Chapter 2: Forward March

It had been months since the Fall of Beacon. Things hadn't been the same in the city of Vale. Grimm attacks were more common in the outer fringes of the city, near Beacon Academy. Sectors had been cleared and maintained by the Atlas Military, at least until they had been recalled back to Atlas. VPD had been in touch with the Vale Forces, keeping the Grimm at bay, for as long as possible. Clean-up crews had been working tirelessly to clean up the rubble left behind by the attack. Even though the city was recovering, it was still heavily injured. The people tried to get on with their lives, but weren't able to move about as calmly and as freely as before.

It was raining on this particular day, as Levi moved through the city. He hadn't been the same since everything had happened. He had mentally shut down, processing what had happened. His mother had been killed in action, his Team leader died hating him and his partner had been carried away by Grimm. The remaining member of his team was in critical condition in Atlas. He was completely alone. But that didn't deter him from his new mission, to find the ones responsible and take their lives.

His mother likely would have been disappointed with him if she had been alive. Using his training for revenge? Risking his life for something so pointless? He knew it wasn't the best course of action, but it was the only one he could take. He was lost. Professor Goodwitch had recommended him to Shade Academy to continue his training, but he had declined. He didn't care about being a huntsman anymore. All he just needed to find Cinder and run her through with his sword, then he would finally be happy.

Levi had spent the last three months gathering intel. Rather, he had tried to. There wasn't much about Cinder or her lackeys. It was clear they hadn't been students of Haven Academy, but that was seemingly the only lead. The underground didn't offer him much information either, anyone who knew her was either dead or a member of the White Fang, and he didn't want to bring attention to himself. So he decided to head to the only place he could get reliable information, a nightclub near the Factory District of Vale.

Despite everything that had happened, Juniors was still open for business. It had thankfully survived the attack, in fact, this sector hadn't even been attacked. It was why the low society members of Vale along with less than desirable people hung around here. This club was for entertainment, yes. But everyone knew Junior had shady dealings and connections to others in Vale. it was this knowledge he was banking on. He slowly made his way into the club, ignoring the thumping music and the gaudy lights that were reflecting off the walls.

"How anyone can come here and enjoy this shit is beyond me." he thought, as he tugged on his hood. He kept walking forward, making his way toward the bar. He spotted Junior's goons standing around the club, all of them glancing at the cloaked man who was slowly moving forward. He stopped in front of the bar, placing a hand on his hip as he looked at the barkeep, the owner himself. He looked up from the mug he had been watching, his demeanor changing a bit.

"What'll it be stranger?"

"Harvey Wallbanger," he replied, earning a chuckle from the man.

"That's a fancy drink, you got an ID on you?" he asked, only for Levi to place 50 Lien on the bar. Junior picked it up, briefly looking at it through the light before stuffing it in his pocket. "You're a man on a mission, ain'tcha? You walked straight here, didn't even bother to check out the ladies."

"I'm in the market for information, had I come to enjoy the dancing I would have started krumping on the dance floor the second I walked in," he said, adopting a smirk. "Then again, your choice in music is shit, maybe add a little disco?"

Junior let out a laugh, as he finished adding the alcohol to the tumbler. He twisted both ends together, starting to shake the drink. "I'll have to run that by the DJ, he's the one who chooses our music. So… in the market for information eh? What kind of information?"

He stuck his hand in his pocket, pulling out his scroll. He flicked it open, showing the man the picture of Cinder Fall that had been put on the local news networks. "I've been doing my research on this bitch for the last three months. I've come out empty everywhere I look. The only lead I have is that she's from Haven Academy, but you and I both know it's bullshit. I wanna know everything. Who she works for, what her goals are and where I can find her."

Junior remained silent as he slowed his mixing to a stop. He grabbed one of the tall glasses beside him, pouring the orange-colored drink into it. He grabbed a knife and an orange, slowly beginning to slice it. "You don't want to mess with that broad, kid. Believe me."

Another 50 made their way onto the bar, causing Junior to quirk a brow. He snagged a hold of it, placing it into his jacket. "I don't know exactly who she works for. Some shadow organization that doesn't have a name. I do know she made deals with the White Fang, some sort of coup d'etat that led to the destruction of our fair city."

"The White Fang have all but disappeared from Vale, sources indicate they've moved operations to Menagerie, with several members heading to Mistral. Do you know anything about that?" Levi asked firmly.

"Can't say I do. I don't have any direct lines to the White Fang, all I know is that they are planning something with Haven Academy. Likely the same thing they did to Beacon. Rumor has it, they want to destroy the Huntsman Academies. For what reason, we're not sure." Junior said, sliding the drink forward.

"Okay… what about Cinder Fall? Do you know where she's located?" he asked. Junior shook his head, glancing away from the teenager.

"Fraid not, Stranger. All of our networks were cut the moment Vale was attacked."

