Epilogue
What The Future Holds

Ozpin was clicking away at the computer in his desk, updating various files and doing general headmaster work. He frowned, looking over the file for team RWBY. They had been through a lot, but he couldn't allow them to continue operating with only three members over the standard four. His biggest problem? He couldn't find an applicant who he both felt confident adding onto the team and believed could handle being on a team with a convicted criminal on it.

"Headmaster." His intercom buzzed. "Reaper wishes to speak to you.".

Ozpin looked over the monitor of the waiting room. He saw Reaper waiting patiently. What is this about? He frowned and hit the intercom button. "Send her up."

A few minutes passed before Reaper was stepping out of the elevator. Ozpin's aura alerted him of another presence in the room. He immediately guessed what it could be, and almost smiled. Could it really be this simple? Have I found the problem to my dilemma?

"Hello, Professor." Reaper greeted.

"Good evening, Reaper. How are you today?" he asked in reply.

"Good." She smiled wide, remembering the interaction between her and Neo at their table just a few moments ago. "Very good."

"So I see. And what has you so giddy?" Ozpin continued to feign ignorance.

"Well… it kind of leads into what I want to ask you about." Reaper admitted.

"Which is?" Ozpin asked, letting his smile slip. A little too much, it would turn out.

He totally knows what's up.

Shut up. No way.

Don't tell me you don't think he could sense Neo?

Well…

Jesus, I really feel I'm connected to an idiot sometimes.

Hey! Technically you are me. We can't be any smarter or dumber than each other.

You really like to put that to the test though, huh?

Shut up!

I love you too!

"Reaper!" Ozpin called the scythe master's attention. Her eyes snapped back to meet his again. "Is Ember still giving you trouble?"

"Is the sky blue?" Reaper answered.

Oh shut up.

I love you too!

"Well, if I could have your undivided attention long enough to clear this matter?" Ozpin asked.

"Right." Reaper refocused. "So, remember that whole rehab custody thing I'm on?"

"Well, I do believe I invented it, regardless of how quickly it seems to have spread." Ozpin answered with a chuckle.

"Right… Well, I found another candidate for it." Reaper told him nervously. "Come on, Neo."

Neo shimmered into existence beside Reaper, with an extremely nervous look on her face. Her high from kissing Reaper was starting to wear out, and she was starting to realize how nerve racking this was going to be.

Ozpin smiled at the multi-colored girl. "Hello, Neopolitan. It's good to finally truly meet you."

Reaper noted the lack of surprise, or any real reaction, at Neo's appearance.

Told you he knew…

Ozpin looked to Reaper. "I am sorry to have to ask this, but how can I be sure this is genuine?"

Reaper's face fell. "You… don't trust it? After all that's happened?"

"I do." Ozpin assured. "But now that Rehabilitative Custody it becoming popular amongst the schools, regulations are quickly being put in place. Included is, I have to convince the Valen Council of any potential candidates I find."

"Well…" Reaper racked her brain for an answer. "After all I've done recently, capturing Creature and Dr. Stein and the like, my name should have earned some brownie points by now?"

Ozpin leaned a little closer, intrigued to hear what Reaper came up with. "Perhaps, with my own name riding on the back yours, I may find a little leeway…"

"Look, if I've earned even a little trust, then don't bother convincing them to trust her. Convince them to trust that I know where her loyalties lie." Reaper looked to her small friend as she spoke, ensuring she was saying the right thing. Neo smiled and nodded. Reaper looked back to Ozpin. "She may not be loyal to Beacon, or even being a huntress in general. But she's loyal to me, and as long as I'm taking this path, she will too."

Ozpin looked between the two girls, the connections being made in his mind. "So," he asked as a formality at this point, "what can you do to convince anyone of that?"

Reaper looked to Neo, who nodded and stepped close. Reaper draped her arm over the smaller girl, who buried herself into Reaper's side as much as possible. It was amazingly comforting there…

"Like I said, she's loyal to me." Reaper told Ozpin, looking him in the eye.

"I see." Ozpin smiled. "Well, we have a few things to flesh out, but I do believe I can work with this."

Neo was amazed. She almost couldn't believe it was working out, now that she was in the headmaster's office. She smiled large. She was going to be a huntress. A huntress by Reaper's side.

Weiss was tapping her foot all the way up the elevator to Ozpin's office. Her and Blake were about to enjoy a lovely movie in town when she got called to come up to see the headmaster. Apparently, Reaper was already in the office, and that told the heiress that this can only be bad news.

