Patch

Yang woke up to the sounds of someone playing the guitar. Looking around, she saw the guys were gone and had moved all o f there stuff out. It was nine in the morning. Sleepily rubbing her eyes while yawning, she got up to get herself ready for the day. All the while she was doing her morning routine, the soothing music of someone playing a guitar kept her company. Least she knows they were still here. Her dad can't play a guitar nowhere as good as whoever was playing.

Things certainly were different now that the mercenaries were back. She still couldn't believe their return, but now that she was in contact with people she can trust, maybe she can change things. Maybe she can bring her sister back, and possibly Team RWBY if they really wanted too. That and at least she wasn't bored around the house anymore, but then again they were supposed to leave today. It worried her mind about where exactly will they go.

After taking a quick shower and getting dressed, she went down to see what's up. She noticed her father wasn't home, probably out on some errand. When she actually got outside, the boys were already in the van's and were ready to leave. Engineer is revealed to be the one playing the guitar.

"You gonna leave without saying goodbye?" Yang grinned, her one arm on her hip.

"Sorry. Didn't want to wake your beauty sleep." Engie stopped playing and tipped his construction hat at her.

"Yes. That and your father told us we'd better be gone before he left for town." Sniper said.

"Okay..." Yang said in understanding. "Did he say why he left?" They shook their heads 'no'. The guys noticed she looked a bit hurt that they were leaving.

"You guys are going to stick around this time, right?" After Team RWBY's divide, especially Blake... Yang didn't want to see anyone else leaving her. "You know... like not die again?"

"Of course we will take care this time. You have my promise." Heavy nodded, making Yang smile.

"That's right, girlie. We ain't gonna die again. Not till we deal with some jackasses first." Scout smirked.

"Guess zis is goodbye for now, Yang." Medic held his right hand out for Yang to shake. Yang gave him a straight face, and moved the stump where her right arm was as if to give it to him to shake.

"Oh yes... I forgot about zat..." Medic laughed nervously. "Oh wait! Speaking of arms, I still have-" Pyro gave a Mphm of an alarm and all heads turned to see Taiyang coming back down the dirt road with boxes of stuff.

"Hey! What did I say!? " Dragon dad picked up the pace to a near run in order to scare off the mercenaries.

"I will tell you later!" Medic yelled as the vehicles sped down the opposite direction from her father. Yang coughed and closed her eyes as the cloud of dust from the speeding vehicles covered her and her father.

"*coughing* Good riddance!" Taiyang shook his fist at the speeding men before turning his attention on Yang. "Morning, you slept in."

"Yeah, I know."

"Course you do. Now let's get inside. I got a gift straight from Atlas!" Yang had a questioning look on her face. Atlas? Why would Atlas give her anything?

Schnee Manor

Weiss Schnee had spent the whole time between returning to Atlas to now being cooped up in her mansion. Her big, empty, lonely, family mansion. She didn't like it here. Her family rarely interacted as...we... a family. Her mother was a drunk that kept to herself while her father and brother cared little for her, and she knew it. Winter was always away on military duty.

The Schnee was walking to her room with a lot to think about. That being she had to practice for a concert her father was hosting for charity. He didn't exactly force her to sing, but he might as well have with his ways. Jacques Schnee is not a pleasant man if you weren't someone he can use to further his standing, and even then he wasn't that great to those close to him. Only keeping up a 'nice guy' act to make the SDC look good.

Weiss didn't like Jacques for he was a scoundrel who married into the family.

Jacques...

Do not be mistaken, Weiss didn't like her father, Jacques. Though she did like the mercenary Jacques. Mercenaries, she used to not like them, but her opinion of them changed completely when their last battle was at Beacon. They died defending their students, that is something no one can deny.

Team RWBY divided and the Fall of Beacon still got to Weiss' heart every now and then. She was no feel, she knew there was nothing she could do about it here in Atlas. The only thing she felt hope of doing was to save her grandfather's company, but she was still unsure of it all. The loneliness she felt here didn't help the situation at all.

