AN: I do not own RWBY or Touhou Project

Alright, time for the third chapter of Dust of Illusion. Like I said, from now on I'll answer questions asked in reviews and PMs. But like last time, someone left a review that I can't just ignore till the end of the chapter, so I'll address it right here.

ShippingJR: I'm glad you like the story, and if you don't give a dam about past characters or OCs that's fine with me. But about that part where everyone was yelling at each other, I'll leave you with the simple answer. GIANT MINE UNDER THE FACTORY, shouting is kind of a requirement with something that deep. Yes I understand the foreman's last stand was overdramtic, but he was the starter villain, someone who leaves the wrong impression on Garon's group, think about it, if they think he was the standard, what does that mean for other factories they try to take? I don't leave details that don't get used later but at this point you have to figure out what they are used for.

So with that out of the way.

Let the Dust settle

Chapter 3

The First Step

BGM: Are You Listening? – Fire Emblem Fates

It was the morning after all the hopefuls for Beacon had arrived, and everyone was just starting to wake up… well almost everyone. One Nora Valkyrie, the ever energetic was standing above her best friend Ren as he slept. Ren slowly opening his eyes as Nora gave him a manic grin. "Wake up lazy butt!" She shouted at Ren before practically dashing out of his vision. Ren groaned as he slowly sat up, Nora jumping around him singing. "It's morning, it's morning, it's morning, it's mooooring!" This, leaving Ren to do little more than sit up where he had slept while Nora continued to act erratic… nothing he wasn't used to.

Nora, of course, had woken him up earlier then almost every other student in Beacon. Leaving the washroom all to themselves as Ren brushed his teeth, which Nora had done before he had woken up. "I can't believe we've been at Beacon for a full twenty-four hours! Not that I thought we'd get kicked out or anything, I mean, you're the perfect student and I'm, well, I'm me!" Nora jabbered behind him as Ren brushed his teeth. He decided not to tell Nora that they had only been at Beacon for about thirteen hours, not twenty-four since they had arrived during the afternoon yesterday and it was only seven in the morning.

As Nora kept talking, having gotten a hold of… he wasn't sure if it was his toothpaste or hers since they had the same brand. "But it's just crazy, you know? We've been friends for sooo long." She yammered as Ren tied up his sleeping bag and she brushed her hair. "What are the odds that we'd still be together?" Nora asked him, Ren remaining silent and refusing to answer that question… since they had been stuck together since childhood. "Well, not 'together' together. Not that I'm not saying you're not handsome!" Nora said, quickly changing the meaning of her saying to clarify it wasn't boyfriend-girlfriend she was talking about… despite the fact that she and Ren were the only ones currently awake and Ren already knew all of this. "You are handsome, but that'd just be weird…" Nora said, finally stopping for just a moment as she stopped brushing her hair and looked at the back of Ren's head. "Right?" She questioned, almost uncertain as to the answer of her own question.

When she and Ren had entered the mess hall to get breakfast she had already started jabbering again, this time with an entire pancake hanging out of her mouth as Ren cut into his own stack of pancakes. "Right. What was I thinking? But still, I hope we end up on the same team together." Nora said before literally slurping the entire pancake that was hanging out of her mouth into her mouth and eating it… somehow, Ren still didn't know how she did that. "Ohh! We should come up with some sort of plan! To make sure we're on the same team together!" Nora said with a smile as she put her hand on Ren's shoulder. "What if we bribe the headmaster?" Nora asked, putting her hand on her chin as Ren took a second to eye her, that wouldn't work, even if they had any money to bribe him with. "No, that won't work, he has the school…" Nora said, as Ren ate his pancakes.

Nora continued to come up with all sorts of crazy plans until she and Ren had gone to get their weapons. As Ren opened his locker where his weapons were stored Nora finally gasped before speaking behind him. "I know! We'll have some sort of signal! Like a distress signal!" Nora said as Ren grabbed his guns, the Stormflower pistols. Ren slowly looked away from Nora as she hoped to his other side. "A secret signal so we can find each other in the forest! Can you imitate a sloth?" Nora asked, pointing a finger at his face… from the other side where she had just been. "Nora…" Ren said, finally speaking up after having listened to Nora for about an hour straight, at this point that other students would just be waking up. "Yes Ren?" Nora asked, slightly calmer then she had been for the past hour.

