Even if Yang agreed....everyone else didn't.

Shine spent most of the time they were gathering their belongings and sorting out who was doing what, trying to convince Winter, Tai, Raven, and even Hazel, that this was a good idea.

Theo and Vara were pretty much immovable, but they didn't get a full vote.

Winter was more persuaded by Shine's reasoning once she heard it all, but Tai didn't want Cinder anywhere near Ruby...however Raven pointed out that he was barely a part of this.

For her part...she wasn't against using her, it wasn't like she hadn't done it before. But what happened to her tribe still angered her,  if she had felt less crappy right now it might have made her more opposed.

But Hazel said that getting the Fall relic only made Salem more likely to.

But the person with the biggest problem with it was Ozpin himself.

Nothing could convince him. He wasn't budging.

And they kind of needed him.

Oscar, however, wasn't really quite sure he agreed with this plan either. He didn't trust Cinder at all.

And he was the only one who could have pried the information out of Ozpin's mind.

Shine accepted Ozpin's refusal by saying that he could think about it while they worked on taking care of the Sword.

So far Cinder didn't know their plan to put the sword in the vault.

Mercury, of course...was not on board.

"The one perk of switching sides was going to be not seeing her stupid face anymore," he griped.

"It won't be for that long," Shine said.

"So?" he said.

Emerald was less enthused than him.

"I know this is difficult," Shine said. "But she'll only be with us till we drop you off in Haven, and then we'll go to Beacon. Just avoid her."

Emerald sighed.

Shine told Watts separately not to tell Cinder what he knew about the Sword. Which suited him just fine. He didn't want her to know, he wanted an advantage. He figured if he got the Summer Relic somehow, and Cinder failed to get the Fall one, as he was certain she was going to, he'd look better by comparison.

He failed to see that Shine was setting him up to think this on purpose--or if he did, he thought it was inconsequential.

Wally heard the whole plan from Shine--plus the part she didn't tell the others, which was that in the long term, she didn't think it mattered that much if it worked.

"Just keeping the ball rolling for now, till the team is more ready," she said.

"Shine," Wally was studying her. "I've just figured it out. This planning, scheming side of you, I know what it reminds me of."

"Batman?" Shine said.

"No not Batman," Wally said. "You know that show about the Air Bender kid your sister made me watch."

"I thought you said it was good."

"Yeah it was, I can't wait till it comes out in my world," Wally said. "But you remind me of that fire guy, Zuko right? His sister."

"WHAT?!" Shine was insulted.

"Yeah yeah, like Zulu, what's her name..."

"Azula?!!!" Shine said. "She's crazy! How can you say that?"

"Oh not the crazy part," Wally said. "But like how she's really good at tricking people and knowing what they're thinking? That part. Like it's kind of intimidating, but it's cool at the same time."

"No it's not" Shine said. "I can't believe you said something so hurtful."

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing," Wally said. "It's just that you're really good at it."

"I can't believe you," Shine seemed really insulted.

[This whole gag is a reference to an incident when I wrote the X-men fic, My sisters started calling Shine Good Azula and I hated it at first, but then they kind of showed me how she does sound like her...now we all use it...honestly, you can picture Azula saying most of the stuff Shine says when she's scheming...I mean Shine just has actual humanity and compassion, so that's huge difference.

I might ask how I wrote that by accident, and if that reflects poorly on me, but let's just enjoy it.]

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Wally said, though he was still convinced. "But seriously, it's going to be bad if we lose the Fall relic."

"Salem has to follow us," Shine said. "That is my real goal. She might blow up Vacuo out of spite if she thinks it's more worth her time--but on the other hand, if she's in a hurry to get that Summer relic, she won't bother about Vacuo while she could be following us. We have to move very fast."

"Well fast is my middle name," Wally said. "And my first name. And my last name. By the way, are we sure Qrow and Neo are really in shape to move?" 

"No, but they have to. We can't leave them here," Shine said.

Wally nodded.

* * *

"I can't believe they let you stay," Watts told Cinder.

