A/N: as all the 3 members of team RWBY and the remaining members of team JNPR catch up with each other. You and Penny discuss what is was that you saw in your thoughts.

On the deck of Your ship, You and Penny were talking over the details of the things You saw during Your training that eventually lead up to You see what looked like Pyrrha.

Penny: So after seeing all the good memories that you had with Ruby and the others, You began seeing the bad ones, especially .......that night.

(Y/N): Yes, unfortunately.

Penny: So you said that saw Pyrrha one last time in your thoughts but only with pale skin and such. But ....are you sure it was her?

(Y/N): I'm vastly positive on what I saw. The coloration and look of her body and armor may have seemed different. But I could still see that it was her. But.......

You were silent for a moment.

Penny: But what?

(Y/N): When I saw her, I didn't feel the usual emotions that Pyrrha would usually give off. Instead, it was something different.

Penny: What was it?

(Y/N): ........Blind Rage .....and .....Hatred.

Penny: 0_0

(Y/N): It's so odd. I've never felt those kinds of emotions coming from around or near her before. Even if it was just a thought in my head.

Penny: that is kinda strange, why would something like this appear in your mind and even trigger your transformation.

(Y/N): I'm not sure. But all I do know is that it's more than likely a warning for something worse on the horizon.

the dinner table was abuzz as the currently present members of Team RWBY and the remaining members of Team JNPR all talking over each other indistinctly. The mood was quite cheery, with the children all smiling and laughing.

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

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

Yang, Weiss, and Ruby laughed, while Jaune smiled and giggled sheepishly.

Nora: Hey, but you made up for it, Mister Muscles! You shoulda seen this guy take a giant Grimm head on!

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

Ruby: Uh, me? Did you see Ren during that fight? He was out of control!

Ren: I'm sorry, I may have lost my temper momentarily.

Ruby: No, no! Out of control as in "awesome"!

Ren: Oooohhh. Thank you.

Everyone at the table burst into laughter. As dinner continued, Weiss told her story about how she accidentally summoned a Boarbatusk during the Schnee charity ball. Ruby let out a gasp in suprise.

Ruby: You did not!

Weiss had her head in her hands.

Weiss: Yeah, right in the middle of the party.

Yang: Please tell me you let that lady have it.

Weiss: Of course not! Even if I did really want to.

Nora crossed her arms, skeptical.

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

Weiss summoned her Boarbatusk right next to Nora. The Grimm summon growled, causing Nora to yelp and fall to her side. Weiss, Yang, Jaune and Ren all laughed. As dinner nearly finishes, Yang showed off her robotic prosthetic arm to the rest of the group. All of them react in awe.

Yang: It's not a replacement for the real thing, but I'll make sure to make good use of it.

Jaune: That's amazing.

Ren: Incredible.

Ruby got all starry-eyed and quickly zoomed over to her sister's side to admire her arm.

Ruby: And it's just as strong?

Yang: Hm, sure is.

Suddenly, they heard a bang on the table as Nora had her arm out ready to arm wrestle.

Nora: Wanna bet?

Weiss: Nora, please, now's not the time...

Despite Weiss' protest, Yang and Nora arm wrestle. Jaune and Ren cheered on Nora while Ruby cheers on for her sister. Weiss looked on disdainfully.

Jaune: Don't let her beat you! You can do it! Come on!

Ren: You can do this! Show 'em what Team JNPR's made of!

Ruby: C'mon, sis! Aw, you can't lose to a girl in a skirt!

Weiss: You wear a skirt, Ruby.

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

She shook Weiss, who was still frowning.

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

Yang: Yep. But, it does have some new features!

Nora: Heh, oh yeah?

A robotic sound was heard coming from Yang's arm, and suddenly Nora's was knocked back to the wall holding Yang's detached arm in her hand. Nora groaned in pain while the others look on in concern, except for Yang, who had a smug grin on her face.

Jaune: Did she ...win?

As Nora came to, she realized she's holding Yang's robotic arm, causing her to scream and throw it away from her. Yang laughed while she catched her arm. Later on, Jaune helped clean up the dishes.

Jaune: Gyah ...We ate it all...

He picked up the pot holding all the bowls.

Jaune: Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick...

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

Jaune: Oh, we're doing nickname throwbacks now. Wonderful.

He said sarcastically before walking away with the dishware in his hand as Weiss giggled.

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

Weiss stopped giggling, and Ruby bursted into laughter at Nora's remark. Weiss smiled nonetheless.

Weiss: I so did not miss you people.

Nora: "gasps" 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 it once.

Weiss: Hmph!

Yang playfully stuck her tongue out at Weiss.

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 ever did anything foolish or embarrassing? Or do you think you were perfect?

Weiss: Oh gosh.

She buried her face in her hands again.

Yang: I may have been a little too gung-ho from time to time.

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

Jaune soon walked back into the room.

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 - that just proves you're not the same person you used to be. You're smarter, you're kinder, you're stronger, and you're not done growing yet. None of us are.

