Team RWBY, Team REBL, Shane, Crim, Mason, Zach, Qrow, Oscar, Kyla, and Maria are seen standing outside of the gates to the Atlesian Military base on the island off the coast of Argus. Yang puts her hands on the bars of the gate to speak to the guards.

Yang: Come on! You didn't even hear us out!

Briana: At least let us explain!

Nubuck Guard 1: Our orders are clear: The Mistral-Atlas border is closed!

Nubuck Guard 2: Please!

Nubuck Guard 1: Have a good day!

Yang: But--

Both Nubuck Guards: A good day!!

Luke: C'mon, this is bullshit!

Qrow: Hey, if you don't wanna believe that I'm friends with Ironwood--

Both Nubuck Guards: General Ironwood!

Zach: (pinch the bridge of his nose) Oh my fucking Oum...

Qrow: Yeah, General Ironwood, then fine. But look, we have Weiss Schnee with us and we're trying to get her home safely.

Weiss looks down with reluctance upon hearing Qrow say that. The two guards look to each other before turning their attention back to the group.

Both Nubuck Guards: Approach!

Weiss shares a look with Blake, who just shrugs. Weiss then walks up to the gate and the two guards step up and bend down to inspect her. After a moment, both guards stand straight back up.

Both Nubuck Guards: Very well!

Guard Nubuck 2: You may speak with our commanding officer!

Guard Nubuck 1: We will fetch her at once!

The two guards turn around in sync, and chant "Hup hup hup" and "Atlas Atlas Atlas" as they run to get their superior.

Blake: They were... kind of--

Ruby: Super weird? Uh, yeah.

Rex: Atlas must've really were scraping the bottom of the barrel with those two.

Maria: Hmm...

Oscar: What's wrong?

Maria: Well, I... may know this commanding officer...

Ruby: That's good, isn't it? If she's your friend, then maybe she'd be more willing to help us.

Rin: Can you convince her to let us through to Atlas?

Maria: I wouldn't exactly call us... "friends".

Weiss and Kyla: Acquaintances?

Maria: Not quite.

Blake and Luke: Colleagues?

Maria: Warmer.

Yang: Enemies?

Maria: That's the one!

Oscar: Wait, what?

Shane: Oh, this is gonna end poorly.

Maria: Oh, yes. I come through here about once every ten years to get my eyes checked up in Atlas. You bring outside cashews on one flight, and suddenly you're placed on the additional screening list for life!

Briana: Meaning that you were banned from the no-flying list?

Qrow: You've gotta be kidding me...

Maria: Now, now, let's not give up hope yet. (beat) Maybe she's dead!

Suddenly, the gates open up quickly, and the two guards return.

Guard 1: Introducing!

Guard 2: Special operative!

Both Nubuck Guards: Caroline Cordovin!

Footsteps can be heard approaching before the camera lowers down to reveal a short-statured elderly woman around Maria's age wearing the standard Atlesian officer uniform. Cordovin steps forward and glares at Maria.

Cordovin: Witch.

Maria: She-devil.

Cordovin: Hm. I've seen you've chosen larger contraband to smuggle this time.

Maria: Oh, Cordo. You know they say time changes people, but I see you've still got that stick right up your--

Ruby: (interrupting) H-hello! Miss, uh, Cordovin. My name is Ruby Rose, and I was wondering if you would hear us out about--

Cordovin: I've already heard what your other little friends had to say, Miss Rose.

She looks behind Ruby, noticing Athena, Yugo, Jaune, Nora, Mia, and Ren standing a little ways away behind the group.

Cordovin: What are you doing back here?! I thought I told you to leave!

Nora: (tries to charge forward, only to be held back by Ren and Jaune) And I told you we wouldn't rest until you let us through!

Ren: (nervously smiling and waving) Nice to see you again as well!

Athena: Ren, I think diplomatic is out of the window.

