"Your Highness, please!"

Kurt was getting incredibly flustered with the prince. The young, brash, arrogant young man may have been descended from royalty, but he was nothing like his ancestors.

The entire day, all Prince Reiji would do is shirk duties. The council was getting fed up with his irresponsible actions, and it was up to poor Kurt to try and rein in his impulsiveness.

The problem was, Kurt was merely a herald's aid. He wasn't Ozpin.

For not being of Arian, Kurt had to hand it to Aila; she, despite occasionally sharing her husband's wanderlust and dereliction of duties, and even at times encouraging them, had grown from a headstrong teenager into someone who could easily be mistaken for nobility. And while Arian wasn't too big on social classes, it was hard to deny the poise and regality she displayed. A fitting balance, some might say.

Kurt would disagree. Mainly because it wasn't exactly balanced enough, in his eyes.

He stood, face scrunched in disapproval, as he watched Reiji play with his young daughter, Minerva. The two men were around the same age, which was why Reiji saw Kurt more as a friend and less as someone he should listen to. And, the fact that both he and Aila had become parents at such a young age meant Reiji was taking full advantage of his youth when it came to his young daughter.

It would be charming if there weren't some pressing matters that required his attention.

"Prince Reiji!" Kurt called out, finally managing to stop him and Minerva's silly little dance in the middle of the empty conference hall. Reiji shot him a surprised look, then looked down and shushed his daughter with a grin, who responded in kind.

"Shhhh! I think Uncle Kurt's getting grumpy," Reiji replied with a snicker. Minerva copied her father, before mimicking him as he stood up straight, hands behind his back, with the appearance that he was paying attention.

Taking the opportunity while it presented itself, Kurt cleared his throat and began to speak. Not even a moment in, however, a loud, fake snore could be heard from Reiji, who leaned his head to the side and had his mouth wide open and eyes shut. Minerva giggled at his antics, while Kurt looked as though he was about to bust a gasket.

A cooling hand was placed on Kurt's trembling shoulder, soothing his barely contained rage. He turned to see Aila, giving him that oh-so-princessy smile she had developed over the years. If Kurt didn't know any better, Aila was the actual descendant of royalty and Reiji was the ruffian from Earth.

"Having the usual trouble, I see," she said calmly, though he picked up on the hint of teasing in her voice.

"He is the only council member who inherits his position, and as sole heir of the Asuna line, he has responsibilities-"

Aila shot a quick glance at her husband. "It's just a formality, Kurt. He's not expected to actually do anything that a normal prince would. He's not going to become king, and he actually holds very little power."

Kurt gave her a displeased look, raising his eyebrow suspiciously. "So that gives him the right to shrug off his assigned duties?"

"Not a right...but a reason." She looked at her family as Reiji picked up Minerva. "I think he would be happier being just a father, rather than a council member."

Kurt sighed, exasperated. "I know...but we are trying to run a society here."

"Then run it."

Kurt turned to Reiji, who was smooshing his cheeks against Minerva's smiling face. "You were proposing a tax increase and needed my signature so we could fund a new expedition into Mars' northern pole, right? Do it. But try not to exceed a three percent raise. I won't authorize my signature on anything higher."

"That's still pretty steep, sir," Kurt commented. "We were pushing for one point five."

"Even better! Do it." He smiled at him. "See? I pay attention. Sometimes."

"That's not very reassuring," Kurt commented in annoyance.

Reiji looked at his daughter. "I think Uncle Kurt needs a hot chocolate and a cookie. He's getting cranky. What do ya say? Wanna go get some for him?"

Minerva pinched Reiji's nose. "Daddy, you promised to get me a cookie and a new Gunpla today!"

Reiji pulled back and looked at the young girl with a faked surprised look on his face. "Did I? Well, it would be unbecoming of me if I didn't honor my word! Come on, my fair maiden, and let us find you that cookie and Gunpla! And while we're at it, we can get one for Uncle Kurt!"

Minerva cheered as they headed past the aid and his wife. "I'll be back in a little while, Aila! Say goodbye to mommy!"

Minerva waved at them both. "Bye, Mommy! Bye, Uncle Kurt!"

Kurt stuttered, trying to call the prince back, but he and the girl were already marching out the door. He reached for them helplessly, but dropped his hand and sighed. "How does Ozpin deal with his constant cadence of inconsideration for responsibility?"

"With patience," Aila replied, "and occasionally, a little bribery."

Kurt narrowed his eyes at her. "Bribery?"

"Reiji has only four things he lives for his family, his food, his pride, and his Gunpla. Anything else can easily get pushed aside."

"What would his father think…" Kurt muttered wistfully. "Ozpin is going to kill me. How can I become Reiji's next Herald if he won't listen?"

"You grew up with him, Kurt. He sees you less as an authority figure and more like a brother." Aila crossed her arms in front of her. "To be fair, I'm a little envious of your relationship with him."

Kurt's eyes went wide and he couldn't help but laugh. "You're his wife. How can you be envious of my relationship with him?"

"Because I never had one with anyone else besides Reiji," she admitted. "I didn't grow up with the happiest childhood and had no real friends until I met Reiji and his friends back on Earth, before coming here. I wish I had had someone like you growing up."

She chuckled to herself. "I think that's why he gets away with so much on your watch, too. He knows he can."

He ran a hand through her solid black hair. "You're probably right. He and Vander and I have been together for so long, it's hard for him to take us seriously."

He thought back to all the times he, his older brother Vander, and Reiji had all gotten into trouble as kids. Resigned to allow the prince to do as he saw fit today, he nodded. "Well, in his absence, would you assist me with dealing with this?"

Aila looked down at her watch. "Would you look at the time," she said coyly. "I appear to be late for a pressing meeting."

Kurt looked down at his tablet, uncertainty crossing his face. "Meeting? I don't have anything on the books for-"

He looked up, to find that he was the only one standing in the middle of the room. Aila was nowhere to be found. The woman was faster than he expected, and all he could do was sigh in response. "They're made for each other," he mused, before turning and heading out of the room from the door on the opposite side.

