-3rd P.O.V.-
-Atlas-
-Day Time-

(The sun rises over Atlas Academy while Team RWBY snores in their beds.)

Penny: Salutations!

(Team RWBY are startled awake by Penny shouting her greeting in the middle of their dorm room.)

Penny: *in a sing-song voice* Good morning, Team RWBY!

Yang: Ugh, Penny. What time is it even?

Penny: Time to be Huntresses, of course!

(Penny strikes a pose, holding up two fingers by her head and winking. Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang groan, while Ruby Rose excitedly gets to her feet.)

Ruby: YAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!

(Jaune walks into a briefing room with a coffee mug and heads over to where Team RWBY, the Ace Operatives and his teammates are sitting...

He takes a seat and cheerfully prepares to sip his steaming hot coffee, only to notice Marrow Amin staring and wagging his tail. Jaune frowns and hands the mug to Marrow.)

Jaune: *sighs* Sure, take it.

(Marrow drinks the coffee, while Jaune hangs his head...

Shorty after a coffee mug is appearing infront of Jaune, he looks up and notices Y/N with his Ace Op uniform and his own coffee mug on his left hand.)

Jaune: *smiles* Thanks, man.

Y/N: No worries, mate.

Clover: Eyes up, Huntsmen. Time to get used to the new normal in Atlas.

(Sometime later, Ruby and Qrow Branwen are riding in a truck that is being driven by an Atlesian Knight-200. Qrow has fallen asleep, so Ruby looks annoyed and elbows him awake.)

Clover: Your top priority is Amity Tower. That means protecting supply runs from Grimm and bandits. And protecting the site itself.

(Ruby and Weiss drop down from the sky toward a Manticore outside the Schnee Dust Company Mine #2. Weiss severs its tail, and Ruby cuts it in half...

Weiss then levitates a group of Beowolves into the air to allow Ruby to more easily kill them, then turns her attention to a group of Sabyrs...

Weiss forms a replica of her Arma Gigas' sword out of ice and uses a glyph to swing it, instantly slaying the Sabyrs. With the Grimm in the area killed, Ruby gives a thumbs up to three Mantas as they fly overhead.)

Clover: Diverting all construction resources to Amity Tower means there are going to be gaps in Mantle's defenses against Grimm. They'll need help on the perimeter.

(Nora follows Ren along the top of Mantle's outer wall, playing with his braid as Phyrra is seen following the two behind them...

Ren hears growling below and stops to look, causing Nora to bump into him. The three of them look down at the Sabyrs approaching the wall and draw their weapons...

Inside of the abandoned Dust mine, Yang, Blake and Marrow fight Beowolves. After they kill a few of the Grimm, Marrow turns to Blake and Yang.)

Marrow: Hey, have you two ever thought about branching out a little? You always pair up, but I don't know if your styles really--

(Yang's eyes turn red upon spotting another Beowolf that comes running toward her. She uses the recoil from her weapons to launch herself at it and punches it in the head...

She then rapidly attaches several explosives to its abdomen and slides between its legs to get behind it. Blake tosses her sickle to Yang, who stabs it into the Beowolf's chest and fires Ember Celica to launch the Beowolf into the air...

Blake tugs on her ribbon to throw the Beowolf toward two more Beowolves closer to the mine entrance, at which point Yang's explosives go off, killing all three...

Marrow watches the whole event and turns back to Blake and Yang, who give him disapproving looks.)

Marrow: Really, really good stuff! Yeah, keep it up.

Yang: Just be lucky Y/N isn't here with us.

(A screech of pain is heard in the distance, they look over and see Miltia surprisingly taking care of the last Beowolf.)

Blake: Good one, Miltia.

Miltia: *grins sassily* That was easy.

(Jaune stands on a crosswalk somewhere in Mantle, holding up a small stop sign, while five small children cross the street.)

Jaune: Single file line, you know the drill.

Clover: But there's still plenty to do in Mantle itself.

(A group of five young women stand on the sidewalk nearby, watching Jaune and giggling excitedly. Four of them strike poses, grinning at him...

One of the four winks, while another holds out her hand, gesturing for him. The fifth looks away shyly...

Meanwhile, a blonde woman in a red coat has approached Jaune with a large casserole.)

