It has been a while since this story hit and I had planned to release the second chapter much sooner, but things became complicated and my focus on the story was lost for a while. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

It was late and Team JNPR had already gone to their dorm room, unfortunately Coco, Fox and Scarlet were beyond help and so their Teams had simply stayed until their friends were sober.

In the meantime, Velvet and Ruby couldn't resist asking questions about Team ALBN's weapons.

"Mine is called Terra Arbre, its two short swords, or long daggers if you prefer, which I can combine into a bow. I use crystalized dust for ammo, generally I prefer Earth dust since I can use my Semblance to extract it from the soil," and this prompted Ruby to jump up.

"Wow! So, you can control earth?"

Artemis chuckled, "No, not quite like that. I control the composition of things, like soil minerals," and the girls watched as a log of charcoal in the fireplace turned to a very small diamond which rolled out of the ambers and across the floor, then exploding into a pile of coal powder.

Ren immediately ran to grab a broom while the others looked at the spectacle with awe, except Weiss. Diamonds didn't really impress her much. It only reminded her of home.

"Wow!" Ruby exclaimed, "What about your hawk?"

Artemis looked at Alane and petted her, "She's been with me since I was small. She sheltered in our home several times during the storm season and must have grown attached when we fed her. My parents cleverly insisted I train her to hunt and since then we have been companions."

The conversation was broken by Ruby breaking out into laughter, then being joined by Scarlet and Fox.

In the corner was Neo dancing around a pole using her semblance to mimic Weiss' clothes and hair.

The heiress girl simply stared wide-eyed as Scarlet began throwing bits of paper at Neo, pretending they were lien.

"Yeah! Grind it!"

Weiss growled and stormed off, "Absolute children!"

Laghairt took a sip from his drink as he grinned at the display, but then his expression dropped as Coco crawled under his arm, still intoxicated, and began pinching his face, "You're cute," she said.

Laghairt looked around at the others and then back to Coco, "Please stop, I'd rather you didn't do anything inappropriate," he said nervously. When she tried to kiss him, he got up and walked a few feet away.

Coco slumped down and grunted, "Your loss then…" and then she slowly drifted to sleep.

"So, what does your friend do?" Yang asked, pointing to Banshee, who miraculously had stayed perfectly in place staring at the glass of gin all night.

Artemis and Laghairt looked at each other hoping the other would take the lead on the conversation.

"Banshee was an orphan, as best we can tell as there was little information on her, that was being transported to the Atlas Psychiatric Hospital from Vaccuo," explained Laghairt, "We found her when we saw her ship crash."

"What happened?" Ruby asked with a solemn face.

"When we arrived, the White Fang was already fleeing the scene. We figured they'd swiped whatever they were after and we wanted to find any survivors before giving chase," he paused and then spoke in a low voice, "What we found in there couldn't even be described as recognizably human anymore. I found one Atlas medic who was half embedded in the hull and another whose body seemed to have melted. Those that were reasonably intact had blood coming out of everywhere, including their eyes and ears."

"She," Yang paused for a moment to look at Banshee who was approaching them, apparently free of her long trance, "Did that?"

As eyes curiously looked to Banshee, it was not long before Velvet noticed Banshee was floating off the ground, and then as she pointed this out, the girl began floating up to the ceiling. By this point she was still and quiet as a corpse, staring into space. She bounced off the ceiling like a stiff statue.

"Banshee suffers from Schizophrenia, a very severe case of it," Artemis explained.

Laghairt continued, "Still in a frenzy, she attacked us and almost killed Artemis. She only stopped when she connected to me."

"Connected to you?" Blake questioned.

"I hear the voices, the thoughts, the memories," they heard the eerie voice of the young Faunus above them. She was still floating aimless, but her eyes were trained on them. They were like porcelain orbs and her pupils seemed like an endless abyss.

"So, what she did," Yang started.

"Was her semblance," explained Laghairt, "Banshee is a telepath. She can manipulate things around her and connect with people's minds. It's the reason she doesn't have a weapon. To even consider the idea when she has such power seems redundant."

