AN: I planned to release this chapter on Thursday, but I was a little busy as well as N204. From now on though, expect uploads every 2 weeks or so, most likely near the the end of the week. Thats all I have to say, so here is chapter 25.

Richard and team RWBY all stood back to back in the center of the small plaza they were in. The grimm that had followed them was all around. The king taijitu let out a loud screech, and all the grimm began to rush the team. Richard had his bow ready and drew an arrow from his quiver; he aimed his arrow at the king taijitu. The arrow exploded just under the taijitu's head. It let out another screech this time louder than before.

Richard quickly turned to his left to see a beowulf charging him. He sidestepped to dodge its initial slash. Richard quickly changed his bow into a sword and slashed downward into the beowulf's neck. Richard pulled it out in time to stick it straight through the belly of another one charging. He swiped his sword out of the beowulf's stomach.

Richard looked ahead of him and saw another pack about to charge. Richard closed his eyes for a second, the three beowulf's began to charge him, but before they could get in reach he opened them again staring into each one's red eyes. The beowulves stopped mid charge and stood up on their hind legs, holding on to their heads almost like they were in pain. Richard moved quickly and charged them with his sword and tomahawk out. He made short work of the first beowulf, slicing up its neck first with his sword and again with his tomahawk. He moved to the second one slashing it's chest multiple times in a flurry, then he moved over and severed the third one's leg causing it to fall over. Richard transformed his tomahawk into its pistol from before unloading a few rounds into its head.

Ruby wasn't far as she watched this whole scene go down. She was in a mix of amazement and slight fear watching Richard take out beowulves not only with ease but cruelty. She was so intrigued in Richard's fight that she forgot all about her own situation. As she continued to watch she noticed a shadow grow over her. She turned around to see a large ursa behind her. She didn't have time to react; she only tried to shield herself with her scythe. Right as the ursa was about to slash her to pieces an arrow shot struck the ursa in the forehead. A second after it hit the arrow combusted and the ursa's head shattered as its body fell back. Another four beowulves near her were ready to change. Ruby was about to ready herself when a few shots ran out and hit each one. They all stood and faced in the direction of the shots, as well as ruby. They saw Richard standing in the center section, hood off. Ruby notices a little grey smoke emitting from his ears. She turned back to the beowulves and saw them with their paws on their head, howling. She turned back to Richard, who became a flash the second she managed to get sight of him. When she looked back at the group of beowulves Richard was kneeling in the middle of them. When he stood up the four beowulves fell to the ground. Richard moved on fighting other creeps and beowulves. Ruby heard a hissing sound behind her. She turned around to see the king taijitu tower over her.

Richard was distracted facing grimm when he heard a loud bang go off. He turned and saw Nora flying though the air on Magnhild. She landed, smashing her hammer into the head of the king taijitu, sending it into the ground. Richard looked over where Ruby was at; she was fending off more beowulves and creeps. Richard began to run toward ruby, pulling out Order and Chaos. He aimed at a creep moving behind Ruby. Her swing was to high to hit it, so Richard fired a few shots while sliding under Ruby's swing. He instantly stood up, back-to-back with Ruby.

"How you holding up?" Richard asked without turning around.

"Oh you know, it's just like the training sim." Ruby replied, still combating grimm.

"If that train is part of your simulation, it must be a walk in the park." Richard remarked firing at some creeps.

"I don't mean to brag but I got 176 in Survival X" Ruby said trying to make a comeback.

"Ohh, so close, I only got 180," Richard said finishing the last grimm in their immediate area. Ruby looked up into the sky, which drew Richard's attention. He also looked up and saw the Atlesian battle cruiser and a fleet of drop ships fly in from above. Richard noticed the gun of one of the drop ships aim at him and Ruby. He quickly swung his arm around her and pulled her down as a round of shots.

