Chapter 28


"The Queen has pawns." That was the message Qrow has given him. Ozpin couldn't help but feel worried over this. Up until now, Salem usually worked by herself. Completely on her own. But now it seems that she has gathered other individuals for herself. A smart move really, as Grimm, while powerful, were far from subtle and capable of things only humans and faunus could do.

"Then maybe I can start gathering more." Team RWBY were already proving themselves capable more and more every day, if not being just a bit of trouble following them. Just because they did the right thing didn't mean they are immune to detention. Besides, it looks like he already may have a new ally.

"Wow! There's no ceiling! Only gears. Apprentice, do you see this?" One who's a little odd if he can admit.

After the dock incident, the police came and from there Team RWBY and their allies were taken away from the incident. Only the mysterious girl Penny and her bodyguard had already left, leaving one of the new students known as Sun and his master Sanzang.

Glynda was rather shocked at seeing her attire, as it may as well just be underwear. Why, even Sun looked a bit embarrassed as many males with a few girls looked longingly at Sanzang when he brought them to his office. She certainly held rather...impressive assets.

"Ms. Sanzang," Glynda then sternly told the Buddha follower with a snap of her whip. "If you may, please pay attention."

"Got it. Got it." Sanzang said with a dopey smile with Sun just mouthing an apology. With that done, talking can now begin.

"Hello there Ms. Sanzang. My name is Ozpin." The headmaster began. "And, I have come to notice that you were involved with the incident happening a while back. May I ask, why did you join?"

"Oh. That's easy." Sanzang waved her hand. "Because Jason and his allies were straying from the Buddha path. So I went to knock some sense into them." She then held her staff high, and twirled it around. "Those who stray from the path, must be corre-OW!" Then hit herself on the head.

Sun looked away while Glynda sighed. Ozpin on the other hand, just smiled. This woman was certainly a...unique one. However, he has more pressing concerns. Mainly, on what she just said a while back.

"Jason." Ozpin then showed Sanzang his scroll showing Jason and his lot. "Just out of curiosity, do you know him personally or just from the news itself?"

"I know him." Sanzang then said while rubbing her head. "He comes from Chaldea like me, along with a bunch of other people. He messed up with the Rayshifting and we ended up here."

Chaldea? Rayshifting? Now it seems he has more questions than answers. Looks like maybe Jason came from some hidden organization perhaps. "I see. And this, Chaldea, are they involved with recent events?"

"I don't think so." Sanzang replied. "I mean, us coming here was a total accident and junk." She didn't think the Buddha planned for her to come here. "Still, it's been fun. I got to see apprentice again," She then hugged Sun who just smiled with a blush on his cheeks from the large mounds pressing against his shoulder. "Help others with the Buddha's aid, and experience life outside of Chaldea."

Chaldea was fun, cool, and had loads of nice people. But, Sanzang couldn't help but deny that she wished to explore the outside world and help the regular people. Sadly, Chaldea always told her she couldn't leave, so it was a bit sad. Thanks to Jason's blunder though, she can now help people without being reprimanded. Isn't that neat!

"I see." Actually, Ozpin really didn't. He couldn't understand much of Sanzang, but from what he can tell, she and Jason with his group came from the same place. They were all likely held in their-possibly against their wills. Then something happened that allowed them to be freed and enter the outside world. 'Maybe I should look into this Chaldea.'

"So, are we in trouble?" Sun then asked. Wondering if they're little event from the dock will get them busted.

"No, you are not." Ozpin replied. "We just need you to fill out these forms explaining what happened and you'll be freed to go."

"Cool." Sun then got the papers to fill out and hopped of his seat. "Come on Sanzang, let's go."

"Hold on!" Sanzang then said. "I'm the master, so I should say it." Sanzang then coughed and stood straight. "Come on apprentice. Let's go." Then took the papers from Sun and looked at them. "..." Then slowly handed them back to Sun after realizing she couldn't read them. "Let's...go…"

Sun just comforted her as they left. Telling her he'll teach her how to read later. The two soon leaving with Ozpin having some slight amusement on his face. "Those two are definitely interesting."

"I suppose so." Glynda shrugs. "Still, are you certain it's wise to have two criminals-even if they're demeanors are minor-to enter Beacon? They didn't exactly enter the city through legal means."