Ren raised his pistols before folding them into his sleeves with a quick and practiced motion. "I don't think sloths make a lot of noise." Ren pointed out to Nora as her eyes quickly looked around as she tried to find an answer to that… and found one quickly. 'That's why it's perfect! No one will suspect we're working together." Nora said… completely unaware to the cameras in the locker room that Ozpin was currently watching with a smile, taking a sip of his coffee. "Come on Nora, let's go." Ren said in deadpan as he closed his locker. "But no 'together' together." She giggled as she followed Ren out of the locker room. Only to walk past Ruby and Yang, who had come to get their weapons before breakfast. "Wonder what those two were so worked up about?" Ruby wondered aloud to Yang. "Oh, who knows… So! You seem awfully chipper this morning." Yang said sarcastically, having noticed Ruby's less than enthusiastic tone of voice.

The sarcasm almost immediately went over Ruby's head before she started talking to Yang, with an actual enthusiastic tone. "Yep. No more awkward small talk or 'getting to know you' stuff." Ruby said with a smile as she pulled the folded up Crescent Rose out of her locker. "Today I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." Ruby said as she leaned her head against her self-made scythe with a smile. "Well remember Ruby, you're not the only one going through this initiation." Yang said as she put her hands on her hips, her Ember Celica bracelets on her arms as she gestured to Ruby. "If you want to grow up, you're going to have to meet new people and learn to work with them." Yang said as Ruby stared at her slightly blankly. "Ugh, you sound like dad!" Ruby complained before quickly putting Crescent Rose back in her locker for the moment before turning to Yang. "Okay, first of all what does meeting people have to do with fighting? And secondly, I don't need people to help me grow up." Ruby said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I drink milk!" She proclaimed as someone walked into the locker room with a toolbox in hand, Nitori having come to check on the lockers for Ozpin at his suggestion.

"But what about when we form teams?" Yang questioned Ruby only for Ruby to turn away. "Uh… I don't know, I'll just be on your team or something…" Ruby guessed in an unsure tone as Nitori set her toolbox down and pulled a wrench out before bending down to check on the locker's rockets. Just as Yang was about to speak up Nitori choose to speak up. "It's not that simple." Nitori said as Ruby and Yang turned to her. "What?" Ruby asked as Yang smirked at Ruby. "The teams… well let's just say they are assigned in a rather special way. You'll find out soon. Now don't you two have somewhere to be?" Nitori asked as Yang shrugged. It was just then several other students started to filter into the locker rooms. Yang however then went back to Ruby before speaking to her. "Regardless, maybe you should try being on someone else's team?" Yang suggested as she brushed her long yellow hair. "My dear sister Yang, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?" Ruby retorted, sticking her finger in her sister's face as Yang let go of her hair, Ruby sticking her hands on her hips with a frown as Yang held her hands up innocently. "That's not what she's implying, she just wants you to meet new people." Nitori said bluntly as she tightened the bolts on one of the rockets on the bottom of the locker. "Stay out of this will you?" Yang asked Nitori somewhat rudely as she went back to Ruby. "She's right though. Being on a different team would help you break out of your shell." Yang said with a smile at Ruby who lifted her arms in exasperation. "What the!? I don't need to break out of my shell, that's absolutely- "Ruby started shouting, only for Jaune to walk between her and Yang suddenly. "That's Ridiculous! There's no way I put my gear in locker six three six yesterday." Jaune said aloud as Yang and Ruby watched him slightly confused. Nitori took a moment to look at the locker she was currently working on… Six hundred and thirty six.

'That's that Jaune kid…' Nitori thought as she quickly pulled the locker key Ozpin had given her to work with to check what was inside the locker. "Hey kid." Nitori called, Jaune looking over at Nitori as he pasted Weiss and Pyrrha. "This yours?" Nitori asked as she pulled the sheathed sword out of the locker. Jaune smiled as he nodded, walking over to Nitori to get his shield and sword.

"So Pyrrha," Weiss started as Pyrrha turned to her. "Have you given any thought to who's team you would like to be on?" Weiss asked as Pyrrha frowned. "I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well known individual such as yourself." Weiss said, showering Pyrrha with praise to try and gain favor. "Hmm… I'm not quite sure." Pyrrha said as Nitori spoke up. "I just told the sisters over there that you aren't going to get to pick your teams, it's actually rather special how teams are assigned." Nitori said as Jaune put his sheathed sword on his belt. That one sentence instantly shattered Weiss' illusion of an easy way to cruise through school.

