all the others, going through Vacuo's sewers was the safest option. It made sense to do it underground. The surface was crawling with Restorationists after all. Logical for the planners, an pain in the ass for the ones trying to enact it. Better dealing with literal shit than the dozens of walking shits up above. 

Theodore had sent schematics that led directly to Shade Academy. It was from this that the Huntresses and Qrow followed. So far, it had been going smoothly. There would have been little reason for their enemy to be down here and thus they could feel confident in their security. Follow the plan, Qrow reminded himself. Meet Theodore in the underbelly, get the Relic, follow the sewer line that led outside the city and meet up with Land waiting for them at the other end. 

"How much longer?" Qrow asked. Robyn halted, glancing down at her scroll. 

"1.2 kilometers left until we enter Shade's underbelly," Robyn reported. 

Qrow inwardly took a breath. "Let's go." 

Once this was over, he was going to ask Ozpin for a damn break. 

Sure enough, Theodore waited for them at the end of the line. The Headmaster of Shade Academy watched them emerge from the dark and quickly, he pinched his nose. 

"You all stink," he remarked. He had been standing under a single dark orange light in a dry part of the sewer. He had a dark cloak over him and a hood. A weapon noticeably bulged out of his cloak, that of a sword. 

"No shit," Qrow deadpanned. He was going to ask Ozpin if he had magic that could make him forget what he had to go through. If not, there was always the wonderful spicy embrace of whisky. May snorted. 

"Real mature," Qrow rolled his eyes. He faced the Headmaster. "You got the Relic?" 

Normally, a maiden was required to access the vaults where the Relics were kept. Vacuo however was an exception to this rule considering what had been done there. True enough, the Warrior King had sacrificed Vacuo's dust fields that wiped out the combined armies of Mantle and Mistral but that was only half of it. He had used the Relic to aid him in that bloody work and the Dust fields exploding was a good cover. That Qrow knew. What Qrow did not know was the the maiden had been forcefully dragged into the vault against her will to access it. 

There was a reason why she went mad. 

Theodore presented it with a flash, holding it out in his hand. Robyn glanced at the artifact. It looked exactly just like the sword in Vacuo's crest. It had a double-winged hilt made of gold, at the centre of it a glowing yellow crystal. The blade, a sharp curved razor that glinted underneath the orange light that bathed Shade's Headmaster. "I am told that one of you can store this in a pocket dimension?" 

"Y-yes!" Fiona squeaked. Theodore nodded towards her and the diminutive sheep girl walked up, her eyes square on the sword. As she laid her hands on it, Robyn crossed her arms, watching the relic. She had expected something a bit more grand but the item in question looked like any other normal sword. This was what Malik the Sunderer used to unite Vacuo? How could such a blade be capable of the things it had been claimed to do? 

Never matter, she shook her head. They had been told that if they pulled this off, they could go home. That was all the motivation she and her huntresses needed really. They had heard many developments occurring at home, the rebuilding of Mantle, the reorganization and unification of Solitas. Their fellow shields spoke up as well, speaking up of the massive influx of lien flooding old Mantle. 

And to think she and her huntresses almost mucked it up because of their zealousness. 

Fiona on the other hand glanced down at the blade. For a second, she swore the sword hummed and glowed with power but Qrow clearing his throat brought her back to focus. She took in another breath as she hovered her hand over the Relic of Destruction. In a moment, the Relic quickly vanished. Fiona let out a breath she had been holding, taking a step back. She turned around to face her team and Qrow. Then, she collapsed face first onto the floor.

"Fiona!" May yelled, rushing to her side. 

The sheep faunus groaned. "So...heavy...."

"Heavy?" she blinked. She knelt by her side and tried to pull her up but the sheep faunus refused to budge.

"Is everything alright there?" Theodore asked, amused. Robyn marched up, going on one knee next to the groaning Fiona. 