Cinder couldn't either--and now she seemed stuck.

The others were already outside Shade.

Team CFVY was going to see them off, and Meridian and Hamish. Libby was nowhere in sight.

"Where is your little friend?" Willow annoyed Whitley by calling her that. "I was sure she'd see you off."

"I think she's meeting us at the ship," Whitley said, checking his scroll. "If we're going to leave before dawn, we really should hurry."

"Mr. West," Winter came up to him. "Did you get what I asked for?"

"Oh, the hair stuff?" Wally said. "Sorry, I completely forgot." He rubbed his head. "Why do you want that so badly though, doesn't it hurt?"

"I don't like this," Winter tugged her ponytail. "It's too messy.  I have no extra ones...I should have just got them myself."

"I'm surprised you didn't have more," Pyrrha said. "You seem so prepared."

"Miss Nikos, I didn't pack my belongings before we left Atlas," Winter pointed out. "I had what was on my back."

"Oh...right," Pyrrha said. "I'm sorry."

"I don't know why you're worried about that right now," Nora snorted. "No one cares."

"It's fine to want to look professional," Weiss defended Winter. 

"It doesn't matter, her uniform is ruined anyway," Nora said.

Winter didn't like being reminded of that either...especially since Harriet had already asked her what people thought when she'd been seeing the Ace Ops off...they didn't like that she was going, but they knew she couldn't stay.

Robyn was staying also.

"I'll miss you Qrow," she said. "But hey, I'm sure you'll all be back eventually. Mistral and Vale will get tired of you, Vacuo is the only place that's your kind of troublemaking."

"I really felt the love, yeah," Qrow said sarcastically. "Well, take care of yourself, Hill."

"Don't I always?" Robyn winked. "Good luck with Schnee."

"Heh..." Qrow didn't get that she was implying something. "Actually she's not really the problem. Theo..."

Theo and Vara were coming, of course.

"I've got it," Sun said. "We'll put the Fall one in the Vacuo vault, and Summer one in the Haven vault, and then, she'll be confused.

"And how long would that take her to figure out?" Yang said in disgust.

"I don't know, a long time maybe..." Sun said.

"You know...Ozpin really should have thought of that ages ago," Neptune said. "If you just move 'em around, it wouldn't matter as much which Maiden had what."

"I think we could fill a book with ideas Ozpin hasn't had," Blake said, rather meanly for her. [Like this one?😉]

"So uh...are you guys staying behind?" Weiss asked Sun and Neptune, really for Blake's sake.

She glanced at Meridian who was not that far off.

"Well," Sun said. "It's a tough call because we really could, but Blake sure seems to need more help than I thought. Someone should keep an eye on her."

Blake rolled her eyes.

"On the other hand, the food here is good," Sun said.

Neptune gave him a look.

"But Neptune said we should help you guys out," Sun added. "If that's okay."

"That's great," Blake said, brightening. "Why didn't you say something?"

"I thought I just did..." Sun was confused.

"Dude! I said to ask her first!" Neptune said.

"Why? I follow her all the time," Sun said. "I mean at least I told her this time."

"Sun!" Blake said.

Then she hugged him. "I can believe I'm saying this but that actually makes me feel better about this."

"Where did the moody, antisocial Blake go?" Neptune wondered.

"And you're coming because..?" Yang asked.

"I go where Sun goes," Neptune said. 

"I thought it was because you hated Vacuo," Sun said.

"Well...uh...you know...It's not important," Neptune looked away.

"Are your teammates going?" Winter asked.

"Yeah, they didn't really want to stay either. I can't understand why none of them like my home turf," Sun said.

Weiss eyed the dirty streets. "I can't imagine..."

"What about your boyfriend?" Sun added.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Weiss said. "And I hardly know Meridian, of course he's not coming."

"Did you ask?" Neptune asked.

"No, why would I," Weiss reddened. "I mean it would be weird..."

"We could always use more huntsmen..." Blake said.

