The Next Day

Ozpin's Office

Ironwood: Damnit!!

Ironwood angrily slammed his fist on Ozpin's desk, his frustration obvious to the only other person in the room.

Glynda: Would you please calm down!?

Glynda wasn't happy with the current situation either, and Ironwood's outbursts weren't helping.

Ironwood: 'Calm down'!? How can I be calm with what just happened!?

Glynda: And I'm sure shouting and slamming your fist on Ozpin's desk is helping the situation.

Ironwood turned and glared at Glynda.

Ironwood: I get it... you think this is my fault.

Glynda returned Ironwood's glare.

Glyda: I didn't say that.

Ironwood: Had you and Ozpin been more forthcoming with your information, maybe this could have been avoided!

Glynda scoffed.

Glynda: Oh please, spare me. Had we told you about this earlier, you simply would have taken the boy sooner.

Ironwood's anger continued to build but before he could start arguing with Glynda--who herself was growing in irritation--the door to the office opened.

With a mug of coffee in one hand and his cane in the other, Ozpin entered his office.

Ozpin: I see that you two are getting along.

Ironwood: How can you be so calm about this!? Y/N was taken by the 'enemy', the very people that would do anything in their power to destroy us!

Glynda: Thank you for stating the obvious.

As Ironwood and Glynda continued to shout at each other, Ozpin gracefully sat down on his chair and took a sip of coffee.

Ozpin: Are you two done?...

Ozpin's question pulled the arguing pair's attention back to him.

Ozpin: ...because I would like to start planning our next move.

Ironwood: Now you want to work together!?

Ozpin: I have always been on your side, James.

Ironwood: Well, you sure have a strange way of showing it.

Ozpin: Meaning?

Ironwood: Don't play dumb, you knew this would happen, didn't you?

Glynda stepped next to the angered general.

Glynda: You really have lost it, how could Ozpin know that Y/N would've been taken?

Ironwood looked at Ozpin, suspicion in his eyes.

Ironwood: I don't know, why don't you tell me why Qrow Branwen was aboard the battleship that day?

Glynda: Because he was responding to the S.O.S. your ship was sending!

Ironwood: That was a very quick response, even for him.

Ozpin looked Ironwood in the eyes.

Ozpin: You are right, it was no coincidence that Qrow responded to the ship's distress call so quickly...

Ironwood narrowed his eyes.

Ironwood: Then why?

Ozpin: We have been facing a foe that wants nothing more than to destroy everything we hold dear. A foe that knows no boundary to the heinous acts they are willing to do to achieve said goal. During his attendance at Beacon, I not only tried to learn more about Y/N, but I also remained vigilant for when our enemy made their move...

Ironwood relaxed somewhat and Ozpin leaned back in his chair.

Ozpin: ...while I can understand your affinity to grand displays of power and force to dissuade hostile action, those same actions are very easy to subvert.

Ironwood grunted and walked toward the window overlooking the academy. Interestingly, there was a crow sitting on a ledge just outside the window that Ironwood noticed but didn't bother addressing.

Ozpin: We are not enemies...

Ozpin shifted his gaze to Glynda.

Ozpin: ...none of us are.

Glynda crossed her arms in a huff.

Ozpin: We must keep our heads cool and come up with a strategy.

Ironwood: And what sort of 'strategy' are you thinking?

Ozpin: For now, we must lick our wounds and remain vigilant for when Y/N pops up again.

Ironwood: What!?

Ironwood turned to face Ozpin from the window.

Ironwood: You want to wait!? If our enemy somehow manages to harness that energy inside him there's no telling what devastation they could bring!

Glynda: I hate to agree with James but he does have a point. There's still so much we don't know about Y/N, if they manage to figure out his secrets...

Ozpin took a sip from his mug.

Ozpin: I have a feeling that won't happen.

Ironwood and Glynda looked at Ozpin confused.

Ironwood: How can you be so sure about that?

Ozpin: Unlike you, I spent time to actually learn about who Y/N is. Based on that, I learned Y/N's personality, and it is very likely he will find his way back to us.

Ironwood: That's a lot of assumptions you're making.

Ozpin: It is all we can do. With the Vytal Festival already here, mobilizing for a manhunt would leave the festival and people grossly under-guarded.

Ironwood grunted and turned to face out the window once more, causing Glynda to shrug.

Glynda: Honestly... how can you still be this dense!?

Ozpin looked at the now quiet general, also curious why Ironwood was still being difficult, until...

Ozpin: What happened?

