A man was standing by a window on the penthouse suite of a tower. He was looking down upon the city with its white neon glow. And why wouldn't he? This was his realm. He was entitled to look down on it literally as well as metaphorically.

Those people had no idea. No clue as to what was happening. A revolution was stirring… No, a revolution had begun and they were completely blind to it. If they did know, some would argue that the revolution began years ago. They would be partially right, but the true revolution, the true fight, began now.

A news report echoed in the background.

"Today marks the tenth anniversary of the Panchaea incident in which contaminated Neuropozyne caused severe distress and insanity among several hundred augmented individuals. Services were held throughout Atlas and Mistral today to remember those who were caught in the incident. However, marking this day has caused some people to once again be outspoken against the fate of William Taggort, the former Humanity Front leader, whose organisation was responsible for the contamination.

"Several people rallied outside government buildings protesting that the life sentence was too lenient and that Taggort should be put to death. Picus news however would like to take this opportunity to remind its viewers that repaying blood with blood is not justice.

"In other news, Vale continues to recover from the Grimm attack just two weeks ago. Roman Torchwick; a local Valian terrorist suspected to be the cause of the recent breach; is still in custody, but has continued to prove uncooperative to the Atlas authorities now in charge of the Vytal festival's security."

The man looked at his watch before turning off the television. He then made his way over to his desk and sat down. He then pressed some keys on a keyboard. This caused the television to flare up again, showing not a channel, but a video meeting with three other people represented by silhouettes.

"Gentlemen." The man greeted. "I assume everything is in place?"

"As far as we can control it, yes." The middle voice spoke in a professional manner. "Tonight would be the best time to strike."

"I still think this is a bad idea." The voice on the right spoke. His voice wasn't as professional, but far more assertive.

"They are in the open, and if we lay this right we can blame their puppets for it- They are already hated by the public. We need to press that advantage. The more people that turn on Them, the more they will have to be cautious. That should give us more freedom to move in and attack." The middle voice explained calmly.

"Or it might turn everyone's attention on us. The only reason that we have survived this long is because They had attacked us hastily; Trying to gain an advantage of their own. I don't think we should give them the same opportunity, and repeat their mistake." The right voice countered.

"We won't." The man at the desk interrupted. "Even if the attack fails, we won't be leaving any evidence behind. If anything, it will be more like how their attack before should have gone. And if you need any reminding, that almost crippled you regardless of mistakes."

"You should listen to him. We have a chance to take down one of their most influential and threatening members. We would be fools not to take the opportunity. Or do you want another, seemingly planned, breach?" The left voice spoke for the first time, completely emotionless.

"She is there you know. If we go through with this, then she might get caught in the crossfire. You do realize that, right?" The right voice began to sound desperate, almost pleading for his companions to see reason.

"Of course. But we have to do this. If we let personal stakes get in the way, then we will loose and she won't have a future anyway." The left voice spoke harshly. "You really think I don't care, but the truth is the opposite. I will do whatever I must. She may hate me for this, but one day she will thank me."

"Well I think we can both agree you're no stranger to being hated, that's for sure." The right voice jabbed, though failed to obtain any kind of reaction.

He acts though he's some sort saint. The man at the desk thought; a small smile forming at the corner of his lips as he shook his head at the visionary's hypocrisy.

The right voice turned his attention to the middle voice, trying a different approach to sway his allies."

And what about you? Are you really prepared to risk your friend and everything we have accomplished on one rash attack? On a hunch?"

A brief moment of silence fell upon the room before the middle voice answered.

"...I am. I must, and will, do whatever is best for Remnant. That is my duty as a Huntsman." He paused. His professional tone lightened, and one of hurt took its place. "Though I still can't believe it. After all this time… I thought I knew them. I thought he was trusting me on something bigger..."

"Maybe you still do." The right voice softened. "There's no guarantee the information is accurate, at least not to that extent. We don't know for absolute certainty if they are truly involved. They may not even realize it and are just pawns to Them."

"I do hope you don'y doubt my sources." The man at the desk interrupted. "I swear, you think too independently- you always have. But the only way we can win this war is if we work together. If we trust each other."

"I find it quite patronizing how you can talk of trust. If you truly feel that way, then why do you act so secretive?" The right voice stung back. "I would be willing to trust this source more if I knew who they were. Frankly I'm tired of playing this shadow game; I've been playing it for so long I can't remember what just running a normal company was like!"

"Then you would know by now if I were to tell you the source, then they could be put in danger. It's not that I don't trust you, really, but we need to take every security measure possible."

"And so we're supposed to just believe everything you say? Just on principle?"