Aila exhaled, relief flooding over her. She still didn't feel comfortable handling Arian affairs. She'd only been on the colony for about eight years, and most of that time, she was too busy happily being a mother to Minerva and loving wife to Reiji. She was no politician and didn't even have a real, formal education, so the thought of helping Kurt was enough to send her scampering away.

"So, you got away, huh?"

She jolted upright in surprise, staring at Reiji as he stroked the small red patch of hair under his lower lip. He wore a massive, mischievous grin as if he had predicted this.

"I-I thought you had left already!" She blurted out in surprise, which caused him to panic and clasp his hand over her mouth.

"Shhhh! Kurt might hear you!"

"Yeah, Mommy, Kurt might hear you!" Minerva said at their feet, also shushing her.

She shrugged Reiji off of her and crossed her arms, giving him a look of disapproval. "Well, you wouldn't need to hide from him if you just did what you were told."

"Awww, c'mon, Aila. It's not like I don't do any work." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Kurt is just so...pushy, sometimes."

"He takes his job seriously. I see nothing wrong with that. Unlike a certain young man I know." She shot him an unimpressed look, with the hint of a small smile hidden beneath.

"And yet, you married me." He smirked, giving her a charming look which he had grown to know she had trouble resisting.

She blushed uncontrollably. "W-well, yes. I mean, I did leave Earth behind for you, idiot." Her look of disapproval grew. "Besides that, though, you really shouldn't be flirting with me in front of Minerva."

Reiji wrapped his arm around her shoulders and looked down at their daughter. "I think it's a good thing she sees how much her parents love each other."

"I'll smack you, Reiji Asuna."

Minerva puffed her cheeks out. "Mommy shouldn't hit Daddy!"

"Yeah, Aila, you shouldn't hit me." His cheeky grin grew even more, which made Aila's glare narrow to dagger points.

She was about to retort when a voice interrupted her thoughts. "It's always a pleasure seeing such a unique and wonderful family dynamic play out."

All of their eyes turned to the new figure, a tall man with silver hair and a cane, who was watching the scene play out over the top of his glasses.

Minerva gasped excitedly. "Mister Ozpin!"

"Oz!" Reiji blinked in surprise. "I hadn't expected you back so soon."

"The Doubles Gunpla Tournament's first day has just concluded," Ozpin explained. "I saw an opportunity to transmit myself back to Arian after the evening festivities with my students, to give you both the recording of today's matches, as promised, and a personal report."

Reiji's eyes sparkled in excitement as he practically leaped from Aila's side and grabbed Ozpin by the hands. "You have recordings?!"

"Gunpla Battle, the only thing you love more than me," Aila pouted, though she knew it wasn't entirely true.

Reiji gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Aila, I just-" he started, before realizing she was trying to suppress a grin beneath the pout. His brows furrowed. "Hey!"

Ozpin chuckled. "I don't mean to interrupt your day, Your Highness, but unfortunately I am on a time limit. Would you mind if we spoke briefly in private?"

Reiji looked down at Minerva, who had her head cocked and a curious look on her face. He knelt down and hugged her. "Honey, Daddy is gonna go with Mister Ozpin for a bit, but when I get back, we'll get you your treats and Gunpla, okay?"

Minerva gave him a sad look but nodded. He kissed her forehead. "I promise, I won't be long."

Aila took the small girl by the hand. "Come, my little Princess. Let's go have a tea party while we wait."

Minerva looked up at her mom and smiled. "Okay!" She turned to her father and waved. "Bye Daddy!"

Ozpin smiled warmly at the sight. He nodded to himself, confirming his thoughts. "You and Aila have come so far since returning to Arian," he admitted. "I remember the reckless youthful teenager who ran amuck and randomly chose to transport himself to Earth on a whim, returning with a strong-willed girl who eventually soothed him. At least partially."

Reiji stood back up, sighing contently. "Part of me wishes Aila and I had enjoyed a bit more of our youth before Minerva was born…but honestly, I don't think I'd have had it any other way."

He smiled happily at the memories, before turning to Ozpin and clapping his hands together. "So! What do you want to talk about?"

Ozpin nodded to the conference room, which was now completely vacant. Reiji followed him inside and shut the doors behind him. Ozpin placed a USB drive onto the table, with the words "recording day 1" written on it. He then looked to Reiji.

"I met with everyone you thought might need to know about the situation, and a few of their associates," Ozpin started. "The Meijin, his partner Lady Kawaguchi, Ricardo Fellini, Sei and Takeshi Iori and Takeshi's partner Summer Rose, Mister Ral, Nils Yajima...the only one I couldn't contact was Mao Yasaka, who does not appear to be in the country at the time."

Reiji beamed at the news. "That's fantastic! And with that Qrow guy you were working with before helping gather info, I'm sure-"

Ozpin held up a hand to stop him. "It's not all good news, Your Highness. There may be a possible complication."

Reiji paused, then settled down as Ozpin collected his thoughts for a moment. "To be honest, I worry about the Lady Kawaguchi. She is Theresa Baker's youngest sister, and does not think very highly of what Miss Baker did to help the former PPSE chairman Hiruto Mashita maintain control, or what she did at the Seventh World Tournament."

Reiji sighed. "It always comes back to that tournament, doesn't it?"

"It was where you and the Mashitas collided and created a chain of events that led us to this point. Where dates collided," Ozpin confirmed. "Everything that happened on Earth was started by the Arista being brought there, but was accelerated by your participation and Hiruto's paranoia."

The prince listened carefully, putting one hand on his hip. "So. Lady Kawaguchi. Is she like Yuuki's girlfriend or something?"

Ozpin shook his head. "At this time, I'm not sure. They are partners and have been working very closely together to promote and maintain the integrity of Gunpla Battle, including the recent reform to allow more non-Gunpla parts on kits to further enhance customization options. But whether their relationship is professional or romantic, I can't say."

He adjusted his glasses and continued. "I can say, however, that the Meijin both respects and trusts her. Catherine Baker holds a deep-seeded distrust over the actions of her oldest sister Theresa, as I mentioned, and though their middle sister Glynda and I have been working hard on trying to think of ways to convince her to help us, the inevitable fact is this: if she can convince the Meijin that helping us would not be in the Gunpla Battle Commission's best interests, our jobs become immeasurably more difficult."