"I'd go get something to eat if I were you, you all have quite the day ahead of you." Nitori suggested as she put the wrench back in the toolbox and shut the locker. "I'll see you all in class." Nitori said before walking off as Jaune decided to start talking to Pyrrha and Weiss. "So uh… Hi I'm Jaune, how are you doing?" Jaune asked awkwardly as Weiss huffed. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Weiss asked as Jaune simply shrugged and smiled. "No idea snow angel." Jaune said with a smile as Weiss huffed. "This." Weiss started, referring to Pyrrha first "is Pyrrha." Weiss said haughtily as Pyrrha waved at Jaune. "Hello." Pyrrha said with a smile as Jaune smiled bac, only for Weiss to continue in her haughty tone. "Pyrrha graduated top of her class at Sanctum." Weiss said, referring to a prestigious school in Mistral. "Never heard of it." Jaune admitted awkwardly as Weiss huffed. "She's won the Mistral Regional Tournament four years in a row, it's a new record!" Weiss said, thinking Jaune would know about that. "The what?" Jaune asked, confused. He knew what a tournament was, be he didn't know there were regionals… or that Pyrrha had fought in them.

At this point Weiss was getting frustrated and decided to go with something that ANYONE would know. "She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!" She shouted at Jaune, failing her arms. At that Point Jaune finally got it. "That's you? They only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters!" Jaune said simply amazed as Pyrrha gave him an awkward smile. "Yeah it was pretty cool. Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you." Pyrrha admitted as Weiss huffed, finally thinking she had gotten through to Jaune.

"So, after hearing all of this, do you really think you're in any position to talk to her, or me?" Weiss asked him rudely as Jaune groaned and looked down at the floor. "No… I guess not." He muttered, know that he wasn't even supposed to BE at Beacon. "It's ok Jaune. If you want to talk, we can talk." Pyrrha said with a smile as she put her hand on his shoulder. Jaune slowly looked up with a smile. "Thanks." Jaune said as Weiss huffed.

It was at this point that the loud speaker came on, the students in the locker room looking up at it as Glynda's voice came through it. "Would all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again, all first year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately." She said though the loudspeaker before it cut off. "Already! We didn't even have breakfast!" Weiss complained, having followed Pyrrha in to get her weapon before breakfast. Storming out of the locker room as Pyrrha started walking away as well. "It was nice meeting you Jaune." Pyrrha said as Jaune waved to her. "Likewise…" He muttered, slightly unsure of himself as Yang and Ruby walked over to him.

"Havin' some trouble there Ladykiller?" Yang asked with a smirk, referring to how awkward Jaune's conversation with Pyrrha and Weiss had been. "Where did I go wrong?" Jaune started, thinking he had driven both Weiss and Pyrrha away from him as yang started walking away. "Snow angel probably wasn't the best start." Yang said as Ruby smiled at Jaune and motioned him to follow her. "Come on Jaune, let's go." Ruby said with a smile, Jaune following her with his own smile, at least he had one friend.

BGM: RWBY volume 1 soundtrack – 16. EP 4 Score (:59 – 1:37)

At Beacon cliff Ozpin was addressing the students, who were all standing on white squares. Glynda was standing next to him holding a large scroll for monitoring purposes. In the trees behind the hopefully first years Marisa and Alice were watching the proceedings to see how they would go. Meiling and Nitori, however, we back at Beacon academy in full to get everything ready for the semester.

"For years you have trained to become warriors." Ozpin started as he looked down the line of students, all sixteen of this year's hopefuls. It wasn't a large group, but it was still an even one, good for his plans. And thankfully they fit his 'relics' in numbers, the eight chess pieces, four black and four gold. "And today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Ozpin continued, not missing a beat as he examined the students.

Jaune's stance was awkward and he didn't have his weapon ready, Ruby Rose was only slightly less awkward, but more ready for her weapon, one of the other boys, Cardin Winchester had his arms crossed and was ready for this, several other students either had their weapons out, like Pyrrha or Ren, or were ready to grab them at a moment's notice, like Weiss or Nora. All in all… decent enough for first years. At this point Glynda spoke up. "Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion." Glynda explained as Marisa looked at Alice from her place in the trees and rolled her eyes at her, Alice glaring for a moment before sighing and shaking her head.

"Each of you will be given teammates… Today." Glynda finished as Ruby gulped. "What… ohh…" She muttered, trying to keep quiet as Ozpin spoke up. "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well." Ozpin started… knowing about his own… slightly rigged teams at the very least, his eight hopefuls would be together and split between two teams since they were all being launched to a different part of the emerald forest then the other students. "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." Ozpin said, shattering any hopes of the students picking their own partners, as Ruby finally spoke louder than a whisper. "What!?" She yelled at him, confused.

"See, I told you." Nora said with a smirk to Ren, who slowly rolled his eyes at Nora's expense. So she had been right about a signal at the very least… now he would have to find her before someone else did. "After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path… or you will die." Ozpin said bluntly, Jaune gulping nervously as Ruby hung her arms and frowned at him. Nora was smiling at something, whether it was destroying everything or just partnering up with Ren was a mystery. "You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation." Ozpin said… it was a slight lie, the grading wasn't actually going to happen, it was just a bit of extra incentive. "But our instructors will not intervene." Ozpin said. 'Hopefully…' he thought, having noticed Alice and Marisa not exactly hiding in the trees.

