[Theme 11: "Towards the Sun" AMV by BatmanFangurl]

The group splitting up surprised Watts and Cinder, who would have thought they'd seek safety in numbers.

Unfortunately for Watts, this didn't really help him with a way to take the Relic.

The teams were planning to be gone only one day, spending the night at the place they were going and then coming back the next day. Nothing to it.

Hazel was going to stay in Haven. He thought Emerald and Mercury were safer without him if they needed to blend in.

Raven would stay of course.

Surprisingly, Qrow said he would also. Normally he'd follow Ruby or Yang, but Yang wasn't actually going.

She said she was sick of traveling everywhere, and she didn't like Argus enough to go back. And it was cold. So she was just fine with Mistral.

Weiss also said she had no wish to go anywhere, and she didn't like Cordovin.

Jaune decided to give the Relic to Weiss. She could hide it easier, since she also had a sword.

They'd purchased a sheath for it in the marketplace, and it shrunk to match it.... It still seemed odd to have two.

Blake also opted to stay with her parents, and Sun decided to stay back also.

Tai also wanted to remain. They hoped this would be enough people to guard Haven if there was any trouble, along with the White Fang. At least perhaps they could confuse Salem's forces by splitting up.

Surprisingly, Torchwick and Neo were going with the farmland team. Not because they liked them, but because they had no wish to be around if Salem attacked Haven. Neo had seen enough of Tyrian to last her a lifetime. They would be extra protection basically... Well, Neo was still recovering, but Torchwick was battle ready.

"But it doesn't matter." Raven was the pessimist. "If the Relic is here, she'll come here."

"She is still concerned with the Maidens," Shine said. "We might still distract her...and if something did happen, at least they will not be a target here."

"But I am," Raven said.

"Raven, with your problem turning into a bird at random, we can hardly send you on a train," Shine said.

"I know, I know." Raven was annoyed that it made sense. "I just... Forget it."

She turned her back.

"As usual, my mom is so mature about the situation." Yang was over it.

Before leaving, Pyrrha took the box of little cakes they had and gave a few to each group.

"These might come in handy again," she said. "Just in case. Especially for the Maidens... But try not to use them unless you have to. We only have so many."

"Right." Ruby was going with Oscar, Theo and Vara--she might be helpful if they ran into Grimm, and Salem was less likely to hear about it than if she showed up in Argus again after last time.

Winter was more nervous about leaving now that it came to it than she'd have expected--even if she'd used her Atlas clout to get them tickets this quickly.

She didn't like to acknowledge that part of that nervousness was that she was a little sorry Qrow wasn't going with them--that idea was just crazy.

She clearly was just worried because they'd have less people to protect everyone this way. But the danger about balanced out, didn't it?

"Maybe a little time away will help clear your heads," Shine said to her. "Decide what you want to do. We've all been so crowded... Not that I really minded, but who knows?"

"Yes, well...just be careful while we're gone," Winter said.

"It's only for one day. What's the big deal?" Wally said.

"Don't jinx us," Shine said.

"Right," Wally said.

"Well, see you tomorrow, Ruby, I guess." Yang hugged her.

"And don't get lost, you dolt," Weiss said.

"I'll miss you too, Weiss," Ruby said wryly.

"Goodbye, Ruby-my-friend." Penny of course was staying behind, and so was Kip--one new city was enough for him at a time.

"Just watch Cinder," Mercury said to Hazel, by way of his only goodbye. "I don't trust her at all."

"Watch yourself," Hazel said. "You're still wanted."

"Actually, I'm legit now." Emerald held up her scroll. "Winter and the Aces made me an honorary huntress... I mean, I think it expires or something eventually, but technically I'm not a fugitive anymore. Mercury still is, but I'll just cover for him."

"Why did we sneak through customs then?" Mercury said.

"Because I didn't want to explain to someone why only one of us was legit," Emerald said.

Whitley, Willow, Klein and Libby were all staying also.

