#evgn

Eallgréne entered the Armory slowly, looking around the building for a moment before ultimately walking in completely. No one was visible, the store was empty.

The walls of the shop were lined with weapons on shelves and in racks. Some were already pieced together; protected by panes of glass. Others were in pieces for hunters to put together themselves; as was custom for many students. Blades, arrows, and bullets were in boxes and compartments; arranged by size and type.

Pieces of metal for staffs and guns took up the vast majority of the building. There was a large counter filled with dirty rags, oil, and small tools for people to build and repair their weapons there. In different book cases were magazines and texts about weapon types, how to build them, and how to use them.

Gael, Violette, and Nickel finally entered the shop themselves, looking around.

“The shop’s gotten more stock since we were here last”, Gael remarked, looking around, impressed with what she saw.

“Indeed. Looks like Lady Steorra has become quite the merchant”, Violette added, looking over an open book on weapon prices on one of the counters. Nickel held a small box of bullets in his hand, looking it over.

“Yeah, her options are a lot wider now. And prices ain’t bad either. No wonder she’s successful”, Nickel remarked.

“I’m coming! Just a moment!”, someone called out from a room behind the main counter. The group of hunters turned towards the voice. To the far right of the shop was a long counter that spanned almost the entire length of the room. Behind it were large ticketed items, (namely specialty weapons and parts), along with pamphlets, bags, and other trinkets. On the counter was a large lien register. A bit to the left of the register was an open door which led to a back room, possibly used for storage.

After about a minute, a woman entered the room from the storage room. She looked to be about the age of the hunters, with long blonde hair similar to Violette’s. She wore a dark green-hooded cape like Eallgréne, but unlike his, this was just a cape and hood; not sleeved. The green was also lined with a bright yellow color that matched her hair. Her shirt was white with a corset design, and she wore dark brown khaki capris, (also lined with yellow down the sides and at the pockets), with dark brown-heeled boots. Her hands were covered with fingerless yellow gloves.

The woman came out in a metal wheel chair, which she wheeled herself.

The hazel eyes of the young woman met the eyes of the hunters, and she grew the widest smile imaginable. Eallgréne smiled back at the sight.

“EALLGRÉNE!”, the woman yelled.

“Hello, Steorra”, Eallgréne replied. Steorra immediately wheeled herself passed the counter to an open area and towards her brother. Eallgréne rushed forward and the two met in a tight hug.

“I haven’t seen you in so long! You should have said you were coming, I would have tidied up!”, Steorra exclaimed. Eallgréne chuckled.

“I wanted to surprise you!”, Eallgréne replied.

“You did!”, Steorra said back. She glanced over and saw the others, who all smiled and waved back. She gasped. “AND YOU BROUGHT THE OTHERS! HI!”. She was thrilled to see her brother’s old team again. Having never had the chance to be a part of one, she essentially adopted Team EVGN as her own. Eallgréne lifted his sister up from the chair and placed her on the counter, allowing her to be more in eye-level with the others. Gael was the first to move, blinking over to Steorra faster than the others could react, and reappearing in front of the shop owner. The women quickly embraced.

“HI STEORRA!”, Gael exclaimed in excitement, hugging her tightly. Being her brother’s partner, Gael and Steorra had been close. Despite not seeing each other physically in years, they kept in contact often; catching up with one another or calling for equipment.

Steorra laughed as she hugged Gael tightly. She was like an older sister to her; someone to connect with in a way she couldn’t with her brother.

“I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your touch when it comes to hugs!”, Steorra exclaimed.

“Years of experience”, Gael replied with a smirk. She released Steorra and stepped aside to let the others in. Violette approached, but stopped before Steorra and curtsied.

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Lady Steorra”, Violette said. Steorra giggled.

“I’m charmed, but come now Violette, you should know that you don’t have to do that with family,“ Steorra explained, holding her arms out. Violette giggled and scurried over for a hug. While also close to Steorra like the others, she felt obligated to keep her manners about her until she was given permission to be more casual. This was her former team leader’s younger sister after all.

“It’s been so many years, you look great, Steorra”, Violette stated.