Another 50 slid across the bar and into his pocket. "But… I do know one thing. She and that Adam fella, of the White Fang, were seen together in Northern Vale not long ago. That was before the Fang moved out and Cinder disappeared. If Haven Academy is the target of the White Fang, then you can most likely find her there."

Levi remained silent, letting the information sink in. It wasn't a lot to go on, but it seemed everything was pointing toward Mistral and Haven Academy. He took a long sip of his drink, sighing contently as the burn of the alcohol and the tang of the orange juice woke him up. He set the glass down on the coaster, looking directly into Junior's eyes.

"Your bodyguards, The Malachite Twins, they're freelance workers, right? Part of Lil' Miss Malachite's Organization. A network of agents working out of Mistral. How much do you want for them?"

"I'm sorry?" the man asked, tilting his head in confusion. "The Twins aren't for sale."

"I'm not looking to buy them, I'm looking to buy their services. Do you actually think I'm gonna go to Mistral all alone? I'm not that stupid. My aim is to kill Cinder, not to die by her hand." he said firmly.

"Well, for you to purchase their services, you'll have to talk to their benefactor, who also happens to be their mother. I seriously doubt she'd send her only children on a suicide mission to kill Cinder Fall. You best look for someone else." he said, briefly glancing at the other side of the bar, a small smile on his face. "In fact, there's someone here who might fit the bill. She's over there."

Levi followed to where he was pointing, to a dark part of the club. A booth that was barely being illuminated, but thanks to his night vision, he could see the figure sitting at the table. He grabbed a hold of his drink, thanking Junior for his information before heading toward the table. He avoided walking on the dance floor, not wanting to disturb the people who were attempting to have a good time.

He took a long drink from his glass, the cool drink washing down his throat, making him shudder a bit. He came to a stop in front of the table, glancing down at the person who sat alone at the table. "This seat taken?"

The figure, a woman, looked up, shaking her head. He sat down across from her, snagging a coaster from the center of the table, placing his glass on it. He settled into his seat, leaning forward a bit. "I'm in need of someone with a particular set of skills. Someone who can assist me on a personal mission of mine."

He pulled out his scroll, sliding it across the table. The woman snagged it before it fell, staring at the picture of Cinder Fall on it. Her hand shook a bit as she glared at the image, anger slowly filling her. She set the device down, flicking it back to the young man.

"My sources indicate that she's going to be in Haven Academy, and is likely somewhere in Mistral right now. It might be a lot to ask but I need your services. I don't care who you are, I don't care who you have killed, but this woman needs to die." he said, reaching inside his cloak, pulling out a bundle of Lien, placing it on the table. "20,000 Lien, as a start. You'll get the rest when we kill her."

The woman grabbed a hold of the cash he had given her, running her finger on the edges of the folded bills. She slowly stood up, moving in front of Levi, the soft light illuminating her face. His eyes widened a bit in surprise, as he recognized the woman in front of him. She tipped her hat back, placing the money back onto the table. She reached inside her pocket for her scroll, hurriedly typing out a message, holding it out for him to read.

"You don't have to pay me. I've been meaning to go after her myself, I'll do it for free."

He finished his drink, setting the empty glass down. He gestured for her to follow, slowly exiting the club. The pair kept walking down the street, moving toward a nearby alleyway, away from any prying eyes or ears. He lowered his hood, his ears wiggling around a bit as the cool air washed over them.

"Why are you after her?" he asked, arms crossed over his chest. She typed out her response, holding the scroll out to him.

"She's the reason my closest friend is dead. Because of her, I will never be able to see him again. She forced him to work for her, forced him to do a lot of bad things for her, and in the end, he's dead and she's not. That's why I want to kill her."

"Who's your friend?" he asked, causing her to shake her head. She deleted what she had written, holding out a new message.

"What happened to you, Levi? I thought you were a Huntsman? Didn't Beacon send its students to the other academies?"

"They did, I didn't join them. As to what happened," he paused, glancing up at the broken moon above them. A few birds flew overhead, crows if he were to hazard a guess. "Cinder led that attack on Vale, she killed our Headmaster. She killed Pyrrha Nikos, a friend of mine. Not only that, but she also got my teammates killed. Aria and Cadence are dead, Sonata is in Atlas in a coma, and my mother…"

The expression on Neo's face was one of sadness and understanding. She reached out to him, grabbing a hold of his arm, squeezing it lightly. He looked down from the sky, looking directly into her eyes. They were a solid brown, unlike the first time he had met her.

"It doesn't matter, I knew one day something might happen and I would be alone. I just didn't think it would come so soon. I trained for a future that now doesn't exist. I don't think I'm ready to save people, I don't think I ever was. But I do know that more people will die if Cinder isn't stopped. Which is why I want her and her lackeys dead."

Neo nodded, once again typing out another message. She held it out to him, a bright smile on her face. "Well, you aren't alone now. Your friends and your mother were killed by her actions and my friend died because he was forced to work for her. We have a common goal, so let's work together to bring her down."

