The third day dawned as hot and dry as the previous two.

Shine realized that Neo had never returned and wondered if she'd driven her off. It was not her intention to do so. But then, if she had been, she had not been that committed to her request after all. Would the woman fall back on revenge rather than humbling herself so far?

She wasn't sure.

She got ready... She had the strange feeling she'd had an odd dream last night. It had mostly faded now, but she thought she'd seen the fallen teammates...and some strange environment around them... Could it have been a vision?

Shine didn't get visions usually while she was awake, but her link with worlds sometimes worked while she was asleep, giving her small glimpses of events.

Was it a hint that they might return? Or that they needed help?

Whatever the case, she was troubled and kept praying in her head all throughout the morning.

Wally was more chipper after a good night's sleep and more his usual self. He even got breakfast ready for everyone--the school's cooking staff was gone, and the teams all got their own meals.

The kids doubted his culinary skills but were surprised. While it was nothing elaborate, it was edible.

Team CVFY was around this morning. Mostly they ignored the others, but Velvet was making friends with Oscar because she thought he was just too adorable! She also wanted to take a picture of his cane, for some reason. [Can't see how that one would be helpful to her, but guess she's thorough.]

"And coffee for the coffee queen." Wally handed Shine her mug. ☕👑

"Thanks." She kissed his cheek.

A lot of the teens looked way jealous of their open affection.

Winter was up, Shine learned, and out on the field, though she shouldn't have been with any common sense.

"But at the same time," Willow commented, "there is no one else to take charge. I do not understand why Theodore is not helping us."

"The embargo really made people angry," Velvet spoke up sadly. "Theodore was furious with the General over it. He said he abandoned his own friends in favor of safety. In Vacuo, you don't do that."

"Still, it's no time to be petty." Coco sipped her own coffee coolly.

"What do we do about him?" Wally asked Shine in a lower voice. "Are we supposed to fix that?"

"If we could help him, I'm sure we should," Shine said. "It's easy to assume that he's doing this for petty reasons, but somehow he struck me as not the sort."

"I know, right? He didn't seem like such a rat," Wally said. "But didn't we kind of know he was off even before? How can he be a good guy?"

"While Truth is always true, Wally, it is not always simple," Shine said. "I want to know what the truth is before I do anything. But I do not know if our allies, such as they are, will cooperate. I hate to focus on myself, but losing Pyrrha and Jaune weakened our group of people who we can rely on also. I don't trust the others very much. Even Ruby was showing some more promise right before, and I had hope that Blake and her were coming around. Now that's been halted, for who knows how long. We cannot do that much if we are not trusted to help... What galls me is that we have done nothing wrong, and we get less confidence than General Jump-The-Gun."

"Ooh, I like that one," Wally said. "But you're so right. Even Hazel was all like, 'You don't think for yourself, Flash.' Like I haven't heard that one before."

"You think for yourself." Shine tapped his head. "I'd know if you didn't. I'd have had to give you permission."

"I need your permission?" Wally said.

"To do as I say without thinking, of course you would," Shine said. "I certainly wouldn't consent to such an unnerving dynamic. Creeps me the heck out. I just don't like useless arguments. If I heard even one point from these people that was worth thinking about, I'd mind their confrontations less."

"So I don't have your permission to ask your permission?" Wally said.

"Do you need my permission?" Shine asked.

"No...but you can be quite hard to argue with," Wally said. "I don't try to much."

"Any time it's worth arguing about, I believe in it enough to be sure I'm right," Shine shrugged. "I don't argue over stupid things, you know that. What place to eat, what way to do toilet paper, what the right way to wash dishes is--who the heck cares about that? But if it's important, I had better be sure. I'm not easy to sway there. You know that by now."

"After several months, yeah, I got it. And I actually respect the heck out of you for that. You're not petty. I don't think we've ever fought over something trivial, and we don't fight that much, period. We just...disagree, once in a while. It's not even a real fight usually. I think we're lucky--I mean, if I can say that after 4 months or so without it being weird."

