Get ready for Volume 2 of Team STRQ, Kali and Ghira Belladonna reacting to their children's futures! Also, Emerald, Mercury, and Neo are in their mid-or so 20's, and Cinder is in her early or so 30's.
Warnings: character death, vomiting, some sexual comments (by the twins).
(Raven and Qrow are still in the tribe mentality, "The weak die, the strong survive." Just a little reminder.)
The six adults all decided that they needed some time to process all of what they had been shown of their and their children's future. Deciding a week would give everyone enough time, they reconvened after everything had sunk it.
Tai grabbed the remote and went to the menu. 'Volume 2' was in color, so that mean they could watch it. He clicked the button to open the episode list.
"Ready?" the blonde asked the others. They all nodded.
Best Day Ever
A ship flies through the skies over Vale and the camera pans down to the city streets. The owner of the Dust shop "From Dust Till Dawn" is hanging a sign declaring it's re-opening. As he climbs down from his ladder, he stumbles and falls. Emerald Sustrai appears next to him.
"That's the shop that Roman Torchwick robbed in the first episode we watched." Summer commented lightly.
"Well that's an odd way to start." Ghira said.
Emerald giggled. "'Scuse me, sorry. I'm not really from around here." She helps him to his feet. "Would you mind pointing me in the direction of this shop?"
Emerald produces a piece of paper with writing on it and the shopkeeper looks it over.
"I don't like this." Kali muttered.
"Me neither. Something doesn't feel right about her." Ghira said.
The Shopkeeper squints, "Hmm? Mm-hmm."
Emerald walks away from the shop owner as both wave goodbye and passes Mercury Black at a corner.
"Aren't those…. Aren't those two the people with the woman in red at the end of the first volume?" Summer asked her team and new friends. They all were wondering the same thing.
Raven was the one to break the tense silence. "Yes. Something bad is going to happen." Raven said confidently. Truly hoping she wouldn't be right.
Mercury smirked. "I knew you were lost."
"Mercury, I will seriously pay you to shut up." She produces a wallet with Lien and waves it in Mercury's face.
"She's a thief." Qrow said.
"What? How do you know she's a thief?" Kali asked.
"She's a street rat. Can see it a mile away." Qrow said, frowning.
"That's not your money." The silver haired young man said.
"But it can be yours for 5 minutes of silence." Emerald countered.
Mercury thought about it. "Mmmm... no deal."
"Fine." Emerald takes the Lien and tosses the wallet, turning to walk away.
"She doesn't care." Kali muttered.
"They were hired by that woman that we saw at the end of the volume." Summer said, frowning in concern for her daughter.
"Whatever. You want me." Mercury smirked.
"Why not?" Tai laughed, Qrow joined in when he realized what Mercury was saying.
"Seriously? Can't you two be serious?" Raven grumbled.
"Ah, come on! Rae, we're just having fun!" Taiyang said, with a large smile on his face. Raven tried to be angry at him and her brother but couldn't when she thought about the daughter that she and Tai would have soon.
More of the city is shown, including a café where two extras sit chatting. Mercury and Emerald are walking through the city.
"So, how much farther?" Mercury asked.
Emerald glanced at him, "A few blocks."
Mercury grumbled, "Ugh... this place is so dull."
"Eh, I kinda like it. Tall buildings, diverse culture..." Emerald said slowly, trying to get her companion to appreciate the City of Vale.
"And nice dopey people who are easy to pickpocket." The young man said with an arrogant smile, eyes passing over the citizens in disinterest.
Emerald stops.
"That's every city." The green haired young woman deadpanned.
"True." The twins said at the same time, smirking at each other.
"I don't want to know." Ghira shook his head.
"You really don't. We found Qrow pick-pocketing from the Beacon staff our first year." Summer said, looking at the offender.
Qrow smirked at his leader. "Well, can you blame me? We were from a bandit tribe in Anima. What did you expect us to do? We had no idea how to act in such a strange place. We'd never been to school before, we were taught by the chief of the tribe before we came to Beacon."
"Still! Stealing is wrong!" Summer shouted sternly.
"We do what we have to, to survive." Qrow said harshly.
Summer and Tai flinch back at their dark haired teammate's words, but didn't say anything to dispute it.
Mercury starts to play-act as a victim. "Ooh, Emerald! Master thief! Please don't take my money! I barely have enough to get by!"
