Outside of Beacon, from Beacon tower, Ozpin and Glynda gazed outside the window. Seeing multiple airships from Atlas had caused them to furrow their brows. 

Glynda: Ironwood certainly loves bringing his work wherever he travels. 

Ozpin: Well, running an academy and a military makes him a busy man. But yes, those are a bit of an eye sore. 

The grey-haired man turns around, hearing a beeping noise at his desk. He simply looks to the elevator at the other end of the room.

Ozpin: Come in. 

The elevator doors open and out steps a man in a white military uniform. He smiles as he sees Glynda and Ozpin. This is James Ironwood, the Headmaster of Atlas Academy and it's general of the military.

Ironwood: Ozpin!

Ozpin: Hello, General. 

Ironwood: Please, drop the formalities. (chuckle) It's been too long.

Both Ironwood and Ozpin meet for a firm handshake, the black-haired general turning to Glynda with a smile. 

Ironwood: And Glynda! It has certainly been too long since we've last met. 

Glynda: (waves) Oh, James. (looks to Ozpin) I'll be outside and be spending time with my son.

Ironwood: Wait, son?

The blonde woman doesn't answer and simply walks out the elevator doors and begins to descend. Ironwood sweat drops a little before he turns back to the glasses wearing man.

Ironwood: Well, she hasn't changed a bit. What did she mean by "son"?

Ozpin: Godson, she means. So, what in the world has brought you all the way down from Atlas? (walks to desk and pours coffee into mug) Headmasters doesn't usually travel with their students for the Vytal Festival. 

Ironwood: (grabs cup from Ozpin) Well, you know I love Vale this time of year. (pulls out canteen from coat) Besides, with you hosting, I thought this might be a good opportunity for us to catch up. 

Ozpin: I can certainly appreciate quality time between friends. However, the small fleet outside my window has me somewhat concerned. 

Ironwood: Well, concern is what brought them here. 

Ozpin: I understand travel between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult.

Ironwood: Oz, you and I both know why I brought those men. 

Ozpin: (sigh) We are in a time of peace. Shows of power like this are just going to give off the wrong impression. 

Ironwood: But if what Qrow said is true, then--

Ozpin: If what Qrow said is true, then we will handle it tactfully. It's the Vytal Festival, a time to celebrate unity and peace. So I suggest you do not scare people by transporting hundreds of soldiers halfway across the continent. 

Ironwood: (narrowed eyes) I'm just being cautious. 

Ozpin: As am I. Which is why we will continue to train the best Huntsmen and Huntresses we can. 

Ironwood: Believe me, I am. (turns towards elevator but looks over shoulder) But ask yourself this... Do you honestly believe your children can win a war? 

After finishing his sentence, James Ironwood walks towards the elevator, entering inside. But Ozpin sends him one last stare.

Ozpin: ...I hope they never have to.

---

In Beacon's library, three teams were at three different tables, of which they were all doing their own things. Team JNPR, half of them were being studious, which were Pyrrha and Ren as they were reading books. While Jaune was reading, it was more of a comic book and nothing related to combat to actually help him learn new skills. Nora on the other hand was being...Nora. She was sleeping while Ren flipped his finished pages of his book onto her head.

Team MOLA, Lilina was going through her notebook, thinking of different strategies and coming up with different plans for herself and her team. Teamwork was key if they wished to get by in the Vytal Festival. Lethe was filing her nails, examining them to make sure her handiwork was well enough. Occasionally, she'd pick her teeth using her nails to get out any food that was stuck between them that were left over from lunch. Owain was sitting at his chair, scribbling away through his notebook that were full of ideas of different moves and names he called his "special moves." Typical Owain. And off to the side, Y/N had created two clones of himself as the two clones were moving a jump rope up and down while Y/N was in the middle, doing tricks and flips, hopping over the rope every time it came from the bottom.

(A/N): This was honestly the best I could find. Sorry for the poor quality.

Over at Team RWBY's table, the four of them seemed to be holding cards with a board game in the middle of the table. One of them looked unsure of her cards, two of them looking quite determined, and the other just looking plain uninterested in the game itself.

Ruby: (hums) Alright...hmm... Alright. Yang Xiao Long! Prepare your kingdom for battle!

Yang: Bring it on!

