CHAPTER 18: WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT

Remnant, System Unknown

Kingdom of Vale, City of Vale

Stark Industries HQ

May 4th, 57 AGW

Tony had considered hiring Penny as a part-timer. She was doing more than her fair share of work not only for herself but for him as well. It only seemed fair that he compensated her and he would be willing to do so quite handsomely.

Contrary to what other people might think, he was simply doing his part to ensure that proper talent in science was being nurtured. There was nothing more or less to it than that; he didn't reward people for doing half-assed jobs. His work as a weapons developer, though not perfect at times, was among the few things that he took seriously. He had to in light of the fact that it was his lifeline in more ways than one.

The CEO wanted the best that Remnant had to offer for Stark Industries. If there was one thing he could respect were people that had great ideas and a solid work ethic. Good personality was a plus as well. Penny, in his eyes, was a diamond in the rough and a very good one at that. He couldn't find any real flaws in her. Even her boundless optimism and energy were welcomed by him where others might find annoyance.

It was all a matter of rewiring his perspective and Tony knew a thing or two about adapting himself to people and the environment around himself. That was how he had succeeded in life on Earth and that's how he was going to succeed on Remnant.

Back to Penny, her contributions to his efforts were going to be massive, no doubting that. The man wasn't one to believe in faith or a higher power, but he felt something giving him the idea that his apprentice would become something outstanding.

Every time the orange-haired girl came to him, it was always one challenge after the other. She absorbed his knowledge and was able to apply her know-how with an almost inhuman level of understanding. Seriously, she was a cut above teenagers her age, male or female. Now he just had to continually nurture her scientific side and pretty soon, she would be his equal or maybe even his superior. That wouldn't bother him if she surpassed him; if he had a hand in training her, it would all be worth it.

Today's efforts would be focused on concepts featuring the Arc Reactor. He had kept the technology under wraps for the most part. He didn't want to reveal the power source to this world. Not only would it radically evolve the power game in society at large, it would disrupt dust's overall contributions as well.

Dust wasn't just a power source; it was a signal of wealth, tradition, culture, and history. Its significance in all of Remnant couldn't be overstated. As tempting as it was to shift control in his favor, Tony knew better than to potentially crack the importance of dust. It could spark some severe negative consequences if he didn't step right.

He would need to introduce it slowly and surely. An idea here, a concept there, that sort of thing.

For now, Tony began his lesson. "The Arc Reactor is a new form of power, one that could potentially replace dust in terms of powering technology."

"A new power source?" Judging from Penny's amazement, she understood the significance. "But there's never been another power source in all of Remnant, at least not one viable enough to be used worldwide and on a large scale."

Tony found her current face amusing. "Which is exactly why it's not going public. The timing's out of whack. Might do some good for the world. It'll certainly do me LOTS of good, but time and place."

"Why isn't it a good time?" Penny asked.

Tony nodded his head, pressing his lips together. "Dust isn't a lasting power source. Sure, you can mine it from the ground, replace dust to keep powering tech indefinitely, but how much dust is there to mine? Sooner or later, there's going to be a shortage. The Arc Reactor is THE solution to clean, renewable energy."

"Renewable energy?" Penny seemed most interested in that part. "It can provide power on its own indefinitely? Without outside aid?"

"You got it, gingerhead. Once it turns off, it just keeps going, just like an Energizer Bunny." Tony chucked a bit at the memory of the mascot.

"... what is an energizer bunny?" Penny tilted her head.

Tony waved off the question. "Old reference, you're too young to know about it, don't worry about it. Anyway, the point is, as useful as this thing would be, it's too much for the world to handle right now. Too sudden."

"I don't think so, Mister Stark." Penny wasn't backing down. "History proves that the world has seen many different shifts, some very sudden and drastic and it's because of those events that we're here."

Tony was curious about what she had to say. "Like what, ginger snap?"

"Well, the first being the Kingdom of the Gods." Penny began a little tale. "It was the first true kingdom and its origins came when its rulers showed off their power in a display that would inspire awe, fear, and reverence. However, it wasn't to last forever and when it fell, Mankind splintered, eventually forming the kingdoms that we know today."

"Sounds less like history and more like a fairy tale." Tony commented. "And it's a bit too convenient, isn't it? Two powerful beings just show up out of nowhere and change the course of humanity? Just like that?"

"It might seem strange, but it's true." Penny said, then stared at him with a strange look. "That's common history, Mister Stark? How do you not know of it?"
How did she misunderstand… never mind. She's literal.

Tony laughed at her interpretation. "I know my history, dear apprentice, but you can't deny that it seems just a little too perfect and I don't believe in perfect things. If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Plus, I was being sarcastic."