Jaune: *awkwardly* Oh, another casserole. That's too kind.

(The blonde woman repeatedly attempts to hand the casserole to the reluctant Jaune before forcibly shoving it into his arms, blushing and striking a pose...

Meanwhile, a small blonde child in a red coat looks back at her and then sticks their tongue out in disgust and continues walking.)

Clover: I think you'll find everyone appreciates having a Huntsman around.

(Across the street, Nora, Phyrra and Melanie watch Jaune.)

Nora: It's totally the haircut.

Phyrra: *pouting jealously* Definitely...

(Melanie simple giggles at her friend's jealousy...

Sometime in the later hours, a Sabyr runs into an alleyway in Mantle. It stops and turns around to face Y/N and Neo, who are chasing it. The two exchange a look with a smile and then charge into the alley.)

Clover: You're of course free to enjoy your time off as you see fit. Whatever helps you take the edge off.

(In a huge training room, Weiss summons her Arma Gigas while Winter Schnee watches her. Weiss looks back at her sister with a smile, meanwhile Winter returns the smile and nods her head in approval of her improvement.)

Ironwood: You may still hear Oz, but i want you to see if you can stand for yourself.

(Ironwood and Oscar enter the training room.)

Oscar: What did you have in mind?

(Ironwood turns to Oscar in a battle-ready pose, and Oscar draws his cane and gets into a battle pose. The two then charge each other.)

Clover: The Huntsmen around you can be an invaluable resource. If you're willing to pay attention.

(In the training room, Jaune slides back after blocking a hit with his shield. He then scales a stack of blocks and begins jumping from stack to stack...

Vine uses an Aura arm to punch one of the stacks just as Jaune lands on it, causing the latter to fall with a scream. Vine catches him with the arm and places him on top of another stack of blocks.)

Vine: Have you ever thought about extending your Aura?

Clover: But make no mistake, school's over. You get to choose what type of Huntsman or Huntress you are.

(Ren leaps from a wall of blocks behind Elm Ederne and fires his weapon's blades, wrapping the cables around her right arm...

He yanks on the cables, causing her to stumble a little, but she stomps on the floor, using her Semblance to root herself in place...

She jerks on the cables, turns and puts her left arm out, causing Ren to slam into it and tumble across the floor. He pushes himself to his feet and looks at her with a determined expression.)

Ren: Again.

(Harriet runs in circles with her Semblance, while Ruby dashes alongside her with her own Semblance, with Weiss using her glyphs to help Ruby...

For a while, Harriet is ahead of Ruby, but Ruby catches up and then passes her. Marrow, Elm and Vine watch from nearby...

Next scene appears and it shows Y/N using his semblance to combine multiple semblances at once...

First, he copies Weiss' semblance and summons his brute knight with his two-hands wielded axe on his hands, then he fuses it with Boarbatusk traits...

Secondly, he copies Blake's semblance to maximize his speed while he's wielding Judgement Day on his hand, trying to mimic an attack from a ninja...)

(And finally, Y/N combines Hazel and Weiss' semblances to make a fusion summon of an Arma Gigas made out of fire dust, making the flames visible under its armor as well as for its sword...

Inside the observation room, everyone was utterly impressed by his multiple displays...

Another morning comes, and Penny greets Team RWBY in their dorm room at sunrise. Weiss tiredly walks across the room while brushing her teeth with an electric toothbrush...

Blake begins heading out of the room but then looks back to see Yang standing in one spot in a sleepy daze, so she grabs Yang's arm and pulls her out of the room. While this goes on, Ruby excitedly drops down from her bunk and talks to Penny.)

Ruby: Penny, Penny! So yesterday, Weiss and I were like *grunts* and they were like *screams*

(In the briefing room, Jaune walks over to Marrow with two coffee mugs and hands him one. He then sits in-between Marrow and Y/N and the three clink their mugs together.)

Clover: So, what's it gonna be?

(Team RWBY sits together in the briefing room, with Weiss, Blake and Yang growing more and more tired while Ruby continues to be excited. Eventually, only Ruby is left awake, sitting still with a smile on her face...

Weiss is leaned against Ruby's left shoulder, while Yang is leaned against her right shoulder, and Blake lays across Yang's lap, with Yang's hand on her arm.)