“Thank you, so do you”, Steorra replied. Soon it was Nickel’s turn. He didn’t hesitate, and quickly bear hugged the young woman.

“It’s good to see you again, sweetie”, Nickel said.

“Likewise, handsome”, Steorra replied. The two had a fun relationship together with nicknames. Nickel leaned back to look at Steorra, but kept the embrace.

“And what, still no man in your life? I’m shocked!”, Nickel said, noting the lack of anyone else in the store. Steorra laughed.

“Ohh, but you know I’m saving myself for you, Nickel”, Steorra said with a playful wink. Nickel gave a hearty laugh.

“Baby girl, just say the word. I’ll make an indecent woman out of you yet!”, Nickel playfully replied. Eallgréne pulled Nickel away from Steorra.

“WELL ALRIGHT!”, Eallgréne yelled, having had enough of the conversation. He knew they were only joking, but hearing his sister and friend discuss such intimacy still creeped him out. The entire group aside from him laughed at the outburst.

The laughter continued on for longer than anyone realized. It wasn’t just from the joke, however. It was from being together again. Team EVGN being back in Vale, seeing family again, it made their hearts feel a sense of joy they hadn’t felt in years.

The feeling made their smiles wider, their laughs louder, and their happiness contagious. Soon, tears rolled down their cheeks from laughing for so long. They couldn’t resist themselves. The joy they felt was long overdo; and they hoped it would stay for some time.

Eventually however, the laughter did cease. They wiped away their tears and tried to settle themselves. For some, their chests hurt from all the laughter, and they held them in a pain that they would easily experience again if it meant feeling that amount of joy once more.

“Ohh, I haven’t felt that way in ages”, Steorra replied, wiping tears from her eyes and still suppressing chuckles with a smile. Her cheeks ached from smiling for so long, but she fought through it and smiled anyway.

“We needed that”, Gael said, grinning both in amusement and pain as she clutched her stomach. Steorra looked to the group, beginning to regain her senses.

“So Eallgréne, why the sudden visit? And why bring the others? I didn’t forget an anniversary, did I?”, Steorra asked. As pleased as she was to see her brother and friends, she had to wonder why they made a surprise visit.

“I hadn’t been here in a while and figured I was due for a visit. Though, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t also fortuitous timing”, Eallgréne explained. Steorra raised an eyebrow.

“Fortuitous that I happened to be where you needed to go?”, Steorra asked. Eallgréne nodded.

“It’s not that he means you’re just a secondary thought, sweetie. He just means that-”, Gael started. Steorra shook her head with a smile.

“It’s alright, Gael. I know what he meant. I’m used to his way of thinking”, Steorra said with a smirk. “So then…I assume it’s a mission of some sorts; and a big one at that if it meant bringing the team back together again…care to share?”. The others looked to Eallgréne. He shook his head.

“I can’t, sorry”, Eallgréne replied.

“Personal?”, Steorra asked.

“Classified”, Eallgréne answered.

“That important, huh?”, Steorra retorted with some surprise. Eallgréne nodded. “I understand. Not often you get involved in those kind of jobs, brother. And you got the others involved?”.

“No, our employers got us all involved. Tricked us into meeting up and got us to work as a group”, Gael explained.

“They contacted them separately, then me and Violette, and had us meet them to discuss the mission without saying that the others were involved”, Nickel explained without giving away too much. Steorra nodded, piecing together what she could.

“I see. They went through a lot of trouble to bring you all together…must be an important mission”, Steorra said.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Steorra, it’s just-”, Eallgréne started before being cut off.

“It’s ok. I may not have ever had the chance to experience it first-hand, but I know how these missions go; especially the secret ones. Am I to assume then that, maybe, you came here for some help as well?”, Steorra asked. The idea of being assistance seemed to spark excitement in her. Her disability meant that she could never become the huntress she always wanted, so the idea of helping her brother and friends on a mission, especially one as important as this one seemed to be, gave her the adventurous spirit she had as a child in training. Eallgréne, knowing all-too-well how his sister was, smirked.

