RWBY: Moon Reflection

The mission was complete. With Mosset Grotto cleared and the outposts fully established, Crimson returned to Atlas, his aircraft landing smoothly in the military airfield. Without pausing to rest, he headed straight to General Ironwood's office, eager to report his success.

When Crimson entered, he found Ironwood and Winter deep in conversation, the holographic display between them showing tactical maps and lines of strategic interest. The general looked up, his stern expression softening into a rare smile when he saw Crimson.

"Specialist Crimson," Ironwood said, standing from his seat. "Welcome back. You've done a spectacular job out there. I'll admit, I didn't expect Mosset Grotto to be cleared so quickly—or at all, to be honest."

Crimson returned the smile with a small one of his own. "Thank you, General. I chose that site because of the dust deposits. With the project you've been working on, I figured you'd need an enormous amount of dust. And knowing how Schnee Dust Company operates, they'd probably use that as leverage to drive up prices."

Crimson turned to Winter, a glint of humor in his eyes. "No offense, but your dad is a famous scumbag."

Winter raised an eyebrow but allowed herself a small, amused smile. "None taken," she said simply.

Ironwood chuckled at the exchange and clasped his hands behind his back. "It's good to see you not just thinking about the immediate threat, but also the bigger picture. Decisions like that, combined with your overwhelming strength, make you one of our greatest allies in this war."

Crimson nodded, his face serious again. "I appreciate that, General. For now, I plan to stay in Atlas for a few days to let my team rest. Poor fellows are missing their wives and kids. I'd like to give them some time to recover before heading back out."

"That's reasonable," Ironwood replied. "You've more than earned a short respite."

The general leaned forward slightly. "Have you decided on your next target?"

Crimson nodded. "Yes. I plan to head west, to the ancient monument outside Mantle. Many of the Grimm attacks on the city seem to originate from that region. If I can clear it, it should alleviate some of the pressure on the city's defenses."

Ironwood stroked his beard thoughtfully, clearly impressed. "A sound plan. Mantle has been struggling to hold the line there for months. Clearing that area would make a significant difference. You have my full approval."

Before leaving, Crimson hesitated for a moment before turning back to the general. "One more thing. I'd like to ask for your help in building prosthetics for Raven Branwen. She's lost a leg and a few fingers. Her injuries… they're my doing, and I want to fix them as much as possible."

Ironwood's expression softened, and he nodded firmly. "You don't need to worry about that, Crimson. I'll make sure she gets the best prosthetics Atlas can provide. Consider it done."

Crimson thanked the general and gave a brief nod to Winter before leaving the office.

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The training hall was alive with the sound of clashing metal and grunts of effort. Crimson entered quietly, his sharp eyes scanning the room. At the center of the hall, Pyrrha was locked in combat against Ruby and Yang, both attacking her from opposite sides. Despite the two-on-one disadvantage, Pyrrha moved with grace and precision, her every step measured and deliberate.

Crimson leaned against the wall, watching as Pyrrha danced around Ruby's scythe and Yang's fiery punches. She parried Ruby's wide swing effortlessly, twisting to dodge Yang's explosive strike before countering with a swift kick that sent Yang sprawling. Ruby lunged again, but Pyrrha sidestepped, using her shield to push Ruby off balance. In one fluid motion, Pyrrha disarmed her and ended the spar with Ruby pinned to the ground.

Yang groaned from where she sat on the floor. "How does she make it look so easy?"

Crimson smirked and walked toward the side of the hall, where Qrow and Raven were watching the sparring session. "Enjoying the show?" he greeted.

Qrow turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Well, well, if it isn't the mighty specialist himself. Decided to grace us with your presence, have you?"

Crimson chuckled softly. "Sorry for disappearing on you all. My first mission took more effort than I expected."

Qrow crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips. "From what we heard, it was less of a mission and more of a grand operation."

Crimson waved off the comment, deflecting. "Let's not exaggerate. What about you, dad? Planning to take up huntsman missions again, or are you staying here to teach and train?"

Qrow looked thoughtful, scratching the back of his head. "I'll probably take on a few missions, but I prefer to work solo. My semblance and all—bad luck isn't exactly team-friendly."

Crimson nodded. "If you change your mind, let me know. You won't need to worry about your semblance if you come with me."

Qrow chuckled but shook his head. "Appreciate the offer, kid, but I'll stick to my own pace."

Turning to Raven, Crimson said, "I spoke with Ironwood. He said he'll do his best with the prosthetics."

Raven's expression softened slightly, a rare smile tugging at her lips. Qrow blinked in surprise, glancing between the two. "Wait a second. Since when are you two getting along? And since when were you planning to ask for prosthetics for her?"

Crimson's voice was calm but firm. "She's my aunt, and her injuries are my fault. What's so surprising about me wanting to help?"

Qrow gave him a long look before muttering, "Only you think that."

Before anyone could respond, the others noticed Crimson's arrival and rushed toward him. Ruby was the first to reach him, practically bouncing with excitement. "Crimson! Tell us about your first mission!"

"It was a Grimm extermination," Crimson said simply. "Nothing stood out."

Ruby frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. Yang folded her arms, smirking. "Killing over a thousand Grimm isn't exactly 'nothing.'"