"You guys are unbelievable, but I guess I should say goodbye, I mean they did save my life after all..." Weiss said.

"Sure, go do that," Yang said dryly.

Weiss walked away.

"Weiss and a Vacuo guy," Yang said. "That's just too weird."

"Hey!" Sun said.

"Opposites do attract," Blake said. "Maybe it makes sense...he seems...nice."

"I guess," Yang said. "He's okay. Kind of rude though."

"Have you met anyone here?" Neptune asked. "I can't wait to get to Mistral."

"Home, huh?" Sun said. "But we're not going to Argus, so..."

"Wait you're from Argus?" Blake said.

"Yeah," Neptune said.

"Pyrrha is from Argus," Blake said.

"Yeah, Pyrrha and I went to the same training academy," Neptune said.

"Wait, you did?" Ruby looked up.

"Yeah," Neptune sad. "But we didn't really know each other. She was always busy being famous and winning tournaments and stuff. We never fought."

"But that's so weird." Blake remarked.

"There's only four kingdoms with two schools each, Blake," Neptune said. "It's not like it's that statistically unlikely."

"Yeah...weird..." Ruby agreed.

Little peeped out of her hood.

"Ruby, are you really bringing that thing everywhere?" Yang asked.

"Hey!" Little said.

"I just mean it's going to be hard to hide her," Yang said.

"I'm not leaving her here," Ruby said. "What if someone traps her? Besides she's my pe--friend now. Zwei won't bother her."

"What about the cats?" Blake asked.

Kip was bringing his cats--even though most of the adults had said it was a bad idea.

They made their way to the large cargo ship that had been sent for them. 

Torchwick was carrying Neo's stuff while she was trying not to bump her arm on things.

Mercury was walking by now, but he was sluggish if he moved too long.

Qrow kept saying he was fine--but the nurse had said he should rest for a few more days at least.

"I hate flying..." Vara eyed the ship distastefully. "It's too bumpy"

"Then stay here," Raven snapped. She didn't like Vara so far--mostly because of the kidnapping thing.

Vara flipped Raven off behind her back and sullenly got on the plane.

"Come here," she motioned at Kip.

Kip sat next to here. "I've never been on a big thing like this," he said. "Is it fun?"

"Oh loads of fun," Penny said. "Much less distracting than when you have to fly alone."

"It's hell..." Vara gripped her seat.

"We're not even moving yet," Mercury said.

"Shut up," Vara said.

"Where is Shine?" Winter noticed she wasn't on board.

***

Shine was talking to Watts.

"Let Tyrian know that we're taking the relic and maiden to Mistral," she told him. "But say nothing about the rest of the plan."

"And you want to tip Salem off because...?" Watts said.

"I don't want her to attack Vacuo," Shine said. "I can't be sure she'll take the bait, but why bother if her prize is already leaving? If you are following us, you can't be in two places at once to get it right...she might try something else, but she's not that smart, so I'll pray not."

"That will help," sarcastically.

"Well l prayed about you doing what I want," Shine said

Watts flinched.

"And of course if you share more information than I said, you know what happens," Shine gave him a warning look. "And don't think I won't figure it out. I'm sure Theo would push you out of the plane. We won't do a thing to stop it, remember that."

"All right, all right," Watts said. "I get it, you don't have to keep saying it. I'll tell him. You're gambling a lot on us doing what you want."

"As are you." Shine walked away.

Tyrian was waiting to hear from Watts.

"We didn't get the Maidens?" He wasn't happy.

"We're still en route to get them," Watts said. "It's just going to take a little longer. "We're following them to Mistral... may I say, if you were there like you were supposed to be, this would be easier."

"Orders are orders," Tyrian said. "I had to make sure that boy did as he was told--and he didn't. I knew he wouldn't be reliable."

Watts could have mentioned that Mercury had survived, but since that was excess information, and a wild card he might need later, he elected not to.

"If the Queen commands it," he said carefully. "We will follow them and secure the relic."

"She won't be pleased with you," Tyrian said.