Levi said nothing, adopting a firm look on his face. He hadn't spent much time with Neo, but he did know she was a good fighter. She had spunk, and she was good company. She had a good reason to join him as well. She was alone, because of Cinder, just like he was. That was all the reason he needed to have her on board. He gestured for her to follow, the pair walking down the alleyway.

"I have some things in my house that I need to pick up. We'll be able to head out as soon as possible. My sources indicate that Cinder's most likely whereabouts are in Mistral. So we'll have to head there ourselves." he said, opening his scroll. He tapped on his map application, launching it. Thankfully, Kingdom-Wide communication had been restored, but only locally. Much of Vale was still cut off from the outside. "Rather than taking a boat here in Vale, I think it's easier for us to take one from Port Vista. It'll take us a while to cut through Vale, but it's much better than the alternative."

Neo looked at the map, seeing the route he had created. From southern Vale, they would have to cut through the village of Sumire, through Cairn, and finally to the coast. She looked up at him, pointing to Sumire.

"Yeah, I know. Sumire was destroyed after the attack on Vale, the place is likely crawling with Grimm. But without anyone around, it's likely they've moved on. Cairn was overrun before the attack on Beacon, so it should be relatively safe for us to cross. Honestly, it isn't the Grimm that bother me, it's the traveling bandit groups and other people that have sprung up after the fall." he said, retaking his scroll. "Since these villages were abandoned, some have been reclaimed by people. Bad people."

The ice creamed themed girl shrugged her shoulders, not at all looking worried. She typed something on her scroll, holding it out to him. "I eat bandits for breakfast. It'll take a lot more than that to scare me, Levi."

"Excellent, I'm happy that you are so enthusiastic about this. We should leave Vale as fast as possible. Professor Goodwitch has been trying to find me for the last few weeks and I don't need her to figure out what I'm doing."

It didn't take them long to reach his apartment, the same house where he and his mother had been living. Neo felt a little sad being back here, remembering what had happened the last time she had. It had been the day her partner and only friend had been confirmed dead. Where she had lost everything she had in life. She could tell it had also been the day when Levi's previous life had ended, judging by how he was acting. He came down from the upper level of the home, strapping a backpack onto his back.

"I hope you don't mind carrying shit," he said. She shook her head, following him into the kitchen. He handed her a messenger bag, which she unzipped, eyes widening in surprise. It had been filled to the brim with supplies, and yet it felt as light as a feather. It was white in color, with glowing blue lines. She looked up, pointing at the bag. "Oh, yeah. Atlas tech, I took it from that flagship we were in. It's given to medics on the field, so they have everything for emergency situations."

She slung it around her shoulder, giving it a soft pat. Grabbing her parasol from beside her, she held it close, ready to fight if necessary. Levi spared one last glance at the house, giving it a silent goodbye before moving to the living room. He scooped up all of the pictures that had been placed on the mantle, stuffing them in his backpack. Tucking the key into his pocket, he and Neo left the house, locking up behind themselves.

"This is your last chance to do something in the city, we're likely not going to be back for a while," Levi said, earning a nod from Neo. She tugged on his sleeve, pulling him along. There was indeed one last thing she wanted to do before they left.

xxx

They found themselves on a cliffside, two miles or so outside of Vale. The only thing they could see were the large mountain ranges to the southeast, along with the sharp rocky bluffs that lined the northern edges of Sanus. The only thing ahead of them was nothing but the open ocean. Levi wished to ask why Neo wanted to come here, but he felt it wasn't his place. The moment they had arrived, she had started gathering rocks.

She was making some sort of mound, piling up smooth rocks to create a small tower. After a while, he decided to help, looking around for the best-looking rocks he could find. She gave him silent thanks, as she continued her work. Finally, after about an hour, she had created her small tower. She reached behind her back for something, a cylindrical-like device. With a press of a button, it extended outward, taking the shape of a cane. She stabbed it into the ground, using the last few remaining rocks to keep it pinned, resting against the small tower.

"This belonged to your friend, right?" he asked, causing Neo to stand up. She gave him a nod, pointing to the bowler hat she was wearing. "I'm sorry for your loss, Neo."

She gave him a small smile. She looked around for a moment, picking up another rock, handing it to the young man. She pointed to the tower, and then to him. "You want me to put a rock on it?" he asked, earning a nod from the woman.

He reached over to the tower, placing the stone on top of the tower, closing his eyes for a moment. He brought his hood down, running his fingers through his hair as he patted it down, attempting to ignore the wind that had picked up. He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath.

"Fear no more the heat of the Sun, Nor the furious winter's rages; thy worldly task hast done, home art gone, and ta'en thy wages."

Neo looked up at him, slightly confused as to the words he had just spoken. He shook his head, swiveling on his foot. "We should go, Neo. I've already buried my mother, and my teammates were taken to their homes in Atlas and Mistral. I've got nothing here. I'm certain your friend is in peace wherever they may be."