"Well, Winter, don't do anything unusually reckless," Whitley said.

Winter ignored that advice. "Don't give your sister any trouble," she said firmly.

"Be careful, Miss," Klein said.

"Just come back safely." Poor Willow was getting wrung out with all this fluctuating danger.

"Come on, we're going to miss the train," Vara said.

(They were at the station now while this was happening.)

The one for Oscar's home town--well, county, really--was about to leave.

"Later, losers," Theo said. "Come on, pipsqueak and mini mouse."

"I'm not a mouse," Ruby said.

"I am." Little was going with Ruby, naturally.

Zwei barked at her, and she hid immediately.

"Bye, guys." Oscar waved awkwardly.

"Goodness knows when we get back they'll still want to know how to find the Relic," Ozpin muttered. "One day is not enough time for me to think of an alternative plan, but we'll have to use it."

Oscar sighed. Even now he wasn't getting away from Oz... Oh...how was he going to explain that to Aunt Em?

[Yeah, why not?]

"Just watch yourself," Qrow said to Oscar pointedly. "And be careful, Ruby."

"I'll be fine, Uncle Qrow. We have by far the least dangerous mission." Ruby pretended to salute. "See you guys in 36 hours."

They raced for the train.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Wally said to Shine. "If this was a movie, there'd definitely be something bad about to happen."

"Well, only if it was an action movie," Shine said. "If this was a romance or feel-good move, they'd find someone really nice out there and someone would fall in love."

"Okay...can we make it that kind of movie?" Wally asked.

"Wally, as long as you're here with me, it's always that kind of movie," Shine said slyly.

"Wow..." Wally said. "That was really cheesy, but somehow it worked on me. I want to kiss you now."

"Wally, the kids are watching!" Shine said.

"Oh, don't mind us," Neptune said.

Sun smacked him.

"Right, well, bye," Neptune said. "Catch you guys later."

"Hey, tell Cordovin about my music-fighting-Grimm plan," Shine told Winter.

"She'll never do it, but I can try." Winter had absolutely no faith in Cordovin.

"You don't like her either," Qrow guessed.

"Are you joking? We sent her there to get her away from Atlas," Winter said. "The General said as much one time. She's a little...overly enthusiastic about the kingdom. The transfer officers always are."

"Wow, you mean even you Atlesians get tired of that?" Raven feigned surprise.

"There is such a thing as class," Winter sniffed.

"Never change, Winter," Shine said. "Well, bye." She hugged her.

Winter was still getting used to her doing this and looked uncomfortable.

"Well, take care of yourself, Ice Queen," Qrow said.

Winter paused. "Right...well, you as well."

She walked away. "Come on," she said sharply to the teens, who all jumped.

"Bye!" Pyrrha waved, grabbing her bag and following Winter.

The others waved also, excluding Mercury, who looked bored.

"I saw that," Raven said to Qrow.

"Oh, shut up," Qrow said.

"I did notice the vibe with you and the Snow Queen seemed a little less frigid today," Wally said. "Did you do something while we were out yesterday?"

"Oh, they just had a really long talk about life," Raven said, with a suggestive tone.

"Raven is just trying to annoy me," Qrow said. "We discussed your cracked-out plan, that's all."

"Hmm, I suppose I can thank that for the apology then," Shine said. "Winter has certainly been a good influence on this group... In fact, I'm a little worried we're going to fall apart with her gone. Good thing it's not for that long."

"Seriously, knock on wood, Shine," Wally said.

"Right." Shine tossed her hair. "Well, back to lounging around the house, I guess. And working on making allies out of Cinder and Watts."

"Oh, by the gods, if that's what you're trying to do, we're never leaving," Raven said.

"I have them both right where I want them right now," Shine said. "They just need another push to get them to see the light."

"Do you live in your own world, Likstar?" Raven said.

"Yes, but right now I'm visiting yours, so I might as well do more than tourism," Shine shot back.