"You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the forest containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff." Ozpin said… once again lying, it wasn't an abandoned temple it was the dais he had Glynda rig up that held the relics… though there was a temple at the other end of the forest. "We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately." Ozpin said, again another lie, the item pairs were just what made sure which pair ended up with the other pair. "Are there any questions?" Ozpin asked, not actually letting anyone of the students get a question as Jaune raised his hand. "Good! Now, take your positions." Ozpin said, as the catapults started launching students in pairs of two. "Uh, sir? I've got, um, a question." Jaune asked awkwardly as Weiss and another student were launched in different directions, followed by other students down the lines. "So, this landing strategy thing, uh, w-what is it?" Jaune asked, slightly scared as he continued. "You're, like, dropping us off or something?" Jaune finished, not noticing the students being launched.

"No. You will be falling." Ozpin said bluntly as Glynda stared at Jaune, not knowing about his faked transcripts as another student, Russel Thrush was launched. "Oh, I see. So, like, did you hand out parachutes for us?" Jaune asked, his fears not elated as Nora was launched. "No. You will be using your own landing strategy." Ozpin said, a small smirk threatening to come to his face at this, Jaune was way out of his depth and Ozpin could not find it not slightly funny, but he kept his blank expression. At this point only three students were left to launch, Yang, Ruby and Jaune himself.

"Uhhuh… Yeah." Jaune said nervously as yang winked at Ruby and put on a pair of aviators that matched her outfit before she was launched, followed by Ruby. "So, um, what exactly is a landing strateGYYY!" Jaune yelled as he was launched, Ozpin turning around to watch the falling students, his eight hopefuls falling in a different direction then the other students as he took a sip of his coffee, Marisa and Alice jumping down from the trees and launching right next to him as Ozpin smirked. "Nice." Marisa said with a smirk as Alice groaned. "They're gonna die." Alice said as Ozpin looked at the girls. "They will be fine girls." Ozpin reassured then as Glynda looked at Marisa and Alice.

"So these are the new hires." Glynda said as Marisa smirked at her. "Yep. How you doin'?" Marisa said with a smirk as Alice sighed and shook her head. "Let the initiation begin." Ozpin said with a small smile. He always enjoyed this part of the year.

(Stage Clear)

Chapter 3

Payday: Dust Heist

BGM: Payday 2 Official Soundtrack – 02. Master Plan

Roman frowned as he looked at a heist planning board he had set up. Thankfully this time he had been allowed to pick his target. The problem was his resources. After the near disaster that was the Dust to Dawn Heist Cinder had wanted to now keep the operations and heist quiet instead of loud. It took all Roman had, and Neo still holding him back slightly to keep him from shouting at Cinder that should have been the plan in the first place. Now he was working with only the resources he himself could gather up to up his heists off while Cinder was off doing… whatever she did with her cronies.

"So we've got, the four of us… and enough bags to hold one shop's worth of dust." Roman complained as he took a puff of his cigar before pulling it out of his mouth. "Actually Roman, I believe I may have something that will make our lives a little easier." Minerva said as Roman turned to her, Neo looking up from where she was sitting atop a crate of dust enjoying a popsicle as Cirno took a moment to look at the staff Minerva held in her hands. "That's a Rewarp staff." Cirno said bluntly as Minerva nodded. "Actually this." Minerva started, pointing at the purple crystal fitted into the top of the staff. "Is a gravity dust crystal, or it used to be. I already tried making staves out of other dust crystals… but the only one I could get to work was the gravity crystal." Minerva said as Roman rolled his eyes.

"So how does this make our lives easier?" Roman asked as Minerva started explaining it. "Simple. Rewarp normally only teleports the user of the staff to somewhere of their choosing. But by using this dust crystal I'm empowered the staff, so now I can bring multiple people instead of just one, but they have to be standing next to me when I use it." Minerva said as Roman tapped his cigar. "Ok… explain it in a language I can understand and not your magic mumbo jumbo." Roman said rudely as Minerva frowned. "It's a Mass Rewarp staff, I can bring up to four people with me when I use it to teleport away from somewhere. In other words, it's our escape plan." Minerva said as Roman smirked. "Now that, is a decent escape plan, tell me? Is it flashy?" Roman asked, concerned about that part.

