"Cinder, I-I can explain," Emerald squeaked as she backed up. Cinder approached, glowing in frustration. "I'll…I'll make it up to you!" Emerald pressed against a wall in the room, trying to get away.

"I told you…," Cinder snarled. She took a very deep breath and started calming down.

"Thank you," Emerald sighed in relief. "I promise, next time-," Cinder slapped her across the face. Emerald's head created a hole as it banged against the wall. Emerald curled up in a ball at Cinder's feet, holding her bloody head in pain. Pushing her semblance to the absolute limit had drained Emerald of her aura.

"Stupid girl," Cinder snorted grabbing Emerald by her mint green hair, "I wasn't finished." She pulled Emerald's head up looking her eye to eye. "There won't be a next time!" Cinder's eyes glowed, burning Emerald's soul. "Banner wasn't supposed to revert back to his regular state! You were to make the Hulk kill everyone at Beacon and then some! But alas, you were too weak. I should have known to put my faith in you."

"P-please, I WON'T FAIL YOU AGAIN," Emerald pleaded. This time, Emerald didn't know if she could escape Cinder's wrath.

"You didn't just fail me," Cinder growled. She tightened her grip, almost ripping Emerald's hair out.

"I won't fail ever again! IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN," Emerald cried out. Tears began to form in her eyes. Emerald turned to face Mercury with her beautiful red eyes full of fear.

"Don't you dare interfere, boy," Cinder barked over her shoulder. All that Mercury could only watch Emerald suffer.

"You didn't just fail me," Cinder repeated looking down at Emerald, "You failed her!" Emerald suffered another devastating slap. The right side of her face reddened again.

"P-please..." Emerald panted as tears rolled down her face. "It won't..." Another slap exploded on her face.

"DID I SAY YOU COULD TALK?" Cinder screamed. Cinder did not want this for her disciple. To Cinder, if you fail, you pay consequences. If Cinder didn't punish Emerald…Salem would do much, much worse to all of them. Tryian almost killed Emerald from detecting a small scent of mercy when they first met. Cinder carried out her lesson, "Do you know what she would do to you if she learned of your disappointing display?"

"N-no," Emerald whimpered, shaking. She flinched as Cinder raised her hand to strike her down again. The blow never came. Emerald looked up to find Cinder's wrist in Mercury's grasp.

"I told you not to interfere, boy," Cinder growled. Mercury's lips didn't move but his grip tightened. Cinder's arm began to glow burning Mercury's hand. "Unhand me…NOW," Cinder ordered. Mercury looked down at Emerald who nodded for him to do so.

"It wasn't her fault," Mercury said as Cinder pulled her arm back.

Emerald looked at Mercury, "What is he doing? Cinder might kill him for talking back. Why is he doing this for me?" she thought.

"What was that?" Cinder asked getting into Mercury's face.

"I said, it wasn't her fault," Mercury stated again.

"Silence," Cinder ordered, slapping Mercury with the back of her hand. She turned her attention back to Emerald, "You were supposed to unleash the Hulk onto Beacon!"

Emerald flinched, "B-but I did."

"Oh, my apologies," Cinder sarcastically chuckled. "What you're telling me is different from what I saw!" Cinder held up a tablet showing the Hulk reverting back into Banner.

"C-cinder," Emerald pleaded, "Banner is stronger than anyone I have ever faced! Anyone that I will ever face! All of that anger stored within him…it's so powerful," Emerald shuddered. She shuttered as she went into a trance just trying to remember what went inside Hulk's mind.

"Tell me more," Cinder ordered.

"So powerful," Emerald said in a haze. Just remembering all of that rage, fury and pain gave Emerald a headache and a bloody nose.

"Speak, CHILD," Cinder barked.

Emerald snapped back into reality, "HE'S THE STRONGEST ONE THERE IS!" Cinder stepped back from the sudden outburst. "He's stronger than me, Mercury, the blonde girl, you-,"

"Enough," Cinder growled.

"He's even stronger than Ozpin! He may be even more powerful than Sal-"

"You don't DARE mention her name," Cinder growled in Emerald's face as she held a glass shard to her deciplie's throat.

Mercury pipped in, "Cinder, DON'T."

"What was that?" Cinder asked. The glass shard broke into a million little pieces, letting Emerald breath.

"You can't kill her," Mercury stated standing his ground.

