Author's Note: I mentioned when I started posting this story that I wasn't sure I would finish it. Well, I did. I have to thank those of you who encouraged me for pushing me to complete it. Until it's all out I'll be posting two chapters per week. Expect odd numbered chapters on Wednesday and evens on Sunday.

Chapter 5

Days of training turned to weeks. The weather grew colder as autumn slipped into winter and soon snow blanketed the ground. Things were looking up. For all the chaos that had enveloped the world following the Vytal Festival incident, things had not gotten any worse. On the personal side, the fighters seemed to be filled with a new confidence. Once surrounded by her friends Ruby had seamlessly transitioned back into being the adorable little warrior who always had a smile on her face. Blake had recovered from her injury and she and Weiss seemed quite happy together. Yang reached the point where she was as dextrous with her prosthetic as she had been with her real arm; she was whole again. Pyrrha was noticeably less depressed; it was as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Nora's nightmares subsided, becoming increasingly rare, and that allowed Ren to actually get some sleep. There was hope, but there was also restlessness. How long could they really go on training in the backyard while the world was on the brink?

"Any reports today?" Qrow asked.

"No." Taiyang replied.

"I told you it was for the best." Qrow said.

"I have to admit, you may have been right." Taiyang sighed. "There haven't been any significant Grimm sightings nearby since that fight."

"You need to trust me." Qrow said. "I have everyone's best interests at heart."

"I'm never going to trust you." Taiyang said. "Not again. That little stunt worked out, and maybe it was what they needed, but don't think for a second I believe you're done. I can see it in your eyes. You're planning something and I don't like it."

"You sound pretty paranoid." Qrow observed. "Once the council decides how to proceed with replacing Beacon, I'll take them to whatever school they come up with, whether it's in Vale or not. That's the only plan I've got. I know you don't want your girls to leave again, but you know they won't accept that."

"I'm resigned to the fact that they're going to be Huntresses whether I like it or not." Taiyang admitted. "If you're watching over them - and I mean really watching over them, not looking out for your cabal - I guess I can live with that."

"Good." Qrow said. "Relax. Enjoy the time you have with them. Train with them. I'm sure they'll love it. Everything's going to work out."

"I think I will." Taiyang said. "But I'm still keeping my eye on you."

One morning before training Ruby asked the others to meet her in a field not far from the house. They all dutifully headed there at the appointed time but Ruby was late. Weiss took the opportunity to pull Blake aside to talk. "You haven't been wearing your bow." Weiss said.

"So?" Blake responded.

"You've never gone this long without it." Weiss said. "You used to sleep with it on. I know you said you were comfortable around me but with everyone here…"

"I guess I decided it's time to stop running from who I am." Blake cut her off. "I can't be afraid to let the world see I'm a Faunus."

"Is that all it is?" Weiss asked.

"Not entirely." Blake replied. "I guess it's a part of me accepting myself. I have my flaws and I've made some terrible mistakes, but if I can't like the person I am, who else can?"

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. "Sorry I'm late!" Ruby called as she rushed into the field. "I had to make sure dad and Uncle Qrow didn't follow me."

"What's this about?" Weiss asked. "Why do you have us all standing in the middle of the woods?"

"Yeah, it's freezing out here." Yang added.

"There's something I needed to talk to you all about, but I can't let the adults hear me." Ruby explained. "I know what we need to do next."

"What are you talking about?" Pyrrha asked. She sounded a bit nervous. Everyone had been under the impression that the next step was going back to school in some way. It did not sound like Ruby was talking about that.

"When I first woke up, Uncle Qrow mentioned that Cinder and her group went to Haven after what happened." Ruby said. "We've got to go there and stop whatever they're up to."

"That's insane!" Weiss protested. "Even if we could get there and find them, both highly unlikely, what makes you think we can stop them? Look at what they did to us! They managed to defeat the Atlesian army and some of the most elite Hunters in all of Remnant. We're just a bunch of kids."