-Scene Change-
-Training Room-

(Sometime later in the training room, Flynt Coal blasts down a block wall with his Semblance, while Jaune blocks the blast with his shield and Hard-Light Dust. Neon Katt skates by, with Nora chasing her.)

Neon: Never miss a beat, never miss a beat. Excuse me!

(Neon turns and pulls her bottom eyelid down, sticking her tongue out and blowing a raspberry at Nora. She then turns and weaves around block pillars, laughing, while Nora smashes through the pillars with Magnhild. The blocks disintegrate when they are damaged.)

Neon: Come on, lightning bolt, aren't you supposed to be fast?

(Neon skates away into a room-like area. Ren has taken cover behind a block pillar, occasionally leaning out to fire at Ivori, who blocks the bullets with his whip.)

Neon: Wow, your boyfriend's actually holding his own!

(Neon comes back to where Ren is from the room-like area and leaps over him. As he raises his guns to fire at Ivori, she hits the guns with her nunchaku, using Ice Dust to encase the guns and Ren's hands in ice.)

Neon: Where's all that energy when he's around you?

(She points at Nora while she talks, then skates away. Just as Ivori raises his whip to attack Ren, Nora fires a grenade, which hits him in the torso, knocking him down. Nora then hops onto Manghild and uses it to fly after Neon, growling angrily. The two speed past Oscar and Kobalt and turn the corner.)

Neon: Wee!

(Phyrra attempts to attack Kobalt with her sword. However, Kobalt dodges it, taking a step back and throws a roundhouse kick at her. Phyrra then raises her shield up and blocks his kick before she throws a kick of her own, pushing him back a distance...

Ironwood, who is watching the spar from an observation room, nodding his head in approval with a smile on his face...

Flynt is slammed into a wall by an unknown assailant, and someone flings Kobalt from behind a wall on the other side of the room. Neon skates into the room-like area, laughing. When she comes to a stop, she sees Jaune standing in one of the doorways...

She turns and sees Ren standing in another doorway and then Phyrra standing in another. She turns to the fourth and final doorway, which has no one standing in her way...

She gets ready to skate through, but suddenly she hears someone yelling and turns to look, surprised.)

Neon: Huh?

(Nora leaps over a wall and slams her hammer down on Neon's face. Shortly after, Neon talks to JNPR with a black eye, which soon heals.)

Neon: Wow! That was amazing! You guys have really improved since the Vytal Tournament. And that i've noticed you guys took that cute farm boy with you all.

Jaune: Well, you really had us on our toes. Thought you had us there for a second, whew!

Neon: Oh c'mon, it was way more than a second!

(Flynt blows saliva out of his trumpet.)

Flynt: You guys busy? Wanna grab some lunch?

Nora: Do we? I could eat a sandwich the size of Kobalt!

(Nora grins as a giant imaginary six layer BLT sandwich drops onto Kobalt, who removes the toothpick, causing the sandwich to disappear, leaving a lettuce leaf on his head. He takes a small step away from Nora...

Jaune, Nora, Phyrra and Ren's Scrolls buzz. They withdraw their Scrolls to see the words "Incoming Mission" on their screens.)

Jaune: Ah, man. We'd love to, but um…

Ren: Duty calls. Maybe some other time?

(Nora frowns at the message.)

Phyrra: We're sorry!~

Flynt: No worries! The next time you're free, just let us know.

(Flynt throws up a peace sign, and Jaune awkwardly copies him, earning an amused laugh from Flynt.)

Jaune: Yeah, next time.

(Team FNKI walk away.)

Neon: Hey Ivori, if you're gonna go get froyo, can I have a bite?

Flynt: Aw, come on!

(Ren hops down from the blocks he was sitting on, and Nora rises up from behind him with a sheepish grin.)

Nora: There's still time for sandwiches, right?

(Ren sighs, Phyrra and Jaune smile...

A truck drives along a long, straight road in the middle of the tundra.)

Ruby: Not that I'm bored, but why can't we just use an airship to take these supplies to Amity?

(Ruby, Neo and Penny are sitting in the front seat, while an AK-200 drives. Ruby stares ahead sleepily.)

Penny: The components for Amity Tower's construction are far too heavy. All that weight would require precious Dust we should be saving for the launch itself. And the Grimm that will come after.

