The party-ball was a typical one- balloons, streamers, DJs, people, tables, food, a (possibly) spiked punch bowl, the people who gather at the punch bowl, the people that don't want to be there but are there because their friends dragged them there, teachers, guards, politicians, shop owners, and all sorts of others. But the most noticeable people there were the DJs; both dressed up in tuxedos, one had a golden helmet with a black face while the other had a silver helmet that had a black visor. Both had their respective color gloves on. The one in the golden helmet nodded to the one in silver, who nodded back. They both moved to their respective places, and then they started up music- although it was already going, it was a special show for the two of them.

Silver's head snapped up from where he was navigating the crowds, hearing a familiar tune. "No," He breathed, and started trying to get a look at the DJs.

Kira looked at him strangely, "What're you doing?"

Spinning around, he asked, "Who are the DJs?"

"Uh, I think it was Daft Punk."

"Wait, Daft Punk?"

"Yeah, a music group that came out of Mistral recently. They've been pretty popular for some time."

Silver stared. Biting his upper lip, he muttered, "Well, then. It seems I need to keep up with the music now."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Back home they were a pretty good band. Made some pretty neat songs. I used to listen to one of them all the time." Well, that was interesting, Kira thought. She opened her mouth to say something, but Silver spoke before her, "Anyway, we didn't come here to talk about the DJs, we came here to show face for the OME."

"Yeah. . ." Kira agreed, "Say, what do you think the OME stands for, anyways?"

"Old Man Enterprises. Or, at least, that's what Thomas told me. I personally think it stands for 'Old Man Empire.' Honestly, they have this entire chain of businesses that span Remnant- it's more of an empire than the SDC."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's an entire thing- don't tell me you haven't looked up all of the businesses around the world, have you?"

She smiled sheepishly. Silver ran a hand down his face, then waved it, like he was batting away a fly. "Whatever. C'mon, let's go and mingle with the higher-ups." He shuddered theatrically, making Kira gain a little smile at his antics.

They slithered their way through the crowds, avoiding dancers and party-goers that were just standing around, and made their way to the sidelines. The sidelines were filled with the people who had already danced and were resting, the people who had just arrived, or the people without dates to the dance and weren't willing to risk dancing due to humiliation. Along these sidelines were two certain people who, admittedly, were evil. Of course, most of the people in the ballroom didn't know that, they only thought that they were just students from Haven Academy visiting for the festival.

Emerald Sustrai was a good thief. She had been her entire life, so when one man had caught her in the act, even seeing through her semblance, she was frightened. That, coupled with his eyes, made for something she was scared of. So, when she saw him again at the ball she was attending with Mercury, she had almost frozen in place, staring at him. But her training from Cinder prevented that, so she only froze for half a second before relaxing.

Taking a deep breath, she said to Mercury, "You remember when we were lost in Vale?"

"Ah, so you finally admit that we were-"

"Shut up and listen," She growled, glaring at him, "When we got directions from the store employee?" Mercury raised an eyebrow at her. "He's here. At the ball."

"Really? Where?" He glanced around, looking amused. Emerald was not.

She elbowed him. Hard. "Not the time. He's over there, talking with Ozpin. He has with him a girl that looks like the Belladonna girl."

"Oh?" he asked, then looked over, his face dropping into one of concern. "Oh. Uh, Ems, I think he noticed us."

Her heart was grasped in a cold, vice-like grip. Her eyes widened, but then Mercury said, "Oh, he just waved." Emerald felt more than saw Mercury's arm raise and wave back. "He seems like a nice guy," he commented.

When she had delivered the message to Roman, she had put on a brave front, but when confronted with the man himself, she was scared. It was like the walls were closing in, like nothing was going to- suddenly it vanished and she could breathe. Greedily taking gulps of air, she looked around. "Did- did you feel that?" she asked Mercury.

He looked at her concernedly, "Feel what?"

"The- the- nevermind, must've been something else. C'mon, let's go somewhere else."

Mercury side-eyed her, but relented, "Okay, then. Upstairs?"

She nodded, "Yeah, that might be best."

On the other side of the room, Ozpin raised his eyebrow as he felt the unmistakable feel of magic being cast. Specifically, from the young man right in front of him. He cleared his throat, "As I was saying, Silver, I appreciate you coming here today, in the stead of Thomas of the OME."

The young man in front of him nodded, "Of course, Tom said he had a few things going on and couldn't make it, so he asked me to. And how could I say no to a party? Ball? What is this officially called, Professor?"

Ozpin chuckled, "Officially, it's a ball; unofficially, it's party. And I have to say, Team RWBY did a good job designing it, too."

"Yes, it certainly has this feel of something that adults and young adults both can enjoy. Being calm, yet chaotic at the same time. Controlled Chaos, I think they call it."

"Yes, I believe so." He smiled briefly. "While it was nice meeting you, Silver, Kira, I'm afraid I must go 'rub elbows' with the other shop owners that have attended the ball."

"Oh! Of course, sorry to keep you, Professor Ozpin." Silver offered his hand, which Ozpin took in his own, shaking it. "We'll let you get back to mystifying the other attenders."

Releasing his hand, Ozpin smiled and left, walking through the crowds. His smile dropped almost instantly as he looked at his left hand, the one he shook Silver's with; he could still feel the faint traces of magic from contact. He had to study this in depth more- he hadn't thought that there were others that had magic; only him, the maidens, and her. Shaking his head of those thoughts, he brought up the smile once again and sought out another victim- er, person.

Behind him, Kira looked at Silver strangely, "What was that about?"

"Hecked if I know, Ozpin's a pretty mysterious guy," Silver replied.

"No, I mean the thing with the girl earlier."

"Oh, Emerald and Mercury? It was simple illusion and sense distortion on Emerald."

"Why not Mercury?"

"Oh, Mercury waved, Emerald didn't."

"That's- that's it? You just messed with her senses because she just didn't wave back?"

"Er, yeah?"

Kira buried her face in her hands, "Oh my gosh, Silver."

"What? What'd I do wrong?" he asked, confused.

Here! Here is the long awaited twelfth chapter!

Sorry it took so long, it didn't want to be written and i kept on hitting blocks while writing it, but i finally got it done! those of you who've watched me you've seen several books popping up, so there's also that, but hey, at least i got this done!

don't expect the next chapter anytime soon, 'kay?

-FreohrWK