Chapter 21 – Stowaways and a Surging Storm

The night in the uninhabited village had been restful for some, restless for others. Whilst everyone else slept, Team RWBY, Team SSSN and Team JNPR had taken turns standing guard at the perimeter. It was a duty that the adults would have taken, but Ironwood believed that the Huntsmen and Huntresses in training needed the discipline of doing something mundane. The extended night had only made it worse, but dawn soon rose, and breakfast was served (Nora had miraculously restrained herself from gobbling too much: there was only so much food to go around after all).

Afterwards, Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch met behind an abandoned shop, out of earshot of everyone else. Goodwitch wore an expression of concern.
'Ozpin, I held back my genuine thoughts last night because I didn't want to complicate matters with the consensus being virtually unanimous, but if I'm being honest, I do not agree with the idea of us going to the new world. Ryze is right in saying that we shouldn't concern ourselves with Runeterra's problems. We have our own to attend to at the moment, with Beacon collapsing and the CCTS going offline. Aatrox is a risk, because there's no telling whether or not he'll break free of that spell he's under, and ultimately, is it responsible for us to let our students go without getting permission from their parents?

Ozpin twiddled Goodwitch's points. He certainly did agree with them, but his wisdom told showed him that these exceptional circumstances called for more than just an internal attitude.
'Glynda, I get what you are saying. There are cons and even risks to this idea, but let's consider what Ryze told us yesterday. He was dubious to divulge anything about these runes, and based on the way he described them, I believe that he desperately needs more people helping him. We do not understand as well as he does their nature and properties, but if knowledge of the runes became known here in Remnant, then what will we do if our enemies manage to get their hands on them.
'As Ruby pointed out yesterday evening, Remnant and Runeterra have become one large planet. Runeterra's global problems will now extend into Remnant's, so it is ideal that we make allies and establish good relations with the indigenous people of the new world.
'And as we've now seen, getting from Remnant to Runeterra – and vice versa – doesn't seem to be that difficult. If friends can easily travel between the two worlds, then so can our foes. Lastly, you saw that the students volunteered through their own volition to go to Runeterra. Had they have not raised their hands, rest assured that I would not send them there. I know that the prospect of this mission is far greater than what they get trained to do, but I greatly believe that this is an opportunity which will allow them to become some of the finest Huntsmen and Huntresses in history.'

Ozpin finished and allowed Goodwitch to contemplate his reasoning. Eventually she spoke, with new points to add to the argument.
'And I too understand your logic Ozpin, but let us consider the further risks. We don't know what Runeterra as a planet is like. What if we don't respond well to its environment? There could be a prevalent disease that our own immune systems cannot cope with, because we aren't natives to the planet. Or what about the fauna and types of people over there? Can we have confidence that our students won't get killed by creatures even more overpowering than the Grimm?'

'Risks like these are no different from the ones that missions here in Remnant present.' Ozpin replied. 'You know as well as I do that Huntsmen and Huntresses must frequently put their lives in danger to serve humanity. Besides, they will have Shen and Ryze accompanying them, ensuring that they stay clear of unnecessary dangers.'

'And how dependable of a safety net do you think Shen and Ryze are?' Goodwitch asked. 'Ryze is clearly short tempered, and he admitted that he has killed many people on his quest for these runes. You say that it's a good idea to establish good relations with Runeterra, and I don't dispute that, but they're an entirely different planet, and we don't know the ins and outs of their culture, ethical code and political systems. How can you be so sure that we can trust anyone from over there?'

'Because Glynda, these three individuals saved our students from death. Blake and Pyrrha would not be alive, had Pantheon and Shen not come just in time. They fought on our side against the White Fang, the Grimm, Aatrox and our enemies whom we still do not know yet. Perhaps they aren't true allies at this moment in time, but could you really call them foes if they acted selflessly to us, for no gain of their own?'

'I… I suppose not.'

'Remember also that Ryze said he has killed the people who had been tempted, and then used the runes irresponsibly, reluctantly for that matter. But I have faith that our students won't fall into this trap.'

'I'm just being cautious, that's all.' said Goodwitch. She folded her arms and looked at her feet.