"Say it as often as you like. I'm insecure enough to need it. And you won't let Hazel get to you?"

"I figure the guy who was taking orders from Salem up till yesterday is not one to tell me I'm whipped for my girlfriend. Anyway, who the heck is unprofessional enough to argue with their partner in front of other people? Even in the League we try to keep it private when we disagree."

"Exactly," Shine said. "So he can step off."

"Right," Wally said.

Pause.

"But maybe it's not worth saying it," Wally added.

"Maybe not, but if he pushes it, what choice do we have?" Shine sighed. "Of all the idiotic things to worry about. No matter how high the stakes are, people always fight over dumb things. It's human nature. Our curse is to be unable to look past ourselves so much of the time. Yet small things matter too; we can't neglect them, or they build up. Better to stop a crack than a full rupture."

"That sounds like that one story about Holland and that kid."

"It does," Shine said. "If only it was as easy as one finger."

Emerald passed by them, with a nervous glance, and out the door of the school.

"What's eating her?" Wally wondered.

"She's alone, here, save for Hazel," Shine said. "And he's not always the most comforting person. She must be scared--and concerned for Mercury. It was nice of Qrow to look for him... Thank goodness someone gave him a task."

"He is not okay," Wally said. "I don't know what to focus on--the world ending crisis, or the crushing internal problems of these weird people... Both are so depressing when you look at it."

"The wisest thing to do would be to do what comes first." Shine sipped her coffee. "Our teamwork needs to improve. The team's, but also yours and mine."

"We're not doing good?" 

"We're doing all right," Shine said. "But I've thought about Atlas, and we separated so often there, and I got locked in a room, and you nearly got arrested. And then you did get arrested. We lost precious time in some cases. By the grace of God, our errors were covered, but if it was up to us, it might not have been. I appreciate that grace, but we should be trying not to make mistakes if we can help it. And we disagree slightly on approach."

"I'm starting to think you were right all along. These people are so out of line."

"Funny, because I'm starting to think that, had I taken your softer approach sooner, I might have made them comfortable enough around me to trust what I say," Shine said wryly.

"To be real, Shine, they didn't take anyone seriously," Wally said. "And we both heard how they talked to Qrow, who's been there for them the whole time. I thought we could have made it better before by being nicer, but now I think it doesn't matter. Oscar's the nicest kid ever and they brushed him off too. They just don't care. It's actually pretty annoying." He frowned. "My team couldn't get away with it."

"Most of them are too young to be mature enough to know that," Shine said, "at least the way you do. Young people think that passion comes before everything. And passion is important, but it has to be tempered with wisdom, and that is sorely lacking. If Oscar hadn't helped us, we'd have been utterly useless. And the enemy hates him--how often is he attacked? If they lost him, they'd be screwed. Both of us know that by now. We cannot let that kidnapping incident be repeated if there's any possible way we can help it. I doubt we'd be so lucky a second time either. There is no Hazel to turn aside now, and anyone else would be much more deadly."

"I know we have to protect Oscar. I don't mind watching these kids, but honestly, I'm having a hard time relying on them for help. They're so green. It was easier with just the adults, I mean Qrow's uncooperative, Robyn is a know-it-all, Marrow is...Marrow, and Winter is a bit abrasive, but overall, it was still easier. They kind of know what to expect and what their limits are."

"Of course for you that's easier--that's what you're used to. I'm used to working with younger people, by contrast. I know what to expect of them. And that's not a problem. I am not good with my peers, and you are. So we each have our strengths, but we must find some way to make those work together, not apart. If we cannot, how can we expect them to?"

"And Torchwick?" Wally lowered his voice. "I feel bad for Neo. She's kind of mean, but still...who deserves that? I want to bring him back."