"We're not just kids." Ruby said. "We're Huntresses." She paused for a moment before looking at Ren. "And a Huntsman. Anyway, it's our job to protect the world. We can't just sit here knowing they're out there."

"That still doesn't explain how we're supposed to beat them." Blake said. "We were barely an inconvenience to them at Beacon."

"We're stronger now." Ruby said. "And we know who the bad guys are. At Beacon we didn't realize who they were until it was too late. If we go to Haven as refugees, they'll think that's all we are. We'll have the element of surprise this time. Once we're there we can get Team SSSN to join us too. Plus Weiss figured out how to summon and I've got my new power. You saw what I did to that dragon thing. We can do this!" The others did not look so sure.

"I don't know." Ren said. "This all sounds very risky. There's not even a guarantee we can get to Haven. With everything that's happened travel is difficult and expensive."

"I'm in." Pyrrha declared. The others looked at her in surprise. "We can't just stay here doing nothing while the world's falling apart. If we wait too long there won't be a world to save."

"I agree but that still doesn't solve our money problem." Yang said.

"I've got enough money saved up to get us to Vale." Ruby said. "Then we just need money to get to Mistral."

"I still have some lien." Weiss offered. "It's not much but it's something."

"Nora and I don't have any." Ren said.

"I have a little but I don't think it'll be enough." Yang said.

"I don't have any with me but once we get to Mistral I can use credit." Pyrrha said. "International banking is down along with the CCT but the intra-kingdom networks seem to be working."

"We have to at least try." Ruby pleaded. "Come on, we need to do this. We need to do it for Jaune and Ozpin and everyone else. Please. I'll go myself if I have to."

"I already said I'll go." Pyrrha repeated.

"If you two are going, I'm going too." Yang added.

"Let's do it!" Nora exclaimed. She looked at Ren expectantly and he nodded.

"I'm done running away from my problems." Blake declared. "I'll join you."

"I guess I'll go too." Weiss sighed. "It's better than going back to Atlas."

"Alright!" Ruby yelled. "This'll be great! Now we just need to get all the supplies we'll need together and wait for the right moment. It would suck if we left only for dad to stop us."

The group started discussing details. They did not know it but they were being watched. "Looks like it's all coming together." Qrow whispered to himself. He held Ozpin's cane in his hands and looked it over. "I hope I'm doing the right thing. It's a lot harder when I'm the one making the decision."

The day finally came. Taiyang had business to deal with at Signal and Qrow was AWOL. Now was the time to go. The group gathered the supplies they had secretly been hoarding, packed them into backpacks and headed out. If all went as planned no one would know they were gone until they were off Patch. If the timing worked out they might even be on a ship to Mistral by then. It was probably not a great idea but Ruby and Yang left a note for their father explaining what they were doing but not where they were going. Weiss left a video for Qrow to give to Winter.

The smartest thing to do would have been to head straight for the docks and get on a ferry to Vale as soon as possible, but the group had another stop in mind. It was a bit out of the way but they could not leave before visiting Summer's grave. The others stood back as Ruby spoke to her mother, telling her about what had happened and what they were planning. She spoke to Jaune as well, apologizing that she had been unable to save him and saying how much she missed him. Then she stepped back, giving the others a chance to say a prayer or offer a few words of their own.

After Weiss, Blake, Ren and Nora, it was Yang's turn. She knelt beside the stone and placed her hand on it. "I'll keep Ruby safe, I promise." She whispered. "I'll make sure she'll be the hero she always dreamed of being." She stood, wiped away a stray tear and walked back to the others.

Pyrrha hesitated but stepped forward at last, standing before the monument and looking out over the cliff beyond. "As long as I live and breathe no harm will come to your daughters or their friends." Pyrrha said. "I will protect them. I will not fail again." She took a deep breath. "And Jaune, if you're out there, I'll find you." In the backpack she carried, along with assorted supplies, was his weapon. "I have something I need to give you, and so much I need to say." Pyrrha felt as though she was being watched. She guessed the others were getting impatient with her. She turned around but they did not seem to care, instead talking quietly amongst themselves. Pyrrha could not shake the feeling. She looked around, scanning the edge of the clearing, but saw nothing and no one. Strange. "I'm ready." She announced.