'Absolutely,' Ozpin smiled. 'and so am I, believe it or not. At the same time though, I'm looking at this whole ordeal from an opportunist's perspective. There is no possible way for us to know all the implications that there are with the two planets merging, but I think that it is pragmatic to take action and make a potentially perilous situation a more favourable one. Do you not agree with this sentiment?'

'I do Professor Ozpin, and I still trust your judgement, but can we at least have everyone gather and see if they're still willing to do this? Team CFVY and Team ABRN weren't even at the discussion last night, so they have no idea that this is even a thing.'

'Of course.' said Ozpin. 'Please do not think for a second that I thought these plans were final, Glynda.'

'I didn't Ozpin…' Goodwitch sighed.

'Shall we re-join everyone else now back in the town centre?' Ozpin suggested.

Goodwitch nodded. 'Yes Professor Ozpin.'

'Thank you for letting me explain my thought process.' said Ozpin warmly.

'And thank you as well for allowing me to express my concerns.'

'I am a flawed man, Glynda, who makes countless errors and decisions with poor judgement. I am still flattered that you trust me so much, but your heedfulness is a healthy reminder of my shortcomings.'


Team CFVY and Team ABRN were briefly lectured on what the plan was, without the backstories of Pantheon, Shen or Ryze.
'How are we going to handle this then?' said Ironwood once they had all gathered. 'What preparations do we need to take?'

'Let's start by establishing who's actually going and who's staying.' said Ozpin. 'It isn't necessary for everyone to go. Some should go to Runeterra, whilst the rest should remain in Remnant.'

'As I said yesterday Ozpin, I will go to the school and provide help there. Aatrox must be kept under wraps.' said Pantheon.

'We're going to Runeterra.' said Ruby fervently.

'Us too.' said Jaune.

'We're probably needed at Beacon, in that case.' said Coco. 'I'm sure that you guys are enough. We don't even know exactly what we would be getting ourselves into, since we weren't at your meeting last night.'
The rest of Team CFVY nodded in agreement.

'What about the students that we don't have authority over?' Goodwitch brought up, referring specifically to Teams SSSN and ABRN.

'We'll happily go with you guys.' said Sun on behalf of his team.

'I think we'll go back to Beacon.' said Arslan. 'If SSSN are going to the new world, then we'll be redundant. Beacon needs enough manpower, and we're probably due to go back to Haven very soon.'

Ten minutes passed of long thought decision making. In the end, a conclusion was reached that Ozpin and Goodwitch would not go to Runeterra. Ironwood and Qrow would take charge of the students, alongside Shen and Ryze. Team CFVY and Team ABRN would return to Beacon, for they were the least willing to go, and had not been introduced to the idea until just then, whilst Teams RWBY, JNPR and SSSN had been aware of it even since SSSN's victory against NDGO in the Vytal Festival Tournament.

'James, are there any ships from your fleet that weren't destroyed?' Ozpin inquired.

'Yes, as a matter of fact. There are airships similar to this one,' Ironwood gestured to the one that had taken them to the village. 'which I had docked approximately ten miles north of Beacon.'

'Do you have any that are big enough to carry food and supplies, in addition to those going to Runeterra?'

'I most certainly do, Ozpin.'

'Would you mind then if we borrow this smaller vessel and take it to Beacon. I think it would be wise to approach the school from above, so that we can see the state of it, as well as Aatrox.'

'Very well, Ozpin. You can take this ship. I trust that you can pilot it yourself?'

'I think I'll manage.'

'If you crash it, you're paying for a new one.' Ironwood said, half serious – half jokingly.


Roman Torchwick flicked his lighter and ignited a cigar. He was feeling fresh from a wash and a visit to his wardrobe, but his mood and humiliation had not yet been healed. The mere sight of anything red made him twitch in annoyance. As he sat on a wooden chair inside an impromptu hideout on the outskirts of North Vale, with the colours of Mercury and Emerald as his company, an uncanny sense of gratefulness flowed through his veins.
Ruby Rose had interfered with his plans three times now. She had been a mild inconvenience, and admittedly fun to toy with, but the last occasion had been one time too many. To make matters worse, Neo was still missing, and he had no signs of where she could be. He squeezed his lighter tightly without realising it, and it popped upwards, out of his hand and fell to the ground, making a clattering sound.
Mercury and Emerald, who were sitting on the opposite side of the small room, looked up from their laps and starred directly at Torchwick.
Torchwick picked it up and put it back into his white coat pocket. He cleared his throat before finally addressing them after minutes of silent. 'Fancy seeing you kids here.' he said, readopting his pompous manner.

