Ozpin's Office

Ozpin, Qrow, and Glynda watched as Atlesian ships began to arrive in Vale and Beacon. On ground level, students and soldiers began to filter out of the larger ships.

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

Qrow: You mean bravado.

Ozpin: Well, running an academy and a military makes him a busy man.

Coming into view, were more Atlas warships flying over the academy.

Ozpin: But yes, they are a bit of an eyesore.

A chirping sound came from Ozpin's desk indicating a person wanted to enter his office.

Ozpin: Come in.

The three people in the room expected to see Ironwood to step through the elevator, instead it was a woman with white hair. She wore formal military attire and carried herself with distinction and discipline.

Qrow: Ugh... Hello, "Ice Queen".

Winter glanced at Qrow and mildly scowled.

Winter: Qrow.

Ozpin: Ms. Winter Schnee, it is a pleasure to see you.

Winter approached the desk and straightened out her posture.

Winter: Good day to you Headmaster Ozpin and Ms. Goodwitch, for the time being I will be the interim representative of Atlas for the Vytal Festival. I hope to be of great service to you and your students.

Ozpin: Thank you for introducing yourself to us Ms. Schnee. However, forgive me for sounding rude, but we were expecting someone else...

Qrow leaned on Ozpin's desk.

Qrow: Yeah, where's Jimmy?-

Winter: General Ironwood wanted to extent his apologies for his absence today. He was called away to an important military matter for Atlas, but he expects that he will be finished before the upcoming tournament.

Qrow rolled his eyes and took a drink from his flask.

Qrow: Sure he will...

Winter continued to ignore Qrow's remarks.

Ozpin: There is no need to apologize, I understand the General is a very busy man. Please tell him that he may take as much time as he needs.

Winter: Thank you.

Ozpin: I won't keep you any longer than you need to be.

Winter: Very well, If you need any assistance, you know how to reach me.

Winter bowed slightly before leaving the office.

Qrow sighed.

Qrow: That woman is still cold as ice. She fits right in with Ironwood and his army.

Glynda: You could learn a thing or two from her. Preferably the hygienic aspect.

Qrow: Never gonna happen. So, what's the plan Oz?

Ozpin thought for a moment.

Ozpin: If Ironwood isn't here, then that would mean...

Qrow: He's at that crater. I guess it was only a matter of time until others began to notice... I'm not looking forward to seeing him when he figures things out.

Ozpin: Indeed. With his resources I don't think it will take him too long to follow the trail back here.

Glynda: Then what should we do? We still have a lot to learn about the boy.

Ozpin: For now, I want you to continue your observations, more specifically, I want you to monitor his Aura.

Glynda: Alright.

Ozpin: Qrow, I want you to return to your original mission.

Qrow: You sure now is a good time for that?

Ozpin: If Ironwood managed to catch the scent of this, I find it hard to believe that our enemy hasn't.

Qrow: Good point. What will you do?

Ozpin: I will work to try and cover our tracks and slow Ironwood down. What we need right now is time.

Glynda and Qrow nodded and began to leave the office.

Ozpin turned to face out the window once more.

Ozpin: I just need more time to be sure...

_____

_____

The Next Day

Beacon Academy Library

Ruby: Hmmmmm.... All right! Yang Xiao Long, prepare your kingdom for battle!

Yang: Bring it on!

Ruby: I deploy the Atlesian Air Fleet!

Ruby slapped a card onto the table.

Ruby: Looks like I get to fly right over your Ursai and attack your walls directly!

Yang: You fiend!

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

Yang's feigned shock ended when she brought up a card of her own.

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

Yang threw the card onto the table.

Yang: Giant Nevermore! If I roll a seven or higher, fatal feathers will slice your fleet in 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.

The two sisters glared at each other as Yang threw her dice.

Sitting at a table behind them was team JNPR. Of the four members there, only Ren and Pyrrha were actually studying, Nora was taking at nap at the table, and Jaune was reading a comic hidden behind a textbook he was pretending to read.

Ruby: Nooooo!!! My fearless soldiers!

Yang: Eh, most of them were probably androids.

Yang continued to throw down cards onto the table and each time Ruby sank deeper and deeper into her chair, until she was crying on the floor.

Ruby: Noooo! Have you know heart?

Yang giggled at her work.

Rounding the corner, Y/N came walking in with a small stack of books.

(Y/N): Hi Ruby.

Ruby kept crying on the floor.

