You follow the soldiers as they lead the way to the Crimson Castle. You feel Weiss take a hold of your hand and the two of you look into each other's eyes, not saying anything but conveying a message. "It's okay as long as we're together." Your group reaches the castle as a small figure in royal garb walks up with tons of fanfare.

Your Thoughts: That's the Red King?

Vice: He's shorter than I expected.

Ruby: You're the Red King?

The figure scoffs.

??? ??????: How dare you! There is no King! I'm the Red Prince! Who do you think you are coming to someone's castle without knowing who they are? And on my birthday.

Soldiers: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUR MAJESTY!

Red Prince: Yes yes. A joyous occasion. Thank you very much.

Blake whispers to Ruby and you catch what she says.

Blake: Red Prince?

Yang: The king was never this rude, or small, or loud...

Soldier 2: Well if it wasn't for your kind, the King would still be here.

Ruby bows to the prince.

Ruby: Happy birthday, your majesty.

Little: Happy birthday!

Weiss: Happy birthday...

Blake: Umm... Happy birthday.

Yang: Happy birthday, I guess...

Y/N: Happy birthday, your highness.

Vice: Happy birthday!

The prince gasps and climbs a soldier.

Red Prince: How do you know such privileged information! You must be infiltrators! Here for my crown!

Y/N: Um... Your highness... You just told us it's your birthday.

Weiss: And you've advertised it... Everywhere...

Red Prince: Silence! You are in the presence of royalty!

A guard kisses his hand.

Red Prince: That's me. Thank you. The heir to the Crimson Castle!

Weiss whispers to Blake: Did I used to be that unbearably pompous?

One of the soldiers shoves Blake and Weiss aside and you catch your girlfriend with one arm and grab Blake with the other.

Y/N: Hey!

Soldier 1: Your Majesty. We brought you a gift we found.

Yang: That's not-

The second soldier elbows her.

Soldier 2: Yes! All us.

The first soldier unwraps Penny's sword and the Prince's face sours.

Red Prince: Why. Is. It. GREEN?!

He kicks the sword over the hedge and you growl through grit teeth.

Soldier 2: Forgive us, your highness! We didn't know it was green!

Soldier 1: Please forgive us!

Red Prince: Take them away.

Guards grab the soldiers and drag them behind the hedge.

Soldier 2: Wait! Please! They gave it to us!

Soldier 1: Please have mercy!

Once they're behind the hedge, you hear the sound of an axe coming down and wince.

Ruby: Your Majesty. Maybe we can cheer you up.

The Prince scratches her chin.

Red Prince: Beheading people does cheer me up... But go on.

Ruby: We heard you like to play games.

Your group is taken to a room with a chessboard. The Prince sits on his throne and adjusts his crown.

Red Prince: So...  What do you want if you win. There's always a catch.

Ruby: You're as wise as you are...

Little whispers in her ear.

Ruby: Small!

Vice: We're dead...

The Prince gasps but smiles with a bow.

Red Prince: Thank you!

Ruby: Our only request if we win is for your help getting to... The tree.

Red Prince: The tree? It's... So far away...

Ruby: That's why we're asking.

The Red Prince looks at your group and nods.

Red Prince: Very well. If you win, I shall fulfill your request.

Ruby: Thank you. So uh... How do we play?

This gets the Prince and his guards to laugh.

Red Prince: Rule one!

The pawn pieces on the board come to life.

Red Prince: Every player can move their pawns one space each turn. Two!

One of the pawns falls over.

Red Prince: Whoever gets the most pawns to the other side of the board wins. Three! To take over a space, you must dispose of whoever occupies it.

The red pawns draw their weapons but the white pawns on Ruby's side look worse for wear.

Ruby: I think I'm missing some pawns.

Y/N: I have something that can help. If his Majesty will allow.

The Prince nods in approval and you pull out the Rex Vistamp.

Rex!

You stamp yourself and Vice manifests, turning into a smaller version of himself.

Vice: Tiny Vice!

Red Prince: Impressive. But you still need four more.

Red smoke envelopes Weiss, Blake, and Yang and they get shrunken down as well.

Weiss: Hey!