Ruby: (rises from table, raising cards above head) I deploy the Atlesian Air Fleet!

The black-haired girl with red tips had gotten up from her chair excitedly, proudly proclaiming her strategy. Yang let out a gasp, but the members of MOLA could tell it was a fake one. 

Ruby: Looks like I get to fly right over your Ursai and attack your walls directly! (makes airplane and explosion sounds) 

Yang: (fake gasp) You fiend! 

Ruby: And since Atlas is part of Mantle, my repair time only lasts one turn!

The silver-eyed girl had crouched down, half her head was just above the table and a visible smirk was clearly shown on her face. However, Yang let out a low chuckle as she brought a card up.

Yang: Pretty sneaky, sis. But you just activated my trap card!

The blonde girl had turned her card around, revealing it to her younger half sister. It causes Ruby to let out a high pitched scream, Owain snapping the pencil's graphit, Lilina driving her pencil through her notebook, Lethe to accidentally cut a bit of her mouth with her nails, and Y/N to fall over and trip, the startling noise causing him to jump slightly as his foot was caught onto the jump rope.

Yang: (slams fist on table) Giant Nevermore! If I role a seven or higher, fatal feathers will slice your fleet into two!

Ruby: But if you roll a six or lower, the Nevermore will turn on your own forces!

Yang: That's just a chance I'm willing to take...

Yang then takes the die, rolling and does a successful roll. Ruby then begins to scream, knowing she lost. In the background, Ren turned his recently finished page onto Nora's sleeping head, the girl having a snot bubble coming from her nose. Jaune was completely invested in his comic book, but his intrigued face soon turned to disappointment as Pyrrha took the comic away and slid a combat manual towards him. Now, the red-head herself was reading the comic book with a smile on her face.

Over with Team MOLA, both Lethe and Owain were huddled over Y/N, the blonde male poking his friend with his pencil to make sure he was still alive. Sure enough, Y/N was, his leg twitching every time Owain poked him with his pencil. Lilina stared at the scene and simply shook her head. Ruby was now slumped over the table, a look of despair on her face.

Yang: Well, Weiss, it's your turn. 

Weiss: I have...absolutely no idea what's going on.

Yang: (zips on over to Weiss's side) Look, it's easy! You're playing as Vacuo, which means all Vacuo based cards come with a bonus!

Y/N: (quickly recovers and zips to Yang's side) Uh, shouldn't you be looking at your own cards and not hers? I'm pretty sure those were in the rules.

Yang: (pushes Y/N's face away) Ssssshhhh! Don't listen to him, Ice Queen.

Weiss: Well, this sounds dumb.

Yang: Let's see, you've got Sandstorm, Desert Scavenge, and...oh, oh! Resourceful Raider! Now you can take Ruby's discard Air Fleet.

Ruby: (tears running down face) Nooooo...

Yang: And put it in your hand!

Y/N: Wait a second...Yang, don't tell me--

Lethe: Oh, that's definitely her plan.

Lilina: A hundred percent.

Owain: Wait... What's happening again?

Weiss: Okay...?

Yang: And since Vacuo warriors have an endurance boost against natural hazards, you can use Sandstorm to disable my ground forces and simultaneously infiltrate my kingdom! (glares at Weiss) Just know, I will not forget this declaration of war. 

Weiss: And that means? 

Ruby: (still crying) You're just three moves away from conquering Remnant!

Weiss: (stands up) Ahahaha! Yes! Fear the almighty power of my forces! Cower as they pillage your home and weep as they take your children from your very arms--

Yang: Trap card.

Weiss: Huh? 

Yang: (rearranges game board) Your armies have been destroyed. 

Weiss: I hate this game of emotions we play!

Y/N: Wow... I never thought Yang could be this evil...

Lilina: Not even I would stoop down to that level.

Yang: Oh, come on! You're making me sound like the bad guy here!

Lilina and Y/N: (deadpan) You literally just used Weiss and made her lose.

Ruby: (zooms into Weiss's lap) Stay strong, Weiss! We'll make it through this together! 

Weiss: Shut up! Don't touch me! 

Yang: Alright, Blake. You're up.

Now that the attention was focused on her, Blake peered up. She was confused as to what she was doing. 

Blake: ...Huh? Oh, um. Sorry, what was I doing again?