"I want to," Shine said. "And I can find no reason not to, nor did I get any hint that it was a bad idea when I asked...but the issue is her attitude. She could very well become conceited and expect us to do whatever she wanted. In the end, people coming back to life changes very little unless you let it. They go on with their lives, that's all. We cannot demand more than that, but should we feed into someone's desire to escape suffering? If that is all. In Jaune, I saw some real value of life and meaning in it and for what Pyrrha would want. I am not as sure if Neo understands that."

"Is that our call though?"

"I really don't know if it is. But it will be our problem."

"But we can't make demands--you said that, right?" Wally said.

"Not for miracles, never," Shine said. "Moral demands, yes, everyone can do that."

"Then I just don't see how we could refuse," Wally said.

"I didn't intend to refuse, but I wanted to test her resolve to see if she really wanted it that much," Shine said. "And she has been MIA since."

"She couldn't come in here." Wally looked around. "We should go out there. We have to help anyway."

"Yes...but remember, fighting Grimm is a waste of our talents," Shine said. "We can take care of them, but it would be better to be showing these people how to help themselves. That is our true job, whatever we do. At some point, if they treat us like a vending machine, we've given them the wrong idea. We are not a convenience, we're a gift, and people must have that attitude, or our help is only a curse to them."

"I get it, but we can't do nothing," Wally said.

"Sometimes it may be our duty to do nothing," Shine said soberly. "If that is all we can do safely."

"But the people who don't even know us and who need help, we have to help them," Wally said.

"That is why I like you." Shine smiled. "But you can go too far in that, if it's making them dependent on you."

"I've heard that before," Wally said. "People say that about superheroes all the time."

"They aren't wrong. Superheroes cannot protect people forever," Shine said. "But that doesn't mean they shouldn't help. People must learn that even heroes are still human."

"You are super serious," Wally said.

"Is that bothering you?" Shine raised an eyebrow.

"No," Wally said. "But I miss when I didn't have to ask these things. DJ-ing is tough. How do you do this all the time? Alone..."

"If you accept the rules, they actually set you free," Shine said. "They take the pressure off, mostly. But I've wondered if I'm too serious for you at times..."

"Like you can't be with someone who is goofy like me?" Wally said.

"It's not that. I don't mind," Shine said. "Lightens the mood. But that conversely, I bring you down. I can be difficult..." She looked sad.

"That's not what I meant." Wally took her hand. "Yeah, it's a lot to think about, but I'm glad one of us does. I'd be totally lost doing this alone...and I can't even think of how many mistakes I'd have made if I just did what I do at home. And yeah...you give me a tough time about my job, but it's because you care about doing things right. To be honest, if you didn't, it would be because you didn't see me like a normal person, right? That pedestal treatment gets old fast with friends...or anyone closer. It just bruises my ego sometimes...but I probably should just grow a thicker skin then."

"People often think I take things too seriously and make an issue when there isn't one," Shine said. "Just go with the flow."

"If you haven't noticed, Shine, I'm not exactly Go-With-The-Flow Guy, even if I'm more laid back," Wally said. "Isn't that what attracted us to each other anyway? We both make a fuss over stuff other people write off. Don't want to cross lines."

"I guess that's true," Shine said. "I haven't managed to drive you off yet. That's what still surprises me."

"That is no way to talk about yourself," Wally said. "If anything, you're even cooler now. I'm the one who's been totally losing his footing, literally."

"Not really," Shine said. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

"And that right there is why you're a keeper." Wally gave her a thumbs up. "Tough but fair. Maybe a little too nice to me, but I'll take selective empathy when it's in my favor... Also did I just say that? That was, like, really intellectual sounding."

"My sisters and I are rubbing off on you," Shine said. "I've noticed you saying a lot of things the way we say it...and vice versa, dude."

"What if I got smart and no one bought it?" Wally wondered.

"Babe, when you're smart now they don't buy it," Shine said.

"Ouch, roast me alive," Wally said.

"Their mistake," Shine added. "Hadn't we better get to work?"

"Yeah," Wally said. "But all we do here is work. Can't we have any fun?"