Ruby: Hi Y/N...

Yang: Well, Weiss, it's your turn.

Y/N placed the books he had on the table where team JNPR was sitting.

Ren: That's a lot of books, what's going on?

Y/N sighed, sat down, and opened one of them.

(Y/N): I have to do a project for Professor Goodwitch.

Ren: Ah.

Pyrrha: You didn't just wait to do it now, did you?

Y/N began to sweat.

(Y/N): Psssh! No! Of course not.

Pyrrha gave Y/N an accusatory look, causing Y/N to sweat more.

(Y/N): ....It's your word against mine! I'll see you in court!

Pyrrha smiled and shook her head.

(Y/N): Don't mock me...

Behind them, Weiss suddenly stood up and laughed maniacally.

Weiss: Y-yes! Fear the almighty power of my forces! Cower as they pillage your homes and weep as they take your children from your very arms!

(Y/N): 0_o That's genuinely horrifying.

Ren: Yeah. They always seem to get so into their games.

(Y/N): You're telling me.

Weiss' moment of triumph was interrupted when Yang threw down another card.

Eventually, Yang's moves made both Ruby and Weiss cry together.

Ruby: Stay strong, Weiss! We'll make it through this together!

Weiss: Shut up!

Weiss grabbed Ruby into a hug.

Weiss: Don't touch me!

(Y/N): A whole rollercoaster of emotions going on over there...

Ren: Yep.

Yang: Alright Blake, you're up!

Blake was brought to attention when Yang yelled for her.

Blake: Oh, um, sorry, what am I doing?

Yang: You're playing as Vale, trying to conquer the Kingdoms of Remnant!

Blake: R-right.

Back to the table, Jaune put down his book and leaned toward Y/N.

Jaune: Hey Y/N, do you know what the theme for the Vytal Festival Ball is?

(Y/N): Why would I know that?

Jaune: Isn't team RWBY planning it this year? You know, since team CFVY haven't come back yet?

(Y/N): Yeah?

Jaune: So? Haven't they told you anything about it?

Y/N sighed.

(Y/N): No Jaune, I have no clue. Besides, I'm more worried about a question...

Pyrrha: Finding a date for yourself?

(Y/N): What!? No! *sigh* It's Weiss...

Jaune: I-it is!?

(Y/N): About what she has planned.

Jaune sighed in relief.

Jaune: Oh...

Pyrrha: Her plans?

(Y/N): I heard the word "catering" when she was going on about the Ball.

Ren: So?

(Y/N): So, she's gonna make me do it!

Pyrrha: I don't think she'd go that far.

(Y/N): You say that, but you're not me.

Pyrrha: Try to stay optimistic. 

Jaune: Oh hey, it's Sun.

Y/N turned back around in his chair.

(Y/N): Oh yeah...

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

Blake put down her cards and began to walk away.

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

The group watched Blake walk away in silence.

Sun: Did I do something?

Nora: Women.

Yang looked at the hand of cards and a sly grin appeared on her face.

Yang: Hey Y/N. Wanna play?

(Y/N): I don't know how to play.

Yang: Don't worry I'll teach you.

Yang maniacally laughed to herself.

_____

_____

A Few Hours Later

Y/N was carrying a stack of books and heading back to his room.

(Y/N): That was a very easy card game... I hope Yang isn't still angry that I beat her... *sigh* who am I kidding...?

Looking out the window, the sun was setting on the academy and the courtyard was filled with students. Among the usual students from Beacon, there were students from the other academies intermingled as well.

(Y/N): This tournament really is popular.

Y/N's thoughts began to drift, and eventually went back to his lost gloves.

(Y/N): *sigh* I can't believe I forgot them... I spent so long making them too...

As he thought, Y/N didn't notice his body was glowing a very faint grey.

(Y/N): Where did I even leave them?... Was it that water world?...

Strangely from no where, faint splashing sounds echoed through the hall. Y/N, however, didn't notice and kept walking, still in deep thought.

(Y/N): No wait, it was in that kingdom with that princess and wizard....

Y/N stopped walking when he realized what he said.

(Y/N): The last one, not the other... thousand...

As he reminisced about what could have been, Y/N didn't notice what was happening to his surroundings. For the briefest of moments, the world looked... different.

But as quickly as it appeared, the world reverted back to it's normal state and Y/N suddenly felt winded.

(Y/N): Phew. Why do I feel tired all of a sudden? Ah well, I'll just go to bed early today...