There was silence for a brief moment.

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

Everyone giggled.

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

Yang: Even at the dance? When you spilled punch all over yourself in front of.......

Nora: Yes, especially the dance! Thank you, Yang!

Yang coverd her ears from Nora's yelling, who had her scroll out playing "Shine". Ruby laughed.

Qrow: How can six kids possibly make so much noise eating dinner?!

Qrow asked in an annoyed tone as he and Oscar were standing next to Jaune. Nora pressed her scroll to stop the song. Oscar gave a small laugh. Eventually, everyone relocated to the second floor living room, with Weiss and Yang having finished being filled in on what everyone else knew so far.

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

Qrow: Uh-huh.

Ozpin: Miss Xiao Long, is this more or less what your mother told you?

Yang didn't respond, still having her arms crossed. So Weiss answered for her.

Weiss: For the most part.

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

Ruby gasped.

Jaune: What is she talking about?

Qrow: Oh, great.

Ozpin: Hm, that's not a secret I thought she would give up so easily. Your mother must trust you a great deal.

Yang scowled 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.

He stood up and walked next to Qrow.

Ozpin: Using this power, I was able to 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 into birds. Rather ridiculous sounding out loud, isn't it?

Oscar: Wait, what?

He asked from inside his own head.

Ruby: Uncle?

Ren: You turned them ...into birds.

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

Jaune: What else is new?

He said in an angered tone.

Weiss: He's telling the truth. We saw it. Yang's mom ...changed, right in front of us.

Yang: Why would you do something like that? I mean, what is wrong with you?

She asked while looking to Ozpin.

Qrow: Yang, that's enough! We made a choice. We wanted this.

Yang relented before Ozpin then turned to Qrow.

Ozpin: May I?

Qrow nodded and Ozpin soon looked back to everyone else.

Ozpin: Granting this power to them was no trivial task, and I can assure you it was not done frivolously. I required assistance in gathering information on Salem's plans, as well as searching for Maidens when their hosts became unclear.

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

Ozpin: As helpful as that might be, unfortunately it is not that simple. My power is finite, and if I'm being honest, dwindling. The amount that I gifted to Qrow and Raven 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 my gift for good. They were the first Maidens.

Everyone was silent for a moment.

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".

He the looked over to Qrow.

Ozpin: I believe that's how you phrased it?

Qrow: Yeah.

He said as he chuckled.

Ozpin: Everyone has a choice. The Branwens chose to accept their powers and the responsibilities that came with them. And later, one of them chose to abandon her duties in favor of her own self-interest. 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.

Everyone was still silent as they pondered Ozpin's words.

Ozpin: Very well, then.

Yang suddenly stood up.

Ruby: Yang?

Yang: If Ruby sticks around, then I will too. If there's one thing I know about her, it's that she somehow always knows the right thing to do.

She smiled at Ruby after saying that.

Yang: But, if we're going to help, if we're going to keep risking our lives, no more lies. No more half-truths.

Everyone remained silent. Ozpin and Qrow exchanged a brief look with each other. Ozpin pondered Yang's words for one last moment, before responding with a smile and saying:

Ozpin: Understood.

Yang sat back down.

Jaune: So ...what now? I mean, what can we do?

Ozpin: Mm, that is a difficult question. One that I believe is best answered tomorrow.

Jaune: What do you mean?

Ozpin: The road ahead is undoubtedly filled with hardships and peril. However, it's been far too long since you have all been together.

He put his hand on Yang's shoulder.

Ozpin: Please, take tonight, enjoy this moment.

Yang smiled. Suddenly Oscar's eyes glow, with Ozpin giving him control back to his body. Oscar realized he had his hand on Yang's shoulder, and quickly took it off and nervously holds his cane in his hand. Yang and Weiss laughed at him, before hearing a noise from Nora.

Nora: Oooohhh. Raven? Qrow? They're birds!! Cracked it!

Ren shook his head at Nora being slow on the uptake.

(Briliant deducing).

At the Branwen Tribe camp's entrance, Shay D. Mann and two other bandits stand guard, conversing with each other.

(What do you know, this guy is actually given a name now).

Suddenly, a voice called out from the forest.

Mercury: Hey ugly!

With Shay and the bandits' attention drawn, Mercury and Emerald walked out from the forest toward the camp's entrance.

Emerald: Is Raven Branwen home?

Shay sighed.

Shay: Ya know, I've had a real bad week. So I think I'm gonna take it out on you......

Shay stopped mid sentence when he noticed Cinder and Watts walk out of the forest and joined the two of them.

Mercury: Hmph, doesn't look like he wants to cooperate, Boss.

Cinder: Then make him.

Mercury: I was hoping you'd say that.

Emerald proceeded forward. Shay and the other bandits held their ground while Emerald unsheathed her weapons, twirling them before they transform into their sickle forms.

A/N: Someone's gonna get their ass whopped.