Hey guys! Welcome back to the humor-turned-drama fic that might be too transparent!
Yeah. After rereading last chapter, I realized that what at the time felt like a hint was more of an "Ohai heerz al teh plotz." It's hard to figure out what's obvious and what isn't when you know the plot by heart cause that's the only place it's written down in full.
I'm going to let A Study in Silver sit for a chapter or two so I can wrap up Project Hand before we hit a large pocket of... Stuff.
"Okay, okay, okay, here's one:" Yang said. Currently, team RWBY was sitting around in their dorm playing a game called "Million Lien, But..." and, somehow, despite there not being a proper way to win, Yang was. "You get a million lien, but, for five years you have to wear tops that are three sizes too small."
"As if you don't already..." Weiss mumbled.
Yang turned to Weiss with a smirk. "Hey, just becaus—"
"Guys, please." Blake interrupted. "The Reactsverse does this enough. We don't need to harp on a played out joke."
"What?" Weiss asked, confused, prompting a sigh from Blake.
"Alright. I'll try to explain this." The faunus started. "We're in a story. Actually, we're in a fanfic based on another fanfic based on an anime that makes fun of other animes."
"What?" Weiss asked again.
"Psst. Blake." Yang whispered to her partner. "I think I figured out why Weiss never understands us when we break the fourth wall. I think there might be some kind of magic that makes us sound like we're saying random things like "Purple Grimm eat sloth shaped pancakes for dinner" when we're breaking it."
"You people make no sense." Weiss said, rubbing her temples. "How did I even end up on this team?"
Yui called out over the school P.A. system. "CURSE YOU NANAMI!"
"And your insufferable A.I. has gotten obsessed with this Namani person or whoever."
"Nanami." Yang said. "And did you just call Yui insufferable?" Her face had contorted into a look of confusion.
"Yes, Xiao Long." Weiss replied. A smirk was evident on her face. "Do you need a dictionary to learn what that means?"
"Alright. That's it!" Yang proclaimed, standing and walking towards the heiress. Before she could pound Weiss into a snowball, though, Yui informed her that Ozpin had requested she and Blake come to his office.
"Sounds like he's finally realized your Antics are dangerous for the school." Weiss said.
Yang scoffed. "As if. Don't forget, he's been paying us. And your company is benefiting from it. So don't even."
"..." Weiss said nothing, instead glaring at the retreating form of Yang.
"You asked to see us, Professor?" Yang asked as she and Blake stepped into Ozpin's office. Yang had always been amazed at the intricate clockwork seen all around. She had often wondered if it all had a purpose or was mostly décor. Across the room, Ozpin turned from the window to face the girls.
"Yes, yes, please, come in." He said, motioning to a couple of chairs on the side of the desk nearest the two pranksters. As they sat, he offered them some coffee, which they politely declined. He sat, and took a sip of his own coffee. "Ms. Xiao Long, Ms. Belladonna, the two of you seem to have a penchant for doing the impossible."
"I'm... Afraid I don't know what you're referring to, Professor." Yang said.
"You've created a fully sentient A.I.—"
"Penny existed before Yui, sir." Blake reminded him. "Penny is a robot with a soul. She kinda trumps Yui."
"Fair enough." Ozpin conceded. "You've also managed to summon a gluttonous pink puffball from its own universe, create a machine that is both starfighter and mech, create full color holograms, steal Glynda's diary on multiple occasions, and pick a lock by yodelling at it. Need I go on?"
Yang raised a hand. "Actually, the yodelling thing was Nora, but I see your point."
Ozpin took another sip of coffee before continuing. "There are two things I would like to request of you."
Blake nodded and pulled out her Scroll. "Yui, you there?"
"Yes, Blake-san." She said, as happy as she usually was. Whatever had happened earlier had worn off already. "How can I help?"
"Just listen in, give your opinions. Et cetera." Blake replied. "Go ahead, Professor."
"First of all—granted, this is quite a feat—I would like the two of you to begin looking into interdimensional travel."
If Yang had been drinking coffee, she would have spit it out. "Come again?"
"Imagine, if you will, being able to have the best swordsmen in the media train you. The best marksmen teach you to shoot. The smartest scientists in the multiverse working with you." Ozpin said. "I've done what I can towards accomplishing that goal, but without the technology to travel to alternate universes, it's little more than a pipe dream."