"Alright, if we hurry we can catch the noon ferry." Yang said. She looked Pyrrha in the eyes as she approached. "What's wrong? Thinking about what happened again?"

"It's nothing like that." Pyrrha said. "It's just...I don't know. Let's just get going." The group moved on, heading straight for the port. Soon they would be on a boat to Vale and hopefully on their way to Mistral shortly thereafter.

"I can't believe how much a ticket to Mistral costs." Ruby groaned. The group was short of money and it was not particularly close. "Isn't there a cheaper option."

"Give me a moment." The ticket clerk tapped away at his computer. "I'm sorry, but with the increase in traffic we've been forced to raise the rates. Even if you did buy a ticket, it might be days before we could get a group as large as yours on your way."

"There has to be something we can do." Yang said.

The clerk tilted his head as he looked at the screen. "Huh." He said.

"Is that a good huh or a bad huh?" Weiss asked.

"For you I think it's a good one." The clerk replied. "You could try Eastport." Eastport, as the name implied, was a port on the east coast of the kingdom, directly across a rather narrow sea from Mistral. "The traffic there is much lighter and the fares are well within your budget. Unfortunately, it's quite a walk."

"If that's what it takes, we'll do it." Ruby declared.

"I guess we don't have much of a choice." Blake sighed. "I have to warn you though, it's dangerous out there. Even the roads aren't safe. And it's not just Grimm."

"You could take a train or airship…" The clerk started. "...oh, but then you wouldn't be able to afford the trip to Mistral. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful."

"We're all trained warriors." Pyrrha said. "I'm sure we can handle whatever we may encounter."

"Yeah!" Nora exclaimed. "We'll crush anyone who stands in our way!"

"Maybe we try to avoid violence, except as a last resort." Ren suggested.

"Oh yeah, right, good idea." Nora laughed.

With their course of action decided, the group headed out. Even the trek through the city of Vale, enormous as it was, would be a long one. From there it would take days to reach Eastport. "We might have a problem." Weiss said.

"What?" Blake asked.

"Since we're walking all the way I don't think we'll have sufficient supplies." Weiss replied. "We didn't exactly plan for something like this."

"It won't be a problem." Ruby assured her. "We're all trained in gathering resources in the field."

"Ruby, you got a D in that class." Weiss reminded her. "The professor said you wouldn't last a week on your own."

"But I'm not on my own." Ruby countered. "The rest of you did great in that."

"It might be tough to provision a group this large but I suppose it's possible." Pyrrha said. "It'll probably slow us down though."

"Well, hopefully we'll be able to stop at a few villages along the way." Ren said. "They might take pity on us. In my experience the people living outside the kingdoms are usually willing to help refugees."

"Either way I'm sure we'll be fine." Ruby said. "We'll do what we have to do. We need to get to Mistral, no matter what."

"I told them about Eastport, just like you asked." The ticket clerk said.

"Thanks." Qrow said. He took a sip from his flask before tossing a few lien to the man. "I really appreciate it."

"I hope those kids will be alright." The clerk said. "It really is dangerous out there."

"Don't worry." Qrow said. "They can handle it. Besides, I'll keep an eye on them."

"You're a drunk old man who probably hasn't slept or showered in a week." The clerk said. "If I didn't know you, and you weren't paying me so much, I'd never have gone along with this."

"Well you're right on two counts." Qrow cut him off. "I won't say which. But I also happen to be the best damn Huntsman in Vale." He smiled then tossed the man more cash. "If a blond haired guy shows up asking about the group, tell him they went to Atlas."