"You can't be serious!" Reiji blurted out. "This is literally the future of Earth we're talking about! Do they want to live in a Mad Max society with a hint of Book of Eli thrown into the mix?"

Ozpin struggled to maintain his professionalism. "I believe you've been watching too many old holovids, Your Highness, but your concern is justified."

He gave Ozpin an annoyed and worried look. "So...should I prepare to head to Earth with you, then? Do I need to talk to them?"

"No, I don't think that would be wise," he said, shaking his head. "Should Salem get wind of your arrival, it could cause larger issues that we have no way of dealing with."

Reiji ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Aaaaargh! I feel useless!"

"Well, if you would stop avoiding Kurt or your responsibilities, you might be able to find something to distract yourself with," the herald suggested. "Remember, we are here to assist you."

Reiji turned, feeling his frustration rise and not wanting to show it to his advisor. But as he did, he noticed Kurt, standing impatiently a few feet away. He hadn't even heard the young man re-enter the room. "Wait! Where'd you come from?!"

Ozpin smirked as the prince was caught completely off guard. "I heard voices after I left and decided to investigate," Kurt stated with a hint of aggravation in his voice. "Listen to Ozpin, Reiji. We're all in this together, and you are a vital piece of that. The Council can't function properly without your commitment and approval. If it could, then you running off to spend time with your wife and daughter every time something came up wouldn't be such an issue."

Reiji gave him a sad look, like a puppy who just got kicked. "Yeah but...I don't even understand any of this. It's so hard to wrap my head around."

"You have us to rely on for those instances." Ozpin's calm and reassuring voice helped soothe the prince, as always. Something Kurt only could dream of doing. "For now, I suggest you work with Kurt on your assigned duties. And by the time you are done, I hope that I will have a more in-depth idea of the situation on Earth."

"Fiiiiine," Reiji groaned. He turned to the senior advisor. "But I want to be there for the final battle of this tournament, got it? I wanna see how far Gunpla has come in person!"

Kurt gave him a pleading expression. "Your Highness, you know that the Council is still deciding on what to do with Earth. Attempting to reconnect with them might be dangerous, and would definitely put you in hot water with the rest of the council members."

"And as I stated, you coming to Earth might alert Salem," Ozpin reminded him, before pausing. "But...I might be able to think of a way for you to attend. I can't promise anything."

Kurt glowered at Ozpin, irked at his mentor's suggestion. Reiji's spark seemed to ignite upon that last comment, however. "Really?!"

Kurt groaned and facepalmed. "Your Highness…"

Ozpin chuckled again, covering his mouth with his finger. "Your enthusiasm is infectious, Prince Reiji. But, now that you've been updated, I shall take my leave. I just need to speak to Councilwoman Ambers before returning to Earth and give her an update on the task she asked of me. I will return tomorrow night with the second day's matches. Until then, do try and behave."

"And I have a promise to keep with my daughter," Reiji added. He turned to Kurt. "And when I'm done...I'll come find you. And I promise we'll work on this."

Kurt gave him an unimpressed look. "You've said similar things before. I won't hold my breath. But I'll be waiting, just in case."

Ruby was frantically working on rebuilding Destiny Scythe after the brutal battle with the Alexanders. The Black Lion had lived up to his name, viciously dismantling her machine with the skill of an apex predator. She and Weiss had definitely won, but as night slowly overtook day, the aftermath of the battle started to sink in.

Ruby had needed to sacrifice her Gunpla. Again. Just like with her fight with Yang. Crimson Strike Noir had been completely rebuilt, so in a pinch, she could use Crim over Destiny Scythe...but this shouldn't be happening.

She scowled at her lack of experience. What was she even doing here, fighting amongst giants? She was turning sixteen in a few months, and her build quality isn't nearly as good as Sei Iori, her idol, and her skills in battle weren't on par with his partner, Reiji. Sei may have been her age when he won his first world championship, but he had been leagues better than she was currently in just about every way.

Looking at the freshly printed and painted unassembled pieces on her table, she began to wrack her brain. If her build quality was still too rough, then she'd need to think of other ways to improve her design internally.

High-Grade Gunpla could only be improved upon so much, though. The lack of an internal structure on many parts, the way polycaps connected on some kits but not on others, the alterations to standardized designs as the years have gone on…how many RX-78 versions had they made, and how many were even compatible with one another? That was the dilemma she faced now.

She was so deep in thought that the slight, gentle touch on her shoulder nearly made her jump out of her skin. She shrieked, sending her tweezers and metal file flying.

"Sorry," Weiss said sheepishly. "I didn't know you were concentrating so hard."

She set a cup of hot cocoa down next to Ruby. "I just got back and tried to get your attention, but you didn't hear me."

Ruby panted, her heart racing for a bit, before laughing at herself. "Oh, it's fine. I was just trying to think of something to improve Destiny Scythe."

Weiss raised her eyebrow. "Think too hard and you'll wrinkle that pretty face of yours," she replied. "We have two days to figure out what to do. I suggest you get some sleep."

Ruby gave her a sad smile and shook her head. "I can't sleep. Not without a plan of attack on how I can improve the design, even by a little. The Gunpla Battle system is so refined that any chip or missed nub can result in a drop in performance. And I have some spare parts, but Kyrus damaged more of the Gunpla than I built as a backup."

She looked back at her parts. "I can use this as a chance to figure out how to improve Destiny Scythe, but I just...don't know how to do it. I need inspiration."

Weiss closed her eyes and nodded. She knew her partner well enough that, if she didn't make any kind of progress, even if Ruby managed to sleep, she'd feel like she didn't do enough without a plan. After a moment, she snapped her fingers. "What about that Hathaway guy?"

The younger girl tilted her head, confused. "What about him?"

"Well, you said he was one of the tops kitbashers in the US, if not the world, right? If there's anyone who could probably help get you on the right track to improve your Gunpla, it's him."

Ruby pondered the idea. "True...but since he's an active participant still, do you think he'd be willing to help?"

Weiss smiled confidently. "I'm certain we can come to some kind of arrangement. Besides, the worst he can do is say no."

