Beacon Academy

Ruby dashed through the crowds of teachers and students at blinding speeds, her mind filled with the exciting news she was going to tell her friends.

Haven Student: Hey watch it!

Ruby: Sorry!

Because of the Vytal Festival the school grounds were packed with more than just the students of Beacon. Eventually Ruby managed to find her teammates sitting around a table.

Ruby: Guys!

Yang: Ruby!

Ruby quickly ran to her friends.

Ruby: Guys! You won't believe what I found out! I-... wait... have you guys just been sitting here this whole time?

Weiss and Yang: Uhhh....

Sweat started to drip down their heads as they tried to come up with an excuse.

Yang: Well... we would have helped if Blake hadn't kept us from leaving!

The three of them looked at Blake who was face down in a bowl of tuna, unmoving.

Blake: *Seafood Overload*

Ruby: Is she breathing?

Yang: So, my dear sister! What was that thing you wanted to tell us?

Ruby: Riiight... so, I just found out that Y/N is alive!

Yang: Really!?

Weiss: That's great news, Ruby!

Ruby: Yeah! I found out that there was another one of those weird explosions, which means that Y/N must not be far!

Weiss: I'm still skeptical about being excited about one of those 'explosions'.

Yang lightly elbowed Weiss.

Yang: Stop being so cold 'Ice Queen' you miss him too.

Weiss turned away in a pout.

Weiss: Well, I miss the breakfasts he used to make.

Yang rolled her eyes.

Yang: How did you find out?

Ruby took the open chair and sat down.

Ruby: Penny told me!

Weiss: I get that Penny is from Atlas, but how did she obtain that kind of information.

Yang smirked at her younger sister.

Yang: She probably cares about her 'boyfriend'.

Ruby: S-shut up!

Ruby had a slight blush on her face when she shouted at her older sister.

Weiss: You two are so immature. So, where is he?

Ruby: Oh! he's... uhhh...

Yang: Ruby, you did ask where it happened, didn't you?

Ruby: O-of course I did! What kind of dummy do you take me for?

Weiss stared blankly at her leader.

Weiss: Do you really want us to answer that?

Ruby: Okay fine, I completely forgot to ask. Let's go find Penny and ask her before she leaves!

Ruby instantly stood back up.

Yang: Penny is leaving?

Ruby: Yeah, her team is withdrawing from the tournament.

Yang: Aw, and I was looking forward to kicking her butt!

Weiss: Well, if she's leaving we'd better hurry.

Blake suddenly shot up from her bowl, gasping for air. After which she shot Weiss and Yang a glare.

Blake: Oh, hey Ruby... What did I miss?

_____

Blake: Y/N is alive!? That's great! Where is he?

Yang: That's what we're going to find out.

The four members of team RWBY quickly made their through the academy in search of Penny.

Blake: Wait, we don't know where he is?

Weiss: You can thank our fearless leader for not asking.

Ruby: I said I was sorry! Look, if we're fast enough we should be able to catch Penny before she leaves!

Blake: Shouldn't we look for her at the Bullhead terminal at the front of the school?

Weiss: Atlas' students came in with the fleet, so she'll likely be using the shuttles that the Atlesian Military are using.

Yang: Hey, there they are!

After making it through the thick crowds of people, the four girls found the landing pad used by Atlas to ferry soldiers, equipment, and students alike.

Yang: Atlas has their students ferried in like soldiers?

Weiss: Of course! Atlas Academy is world renown for training the most disciplined and well manner-

Weiss' gloating was cut off when a trumpet sound came from the direction of the Atlas drop-ships. The four girls all turned their heads at the same time to see a dark-skinned young man wearing a fedora with a blue trim and a trumpet in his hand. His uniform was sloppily thrown together as he disembarked from a recently landed ship.

Flynt: Hey, thanks for the lift.

Atlas Soldier: No problem, head on in and enjoy the festival.

Flynt twirled his trumpet.

Flynt: You know I will.

Ruby, Blake, and Yang, looked back to Weiss who had a look of complete disbelief on her face.

Blake: 'Disciplined', huh?

Yang giggled.

Yang: I wish I could save the look on Weiss' face right now... Oh wait I can!

Yang pulled out her Scroll, but before she could snap a photo, Weiss slapped it out of her hand.

Weiss: Aren't we here to find Penny?

Ruby: There she is!

The four Huntresses-in-training all looked to see a drop-ship taking off with Penny aboard.

Ruby: On that... already... leaving ship...

Weiss: Well, there goes that idea.

Ruby: Maybe we can ask Professor Ozpin?

Yang scoffed.

