AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for all the support this series has gotten here and on Tv Tropes. We are now jumping ahead a few hours to discover were the teams from this special operation will be head next. At the end, we get a little look back at Clockwork Academy as some new guests arrive. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

Chapter 56 – Licking Wounds

Adam.

"…Ugh…" Adam groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. He discovered himself in an infirmary bed, but then discovered Musashi sitting nearby.

"Jeez, took you long enough." Musashi said before eating a mouth full of noodles, "I had to keep reheating your bowl because you wouldn't wake up." She said with one of her checks puffed with food but pointed to a bowl of noodles to his right at a nightstand.

"Huh?" Adam looked on with a dumbfounded expression, then heard another voice.

"You should eat." He looked over to discover it was Sienna, whose cape now covered her left arm, "While you're doing that, I can inform you of what happened on the mission."

"I see," Adam said before sitting up and taking the bowl, "You must have told the others already."

"Yes," Sienna responded, "You've been asleep for hours." She said with him taking his first bite of the noodles, "The nurse wondered if you would ever wake up. But now that you have, I can say that the mission was a full success."

"So, nobody died on our end?" Adam responded, "And our enemies have been eliminated."

"Exactly, and we recovered each body of the White Fang Killers." Sienna responded, "Despite a few close calls, every one of us managed to live another day." She said before walking over to Adam, "While you were recovering, we had a meeting to discuss the next phase of operations. I contacted the remaining bases and informed our brethren of the new joint military program for Apocrypha." She said before sighed, "Some were on board with the idea after I informed them of what has happened. However, other admins are being stubborn and will require me to meet with them to go over our new role. So, Caenis, Sigurd, and I will leave for those bases and bring them back to Apocrypha."

"I see," Adam said as he looked to Sienna, "I assume you want me to uphold my end of the bargain?"

"I would, but your friend there suggested an alternative." Sienna said with her and Adam looking to Musashi, who was still slurping up noodles, "To convince more of our brethren of the change, having the two of you around would help to lead by example. So, you will be coming with us."

"I think that would go over well," Musashi said, "Plus, I will be getting paid for my work instead of owing the military like before."

"Yes," Sienna said before reaching into Adam's bowl, taking one of the roasted tomatoes.

"We have to leave soon, so when you're done, we can all meet at the airships." She said before eating the roasted tomato and walking out of the room.

Adam was still speechless for a second before turning back to Musashi, "You didn't have to do that?" he spoke, "I was content with going back to jail for my past crimes."

"Well, I wanted an easier way to see you than visiting a cell." Musashi responded, "This lets me keep an eye on when I need to." She said before smiling, "Which reminds me." She said before removing her eyepatch, causing Adam to gasp, "Tada, I got my vision back!"

"They healed your eye!?" Adam commented.

"Yeah, I guess it happened when Nightingale was healing you. And mine wasn't as damaged as yours was." Musashi said with a smile, looking into his eyes with her own, "She told me about how you asked to get your eye healed because you knew it would increase your chances of saving me."

"I…" Adam spoke with his face slightly red, but then sigh, "I couldn't lose you."

"Hehe," Musashi giggled with a smile, "Thank you." She said before the two continued to eat their noodles, "So, if I asked you a question, would you answer it like before."

"I suppose so," Adam responded, "What is it?"

"Well," Musashi spoke with Adam's heart rising, "Should I keep the eyepatch? I mean, it does make me look really cool. And I got a few more with neat designs." She spoke with Adam's expression going more deadpan, "What? I don't want to throw them out. They were on sale for buy one get one free."

"You don't need it anymore," Adam responded, then had a slight smile form, "Just like I don't need my mask."

"Yeah, you're right," Musashi responded with a smile forming as the two continued to eat their noodles.

Blake.

In the bathroom, Blake looked at herself in the mirror before closing her eyes. She radiated a purple aura before her grey hair started to darken. Once her eyes opened, her hair was now the stark black color it was before, "Finally." Blake said before seeing Yang and the Malachite twins near the door.

"So, you can do the hair change thing too." Yang said with her arms crossed, a smirk on her face, "Bit of a copycat move."

"Thanks for your advice on how to change in back," Blake responded, "I much rather this way than with a bottle of dye." She said with the blond brawler giggling, then turned to the Malachite twins, "I take it our contract is over now."

"Yep, that little blond girl also gave us a nice bonus for helping with this mission," Miltia responded.

"She offered us a role as her new bodyguards, but we refused." Melanie added, then smirked, "We need a break from these life or death battles you huntresses do."

"You get used to it." Yang responded, "So, what are you gonna do now?"

"We're going back to Vale, there are still some things we need to clean up regarding The Club." The white twin answered, "No use sticking around here, we'll be leaving right away."

"I understand," Blake responded, "Take care."

"If need any help, just let us know," Yang added.

"Will do, Blondie," Melanie spoke before winking, then walking away.

Yang smirked back before looking to the red twin, "You know, Junior didn't like you for wrecking his club." Miltia spoke, "But he didn't hate you, and said he would have been fine hiring you on work in The Club if you asked."