Little: We're all Littles!

Yang: We're okay!

Blake: The only thing that matters is winning this game!

Red Prince: You may take the first turn. Begin!

Ruby: Um... You.

She points at a White Pawn.

Ruby: Take that space.

The pawn tries to fight a Red Pawn but gets knocked out.

Red Prince: The first victory is mine.

Ruby: Um... What about one of you three?

Three more pawns are sent in but not a single one stands a chance against the Prince's Pawn.

Vice: Send me in, coach!

Ruby: Okay. Vice, can you take it?

Vice: With pleasure!

He runs at the Red Pawn and ducks under its weapon. He gets behind the Pawn and laughs maniacally.

Vice: Tiny Demon Suplex!

He suplexes the Pawn and knocks it out, surprising the Prince.

Little: Go Vice!

The Demon does a rock on sign with his hand as he laughs.

Vice: Hell yeah!

Red Prince: Beginner's luck. So... Why do you wish to go to the tree.

Ruby: We want to go home and we think the tree is the only way back. Weiss, you're up!

Weiss charges forward, taking out a second Red Pawn.

Red Prince: And...

You can tell the Prince is not used to someone putting up a fight.

Red Prince: How are you so sure?

Ruby: We know someone who did it before. Yang, Blake, your turn.

Yang punches another Pawn and Blake takes out another.

Red Prince: Enough! My turn! Forward!

The Red Pawns run forward and the two sides get into a full on brawl.

Red Prince: This isn't how it's supposed to be! Wait... What kind of creatures did you say you are?

Ruby: Well... Blake's a Faunus. Little's a mouse, I think.

Little: Sure.

Ruby: Vice is a Demon and the rest of us are human.

The last word echoes through the chamber.

Red Prince: HUMAN?! I KNEW IT! YOU MUST'VE CHEATED! ALL OF YOU GET THEM!

Y/N: NO!!!

The Pawns on both sides turn on Weiss, Blake, Yang, and Vice but you're fast to react, holding the Ohinbuster's blade to the Prince's neck. The anger that's been swelling up since Atlas has finally reached its breaking point. You stare directly into the Prince's eyes and the tension becomes thick enough to cut with a knife.

Guard: Your highness!

You give a quick glare to the guard and he backs away.

Y/N: Call. Them. Off. Or you'll be the one beheaded...

???: If I may.

You notice a strange cat get between you and the Prince.

Cat: Can we please calm down before someone... Loses their head?

The cat makes its head disappear.

Red Prince: But it's my birthday!

Cat: I know, your Majesty. It truly isn't fair. It must hurt your heart. Let me help.

The cat places its paw on the Prince's heart and he calms down a little.

Red Prince: Fine. I won't behead them. But I never want to see them again!

Cat: Of course.

Ruby: What about our friends? He made a promise.

Cat: Promises are like birds. Tasty but escape easily. I suggest you leave before he changes his mind.

Red Prince: You're BANISHED!

Cat: Come! Quickly!

You grab Weiss and Ruby grabs Blake and Yang. A soldier tries to grab Vice but your Demon returns to his normal size and flies back into your body. You then run out of the room. The cat leads the group to a secret passage and you growl.

Y/N: And who exactly are you? Some other... Thing that wants to turn us into pies or something?

Cat: Pies? Goodness no. I'm a fan of pie.

Y/N: Stop screwing around!

You go for your Ohinbuster again but Ruby stops you.

Weiss: Y/N... Calm down...

You breathe as you punch a wall.

Y/N: I'm tired of pretending everything's okay. The three of you are the size of mice, we had to deal with a raccoon con man, and now we're stuck with a talking cat. And I've been pretty much useless since we got here.

Weiss touches your cheek.

Weiss: We will get home. Everything will be okay...

You calm down after a few deep breaths.

Y/N: Right...

Cat: And why exactly are you here?

Ruby: We want to go home.

Cat: And where is home?

The cat leads you outside and starts chasing a butterfly.

Y/N: I already hate this cat...

Blake: Alyx found the Curious Cat and it guided her to the tree.

Yang: Ruby, follow that cat!

End of Part 54