"When Vacuo is not in an ongoing crisis, sure," Shine said. "Or if you want to step outside time for a while and do something that doesn't involve needing a reality or purpose."

"I'm going to take that as a tentative maybe."

* * *

Emerald half hoped to run into Mercury while helping the Huntresses deal with Grimm...but even when she veered east, it wasn't far enough.

No one on the team talked to her outside of Oscar, and the Happy Huntresses were rather cold also. They at least knew she was a criminal.

She almost missed Pyrrha and team RWBY--at least they had seemed a little less hostile, save for Yang.

Raven's words bothered her also.

The DJs freaked her out, and she tensed up when they joined the people at the outskirts of the kingdom.

The Grimm were less today, as many people were getting more used to being here and negative emotions were sinking into dull acceptance. But the attitude of the native inhabitants was not any better. They still viewed them all as unwanted intruders.

Some people asked Shine why Atlas couldn't take care of itself. They seemed to assume she was one of the leaders--given how she always told people what to do, it made sense.

Shine never failed to have a quick retort to snide comments. "Atlas had the weight of the world on his shoulders," she said to them. "But he shrugged. And that was all it took to drop it. If it landed on Vacuo, it is only because they were on the ground already."

"What kind of snobby attitude is that?" they replied. "You think you're better than us, but here you are."

"Perhaps I just said you were more grounded," Shine said. "How you take it says more about how you view yourselves than it does about me. Atlas stood on the ground, but when you carry the weight of the sky, you forget to look down. You should see to it that you do not make the opposite mistake and forget to look up."

This puzzled them so much that they walked away.

Shine caught Emerald looking and shrugged. "Best way to get rid of the haters is to confuse them."

Emerald only nodded silently.

"What is the matter?" Shine asked her, not unkindly. "Are you still worried about Mercury?"

"It's...nothing, ma'am," Emerald said nervously, looking away.

Shine walked closer, and she stiffened.

"Did I do something to offend you?" Shine asked.

"No, Ma'am," Emerald said.

"Stop calling me ma'am. You're not southern, and I'm hardly 5 years older than you, if that much," Shine said. "Why are you afraid of me?"

Emerald was silent.

"Perhaps I get angry, but I assure you I'm not one to enact petty revenge," Shine said.

"No one said I was afraid," Emerald said, though Shine just had said so. "You don't like to be crossed, do you? You don't fear Salem. You must be powerful. Who's stupid enough to start s--- with that?"

"Oh, is that it?" Shine seemed relieved. "What utter nonsense. Don't tell me you're worried about us hurting you because we can tick her off. Why, look at this." She took out her sword and sliced it right through Emerald's arm before she could move.

Emerald gasped--and then realized that nothing had happened. It was like it was an illusion.

"Non-lethal." Shine put it away. "Save for monsters and magic. You'll find most of our powers are not harmful to human beings. Salem is an exception, but even so, she's harder to harm for us because she's part human still."

"Why would you just tell me that?" Emerald was incredulous. "Giving away your edge?"

"Do you think I want that edge?" Shine said. "Do I want people to fear me?"

"Who doesn't?" Emerald replied.

"Wise people would rather be respected than feared," Shine said. "Fear turns people against you in enough time. Respect doesn't, as long as you keep it. I'd rather have that. I'm not going to harm you, and I mean that. Don't act skittish around me. It makes me feel I've done something wrong."

Emerald rubbed her arm. "The heck would you want my respect? What does it mean from someone like me?"

"Is that your words or the ones the others have put into you head?" Shine inquired.

"I...just figured all you nice people think that," Emerald said.

"I am not that nice," Shine said. "My friends say I am the epitome of tough love when I want to be... I hope they mean that in a good way. Wally says I am just full of conviction... In any case, I don't sweet talk people much, do I? I mean what I say, and if I considered you as dirt under my feet, I wouldn't speak to you any differently. But I know how you think of nice people."

She made air quotations. "'How can anyone be so happy all the time?'"