“Actually, you just may be able to”, Eallgréne exclaimed. Steorra smiled confidently. “Do you know of a huntress named Amber? Might be new to town?“

“Amber? No, I don’t recognize the name”, Steorra replied, thinking through people she knew.

“Without giving away too much information, we’re supposed to be looking for her. She may have information important to us”, Nickel explained.

“Want me to ask people who come in the shop?”, Steorra asked.

“No, at least not directly. We can’t have too many people know who we’re looking for; not sure who to trust”, Eallgréne explained.

“I understand. Well I’ll keep an eye out and get back to you if I hear anything. Is she in trouble? Or IS she the trouble?”, Steorra asked.

“We don’t know, that’s the problem. She went missing. There’s more to it than that, but we can’t say”, Gael replied. It was difficult explaining the situation fully without giving away too much information. Steorra thought for a moment.

“Hmm, I’m sorry, but I don’t know about any huntress going missing…but, I wonder…”, Steorra said, trailing off mid-thought and looking to the side of the room.

“What is it?”, Eallgréne asked, recognizing that his sister was thinking of something. Steorra looked to him.

“I don’t know if it’s related to Amber or your mission, but there have been a series of thefts going on in town lately”, Steorra stated.

“Really? What kind of thefts?”, Violette asked.

“Lately, dust shops have been held up at gun point by gangsters. But what’s weird about it is that it’s not for the lien, but for the dust itself”, Steorra explained. The group seemed confused by this.

“For the dust? That seems odd. Those shops would make a killing in a city like Vale, especially with the school and now the tournament coming soon. Why steal the dust and not the money?”, Nickel asked himself.

“Maybe to influence the tournament itself? Could fix fights if students don’t have dust to use. Gambling effects maybe?”, Gael suggested. Nickel shook his head.

“If it happened right before the tournament, maybe. But there’s plenty of time between now and then for the shops to replenish their stocks. And the schools would bring their own supplies of dust to the tournaments for their students anyway; so it’d be pointless. Besides, that would be quite a means to fix a fight when it’s so much easier to just bribe one of the fighters to take a fall. No, this can’t be for gambling”, Nickel explained.

“Then they’re stock-piling it for themselves. But why? Dust isn’t so rare that it’d make sense to steal it to resell; the effort wouldn’t justify the profits, even on the black market. The only good stealing it would do them would be if they were preparing for-”, Violette started. She stopped before she could finish, reacting to the thought before she told the others. Eallgréne went on for her.

“A fight”, Eallgréne finished. The group looked at one-another in deep thought. The idea of someone getting ready for a battle concerned them. Perhaps it was related to their mission after all. “Steorra, do you know who is behind the robberies?”.

“I don’t actually. There aren’t a lot of witnesses, or rather, not a lot who are brave enough to talk. But someone’s bound to know more”, Steorra explained.

“Ok, ask your customers, see if they know. But ask only about the robberies, don’t mention Amber. It’s too risky to spread word of her. And we can’t assume there’s a connection between the two just yet, however likely it may be. Nickel, get in contact with your source, see if we can set up a meeting”, Eallgréne said.

“There’s a phone in the back”, Steorra said, pointing down a hallway separate from the one she entered the room from.

“Gotcha. Might take a bit, but I’ll get it done”, Nickel said, and then he left to make the call.

“Meanwhile, I’ll get a hold of Faramant, let him know that we’re here and beginning our search. Maybe they’ll have something for us to go on by now", Eallgréne continued, pulling out his scroll. He pulled out the slip of paper Faramant had given them and typed in the number. After he did, he sent the call out. It only took a few seconds of ringing before the line picked up.

“Hello, this is Chief Inspector Faramant of the Atlas Military Police”, the voice on the other end of the call proclaimed.

“Faramant, this is Eallgréne”, Eallgréne stated.

“Understood, hold on a moment please”, Faramant said. There was a moment of silence on the line. Eallgréne looked to the others in the room during the wait. They all watched in anticipation, wanting to know what Faramant would say. Before long, the voice returned. “Apologies, I moved to a more secluded spot in the office. Still not taking risks. I assume you’ve made it to Vale?”

