RWBY: Tomorrow and Never Again, Chronicles of Remnant

Chapter 1: The Tin Man with a Heart of Gold

(Beacon Courtyard)

How did it end up like this?

James asked himself that same question over and over like a broken recorder when it finally realized where he was standing. After being in a state of trance, his whole brain went into auto-pilot, correcting his actions as they went. He looked to his side and noted his own personal bodyguards standing at attention like they were in one of those military parades. He looked up and saw the half-broken moon, glaring down at him with all the stars as its witness.

It started… like… what? A week ago? James can't really remember. His mind had been a blur ever since he got his long awaited answer. It began simple enough as another meeting with Glynda in the hallway. It was no secret that the two of them had a relationship many years ago and they broke it off. But the man never forgot their time together in school. After five broken bones, two humiliating throws courtesy of the witch's telekinetic powers and a dumpster thrown over his head he was finally able to get that woman to go out with him on one date.

Sad to say it didn't work out. He took her to her favorite sushi restaurant in Vale attempting to impress her. But instead he made a complete fool of himself when he had an unannounced staring contest with a catfish in the aquarium. The next thing he knew, he had a fight with the fish and broke the aquarium in the process flooding the whole restaurant in the process. Short version… they were forever banned from that restaurant. Normally such a thing would end the relationship then and there. But it didn't deter the man from trying.

All he was asking for was just one more chance and sadly Glynda wasn't the type to forgive. Being banned from her favorite restaurant because of the Tin Man's tomfoolery ended all chances.

Or at least that was what he thought when he decided to try again after many long years.

After much pleading, the blonde witch surprised the General with a positive answer which shut the man's brain down like a switch flipped. From that day onward, Ironwood ran on complete auto-pilot. Answering only when asked and nodded without much notice. Several of his soldiers noticed this and even questioned the General but he simply kept silent about it. Soon enough the guards just took it as it is.

It wasn't until the man understood that he was standing in front of Beacon Academy, dressed in his proper suit, arms up and ready. He had a plan… but everything was so blurry he forgot where he even was.

"General, sir." The man's scroll buzzed in his pockets startling the General as he reached out fumbling the object before he caught it for the fifth time. "This is Scout 1. The Bird has left the nest. I repeat: The Bird has left the nest and will be approaching the courtyard in 30 seconds!"

Oh god. Oh dear god!

James panicked. Everything was coming back to him. He remembered asking a detachment of his men to assist in the date. It was a ridiculous order but they were loyal enough to accept the mission. The Tin Man fumbled. He had been waiting for years for another chance at this, but he wasn't ready. Oh god. What if something goes wrong? What if the White Fang attacks? What if there was an emergency!?

Was his hair alright? Did his breath smell? Was his body odor decent? All these questions began to mess with his thoughts as he made doubly sure to spray himself with the strongest cologne he could afford.

The guards around didn't make any attempt to stop the General as he began to have a panic attack fumbling over words and steps.

"This is Scout 1! Target approaching in 5… 4… uh… wait… she's there!"

As if acting on the man's words, all conversations and actions in the courtyard came to a stop. All the students felt a shift in the air as they heard the door to the teacher's lounge open with a defining thud. Everything halted as if Father Time himself decided to pause it, cherishing this very second like it was air.

Every set of eyes in the courtyard turned to the stunning beauty at the center. Jaws were dropped, a skateboarder slipped, breaths were held and some would even believe that the water in the fountain froze. Faculties and students split apart like Moses splitting the Red Sea.

Dr. Oobleck had his mouth open, Peter's eyes widened till you could actually see his pupils and for some reason, the students there could've sworn that they heard Professor Ozpin spilling his coffee on his lap screaming to the top of his lungs 'Hot hot hot!'

Glynda Goodwitch walked down that stone road, with a gorgeous purple dress that just went above her chest, a long slit on the side giving a peeping glance of her bare eye-catching legs with high heeled shoes that matched her dress. She exchanged her glasses for a pair of colorless contact lenses, thin arm length gloves to keep her warm and hair loosened from that bun creating a saucy curl hid one of her eyes.

James' brain went to reboot mode. He was so enamored by his date's look that he didn't even realize that she was already standing a few feet in front of him.

"Hello James." Glynda opened with a casual greeting ignoring the soldiers gaping at her.

"Oh uh… G… Glynda!" The General stammered. Great start there. "H… how are you. You look…"

Hotter than fire? Stunning? Sexy? Smoking? Saucy? Bow Chika Bow Wow!?

"Beautiful…" The General said finally, playing the safe card. "You look… absolutely beautiful."

A smile curled from the witch's lips as she brushed her hair shyly. "Thank you. You don't look bad yourself. And you smell… fantastic." She smelled him, her emerald eyes winking at him.

"Well… I tried my best." He admitted softly offering his good arm.

"And it worked." She replied pleasingly, accepting the gesture locking arm with him. "So… shall we be off?"

"Absolutely." With a pleased breath, the General turned to the large luxurious airship behind him. "Driver. To the restaurant!"

"Yes sir!"

The airship took off with the soldiers around the General giving out a salute. It wasn't long until the sergeant noted his scroll buzzing in his pocket.

"Sergeant, this is Blue 4. Where's the General?" The tanned skin officer on the other line asked.

"Sorry sir. You just missed him. The date is on."

"Damn… then it's too late. We'll have to find a way to get the fireworks on the cannons. Can you delay their flight just a little bit longer?"