The next day, Ironwood, Goodwitch, Hayden, and Ozpin were meeting in the office tower. It had turned out that, during the dance, someone had snuck into Beacon Communication tower and had hacked it, though no one what quite sure what the intruder's intentions were specifically. Ruby had followed and attacked the intruder, so the four had questioned her a bit, and she had told them of the White Fang possibly being in the southeast outside of Vale. Once she left, Ironwood stood by the window, his arm on the glass.
"Well, there we have it," he said, "We send as many troops as we can to the southeast, find out exactly what's going on, and eradicate any forces that stand in our way."
"Why must your solution to every problem involve a display of military bravado" Glynda demanded, "You treat everything like it's a contest of measuring…"
"Glynda," Ozpin calmly interrupted.
"Well, he does," Goodwitch said.
"She is right," Ozpin continued, turning around in his chair, "As much as I too would like to end this situation once and for all, we must remember that this may go beyond Vale. Beyond Beacon. And if this truly is part of some master plan, we know not the final move. We mustn't be bold, nor can we risk the spread of panic."
"I have been loyal to you for years, Ozpin," Ironwood said, "But if you're saying your plan is to merely hold the defenses and wait…"
"It is NOT." Ozpin said, standing up, "You're a general, James, so tell me: when you prepare to go to war, which do you send first: the flagbearer, or the scouts?"
"I agree with Ozpin," Hayden said, "We need to be more cautious about how we go about this. The last thing we need is to attract more Grimm, or worse."
"I'm starting to see how you and Ozpin get along so well, Hayden," Goodwitch said.
"Speaking of," Ironwood said, "when do you propose we send the Novus Sureya. He's not exactly doing much good here at the moment."
"I was thinking the same thing," Ozpin said, "Hayden and I have been thinking of solutions for this for some time."
"Until a report came in of unusual activity at a what was supposed to be an abandoned Atlas facility," Hayden said, "VEGA detected unusual energy surges and high Grimm activity a few days ago. Ozpin and I decided this may be a good time for him to prove himself."
"I heard of that report as well," Ironwood said, "I was planning on sending special operative Schnee there to investigate, but I agree that this may require some more brute force. I'll see to it that Penny is kept safe while he's away."
"Don't expect much brute force from him," Hayden said, "He may be the next Slayer, but he is far from the raging destroyer his father is. There's just too much of his mother in him."
"As long as he gets the job done, that shouldn't be an issue." Ironwood said.
"Good," Ozpin said, "Oh, and one final thing. I want Julius to go there as well."
"Why him?"
"For starters, he's a solo Huntsman, and he will need a team to work with. I also want to see how well he does against a larger horde of Grimm; we just might learn something interesting about him."
"That would certainly be welcome," Hayden said.
"For once, I agree with Hayden," Glynda said, "I feel that boy is hiding something important from us. If there's one thing I hate, it's having a student not be very open."
"Very well, I'll let Winter know immediately." Ironwood said, turning to leave. Once he left, Hayden turned to Ozpin: "Are you sure this Julius is what you say he is?"
"I've seen the way he battles the Grimm, Hayden. However, he keeps it to a minimum, but it's still obvious he has a connection of some kind to her. I can only hope this mission I'm about to send him on proves my theory wrong."
…
"That was pretty risky," Weiss said to Ruby. She had gotten back and filled the others, and Julius, in on what had happened last night, as well as her discussion with Ozpin.
"Maybe," Blake said, "But I think you handled it well."
"She's right," Julius said, "It's not easy taking initiative like you did."
Ruby sighed dejectedly, "Yeah, I guess so."
"I'm sure it'll be okay sis," Yang said. Then, lighting up: "Oh, I know just the thing that will cheer you up." She said, grabbing a cylindrical box from the table.
"Just got this sent from Dad. I was thinking you and I could open it together."
Ruby lit up: "Oo, something from home!" she said, zooming over, she chopped the box open, and a small object dropped out and began moving.
"Uh, what is that?" Julius said as the others gathered around it. As the object popped out fully, they could see it was a dog, which made each of them yell, but Ruby and Yang had happy yells, while Blake and Weiss were more frightened.
"ZWEI!" Ruby yelled.
"What in the heck!?" Julius yelled.
"He sent a dog?" Blake said.
"In the mail?!" Weiss finished.
Ruby held Zwei, who was excitedly licking her face.
"Oh, he does this all the time." Yang said.
"Your father or the dog?" Blake asked, now hiding on her bed.
"I'm starting to think it's both." Julius said.
Weiss leaned down to the dog, "Are you telling me that this vicious…stinky…drooling…mutt," here she was overpowered by Zwei's cuteness, "is going to wive with us foreva? Oh, yes he is, yes he is!"
"Please keep it away from my belongings." Blake said.
