Hello! Another chapter! Enjoy!

Sipping a cup of coffee while sitting in an outdoor table of a rather popular cafe near a busy port, Pyrrha was watching the wave of people preparing for the Vytal Festival Tournament. Ships continuously sailed in and out of harbor transporting goods and people to the necessary destinations. Curiously, there seemed to be an ever-increasing number of military vessels, but Pyrrha decided that it was not yet at a level that would cause alarm. Raise eyebrows for sure, but not alarm... Maybe she would discuss this with Lich. He would probably have a better idea.

On the topic of Lich, a couple of days before the start of the school semester Team RWBY sent a message wanting to talk about him with her for some reason. Sadly, they didn't exactly specify what they wanted to talk about. Only that they requested that they are in a public place for this conversation. Pyrrha frowned as she remembered reading about the request. This implied many things. Not good things sadly.

Pyrrha prayed to Monty that this conversation wasn't what she feared was about. Pyrrha didn't know about what misdeeds Lich committed after he was released and neither did she desire to know. What mattered to Pyrrha was the here and now. As long as Lich had given up his life of crime and was intent on keeping a clean record from now on, it was good enough for her. However, Pyrrha wasn't so naive to think that others would easily forgive Lich for his past actions. As a result, she could only hope that team RWBY would give him a chance if this conversation was what she feared was about.

"Hey, Pyrrha!" Pyrrha looked up from her coffee to see Ruby waving at her from across the street. Her other teammates also gave a wave when they made eye contact.

"I saved us a table. Is this place good enough or did you have somewhere else in mind?"

Weiss shook her head. "No. This is great. You come to this place often?"

Pyrrha nodded. "Yeah. Their affogatos are great and the latte is amazing."

Yang nodded. "Well, I guess I'll try out the affogato then. What about you three?"

"Espresso for me." "Hot chocolate." "Cappuccino." As Yang went to the counter to order her team's beverages, the other three members sat down at the table and stared at each other. Pyrrha watched a silent conversation going between the three of them as they urged each other to say something. Pyrrha considered breaking the silence, but she simply decided to wait for Yang to come back first. If anything, Yang would be the best one to break the ice.

The silence went on for a full 5 minutes until Yang came back with the drinks. "Whoa. What's with the tension here?"

Ruby nervously laughed. "What? I don't see any tension here. What are you talking about Yang? Hahaha haha... ha?"

Pyrrha merely gave a deadpan look at Ruby before turning to Yang with a smile. "So what did you want to talk about?"

Yang looked at Weiss and nodded. "Show her what you found."

Weiss took out her scroll and after fiddling with it, Pyrrha was sent an article. An article talking about her disappearance. Pyrrha raised her eyebrow and asked, "And? What about it?"

"Lich. We know that Mr. H is Lich. For crying out loud, his name written backward literally says I am Lich."

Pyrrha raised her hands. "No need to get so aggressive. I will admit. Mr. H and I have some history together."

Ruby smiled and grabbed Pyrrha's hands. "That's great! Maybe you'll be able to explain to me and my teammates about these police reports we found about Lich. It's just a big understanding, right? He's not really a bad guy, right?"

"What police reports?"

Blake looked at Pyrrha with suspicion. "You aren't pulling our leg right now? He wasn't exactly a goody two shoes during his mercenary years."

Pyrrha sighed and massaged her temples. "Oh, dear. What did you find out about him?"

Weiss once more did some fiddling with her scroll. Pyrrha began looking through the police reports, articles, and pictures of the Death Knight's deeds. Some of the pictures made her want to throw up. Choking on liquid gold was one hell of a way to die. Pyrrha groaned as she realized the current situation. As she was banking on what she should tell her friends, team RWBY patiently waited. As much as Pyrrha wanted to tell the truth with a lot of omissions, Weiss Schnee of all people was her opponent. Although Pyrrha had some experience in the art of conversation as a champion, it paled in comparison to Weiss. Weiss would be able to tear up any attempts, and Pyrrha had no doubts about it.

Blake spoke up snapping Pyrrha from her worries. "Look. We're not here to condemn Mr. H. Me especially. I also had a history with him, and what I really want to know is did he really change? What happened? I just want to understand him more."

Pyrrha shook her head in understanding. "Alright... I just wanted to say that Lich wasn't always like this. If anything, he is... It's really complicated and a long story. It's not really my story to tell." Weiss caught on to what Pyrrha was trying to do.

"We've got time. Also, I don't think he would really mind. One of the first things he taught me was to get as much information as possible about your enemies and friends. You are our best option, and should you refuse, we have more drastic options we can take. Isn't that right Ruby?"

"Yep, there's going to be lots of..." Ruby began making lots of animated hand movements. Hand movements that Pyrrha dreaded to know what they entailed.

However expecting this from Weiss, Pyrrha continued with her story. "How much do you girls know about the Graveyard of the Gods?"

At those words, Weiss choked on her drink. After coughing to clear her throat, Weis rasped out, "How the hell do you know about that?"