Cordovin: You civilians are clearly incapable of comprehending the importance of our mission here in Argus. So allow me to say this slowly, with smaller words:

Cordovin: This base, that relay tower, the very safety of Argus are all gifts from the glorious Kingdom of Atlas! And it is my duty to uphold them, as only I have the wit and tenacity for such a task.

Guard Nubuck 1: Such wit!

Guard Nubuck 2: Such tenacity!

Shane: Yaawwwnn! Can the boring speech!

Maria: Or maybe Atlas just wanted to get you as far from the kingdom as possible.

Cordovin: (growls) You're just like the rest of these Argus ingrates! This city wouldn't even be here if it weren't for our Atlesian ancestors, and what do we get in return? The entire world is ready to put a knife to our throats!

Kyla: (fold her arms) Maybe if you didn't keep bragging about your kingdom is, then that knife wouldn't be put to your throat.

Briana: Listen, lady. We know Atlas wasn't responsible for what happened in Vale during the Vytal Festival.

Ruby: Please, we know your kingdom had nothing to do with the Fall of Beacon. We were there.

Weiss: No one's happy about the Atlas borders or embargo, but I know General Ironwood is just worried. It's why we need to talk to--

Cordovin: The General is no coward! Atlas is strong. If all the kingdoms plan to make us their enemy, then so be it!

Cordovin: Atlas will prevail!

Both Nubuck Guards: Atlas will prevail!

Mason: (sighs) This is why I chose Shade over Atlas.

Yang: (unimpressed) Do you guys seriously have to do that?

Cordovin: (sighs) If Miss Schnee has truly come to her senses and wishes to return to her family, then, of course, the Atlas military will escort her home.

Cordovin: But the kingdom will not be responsible for her "friends" of... questionable character. (glances at Luke, Crim, Elena, Blake specifically upon saying her last statement)

Luke: The hell did you say?! (tries to walk up to her but Yang hold his wrist)

Weiss: What's that supposed to mean?

Cordovin: It means we're done here.

Rex: (angrily) Like hell we are, smart ass.

Both Nubuck guards try to raise their weapons at Rex, only for them and the general to stare at him in pure shock.

Cordovin walks closer to take a better look at Rex and realizes who he is.

Cordovin: (shocked) It can't be... Rex?

Rex: That's my name, don't wear it out.

Cordovin: I heard that you were dead.

Rex: But if it wasn't for Athena, I'd still be dead. Listen, I know Ironwood more than you think.

Nubuck Guard: That's General-

Rex: (cuts him off) Whatever! We're not leaving without your ship.

Cordovin laughs and makes Rex confused.

Rex: What's so funny?

Cordovin: (turns around) You make me laugh, boy. I'll tell you what I told your friends. (Turns to him) No.

Rex: Okay, since you won't cooperate, I'll tell the General that you give us an airship. That's right, I have his number.

Zach: (whispers to Mia) Since when the hell did he have his number?

Mia: (shrugs)

Cordovin: If we do that, they'll think you all are intruders!

Rex: We'll take that chance... So you gonna do it or not, damn it?

Cordovin: (takes a deep breath and glares at Rex) No. The deal is unfair and not preferable for our part! And with that said, now I can finally say that we are done.

The gates to the base are shown closing quickly, leaving the group outside once again.

Nora: Oh yeah? Well, your face looks... like a big dumb boot!

Jaune: (deadpan) Way to show her, Nora...

Kyla: What a bloody psychopath.

Crim: More like an egomaniac little bitch.

Ruby, Blake and Yang look to Weiss.

Weiss: I don't...

Ruby: Weiss. I told you we wouldn't leave your side for a second. We'll find a way to Atlas. Together. (places a hand on Weiss' shoulder)

Weiss smiles and nods back at her friend. Qrow starts to walk away.

Ruby: So... where are we going now?

Nora: Yeah, what's the plan?

Qrow: (bitter) The plan?

