Destiny No More

Chapter 95

Atlesian Forces to Withdraw. Pyrrha read the headline in disbelief. Her scroll was held only inches away from her face as she read the article from top to bottom. When she first saw it, she had thought it something pushed by the Council of Vale as a means to force the General's hand. The fact that shocked her was the direct quote for General Ironwood himself stating they would leave in a few days' time.

She wasn't sure she believed it, if she was being honest. It was starkly different from what he had said the day prior that she assumed it was a lie meant to buy him time.

The message she had received from Qrow said otherwise. He had spoken with Ozpin already, despite the fact she never would have expected Qrow to be up so early in the morning, it was hardly even eight yet, after all. The day seemed packed full of impossibilities, but Pyrrha didn't feel like complaining. In fact, she couldn't even contain the smile that spread across her face.

Atlas would be there for the next few days, long enough to help with the Breach, and then depart. It would redeem Atlas in the eyes of Vale, while also serving to lower tensions. If the fleet stuck around after that it would have caused problems, but with the announcement that they planned to leave, people would see it as fortunate timing. There was no way they could have known, after all. It wasn't like they could see the future, was it?

Pyrrha read through the rest of the article as quickly as she could. A few ships had already departed apparently, returning to Atlas in the dead of night, while more were expected to leave in waves over the next few days. By the time the day of the Breach arrived there would still be a number of them around, but not the same fleet that there was currently.

It was a weight off of her shoulders, even if she didn't know how it had happened. Their conversation with Ironwood hadn't gone nearly as well as she had hoped, and with how both she and Winter had left, she hadn't expected something like this.

Qrow said he confirmed it with Ozpin, did he have a hand in this? It wasn't difficult for Pyrrha to accept. While Ozpin and ironwood had been distant recently, they had once been friends. She wasn't surprised to see that he had managed to pull something off. The question of whether the General would actually withdraw or not would only be answered in time, but she was inclined to believe he would. If he planned not to, why send some ships away in the night?

Her good mood hadn't taken long to be noticed, Team CFVY slowly woke up around her and as they did not one of them failed to see her smile. It was a stark contrast to the night before, after all.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Coco grumbled. She wasn't an early riser from what Pyrrha had gathered, in fact, she was hardly recognizable until after her shower and a cup of coffee, but even she hadn't been able to hide her relief at the news.

"You're kidding?" Fox asked, shaking his head when all Pyrrha chuckled softly. "I thought you said you guys failed?"

"I thought we did." Pyrrha closed her scroll, setting it on her bed before standing. "I think Ozpin talked to him."

"Is this a good thing though?" Velvet looked conflicted. "I thought Atlas helped with the Breach?"

"And they still will." Pyrrha nodded. "They aren't scheduled to pull out the last of their ships until the week after the Breach took place. The majority are leaving in the next few days, but a few will still be around to help."

Velvet nodded her understanding, a small smile coming to her face as well.

"So, no war?" Fox finally asked, and though he did so with a joking tone, it was clear he was just as relieved as she was.