Emerald glares at him, groaning angrily. She then walks away from him.
"Ugh... you're no fun today." He groaned, annoyed at not being able to get a rise out of the green haired young woman.
Mercury follows behind Emerald. The scene shifts to Emerald and Mercury entering a shop full of books. The shop owner can be heard humming a tune. Mercury stops near the door to look at books while Emerald approaches the counter and rings a service bell.
Kali gasped and Ghira's jaw clenched painfully. "Tukson."
"Be right there!" Tukson called out. Emerald looks back at Mercury. The shop owner is seen through a set of double doors carrying stacks of books as he walks backwards and out toward the counter. "Welcome to 'Tukson's Book Trade', home to every book under the sun!" He sets the stacks down off-screen. "How may I..." Turning around, he gasps and hesitates upon recognizing the two of them. Mercury is now holding a book. "How may I help you?"
Although the book is open, Mercury is looking at Tukson. "Just browsing." He shuts the book.
Kali and Ghira both knew that something is very, very, wrong. Both were terrified for their friend.
Emerald quickly interjects, "Actually, I was wondering, do you have any copies of 'The Thief and The Butcher'?
Tukson nods to the green haired young woman. "Yes we do."
Emerald gets excited. "That's great."
"Would you... like a copy?" The Faunus man asks.
"No, just wondering." Emerald shook her head. Mercury closes another book. "Oh, oh! What about 'Violet's Garden'? In paperback?" She asked.
"What are they doing?" Tai asked, Summer was wondering the same thing.
"Stalling." Raven answered. The two Faunus whimper quietly, fearing for the other Faunus.
"For what?" Summer questioned. Neither twin answered.
"He's got it. Hardback too." Mercury produces a book.
"Ooh, options are nice."
"Eh, no pictures." Mercury closes the book. "Hey! Do you have any comics?" Mercury asked.
"Near the front." Tukson said.
"Oh, no, wait!" The music score becomes decidedly more menacing as the camera zooms in on Emerald. "What... about... "Third Crusade"?
"No… No, please no!" Kali yelled out, terrified for her friend. Ghira tried to get his girlfriend to calm down but he couldn't, he was also worried and scared for the Puma Faunus.
Tukson hesitates, visibly unnerved. "Um... I..." Mercury and Emerald are shown to be eyeing him carefully. "...don't believe we carry that one."
The twins watch stoically, while Summer and Tai try and not be uncomfortable. The two Faunus were shaking and scared for their friend. Kali and Ghira knew something was very wrong, but they didn't know what. Ghira knew that this confrontation would only lead to bloodshed, but hoped he was wrong.
Mercury slams another book shut. "Oh."
Emerald tilts her head to the side a bit. "What was this place called again?"
"Tukson's Book Trade." The Faunus answers.
Emerald's head was still tilted. "And you're Tukson?"
Tukson nodded. "That's right."
"So then I take it that you're the one that came up with the catchphrase?" She asked.
"Yes." The large man confirmed.
"And, what was it again?" Mercury cut in.
"Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun." Tukson sighed.
"Except the Third Crusade." Mercury pointed out.
"It's just a catchphrase." The Faunus said.
"It's false advertising!" Mercury stated in a flat voice.
The mood in the room turns even darker and worsens within seconds. Everyone was silent.
Emerald narrows her eyes. "You shouldn't make a promise you can't keep, Tukson." Mercury activates a switch near the entrance causing a front window to darken. "I hear that you're planning on leaving. Moving all the way to Vacuo." Mercury activates another switch and the window in the front door darkens. "Your brothers in the White Fang won't be happy to hear that." Mercury activates the third and final switch, darkening the last window as he smiles creepily at Tukson. "And neither are we... You know who we are, don't you?"
Ghira freezes in horror, realizing what's about to happen to his longtime friend. He needs to change the White Fang when he gets back! If he doesn't countless Faunus will die because of his inaction.
Kali was trembling badly, so much so that Summer and Tai were concerned so they were about to pause what was about to happen.
Ghira's hand snapped out to grab Taiyang's wrist painfully. The blonde looked at the Faunus and saw Ghira' eyes. Tai's eyes widen slightly and the blonde young man nods minutely and Ghira lets him go.
They continued watching.
"Yes."
"And you know why we're here?" The green haired woman questioned.
"Yes."
Emerald questions him one last time. "So... are you going to fight back?"
