Yang is inside a nightmare. All around her are broken pieces of buildings and darkness. She looks around, confused, and lets out a small gasp when she looks down. She raises both of her arms and turns them, examining their presence, particularly her right arm.

Yang looks up from her arms to see Adam Taurus walking toward her. The red accents in his hair, mask and outfit have a surreal glow. Yang steps back defensively and discovers that she is suddenly wearing Ember Celica. She blasts Adam five times, but they do nothing to him while he steadily continues walking closer.

Adam puts his right hand on the handle of his sheathed sword. Yang tries to attack him again, but her weapon is gone, as is her right arm. She stares for a moment in confusion and disbelief and then startles when Adam is abruptly directly before her. He grins at her and starts to unsheathe his sword.

Yang awakens with a gasp. She is in her room, lying on top of her bed. The robotic arm given to her by General Ironwood rests on her bedside table, out of the box. Yang looks at it for a moment before turning her face away. She hears laughter coming from downstairs.

Yang heads downstairs to discover Professors Oobleck and Port sitting at her kitchen table and laughing with her father, Tai. There's a bowl of fruit at the center of the table. She then hears another voice and notices Julius standing next to Tai. He had removed the damaged robotic eye and had replaced it with an eyepatch that covered a good portion of his face.

"And, and, and then, in comes Qrow, wearing a skirt! I-I didn't know what to do, so I just... I just left the room to laugh!" Port said.

Yang comes to the kitchen door while the four laugh.

"We told him it was a kilt! He'd never worn a uniform before, so he didn't know!" Tai said.

"Man, I wish I was there to see that!" Julius exclaimed, practically in hysterics.

"That is terrible! What is wrong with you!?" Oobleck asked between his laughs.

Tai holds up his hands "Hey! The girls all said he had nice legs! I did that jerk a favor! Besides, that's not even the best part! See, then we-".

Port puts his right leg on the tabletop, cutting off Taiyang ""Like what you see?""

The four laugh even more and Port loses his balance. He tries to save himself from falling, but ends up on the floor.

There's even more laughter. Tai claps from mirth and Port joins in the hilarity from the floor. Yang giggles too, covering her mouth, but the three teachers and the huntsman become alerted to her presence. Oobleck stands while Port gets up off the floor "Oh, uh, Miss Xiao Long! Uh, please, join us".

Yang enters while Oobleck laughs, a little bit embarrassed "Oh, yes, yes, pull up a chair. Please, pull up a chair".

"I'm good" Yang said she hoists herself backward up onto the kitchen counter, beside where her father stands.

"Let me guess, you couldn't sleep either?" Julius asks.

"Something like that" Yang replies as Port and Oobleck sit back down "So, what are you doing here?".

"Despite popular belief, teachers do have a life outside the classroom" Oobleck answered.

"Professor Goodwitch is working 'round the clock to restore Beacon to its former glory! But, Mistral wasn't built in a day. And we all need rest from time to time" Port said.

"Now look, let's not worry about that right now. So, there we were, standing in the auditorium, looking at Qrow, wearing a skirt. Then Oz tells everyone, It's time to work on our landing strategy!".

Julius playfully facepalms: "Of all the things he could say…"

"The Branwen twins have always been... interesting, to say the least" Oobleck said.

"That sure didn't seem to stop young Tai" Port teased.

"Hey, come on, man, she's right here" Tai said.

"Oh, please! She's a mature young woman! If she can handle combat, she can handle a few jabs at her old man!" Port said.

"That's not the issue, Pete! And besides, she's still a teenager!" Tai pointed out.

"She is also in the room, and can be directly spoken to" Yang said a little annoyed "And I think I've been through enough to be considered an adult at this point".

"She really has, Dad. I should know." Julius spoke up. Yang gave a thankful smile to her brother, who nodded back.

Tai sighs at that "Adult or not, you've still got a long way to go before you're ready for the real world".