Ruby gave her a doubt-filled look. "The worst he could do is sabotage Destiny Scythe, but I see your point. He's not the kind of guy to do that. And, he DOES offer design advice on his website, but it costs money."

"And who do you think you're talking to?" Weiss asked.

Ruby looked away from her, embarrassed. "But...it's my Gunpla. If I can't pay for the services-"

"It may be your Gunpla, but it's our chance at victory. And you're my partner." Weiss gave her a nod filled with assurance. "It's not a problem, trust me. I want to help."

Ruby was touched by her friend's desire to assist. Weiss often came off as proud, self-entitled, and arrogant, but she was a generally caring person.

She gathered the pieces up and the two-headed up two floors to where the register said Jim Hawkins and Hathaway Novah were sleeping. However, when they knocked on door 212, it was a young Asian woman with sky blue hair who answered.

"Huh? You don't look like room service," she said to the two young teens. She was older than them, standing a little taller, and Ruby swore she had seen her before. At one of the events, maybe? Perhaps it was the dinner?

Weiss gave her a nervous look. "I'm sorry, we must have the wrong room. We thought Hathaway Novah was sleeping here-"

The girl's eyes lit up. "Ah, you're friends with Hath?"

"Who is it?" The familiar voice of the boy they had come to see sounded from behind her. Ruby and Weiss looked at each other, both growing visibly more nervous. Had they interrupted something?

The girl turned and Hathaway looked at the two from the desk in the room. "Ruby. Weiss. Come on in."

They tentatively entered the room, noticing Jim lounging on the bed with a single earbud in his ear, listening to something on his phone. "Oh, those two of the girls from before?" he asked, his eyes hidden behind his black sunglasses.

"Hey Jim," Ruby said cheerfully. "Sorry, we intruded. We didn't know you had company."

Jim waved his hand. "Nah, it's cool. Ruby, Weiss, this is Mina. She's the Korean national champ and my girlfriend. Mina, these are the two that kicked Kyrus Alexander's butt earlier."

Mina's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Oooooh. I didn't expect to meet you before kicking you to the curb in battle." She smiled and offered her hand. "A pleasure! And might I say, fine work in that doubles match."

The banter and praise helped settle them both down, but it seemed to spark a fire in Weiss as she shook Mina's hand. "The pleasure is ours," Weiss replied politely, a competitive expression crossing her face. "I doubt a fight between us would go like you think it will, however."

Mina smiled happily, brows furrowed and grin forming. "Ooo she's feisty. I like her."

Ruby giggled nervously, not entirely sure how to address the bravado the two women were exuding.

Fortunately, Hathaway managed to break the tension. "So, what brings you two here?"

Ruby looked at the boy. "Well...you see, Weiss and I heard you offer Gunpla customization services for a price, and we were wondering if maybe you could possibly give me some tips?"

He raised a quizzical eyebrow. "I suppose, but why? Your building skills and customization are already very good."

"Yeah, but after fighting against Kyrus Alexander and his Unicorn Chimera, I'm...not so sure." She looked away, almost ashamed to admit it. "I'm feeling in over my head right now. Like, with the Meijin, and Sei Iori, and you, and Kyrus, and Ricardo Fellini, and Wilfrid Kijima...how am I supposed to compete?"

"I'm flattered you lumped me in with the big leagues," he quipped, amused.

Hath nodded his head to the side, inviting Ruby over to his table. As she got closer, she saw multiple Gunpla sitting to his right, which his body had previously obscured from view. One of them seemed to be a heavily modified Xi Gundam, though it wasn't in any state to be used for battle. Several Shidens, as well as Altos and Portanova variants from the 30 Minute Mission line, as well as a hybrid of the Entry Grade RX-78 and Alto Ground Type to form a makeshift Perfect Gundam, set among a series of parts he had laid out. All seven kits were clearly customized and exceptionally well built.

The Shiden/Alto hybrid, painted in the classic maroon, with a visor modified to resemble a GM Sniper II, in particular, looked interesting to her.

"How do you come up with all this?" Her eyes studied every detail. She wanted to pull each one apart to see how he made them; many seemed super simple, but a few-especially the unfinished Xi Gundam, looked unbelievably complex.

Weiss came up next to her partner and looked down at the group of kits. "So, did you choose the Xi Gundam because your name is similar to Hathaway Noa?"

Hath rolled his eyes. "I get that a lot. Truthfully, I did it to get people to stop asking that question, but the results were counter to my hopes. I actually wanted to see if I could just...clean up the kit a little." He glanced over at it. "It's a rather bulky machine with lots of moving parts. In many ways, it reminds me of the Crossbone Gundam Full Cloth, but on a completely different scale. Sometimes I wonder if I should have tried to modify Odysseus Gundam-at least then, I could remove the Penelope armor."

He sighed. "To answer both Ruby's question and finish my thought, it's a little trial and error with every kit. For Xi, it's more error than anything. I'm almost ready to give up if I can't find a breakthrough soon."

Shaking his head, he returned to the matter at hand. "Now. Show me what you've got available."

Ruby took out her protective pouch and slowly dumped its contents on the table so they wouldn't scatter. Hathaway looked at the unassembled bits of plastic before him, curious.

Mina shifted to the side, watching quietly. She loved seeing Hath work. It was almost therapeutic, even if his claim to fame were simple kitbashes. She knew that if he desired, he could get truly intricate. The Optimus Prime kit he showed off today was clear evidence of that. Even his close friends most likely didn't know everything that went into that Gunpla.

"Hmmm...Destiny Revive, Deathscythe, and Deathscythe Hell Custom appear to be the basis," he muttered. Picking up the head-one of the only assembled parts-he admired the slight variation of the Deathscythe Hell Custom she had made. She used subtle design details from Destiny's head to influence the build, marking specific panel lines with an engraver that were absent on the original build. The sanding and paint were perfect. And, she even got rid of the protective nubs on the tips of the V-fin, a detail many modelers leave in place to protect their fingers. He pricked the side of his finger on them unexpectedly as he turned it around, surprised by how razor-sharp they had been made. A tiny drop of blood began to pool on his skin, which left him impressed.