"Yes!" Tukson produces claws from his fingers. "Yaargh!"
Tukson leaps atop his counter in a threatening manner. Mercury and Emerald back up slightly and he leaps at Emerald and slashes at her, but she dodges. He looks forward and is surprised at Mercury as he raises one leg for a kick with his shotgun-greaves.
Kali lets out a horrible wail. She vaults over the couch and runs to the bathroom, barely making it in time to empty the contents over her stomach.
Ghira closes his eyes and bows his head, saying a silent farewell to his friend.
Summer and Tai were shocked, but didn't try and comfort either Faunus, knowing that they had to deal with their grief their own way for the time being.
Raven and Qrow didn't move or blink while watching the fight progress, already knowing the outcome and expecting it.
The five wait for Kali to come back, but she doesn't. Ghira goes and checks on her. The Cat Faunus is curled up on the bathroom floor sobbing with vomit on her mouth. He gently picks her up and carries her to their room. The two don't come back for a few hours.
In that time, Team STRQ goes their separate ways, Summer and Tai going off together to talk or just be together. And the twins just curl up on the couch together, holding hands and leaning against each other. Needing the small physical comfort that the other brings to them in times like these.
After witnessing death, the Branwen twins need each other, nothing else involved besides comfort.
Mercury and Emerald exit 'Tukson's Book Trade'. Emerald stretches her arms overhead. Mercury is carrying a comic.
They watch silently, trying to give the Faunus the chance to grieve and say something about their friend if they want. Neither do.
"What's with that?" Emerald asks.
Mercury shrugged. "I like the pictures."
'He's an assassin.' Raven and Qrow thought together, glancing at each other and then over at Kali and Ghira.
A series of sketches and notes mark the next scene. These include the White Fang insignia, a possible picture of Adam Taurus, and Adam's rose. In the Beacon Academy cafeteria, Team RWBY are sitting together as Blake looks over some notes. Yang then slides up next to her partner.
'How far have we fallen?' Ghira thinks sadly as he looks at his daughter. Not even seeing Blake cheers Kali up after witnessing the death of her friend.
"Whatcha doing?" Yang asks.
"Nothing." The Faunus says quickly. Blake closes her book. "Just going over notes from last semester."
Yang catches a grape in her mouth.
"Lame." Yang states.
"Not everyone is a child in the body of a teenager, Yang." Raven mutters under her breath. Ghira's lips twitch slightly, as he nods at the dark haired woman. Knowing what she's trying to do for him and Kali.
Nora giggles as she continues to toss grapes at yang with her spoon. Yang catches the fruit with ease, giving Nora the thumbs up. Ruby, giving an enormous heave, slams a binder onto the table, catching everyone off guard. On the cover of the binder is written "Vytal Festival Activities, Property of Weiss Schnee". This has been hastily crossed out with a red marker pen, and with the same pen, a new title, "Best Day Ever Activities", has been written underneath.
Ruby clears her throat, she gestures to everyone at the table. "Sisters... friends... Weiss."
Qrow chokes back a laugh. Tai and Summer cover their mouth to stop their giggling from escaping.
"Hey!"
"Four score and seven minutes ago, I had a dream." Ruby says enthusiastically.
"That could only be a combination between Sum and Tai." Qrow said, looking at the two with a smirk on his face.
"This ought to be good." Yang says, smiling. She catches another berry in her mouth.
"A dream that one day, the four of us will come together, as a team, and have the most fun anyone has ever had... ever!" Ruby yells out.
"Did you steal my binder?" Weiss asks her partner with a raised eyebrow.
Ruby makes 'peace' signs with both hands. "I am not a crook."
"Why do I get the feeling like that's foreshadowing to something later on?" Summer asks, hoping her daughter won't do anything stupid or dangerous.
Blake looks at her team leader. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about kicking off the semester with a bang!" Ruby points her finger at Blake.
"I always kick my semesters off with a Yang! Eh? Guys? Am I right?" Yang said.
Tai groaned and the rest of Team STRQ had deadpan looks on their faces staring at Tai. "No puns! I will not have my daughter be subjected to your awful puns, Taiyang Xiao Long!" Raven said in a low voice, a warning to the blond. Tai nods, fearful for his life suddenly.
"That was horrible." Ghira states.
An apple is tossed at Yang and hits her in the face. She glares at Nora.
