As the sun begins setting over the mountains around the abandoned Dust mine, four trucks drive up the road to the mine entrance, and Amity Colosseum floats toward the mine. Two people are lying with binoculars somewhere in the area, one of whom is wearing a pin that resembles the one on Robyn Hill's scarf. Their binoculars bear the same symbol as the pin. They both gaze up at the colosseum, before the one on the right resumes looking through his binoculars.

Soon after the trucks arrive at the mine entrance, Team RWBY, Team REBL, Team JNPR, Shane, Mason, Crim, Athena, Mia, Zach, Kyla, Flora, Qrow and the Ace-Ops walk outside. Smiling, Marrow looks at Clover and then attempts to put on a more serious demeanor. Ruby, Jaune, and Nora come together to gaze in dramatic admiration of the Ace-Ops, while Rex, Ren, Rin, Luke, Blake, Weiss, the Percival Twins and Yang watch the three with wide eyes.

Athena, Flora, and Kyla are also impressed by the Ace-Ops' teamwork to get rid of the Geist Grimm.

Nora: (high pitched) Aaaah!

Jaune rushes over to Clover's side.

Jaune: You guys were incredible!

He switches to being in front of Clover and begins energetically gesturing as he talks.

Jaune: Oh, the way you took down that Geist without needing to plan your tactics out, you just knew exactly what to do!

Clover: Well, Ace-Ops are hand-picked to perfectly compliment one another. So we can focus on our assets and leave our liabilities behind.

Marrow walks over with a confident smile.

Marrow: Some of us are all asset, zero liability.

He poses with a salute and a grin, looking at Jaune. Elm scoffs, catching Marrow's attention. He moves over to her, leaning in to confront her.

Marrow: Wha-- Yeah? Think I've got some liabilities, Elm?

Elm: Your brains, for one.

Briana: Damn!

Clover, Elm and Harriet laugh, and Marrow groans and pouts. The former three walk away.

Vine: You did ask.

Kyla: Oi, should've kept your mouth shut, lil' pup.

Vine and Kyla walks away, and Nora approaches Elm with wide eyes and a smile. Elm looks at her.

Nora: Hi. Do you need a new best friend? (moving closer) Our pair name can be...

Nora's eyes spark with pink electricity, and she lifts her hammer into the air with both hands. She is suddenly standing on an empty plane with a green tinted sky, with Elm standing nearby. Pink lightning strikes, while green and pink gradient text appears.

Nora: (voice echoing dramatically) THUNDER THIGHS!!!

Harriet watches this with a sigh, and Ruby runs over to her.

Ruby: Perfect complementary teamwork. Oh, yeah, I want to have my friends' backs just like that.

Harriet: Friends?

Elm: (laughs) This isn't the schoolyard, kid.

Behind Elm, Nora is still posed with her hammer in the air.

Nora: (husky) Thunder Thighs...

Ren walks over, lifts the currently stiff Nora under his arm, and walks away. Ruby's teammates join her.

Yang: But, I mean, when you go through so much with someone, it kind of changes things, doesn't it?

Harriet: We get along well enough, sure. I count on them to keep me alive. They do the same. But that's the job. We don't confuse the two.

She turns and walks away, leaving Team RWBY to look on sadly.

Rex: That's the problem with you guys having no real friends.

Harriet stopped and turned to Rex as Team RWBY, REBL, and JNR got their attention.

Rex: People who have fought together for so long, who knows everything about each other, who trust and count on each other, that's not a team, that's a family. If Clover and his team wants to keep their relationships to only work, that's too bad. I don't care.

He walks to Ruby and takes her hand in his.

Rex: No team is stronger than family.

Ruby smiles at him and the others nod.

Crim: Bro... That's some deep speech.

Rin: (puts her hand on top of his hair) When did you get so wise?

Rex: I have my moments.

Clover: Speaking of the job...

Further down the way, Ironwood is talking on a communicator. He gives a brief order to a soldier, who walks away.

Clover: Duty ever beckons. You all hang back a second. (gesturing to Rin, Mia, Jaune, Zach, and Qrow)

The Ace-Ops walk over to Ironwood. Ruby watches, then looks away, thinking. She then gets an idea, smiles and hurries over to her teammates.