Which was why Watts was not going to be anywhere near her when she got this news.

***

Salem wasn't pleased.

"How is it possible they have failed again?" she demanded.

"I can't explain it, your Grace," Tyrian said. "Those fools seem to be more wily than we expected. Now they are fleeing to Mistral."

"You all disappoint me!" Salem crushed him by saying, making him upset.

But he had no time to do his usual fit, because she interrupted him. "No word from Cinder?"

"Nothing."

"I know Cinder, she'll follow them," Salem said. "I ought to punish her for her disobedience...but in this case, it might work out...so they want to run hmm?" she put a hand to her chin also and looked slightly perturbed. "Well...fine. We know where they're going. Why don't you go prepare a welcome party for them. I will handle the chase this time. They want to race? So be it."

"You Grace, if I may," Tyrian said humbly, "are we not going to destroy Vacuo still?"

Salem smirked.

"Eventually," she said, thinking. "But now it will be ready. The other kingdoms are more likely to step in if they have contacted them somehow. If we destroy it before I've secured Ozpin again, we risk losing the passwords to those Relics... That might be useful. I want him captured again first. For now...I think a more subtle approach might serve us best. Vacuo can wait. Once we have the Summer Relic, we can eradicate it easily."

Tyrian was excited about that, but she ignored him as usual. "That will be all." She waved him off.

Sitting down in her chair, she picked up the book.

"So you want to run, hmm?..." she smirked, thumbing through some pages. "Well, perhaps I can make this more interesting for you, little heroes... What's a victory without presentation?"

[Salem is so textbook. Megamind would either be impressed or disgusted.]

* * *

Shine finally got on the airship.

Weiss held them all up by still talking to her new friends.

"So...uh...well, thanks again," she said awkwardly.

Hamish looked like he was already bored of the mushy goodbye thing.

"We should do it again sometime," Meridian said cheerfully. "Minus the kidnapping part."

"Right..." Weiss said. "Well, it's been...exciting."

"Your sister is watching us like a hawk," Meridian said. "And your brother-in-law."

"My what? I don't have one of those." Weiss looked. "Oh, Qrow? No, he's Ruby's uncle."

"They aren't together?" Meridian said.

"No!" Weiss was shocked.

"Huh...funny, they gave me that 'vibe', as those westerners say," Meridian said. 

"Where would you even get that idea?" Weiss was disgusted. 

"That idiot Neptune is looking too," Hamish said. "Probably hoping for a kiss or something."

"Shut up, Hamish," Meridian said. "That's not polite talk in front of a lady."

"Oh, aren't we posh now..." Hamish walked away.

"Don't mind him," Meridian said. "He's got no manners."

"I see why you're such friends," Weiss said.

"I suppose it wouldn't be you if you weren't being mean," Meridian said.

"I wasn't being mean..." Weiss said. "I just am...opinionated..." [Me, lol.]

"Oh, sure," Meridian said. "Well, it's not a bad thing. Mean keeps them losers away, right?" He winked.

"Yeah...exactly," Weiss said.

Winter would have been horrified by her using "yeah" instead of  "yes".

Weiss couldn't relax with her watching them.

"To be honest, he wasn't that far off," Meridian said slyly. "I was thinking the same thing, but since your family is watching, I'll settle for a nice, firm handshake." He held out a hand. "Take care of yourself. Snow Tiger."

"You too." Weiss shook it. "Uh, I guess maybe if we ever visit Vacuo again, I'll look you up."

"Oh, I'm sure we'll run into each other," Meridian said. "And if you need any encouragement, call me...if they ever get that CCT tower up again."

Pietro was staying behind to do this--it was strange Salem hadn't heard of it yet--but Watts had never mentioned it to her, and Mercury hadn't cared.

Penny had had quite a time convincing her father to let her go with them, but she wanted to stay with her friends and protect the Maidens--and honestly they needed the help.

Along with the main team, a handful of civilians from Atlas who wanted to leave Vacuo had joined them in the back. They were the ones who finally knew that their families were in Mistral or Vale.