'It's a pleasure to see you too.' Emerald replied impudently. 'What happened to you on the night the Beacon Tower fell? I thought you were locked up in one of Ironwood's ships.'

'Neo busted me out. I then had some fun with the ship's controls and turned them on their brethren, but it was cut short by a pest.'

'Ruby?'

'Little Red: yes. I swear, if I see her pretty little face again, I will personally choke her with her own cape!'

'Oh come on, was it really that bad? What did she do this time that you obviously couldn't handle?' Mercury asked insolently.

'It's not that she's impossible to deal with. On the contrary, she's a pushover.'

'I doubt it, considering how short-tempered you've become.' Mercury remarked.

'Quiet, you little punk. She's like a fly that keeps circling over your lunch and won't go away, and nothing more.'

'Just flatten it, and the problem's solved then.' Mercury sneered as he put his hands behind his head.

'Red was not the only complication.' Torchwick said loudly, reasserting his dominance in the conversation. 'As we were brawling on this ship, something large tore through it and terminated the fight early.'

'Large? Oh, you're talking about the red monster?' Emerald asked.

'I didn't see whatever it was properly, but I certainly heard it.'

'We did. It was a ginormous sword-wielding beast, with wings and a craving to destroy everything around it. We think it referred to itself as "Aytrox".'

'"Aytrox".' Torchwick repeatedly muttered the name under his breath a few times. 'Did you see what happened to it in the aftermath?'

'We don't know for sure what happened, but the wreckage of the school, as well as Aytrox, suddenly turned golden and were essentially frozen. After that, we left because there was nothing else we could do.'

'And where did you go afterwards exactly?'

Emerald hesitated before saying anything. She looked in Mercury's direction, as if she hoped that he would speak instead, but he kept his lips tightly closed. 'To Salem…'

Torchwick flicked off the burnt ashes of his cigar. 'So..? Would you care to elaborate?'

'She held a meeting. Everyone was there. We discussed how pleased Salem was with the success of the Beacon Tower falling, the current state of Remnant, and… Aytrox.' Emerald said, purposefully omitting anything regarding Salem's disappointment, the ninja who had bested them, or Zoe.

Unsurprisingly, Torchwick detected the equivocation his Emerald's tone. 'It couldn't have been that simple.' he said firmly. 'No one fully understands Salem, but I know a fibber when I hear one. I was not born yesterday: there is no possible way that she was "pleased" with what happened that night overall.'

'How would you know?' Mercury interrupted. 'All you did was play on a ship, whilst we saw the fight up-close.'

Torchwick snapped his fingers in frustration. It was true that he had contributed very little to the battle. And judging by their injuries, they weren't lying about this. But he knew how to use this against them. 'I can see that you two wound up in combat, but for what reason?'

'What do you mean?' Emerald asked, unsure of where Torchwick was going with this observation.

'If I remember correctly from our original plan, you two were spies, posing as students from Haven. Who then, were you fighting? Surely, if agents assault the people they're supposed to be spying on, they've given the game away. Your broken noses and your pair of crutches' he pointed at Mercury's pair on the floor next to him. 'tell me that you blew your cover. Riddle me that, why don't you?'

Mercury interjected once again. 'Ah, but contrary to what you said, Salem was the one who insisted that we should actively get more involved and not watch as spectators.'

'Grr.' Torchwick grumbled. 'Fine, but who did you lose to?'

'We didn't lose.' Emerald said indignantly.

'Transparent as ever.' Torchwick said, suppressing a snigger. 'You're defensive: it's plain as daylight. So just spit it out.'

Emerald sighed. 'Just for your information, it was not someone affiliated with Ozpin, we did not provoke him.'

'Do go on.'

'It was a ninja, but with powers far exceeding a normal semblance, and whom we believe comes from another world.'

Torchwick snorted. 'I'm not that credulous, as we just established. You expect me to believe that an alien ninja came and randomly attacked you?'

'It's true.' Mercury stressed. 'Salem will confirm it.'

'Will she really?' Torchwick jeered.

