3rd Person POV

     All the young students and Dinobots are now finally reunited, mostly, and taking the time to catch up over a large stock pot of noodles. Everyone is actually laughing pretty hard at Jaune's telling of how team RNJR lost their map.

Yang: How do you lose your map at a time like that?

Jaune: Believe me, I've asked myself the same thing ever since.

Everyone laughs.

Nora: Hey, but you made up for it Mr. Muscles. You should've seen him take a giant Grimm head on.

Jaune: I wouldn't have done anything without Ruby wearing it down.

Ruby: Me? Did you see Ren during that fight? He was out if control.

Ren: I may have lost my temper for a moment.

Snarl: Really? You lost your temper?

Ren: Yeah.

Ruby: Oh no, I meant out of control as in awesome.

Ren: Oh.....Thank you.

Everyone laughs again.

As dinner continues, Weiss retells of how she accidently summoned a Borbatusk during the Schnee Charity Ball.

*GASPS*

Swoop: Mommy?

Ruby: You did not?

Weiss: *hides her face in embarrassment* Yup, right in the middle of the party.

Yang: Please tell me you let the lady have it?

Weiss: Of course not, even if I did really want to.

Nora: No way. I don't believe it.

Weiss makes a borbatusk summon appear next to Nora.

Summon: *snorts*

Nora: AHH! *fell over*

Slam responded by punching the summon into powdered ice shards as everyone is at first surprised then burst into laughter. Nora recovered and hugged Slam.

Nora: Oh, I love him even more!

As dinner nearly finishes, Yang then gets up and shows off her prosthetic arm and everyone is impressed.

Yang: It's no replacment for the real thing, but I'll be sure to make good use of it.

Jaune: Awesome.

Ruby: *gasp* *rushes to Yang* And it's just as strong?

Yang: Sure is.

Nora: *readies arm* Wanna bet?

Weiss: Nora, please, now is not the time-

Too late the two powerhouses go into their arm wrestling contest.

Jaune: Come on, Nora.

Pyrrha: Show her what Team JNPR is made of.

Ruby: Come on, sis! Oh, you can't lose to a girl in a skirt.

Weiss: You wear a skirt, Ruby.

Ruby: Weiss, you're not cheering loud enough!

Slag: Come on, Ma! Take down this Thunderer wannabe!

Slam: *loud grunt of encouragment*

Nora: It definitely feels like the original, I'll give you that.

Yang: Yup, but it does have some new features.

Nora: Oh yeah?

Yang's prothestic suddenly launched off her arm sending Nora against the wall, leaving everyone confused.

Jaune: So, did she win?

Nora: *groans as she recovers* *sees arm still attached to her* AHH!

Yang: *hard laughter*

Slag: Rocket propelled punch? AWESOME!

Everyone laughs at Slag's comment then turn to Pyrrha.

Weiss: So Pyrrha, where have you been?

Pyrrha: I was heart broken after the Fall of Beacon, and after what I did to Jaune, I didn't feel like I could be friends with all of you again.

Jaune: Hey, I told you I got over it.

Ren: We aren't just teammates, we are even more than friends. We're family, in more ways than one I suppose.

Pyrrha: Yeah, my parents were a big help so I started taking odd jobs because Haven has so few Hunters and now, I want to help with whatever you're doing.

Ruby: Well, we're just glad to have you back.

A little while later...

Jaune: Ugh, we ate it all. I think I'm gonna be sick.

Yang: Easy there, Vomit Boy. I believe in you.

Jaune: Oh, so we're doing nickname throwbacks now? *unenthused* Wonderful.

Weiss: *quietly giggles*

Nora: I mean, the Ice Queen seems to like it.

Ruby: *laughs*

Weiss: I so did not miss you people.

Nora: *slight gasp* Oh my gosh, she really does like it! What went and warmed your heart while you were gone.

Weiss: Hey! You make it sound like I used to be terrible.

Yang: Nah, just a lot to deal with at once.