"That sounds seriously dangerous. Can she even control that with her condition?" Weiss said in urgency, having overheard their conversation as she returned. Laghairt shook his head slowly, "Not as much as we'd like," he replied, but Blake wasn't listening.

"That's how you could track people on the battlefield or predict their movements during the tournament, wasn't it? Banshee can tell you where your enemies are," she inquired.

Artemis chuckled and looked to Laghairt, "The girl is smart," and then turned to the cat Faunus, "That's right. Banshee has acquired a latent connection to us. Through trust and discipline, we have learned to interpret her messages, and through us she acquires a sense of control over her disposition. While Laghairt is right, she has far less control over herself and her power than we'd like; before us she was a rampant mess prone to outbursts of rage or despair," Artemis told them solemnly.

"What about you?" asked an intrigued Ruby to Laghairt.

Laghairt hesitated to answer, "I'd rather not say. I insist it is better that way. I've learned to only use it in my most dire need, and dire need I haven't had often. I'd cause more fear in those I try to protect than peace of mind," he grunted.

"More so than the floating wonder?" Sun asked, coming back from the fridge with his orange juice and nudged Neptune awake as he sat.

"Yes," was all Laghairt said.

It was almost an hour later that everyone took their leave, although Coco had tripped on Laghairt's tail, which had left her with a bruised chin. He had no doubt they'd be hearing about that when she was rested and sober.

In Team RWBY's dorm room, the girls were readying for bed when Weiss took the opportunity to voice a concern she'd had since hearing about Banshee.

"You don't actually believe that stuff about their teammate Banshee, do you?"

"I hate to say it, Weiss," Yang started, "But when I made that finishing move in the fight, I felt that force. It was like my hand was stopped in time. There was no sensation of hitting something, it was just like my hand couldn't move."

"And when we were on the airship, I could hear screaming in my head. I was bleeding. It was like I was going to pass out," added Blake.

Ruby looked at Weiss with a concerned frown.

"Atlas would never let a patient like that go free," Weiss stated flatly.

Blake looked up from her book, "That's assuming they had any idea she survived the crash. Laghairt even told me they covered their tracks."

"Did he tell you anything else?" asked Weiss.

Blake huffed, "No, but I happen to know that the file for their team could only have been redacted by officials. Someone at Beacon or the Vale government wants them here."

None of her teammates added to the debate, and so Team RWBY retired for the night. Yang was the last to fall asleep, staring at her medallion. It was a beautifully decorated golden coin. She rubbed the emerald at its centre before putting it down on the nightstand and climbing into bed.

Yang's night was invaded by a peculiar dream;

"I am ashamed, your majesty. I am ashamed to tell you that I have failed. I returned to the temple to find it in shambles. I tried to save her, but it was too late. I was too late!" said a figure in armor and draped with a black cape. He was kneeled before a crowned man standing in front of a throne decorated with the old sigils of Vale.

The King of Vale approached the man, "So my only daughter is dead? Did you find those that did this? Is the relic safe? Please tell me my daughter did not die for nothing!" he said with tears in his eyes.

The caped man shook his head, he tried to find his words, "I don't know where the relic is, but the ones who did this were accompanied by Mistral soldiers."

The king looked away, "I fear this will escalate. If war is unavoidable, then where I need you is in Vaccuo. You are to find your counterpart and protect the Maiden of Summer and the Relic of Destruction, am I understood?"

"But sire!" but the man was cut off as the King yelled,

"My daughter is dead, her power and the Relic of Choice may possibly already be in the hands of the Witch. Under no circumstances can I allow the other maidens and their relics to fall into enemy hands. Warn your brethren and tell them that no matter what, the relics must remain safe, even if they have to take them far from the kingdoms."

The man bowed his head lower, "I swear it," and that was when Yang caught the silhouette of the man's horns.

Yang shot awake as she was shaken in her bed.

"Yang!" she heard Blake's hushed voice.

Yang could see Blake holding up the medallion, the emerald at its centre slowly fading from a glow.