Ozpin's question made Glynda glance at Ozpin and then Ironwood.

Ironwood didn't turn around.

Ironwood: If the only people that knew about the energy inside the boy was just the people in this room, waiting would be possible...

Glynda: What are you talking about?

Ironwood sighed and pulled out his Scroll and tapped on the screen. Moments later whatever Ironwood sent appeared on Ozpin's holographic desk.

Ozpin narrowed his eyes while Glynda stared in bewilderment.

Glynda: A bounty!?

Ironwood: I had no choice...

Glynda: Are you insane!? He's a child!

Ironwood: That's not how Atlas sees it. All they see is an unknown and dangerous energy now in the hands of terrorists.

Ironwood looked at Ozpin, his gaze still glued to the bounty on his desk.

Ozpin: How long until the bounty is made official?

Ironwood: It will be issued tomorrow... I'm sorry.

Glynda: How could you let this happen!?

Ironwood: At least this way the Vytal Festival can continue as planned while Huntsmen from all the kingdoms will search for him.

Looking at Ozpin, Ironwood could easily tell that he wasn't pleased with the news in the least.

Ironwood: *sigh* After receiving my reports, Atlas became both frightened and intrigued by the new energy. When they learned about the attack they ordered me to issue the bounty.

Glynda: And you didn't say anything!?

Ironwood: Of course I did! But Atlas only sees him as a dangerous new source of energy, much less a person...

Ironwood looked back at Ozpin, still looking at the bounty.

Ironwood: I'm sorry Ozpin, but that's what they've decided...

Ironwood made his way to the door and left the office.

Glynda rubbed her temples.

Glynda: A bounty! On a child no less! What's the world come to?

Qrow: Yeah, Jimmy has gotten pretty serious, hasn't he?

Startling Glynda, Qrow appeared by the window Ironwood was just standing at.

Glynda: Couldn't you at least knock first?

Qrow looked at Glynda and then to the window.

Qrow: No.

Glynda shrugged as Qrow took a drink from his flask.

Ozpin: Anything?

Qrow: Not even I can track a drop-ship over the ocean Oz. Wherever they went, is completely unknown to us.

Glynda: What now?

Ozpin tapped his desk--closing the bounty in front of him--and leaned back in his chair.

Ozpin: All we can do... wait.

_____

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Beacon Academy Cafeteria

For the most part, Beacon Academy's cafeteria wasn't as busy as it usually was. With the Vytal Festival underway, most of the usual students decided to eat at booths that were set up.

Eating by herself, Ruby sat quietly as she ate her food, her mood still down from yesterday.

Yang: Hey Ruby.

Looking up from her food, Ruby saw the rest of her team, trays in their hands. Weiss, Blake, and Yang sat down next to their leader and started to eat their lunch.

Yang: Still upset about Y/N?

Ruby sighed and looked back down at her food.

Ruby: Yeah... I miss him.

Yang: Yeah, me too.

Blake: What did your uncle say?

Yang: Not much. All he told us was that he'd handle it and not to worry.

Weiss: So he told you nothing.

Yang: Basically.

The four girls shrugged together as another group approached them.

Jaune: How's everyone doing?

As team JNPR sat down, they could easily tell that team RWBY were in a sour mood.

Pyrrha: Y/N?

Yang: Yeah...

Ren: We heard about that, we're sorry that your mission didn't work out.

Ruby: I guess we weren't the only ones looking to break Y/N out.

Seeing Ruby's unhappy face reminded Jaune about something.

Jaune: Oh hey! I got something that might cheer you up!

The four members of team RWBY watched curiously as Jaune reached down behind him.

Jaune: Your dog!

Zwei: *bark* !!

Jaune placed Zwei on the table and the cute small dog proceeded to run to Ruby and lick her face.

Ruby: Zwei!

Ruby's mood was definitely brightened by her dog's return.

Yang: Aw! Thanks for watching him!

Yang joined her sister in petting their family's dog.

Jaune: It was... no problem!

While the two sisters were petting their dog, Weiss was curious about something.

Weiss: Speaking of the dog; what happened yesterday?

Jaune: Nothing!

Blake: Hey, that's right, we heard an explo-

Jaune: Nothing happened! Okay!?

Jaune twitched slightly as he tried to change the subject while Pyrrha and Ren glared at Nora, who was happily eating her food. Noticing their glares, Nora stopped eating and looked around.

Nora: What?

Jaune: Don't 'what?' me!

Nora: *gasp* Are they asking about what happened yesterday?

Jaune: Nora, stop!