"Get down!" Richard said right as the bullets hurled over them. After it past them they both looked back to see that it had taken out an ursa that had snuck up behind them. Ruby waved to the ship while Richard crossed his arms a bit upset at the fact they didn't get any warning.

The drop ships all opened their back doors and hundreds of Atlesian knights began to rain down form the sky. Immediately after landing they initiated combat with the grimm still in the city. "Looks like we earned a breath," Richard stated.

"For now," she transformed her scythe into its sniper rifle form, "but I'm still getting more kills than you." She shot at a creep a couple meters away. Richard watched where Ruby fired, each shot landing on its target. Before long other huntsmen came to clean up the rest of the mess, including team CFVY.

Once all the grimm where cleared out and the town square repaired thanks to professor Goodwitch, everyone gathered around congratulating one another for containing the grimm. Richard looked over at the Bullhead that had landed near them; currently two huntsmen were turning over Torchwick to the authorities.

"Oh I can't believe that you caught me, you've really taught me the error of my ways," he said in a sarcastic tone before an Atlesian knight pulled him forward.

"Hey, hey watch the hat!" He remarked as they pulled him on board. Richard looked back at all the huntsmen gathered, he noticed team JNPR and Sun and Neptune present, but there was no sign of Iris or Harper. Richard moved over to team JNPR without Ruby or the others noticing.

"Hey," he said getting their attention, "you guys know where Iris is?" he asked.

"No, she wasn't with us in this morning," Jaune answered.

"Do you have any idea of where she could have gone?" Richard asked concerned now.

"No, sorry" Pyrrha answered.

"It's alright, see you guys around," Richard waved off as he moved over to Sun and Neptune.

"Hey Sun, Neptune."

"Sup,' Neptune answered.

"Harper was with you guys this morning right?"

"No, he left last night, said he had something to do," Sun explained.

"Hasn't come back since," Neptune continued.

"All abroad, next stop Beacon Academy!" The pilot of another Bullhead that had landed called out. Neptune and Sun started walking towards the Bullhead; Richard stood there for a while staring at the ship but lost in thought.

"Hey Ricky, you coming!?" Ruby called out, bringing Richard out of his trance.

"Yeah!" Richard answered jogging toward the bullhead so he wouldn't get left behind. He jumped on board and grabbed onto the overhead handrail.

The trip was quiet, as everyone seemed to take the time to rest from the fight.

Once the Bullhead landed back at beacon Richard's scroll went off. He looked at it as he got off the ship. Message from Ozpin, 'My office, ASAP.'

"Who's that?" Ruby asked as she jumped off next to Richard.

"Ozpin: he wants to see me," Richard answered.

"Well you better get going," Ruby said trying to lighten Richard's seriousness, "see you after?" Ruby asked.

"Of course," Richard answered as he began to walk into Beacon. Before he could get inside the main area a red flash entered Richard sight and he felt his sweater get pulled on; it all happened so quick that he didn't notice until after a second that he was kissing Ruby. It ended as quickly as she became a flash again. He looked back to see Ruby standing there with a big smile. Richard smiled back and waved away as he continued his walk.

Richard walked up to Ozpin's door, as he was going to enter he heard some voices inside. He pressed up against the door with his wolf ears. He managed to hear, "you just have to trust me." After that it sounded like the end of a transmission. Richard stood back straight and knocked on the door.

"Come in," he heard Ozpin say. Richard slowly opened the door and walked in.

"If you wouldn't mind closing the door behind you," Ozpin said with his back to Richard. He obliged and closed the door behind him. Richard walked up to Ozpin's desk.

"You wanted to see me?" he asked.

"No," Ozpin simply replied taking a sip of coffee.

"But, you called for me?" Richard asked confused.

"I did," Ozpin confirmed.

"Then why am I here?" Richard asked now confused more than before. Ozpin turned around in his chair and pointed past Richard.

"For him," he said. Richard turned around and saw a face he knew very well.

"Richard," Connor said with a flat tone.