"Oh my gosh! Does every father figure have the same three condescending phrases?" Yang asked while giving Tai an annoyed look.

"Yeah! But we only use them when we mean it!" Tai said, meeting Yang's glare with his own.

Port and Oobleck look at each other as father and daughter argue, a touch uncomfortable. Oobleck takes a sip from his mug while Port pulls at his collar. Julius awkwardly sits back, unsure if he should intervene or not.

"Is that so?" Yang asked with a growl.

"As a matter of fact, it is so! If you honestly think that you're ready to go out there on your own, ha, well I guess you lost some brain cells along with that arm" Tai said in an almost mocking tone.

Yang gasps and pulls back from her father's face while a stunned Port leans forward and Oobleck's mouth drops open and his glasses slip down. Julius leans forward, slightly offended at the arm comment. There's a comedic beat before the mug slips out of Oobleck's hand to safely land on the table. All four stare at Tai for a few seconds.

"You... jerk!" Yang playfully punches Tai, and the father and daughter laugh together.

"I'm sorry, what just happened?" Julius asked, more confused than ever.

Oobleck whispers "Are we finally talking about the Goliath in the room?".

Tai and Yang look at each other and then laugh harder. Relieved laughter comes from their rest.

"Oh, Miss Xiao L- Yang, if you don't mind me asking, why haven't you tried on the arm yet?" Port asked.

"Oh, yes, yes! A piece of Atlas technology given out like that is rare indeed! Not to mention the effort it took to deliver it here. It seems a great many people want to see you returned to normal" Oobleck added.

"I'm... scared" Yang said

Tai takes a sideways step closer to Yang, watching and listening. Julius leans forward in interest as well.

"Everyone keeps talking about me getting back to normal. And I appreciate it, but... this is normal now" Yang said while looking at her missing arm. Oobleck and Port exchange sad, knowing glances, "It's just taking me a while to get used to it".

Julius put a hand on Yang's shoulder: "Yeah, I feel ya. I lost my arm when I was WAY younger. You can imagine how long it took for me to accept this as the new normal for me." He said, lifting his arm and showing the remains of his mechanical forearm.

"Well, normal is what you make of it" Tai said.

"What is that supposed to mean? Do you want me to just pretend like nothing happened? I lost a part of me. A piece of me is gone. And it's never coming back" Yang said, clearly still suffering from what happened.

"You're right. It's not coming back. But that doesn't have to stop you from becoming who you wanna be. You're Yang Xiao Long, my sunny little dragon" Tai said as puts his hand on his daughter's shoulder "You can do whatever you put your mind to. So whenever you're ready to stop moping, and get back out there, I'll be there for you".

"So will I." Julius added.

Yang did not know what to say about that "I... I..."

"They are right Yang. Fear is like any other emotion. It comes and goes. It's all in how you handle it. Why, even I find myself wrestling with that emotion from time to time" Port said.

Yang looked unconvinced "Really? You?".

Oobleck whispers "He's afraid of mice".

"They bring only disease and famine!" Port snapped as he pounds his fist in to the table. Yang and Julius laugh while Port rants about the creepiness of mice. Tai watches her with a smile "And don't even get me started on their tails! So hairless, and simply unnatural!".

"Port, I assure you, you are safe. There's no mice here right now" Oobleck said.

Later Yang walks up the stairs. She turns partially and lifts her hand to those below "Goodnight!".

She walks into her room. She looks at the metal arm for a moment but then moves to the window when she hears the front door to the house open followed by the voices of the four men. She decides to stand out of side beside the window and listen.

"Thanks for having us over, Tai" Port said.

"Any time. You're always welcome" Tai assured.

"It may be a while before we return. There is still much work to be done at the school" Oobleck said.

"I hesitate to ask, but is there any word from young Miss Rose?" Port asked.

Behind Tai, Yang moves into visibility at her bedroom window as he speaks "Not yet".

"Have you thought about going after her? Trying to bring her home?" Oobleck asked.