Emerald remembered saying that--no one else had been listening when she had except Mercury.

"How the...?" She blanched.

"Not important," Shine said. "But a tip for you, Em--we are not happy all the time. We're just not guilty all the time either."

Emerald winced.

"I suspect that is your real issue with us," Shine shrugged. "People who do what is wrong and know it always hate those who do what is right, as far back as Cain and Abel. But now that you are on the right path, it's shocking how fast we become tolerable, isn't it? Only, guilt isn't going to go away just like that, not with all this suffering around."

Emerald winced.

"I saw how you were looking in the tunnel," Shine added in a quieter voice. "Seeing the consequences of your actions... We all experience that. But you know what? You have no reason to feel inferior to these people. They are no better, in many ways, and have yet to even realize what they are doing wrong. The great thing about being what we are, Wally and I, is that we have absolutely no reason to care what anyone's past is. It is the present that matters. Do what is right, and you are no lower, or higher, than anyone else. That is all there is to mankind, and anyone who says otherwise is a fool and a liar. Don't let them make you feel like crap just because they can't deal with their own errors and need an easy target."

"The heck are you even talking about?" Emerald knew perfectly well. "I'm not feeling like crap."

"And I'm not a fool," Shine said. "Why lie to me?"

A pause.

"What's it to you?" Emerald frowned.

"I can't be concerned?" 

"Why would you be?"

"There's a benefit to knowing people before you even meet them." Shine changed the subject oddly. "You know them better for knowing what they do--and how they see things, often. What finally did it for you? Was it Oscar?"

A pause.

"It was that," Emerald said, "and...Tyrian kept telling us that if we didn't love what we were doing we were in the wrong business...and I think he was just waiting to kill us if we slipped up. I was a thief and even a murderer...which you probably know..." She looked down. "But it was just to survive before, or to keep our operation safe, but just...mindless bloodshed seemed so pointless. I mean, I don't like people that much, but I figure, they don't hurt you, you don't hurt them. That's fair. Why should we pick a fight? But no one else saw it that way. I just didn't know why I was really there anymore."

"A more honest answer than most," Shine said. "And Mercury did not care?"

"He's...not willing to see," Emerald said. "He didn't want to...but I think he just has no idea what he'd do. He's doing this because it just made sense. Killing is what he did before...as long as he survives...and there's no beating Salem."

"In other words, he is just as scared as you, but unwilling to show it," Shine said. "One of the most unpleasant ways to learn to abhor evil is to become so close to it, it disgusts you. But if it horrifies you then, you know that you're not beyond hope. It's when it becomes appealing that it's truly desperate...and yet, Emerald, even if the evil of Salem is not yours, we all have evil within us that we do like. Hatred, resentment, fear, dishonesty, they are all evils. If you learn to hate one, you must learn to hate the others, or you will end up even worse off than before. It's easy to hate whatever evil doesn't suit your flavor, but it's harder to hate it in all its forms. We do so love to judge each other."

"Did I ask?" Emerald said nervously.

"You had better ask," Shine said severely. "I am trying to save your life."

Emerald swallowed.

"And Mercury also...he has no purpose," Shine said, "and never did. I don't know much about him, other than he killed his father. He's unpleasant but not overly aggressive. Neither of you are bloodthirsty the way Cinder is."

"Cinder is--" Emerald stopped. Then she shrugged her shoulders. "Mercury is an ass...but..."

"But all you got, right?" Shine said quietly. "All you have left."

Emerald didn't want to agree with it.

"It would be a good thing, if he felt the same way," Shine said. "The only thing I know of that can overcome fear is love. Or wonder...only those things. Rational fear, anyway."

"Love? That's sappy crappy nonsense," Emerald recoiled. "It's not like that."

"Love comes in many forms, but it's present in all genuine bonds between people, for better or worse," Shine insisted. "Maybe only a small amount, but even a spark is enough. You think love is sappy? I believe that's a rumor spread by those who want others to be afraid to show it. Showing it is powerful. Love is hardly sappy, it's dangerous--often goes in direct contrast to what people think of as the right course of action, because we're so very lost, Emerald. Our book says God is love."