"So long as they mean well and help others, I don't mind hiding their little troubles from the police. Besides, Sanzang interests me." Particularly the mana coming from her body. A lot of it too. That wasn't even mentioning how he's slowly been detecting mana from across the city. Why, just yesterday he felt an immense amount of mana coming from Vaccuo and from what he can tell, it's located in the Lost Sands.

'Salem is more than likely to have sensed this much mana. I wonder how she'll react.' Like him, maybe find answers and see what is going on. As those with mana should be long gone after the God of Darkness literally wiped out humanity. Yet now they're popping up again. Certainly something big was coming up, and he'll need to figure out what it is.

"Ozpin," Just not yet, as Glynda then called on him.

"Yes Glynda."

"I should mention that James will be coming soon." She reminded him of the general coming here.

"Ah, thank you very much. That will be good." While he had many questions, he'll have to put them aside. After all, once James comes, it will be time to see if he can help awaken Amber.


"Alright. I guess we're in." Sun then told his master as the two have now entered Beacon grounds. "Guess when we have time, we should find this girl." Should be easy, as that mystery lady said she did something to him to allow him to sense this girl in trouble. Of course he first had to blend in, be a regular student-not that he wasn't going to in the first place. Walking like they were everybody else. Though they were catching some attention.

"Hey apprentice. Why do all the boys keep looking at me?" Okay, make that Sanzang getting the attention. Lots of males gazing at Sanzang, particularly her most interesting parts. Sun realized this might just be a problem.

"Uh, hey, Sanzang. Don't you have any...other outfits?" While he won't deny the inner man in him wanted her to keep that outfit, for obvious reasons, maybe something a little less revealing will do.

"No." Sanzang said shrugging her shoulders.

"Alright. Then, uh…" Sun's eyes wandered until he saw someone. A girl with cool shades and gave off the air like his partner Neptune. A person that knew style. "Hold on for a second Sanzang. I'm gonna talk to someone." He then left for a minute talking to the girl. They spoke a bit, negotiated, then, a second later the girl nodded. Sun having Sanzang come over who looked confused. The cool girl with the beret then grabbed Sanzang and took her to the girls restroom.

"There. Done." Then a few minutes later, walked out with Sanzang looking like a new person. The girl then looking at Sun with a coy smirk. "So what do you think my monkey friend."

Sun just gazed at Sanzang to see what he should say.

Sanzang just smiled, a little embarrassed by the new outfit. Yet didn't complain. He wore a pair of long blue jeans, some sandals, a blue shirt that was big enough to hold her breasts which was very prominent to see with a yellow jacket that went down to her legs. A nice zigzag scarf around her neck colored white and red with a new hat on her head.

She looked amazing.

"I give it two thumbs up." Sun replied with said thumbs with the cool girl giving a nod before leaving. As for Sanzang, she just smiled as she liked her new clothes. While she liked her old one, she did feel it was a bit revealing. This one though, felt just fine.

"W-wow." She began with a small stutter. "Um, thanks Su-apprentice. For the outfit." She then twirled a little showing it off.

"It's no biggie. Heck, I bet my friends will love it."

"And you're totally right." A voice then came with the master-apprentice duo turning to see a cool boy with blue hair, goggles, and a sweet outfit on him. It was none other than Neptune, a member of Team SNNN. Looks like the coolest of the group has arrived at long last, and he was liking what he was seeing.

"Neptune!" Sun then went to shake hands with his partner. "You came."

"You know I did!" The boy replied. "And I have to say, I heard you've been getting into all sorts of crazy things lately."

"Yeah. New friend and all." Sun chuckled, recalling the stuff he did with Sanzang. Helping her not getting lost, fighting Grimm, keeping her from getting into trouble. Stuff like that.

"I hope you're not thinking of ditching us though." Neptune joked.

"Heck no man. We're best buds."

"Yeah we are!"

The two then hugged giving pats on the back like any good friend.

"..." All with Sanzang watching having been forgotten and ignored. Without her realizing, she pouted at the sight of her apprentice being with this...boy. Then, without reason, she grabbed Sun and pulled him back getting a 'Wu?' from him. "Come on apprentice. Let's go get something to eat." Then dragged him off leaving behind a confused Neptune. Who scratched his head a little unsure what just happened.

Bam!

Then yelped as he saw a poor blonde guy hit the window of the cafeteria. Where he was filthy with food all over him.


"What's the matter Mr. Sigurd? Are you still upset that you lost another of your daggers?" Frankly, yes.