'Yes, she will.' Emerald said bitterly. 'Besides, we have undeniable proof of the fact that he was from another world.'

'Show it and don't just say it then.'

'You've noticed the sudden appearance of the new moon, and how day and night has become longer, right?'

'I have.'

'And the appearance of Aytrox?

'Yes…'

'While we were at the conference, we had an unexpected guest.'

'And who might that have been?'

'It's… a bit difficult to describe what she was like. Umm…'

'I can tell you're trying to fabricate something.' Roman taunted.

'I'm not. She was a young girl, with cosmic-looking hair. She could create portals and summon or send stuff through them: it was so unbelievable.'

'That probably explains why I feel very sceptical right now about whatever comes out of your mouth.'

'Roman, just… please, I'm begging for the sake of the three of us, just let me finish.'

Torchwick picked up on the seriousness in Emerald's tone. 'Alright, conclude your testimony then.'

'She strolled into the room, had a fixation on some sort of cake, and really wanted us to play a game with her. She also was apparently listening on the discussion, because she knew that we were talking about the state of Remnant. After toying with us, she confirmed that it was she who brought the moon to our own, and has also merged the planet she comes from, with Remnant – I know, it's almost impossible to believe.' she said quickly as Torchwick snorted once again. 'But if you saw this girl for yourself, you would be more inclined to believe it. She was defying gravity, jumping between portals, and even managed to send the scorpion Faunus somewhere far away. I promise you, if you asked Salem, Cinder, or anyone else there, they would tell you the exact same thing.'

Torchwick flicked more ashes off his cigar. 'You know what, I'll just take your word for it.' he shrugged. 'Speaking of Cinder, where is she?'

'She said that she wanted some time to recover.'

'From what?'

'The ninja beat the three of us, singlehandedly. Cinder was about to kill Pyrrha, but he saved her at just the last second. Salem was not only disappointed with that, but also at how we had not been able to keep the Grimm under control. Things didn't really go according to plan. Cinder wasn't able to present the broadcast, and the Grimm Dragon from Mountain Glenn was killed by Aytrox. We don't know what happened to the White Fang or their leader who Cinder hired. We didn't get the Relic, or the Maiden either. The only accomplishments achieved were the evacuation of the city, the General's forces being diminished significantly, and the Beacon Tower falling. But even then, Aytrox was the one that broke it down.'

Torchwick sighed. 'Never mind... at least the CCTS has been disabled, and Remnant should be in a state of chaos right about now. This isn't unsalvageable, we just need to cut down the rest of the pillars.'

'Easier said than done.' Mercury commented.

'I don't need lip from you.' said Torchwick. 'Things may not be looking great, but we can move onto the next stage of the plan. It seems like we can't get the Relic or the Maiden at the moment, but we don't need them to take down the other pillars. Mistral is our next prime target, and we can make a move there without the White Fang, since all the attention is currently on Beacon.'

'How are we going to Mistral though?' Emerald asked. 'We don't have any means of getting there without aircraft.'

'Hence why we've come here.' said Torchwick. 'You know, I'll admit that I was extremely grateful to see you in Mountain Glenn. I was running off my gut feeling that you would eventually find yourself back there.'

'I'm flattered.' said Mercury with a hint of a smug grin.

'Yes, I commended a brat like you.' Torchwick said as he pointed his cigar at Mercury's broken nose. 'Anyway, remember what I said when we set off? I happen to know that the General has some of his ships not too from here. If we can get inside the facility, they're ours.'

'Assuming it's not being guarded by the military.' Emerald pointed out.

'I'm a gambling man, as you know. If we see that we can't just waltz in, we'll back off and either try again another time, or find another way to get to Mistral. I'm betting though that there won't be any Atlesian Military there. We were lucky to find this flimsy shack so close to the area with no one around, but I think we've had enough time to catch up. Let's get on with our job.'

'Oh, by the way, where's Neo?' Emerald asked.

'I have no idea.' Torchwick replied quietly. 'Red sent her flying away off the ship I was on...'


The sun shone brightly above their heads, yet the weather was surprisingly cold. Shivers swam down their backs as they emerged from the shack.
It was difficult for Mercury to move with his crutches, so Torchwick and Emerald held onto him as they moved towards the General's grounded fleet.
'Why do your legs weigh so much?' Torchwick asked. 'How do you fight with those damn things?'