"This time, yes." The middle voice re-entered the conversation. His formal tone returning in full force as well. "I believe the sources. The things I have seen… They weren't the actions of the person I once knew. I trust him, and I suggest you do too."

Seeing he couldn't win, the right voice gave a loud sigh. "Fine. But I want nothing to do with this when it backfires, and it will backfire."

"You worry too much. The balance of power has shifted, and They aren't in control anymore." The man at the desk spoke calmly and with confidence. "Besides, we've needed this opportunity to also test our new weapon."

"You... You don't mean, that?" The right voice asked surprised. "Surely it can't be ready yet."

"It is." The middle voice confirmed. "I received the prototypes last week and all our testing has proven it successful. And..." The shadow turned his attention to the left figure. "I assume you will continue to provide us with the raw material if the field test is successful?"

"Of course." The left voice responded unusually fast. "It may seem a lot, but compared to production it simply falls through the cracks. You'll have plenty for an army if you wanted."

"And thanks to the modifications I have to make beforehand, it is completely untraceable to its source. None of us can be implicated." The man added, proud of his part. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to. As I'm sure the rest of you do as well."

With that the meeting ended and the right and middle images faded. However the left one lingered on.

"Something else to say?" The man asked curiously.

"Only that you're playing a very dangerous game. It's only a matter of time until they realize who we really are and what we are really doing." The last voice stated bluntly.

"Which is exactly why we need to move quickly before they do realize."

"I understand that, but our ally there is not easily replaced. Are you willing to risk such a valuable asset?"

"I wouldn't worry yourself. I made sure she knows of the plan. She'll stay out well out of their way." The man said with usual confidence.

"Well she was supposed to stay out of the way last time, but she didn't."

"That was different. The plan had changed; everything went wrong. In fact, she's doing a remarkable job at damage control and adjustment. And overall, who else is more qualified then someone with the initiative to steal a season?"

The voice made a disapproving noise. "Are you absolutely sure her risks haven't compromised her?"

"Quite the opposite in fact." The man reassured. "She has been very successful in helping our 'friends' undermine Their authority."

The voice was silent for several moments, as if it was measuring its options.

"I'll trust your judgement. You've known her longer than me. But what if she is compromised? What happens then?"

"Then we'll have to act quickly. Like you said, she is a valuable ally. And like you, she has a large role to play in the new order. In the meantime, increase your security. Some of our pets are getting concerned that you're acting too reserved."

"Hmph. Give me an expendable target and I'll hit it. That should put them in their place." The voice said coldly.

"No. Right now they are confident that their 'new allies' are just what they needed to continue their movement. A large scale attack will put that at risk and she will have no control."

"Are you saying they're better in the tent pissing out then out the tent pissing in?"

The man let slip a slight laugh at the voice's surprisingly accurate allusion.

"Just, increase your defenses. The general should be more than willing to provide some security with the new Dust you gave him. Good day now."

With that the man cut the connection. He stood up and looked out the window over his domain again.

Yes, the true fight begins now. For the Titans failed to take Olympus from the Gods and were punished. But we won't fail. We will dethrone these old Gods and take their throne for ourselves. And then, we will be the Gods ruling the world, shaping it as we see fit. This, is only the beginning. And nothing will stop us.

Nothing.

WWWWWWWW

"That was total fluke! You won by pure luck, and by me trying to teach you the game!" Weiss raised her voice, clearly agitated.

"I thought you said this game was, 'the ultimate test of a person's cunning'? I just moved around guys randomly." Yang said, still trying to work out how exactly she won. And frankly, she was still attempting to understand how to play in the first place.

Ruby lifted her head from her arms, rubbing away the sleep from her eyes, and giving a loud yawn that ended with her lips smacking. She looked over to her right, blinking several times as her eyes readjusted to the afternoon light coming in from the library's windows.

When she could see fully again, Ruby saw that Yang was sitting next to her; looking down inquisitively at a chess board. She held her chin in her left hand, and with the other she was taking her pieces back in time, move by move, as she tried to figure out how exactly she had won. Meanwhile, across from Yang, sat a very flustered Weiss. She was fidgeting her arms around, with parts of her hair comically springing up in places. And of course, Weiss was also starting to give Yang the crazy eye treatment.

Yup, Yang has definitely broken her for good this time.

"Oh no. You are not getting away with that routine again!" Weiss then began attempting to do a bad impersonation of Yang, trying to deepen her voice a bit as she started to mock.

"'Oh, I just don't know what happened. I just happened to power through a game of Chess and beat one of its longest playing players is all. Stop the presses everyone! Haven't you heard? I beat Weiss at a game she's played for years that she'll boast how masterful she is at it!'"