It wasn't clever so much as just too fitting for them not to think that was funny.

[Boy, this group really got trimmed down. But I'm sure it's going to go fine with them split up.]

[Yeah, I can hear you Snowbird shippers whining already. Well, distance builds character in a healthy relationship, so get over it.]

* * *

[Runaway--half alive]

https://youtu.be/pN95MHoOSgw

[Argus train concept art--looks better than actual animated one.]

"Are you nervous about seeing your parents again?" Jaune asked Pyrrha, once they were on the train cheerfully on the way to Argus.

"Not really nervous." Pyrrha was sitting with a book. "Just...worried they'll beg me to stay. But if they think I fell with Atlas, I couldn't forgive myself if I let them keep thinking I died...again."

"That is so weird to hear." Mercury was sitting by the window. "Personally, I just prefer to be away from that b---- and anywhere Callows is going to be."

"I think we all prefer that," Emerald said. "But hey, I've never been to Argus...might be fun."

"Fun, sure," Mercury said sourly.

"Are you ever going to say anything nice?" Nora asked him.

"Not if I can help it," Mercury shot back.

Nora decided to ignore him. "Well, Jaune, can we stay at your sister's house for the night?"

"I'm sure she'd be fine with it," Jaune said. [Anyone ever wonder why Saph had such a huge house when her family is 3 people?]

"Are you worried about Weiss and the others being in Haven?" Pyrrha asked Winter, who was looking out the window. Birds were flying over the forest.

"Hmm?" Winter looked up. "Oh...well, not as worried as I would be if the others hadn't stayed with them, but they seem adequate to protect them usually. It's when we're alone that we are vulnerable."

"I'm just glad that we aren't going to be by Cinder," Jaune echoed Mercury's thoughts.

Pyrrha looked pained.

"But sooner or later we are going to have to confront this," she said. "I know Shine wanted us away from her...but so far she hasn't done anything. Maybe she's not quite as insane as we thought. "

Mercury gave Pyrrha a look of utter disbelief.

"Pyrrha, she killed you," Ren said. "I don't think she is the one to be lenient to."

"Maybe not," Pyrrha said. "But I was reading in the holy book that we should love our enemies."

"Who could do that?" Emerald said.

"Well, maybe love isn't always just a feeling," Pyrrha mused. "Maybe it's just showing mercy when you could take revenge."

"I'm amazed you can let go of your anger that easily," Winter said.

"But you didn't seek revenge," Pyrrha said.

"I didn't seek it. That doesn't mean I don't want it," Winter said. "I have not forgotten what Cinder attempted to do to my family. To all of us."

She folded her hands.

"I do have some news that might make you feel more upbeat." Pyrrha turned to the others. "Shine told me this before we left, but I guess she forgot to mention it to the others. Penny and her had a message from Pietro. The Amity Arena is almost ready to launch. Somehow we slipped it under the radar. I guess there was too much else going on in Vacuo for Salem to care about it."

"To think that was our decoy plan," Winter said.

"Oh, that thing?" Mercury said. "Yeah, Salem was going to destroy it again once we had the Relic, but you know, wasn't sure you'd all hand it over if she blasted it right off, at least I think that was her plan. But who knows what she'd do now? If you launch it, she might just blast it for funsies."

"Even if we gained it for one day or two, we could clear up a lot of miscommunication that happened in Atlas," Winter said. "I'd take any time."

"They might launch it by tomorrow," Pyrrha said. "They need to finish calibrating it, but thankfully most of it was intact."

"Even that feels huge after so much failure," Jaune mused.

"Every time we think that, something else goes wrong." Ren frowned.

"Well...yeah, but we can't just give up," Nora said.

Ren was silent.

"This is about where we got attacked before." Jaune looked out. "At least we're not attracting Grimm this time. I still feel sad that one of those huntsmen died. Even if they were kind of dumb."

"I'm sure you never thought then that we'd be coming back just a couple months later," Pyrrha said.