"Oh, then I apologize for my misunderstanding." Penny accepted her mistake and moved on. "Apart from that example, there's when the Great War ended. The King of Vale brought an end to the fighting and had the kingdoms abandon their monarchies and adopt councils."

Tony did know about that. "Ah, yes, that bit of history. Again, too convenient. A powerful individual more or less compelling people into a grand design without a choice."

It didn't take a genius to see that for one reason or another, history seemed to be dictated by individuals that came and went with power so out of hand that nobody could understand it much less comprehend how to fight against it. It seemed that people with power, be it aura or something else, had a great hand in shaping the world of Remnant.

People like Ozpin and his huntsmen and huntresses were the main players of power. The headmasters of the other academies as well as probably people running the major industries also likely had a hand in his self-proposed theory of a grand design.

Wait, didn't he make him a part of it all?

"Son of a bitch." Tony out loud, although it was more to himself. "Why didn't I see that one coming?"

Penny regarded him. "...Tony?"

"Think I just figured out the meaning of my life." He looked her in the eye. "Okay, so I might have to rethink this whole renewable power game changing the world."

She blinked once. "I'm not sure that I understand."

"You're not alone there, ginger snap."

Now that he thought about it, while Stark Industries was his idea, it was also at the insistence of Ozpin as well. The man might be evasive and somewhat elusive with his words, but the meaning behind them was clear as day. He needed people to fight this war against the Grimm, whatever that might look like.

The genius didn't like it when people played him, especially when it took him a good minute to figure it out. There was doubt as to whether or not he was being manipulated, but then he had to think about what was just said.

Surely Ozpin had to know about all of this. He was in an ideal position of authority to make things happen with the literal snap of his fingers. Stark Industries wouldn't exist on Remnant like it did if not for the backing of the Beacon Academy headmaster.

"Should I continue reading?" Penny inquired.

Tony eyed his prodigy, took a moment to consider her request, then agreed. "Yeah, read it, have questions ready because you're probably not going to understand everything about it. Like I said, the Arc Reactor defies all known conventional knowledge about powering society."

He was now more glad than ever that she was here. While she figured out some things, he could divert his attention to other things that he ought to have given more than a little thought to.

That was a mistake he wasn't going to make again.

Iron Man - - - RWBY

Beacon Academy

May 10th, 57 AGW

Ozpin had many pieces to consider on the board. His huntsmen and huntresses were his primary fighting force followed by the militaries of the world. The Schnee Dust Company was also integral to dust mining, refinement, and distribution. The academies were fortresses for housing the relics. Anything that had an importance in combating the Creatures of Grimm and Salem were of import to him.

In order for things to move forward fluidly, he had to keep them operating in a specific way. Thousands of years of living had given him mastery of controlling other people in subtle ways. More often than not, it was through subtle changes that he was able to influence the kingdoms and the people living within them.

Yes, he had been responsible for numerous radical shifts in societal norms, but in order to make sure that civil war and revolution didn't result from these overt events, he convinced everyone slowly and carefully that they were accepting a better life by going according to his plan. It was painstakingly slow work, but the results spoke for themselves.

But all of his work was potentially in jeopardy because of one man.

Tony Stark.

Ozpin had to remind himself that he was more or less aware of the risks involved in taking on the weapons developer as an ally. The man was a complete unknown in so many ways. Not only where he came from, but his knowledge and expertise as well as his personality. If only one of these traits were present, it would be much easier to control the man, but all three in combination presented issues.

The headmaster knew that it was only a matter of time before Stark came to learn of his secrets, the ones that only he knew about. Youthful though the CEO might be, he was incredibly intelligent and cunning. In fact, the young man was already beginning to suspect a greater game at play by simply being allowed to know about the Maidens.

If it could be helped, Ozpin didn't want anyone to know the real history between himself and Salem. Not only would it bring him into question, but it would also demoralize pretty much anyone, especially huntsmen and huntresses. Thousands of years of conflict with the Grimm witch had yielded no progress in terms of how to defeat her. Only one thing remained constant: Ozma could not, just as Jin said all those years ago.

You can't.

Naturally, the headmaster had to assume that someone else had to be capable of taking down his former lover and that was what he had been doing for so long: finding the ideal warrior to put an end to the greatest plague that Remnant had ever known.

At this juncture, the silver-eyed warriors were his greatest gambit. Although he had yet to see what the full power of such an individual could do against Salem, he had seen enough to give him at least a glimpse of hope.

But hard-hitters like Tony Stark were still critical to his overall strategy.

And speaking of said man.