Ruby couldn't help letting out a small snort and a brief giggle at the silly routine. After Yang had gotten that terrible cold a few days back, and her voice dropped about three octaves, both she and Weiss have been teasing her by doing bad impressions of how she sounded then. Ruby also just found it humorous how badly Weiss seemed to always take the loss of simple games.

Yang looked back at Weiss with slightly burning cheeks and a glare that could rival the likes of Blake's. She was also about to say something back, probably something rude and vulgar, but instead she stopped herself. Ruby noticed then that her expression had suddenly turned playful, and she could see the metaphorical light bulb light up above Yang's head as she retaliated full force.

"So Weiss, are your trying to say that story is coming," She paused for dramatic effect; Ruby and Weiss holding their breath as they waited for that moment of excruciating agony as she started to say it. "Hot off the Chesses?" Yang finished with a wide open smirk.

Everyone; even Blake as she was coming over to sit across from Ruby; groaned as if they were all in excruciating physical pain. Yang then decidedly stood up from her seat, standing tall as she called out:

"Ha ha! I've struck again! Let the freedom of the Chess proclaim that I, Yang, have won the day again!"

Like before, the group groaned in sheer pain at another one of Yang's little "quirks". Weiss had even slammed her head against the table and was attempting to cover her ears.

"Please. Stop." She pleaded pathetically.

Yang looked down at her, crossing her arms as a sly and cocky grin grew across her face.

"What's the matter? You want a little Chess conversation?"

Again, more groans of pain.

"You are most definitely, the worst. No competition." Weiss moaned as she tried harder to cover her ears with both of her arms.

Ruby couldn't take it any more. She desperately tried to change the subject from the latest punslought by turning to Blake and trying to get a different conversation rolling.

"So, Blake. How was the one on one exam? You think you did well?"

Blake shrugged as she opened up her notebook to a page full of sketched-in maps and addresses. Some of which were crossed out, while others had comments by them such as: 'Why here?', 'Sighting here', 'Dead end', 'White Fang?', 'Torchwick wanted this… why?'. And of course, the most recent addition was an area in town sketched out and titled, 'Grimm Breach'.

"It was fine." Blake started to say, not noticing the others' worried glances at her notes. "The actual test was easy. The only thing that will trip you up is the timed, no notes lab; Where your experiment is picked by Mr. Peach himself."

Still not noticing the others looks, Blake took out a pencil she had placed in the wire binding of her notebook and scratched off an address from a small list on a different page. She then placed the pencil back in the binding and- to the others' relief- closed her notebook. Blake also surprised the group by letting free a yawn as she stretched her back against her chair.

"You have no idea how much I'd like to get to some sleep right now." Blake said, covering her mouth as her yawn subsided.

"Well, we're just glad you're sleeping again. We all thought for awhile you were back to you're no rest policy."

Blake raised a brow at Ruby as she leaned forward on the table and rested her head on her folded arms.

"I've just been up late studying." She elaborated. "Every single one of my classes has been having a test of some sort."

Yang stopped putting away Chess pieces into a compartment under the game board. She looked over at Blake, brows raised as she asked with confusion, "So wait, it's not just me? That's been happening to you guys too?"

Blake sat up straight again, and nodded in unison with Ruby.

"Yup."

"Yeah." They both said at the same time.

"I knew it." Yang complained. "I should have seen the signs."

Both Ruby and Blake exchanged glances before looking back at Yang. Ruby tilting her head as she asked,

"Uh, what are you talking about?"

Yang leaned back into her chair, stretching her arms in different ways and making them pop as she explained herself.

"Think about it like this: Even after that Grimm breach two weeks ago, they gave us a new huntsman to shadow and let all first years continue on with their missions. Doesn't it make sense that during our missions, all our teachers would have been preparing new semester tests for us? I mean, that's probably the reason why even after the attack they let everyone go back to shadowing. It's an academic conspiracy!"

Ruby's gaze traveled from Yang to Blake, with the latter only blinking twice initially in response. Not a moment later, Blake started reaching for her backpack on the floor, digging around with one hand for her book while she debated with Yang on her conspiracy.

"Not necessarily." She started. "Some of them teach other year students and could have been working with them, and others could have gone off on missions of their own. Keep in mind that many of the hunters assigned to be shadowed were from Beacon's faculty anyway."

Yang shrugged, then moved to rest her head in her right hand.

"The point is I should have seen it coming. Then I could have dedicated some free time to cramming on subjects." She ended with a sigh.