Ruby: What do you guys want to do when we get back to Atlas? Sightseeing? (gasp) Oh, what should we visit first?

Blake: (yawns) How about our beds?

Shane: I second that.

Blake walks away with Luke and Shane following behind.

Ruby: Oh, come on, guys! This is a great time to go exploring! We haven't done that in so long!

Weiss: Ruby, we just explored a whole continent on foot before flying to this one.

Weiss walks away with Crim and Mason.

Crim: Yeah, I mean, aren't you the least but tired of fighting Grimm all the time? It really exhausts me out.

Ruby: Well, yeah, but... it was only the boring parts.

Elena: We encountered deadly disasters.

Athena: We were pestered by a lady in a mech.

Yang: (arms crossed) We almost died.

Rex: Rubes, I love you, but I already died once.

Ruby: Ppt.

Ruby waves her hands at the four with an awkward chuckle, and Yang, Athena, and Elena walks away. Ruby then frowns and sighs sadly.

Qrow: Hey. Heads up.

Qrow points his thumb over at Ironwood, who is talking to Clover while the other Ace-Ops walk away.

Ironwood: Can I get the team leaders over here? There's something I'd like to discuss with you. You too, Zach, Qrow, and Mia.

Ruby, Rex, Rin, Jaune, Mia, Qrow, and Zach walk over to Ironwood.

Ironwood: (to Clover) I need you on the ground, but be subtle. If people see too many Huntsmen milling around, they'll get nervous.

Clover salutes, nods and begins walking away.

Ironwood: And Clover?

Clover stops and looks back. In the background, Marrow is in front of an open airship, talking to a military Huntsman, while miming punching imaginary targets and waving his arms.

Ironwood: Don't take Marrow.

Clover looks over at Marrow, then looks at Ironwood, smiling and chuckling with a nod. Marrow recreates his pose from when he froze a pair of Centinels and then turns around and mimes shooting something. Clover heads in Marrow's direction, and Ironwood turns to Mia, Zach, Qrow, Rin, Jaune, Rex, and Ruby.

Qrow: New problems in Mantle?

Ironwood: (sighs) More of the same, unfortunately.

Ironwood withdraws and deploys his Scroll, using it to generate a hologram screen in the air in front of him. The left side of the screen displays an Atlas Military Police mugshot of Forest, while the right side displays a photograph of Forest's corpse in an alleyway somewhere in midtown Mantle.

Ironwood: Someone in Mantle is taking out public leaders who speak out against Atlas. Specifically, people who speak out against me. It didn't look like a pattern at first. But this is the third murder of its kind in the last week.

Jaune: Wait a minute. That's the guy that rode with us after we were arrested.

Ruby: (upset) He died?

Zach: More like someone murdered him...

Rin: Assassination, no doubt.

Qrow: Your opposition in Mantle dropping dead isn't exactly a good look for you, huh?

Ironwood deactivates the hologram screen and puts his Scroll away.

Ironwood: Not really worried about my public image, but it is causing unrest. I think someone's trying to frame me and, by extension, Atlas. And it's working.

Jaune: Well, if it wasn't for the embargo making everybody so mad, people probably wouldn't be so quick to blame you for everything else.

Ironwood frowns and looks at Jaune, who awkwardly clears his throat and stands at attention.

Jaune: S-sir.

Rex: Jaune...

Ironwood: (rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers) No. No, you're right. Things in Mantle have been... hard to manage lately. I'm not blind to its issues. In fact, that's what I want to talk to you about.

Mia: What could that be?

He turns and looks up at Amity Colosseum.

Ironwood: With the launch of this mobile communications tower and tensions down in Mantle, I think there's a lot of good your teams can do here.

Mia: We'll do everything we can, James.

Ironwood's communicator beeps, and he puts his fingers to it, listening.

Ironwood: (surprised) What? Already? Here? No, it's fine. Let him land. I'll deal with him myself.

Qrow, Zach, Rex, Rin, and Ruby look each other, and then at Ironwood.

Qrow: More Mantle problems?

Ironwood watches an airship fly by on its way to the landing pad.

Ironwood: No. This one's an Atlas problem.