"Ozpin, a pleasure to see you." As always, Tony walked into his office like he owned the place, taking a seat without a care in the world. "I think it's time we had a talk about the things you're not telling me."

Ozpin, as usual, played it off. "I don't give certain information to a great deal of people. You'll need to be more specific."

"Why are you really fighting this war?" Tony looked him dead in the eye, appearing serious for once. "And don't give me the same spiel you give your students. We're both smarter than that. What's your stake in all of this?"

They were getting closer, but Ozpin wasn't ready to reveal all yet. "I'm not sure what you want me to say, Mister Stark. It's really as simple as killing the Grimm and making a better world."

"And I'm sure those two things are a byproduct of your real goal." Tony crossed his arms while leaning back. "Come on, you're in a prime position to be influencing other people. Huntsmen and huntresses, politicians, top military leaders, doesn't that seem like too much power in your hands?"

"...you've been watching me." Ozpin deduced.

Tony didn't lessen up. "And I don't regret it because I've now got suspicions that you're going to clear up. Don't forget that we're getting to a point where I'm owing you less with each passing day. You want me to work with you? You're going to answer my questions and don't bother lying. Even if I don't see it now, I'll find out later."

The greater picture was at stake and this could potentially compromise everything he had been trying to do.

But more often than not, the greater picture was done by sacrificing the smaller things in life, like individual lives.

How many had died in service to a cause with no distinct and clear endgame?

His endgame?

"...what do you want to know?" Ozpin decided to see what the questions were first.

Tony loosened up slightly. "Firstly, the academies. Their formation. We know the official story. They were made so that huntsmen and huntresses could be trained to fight Grimm, but the real reason they exist is to protect relics. That means you're playing a defensive war, but even the oldest Grimm can't be that smart… unless they're being led by someone intelligent."

"Impeccable work as always, Mister Stark." Ozpin had to commend his opposite. "Yes, the Grimm aren't as mindless as the general public believes. They're being led by a witch, one that is old and ancient, but dangerous and powerful nonetheless. Her name is Salem."

Tony gave him a look like he didn't believe what he'd just heard. "Jesus Christ, you guys literally ripped the history of my world to make your own. Plagiarism. Your gods suck at creating their own history."

"...I honestly don't know what you expect from me." Ozpin gave him a curious look. "Perhaps your deity stole from our own."

Tony shook his head. "Impossible. Practically everything in this world is based on a fairy tale or a historical event from my world. You can't say the same vice versa. Also, I don't even believe in god, so it doesn't even matter to me. Now about Salem, what's her deal? What's she got against Remnant?"

"She's an ancient being who hails from Remnant's past, before recorded history as we know it." Ozpin attempted to be as impersonal as possible. "Her reasons for fighting against Mankind are… mysterious at best."

What he said was true to an extent. The old wizard honestly couldn't say he understood fully what the warped woman really wanted. She had never been clear about what she was thinking, even when they were together and neither was he.

But Tony didn't appear convinced fully. "...is she green?"

"Excuse me?" Ozpin didn't understand the question.

Tony grinned. "Is she a literal green witch, green with envy?"

"I… don't believe so." At least Ozpin couldn't even recall such a thing happening. "Let me guess, an old reference?"

The genius inventor snorted. "You're catching on. For such a smart man, you can be really slow on the uptake, oh-powerful wizard."

"Are you ever going to explain these to me?" The millenia-old reincarnated man couldn't help but cave in. "What do all of these terms allude to?"

"Sorry, Oz, but that's for me to know and you to find out. The only way you're going to find out the truth is if you get me really drunk or… you know what? That's the only way you're going to get it out of me."

"...were there any more questions you had for me, Mister Stark?"

"Plenty, but I'm sure that I'm only getting vague truths and convenient tidbits from you, but like I said, I'll figure it out eventually. Your secrets having secrets? A challenge for me and when I do succeed, I'm going to be one laughing at you."

Despite the lack of seriousness in this conversation, Ozpin couldn't help but believe that the man before him would find out everything. It wasn't just his arrogance or his intellect that would allow him to find what he was looking for. Tony, unknowingly, possessed something that every great hero had, a trait that would allow him to see light down the darkest paths.

Resilience.

Even the wizard had to admit that after so long fighting, he was very close to losing all hope. He was tired and in many ways, he was simply looking for an opportunity to end the struggle that was his existence. It was cowardly and lazy of him to push his responsibilities and burdens onto great men and women, but he was no closer to stopping Salem now than he was centuries ago.

But maybe, just maybe, a man like Tony Stark would be the one to do what he could never do.

I look forward to seeing if you can discover the truth. Ozpin strangely enough felt eagerness. Because when you do, I'll know that you're ready.

