When they all decide to return Raven brings up a good point perhaps it would be best if her and Vernal show up a day later while everyone is in school so she can try and explain everything to Tai. Yang while hesitant to let her mom out of her sight has to agree with the logic. When Zoro Ruby and Yang show back up they go inside only to see Tai right there waiting for them.

Tai "How did your adventure go? See anyone familiar?" he asks almost like he knows the answer already.

Yang "It was rather fun and yes I did. Turns out Zoro knows Raven and we where able to free her from her tribe like Qrow is."

Tai knew they had ventured to Ravens domain as Qrow had followed them but them freeing Raven that was news to him. "So what is she going to do now? It's not like she can still be a huntress."

Zoro "We had hoped to wait until tomorrow when she could explain this but we where hoping she and her ward could stay here. They would be under my protection and they would be my responsibility."

Tai is stunned by that "I suppose if she had a good reason I could consider it though I don't know where they would stay as we don't have any more room now that Qrow has moved in."

Yang and Ruby "Qrow has moved in! Why?"

Tai smiles at that reaction "Well the combat teacher at Signal had to retire so they asked Qrow if he could teach it and he accepted. As for why he is staying here well isn't it obvious he wants to be around you girls more"

They squeal with excitement as teenage girls are apt to do. Zoro looks at him man to man and says "I will simply move outside I don't sleep much anyway and it will make training easier. Besides I am used to sleeping outside."

Tai shakes his head but can't bring himself to say no. As mad as he has been at Raven all these years he can't say he isn't looking forward to seeing her. "Why don't you tell me how you and Raven met Zoro?"

Zoro explains how in his youth he wandered the world looking for worthy challenges and getting stronger. He explains how she tried to rob him but he defeated her after a brief flurry of blows. Then after he had earned her respect they had met up on occasion to fight and train together.

Tai smiles "That sounds like something Raven would have done. Tell her that she can come and talk to me and if I like what she has to say then she can stay."

Zoro nods and calls Raven. Shortly after he hangs up a portal opens up and Raven and Vernal walk out. Zoro takes the girls outside Vernal included so Raven and Tai can talk. After a time Raven comes out and tells them its all good and that they will be staying.

Once school starts back up we have combat class with Qrow.

Qrow "So we have a bunch of kids who think they know what combat is. Can anyone here tell me what it is like to be in combat?"

Zoro after waiting for anyone else to raise their hand and finding no one raises his hand.

Qrow "That doesn't surprise me at all Zoro. SO tell me what happened in the last real life and death fight you where in?"

Zoro "Well that's a tricky one I have to ask a clarifying question before I answer do you want the last one where I could have died or the last one fought to the death?"

Qrow "They should be the same but if they are not then the last one you could have died."

Zoro smiles "Well in the last fight where I could have died it was many years ago and frankly I'm surprised I didn't die in it. I was fighting a man who had never so much as been hurt but twice in his whole life. A man many considered to be a monster, who was considered unkillable. We fought and it was terrible I had to go all out and even then I barely managed to survive and wound him. He taught me many a thing that day he also gave me a great gift."

Qrow "that sounds about right. Those of you who have not experienced this hope and pray you never have to for if you do even the best trained among you might fall. Now who is ready for a lesson in what you will be learning in this class?"

Everyone but Zoro raises their hand and Qrow picks up on this but isn't surprised nor does he call it out.

Qrow "Well why don't we have a practical lesson on what I was just talking about? Zoro are you ready for our rematch?"

Zoro smiles at that "the real question is what happens when I win?"

This gets a lot of snickering and some angry glares from students. Who did Zoro think he was thinking he could beat the combat teacher.

Qrow is not shocked by the statement however "I take it then you have found replacements for what you where missing last time? To answer your question you get top marks and excused from the class for the year so you can do personal training."

Zoro nods his head "I have indeed. One is not mine to wield but I use it honor a friend. Those are acceptable prizes."

The rest of the class is shocked Qrow seems to have fought Zoro before and earned the mans respect. With that knowledge the room grows quite as Zoro walks down to the ring.