Noticing her team's confusion Weiss explained, "I don't know much about it, but there was an excavation of a ruin some time ago that said something about the Graveyard of the Gods. The Graveyard of the Gods is some type of prison for the leftover weapons and soldiers that the two brothers have created in the war between each other. After all men and weapons of war have no place in a time of peace. There was more, but ever since a... err... White Fang attack, the ruins are now blown to smithereens. It didn't exist long enough for an archeologist to examine so nobody ran an article about it."

Pyrrha noticed how uncomfortable Blake looked, but she decided to file it away for later consideration. "Well, prison is the right word for it. It has all sorts of monsters all right."

She then began listing all the monstrosities that existed within the caves ranging from lava beasts to eldritch abominations. Her friend's expressions ranged from disbelieving to disgusted. "How I know all this? I was trapped there for a time after all."

That got team RWBY's attention. Before they could speak, however, Pyrrha lifted up her hands to silence any incoming questions. "I don't know how I got trapped in there. I don't know how I got out. I don't know where the damned" Team RWBY was surprised at the venomous tone that Pyrrha took. "place is. The only thing that matters was that Lich was trapped in that place for a couple hundred if not thousands of years before I came along. By himself."

Pyrrha slowly watched as the implied meaning of what she said sank into her friends. Yang's mouth slowly opened and closed as she tried to wrap her head around how old Lich was. Weiss was debating on if she should believe what she was hearing or call Pyrrha out on whatever bullshit she was spewing. Ruby had tears pooling on the corner of her eyes as she could imagine the pain and suffering of her friend. Blake was trying to look for any signs of lies in Pyrrha's expression.

"So... If what you are saying is true, he is insane?" Weiss slowly spoke the words trying to make sense of it all.

"That's not the words I would use to describe him... I would simply say he has trouble adjusting. But! He has been making improvements. These crimes he committed... It was when he wasn't really in the right state of the mind. He's a good man. When I was trapped down there, he could have just abandoned me, but he even sacrificed himself so that I could escape. Look here me out. Based on his time here, did he really strike you as a bad person." Ruby seemed to agree with Pyrrha. Blake seemed to have a complicated expression. Yang was on the edge, but Weiss had a large frown on her face.

"Thank you for your insights Pyrrha. It's a big pill to swallow so could we talk later? Just give us some time to digest all this..." Suddenly, a blond monkey Faunus landed on their table spilling everyone's tea. He groaned in pain before he looked up and froze in terror. He then let out a strangled scream and stood up before sprinting away at adrenaline-fueled speeds. Barely a second later, an armored man barreled through the remains of their table to give chase. Mechanical arms were whirring around trying to navigate through the sea of citizens in order to capture the Faunus.

Blake muttered, "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

"Lich. What the hell is going on?" Lich halted in his tracks. The Faunus took the momentary distraction to enter one of the side streets and disappeared out of view. He cursed under his breath before facepalming. Pyrrha noticed a smear of white paint all over his armor.

"What are you doing here? I thought you would still be at Mistral with your family."

"I decided to come earlier for some volunteer hours. You?"

"Trying to catch a Faunus who illegally boarded a ship. I was going to just give him a scolding and send him on his way, but he made it personal when he threw white paint on me for trying to apprehend him and called me some interesting names." Lich then noticed the spilled coffee and shook his head.

"Sorry about the drinks. I'll buy you girls another one." Lich then noticed all the stares he was getting. "Preferably someplace else. Is that okay?"

Team RWBY stared at each other until Weiss spoke up. "We have something scheduled soon so can we take you up on that offer tomorrow? We sort of have some questions for you."

Lich scratched his head. "Sorry, but I'm going to be very busy tomorrow."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "With what?"

"Just busy." This time Pyrrha narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing illegal I hope?" Lich was strangely silent. "Err... I got a permit."

Pyrrha was about to grill him for more information, but a hand from Weiss stopped her.

"Okay." Weiss nodded. "Then two days from now. Is that fine?"

"That's great. I'll send you a text." Lich quickly noticed the piercing glares from the four girls and made his escape.

Team RWBY glanced at each other, and a silent agreement was made. Pyrrha's intuition caught on to what her friends were about to do so she asked if she could join on their little outing. It appears that Lich has underestimated one of the greatest cliches in stories: a woman's intuition.

It was why Pyrrha found herself at the top of the roof with a walkie talkie and binoculars the very next day. "Target approaching West Emerald Street. Took a right turn. Over and out."

"Alright Iron Fire. It seems he is headed toward Yellow Dragon. Do you copy?"

"Do we really have to have these stupid nicknames, Ruby?"

"Yes, Weiss. It is like a requirement for situations like these."

"Says who?"

"Books!"

"You mean those cheesy cartoons you read?"

"They are not JUST cheesy cartoons! They are the epitome of..."

"Girls. He's entering the... red light district?" Yang's confusion was shared by everyone. Pyrrha was the most confused.

"But... He doesn't have..." Suddenly, remembering who was with her, she promptly closed her mouth.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Hey, you think he might be visiting the brothels he worked at or something?" Blake answered with a 'probably'.

After a couple of minutes of waiting, Yang's voice came through the walkie talkie. "Girls. He's entered a brothel, and he has not come out. I guess this is what he meant by being very busy... Very busy indeed."