(Ruby begins to come closer to nodding off to sleep.)

Ruby: It just makes for long... very long... supply runs.

Penny: At least the tundra is scenic.

(Penny smiles and looks out the window. In the distance, a pair of penguins watch the truck, squawking.)

Ruby: *unimpressed* Totally.

(Ruby begins falling asleep, soon leaning over to Penny's shoulder.)

Penny: Ruby!

(Ruby is startled awake.)

Penny: I just wanted to say how excited I am to be working with you in a professional capacity. As friends!

(Penny grins excitedly.)

Ruby: *laughs* Me too, Penny.

Penny: Relationships are so interesting and varied!

Ruby: Speaking of friends… Have you been able to make any new ones? Since, you know…?

Penny: Now that I'm the official protector of Mantle, I don't really have a team anymore. General Ironwood says I don't have time for friends.

Ruby: Oh, uh, how do you feel about that?

Penny: I feel like I wish I could do both the things I need to do and the things I want to do. Is that normal?

Ruby: That's about as normal as it gets, Penny.

(Y/N and Qrow speak up from the back of the truck.)

Y/N: *off-screen* Rubes' right, Penny.

Qrow: Everything going alright up there?

Ruby: Just fine, Uncle Qrow!

(Ruby gives a thumbs up. In the back, Qrow is playing a card game with Y/N and Clover, who sets several cards down on the supply crate they are using as a table.)

Y/N: Fuck...

Clover: I win again. Maybe we should call it quits?

Qrow: Shut up and deal.

Y/N: Double for me.

(Clover laughs, then gathers up the cards and shuffles them.)

Clover: Your niece sure is one of a kind, huh?

Qrow: They all are. Been through a lot together.

Clover: *to Y/N* And you two are dating, huh.

Y/N: Just being there for her whenever she needed.

Clover: It's a good thing they had someone to look up to and get them through it. Not everyone is so lucky.

(Clover begins dealing the cards.)

Qrow: I don't know about all that. Thanks, by the way. For looking out for 'em. You and your team.

Clover: What good is saving the world without another generation waiting in the wings? Hopefully they'll leave Remnant better than we left it for them.

Qrow: Once upon a time, I'd have drank to that.

Clover: You shouldn't do that, you know.

Y/N: If he does, Neo will drag his arse.

(The three laugh before they play cards again. After a few seconds, Qrow managed to get a win from Y/N and Clover, which the former has 6 wins while the latter has 14 wins.)

Qrow: Heh...Lady luck's on my side now.

Clover: *chuckles* Fair win, Qrow.

Y/N: Oh for Pete's sake...

Ruby: Uh, Uncle Qrow.

(Qrow, Y/N and Clover get up and head to the front of the truck.)

Qrow: What's going on? Grimm?

Y/N: Ambush from bandits?

Clover: No. Worse. You five with me. Penny, stay put and keep an eye on our six. We may need an element of surprise.

Penny: Affirmative. I will plan for six possible outcomes.

(The five look at Penny, who smiles confidently...

Robyn Hill and Fiona Thyme are standing in the middle of the road in front of a sheet metal barricade built in front of a small canyon.)

Robyn: Alright ladies, time to show them our teeth.

(The truck comes to a stop. Clover, Y/N, Neo, Ruby and Qrow exit.)

Clover: Robyn! Well, if it isn't Mantle's home town hero. Is there a reason you're blocking an official military transport?

Robyn: Clover, I'm so glad you're here. Maybe you can help me understand why this truck that's supposed to be taking construction materials to fix Mantle's outer wall, is on its way to the middle of nowhere? Are you lost?

Clover: *laughs* It's pretty easy to get turned around out here in the tundra, everything looks the same. Thanks for checking up on us though. We'll be on our way now.

(Clover starts to walk away.)

Robyn: *sighs* I was hoping you'd play it straight with me. What's Ironwood doing with Amity at the old SDC mine?

(Clover stops and turns back to Robyn.)

Clover: Oh, that. Just giving her an annual checkup.

Robyn: The next Vytal Festival isn't anytime soon. Only automated drones and a few select Atlas scientists are allowed out here. And Amity's getting invaluable resources we need in Mantle to protect against Grimm. Seems like more than just a check-up.

Clover: You've been scoping it out.