Klein was really the only person here that helped with that problem. He was like a kind uncle or maybe even the nice father Weiss wished she had. Just today he told her of some rumors that progress has been made at recapturing Beacon. Weiss dismissed them as what they were, rumors. Large scale communications between kingdoms were down, but still...

...It was a comforting thought.

Well, she should get to practicing her singing now.

Vale

Demoman, Scout, Soldier, and Engineer stayed behind at Patch to further develop their fortress. The rest had gone to Vale for stuff they needed. Stuff being information and dust. Why did they bring five out of the nine? Security reasons. You know, just in case someone like the authorities or some bad guys wanted to fuck with them.

First order of business for the men in Sniper's camper van was to pick up some white dust. Fortunate that dust comes in simple flavors, and even more fortunate was that their was a dust shop called "From Dust Till Dawn" open. Owner was a nice old bloke, but the problem was that because of embargoes on dust trade, white dust was scarce. Seems like the stuff was all out in Vale according to the owner.

Shit.

"Scheisse... where are we going to get ze things Dell needs?" Medic asked Spy and Sniper while they were still at the counter. The five men were still in the dust shop. Pyro had set a couple of stuff on fire, them being forced to pay for it of course. Heavy was waiting outside, watching the van.

"Ugh... don't have a clue mate." Sniper rubbed his temples.

"Monsieur, are you absolutely sure there is none left?" Spy asked the owner, who shook his head no. "Ugh... thank you anyway. Come, gentlemen. Let's move." They began exiting the store with Pyro happily holding the burning magazines with it. Upon exiting and meeting with Heavy, they found him talking with someone very familiar.

"Hi, professors!" Velvet the bunny wabbit greeted her old teachers with a happy smile with her little sister on her shoulders, playing with her rabbit ears. "Ow! Rouge, stop it!"

"Velvet!" The mercs were happy to see another one of their students was alive and well. "How've you been?" Spy gladly shook her hand.

"I've been good, thanks for asking." She smiled. "I was taking my sister out to get some candy when I found Professor Heavy-"

"Please, we're not professors anymore."

"Oh... okay. I found Mr. Heavy here at our favorite candy stop."

"Unicorn!" Rui was wearing the unicorn hat Heavy gave her. Little holes were cut to fit her bunny ears.

"Da, bunny is unicorn..." The Russian patted the little bunny's head.

"Ahh..." Velvet cooed at how adorable her sister was. Then she had a thought. "I didn't know you guys were still around after Beacon. No one saw you after and we just thought you were out doing huntsmen stuff. Some people even had the crazy thought that you guys died!" Velvet giggled, not noticing the mercs were not laughing with her until she was done. The serious looks on their faces told her something was wrong.

"Um... is something wrong?" She asked slowly, afraid she offended them.

"Afraid it's a long story, dear frau..." Medic said.

"Yeah, now if you don't mind, we got some masked bastards to find." Sniper said as he got into his van, the others following suit.

"Masked b words?" Velvet didn't curse. "The White Fang?"

"That's the one." Spy closed the passenger door. "It was nice seeing you again, but this is goodbye for now, Velvet."

"Oh.. okay then. Come on Rui. It's a long walk home..."

"Wait!" Heavy called for Sniper to stop before he even began moving the vehicle. "How far away is home?"

"Huh? Oh, it's only a few miles walking distance from here."

"A few miles?" Heavy gave her a straight face. "Can you not go to candy store closer to home?"

"Rui wanted to walk around the city..." Said bunny was still playing with the big bunny's ears.

"Hmm... friends, can we give this girl ride home?" Sure. She was a student and a friend of there's after all.

Western Dragon Continent, Salem's Lair

"You killed these men?" Salem questioned Cinder, not looking away from the Grimmscape that surrounded her palace. Cinder, not being able to speak, whispered into Emerald's ear so she could give Salem an answer.