Y/N yawned before continuing on toward his room.

(Y/N): I should really figure out how to get out of this world, but there really hasn't been anything promising.

Y/N stared down at the books in his arms.

(Y/N): I must have gone through that library a dozen times and still nothing. *sigh* Maybe I should- Agh!

As Y/N was walking, he didn't notice that he wandered right into another student... again. The bump caused him to fall and drop the stack of books he was carrying.

(Y/N): Ow...

???: My apologies.

The person Y/N ran into seemed to be a student from Haven Academy, but what stuck out to Y/N were her amber eyes. She offered her hand to Y/N, which he used to get back up.

(Y/N): Thank you, and that was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going.

Cinder: It's no problem.

Behind the her were two other Haven Academy students. A silver-haired guy and a girl with green hair.

(Y/N): You guys are from... Haven, right?

Cinder: Yes, we're here for the tournament.

Y/N quickly picked up the books that he dropped.

(Y/N): Well, good luck. From what I've seen, you'll have your work cut out for you this year.

Cinder smiled in response.

Cinder: I'll be sure to be careful.

There was a very brief moment where Y/N and Cinder looked at each other.

(Y/N): I'll... just be going then. Goodbye.

Cinder: Hm, goodbye.

Cinder watched Y/N leave and head toward the student dormitory.

Mercury: That's him? You must be joking.

Emerald: Yeah. He's probably some sheltered kid that's never been outside of the kingdom... like most of the annoying brats here.

Mercury chuckled.

Mercury: He'd probably run and hide the second he'd see a Grimm.

Cinder didn't reply to the comments her followers began to suggest. She glanced in the direction Y/N left in before gesturing for Emerald and Mercury to follow her.

Emerald: Are you sure that's the guy? He just doesn't seem like someone who'd be of use to-

Cinder: Yes, he is. And it is not your place to question my orders.

Emerald: Y-yes ma'am.

With Emerald and Mercury silenced, Cinder couldn't help but agree with them.

Cinder had expected the target she was given to be someone of great power or stature. Instead, she found some kid that didn't know anything. However, Cinder knew better than to question her master, if this boy was to come with them, then he would.

Cinder: We have much to prepare in a short amount of time, I expect the two of you to be ready.

Mercury: Right.

Emerald: Of course.

Cinder: Excellent.

_____

_____

The Following Day

Beacon Academy Dorms

Following a long class with Professor Port, team RWBY quickly returned to their room and began to change out of the school uniforms and into their regular clothes.

Blake: I thought that class would never end.

Ruby: Alright, guys, today's the day! The investigation begins!

Weiss rolled her eyes.

Weiss: I'm glad to see we're taking this so seriously.

Yang: Hey, we've got a plan! That's... moderately serious.

Ruby: Right! Everyone remember their roles?

Weiss: You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem.

Blake: The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. If I can get in, I can hopefully find out what they're planning.

Yang: I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard...

Ruby: Great! We'll meet up tonight back here to go over what we found.

Weiss: Right.

Yang: Got it!

Blake: Alright.

Ruby: Let's do this!

Sun: Yeah!

Hanging upside down outside of their window, Sun cheered the group on.

The four girls jumped back in surprise.

Blake: Sun!?

Yang: How did you get up there?

Sun: Ah, it's easy, I do it all the time.

Weiss: You do what!?

Sun: I climb trees all the time!

Sun flipped into the room and landed on his feet.

Sun: So, are we finally getting back at that Torchwick guy?

Blake: We are going to investigate the situation... as a team.

Ruby: Sorry, Sun. We don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to.

Sun: Psh! That's dumb! You should always get friends involved! That's why I brought "Bun Guy"!

Sun pointed out the window.

The girls lean out the window to see Y/N desperately holding onto the wall.

(Y/N): ...Hi...

Ruby: How did you even get up here?

Yang: Isn't your room right next door?

(Y/N): Q_Q Yes...

Weiss: Then why are you out here?

(Y/N): Just let me inside please.

After carefully pulling Y/N inside, Ruby began to rework her plan.

Blake: I would think you would be the last person who'd want to come with us.

(Y/N): Come with you to do what?

Yang: To head into the city to investigate the White Fang and that Torchwick guy.

(Y/N): Oh, hell no. I am not going with you guys into the city. Much less investigate the people that want to kill me...

Sun: Oh come on, it'll be fun!

(Y/N): Why didn't you ask Neptune to come with you?