It was quiet inside a hotel where Sigurd was sitting at. After the event at the docks, Sigurd had been told to wait at their assigned hotel until the General arrived in about a day or two, with Penny with him as always. Having been slightly upset he lost another of his Gram daggers. Even worse, who knew if he could even get it back before that thief sold it off or just tossed it away.

"No Penny. Not too much." He then told the girl as he then turned on the television. "Now, why don't you watch some T.V. Maybe you can learn something from it."

"Okay." Good thing she was obedient. Interesting how she was so human despite being a machine. Of course a man like him and his wisdom already figured out Penny wasn't a natural human being. His honed senses realizing she was mechanical in nature, yet that didn't make him treat her any different than usual.

She had a loving father, she lived a somewhat decent life, and she showed so much emotion. It reminded him of Fran, the Berserker. Granted, the artificial human lacked the ability to show more emotions compared to Penny, but overall he felt the two were somewhat of the same.

After all, both were given life to be human.

'Still, something big must be going on.' Sigurd then began thinking of what has been going on as of late. Such as the General coming with lots of warships. The man wouldn't do that unless he was really arrogant, or, something was amiss.

Sigurd then took out a Scroll, and then tapped it opened to the news section. While he couldn't read-as apparently his glasses of wisdom didn't work that way-he can still understand pictures. Such as the White Fang, Roman Torchwick, Jason, the Hassan, and so much more.

"This city. Something is about to happen soon." He could sense it in the air. The tension, the unease. This Vytal Festival was helping calm the peoples nerves, but overall it was still there.

Sigurd then wondered what it was he should do, and silently admitted that it was difficult to decide on. Before he and all the other Servants just listened to Chaldea and their orders. Helping humanity and fighting threats, nothing more than that. Yet now he's without Chaldea, with nobody telling him what to do. A con so to say, as now that they were freed, oddly the Servants did whatever even if it was without purpose. Making Sigurd question what it was he should even do?

'Until I find out, being this girls bodyguard is enough.' He thought as he then relaxed on the couch.

Knock knock knock.

Then he heard the knocking from the door. Curiose, he got up and opened it.

"Daddy!" Where both Jeanne and Saber Lily came out and hugged him. Both wearing completely different outfits.

For Jeanne Alter Santa Lilt, she wore a simple white shirt with a reindeer on the center. She still wore her festive headgear and grey shorts. As for Saber (Lily), she donned a blue and white dress with a black bow on her neck wearing brown boots. The two having changed from their usual attire into this to fit into Vale's climate and avoid getting stared at.

"Oh my." Penny, who heard the noise, turned around. "Are these your daughter Mr. Sigurd."

"A-Yes Penny. Yes they are." Sigurd answered as he hugged the girls back before letting go. He then stood tall as he looked at the two. "I am surprised though. What are you doing here?"

"We took an early Bullhead from the Generals ship." Jeane answers.

"We told some nice men we just wanted to see our daddy, and a pilot got permission to take us to Vale quicker." Altria adds on. Recalling how they were able to get here by just asking nicely. "The trip was fun."

"I'm sure it was sweetie." Penny looked at the scene before her. Up until now, Sigurd usually had a rather stern expression on his face. Being a bit cold if she's being honest. Now though, he's looking a bit more happy.

"So, who's she?" Jeanne then turned to face Penny. Having never seen this girl before.

"That is the daughter of a great man, and who I'm guarding." Sigurd told the girls. "In fact," He then faced Penny, ushering her towards them. "Why don't you say hi."

"Of course." Penny replied before facing the two young girls. "Salutations Sigurd's daughters. My name is Penny. A pleasure to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Altria bows with Jeanne doing the same.

"Are you here for the Vytal Festival?" Jeanne asked the secret robot girl.

"Indeed." Penny put both hands on her hips. "I am a participant alongside other students of Atlas. I plan to win if I can."

"Ambition to achieve victory. I like it." Saber (Lily) smiled.

"A fight huh. Kinda like Nero Fest!" Jeanne then mentioned getting a confused look from Penny. Her database-er, memory-didn't recall any events like that.

'Nero Fest huh. I think I heard of it from another Servant.' Sigurd heard of how the Emperor of Rome herself caused a minor Singularity of sorts in another time to hold a grand festival along with numerous Servants duking it out. He can't say he wouldn't mind joining such a thing. Sounded fun and a good way to meet worthy adversaries. This Vytal Festival sounded very similar, only using children to fight. 'That sounds bad when you think about it.'