"Really?" Yang responded, "I always thought I could make a good DJ."

"I think a bouncer fits you a bit more," Blake commented.

"Hey, I'm not that simple," Yang responded, her arms crossed, "I could learn how to mix drinks and be a bartender too."

"Anyway, I just wanted to say that before going," Miltia said before waving, "See you around." She said before running to catch up to her twin sister.

Blake and Yang waved as well, "You know, she does remind me of Ruby in a way." The blond brawler commented.

"Yeah, I can see it," Blake said before the two went down the halls together.

Weiss.

In the airship dock, Weiss walked with Reins, "So, do you intend to go with Sheba to Atlas?" The Princess of El-Melloi asked, "Your part in the mission is over." She said before having a look of worry, "Are you still afraid to talk to your family about what happened to Winter."

"No, in fact, I already called my mother." Weiss responded, slightly looking down, "That was… a very overdue talk." She said before looking back to Reines with a smile, "But I let her know about everything Winter did for the betterment of Remnant." The White Heiress said before having a slight chuckle, "And I told my mother that a friend of mine was coming to help her and let my father and brother know. That way, she can prepare for things without them interfering." She said before looking off to one of the airships, seeing Nightingale wheeling Nobu on. Before the hatch closed, the Grimm Archer turned back to Weiss with a smile and a wink.

"I see," Reines said with a smile, she then looked over to Sigurd walking over with Caenis, "I need to talk with them about the dust bombs in the mountain." She said with Weiss nodding as the Princess of El-Melloi walked away, "Did you run a seismograph of the location."

"I did, as well as a sonar scan as deep as Gram could reach with its pulsations." Sigurd responded, handing her a stack of papers, "The pattern was irregular, but seemed to slow down."

"Whatever was behind that wall, it might have blown up with it." Caenis added, "In any case, we stopped them before they could place all the charges the way they wanted."

"It would seem so," Reines said as she examined the papers, "Still, I want to run some more tests, so I will remain here for the time being."

"The does not sound safe, you will be the only one here," Sigurd commented.

"I have my reasons and I know the risk." Reines responded, then turn to Sigurd and Caenis, "Priority for you right now is finally establishing the army to protect Apocrypha in case the worse does happen."

"Right," Sigurd responded before adjusting his glasses, "But be careful."

"You can count on us," Caenis added, "I'll make sure the other bases see reason." She said before noticing Sienna walking up, "I'll go talk with her for a bit before the others get here." The White Fang Champion said before leaving.

Sigurd nodded before looking back to Reines, "If you are in danger, do not hesitate to inform us." He said with her nodding back. The King of Warrior went towards his airship as Reines flipped through the sonar graphs again. However, her eyes widened at something she noticed.

Yang.

Yang and Blake walked out of the hallway and into the airship docks. They went to Weiss before the trio saw Adam and Musashi walking up as well. The five each stood in silence, not sure of what to say in this situation. However, the blond brawler extended her left hand to the White Fang swordsman. The others slightly gasped, but Yang had a soft smile on her face. Adam smiled back before extending his arm to accept the handshake.

Suddenly, Yang's eyes flared red before she clenched her left fist, punching Adam in the gut. Adam's eye bulged out in agony as he was at a loss of breath. The blond brawler pulled back her arm as the White Fang swordsman fell to one knee.

"Yang!?" Weiss exclaimed, "What are you doing!?"

"What? The mission is over, right?" Yang responded, "I've been holding that in for a long time."

"Well, did you get it out of you?" Blake questioned.

"If I say no, can I punch him again?" Yang asked with Blake scowling, "Fine," She sighed then looked back to Adam, "We're cool now."

"Then why are your eyes still red?" Adam asked with Yang smirking back, causing him to stand up before turning to Musashi, "I will wait on the airship." He said before slightly hobbling away while holding his abdomen.

Musashi had an uneasy giggle before turning to the three girls, "So, where are the three of you going now that we are all set."

"We're going to see Ruby," Blake answered, "With Achilles' Chariot, the four of us will get there in no time."

"Oh, I don't think I ever met her before," Musashi commented, "Where is she? Maybe I can come by the visit afterward."

"She's at a new school being organized." Weiss responded, "It's called Clockwork Academy."

"Huh?" Musashi said before crossing her arms, "Why does that sound familiar?" Suddenly, her mind flashed back to the moments in the cave, causing her to gasp, "Oh no!"

"What is it?" Yang asked.

"The people working with the White Fang Killers," Musashi responded, "They said that was their next target."

"WHAT!?" Weiss, Blake, and Yang all exclaimed.

Ruby.

Outside the school walls, Ruby clashed weapons with Illya, her Harpe against the Ruby Wand, "Now, visualize what want to make." Ruby said with Illya nodding closer her eye. However, Ruby reposed her chain scythe, allowing her to create an opening. The pink magical girl gasped as she opened her eyes, seeing Ruby going in for a slash. However, she gripped her Ruby Wand, causing it to glow in pink light. Suddenly, Ruby's Harpe clashed against another scythe. The red hooded girl gasped as she looked at a copy of her Crescent Rose, "You did it!" Ruby cheered.

