Everyone are gathered outside of the gates to the Atlesian Military base on the island off the coast of Argus.
Yang puts her hands on the bars of the gate to speak to the guards "Come on! You didn't even hear us out!".
"Our orders are clear: The Mistral-Atlas border is closed!" One of the Guards said
"Please!" The other guard began
"Have a good day!" The first one finished.
Yang tried to speak "But-".
Both Guards interrupts her "A good day!".
Novus starts to walk forward but is stopped by Qrow, who steps forward instead "Hey, if you don't wanna believe that I'm friends with Ironwood-".
Both Guards interrupts him "General Ironwood!".
Qrow blinks before sighing "Yeah, General Ironwood, then fine. But look, we have Weiss Schnee with us and we're trying to get her home safely. If that doesn't do it for ya, then how bout giving the Novus Sureya here a try; he's friends with the General too."
Weiss looks down with reluctance upon hearing Qrow say that. The two guards look to each other before turning their attention back to the group "Approach!" Weiss shares a look with Blake, who just shrugs. Weiss and Novus then walks up to the gate and the two guards step up and bend down to inspect them. One of them makes the mistake of looking Novus in the eyes, and starts back in fright at the fire he saw within. After a moment, both guards stand straight back up in sync "Very well!".
Guard 2 "You may speak with our commanding officer!".
Guard 1 "We will fetch her at once!".
The two guards turn around in sync, and chant "Hup hup hup" and "Atlas Atlas Atlas" as they run to get their superior.
"They were... kind of-"Blake began.
"Super weird? Uh, yeah" Ruby finished for her.
"You mean absolutely stupid?" Julius asked.
Hector shook his head in disappointment "I can't believe we were afraid if these guys back in the Fang."
"Hmm..." Maria suddenly mumbled in a thinking pose.
"What's wrong?" Oscar asked.
"Well, I... may know this commanding officer..." Maria answered.
"That's good, isn't it? If she's your friend, then maybe she'd be more willing to help us" Ruby suggested.
"I wouldn't exactly call us... friends" Maria said.
"Acquaintances?" Weiss asked.
"Not quite" Maria said.
"Colleagues?" Blake asked.
"Warmer" Maria said.
"Enemies?" Yang asked.
"That's the one!" Maria said happily as she finally remembered.
"Wait, what?" Oscar asked, confused.
"Oh, yes. I come through here about once every ten years to get my eyes checked up in Atlas. You bring outside cashews on one flight, and suddenly you're placed on the additional screening list for life!" Maria said, clearly angered by all that.
"You've gotta be kidding me..." Qrow said in clear annoyance.
"Now, now, let's not give up hope yet. Maybe she's dead!" Maria said in a hopeful tone.
Hector gave Maria a skeptical look "I'm starting to question your mental stability."
Suddenly, the gates open up quickly, and the two guards return.
Guard 1 "Introducing!".
Guard 2 "Special operative!".
Both Guards "Caroline Cordovin!".
Footsteps can be heard approaching before a short-statured elderly woman around Maria's age wearing the standard Atlesian officer uniform walks up.
Cordovin steps forward and glares at Maria "Witch".
"She-devil" Maria shot back.
Cordovin glanced at the rest "Hm. I've seen you've chosen larger contraband to smuggle this time".
Maria smirked "Oh, Cordo. You know they say time changes people, but I see you've still got that stick right up your-".
Ruby quickly interrupted Maria before she could say something stupid "H-hello! Miss, uh, Cordovin. My name is Ruby Rose, and I was wondering if you would hear us out about-".
"I've already heard what your other little friends had to say, Miss Rose" Cordovin interrupted before she looks behind Ruby, noticing Jaune, Nora, and Ren standing a little ways away behind the group "What are you doing back here?! I thought I told you to leave!".
Nora tries to charge forward, only to be held back by Ren and Jaune "And I told you we wouldn't rest until you let us through!".
Ren nervously smiles and waves "Nice to see you again as well!".
"You civilians are clearly incapable of comprehending the importance of our mission here in Argus. So allow me to say this slowly, with smaller words: This base, that relay tower, the very safety of Argus are all gifts from the glorious Kingdom of Atlas! And it is my duty to uphold them, as only I have the wit and tenacity for such a task" Cordovin said with the amount of pride that made even old Weiss from back when they first met, look humble.
Guard 1 "Such wit!".
Guard 2 "Such tenacity!".