The ship, bearing the Schnee Dust Company logo, descends onto a landing pad, where Ironwood and Team RWBY, Team REBL, Mason, Crim, and Shane are already waiting, with Team JNPR, Flora, Athena, Kyla, Zach, Mia, and Qrow standing further back.

Briana clenched her fists as Elena noticed her.

A ramp extends from in front of the ship's double door, which opens to reveal an angry Jacques. As soon as the doors begin to open, he starts talking and makes his way down the ramp.

Jacques: So let me get this straight, James.

Jacques: In addition to this nonsensical embargo of yours crippling my business, you've also decided you have the authority to commandeer private property?

He stops in front of Ironwood, who calmly stares at him, arms folded behind his back.

Jacques: When the Council hears about this, you will never-- (aggressively pointing at Ironwood)

Ironwood: Actually, I've already informed them. As this is now the site of a classified military operation, it didn't even require a vote.

Jacques: Didn't require a vote?!

Ironwood: You might want to brush up on Council law before you lose this upcoming election, Jacques. Now. I've allowed you to land here once as a courtesy. The next time, it won't be a friendly reception.

Jacques glares at Ironwood.

Jacques: Lately, you seem to forget who your friends really are. I'm going to get that Council seat, James, and maybe then, you'll--

Jacques becomes distracted, his eyes widening when he realizes Weiss is present. They stare at each other for a moment.

Jacques: You...

He walks past Ironwood, glancing at him as he does so.

Jacques: You roped my missing daughter into these schemes of yours, too?

He turns back around to look at Ironwood.

Jacques: (angrily) How long has she been back in Atlas? Did Winter know about this?

Weiss becomes annoyed and steps forward to Jacques.

Weiss: It was my decision to come here. Just like it was my decision to leave. Or have you forgotten all about that?

Jacques: If you think I'm one to forget anything, girl, then you've misjudged the man your father is.

Weiss: Believe me,

Weiss: I know exactly the kind of man you are.

Jacques: (angrily) How dare you speak to me that way!? I have half a mind to--

Ironwood: Half a mind to what, Jacques?

Jacques narrows his eyes, then adjusts his cuff link, sighing angrily.

Jacques: You know... your mother was devastated when you left.

Weiss begins to look upset.

Jacques: Didn't leave her room for days. You know how... she gets... when she's upset.

Jacques acts sad while he speaks, taking a moment to peek at Weiss' reaction. Her eyes glimmer with sadness, and she looks down, frowning.

Rex and Ruby look upset, and Blake, Shane, Mason, Crim, Kyla, and Yang glare at Jacques, Blake glaring far more intensely than Yang. Jacques smirks as he turns to face Ironwood again.

Suddenly, Rin, Luke, Flora, Athena, Elena, Zach, Mia, and Qrow shared a scared expressions when they notice Briana glaring towards Jacques, with her hand clenching into fists and grits her teeth.

Jacques: I knew one day, you would overextend your reach. I didn't come here to beg for an abandoned mine. I came here to thank you...

Weiss looks around, noticing that her teammates have come to her side. Blake holds her hand and gives a comforting nod.

Jacques: ...for personally handing me the noose to hang you.

Blake and Yang glare at Jacques, while Ruby and Rex looks at Weiss with a smile.

Jacques: You'll regret this.

Jacques turns to look back at Weiss.

Jacques: So these are the little friends you threw everything away for?

Weiss: (shaking her head) Not friends.

Rex and Ruby looks at Weiss, frowning a little, and Weiss looks at Jacques.

Weiss: Family.

Ruby smiles wide, and Crim and Yang smirks.

Jacques: Hmm... Such an ungrateful child.

Briana: (snaps out) I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!

Her sudden outburst cause everyone to flinch and back away from her, even Marrow scarily hides behind Elm, which she was also looking at Briana with genuine fear from her anger...

She lunged at Jacques and unexpectedly punched him square in the face.

Briana: You've been using your own family to drive guilty feelings to your own daughter... Hiding the deepest secret from everyone about the scene behind S.D.C...

Jacques: And who do you think you are to judge my business?!

Briana: SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN, YOU SICK FUCK!!!

Jacques recoils back in fear while the rest of the group look at the scene with their eyes widened in pure shock...

Briana: Elena.

Elena: Y-yes?

Briana: Show him your back.