"I have" Julius replied, "but I'm gonna stay here a bit longer. Maybe help Yang boost her confidence back up."

Tai sighs "I've got to... look after some things".

As Tai glances toward her bedroom window, Yang moves out of sight again and squeezes her right upper arm, looking dejected.

"Well, whatever the case, we're happy to see you alive and well" Port said, "We were at first worried by the reports of your death."

"I guess we should have remembered that you're far too tough to be killed off so easily." Oobleck jokingly said.

Julius chuckled: "Well, I try."

After saying their goodbyes, everyone went back to their own lives. However, Julius remained outside for a bit to walk around before coming back in. Once Tai went inside, Julius walked a bit of a ways outside of the house towards the cliff…and Summer's gravestone.

Julius stopped in front of the stone and sighed.

"Why am I being drawn here?" he whispered to himself, "Of all places?"

There was silence for a few minutes as Julius thought to himself, then he felt a slight breeze suddenly blow. The huntsman immediately looked around, his hand already moving towards his pistol; something was up.

"Who's there?" he called out, "I know you're there."

"Of course you would" said a woman's voice in his head, "But I'm not out there."

"Then where are you?"

"Over here" said the voice, this time from behind him. Whipping out his pistol, Julius spun around to face the shimmering figure of a woman, her face cloaked in a white hood and cape. The woman held up her hands.

"Woah, easy there, tiger." She said, "I don't bite."

Julius kept his gun up: "Who are you?"

"I thought that would be obvious considering where you are." She replied, gesturing to the plaque below her. Julius looked down it, then looked back up, this time with a puzzled look on his face.

"Summer Rose?" he asked. The woman pulled her hood back to reveal a face that actually resembled Ruby's significantly, only more mature and with her hair partially tied back.

"Score one for the unkillable huntsman" Summer said, almost like a game show host.

Julius lowered his gun, still confused: "I thought you were…"

"Dead?" Summer finished, "Technically, yes. I am. THIS is called my spectral form."

"So, you're basically a ghost." Julius concluded.

"No…well, not exactly. I can only be like this if I'm bonded to someone I had a close relationship to in life. You can probably imagine who that someone is right now."

"Dad?"

Summer chuckled: "Ha! I mean, you're not wrong, but no. It's YOU. Remember, I saved you and took care of you for a few years when you were younger."

Julius needed a few minutes to process that, then said: "Wait, you mean to tell me that I'M the one you're bonded to?"

Summer nodded her head: "That pretty much sums it up."

"For how long?"

"I'd say a little before you left for Beacon."

Now Julius was starting to freak out: "And you decide to show yourself NOW?!"

Summer tried to calm him down: "It's a lot more than that. It took me a long time to fully form the bond. Mostly because of the INSANE amount of you power you possess that I don't think you even know about. Bottom line: I only was able to create a secure bond only recently and am now able to fully show myself to you now."

"So, I basically have a spiritual hitchhiker following me around now."

"Well I don't HAVE to be seen." Summer said before disappearing. Then her voice echoed in his head: "I can be here too."

Julius had to prop himself against a tree to steady himself; this was a lot to take in.

"I know it's a lot for you right now" Summer said, reappearing next to him, "But don't worry, I'll try to make this as easy as possible."

"Just don't talk in my head too much when other people are around" Julius replied.

"Deal." Summer said before disappearing again.

With that, Julius decided to head back home; he was going to need a lot of rest if he was going to get used to this.

Wake me up, Julius thought to himself, hoping Summer could hear, And we're going to have issues right out the gate.

Relax Summer replied, I'm many things, but cruel is not one of them.

…

On a path through the woods, said team moves forward with Ruby looking at a map "Come on, guys! If we pick up the pace, we can hit the next town before sunset!"

"Assuming it's still there" Jaune said, still remembering last time.

"Of course it'll be there. This one's supposed to be pretty big! Hee-gan...bayn-a" Ruby struggled with saying the name.