"Or maybe Atlas just wanted to get you as far from the kingdom as possible" Maria corrected. Julius, Hector, and Novus all shared a stifled laugh at Maria's comment.
Burn Summer jokingly said.
Cordovin growls "You're just like the rest of these Argus ingrates! This city wouldn't even be here if it weren't for our Atlesian ancestors, and what do we get in return? The entire world is ready to put a knife to our throats!".
"Please, we know your kingdom had nothing to do with the Fall of Beacon. We were there" Ruby said, trying her best to defuse the situation.
"No one's happy about the Atlas borders or embargo, but I know General Ironwood is just worried. It's why we need to talk to-" Weiss began but was once again interrupted.
"The General is no coward! Atlas is strong. If all the kingdoms plan to make us their enemy, then so be it! Atlas will prevail!" Cordovin said, her pride growing by the second.
Both Guards "Atlas will prevail!".
Yang looked unimpressed "Do you guys seriously have to do that?".
Cordovin sighs, before managing a forced smile "If Miss Schnee has truly come to her senses and wishes to return to her family, then, of course, the Atlas military will escort her home. And I have indeed heard of you and your connections with the General, Novus Sureya, so I guess you can be allowed to pass as well. But the kingdom will not be responsible for your friends of... questionable character" She glances at Blake specifically upon saying her last statement.
Julius glares at Cordovin, his eye flaring orange as he growled, "Watch it, lady..."
Weiss also gained in a hostile tone "Yeah, what's that supposed to mean?".
"It means we're done here" Cordovin said before the gates to the base are shown closing quickly, leaving the group outside once again.
"Oh yeah? Well, your face looks... like a big dumb boot!" Nora snapped.
Jaune deadpanned "Way to show her, Nora...".
Weiss looked down "I don't...".
"Weiss. I told you we wouldn't leave your side for a second. We'll find a way to Atlas. Together" Ruby assured as she places a hand on Weiss' shoulder. Weiss smiles and nods back at her friend. Qrow starts to walk away "So... where are we going now?".
"Yeah, what's the plan?" Nora asked.
Qrow had a bitter tone "The plan? The plan just got shut on our face three times over. I'm going for a drink".
Ruby did not look happy with that and rand over to her uncle "Uncle Qrow, I really think we should try and come up with something..." Qrow walks away before she could finish "...Together".
"What's his problem? It's not your fault we can't go on" Jaune said.
"If he's gonna be a jerk then we'll just come up with something without him. I mean, we've got Ozpin with us! He usually knows what to do" Nora said, trying to lighten the mood.
Upon hearing this, Oscar looks down sadly.
Ren noticed this "What is it?".
Julius looked concerned "It's probably better if we explain that back at the house."
Back at Saphron's home, Jaune punches the wall in rage, leaving a very large crack in it.
"Jaune!" Ruby said, unhappy about his sudden action.
"Everything we did was for nothing!" Jaune said, clear anger in his tone.
"That's not true" Blake tried to argue.
"Really? Cuz it sure does sound like it" Nora said also angry.
"I, um..." Blake began but could not find the words.
"If Salem can't be killed by any of us, then how are we supposed to win this?" Ren asked, while his tone was calmer than his friends, he made it clear he was just as unhappy about this as they were.
"WE don't need to kill her" Julius explained, "We just need to release the one who can."
Everyone remains silent until Jaune spoke in a sarcastic tone "Wow... Great plan everyone!".
"Look, none of this is great, we know. But we're not the bad guys here" Oscar said, trying to calm everyone down.
"Are we sure about that?" Jaune asked in a hostile tone.
"What?" Oscar asked, sounding worried.
"He's in your head, isn't he? Did you already know about this?" Jaune asked as he angrily walks over to Oscar.
"He didn't know any of it!" Weiss said in slight panic.
Jaune walks over to Oscar, only for Hector and Novus to hold him back.
"Easy now, Jaune" Hector advised, "There's still a chance we can figure this out."
"How much longer can we even trust him?! How do we even know it's really him?! What if we have been talking to that liar this whole time?!" Jaune snapped, his anger going out of control.
Suddenly, Julius whipped out one of his revolvers and fired at Jaune's armor. The bullet bounced off, but it did get Jaune's attention.
"That's enough!" he shouted, an angered expression on his face "Jaune. I get it. You're angry. And you have a better reason than most of us here to be mad. But don't start taking your anger out on us. It never ends well."
Jaune glared at him "Yeah, you would know that. Right?".