Blake nodded in agreement. "You should be proud of that. Stop acting like a boring old man."

Crimson blinked at her, then said dryly, "Technically, I am over 500 years old."

Blake opened her mouth to reply but found herself at a loss for words.

Crimson shifted his gaze to Pyrrha, who was wiping sweat from her brow. "You know," he began, "I think Pyrrha's ready to be a huntsman and take on missions."

Pyrrha's eyes widened in surprise, and the others turned to Crimson, equally shocked.

"If you agree," Crimson continued, "I can talk to the general and get you your license. Or at least approval to take missions."

Pyrrha immediately straightened, her expression determined. "I'd be honored."

"Hey, that's not fair!" Ruby protested, hands on her hips. "Why does she get to go on missions before us?"

"Yeah!" Yang added, glaring playfully.

Crimson raised an eyebrow. "You both just lost to her a moment ago. Isn't it obvious why?"

Ruby and Yang hesitated, clearly reluctant to accept that logic. Then Ruby's eyes lit up. "Wait! Why don't we just go on a mission with you? That way, it'll be okay, right?"

Qrow interjected, his tone serious. "It's not about how strong the person you're with is. It's about whether you can pull your own weight."

Crimson considered it for a moment, surprising Qrow. "Actually… that might work."

Ruby and Yang's faces lit up with excitement as Crimson continued, "Once your new weapons are ready, you two can come with me."

The sisters cheered, their excitement infectious.

Weiss cleared her throat, drawing attention back to herself. "And what about the rest of us?"

Crimson shrugged. "They're my sisters. Of course, they get preferential treatment."

Weiss's expression turned indignant while the others laughed, looking at Ruby and Yang with envy. 

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For the next three days, the training hall echoed with the clashing of weapons, the grunts of effort, and the occasional burst of laughter. Crimson observed the group's training alongside Qrow and Raven, his sharp eyes noting their progress and techniques. The intensity of their training had increased since they'd learned about Pyrrha potentially earning her huntsman license. It seemed to ignite a competitive spirit among them, each striving to improve their skills.

True to his word, Crimson had spoken with General Ironwood about Pyrrha. The general, trusting Crimson's judgment and impressed by the young warrior's reputation, agreed to grant her the license. Ironwood had even taken the time to review footage of Pyrrha's recent training sessions, which solidified his decision.

On the fourth day, Crimson entered the training hall with a scroll in hand. The group was mid-session, Pyrrha sparring with Weiss while Ruby, Yang, and Blake took turns practicing on training dummies. Crimson's presence immediately caught their attention, and he motioned for Pyrrha to step forward.

Crimson typed on his scroll. Pyrrha's scroll pinged and she took it out, her green eyes widening as she saw huntsman license with her name on the scroll.

The room fell silent, save for the sound of Yang "No way!" Yang exclaimed, rushing forward to look at the license.

Ruby and Weiss followed, their expressions a mixture of awe and envy. "You actually did it," Ruby said, her tone filled with admiration.

Blake crossed her arms, giving Pyrrha an approving nod. "Congrats, Pyrrha. You earned it."

Crimson smiled faintly. "You did. Congratulations," he said simply.

Pyrrha clutched the scroll to her chest, her face glowing with gratitude. "Thank you, Crimson. I couldn't have done it without your support."

Yang groaned dramatically, leaning against Blake. "First she beats us all in sparring, and now this. She's setting the bar way too high."

Ruby pouted but managed a smile. "Yeah, but it's Pyrrha. She deserves it."

Crimson raised a hand to quiet the chatter. "Enjoy the moment, Pyrrha, because your first mission is tomorrow."

The group froze, their attention snapping back to Crimson. "Wait, tomorrow?" Pyrrha asked, her voice tinged with surprise and excitement.

Crimson nodded. "We're heading west of Mantle to an ancient monument. A significant portion of the Grimm attacks on the city originate from that area. Our objective is to exterminate every Grimm there."

Qrow raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Isn't that a bit much for her first mission? Clearing out a major Grimm nest is not a beginner-level work. Even the most experienced and skilled huntsmen will view this as a nightmare"

Crimson shrugged nonchalantly. "Might as well give her the highest difficulty right from the start. It'll be a good experience."

Pyrrha's face lit up with determination, clearly unshaken by the challenge. "I won't let you down."

The rest of the group, however, exchanged worried glances. Weiss, folding her arms, muttered, "She hasn't even had time to adjust to the idea of being a huntsman, and now she's already going on an advanced mission?"

Blake sighed. "And with Crimson, of all people. No pressure, right?"

Yang gave Pyrrha a teasing nudge. "You're really living the dream, huh?"

"Or the nightmare," Ruby quipped, though her smile betrayed her pride in Pyrrha.

Crimson ignored their comments and turned back to Pyrrha. "Take today to rest. Get your gear ready, and make sure you're in top form. I'll find you in the morning."

Pyrrha nodded, clutching the license tighter. "I'll be ready."

As Crimson turned to leave, Pyrrha's smile grew even brighter, and the others, though envious, couldn't help but feel proud of her accomplishment. As they returned to their training, the air was filled with a renewed sense of determination. Tomorrow would mark a new chapter in Pyrrha's journey, and the group couldn't wait to see how she would rise to the challenge.