Yang: He's not gonna tell us. He'll probably say: "It's much too dangerous for students such as yourselves. Just leave it to us and go enjoy the festival and I promise you Y/N will be here before you know it".

Ruby: Oh come on, it can't hurt to ask.

_____

Ozpin: It's much too dangerous for students such as yourselves. Just leave it to us and go enjoy the festival and I promise you Y/N will be here before you know it.

The elevator doors shut behind them, leaving the members of team RWBY out in the hall.

Yang: Told you.

Ruby: Wait! What if we ask your sister, Weiss? She's pretty high up in the military, isn't she?

Weiss just stared at Ruby.

Weiss: Really Ruby?

Ruby shrugged.

Ruby: I know, I was just asking...

Blake: I can always ask.

Weiss looked at Blake, confused.

Weiss: I hardly think my sister would tell you, Blake.

Blake: Well, I wouldn't ask her directly, I'd just sneak into her office and look on the Atlas mainframe and look myself.

Yang: You can do that?

Weiss: No she can't!

Weiss stepped up and scowled at her teammates.

Weiss: May I remind you this is Atlas we're talking about! My sister's office is aboard General Ironwood's flagship, which I remind you, has some of the tightest security around! And even if you manage to get aboard--which you won't--there are armed guards everywhere!

Weiss crossed her arms and snorted when she finished.

Yang: Soooo.... You get all that Blake?

Blake was writing everything Weiss said into small notebook.

Blake: Yep.

Yang: Nice.

Weiss: Hey! Didn't you hear what I said!?

Yang smirked.

Blake: Yes, every word.

Ruby: This is going to be so much fun! We're gonna sneak on to an Atlas and steal information! Like a bunch of super spies!

Yang: Totally!

Blake: Ehhh... I don't think so.

Ruby and Yang turned their head to Blake.

Ruby: What!? Why not!?

Blake scratched her head.

Blake: I'm not sure how to say this... you guys... aren't exactly the stealthiest bunch.

Yang: What are you talking about!? I'm plenty stealth-

Yang punched the wall next to her causing the wall to shake and a vase to fall over and shatter, spilling water on the floor. A few seconds later a custodial worker, pushing a cart of cleaning supplies, walked over the puddle causing him to slip and sending the cart flying down the hall.

Yang: ...I'm plenty stealth-

BOOM

The building rocked as an unseen explosion coming from the direction the cart flew down echoed through the hall.

Yang: ...I'm plent-

Down the hall a soldier's shouting could be heard.

Atlas Soldier: Oh no! A cart filled with cleaning chemicals has landed on the control box of one of the latest Paladin models, which is the exact thing that would cause it to go haywire!! 

Seconds later gunshots, explosions, and screaming resounded down the hall.

Yang: ._.

Yang slowly started backing away.

Ruby: Okay, I see your point...

Blake: Sorry...

Weiss: You three are the worst.

_____

_____

Branwen Tribe

To Y/N, the camp seemed to be fully awake and active. In contrast to when he first arrived, it appeared as though every single man and woman in the camp was actively doing something.

(Y/N): Wow, seems like the whole camp is up and attem' huh?

Bandit Guard #1: Shut up!

Right outside his cell were two guards, one was sitting on a chair, the other was drinking from a bottle whilst sitting atop a crate.

Y/N stared at the two guards.

(Y/N): You guys took this guard duty so you wouldn't have to work, didn't you?

The guard glared at the teen.

Bandit Guard #1: I said, shut up!

The guard sitting down whispered to his companion.

Bandit Guard #2: But we did do that...

Bandit Guard #1: I know that! But he doesn't have to know!

(Y/N): I mean... it's kinda obvious...

Bandit Guard #1: Hey! What did I just say!?

Y/N rolled his eyes and looked back down to his bound hands. The guard noticed that he was fidgeting with something and shouted again.

Bandit Guard #1: Hey! Keep your hands where I can see them!

(Y/N): -_- I am literally bound by thick heavy chains. What could I possibly be doing?

Bandit Guard #2: He has a point.

Bandit Guard #1: What, you're taking the prisoner's side now!?

Bandit Guard #2: Dude, he's all chained up, he's not going anywhere.

The first guard grunted and returned to drinking.

Bandit Guard #1: Whatever...

After a little while a crow cawed as it flew overhead, a moment afterward Y/N could hear a whisper coming from behind him.

Qrow: Psst! Kid!

(Y/N): Hm?

Before Y/N could turn around, the voice spoke again.

Qrow: Don't turn around, those guards are still watching you.

Y/N looked at the guards, who were both lazing about as they were supposed to be guarding him.