Robyn: We can't fix the wall without the supplies on these trucks. I think Mantle deserves to know what they're being used for. It doesn't have to be difficult. Just tell me.

(Robyn walks forward and extends her hand with a smile.)

Clover: I'm going to have to pass on that.

(She frowns, then smiles again as she turns her attention to Ruby and Qrow.)

Robyn: How 'bout you, pipsqueak? Five o' clock shadow? Either of you want to tell me why Mantle's being put at risk for Ironwood's pet project?

Ruby: We're trying to help Mantle. We need--

Clover: *cuts her off* That's enough Robyn. As a potential Councilwoman, you should probably focus on the election instead of harassing Huntsmen. Now, it's time to let us pass.

Robyn: I think you've misjudged the situation. One way or another, these supplies are going to get where they're supposed to go - Mantle.

Clover: Then I suggest you do that through the proper legal channels as a Councilwoman. "If" you get elected.

(Robyn smiles. Y/N takes notice and immediately fuses Blake and Weiss' semblances to summon multiple brute knights with their variants of axes on their each hands.)

Robyn: Now where's the fun in that?

(Clover tenses his hand, Neo, Ruby and Qrow put their hands on their weapons. Suddenly, Penny flies out from the back of the truck and lands on top of it, her swords levitating around her.)

Penny: Robyn Hill. I would like to politely ask that you call off the Huntresses approaching the rear of the truck.

(Clover, Qrow, Neo and Ruby look back at what appears to be absolutely nothing behind the truck...

Suddenly, two of Y/N's knights slash their axes down, making other two parties, Joanna and May, turing themselves visible.)

Y/N: *mumbles to himself* ...ya bloody muppet, robyn... *out loud* Neo!

(Neo obediently lowers her umbrella before Y/N makes his way toward Robyn...

Before Robyn could speak, Y/N presses a button on the side of his helmet as it begins to open up...

Robyn was surprised by his looks, especially for his white eyes while Fiona was blushing really hard, feeling more shy than usual.)

Robyn: ...So you're the legendary knight from Vale.

Y/N: The Forgotten has been erased. The Fallen has rosen from his grave.

Robyn: *smiles* Just like your father--

(Y/N's rocket launcher points itself at her with a beep noise being hears from it.)

Y/N: Watch it, Robyn.

Robyn: Just trust me what i've said and we'll let you through...

(Y/N stays quiet for a few moments, suddenly he gets comm from his communicator.)

Ironwood: "Silver Eagle to Alpha 0-6, how copy. Over."

Y/N: Eagle, check. Go for 6.

Ironwood: "What's going on over there?"

Y/N: Blockage. We're currently being held back.

Ironwood: "By who?"

Y/N: ...Robyn.

(A brief of silence...later, a chuckle can be heard from his comm.)

Ironwood: "It's alright, then. Go tell her about our plan. Oz gave me an idea on how i can properly help Mantle."

Y/N: ...Is that true?

(Another voice is heard from the comm.)

Ozpin: "It is very true, Mister L/N. Thanks to your parents, Jacques has been forced to relinquish his positions from the Council. With Robyn having no competition, we may as well give her some heads-up about our situation."

(Robyn crosses her arms, patiently waiting for Y/N to finish his conversation...

Clover, Qrow and Ruby are confused by the scene they're looking right now...

On the background, Neo is seen innocently playing with Fiona's ears, which her face was beet red for her shyness and curiousness personality.)

Y/N: ...Stand by.

(Y/N looks at Robyn.)

Y/N: You want to know the truth. Right?

Robyn: ...That's all i ask.

(Y/N nods his head and comes back talking through his communicator.)

Y/N: Permission authorized, yeah?

Ironwood: "Affirmative."

Y/N: Copy. 0-6 out.

(He turns his communicator off and calls for the others.)

Y/N: In the truck! Now!

Qrow: *slightly surprised* What about you?!

(Y/N keeps his gaze at Robyn, who smiles knowingly.)

Y/N: I'm about to get some allies.

Robyn: *calling* Fiona!

(Neo quickly waves at Fiona before skipping her way back to the truck, getting back on the front seat...

Fiona opens the gate on the barricade. Penny comes down from the truck, and she, Ruby, Qrow and Clover start walking to enter the truck. Clover stops and looks back.)