The rest of the parts may not have been put together, but they were wonderfully detailed in much the same manner. He couldn't help but inspect everything. The process made Ruby somewhat nervous.

"So?" She asked eagerly. "Can you help?"

He set the wing he was looking at down and shook his head. "I honestly don't think so."

Her heart sank. That was the thing she was dreading the most. "O-oh…"

"I don't think you need it," he added. She looked back up at him, noticing he was eyeing the shoulders on the table. "The only tip I'd give is, maybe round off the shoulders near where they meet the body, to try and give you a bit more articulation to properly swing your scythe, but otherwise...I think it'd be a waste of both our time and your money to have me take over your building process."

"But-"

"You're worried about not being good enough to compete, I know." He looked into her eyes and smiled confidently. "Having the best Gunpla or the best skill isn't what determines the victor. You have a keen mind and good tactics to fall back on." He gave her a sly look. "Tell me-you feinted during your battle with Kyrus, didn't you?"

She raised an eyebrow, confused. "Huh?"

"There was a point after he grabbed you and used you as a shield, that you pretended to shut down. I think it was after you had gotten hit by Weiss's attacks. He threw Destiny Scythe away to engage the Gyan, but you waited until the perfect opportunity to use the Palma Fiocina cannons and destroy part of the Chimera's head, disabling NT-D mode and giving Weiss the chance to counterattack, even if it meant losing Destiny Scythe in the process." He leaned forward and grinned. "Am I wrong?"

Ruby rubbed the back of her neck nervously under the intense scrutiny. "Well…."

Jim laughed loudly from the bed. "I told you! Kyrus dropped his guard around the time that cute announcer Peach said that Destiny got hit, didn't he?"

Mina nodded, impressed. "So that means that he hadn't done enough actual damage to your Gunpla to fully disable you, and you played dead, huh?"

"You first showed the world this when you beat your sister," Hath continued, "and again today against Kyrus. Having the best-built Gunpla or the strongest set of skills is only part of the equation; sound tactics can more than makeup for any deficiencies you have in the other two areas."

He handed Ruby Destiny Scythe's head, careful not to poke himself again on the V-fin. "You're right where you need to be. Few people can say they beat a national champion even in a two v one situation. Take pride you did that against the Black Lion, of all people."

Jim snickered. "'Pride?' 'Lion?' Damn, listen to you and your puns."

Weiss scoffed. "Please, spare me. We get enough from Yang as it is."

Ruby took the Gundam head back, looking at its silver eyes, before nodding, as if silently vowing to be better for both of them. "Thanks, Hathaway," she said honestly. "I needed that."

"Don't worry about it." He waved her off dismissively. "All I did was highlight your achievements. The victory, now and everyone that comes next is yours. And Weiss's. Revel in it. You earned it."

Ruby and Weiss shared a glance, smiling at one another. She swept the parts carefully back into her carrying case, before bidding them good night. Ruby seemed to have a spring in her step, feeling lighter on her feet than she had before.

"It looks like you got what you needed after all," Weiss noted happily. "It may not have been what you came here for, but it seemed to help."

"Yeah!" Ruby patted her case. "Should we go see what Blake and Yang are doing and hang out?"

Weiss grinned nervously, shyly looking away. "It's late...I'd rather not bother them."

"But Yang always stays up late playing games, and Blake usually ends up reading." She furrowed her brows. "Why don't you wanna hang out with them?"

She sighed. "The two of them haven't had...alone time...in a while. They got thrown into the same room together. Come now, Ruby-don't you think it might be a little...inopportune for us to go interrupting them?"

She continues to give Weiss a confused look. "I don't-"

Then it hit her. She blushed, her face turning almost as red as her hoodie. "Oh."

"Yeah. I was trying to not have you picture your sister like that." Weiss shook her head and smirked. "Oh well. The damage is done now. Let's grab something to drink, then head back to our room."

"I want root beer!"

Weiss inhaled deeply, agitated. "You don't need that much sugar this late at night, you dolt! Get some tea or something!"

Glynda was only slightly soberer than Kyrus was as they approached her room. Free from responsibility for the evening, the two decided to reconnect after nearly three years of not seeing each other. And Glynda, to put it mildly, was not disappointed.

It was exceedingly rare for her to let go of her inhibitions and indulge herself. But when Kyrus asked if she was free, she decided to take him up on that offer. Ozpin and her own refusal to stop working had stressed her to the bone, and she was only twenty-six years old. She didn't need to look like she was forty before her time.

"So… The great Kyrus Alexander, losing to a couple of children. How does it feel?" she teased, leaning on his large chest. She was starting to sober up, which disappointed her, but Kyrus had bought the bottle of wine they had opened at the restaurant and a second bottle, for good measure. That problem would be fixing itself shortly.

Kyrus sighed heavily, his large frame moving with the action. "They simply caught me off guard," He smiled excitedly, looking up as if he was replaying the fight again, waving his left hand and shaking the open wine bottle a bit as he pointed it forward. "But not next time. Next time I'll make sure your little fidgets are reminded of why I'm called the Black Lion!"

Glynda smiled and shook her head. She knew he meant no disrespect, and while he called himself the "Black Lion," he was more of a soft kitten when it came to kids.

Kyrus noticed her softened expression and raised an eyebrow questioningly. "And why are you suddenly smiling like that?"

"Oh… Nothing. Just lamenting at how much, and little, you've changed over the years," Glynda replied.

They reached her door and she rummaged through her purse for her key card. Kyrus leaned against the doorframe, his muscled body seeming to stretch his polo shirt to its limit. "I'll be honest, I didn't think I'd get the chance to do this with you again."

She looked back at Kyrus with a sly look. "What? You coming home with me and then needing to slip away before you were caught by my sister?"

He let out an amused chuckle. "Well, it seems Catherine has found a new hobby besides being a self-proclaimed watchdog for 'unsavory gentleman,' like myself."

"I suppose being the Meijin's partner and counterpart means one's attention for things shifts," she said dryly. Kyrus cocked his curiously but decided to say nothing. It seemed to be a bit of a sour subject.