Blake had clearly only just woken up, "This was glowing in my face. With my eyes its like looking at a high-watt lightbulb, Yang."

"I had a screwed-up dream," explained Yang.

"Yeah, well keep this in your bed. Maybe it'll give you good luck," and as Blake disappeared in her bed below, she added, "It'll definitely stop waking me up at this awful hour."

The following day started as the girls expected; relaxation after a competition. The dream didn't reoccur, but Yang was still curious about the emerald in her medallion. As Blake had mentioned, it was glowing during her incident with the dream. There was no doubt in her mind that something was amiss.

Thinking to the ending of the dream, she decided to pay her new friend and tournament rival a visit. It took her almost an hour of questioning various people to find Artemis, who was watching quietly as Velvet took pictures of her bird. Yang could have sworn the bird was posing for the camera.

"I'm looking for Laghairt," Yang said in a tone that sounded more demanding than she intended. Artemis smirked, "Seems next to you guys, we are quite popular. He's fighting off a bunch of girls in the garden space just over there," she said, pointing to the yard outside the dining hall.

When Yang arrived there, however; the girls were already leaving. A few of them had some less than appealing things to say on Laghairt's expense. He definitely wasn't the charmer they expected, she supposed.

His irritated expression as she approached hinted to the fact she'd chosen a bad time. Still, she wanted to settle her mind.

"The first thing you say better not be for my autograph or permission to touch my horns," he said between clenched teeth.

Yang's brows lowered and she crossed her arms, "Actually, I was hoping you'd tell me more about yourself. What kind of Faunus are you? Where did you come from?"

Laghairt didn't answer for a moment as he stared at her, his expression reflecting his puzzled state of mind. Was he hiding something, she wondered.

"My people were once known as Protectors and came from a cluster of settlements in Northern Vaccuo. We guarded the world much like you Huntsmen do now," he answered.

She smiled at him, leaning on the edge of a stone masonry, "Doctor Oobleck never talked about a Faunus tribe by that name. That still doesn't answer what kind of Faunus you are."

"I am uncomfortable with this line of questioning, Miss Long."

"Yang," she retorted.

Laghairt frowned for a moment before shaking his head and smirking. This prompted Yang to growl, "So suddenly you're a barrel of fun again?"

"Your name means 'sun" and your family name means 'dragon'. Did you know that?"

"Dad reminds me often enough. What's so special about that?" Yang asked giving him a smug look.

Laghairt frowned, "I have a special relationship with both dragons and the Sun, you could say."

Yang grinned and pointed at his horns, "I knew it! You're a lizard faunus. Like a comodo dragon or something. Let me guess, you can camouflage your skin or some junk."

"That's a chameleon. That's not what I am."

"Okay, fine. You're an iguana!"

"My tongue is not the length of my arm and I am perfectly capable of smelling with my nose," then Laghairt honed in on her impatience, "Why does this interest you so much, Yang? This seems more than idle curiosity."

"Promise you won't think it's weird," she said.

"Hard to promise to not have a feeling about something I have not yet received," he retorted with a twitch of his brow.

"I had a dream and I saw a person who had horns like yours."

Laghairt chuckled, "Had me on your mind, it sounds. I seem to have become popular with ladies around here. I can't honestly think you'd be immune. Besides, if anything you have the most reason to have attraction to me. I can't imagine too many people have ever come as close to beating you in a fight as me."

"Dad can."

Laghairt's eyes narrowed in a condescending show of disappointment, "Are you trying to counter my argument by comparing me to your dad? If you have a good relationship with him, that could give an impression you may not want," and he leaned forward, "Are you Daddy's little girl?"

Yang let Laghairt have it straight in the nose with a quick bunny punch, "Watch it!" she growled. He grunted in response before she continued, "I had a dream about a knight, maybe even a huntsman, talking to a man who looked like the king of Vale from the history books. That's all. It wasn't a wet dream."

Laghairt's eyes morphed into a reptilian shape that reminded her of crocodile eyes, "You saw him talking to the king of Vale? What about?"