"Higanbana. It's a well-protected village with a popular inn" Ren said.

"Which means, no camping in the rain!" Nora said happily.

"See? Everything's going to be fine!" Ruby said with a smile

"You know, we've had a lot of ups and downs. But things could be a lot worse. I really thought we'd see more Grimm" Jaune said.

"As did I" Ren added.

"I guess our luck is finally turning around!" Nora cheered "To Higanbana!"

"To Higanbana!" Jaune and Ren repeat.

"To Higanban... ban-a!" Ruby still could not say it.

A Beowulf stomps into view and growls at the four kids. Just as it is about to leap, it is stabbed through by Qrow. Three disintegrating bodies of other Beowulves are just behind him. A black raven caws from a tree branch on eye level with Qrow, catching his attention. He looks at it and it flies off, following the team.

Qrow scoffs "Luck".

Later it was raining on the village of Higanbana. Through the window of an inn, the four kids are seen silently discussing with the proprietor. Inside of a tavern Qrow sits at a table, watching them. A waitress sets a glass with liquor and ice in front of him.

Qrow looks at her "Oh, I didn't o-"

The Waitress stops him "From the woman upstairs. Red eyes. Said you wouldn't mind bottom shelf".

Qrow turns and looks up. An overhead shot shows the spacious lower level of the tavern and its several round tables, while the edge of a balcony is just visible "Thanks".

The Waitress winks at him "But I went ahead and gave you top. Lucky you".

With a pleased smirk, Qrow watches the waitress as she walks away. After she is gone, he looks through the two windows to see no one visible in the lobby of the inn "Yeah".

He takes his glass and heads upstairs. His older twin, Raven, waits for him at one of the tables, her mask atop it "Hello, brother".

Qrow stares at her from the top of the stairs for a moment before moving to her "Raven".

He pulls the chair that's beside her and drags it to a position across from her instead. With his hand on the back of the chair, he simply looks at her expectantly. Raven rolls her eyes and moves her mask to the side. Qrow sits down.

"So, what do you want?" Qrow asked.

Raven shrugs "A girl can't just catch up with her family?".

"She can, but you're not. Now how 'bout we get on with it? Unless you plan on keeping these comin" Qrow said as he sets the glass down.

"Does she have it?" Raven asked.

Qrow doesn't answer right away, instead running his fingertip along the edge of his glass "Did you know Yang lost her arm?".

Raven glared at him for ignoring her question "That's not-".

"Rhetorical question, I know you know. It's just obnoxious that you'd bring up family and then carry on like your own daughter doesn't exist" Qrow said.

"I saved her" Raven argued.

"Once. Because that was your rule, right? Real "Mom of the Year" material, sis" Qrow said sarcastically.

Raven leans forward and grabs Qrow by the forearm, stilling his sarcastic, nonchalant motions. The view slowly spins above their heads as she speaks intently to him "I told you Beacon would fall and it did. I told you Ozpin would fail and he has. And we both know that the Knight has likely learned of what has happened by now and it's only a matter of time before he decides to take matters into his own hands, so you tell me. Does. Salem. Have it?".

"I thought you weren't interested in all of that" Qrow pointed out.

"I just want to know what we are up against" Raven said.

"And which "we" are you referring to?" Qrow asked. Raven glares and finally lets go of her brother and sits back down with a noise of disgust. As the three continue to talk, they are unaware of Dante watching them from the floor below.

Qrow continued: "You should come back, Raven. The only way we'd beat her is by working together. All of us".

"You're the one who left. The tribe raised us, and you turned your back on them" Raven said.

"They were killers and thieves" Qrow argued.

"They were your family" Raven shot back.

"You have a very skewed perception of that word" Qrow remarked.

Raven stands up, upset "I lead our people now. And as leader, I will do everything in my power to ensure our survival".

"I saw. The people of Shion saw, too" Qrow said.