"Train's leaving!" Mercury finally yelled at Weiss, to the others' annoyance.

"Shut up!" Weiss called.

"Farewell," Meridian said, waving.

"Yeah...bye..." Weiss walked away.

Mercury annoyed her by whistling as she came on. 

"Stop it." Emerald shoved him.

"What? She talked to him a long time," Mercury said.

"And you care because...?" Blake glared at him.

"I don't. It's just funny," Mercury said.

"Keep your impertinent remarks to yourself, Mr. Black," Winter warned him.

"I don't know what you saw in that person anyway," Whitley said to Weiss as she sat down.

"Oh, shut up," Weiss said. "Where is your little street friend, anyway?"

"Mysteriously, she doesn't appear to be here," Whitley said. "Ah, well...what do you expect?"

He didn't seem upset.

"I'm sorry, Master Whitley," Klein said. "I'm sure you were fond of her."

"I am not!" Whitley said. "Mind your own business."

Klein ignored this.

"Well, I can't say I'm sorry to quit this place." Winter sat back as the plane took off.

"I haven't been out of this kingdom since I ran away after--" Vara stopped. "--a long time..." She shivered. "It's cold on this plane."

"No, it's not..." Nora said oddly.

"So how did the plan go, baby?" Wally asked Shine.

She opened a book. "As long as Arthur didn't mess it up, so far so good. But I am reminded of the Magnificent 7's little anecdote."

"Hmm?" Wally said. "Which one?"

"You know, the man who fell through the roof of the house, and he went through each floor, and every time he said 'so far so good' ?" Shine said. "But what happens when he hits the bottom is the interesting part."

Wally laughed. "Yeah, that sums it up."

"Well, if that's how confident you are, I'm even less sure of this idea," Ozpin remarked.

"At least we're finally going somewhere new," Oscar said. "I mean...old, but it's a change. Not that I'm excited to see Haven again."

"We hardly saw it." Ruby leaned on the back of his chair. "This time we should go out more... I mean, if we have time... How long are we staying again?"

"As long as necessary," Shine said.

"Uncle Qrow and Ozpin wouldn't let us go anywhere," Ruby whined, "last time. They said it wasn't safe for kids."

"I stand by that opinion, Miss Rose," Ozpin said.

"She can't hear you," Oscar said.

"Who can't?" Ruby said.

"Nothing." Oscar banged his head. 

"Well, I don't care about safe," Yang said. "I want to check it out. I was barely even there before we had to leave."

"Two weeks," Blake said. "That's not long enough?"

"We didn't do anything!" Yang said. "It was all 'rest and recuperate!' and waiting for the train tickets!"

"I forgot how bad the damage was after that," Wally said, by which he meant until Shine told him; he hadn't really known what happened at all.

"It wasn't pretty." Yang was glaring at Emerald and Mercury and Cinder. The latter ignored her, but Emerald shuddered.

"And Weiss got impaled." Nora shouldn't have said that so loudly. "And Jaune unlocked his Semblance... Why don't you know all that, Wally? Shine seems to."

"Well, I kind of sped through a lo--" Wally began, and Shine nudged him.

"Did you just say Weiss got impaled?" Winter hadn't registered it for a second. She turned to look at Weiss.

"Oh, I remember that," Mercury said. "Cinder did that. It was classic."

"Mercury!" Emerald said.

"How dare you!" Weiss stood up to glare at him.

"What? You just stood there and waited for it," Mercury said. "You were begging for it."

"Begging for it? How can yo--" Weiss began.

"Ahem," Shine cleared her throat. "Can we all remember that attracting Grimm while we're flying is a bad idea?"

They all looked at her.

"Yeah, I remember that too," Shine said. "Duh."

"But did you hear what he said?" Blake said.

"I was right here, yes," Shine said. "And if you're seriously going to let Mercury's snide remarks get to you, we're not going to make it to Mistral intact. Please, you actually care what he says?"

"Hey!" Mercury said.

