As the four stood ready for a fight, Emerald and Mercury were seen running from a gigantic bird, which they ducked down in order to avoid.
"Great. A Nevermore. I fucking hate those things!" Lapis said as Simin and Vella came running with a giant scorpion chasing them. "And a Deathstalker."
Mercury, Emerald, Simin, and Vella reached the others while holding the two monsters back.
"Ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo! This is gonna be nasty!" Nora grinned. "Boss, I'll take that bet on Cinder and make it 20 Lien on her and those other kids with her."
"Deal!" Yang said and the two shook hands.
Blake rolled her eyes then blushed as Yang wrapped an arm around her, causing Adam to frown at the sight. Jaune wrapped an arm around Pyrrha and Ren did the same for Nora.
"That Nevermore's circling back. Let's grab relics matching the ones Ragora, Lapis, Cinder, and Neo have then get to the cliffs." Simin said.
"He's right." Cinder said. "That's our mission and we have to finish it. We only fight those Grimm if it comes to it
"Just to give us an extra hand in case it comes to that..." Ragora started then used her Semblance to summon a purple floating head sporting the horns of a ram and a jaw lined with jagged teeth with a black and white sigil obscuring where its eyes should be.
"Whoa!" Mercury said.
"Okay, your Semblance is much cooler than mine!" Vella said as Simin picked up the other white rook piece and Emerald picked up the other white knight piece.
"Alright, let's go!" Cinder said then the eight started running to the cliffs nearby, but the Nevermore intercepted them.
"Damn it!" Lapis said. "That thing's blocking our path!"
The Deathstalker came up from behind them.
"Run!" Simin said and they all headed to the bridge in front of them but the Nevermore separated Cinder, Mercury, Emerald and Neo from Simin, Lapis, Vella, and Ragora, who had to fight the Deathstalker.
Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, and Neo looked at the Nevermore. "One-on-one, we can't put a dent in that overgrown chicken!" Cinder said.
"Then let's hit it all at once." Mercury said.
Cinder combined her swords into a bow and nocked an arrow in place then began firing the arrows in rapid succession. Mercury let out shots from his boots while Emerald fired her guns at the bird. They managed to stun it but had to dodge it as it crashed into the ruins they stood on.
"Anybody got a new plan?" Emerald asked then Cinder looked at Emerald guns.
"Those things have chains attached to them, right?" The amber eyed girl asked and Emerald nodded. "Then I have a plan."
The Deathstalker jammed its stinger into the bridge, causing Simin and those with him to run closer to it. Ragora and Simin kept the pincers spread apart and Lapis had her rifle on full auto and fired at the monster. Vella fired arrows at the base of its stinger, loosening it while Simin and Ragora were pushed back towards the others. Simin noticed the stinger was dangling and got an idea.
"Lapis!" He said as Lapis loaded a cyan colored crystal into the hilt of her sword.
"Done!" She answered then swung her sword to the right, sending out a hardlight wave that cut the stinger off.
Simin made a shield of ice Dust and looked at Ragora. "Ragora, end it!"
"Get clear!" She said then jumped onto her familiar then it gave her some extra power then she launched into a finial strike and unleashed multiple explosions after hitting the stinger while the others got off the bridge as it and the Grimm fell off the edge. Ragora's familiar carried her down to the others, who watched as Mercury relentlessly fired at the Nevermore.
He soon saw both halves of Thief's Respite wrap around the giant bird's neck. The blades stuck in the back of the neck as Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, and Neo pulled several times until the head came clean off.
Yang groaned, frustrated as she handed a grinning Nora the 20 Lien.
"What do you think, boss? Assets or trouble?" Roman asked Ruby and all eyes turned to her.
"Definitely trouble." Ruby decided then looked at everyone. "I think it's we might need to accelerate our plans just a little." She said then looked at Blake, Jaune, and Adam. "Meet me at the cuisine restaurant in two hours. Dress to impress, Blake."
The three nodded.
"What about me?" Roman asked and Ruby looked at him. "You have Dust heists to pull off. So get to it!"
He gulped and nodded. "Y-Yes, ma'am."
"Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Skye Lark. You four retrieved the black bishop pieces. From now on, you will work together as...Team CRDL, led by Cardin Winchester." Ozpin told a four man team then the latter four made way for the next team.
"Simin Megistus, Lapis Lazuli, Vella Moisia, Ragora Cinarum. You four retrieved the white rook pieces. From now on, you will work together as...Team SLVR, led by Simin Megistus." He told the four then they cleared the stage.
"And finally, Cinder Fall, Emerald Sustrai, Mercury Black, Trivia Vanille." He started then nonchalantly cleared his throat when he received a frown from Neo. "Neopolitan." He corrected then continued. "You four retrieved the white knight pieces. From now on, you will work together as...Team CMSN, led by Cinder Fall."
While the students took to celebrating, a car pulled up at a fancy restaurant. Blake stepped out, wearing a short, purple, asymmetrical, halter neck dress that was split up the right side and had a black collar with translucent black mesh covering her shoulders, decolletage and back, and decorative black swirls covering the left side of the dress and continue up the left strap. She wore black pumps to complete the look and she had on her Grimm mask as well. She had Adam and four other members of the White Fang with her. Adam wore his typical attire. She saw two members of the Black Rose waiting to greet her.
Adam had a hand on his sword, but Blake gripped his hand and he pulled said hand from his sword. One of Ruby's henchmen looked at her. "Miss Belladonna. Welcome. The Red Reaper is expecting you."
The White Fang members were lead inside and to a booth in a semi-dark corner that had two more members of the Black Rose and Jaune waiting. There sat Ruby wearing a short, red, sleeveless dress with a thick black sash around the waist and black trim along the bottom, with the bodice of the dress is split vertically to the sash and laced with black lacing and the yoke of the dress is transparent mesh with an opaque collar and hem, as well as opaque lines connecting the collar to her shoulders. She completed the look with black stockings and pumps. Jaune was standing nearby wearing a simple black tie suit.
Ruby looked up at Blake as she approached with a casual smile. "Ah, Miss Belladonna. I'm glad you accepted my invitation. Please, sit."
Blake took off her mask and sat down in the booth across from Ruby.
"So, the Red Reaper finally makes her appearance outside of her rosebud." Blake said. "The stories do you no justice, Miss Rose."
"So I've been told. Now, before we get started, I'd recommend the sushi."
Blake ate some of the sushi as Ruby continued, "I've called you here because I understand the White Fang needs more firearms. I can provide you with that, but I'd like something in exchange."
Blake looked at Ruby after swallowing a bite of the sushi. "And what might that be?"
"Some of your men. See, I need this kingdom running scared and Dust prices to soar. And while I will admit my men are resourceful, some aren't as competent!"
Blake saw Ruby's men flinch a bit in her peripheral. "You see, Miss Belladonna, this deal works out perfectly for us both and I personally believe this partnership could grow. I already have the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company looking the other way about the Dust robberies, too."
Blake considered the terms then decided to sweeten the deal a bit. "If you truly have Miss Schnee looking the other way so you can take it, then I want 50% of the Dust you take from Vale."
Ruby stayed calm as she considered it then smirked and raised a glass of wine. "I do believe this is the start of a beautiful partnership."
"Hear hear." Blake smirked and the two clinked their glasses together and took a sip.
That's chapter five
And to clarify, yes the dresses Ruby and Blake wore are the same ones the wear to the Dance at Beacon in Volume 2
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