Qrow: The plan just got shut on our face three times over. I'm going for a drink.

Mia: Qrow, again?

Ruby: (running over to her uncle) Uncle Qrow, I really think we should try and come up with something... (Qrow walks away before she could finish) ...together.

Jaune: What's his problem? It's not your fault we can't go on.

Nora: If he's gonna be a jerk then we'll just come up with something without him. I mean, we've got Ozpin with us! He usually knows what to do.

Mia: Right, I almost forgot. Oz?

Oscar: Oh! Uh, give me a second.

Ozpin's eyes glow as he takes over Oscar's body.

Ozpin: It seems we have a big obstacle here...

Zach: Yeah... A short-ass general working under Ironwood's orders...

Mia: We can't even get to Atlas because of her stubborn ass.

Ozpin: Perhaps we can think of a new plan after we told the rest of the group about what we've witnessed back at the farm.

Ren: (noticing this) What is it?

Athena: Told us what?

Back at Saphron's home,

Jaune punches the wall, leaving a very large crack in it.

Ruby: Jaune!

Jaune: Everything we did was for nothing!

Blake: That's not true.

Nora: (angry) Really? Cuz it sure does sound like it.

Blake: I, um...

Ren: If Salem can't be killed, then how are we supposed to win this?

Shane: We do that by going for the Relic of Creation and summon its spirit.

Mia, Athena, Yugo, and Team JNPR look at him with confused expressions.

Athena: Hold on. That's the plan?

Rin: We actually talked about it! Rex suggested that we keep insisting on going to Atlas so we can get the Lamp to the General!

Yang: After that, he said we should get to the Vault where the Relic of Creation is been sealed-

Blake: (continuing for Yang) That way, we can get the staff and ask the spirit to create something to make a seal!

Weiss: A sort of an artifact to seal Salem inside it and one of us can be the only guardian of that seal!

Zach: Even if someone dares to bring her back, they have to get one of us to break the seal.

Team JNPR, Mia, Athena, and Yugo were utterly shocked by Rex's backup plan.

Mia: Son, you thought of that?

Rex: I did. Somehow it got connected in my brain. For what Jinn said is that Ozpin can't beat Salem, she meant that he can't do it alone.

Mia: Son, you're a genius! (Hugs Rex)

Ren: That really is something we've never thought about before...

Jaune: (awestruck) That's really a great idea, Rex!!!

Shane: (patted Rex's back) That's an amazing plan, dude!

Zach: With that settled, I'll try to contact James and tell him we need a ride.

Rin: Good luck...

Mia: I'll go and find Qrow before he gets wasted again.

Later on, Ruby heads outside onto the backyard porch with her Scroll to her ear.

Ruby: Come on, please...

Ruby takes away the Scroll from her ear,

looking at the screen with Qrow's portrait on it and text above it in red letters saying "NO ANSWER".

Ruby: (frustrated) Where are you?! (throws her Scroll into the yard)

Maria: You know, I came out here to avoid the yelling.

Ruby notices Maria sitting next to a small table with a plate of fruit on it.

Ruby: Sorry. The others went to get food for tonight.

Maria: Why not go with them?

Ruby: I don't know... (sits down on the porch) I don't know anything... And there's always Jinn, but... we only have one more question we can ask her. I feel like I'm letting everyone down...

Maria: You know, you don't give yourself enough credit.

Ruby: Oh... (chuckles) Thanks.

Maria: That wasn't a compliment.

Ruby: Uh... what?

Maria: If I have to explain it to you, it will just defeat the purpose. But if you're tired of not knowing anything, how about we discuss those eyes of yours?

Ruby: Oh! (stands up) Yes, ma'am, I would be honored!

Maria: Sit back down, for Pete's sake.

Ruby does so.

Maria: Let's start with what you do know. Tell me.

Ruby: Uh... Silver-Eyed people are supposed to be legendary warriors. Or something. And at the Fall of Beacon, I turned a giant Wyvern into stone.