"I did?" Illya said before looking at her weapon, "Wow, I did it!"

"You mean I did it!" the copy of Crescent Rose spoke in the Ruby Wand voice, the red metal frame moving with each word.

"I meant you both did it." Ruby commented as she lowered her weapon, "You managed to copy Crescent Rose pretty well." She said while examining the weapon, "But I can still tell the difference." The red hooded girl said with a smile.

"Hmph!" The Ruby Wand scoffed.

"It's not like Miyu's ability, she can copy the Noble Phantasm to change her body as well." Illya commented, "She even could even create the mount of a Rider if she wanted."

"You'll get there, it just takes time," Ruby responded before looking over to see Neo sparring with Mordred, the two clashing swords. "Hey, could you two come over here?" Ruby called out with the two stopping their clash, "I'm helping Illya with her weapon, maybe she can try and copy one of yours."

"Sure, I can help out," Mordred answered.

"…" Neo nodded.

"Thank you," Illya said with a bow, but then heard an odd noise.

The group of four looked up to see an airship coming in for a landing. They watched as it settled on the platform, then saw the hatch open. Exiting were two women. One had long dark grey hair tied into twin-tails. She wore a white lab coat attire over what appeared to be a long black skirt and sweater, as well as black rim glasses. The other wore a white button top that exposed her cleavage and midriff. Her short white skirt matched her gloves, but her tights were black, and her heels were pink. She had a small white nurse's hat with a pink heart on it. Her pink hair was tied to one side and a pink neckerchief accessorized her neck as she adjusted her glasses.

"Uh, hi?" Ruby said as the two women walked towards her. "Who are you?"

"Didn't you hear?" the pink-haired woman spoke, "We are the new staff set for this school." She said before bowing, "I am TV Koyanskaya, the new nurse to Clockwork Academy."

"And I am Hinako Akuta." The woman in black glasses spoke, "I will be the librarian of Clockwork Academy."

"Wow, this place is coming together," Mordred said before looking over to Neo, who nodded. "We were kind of missing those positions here."

"Indeed," TV spoke before looking toward the mute girl, "My, what a lovely neckerchief." She said with Neo placing her hand near her neck. There, a grey neckerchief was tied to hide the scar. TV then looked over to the Ruby Wand, "And that is a lovely sniper rifle!"

"I'm not a snipe rifle, I'm a magic wand." The Ruby Wand said as she transformed back into its normal appearance.

"Oh, my bad." TV responded with a chuckle.

"Wait, you can tell that the scythe could turn into a sniper rifle?" Ruby asked.

"Of course," TV said before adjusting her glasses, "I have a certain fondness for weapons like that." She said with Ruby smiling in excitement, "Could you show me the real deal?"

"Yes!" Ruby responded, "I can tell, the two of us will get along." She said before focusing, causing her weapon to appear. TV smiled as she reached for Crescent Rose. However, at the same time, Lobo formed behind the red hooded girl, "Huh?" Ruby questioned as the Wolf of Revenge snarled at TV, "I'm sorry, I don't know why he's doing that."

"He must be nervous around a pretty lady like myself." TV said as she pulled back her arm, then looked down with a smile and scowl, "Do let me know if ever want me to have him spade."

"Uh, thanks, but we're good." Ruby responded while Lobo continued to snarl, "I think he's just protective of Crescent Rose."

"Then I can look at it another time." TV said before turning to Hinako, "We should get going." She said with her nodding, causing the two to leave while the four students watched, "So, is it any of them?" she said when they were far enough away.

"No, I can tell that none of them are maidens." Hinako responded, her irises blood red for a second, "But I know that one is nearby."

"Good. Remind me to kill that girl and take that gun." TV said while glancing back towards Ruby, "I do love weapons like that." She said before noticing Hinako had stopped. TV looked back to discover someone standing before them.

"Ah, you arrived earlier than I thought." Kiara spoke as the two nodded, "It's so good to see you."

"Likewise, Head of the Church." TV spoke, "It looks like we got to make it to the final act before the boys did."

"Oh them? They have all been killed by now." Kiara said with a sigh, "A shame, but they did at least set off the bombs."

"Is that so?" Hinako commented, "Then the second king will awaken?"

"Yes, as soon as my guard arrives to pick him and the Summer Maiden up for me." Kiara spoke with a smile, leading the two down the hall, "We just need to wait and let the chaos commence."

AN: There you go, we are in the endgame now. Most of the team from the mission is going their separate ways with only Weiss, Blake, Yang, Reines, and Achilles at the massive airship as they discover the Woman in Black's next target. There, Ruby helps Illya learn a new skill with her wand. We also see Neo is doing well and now has her neckerchief to hide the scar, (Which I also want to say, it has been about 30 chapters since we last saw her in this series). We also see Yu and Vitch arrive in their disguises to the Academy and waste no time in meeting the big boss lady. The next few chapters are going to be intense as we close in on the end of this season. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.