“We did, managed to hitch a ride and got here faster than expected. We’re currently at my sister’s place”, Eallgréne explained.

“Good, good. Then I assume you’re in a safe place to discuss?”, Faramant asked. Eallgréne looked towards Steorra. Understanding the situation, she nodded. With Violette’s help, she got back into her wheelchair and moved into the other room. She didn’t want to get her brother in trouble; especially from the Atlas Military Police.

“I am”, Eallgréne replied.

“Understood. Have you had any luck finding Amber?”, Faramant asked.

“No, we only just got into Vale a short time ago. However, we found out that there’s something else going on here. My sister said there have been a string of dust-specific thefts in the city, done by professionals”, Eallgréne explained.

“Dust-specific? That does seem odd. Do you have any reason to believe that it’s related?”, Faramant asked.

“Nothing solid, just suspicions”, Eallgréne answered.

“We can’t risk ignoring it. Look into it and see for yourself if there’s a correlation, but keep the focus on Amber”, Faramant ordered.

“Understood”, Eallgréne replied. Violette looked to the archer, and he knew what she was going to ask. “Violette said that she would ask her parents to assist you, have they or you found anything out?”.

“Yes, they did reach out to me, and while I didn’t give them all the details for security reasons, they are assisting me with their sources. However, we haven’t had much luck on our end. Nikko is having a debriefing with General Ironwood as we speak; should anything new come up, I’ll call you. But I wouldn’t hold your breath at this rate”, Faramant explained.

“We’re going to have a meeting with a source of Nickel’s to see if they know anything of the robberies or Amber”, Eallgréne detailed.

“It’s a start. Hopefully it’ll lead somewheres. I’d recommend talking to Headmaster Ozpin when you get the chance, time is of the essence and we can’t afford to waste it. Stay guarded at all times, and call me if you find out anything. Good luck”, Faramant said.

“Understood. Over and out”, Eallgréne finished. He then hung up.

“Well that got us no where”, Gael remarked.

“But at least he knows we’re here. Besides, it wouldn’t be fun if it were easy, right?”, Eallgréne asked, reminding Gael of her own words the other day. She smirked in response.

“So what do you do now?”, Steorra asked, entering the room once more. When she heard Gael speak, she assumed the call had ended. She approached the girls and her brother by the payment counter.

“He suggested talking to Ozpin as soon as we could”, Eallgréne answered.

“Normally I’d say that wouldn’t be too difficult for former students like yourselves, but the new year DID just start, so he’s gonna have his hands full. The team formation exercises were just the other day in fact”, Steorra explained.

“So getting time to even see him will be difficult. We’ll need to head over to the school and hope we can schedule one soon”, Violette suggested.

“We’ll also have to get a hold of one of the hotels and book rooms. Who knows how long we’ll be in the city, we can’t afford to miss out on space”, Gael added. With that statement, Steorra shook her head.

“You all can stay here. I have PLENTY of space upstairs, including spare rooms. And it’ll be convenient for your mission, more privacy”, Steorra explained.

“Ohh, sweetie, you don’t have to do that. We don’t want to interfere with your business”, Gael replied. Steorra chuckled lightly.

“Nonsense! You wouldn’t be a bother!”, Steorra retorted back.

“It would be the most convenient. And it’d be nice to catch up”, Eallgréne said. “Don’t worry, we’ll pay for rent”. Steorra scoffed.

“Since when would I force rent on family? Forget about it. Just make sure you wash your dishes and pick up after yourselves and it’ll be just fine”, Steorra replied. Gael squeeled and hugged Steorra tightly.

“It’ll be like old times again! I’m so excited!”, Gael remarked. Steorra giggled. She couldn’t contain her excitement either.

“I know! I can’t wait!”, Steorra replied. Eallgréne sighed.

“As much as I appreciate the offer sister, you have to remember that we’re on a mission. We won’t be able to hang out as much as you’d probably like”, Eallgréne said.

“I know, but it’ll make what moments we CAN have together that much better, now won’t it?” Steorra asked. Eallgréne couldn’t help but smile. Like him, she was fond of deep conversation. He nodded.