Maria: (shaking her head) Oh, boy.

Ruby: Look, if I already knew everything I wouldn't be asking for help! (crosses her arms and huffs)

Maria: Yelling...

Ruby looks back up with a sorrowful expression on her face.

Maria: It's not your fault.

Maria: I had my father to teach me, and even he didn't have all the answers. But what he told me makes sense, given what I've seen.

Ruby: Was he a Huntsman too?

Maria: It wasn't really an official title back in his day. I only knew him as an old soldier and an excellent teacher. I never attended one of those fancy academies of yours, but I scored higher on the license exam than any other Huntsman or Huntress that day.

Ruby: (smiles) You must've been proud.

Maria: Heh, he would've scolded me for showing off. He'd never been able to find much information about our abilities. Just legends of warriors whose eyes shone like mirrors, reflecting the light of the world onto darkness. He found so little, in fact, that it made him cautious. How could such powerful bloodlines be so rare? Unless something was actively seeking to destroy them.

Ruby: Salem...

Maria: I tried to keep my powers a secret, but as you know, it wasn't enough. I owe my life to my training, and my Semblance.

Maria: At the end of the day, those are still your most powerful tools.

Ruby: What is your Semblance?

A lemon is shown dropping from the tree, which Maria catches before it could hit the plate of fruit.

Maria: "Preflexes"! A silly name I came up with. Hard to explain, but I can sense everything better than most and react to attacks almost before they happen. Combine that with my training and secret ability to turn Grimm to stone, or blind them, or vaporize them. (clears throat) And that's how you become the Grimm Reaper! (smiles)

Ruby: So, how do I laser beam monsters with my eyeballs?

Maria: (smacks Ruby on the head with her cane) First, you stop thinking like that! I want you to think of all the times you've triggered your powers. What did those moments have in common?

Ruby: (rubbing her head) I... was scared, and stressed. Is it emotional? Like unlocking a Semblance?

Maria: It's emotional but more focused than that. Think, what is it you wanted?

Ruby: (clenching her hands) I wanted to protect my friends.

Maria: Precisely! It is the desire to preserve life which fuels the light inside you. And to make no mistake, it is light. Preservation is an extension of creation, or, at the very least, an enemy of destruction. The Creatures of Grimm were made by the God of Darkness, but your light comes from his brother.

Ruby: How do you know that?

Maria: I always knew how to use the light, but never why it only worked on the Grimm. Then, Jinn showed us her vision. Were you paying attention?

Ruby closes her eyes and thinks back to when the God of Light destroyed all the Grimm in the Land of Darkness. The God of Light transforms into his dragon form, revealing his own pair of Silver Eyes.

Ruby: The God of Light... His eyes!

Ruby: (stands up) Okay, where do we start?

Maria: Well, not here. The light will only work in the presence of Grimm. Meaning the only practice you'll get will be a trial by fire. But, what you can do is focus on creating a state of mind that you can tap into when you need it. Don't think about your light as a means of destroying evil, but as a way to protect the people of Remnant.

Ruby: But, that can't be right.

Maria: Hm?

Ruby: You said the light only reacts to Grimm, but... I used it during our battle at Haven. It reacted to Cinder.

Maria: Interesting... Perhaps there was something that you just weren't seeing?

Yang: Ruby!

Rin: Come here, quick!

Ruby notices Yang and Rin at the door. Ruby walks back into the house to see Athena, Yugo, Kyla, Crim, Shane, Mason, Mia, Weiss, Blake, Zach, and Team REBL present as well.

Ruby: Oh, hey guys.

Jaune: (also walking into the room with Ren and Nora) What's going on?

Blake: (sadly) It's Oscar and Rex. They're missing.

Ruby, Jaune, Nora, and Ren become shocked to hear Rex and Oscar went missing as Ruby and Jaune look at each other with concerned looks on their faces.

END OF PART 73