'It comes with practice.' Mercury responded casually. 'Or maybe it's just that you're weak.'

Torchwick growled but made no return. Although he was annoying, Mercury was on his side, and the same task awaited both of them.

Their destination came into view. As Torchwick had predicted, the area, although fenced off with only a small entrance, was devoid of any people. A variety of different aircraft stood before them. Some were bigger, whilst others were much larger.
'We don't need anything too pretentious.' said Torchwick. 'Just something that will take us from A to B.'

'It wouldn't hurt to have something moderately comfortable though.' said Mercury.

'I don't want it to be difficult to pilot. I'm the one handling this, remember?'

'Just a suggestion.' Mercury shrugged. 'I'd kinda like some seats to rest my legs.'

'If the Military come back here, they're more likely to notice that one of their more expensive ships is missing. If we take a smaller one, there's less chance of us being found.'

'C'mon Roman, communication has been significantly butchered, and we'll be long gone before anyone notices anything. Besides, it'd be useful to have extra space, in case we need it in the long run.'

Torchwick sighed. 'Okay, fine. We'll take something better suited for your precious needs.'

'I knew you'd see it my way.' said Mercury with a complacent smile.

The sight of one with three rows of seats inside and windows to look out of caught their attention. It almost seemed out of place: a commercially designed ship amongst a cage of militant ones, albeit it was painted the same dull grey colour as every other one. It wingspan was also particularly small for its size.
The three of them pulled the side door open and stepped inside. The seats weren't first-class, but were at least cushioned. It had clearly been designed for people of higher ranks. At the back of the cabin was a wide door, which opened into the cargo hold. There was a dark grey, big metallic container already inside at the back end. Torchwick approached it and threw the lid off. Nothing.

'I like this.' said Mercury. 'Let's take this one.'

Torchwick shook his head. 'It's too excessive.' he said firmly. 'I don't want to pilot it and get caught. I'd rather that we stay inconspicuous with something smaller.'

'That's funny, coming from you Mr fancy pants.' said Mercury.

'I may like class, but I also like to be off the radar.' said Torchwick, who held back the urge to whack Mercury with his cane. 'Forget about this one, we've finding something more manageable.'

Torchwick stepped out of the ship and looked around to see if he could spot something better suited to their needs.

He froze and starred wide-eyed at the entrance to the facility. 'Get back inside!' he said in a panic before scrambling through the doorway.


General Ironwood, Qrow, Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Team SSSN, Ryze and Shen all marched into the facility. They were carrying various wooden crates, with the teams holding bigger ones that required two people to hold them. Once they were all inside the area, the crates could be put down and their arms could relax.

Ironwood analysed his surroundings. He had one particular ship in mind. 'Aha, there it is.' said he and pointed towards a ship designed to transport multiple people in relative comfort. 'This ship has enough space in the back to store all of our supplies, and enough seats for us all to sit down.'

'Sounds perfect.' said Ruby.

'Alright guys, let's get it loaded up.' Qrow ordered.

As they approached it, Ironwood noticed that the door wasn't sealed. 'Huh, that's strange…'

'Something wrong, Jim?' Qrow asked.

'The door's wide open…'

'Ahh, I'm sure it's nothing. Someone probably just forgot to close it when they left here.'

The General was not convinced, but decided not to overthink it. 'Yeah, you're probably right.' He stepped on-board and investigated the ship. It seemed untouched. He walked towards the cargo hold and opened the door. 'Okay everyone, put all the supplies here. Then we'll be ready to leave.'

'Hey, there's some stuff already in here.' said Qrow, pointing towards a dark-grey container at the back.

'It's empty.' said Ironwood. 'We keep weapons inside there usually, but all of my men took them away into the battle. It's designed to withstand a lot of force, in case the ship crashes.'

The process of loading went smoothly – their crates fitted snuggly into the hold.

Ironwood cleared his throat as he closed the door to the ship. 'Okay everyone, I just need to say a few things and lay down some rules. Because this is my ship, I want everyone to be well behaved. The journey will be very long, no doubt, so refrain from jumping about. Shout and have fun if you want, but don't be too loud. Food and drink are in the crates closest to the cargo door. If you need anything, just go in and grab something, but try not to have too much: we need to make it last the whole way. I will be manning the cockpit, with Qrow providing assistance if needed. You can talk to me, but try to not preoccupy me for too long: since I need to concentrate. Finally, it's a bit late to be asking this, but if anyone here has changed their mind, and does not wish to go forth with this mission, please raise your hand now.