"I never thought we'd be coming back with you," Jaune said.

Pyrrha smiled.

"This really came full circle," Emerald mused.

* * *

[Roman and Neo grayscale fan art.]

Oscar's train ride was a bit more chaotic, thanks to Vara and Theo's arguing/flirting that they kept doing.

Torchwick and Neo seemed calm by comparision, playing cards and looking out the window by turns.

Ruby kept giving Oscar concerned looks.

"Are you excited to see your aunt?" she asked.

"Uh...I don't know. I mean, I feel like I should be." Oscar had no idea how he was going to talk to her.

"Uh, well, if it helps you feel better, I kind of just left my dad a note when I left home too," Ruby said, "and he's okay...now."

Not very reassuring, but Oscar chuckled weakly.

"I suppose recklessness is a trait of huntsmen," Ozpin remarked.

Just one conversation without you butting in would be nice, Oscar said.

"I can't help it, I'm inside your head, you're going to hear my thoughts," Ozpin said.

Yeah, that was what Oscar was worried about.

"So are you feeling any better after yesterday?" Ruby asked.

Oscar tensed.

"I...uh...I'm okay," he said.

Actually he didn't feel much different. He was still wired, and he was upset also.

He hadn't even said goodbye to Shine or Wally properly. All they did for him, and he was avoiding them, and why? So what if he was uncomfortable? It shouldn't matter.

But it seemed to anyway.

Ruby seemed to be able to tell, and she put a hand on his hand, stunning him.

"It's going to be okay," she said, more confident. "I'm sure that they're going to help you break the curse. We'll help them, all right?"

[AWWWWW--yeah, I ship Rosegarden. I don't care if you hate.]

Oscar smiled slightly. "Okay," he said. "Thanks--"

His chest hurt suddenly.

That might have been normal for a teenaged boy in some circumstances, but this didn't feel natural at all.

Ozpin's soul recoiled also.

"Even Miss Rose is starting to seem different," he mused. "Perhaps she has become more like them since the plane."

"Ruby, did you change?" Oscar let go of her hand and pressed his chest. "When they talked to you?"

"Huh? Oh, that...I don't know." Ruby hadn't noticed anything this different. "I...well, I do feel a little calmer than before. But we're out of immediate danger, so it's probably just that. Other than that, I didn't feel different, I just thought it was nice. It's...it's nice to have something on our side out there, even if I've never seen it."

Oscar agreed with that.

Ozpin sighed internally.

"Are you feeling all right?" Ruby hadn't missed him wincing. "Is it...bothering you again?"

"I don't know." Oscar looked out the window. More plain country was starting to roll by in between trees. "I think it's getting worse. For a while it was getting better. But now it's worse. You saw what happened. I...just feel...stuck."

"Tell me about it," Ozpin muttered.

"Both of us do," Oscar amended out loud.

Ruby nodded. "I see why that might be," she said. "It's been pretty rough on you. You never asked for any of this."

"That's not what I mind," Oscar said. "I figure none of you asked for this exactly. But we all got it. What bothers me is that I feel like everyone else gets to do what they think is right, but when I try, something actually is trying to stop me. I worry I won't get a choice in the end."

He felt very small there.

Ruby pressed her lips together.

Oscar wondered if she'd give one of her speeches about how everything wasn't that bleak... He supposed it might be true, but it wasn't what he wanted to hear right now. That didn't always help. [Looks at show.]

"I don't think that will happen," Ruby said, after thinking. "But if it would help, why don't we just count all the choices you made up till now? Everything you did that was you, Oscar Pine, and not Ozpin."

"Like...?" Oscar said dully.

"Well, you chose to leave home and come find us," Ruby said. "Even if Ozpin told you to, you could have fought it longer...and then maybe we would have lost at Haven. Right?"

"I don't know," Oscar said.

