It's been about a day since the battle at Haven. You were surprised to find that Blake returned. Weiss explained that she came to Haven to stop the White Fang.

Y/N: It's good to see you again, Blake.

The Cat Faunus smiles.

Blake: Same. I've missed all of you.

Ozpin: Now that all of you are present. I need to explain something. The Relic of Knowledge. Without the Spring Maiden, we can't seal it back in its Vault. That's why we must take it to Atlas.

He holds up a golden lamp that glows with blue light.

Ruby: What does the Relic do exactly?

Ozpin: It is able to answer three questions every 100 years.

Nora: Oh! What can we ask for?! Can we ask for more questions?!

Ren: They aren't wishes.

Ozpin: You won't be able to ask it anything. I used the questions up before I sealed it away.

Emily: And here I was gonna ask if I will become an aunt in the future.

This makes you and Weiss jump, which since you're still hurt, makes you wince.

Both: Will you stop?!

Emily: Sorry. It's just so fun teasing you two.

Lovekov: Love! Love!

Qrow: We'll take a train to Argus. Then we should be able to get the Atleasian military there to take us to Ironwood.

Blake: But I thought Atlas called back all their military.

Daniel: Argus acts as a border of sorts between Anima and Solitas. It would make sense Ironwood would leave some of his force there to act as border patrol.

Nora: We should be able to convince them. We have the missing Schnee Heiress after all.

Weiss frowns.

Weiss: Former heiress actually. And do you know how hard it was to sneak out of Atlas?

Y/N: Don't worry... If your father wants to take you home, it'll be over my dead body.

Ruby: And the rest of your team's got your back.

A timeskip and our group is loading their stuff in the train you'll be travelling on.

Daniel: This train's a straightaway from Mistral to Argus.

You lift up your suitcase and set it in the cubby. You sit down and look at the Volcano Vistamp before putting it away.

Meanwhile... On another part of the train, a familiar duo is sitting in a private car. Aguilera and Julio, though in casual clothes... Aguilera looks out the window and sighs.

Aguilera: Are you sure about this?

Julio: Sure. Fenix is in possession of Lord Giff's casket. Argus is the only way to sneak into Atlas. Though... I'm not really happy about coming back here.

Aguilera: You were born here, right?

Julio: Yeah... But I moved away years ago.

Meanwhile, Hazel, Emerald, and Mercury return to Salem.

Salem: Tell me... How could you have failed so spectacularly?

Hazel: ... I take full responsibility for-

Salem throws the table aside, dropping it on Tyrian.

Salem: But that wouldn't be fair to you would it?! You weren't responsible for Haven.

Grimm arms rise out of the ground and hold Hazel in place.

Salem: Emerald... Tell me... Who was responsible for your failure?

Emerald stares in terror.

Salem: Well?

Emerald: Cinder! It was Cinder...

Salem releases Hazel from the arms' grasp.

Salem: Correct... That's why she must struggle and earn her place back in our group.

Emerald: She's alive?

Salem ignores the question.

Salem: Where is Olteca? He was with you, correct?

Mercury: Haven't seen him since Haven. Maybe he got arrested.

Salem: Doubtful. He's likely plotting something related to Giff... He's an interesting one...

Hazel: I... Have more to report...

The arms threaten to grab Hazel once more.

Salem: And?

Hazel: Qrow and his group are taking the Relic to Atlas... Lead by... Ozpin...

The air grows cold at the mention of Ozpin.

Watts: If he gets Ironwood to see reason, that will be trouble.

The windows start to crack.

Salem: ... Leave...

The group runs out of the room and the doors shut behind them before Salem screams in rage.

Back to our group on the train, you doze off and Weiss drapes a blanket over your shoulders. She looks at your burns.

Weiss: His Aura isn't healing these burns...

Jaune: My Semblance hasn't been working on him either to amplify his Aura.

There's a roar. Ruby looks outside to see Manticore Grimm lead by a Sphinx Grimm.

You wake up and look as well.

Y/N: We got company.

You go for your Driver but Weiss stops you.

Weiss: Let us handle this. You don't need to get hurt anymore than what you are.

Y/N: But...

Ruby: We got this, Y/N.

Y/N: ... Fine...

Vice: Aw man! We're missing out on the fun!

You sit down as the group climbs to the roof to fight the Grimm. You hear a little girl crying in fear and walk over to her and her parents.

Y/N: It's okay. The Huntsmen can handle this. We need to be brave, okay?

You kneel down and smile.

Girl: Okay...

You look at the parents.

Y/N: We'll protect all of you.

The others step inside.

Ruby: Why are they even here?