Julius's expression turned to one of surprise, before changing to one mixed with hurt and anger. Jaune realized what he had just said and looked like he wanted to apologize, but he was just too angry to say anything.
Blake had to fight the urge to strangle Jaune for his insensitive comment as she stood up "Julius-".
"Don't bother, Blake" Julius said, "It was gonna happen sometime."
Jaune then goes upstairs. A door can be heard opening and slamming shut. Yang dared to ask "Is he... gonna be okay?"
"I don't know!" Nora snapped as she gets up and leaves.
"I think it would be best if we had some time to ourselves." Ren said before he leaves and heads upstairs as well.
Ruby decided to go outside to call Qrow... who was likely too drunk to even pick up his Scroll.
Safe to say, this day couldn't get any worse... Or so they thought. Not to long after... Oscar went missing.
…
In the Land of Darkness at Salem's keep, Emerald is sitting on the floor while Mercury is training around the room with punches and kicks.
"I hate being kept in the dark like this..." Emerald said.
"Yeah, Cinder was a pain, but at least she kept us filled in" Mercury agreed as he continues training.
Emerald glanced at him "Can I ask you something?".
Mercury paused for a moment before he continued "You're gonna".
"Why did you come with us, the night Cinder and I found you?" Emerald asked.
Mercury stopped training "Why are you asking-".
"Just answer the question" Emerald interrupted.
"Just made sense" Mercury said as he began training again.
"It made sense?" Emerald asked, a little confused
"All my life, my father trained me to be a killer, an assassin like him. And then moments after I killed him, you two showed up looking for someone with my exact skills. Just felt like it was meant to be" Mercury answered.
"That's it?" Emerald asked incredulous.
"Hey, what's your problem?" Mercury demanded.
"I mean, there has to be something you want from this, right?" Emerald asked.
"Salem's promised us everything. We win this thing for her; we'll be top dogs in her new world. What more do you want?" Mercury asked.
"I just..." Emerald began and sighs "Cinder was the only family I ever had. She cared about me, taught me things... But without her here, I don't know if what we're doing-".
"Wake up, already..." Mercury interrupted, Emerald looks at him in shock upon hearing this "Cinder doesn't care about you! She doesn't care about either of us!".
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Emerald argued.
"You're in denial. And if you're gonna start having a crisis of identity or some crap... keep me out of it" Mercury said. At this, Emerald angrily jumps forward and starts to attack Mercury with punches and kicks, but he dodges them and catches her wrist "I'm sorry you didn't have a mommy that loved you, but I had a father who hated me!" Mercury shoves Emerald back a bit. She takes a defensive stance as he slowly approaches her "He never went easy on me! Every day of training was a beating. And when I unlocked my Semblance, he stole it with his!" He throws a punch and a kick at Emerald, who dodges them, while he quotes his father's words "This is a crutch! This makes you weak! He told me I could have it back when I was strong. So I got strong, but I never got it back! I've had to work harder than anyone to get where I am. You may not like it here without Cinder, but I think I'm right where I'm supposed to be!".
Suddenly, the two hear a certain laughter. Tyrian steps out of the shadows with his new metallic scorpion tail "Oh yes, the world is mean, and I'm a big, bad man now just like the others".
Tyrian laughs and Mercury growls as he angrily walk over to him "How long have you been standing there?!".
"All you ever learned was pain and violence, and now you're too afraid to leave it. Such a tragedy" Tyrian mocked.
"You don't know me!" Mercury tries to kick at Tyrian, but he dodges and kicks Mercury back. Tyrian holds him down to the ground by keeping his tail at a short distance away from Mercury's face.
"Hey!" Emerald snapped.
"Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh. I want to tell you both a little secret. Your question is all wrong" Tyrian said before he laughs a little.
"What?" Emerald asked, confused.
"What do you want from this? Children, please, if you're not loving what you're doing, then you're in the wrong field" Tyrian said.
"So, what? Are you saying we should just leave?"
Tyrian let out a mock gasp "Oh no, no, no, no. You can't do that".
"Then what did you come here for?" Mercury demanded.
"To say farewell. There's been a change in plans. Her Grace must act swiftly if we are to prevail. If General Ironwood comes to his senses and calls upon aid from Vacuo, all may be lost for us! And so the good doctor and I are being sent to Atlas... to prepare" Tyrian explained.
"Prepare for what?" Emerald asked.
"Tyrian!" Watts can be seen at the end of the hallway leading into the room "It's time".