Blake had opened her book to a page she bookmarked with a spare ribbon, giving Ruby the opportunity to jump into the conversation with Yang.

"And how exactly were you going to get more free time? We've been using every free day we have going into Vale."

Yang suddenly scooted her chair closer to Ruby, then proceeded to put her arm around her sister's shoulder. She gave wink and pointed her thumb at herself as proclaimed, "Oh please. I'm great at multitasking!"

Ruby's skeptic face said otherwise.

"Uh, no it isn't. In fact, you're terrible at multitasking. Probably the worst I've ever known." She smiled.

"I second that." Blake added with little emotion; becoming completely engrossed in her book about a disfigured opera singer desperately fighting for the love of a stage actress.

"What!" Yang proclaimed. She tightened her hold on her sister, closing Ruby in into a headlock that she couldn't escape from.

"Hey!" Ruby cried out in surprise. "Let go of me!"

"You're supposed to back up your sister, remember?" Yang fake growled in outrage through gritted teeth as she began to give Ruby a noogie. Meanwhile, the crimson cloaked girl only laugh and begged like a child as she struggled to free herself from her sibling's grasp. Blake didn't even glance up from her book while this was happening. She was used to the two's shenanigans by now.

"By the way, I'm thinking we should take this Saturday off from White Fang investigating. It's been a long few days, and not much has happened since Torchwick was captured. And we could use some time to ourselves." Blake nonchalantly announced as she turned a page in her book.

"Ow! Sounds good- STOP IT YANG! I'm warning you!" Ruby yelled out a little too loudly, attracting a glare from Beacon's librarian as she passed by the group's table from behind Blake and Weiss. The hooded teen was growing tired of being the butt of Yang's humor now. The blonde however, only laughed at the threat.

Yang turned, with Ruby still in her hold, to the abnormally quiet Weiss.

"Do you hear that, Ice Queen? She's warning-"

Suddenly Yang stopped, and Ruby stopped struggling in her arms. The former released her sister from her hold, and the latter just slowly sat up straight again. Everything had become enveloped in a eerie silence. The tonal shift at the table was so abrupt, it was even able to break Blake away from her immersion. She first felt her left Faunus ear twitch under her bow, and when she briefly lifted her eyes up from her book, she could see both Ruby and Yang staring at the seat to the left of her- with eyes wide and mouths slightly ajar.

When the rouge slowly turned her head, following her teammates' eyes, she found herself in a similar position. The three teens had been so roped up in their own conversation, they had failed to notice what had happened to their dear "Ice Queen".

Weiss was just sitting there, staring off into some unseeable space beyond Yang. She just sat there, slightly hunched over in her chair, with her arms limp at her sides. Her mouth was wide open, completely slack.

Though it was her eyes that had caught her three friends in their complete stupor. They were… glowing. One could still see Weiss's light blue eye colors, but in them were tiny bright lines racing around like fish in a pond. Her pupils were also strange; as they were rapidly changing in size and flashing between a golden glow, and a bright red.

"W-Weiss?" Yang mumbled, frozen in place by the strange and frightful sight, and unable to say anything any louder.

"Weiss!" Ruby nearly screamed at her partner, causing others in the library to turn in the group's direction.

That seemed to do the trick. Weiss's strange symptoms vanished with a literal blink of an eye, and she jumped in in her seat. She then began to hiss in pain through gritted teeth, as she clenched her head with both hands.

"...What," Blake started in. "Was that?"

Weiss opened up her eyes, blinking several times as she slowly panned her sight to each of her friends. They all looked worried. They all looked scared…

"I…"

Weiss didn't go on. She just abruptly stood up, grabbed her bag off the floor, and began sprinting away. Both Yang and Blake had only managed to get out of their seats in response before Ruby had already bolted out in front of Weiss and cut her off from the exit.

"Weiss, what was that about? Are you okay?" Ruby started as her hands reached for the Mage's own.

Though in a flash, Ruby suddenly felt air rush around her and felt the impact of slamming into a nearby bookcase, nearly knocking it over upon impact. She was enveloped in black gravity glyph, unable to move as she looked at Weiss with a new kind of shock and confusion.

Weiss just looked back at her. Her look was a combination of sincere sadness and pure anger, as she held out her hand to maintain the glyph. Blake and Yang tried come up from behind and stop Weiss, but with one look in their direction and with her other hand being raised, they were forced to stop by the same attack. Blake was forced down on one knee, while Yang was strong enough to stay standing and was slowly forcing her way out of the glyph through sheer will and a building anger. Others from the library were also starting to get up and watch the events transpire, probably expecting this to turn into another fight like the legendary lunch war.