"Fiona's semblance can store anything but..." Robyn trailed off, kneeling next to her. "I...I assume we've found a limit to what you can store?"

"This has never happened before!" Fiona moaned. She was telling the truth. Fiona had stored an absurd amount of stuff in her pocket dimension and never before had she collapsed before. 

"What do you have in there anyway?" Qrow groused as he joined in, poking the sheep faunus on the cheek to her protests. Fiona pouted, inwardly scanning what she had. 

Her face fell. "Food...clothes...jewellery."

"Our ammo, dust, armor, extra weapons," Joanna added.

"Past loot from previous missions," Robyn said, patting Fiona on the head. 

Qrow could hardly believe his ears. "You've turned her into your storage unit?" Qrow blinked in disbelief. 

"How do you think we supplied ourselves, genius?" May rolled her eyes. 

"The Relic is something a bit more powerful compared to whatever you have in there," Theodore joined in, shaking his head. "The logical explanation to this must be that. It's capacity is beyond that of jewellery." 

"We're going to have to carry her," Robyn shook her head. "Joanna, May, lift her up." The two huntresses grunted their assent as they reached down and pulled up Fiona. The sheep faunus's cheeks burned in embarrassment as the two women hauled her up. 

​+++

Night found the streets of Vacuo once more, silver moonlight intertwining with the orange and yellow of streetlamps. Normally, the streets still would be bustling with night life. Hawkers peddling meats and trinkets, dancers sashaying to music, even the more unsavory but colorful portions of the night would be peddling their trade of hashish or flesh. But not tonight. Soldiers marched the streets, eyes vigilant and wary. Their modern equipment contrasted with the rural and tribal uniforms of their tribal allies, faces covered by mail keffiyeh. A temporary state of martial law was imposed on the citizens; to allow the Restorationists time to formalize control of the city, hunt down the remnants of the corrupt order, and to ensure civilians would not be caught in the crossfire.

That was the city however and he was very much not inside of it. 

Land yawned, his back resting against the truck they were going to take out into the desert where a Solitan airship awaited them. The Huntresses and Qrow had went in to retrieve the artefact while he took a truck out of the city. He parked by a small homestead brimming with fields of wheat and date trees. Nearby was the end of the pipeline the group had to take in leaving the city. He had been there for awhile, smoking and glancing at his scroll. 

​The news was raving about something massive being constructed in one of the many shipyards back at Solitas when he could hear the scrunching of wet boots against sand. He pocketed his scroll, one hand on the hilt of his zweihander when he turned. To his pleasure, it was Qrow and the four idiots. His eyebrow rose as he spotted two of them hauling Fiona on their shoulders. 

​He took a sniff. 

"You all smell," he announced. 

"Awesome powers of deduction there grand-pa," Qrow rolled his eyes. 

​Land snorted. He turned towards Fiona. "What's with her?" 

"We've found the limit to her semblance, if that is possible," Joanna muttered. She glanced down at Fiona. "You really need to lose weight," she advised. 

"I'm eighty kilograms!" Fiona protested. 

"I meant the excess baggage," Joanna said apologetically. 

"Even then, you're perfect the way you are!" May tried soothingly. 

"The hell do you even have in your pocket dimension?" Land asked gruffly. 

"Enough to fashion a household," Robyn answered for Fiona. She reached for the mask on her face and tossed it aside. "Anyway, we ought to make ourselves scarce." 

"Eh," Land shrugged his shoulders. "Hop on the back and we're going to be," Land declared as he made his way onto the driver's seat. The truck they were was a flatbed, the same one they used to get onto the Restorationist hideout. Robyn climbed on the back, unlocking the rear and reached down to help Fiona atop. Qrow groaned in relief, thanking the fact that it was almost over. He climbed onto the passenger's seat, seating himself comfortably on the leather chair. 

"Fuckin finally," Qrow declared. "We're out of here." 