She spared another glance at the stone tower, along with the cane that had belonged to her friend. She gave her friend a soft wave, placing her bowler hat back onto her head. She caught up to Levi, walking beside him, keeping her face forward. Though she was sad, she knew she had to leave it all behind, if she wanted a shot at the one who had lead to his death.

xxx

"We should be close to Mt. Sanus, it'll take us around a month or so to travel through the mountain pass. There's a village located near the peaks. It's one of the most well-defended places in all of Vale. Once we make it there, we should have no issues reaching Sumire." Levi said, closing his scroll.

Neo gave him a thumbs up, returning her attention to the pot she was stirring. The pair had been traveling together for a week. The city of Vale had been left behind, as the roads turned into dusty worn paths. The terrain had been mostly rocky, the evergreen trees stretched out for miles, providing them with a natural barrier against the Grimm. In fact, they had only faced off against a few creatures on their travels. But it was likely that would change, the further they ventured into the unclaimed territories within the Kingdom of Vale.

Their camp was kept small, they did have a tent but only used it for days when it was raining. Most nights they slept out under the stars. It made it easier to grab their weapons should the need arise. Things had been rather calm, and that had been very worrying. Being in the middle of nowhere, cut off from the kingdoms or emergency services, made Levi rather anxious. Thankfully, his scroll could connect to Neo's, and as long as the two were near each other, the Infrared connection would keep them in contact.

"Let's hope it doesn't rain, eh? I really don't feel like setting up that tent," he said, holding back a laugh. Neo rolled her eyes, taking her spot back on her log. She typed away on her scroll, pressing the speak function.

"Got any more stories to pass the time?"

"I can tell you more about my team, I suppose. If we're going to be working together we may as well get to know each other, right?" he asked, leaning back against the base of his chosen tree. He glanced up at the sky, stars twinkling high above. "Oh, there was this one time me and Aria had a spat in the cafeteria back at Beacon! All because of a jelly donut."

Neo closed her eyes for a moment, rapidly blinking in confusion. She gave him a weird look, her brow quirked high, lip quivering slightly. He rolled his eyes, scratching his neck a bit.

"It's uh… much better if I explain it to you."

(Flashback, Beacon Academy, Seven Months Prior)

"I'm telling you, Sona, everything will be fine," Levi said, as he stepped inside the cafeteria, followed by his teammate, Sonata Piccolo. The blue-haired girl seemed rather unsure of herself, as she tugged on her tie.

"I'm not so sure. I mean, the dance is the highlight of the year at Beacon. Our performance last year was rough. It's why we've been practicing so much, but you know how Aria gets. She needs everything to be perfect. It's why I'm so nervous about everything." she said, causing Levi to sigh.

"You need to focus on yourself before you listen to whatever drivel comes out of Aria's mouth. I seriously don't know what goes through her damn head sometimes. Doesn't she know forcing you to do things her way is not the right way to go about things?" the faunus asked, leading his friend toward the lunch line.

"It's just the way she is. She was raised in a family that was very demanding of their children. She is the future leader of her clan and has to be a bit rougher than you or I." Sonata said, accepting the tray her friend had given her.

"Ah yes, because I don't have it just as rough. Imagine being the son of a famous huntress, who expects you to follow in her footsteps and be the best you can be. Imagine being in an academy where they expect you to try your hardest and you always have someone younger looking up to you." Levi said, sighing. "All I am saying is, everyone has their reasons, but I'm not a dick because of my personal problems."

"I know, I know. Just… try to see things her way from time to time. For me?" she asked, giving him a bright smile.

"Yeah yeah, alright. I'll try to be nice about the performance. But I get to sing this time around, no ifs, and, or buts. I didn't get Cadence to quit her afternoon ballet for me to sit on my ass the whole night." he said, returning his gaze to the lunch line. "What do you think? Meatloaf and Mashed or Mac and Cheese?"

"Depends, does the mac and cheese come with bacon bits?"

Levi's ears wiggled a bit as he looked around, his eyes scanning the freshly made bowls of mac and cheese. He spotted a pair that was decorated with little bits of bacon. He snagged them both, placing one on Sonata's tray, taking the other for himself. "That's a solid yes."

"I love this place. It always has the best food, you would think Atlas in their all-knowing wisdom would create better-tasting food. But I swear the food they served in Eden Academy was shit."

The young man let out an audible gasp, placing a hand on his heart. "My dear Sonata, how dare you sully your speech with such inane drivel? You are among the elitist of elites from Atlas! Surely your palette just isn't refined as you'd have thought."

"Ha, my ass. I assure you, my palate is as refined as they come. I just didn't care for processed meat and steam peeled carrots." she said, dropping some jello onto her tray. She eyed the star-shaped strawberry-filled donut that was left, attempting to snag it, only for Levi to sneak past her. He wiggled his tail under her nose, causing her to sneeze, allowing him to take the donut for himself. "Ah… LEVI!"