Sun: I did! But he's training with the rest of my team for the tournament.

(Y/N): Why wouldn't you do that!?

Sun: Training isn't fun.

Weiss: Probably because it sounds like something genuinely responsible...

Sun: That too.

Ruby: Alright, I'll go with Weiss. Sun, you can go with Blake. And Y/N, you can go with Yang, since she doesn't have a partner. Everyone good?

Weiss: Right.

Blake: Got it.

Sun: Aw yeah!

Yang: Yes!

(Y/N): God no. No offense, but you four always get into some seriously dangerous situations, and I really don't want to go through that.

Ruby: But-!

Sun: Don't worry, I got this.

Sun jumped next to Y/N and put his arm around his shoulder.

Sun: Okay, you want to avoid danger, right?

(Y/N): Yes...

Sun: And these four always bring danger where ever they go, right?

Y/N nodded, unsure of where Sun was going.

Sun: Because they are here you know there's danger here, right?

(Y/N): Yeah?...

Sun let go and stood in front of Y/N.

Sun: So, if they leave... you don't know where they are anymore, right?

(Y/N): Ummm...

Sun: So logically, if you don't know where they are, you don't know where the danger is.

(Y/N): I don't think...

Sun: Which means that in order to avoid danger you have to go with them in order to know what the danger is and hence, avoid it!

(Y/N): Uh... that... makes sense? I think....

Weiss: ...We're doomed.

_____

_____

Sitting in their assigned dorm room, Cinder and Mercury went over a list of names of people of interest.

Mercury: None of these guys should be a problem, they'll all be too busy setting up for the Festival.

Cinder: Good, but I don't want to leave anything to chance.

Mercury: Yes ma'am.

As they continued their work Emerald re-entered the room.

Emerald: Hey, that kid we were told about is leaving the school grounds.

Cinder raised an eyebrow.

Cinder: Really?

Mercury: Where's he going?

Emerald: I saw him board a ship to Vale.

Mercury looked to his leader.

Mercury: What should we do?

Cinder thought for a moment before a grin appeared on her face.

_____

_____

Beacon Academy Courtyard

Ruby and Weiss made their way to the Transmit Tower located on the academy grounds.

Ruby: Woooow! I forget how big the Transmit tower looks up close!

Weiss: You should see the one in Atlas!

Ruby: That was the first one, right?

Weiss: Correct.

Weiss felt a wealth of confidence and pride when she talked about Atlas.

Weiss: Atlas developed the Cross Continental Transmit System to allow the four kingdoms to communicate with one another. It was their gift to the world after the Great War.

Ruby giggled at Weiss.

Ruby: Oooh, look at me! My name's Weiss! I know facts! I'm rich!

Weiss frowned.

Weiss: Don't be a pest! Besides, the only reason we're here is because you like the tower so much! We could have just as easily made a call from the library!

Ruby: I know, but it's so coool! Ooh, I'm going to take a picture!

Ruby hurriedly grabbed her Scroll, but in her rush she accidentally fumbled the device from her hand. The Scroll bounced away from her and into the hands of a familiar face.

Penny: Oh! You dropped this.

Penny handed the Scroll back to Ruby. Ruby, on the other hand, was completely surprised to see Penny again.

Ruby: Penny?!

Penny: Uuuh...

Ruby: Where have you been? We haven't seen you since that night at the docks!

Penny: S-Sorry. I think you're confused.

Immediately after saying that, Penny hiccuped.

Penny: Uh... I've got to go!

Still panicked, Penny quickly turned away and left, leaving Ruby and Weiss dumbfounded.

Weiss: What was that about?

Ruby: I don't know, but I'm going to find out. You go make your call! I'll meet up with you later!

This time, Ruby left, leaving only Weiss to get the information they needed.

Shrugging at her teammate's abandonment of her, Weiss made her way to the Transmit Tower Proper. Entering the elevator, Weiss displayed her Scroll and she was sent toward the communications room.

As the elevator continued upward Weiss felt uncomfortable about her upcoming call, despite her personality, she didn't actually liked calling Atlas. Not because it was a bad company, but because of who she might run into when she calls.

The elevator doors opened and Weiss continued on to an open terminal to make her call. Around her were many students and people making calls of their own, some were calling family while others were making business calls.

After sitting down at the terminal, the screen flickered to life and started to call the Schnee Company World Headquarters. A few moments later the screen changed and a Schnee Employee answered.