"It was nice doing business with you Qrow." The clerk said. "Don't make me regret this."

Taiyang arrived at the house late in the afternoon. To his surprise the kids were not training outside. Perhaps they had called it quits for the day. He opened the front door and went inside. "I'm home." He called. There was no reply. Maybe they were off in the forest doing something. It was only natural that they would want to change up their routine after so long. He tossed his bag of food on the counter and opened the pantry to put it away. The cabinet was empty. He was overcome with a sick feeling. "Maybe they went camping. Yeah. Please let that be it." He said to himself, growing increasingly panicked. He headed toward the back of the house and saw a note posted on the door to his room.

Dad,

We know you want us to stay home, and we're really sorry, but we can't. We're Huntresses and it's our job to protect the world. We've gone after the people responsible for what happened at Beacon. We're not coming back until we've stopped them. We'll be in touch if we get the chance. Please don't come after us.

We'll miss you,

Ruby and Yang

Taiyang dropped to his knees sobbing. "Not again, not again…" He cried. "Why?" He dropped the note and as it fell to the floor he saw there was more written on the back. "What the?"

Tai,

Sorry I had to do this behind your back but I knew you'd just get in the way. Know that I didn't force them to do anything or even suggest it. I just told them a place and they decided they needed to go. Don't worry, I'll be watching over them. I'll come back with them or not at all. It's for the good of Remnant.

My apologies,

Qrow

Taiyang's sorrow turned to rage. "Qrow you bastard!" He screamed. He crushed the note in his hand. "Haven't you taken enough away from me?! I'll kill you! I'll kill you if it's the last thing I do!" Taiyang got his emotions under control and gathered what he needed. He was going after them. They only had a few hours of a head start, they probably stopped at Summer's grave, and being in a group would slow them down. He could catch up if he hurried.

If he found the kids he would find Qrow. Then...he could not say what he would do then. He sincerely expected he would at least attempt to kill the man. Qrow would likely put up little opposition, knowing as he did just how in the wrong he was. Whether Taiyang could go through with it or not was another question. Though he presently detested the man, they were teammates and had been the best of friends. He had always been there for the kids and was the closest thing Taiyang had to a brother. Somewhere along the way Qrow had changed. Or maybe it just took time for Taiyang to notice who Qrow really was all along. He was more concerned with saving the world than protecting his family. Now Qrow was even willing to put his own nieces in the firing line. How could the man have fallen so far?

The ticket clerk sat at his desk. The terminal was busy and he had lots of sales to make. It seemed everyone wanted to leave Vale and he could not blame them. There was a commotion, a few indignant shouts and some swears thrown out. A haggard-looking blond man pushed his way to the front of the line. He was out of breath and sweating profusely. "I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to wait in line like everyone else." The clerk said.

"I'm not here for a ticket, I'm here for my kids." Taiyang said. "Did a group of teenagers come through here today. Seven of them. Six girls, one boy. One of the girls was short with black hair, another was a tall blond, both kind of look like me…"

"They came and went." The clerk said. He had a choice to make. He could tell the man, who was obviously distraught and apparently was looking for his daughters, where the group had gone. Or he could go along with Qrow. He trusted Qrow but at the same time was aware that the man was involved in some shady dealings.

"Where did they go?!" Taiyang demanded. "Tell me!"

The clerk looked Taiyang in the eyes, eyes filled with rage and fear. "They went to Atlas." He said. The clerk wanted to tell the truth but Qrow's money was too much. He needed it to get his family out of Vale and set up some place safe.

"Thank you, I need tickets on the first flight there." Taiyang said.

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait in line." The clerk said.

"But...my daughters…" Taiyang protested. He looked back at the line of angry people behind him.

"Don't worry, the next airship doesn't leave for another two hours." The clerk said. "You've got plenty of time."

"Fine." Taiyang sighed. Hanging his head he trudged to the back of the line. He had to find his daughters before something happened to them. He could not live with losing anyone else.