"Something about his daughter dying. They kept calling her the Maiden of Fall," stunned by his sudden change in demeanour and the unexpected changing of his eyes. Faunus weren't known for that trait.

"The Fall Maiden; and that's an amazingly prophetic dream for events that occurred half a century before your birth," and he outstretched his hand, his eyes fixed on her, the pupils shrinking as she backed away a few steps, "Where's the artifact?"

"What artifact?"

"The one that activated in your sleep and gave you that dream. No doubt it was something you acquired recently. A celebratory trinket? The medallion they gave you for winning the tournament, maybe?"

Yang hesitated a moment before speaking, "It's the medallion. The emerald was glowing. Why do you want it?"

Laghairt frowned, "I know how to use it. It's common knowledge with my people. My people created artifacts like that to preserve memories and help teach their descendants."

"Your people?" she asked quizzically, "As in Faunus?"

"I think I've answered enough questions for now, Yang. I need you to give me that medallion before your enemies find out you have it. They'll kill you for it."

"What enemies? What the Hell are you talking about?"

Laghairt grunted and drew a dagger from his belt. Anticipating an attack, Yang braced herself and was ready to pound him down, but instead of attacking he made a small cut on his hand and let the droplets of blood collect in a small vial.

"Take this and pour it on the emerald before you go to sleep," he said, sealing the vial.

"That's morbid."

"You wanted to know more about me and in all honesty, you won't believe me when I tell you the truth, not only about me but about what your dear Professor Ozpin is hiding from all of you," and he watched her frown.

Without another word he left her to consider his offer.

Despite Yang's formally stubborn sense of practicality, she relented and gave Laghairt's plan a try that night. She could tell something was happening the moment the blood touched the gem, it began to sink in, as if the gem was devouring it. It didn't seem possible, but there it was, like magic the blood absorbed into the solid gem and she could see the dark cloud of blood floating in there.

The first thing she saw was the sea of trees, then the path curling through the forest, and finally the large village of people. All of them had the same horned heads as Laghairt, variations of horns and scaled extremities, but recognisably the same race. It definitely didn't seem like any Faunus group she was aware of.

"Laghairt! Come here!" she heard a man shout. As she looked in his direction, she could see the man was elderly, but still physically fit. His horns were massive.

She saw a young man run over to him. There was no mistaking it was Laghairt.

"Yes sir?"

"I want to show you something. You remember when I promised you I'd bring you to the temple when you were old enough? I feel now's the best opportunity."

Laghairt nodded.

The older man beckoned him and they traversed the path away from village. Yang recognized the western reaches of the Emerald Forest now, distinct thanks to the clear view of Vaccuo's mountain chain that lined its border with Vale.

As they entered a shrine, Yang saw what appeared to be king chess piece at its centre. What was off about the piece was that there was a source of green light in the crown.

"Devinius. I was wondering when you'd come. I came here as soon as I got your message," Yang could hear. At first the voice sounded familiar, it wasn't until the next words out of the woman's mouth that the realization struck her.

"I promised my husband I'd let this all go. Why did you ask me here?"

Yang became weak and nauseous as she saw her adopted mother's trademark cloak pass by her. As the woman removed her hood, Yang had a rush of memories of the last time she saw her mother.

"I needed your help. I needed what only you could provide," the old man said. Yang watched as her mother looked down and sank deep into thought.

"I'm afraid to tell you that I cannot give it to you, Devin. Someone else has it."

Devinius looked at her with shock all over his face, "What? Who? Who the Hell did you give it to?"

Laghairt nudged his grandfather, "What are you two talking about?" but his grandfather hushed him. Devinius grew tired of waiting for Summer to answer and grabbed her hand.

"By the Gods, Summer, who did you give the Relic of Destruction to?!"

"The only one I know will defend it like I have."

Devinius turned to the sound of screaming and blasts of fire in the village below. Summer threw her hood over her head, "That cannot be good," she muttered.

The old man glared at her, "Get back to your home and keep whoever it is you gave that relic to—Summer!" he was taken off guard by her sudden rush down the hill and into the battle below.