Qrow "I want them to see what real combat looks like so the rules are simple we fight until one of us surrenders. No ring out no aura depletion no first blood none of that fight to the near finish."

Zoro nods "I can agree to that just know it won't be me surrendering I didn't last time I wont this time."

After he says this he grabs out his weapons. Enma, blakes, and his spear sword scythe all ready. Enma in his mouth because it doesn't shift blakes in his left and his new one in his right in it's scythe mode. When Qrow see's this he can't help but chuckle a bit and shake his head at the man with a sword in his mouth. Everyone but Blake in the room chuckles as well but refrain from laughing when they remember Zoro can beat any of them with any weapon in under 90 seconds so he must have a point. Qrow pulls his weapon out and they begin fighting. Qrow assumes that since Zoro has his aura unlocked he will use some sort of semblance so he was surprised when he made contact and no aura flashed but his scythe much like last time simply didn't do anything. This was the opening Zoro needed as he launches the strongest attack he dares. He catches Qrow cleaand delivers a serious of devastating blows faster than anyone had seen him move. Suddenly Qrow is on the ground aura broken and bleeding from a dozen cuts. He looks up at Zoro "Very nice I yield. Youll have to tell me some time how your body is so strong."

Zoro "Perhaps some day I will. For now though I have training to go assist Raven with."

At the mention of Raven's name Qrow looks absolutely stunned. "Class dismissed your homework figure out how to beat Zoro due by the end of the year."

After everyone but Yang leaves he walks over to Zoro "What did you mean when you said you had training with Raven to assist with?"

Zoro "Raven Branwen has left the Branwen tribe and returned to Tai and Yang. She came with a young women about Yang's age named Vernal Raven is training her and I am training Raven so I guess I am training Vernal as well. Also they are staying with Tai."

Qrow isn't sure what to make of this never did he think he would get his sister back from those people. He can't help but wonder why she left but he knows he must talk to her about it. After class that day Ruby comes home happy as can be she is finally in combat school so why would she not be. Just like the year previous Zoro Yang and her go to train in the back yard only this year they are joined by Raven and Vernal and after a time Qrow as well.

This is how the next two years went. Tai and Raven eventually get back together. Qrow and Raven heal their relationship. Ozpin shows up from time to time making Zoro Vernal and Raven mad but they decide against saying anything directly to the man. Ultimately Yang Zoro and Vernal are all accepted into Beacon. Ozpin is looking for any excuse he can to let Ruby in early as well as he believes she would make a wonderful pawn just like her uncle and mother where. At some point no one is really certain when Yang and Ruby decide that Vernal and Zoro are family now and won't take no for an answer. Their reasoning if Vernal is Raven's apprentice and Raven is Yang's mother then Vernal must be family, Zoro they just kind of adopted after finding out he had no family of his own.

On Menagerie the tribe is growing. They are accepting both Faunus and non faunus really anyone with no where else to go. They are helping the fledgling combat school get off the ground. The first class is getting ready to graduate. It's only 4 kids but hey its 4 kids. Ghira is still looking for Blake to return though some days he looses hope. It's part of why he decided to become headmaster of the combat school. While he himself is not thrilled with combat he knows the necessity of it. He is treating those kids much like he would Blake partially because they remind of her partially because he wants them to be better. He is helping the tribe because he see's everything the White Fang could and should have been and is taking his lessons learned there and using them here.

A month before the start of Beacons year Yang Ruby Zoro and Vernal are all in the city all on different errands. Ruby is getting more Dust rounds for her awesome weapon. Yang is at the arcade with Vernal playing all manor of games. Zoro is at the Blacksmith picking up some special presents. When Zoro is done he heads back to pick up Ruby before they go get Yang and Vernal. Right as he turns the corner he see's ruby throwing a person who looks at first like Roman Torchwick out the window but his Haki tells him that it's not him but rather someone familiar. He does see Roman though and he see's Ruby go after him. He knows Ruby can handle Roman I mean she can handle Qrow. He walks over to the empty space where fake Roman was a second ago. "Neo show yourself I know its you no sense in hiding from me."

Neo drops her semblance and shows herself to Zoro. Shocked he remembered her after all this time.