Y/N: (zips to Blake's side) Judging from your cards, you're playing as Vale. And the goal of the game is to conquer all the kingdoms of Remnant. And a word of advice, don't listen to anything Yang tells you to do. It will be your downfall.

Yang: Hey!

Blake: Right...

Jaune: (walking over) Hey! Can I play!

Ruby: Sorry, Jaune, but we've already got four people. And Lilina said she's calling in for the next game.

Weiss: Besides, this game requires a certain level of tactical that I seriously doubt you possess.

Lilina: Oh, Weiss. You attacked your own naval fleet two turns ago. And how I know this? I made that mistake when I was much younger. (sigh) My father was always good at these little games.

Weiss simply glares at the daughter of Hector Macedon, an esteemed commander of Atlas. Lilina only giggled and returned back to her notes.

Jaune: Bring it on, Ice Queen! I'll have you know that I'm a natural born leader!

Weiss: (narrowed eyes) By who? Your mother? 

Jaune: A-And Pyrrha!

Pyrrha: (in background) Hello again!

Jaune: Come on, let me play your hands for a turn!

Weiss: I'm not entrusting you with the good citizens of Vacuo!

Owain: (murmurs) I don't remember Vacuo having good citizens...

Jaune: Why not? Besides, you trusted me with way more important stuff before. I mean, you told us all that Blake is secretly a fa--

Before he could continue on, both Y/N and Pyrrha had zipped right up to him. Putting their hands over their mouth, they awkwardly smiled at Blake.

Pyrrha: Fun loving person, who we all admire and respect!

Y/N: Y-Yep! A real fun person!

Jaune lets out an awkward and nervous laugh as the rest turn to Blake. The cat faunus had an annoyed look on her face, seeing as her secret was now out. With Y/N's and Pyrrha's hands removed off his mouth, Jaune puts a hand to the back of his head and scratches it.

Jaune: Right...that. Ladies, enjoy your battle.

After giving off a bow, they heard footsteps along with a voice catching their attention.

Sun: Sup losers!

Ruby: Hey, Sun!

Y/N: Yo.

Owain: Aha! Good day to you, George!

Sun: It's Sun! (clears throat) Ruby, Yang, Blake, Y/N, Owain, Lilina, Lethe, Ice Queen. 

Weiss: Why does everyone keep calling me that? 

Y/N: What name would you prefer then? Elsa?

Weiss: Who's Elsa?

Y/N: (groans) Oh, honey, let me help you. 

Sun: I never had a chance to introduce you to my old friend. 

Blue-Haired: Uh, aren't libraries meant for reading?

Ren: (in background) Thank you!

Nora: (suddenly wakes up) Pancakes!

Sun: Shut up, don't be a nerd.

Blue-Haired: Geh geh geh geh! Intellectual. Ok? Thank you. I'm Neptune.

Weiss: So, Neptune. Where are you from?

Neptune: Haven... (walks over to Weiss) And I don't believe I've caught your name, Snow Angel.

Weiss: Um, I'm Weiss.

Jaune: Are you kidding me!?

Y/N: (pats Jaune's shoulder) It's okay, bud. You'll get her next time. Just have hope.

Neptune: Pleasure to meet you. 

Sun: I never took you as the board-game-playing-type.

Blake: Right. Well, I think I'm done playing, actually. I'll see you guys later.

Y/N: You okay?

The faunus girl doesn't reply and simply leaves the library, Y/N looking at her a bit worriedly. Grunting to himself, Y/N took off after, prompting Owain to call out after him and run after Y/N himself.

The others simply stare at the entrance of the library.

Nora: ...Women. 

---

With Y/N, he was searching frantically for Blake. But somehow, the cat faunus had given him the slip. He wanted to talk to her, to ask her what was wrong.

He was concerned, yes. He's her friend. Why wouldn't he be concerned? 

Just as Y/N turned the corner...

???: Ow! Watching where you're going, asshole!

Y/N: Ah! Sorry! I was just looking for a friend...

???2: Wait... That voice... Y/N...?

The white-haired fox faunus rubbed his head as he got up, But once he looked up, his red eyes meet another pair of dark red eyes. Her familiar mint green hair shined with the afternoon sunlight as it poured through the window of the hallway they were in. Y/N had a shocked face, as did she.

Y/N: ...Emm?