"Sister?" Minerva called, Cirno getting up and walking over to Minerva as she lit up the staff, a dim magic circle forming beneath her and Cirno before they disappeared from Roman's view. "What the! Where did they?" Roman started as Neo pointed up at the catwalks of the warehouse, where Cirno and Minerva now where as Cirno waved at Roman. "Ok… that answers that question." Roman said as Minerva used the staff again, bringing herself and Cirno back down to the ground floor of the warehouse.

"So… that's our escape plan. What else you got?" Roman asked as Minerva pointed to the other staves she had on her back. "I've got my fortify staff, which will heal all of us if we need it, and my rescue staff for if someone gets separated from the group, alongside my own… special book, you know the one." Minerva said as Roman nodded. "Cirno?" Roman asked as Cirno stretched her arms. "I've got my swords and my ice, not much else." She admitted as she stretched.

"Alright… here's the plan then." Roman said as he pointed at the planning board with his cigar, Minerva, Cirno and Neo all listening as Roman spoke. "We'll infiltrate the shop from the back and take out the cameras, I don't want any evidence getting out that we hit this place. Neo, you're on the cameras. Minerva, you'll be with me and Cirno as we enter the back of the shop, knock out or kill the guy at the front of the shop, I don't care which, but I'd prefer not to have to pay cleaner costs." Roman complained. "I want everything out of that shop within five minutes, got it?" Roman asked as the group nodded. "Good, then let's actually get to work. And see if we can't pick up a little extra along the way." Roman said with a smirk as he picked up his cane as started walking, leading Minerva, Cirno and Neo out of the warehouse to go hit their target.

BGM: Payday 2 Official Soundtrack – 03. Time Window

It was the middle of the day in the industrial district of Vale, not a lot of people were out in about because they had their jobs to deal with and it left the dust shop that the team was about to hit as easy pickings.

Roman had led the girls around the back of a shop known as 'World of Dust' a rather small place for its name but it was actually part of a larger trade business that came from the Schnee dust company. The World of Dust being one of Schnee's lesser known shop chains. And as typical of a Schnee chain, security was minimal, but the profits that could be raked in where astounding.

"Neo, cameras." Roman said, Neo nodding as she disappeared from view with her semblance, climbing the building and entering through the top and going down the stairs. "She'll signal us once the cameras are down." Roman said, holding his scroll out to watch his chat with Neo, Cirno and Minerva both carrying duffle bags over their shoulders to get ready to loot the place. "I don't like this…" Minerva said as Cirno frowned. "It's what we gotta do sis." Cirno said, trying to reassure her that they were doing what they needed to. 'Like any 'good' criminal it starts with being unable to count on anyone but yourself.' Roman pondered, thinking that the girls must have been orphans forced into crime.

Just then Roman's scroll buzzed, Roman looking down at it and seeing Neo's message. 'Two guards, one civilian, silent alarms ready to go off if glass shattered, need key.' Neo's message read as Roman nodded. "Alright, let's move, we've got two guards, one civilian and we need a key for the cases." Roman said as he motioned at the locked back door of the building. "I'm on it." Minerva said, snapping her finger as the door unlocked itself, Roman pushing it open silently as he snuck in with Minerva and Cirno to hit the place. Roman quickly sent Neo a message to take out one of the guards on his signal.

"Minerva, take the civ, Cirno, that guard." Roman said as the girls nodded as Roman started counting down. "Three… two… one… now." Roman said quietly, pushing the door open as Cirno ran into the main part of the shop, tackling one of the guards and knocking him out as the other guard turned to her pulling out his gun, only for Neo to appear behind him and conk him on the back of the head with her umbrella as the shop keeper cried out and kneeled on the floor as Minerva walked over to him and pulled out a small bit of wire to tie the man's hands behind his back. "Excellent work girls." Roman said as Neo went over to Minerva and quickly knocked out the shop keeper, leading Minerva to glare at her as Roman looked at the guards, seeing one had a scroll beeping with a call.

Walking over to the guard and picking up the scroll Roman listened to the man at the other end of the scroll. "What's going on? I heard something through the connection. Is everything alright?" The man at the other end said as Roman took a moment to formulate an excuse. "Everything's fine, just bumped into one of the aisles." Roman lied as the man at the other end seemed to contemplate what he said. "Alright… give me a call if anything happens." The man said as he hung up, Roman smirking as the shop's security windows came down and blocked anyone from seeing into the shop.

"Alright, Neo, are the cams off and wiped?" Roman asked as Neo nodded, Minerva having huffed and snapped her fingers, all the cases in the shop opening themselves at her gesture as Roman smirked. "And who needs a key anymore." Roman said as he pulled his duffle off his back and started grabbing dust crystals. Minerva, Cirno and Neo doing the same as Roman put his duffle down. "I'm going to check the back room. All of you be alert." Roman said as the girls kept filling their bags with dust, Cirno having started using dust canisters to get dust out of the tubes.