Tyrian steps off of Mercury, who gets back up on his feet "Do what makes you happy children... please? I'm begging you..." He smiles evilly as he holds his new tail out threateningly, with purple liquid venom dripping from the stinger's tip.
Tyrian walks away towards Watts letting out a little chuckle. Emerald and Mercury watch him leave with disgusted looks.
…
Back in Argus, everyone was out searching for Oscar. Hector and Novus had split off on their own while Julius went off with Jaune. After a long while of searching in vain, the two sat down on a bench to rest.
"I don't get it" Julius said, "Where could he have gone?"
"I don't know," Jaune replied, "but we gotta keep looking."
Just then, an orange leaf falls in front of them, directing their attention to something in the middle of the park. As they walked over to look, they noticed that it was a statue of Pyrrha, honoring her. A plaque at the bottom read:
In honor of Pyrrha Nikos
One of the many students to fight valiantly at the fall of Beacon
Both Jaune and Julius begin to tear up at the memories of their friend and begin to leave.
"It's really beautiful, isn't it?" asked a voice. The two looked to see a woman with short, red hair and green eyes and glasses standing next to them and holding a bouquet of flowers.
"Yeah" Jaune said, "Why here?"
"She trained here. Sanctum Academy" the woman replied, "everyone was crushed when she chose Beacon over Haven. No one wanted to see her go, but it was where she wanted to be. I'm just glad she was surrounded by such amazing people."
The two looked in surprise at the woman, realizing she must be Pyrrha's mother, which explained how she knew them.
Jaune looked down sadly again "She should be standing here."
"She is" the woman said, "She understood that she had a responsibility to try. I don't think she would regret her choice, because a Huntress would understand that there really wasn't a choice…and a Huntress was what she wanted to be."
There were a few moments of silence before Julius let out a sniffle "I'm sorry."
"What do you mean?" Jaune asked.
"I was there" Julius said through his tears "I tried to hold Cinder off and give Pyrrha a chance to get out, but I wasn't strong enough."
Jaune quickly figured it out "That's when Cinder threw you off Beacon Tower."
Julius nodded with a sniffle then looked at Pyrrha's mother "I tried everything. I'm sorry. She was a great fighter to the end."
The woman brushed a tear from her eye "Thank you."
Jaune put a hand on Julius shoulder "You did your best, and right now, that's all that matters."
"Jaune!" Ren called from behind them as he and Nora ran up. Jaune looked to the, then returned his attention to the memorial, noticing the woman had left. Ren and Nora ran up next to Jaune and Julius, noticing the statue themselves.
"I'm sorry" Jaune told them, "I've been a terrible leader, and a terrible friend, and…"
"Jaune" Ren said, "This has to stop."
Nora added "We…heard what you said to Cinder back at Haven. You can't keep beating yourself up about it; we love you. We're a team; family."
"We don't want to lose you too." Ren said.
Jaune nodded, then turned to Julius "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. You're a great person, and Pyrrha couldn't have had a better friend to protect her at Beacon."
"He's right" Ren said, "You may not have started out great, but it's who you've become now that matters."
Julius nods and smiles to the others "Thank you, but it still doesn't change that I couldn't save Pyrrha."
The four look back to the statue as Nora speaks "You know, Pyrrha may not be here anymore, but we can fight like she is."
Jaune smiles "Then she still is here. Right, Julius?"
Julius smiles "Yes, she is."
He decided not to mention that he could just then see the shimmering form of Pyrrha herself standing next to Jaune. She had a hand on Jaune's shoulder, then noticed Julius, as well as the figure of Summer next to him and nodded with a smile.
She was deemed worthy Summer said, impressed That doesn't surprise me at all.
Worthy? Julius thought.
Summer replied Only those who were strong and pure of heart are allowed to become Spirit Guardians.
Then she definitely deserved this. Julius thought.
"We should be getting back." Ren said, "We can meet up with the others back at the house."
The others nodded in agreement as they left the memorial.
…
Ruby is looking down with a look of disapproval on her face. She lets out a disappointed sigh as Yang speaks "I've never seen him this bad".
Ruby, along with the rest of Team RWBY, Novus, Hector and Maria, find Qrow passed out on some stairs leading up to a house.
"Come on, let's get him up" Ruby said as she and Yang grab their uncle's arms and sit him up.
Qrow groans and rubs his eyes "Why am I on the stairs?".
"Probably because no one's home, Uncle Qrow. We've been out looking for Oscar" Ruby said, clearly annoyed.