(Y/N): Sure...

Qrow: I'm here to get you out.

(Y/N): ...Why?

Qrow: What do you mean 'why?', do you really want to be a prisoner of a bunch of thieves and murderers?

(Y/N): Well, it's an improvement over the last group of people.

Qrow shrugged.

Qrow: Look, I'm gonna cause a distraction and then pick the lock. Then we'll-

(Y/N): No.

Qrow: Excuse me?

(Y/N): I said no.

Qrow: Are you telling me you want to stay here?

(Y/N): Well, no. But these people are going to be handing me to Atlas or Vale or something. I'm not going to be in their hands for very long.

Qrow: Are you serious? These people-

(Y/N): Gave me medical attention, fed me, and keep me safe. They're rude, sure, but I have no idea where I am or who you are, mysterious voice behind me.

Qrow: Look, I know you don't know me, but Ozpin sent me.

(Y/N): Literally anyone can say that.

Qrow: And you trust these people!?

(Y/N): I trust they want to make money, which is a very good motivator for a lot of people.

Y/N sighed.

(Y/N): Look, I'd much rather avoid any fights at the present.

Qrow: Why? I already know that you're plenty powerf-

(Y/N): Hey Guard Guy!

Bandit Guard #1: What!?

The guards' attention turned from what they were doing back toward their prisoner.

(Y/N): Can I have a glass of water?

Bandit Guard #1: No!

(Y/N): Please?

Bandit Guard #1: NO!

Bandit Guard #2: Sure.

The bandit turned to his friend.

Bandit Guard #1: What!? No! I said No! Don't agree to what he says!

Bandit Guard #2: Well someone needs to be nice in this relationship. We need to set a good example for the next generation.

The second bandit gestured to Y/N. 

(Y/N): I have a very impressionable mind.

The first guard blankly stared at Y/N before looking back to his companion.

Bandit Guard #1: What relationship!?

As the two guards argued with each other, Y/N noticed that the voice was gone and he was technically alone again.

Y/N sighed.

Y/N clenched both of his hands into fists. His right hand formed a tight fist while his left hand lightly throbbed with pain and could barely come together.

(Y/N): Nothing ever goes my way....-_-

???: Hey! Shift change!

The two guards stopped their arguing when they heard someone approach.

Dirty-Haired Man: You heard me! We're changing shifts.

The two bandits that were arguing previously looked confused.

Bandit Guard #1: Just you?

Dirty-Haired Man: Yeah, just me. The boss wants all hands on deck to help pack up the camp.

Bandit Guard #1: What about the prisoner?

The man smirked.

Dirty-Haired Man: What about him? I've beaten this wimp before, all you need is me guarding him.

Bandit Guard #1: Just having one guard isn't-

Dirty-Haired Man: Hey! You got a problem with this, take it up with the boss herself!

The two guards looked at each other and then agreed to leave, leaving Y/N alone with the familiar man.

After making sure the other guards were gone, the man approached the cage, the smirk still on his face.

Dirty-Haired Man: Well, well, well, we meet again, wimp.

(Y/N): ...who are you again?

Dirty-Haired Man: I beat you in a one on one duel back in Sanus.

(Y/N): Oh. The Dirty-Haired Guy...

Dirty-Haired Man: What!? That's not my name!

(Y/N): Really?

Y/N seemed to look at something that wasn't there.

(Y/N): But that's what I've been calling you.... It's also written on the page...

Dirty-Haired Man: My hair isn't that dirty!

Y/N looked at his very dirty blonde hair.

(Y/N): Yes it is.

Shay: It's Shay!

(Y/N): Shay?

Shay pulled out his pistol and twirled it over his shoulder.

Shay: Shay D. Mann.

Y/N stared in complete silence causing Shay to smile.

Shay: I see you're scared. Well you should be...

Shay pointed his pistol at Y/N.

Shay: I've had a really shitty day...

Shay rubbed the part of his head where Vernal threw the bottle.

Shay: ...and a punching bag is exactly what the doctor ordered.

(Y/N): Your name is 'Shady Man'!?

Shay: Yeah. And after today, you're gonna remember it.

Shay cracked his knuckles.

(Y/N): Stop. Your name... is... shady man!?

Shay: Yeah. Are you deaf or something?

(Y/N): Oh my god... I let a man named 'Shady Man' beat me in a fight.

Shay: What the hell do you mean "let"? I kicked your ass easily! And I'll do it again!

(Y/N): Hey, you see that bottle over there?

Shay turned to see that the previous guard had left his empty bottle on the crate.

Shay: Yeah, so?

