Chapter 18

With the help of Ylisstol's expert healers, Ruby was recovering quickly. She was in training shape the following day and expected to be in proper fighting shape soon after. In the meantime the peace talks between the Exalt and the Queen of Plegia had borne fruit. Before the settlement was even announced Cinder rushed back to Plegia with her retainers. She no doubt had to consolidate her power, though many suspected that would be easier than it had been for most other new Plegian rulers. It seemed Cinder had been in control for quite some time.

Heralds spread the word that the Exalt was going to address the public about the peace agreement. Weiss' group was just as eager to hear it as the average citizens. As much as anyone they had won that peace, and now that it was finalized they would get their opportunity to meet the Exalt. The group was placed on a balcony near where the Exalt would give his address, a place reserved for special guests. Nobles from all over Ylisse joined them on the perch as they waited for the Exalt to emerge.

When the Exalt walked out onto his balcony the mass of people below let out a thunderous cheer. On the VIP balcony things were a bit more subdued. He was not what most had been expecting. Weiss' group had never met the man - even Pyrrha had never had any personal contact with him - and they were surprised to see that he was old and bespectacled, walking with the aid of a cane and looking rather tired and weak. Even the nobles who knew him were surprised. They knew he was old, and he always did have the cane, but he had never really needed it. Now it seemed the only thing holding him up.

"People of Ylisse, I bring joyous news." The Exalt announced. His voice was strong and clear if not particularly loud. More cheering. He waited for it to die down before continuing. "Plegia has officially surrendered, the hostilities between our nations are at an end." Cheers, louder than before. "The Queen of Plegia has agreed to pay reparations for the damage and death caused by the war, along with a large indemnity as an apology." The cheering continued. "She has also signed a treaty of friendship and nonaggression." Wild cheers. "But all is not well." The cheering stopped. "Even now our armies face the forces of Valm, in common defense of our friends in Ferox. Even should we repel this invasion, the war will not be over. The emperor will not give up because of such a minor check. There will come a time when I must order Ylissian soldiers to invade Valm itself, as the great Chrom once did. This war will not be an easy one. It will cost much in lives and gold, but I hope you will support me in this vital fight for peace." There was a brief silence before the crowd cheered, indicating their support.

"Looks like he's committed to our cause." Yang whispered to Weiss.

"He's committed to a cause that currently coincides with ours." Weiss corrected. "I still must speak with him."

After waving to the crowd for a few minutes the Exalt turned and hobbled back inside. Somehow he looked even more frail than before. Weiss' group mingled with the assembled nobles for a while, fulfilling their social obligations and hopefully gathering more support for their cause. Eventually a representative from the Exalt arrived. He wanted to see Weiss and her allies immediately. The representative led the group through the palace. To their surprise they bypassed the throne room and headed deeper inside, into the Exalt's private quarters. They bypassed even the usual spaces that might be used for a more personal meeting between nobles, eventually arriving outside the Exalt's bedroom.

"The Exalt is ready to see you." One of the guards outside reported. "There is no time to waste."

"Thank you." Weiss said with a courteous bow. "Is the Exalt unwell?" The guard did not answer but his expression confirmed he was.

The group filed into the Exalt's room to a shocking sight. The Exalt was lying in bed, wrapped in blankets and being continuously attended to by a group of clerics. "I welcome you, Princess Weiss, Countess Pyrrha, your valiant retainers." The Exalt said weakly.

"It is an honor to meet you." Weiss and Pyrrha said in unison. They and their retainers bowed before the Exalt.

"I can see the concern on your faces." The Exalt said. "But please, let us discuss the reason for your visit."

"Your Majesty, Exalt of Ylisse, wisest of all rulers, I, Princess Weiss of Valm, seek an alliance in my effort to replace my father as Emperor of Valm." Weiss said.

"No need to be so complimentary or formal." The Exalt said. "Call me Ozpin. I'm just a mortal man after all."

"Your Maj...Ozpin, my father is an evil man and must be stopped." Weiss said. "In his place I would guarantee the peace between our nations. I would promise to refrain from launching any aggressive wars, and will expand the rights of my people."

"I know you would." Ozpin said. "You have my full support. After the imperial forces invading Ferox are dealt with Ylissian soldiers will invade Valm with the intention of putting you on the throne. You have my word." Weiss moved forward and extended her hand to shake Ozpin's. "No, you shouldn't. Our words, our honor is enough. I am not safe to touch."

"What is wrong?" Weiss asked. "Are you afflicted with illness?"

"So it seems." Ozpin confirmed. He looked to Pyrrha. "I see fear and pain on your face."

"She did it, didn't she?" Pyrrha asked.

"Who?" Ozpin asked.

"The Queen of Plegia." Pyrrha replied. "Cinder. She's cursed you as she cursed my parents."

"I'm afraid so." Ozpin sighed. "When escorting her here, did any of you touch her?"

"I restrained her back in Plegia." Yang answered.

"Skin-to-skin contact?" Ozpin asked.

"No." Yang replied. "I was wearing my armor."