For a moment, he feared his semblance was going to kick in at any time. Thankfully, it did not. Land shrugged as he twisted the keys in the ignition. 

The engine sputtered.

It refused to start. 

​Land blinked. 

He tried again, and again, the engine sputtered. 

From the back, Robyn tapped the roof. "Is everything alright? We're ready to go." 

​"Yes, yes, the damn engine's refusing to budge," Land groaned, a frown coming onto his face. 

Qrow could feel his entire body crashing. 

No. No. No. Not now. Not while this was about to be over. 

It was then, a pair of lights suddenly shone out of nowhere and a hostile voice yelled out, "Who goes there?" 

From the darkness, a bunch of shapes appeared. A bunch of tanned-uniformed soldiers were there led by a man clad in mail, his keffiyeh richly decorated with a sapphire gem encrusted on the noseguard and stylized inscriptions on his helmet, on his belt a equally decorated scimitar with gold trim. An officer who in his eyes saw four women atop a beaten truck and two men at the front. 

"Shit," Land muttered. 

​The officer lowered his flashlight to scan them. "What are you all doing so late at night?" 

"We're repair workers!" Robyn quickly spoke up, standing up and showing off the overalls she wore. "We were doing some late night emergency repairs to a pipe nearby." 

"Really?" he mouthed. "Emergency repairs at this night, at this hour, at this exact location?" 

"Absolutely!" Robyn said, flashing him a quick smile. The officer however was unconvinced as he glanced at the driver who was clad head to toe in a outfit someone could steal from a museum. 

"What, his armor also for repairs as well?" the officer asked sarcastically, pointing the light towards Land then to Qrow. He shook his head. "We've received calls about a suspicious man standing around with a truck late at night. You lot step off your truck or else!" He barked, his voice turning rough. Criminals had been using the sewers to sneak into Vacuo before. Next to him, his soldiers unslung their rifles but did not yet raise them.

​Then, Land twisted the key once more and the truck roared to life. 

​"Criminal scum!" the officer shrieked, unsheathing his scimitar. Robyn quickly knelt, her bow flashing in her hands. She pulled the string and fired a wind dust towards him. The officer and his men were sent flying. Robyn turned, smashing a closed fist against the roof of the truck. "Floor it!" she yelled. 

Land put his foot down and Robyn tumbled on her back as the truck advanced. As they moved away, the officer recovered, frantically reaching for his scroll.

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​It had been a breeze, Strangelove had to admit, as he looked outside of his office window. Once, it had been a private office for one of the Councillors but said Councillor was inside a cell awaiting to be tried for his crimes of corruption. He didn't even have to life a finger to ruin the man's reputation, he already had been notorious for being close to the underground black market. Hence when the coup began in earnest, he and many others weren't exactly missed when they entered the city. Yes, it was a shock to the average citizenry but the images of so many hated folk being put inside cells was something that was going to endear them to the population. 

Now, loyal men were to be replace positions now vacant and those who had joined in the conspiracy were to be rewarded for their service. This was what he was doing, organizing the next phase of their plan, when the doors suddenly burst open and in strode Cinder, rage in her face. 

"Consort," Strangelove greeted her as he stood up from his chair to honor him, not because she was someone worthy of it but rather because of the official position she sat. 

"There's been a disturbance," Cinder reported, crossing her arms. She was still clad in a consorts garb, an outfit that was outright scandalous outside of Vacuo. That did not interest Strangelove however. Cinder was beautiful yes but the brain inside her head was something he found undesirable. "A patrol encountered huntsmen trying to leave the city. The army is sending two bullheads after them." 

"And...?" Strangelove asked, tilting his head. 

"Can't you see?" Cinder hissed. "They could be important!" 

​Strangelove resisted the urge to snort. He did not to do that however for Cinder to detect the derision on his face. "My lady, now is a time where the rats are scurrying to escape the flood. They could be common criminals taking advantage of the chaos, fugitives trying to escape our control, anyone. The important thing here is that we have taken control of Vacuo with minimal bloodshed and slowly taking control of this kingdom." 