"I wonder if I can join?" Saber (Lily) thought as she felt it would be fun to join in combat with this world's young warriors.

"Unfortunately you must be affiliated with one of the four Huntsmen Academies to actually join." Penny informed the young version of Saber who pouted. Plus, it wasn't like the commision that ran the place would allow a young girl to join who didn't even have an affiliation with anything. I mean, letting in some random kid was just unrealistic in the first place. If she wanted to fight, then she'd be better off finding an underground ring.

"I guess it'll be fun watching." Jeanne decides that even if they can't fight, it should be fun joining the festivities. "Which reminds me, daddy, I heard you met another Servant."

"Yes I did." Multiple of them in fact. "And I already know one of them is at Beacon Academy." The follower of Buddha herself. Despite being a Caster, she was a lot stronger than the supposed 'weakest Class', as Casters are considered pathetic in a physical battle. Yet that woman showed she was anything but weak.

"You did seem to know some of those people." Penny recalled. "Did you know them?"

"Let's just say we come from the same...village." Sigurd decided to leave it at that. Still, this was worrisome. He knew that more than a few Servants were here on Remnant. What he didn't expect though was for some like Jason and his lot to join the side of evil. Then again, should he really be surprised?

'After all, it isn't as if they could do what they truly wanted in Chaldea, where the rules were enforced.' Chaldea made certain the Servants, the more villainous ones especially, didn't do anything unethical or dangerous. Here though, without that supervision, they can now do what they desired. In a way, it was possibly the most natural thing to expect.

It made him wonder, just what the other Servants were doing?


"Man this sucks!" Jason whined as he and his lot were underground in the smelly sewers. Hercules having taken his sleeping friends there since he didn't recall where to go after the docks. So the two ended up waking up here, both disgusted.

"Shut it Jason." Atalanta scolded him. "At least you didn't wake up with a rat in your hair."That was most displeased.

"I'll scream when I want to scream!" Jason shouted back. "I mean. We should have been having loads of Dust on us. Instead, we have nothing because of that traitor Torchwick!" Atalanta rolled her eyes, not mentioning that Jason had been the one planning to betray him. Of course she couldn't deny she was also upset.

Hercules on the other had just growled. He was a man of no words after all.

"Uh." Jason said getting up, trying to ignore the smell of the waste down here. "Moving on, we need to think of what we can do next."

"And what would that be?" Atalanta asks her leader as she also got up, if only to not let her outfit get stained. The ground down here wasn't exactly clean.

"Simple. Rob a bunch of people." She regretted even asking.

"And we can start by maybe robbing the most common thorn on our side." Jason then grinned. "The White Fang!"


And now we enter Volume 2, remember, this is still Act 2. We see Sanzang join Beacon with Team SNNN, and Sigurd with his 'daughters' visiting the city. Plus Jason now making plans to rob the White Fang, you can see where that will head to.


"Ah man. Guess it's time to go back." Finishing his drink, Qrow then looked to his little partner Ana. Who was currently eating some yummy cake with a smile on her face. The girl clearly had a sweet tooth.

"Buchk." Ana said before slightly turning red. Quickly swallowing her food before speaking again. "Back? Back to where?"

"Vale of course." Qrow tells her. "Need to report my findings to Ozpin, my boss."

"You mean about that pawn thing?"

"How'd you know about that?" Qrow raised a brow.

"You said it outloud." Ana deadpanned.

"Oh." Now that's embarrassing. "Well, either way, I'm going back to Vale. You'll love it."

"What makes you assume I should join you?" Ana states to him.

"They have good sweets." He smirked.

"I'll come with." Ana replied instantly. Though she tried to ignore Qrow's smug face.

"Cool. Cool. Then we have our plans." This should be interesting overall. He's been hearing all of the crazy stuff going on in Vale. New criminals, chaos all over, breakouts, girls stopping crime, a mysterious figure with knives, not to mention the White Fang and Roman Torchwick stealing Dust all over. Plus old Jimmy would be coming soon with his little toy army. And a good chance Amber's attackers may be there to.

Heck, that's not even mentioning all the other stuff in Vacuo. Some powerful Huntress who got people to call her a Goddess. Sounds like a delusional girl to him. Man the world has surprises like no others. Which left Qrow wondering one thing as he got up to get a move on.

What's next?