Schnee Corp Operator: Thank you for calling Atlas- Oh! Miss Schnee! Good Afternoon! Would you like me to watch you through to your father?

Weiss: No, thank you! I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me. I've compiled a short list.

Weiss placed her Scroll on the holographic keyboard and after a few moments the employee was sent the request.

Schnee Corp Operator: i see. If you don't mind... what may I ask is this for?

Weiss: School project.

The employee looked nervously at the files.

Schnee Corp Operator: Um... There are some sensitive documents on this list, ma'am.

Weiss: Well, then, I'll be sure to treat them with care.

Schnee Corp Operator: Right... Very well. The data is being transferred to your Scroll now.

Weiss: Wonderful! That will be all then!

Schnee Corp Operator: Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your father before you go?

Weiss: Yes, I'm sure.

Schnee Corp Operator: Well, then... Have a nice day!

When the call ended Weiss took a deep breath of relief. She spent a few moments thinking about home before shaking her head and going over the files on her Scroll.

As she went over the files, something stuck out to her. There was records of equipment going to an area south of Vale. Looking closer, Weiss discovered that high end research machines were being shipped to an Atlas ship operating south of Vale, under the direct orders of General Ironwood.

Weiss: Why would there be a ship all the way out there?

_____

_____

A Little While Later

City of Vale

In the city, Ruby met up with Penny, who was worriedly looking around for someone. After taking a moment to calm her down, Ruby and Penny began to walk down the street.

Penny: I wish I could help you, Ruby, but I don't know anything about those men.

Ruby: Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together, and then you just disappeared! Were you kidnapped?

Penny: Oh, no! Nothing like that!

Ruby: Then where did you go?

Penny: I've never been to another kingdom before. My father asked me not to venture out too far, but... You have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot.

Ruby: Believe me, I know the feeling.

Ruby grinned at Penny, which comforted her.

Ruby: But why not let us know you were okay?

Penny: I... was asked not to talk to you. Or Y/N. Or Weiss. Or Blake. Or Yang. Anybody, really.

Ruby: Was your dad that upset?

Penny: No, it wasn't my father...

Their conversation was interrupted when they came across a show run by Atlas.

A large holographic image of General Ironwood was announcing the creation of a new technology developed by Atlas. The Atlesian Knight-200. The new robotic police force that was being advertised were newer and sleeker than their older model predecessors.

Penny: Ruby?...

Ironwood: So, our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company, are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin!

Ironwood's image is replaced with a holographic image of a large white robot, with large guns for hands, and a rectangular head, standing at least twice as tall as the human sized robots beneath it.

Ruby looked in awe at the large robot.

Ruby: Whoa...

Penny: Ruby? Maybe we should go somewhere else.

As Penny began to slowly back away two armed soldiers notice her and begin to approach her. Seeing this, Penny turned away and began to flee down a nearby alley.

Ruby: Penny! Wait! Where are you going?

Ruby then saw the soldiers running towards her and swiftly ran after her.

The soldiers, who were now in a full sprint, were slowly closing the gap between them and Penny. Ruby thought fast and propelled herself toward Penny.

Ruby: This way!

In a plume of rose petals, Ruby launched herself and Penny down an adjacent alley way. However, carrying Penny threw off Ruby's aim and the two girls ended up crashing into the street.

Ruby: Ow...

Ruby rubbed her head and didn't notice the large truck speeding toward her. At the last second, Penny jumped in the way of the truck and brought it to an instant stop by putting her hands up. The truck's back flew into the air as it came to a sudden stop.

Ruby looked wide eyed at Penny, who had seemingly stopped a truck with her bare hands.

Ruby: Penny...?

Looking around, Penny began to panic as more and more people began to notice her display of strength. The sudden attention caused Penny to—once again—break out into a sprint away from the scene.

Ruby: Penny! Come back!

Ruby quickly apologized to the truck driver and ran after Penny.

Luckily, Penny ran out of places to run, giving Ruby a chance to catch up.

Ruby: Penny! Please! What is going on?! Why are you running? How did you do that?!

Penny: I-I can't! Everything's fine! *hiccup* I-I don't want to talk about it! *hiccup*

Ruby: Penny, if you can just tell me what's wrong, I can help you!

Penny: No! No, no! You wouldn't understand...

Ruby: Let me try! You can trust me!

Penny thought for a moment before relenting and approaching Ruby.

Penny: You're my friend, right? You promise you're my friend?!

Ruby: I promise.