She finally found her key card and inserted it into the door, when a bright red light and the sound of air seemingly whooshing around them filled the otherwise empty hallway. She also noticed a brilliant glow from the jewel set in her necklace.

Kyrus's half-lidded eyes widened slightly at the glow, then looked up. The light in the hallway subsided, and where there was no one before, the figure of a man clad in green and black, with silver hair and glasses, stood. He appeared slightly confused, looking around like he wasn't where he expected to be.

Kyrus glanced down at the half-empty bottle of wine. "Bloody hell, this is some strong stuff."

Glynda spun on her heel. "Ozpin! What are you doing?!"

The man turned and gave her a warm and friendly smile, with a slight hint of awkwardness behind it. "Ah, Glynda. I apologize. It seems I miscalculated."

Glynda glared at Ozpin. "'Miscalculated?!' You call this a miscalculation?!"

"Well, I was aiming for my own room," he responded. "I seem to have locked onto your Arista and-"

"Glynda… I'm assuming this is your boss?" Kyrus asked, interrupting Ozpin.

Glynda sighed loudly, clearly exasperated. "Yes... He and I have been working together for a while, trying to get in contact with Theresa."

"Mister Alexander, if I remember correctly. It's a pleasure to meet you officially," Ozpin added. "Your battle against my students today was quite enjoyable. You are remarkably skilled. I'm Harold Ozpin, the sponsor of the team you faced."

"The pleasure is all min- No, I'm not going pretend you didn't just appear out of thin air like you were just transported from the Star Ship enterprise!" Ozpin chuckled to himself clearly amused at Kyrus' reaction.

"It's a long story," Ozpin replied, dodging the question, "and one best answered once you are no longer inebriated."

"Brilliant deflection," Kyrus was unamused but curious enough to let it go for the time being. "Alright. Fair enough, I'll wait. But don't think I'm just gonna forget this"

"I thank you for your understanding." Ozpin tilted his head in farewell. "I should be returning to my room. Enjoy your evening. And, I apologize again for interrupting."

The two of them watched as he headed down the hall and rounded the corner before either said anything. "I'm so confused yet intrigued right now," Kyrus commented.

"Ugh." Glynda scoffed and unlocked her door. "Just forget about him. We have a bottle and a half to finish."

As they entered her room, she grabbed the open bottle of wine and uncorked it, beginning to drink it straight from the bottle out of irritation for Ozpin's sudden distraction and a desire to move on with the night. Kyrus watched her, surprised more than anything at her behavior.

When she was done, she walked over and grabbed a napkin from the small desk inside the room, and wiped her mouth, before balling it up and turning to face Kyrus.

"Glynda, I-" Kyrus began before she grabbed the front of his polo and pulled him down into a warm kiss. Eyes wide with shock, it took a moment for him to fully register what was happening, but after he did, he leaned into it, grabbing her around the waist and holding her close.

They remained embraced, lips locked firmly, for a long time, with Glynda being far more aggressive than Kyrus was anticipating. After a while, she began to unbutton her shirt, pulling away from him to do so more easily in her renewed drunken state.

Kyrus, mind still reeling from everything that had just happened, now had a bit of time to process things. Starting with what happened before. "So, this Ozpin fellow. How did you come across someones like him?"

"Please shut up about Ozpin," Glynda interrupted, pulling him back into a kiss to shut him up. She ran her hand along the back of his neck and pulled him down to bite his earlobe, hoping to distract him, but it wasn't enough.

"I mean, who just... Appears out of nowhere?" He asked. His mind demanded answers, and now that he was sobering up, was almost exclusively focused on that, distracting him from everything else. Even if he had Glynda's full attention, which hasn't happened in a long time

Clearly frustrated beyond belief, Glynda shoved him away, which did more to push her away from him than the other way around. "Urgh! You know what?" She snapped, walking over to the door, shirt half undone and originally neatly packed hair now slightly askew, as she opened it. "Door Four Twelve, three doors down from here. Do you want to spend your time asking him stuff rather than with me? Go ask him."

She waved at the now-open door and ushered him out. Kyrus gave her a guilty look. "I'm sorry... I-"

"No, I'm not in the mood now." She gave him a dangerous glare. "Go on. Out."

He sighed and nodded, heading out at her insistence. She slammed the door behind him and placed her head against the door, staring into space, instantly regretting getting that mad, but she was too stubborn to admit it and let him back in.

She waited for a few minutes until she heard his steps finally leave, before turning around and leaning against the door. "Shit, Glynda…" she muttered to herself, closing her eyes and sinking to the floor.

Nora had not had any coffee all day, but nobody could honestly tell. Her excitement over knowing she and Ren were fighting tomorrow, combined with Pyrrha and Jaune's win, had seemingly electrified her. She was grinning like a madwoman, biting her lip in anticipation as she watched Ren patiently finish detailing her Gusion Rebake Magnhild's new parts.

She had opted to most convert the machine to almost exclusively the Full City parts, with the exception of the shoulders, feet, and a few minor pieces of the original Rebake added for extra armor. In addition, Ren opted to add side skirt boosters from the Astaroth to it, feeling that Nora might need added speed and agility now that they had a good idea of what to expect in the tournament.

The pink, white, black, and grey Gunpla was almost finished, and Ren nodded as he set the new shoulders down to dry next to the painted boosters. "That should do it," he confidently stated.

"Yay! Takk skal du ha! (Thank you!)" She blurted out, hugging him excitedly from behind. He cried out in surprise as she smothered him, peppering his cheek with kisses.

Pyrrha snuggled up next to Jaune, watching the two of them with a happy smile. "With luck, you shouldn't have much trouble making it to the second round."

"Yeah, but don't expect us to go easy on you if we get paired up," Jaune added with a confident smile.

Nora gave them a dangerous grin. "And you better prepare for the beating of a lifetime!" She shot back, clearly fired up and ready to compete.

"We should focus on tomorrow, first," Ren reminded her calmly. "We don't know who we are going to face."

"Okay, so first we wallop the first team, then we wallop Jaune and Pyrrha," Nora corrected herself. Her eyes then suddenly lit up with a thought. "Ooooo! What if we wind up fighting Blake and Yang? Oh man, this is going to be the best. Day. EVER!"