Zoro "Stay there I want to talk to you. What are you doing with Roman and whats with the crazy hair and the umbrella?"

When she reaches for her scroll he begins to get mad not at her but that she seemingly can't verbally answer anymore. She types out that Roman basically kidnapped her dyed her hair this way makes her dress this way and use this stupid Umbrella as a weapon instead of the awesome weapon he gave her. She also explains that to ensure compliance he burned her vocal cords so she can't talk anymore. This only serves to make Zoro see red. That someone would torture a child like that. He takes out enma tells her to stay there he is going to go deal with Roman and he will return and she can come stay with him and his friends and perhaps he can recover her voice.

He walks over to where The fight just concluded only to find Roman in custody and Glynda there talking to Ruby. He knows this isn't good she just gave Ozpin the opening he needed to get her into Beacon early. He walks over to Glynda. "Miss Goodwitch I must ask that I and my friend accompany Ruby anywhere she goes from here and sit in on all interrogations as she is a minor."

Glynda "That can be arranged though interrogation is a strong word. I was mearly going to ask her to the station to help resolve some things we saw here."

Zoro nods his head "Good I will be right back with my friend then we can go." He walks over to Neo explains the situation. Neo is at first hesitant but then she remembers Zoro's power and that was 10 years ago he had to be stronger now. She also remembers the promise he made her when he gave her a present before he had to leave.

They walk over Neo choosing to glamour herself into better clothes and her natural hair color. When they get to the station they are all put into a room together. Ruby is introduced to Neo. Ruby explains what happened in the dust store and how she caught Roman. When in walks Ozpin with a plate of cookies.

Ozpin "I see young Ruby you have been keeping good company. Would you like a cookie?"
Ruby takes the cookies before Ozpin continues.

Ozpin "Based off of your test scores and tonight I would like to formally invite you to Beacon Academy early. I know its unusual but it has happened before and will happen in the future."

Ruby looks at Zoro almost asking if she should accept. Zoro speaks up "Can I talk to you outside Ozpin?"

Ozpin nods and they head outside.

Zoro "I know why you want Ruby in early. I have known you wanted her in ever since you first visited. That said I can make sure not do you not get her now but you never get her and loose several other students as well along the way. I will however look the other way on your reasoning if you accept a few terms I have."

Ozpin "Who do you think you are to demand anything from me? I have no idea what you are talking about."
Zoro "Her silver eyes, the fact she is Summer's daughter. The fact that you see her as manipulatable. As for who I am I am the man who destroyed the Branwen tribe, The man who bested Qrow in 30 seconds, it has been said I can not be hurt. I am the master of the three sword style and the greatest swordsman Remnant has ever had. If you wish to make an enemy of me know that I have powerful friends."

Ozpin is not used to being talked to this way nor is he used to people knowing his plans. "I remember reading your application. Now what terms do you have?"

Zoro "They are fairly simple really. My friend in there with me she will be attending Beacon as well. You will hire Raven as a combat or survival teacher she would be good in both. I get to pick my team. I get a dedicated training room for me and my chosen apprentices."

Ozpin "Your friend assuming she passes initiation will be allowed in. Assigning your own team I don't see why not within reason, you can not pick Ruby or Yang, the training area that's fine it will be yours. Raven teaching that will be a hard sell. I will have to work to make that happen but I do believe I can do that. Though I wish I had more time."

Zoro "Then Ruby graciously accepts your offer to attend Beacon academy. We will see you at initiation."

Zoro takes Ruby out and the three of them head to Tai's house. Once they get there no one is surprised when Zoro brings home another friend but they are when he takes her into the living room and begins rooting around in his bag. No one had seem him ever take anything but weapons out of it so why was he doing that in the living room. When he pulls out two vial's they are even more surprised.

Zoro "Now Neo drink this one and Rub this one your throat. If I am correct and I usually am this will fix all the damage done by Roman."

When Neo does as she was told she feels ice and then fire and then a soothing sensation. Then suddenly she feels as though everything is right in the world again. She opens her mouth to speak before remembering what Roman did but decides to have faith in Zoro anyway and so she thanks him and speaks for the first time in 6 years.