Penny: Ruby... I'm not a real girl.

Penny showed Ruby her hands, revealing the gray metal underneath.

Ruby: Penny, I-I don't understand...

Penny: Most girls are born, but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura. I'm not real...

Ruby: Of course you are. You think just because you've got nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts makes you any less real than me?

Penny: I don't... um... You're... taking this extraordinarily well.

Ruby: You're not like those things we saw back there.You've got a heart, and a soul; I can feel it!

Penny: Ooohh... oh Ruby

Penny grabbed Ruby into a hug and began to swing her around.

Penny: You're the best friend anyone could have!

Ruby: I can see why your father would want to protect such a delicate flower!

Now calm, Penny released Ruby.

Penny: Oh, he's very sweet! My father's the one that built me! I'm sure you would love him!

Ruby: Wow. He built you all by himself?

Penny: Well, almost! He had some help from Mr. Ironwood. In fact I got brand new upgrades recently!

Ruby: Upgrades?

Penny had a wide smile on her face.

Penny: Yeah! Lots of them! Mostly combat upgrades, but right now I'm even more combat ready than ever before!

Ruby: That's great! But... why would they upgrade you now?

Penny thought for a moment.

Penny: Huh, good question. Mr. Ironwood said that the new upgrades were for something... Something that happened south of here I believe.

Ruby: What do you mea-

Their conversation was interrupted again when they heard the soldiers closing in on them once again.

Penny: You have to hide!

Penny suddenly picked Ruby up effortlessly and threw her into a nearby dumpster.

Penny It's okay, Ruby. They're not bad people. I just don't want to get you in trouble. Just promise me you won't tell anyone my secret. Okay?

Ruby: I promise.

Penny's smile returned again, tight before she slammed the lid closed on Ruby, hiding her.

_____

_____

In another part of Vale, Yang drove her bike, Bumblebee, down the street and screeched to a halt outside of a nightclub.

Yang: Come on, my friend is right in here!

(Y/N): Land!!!

Y/N fell off the bike and began to kiss the ground.

(Y/N): Sweet unmoving land!!! Oh god, I never want to drive with you again...

Yang laughed as she walked toward the club.

As she approached, two gangsters wearing the familiar back suits with red ties, saw her coming and fled into the club and shut the door.

Yang snorted before slamming her fist into he closed door. The explosion forced the doors open and sent the two gangsters flying.

Yang: Guess who's back!

Yang gave a cheery smile as another group of gangsters surrounded her and aimed their weapons.

Y/N finally caught up with Yang only to freeze when he saw all the guns.

(Y/N): I give up!

Y/N shot his hands up as soon as he got into the room.

In the crowd of guns, one gangster flinched when he saw Y/N.

Junior: Stop, stop! Nobody shoot.

A man wearing a black vest over a white dress shirt and a red tie, cut through the crowd of guns to confront Yang.

Junior: Blondie, you're here! ... Why?

Yang grabbed Junior by the arm and dragged him past his guards.

Yang: You still owe me a drink. And Y/N, put your hands down.

(Y/N): Right.

Y/N looked around for a bit before hurriedly making his way through the crowd and following after Yang.

_____

_____

Junior's Club

Junior: I don't know!

Yang: How can you not know!?

Junior and Yang sat at the bar as she asked him questions.

Junior: I haven't talked to him! I haven't even seen him since the night you first came in here. He paid up front, I lent him my men, and only a few of them came back.

Yang slammed her fists onto the bar, cracking the counter.

Yang: That's not good enough!

The color of Yang's eyes turned red as she glared at Junior.

(Y/N): Can uh.... can I get some juice?

Yang's anger was cut short when Y/N spoke from the side.

Junior stared at Y/N in confusion.

Junior: Who is this guy?

Yang calmed down and sighed.

Yang: Just get the juice.

Junior: R-right...

Y/N sat at the bar while Junior went into the back. Yang smiled and shook her head as she watched Y/N sit at the bar and patiently wait for his drink.

Yang: What would you do without us?

Gangster #1: That's the guy!

Gangster #2: What?

Yang glanced over her shoulder and saw two gangsters sitting at a table nearby. They were just close enough for Yang to overhear their conversation.

Gangster #1: I'm telling you that's the person that beat us up without an effort!

Gangster #2: The blonde girl? Of course she can. You were here when she "visited" us last time.

Yang chuckled to herself when she thought about the first time she came here. It was a lot of fun.