Weiss: Hmph!

Yang: *playfully sticks her tongue out*

Ruby: So kids? Did you get enough to eat?

Slag: *Belch!*

Snarl: *Belch!*

Swoop: *Belch!* *embarrassed* 'xcuse me.

Sludge: *BELCH!*

Yang: I'll take that as a yes.

Nora: How 'bout you Slam?

Slam: *nods*

Nora: *giggles* Good.

Pyrrha: And you Slash?

Slash: *nervous* Y-Yes, thank you for the food.

Pyrrha: *kisses Slash's forhead* Anytime.

Ren: It's been a long time. We've all grown in our own ways.

Ruby: You really think so?

Ren: Well, think back to when we were all at Beacon. Would you say you did anything foolish or embarrassing? Or did you think you were perfect?

Weiss: Oh gosh.

Yang: I may have been a bit gung-ho at times.

Ruby: You? I tried to 1v1 a Nevermore on the second day of school.

Jaune: Yeah well, don't even get me started.

Ren: Well that embarrassment. That desire to go back and tell yourself not to be so stupid, just proves you aren't the same person as before. You're smarter, kinder, or stronger, and you're not done yet.

Ruby: Yeah, turns out Ren gets real deep when he feels like talking.

Everyone giggles at this, then Nora stands.

Nora: Well, hold on. I thought I was pretty great in school.

Yang: Even at the dance when you spilled punch-

Nora: Yes! Especially at the dance! Thank you, Yang!

Everyone laughs for a moment.

Qrow: *annoyed* How can you kids possibly make so much noise eating dinner.

Qrow and Oscar ask to talk to everyone in the living room, Weiss and Yang then tell what Raven was willing to tell them.

Weiss: So, the Maidens, Magic, Salem? It's all true?

Qrow: *groans* Uh-huh.

Oscar/Ozpin: Ms. Xiao Long. Is this more or less what your mother told you?

Yang doesn't say anything and keeps her arms crossed.

Weiss: For the most part.

Yang: You forgot one thing. You forgot to tell everyone what you did to Qrow and my mother.

Jaune: What is she talking about?

Qrow: Oh, great.

Oscar/Ozpin: That's not a secret I thought she would give up willingly. She must trust you a great deal.

Yang scowls at him.

Ozpin: My ability to reincarnate, though a curse, isn't without a few key benefits. Much like the Maidens, I too possess a certain.... "magical" power. *stands and walks past Qrow* Using this power I was able gift the Branwen twins the ability to "see" more, to move freely and be unburdened by their natural bodies. I... well... gave them the ability to turn them into birds. *chuckles* Rather ridiculous sounding outloud, isn't it.

Ruby: Uncle?

Ren: You turned them into birds?

Nora: Okay, now you're just messing with us.

Swoop: Us and Grimlock were given the ability to transform into robots/dinosaurs, what so ridiculous about that?

Ozpin: *chuckles* Point taken, Swoop.

Weiss: It's true, Yang's mom, she changed right in front of us.

Yang: Why would you do that? I mean, What is wrong with you?

Qrow: Yang, that's enough! It was our choice, we wanted this.

Yang relents.

Ozpin: *to Qrow* May I? *Qrow nods* Granting this power was no trivial task, and I can assure it was not done frivolously.

Slag: Huh?

Ozpin: I required assistance in gathering information on Salem's plans, as well as searching for Maidens when their hosts became unclear.

Pyrrha looks a down in shame.

Ruby: Okay, so, have you done this with others? Like General Ironwood? Or Professor Goodwitch?

Ozpin: As helpful as that might be, unfortunately, it's not that simple. My power is finite, and if I'm being honest, dwindling. The amount that I gifted the Branwen twins was, all things considered, rather miniscule. You see, centuries ago, I sacrificed a great deal of magic to four young women, who I hoped would use their gift for good. They were the first Maidens.

Everyone is silent for several seconds.