Yang watched as he turned to his grandson and handed him the sword that she recognized as Sapphire, the sword Laghairt used at the tournament.

"Laghairt. Promise me you will take this and that item over there, then you will find run. You will run and you will not look back. Get to the temple of the Sun in Vaccuo. I have friends there who can keep you safe."

Laghairt refused to budge and his grandfather grabbed his arm and pushed him toward the pedestal, "Damn it boy! Go before it's too late!" and when he didn't move he shouted, "I said run!"

Before Laghairt could turn around he saw a spear jab straight through his grandfather's stomach, the black-veined spear began to infect him with Grimm Blight.

"Devinius, I couldn't help but notice you seemed preoccupied. I'd have thought the legendary Protector would be present as his people are exterminated. Now what could have you up here in this little place?" said a woman with white hair. Her black robed dress seemed to glide over the ground as she walked beside him.

"Rot in Hell, Salem," Devinius replied.

Yang watched as this woman extracted the spear from Devinius' stomach and turned her attention to Laghairt, who was grabbing the chess piece on the pedestal. She prepared to strike him with the spear when Summer materialized and cleaved her arm off. This enraged Salem and she attacked Summer with the Grimm arm that grew in its place.

"You are a very infuriating woman," Salem stated.

"I have something to fight for!"

"So do I," Salem retorted and then jabbed at Summer, who broke from her grasp and evaded. Drawing her axes, Summer tried in vain to connect a hit on Salem. It took several moments before Salem took an opening and threw Summer out through one of the archways. This was when Devinius took his opportunity, despite his wound, to pull Salem out from the shrine.

Yang heard a loud crash and then a blood-curling roar as half the shrine was demolished by a dragon collapsing over it.

Laghairt stood there in fear as he watched Salem walk back over, her eyes glowing red as she stared him down.

"Give me the relic, boy!" said the Grimm Queen as she outstretched her hand.

Laghairt looked over at the mangled body of the dragon, then back at Salem. Yang watched as something odd happening to Laghairt when the sun began to rise over the treeline. Salem made to attack, but Laghairt yelled and his body began to glow, going from a reddish hue to orange and then slowly working to blue. He released the energy straight at Salem.

When the blue flames died away, Salem was standing there, her hands outstretched defensively and a thin barrier shielding her from the blast of searing plasma that had just reduced everything around them to ash.

Behind her several warriors of Laghairt's people come up, but they made no motion to attack her. They were conspirators with her; turncoats.

"Why's this one not dead? Toying with him, ma'am? His aura's drained, lemme at him!" said the lead one.

Before he took another step, they watched as the sun grew noticeably darker; so much so that they could almost make out the sunspots. Laghairt's aura began to regenerate before their very eyes. Worst yet, his newly unlocked semblance was cycling faster than before and was becoming more intense.

"What the fuck? Is that kid about to let out another blast like that?"

Laghairt didn't. He simply backed off and as the sun began to shine again disappeared from view.

Yang watched as the men scattered after him, but he was gone. She saw the rage in Salem's eyes, but the scene morphed away as she was brought to an open field. There she watched as a dragon crashed to the ground, growling as it kicked and mashed the trees. It blew fire at them as it screamed.

As the creature's tantrum calmed to solemn whimpers, she watched as Laghairt's distressed form morphed from the beast. His cries echoed through the trees as they began to catch fire. Yang's vision went black.

"Holy shit."

Author's Note

So, what I suspect most readers already guessed about Laghairt is indeed true; he's a dragon. So, with that revelation out; I'll offer everyone a bit of insight into his creation.

Laghairt is a noun from Irish/Gaelic which means "lizard" or "reptile" depending on region, and Sol is the name of the Norse goddess of the Sun, as well as the astronomical given-name of the Sun in her honor as the Norse (Vikings specifically) were paramount in the formation of modern astronomy, specifically navigation which is why it is mostly celestial bodies used for navigation or time of day that are named after their myths; Polaris (North Star), Sol (the Sun) and Luna (the Moon).

I'm currently working hard on chapter three, so fingers crossed that it'll be out within a week or two.