"Can it." Shine looked at him. "Or you can go sit in the back with Cinder."

Mercury glanced back.

"Whatever." He leaned back in his seat sullenly.

"Wow, we're using her as a threat now?" Wally said.

"Do what you have to," Shine shrugged.

"Are you all right?" Winter asked Weiss.

"Winter, it was months ago," Weiss dismissed it. "I'm fine. Jaune healed me. And I impaled Hazel after that, so it broke even."

Qrow thought that was funny. Winter didn't.

"Well, you really do just attract trouble, don't you?" Whitley remarked.

"Can I come out now?" a muffled voice said from the overhead (big airships had those).

Everyone looked at Whitley.

Klein pulled aside one of the bags, and Libby appeared on the shelf behind the luggage.

"You can't imagine how cramped that was," she said, hopping to the floor and stretching her back out.

"What?!" Weiss said. "What are you doing here?"

"Coming along, of course. What does it look like?" Libby said.

"Whitley?" Willow said in what almost sounded like a parental tone.

"Well, I couldn't leave her in Vacuo," Whiteley said. "She's my new assistant. I promoted her after the rescue."

"I've got the top paying job." Libby gestured to herself. "And I've always been after a gander at other kingdoms."

"But...why didn't you just come on the plane then?" Weiss asked.

"I don't have ID," Libby said. "I had to sneak on, telling 'em I was just loading something up for Master Whitley there, and then I snuck back on. Everyone in Vacuo knows how to stow away."

"Ey yo!" Sun pumped a fist at her.

"What's the big deal?" Libby asked.

"Aside from how we're going to get you past the checkpoint, you scared us!" Weiss said.

"If you wanted to come, Libby, I could have just brought you," Shine said. "No need to hide."

"Well, now you tell me, you blighter." Libby pretended to cuff Whitley.

"How is that child your assistant?" Watts asked.

"Libby is smarter than most of you," Whitley said huffily. "She pulled off a successful rescue with a street gang and a couple of rogue huntsmen."

"They weren't rogue," Weiss said.

"Whatever," Whitley said. "Obviously she's too valuable to lose."

"Ah, you'll turn me 'ead with that flattery." Libby tilted her hat.

"Whitley, even if you're the heir, technically I still own the assets on paper," Willow said, "until you're 18. I wish you'd have told me you were doing this first."

"Why? All we have to do is paperwork," Whitley said.

"Because it's rude to just spring this on us," Weiss said. "Right, Winter?"

Winter sighed. "At this point I'm not sure what we can do about it, but for future reference, let us know beforehand."

Whitley looked about as ready to take that advice as most 14-year old boys.

"Enough of this bickering." Shine walked up to the front of the plane. "How about some music?"

The pilot didn't care.

Shine plugged in her scroll.

["Ride" by 21 Pilots.]

https://youtu.be/6Awpd10RNYk

https://youtu.be/CF4-e5b3Bjo

[While not meant for it on the show, when I read the lyrics of this song, I thought it actually fit Emerald much better, if you looked at it as how she felt after finally switching sides. It could fit all the reformed villains. Or the anti-heroes like Vara and Theo.]

Done with suffering, had enough of misery
Finally on a path that's heading somewhere bright
I feel a different kind of energy
Kickin' everything to overdrive

Find it hard to believe that I feel so alive

Just watch me go, see me fly
Don't look for answers, don't ask why
Can't explain the way I feel (Way I feel)
I'm soarin' like I never have before

Flying self-assured and free
And I somehow feel I finally feel like me. I looked in the mirror, and I gotta say
It's been a long, long time since I felt this way
Right now, I'm just a bit surprised
'Cause I feel just fine, and I might just touch the sky. I might just touch the sky, oh
But if I don't, I'll know that I dared with pride
Though I fail, I grow ,and tomorrow I'll touch the sky

I feel the sense of possibilities

I could get addicted to that rush
Open doors and so much hope in front of me
Full of confidence, every challenge crushed. My heart's electric, racing endlessly
Feeling like the stars have all aligned
Illuminate the darkness that was blinding me
Now I'm positive that it's my time to shine. I will explode. You'll see me rise
You may not even recognize
I just can't wait for this reveal. Exploring, now I've opened up a door
Finding so much more in me
When I look inside, I'm liking what I see. I'm climbing higher with the past behind me
Heights like I never dreamed
Finally learned I need to do it my way
Now I see what I can be
When I trust in me, I'm free

With this music in the background, people's moods lifted a little, mostly.