None left their sides.

'Very well then, it seems that we're ready to go. Please take a seat everyone. Ryze, Shen, do you know where the nearest landmass is in Runeterra?'

'The most eastern point of Runeterra would be Ionia.' said Shen.

'West would be the Freljord, which is not a feasible option to land in.' said Ryze.

'So I take it that I have to go west to get to Ionia?' Ironwood asked.

'I suppose so.' said Shen, nodding his head. 'And what is the continent furthest to the west in Remnant.'

'That would be Western Vale and the Kingdom of Vacuo.' Ironwood replied.

'Once we make it past the coastlibe and begin to cross the ocean, do you want me to help you navigate, since Ionia is my homeland and I'll know where to direct you?'

'That would be very much appreciated. Thank you, Shen.' said Ironwood, shaking his hand in exactly the same way they had done in the abandoned village.

'Alright, let's do this then!' said Ruby excitedly.

'Yeah, this is gonna be great!' Nora exclaimed.

'Nora, please keep yourself in check.' said Ren, holding both of her shoulders firmly.

'Oh yes, of course. Ironwood needs to concentrate.' she said, just as eager, but quieter.

'Are you okay, Ryze?' Blake asked, conscious of how these teens might get on his nerves.

'Yeah, I'm fine.' he said without a hue of irritability – a good sign so far. 'I might try and sleep, but don't worry about me. I'm slowly getting more used to you guys and your company. Believe you me, that's a compliment.'

A general talk about the adventure ahead of them filled the cabin, garnished with enthusiasm.

It was time. Ironwood ignited the engine. He waited for it to heat up before levitating it upwards and piloting it westwards to Ionia.


'You idiot!' Torchwick hissed through gritted teeth. 'Now look what you've done: we're trapped in the cargo hold, heading somewhere we don't even want to go!'
The odour of tobacco filled the container. Torchwick, Mercury and Emerald were squished together like sardines in a small tin can. They had only just been able to hear what Ironwood had said from where they hid, but some of the names of places mentioned, they did not recognise.

'What does it matter?' Mercury said, his puerile attitude had vanished. 'If we'd made a decision any quicker, they would've caught us taking off. We were screwed anyways.'

'He's got a point.' said Emerald. 'We just so happened to come here at the wrong time.'

'If we hadn't been dancing around inside this ship, we could've easily hid behind another one!'

'Let's just calm down.' Emerald said with a level head. 'If we just hide here for the whole journey, they'll land and are bound to get off and go somewhere, leaving the ship unattended.'

'I sure hope it's not a long journey then. I'm already aching.' Mercury groaned.

'Maybe we can see if there's any space behind the supplies, where we can sit more comfortably.' Emerald suggested.

'Everyone, keep quiet, and see if the coast is clear.' Torchwick ordered.
It was harder to hear anything over the noise of the engine, and none of the conversations in the cabin could be discerned.

'I'm gonna go for it.' whispered Emerald. She gently raised the lid and looked downwards. 'Yeah, there's just about enough room for us to sit here. C'mon.'
Emerald climbed out, gently placed herself on the floor and shuffled to the left, to let the other two out.

Torchwick did the same and removed his bowler hat, shifting to the right.

Mercury awkwardly stumbled out. He landed clumsily on the floor.

The door to the cargo hold immediately opened, and the three of them tenses their muscles.

'There's not much sweet stuff in here!' said a loud voice.

'Just get some fruit out, Nora. That's sweet enough.' someone replied.

'Okay Ren, I've got some apples.'
Nora placed the lid back on top of the crate and closed the hold door.

They all took a deep breath; their hearts were pounding exceptionally fast.
'Can you possibly be any more of a burden?' Torchwick said bitterly.

'Shut up!' Mercury snapped back. 'I can't help it with my legs being in the state they are.'

'If you're the one who ends up getting us caught, I will make you swallow and digest a powerful Dust crystal!'