“Yeah…I guess so”, Eallgréne replied.

“Well, with that settled, I guess we’ll just wait on Nickel, and then head over to Beacon to see if we can schedule an appointment with Ozpin”, Gael said.

“Sounds like a plan”, Violette replied. Just then, the front door opened, causing the bell to ring through the store. The hunters turned towards the direction of the noise. As a figure stepped into the building, the members of Team Evergreen collectively smiled in surprise.

Standing before them was a large figure, a man in perhaps his mid fifties. He wore a wine red-colored double breasted suit with olive boots. His large white mustache and matching colored hair showed a face of age, but experience and refinement. He entered the room, looked at the hunters before him, and reciprocated with an equally large smile.

“Well, well, well! If it isn’t Team EVGN! So wonderful to see some of my favorite former students again!”, the man bellowed, his stomach bouncing as he talked in merriment. He had a jolly disposition, which made the group laugh.

“It’s good to see you again, Professor Port!”, Gael remarked, waving to the professor. The man chuckled.

“Come now, Miss Kasai. You’re no longer students, hugs are perfectly acceptable greetings!“, Prof. Port exclaimed, approaching the faunus and giving her a bear hug. Gael chuckled nervously, but hugged back regardless. The professor was a hulking figure compared to her small frame, and the hug nearly enveloped her entirely. Gael also recalled the professor to be a bit of a flirt with the female students, (of which she was a frequent target), however, she did not fear anything provocative; he was still a gentleman after all.

“Ahh! And Miss Liddell, always a pleasure!”, Prof. Port said, seeing the knight beside him. She opened her arms and wrapped them around the Professor. Unlike the small-framed Gael, Violette was more physically opposing, and was able to not only wrap her arms nearly around the body of the professor, but able to pick him up entirely.

“Wonderful to see you again, professor!”, Violette exclaimed. As she hugged the professor, a loud crack echoed through the room. Professor Port winced, causing Violette to put him down quickly. “Oh my goodness, are you ok professor!?”. Professor Port chuckled, feeling his lower back.

“Quite alright Miss Liddell; in fact I dare say I needed that back crack!”, Professor Port exclaimed with a chuckle. Eallgréne approached the older huntsman.

“It’s been a long time, professor”, Eallgréne stated. Professor Port turned to look at the archer with a smile.

“It has indeed! I still have had few students as interested in the Grimm studies as you, Mr. Hód”, Prof. Port said. He held his hand out briefly, but then hesitated, pulling it back slowly. It was as if he remembered something, and became apprehensive. Eallgréne chuckled lightly, knowing what it was. He held his own hand out.

“It’s alright Professor”, Eallgréne stated. Professor Port chuckled and shook the archer’s hand.

“Wonderful! Glad to see you all looking well! I was hardly expecting to see you all together like this; although I suppose if I were, this would be the place to do it. And how are you, Miss Hód?”, Prof. Port asked, turning to Steorra. She smiled.

“I’m well, Professor”, Steorra exclaimed. “Am I to assume you’re here for your order?”.

“Indeed I am! I assume then it’s arrived?”, Prof. Port asked.

“Just this morning, I’ll go retrieve it”, Steorra said, turning her wheelchair around and heading to the back room. The professor turned to the others.

“I ordered a cage from your sister last week for classes. I hope to capture a Grimm for the new students, but my last one was destroyed”, Professor Port explained.

“Still making your classes more hands-on are we?”, Eallgréne asked, recalling similar actions done in his time at Beacon.

“Of course! It worked so well on you, now didn’t it?”, Prof. Port said with a chuckle.

“That’s true. In fact, I’ve got notes on many different Grimm on my travels, I’ll have to show you them”, Eallgréne exclaimed, pulling out a notebook. Professor Port chuckled.

“Wonderful my dear lad! Unfortunately, it may have to wait for a later time. As you know, captured Grimm need to be fresh, elsewise they disappear. My class is today, and I have to be off to get one before then”, Prof. Port explained.