Ozpin: Miss Xiao Long, it was never my intention to lie to you, to any of you. There are just some matters that I prefer to "play close to the chest". *to Qrow* I believe that's how you phrased it?

Qrow: Yeah.

Ozpin: Everyone has a choice. The Branwens chose to accept their powers and the responsibilities that came with them. One of them eventually abandoned her duties in favor of her own self-interests. Now all of you have a choice. If anyone wishes to leave, now is the time. There's no shame or disgrace in abstaining, only in retreat.

Silence for several more seconds.

Ozpin: Very well then.

Yang suddenly stands.

Ruby: Yang?

Yang: If Ruby sticks around, so will I. If there's one thing I know about her, it's that she always knows the right thing to do. *Ruby smiles* But, if we're going to help, if we're going to keep risking out lives, no more lies. No more half truths.

Everyone remains silent. Ozoin and Qrow exchange a brief look with one another. Ozpin then ponders Yang's words.

Ozpin: Understood.

Yang sits back down and sits Slag in her lap.

Jaune: So, what now? What can we do?

Ozpin: That is a difficult question, one I believe is best answered tomorrow.

Jaune: What do you mean?

Ozpin: The road ahead is undoubtedly filled with hardship and peril. However, it's been far too long since you've all been together, mostly. *Ruby looks a little down* *Ozpin outs a hand on Yang's shoulder* Please, take tonight, enjoy the moment and connect with your families.

Suddenly, Oscar's eyes flash, with Ozpin giving him control of his body. Oscar then realizes he has his hand on Yang's shoulder.

Oscar: Gah! *pulls his hand away*

Yang and Weiss laugh until a noise is heard from Sludge.

Sludge: Ohhhhh! Qrow and Raven? They're birds! Sludge so smart, heheheh.

Slag: We'll see how smart you are after this, hah!

Slag tackles Sludge and the two start to wrestle until they're attention is brought back to their mothers being told.

Qrow: You know, it might not be a bad idea to send the little ones back home, to keep them safe.

Swoop: No! I wanna stay with Mommy!

Snarl: Don't we get a choice?

Weiss: .... As much as I would want to, my family will never look after them, I have nowhere else to go.

Yang: Besides, I think these kids will be helpful.

Ruby: Plus, Salem is probably still looking for them, they'll be safer with us looking after them.

Pyrrha: However, you must follow our instructions without complaint, understood?

Dinokids: Yes, Ma'am.

Slash didn't answer, because when Pyrrha looked down at her.

Pyrrha: Oh my goodness, she's so cute.

Weiss: I think it's a sign for everyone under the age of 10 that's it's bedtime.

Snarl: But I'm *yawns* not tired yet, Mama.

Nora: Alright, come on. *picks up sleepy Slam* Sleep time, Lumpy. *giggles*

Yang: Come on, Slag, Sludge, you too.

Sludge: *yawn* Ok.

Ruby helps Weiss get Snarl and Swoop to bed, but as she returns to her own bed, she starts crying again over missing Grimlock.

Ruby: I will find you, Grimlock. I promise. *sniffles*

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Anima.

Mercury: Tell us where your camp is?

Bandit: I'll never talk.

Cinder: Grim, dear. If you will.

Grimlock: *snorts*

Grimlock transforms into Dinobot mode.

Grimlock: *ROOOOAAAAR*

Bandit: *crying* Okay! Okay! I'll take you!

(A/N): Hello, and welcome back all my beautiful readers. It is good to be back, I have finally figured out how the climax of Volume 5 is gonna play out, and now I'm ready to write.

A couple of announcements....

First, if you are unaware, I am at 960 followers on my Wattpad channel, and I have a special surprise story if I reach 1000. So please, if you haven't already please go to my channel and hit that follow button. Thank you.

Second, I will be doing a crossover with Hyperbomb, it won't happen for a while because I've got a lot of stories on my plate right now, but it will happen I promise.

Thanks again so much for reading my content and hope y'all have a great rest of your day/night and I'll see you all in the next one. PEACE OUT!!!