Clover: Robyn. Good luck at the election.

Y/N: She needs no luck, Clover.

Clover: *raises his eyebrow* Why not?

Y/N: The truth is... *turns to face at Clover* ...His votes were rigged from the start.

(Clover instantly knows what Y/N was talking about, he then laughs amusingly and nods at his teammate.)

Clover: Be sure to regroup with us.

Y/N: Aye.

(They enter the truck and drive through the canyon, leaving Y/N behind with Robyn and her Happy Huntresses.)

Fiona: What now?

Robyn: *looks at Y/N* We're about to know why the Amity Colosseum is important.

Y/N: It'll be a long story. You girls up for it?

May: Spill the beans. Robyn's semblance will decide if what you're saying is true or false.

(Y/N nods his head and starts explaining the plan, both Ironwood's plan and his own.)

-Scene Change-
-Training Room-

(In the training room, Weiss and Winter have their Arma Gigas and Beowolf summons battle each other. The two summons wrestle to overpower each other, and the Gigas kicks the Beowolf away...

The Beowolf leaps out of the way as the Gigas tries to slam its sword down upon it. The Beowolf then leaps onto the Gigas and grabs hold. Weiss and Winter concentrate on the battle. Finally, the Beowolf charges toward the Arma Gigas and slashes with its claws, beheading it...

However, at the last second, the Arma Gigas had impaled the Beowolf with its sword, causing the fight to result in a tie.)

Winter: Your technique still has those maddening sloppy touches. But you've learned how to make them work for you. You've made them your own.

Weiss: *smiling* Wow, that was very close to a compliment.

Winter: I didn't intend it that way.

Weiss: We all make mistakes, I guess.

Winter: *laughs* You've grown up a bit, haven't you? You're not the little girl clinging to the family name anymore.

Weiss: Since Beacon, I haven't really had a choice. Father's view of the world no longer matches with mine.

Winter: Whatever the case, I am glad to see you've moved on. Distancing myself from the Schnee name is the most beneficial thing I've ever done. We can move forward without him, together.

(Winter places her hand on Weiss' shoulder.)

Whitley: I guess you two didn't know the news...

(The two look over and stare at their youngest sibling in shock.)

Weiss: Whitley?

Winter: What are you doing here? And what do you mean by that?

Whitley: *sighs* ...Father got arrested last night. He was charged for mistreating employers, illegal labelling on faunus and so on...

(Winter stares at him with pure shock, she didn't expected her own father getting actually arrested...

Weiss, on the other hand, she remembers the day where Neo streamed the whole scene live all over Atlas, she then smiles and sheathes her rapier.)

Weiss: Finally...Y/N has actually done it.

Winter: *to Weiss* What do you mean?!

Whitley: I am confused too, sister...

Weiss: *giggling* Let's just say...my shining knight protected his princess from her abusive noble father.

(Whitley becomes more confused while Winter was more shocked than ever, she then grabs Weiss and quickly asks her.)

Winter: *whispering* Are you and Y/N dating?! I've thought he was dating Ruby!

Weiss: *whispering back* He is! Ruby and i actually talked about it back at Beacon...and we agreed to share him...

(Winter was now speechless from the idea of her sister and her friend sharing the same boy as Y/N...

She then sighs deeply and eventually lets go of Weiss.)

Winter: ...Be sure to not make Mom overreact about this.

Weiss: I will.

Winter: Back to the main topic, i know General Ironwood would have a place for you.

Weiss: I would be grateful to him if he did, but I'm not sure I could accept.

Winter: Really?

(Weiss walks away and sits on a block while Whitley comes closer and stands beside Weiss.)

Weiss: It's just… Our kingdom isn't supposed to be like this. Fearful, and withdrawn. We should be opening our borders to help the world, not closing them down.

Winter: We will, though. Once we've weathered the storm, we will. I know the General hasn't done everything perfectly, but he's doing what he things is right.

Weiss: Everybody thinks what they're doing is right.

Whitley: That is true...

Weiss: And besides, Ironwood doesn't have to do that nor keeping any secrets since Ozpin did tell us everything.

Winter: Ironwood isn't keeping secrets. Not from me.

Weiss: Can you be sure?

Whitley: What do you mean by that?