“Hmm…actually, Professor…why don’t we capture a Grimm for you?”, Eallgréne asked. The group seemed surprised at the sudden offer. Why would be volunteer them for something like that when they had an important mission to undertake? Even Professor Port seemed skeptical.

“Really? I must say, I’m surprised you volunteered so out if the blue”, Prof. Port replied.

“We don’t mind helping out an old friend, and it shouldn’t be THAT difficult…but…there is something I’d like to request in return”, Eallgréne stated. The professor raised an eyebrow.

“Oh really? Hmm…well, I am quite curious as to the request, and capturing the Grimm for me would save valuable time I could use preparing for classes. So I accept your generous offer!”, Professor Port exclaimed. Eallgréne nodded with a smile.

“I thank you, professor”, Eallgréne stated.

“So what is it you’d like, my boy?”, the professor asked, twirling the tip of his mustache.

“You see…we’re not just here to see family. The others and I, we’re on a mission…an important one”, Eallgréne explained. Professor Port nodded in understanding. “And we were asked to talk to Headmaster Ozpin over details that may help us. But we know that, with classes and the Vytal festival coming up, he’ll be busy. So, we were wondering if you could help us schedule a meeting with him? It’s…pretty important”.

Professor Port nodded again. Being a former hunter himself, he knew what it was like to have a mission one could not discuss openly. And he was well aware of the busy schedule coming up for the new school year and the festival.

“I see. Well, I will be sure to do all that I can to aid you. I will have a word with Ozpin, and let him know that Team EVGN wish to talk with him”, Professor Port stated. The group smiled.

“Thank you, professor! This will help a lot!”, Gael said.

“Glad to be of assistance my dear!”, Professor Port exclaimed.

“Alright everyone, the call’s been made, we’re-”, Nickel called out. The group turned towards him as he entered the room. When he saw Professor Port standing before him, he stopped talking. He looked both shocked and concerned. “Professor?”. Professor Port sighed.

“Ahh yes, Mr. McCarty, I should have assumed you’d be here as well if the rest of your team was”, Professor Port stated with a hint of annoyance. Nickel groaned.

“Oh come on, don’t tell me you’re still upset over me skipping class all those years ago!”, Nickel said.

“Mr. McCarty, you skipped enough classes over the four years you were at Beacon to equate to an entire semester! It was a miracle you still managed to graduate!”, Professor Port explained.

“Listen, I was young and impetuous! Now I’m-”, Nickel started before being cut off.

“OLD and impetuous”, Violette said with a giggle.

“Sounds about right”, Professor Port added.

“So what kind of Grimm would you like us to bring you?”, Eallgréne asked, changing the topic away from his troublesome friend.

“These are mostly first-year students, so nothing too dangerous. I should think a Boarbatusk would work nicely”, Prof. Port determined. Nickel turned to Eallgréne in shock.

“We have to catch a Grimm!? For Port!? I THOUGHT I WAS DONE DOING HOMEWORK FOR HIM! GAH!”, Nickel whined, throwing his arms up in the air.

“I see your attitude towards homework hasn’t changed over the years either, hmm?”, Professor Port stated, crossing his arms.

“He’s gonna try and get us a meeting with Ozpin for compensation. It’ll be fine”, Eallgréne reassured the hunter. Nickel groaned.

“What about your contact?”, Gael asked.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. I managed to get a hold of him after a few tries. Wasn’t easy, but he’s willing to talk to us privately tonight. We’ll see how that goes”, Nickel answered.

“Alright then, it’s set. We’ll get the Grimm, then tonight we see what we can dig up”, Eallgréne decided.

“Sounds like a solid plan, Mr. Hód! Well, I best be off then to prepare for class. I’ll be sure to talk to Ozpin as soon as I can! You can drop the Grimm off at the school when you’ve caught it; happy hunting!”, Professor Port exclaimed, walking out of the shop with a wave goodbye.

“Bye Professor!”, Gael said in reply. The door closed behind him. Nickel crossed his arms in annoyance.

“I’m gone for five minutes and you all manage to give me homework, what the Hell!?”, Nickel whined.