"You sneeze, you lose!"

"It's snooze, you damn house cat!" the blue-haired girl cried. He grabbed their utensils, looking around for a moment. He spotted his partner, Cadence, sitting by herself, engrossed in a book. He started moving toward her table, a smile on his face.

"Come on, let's keep our favorite Ballerina a bit of company."

"Ahem."

Levi stopped mid-stride, ears twisting slightly as he caught an all-familiar sound. Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted his team leader, Aria Blaze, standing behind them. Sonata let out a startled cry, almost dropping her tray to the ground. "A-Aria! W-when did you get here?"

"You cut in front of me. I was in the middle of an engaging conversation with the lunch lady when you two took one of the bowls of mac and cheese I was after. Not only that, but you took my donut." she said, towering over Levi, who was much shorter than her. "I can forgive the mac and cheese, but I want that donut."

"Pfft… how about no?" Levi said, leaning back a bit. "I don't know about you but your name isn't written on this donut. So no, I won't be giving it to you. You can wait until fresh ones are either made or delivered."

"I am not taking no for an answer, Levi," she said, holding her hand out. "Donut, now."

"Um… A-Aria. Perhaps you should let Levi have it, there are other snacks. I mean… There are slices of carrot cake. Don't you like carrot cake?" Sonata asked, trying to diffuse the situation. The silver-haired woman glanced down at the bluenette, her cerulean eyes glaring into her very soul.

"What do I look like to you? A rabbit faunus? I hate carrots. I've been eyeing that donut since I came into the cafeteria. I claimed it. It is mine. Now give it to me." she said, her voice firmer than before. Levi grabbed a hold of the plate, raising the donut up.

"You want this donut?"

"Yes."

Rather than hand the plate over, Levi slowly stuck his tongue out of his mouth, dripping a bit of saliva onto the donut. He licked the edges of the pastry, taking a bit of the pink frosting, and sprinkles off one of the points. "Mmm… strawberry."

Aria let out a growl, pulling her foot back. She kicked Levi's tray with all of her strength, sending it flying up. Levi and Sonata could only watch as his food started falling. The wolf faunus jumped up in an attempt to grab the donut, only for Levi to grab her leg, pulling her down forcefully. He stepped back, the food clattering onto the ground, making a mess of the clean floor. He held his tail out, expertly catching the donut.

Having been splattered with mac and cheese, an angry Aria swiftly got up, throwing a punch at Levi, who dodged it with ease. She followed with a right hook, and then a haymaker, spinning around for a kick. The young man had no trouble dodging all of her attacks, a grin on his face.

"Come on now, leader. I thought you were supposed to be the strongest of our team, are you going to let little old me stop you from enjoying your treat!?"

"Why you!"

Aria let out a furious scream, taking a step forward. She threw an uppercut at Levi who managed to dodge it, her left hand attempting to grab the donut. He caught her hand with ease, throwing the donut at a nearby table. He picked his leg up, driving it into her chest, sending her back into the wall with so much force that it cracked.

Deciding to take things seriously, Aria activated her aura, dashing toward the young man with great speed. She threw an aura-enhanced punch at his abdomen, which he was quickly able to dodge. He jumped over the lunch-line rail, landing on an empty table. Aria followed after him, throwing a kick at his leg, which he managed to avoid.

He decided to start fighting back, using his arm to deflect an incoming punch. He followed up with a strike to the jaw, her head snapping back from the strike. He swept her off her feet, quickly grabbing her throat, slamming her to the table with all of his strength. He jumped back, using a handspring to create some distance.

"Ah! You son of a bitch!" Aria shouted, spinning around like a top. She was on her feet in seconds, racing at the young faunus, who jumped back in time. She leaped into the air, aiming an axe kick at his head. He rose his hands up, forming a glyph above him. He solidified it with Hard-Light Dust, creating a solid shield.

Sadly, Aria had placed too much force behind her kick, his shield shattering as if it was made of glass. She threw a punch at his face, causing him to fly back into a table. "This is the last time you mess with me you little shit!"

Levi reacted quickly, grabbing a nearby lunch tray, using it as a shield. Aria's fist connected with it, denting the tray, almost folding it in half. He used his elbow to strike her in the face, following it with a hit to the side with the lunch tray. He threw a flurry of quick punches at her chest, following it with a haymaker to the face. He spun around, throwing a kick to her chest, sending her flying back into a table that broke under her weight.

"Ha! Better luck next time, leader."

"Hey! Uh… look, I don't know why you are fighting but do you still want this donut?" someone asked, causing the two to look in their direction. A blond boy, first year, Levi was blanking on the name at the moment.

He sprinted forward, causing the boy to scream, dropping the donut in his grasp. Levi dove forward, catching it before it hit the ground. He sighed, slowly getting up, holding it above his head in victory.