Gangster #1: Not the girl! The boy!

Yang glanced curiously back at the two gangsters.

Gangster #2: What, that guy?

Gangster #1: Yeah!

Gangster: #2: You must be joking...

Gangster #1: You don't know what I saw! We were robbing that Dust store, no problem, then that kid came in.

Yang recalled the time herself and her team "thwarted" the robbery at that Dust store where they found Y/N.

Gangster #1: We tied him up and put him with the rest of the hostages.

Gangster #2: If you had him tied up what was the problem?

Gangster #1: He jumped up and took down all of us without his hands!

Gangster #2: What?

Yang: What?

Gangster #1: That isn't even the scary part! I emptied a full clip into that kid.

The second gangster looked at Y/N, who was getting served his drink.

Gangster #2: He doesn't look like he took a full clip...

Gangster #1: That's because he caught all of the bullets in mid air!

The gangster looked at his buddy like he'd gone crazy and so did Yang.

Gangster #1: Don't look at me like that! I know what I saw! He caught the bullets and dropped them on the ground like they were marbles!

Gangster #2: ...You need to stop drinking on the job dude...

Gangster #1: Says you. I'm not drinking enough...

Yang kept glancing at the two gangsters before her attention was drawn back to Junior.

Junior: Well, now that, that is taken care of and you're more calm I'm going to tell you what I actually know. Torchwick hired my boys, and I guess he wasn't happy with them, which is something I can relate to!

Junior yelled at his men, of which all of them grumbled and walked away.

Yang glared at Junior a few moments longer before getting up out of her chair.

Yang: Come on, Y/N.

(Y/N): I didn't finish my apple juice.

Yang: Let's go!

Y/N quickly finished his drink before following Yang back out.

(Y/N): You get everything you need?

Yang: Well, I got everything I could. Hopefully the rest o the team is having better luck.

As they walked back to her bike, Yang couldn't help but think about what the two gangsters said about Y/N.

_____

_____

Meanwhile

Thanks to her prior knowledge of White Fang iconography, Blake and sun were able to discover the location of the White Fang rally.

Blake: This is it.

Sun: You sure?

Blake glared at Sun as she removed her bow.

Sun: Y'know, I'm just gonna take your word for it.

The two are ushered inside the building and are given masks by the people leading them.

Sun: I don't get it.

Sun looked at the mask in his hands quizzically.

Sun: If you believe what you're doing is right, why hide who you are?

Blake: The masks are a symbol. Humanity wanted to make monsters out of us, so we chose to don the faces of monsters.

Sun: Grimm masks... That's kind of dark.

Blake: So was the guy who started it.

Sun: Always sunshine and rainbows with you...

Sun and Blake put on their masks and entered the small crowd of other masked Faunas for the rally.

The room was filled with mostly full-fledged White Fang members already, those that weren't, cheered as the rally began. Walking out on stage was a large Faunas wearing a full mask and hood.

White Fang Lieutenant: Thank you all for coming. For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours! I can assure you, he is the key to obtaining what we have fought for for so long!

Much to their surprise, Sun and Blake witnessed Roman Torchwick walk on stage.

Roman: Thank you, thank you! Please, hold your applause!

As Sun and Blake looked at each other in worry, an attendee in front of them shouted at the human on stage.

Faunus: What's a human doing here?!

Roman smiled at the question.

Roman: I'm glad you asked, "Deerie"! Now, I'll be the first to admit, humans... are the worst.

Roman posed and presented himself.

Roman: Case in point. So, I understand why you would like to see us all locked away, or, better yet, killed!

Sun: So, is he going somewhere with this?

Roman: But, before the claws come out, I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy: the ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms! Government, military, even the schools: they're all to blame for your lot in life! And they're all pests that need to be dealt with! Fortunately, I'm the best exterminator around... No offense to any rodents in the room.

With a snap of his fingers, the curtain behind him falls, and the whole mass of Faunus applaud at the sight of the Atlesian Paladin-290 behind it, the symbol of the White Fang painted on its shoulder.

Sun: Whoa, that's a big robot...

Blake: How did he get that?

Roman: As some of you may have heard, this right here is Atlas' newest defense against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my "employer", we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, "hit the shelves". Now, many of your brothers have already moved down to our new operation in the southeast. If you'd rather stay within the city, that's fine... But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you. Any questions?

The room bursted into applause which brought a smug smile to Roman's face.

Blake: We should get out of here... Sun?