As Roman entered the back room he saw the safe in the back, smirking as pulled out his own lock pick from his pocket. While Minerva was a nice asset, it wouldn't hurt to keep his own skills fresh. Picking the safe open he looked inside at the pile of lien and smirked, pocketing all the cash grabbing what he couldn't pocket to put in his duffle and hand out to Neo and the girls.

Walking back into the main room Roman saw that the shop was practically empty of dust. "Girls." Roman said with a smirk as the girls turned to him, Roman shacking a stack of lien in hand. "It's payday." Roman joked as he tossed some lien to Neo, Minerva and Cirno, Neo pocketing the cash as Minerva frowned before pocketing hers. Cirno had winced and put hers down on the counter, only for Neo to swipe it. "I get it, you have morals. But that isn't going to help you here." Roman said as Cirno frowned. "I know… I just don't like stealing money." Cirno said as she held her scarred arm. Neo then pulled out the stack of lien she had just grabbed and shook it at Cirno, who slowly took it before pocketing it. "Well get used to it, once we've done what Cinder wants we are out of Vale, lay low in Vacuo or Mistral for a while and then back to heisting." Roman said as Minerva huffed. "If we stick around that long." She said as Roman smirked. "I don't like working for Cinder at all. Minerva, let's get out of here." Roman said as Minerva pulled her Mass Rewarp staff off her back as Roman, Cirno and Neo crowded around her, the staff lighting up for a moment before all of them disappeared with the dust they had stolen, leaving two knocked out guards and the shop keeper out cold, and an empty dust shop.

BGM: PAYDAY 2 Official Soundtrack – 01. Mayhem Dressed In a Suit

When Roman, Minerva, Cirno and Neo reappeared in the warehouse Roman laughed as he put his duffel down and pulled out a cigar. "A textbook heist gone perfectly girls. Now if only Cinder wasn't one for such grandeur we could probably rob all of Vale within a year and no one would be the wiser as to who did it." Roman said with a smirk as he took a puff of his cigar.

"Not all plans will survive contact with the enemy." Minerva said wisely as Roman smirked. "True… but even if a plan goes bad, so long as we can keep the cops busy we can still get out easily enough." Roman said as the massive doors to the warehouse opened, Roman turning towards the doors with Minerva next to him on his left, Cirno to Minerva's left and Neo to Roman's right as Cinder walked in with Emerald and Mercury flanking her.

"I see you've already preformed your duty Roman." Cinder said in a calm yet threatening tone as she looked at the four duffels full of dust as Roman started talking. "It's been one day toots, what did you want all of Vale robbed in an afternoon?" Roman asked in a snarking tone as Cinder frowned. "Be careful what you say Roman… I could always have you replaced." Cinder said as Emerald moved her hands to her gun holsters and Mercury got himself ready just in case. In response Neo smirked as she spun her umbrella in her hands, Cirno fingering her own sword as Minerva held her mass Rewarp staff in her hands ready for a quick escape with Roman, Cirno and Neo.

"No you can't, because I'm the only crime lord here in Vale besides Junior, and he's an info broker, not a thief." Roman said as Cinder spoke. "You can't be so sure of yourself Roman… I always have a backup plan." Cinder said as she and Roman started to circle each other. "You're not the only one Cinder, just because you've got your 'magical powers' you think you can step on me, well joke's on you, I'm not going to take it lying down. The only reason I'm working with you is because it gives me a chance to rob Vale blind." Roman said, his bravery fueled by his allies behind him. "Watch yourself Roman, or you'll find yourself getting too close to an open flame." Cinder said as she formed a fireball in her hand. "Whatever, I've got heists to plan. You go do… whatever it is you do." Roman snarked as Cinder huffed, throwing the fireball at Minerva once again, only for it to dissipate in front of her as Minerva glared at Cinder. "You are on the clock Roman, I want everything ready soon." Cinder said as she turned to leave. "By when wicked witch?" Roman snarked as Cinder spoke. "Before the Vytal Tournament." Cinder said as she walked away with Mercury and Emerald. "What are you planning Cinder…" Roman muttered as he turned back to the planning board.

"We need a plan to get rid of her." Minerva said as Roman nodded. "I agree. But not yet, she's a useful resource." Roman said as Cirno huffed. "So are you to her." Cirno pointed out. "Exactly." Roman said, taking another puff on his cigar as he got back to the drawing board.