"The weak die, the strong live. Those are the rules" Raven reminded.

"Well, you've certainly got someone strong on your side. I've seen the damage" Qrow said.

Raven turns away, crossing her arms "We couldn't have known the Grimm would set in as quickly as they did".

"I'm not talking about the Grimm" Qrow said, Raven looks up, eyes widening slightly at his words "And I'm not talking about you, either".

"If you don't know where the Relic is, then we have nothing left to talk about" Raven said she reaches for her mask, Qrow grabs onto the top of it.

"I don't know where the Spring Maiden is, either, but if you do, I need you to tell me" Qrow said.

"And why would I do that?" Raven asked, pulling her mask out of Qrow's grasp, a taunting smile on her face.

"Because without her, we're all going to die" Qrow said in a serious tone.

A moment of tense silence passes between them as a nearby lantern dies out. Raven scoffs "And which 'we' are you referring to?" She turns to leave but stops for a split second as she notices Dante below, who gives her a small smirk before moving in their direction. Raven's eyes widen: "What?"

"What is it?" Qrow asks.

"Oh, she just saw me, that's all." Dante replied, appearing next to the twins. Qrow gasped in astonishment: "Dante?"

"In the flesh" Dante proudly replied, "glad to see you still recognize me, ol' buddy. And Raven, looking dangerous yet pretty as ever."

"Why are you here?" Raven demanded.

"Consider me a…harbinger of sorts. I'm here on behalf of the big guy."

"So he does know about Beacon." Qrow deduced.

Dante nodded: "It didn't take long for word to get out to him. With Hayden still trying to build up enough power in the portal to get him through, it was decided I be sent out ahead to help everyone out until he got here."

"Well, it's certainly better than nothing" Qrow said.

"True" Raven agreed, "But it doesn't improve my view of the situation, considering he sent YOU of all people."

Dante shrugged: "What can I say; I'm one of the best."

Raven rolled her eyes: "Like I haven't heard you say THAT before."

"Well, it's true. Right now, though, I'm here to help Qrow and those kids get to Haven. With one of them being silver eyed, you can bet they're being followed by less pleasant individuals."

"Well, I suppose we can't be too careful" Qrow said. Raven scoffed and rolled her eyes: "I don't have time for this."

"Stay beautiful, Raven." Dante called as she turned away.

The sound of her sword getting unsheathed is heard as Raven walks into her red portal and disappears. There's the sound of breaking glass and a gasp. Qrow turns to see the waitress, trembling at the sight of Raven disappearing. She takes a cautious step backward as she looks sideways at Qrow.

Qrow gestures to his glass "Make this one a double".

Dante sits in the seat left vacant by Raven: "Yeah, and how bout one for me too, sweetheart."

…

The silence over Vale city was broken by an Atlesian airship flying in. Inside, its sole passenger, Pietro Polendina, was preparing to head out in search of Novus. Hayden spoke to him through an earpiece.

"I still have him on the map here. The ship will drop you off as close as it can, and then I'll direct you from there."

Pietro took a deep breath: "Alright. How will I know he won't attack me too?"

"He's been mostly targeting the Grimm, so he might hesitate when he sees you. If he does, do not hesitate to take the opportunity and speak with him; he might listen."

"Let's hope so."

"Approaching drop zone!" the pilot announced, and Piero could feel the ship lower as the ramp opened. Once it was opened, Pietro steered his mech chair out of the ship, entering the ruined streets of Vale.

"I'm here" Pietro said over his earpiece.

"Good," came Hayden's reply, "I'll transfer the map over to you now."

A beeping sound could be heard as Pietro looked over at the screen on one of his armrests to see a small map of Vale, a red dot marking Novus's location.

"He doesn't seem to be moving at the moment" Hayden said, "Now's your chance."

Pietro took a deep sigh: "Alright. On my way."

With that, Pietro headed through the streets, nervous of what would happen should he encounter the enraged Novus Sureya…