"You chose to make Ozpin tell us the truth. I mean, he was actually trying to stop you, so that had to be you," Ruby said. "And you chose to come with us after Argus and to try to help Ironwood. And you chose to let Shine and Wally join us, and they helped us all a lot. And you chose to give Hazel and Emerald a second chance, so that we could stop Salem from destroying everyone in Atlas along with the city. All that is stuff I don't think Ozpin would have done."

"Maybe..." Oscar said.

"Not maybe, definitely," Ruby said more confidently. "If you look at what you do that Ozpin wouldn't do, then it's still a lot of stuff. And that's who Oscar Pine is. I think no matter what, that made a difference."

"Was it a good difference?" Oscar asked. "How do I know any of my choices were right?"

"Maybe we don't get guarantees." Ruby didn't notice she was quoting Shine there. "But I know that it mattered to us, at the time, to hear the truth. Doesn't that mean anything?"

She did have a good point, oddly enough.

Oscar recalled Shine also always said that it was how you treated people around you right now that showed your character--or something like that. His aunt used to say similar stuff.

The golden rule, right? Just like on the airship.

"Even if we don't save the world--" Ruby was looking out the window though. "--I want to think we made it better, however we could. I guess maybe the people around us are the only way to know that. We can't ask anyone else."

[I know Volume 9 will be out by the time anyone reads this. I present this solution instead of the crappy one they did. Come on, in real life, isn't this the only way to measure success? Think of that It's a Wonderful Life movie.]

https://youtu.be/CMXoiMdCln0

[AMV by Batmanfangurl to "Face My Fears"--yes, the one from Kingdom Hearts.]

Oscar thought about that. He had tried to make it better.

Alicia's words from his dream-vision came back to him:

"Everyone is more important than they realize and less important than they think, that's for certain."

"Don't lose hope... That's the start of death, really. Losing hope."

"And you had better realize, too, that your own skills are not much to rely on when dealing in the realm of magic and mystical beings."

"Keep telling the truth, no matter how hard. And be brave. Truth is courage...and Love is free...and hope does not disappoint..." [Chapter 102, if  you want a full refresher.]

Keep telling the truth.

"Ruby, you know, I saw Alicia," he said. "Not like you did, in person, but in a dream. She told me that I was never meant to just be Ozpin. That made me feel better, then. I guess I doubt it sometimes."

"I told you you were your own person, remember?" Ruby said.

"But did you really believe it?" Oscar asked.

"I didn't know what to believe," Ruby said. "How can one person be so many different people? I guess I thought it should be true. I'm glad she told you that. She told me stuff too." She closed her eyes and recited:

"'Remember what really matters. And your ability will grow beyond its natural limits. But keep your eyes open to see the good in the world or they will fade. I also foresee there is another one like you. You must teach them the way also. You will suffer without their aid. But do not be deceived by appearances.'" [Chapter 56]

"Another one like you?" Oscar asked. "Who could that be?"

"I hoped it was my mom, but...now we know it couldn't be her," Ruby said. "I don't know what she meant. She doesn't seem like she's usually very clear, just like our DJs."

"Sometimes I think they're as clear as they can be," Oscar said. "Which isn't that clear. Maybe we're not always ready to hear it." He rubbed his chin. "She told me to tell the truth. To be brave. And not to lose hope. And that truth is courage. I wish I knew what that meant, because I'm scared now."

He shuddered.

"So am I." Ruby finally admitted that, after denying it for most of the time she'd been the team leader.

Funny, it felt kind of good--and kind of like she should have just said it ages ago.

"But I'm more scared to stop," Ruby added.

Oscar glanced at her, and then he almost had to laugh. "You know what? Me too."

Saying that, he felt a little better. After all...there was no stopping.

"Aw, isn't that cute?" Roman looked over their seat at them. "Look, Neo, young love."

Neo looked and rolled her eyes.

"Hey!" Ruby said. "We're trying to have a conversation! Do you mind?"