"Thank the gods." Ozpin said. "The curse is transmitted by direct contact."

"There must be some way to save you." Pyrrha said. She was doing her best to hide her emotions but she was tearing up.

"I'm afraid the only way to break to curse is to kill Cinder." Ozpin said. "That is not advisable. Her survival is necessary to keep peace between Ylisse and Plegia."

"But you'll die!" Pyrrha exclaimed.

"My life is a small price to pay to save the world." Ozpin said. "The emperor must be stopped. The Queen can be dealt with later."

"But I...we…" Pyrrha stammered.

"We all die eventually." Ozpin said. "Princess Weiss, please, come close so I can look upon you, but take care not to touch me, lest you be cursed as well."

Weiss approached, leaning her face close to Ozpin's. He stared into her eyes and smiled. "What's this about?" Weiss asked.

"The end is near." Ozpin said. "I will die without issue. With me, the line of Exalts blessed by Naga dies. Only those with Exalted Blood can unlock the power required to seal away an immortal dragon."

"Grima's dead already." Weiss said. "And what does this have to do with me?"

"There are more dragons than just Grima and Naga." Ozpin explained. "There is one, hiding in the shadows for centuries, that aims to take up Grima's mantle. She must be stopped."

"But if you're the last of the Exalted Blood, no one will be able to do that." Weiss said.

"True, but I am only the last of my line." Ozpin said. "There are others. One, a descendent of a sibling of Chrom, married into the Valmese imperial house."

"Are you saying…" Weiss started.

"Your mother carried Exalted Blood." Ozpin said. "That means both you and your sister do as well. It's diluted and weak, but you have it. You bear the Exalt's mark in your eye. However faded, it's there."

"I don't know what…" Weiss trailed off.

"Take the Falchion and the Fire Emblem." Ozpin commanded. A servant brought out a case and opened it to reveal both. "If the need arises, you must wield them. Please, the fate of the world depends on you."

Weiss was stunned. She never knew about her mother's ancestry and never dreamed she could have Exalted Blood. "I...I will." Weiss promised.

"I know they're in good hands." Ozpin said. "Now, my time is short." He motioned to a servant. "Take this package to Qrow."

"Of course." Weiss said, taking the small box from the servant. "You need not worry."

"I know." Ozpin said. "Now go. Seeing you has lifted a great weight from me, but now it's time for me to sleep. Goodbye."

"It has been an honor." Weiss said with a bow. Her retainers bowed as well.

"I'm so sorry." Pyrrha said. "I should have killed Cinder. You wouldn't…"

"You did the right thing, sparing her." Ozpin cut her off. "My death is the price that must be paid to save the world."

"But…" Pyrrha trailed off. "I will avenge you, and my parents."

"I'm sure you will." Ozpin said. "But don't let it consume you."

"I...I...won't." Pyrrha stammered.

"Now go." Ozpin ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Pyrrha said with a bow.

The group was ushered out of the palace. They returned to their residence to gather their things, procured some supplies for their journey, and headed out. In a few days they would reach Ferox. Hopefully Qrow and his army would still be there when they arrived.

The trip to Ferox and Qrow's army would be a quick and simple one. Straight up the road to the north, through Nikopolis, across the border and then on to the capital before taking the road west to where Qrow's army was positioned. And now, thanks to the generosity of the Exalt, the travelers were all mounted on pack horses. Since they were riding they could make it to Nikopolis in just two days and to the army in another. The first day was entirely uneventful. The group made it more than halfway to Nikopolis, stopping at a roadside inn for the night.

The next day got off to a good start. The group moved at dawn. It was chilly but the sun was out to warm them as they rode. By noon they had reached Pyrrha's county and would reach the village of Nikopolis in just a few hours. The road cut through open meadows, then through narrow gaps between encroaching forests, crossing rolling hills as it wound further north. The trip was smooth and easy, for a time. Yang was riding beside Ruby as the road ran between a thick forest and an open field. Now that they had patched things up Yang was eager to talk to her sister. She knew Ruby was still dealing with some issues and Yang wanted to be there for her. Pyrrha led the column as she usually did. Yang and Ruby were followed by Weiss and Blake, riding single file, and Nora and Ren rode side-by-side at the back.

A swirling black portal opened up just behind Pyrrha. Ruby and Zwei fell in awkwardly and Yang too was unable to avoid the trap. All she could manage was a warning. "Stay back!" She shouted as she disappeared into the blackness. Weiss pulled up short, avoiding the same fate. Pyrrha wheeled her Pegasus around and darted for the portal, but it closed before she could reach it.

"Raven again, damnit!" Blake yelled.

"They're in danger!" Pyrrha shouted. "We have to find them!"

"There's no obvious place she'd be this time." Weiss observed.

"I'll take to the air and find them." Pyrrha said. "I know every inch of this county. Once I spot them I'll signal the rest of you with magic."

"The rest of us will guard Weiss, just in case she's splitting us up to make an attack easier." Blake said.