"Yes! This one is mine! Better luck next time, Aria!"

The wolf faunus however wasn't having it. She planted her feet firmly on the ground, taking a deep breath. Levi's eyes widened a bit when he saw her chest puffing out. He folded his ears down, just as she let out an ear-shattering howl. The visible waves could be seen erupting from her throat, shattering the glass and wooden tables in its path. Levi didn't stand a chance, being sent flying back along with everyone else that had been in the cafeteria. Aria cut off her howl, a look of satisfaction on her face as she saw Levi on the ground, the remains of the strawberry donut splattered all over his uniform.

"If I can't have it, no one can!" she cried victoriously.

"What is going on here?!"

Aria cringed, slowly turning her head to see a very angry Professor Goodwitch standing behind her. She stepped back a bit, swallowing the lump in her throat. She looked around, seeing all of the destruction she had caused with her semblance. The students who had been in the cafeteria were groaning in pain, some screaming because they couldn't hear anything. Levi forced himself to his feet, clutching his head in pain.

"Ugh… I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING!"

"Do you mind explaining what is going on here?"

"WHAT?" he shouted, as he looked at his professor, rubbing his faunus ears. "I'M SORRY PROFESSOR! YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK UP!"

"Miss Blaze, take yourself and Mr. Athan to the Headmaster's office immediately, do I make myself clear?" the blonde woman asked, earning a nod from the wolf faunus.

"Yes Professor, sorry Professor. This won't happen again," she said, tail dropping along with her bowed head. Professor Goodwitch pushed her glasses back up her nose, a firm look on her face.

"I would certainly hope not. Now go," she said angrily. Aria grabbed a hold of Levi's sleeve, pulling him along, muttering several swears under her breath. Even if she had said them out loud, she doubted her teammate would even hear her say them.

(Flashback ends)

"We got detention for a week after that. Not only that, in order for us to learn discipline, Professor Goodwitch didn't use her semblance to pick up the broken tables. We had to do that all by ourselves, bring new ones from storage, and set them up. The only thing she actually fixed was the glass windows." he said, holding back a laugh.

"Only you would think fighting for a donut is a good idea." Neo's scroll chirped, causing him to sit up a bit.

"Hey, it wasn't my fault. She was the one who attacked me after all. I mean sure, I shouldn't have taunted her, but she was being a dick." he said, sighing. "In hindsight, I should have just let her have the donut. Then again, we did have a heart-to-heart at the end of the week. I bought her an entire dozen of those same donuts and she ate every single one of them."

"A well-earned prize. Especially after the ass-whoopin', she got." the scroll said. He shook his head, ignoring the smirk on Neo's face.

"I suppose."

Neo set her scroll down, moving toward the cooking pot. She wasn't a world-class chef, but Roman had liked her food. She hoped Levi would too. She only had enough ingredients for a simple stew, since they hadn't run into any villages in a few weeks. She pulled away from the flames, letting it down on a small portable table Levi had managed to pack inside her supply bag.

"That smells amazing, Neo. I should have had you cook for us instead of digging into the canned stuff." the young man said gleefully. She gave him a wink, kissing her fingers in typical chef fashion. "Let's dig in. My mother always said food is best when it's still hot."

As he was about to reach for his utensils, he heard a branch snapping in the distance. His ears wiggled a bit, his body freezing as his instincts took over. He could hear the leaves rustling, as well as movement, breathing. Neo looked up from what she was doing, seeing the odd look on his face. She noticed his ears twitching every odd second, causing her to reach for her parasol.

"Don't move, act normal," Levi said softly. Neo gave him a slight nod, reaching for the ladle she had been using previously. He placed a pair of bowls next to the pot, subtly drawing his weapon. All the while he kept an ear perked, listening to his surroundings.

There were a few of them, ten or so, and judging by their movements, they were very close by. He couldn't hear what weapons they had, but he had heard the hammer of a gun being pulled down. They were waiting for the right moment, but Levi wasn't going to give it to them.

"You know, my mother also said that eating in good company made the meal taste better. Would certainly be a shame if it had gone to waste because we had bad company," he said, tightening his gloves. He cast a light orange glyph under his feet, the outer runes spinning rapidly. "Of course, that would be if we let bad company join us!"

The glyph exploded, sending him flying forward as if he had been shot out of a slingshot. He drew his blade as he did so, slicing clean through a tree, taking one of the bandits that hid behind it off guard. He dug his heels into the dirt, springing back in the opposite direction. He flicked his wrist, opening fire into the tree line, his bullets easily tearing through the trees.

"Move in, Move in!" he heard one of the men cry, causing the others to move forward. Neo opened her parasol, just as one of them started shooting at Levi. She spun around, using it as a shield, easily deflecting all of their bullets. She lowered it, just as Levi sprung forward, slicing his weapon apart.