Nora shouts. "Boooooooooooooooo!"
"Look guys, it's been a good two weeks and between more exchange students arriving and the tournament at the end of the year, our second semester is going to be great! But, classes start back up tomorrow! Which is why I've taken the time to schedule a series of wonderful events for us today." Ruby said.
"What? No way the Vytal Festival is that early!" Summer said, she couldn't believe it. Ruby and her team would fight in the Vytal Festival!
"I don't know whether to be proud or scared of what you have in store." Weiss said.
Yang, still glaring, picks up an apple and tosses it across the room. Off-screen, an unfamiliar voice shouts "Hey!" and Nora can be heard giggling.
Blake shifts in her seat. "I don't know. I think I might sit this one out."
"She's slowly isolating herself." Ghira said sadly, he glanced at his girlfriend to see how she was reacting to their daughter.
"Sit out or not, I think that however we spend this last day, we should do it as a team!" Weiss said.
"I got it!" Nora shouted.
"Uh oh." Summer and Tai said together.
"This is going to be a train wreck. Or a massacre. Or both." Qrow said.
"If Nora's coming up with the idea, something is going to go wrong in the most unconventional way." Ghira said.
Weiss starts saying something, "I for one think that..." Weiss is interrupted by a pie landing on her face.
Summer, Tai, and Qrow share feral grins.
"Food fight!" The three members of Team STRQ shout in glee.
Nora is shown to be the one who threw the pie; she sits down and points at Ren who has his head in his palm. Pyrrha's hand is over her mouth and Jaune simply sits staring wide-eyed while covering his ear with his palm.
"Gods damn it." Raven muttered, shaking her head at the stupidity of her daughter's friends.
Outside the cafeteria, Sun Wukong and Neptune Vasilias are walking together as Sun relates the events which took place during "Black and White".
Neptune states, "Man, that's harsh."
"I know, we were fighting side by side. She was super-fast and I threw a banana at the guy, which sounds gross, but it was awesome." Sun says, smiling at his teammate.
"Idiots. All of them." Raven said, throwing her hands up.
"Nice!" The blue haired teen says.
Sun smirks. "Right? And the best part is, she's a Faunus. But that's a secret, okay?"
"It's a secret for a reason, idiot." Ghira said. "Why did Blake trust him again?" He questioned.
"She likes him probably." Raven replied. Ghira just sighs and continues watching.
Neptune nods. "Got it."
Sun leans in close in order to stress the importance of this secret.
"And not a, "I'm gonna go tell Scarlet the second Sun turns his back secret", I'm talking secret secret." Sun says sternly.
"Whoa, chill out, man, okay? I got it." Neptune said, and then he was almost whispering. "I got it!"
"You better." Sun mutters. The camera angle now shows the windows into the cafeteria where food splatters into the panes as students run around. At one point, Jaune is the one splattered into the window. "I just don't want to screw this up, you know? The people here are the coolest! No offense to you guys."
"Idiots." Raven and Ghira say together. Kali lets out a small giggle and smiles slightly at the two of them. The female Faunus watches with a fond smile on her face.
"None taken." The blue haired boy said.
"They're just in here. I'm really excited for you to meet them. So be cool, okay? You're gonna be cool, right?" Sun was giddy with excitement.
Neptune deadpanned, "Dude."
The camera pans up from Neptune's feet to his face. Neptune's teeth gleam as he smiles.
"Good point." Sun says.
Sun and Neptune enter the cafeteria where students are heard screaming.
"It's a massacre." Kali said in shock, trying to cover up her giggles, thinking about what Qrow said being correct.
"Food fight!" A Beacon student shouts in fear.
Many students are shown stampeding out the door past Sun and Neptune, the latter of whom is looking quite worried.
Nora laughs crazily, "Ahahahaha!"
Team JNPR are shown to be standing atop a tower of tables stacked in a ramshackle manner.
"Holy shit, they're even crazier than we are!" Tai shouts.
"We're just going to keep getting dumber and dumber at this rate." Raven said.
"What did you expect? It's Nora." Qrow said, a huge grin on his face, waiting for the epic fight to begin.
"I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!" Nora sang.
Ruby stomped her foot on a table and pointing at Team JNPR. "Justice will be swift! Justice will be painful!" Ruby crushes a carton of milk in her hand. "It will be delicious!" The young girl declares.