Ozpin: I'm afraid it's because of this.

He holds up the Relic.

Qrow: Oz, what do you mean?

Ozpin: The Relics have a drawback. While they are outside the Vaults, Grimm can sense them...

Yang: What?! Why didn't tell us?!

Ruby: That isn't important right now. Ren, can you use your Semblance to mask the passengers' emotions?

Ren: I... Haven't used it on so many people before...

Jaune: I'll help.

Weiss: He can amplify your Aura.

Qrow: Our team will split up. Get the passengers to the front half of the train. Ruby, her team, Oscar, and I will stay on the back half with the Lamp. The rest of you will go to Argus.

Y/N: We can fight.

You try to grab your Driver but Weiss grabs it.

Weiss: I'm not going to let you kill yourself like this!

Y/N: Weiss...

Weiss: You put others ahead of yourself so much you don't even seem to care about your own well-being. Go with the others... Please...

Y/N: Okay... We'll see you in Argus.

You hug her and follow JNR, your team, and George as their group goes out to face the Grimm.

Y/N: ... I guess I should get some rest...

You get settled in a corner and close your eyes. Vice looks at you in concern.

Vice: ...

Your group safely arrives in Argus and get the passengers off the train. As the passengers leave, Jaune takes your group to what he explains is his sister's house. The door opens to reveal two young women, one with blonde hair and pale skin like Jaune, and another with dark skin and hair with glasses. The blonde woman hugs Jaune and smiles.

???????: Long time no see, Jaune.

Jaune: Good to see you, Sis.

The blonde looks at your group.

???????: Hey. You must be Jaune's friends. I'm Saphron and this is my wife, Terra.

The other woman adjusts her glasses.

Terra: Nice to meet all of you. Please come in. Try to be a bit quiet though, I just got our son down for a nap.

??????: Daniel?

Your indigo haired teammate turns to see a girl around your age with bright brown hair reaching her shoulders.

Daniel: Chiaki.

The two hold each other and most of your group just looks confused.

Emily: Who is...

Daniel: Oh. Right. This is Chiaki Browne, my fiance.

Emily & Nora: Fiance?

Vice: I had no idea Dan-Dan was engaged!

Daniel: Chiaki, these are my friends and team.

Emily: Nice to meet you, I'm Emily L/N.

August: I'm August L/N

Y/N: I'm their older brother, Y/N.

Jaune: Jaune Arc.

Nora: Name's Nora!

Ren: I'm Lie Ren.

Daniel: And you remember George Goldenrod.

George: Yo, been a while.

Chiaki: Nice to meet all of you. Daniel, does your mom know you're back in Argus?

Daniel: I actually wanted to go see her while I was here. You want to go together?

Chiaki: Sure.

Daniel: I'll see you all later.

August: Stay safe.

The two leave and the rest of you go inside. Terra goes into the kitchen to make lunch as the rest of you take a seat except you. Saphron looks at your injuries.

Saphron: You really shouldn't travel with those kind of burns. Come on. Let's get you settled in bed to heal.

Y/N: But-

Emily: Don't worry about it. We'll take your lunch to you when it's ready.

You follow Sapphron as she leads you to a guest room.

Sapphron: Make yourself at home.

Y/N: Thanks...

You enter as the blonde shuts the door behind you, leaving you and Vice. You sit in bed and stare at the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Aguilera and Julio walk down the street. No one recognizes them but one young man looks at Julio.

?????: Wait... Is that you, Lyon?

Julio: I'm afraid you... Have me mistaken for someone else.

He quickly grabs Aguilera's hand and runs off before the guy can say anything, hiding in an alley so no one can find them.

Aguilera: Care to explain?

Julio: It's something I'd rather forget...

Meanwhile... The Faunus who attacked Blake in Beacon and the one who cut off Yang's arm, Adam Taurus, is standing in a room with dead White Fang littered across the floor.

Olteca: My my... You certainly lost your cool.

Adam tries to swing his sword but Olteca is in his Deadman form and blocks with his umbrella-like weapon.

Olteca: Easy now... I have some information you might like to hear. Concerning that little Cat Faunus you're so fixated on.

Adam: ...

The Bull Faunus sheathes his sword.

Adam: I'm listening...

Olteca: She and the rest of her group are on their way to Atlas as we speak. But to get to Atlas they have to make one stop.

Adam: Argus...

Olteca: Yep. And it's likely with Ironwood closing Atlas's borders, they'll basically be stuck in one place. Perfect to hunt them down.

Adam: ... Why are you telling me this?

Olteca: I'm like you, I hate humanity with a passion.

End of Part 33