"She says yes." Emerald said, giving a nod to Cinder. Salem turned her head to get a look at Cinder. She could tell that the Fall Maiden was afraid of these men for some reason. Even the Grimm felt it as some Nevermores were circling the place.

"I fail to see why you fear them. From what you've told me they are not of this world, and they do not have auras." Salem waited for Emerald to get finished with Cinder.

"She says it's not that she's afraid, it's more because they shouldn't be alive right now." The obvious look of fear in her eyes said otherwise.

"I admit that it's strange for them to be alive after you personally dealt with them, but I see no threat in them. They seem to be a simple group of mere thugs. Nothing we can't handle." Salem fully turned her body towards Cinder and Emerald. Cinder looked towards the ground, ashamed to look at her master. "After all, how could they possibly reach you here? We have more important things to focus on than a few mercenaries..." Salem said, thinking about the missions of her other subordinates.

"Go and rest now. Girl, take Cinder to her quarters."

"Yes ma'am." Emerald bowed a bit and then helped Cinder move out.

Vale

"Here! This is our house!" Rui bounced up and down between her sister and Sniper.

"Hehe... I bet it is..." Sniper chuckled.

She was too cute. Velvet was quiet. The men told her what really happened and she can't help but feel sorry for their sacrifice at Beacon. They told her in such a way that Rouge wouldn't catch on to what they actually meant. Sniper pulled into the driveway of the Scarlatina's home where Velvet and Rouge got out and Heavy and Spy took their places.

"Thank you for the ride."

"Is no problem at all." Heavy nodded with a smile.

"Oui, now goodbye Velvet." Spy had a cigarette waiting to be smoked. He didn't want to smoke around the bunny child.

"Do you have any place to stay?" Velvet asked, telling Rui to go inside the house.
"You bet we do." Sniper started the car up, and with waves and words of goodbye, they left.

"Alright then, with that out of the way I think it is time to look for the White Fang." The men drove off to the poor Faunus districts. Areas where Faunus are known to be in poor shape are more likely to produce the members of the White Fang angry at mankind.

Sadly, these days seem more harder on the Faunus than when the mercs were last here. They heard Faunus relations have decreased but yesterday they saw little evidence of any strife happening in the streets, yet today they see an anti-Faunus demonstration in progress. The VPD and VDF were the only things stopping the maniacs from attacking the Faunus citizens of the city.

"Huh... zis is bad." Medic commented after seeing the very angry nature of the mob. They were chanting what were obviously anti-Faunus phrases but it was impossible to understand what they were saying with the noise.

"Let's hope it does not get worse..." Heavy said, eyeing the bastards with the intent to fuck them up should they try something.

"Indeed." Spy said for the same reasons.

Soon, they reached the poor Faunus district. The place they first appeared in Remnant at. Fond memories were had when the gents saw the place they fucked up the first time they met Roman and Neo. Roman and Neo, huh. They sort of missed them. It was real pleasant trapping Roman in the basement and choking the fuck out of Neo. You know what, maybe the guys should try and find them. A street gentleman such as Roman is bound to have connections and contacts everywhere. But for now, they're going to try out the far less unlikely way first because they're already here.

"Okay gentleman, spread out and ask who you can." Spy ordered. "And be wary, I don't wish to sound like one of those racists, but keep in mind that some of these people may really be part of the White Fang..." They nodded and went to perform their tasks, except for Pyro. Pyro was told to stay and watch the camper van, much to its boredom.

As for the rest, it went just about as good as wrapping your dick in toilet paper as armor and putting it in a pencil sharpener and hoped for the best. (Not good. Disappointing.) Do not be mistaken, the people were nice enough, even if some were a little shifty, but no one knew a thing about the White Fang. At least they claimed not to, but they couldn't exactly kidnap someone as the VPD and VDF were more present here than in the reset of the city. Obviously afraid of a potential Faunus uprising if the White Fang really were still in Vale.

"Merde..." Spy cursed. He and the other three met up so they could walk to the camper van together.