"Why… just… why?" Raven groaned, thinking she couldn't watch the utter stupidity and dysfunction.
Team RWBY raised their fists simultaneously, shouting, "Yeah!"
Nora shouted, still grinning like a maniac. "Off with their heads!"
"They are all insane." Ghira watched in both horror and fascination. Kali couldn't cover up her laughter as she also watched the unfolding sense in fascination and amusement.
Nora jumps down from the top of her tower, and the food fight begins.
Ruby shouts, "Yang! Turkey!"
Yang rolls over to the turkeys and sticks her fists inside them, proceeding to block and punch the melons as they speed toward her. Yang uses them like gloves to punch through the barrage of watermelons thrown off a table by Nora; upon completion, Blake Belladonna then leaps in front of Yang and picks up two baguettes. Yang then throws her turkeys at Pyrrha Nikos, who dodges out of the way and grabs a single baguette, leaving Jaune Arc to take the blows.
Pyrrha and Blake duel in a one-on-one fight. Despite Blake's attempt to disorient Pyrrha with her shadows, Pyrrha knocks her back and throws three more baguettes to Yang, with the last knocking her down as well.
Ruby uses a food tray to slide towards Pyrrha across the table and hits a baguette back at her with the same tray; Pyrrha manages to dodge the shot, but is unable to stop Ruby from knocking her backwards with the same food tray. Lie Ren and Nora then charge at Ruby, but Weiss intercepts them and uses ketchup to cause Ren to slip and crash with a group tables which are launched because of the impact.
Nora jumps through these tables to grab a metal flag pole and attach a watermelon to it. She attacks Weiss but hits Ruby instead, who manages to stand between them to protect her partner from the assault; however, the force of this impact knocks her down. Weiss grabs a swordfish and engages Nora in a one-on-one, but ends up being defeated after Nora throws her against a pillar, knocking her down, and causing the pillar to break. Before the pieces crush Weiss, Ruby jumps in and saves her partner but shouts dramatically at her partner's apparent demise.
Ruby was cradling Weiss in her arms. "Weiss, Weiss! Don't leave me! Nooo!"
The fighting resumes, with Yang grabbing two more turkeys and duels Ren, who wields a pair of leeks. Ren is overwhelmed by Yang's reflexes and takes a lot of hits before being sent a few meters into the air by an uppercut. He recovers from the strikes and throws his leeks at Yang, but she manages to dodge them and proceeds to finish Ren by jumping high enough to punch him toward the floor, knocking him out. Nora intervenes immediately afterwards and sends Yang flying through the roof with her hammer but destroys the weapon in the process.
Blake gets back up to dodge the debris of the roof and grabs a link of sausages. She whips it at a disarmed Nora, throwing her against two soda machines. This leak some soda cans that Nora throws at Blake, who manages to dodge them all. Pyrrha then uses her Semblance of polarity on the puddle of soda, causing all the soda cans on it to rise after Blake, barraging her with soda.
Ruby, the last remaining member of RWBY, then uses her Semblance of speed to dash through the food court, causing everything to follow her through the tailwind caused by her overwhelming speed. She spins like a torpedo, creating a hurricane of food that come backs at JNPR, knocking all four members out.
Team JNPR slides off the wall, leaving only their outlines.
Summer, Tai, Raven, Qrow, Ghira, and Kali could only stare in utter shock at the events that they just watched.
None of them could form words to express any of what they wanted to say about the food fight.
"I love these guys." Sun comments lightly.
The camera pans right to show that Neptune is drenched with soda and is not pleased. The doors behind them open and Glynda enters the room growling. She proceeds to use telekinesis to re-organize the room.
"Goodwitch is pissed." Tai said, rubbing the back of his neck. He was both proud and embarrassment on his children's behalf, as were Summer, Ghira, and Kali. Qrow couldn't stop laughing at Raven's beet-red face.
The older twin smacked her bother on the head, her face still red with anger, shock, and embarrassment.
"Children, please." Glynda shouts. The camera zooms in on her face as she adjusts her glasses. "Do not play with your food!"
Nora burps aloud as both Team JNPR and Team RWBY try and fail to compose themselves. A screaming Yang then crashes from the ceiling into one of the tables. Glynda grumbles. Ozpin approaches and places a hand on her shoulder.
"Let it go." Ozpin says simply.
"Thank you, Headmaster." Summer said, even though he couldn't hear her.