Cinder began creating another glass shard to punish, "Are you telling me what to-,"

"NO! I'm not telling you want to do," Mercury interrupted. "You shouldn't kill her," Mercury said motioning to Emerald who was still catching her breath. "As it is, you're running out of allies faster than you're gaining them."

"What?" Cinder asked, taking offence.

"There's Roman, who last time we saw, actually had to use that cane of his," Mercury reminded. "Then there's your short, pink and brown haired 'doll' that I haven't seen in weeks. If you kill Emerald, you'll be a body short. And I don't think Tyrian or Watts can get here without drawing unwanted attention," Mercury concluded.

Cinder looked back at Emerald, who was badly beaten emotional and mentally from the Hulk. Then, physically from the lesson Cinder delivered. Emerald's chin was raised, staring into the burning eyes of Cinder. "If you fail one more time…you answer to our majesty directly."

"Y-yes ma'am!"

"We plan our next attack in ten minutes," Cinder scowled at Mercury and Emerald. She stormed out of the dorm.

Mercury quickly rushed to Emerald's side, "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Emerald lied through the pain.

"She could have killed you," Mercury said patching up Emerald's wounds.

"It's…okay. Ouch," Emerald grunted as Mercury poured alcohol in her open wounds.

"Sorry," Mercury said as he wrapped bandages around Emerald.

"It's okay…," Emerald said with a weak smile.

"You know…," Mercury began, "We could go. We could run away, just you and me."

Emerald blushed, "Excuse me? Why would I ever go with you?"

"I don't know." Mercury shrugged, "Just a thought."

"Thanks for the offer," Emerald smiled. Even in her condition, her aura began to recover.

"Why are you still with her?" Mercury asked.

"What?" Emerald asked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Why are you still with her? Cinder almost killed you just now," Mercury argued.

"She took me in when no one even glanced in my direction," Emerald explained. "Cinder saved me. She saw something in me and decided to take me under her wing. If it hadn't been for her, I would have died of starvation. Then, we found you," Emerald said, jabbing Mercury's shoulder. "I don't know why you're complaining! We found you while you stood over your father's body."

"You don't know the half of it…," Mercury growled. He remembered the night he had taken his father's life.

"I owe my life to her. And so do you," Emerald said poking Mercury in the chest. "Plus, she's right. I did fail. I wasn't strong enough to face the Hulk," Emerald said defeated.

"Let's change that," Mercury smiled. He stood and held out his hand toward Emerald. She smiled and was helped to her feet. They both headed out of their dorm, ready to help Cinder once more.

"What did I do?" Banner looked around at all of the chaos. The entire cafeteria was in ruins as Yang and Sun lay on the ground. "What have I done?" Banner laid on his side and curled up as hot tears fell down his face. "WHAT HAVE I DONE?"

Weiss looked down at the broken Banner. "Was this really the Hulk?" she thought to herself. This little frail man moments ago, had almost killed Weiss and all her friends.

"Here, child," Glynda said grabbing Weiss and pulling her away from Bruce.

"Dr. Banner," Ozpin said kneeling next to him, "there is a time and place for everything. But now is not the time to mourn."

Banner looked up at Ozpin who had scratches and bruises over his face and his suit in tatters. "My god! Did I do this to you?" Banner asked in even more horror.

"Banner, no," Ozpin assured. He helping Banner to his feet and quickly made his way to exit the building.

Tears poured down Bruce's face. He couldn't catch a break. "Everyday...I hurt people..."

"Bruce," Ozpin said taking deep breaths, "if you don't want to hurt anyone else, show it." He held out his hand toward the frail man who had the power to destroy everything in his path.

Banner's eyes opened wide as he heard that name, "Yes. I'm Bruce Banner. I'm not the Hulk."

"Good," Ozpin nodded. He took Banner's hand and helped him walk.

"Yang…," Ruby said weakly to her unconscious sister. "It's okay. You can wake up now," Ruby said as she raised Yang's head.

"Come on," Neptune said to his beaten best-friend, "you'll get through this…"

Banner covered his mouth as more burning tears ran down his face as he witnessed the sight from across the room, "Oh, my god." He tried to hide his sobbing but it was too much.

"Come on, Bruce," Ozpin said trying to get his attention. "Glynda," he ordered.