​Cinder walked up, her heels echoing as she did. "The important thing here, Minister, is that drain the officer reported lead directly from Shade Academy. Shade. Do you not think that is something important enough to examine?" 

​Ah, so this was what it was about. "Your sad need for power is talking again, you are forgetting the important task we have, my lady. Now, we must continue to secure Vacuo. The King intends for the 38th Vytal Festival to continue. The sooner we can get this city stable, the sooner we can continue in the next phase of our plan." 

Despite the xenophobia Stangelove had Cinder cultivate in Jax and his nostalgic band of fools, Jax was not that stupid as to deny Vacuo the honor of hosting Vytal. Sure, it was a reminder of the damnable treaty which had secure their kingdom anything of important but the event itself meant foreign capital entering their kingdom as well as the propaganda points showcasing the abilities of his government. Once Jax could prove that he could rule, the kingdoms would be much more confident in him. 

Cinder however walked up, leant over the table, her hands near crushing the wood. "If we miss an opportunity from this, minister, I will be the very first to burn you alive." 

"Your threats mean little," Strangelove replied coolly. "Firstly, Shade does not have they key to open the vault. I would know. Secondly, you are the Royal Consort. Your actions now have eyes and ears on it. If you go out now to find some random huntsmen, there will be questions and such questions, we do not need." 

Cinder glanced down at her outfit. 

"If it is so important to you, I will send someone out after your lead," Strangelove lied. There really was far too much important work to be done. 

​Cinder paused, eyeing him suspiciously. "Do you swear it?" 

"I promise," Strangelove nodded. 

"Do you swear on this ring?" Cinder asked, lifting up the glowing bauble that marked her position. 

​"I do," Strangelove nodded once more, thinking nothing of it. 

"Lying to the Consort is punishable by death, Minister." Cinder smiled sweetly. 

"Ah, fortunate then that I am not lying to you," Strangelove shrugged. "Now, is there anything else you need, my lady? There are duties that you must perform now, you know." 

Cinder frowned. "You seriously cannot be expecting me to-"

"Oh, I do," Strangelove laughed. "And not just me but the generals, the chiefs, and the king himself. Did you think that the title of Royal Consort was just for show? Power has responsibilities, my lady. And you are expected to do yours." 

​Steam left her nostrils. She had wrapped the king with her thumb and yes, she had done her part in the bedroom. However, she had always used protection. And now...he had a city to run. If she continued to use protection and did not grant him a child then she could be tossed away and replaced. She knew already the strumpets lining up and noting her lack of pregnancy. 

"Damn you, Strangelove," she seethed. 

"Oh, how many people have said that," Strangelove shrugged. Once, the Emperor asked him a solution to protect themselves from the Grimm. He gave his answer. But just as he told them as what he was telling her now,

"The ends justifies the means," Strangelove said as he sat back down. "You wished for power and authority, I gave you those means. If you were unwilling to do what must be done then you ought to not wear that ring." 

"I could have taken it anyway," Cinder snorted. "With the power of the relics, of the maidens, I co-"

"But you would be hated and people will rebel against you," Strangelove cut her off. "You could force the kingdoms to kneel with the power of legends but you will always be seen as an usurper. Yes, we may have overthrown the old order now but we are going to succeed because they were hated. We have legitimacy with that, you don't." He shook his head. 

"Now go. Do as young people do," Strangelove said dismissively. 

Cinder gave him one last furious glare. Then, she turned away. 

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A/N: I was originally going to have Cinder and Strangelove march out to meet them but Strangelove's goals is different. He wants to play a strategy game, Cinder wants of course the relic. However it did not make sense for either of them to march out when Strangelove is going to be swamped with work organizing the city and Cinder getting knocked up by Jax Asturias. 

L for team Salem. W for team us.