Pyrrha took the the air, soaring on her Pegasus. Blake, Weiss, Ren and Nora dismounted and took up a defensive formation. Once the sound of flapping wings faded into the distance it was quiet, far too quiet. Blake heard something none of the others did and turned. "We're not alone." She warned.

"Quite the hearing you've got Blake." A man's voice said. A masked man with a sword stepped out of the forest a little further up the road. "It doesn't matter, I don't need the element of surprise to kill you all."

"Adam." Blake growled. She charged straight at him as Nora placed herself between Weiss and the attacker. Ren stepped back and to the side, positioning himself to attack with his magic, but Blake was in the way. She drew her sword and froze in place.

Adam stood still and smiled. He spun around with his elbow out and the real Blake reappeared as Adam struck her in the face. "I know all your tricks." Adam laughed. Blake scrambled to get up but Adam kicked her in the chest, knocking her flat on her back. "Stay out of this." He kicked her in the stomach a few more times, leaving her groaning on the ground.

Nora edged forward, wanting to help Blake but wary of leaving herself open to attack. Ren finally had his angle. He spoke a spell from his tome and electricity flew from his fingertips. Adam casually held out his sword to meet the attack. The electricity surged through the blade then disappeared, leaving the weapon with a subtle red glow. Adam started walking toward the trio and Ren fired another attack, only for it to have the same result. "Stop…" Blake warned, still unable to get up. "You're only making him stronger."

Adam stopped and turned to face Blake. "Shut up traitor!" He shouted. Nora saw her opening, swung her hammer back and charged. As she approached Adam she whipped her weapon around at shoulder level. Adam turned and held out his sword with one hand. The weapons met and a burst of energy pulsed out from Nora's hammer. Nora was pushed back but Adam stood unmoved. "Fool." Adam stepped toward the off-balance Nora, twisted around and slashed. His blade cut through Nora's armor as if it were not even there, cutting into her side by several inches.

Nora stood still for a moment, staring down at the blade lodged deeply in her torso. Adam withdrew his blade. Nora dropped her hammer and collapsed in a heap as blood poured from the gap in her armor. "Nora!" Ren cried as he rushed forward. Adam took a step back and readied his blade, but Ren stopped when he reached Nora. He held his arms out to his sides and a translucent shield appeared around Nora and himself.

Adam glanced back at Blake. She was still down, only having managed to get to her knees. "Looks like it's just you and me princess." Adam said. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Ruby and Zwei landed hard, knocking out both horse and rider. Yang managed to push herself clear of her horse as she fell. The animal slammed down hard as Yang managed to brace against the impact, landing on all-fours. "Ruby!" Yang called as her panicked horse struggled to get to its feet. Yang rushed to Ruby. Zwei was on top of one of her legs and she had landed on her injured side. It was good that she was unconscious because she would otherwise have been in terrible pain. "Ruby, speak to me." Yang pleaded. At least Ruby was still breathing.

Yang looked around. Raven had to be near. Her horse was on its feet thrashing around. Then it suddenly stopped. Raven stepped out from behind it, drawing her sword across the animal's throat. "Looks like it's just you and me this time Yang." Raven said as she slowly approached. Then she saw over the top of Zwei and her expression changed as she stopped in her tracks. Gone was her confidence, replaced by fear and doubt. "Summer…" She gasped.

"I know, you killed Summer." Yang said. "Qrow told me. You're a monster."

Raven shook her head and focused on Yang. "The emperor was responsible for Summer's death, not me." Raven said.

"Say it enough and you might even convince yourself." Yang shot back. She stood and faced her mother, placing herself between Raven and Ruby.

"Yang, I'm giving you one last opportunity to join me." Raven said. "I do not want to kill my daughter, but I will if I must."

"I'll never join you." Yang declared. "You're evil."

"The Schnees are evil." Raven countered.

"Weiss isn't evil." Yang said. "She's kind, generous, just, everything a ruler should be. Why can't you see that?"

"She's a Schnee." Raven said. "Those snakes are great actors. It's only a matter of time before she shows her true colors."

"You can try to convince me all you want." Yang said. "I'll never turn on her."

"I will kill you." Raven warned.

"You can try." Yang said with a smirk as she took a fighting stance.

Raven slid her sword back into its scabbard. "You think you're strong." She said. "You're nothing."

"I'll show you what I can do." Yang said. She slammed her gauntlets together and they burst into flames.

"You would fight with such pathetic arms?" Raven asked. "No, we'll settle this as Branwens." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a glowing stone. "Goodbye Yang." Flames erupted all around her and her body was engulfed in blinding light. It faded with a pulse of energy and Raven was gone, replaced by a nine-foot-long red dragon with a black mane running down the back of its long neck.

"I never thought I'd actually want to transform." Yang said. "At least this time I'll be in control." She touched the pendant around her neck and the jewel contained within began to glow. Fire erupted all around Yang and she was engulfed in blinding light. It faded with a pulse of energy and Yang was gone, replaced by a nine-foot-long golden dragon with a flaming mane running down the back of its neck. The golden dragon roared at its crimson counterpart and the red dragon roared back.