When Blake looked next to her Sun was gone. In a panic she looked amongst the crowd and found Sun had managed to sneak behind some containers.

Sun: Psst! This Way!

Blake carefully made her way through the crowd and guards and met up with Sun.

White Fang Lieutenant: Will all new recruits, please come forward!

As the new recruits began to file forward, Sun and Blake snuck away.

Sun: Phew! That was close!

Blake: At least we now know they're operating somewhere in the southeast.

Sun looked around a corner and noticed an office that some White Fang members were exiting.

Sun: Hey, Blake. Look.

Sun brought Blake's attention toward the office.

Sun: There's probably even more info in there!

Blake: Good idea.

When the coast was clear, Sun and Blake made their way to the office. After making sure the room was empty, the two infiltrators made their way inside.

Sun: Alright! In the belly of the beast, right Blake?

Blake had already begun to sift through the files on the nearby desk.

Sun: What did you find out?

Blake: It definitely looks like they're sending men and resources somewhere to the southeast. There isn't a lot of details seeing as how this isn't their main headquarters here in the city.

Sun walked around and saw the map of the city.

Sun: It looks like they've been operating in the city for years.

Blake: The White Fang are everywhere. We- I mean... They use any means necessary to enter a kingdom and cause as much chaos as possible.

Sun: Really? Man, I still can't believe you used to be a part of these guys...

Blake sighed sadly.

Blake: Me neither...

Blake continued to sift through files and take pictures of the ones she thought to be important. Sun walked around the office, looking at all the work the White Fang put into their operations. That is, until he stumbled across something.

Sun: Hey, Blake?

Blake: Yes?

Sun: Isn't that... Y/N?

Blake stopped what she was doing and turned to face Sun, who was looking at a picture on a desk. Getting closer, Blake saw the picture as well, which showed Y/N.

Blake: It is.

Sun: What's his picture doing here?

Blake was just as confused as Sun was.

Blake: I'm... not sure.

Blake opened the file the photo was attached to and read its contents.

Sun: What does it say?

Blake: These are... records.

Sun: Records?

Blake continued to look through the papers inside the file.

Blake: It looks like the White Fang were collecting information on Y/N, but they're all blank or incomplete.

Sun looked over Blake's shoulder.

Sun: Really?

Blake: They were trying to find out who Y/N was, but they couldn't find anything on him...

Sun: That's good, isn't it?

Blake: Yes, but... the White Fang have informants and scouts everywhere, there's very few people in Remnant that can avoid their spy network. So it's weird how they couldn't find anything on him.

Sun didn't realize it, but Blake was completely puzzled at what she was looking at. If what she was reading was to be believed, Y/N didn't exist before he entered Vale or even Trist. It is true that there were people living out in the wilds by themselves in Remnant, but even they would have left some kind of record for the White Fang to find.

Blake: We should-

Before Blake could finish her statement, the door to the office opened behind them.

_____

_____

Back outside of Junior's club, Yang and Y/N were getting ready to leave when their Scrolls ringed.

(Y/N): Hello-

Sun: Heeeeeelp!!!

(Y/N): Ow, my ear...

Sun: Big robot! And it's big! Really big!

Yang: Where are you guys!?

Right as Yang asked her question a large robot chasing two Faunus ran by on the other side of an alley.

(Y/N): That was them, probably...

Yang: Right, Y/N will you be fine on your own?

(Y/N): Wait, are you thinking of leaving me here!?

Yang: We're about to fight a giant robot, it's too dangerous for you!

(Y/N): But-

Yang: You said that you didn't want to get into danger, didn't you?

Yang revved her bike's engine and drove off after the large robot chasing Blake and Sun, leaving Y/N.

(Y/N): Wait! Come back! I don't know... where I am... damn.

Y/N sighed.

(Y/N): Welp. I'm pretty sure that downtown is that way.

Y/N looked around and began to walk back toward downtown. He could hear the distant explosions of the fight Yang drove off to.

(Y/N): Well, at least she was considerate enough to not drag me into another problem... this time.

Making his way through an alley Y/N noticed someone was following him.

(Y/N): Um... Can I help you?

Stepping out of the shadows of the alley were people wearing White Fang masks, specifically three.

???: Yes, you can.

_____

_____

Author:

11-20-2018: It's right before Thanksgiving so I'm going to get this out now because I definitely won't have time to write later. 

Also, it's longer... kinda...

I hope everyone has, and will have, a great week!