Half the team fell asleep.

"So where are we?" Wally asked Shine.

"Hmm?" She looked up.

"I feel like it's been ages since we talked about anything other than this mission," Wally said. "Survival mode. That type of thing. Are you okay?"

Shine lowered the book.

"I'm as okay as I could be," she said. "I didn't enjoy the last week...but I am thankful to make it out. I believe God answered our prayers...in strange ways at times...considering who we have with us. And you?"

"Well, I finally feel a little more like I know what I'm doing," Wally said. "I'm starting to think it doesn't matter that much about the long term plan--we just gotta do what we can. In a way, it's just like doing life...but in a...another world." He lowered his voice there.

"Yeah, that was what hit me about the 3rd or 4th time," Shine said. "But I'm not surprised you already realized that."

"It's kind of my thing to just chill," Wally said. "I feel like we were more in sync during that fiasco though. So that's good."

"It is a distraction," Shine said. "I worried a little that being partners with my boyfriend would distract me from the job--but actually it's the opposite. It's easier to let personal things go."

"I do that too," Wally said. "I think it's just part of being a superhero, or a DJ, I guess. Does it bother you?"

"Not getting more attention? Not really," Shine said. "You'd think it would, but I'm not used to being the focus of everything anyway. I'd think you'd notice it more."

"I don't really miss the fanfare that much," Wally said. "It's actually been kind of nice to just be myself and still be able to use my powers. I think I see why you like this. You're just what you are, raw. That's really hard to pull off if you're in a world where people know you."

"The anonymity is something I find interesting also," Shine said. "More because no one knows me and that gives me a mysterious edge. I kind of like that...but it can be lonely. It can feel like you'll never really fit with the people you're helping."

"Does that go away?" Wally asked.

"Usually when I'm not looking for it, it starts to," Shine said.

"I feel a bit more like part of things," Wally said. "But that makes it kinda hard that we're not staying... Not that I don't want to go home eventually, but you know, it's not gonna be all happy."

"I try to make the most of the time I have," Shine said. "A few months is a long time already...even if it feels short."

"Yeah, but we should do something not related to fighting Salem," Wally said. "I feel like I've half forgotten what it's like when we're not focusing on this."

"Welcome to my world," Shine said. "I suppose my single-minded focus is making more sense to you. It's easy to get caught up in this role when you don't have personal distractions."

"I'll be your distraction," Wally said.

"Oh, shut up." Shine hit him with her book.

"So they are a couple." Vara saw her. "I was starting to wonder if you had that wrong."

"Why?" Theo asked.

"I didn't see any spark," Vara said.

"Is your idea of romance someone hitting you?" Raven looked back at her.

"No," Vara said, offended. "That would be weird."

[And we all know Vara's idea of romance is completely normal.]

"Aunt Vara, what is that?" Kip was looking out the window.

Vara looked. "Oh, that's fog...more like mist, actually. It means we're leaving the desert. That was fast."

"These ships are pretty fast," Theo said.

"Why does the mist mean we're not in the desert?" Kip asked.

"More moisture in the air," Vara shrugged. "In fact, I think I can feel some rain coming up ahead."

Her fingers started crackling with static.

"Can you do that?" Qrow asked Raven.

"No, shut up." Raven was sulky.

Winter glanced at her hands. She didn't feel anything... Maybe Vara's longer experience was the reason.

"I guess we're out of Vacuo now, then," Blake said.

They were, in fact, just crossing the border of the desert mountains into the greener land of Anima--though they were still many hours from Haven's part of it.