"Perhaps you should try and relax," Ren responded. "You will never get to sleep like this."

"Sleep? Pffft, who needs sleep?!" She planted her hands on her hips triumphantly.

Ren gave Pyrrha an apologetic look. "I am so sorry."

Pyrrha chuckled. "Oh, don't worry about it. I'm certain Nora will wind up falling asleep rather quickly. Her energy will run out, eventually."

Jaune watched the orange-haired youth eagerly eye her Gunpla on the table. "...are you sure about that?"

Nora spun around at the couple on Pyrrha's bed. "Hey! I got an idea! Why don't I bunk with Ren and you two take this room for the night?"

Pyrrha immediately blushed at the query, while Jaune stared at Nora, dumbfounded "I….uh…"

"Cohabitation between genders is against the rules for those under the age of eighteen," Ren reminded her. "Apparently, there have been too many…incidents."

Nora frowned. "But Blake and Yang get to room together! It's not fair!"

"It is the rules," Ren replied. "We might risk disqualification if we don't follow them."

"Besides, we'll see plenty of each other while we're here," Jaune added cheerfully.

"I guess…" Nora pouted.

Pyrrha gave Jaune a quick kiss on the cheek, before pushing off the bed and standing up. "Nora and I should probably let you two rest. Should we come by tomorrow and have a double date? We can grab breakfast."

"I want pancakes!" Nora declared loudly. Ren shot her an annoyed look, which caused her to yelp. "What? What I do?"

"It's eleven-thirty at night," Ren reminded her. "People should be sleeping."

Nora chuckled sheepishly. "Oh. Hehe, right. Sorry."

"I'll text you in the morning and we can meet," Jaune said to Pyrrha, standing up and kissing her lightly. Pyrrha swooned; it wasn't that long ago that she had confessed, and Jaune, rather awkwardly, accepted her feelings. Now, he was confident enough to be this forward, among friends. It made her happy.

"Okay," Pyrrha replied, nodding. "Have a good night, Jaune." She nodded to Ren and smiled. "Try not to stay up too late."

Ren gave her a small smile back. "I promise."

Nora waved at the two of them and the girls headed out, closing the door behind them. Ren inhaled slowly, calming himself, before turning back to Nora's kit.

Next to it, the Gundam Lotus Dragon Gǎi Xìng stood, freshly detailed and painted. Its new weapons,a pair of green Gundam Pixie beam pistols, at its feet, detailed with the same pink lotus that sat in the green jewel resting in the center of the Gundam.

After the day of battles, Ren had decided to build a new machine, using parts from the Alton Gundam EW and Dragon Gundam, like before. However, he had replaced the forearm dragon heads with the massive forearm claws of the Altron Gundam but redesigned them to appear more like dragon heads. Ren kept the Dragon Gundam's head but mounted Altron's cheek armor to it.

Overall, he felt the new Gunpla was superior to the original Lotus Dragon, but he hadn't had time to test it yet. He would have asked Jaune, but the Pale Chevalier had barely been repaired, and Pyrrha was still helping Jaune with his new weapon set.

Fortunately, he knew precisely what he could do. "Jaune, I'll be leaving for a bit."

Jaune looked over at him, confused. "Wait! What's up?"

"I want to test the combat ability of my new Gundam." He gathered the Lotus Dragon Gǎi Xìng and the container that held the original Lotus Dragon and started heading for the door. Jaune hopped up and followed, surprising him.

"Hey, if you want some practice, I could grab one of the rentals," he offered, walking in step with Ren to the elevator.

Ren shook his head. "I don't intend on fighting," he admitted. "I plan on using AI to battle."

Jaune blinked, taken aback by his idea. "Wait, you can do that?"

Ren nodded as they waited for the elevator. "I want to see both Lotus Dragons move together, both in exercises and in combat against each other."

"Wow, that sounds awesome! Who do you plan on putting against each other?"

"Sai Saichi and Chang Wufei. Sai will use the original and Wufei will use the upgrade, since that will pair with their styles best."

Jaune put his hand on his shoulder. "Wait. I got a better idea." He grinned. "Ruby can help you with fine-tuning stuff, right? How about we wait to do that tomorrow, and get her to watch? She's better at this stuff than we are, and after breakfast, we should have a full three hours or so to test it out and make tweaks. It'll probably give you a better idea of what to do."

Ren paused, mulling the idea over, before nodding. "Very well. Tomorrow, then."

"As you said, it's late," Jaune added. "Let's relax for the night. You already built both your new kit and upgraded Nora's. You need some rest."

"Perhaps you're right." He looked at his friend and nodded again, giving him a small smile. "Thank you."

"For what?" Jaune raised an eyebrow, confused.

"For understanding." Ren turned and headed back to the room. "Let's get some sleep."

PRINCE ARIA VON REIJI ASUNA

Age: 23

Height: 6'0"

Hair: Red

Eyes: Light Brown

Title: Prince and Councilman of Arian

At first glance, Reiji appears to most to be an irresponsible and absent-minded individual. He tends to do his best to skip his duties as a council member of the Arian government, and appears to take a more light-hearted approach to life. However, despite his often lazy and flippant attitude, Reiji is popular with many of the people of Arian and does tend to do what he feels is best for the people he governs.

As the only official on the council who inherits his position due to his royal bloodline as a descendant of the British monarchy and the respect it brings, Reiji does buckle down when the situation calls for it, though in truth he often chafes under the pressure and would rather take a back seat and just be a father to his young five-year-old daughter.

He often dreams of his days as a teenager and the months he spent on Earth, competing in Gunpla Battle with his partner Sei Iori in the Seventh World Championship. He hopes to one day return to Earth and tests his skills against Sei and his rival, the Meijin Kawaguchi. Ozpin has continued fueling his fire and passion for Gunpla with recordings from the current tournaments, which is only making him even antsier to sneak away and compete with his friends.