Glynda nodded. She waved her wand and the cafeteria began fixing itself. While she repaired the damage, the other staff came and cared for team JNPR and RWBY.

"Are we going to be okay?" Banner asked.

Ozpin stayed silent as they headed toward the door. He couldn't believe he had allowed the situation to get this bad for him to do this...

"Ozpin?" Banner asked with concern. Ozpin opened the cafeteria doors to reveal dozens of Atlas soldiers. All of them, finger on the trigger of weapons aimed at Banner. More Atlas ships arrived with dozens more soldiers aboard.

"Bruce, I'm sorry," he heard Ozpin say to his side, "this was the only way." Banner felt a sharp pain in his neck.

"Ozpin…" Ozpin looked away as Banner hit the ground.

"GO, GO," an Atlas soldier ordered. Two soldiers quickly picked up the paralyzed Banner.

"Ozpin, what did you…do? Why?" Banner barely got out. Ozpin failed to hide the needle in his hand that was full of light blue dust. "OZPIN," Banner called out on the verge of passing out.

"Shut him up," an Atlas solider commanded. A metal nuzzle was shoved over Banner's mouth. Heavy chains wrapped around his torso. Huge handcuffs and ankle braces coated Banner's frail body.

"Try breaking out of that, monster," a soldier teased him. "Not even an Atlesian Paladin-290 can break through those chains."

"Where's Ironwood," Ozpin asked one of the soldiers.

"None of your business, Headmaster," the Atlas soldier snorted back.

"Soldier," everyone heard. Ironwood stepped off an airship. A smirk expression covered his face as he walked toward his men, "That's no way to talk to my dear friend, Ozpin."

Ozpin's grasp tightened around his cane. "Ironwood..."

"No need to thank me," Ironwood nodded. His foot planted itself on Banner's head.

"What? I wasn't going to-,"

"What did I say?" Ironwood asked interrupted his closest friend. He looked around toward his men, "Didn't I say that this monster would come out once again?" All of his soldiers nodded.

"Ironwood...give him another chance," Ozpin begged.

"I didn't know you could tell jokes," Ironwood chuckled as he raised Banner by his hair.

"I'm serious," Ozpin assured.

"This man, if I can even call him that," Ironwood growled at Banner, "is nothing more than a monster. He can't afford to live." Ironwood pulled out his revolver and pressed the barrel against Banner's head.

Ironwood's powerful revolver spun in the air from a smack from Ozpin's cane. Ozpin grabbed the gun as it fell and aimed it at Ironwood. Dozens of Atlas solders took aim at Beacon's Headmaster as he threatened Atlas's General.

"Oz," Ironwood said as a serious look fell over his face. "You know I'm right. Banner isn't human; he is a murderer and an emotionless monster. Aren't you the one who just drugged him? Also," he said letting Banner fall to the ground, "You're on very thin ice as it is! I would have liked to have known Banner survived when i shot him over the cliff weeks ago."

"Because he was provoked," Ozpin yelled as he cocked back the revolver. "If it wasn't for you, a couple of thousand people would still be alive in Vale today. It's you, Ironwood! If it wasn't because of your shoot first attitude, Banner could live in peace!"

"You don't know what you're taking about," Ironwood snorted. "I saved Vale that night when Banner went on a rampage."

"And what did you do?" Ozpin yelled. "You sent that one girl, Penny," Ozpin added. "She almost matched the Hulk. I know Atlas is behind her. Did you find another Maiden?" Ozpin asked provocatively.

"Penny," Ironwood sighed, "Is none of your business."

"Don't change the subject!"

"Funny, you're worried about Atlas students when you should be worried about yours," Ironwood smirked, pushing his head against his revolver's barrel.

"What do my students mean to you?"

"Penny, is a prime example of how strong students can become in the Atlas Academy, unlike...your students."

Banner began feeling the dust wearing off inside his body as he filled with rage. "Say her name…," Banner growled at Ironwood.

"Especially that one girl in red," Ironwood rolled his eyes. Banner's heart skipped a beat. "Ruby, I think her name was."

"Leave my students out of this, now."

"Why? She's weak, Ozpin. She would never last on her own," Ironwood said. "Hell, she would have been killed if it wasn't for-," The ground began shaking violently. The sound of tearing metal rang in the air.

"BANNER, NO," Ozpin said in fear as he looked down. The chains around Banner began cracking as he turned green and grew. The handcuffs began peeling off as Banner tore the metal nuzzle in half with his teeth.