'Shhh, guys, keep it down.' Emerald whispered. 'What are we gonna do about food?' she brought up.

'You guys can climb over there to the crates at the front and bring some here.' said Mercury.

'No we are not.' said Torchwick ardently. 'That's a gamble we are definitely not taking. It's too big a risk; we'll be spending so much time exposed.'

'Emerald, could you not make an illusion in case they come in whilst we're looting for food?' Mercury asked.

'I can manage one head, but two is a stretch. There's no way that I can deceive all of them at once.'

'Also, they'll notice that some of the food is disappearing.' Torchwick added. 'Sorry guys, but food is out of the question on this ride.'

'This is lower than one-star service.' Mercury said, somewhat flippantly.

'We won't starve, we'll just be rather hungry.' said Torchwick. 'Let's just wait until we land.'

'What do we do once we arrive?' Emerald asked. 'We don't know where we're gonna end up and what we'll be able to do for there.'

'We'll worry about that when the time comes. Just be ready to get back into the container.' Torchwick instructed, eyeing Mercury as he said that. 'Alright kids, prepare for the most boring journey of your lives.'


'How much further until we get to Ionia?' Ironwood asked Shen. Seven hours had passed on their peregrination through the skies.

'It's a bit difficult to tell with no point of reference and only a rough estimate of how big the planet is, but just keep going slightly north of west for now.'

Patience was a virtue that not everyone on board the ship possessed. Seven hours was nothing to Ryze, and but for those who were more hyperactive, they were bored, and so many games of eye-spy or charades could only keep their minds occupied for a limited period of time.

Ten more minutes were overtaken before Shen said – with more vigour than usual – 'There it is: Ionia.'

Though it was a blur in the distance, it was undisputedly land.
Ruby ran up to the cockpit and looked over Shen's arm. 'We're here!' she said.

'About time.' said Sun.

'Yeah, I was starting to wonder if we'd ever find solid, dry land.' said Neptune, breathing a sigh of relief.

'Let's see then.' said Shen. 'Lower the ship, so I can see more clearly where we can land.'

The clear blue sky began to darken. Clouds emerged from thin air, and drowned out the gorgeous view of Ionia's natural landscape. Heavy rain suddenly poured out from above, deluging Ironwood's line of sight.
A bolt of lightning struck the sea below, followed by a thunderous boom – miraculously not hitting them.

'What's going on?' Ironwood questioned.

'I'm not sure. Go lower.' Shen ordered.

A larger fork of lighting shot the sea, with an even louder boom.

'Who dares to invade Ionia's sacred land?!' roared a deafening voice.

'What was that?' Ironwood said, now shaking.

'I'm not sure...' Shen replied.

Ironwood gripped the wheel tightly. 'What should I do?!' he said in a frenzy.

'Turn around, and go back.' Shen commanded.

The ship was incredibly awkward to rotate, especially in the now tumultuous storm.

'Where do you think you're going?!' boomed the voice. Something descended from the clouds. Ironwood gasped: a blue dragon. With a lengthy, spine-like body, hands which surged with lightning, yellow horns, blue eyes and an incredibly long, white beard.

'What is that thing?!' Ironwood yelled.

Ryze jumped up from his seat. He moved towards the cockpit, along with everyone else. They squeezed together, wanting to see what had stirred in anger at their presence.

'No, that can't be… I thought it was just a myth.'

'What is it?!' Qrow demanded.

'The fabled Storm Dragon: Ao Shin.'

Ao Shin flew directly towards them: its face fuelled by distaste. 'Depraved technology! You shall pay for your transgression of the natural harmony!'
There was no possible way of evading Ao Shin's assault. It grabbed the ship with its fingers. Lightning built up in its fingertips before releasing the charge. The engine beneath the ship was cut out, and exploded. Only the reinforced floor saved them from the blast.
'Be discharged, then scatter!'
A black cloud swirled into being above Ao Shin. It threw the ship into the cloud. It spun and spun in a violent spiral, carried by a tornado which Ao Shin blew upwards.

The ship disintegrated, leaving everyone helplessly spinning in mid-air. One by one, the tornado relinquished its oppressive hold on each person. They all flew in directions, faster than a speeding bullet: all of them screamed in terror and pain.

As the last one was released, Ao Shin stopped blowing and let his fury subside.