"I'm sure it's okay." Blake assured her girlfriend for the umpteenth time. "Reaper just busted a major bad guy. She's doing good, we've been working with her for almost a month now. I don't think she's going to mess this up."

"It doesn't mean she didn't do something else to get in trouble." Weiss rebutted. "'Reaper' isn't Ruby, she's made that perfectly clear. She's not all sweet and innocent. She probably got in a fight or something."

Blake could only frown at that point as the door opened. The two girls stepped foot into the spacious office to see the headmaster with Reaper. Weiss scowled as she stared down Reaper, failing to note how Blake's ears went alert. The faunus sensed something, something familiar.

"Ms. Schnee, Ms. Belladonna." Ozpin opened. "You can drop the look, this is a friendly visit. It seems we have a proposition."

Weiss traded her frustration for confusion. "Proposition? What kind?"

Reaper raised an eyebrow and looked to her sides. Then, with a large sigh, she finally spoke up. "It's okay. Come out." Nothing happened. "Don't be a scaredy cat."

Neo shimmered into existence beside Reaper, sticking her tongue out at the dark woman.

"Got you to appear, though, huh?" Reaper smirked. Neo only frowned, turning away from Reaper to look at Weiss.

"What is she doing here!?" Weiss asked loudly before Blake could stop her.

"The proposition," Ozpin repeated, "comes from our little friend. She's turning herself in to me, in return for being placed on Rehabilitative Custody with Reaper, and I'm inclined to grant her request."

"You cannot be serious." Weiss stood shocked.

"Not to be mean to Neopolitan, but I don't see why you're allowing this either." Blake spoke next, much to Neo's dismay.

"It is against Beacon policy for a graduating team to have less than four members." Ozpin explained. "In fact, the only reason teams are allowed to function at all with less is to cover the transitional periods. Team RWBY has been at the center of a few tragedies and upsets, and certain allowances were made outside of the norm.

"First, when Yang died, we decided to give you time to grieve before pushing the issue. Then Ruby ran away and that complicated things more. Reaper's return under false pretenses at the beginning of this year didn't help things at all. The point is, Team RWBY has been allowed to operate with as little as two members. If you wish to graduate, that must end."

Weiss looked to Neo. As the heiress began to comprehend what was about to happen, Reaper noted the turmoil in her eyes.

Ozpin continued unimpeded. "Just as I was contemplating how to solve things, Reaper arrived with Neopolitan in tow, asking for a second chance for her. Neopolitan, who you have worked with before. Neopolitan, who now wishes to be a huntress."

"How can we trust that? Trust her?" Weiss asked.

"Do you trust me?" Reaper cut in.

Weiss was momentarily at a loss for words. "Well… I… sigh… Yes, I do. Mostly."

"Good enough." Reaper nodded. "Then trust that I know where Neo's loyalties lie."

Weiss and Blake looked between the two with confusion. Until they noticed how tightly Reaper's arm lay over Neo's shoulders protectively, and Neo's own strong grip on Reaper in return. Blake gave a small smile while Weiss only gave an exhausted sigh. "Well, it's not like we didn't see that coming a mile away."

"Has Neo ever gone through formal schooling?" Blake asked. Seeing the connection between Reaper and Neo was enough for her to trust Neo's intentions.

"No, however…" Ozpin looked to Neo. "If you can study for and pass the same test I am building for Reaper, then there is nothing anyone could say about me moving you right to year three."

"How long would she have?" Weiss asked. Now that she couldn't stop it from happening, she figured she might as well help.

"The semester break. That is when you two will take the test. I wish you both luck." Ozpin informed them.

Neo looked worried. She never studied a day in her life, unless you counted heist plans and blueprints. But actual schooling? What would happen if she failed?

"Hey," Reaper got Neo's attention with an elbow, "You'll do fine. I'll be right there with you."

Neo smiled. This was more proof that Reaper's words, her kiss, was genuine. Reaper wanted Neo with her, and Neo wanted nothing less.

Ozpin turned to his paper work and mused to himself about the situation as a whole. It had certainly been an interesting year for team RWBY. I will have to change their name… Ozpin realized. No more Y, and the R isn't really the same R… But to what? No matter what I settle on, I think this is only the beginning for them, this new team…

Team WBRN: Black Reaper ll - Act 1 coming, when it's ready