"Sorry, Red, but this is rather a weird situation for me," Roman said. "Don't you think so? The last time you and I were on a train together, you blew it up. And I got arrested."

"Are you trying to apologize?" Oscar asked.

Roman laughed. "What? No. Why would I do that?"

"Because you were stealing dust." Ruby frowned at him.

"Well, in the end that benefited you, didn't it?" Roman said.

"I never thought we'd ever work together," Ruby folded her arms. "I was a little sorry when you got eaten, though. Just because it was so awful to watch. But you shouldn't have been spouting off negative words when there were Grimm around. I think you were wrong. That the world doesn't care."

"I don't see any sign that world cares anymore than it ever did," Roman said.

"Maybe the world doesn't," Oscar said. "But some people in it do, and aren't those the ones we should help? Like Ruby."

"Oh, spare me," Roman made a face. "This is too cheesy for me."

"Cheese?" Little asked.

"I think they have some in the dining car," Ruby said.

Neo pulled some cheese out of her pocket and tossed it at Little, who scampered after it.

"Huh," Oscar said. "That was nice."

Neo shrugged and motioned with her one good hand.

"I guess your little mouse friend helped Neo, so she's gotten attached, " Roman said. "Neo is like that, sappy."

Neo punched his arm.

"Well, if we're going straight, we're going to have to get used to this working together," Roman said, tilting his hat.

"Are you serious right now?" Ruby said, finding this kind of funny and weird at the same time.

"Yes," Roman said. "In light of the massive destruction in our wake, perhaps I should acknowledge that trying to kill you and your little friends was...hasty."

Neo leaned on her hand and looked dubious.

"Not like I knew, but still..." Roman said.

"Wow, he actually is trying to apologize," Oscar was amazed.

"What made you change your mind?" Ruby asked.

"Not you--sorry, Red," Roman said. "But if you all can stand to work with Cinder Fall after everything she's put you through, I question the petty nature of my outlook on life. After all...I'm alive."

He almost looked kind of serious. "So what does that mean?"

"It means Neo cares a lot about you," Oscar said, to Neo's annoyance.

"And that Miss Likstar and Mr. West are nicer than us," Ruby said. "But I'm working on it. Maybe I'd save you guys if you were in trouble now... I don't know about Cinder." She frowned.

"Can't say I blame you there," Roman said. "Even I never liked her. And evil hasn't done her any favors. I mean, it cost her an arm and a leg."

Neo made a laughing face.

"And they do say an eye for an eye," Roman said. "But in the spirit of camaraderie, we should all let bygones by bygones. I mean, the four of us. Not Cinder, obviously."

"He likes to talk a lot," Oscar said.

"I couldn't help overhearing your conversation." Roman ignored that. "And if this Alicia person told you to find someone who was like you, isn't it most likely someone else with those luminous eye-lasers of yours?"

"My what?" Ruby said.

"Your silver-toned weapons," Roman said. "That kind of thing. Neo and I have an idea."

Neo nodded, and then she morphed into Mercury.

"What?" Ruby said. "What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Roman lifted his cane up. "Black has grey eyes also. And he's in your team."

"Alicia did say there would be someone who was both less true and more true than we thought," Oscar said. "I think she meant Mercury--he ended up being a spy, but then he spared Emerald and joined us, so maybe all along he was more on our side than we realized."

"Sure, sure." Roman dismissed that thought. "But I haven't seen anyone else with Silver Eyes around."

"But his are just grey," Ruby said.

"Is there a difference?" Roman asked.

"I...well, I don't know." Ruby frowned. "Victoria actually asked Watts about that. She wanted to know all about my eyes. And they didn't know either. So I'm not sure."

Neo widened her eyes deliberately before turning back to her usual self and giving Ruby a nonplussed look.

"What if he is one?" Oscar asked. "Why would Salem have left him alive?"