He swung his elbow into his face, kneeing him in the gut, followed by a downward slash of his weapon. He spun his blade around, pulling the trigger as he did so, the recoil of his energy round strengthened his slash, sending the man flying back. He knelt down, allowing Neo to use his leg as a springboard. Spinning her parasol around, she hooked it around the man's neck, tugging him down full force. She twirled around in time to block another volley of gunfire aiming at Levi.

"Let them move in, when they do, we shatter," he said, earning a nod from the woman. She tucked Hush in a little closer, activating her semblance. "Oh no, I'm out of ammo! Shit!"

"Get them!" the lead bandit cried, racing at the pair. Neo let out a silent giggle, covering her mouth with her gloved hand. The large, broadsword-wielding bandit jumped into the air, bringing his sword down with a shout, only for the pair to shatter into pieces.

"What the hell?"

Levi let out a laugh as he sprung forward, swinging Shiva with all his strength, freezing the man's legs in place. He jumped back, firing a volley of fire bullets at him before jumping back, letting Neo knock him out with her parasol. The pair moved in, systematically taking down the remaining bandits, having taken them by complete surprise.

Neo moved in on the last remaining bandit, striking the man with her leg sending him back into the tree. She planted Hush's ferrule into the ground, using it as a crutch allowing her to kick the man right in the chin. She stepped back, just as Levi dashed past her, driving his aura-infused fist into the bandit's forehead, breaking his aura and knocking him out cold. He let out the breath he had been holding, taking a few steps back.

"Excellent work, Neo," he said cheerfully. He grabbed ahold of her messenger bag, digging his hand inside. "These asshats might actually net us some Lien. We were running a few hundred short."

Neo rolled her eyes as she grabbed the rope he had given her, using it to tie up a few of the bandits. Once she made sure they had all been secured, she started gathering their effects, tossing their weapons into a pile. She sat down in front of her plate, grabbing a hold of her spoon, her hand sifting through the bag she had recovered from one of the bandits.

She pulled a diamond ring from inside, silently whistling at the size of the rock. It glittered brightly under the firelight, her eyes widening a bit as she admired its beauty. She set her spoon back in her plate, sliding the ring onto her ring finger.

"Looks good on you," Levi said, sitting across from the young woman, taking a hold of his own plate. "Too bad you have to give it back."

Neo pouted her lips, giving him a puppy look. "Now listen here missy, don't you give me that look. A good huntsman returns stolen property so that their true owners can get them back."

She glared at him but decided to relent. She wasn't about to blow her cover after all. She slid the ring off her finger, stuffing it back inside the bag. She grabbed her stew, deciding to focus on her food and not on the stolen goods they had recovered. Grabbing her scroll, she typed out a brief message, holding it out.

"What will we do with these guys? We're nowhere near the authorities."

"We'll tie em to a tree and be on our way. We're keeping the stolen shit though, and their weapons, the last thing we need is for them to get free," he said, finishing the last of his food. He grabbed their dirty dishes, placing them in a bag. "I know we're tired but let's pack things up and get them tied up. The faster we move away from here, the better."

She adopted a frown but figured that was the best course of action. After all, sleeping with bandits was not her idea of fun. She helped her friend pack things up, making sure their camp had been broken down. When it was, they started moving the bandits toward the trees, trying them up with the thickest rope they had.

"Hgn… what's going on?" one of them asked, slowly coming to. Neo struck him in the jaw with Hush's handle, returning him to the land of sleep. Levi cringed a bit but figured it was better than having him make a racket.

"Alright, they're all bound to the trees with their hands and legs tied up. Let's grab their weapons and get out of here. The fire will burn itself out sooner or later." the faunus said, grabbing three of the swords they had brought. Neo took the large broadsword, along with the three firearms that had been used. "Let's hope they don't have friends surrounding us."

Neo gave him a deadpanned look, briefly wondering why he had even said that. It had been enough to put a spring in their step. It seemed it would be a sleepless night for the pair.

"So you're saying there are ten bandits fifteen miles south of here all tied to evergreen trees. They attacked you and your lady friend, you handled them and took their weapons and their stolen goods?"

"That's right sir. It happened two nights ago, we tried to get here as quickly as possible but we were caught under a storm." Levi sheepishly said, his ears pressed against his head. His tail had remained still as he talked, partially hidden by his cloak. The Vale Military Officer quirked a brow but jotted it nonetheless.

"Right… you are aware that leaving bandits all alone to the elements is a form of torture?"

"What? Dude, they fucking attacked us, tried to kill us. Who cares if they are strapped to some trees? We took care of it!" he said firmly. The officer remained uninterested, as he looked through the bag of items Levi had placed on the desk.

"Hmm… a few of these items were reported stolen. I recognize this watch as the one from the Mayor of Sumire, a town ransacked by Grimm after the Fall of Beacon. Alright, I shall send a detainment to the area you have specified. Upon their subsequent identification, you and your friend shall be rewarded." the man said.