"Look, there's a letter here from Dad," Yang said, pulling a piece of paper out and reading it: "'Dear girls, I'm going away from the house for some time, so I'm leaving Zwei with you. You should find all the things you need in the box. Love, Taiyang.'"
Yang turned the box over, dumping a surprisingly large amount of dog food cans on the ground.
"P.S." Yang also read, "Ruby, I don't know if you know yet at this point, but Yang has discovered your older brother is also at Beacon with you. He wanted to keep it a secret, but Yang and I both think it's been kept long enough. This picture should help you find him."
Yang took out a photo and handed it to Ruby, who looked it over.
"AH! I forgot I had a brother!" Ruby said excitedly.
"You do? And he's here?" Weiss said, looking at the photo, then: "Wait a minute. The eyepatch, arm in a sling?"
Weiss's eyes widened as she turned to Julius standing behind them, his hands is his pockets, whistling innocenty.
"No freaking way!" Weiss said.
"Y'know, that language is interesting coming out of someone who's supposed to be a bit more dignified." Julius said.
Ruby looked back and forth between the photo and Julius: "Yang, is he…"
Yang nodded: "It's him."
Screaming in joy, Ruby bolted over to Julius and began squeezing him in a massive hug.
"I never thought I'd see you again!" she said.
"Yeah, it's been a while." Julius replied hugging her back.
Just then, and automated voice came over the speakers: "Will all first year students please report to the main hall."
"Well, that settles it. Zwei will be here when we get back." And the group made their way out to the main hall, Ruby still having her arms wrapped around Julius; Yang had to pry her off on the way there. Once they got there, they filed in with the other Beacon students as Ozpin began to address them.
"Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression. And as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither were the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond cannot exist without effort. Which is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it. As first year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best" When he was finished everyone got ready to choose a mission.
"That guy knows how to be inspirational and slightly boring at the same time." Julius said.
"Well, this should be easy," Ruby said, "We just shadow a Huntsman in the southeast."
"Yeah, we'll work with him during the day, then give him the slip at night." Yang said.
"I don't know if it'll be THAT easy, but whatever." Julius said.
"Mr. Rose," Ozpin said, walking up behind him. Julius snapped around, startled.
"Ah! Oh, it's you. Please don't scare me like that again." Julius said.
"I'll try not to." Ozpin replied, "But you know how you are a solo Huntsman, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, these missions use teams only, so, unfortunately, you will be unable to join any of them."
"You're keeping me here aren't you?"
"On the contrary, as fate would have it, I have found of a more…special mission that I'm allowing you to go on. Apparently, General Ironwood needs a Search and Destroy at an abandoned facility to the west of Vale, and he needs a man of your talents."
"Search and Destroy?." Julius said, cracking a grin "Sign me up."
"Good. The transport will be leaving soon, so you may need to hurry. Docking Bay 4."
Julius nodded: "Thank you, professor."
Ozpin nodded and walked away, while Julius turned to look at Team RWBY.
"Well, see you guys later!" he said. Yang and Ruby came up and hugged him.
"Be safe, please!" Ruby said.
"Go kick some butt." Yang said.
Julius chuckled, hugging them back: "I will certainly do both."
As his sisters pulled away, Blake walked up.
"Good luck, Blake," Julius said.
"You too," Blake said, leaning up and kissing Julius on the cheek.
"Well, see you soon," Weiss said, shaking Julius's hand.
Julius nodded: "You too. We still gotta work on that song you mentioned to me."
"That we do, but right now, you should get going." Weiss said.
Julius gave one last goodbye, even blowing Blake a kiss, and then ran off towards Docking Bay 4. When he got there, he saw Slayer had been called there too and was currently talking with a taller woman with white hair and wearing a white military outfit. A rapier hung at her side.
Slayer noticed his approach: "So, they got you in on this too."
"Apparently," Julius said, "So, who else is coming?"
"Just the two of you," the woman said.
"And you are?" Julius asked.
"Winter Schnee. Special operative of Atlas."
"And sister of Weiss Schnee, I'm guessing."
This caught Winter off guard: "Y-yes. How did you…?"
"We know each other."
"I see. Well, let's not keep this waiting any longer, shall we?"
"Agreed," Slayer said, cocking a new combat shotgun he had just gotten, "I'm itching to kill something."
"Oh, get in line, pal," Julius said.
Winter rolled her eyes in amusement: "Oh, come on already."
She led Julius and Slayer into the Atlesian transport, and then it took off towards the site of the mission.
Author's note: For those of you Marvel and/or My Hero Academia fans, I am also in the middle of writing a crossover story between the two, called Avenger X. I also have a poll relating to the story at the top of my profile page for anyone who is interested in taking that (please do, only one person has voted and, while I am thankful for it, it's not quite enough to achieve the results I need for the story)