Nora: It was great! We had so much fun! We- mgph!!

Before Nora could start her story, Pyrrha quickly covered her mouth, surprising the members of team RWBY.

Pyrrha: How about you guys hire a dog-sitter next time?

Yang: Uhh... what happ-

Ren: Let's just leave it at: An eventful day. Okay?

Weiss: Right...

Ren: So, what are you guys to do now?

Despite having Zwei back, Ruby grew visibly distressed by the question.

Ruby: What can we do?

Jaune: There's nothing? Really? Not even a lead you guys could follow?

Weiss: None.

Blake: The only lead that we have is Torchwick, and he's in Atlesian custody.

Pyrrha: What about the ship they used?

Pyrrha removed her hand from Nora's mouth.

Weiss: Atlas can only track a ship so far. It disappeared over the ocean.

Nora: So, Y/N is gone?

Team RWBY sighed together.

Yang: Seems that way...

Nora: That's terrible! I miss him already!

Yang: We all do...

Nora: I'm going to miss those delicious cinnamon rolls...

Weiss: Or those divine chocolate croissants...

Pyrrha: The fruit tarts...

Yang: Those amazing lemon bars...

Ren: Those cream puffs...

Zwei: *bark* *bark*!!!

The students of the two teams were now drooling as they thought about their favorite foods that Y/N used to make them.

Ruby: Those chewy, gooey, cookies.... Great! Now I'm sad and hungry!

Nora chuckled dryly.

Nora: Sorry.

Ren: Are you guys still going to participate in the Vytal Festival Tournament?

Yang: Well... I mean...

Yang looked to her sister, who wasn't sure herself.

Ruby: I don't know...

Pyrrha: Ruby...

Ruby: Yeah?

Pyrrha: ...this may seem strange coming from the person who agree with Atlas taking him, but given everything we've recently learned about him I have a feeling he won't be gone for long.

Ruby: How can you be so sure?

Pyrrha: You said it yourself: "Y/N's a good person". Given his skills, I can't imagine someone like him to fall prey to a criminal organization or terrorist group.

Ruby: You think so?

There was some light returning to Ruby's eyes as she thought about it.

Nora: Yeah! Y/N will be back here in no time!

Ruby: Y-yeah... you're right!

Yang smiled as she saw her little sister regain her usual cheerful self.

Yang: And when he gets back, we'll kick his ass for lying to us!

Ruby: Yeah!- Wait...

Ruby stopped herself from cheering and thought for a minute.

Ruby: Maybe we should try being nicer to Y/N when he gets back?

Everyone except for Jaune and Blake blinked.

Yang: Nah.

Ruby sighed.

Ruby: Maybe Y/N shouldn't return here specifically...

Ren: Don't worry Ruby, they're just joking...

Nora: We'll break his legs!

Ren: I think...

Ruby smiled as her friends began to talk about how they'd "welcome" Y/N back. As they continued to talk, Ruby glanced out a window toward the horizon, still somewhat worried.

Ruby: Please be okay...

_____

_____

???

As he felt consciousness return to him, Y/N felt himself naturally open his eyes. As his vision refocused, Y/N found himself staring at a darkened stone ceiling.

(Y/N): Ugh....

Blinking Y/N instinctually moved his arms to rub his eyes. To his surprise, Y/N noticed that he was no longer in the restraining device but instead on an intricately designed bed.

(Y/N): Oookay.....

Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, Y/N saw that he seemed to be in a type of guest room. Lit by a few candles, purple crystals, and the moonlight coming from a window on the side, the room Y/N was in was actually fairly luxurious. Along with the fancy bed, the medium-sized room was fully furnished with cabinets, drawers, a table, and some chairs. All of which were as intricately designed as the bed.

(Y/N): Huh.

Y/N got to his feet and looked around. In particular, Y/N looked at the glowing purple crystals that helped illuminate the room.

(Y/N): Cool night light.

After tapping the crystal a few times Y/N turned and headed toward the window.

(Y/N): Woah.

Looking outside, Y/N saw a rocky barren wasteland with enormous purple crystals spouting from the ground. Looking above, Y/N couldn't tell what time of day it was as the sky was stained a dark red. The biggest light source coming from outside was the shattered moon that orbited Remnant.

Y/N was in awe at the landscape he was looking at.

(Y/N): Wow.... Atlas sure is dark.

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Author: 

When compared to the last couple chapters, this is pretty short, I know. But I wanted to use the entirety of the next chapter(s) to focus on Y/N and the events directly surrounding him.