RWBY - - - Iron Man

City of Vale

Penny had a passion for exploring new things, that much she had learned about herself as she became more bold in her life.

Although she had no personal experience in fighting of any kind, she had nothing but respect for huntsmen and huntresses. They had the unenviable tasks of defending all of Mankind from the Creatures of Grimm. It was an endless job that ultimately took many lives, but still they were needed and anyone with the backbone and the skill to become one of these elite warriors was cool as far as she was concerned.

And in relation to the Grimm killers, Mister Stark had given her a supporting role in his efforts to make improvements on hunter weapons. He seemed to understand or at least value the importance of keeping Remnant's best warriors at the top. In his own way, he was supporting them by providing them cutting-edge weapons and equipment that would give them a greater chance at survival or at least reduce their chances of injury or death. It was a worthy cause to get behind and the gingerhead was all too eager to help.

Penny especially enjoyed her newly-acquired position as a weapons tester because her newest friend, Summer Rose, was going to be her main go-to person. The two teenage girls had hit it off immediately and their relationship had only grown more chaotic and energizing and close. It was hard to explain, but it worked somehow and that was all that mattered as far as the two of them were concerned.

It wasn't all perfect however. If there was one thing that did scare the civilian girl, it was that being friends with a future huntress was kind of weird. She had no idea what their relationship was going to look like when they were all working adults.

What if those differences separated them?

Try as she might to quell her fears, Penny wasn't immune to them. After all, she had only recently begun turning her life around for the better. Between her only living parent and her recently-acquired network of friends and acquaintances, she didn't want to lose it, or at least she wanted to lose as little as possible. She was hopeful like that and she didn't see herself changing anytime soon.

She didn't tell anyone about these thoughts she harbored. Being surrounded by individuals who were working on bettering themselves, it was hard to voice such opinions. After all, she wanted them to succeed and she hoped to as well. If she voiced these unproductive thoughts, they wouldn't do anyone good.

She wasn't even sure if there was anyone she could speak to about this. Not even Mister Stark seemed a suitable candidate and he was the most viable candidate out of everyone that she knew.

She had no solution, so it was better to get back to her work, which she was just about done with.

Penny beamed. "Time to call Summer. Hope she likes it."

The ginger head retrieved her scroll and dialed the appropriate number. She heard three rings before an answer came.

"What's going on, Penny?" That was definitely Summer's voice. "What's the buzz today?"

"Hello, Summer." Penny said. "I have a question."

"Hold on a sec." There were some rustling sounds from the other end. "Sorry about that. Raven's being a big jerk. So what did you want to ask me?"

"It's a strange question, but I've been thinking about it a lot." Penny was already having some doubts about how to broach the subject, but she pressed on regardless. "Will we still be friends, even when we're older."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, girl, where's this coming from?" Summer sounded alarmed at the question. "You moving soon? You going somewhere I can't be? You're not... dying, are you?"

Penny momentarily seized up with panic. "Nononono! It's nothing like that. It's just… I've only known you for a short while and yet I feel as though we've been friends for a lifetime. I was just wondering what happens when life moves on and we have more things to do. Will we still be friends?"

"...you've been thinking about this a lot, haven't you?" Summer deduced.

"I have." Penny answered candidly.

"Then let me ask you this: do you want us to be friends for a long time?"

"Of course I do. For as long as possible!"

"Then that's all we need to know! We just need to put in the work into our friendship and we're good! Friendship only dies out if we let it die out. We just have to keep it going."

"Is it really that simple?"

"Well, okay it's not as simple as I'm making it out to be, but the principle is the same. Put the work in and you'll get a result that equals the effort, right?"

"That does make sense. I believe I understand."

"Just apply that same concept to us. In order to be friends for a long time, we have to spend time together on a somewhat consistent basis, share mutual hobbies, be at each others' backs when the going gets tough, and help each other be better versions of ourselves. At least, that's what an ideal friendship looks like to me."

"I see. I think I understand."

This was merely another aspect of Summer Rose that Penny found quite astonishing. This girl had a seemingly limitless fountain of wisdom to drink from. Where it came from, the ginger head did not know, but she was grateful for it all the same.

"I'll be honest with you; I think you've been putting too much thought into it. You like me, I like you, that's all we need to know right? We both enjoy working together and doing things together, so why not do that some more?"

"Yes, I would welcome the opportunity."

"Then don't worry so much about chances in life. Sure, we'll change, mature, and add to who we are now in the future, but some things will stay the same no matter how old we get or what life experiences we go through. Don't always be focused on the future. Sometimes, you just gotta live in the present."

"Yes, I understand."