Glynda sighs. "They're supposed to be the defenders of the world."
"And they will be, but right now they're still children." Ozpin points out. Team RWBY are shown laughing together. "So why not let them play the part?" Ozpin walks away from Glynda. "After all, it isn't a role they'll have forever." The Headmaster says ominously.
The six adults all shiver at his last statement.
In an old warehouse, the White Fang are moving crates as Emerald and Mercury enter.
Ghira's fists clench as he watches the organization that he was leading doing menial work for a Human. Whatever Adam Taurus had planned for the White Fang would not come true. Over his dead body.
Roman says as he spots the thief and the assassin. "Oh, look! She sent the kids again! This is turning out just like the divorce!" Roman approaches the two from behind and wraps his arms around them in a group hug.
They all raise an eyebrow at what the crime boss just said.
Emerald shivered in disgust. "Spare us the thought of you procreating."
"Same." Qrow, Raven, and Tai say together.
Emerald and Mercury pull away from Roman.
"That was a joke. And this... just might tell me where you two have been all day." Roman produces a piece of paper.
"Thank the Gods." The twins say, shivering at thinking about mini-Romans running around.
Emerald gasps. "What!? Agh..."
"I'm a professional, sweetheart. Pay attention, maybe you'll learn something." Roman said, holding up the piece of paper. "Why do you have this address?"
Kali and Ghira froze, realizing where the conversation was going towards. Kali starting crying again, thinking about her deceased friend.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Emerald said smugly.
Roman narrows his eyes. "Yeah, I would. Now where have you been all day?"
"Cleaning up your problems. One of them, at least." Mercury said.
Everyone but the twins flinched at Mercury referring to Tukson as a 'problem'.
"I had that under control." Roman growls.
Mercury scoffs. "Two packed bags and a ticket out of Vale said otherwise."
Roman wasn't in the mood to play any games with the two. "Listen, you little punk. If it were up to me, then I would take you and your little street rat friend here and..."
"Do what, Roman?" Cinder interjects.
"Fuck off you bitch." Qrow growls. He didn't know why, but something about Cinder pissed him off. His hand was clenching and unclenching, reaching for his sword. He wanted to kill Cinder, wipe that smug expression right off her face. Raven was the same way, something set her off whenever she saw Cinder or heard her speak.
Summer, Tai, and the two Faunus looked at the twins in concern, not knowing why they were so ready to kill the woman on the screen.
Cinder appears on a platform above them. She steps onto an automated lift, riding it down to their level.
Roman laughs nervously. "I'd, uh... not kill them?"
Emerald says excitedly. "Cinder!"
Qrow and Raven share a disgusted look with each other. "What are you? A dog wanting a bone from your master?"
Cinder looks at the older male. "I thought I made it clear that you would eliminate the would-be runaway."
Roman growls. "I was going to..."
"He was going to escape to Vacuo! Mercury and I decided to take it upon ourselves to kill the rat." Emerald said, proud of herself.
"She's like a wanting bitch." Raven comments, disgusted at Emerald. Qrow agreed with his sister, he hated people like that, they both did.
The other members of Team STRQ and the two Faunus snapped their heads in the twins' direction, creeped out and slightly disgusted at what they were saying about Emerald.
"I think he was some sort of cat, actually." The silver haired young man commented.
"What? Like a puma?" His partner asked.
Mercury snapped his fingers. "Yeah, there ya go."
"Quiet. Did I not specifically instruct you two to keep your hands clean while in Vale?" Cinder demanded.
As Cinder speaks, Roman points a finger at the pair while laughing in agreement.
"I just thought..." Emerald trailed off.
Roman uses his fingers to mime having a slit throat.
Cinder narrowed her amber eyes at her. "Don't think... obey.
The twins flinched back violently, their arms immediately rising to block imaginary blows that were raining down on them as they were stuck in their memories. The others paused the scene and watched the two in concern and worry, not knowing how to help them.
Qrow whimpered and Raven snapped her eyes shut, curling in on herself. The two looked terrified as they suddenly both gasped like a bucket of ice water was poured over them. The two silently shook as she grabbed at the other, needing the silent physical contact and warmth that only a sibling could bring.
After a while, they both calmed down, not looking at anyone in the room. Tai resumed the scene.
Emerald said apologetically. "Yes ma'am. It won't happen again."