(Stage Clear)

Chapter 3 – The First Step Part 2

BGM: Those Who Fight (Final Fantasy VII) ~Orchestral Battle Arrange~

Over the Emerald Forest all was seemingly quiet. As a small nevermore flew above the trees quietly for but a brief moment… only for Ruby to small straight into it. "Birdy no!" Ruby shouted as she started firing Cresent Rose in order to slow herself down, quickly switching to scythe mode and grappling to a tree branch before landing on the forest floor.

Behind her Weiss was flying through the air with her rapier, the Myrtenaster. Doing a small flip in the air a glyph formed beneath her, slowing her down so that she could land safely. Nearby Ren and Nora were dropping out of the sky in a small area together, Ren slamming the blades of his guns into a tree and spinning around the tree to land safely. Above him Yang was having the time of her life, using her ember Celica to constantly blast herself farther and farther before going through a tree's leaves and bouncing off tree trunks before rolling across the ground and breaking out into a run. "Nailed it." She said with a massive grin on her face.

Back in the air Pyrrha had her shield out in front of her, slamming through several trees with ease before safely landing on a tree branch and scanning the area with her rifle, Milo. Looking back in the air she saw Jaune falling from the sky. Spinning Milo in her hand she flipped it around, the weapon changing from a rifle to spear as Pyrrha took aim with her thumb for a just a moment. Pressing the trigger she threw her weapon as hard as she could, the blast from the barrel at the back of the spear helping it fly as it flew towards Jaune's falling form. Waiting for several seconds Pyrrha listened until she heard a twack against a tree. "Thank you!" Jaune shouted from afar as Pyrrha cupped her hand to her mouth a waved, unsure if Jaune could see her. "I'm sorry!" She shouted back.

Back with Ruby she was running through the forest chanting to herself in her head. "Gotta find Yang. Gotta find Yang, gotta find Yang, gotta fiiind' "Yang!" Ruby shouted, dashing through the forest. "Yang!" she shouted as she thought to herself. 'Ugh this is bad, really really bad! What if I can't find her, what if someone finds her first?' Ruby thought before thinking to herself who else she could team up with. 'There's always Jaune… he's nice. He's funny.' Ruby thought quickly getting distracted as she ran through the emerald forest. "Oh! What about Blade? So mysterious, so calm… Who else is there?' Ruby wondered for a moment as she went over the list in her head. 'There's Yang, Jaune, Blake and…' WHAMM!

Weiss. Ruby had run straight into Weiss knocking both of them into a tree. "Ouch…" Ruby complained as she got off of Weiss, who got up herself, took one look at Ruby and scowled before turning around and storming off. "Wait! Where are you going?" Ruby called as she looked down. "We're supposed to be teammates…" Ruby muttered quietly as she looked down at the forest floor.

'Great… now I have to deal with her… unless I can find someone else.' Weiss complained in her head as she moved through a bush. "Ow!." She complained vocally as she picked herself on a thorn. Groaning as she pushed her way through the forest she heard something. 'Please don't tell me…' She complained in her head as she looked up at a tree branch.

"Ugh, come on you stupid, urg… come on agh." Jaune mumbled as he tried to pull Pyrrha's spear that had him pinned by the hoodie out of the tree. 'Nope…' Weiss thought immediately as she turned around as Jaune waved at her with a nervous laugh. Ruby was still staring at the ground when Weiss got back to her. Only for Weiss to start talking as she grabbed the back of Ruby's hooded cape. "By no means does this make us friends." Weiss said as she started dragging Ruby away. "You came back!" Ruby cheered, even as she was pulled away from the tree Jaune was pinned to by Weiss.

"Hey wait! Come Back! Who's gonna get me down from here?" Jaune yelled as he groaned. "Jaune?" Pyrrha called as Jaune looked down, seeing Pyrrha standing below him with a small smile. "You okay?" Pyrrha asked as Jaune chuckled nervously. "Yeah… can you please get me down?" Jaune asked as Pyrrha smiled at him.

"What's the hurry?" Ruby asked as she walked behind Weiss. Who was crabby as usual. "I will not let my mission be delayed because you're too slow. I swear, if I get a bad grade because of your." Weiss started only for Ruby to sped in front of her. "What the?!" Weiss yelped as Ruby chuckled. "I'm not slow see? You don't have to worry about me!" Ruby said with a smile as Weiss turned around for a moment. "When did…?" Weiss muttered confused as Ruby continued talking. "Weiss, just because I don't exactly know how to deal with people doesn't mean I don't know how to deal with monsters." Ruby proclaim as Weiss crossed her arms over her chest. "You're about to see a whole different side of me today Weiss!" Ruby said starting to yammer and trail off before disappearing in a flurry of rose petals.