Winter: Come with me. There's something I want to show you.

-Scene Change-
-Hospital-

(Winter, Weiss and Whitley walk down a highly monitored hallway in a hospital. They pass through a door with a guards posted on each side, then down a staircase and through another long hallway with many cameras; four AK-200s are guarding a door on the far end of the hall...

Winter leads Weiss and Whitley into an observation area overlooking a patient's room with a one-way window. There is a small kitchen and a machine with a pair of pods inside. One wall near the bed has a few different hanging on it, and there is an easel with a painting on it next to the bed. Winter enters a moment later.)

Winter: Good afternoon, feeling better today?

Fria: Good morning.

Winter: Would you care for some tea?

Fria: I do like hot tea on a cold day. Reminds me of home.

(Winter prepares a tray with tea in the kitchen and carries it over to the bed.)

Fria: Is it cold outside?

Winter: Yes, dear.

(She sits in a chair next to the bed, and the two of them drink tea together.)

Weiss: That's the Winter Maiden...

Whitley: *genuinely shocked* They're...real?

Weiss: Yes, Whitley...

(Winter has gone to the observation room and is standing next to Weiss and Whitley.)

Winter: She could pass any day now. Until that happens, I'm the only person Fria's allowed to see.

(Weiss gets a look of realization.)

Weiss: Ironwood's chosen you to be the next… W-When she dies. How long have you known?

Winter: Since Beacon fell.

Whitley: For that long? But it feels like General Ironwood groomed your whole career!

Winter: It did at first, when the General first proposed it to me. But the more I thought about it, the more I saw it as a privilege, a chance to do some real good for Atlas. For Remnant.

Weiss: But your destiny was chosen for you!

Whitley: Let alone it was without your input!

Winter: Perhaps, but I'm choosing it now. I've made it my own. And I take great pride in it.That has nothing to do with Father.

(Winter looks at Fria from the observation window, she then smiled at the thought of her talk with Y/N back in Beacon.)

[Flashback]
[Beacon Academy]

(Time rewinds back when Beacon was still shining under the light of sun. Students from all around Remnants were attending for the Vytal Tournament as Ozpin hosted guest dorms for the students...

The scene shows Winter and Y/N talking with each other to catch up one another after their last encounter back in Atlas, somewhere in the garden, they were drinking their cup of tea...

Both of them were wearing their old respective outfit and gear.)

Winter: It seems both of us were busy with our own lives...

Y/N: It sure has. Same with Weiss, she also changed.

(Winter raises her eyebrow out of curiosity)

Winter: Has she, now...

Y/N: She was arrogant and has ego at first. But after some time spending with her team, she changed and accepted her role as it is.

Winter: I see... *smiles for her sister* ...I'm glad for her to not follow our father's steps.

(Y/N tenses a bit at the mention of Jacques, he sips his cup and lays his cup down on the table.)

Y/N: ...That was something it had been chosen for her, without her permission or thoughts.

Winter: *confused* What do you mean?

Y/N: No one can choose someone else's destiny. *takes his mask off and places it next to his cup* The only one who can choose her Destiny, it's Weiss.

(Winter was surprised by his response for her questions...

After a few seconds of silence, she chuckles out of amusement and finishes her cup of tea.)

Winter: I guess that's true.

Y/N: *checks the time from his scroll* Time for me to watch Duo rounds. Nice catching up with you, Winter.

Winter: *smiles at Y/N* I'll tell Weiss you said hi.

(Y/N nods his head in appreciation before he puts his mask back on and begins to walk away from the garden, leaving Winter by herself...

Once he's out of sight, Winter lets out a sigh and she looks up at the sky, staring at her thoughts.)

Winter: "Destiny..." as she thought...

[End Of Flashback]
[Present Day]

(Back in the hospital, Winter's Scroll beeps. She opens it to see a message from Ironwood. The top of her Scroll's screen says "This message comes from a contact who has marked all communications with you as CLASSIFIED"...

The message she just received from Ironwood was sent at 18:05 and says "Check the news". The message is followed by a link to a video of a live news broadcast on the Atlas Broadcast Network, which Winter opens.)

Winter: Speaking of the family name.

(In the video, Willow steps up to the podium infront of Schnee Manor. Weiss and Whitley walk over to watch with Winter.)