Cinder turned to Roman. "And you. Why wasn't this job done sooner?"
As he speaks, he points to his right, then to his left, then behind him. "Uh..? Eh..? Eh..? Sorry if I've been busy stealing every speck of Dust in the Kingdom!"
"You're an inspiration to every punk with a gun and a ski mask." Mercury said as Emerald laughs at the remark.
"They're children playing at being adults." Raven said, annoyed at Mercury and Emerald's behavior.
"Look around, kid. I've got this town running scared! Police camping out at every corner, Dust prices through the roof, and we're sitting pretty on an old warehouse with more Dust crystals, vials, and rounds than we know what to do with! Speaking of which, if you guys wouldn't mind filling me in on your grand master plan, it might actually make my next string of robberies go a little smoother!" Roman emphasizes the last word by clenching his fist.
"Yes, do." Summer said, wanting to know what the hell was going on.
Cinder approaches Roman. "Oh, Roman. Have a little faith." She places her hand on his face. "You'll know what you need when you need to know it." Roman seems entranced, but then looks away with a grunt. "Besides, we're done with Dust." She begins to walk away.
"Creepy bitch." Tai said under his breath. He was disturbed by what Cinder was doing. Summer and the rest were also creeped out by Cinder's manipulations of the thief.
"O-okay, then what now?" Raman asks.
"We're moving. Have the White Fang clear out this building. I'll send you details and coordinates tonight." Cinder demanded.
"Coordinates?" The man asked.
Cinder looked back at Roman. "We're proceeding to phase two."
Cinder, Mercury and Emerald begin to walk away. Roman attempts to light a cigar, but realizes Emerald has stolen his lighter. She turns back to face him and sticks her tongue out defiantly.
"What the fuck just happened?" Taiyang asked.
"Something really screwed up." Qrow said.
"Something bad is going to happen. Death is coming." Raven said in a dark voice.
"And now the opening." Summer said, glancing at everyone. She played the opening of the second volume.
The opening plays to 'Time to Say Goodbye'.
The camera closes in on Beacon Academy as rose petals gently fall from the sky. A pair of silver eyes open and look forth.
In the school courtyard, Ruby Rose stands alone, her eyes closed and head faced down; her red cape and rose-petal aura flutters in the wind. Suddenly, she is not alone: Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long are in similar stances, manifesting their own auras: snowflakes, shadows and embers respectively as white flames consume the buildings. Ruby finally looks up into a sky with an inverted color scheme: black moon, white sky. The four girls look on as Beacon dissolves into nothingness.
"War and death." Qrow and Raven say together. Both look at each other, not wanting to be right.
The white oblivion turns to night, and from the full moon falls Ruby, descending towards the planet through layers of clouds. She quickly gets her bearings and spreads her limbs to slow down, petals spiraling around her.
Upon her maneuver, giant black gears rain from the heavens and form into a large clockwork window at the Tower of Beacon, where Ozpin stands with The Long Memory.
"Is Ozpin going to do something that leads to war?" Taiyang asks, but no one has an answer for him. He just continues to watch and listen to the music writing down all of the lyrics he can.
A flurry of autumn leaves summons Pyrrha Nikos overlooking Beacon, in a familiar stance with her head bowed and eyes closed until a gloved hand clasps her shoulder. She turns and smiles at her leader, Jaune Arc, as the rest of Team JNPR, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, are right there beside her.
In a hallway of Beacon's library, the members of Team CRDL - Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Russel Thrush and Sky Lark - stand in defiance.
"Dicks." Ghira mutters, the only one who heard him was Kali.
On the street of a deconstructed town at sunset, monkey Faunus Sun Wukong and the rest of Team SSSN - Scarlet David, a red-haired youth in casual white clothes; Sage Ayana, a dark-skinned, green-haired boy wearing a white robe; and Neptune Vasilias, another male with blue hair and dressed in a red uniform resting a gun on his shoulder - stand ready for action.
"The other members of their team." Summer said excitedly.
Out and about on the streets of Vale, the members of Team CFVY - Coco Adel, a brunette girl with glasses, a purse, and a gold outfit; Fox Alistair, a dark-skinned boy with bladed gauntlets as red as his shirt and hair; the Beacon rabbit Faunus Velvet Scarlatina in her new brown battle gear and Yatsuhashi Daichi, a tall, tanned young man wearing a green tunic with a large sword at his back - stride toward their destination.
