Qrow Branwen X Reader

The Greatest Kingdom

Start of Volume 7

Manta airships patrol the skies around the City of Atlas, keeping in communication with each other over the radio. As Maria Calavera pilots the group’s stolen Manta toward the city, they receive radio contact, "Manta 5-1. Welcome home. Please continue your approach to Atlas docking bay Omega-12. A security team will meet you there. Over."

Ruby and the others aboard Manta 5-1 look around at the massive military air fleet surrounding the kingdom’s capital, "I don’t understand. What’s happening here?"
"I don’t know."

"But we are here. We got the lamp to Atlas, so I guess we land and get some answers."
"I’m not so sure. I’ve never seen my forces deployed so aggressively before. If we land in a stolen ship, there’s no way the security team will let us anywhere near James." You place your hand on your chin.

"They might even take me back to my father."

Blake gains a saddened look, while Ruby and Yang look at each other, uncertain of what to do, "So…"

Weiss, having gotten an idea, suddenly looks up, "Winter!"

Weiss brings out her Scroll and tells Maria, "Put some distance between us and the fleet."
"You don’t have to tell me twice."

As Weiss walks to the back of the ship, Maria steers the ship toward Mantle. As people wander the streets of Mantle, the group looks over the city through the Manta’s windows. They fly past a giant screen on the side of a skyscraper.

Ironwood’s voice comes from the screen, catching your attention, "...cannot express our appreciation enough. Many describe these as uncertain times, and while that may be the case for the rest of the world, I can tell you what is certain. The Kingdom of Atlas will remain strong, and it will remain safe. That is my promise."

"James looks... Tired." You place your hand on the glass with a worried look on your face; you've never seen him like that, sure the two of you left on bad terms that last time you left Atlas, yet you've always told him to take care of himself.

"James, what have you been doing?"

Four Atlesian Knight-200s are walking down a street in Mantle, while civilians around them complain about their presence.
"Ugh, not these again."
"Why can’t they just leave us be?"

A small drone floats along a sidewalk, while a pair of small children hide in an alley. One of the children picks up a rock and throws it at the drone, which spins around to look, prompting the children to hide against the wall. Weiss sadly stares out of Manta 5-1’s window with her Scroll in her palm. Her Scroll is set to call Winter, who does not answer.
"This isn’t right. None of this is right."

Once again, the stolen Manta receives contact over the radio.
"Manta 5-1, we’ve noticed a detour in your route. You are to make your way to docking bay Omega 12 immediately. Do you copy? Over."

"We’re kind of running out of time here, kids."
"We need to ditch the ship."
"Agreed. Get lost in Mantle and buy ourselves some time."

"I’m telling you, my sister can take us to Ironwood."

Blake, who has been staring out of a window, looks over her shoulder and speaks up, "Uh, Weiss?"

Weiss walks over to Blake’s side and looks out the window with her as a familiar voice plays from a giant screen. "A reminder."

"Huh?"

"Failure to cooperate with Atlas military personnel is a punishable offense. If your sector is under lockdown…"

"Winter?"
"No offense, Weiss. I’m not sure that’s a good idea anymore." Weiss tenses her shoulders and turns to Qrow, fists clenched.
"There’s obviously something very wrong. If we can just talk to her, then we-"