"Well, the thing about that," Ozpin spoke up (he'd been silent all the time they were talking about Alicia, which wasn't that unusual), "Salem doesn't know everything about those Eyes, I would think, since she only recently began capturing people with them. I somehow doubt she interrogated them first. The truth is I never could confirm either whether all grey-eyed people are Silver-Eyed warriors, because the eyes have to be activated by something. Until then, they don't work, as Miss Rose should know. She never used them until Miss Nikos died."

Oscar repeated this to Ruby in less words.

"Well, Maria thought that they were activated by love," Ruby said, "light in the world... Alicia said that too--to make sure I didn't forget about that or they'd lose power."

"Red, I've never thought you were the smartest cookie in the jar," Roman said, "but even you should be seeing the answer to this one."

Neo made a "duh" motion by hitting her head.

"I don't get it," Ruby said. "You mean that Mercury never activated his eyes?"

"Well, if love, which is rather an abstract concept, is the trigger," Roman said, "I'm sure he's never felt any such feeling in his life. Wasn't he an assassin's kid? I've heard of Marcus Black, his father. One of the worst assassins ever known to the area. I never heard he had a son. Must have kept the kid locked in the basement like that Kanap woman. Not the most nurturing environment for that sappy stuff you like to go on about, Red."

"What if he's right?" Oscar said. "Mercury could be one, and he just...he's not like you, Ruby. He's got no hope or love or light."

"I guess that's not impossible," Ruby said. "Uncle Qrow also told me that Silver-Eyed warriors are amazing fighters."

"Mercury doesn't have a Semblance," Oscar said. "Emerald told me that."

"Really? Why not?" Torchwick asked.

"I don't know...his dad maybe?" Oscar said.

"That is a very rare gift," Ozpin muttered. "But I've heard of it once or twice over the centuries."

"Ozpin says it's possible," Oscar said. "That's pretty awful."

"Yeah, but I've never seen him use one," Ruby said. "He's still pretty dangerous."

"Considering that he's got a disability like that, he can compete with you huntsmen," Roman said. "That's a pretty good warrior. All these things line up, if you ask me."

"But it can't be him!" Ruby was not quite over Mercury's betrayal. "I guess that he helped Emerald, but he hates the rest of us! And he's not a good person at all. I don't think he could even use that gift if he had it. I can't imagine Mercury having the right mindset at all."

"So you think he's incapable of love?" Oscar said.

"I don't know...maybe not completely," Ruby said. "But not the kind that the Silver Eyes need--a concern for life. He's an assassin! That is the opposite of caring about life."

"Well, to be fair, not all assassins are the same," Torchwick said. "But I don't think he cares much for the sanctity of life. But in this business, no one does. It's just a theory."

"Still, Ruby, if it's true, do you think Tyrian knew that?" Oscar asked.

"No, he would have taken him alive," Ruby said.

"Another possibility," Ozpin spoke up again, "is Salem may not care as long as he's not active. Suppose this theory is true--she knows he'll never use that gift as long as he is what he is, a killer. That means that working for her is just as easy a way to deal with him as using him as a Hound would have been. My arch nemesis does not usually care that much what you are doing to help her as long as it's helping her."

Well...that was a thought.

"Maybe the magic of the Eyes doesn't work unless it's active, so turning him into a Hound wouldn't matter even if she'd suspected this," Oscar said. "But it's kind of weird that Alicia told me that, and you that, and then he switched sides, and knowing what we know about him, it's kind of something we can't just rule out. If he is one, we could use another one. One that Salem doesn't know about, even."

"I wish I could call Pyrrha and Jaune," Ruby said. "I'd like to ask them to ask him a few questions about this. But I hope it's not him, because I just don't think I could train him. Not...not after Penny and Pyrrha. I'm sorry."

She looked somber.

Roman and Neo looked uncomfortable with that and turned back to what they were doing.

Oscar had some things to ponder in silence.

[AMV to Car Radio by Thus Kindly She Scatters]

https://youtu.be/GCxTDLb-pdo