Weiss gave one last look to Ruby- a strange and terrifying look as her eyes momentarily glowed with a golden hue.

"For once, just don't ask. Don't talk. And do not follow."

And that was it. Weiss broke off from Ruby, and walked away out of the library. As soon as she was out of Ruby's line of sight, Ruby could feel the semblance fade and release her. She fell to the ground on her hands and knees.

"Are you alright?" Yang asked worriedly, immediately rushing to her sister's side with Blake in tow; The two teens helping their young leader back on her feet.

"Yeah." Ruby said, rubbing the back of her head as she went back and forth between her teammates. "She didn't hurt me. She only used enough aura to hold me in place."

Ruby then grabbed her sister's arm before she could give chase, quickly adding in, "Just let her go. Something's up, but she wanted to be left alone. She'll come back."

Blake grabbed hold of Yang's shoulder, getting both the rage filled blonde and Ruby's attention.

"But why on Remnant would she do that?"

All three girls looked over to the entrance into the library, ignoring some stares and quiet gossiping from some of the other students that had been watching. The library's doors were now closed, and Weiss was nowhere to be seen.

WWWWWWWW

"Hello. Welcome to the CCT. How may I help you?"

Weiss did not acknowledge the holographic projection as she ordered out with little emotion.

"Atlas authority override number one-one-seven. Take me up to private conference. Now."

The normally friendly and cheery AI took on an expression of surprise, before altogether abandoning its normal persona and answering in a dull robotic tone.

"Affirmative Mam. Please stand by…"

The hologram disappeared, and Weiss walked over to a elevator usually restricted to all. It didn't move slow by any means; However to Weiss it felt like eternity. She was almost tempted to hack into the the control panel to make it go faster, considering the nature of her visit.

After almost an entire year of neglecting her added advantage over any of the pure students, it was almost jarring having all of these opportunities and numbers and symbols popping back up in her vision. The worst being a tie between a local map showing every agonizing second it was taking as she rode the elevator upwards, and her video playback systems replaying her actions in the library as they booted up again.

She felt horrible about what she did. But she couldn't have the others asking questions or following her. Both in terms of the sudden system boot-up by the message she received, and that this conversation she was about to have that could have her arrested for life by the Valian government.

Finally the elevator did stop, and doors opened to reveal a rather dusty and underutilized conference room. At the end of the table, opposite of where the elevator opened up, was a rather large screen that had turned on upon the heiress entering into the room.

"Contact the Atlas CCT. Make a call to the head office of the Schnee Dust Company. Bypass security and administration."

The screen began glowing brighter at Weiss's command. On screen text appeared. Acknowledged, it said. A low hum began echoing through the empty room as the call went through.

And then it happened. A figure hiding in shadows and a distorted voice- a safety measure his system creates to protect his identity whenever he sends or receives a call from an unknown or untrusted contact- appeared before Weiss.

"Whoever you are, you would be wise to hang up before I trace this call and have you-"

He stopped as his screen came through, showing Weiss standing at the head of the conference table. She gave him a scowl for his troubles.

"...Sweetheart. What a surprise. I so rarely get a call from you anymore." He said in a more calm tone. Though now it was more borderline bored. Expect even?

"Father." Weiss gave a small curtsy out of habit before she jumped straight into her first accusation. "Did you have someone install a multipurpose traceroute and receiver into my Nerural Hub before I left to Vale?"

Mr. Schnee did not answer her directly. However as his shadow shifted subtly, he more or less confirmed it for Weiss.

"Are you here about the message?" The company man wasted no time in addressing. Even adding, "Be specific darling. I have a meeting with your sister in a few minutes to discuss new security measures. So if you'd like to make a point, make it now or hang up the line."

God she hated it whenever he called her, "darling". But Weiss wasn't about to be thrown off by that. There were lives at stake if this strange and unwanted message from her father was to be believed.

"I am. You found it was so important that you had to use my our personal communication system, breaking any number of laws in doing so. Now, what exactly did you mean by 'lay low tonight'?"

Again, her father did not answer her at first. He instead gave a long, unreadable stare at Weiss. Most likely he was choosing his words carefully. He'd always been like that as long as Weiss could remember. Quiet as he chose his words to the finest degree.

"Well it seems if anything, that school has at least taught you how to be brave. Even if it means raising your voice at your betters."

His words almost cut as deep as a blade. Weiss couldn't help but feel small now; the confidence all but evaporating.

"To be honest, I thought my message was very clear and to the point. However, if you are in need of a simplification, it means that you better not be in the way or interfere with the forces that are about to tear your little school apart in a few hours."