Elena goes to her sister and she turns around and lifts her shirt up and shows Jacques the S.D.C logo on her back.

Elena: This is the proof right here that I need. You did this to me.

Ironwood: Is this true?

Briana: This bastard used Faunus to make each one of them mining and collecting dust for his damn business.

Jacques: (tries to deny) T-that's not even half true!

Briana: Shut your damn lying mouth!

She grabs Jacques by his white jacket, making him gasp in fear.

Briana: You used your own family for greed! All you care about is the company and yourself!

She exposed Jacques and his Dust Company, for what he is and what the company is really about...

Ironwood: (sternly, subtly angry) Jacques... Is what Briana said is true? You "used" her sister and the Faunus people to label their bodies as your property?

Jacques: ...

Briana: (points his face with Galatine) Confess or I'll cut your mustache clean off.

After lots of pressure, Jacques breaks down and immediately admits everything.

Jacques: (scarily) Y-yes!!! Everything she said is all true!! Just keep her away from me!

And with that, a click is heard before everyone looks over and sees Mia sassily pointing her scroll at Jacques and Briana, they notice a red dot on the top left of her scroll.

Rex: Mom, you recorded it?!

Mia: Uh-huh. (Give her scroll to Ironwood) James, give this to the Council. They'll see what Jacques Schnee really is.

Ironwood: I'm sure they will have a few words from him.

Zach: Can't wait to see the look on their faces that this jackass got exposed big time.

Briana: Now get your ass out of here before I change my mind.

Jacques returns to his airship and begins to take off. Rex, Ruby, Blake and Yang look at Weiss with concern, while she exhales and drops her strong and confident facade. The ship flies away, and a truck arrives on the platform.

Rin: B, that was amazing for what you did back there!

Crim: Girl, you scared him so much I bet he shit himself!

Luke: That bastard really had it coming. He always puts Weiss through hell.

Weiss: That was extremely rash for what you did, Briana, but good for you. Thanks.

Briana: Anytime, Ice Queen.

Once the truck comes to a stop, Winter opens the passenger side door and peeks out at the ship.

Weiss: (with a joking smile) Oh, now you show up, Winter. You just missed father.

Winter: I wouldn't say I missed hi--

From the sky, Penny comes crashing down, landing on one knee. The force from her landing sends Team RWBY, Team REBL, Shane, Crim, and Mason flying with a small scream, while Winter steadies herself against the shockwave. Penny straightens up and throws her hands into the air, the word "CONGRATULATIONS!" appearing above her head as a green hologram, with bright green hologram confetti spawning from it with a party horn sound.

Penny: Surprise!

She looks around with a giant grin as the hologram flickers. When she notices Team RWBY, Team REBL, Mason, Shane, Crim, on the ground, her grin and the hologram both fade.

Rex: What the hell, Penny?

Shane: Yeah, you scared the crap out of us!

Penny: Uh, did we not start yet?

Winter puts her fingertips to her forehead in exasperation. Ironwood stares with a wide-eyed grimace, while faint groaning can be heard from Ruby.

Winter: (sighs) Apparently, we haven't.

Nearby, Jaune and Nora laugh, while Ruby stands up with a look of confusion.

Ruby: Start what?

Rex: What is it?

After the sun finishes setting, RWBY, REBL, JNPR, Athena, Shane, Crim, Mason, Kyla, Zach, Mia, Flora, Qrow, Winter, Penny and Ironwood gather in the center of Amity Colosseum's arena. RWBY and JNPR stand lined up, with Ironwood, Winter and Penny standing across from them and Mia, Zach, and Qrow standing off to the side. The arena lights are on and pointing at the center of the stage where everyone is standing.

Ironwood: It goes without saying that this arena holds a significance to all of us. It's only fitting that we should be able to reconvene here. Now. When the world needs to be brought together more than ever. The road you traveled from our first meeting hasn't been easy.

While he talks, Ironwood begins walking along in front of the group. Penny, who is holding a tablet-sized Scroll, excitedly bounces up and down next to Winter, who places a hand on Penny's shoulder to hold her still.

Ironwood: You fought for your school and your friends at Beacon. You fought for the world and the innocent at Haven Academy and beyond. You faced down terrors people can't even fathom. That's not the behavior of students. It's the behavior... of Huntsmen and Huntresses.