(Y/N): Look at the bottle, now back to me...

The man instinctively followed Y/N's instructions and turned his head back and forth.

(Y/N): ...now back to the bottle, and back to me. I'm out of my cage.

Y/N was standing out of his cage directly in front of the cage.

Shay: What the!?

(Y/N): Now look at the bottle, now back to me.

The bottle that was just on the crate had somehow managed to get into Y/N's hand without Shay noticing.

Shay: H-how did you-!?

(Y/N): The bottle is in my hand. Your name is stupid!!

_____

Outside of the camp, Qrow hopped down from the trees overhead to a part of the forest that wasn't watched.

He couldn't believe it. He wanted to stay. Why!?

Qrow sighed and rubbed his face. Reaching for his pocket he grabbed his flask and took a drink as he thought about his next move.

Qrow: Figures...

Looking overhead, Qrow noticed that the sun was setting and it was going to be dark soon.

Qrow: Maybe I can wait till he's asleep and sneak him out or something...

As several plans came to mind Qrow's thoughts were interrupted when a scream erupted from the camp.

_____

Vernal: Faster! We're on borrowed time here people!

Outside of Y/N's prison tent every single man and woman were carrying crates and supplies onto trucks and carts, tearing down tents, and cleaning up traces of their presence.

Vernal: Load the supplies first! We can't eat jewels!

As Vernal shouted commands at the bandit tribesmen, Raven silently overwatched the whole operation, her hand always on the hilt of her sword.

Raven: Anima is a large place, filled with people like us. We can find another place to set up camp.

While Raven's mind was filled with different plans to allow herself and her tribe to escape, she didn't notice the figure approaching her.

???: Excuse me, ma'-

In one swift motion, Raven unsheathed her sword and pointed it at the throat of the one who dared to come so close to her.

The man fell to the floor when the sword seemingly just appeared right before his eyes.

Turning her head toward the man on the ground, Raven found that it was the camp's doctor. Wearing a bloodied apron and a toolkit around his waist with various medical instruments, the man shakily stood back up.

Bandit Doctor: M-ma'am.

Raven re-sheathed her sword.

Raven: Doctor, I have no need of your services nor does anyone in camp. Do you require assistance in packing your things?

Bandit Doctor: N-no ma'am. It's about the prisoner.

Raven looked at the doctor, her face hidden behind her mask.

Raven: What is it?

Bandit Doctor: When Vernal brought the prisoner to camp she brought him to me. Apart from a couple of scrapes and bruises and exhaustion, I believed that he'd make an adequate prisoner.

Raven could sense the string attached in his sentence.

Raven: But...?

Bandit Doctor: But... there was a cut on the side left side of his torso.

Raven: So? You bandaged him, didn't you?

Bandit Doctor: I did the best I could, but I've never seen a cut like this before. It seemed... infected.

Raven: Infected? How?

The doctor crossed his arms as he thought back to when Vernal brought Y/N to him.

Bandit Doctor: I'm not sure... I don't have the equipment here to really examine it.

Raven: Is it something we should be worried about?

Bandit Doctor: If you're wondering if it's infectious, it isn't. But, whatever it is... it's killing him.

Raven: ...How long do we have?

Bandit Doctor: From what I saw... not long. I suggest we get this trade, or whatever you're thinking of, done as soon as possible.

Raven: Fine. Finish packing your things and load them into the trucks.

Bandit Doctor: Yes ma'am.

As the doctor walked away to his tent, Raven thought about what her next move would be. If Atlas would indeed come to investigate the second crater as they did the first, then all they would have to do is wait for them to arrive.

Bandit: Gaaaaahh!!!

Raven's focus was instantly pulled back to reality when a scream resounded from the front gate of the camp.

A dead silence filled the air as everyone's attention was drawn to the front gate.

The large wooden doors slowly creaked open to reveal two people.

Tyrian: Knock~ Knock~ anyone home?

Hazel: Hmph.

The bandits made way for the two intruders, not because they wanted to, but out of fear. The fact that Tyrian was covered in blood not his own certainly helped.

Tyrian: My, my~ They've rolled out the red carpet for us!

Hazel: We could have handled that without killing them...

Tyrian smiled at Hazel.

Tyrian: No I couldn't.

Vernal turned to Raven, the panic clear on her face. Beneath her mask, Raven shared Vernal's concern. The bandit leader swallowed and forced herself to step toward the two intruders.

Raven: What do you want?

Hazel: I think we both know what we're here for.

Hazel glanced around at the bandits that surrounded them. Most tried to put on a show of bravado, but the enormous man could tell that none of them wanted to fight him or Tyrian. 