ALIA JYRKIÄINEN-ASUNA

Age: 23

Height: 5'7"

Hair: Silver

Eyes: Blue

The former Finnish National Champion during the Seventh World Championship, Aila grew up an orphan and street urchin until her unique ability to predict Gunpla Battles through the dispersal of Plavsky Particles caught the attention of Team Nemesis, which catapulted her to fame.

Though she didn't care initially about Gunpla Battle, competing in the Tournament to avoid once again being abandoned on the streets, her chance encounters with Reiji prior to their battle in the tournament changed her outlook on the sport, and opened her mind as she became frenemies with him.

His passion, drive, and competitiveness drew her in, and though their friendship blossomed through an incredible rivalry, it eventually grew into something more. When Reiji was taken back to Arian during Sei and the Meijin's battle in the Last Great Gunpla Battle that took place immediately after the Mock Battle of A Boua Qu at the end of the Seventh Tournament, Aila's desire to not be separated from him caused her to come with him to Arian.

Their relationship maintains much of the playful antagonism that drew the two of them together, but both Aria and Reiji have a strong and flexible bond, and both have come to rely on the other for all manner of support, as well as the occasional verbal sparring match.

As an outsider from Earth, Aila holds no power or position in the Arian government, but she, like her husband, has become a popular figure among the people of the space colony.

MINERVA ASUNA

Age: 7

Height: 3'2"

Hair: silvery purple

Eyes: violet

The princess of Arian, named after the starship Minerva from Gundam SEED Destiny (and alluding to Princess Mineva Zabi for the Universal Century timeline, a choice Aila herself made due to her using Aina as an alias while in Earth), Minerva is a carefree, curious, and energetic girl. She has a love and fascination with Gunpla because of her parents, and her desire to see it for herself has led to several incidents.

Of note, almost a year ago, Minerva found herself on the beach of an island on Earth, where she met Sekai and Mirai Kamiki, Shia Kijima, Yuuma Kousaka, Kaoruko Sazaki, Minato Sakai, and Fumina Hoshino. During these events, her intense desire to play with Gunpla like her parents had, along with loneliness, caused her Arista Crystal in her hair clip to resonate with the newer Plavsky Particle prototype crystal Nils Yajima was testing on the island. Due to the Arista's ability to amplify brainwaves, it caused Nils' test Gunpla, Scramble Gundam, to go haywire, nearly destroying the facility and almost killing the researchers inside. The Try Fighters and their friends managed to stop the Scramble Gundam, only to find Minerva a short while later.

Minerva stayed and played with the group until her Arista's stored Plavsky Particles ran out, and she was teleported back to Arian, leaving the others convinced she had actually been a ghost.

Minerva's mother is sensitive to Plavsky Particles and can see them move in the air, but Minerva seems to be even more sensitive. With the side of an Arista gem, she has been shown to not just control Gunpla with her emotions alone, but even use the residual particles from large scale emissions (like the first catastrophe that she accidentally caused at the Yajima Trading facility before the group's arrival) to actually "call" Gunpla to her, as evidenced by her summoning Sekai's Kamiki Burning Gundam from across the beach dozens of meters away using only her mind. The full extent of this sensitivity is currently unknown.

KURT RAINIER

Age: 20

Height: 5'11"

Hair: black

Eyes: blue

Title: apprentice herald to Ozpin, assistant to Prince Reiji

Essentially an intern for Ozpin, Kurt has been a childhood friend of Reiji's for decades, along with his brother Vander. Compared to his older brother, Kurt is responsible, patient, but also dutiful-essentially the polar opposite of his charge, Prince Reiji, which causes him stress without end.

His loyalty to his friend is unquestionable, and he is capable of both dealing with Reiji's aloof nature and becoming infinitely annoyed by it. Originally choosing this career path was meant to keep him close to Reiji, but dealing with his nonchalant and irresponsible attitude has left little time for most things.

Kurt dedicated himself to his work, as it seems limitless due to how things go, but he is also more than capable in his own right. His love for his work and friend both keep him going, regardless of the challenge Reiji presents.

NORA'S NEW GUNPLA

Gundam Gushion Rebake Magnhild Kai

Nora's Gunpla has received a major overhaul in preparation for the tournament. Still wielding the titanic war hammer and housing its twin grenade launcher secondary arms in its backpack, Ren has opted to focus on adding defensive armor to the already impressive and thick pieces of the Rebake Full City. Most of the Gunpla's pieces, which were previously a mix of both Gusion Rebake's armor, now are almost exclusively Full City, with the exception of the shoulders, feet, and front and back hip skirts.

To compensate for the heavier armor, Ren added Gundam Astaroth's side boosters to the Magnhild for increased speed and agility. He has also added a pair of Vulcan machine guns to the top part of the back armor pods that house the grenade launcher arms, to defend against missiles and aerial targets. The new weapons can pop up on a small sub-arm to turn 90 degrees to either side or up, giving the Magnhild better suppressive fire. It now also carries a pair of the Rebake Full City rifles, which are clipped to the inside of each secondary arm pod, for better-ranged attacks, though Nora is usually too impatient to bother with them.

REN'S NEW GUNPLA

Gundam Lotus Dragon Gǎi Xìng

While the previous Lotus Dragon was more heavily influenced by the Dragon Gundam, the Lotus Dragon Gǎi Xìng (meaning "modified" in Chinese) takes after the Endless Waltz Altron Gundam more. Its massive forearm claws have been turned into dragon heads in appearance, replacing the original arm-mounted dragon heads from Dragon Gundam. While it still has Dragon Gundam's hip armor and head, both have been adapted to use the smaller frame of Altron Gundam. The chest also now features a small jewel similar to Wing Zero's chest gem, which greens with a pink lotus emblem in the center while the machine is active. This was clearly an adapted feature from the Dragon Gundam's red cockpit area.

Ren has added a pair of Gundam Pixie beam guns, which he has painted green to match his motif. This, combined with the twin-beam gun tail of the anime Altron Gundam on its back and the intense fire-breathing attack it still has from the original Lotus Dragon, allows Ren to engage in mid-range combat much easier than before. The beam guns have small beam daggers in their grips that can be used as reverse-facing blades for melee combat, and the Lotus Dragon Gǎi Xìng still maintains the Altron's double beam trident should a polearm weapon be more optimal.