He looks over at Penny, who happily begins humming and walking past the group, stopping in front of each person to tap on her Scroll. With each tap, her Scroll emits a beep and someone else's Scroll buzzes. Ren's Scroll is the first to buzz, and he removes it from his pocket and opens it, checking the screen. It displays his student license, which displays a photograph of him in his new outfit with his emblem in the top left corner and a barcode below the photo. The Vale symbol is in the background behind the license information. The license says:

STUDENT LICENSE BEACON
Name: Ren, Lie
LN: 63700 - 16778 - 13563
Place of Issue: Vale
Authority: Beacon Academy
Restrictions: Class C

The screen blinks, and the license suddenly changes. The Kingdom of Atlas symbol is now in the background behind the information. The new license says:

HUNTSMAN LICENSE Atlas
Name: Ren, Lie
LN: 63700 - 16778 - 13563
Place of Issue: Atlas
Authority: Atlas Academy
Restrictions: Class C

Ren: Wait... what is this?

Everyone else checks their Scrolls as Penny continues tapping hers.

Winter: You are being granted your Huntsman licenses, today.

Penny finishes using her Scroll to grant everyone their licenses and walks away with a big grin. Her Scroll displays the Atlas Huntsman License Registry.

Ironwood: I know this is coming a little ahead of schedule, but Brothers know you deserve it. I only regret that I couldn't do something a little more ceremonious for the occasion.

Ruby stares in awe at her license.

Ruby: I-- (glancing at her friends) We... we're honored, General Ironwood. But you really don't have to do th--

Rex: James, a-are you sure?

Ironwood: Please. With the threat of Salem still out there and tensions rising in our Kingdom, I certainly could use more trustworthy fighters by my side.

As Ironwood walks away from them, Team RWBY, Team REBL, Shane, Crim, and Mason look at each other. Yang and Weiss' faint smiles fade, and Blake's cat ears droop as Shane pats her head. Rin sighs, while the twins stare at the wall and Luke stares at the floor.

Ironwood: I should be so lucky to have all of you.

He stops for a moment, then looks at Team RWBY and REBL and smiles.

Ironwood: It's okay. It's a big moment. And what better way than to celebrate here? When this tower is ready and communications are back up and running, we'll tell the world about Salem and face down whatever comes at us after that, together.

The group stand in silence.

Ironwood: (sighs) That's... just about all the pomp I have in me. If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to running this operation. Um... Well, then. Enjoy the cake.

Ironwood walks away, with Winter following. Penny pops up with a hand raised in the air.

Penny: (encouraging tone) Your speech outros are improving, sir!

RWBY, REBL, and JNPR look at their licenses.

Yang: After everything we've been through, I almost forgot this is what I wanted in the first place.

Blake: When Beacon fell, I didn't think this would even be possible.

Weiss: It almost feels trivial now.

Rin: Yeah. I thought we would never get our licenses, but... (Smiles) It happened.

Briana: We can legally kick ass now!

Elena: Yeah... and no one will arrest us for using our weapons.

Crim: Since when is not using our weapons against the law?

Qrow: Geez, guys, lighten up a little. Enjoy yourselves for a change. You've earned it.

Mia: He's right. You guys got everything you wanted. You all deserved a celebration.

Nora: Finally! Someone said it. Let's kill some cake, huh?

Nora moves forward, throwing a fist in the air.

Nora: Because I can eat two slices before Ren even eats one. Who says I can't? Who says it, huh!?

Ren: Nora, nobody is arguing with you about this.

Rex looks up to the sky, with a single tear rolling down his cheek.

Rex: I did it, dad. I did it.

A short while later, all of the teens except Rex and Ruby gather around a cake. Ruby instead sits nearby in the bleachers. Penny uses six of her swords to cut the cake into even slices. Weiss, Crim, Mason, and Ren stand together, eating their personal slices, and Nora moves over to them with a stack of six slices. Mason, Crim, Ren and Weiss stare in surprise as Nora eats an entire slice in one bite.

Kyla: Oi, at least save some of us a piece!

Yang shows off her prosthetic arm to Penny, who looks at it in awe. Yang then offers to shake Penny's hand with the prosthetic arm, a sneaky grin on her face. Penny happily takes her hand, only for the arm to detach, causing Penny to gasp in surprise. Yang, Rin, Briana, and Nora laugh, and after a moment, Penny laughs, too.