Especially Tyrian.

Even their leader. Even beneath the mask she wore, Hazel could tell she was afraid.

Hazel: Give us the boy and we will leave. There doesn't need to be any bloodshed.

Hazel glanced at Tyrian, who was still smiling and still very much covered in blood.

Hazel: Any more bloodshed.

Raven scowled beneath her mask.

Raven: We outnumber you. We out gun you. We have the advantage here. What right do yo-

Tyrian: Oh yes!! Yes!! Please resist!

Tyrian jumped for joy when he heard Raven try and intimidate them.

Tyrian: While my large friend here doesn't want bloodshed, I on the other hand...

Tyrian licked the some of the blood off his lips, a twisted smile formed.

Tyrian: ...welcome it.

Tyrian's deranged response caused Raven to pause. Her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword. Looking around her, only a few seemed willing to fight these two followers of Salem.

Tyrian: Come on. Come on!

Tyrian's smile widened as he tried to goad Raven into a fight.

Tyrian: Order them to fight us! Order them to their deaths!

Raven: Vernal...

Vernal, guns already drawn, tightened her grip on her pistols.

Vernal: On your order, Raven.

Raven: ...get the prisoner.

Vernal's eyes widened as she turned to face her leader.

Vernal: But-!

Raven: Now.

Vernal glanced again at Hazel and Tyrian before holstering her pistols and marching toward the prisoner's tent.

Raven: Do I have your word, that you'll leave when you have him?

Hazel: Yes.

Tyrian frowned.

Tyrian: You people aren't any fun...

Vernal growled as she opened the tent to the cage they had Y/N in. However, instead of their prisoner, the person in the cell was Shay, whose face was very swollen from being beaten.

Shay: Ughhh *sniff* my *sniff* hair...

Shay's head was perfectly shaved of all his hair. On the ground in front of him was a broken bottle.

Vernal ran back out of the tent as fast as she could.

Shay: W-wait *sniff* come back!

Vernal: He's gone!

Raven: What!?

Before anyone else could react, the sound of a motorcycle revving could be heard. Everyone in the camp turned to see Y/N on a motorcycle.

(Y/N): Ka-chow, baby!

_____

45 Seconds Earlier

Inside the engineers tent, various bandits were tinkering and fixing the different vehicles they had in their possession.

Bandit #1: And done!

Bandit #2: Nice.

The two bandits celebrated their finished work of fixing a motorcycle.

Definitely Not (Y/N): Hello fellow bandit man!

A third bandit, with dirty blonde hair and handle-bar mustache of the same color that looked taped on, entered the tent and approached the two bandits.

Bandit #1: Do we know you?

Definitely Not (Y/N): Of course, fellow bandit man! I am... bandit... number three!!

The two bandits looked at each other.

Bandit #2: Bandit... number... three?

Definitely Not (Y/N): Yes!

Bandit #1: Makes sense to me.

Bandit #2: We all just seem to have numbers, don't we?

Bandit #1: Yeah, almost like some unseen force has deemed it so.

Definitely Not (Y/N): Let's not think too much into that. Hey what's that you guys are working on?

Bandit #1: Oh this? It's a Triumph TR6 Trophy motorcycle. My crowning achievement.

The bandit smiled as he wiped the bike clean.

Definitely Not (Y/N): Does it have a full tank of gas?

Bandit #2: Yep! Just filled her up. I was about to take it for a test drive.

Definitely Not (Y/N): Is it hard to drive a motorcycle?

Bandit #1: Nah. It's like riding a bike, but with an engine.

(Y/N): Nice.

_____

Y/N revved the engine.

(Y/N): See ya, suckers!

The motorcycle lurched forward and flew by everyone and out the front gate. Without Y/N. Who wasn't prepared for the sudden acceleration and had fallen off right in front of everyone.

(Y/N): Uhh....

Y/N quickly pulled out the hair he took from Shay and tried to disguise himself.

Definitely Not (Y/N): Oh look! It is I Bandit #3! I wonder where that.... Ah forget it. This hair smells awful anyway.

Y/N turned and ran toward the camp wall and punched a hole through it and ran into the forest.

Tyrian: Yes! I love it when they play hard to get!

Tyrian quickly dashed through the hole in the fence and chased after Y/N.

Hazel shrugged.

Hazel: Like trying to herd cats...

The large man followed after his companion, leaving the camp and its inhabitants speechless.

Raven: Vernal...

Vernal: Yes?

Raven: I hate teenagers...

_____

_____

Author: 

A little on the short side, but to make up for it, the next chapter should be longer.