(Insert forced plug about 'Picture Perfect')

But seriously, thank you all for supporting both of my stories. It means a lot to a dude like me. Due to the overwhelming (for me) number of reviews on 'Picture', I won't be able to respond to them all without filling up a whole chapter with gratitude. So I'm going to make a video on YouTube with a few of my favorites picked out and respond to those.

Important announcement at the end of this chapter.

Reviews:

Marsa: I thought your puns would be endless for a moment lol. Glad you liked it.

'apostrophe sentences in italics are thoughts.'

[brackets are words written down.]

Disclaimer: I have minor self-esteem issues.. I MEAN, um, I don't own RWBY or Tales. (Yeah, that was it.)


Chapter 29 - Reconnect

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Lloyd was aggravated. "Look, Nid, we're very grateful that you set the music on your scroll to play over the speaker system. It's been awesome listening to such a variety of tunes come from a little thing like that. But I speak for everyone when I say please, please, quit it with the polka. Kit, why didn't you stop him?"

The sun had been up for no more than thirty minutes when the secondary pilot Nid (short for Nidhogg, according to him) began blasting the pesky songs nonstop. The day prior, the Sylvaranteans had a blast with all of exposure to new music.

But now Nid was just being a pest, rocking gently from side to side with a mischievous look in his slitted, reptilian eyes.

"Hey I would've tried, but I was asleep too. Plus, I've never been able to keep a tight leash on him." Kit turned to his half-brother with a frown. "We should be about an hour out from the landing zone, so can you cut us a break?" With a shrug, Nid reached over and pressed the stop button. Sighs of relief echoed throughout the ship.

The vessel was to set down a bit away from Palmacosta so that they could avoid any unwanted questioning. The people there would likely probe farther than the Luin folk had.

After several minutes of peace and quiet a small 'ding' came from Neo's pocket, and she whipped out the transmitter to read the message. The contents of it, however, rather confused her.

[To whom are we speaking?]

It was at this time that she noticed something different. In the top left corner, it said that the Sender ID was 'D45G1'. She brought up the older messages from Roman and they had ID 'W88F4'.

'This is one of the escaped scientist's allies, then? Presumably, I'm talking to one of the people from Beacon.'

Neo didn't feel like cooperating or talking, but ignoring them probably wouldn't get her anywhere. They knew somebody had the transmitter, so they could just pester her endlessly or, worse, actually come after her.

She replied [Depends on who's asking.]

Colette, who could hear the notification sound, walked over and asked, "What's going on, Neo? You seem more stressed now." The only response the angel got was a pointer finger held up in a 'hold on' gesture.

Ding!

[We're not playing this game. If either Ruby or Jaune are available, put them on; otherwise, you will be seen as an enemy.]

Rolling her eyes at the aggressive message, Neo walked over to where everyone else was and gave Red a tap on the shoulder. Ruby turned to look at her and asked, "Yes...?" The assassin slapped the transmitter into her hands and walked away.

Ruby read the message written on it, taking a moment to process everything. Speaking slowly she said, "Jaune, somebody who knows us is trying to make contact. Should I tell them it's us?"

The blond pondered it for a moment. "Say that it's us, but try to ask them questions. Make them prove they are who they say that are before saying anything else."

Nodding, Ruby typed a message into the device.

[Ruby speaking. Who is this?]

A minute passed with no answer. All of the present company (barring Neo) were craning their necks, trying to see what's being said.

Ding!

[Yang here. Need you to prove it. Finish this sentence: Blake is acting all ]

Ruby scoffed. "That's an easy one."

[R: 'Blakey'. What is my favorite food?]

[Y: Strawberries, cookies as a close second. We started the semester with a-]

[R: 'Bang', with an emphasis on the 'B', sis. No puns right now. It's good to hear from you.]

xXxXx

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"I can't believe that actually worked."

Team YWBNPR, Qrow, and Ironwood were in the room that had been set up for Griza. Yang was standing by the computer console with a smirk on her face while most of the others had amused looks on their faces.

"You're just mad that I thought it up first, Weiss. Now that we know it's really her, I'm gonna ask her who had the toy she's using." Yang turned back around and began typing into the computer. "Griza, any chance you can make a transmitter that does voice calls? This is getting annoying."

"Haha, I'll try."

[Glad you're okay, Ruby. Who was the person with the device you're using, and is there anybody else with you?]

Griza addressed the group at large. "Remember what I said before? My assistant Clif had the only transmitter sent to that world, so the logical conclusion is that my attempted kidnapper is the one with it now."

Qrow took a drink from his flask and asked, "So, Doc, what did that person look like? All you said about it was that it was woman."

"Ah, sorry, thought I went into detail. Let's see..." He started speaking more to himself as he remembered, "She was rather short, had dual pink/brown hair, and, if memory serves, was holding a parasol. Anything else you need... why did it get cold in here?"

Yang, Blake, and Weiss had frozen in place; no anger, just pure shock. When the computer's notification sound rang out, all three sets of eyes snapped to the screen.