Blake stands alone, eating her cake in calm silence. Suddenly, Shane swiftly moves up beside Blake, putting his arm around her and holding up his Scroll with the camera function on. Blake looks at Shane with wide eyes and a confused smile, and when the Scroll's camera begins rapidly clicking, she turns her head and grins at it with a small, awkward laugh.

Ruby and Rex watches as Shane and Yang continues to take selfies with Luke and Blake, Nora talks with Penny, and Jaune talks with Weiss and Ren. She leans Rex on his shoulder as he leaned on her head. Qrow walks over to them.

Qrow: Hey Rex, your mother wants to talk to you.

Rex: Alright, be right back, Ruby.

He gets up and leaves Ruby to her uncle.

Qrow: Big day for you, huh, kiddo?

He walks over and sits next to Ruby.

Ruby: It's... definitely a lot to take in.

Qrow: Which part? The finally getting to Atlas part, getting your license part, or the not quite disclosing everything to Ironwood part? Or... all of the above?

Ruby: (soft laugh) All of the above. I'm trying to do what I think is best, but I really can't tell if what's best is what's right, or if I'm no different from Oz.

Qrow: Ruby, Oz only trusted himself with the whole truth. You're trusting others, but you're making sure they prove themselves first. I think that's a pretty big difference.

Ruby: I hope so.

She withdraws her Scroll and looks at her license.

Ruby: This says I'm a Huntress now. But I don't feel like I know much more than I did at Beacon.

Qrow: (laughs a little) That feeling never goes away. Your mom, Summer, would be proud of you.

She smiles at him, but that smile soon fades as she thinks to herself.

Ruby: Her... last mission. Was that another Oz secret?

Qrow: Hm. There were a lot of those back in our day. But this one was a Summer secret. When she didn't come back, Ozpin seemed just as in the dark as myself and your father. Still, who knows what he may have hidden from us over the years.

Ruby: What do you think she would've done if she learned the truth about Salem? That she can't be destroyed.

Qrow: Pressed on, I think. Like you. She was always the best of us.

He pulls Ruby over to rest her head against his shoulder, smiling.

Qrow: Bit of a brat, though. But hey, I like brats.

Ruby playfully elbows him in the ribs and laughs.

Qrow: But since we have a plan to actually defeat her, Rex is our only hope for this.

Ruby: True. I trust Rexy.

(Meanwhile)

Rex walks over to the bleachers on the opposite side of the arena entrance, where Mia is sitting.

Rex: Hey mom.

Mia: (smiles) So, you finally did it. After all these years when you first decided you wanted to follow in Max's footsteps.

Rex: Yeah... Mom... I wanted to thank you.

Mia: Thank me?

Rex: For everything you've done for me, when dad died, I had no one but you and Rin. You taught me swordfighting along with many teachers.

Mia: Son...

Mia pulls Rex in for a hug as tears falls down her face.

Mia: Do you remember what happened at Beacon before the fall?

Rex: How could I forget?

Mia: When I heard that you were dead, I thought I really lost you for good. Back home, I kept praying for you to return to life. Guess my prayers finally came true.

Rex: I have my old friends to thank for that. (Points his Core Crystal on his chest) Don't forget with this on me, I can't die. Just like Salem. I don't think I'm not that powerful enough to beat her, though.

Mia: You always did have your father's determination and recklessness.

Rex: Oh hey, I meant to tell you something. What were his last words when he left?

Mia: His last words? Well... He said "I always come back". He said those words just to remind you that he will be a part of us and our family.

Rex: Wow...

Rin: Rex! Come down here!

Yang: Hey, Ruby! Come check this out!

Yang points behind herself with her thumb. Rex and Ruby zooms over to the group, who are staring at something.

Ruby: (gasp) Oh my gosh, is that a mission board? It's an app now!?

She zooms over to the mission board, pointing at different missions.

Ruby: Can we ride a Megoliath? Stop an underground crime ring? Do I get to go...

She turns away, puts on her hood, and turns back to Penny, doing a dramatic expression.

Ruby: (fake accent) ...undercover?