"Thank you, sir, that's all we ask." the faunus said happily. He turned around, starting back to where he had left Neo.

"Dumb cat." the officer mumbled, grabbing the bag of stolen jewelry. Levi let out a sigh, deciding to keep his comments to himself. He exited the Station, meeting up with his friend, who had been waiting outside.

"Well, Neo, I reported those bandits. The guy said he was going to send some soldiers out there to pick them up," he said, causing the young woman to turn around. He shook his head, still getting used to her new appearance. "You know, I don't get why you disguise yourself."

At present, his friend was dressed in a sleeveless black crop top with white frills. She was wearing a matching skirt and long heeled boots. She had exchanged her pink and brown hair for black twin tails, held up with white ribbons. She had even changed Hush's look, making it look like a simple black umbrella. Even her eyes had changed, into a dark emerald green. She looked completely different than before.

She stood in front of him, looking up for a brief moment before showing him her scroll. "I'm not comfortable around other people. I usually disguise myself in case someone recognizes me."

"Ahuh… and why would that be?" he questioned, causing her to shake her head. She clearly wasn't going to answer that. He sighed, glancing down the street, toward the large mountain range in front of them. "Well, the good thing about making it to Mt. Sanus is that we can probably hitch a ride to Port Vista."

He pulled the paper map he had bought at the store on their way into the city. The pair had been expecting a small village at the foot of the tallest mountain in Vale. They hadn't expected a full city, protected by the Vale Military. He wasn't even aware a city existed at the base of this mountain. The map he had been looking at on his scroll was apparently a dated one and didn't show any recently built cities. Thanks to the Grimm, cities like this would spring up and disappear almost constantly. They were just lucky.

"Even if we don't catch an airship here, it'll take us a month or so to make it down to Cairn. After that, we would be traveling alongside the coast until we reach Port Vista. From there we can take a ship to Anima." he said, showing her the map. She deleted her previous message, quickly tying a new one.

"Let's hope we can catch that ship, eh? It'll take us even longer than a month to reach Mistral on foot," she said, earning a nod from the man.

"You're right, we'll keep our hopes up. Once those Vale officers get back with those bandits, we can make use of the money and get some more supplies. We have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. I'm kind of glad I have enough dust to last me a while, that's one less thing I have to spend money on," he said, rubbing his neck.

"Can we at least spend some of that money on food ingredients? I can cook better with proper ingredients, not berries we managed to find off of a bush." she wrote, earning a chuckle from the young man.

"Sure, sure. Let's hit the market, I have some allotted funds for food and supplies, we'll check in with the Vale Military in about an hour or two. Once we have our money we can decide what to do next, depending on if there's a ship that can take us to Port Vista or not. We'll just keep marching forward!" Levi said cheerfully. Neo gave him a soft clap, having hooked Hush to the crook of her elbow.

The pair started moving toward the inner part of the city, taking in the sights. Even though they had made excellent time, it was barely a quarter of their journey. Their thoughts drifted back to the woman they were hunting down, along with their personal vendetta against her. They had gotten lucky so far but who knew if that luck would stay on their side. Levi briefly looked up at the sky, spotting a few crows flying above them.

"They say crows bring bad luck, let's hope that isn't the case. That's something neither of us needs right now." he thought, as he spared a glance at his partner, who had been entranced by a few things on display. He shook his head, forcing a smile onto his face. "There's no need to worry, things will be alright."

Taking a deep breath, he gestured for Neo to follow, pointing to a nearby food stand. It was better to focus on what was in front of them, and take things as they came. It would be a long journey, but it would be worth it.

A/N: Well, here's another chapter down. You finally get to see how Levi has changed since the Fall. This is the first of many things he will go through as he learns to accept what has happened and eventually moves on. He also gets to meet up with someone he hasn't seen in a while and eventually becomes his very close friend and future partner. This journey will show how Levi and Neo learn to work together, trust each other and eventually let go of the past, and focus on the things that matter, like defeating Salem for one. This will bring with it a slew of other changes, as well as various other fixes to the plot in general. Also, if time seems a bit off, it's because RWBY doesn't have a timeline, and it makes it hard to keep events flowing accurately. Believe me, I have done a lot of research in order to keep things nice and neat but it is nigh impossible. So time skips will likely make things a bit harder to keep track of. Another of the many things RWBY seriously needs to fix. Also, please excuse the minor mistakes. While I do use Grammarly, it doesn't catch everything. Even though I read and reread this chapter, I might have missed some things. I'll be going back to change those mistakes in time. I have been told in the past to get a beta reader but I honestly don't trust many people with my stories haha. It's just a personal preference.

Regardless of that, I hope you guys are liking this so far. I am having a lot of fun writing it, and it honestly feels good to finally get this story down on paper. It has been a long time coming after all. Whelp, that's it for now. See you all soon!