"They look older, another Beacon team." Tai comments.
At the middle of a bridge in a white, futuristic area, James Ironwood and his men - two Atlas Soldiers, four Atlesian-Knight-200s, a dark-haired boy and shorter brunette girl dressed in gray and the colorful, nervous-looking Penny Polendina - stand at attention.
"Ironwood is going to cause a war, calling it right now." Qrow said.
"Do you want countless death?!" Ghira shouts at him.
"No, but I'm being practical. With what we've already been shown, war is no doubt coming, soon. It's now a matter of being ready for it." The Branwen states.
Before the gates of Beacon, the school's professors - Headmaster Ozpin with cane still in hand, Glynda Goodwitch to his right, Bartholomew Oobleck and Peter Port to the left - stand for their students.
A smiling Cinder Fall, no longer hidden in shadow, is joined in her walk through a burning city by Roman Torchwick, Mercury Black, Emerald Sustrai and the familiar faces of club owner Junior Xiong and his associates, the Malachite twins Miltia and Melanie Malachite.
"Fuck you, creepy bitch." Tai growled, worried for his kids and fearing for their safety because of Cinder lurking around.
The flames of a jump cut show a snowy Cliffside Forest featuring many species of Grimm, from Beowolves to Ursai and even Death Stalkers until their numbers become a blur.
Ruby is still falling through the air, but when she looks to her sides, Yang, Weiss, and Blake are right there descending at the same speed, joined immediately by a multitude of other characters. They streak towards the city of Vale until Ruby lands in a crouch that decimates the stone beneath her, followed quickly by her teammates of RWBY, three members of JNPR, and more. Pyrrha is the last to land, dust from the impact blacking out the screen.
Suddenly, Pyrrha, now dressed in monochrome armor, is fighting one on four against CRDL, each surrounded by a color over their entire bodies, in a white amphitheater. She deflects the attack with Hallshott from Dove with her own blade Miló before transforming it into her rifle proceeding to shoot him, and then quickly transforms her rifle into the blade to knock away the green Russel before Shortwings can reach her. She defends herself with the shield Akoúo̱ from Feather's Edge from Sky while clashing against The Executioner of Cardin with her sword, but quickly shoves Lark away and slashes her weapon against the losing team's leader.
"Imperssive." Tai and Summer comment.
"They're all weak, not really." Raven points out.
Cinder looks up from her repose with flames burning up her neck and in her right eye as she stares at the giant winged airships ascending from the castle she is perched on and slowly flying into the night.
"Magic!" Qrow hisses, his weapon in his hand. Raven stands as well, her own sword in hand, ready to cut down the flaming woman.
Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang charge with weapons drawn down the lane of Beacon towards the amphitheater and the group of villains at its foot awaiting their attack. Mercury leaps forward, knocking Talaria against the flare of Yang's Ember Celica when...
The perspective changes to Weiss, who narrowly dodges Thief's Respite in a dark room, deflecting each of her foe's strikes with Myrtenaster...
And Blake, wielding both parts of her Gambol Shroud, is then shown fighting against Roman and Melodic Cudgel in the middle of Vale, whipping their weapons around as they attack...
Before the transitions end with Ruby at the front of Beacon, swinging Crescent Rose against the weaponless Cinder and jumping back to avoid the blaze from her opponent's hands, only to charge again.
"Team RWBY is going to have to fight them." Ghira said, worried for his daughter and her friends.
As she runs through the columns, Ruby's image shifts to Weiss, then Blake and lands on Yang until she punches forward, Blake coming out of the blonde with blades slicing, Weiss jumping out from the Faunus to raise her rapier, and their leader emerging last to slash once more with her sniper-scythe until the camera zooms in on her silver eye and the title of the show is seen.
The opening ended and none of the six knew what to say.
"Do… Do you guys want to continue?" Summer asked hesitantly.
"I think we should take the day to process what we just watched." Ghira suggests, the others agree with him. Summer nods and switches the TV off and sets the remote down.
"Alright. Let's go with that." Summer said.
The two Faunus go to their room and discuss what happened to Tukson and everything else so far. Summer grabbed Taiyang and Raven's hands and led them away from the living room area. Qrow quickly grabbed onto Raven's remaining hand and squeezed it. His sister squeezed back. Both instinctively knowing that they needed comfort from each other and their team.