Ruby flares her cloak out, knocking the hood off her head, and begins shaking Penny up and down.

Penny: Maaaybeee!

Marrow's voice comes from nearby, and Ruby stops shaking Penny.

Marrow: Hey, do you guys smell that?

He walks in with Elm and Vine, dramatically sniffing the air.

Marrow: Smells like... fresh meat.

Vine: (sniffs) That's odd. I don't smell meat.

Ren: (sniffs) Neither do I.

Marrow: (groan) You know what? Nevermind.

Kyla: Ren, it's a metaphor. Marrow meant us as fresh meat. Like another way of saying "rookies".

Ren: Ohhh... So, he was dramatic?

Kyla: Obviously.

Marrow: You too, Kyla?!

Kyla: Oh, bite me, furball.

Elm: Let me get this straight. You've only been official for an hour now and you're already looking for Huntsman work?

Weiss: (holding up a finger) To be fair, we've been official for a whole...

Weiss withdraws her Scroll and checks the time. It is 8:42.

Weiss: (disappointed) Fifty-seven minutes.

Nora playfully rolls her eyes at Weiss.

Vine: I'd like to remind you all that the real mission here is ensuring the successful launch of the communications tower.

Ren: True, but we can also keep training and improving by helping where we can.

Elm: (happy sigh, does a fist pump) The enthusiasm of youths!

Marrow: Well, it's hard to argue with that. Okay, let me show you how it works.

Marrow walks over to the mission board, scrolls up on it and selects an Escort mission.

Marrow: Ooh, here's an important one. Who wants to volunteer?

He turns to look, and RWBY, REBL, JNPR, Shane, Mason, Crim, Athena, Kyla, and Flora all raise their hands, calling out "Yes!" and "Alright!"

Marrow: We need someone to escort children to pre-primary school down in Mantle. There's not actually any danger, but the parents fret, and that attracts Grimm.

Everyone but Jaune drops their hands down.

Marrow: Perfect! Thanks... (uncertain) Juan... Jwan... Jim?

Rex: It's Jaune.

Jaune: Close enough, I guess. (awkward chuckle) Wow, my first Huntsman mission.

Elm slides over and knocks Marrow aside with her palm, causing him to scream.

Elm: Next!

She quickly swipes down on the mission board, causing the missions to scroll by rapidly. She slaps one of the missions, bringing up a Search and Destroy mission with an image depicting a rotating 3D model of a Sabyr.

Elm: A massive Sabyr is loose in the Mantle sewers! We need two brave warriors to flush it out!

Athena: Kyla, has she always been this enthusiastic?

Kyla: You have no idea.

Flora: Come to think of it, I think she always exaggerates.

Everyone but Jaune raises their hands, gasping excitedly, and Jaune looks around, bewildered.

Jaune: Wha-- But-- Why didn't I get a choice for that one?

His friends begin laughing at him.

Shane: Since we became professional huntsmen, we like to give you guys a performance.

Rin: It's a singing and dancing performance.

Luke: It's kind of our thing.

Elm: (scoffs) If that's true, then show us what you got.

Vine: I'm also interested.

Team REBL and Rex huddled up.

Elena: What kind of song are we gonna choose?

Briana: Don't look at me! I don't have any options left!

Luke: Then what song are we gonna sing?

Rin: Guys! Guys! Listen, I have an idea. And that goes for you girls.

Athena, Flora, and Kyla: Us?

They all stopped huddling and started a brand new song.

Rex and Team REBL:
From the North to the South
From the East to the West
Lost boys, lost girls
You all know you're the best
Hit the streets, it's your day
Turn it up, now's your chance
It's time to get up on your feet and dance

Woo

Briana:
Anybody wanna be like us?
Everybody wanna be like us

Hey

Luke:
All the boys from Auradon
And the girls 'cause they know what's up

Huh

Rin:
Your life could change today (2x)

Rex:
These streets named after us
Because we paved the way (c'mon)

Elena:
Everyone come and take your shot
Now's the time, show 'em what you got (ah)
'Cause everyone is gonna get their chance

Athena:
They said that being from the Isle was bad

Boys, girls, and Team REBL:
Well, it's good to be bad
And we're proof of that
Used to be lost, now we're on the map
Used to steal stacks, now we're giving back
Remember that