Whitley: *surprised* That's our mother...

Weiss: What is she doing?

Winter: Look closely.

(Winter points at F/N and M/N standing behind Willow, all three adults on the podium have their determined expressions...

As Willow speaks, a news ticker at the bottom of the screen scrolls by. It says:

["Missing Journalist Found Slain In Her Midtown Apartment"]

["Perimeter Wall Damaged Last Month - Resources and Funding Are Stalled"]

["Surface Level Grimm Attacks Increasing - Mantle Protection Agency Advises Staying Indoors"]

["Weather Special - How to Keep You and Your Family Safe From Hypothermia and Frostbite"])

Willow: Many of you are wondering why my husband isn't here for his speech. First things first, i want to announce this to the public.

(Willow stops to take a deep breath, sighing all out before resumes talking.)

Willow: My husband, Jacques Schnee, has been arrested for his crimes hidden behind his own Schnee Dust Company business.

(A collective gasp can be heard through the journalists, they all begin to ponder questions like "why?" and "how?"...

People in a Mantle bar watch the broadcast on a hologram TV screen, and miners in a Dust mine watch it on a Scroll.)

Willow: This news shocked me the most. I wouldn't believe it at first, but after watching a livestream where my husband got exposed by the son of F/N and M/N L/N, that was when i've realized what kind of person Jacques really is.

(F/N pulls his scroll out and expands its screen to be shown next to Willow, the recording appears to be Y/N threatening and exposing Jacques infront of Team RWBY, JNPR, Ironwood, Ace Ops and Qrow.)

Willow: For those who haven't watched the livestream, i will summarize it for you. Jacques hid a dark secret from the public about the true colors of Schnee Dust Company.

(The recording zooms closer and reveals Y/N showing a picture of Adam with a scar labeled "SDC" on it.)

Willow: With that single proof, it was sure enough to confirm from other faunus operators and miners under Jacques' business, they were all being abused and used by his horrendous dictatorship.

(Winter and Whitley are seen in absolute shock when they hear their mother explaining the reason of Jacques' arrest...

Weiss couldn't help but feeling her lips forming a smile as she was still watching the news.)

Willow: Which it led me to make two announcement. *clears her throat* From this day forward, the Schnee Dust Company will be shut down with immediate act.

(The building has a Schnee Dust Company sign above it. The Closed sign taped to the window says:

["CLOSED"
Until further notice, all operations will be on hold for new management.
"Willow Schnee"]

Drinking Buddy walks along a sidewalk to a building with a Closed sign. He attempts to open the door, but it is locked...

He then turns and looks at a hologram screen across the street, which is broadcasting Willow' announcements. He walks over and watches with a small crowd that has gathered.)

Willow: And as for my second announcement, i am publicly announce that i, Willow Schnee, am officially divorced and declare Jacques to no longer be an official family member.

(News anchors eagerly hold their microphones up to Willow, talking over each other and asking questions...

F/N and M/N interfere the anchors and hold them back from over towering Willow, she then smiles at the camera and answers.)

Willow: From now on, he is just a divorced old man who will stay in prison as long as he was charged in. He's no longer a member of the Council, therefore, he is no longer candidate for his position! Which is why i am proudly say, my vote goes to Robyn Hill and my support goes to the General of Atlas Military, James Ironwood!

(With her final words, Willow waves her hand and begins to step down off the podium with F/N and M/N following her close...

Winter, Weiss and Whitley were in awestruck by their mother's performance.)

Whitley: She...She actually overcame her alcoholism to make the announcements...

Weiss: Since father can't do anything anymore, Robyn and Ironwood can actually do their role without any conflicts with him...

(Back down in Mantle, Drinking Buddy and the crown begin to cheer loudly after the hologram turns off...

Atlasian soldiers also are cheering as they don't need to worry about Jacques...

The screen fades into pitch black as cheering noises can be only heard, echoing through the darkness.)

A/N: DUN-DUN-DUN!!!

What's this?! Willow actually taking initiative?

Oh well! That's one less loose end for Jacques!

And the vote from previous chapter are verdict!

Watts is going to die in the future chapter!

I'm not telling you guys who's going to kill him, figure yourself out!

With that all said and done...

I'll see you readers in the next chapter!

BYE-BYE!!!