Ironwood took this opportunity and head-butted Ozpin. He snatched his revolver back. Everyone fell to the ground as a green fist slammed into the ground. Banner was the Hulk once more.

"HULK SMASH ATLAS!"

"FIRE," Ironwood screamed. Soldiers, without hesitation, began unloading onto Hulk's body.

"Ironwood, you fool," Ozpin yelled, "That will only make him stronger!"

Hulk took a step forward and back-handed soldiers into the air. "ATLAS WEAK!" More solders were flung into the air from the gusts of wind from a devastating clap.

Ozpin tackled Ironwood to safety as Atlas soldiers were blown off their feet. Both of them looked up to find they were the only two left still breathing. Ozpin watched in horror as Hulk beat the dead soldiers in rage, each fist shaking Beacon itself.

"My god," Ozpin gasped as he finally saw the Hulk, Banner's evil.

"YOU MONSTER," Ironwood yelled toward Hulk's back.

Hulk turned to face both of them. He quickly leaped and grabbed Ozpin and Ironwood in his huge hands, "BANNER TALK!" Hulk quickly jumped, taking Ozpin and Ironwood with him.

All three of them crashed into the side of Beacon Tower, rolling into Ozpin's office. Hulk, Ironwood and Ozpin faced each other as they stood.

"TALK NOW." Hulk stood and his skin color quickly faded as he shrunk to normal. Bruce appeared to confront the General and the Headmaster.

"Just the three of us..." Banner growled at both of them. His eyes stayed a forest green.

"You're not talking to anyone," Ironwood yelled pulling out his revolver and unloading on Banner. Every bullet dented against Banner's chest and fell to the ground.

Banner snapped. He had enough of Ironwood's petty games, insults, war crimes and attitude. "That's it. IRONWOOD!"

"Come on, MONSTER," Ironwood yelled out as Banner walked toward him. The sound of bones breaking was heard as Ironwood's fist connected with Banner's face. "Mother…," Ironwood said in disbelief falling to his knees. He held his limp hand in pain.

"BRUCE," Ozpin yelled out, "what have you done?"

"What I should have done a long time ago...when I first met this 'man'," Banner growled looking down on the injured General.

Ironwood spat through his teeth, "I will have you killed, mons-,"

Banner roared as he rammed his hand into Ironwood's face and slammed him onto the flooring. Banner stood over Ironwood, "No monster...ONLY HULK!"

"Banner, STOP," Ozpin ordered grabbing onto his shoulder.

"LET GO," Banner roared kicking the Headmaster away. Ozpin flew through his office, crashing against the side of the wall and then falling on his face.

"That all, monster?" Ironwood asked with a bloody smile.

"NOW WHO'S THE MONSTER?" Banner asked as his fist crashed into Ironwood's face. The glass flooring began cracking with every blow.

Ironwood tried to talk, but all that came out were beaten groans. "Ugghgkhhh..."

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU," Banner screamed. He raised his leg and stomped on Ironwood's face. He brought his bloody foot off of Ironwood's to reveal a soul on the verge of death. Ironwood's nose was broken, both eyes were black and he could barely breathe. A huge crack stained the glass flooring he was laying on.

"Bruce, PLEASE," Banner heard Ozpin gasp behind him. He turned to find Ozpin limping badly on his cane toward him. "This isn't you. Let all of that anger go, now. What would Ruby think upon seeing this image? You're her hero! Yet...you're about to kill?"

"Ruby…," Banner said to himself. What would she think of him if she saw this? He'd look like the monster everyone warned her about. He turned to face a bloody and beaten Ironwood, "I should kill you," Banner said raising his fist. He slammed on the flooring next to Ironwood's head. "I am not who you think I am, Ironwood..."

"Kill me then!" Ironwood spat into Banner's eye.

"NO," Banner repeated. "Your aura, I've destroyed it. One more hit from me…," Banner chuckled, "would have killed you."

Ironwood sat up, blood dripping down his bruised face. "You're a monster, Banner. And I have to stop you."

"You won't," Banner said taking a seat at Ozpin's desk. "Come, we need to talk," he said motioning for Ironwood and Ozpin to join him.

"Never…," Ironwood growled in pain.

"Ironwood," Ozpin said patting his friend's shoulder, "it's time we make peace. All of us."