(It's good to be) bad

Boys, girls, and Team REBL:
If you got pride
Raise your V's up high
Wave 'em wide, side to side
Feel the vibe
It's good to be bad

Kyla:
I wanna see you all rep your block (2x)

Hey

Kyla:
Show your pride, let me hear ya shout
We're from the Isle of the Lost

(yes)

Athena:
We're here to celebrate
We're here to elevate
If you're down, then make your move
But you best not hesitate

Come on

Flora:
Today's the day that you won't forget
The best to come ain't happened yet (ah)
Take a bow, it won't be your last
You're from the Isle if anybody asks

Boys, girls, and Team REBL:
It's good to be bad
And we're proof of that
Used to be lost, now we're on the map
Used to steal stacks, now we're giving back
Remember that

(It's good to be) bad

Boys, girls, and Team REBL:
If you got pride
Raise your V's up high
Wave 'em wide, side to side
Feel the vibe
It's good to be bad

Mason:
They can try to deny our style
But we were born this way
'Cause you can take the VK outta the Isle
But you can't take the Isle out the VK

Luke:
If you wanna make it hype, not a moment to waste
Make it loud, make it live, make it jump to the bass

Yang was fanning herself that her boyfriend was rapping.

Luke:
Make it what you want, but you'd better make your case
'Cause the Isle makes us and we're reppin' this place

Shane and Rex:
So when I say "V", you say "K"
V!

Girls:
K!

Rex and Shane:
V!

Girls:
K!

Shane and Rex:
When I say "all", you say "day"
All!

Girls:
Day!

Rex and Shane:
All!

Girls:
Day!

Shane and Rex:
When I say "V", you say "K"
V!

Girls:
K!

Rex and Shane:
V!

Girls:
K!

Shane and Rex:
When I say "all", you say "day"

Everyone:
All day!

Rex, Luke, Shane, Crim, Mason, Athena, Kyla, and Flora dance with each other as Rin, Briana, and Elena act as though they are playing the drums to the beat of the song.

Come on

Hey

(It's good to be) bad

Boys, girls, and Team REBL:
It's good to be bad
And we're proof of that
Used to be lost, now we're on the map
Used to steal stacks, now we're giving back
Remember that

(It's good to be) bad

Boys, girls, and Team REBL:
If you got pride
Raise your V's up high
Wave 'em wide, side to side
Feel the vibe
It's good to be,

bad

As the song ended, everyone cheered super hard.

Marrow: Whoa... That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!

Elm: Now that was the biggest performance in all my life! You guys are really talented!

Vine: What a nice show you guys put on.

Rex: What do you expect from us students at Beacon?

Penny: Your dance was incredible, Rex!

Rex: Thanks, Pen!

(Meanwhile)

Jacques sits alone in his dimly lit office, drinking from a glass with a spherical ice cube in it. The door opens partway.

Whitley: (nervous) Father, you, um... have a visitor.

Jacques slams his glass down on the arm of his chair.

Jacques: I told you I didn't want to be disturbed. Why did you let them in?

Whitley: I didn't. He... let himself in.

Watts grabs the door and pulls it the rest of the way open, walking into the room as Whitley moves out of his way.

Watts: A spitting image of you, this lad, Jacques. Creepily so, I might add.

Whitley stands in the hall, holding the door open and watching as Watts walks around Jacques' office.

Watts: He's definitely inherited your... affect.

Jacques: (shocked) Arthur.

Jacques takes a second to gather himself, then looks at Whitley.

Jacques: (commanding) Whitley, leave us. And shut the door.

Whitley looks confused and then looks suspiciously at Watts.

Jacques: I said shut the door!

Jacques once again slams his glass down, and Whitley closes the door. Jacques turns his attention back to Watts.

Jacques: I-- You're supposed to be dead.

Watts: That is what I wanted people to think. You're right. However, I've heard things about you too, Jacques. Namely, that you have an Ironwood problem.

Jacques: That bastard is costing me more money every day with this embargo. I'd lay off every employee in Mantle if I wasn't trying to get their damn votes for this Council seat.

Watts sits in the chair next to Jacques'.

Watts: What if I said you can have your cake...

Watts: and eat it, too?

END OF PART 82