"How can a god be love?" Emerald didn't see the sense in it.

"Love is more than a feeling," Shine said. "It's a way of life. A reality. God can be it. So I don't use that word lightly. You want Mercury to switch sides? He must find something he loves more than security. Or familiarity, since there is no security in working for that witch."

"Whatever that means, I can't possibly figure out what would do that," Emerald said. "Why are you so interested in this? Don't you have your heroes to take care of?"

"It bothers you that I am worried about you also?" Shine queried.

"I...it's..." Emerald faltered.

"Uncomfortable?" Shine said. "What is new usually is, at first. But Emerald, I don't intend to stop just for your comfort. I will care about whom I choose, and even when I'd prefer not to, the Almighty often makes me do it anyway. It's part of our calling. That said, I needed no persuasion in your case. I find you quite endearing."

"The h---?" Emerald had no comeback for that.

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for the people who realize their mistakes," Shine said. "Always a precious find, trust me. Rare enough these days...or any days. I intend to keep any eye on you as well as Oscar and the others. But then, the others will watch each other, and not many of them will look out for you, at least not yet. Someone has to."

"But I didn't ask you to," Emerald said. "And why do you think I want that?"

"Did I ask what you wanted?" Shine replied sassily. "Do I ask permission to care? Not at all. I'd thank you not to try to tell me either. Oh, don't get all touchy about it, I'm not going to run your life. But if you need help, come talk to me, or Wally. We're always ready and willing. You will need it, sooner or later. Besides, why turn down friendship? Unless you think we're too nice for you."

"I think you're weird!" Emerald burst out, not sure what else to say.

"I agree with you on that." Shine didn't bat an eyelash. "But are you any better?"

A pause.

Emerald laughed finally, strangely. "I don't know the answer to that... I don't know if you're crazier than me or not. I am so...screwed."

"Or are you finally right?" Shine posited. "I mean, that song I was singing yesterday really does put it so well: 'When you can't find the edge on a map half written, it can feel like the end to have to keep going,' or, 'It would feel like rebirth out of some kind of dying, to see yourself so glowing.' New life always feels a little forbidden at first. I remember when I began mine... I stopped feeling afraid for the first time I could remember...and I wasn't certain of it. I was afraid to even voice it because I thought I might undo it... It's been years now, and I've had ups and downs and regressed--yet it's never been the same. It's an odd feeling...but you'd never trade it for the past, ever."

[This is why so many young people leave religion, by the way. They don't ever have the experience of before it, feeling lost and ashamed, and so it doesn't become real to them to need God. No one I ever knew who really had that experience, genuinely, ever wanted to leave their faith.]

"What...what were you then?" Emerald wondered what she could have done to regret.

"Oh, a common sinner," Shine shrugged. "Nothing you'd ever notice as wrong...but it was wrong. I knew it. Sometimes you just know you are not right with life, even without someone else seeing it. Imperfection haunts us all, doesn't it? That is why you will not hear me judge you, or anyone else, for having been wrong... I only care when people are still doing it."

"Then you are crazy," Emerald said.

"Good for you if so," Shine said.

There was nothing you could say to this woman to shake her, that much was apparent.

"If you mean that, will you help me find Mercury?" Emerald dared to ask.

"I'd be happy to," Shine said. "But carefully...oh..." She paused and looked behind Emerald. "Well, finally. I was starting to think you'd forgotten us."

Emerald turned and, to her surprise, saw Neo standing there, with her arms crossed. She was in disguise, but Emerald knew her shape by now, and it wasn't that good a disguise.

Neo ignored Emerald and made some motion at Shine, then held up her scroll.

"I see." Shine was puzzled. "Well, come in." She motioned at the tent behind them.

https://youtu.be/qGZymqULH0o

["Heathens" amv --This song could be Emerald's whole thought process right now.]