[The person with this doohickey is Neo, the girl Yang fought. We're travelling with her, six other people, two airship pilots, and a dog(?) named Noishe. Very long story behind all of this, believe me. How are things on your end?]

The first to respond was Blake. "This is... a little ridiculous. Why would she travel with somebody she knows is working alongside the White Fang?"

"We don't know the circumstances," offered Ren. "They could have a common cause, or, at least, a common enemy. Personally, I'm more concerned with what we should tell her about what's happening here." They had all agreed beforehand that they couldn't mention Cinder over recorded messages like these. It was too great of a risk to reveal what they did and didn't know since the transmitter was in hands of a known enemy.

The most pressing issue of the day was that the Vale council would be formally announcing the cancellation of the Vytal festival for security reasons. Huntsmen were being deployed to strategic locations to fight off the inevitable fear-fueled Grimm attack; after all, who wouldn't be freaked about students disappearing?

Phyrra turned to Ironwood and asked, "Telling her about the Grimm attacks and the Vytal festival should be okay since it's public knowledge, right?"

"Yes, she deserves to know that much. Let's-"

He was cut off when the door opened and somebody poked their head in. "Salutations, everybody! I'm sorry to interrupt, General, but I wanted to ask if I could deploy with everyone else this morning." It was Penny Polendina, wearing her signature bow and dress. An Atlas guard was standing behind her, looking confused as to whether or not he should have let her in.

Ironwood began pinching his temples in frustration. "Penny, I told you before. You're about to be sent back to Atlas because your father wants to keep you safe."

The ginger's enthusiasm didn't waver a bit. "I know that, but the people here are going to need all the help that they can get today. You could convince my father to..." Her voice drifted off as she began to read the messages displayed on the large screen. Penny almost jumped in excitement as she shouted, "You're talking to Ruby! Have you found her!? Please tell me how she's doing, she's my friend!"

It was at that moment that everyone realized Penny had been left out of the loop the entire time, knowing only the same 'students are missing' story that the public knew. Yang, taking the initiative, cleared her throat before saying, "We just made contact today. She seems fine, but we won't be able to actually go get her for..." She turned to Griza. "How long did you say, Doc?"

"Probably another two days, longer if you're deadset on having an improved transmitter." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I have to make sure the code is just right, or else the opened portal will send you to the space between dimensions. There is no returning from that."

Penny took moment to process that. "Between dimensions... meaning between worlds? Ruby and Jaune are in a completely different world right now?"

"Yes, and my technology is responsible for that. I've been working to retrieve them as a way to make amends."

Ironwood interrupted, "Students, it's almost time to go deploy outside of the gates. Miss Xiao Long, please finish up the conversation with Ruby so we can go."

"Roger that. Just give me a sec'." For the final time, Yang turned to send a message to Ruby; but as her fingers hit the keys, she stopped and asked, "Professor, what did Haven say when you told them about Cinder?"

"...They didn't believe me at first; and, after I managed to spell the evidence out for them, said that they 'resent the accusation that a school as prodigious as Haven would be cooperating with criminals.' So, ultimately, about as well as Qrow guessed."

"Told ya."

With the message typed and sent, everyone present (including Penny) made for the door. As Phyrra passed by Qrow she grabbed his shirt, stopping him. He responded only with an inquisitive eyebrow. She made sure nobody else was in earshot and stated, "If you all truly need me to be the Fall maiden, I will do it. I understand that things can... will change for me, but better that I have to adapt than for the forces of evil to have it."

xXxXx

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One last ding came the device in Ruby's hand. She read it out loud to sate the group's curiosity.

[It could be better, but I don't want to worry you with the details. We should be able to bring you back in a few days. Until then, we all miss the two of you. Be safe, Yang out.]

Ruby sat down on one of the wall chairs with a thump. "I'm glad she's okay, but when Yang admits to having a bad day, it is a really, really bad day. At least we can go home soon."

Neo didn't comment, choosing only to take the transmitter back. As she turned around, her eyes met those of Colette. The angel frowned as she remembered that the assassin had orders in regards to the two students.

Colette suddenly addressed everyone present. "I have a suggestion. Since we've made such great time with the ship, why don't we all take a day or two break from the road? Everything got a little hectic once we made it to Luin, so we haven't had a chance to breathe."

This earned a frown from Kratos. "It is imperative that we make the best of the time we have. I believe we should be on the road first thing after we retrieve the book of Spiritua."

Lloyd put his hand up. "How about we put it to a vote? Show of hands, who supports taking a break?" Genis, Colette, Nid, Ruby, Jaune, Raine, Sheena, and himself. "Even without Nid, that's a majority. Sorry, Kratos." The mercenary just scoffed.

The airship would land very soon, and their mini-vacation would start ASAP.


Alright readers, you have a decision to make. There will be multi-chapter developments on both sides of our story, but I refuse to flip back and forth because the pacing would be torched alive.

So, which do you want first? (A.) The battle of Vale and Maidens or (B.) The vacation and reveal of Neo's past?

Leave a review with your answer! And for you folks in the States, Happy Thanksgiving.