Weiss waved some of the petals away before complaining. "You may be fast, but you still excel at wasting time!" Weiss called as she turned around, Ruby was gone and Weiss groaned. "Ruby!" Weiss called, looking around for Ruby as the leaves rustled. "Ruby?" Weiss called, seeing red eyes appear in the bushes as Weiss started to go for her sword. "RUBY!" Weiss shouted, wondering where her partner had gone as a Beowulf came out of the bushes to attack her, roaring at her.

(Stage Clear!)

AN: And that's the end of chapter 3, with a quick look at a Payday style heist by Roman and his team, and then the fun that is the early episodes of RWBY, next up the Emerald Forest Like I said earlier if you have any questions feel free to leave them in a review, however I have one more question to answer this chapter.

Gunda342: referring to the team of eight and Garon's crew I'll give you a special treat, the endgame overview of what all the characters in this book had from the previous book. Warning for anyone who does not want to be spoiled for certain characters in book 3 Fates of Illlusion.

Minerva

Class: Archsage

Skills: Lock Touch, Staff Savant, Rally Spectrum, Inspiration, Tactical Guide

P.S: Lockout

Inventory: Brynhildr, Fortify, Warp, Rescue, Aura, Barrier

Cirno

Class: Vanguard

Skills: Aether, Veteran Intuition, Eclipse, Razor Wind, Axe Breaker

Inventory: Seigfried, Cirno's Sword, Alondite

Marisa

Class: Marksman Adventurer

Skills: Pass, Bowfaire, Point Blank, Quick Draw, Lock touch

P.S: Master Spark (Does not need explaining)

Inventory: Fuijin Yumi (Can use staves)

Alice

Class: Ninja Assassin

Skills: Poison Strike, Shurikenfaire, Lethality, Pass, Iron Will

P.S Summon Shanghai

Inventory: Saizo's Star, Iron Bow, Steel Katana

Nitori

Class: Ballistician

Skills: Survey, Opportunity Shot, Rifled Barrel, Surefooted, Point Blank

P.S: Upgrade Tank

Tank Equipment: Normal Shot, Fire Shot, Explosive Shot, Steel Spike, Silver Spike, Magic Spike, Magic Shot, Hakkero Cannon

Meiling

Class: Martial Artist

Skills: Lance Breaker, Axe Breaker, Sword Breaker, Life and Death, Counter

P.S: Master of Martial Arts (When fighting other unarmed fighters gain +4 attack)

Inventory: None

Patchouli

Class: Seven Days Sorceress

Skills: Malefic Aura, Bowbreaker, Tomefaire, Counter magic, Miracle

P.S: Seven days magic (Can use Patchouli's Grimoire)

Inventory: Patchouli's Grimoire (Can use seven different elemental spells.)

Mokou

Class: Trueblade

Skills: Astra, Swordfaire, Ultimate Vantage (Always attack first), Supreme Duelist (+ 15 avoid)

P.S: Fiery Fighter (When in fiery terrain, take no damage.)

Inventory: Rajinto

Garon

Class: Nohrian King

Skills: Armored Blow, Warded Blow, Nohrian Trust, Camaraderie, Savage Blow

P.S: Frontline Royal

Inventory: Bölverk

Zelgius

Class: Black Marshall

Skills: Eclipse, Pavise, Rally Strength, Swordfaire, Clarity

P.S: Legacy (+3 dmg when using legacy weapons, Legacy weapons are named weapons.)

Inventory: none

Anankos

Class: Tactician

Skills: Tactical Guide, Solidarity, Dual Guardsman, Charm, Rally Movement

P.S: Former Dragon (New powers as Plot demands… just kidding but this does nothing for combat)

Inventory: None

Cid

Class: Dragoon

Skills: Lancefaire, Rend Heaven, Air Superiority, Jump, Aegis

P.S: Improved Jump (What do you think?)

Inventory: Rex Hasta (REMEMBER THIS!)

Jaffar

Class: Assassin

Skills: Lethality, Pass, Acrobat, Defender,

P.S: True Lethality (Lethality activates off ½ crit rate instead of standard activation. JAFFAR IS TRUE ASSASSIN!)

Inventory: Killer knives

Nino

Class: Sage

Skills: Flare(Basically magic Sol), Tomefaire, Tomebreaker, Rally Heart, Shadowgift

P.S: True Love (When in range of Jaffar, boost his crit rate by +20, works while paired up.)

Inventory: Mend, Thunder, Elfire, Nosferatu, Fimbulvetr Ultima (S rank spell)

There you go, you asked for it Gunda342 and now you have spoilers. Lots and lots of spoilers. If you have any more questions send me a PM or leave a review, but for now, I'm out.