"Oh come on- Pyro, what the fuck?" He cursed with a gasp upon seeing Pyro had taped a sign saying "FREE CANDY" on the camper van. Little Faunus children were swarming the giggling Pyromaniac as it tossed an infinite amount of candy everywhere. Also, in a horribly unsafe manner for children to be around, Pyro had set some crates on fire and was dancing on it.

"OH dear..." Medic covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing, and failed horribly.

"Hohoho, that slaps me on the knee!" Heavy laughed with Medic dying on the floor.

"Now that's something real wonky, there." Sniper chuckled. Spy glared at his immature companions, but eventually he gave in and laughed too. The children were still cheering their hero when the mercs shooed them away.

"Out of here, you buggers!" Sniper chuckled as he used his hat to chase the still laughing children away. Children, such innocence.

"Alright, where to now?" Sniper asked the Frenchman as they mounted back up.

"Now, we must go to... um..." Shit. There was nowhere they knew Roman could possibly be at. Great, no dust, no White Fang, no Roman. Yep, fantastic knowing this was a waste of time and they were shit out of luck. The salt that had been released on the Grimm yesterday was beginning to pile up again and the boys decided to go somewhere to wash it away with some drinks.

"Not knowing where to go next, bloody baguette wanking, bogan..." Sniper muttered as they entered a night club. Closest place they could find that probably served some drinks.

"Jar-peeing, bush kiwi..." Spy insulted back.

"Verdammt, messer liebend, sohn eines schweinhund..." (Damn, knife loving, son of a pigdog (pretty much what it means when translated directly from German to English)).

"Deine Mutter geht in der Stadt huren." (Your mother goes whoring in the city.) Spy replied.

"Baby." Heavy gave him a light punch to the shoulder and Spy said nothing back.

"Mphm." Pyro added to the insults.

They entered the nightclub and found it was strangely empty with only these guys in matching black clothes with red glasses and ties being in it. Then it became apparent it wasn't even open.

"Hey fellas..." A large man from the bar called. "Place is closed!"

"Ugh... okay, but can you still serve us some drinks?" None of the mercs looked happy at their predicament. The salt was probably building up and they might need to go on another killing spree at Beacon.

"Sorry, pal. Come again tonight and I'll..." Junior stopped talking when he saw Spy had pulled a fat stack of lien. "Come here and I'll serve you up some drinks. Place isn't ready yet so you'd better leave when you're done."

"No problem, mate." Sniper sighed as the five men took seats at the bar.

"What'll you be having?" Junior asked.

"Anything strong, please..."

Junior saw the mood they were in and understood right away. These men were depressed fucks in need of some drinks or else someone's gonna end up with a black eye or worse. So Hei Xiong served them up real nice with some hard stuff he kept separate from the "high class" drinks that people here usually ordered. They didn't seem to be the type to care about that anyway.

"Cheers." The five sluggishly tapped their glasses together and drank up, except for Pyro. The drink was splashed all over its mask.

Taking another look at these guys, Junior realize that these were the nine guys who attacked that one White Fang base six months ago. He heard they became huntsmen and even professors at Beacon with a dangerous reputation to them. Junior glanced over at the Malachite twins and gave a little wink, doing the same to his henchmen in case things went south real bad. What's strange is that he also heard rumors that they disappeared, even killed at the Fall of Beacon by some sources.

"So you're those guys from Beacon?"

The boys didn't say anything back, but they did nod. "Hmm... guess you just spent the whole time since the attack on the school trying to take it back, right?" This time, they didn't do anything in response.

These guys were pretty mysterious from Junior's heard, or rather from little he's heard of them. The only hard facts people on Remnant know about them is that they have no aura, are extremely violent, and can pull weapons from out of nowhere. He also knew there was nine of them, but there were only four of them here. Guess it couldn't hurt to get some info out of them. Could be worth something.

"What's on your mind, fellas?"

"Nothing that concerns you..." Spy answered. Junior had a thought. If these guys were huntsmen, then they might be on some mission. A mission he can make money off of by telling them some important information.