Pyrrha frowned. "No. Yang. He's not doing whatever you girls are thinking."

"How are you so sure? I mean those girls are pretty sexy. It would be pretty hard for a guy to stay away."

"No. It's just that he's... Err... Nevermind. Forget I said anything, but he's not going in there for some sexy time. That's a fact."

There was a pause before Yang's teasing voice came through. "Don't tell me he is actually impotent."

"No! Nothing like that. It's complicated, okay!"

"Whatever you say. Let's put it to a vote. Who thinks he is in there for some p-" Suddenly, a thump could be heard behind Yang.

"Yang. What are you doing?" Lich's voice was heard through the walkie talkie.

"What! How did... When..."

"Brothels tend to have escape tunnels. I used it to double around. You guys are two years too early to be trying stealth tactics on me. I saw all five of you a long time ago. Especially Ruby with that mask and sunglasses. Seriously Ruby?"

"Hey! I take offense to that!"

"Now explain to me why you girls are tailing me."

Pyrrha spoke up. "Lich. You sounded very suspicious yesterday, and... well... Monty damn it... Lich. They found out about your criminal record."

"Urrg" A strangled voice was heard. "Oh... How much of it?"

"All the police reports."

"Aren't they supposed to be classified? Ozpin promised to classify them all!"

Weiss piped up. "Schnee Dust Company can access many of Atlas's classified files with little problem."

"Freaking rich corrupted... Ah... Sorry about this Weiss." A string of cusswords directed at the upper class was heard from the walkie talkie. Scribbling sounds could be heard from one of the walkie talkies. The intensity of which caused sweatdrops to fall from each of the girls.

Weiss's annoyed voice came from the walkie talkie. "You done?"

"Sorry you had to hear that. Man what a blunder." Suddenly a beeping noise indicating a message from a scroll. "Crud. Gimme that Yang! Did you read any of it?"

"N-no."

A pregnant pause later, Lich's voice came through. "Sorry girls. I really got to go. I swear that I'll clear up everything with you guys later. Just go home as fast as possible."

The sound of someone jumping could be heard before Yang's shaky voice could be heard. "First, Ruby?"

"Yeah?"

"You will throw away that scrap of paper that has a list of all the cuss words you have heard from Mr. H. If I see that on you at the end of the day, I will take out away your cookies for an entire week."

"Bu-Bu-"

"No Buts. And... Umm.. Blake? I saw a glimpse of the text message that came through his scroll. Apparently, he is annihilating a White Fang gathering today. Not just attack, but annihilate. That's what his very busy thing meant."

...

"Blake? You there?"

"W-We need to stop him. Weiss, I know what you think about them, but they are just misled Faunuses. We can't..."

"I know. I may not like them, but even I don't hate them enough to want them dead."

"Can someone explain to me what's going on here?" Pyrrha snapped.

A rambled explanation later, Pyrrha wanted to collapse from the shock. He promised. He promised. Yet, it seemed that he was going on murder sprees behind her back. No. Pyrrha will trust Lich. She was going to find him and demand an explanation. Second, Blake was a Faunus... Okay, Maybe that wasn't as surprising as she thought it would be. However, it became clear to Pyrrha that after a good night's sleep, everyone needed to sit and get their shit together because Pyrrha wasn't sure how many curveballs she could take.

In order to cover as much ground as possible, the whole team decided to split up. If Lich or anything came up, they were to contact each other on the scroll. As a result, she was busy running around the alleyways until she bumped into Ruby who was talking to a girl who had orangish hair.

Noticing Pyrrha, Ruby looked up and gave a wave. "Oh hey Pyrrha. Look who I found. Pyrrha. Penny. Penny. Pyrrha"

Despite being pressed for time, Pyrrha held in her retorts and gave a forced smile and shook the person's hand. "Pleased to meet you. I would love to chat, but Ruby and I are extremely..."

"You are looking for a meeting full of Faunus. No?"

Pyrrha's hand grabbed Penny's hand a bit stronger than she meant to. "Oh. Do you have any information regarding our search?"

"Why yes! During my walk around this beautiful city, I happened to come across some quite uncomfortable flyers. I believe I saw one just down that alleyway."

"Thank you for your help. Now come on Ruby." Not even looking if RUby was following her, she quickly found the flyer that Penny described and glanced over it. Immediately, she took out her scroll, snapped a couple of pictures and contacted her friends.

"Okay, I found where the meeting will take place."

Blake was the first one to answer. "Me too. I ran into the monkey Faunus that Mr. H was chasing everywhere. We managed to find out while searching together. Our information matches thankfully."

Yang's voice came second. "Yeah. I'm the closest to the place so I'll do some scouting first."

"Then see you guys there." It was barely three minutes later when a massive explosion came from the docks.

Yang's voice came through. "Get your asses over here right now! There is a massive giant robot rampaging...!" Suddenly, Yang's voice got cut off.

Understanding the need for speed, Pyrrha turned towards Ruby. "Ruby! Mr. H trained you to carry other people using your semblance over longer distances right?"

"Yeah... but..."

"No Buts. Let's do this."