"Well?" Ironwood grunted in pain as he sat at the table. He put a hand over his cracked ribs.

"My little incident in the cafeteria today..." Banner began as he calmed down. His eyes reverted back to their regular hue.

"You call that little?" Ironwood questioned. "You could have killed somebody!"

"Didn't you send Penny after me?" Banner asked. "Didn't we kill thousands?" Ironwood shut up.

"Speaking of Penny," Ozpin added, "who is she?"

"I was wondering that myself…," Banner growled turning his attention back to Ironwood.

Ironwood sighed, "I shouldn't."

"Tell us, NOW," Banner ordered.

"Most girls are born," Ironwood began, "but Penny...she was made." Ozpin looked down, catching Banner's attention.

"You knew about this?" Banner asked.

"I've…heard rumors," Ozpin admitted. "Being able to give a robot a soul and a semblance. I never thought could be possible. Why does she exist?" he asked Ironwood.

"Look around," Ironwood said waving his arm. "Have you seen the Grimm activity? We need something more than Huntsmen and Huntresses!"

"So, you aren't looking for the Maidens?" Ozpin asked.

"What are the Maidens?" Banner yelled. "I am tired of both of you two spitting out information I don't know!" Both Ironwood and Ozpin looked at him, then back to each other.

"The four Maidens are the hosts of a vast natural power that has existed in Remnant for thousands of years. They are said to be the physical embodiment of the four seasons," Ozpin stated.

"Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall," Ironwood added.

"Are they some kind of gods?" Banner asked.

"Not exactly," Ozpin said. "They're said to be the strongest warriors of all time."

Banner chuckled, "They haven't met me." Banner quickly shook his head, "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"Penny was created to find Maidens and capture them if need be," Ironwood admitted.

"Ironwood, you did what?" Ozpin asked. "They are to be protected, not captured!"

"They seem capable," Banner said. "Why do they need protection?"

"Whenever a Maiden dies," Ozpin began.

"Their power goes to the last person in their thoughts," Ironwood finished.

"Penny is there in case the Maiden's power falls into the wrong hands," Ironwood explained.

"Who would want to take the Maiden's power?" Banner asked.

"Bad people," Ironwood responded. "Which is why, I brought more than half of Atlas's army to Vale."

"Care to say that one more time?" Banner asked, balling his fist.

"Why are they here?" Ozpin asked the general.

Ironwood shook his head in disapproval, "Oz, you know why. The Vital Festival is the perfect time for our enemies to strike. I also brought Penny to compete undercover."

"She's competing?" Ozpin yelled out. "Do you know how powerful she is? None of the students would stand a chance!"

"That is the point," Ironwood yelled back at Ozpin. "We need someone strong enough to face the forces that oppose us!"

"And who actually opposes you?" Banner yelled at both of them. "All the time I've been here, I have fought petty thieves and you," he said pointing at Ironwood.

"These are no ordinary criminals," Ozpin stated.

"Ozpin," Ironwood yelled at him. "That is private information!"

"He deserves to know," Ozpin yelled back at the general. He took out a tablet.

"What are you doing?" Banner asked as he watched Ozpin scrolled through information and data.

"Her," Ozpin finally responded, showing Banner the picture of a woman.

"No…," Banner said disbelief. It was the woman who had been after Banner ever since he arrived in Remnant months ago.

"A woman hunting the power of the current fall maiden," Ironwood said. "She is a high level target…and we belief she is here, at Beacon." Banner's heart skipped a beat.

"WHY HAVEN'T YOU TWO DONE ANYTHING?" Banner roared at both of them.

"It is only a suspicion," Ozpin quickly added.

"She is," Banner realized.

"Excuse me?" Ozpin asked.

Banner put his forehead into his hand, "It all makes so much sense!"

"Did she trigger the Hulk's outbreak this morning?" Ozpin asked.

"This woman is here…and she knows how to get inside my mind," Banner said in horror. "Ironwood, after the Vital Festival, after Cinder is captured, you and your men will leave instantly!" Banner stood and began to leave.

"Do you honestly think these children can fight a war?" Ironwood yelled at him.

Banner stopped in his tracks. "They won't need to." He began tensing up, "BECAUSE I'M HERE." Banner turned to reveal bright green eyes. Banner squatted but Hulk jumped out of Ozpin's office.