"You sure there's nothing I can do to help? I got a lot of connections around here."

"Heh, unless you can tell us where a bowler hat wearing, orange haired bloke is, then you best stay quiet, mate..." Sniper answered this time.

"Bowler hat? Orange hair? Ah, I see. You're looking for Roman Torchwick, hmm?" Bingo. He knew they were doing something important. Probably looking for him because of what happened at Beacon.

"Ja, do you know anything about him?" Medic looked excited. Excited that this wasn't a big waste of time.

"Tell Heavy and his comrades where Orange hair is." Heavy and the others stood up with Medic, giving Junior excited looks.

"Sure I'll tell you. As long as you have-" Several stacks of lien were dropped on the counter right away. "-well okay. That was fast." Junior had a smile creeping on his face at all the money in front of him. "Alright, truth be told, I saw Roman a week ago..." Junior's smile dropped when he saw the men's faces turn sour. "...but, he likes to come here every Friday night for my, hehe, exquisite parties."

"... he comes here?" Spy said, somehow surprised but also unsurprised as to how a guy like Roman will still hang in an area where people are bound to be looking for his ass just for some partying.

"Yeah. And guess what today is?"

"Mphmday..." Pyro mphmed with a sound of awe.

"Whatever he said." Junior snapped a finger at the Pyro. With a handshake of thanks, the boys got right out of there and promised to come back tonight. Before leaving, they made Junior promise to not tell Roman who was waiting for him with the totally unnecessary but also very generous promise of even more lien. Just money the boys didn't really need.

Somewhere on Anima

Team RNJR had been on their quest for Haven Academy for the last five months. It did not take them long to reach Anima itself, it was just a matter of trekking all across the continent to get to the Kingdom of Mistral. They survived by doing good things for villages and towns they met along the way, mostly getting rid of Grimm troubling the area. The money or food they receive went a long way in helping their ongoing adventure.

Four teenage huntsmen out on an adventure bigger than the lives they knew only because they wish to set things right. They were going to reach Mistral, and this point in their trip made that goal far less unlikely. Mistral, therefore Haven Academy, would only be another week or so from now if they kept their current pace without any obstacles.

This adventure has made them grow a lot as people. Where before they were really children enjoying the innocent happy times in school, now they were full on adventurers looking to fix their world and get a happy ending.

Well, they're still children. Much still needs to be learned if they are to become huntsmen.

Just today they defeated a Geist, a ghostly form of Grimm that can possess stuff, and were now resting out in the forest as night dawns. Tomorrow definitely has more walking in store for them. All of RNJR was asleep except for Ruby and Jaune. Ruby caught Jaune practicing his swordsmanship near their campsite, with a recording of Pyyrha telling him what to do. A recording she made for him just for training...

Ruby didn't want to bother him. She understood Pyyrha's condition had a severe impact on Jaune. It did to everyone. She was still alive, but the question is, will she wake up? If she stays in a coma forever, then sad to say but she might as well be dead. Sad thoughts, harsh realities. Trapped in a coma and never able to see the real world again.

After leaving Jaune to finish his training session, Ruby went to lay on her sleeping bag.

"Hmm..." She sighed. The young huntress thought back to why they were out on this journey to begin with. Pyyrha, Beacon, Penny, her team, the mercenaries, Vale, all of these things crossed her mind. It wouldn't be that much longer until they reached Haven. For now, she let herself fall to dreams.

Another day of travelling is waiting tomorrow.

Patch

While they waited for the time to go back to Vale, the five returned to their fortress in progress. No worries, they told the others what's up. For now, they were doing nothing. There wasn't a lot more they can build with just the nine of them. They had to wait for support from Earth to finish this place.

"So..." Scout tapped his fingers. "We're going to a club?"

"Ja."

"Which means we get to see girls, right? As in girls we can actually date?"

"Yes."

"WHOOOOO! YES!" Scout started dancing. Someone's gonna get laid tonight.