Yui spoke up next. "According to my estimates, if we reverse engineer the ray gun that Blake-san used to banish Kirby, we may be able to have a prototype within three months."
"Yui, have you accounted for time for those of us who aren't computers to eat, sleep, and go to class?" Yang asked. "Three months seems a bit... Optimistic."
"Adjusting..." Yui replied, going silent for a moment. "Five months, allowing for basic human needs, class, and unexpected emergencies or setbacks." She finally decided. A hologram appeared over Ozpin's desk, showing the numbers, as well as a time table, and a picture of a rather grumpy looking cat. "This is an optimal scenario, of course. We have no idea how complicated the device really is, if we can reproduce necessary parts, et cetera. Ideally we would have three shifts of at least four scientists available so that progress is constant. However, I have yet to hear of a scientist who could match the ingenuity of Yang-san or Blake-san."
"I see." Ozpin said. "Take all the time you need. I am certain it will be a tough nut to crack."
"You said there were two things, sir?" Yang prompted.
"Yes, right." He stood and walked to the window. "I have a meeting with... A V.I.P.. I can't disclose details at this juncture, but I do know there are some who, if they found out about this meeting, would see the V.I.P dead." He turned back around. "Normally, I would ask Ms. Rose to take team RWBY on a mission to guard my contact, but... I feel this situation requires bigger weapons."
"Like a mech." Yang finished for him.
Ozpin smiled and nodded. "Like a mech."
"Is an Atlesian Paladin insufficient, Ozpin-sensei?" Yui inquired, comparing the statistics of the Paladin to those of the Viking—the mech Yang and Blake had constructed. "It is comparable to the Viking in all areas, save flight."
"I don't mean the Viking." Ozpin said, taking another sip of coffee.
"You know about Phase Two?" Blake asked, before turning to Yui. "Reassess security protocols."
"Hai." Yui replied, setting to work on her task.
"Indeed I do, Ms. Belladonna. However, my source is Glynda, whose source is one of the team SLVR members." Ozpin stated cooly. "I've been told it's almost ready for testing."
"Right..." Blake sighed. "Wait. Wait. What? Goodwitch?! Yui, pull the logs for team SLVR's movements."
"It would appear team SLVR has been visiting Professor Goodwitch's office on a regular basis." Yui replied after a moment. "More than you would think a team would need to do so."
"So that's what they're up to." Yang said, slowly. "Doesn't explain why they look like us, but..." Yang let out a long sigh, and slumped into her chair. "They've been working for Goodwitch this whole time."
"It seems I have inadvertently assisted your cause." Ozpin stated. "You may go, if there are no questions. And to be clear, these requests are just that; requests. You may decline if you are so inclined."
"Nah." Yang said. "We've had field tests and inter dimensional travel on the docket for a while now."
"Very well then. Good day, Ms Xiao Long, Ms Belladonna."
As the girls walked out of the office, Mrs. Lie stepped from the shadows—an incredible feat considering how well lit the room was. "It would seem that our plans are... Well, going to plan." She said. Mrs. Lie had intended to say something more inspirational, but the words just didn't come to her.
"It would seem that way." Ozpin turned to face her. "You'll be back in your own kingdom in no time, Your—"
Mrs. Lie abruptly cut him off. "Don't. Not here. You gave those students access to the surveillance systems. I'm not ready to reveal my secret yet."
"As you wish." He said. "Still, in no time, your kingdom and ours can begin trading goods, services, knowledge. And you will get to return home."
The ninja moved over to the window behind Ozpin's desk, overlooking the Beacon campus. "I've been here so long..." She started. A long silence filled the room, heavy with the unsaid words. "But perhaps it would be for the better." She finally said, straightening her braid.
"Professor, your nine o'clock is here." Ozpin's desk suddenly said, effectively ending the conversation.
"Send them in." He said, before turning to face Mrs. Lie again. But she was already gone.
That's that. I don't know the word count. It's been too long since I posted, so it doesn't matter. This chapter is kinda boring, but it sets up for... A lot more than I intended. It's also kinda crappy. Oh well.
Sorry it took so long to get this out. I was busy, and did a lot of writing and polishing on the expanded Anticverse fic that's coming up. So yeah.
Peace out peeps.
P.s. The Million Lien But game thing is indeed a reference to the RoosterTeeth video, and Barbara's own idea thingy. I'm too tired to explain well right now. You catch my drift right?