"Connor, what do you want?" Richard asked in the least rude way possible.

"You know where we have to go at this time of the year, Richard," Connor told him. Richard tried to recall anything important, but nothing came up.

"Care to…remind me?" Richard asked his mentor.

"The assassin council," Connor said. The council! How could Richard forget, it wasn't his main concern but he always knew when he would have to go to Atlas.

"Gather you things, I'll meet you at the docks," Connor instructed. He walked out of Ozpin's office rather nonchalantly. Richard let out a short sigh, he turned back to Ozpin but saw him already turned back around sipping his coffee. Richard began to walk out of the room. When he exited he didn't see Connor anywhere, he was probably already at the docks by this time.

Richard's thoughts began to overflow with conflict. He has to go to Atlas and if he told Ruby she would understand, right? But she might not; he had already avoided her enough when he got his team. Maybe, maybe he just won't go, the council only consist of master assassins, a lower rank isn't as important. But again anyone that fails to attend would be notified as dead or MIA. No, Richard was done with going against the creed; it wasn't him to do such things. But, should he tell Ruby; he promised he'd see her after, but only to leave a moment later.

Richard couldn't decide what to do, all the way to his dorm he thought. Once inside he grabbed the bag in his closet, he noticed most of Harper and Iris' stuff was already gone. He packed his extra sweater, his robes, and some jeans he had spared. He would be gone for a couple days possibly a week. He also put his quiver and bow inside, to make it easier to carry the bag. He slung it to his side and looked at the clock, 6:46pm. He walk out and headed to the docks.

Yang slowly woke up; she heard a thud in the room. She waited for Ruby to get up and pick up what ever fell like she usually does. Some time pasted, and Yang couldn't hear any sounds of getting out of bed, just some snoring from Weiss. She pulled the covers off herself and got up to see what it was. She managed to see one of her Ember Celica on the floor; she forgot to put them in her locker. She let out a small yawn and picked it up. She placed it on the desk next to the other one and walked back to her bed. She noticed Ruby's light was on under her covers. She took a peek in, but Ruby wasn't in her bed.

"Ruby?" she whispered. She couldn't see any sign of her in the room; she peeked out of the dorm. "Ruby?" She quietly called out into the halls, but no reply was heard.

She started to think where Ruby would be at this time, the roof of course, she was going to see Richard again. Yang decided to snoop on her, like a "responsible" older sister. She snuck up the roof access stairway. She peeked out to the roof, but saw Ruby by herself. "Ruby?" she asked. Ruby turned around and saw her in the doorway.

"Oh, hey Yang," Ruby said with a forced smile.

"Ruby it's like 12 or something, why are you still awake? Yang asked, probably knowing the answer.

"Oh, just looking at the stars" Ruby said turning back.

"Really, not waiting for anyone?" Yang teased.

"No, why, who would I wait for?" Ruby asked with a quiet blush.

"Black hair, grey ears ring a bell?" Yang continued.

"N-no!" Ruby hesitated to answer.

"I know about you and Richard," Yang admitted.

"Yang!" Ruby squeaked.

"Oh, my little sister's first love!" Yang said giving Ruby their usual sister hug.

"Yang, please, stop," Ruby tried to let out with little breath. Yang let go of Ruby.

"So how long have you been waiting?" Yang asked.

"Uhh, only four minutes," Ruby answered timidly.

"So, four sounds about right, minutes don't," Yang began to interrogate.

"Uhh…hours," Ruby said even softer.

"Ruby, lets go to sleep, you'll see him in class tomorrow, he probably just forgot," Yang tried to reason with Ruby.

"Alright," Ruby sadly agreed, "but if he says anything about me not being here it's your fault," Ruby pointed at her sister.

"Of course, now can we just get some sleep?" Yang said pushing Ruby's hand away.

"Yeah," Ruby answered. Yang put her arm around her sister as they walked back to their dorm.

Little did she know the wait would be longer than expected.