"Ack... I don't care about that so long as the drink's are good." Demo said, still holding onto that eternal bottle of DeGroot Clan rum.

"Okay, so who's gonna stay here and guard our little fort here?" Engie asked. Spy gave him a smile.

"You know gentlemen, after doing nothing but fighting since our death, I think it's time we enjoyed ourselves."

"Jacques... are... are you saying..." Sniper stuttered.

"YEP!"

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Time to rekt the town, lads.

"Yeah that's nice, but who's gonna watch our place?"

... Later that night...

*knocking*

"Guys? What are you doing back so soon?" Yang wondered as she saw Medic, Soldier, Engineer, Pyro and Sniper at the front door. The others were waiting in the vehicles which were parked on the road. "No wait, wait, wait, let me guess... couldn't find a place, right?" Medic was going to talk to her, but then Soldier butted in.

"No!" Soldier shouted. "We call on you to do your duty to democracy and defend our fort!"

"Uh... fort? What fort?" Yang questioned.

"SISTER!" Soldier grabbed her. "WE DIED FOR YOUR SINS!" Soldier then turned his head towards his comrades. "Right gents!?"

"Uh... not really..."

"Sort of."

"I guess?"

"Mphmm.

Mixed responses from his coworkers is what Soldier got, but to his American ears, they were all sounds of approval and 21 gun salutes.

"RIGHT! Now we need you to do us a favor and do your part for our cause?"

"Well, yeah, but guys. My dad is-"

"Do not worry about your father." Yang jumped back when she heard the Spy right behind her. "He's fast asleep." The Frenchman held up a trang needle with a grin on his face. Yang could not believe theses guys. She knew they were crazy, but knocking her father out again like it was a normal thing was a little too far. "So are you going to-"

"No! I'm sorry guys, but what the heck is wrong with you!?" Yang yelled. "You can't just do that to my dad!"

"Ah, but we did! Now will you do it for us?" Medic begged with his own attempt at puppy eyes, which was creepy as hell. Yang then righteously unleashed several devastating, multiple, simultaneous offensive slaps to their faces.

"Whew! Haha, haven't been slapped like zat in a while!" Medic laughed. Great, these men took pain like a joke too. Yang clinched her teeth when her effort at making them learn their lesson failed, and tried to slap them again. This time, Spy caught her hand before it hit anyone.

"Let go-"

"Yang. Please." Spy said with utmost serious, a sudden shift in tone. Yang still looked mad at him, but her look dropped when she saw the others also took a serious look on their faces. "Listen, we only need you to do it for one night."

"Why? Can't you have sentries or something watching your place?"

"We would but that'll attract too much attention." Engie said. "Trust me, I'm an Engineer." Texan smile.

"As if building a fort didn't attract a lot of attention already..." Yang muttered.

"Nah, don't worry. No one saw a thing." Sniper assured her. "There's nobody around here except you who knows about it."

"Unless you say no of course!" Medic smiled with a needle.

Clearly a needle meant for knocking her out where they'll erase her memory or something. Yang still can't believe these guys. Nice men, but still very crazy. It was creepy how willing they were to knock one of their only friends here out. Spy saw the undecided look on her face, and decided he might as well say what they intend to do on Remnant. Why not? Yang's someone they can trust.

"Yang. Listen to me when I say we will bring Ruby back." Yang looked up at him right away. Attention gained. "It may sound far fetched, but as you can imagine, we're a little pissed about being killed." The others nodded. "We swore by our souls that before we die again, we will see Cinder Fall burn in hellfire, courtesy of Pyro here..."

"Hmmphm!" Pyro thumbed up.

"Since you think Ruby and the rest of JNPR is on their way to Cinder, then we might as well bring some of our other friends home." He gave her a warm smile.

"A-and, Blake? And Weiss?" Yang said with some hope. Maybe things can be fixed.

"Yes... though that's going to take some work, we'll do that too."

There we go. Got some action rolling around soon.

Will Respond to Reviews next time because I answered everything already.