"Well, as long as you get it, that's all that matters. I would hang out with you right now if I could, but I've got some school work to get done. We've actually got some big stuff going on here at Beacon and me and my team need to perform."

"'My team and I.'"

"Whoops, sorry, wrong grammar, but you get the point. Anyway, I need to get back to it, I'll call or text you back to let you know when I'm around or when my team's not buried in schoolwork or whatever."

"Yes, I would like that." Penny felt more lighthearted than usual when the conversation first started. "Thank you."

"That's what friends are for." Summer's chipper voice sounded off. "I'm out. Later."

Penny smiled. "Goodbye."

The line cut and the gingerhead took a moment to process everything the words exchanged between herself and her silver-eyed friend. It seemed so simple that she ought to slap herself in the head for not thinking of it before.

Being relatively isolated from other people for a majority of her life, she had become a bit shy about meeting new people. Her cheerful and energetic nature were a result of wanting to make those connections that a part of her was afraid of making. Even as anxious as she was, her fear of being alone outweighed any social inadequacies that plagued her mind.

And Summer had presented a simple solution to not just the maintenance of friendship, but also how to quell her doubts: don't think too deeply about potential consequences before they've happened or even before they've become a possibility, at least that's what Penny interpreted from the conversation.

But the question was how to do that?

In some instances, she could commit to an action rather than think over potential outcomes, but those moments came only with things she was confident in. Like when she spent time tinkering with Mister Stark's technology, she could somehow not have her mind overflowing with thoughts. It was seamless and it was effortless.

"I suppose this will be a trial and error process." Penny verbalized her thoughts in order to make something concrete. "If nothing else, I can learn what not to do in the future."

Honestly, it was not much to go on, but it was better than nothing at all.

It would be so much easier if she could be as careless and flippant as Mister Stark. He had this ability to simply do as he pleased without fear of what people thought about him.

Penny envied that kind of mentality.

But it wasn't who she was.

She cared what people thought about her.

Iron Man - - - RWBY

Stark Residence

Tony always made some private time for himself to work on his gadgets, completely separate from Stark Industries. He needed hobbies and toys to tinker with that weren't work-related. It helped him destress and it allowed him to focus on one of his best skills. In a way, engineering was his form of meditation and whenever possible, he partook.

No matter how much work he had to do, he always made time for this. It was a crucial part of how he was able to maintain his workflow. This was especially so now that his company was on the verge of becoming something greater. Overworking himself would do him no good and he was well aware of what constituted that for himself. Any schmuck could work hard and it didn't take a genius to work smart. Doing both was deceptively difficult.

It also allowed the CEO to put business-related topics into perspective so that he could make sound decisions. Tonight, his thoughts were centered around his resident gingerhead budding prodigy.

` Penny was going to work for him, that much he did know for sure. He was already in motion to make plans to offer her an internship as well as pay for any and all schooling that she would take after high school. He had no difficulty seeing that she aspired to study in something science-related, a result of his influences. Although the fruits of his labor were only beginning to show, he certainly did enjoy watching his seed grow into a tree and he would look forward to when the tree blossomed with flowers and fruit.

But this was only the beginning; Penny might be the first student he would sponsor, but she wouldn't be the last one. He would always be constantly scouting for talent that could work for him and Stark Industries. In the first five years, employee selection would make or break the company. The right people forming the right team needed to be assembled in order for his vision to come to fruition.

Tony was also smart enough to understand that because he was still new to the game of business on Remnant, there would be an element of skepticism and mistrust that he would have to work to overcome. It was a challenge and he was never one to back down from one.

Everything was going good, really good.

All he had to do was stick to the course, make adjustments when necessary, and not screw it up.

Like drinking too much.

Or sleeping with women too often.

And he had a thing for both of those activities.

Later. Much later. Tony had to scold himself. Gotta finish up here.

Back to his study of dust. There were a number of things about it that still confused him. Its inability to be used in space, while useful for his purposes, still raised a question: why did dust become nonfunctional outside of Remnant?

Sure, natural substances on Earth and Remnant certainly worked differently when exposed to the vacuum of space, but all attempts to reach space via conventional Remnant energy all ended in failure and dust was the culprit.

Why?

It's been a while since I've uploaded for any of my stories and I apologize for that. I've been going to the field and doing additional training as well as taking the first steps to moving on to better things for my Army career. In short, it's a lot of stuff.

But I'm back and while this chapter doesn't feature a whole lot going on plot-wise, going through these character thought processes helps me figure out what exactly I'm going to do next and maybe you'll figure out what I have in store.

Thoughts on this chapter? Reviews are always appreciated.

Thanks for reading.