"Oscar?" Qrow asked confused. Novus shakes his head in disappointment.
The group hears footsteps. They turn to see Jaune, Ren, Nora,, and Julius, as well as Saphron and Terra, who is holding Adrian in her arm, walking towards them. The two mothers look at Qrow.
"I'm sure this looks great to the neighbors" Terra said sarcastically and Saphron lightly elbows her while Jaune and his teammates walk up to the group.
"No luck?" Ren asked.
"No, you?" Blake asked.
Julius shook his head.
"Don't worry, we aren't going to Atlas without him" Jaune said.
"We?" Ruby asked, with hope in her voice.
The three Team JNPR members share a smile before Jaune looks at Saphron "Sorry we won't be staying".
Saphron smirks "No you're not".
"How about we get out of the cold?" Terra suggested.
The door to the house is heard opening. Everyone gasps in shock as a familiar voice is heard "Oh, I was wondering when you'd get back".
Oscar stands at the doorway, now wearing a fancy green coat, making everyone shout "OSCAR!".
Nora screams in joy as Oscar initially has a confused look on his face, and then one of comical terror as the eight students all leap forward and tackle hug him. Now inside the house, Ruby helps Oscar up as everyone shares a laugh.
"You had us worried sick!" Weiss said.
"Are you okay?" Ruby asked.
Nora grins at him "What are you wearing?".
Oscar smiles and rubs the back of his head "Uh...".
The rest of the group steps into the house as Terra speaks "Is something cooking?".
"Oh, uh, yeah. I thought you guys would appreciate a hot meal after... spending all day looking for me, apparently" Oscar said.
But then Jaune decided to get something of his chest "Oscar, I am so sorry for earlier. I was way, way out of line, and what I said-".
Oscar holds up his hands to stop him "No, it's okay. These past few days, I've been scared of the same things you were. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be... me. But I did some thinking, and I do know that I want to do everything I can to help with whatever time I have left".
Jaune smiles "Good. This team isn't the same without you, Oscar".
Everyone shares a smile. Suddenly, a smoke alarm goes off and Oscar gasps "The casserole!"
Saphron giggles "We're on it, chef".
Saphron and Terra step into the kitchen to take care of the cooking.
Then, the group notice Qrow walking up the stairs causing Ruby to speak sternly "Where are you going now?".
"I don't want to get in the way of your celebration" Qrow said.
"You've been gone all day! Just sit with us" Ruby said, clearly being fed up with Qrow's distant attitude
Qrow sighs "Look, Ruby, I'm glad you kids worked out, uh, whatever all that was. But the fact is, we're not a single step closer to Atlas".
"Actually, I think I have an idea. But... it's sort of a "no-going-back" kind of idea" Jaune said.
Hector chuckled "My favorite."
"Well, let's hear it" Ruby said.
"With Cordo on watch, only Atlas airships have the clearance to leave for Solitas. So... we... steal an Atlas airship" Jaune nervously shrugs at his last statement. Everyone gets shocked looks on their faces. Adrian giggles in Maria's arm.
"That's not just breaking the law. That's... that's definitely worse" Weiss said.
Hector rubbed his hands in glee "I like it."
"How would we even get onto the airfield?" Yang asked.
"That part I haven't quite figured out yet. But I-" Jaune began but Qrow stops him.
"Okay, stop. Just... stop! Look, if this thing goes south, it's not something we can just fight our way out of. This is the Atlas Military we're talking about" Qrow said before he sighs "For your sake, just drop this".
Everyone looks down with discouraged looks on their faces. Ruby notices this and turns back to Qrow with a determined look on her face "I want to hear him out".
Qrow looked at her "Ruby...".
"I want to hear him out!" Ruby snapped, finally having had enough of all doubts and gloom "I know you're trying to protect us, that you're afraid we can't do it, but right now, I don't really care what you think!" Qrow gains a shocked expression upon hearing this "Just because you don't have an idea, doesn't mean we're out of options! Oz hasn't been here to tell us what to do, but we still managed to get this far anyway. We've been in bad situations before, and we don't need an adult to come save us or tell us what to do. We just did it our way! And I say we do it our way. And if you think you can keep up with us "kids"... we'd be happy to have you".
Qrow looks down sadly but Maria just laughs "Looks like you didn't give her enough credit either".
Qrow doesn't say anything, he looks back to Ruby while she looks back at him determined.
Julius stands next to her "I'm with her."
Novus cracks his knuckles in anticipation; this was going to be FUN.