A/N: Hello again! Another post, another week! After some people asking me where exactly the "Badlands" that Erza (the group of city-states that are the Scions' scapegoat for where they hail from) is supposed to be near, I've come to the realization that I never actually explained where that is supposed to be besides north of Vale. For those familiar with a map of Remnant, there's a landmass north of Sanus (the continent shared by Vale and Vacuo) that looks kinda like a dragon. That landmass is supposed to be where Erza used to exist.

For those that are unfamiliar with the map of Remnant and are possibly going "hey, you probably shouldn't rename an entire landmass Solthrin, because that breaks mah immersion", have no fear. Because RoosterTeeth has not named that landmass as of 11/20/20. Which is really strange to me, because that landmass looks like a fucking dragon, and it's a pretty big chunk of land that's just…. There, and not being utilized for anything.

Blake, Aran quickly decided, would not be an alcoholic of habit.

They found their hotel room near midnight, just in time for Aran to rush Blake into the bathroom, holding her admittedly soft hair back for the faunus to pray to the porcelain god.

Pyrrha watched from the doorway, eyebrow raised.

"And that is part of the reason I don't drink."

Aran chuckled to herself.

"I'm not judging you. Everyone has their vices, drinking just happens to be one of mine. The sex that can come with it is just a bonus."

The redhead's ears began to match her hair as she looked away from the Viera. The night went along like this until just before dawn, when Aran finally stood with an unconscious Blake in her arms. Pyrrha noted that Aran was doing so seemingly without effort, causing her to wonder if Blake was just that light or if Aran was actively holding back her strength in their spar nearly a month ago.

The three women left mid-afternoon to spend some time in the city after renting their room for another night. Blake guided them to a small coffee shop, where she greeted the owner by name as they sat down.

After ordering, they began to discuss their plans for the harbor, agreeing that it would be in their best interest to scout the location out in order to find the best places to hide. Surprisingly, at least to Aran and Pyrrha, it was Blake who brought up knowing the location of their operation was vital to a mission.

After praising the girl for knowing this, Blake admitted that she had previously been in the White Fang, along with her disillusionment of how the organization was going about getting what they wanted.

They made to leave shortly before the shop was closing around the same time as a blonde monkey faunus who asked if they knew a good place to stay for the night.

Aran inquired on his current lodgings, causing him to awkwardly rub the back of his head.

"Are you by chance a student from one of the Academies?" Pyrrha asked.

"I'm from Haven Academy. I'd stay up in Beacon, but I have to wait for the rest of my team to arrive before they'll let me in. Why, are you girls a team?"

Aran nodded.

"Yes. Or rather, we're all members of different teams. I'm Aran Vinland, leader of Team ARY."

"Blake, Team RWBY."

"Pyrrha, Team JNPR. It's nice to meet you."

The monkey blinked at Pyrrha in recognition before smiling.

"Sun Wukong, leader of Team SSSN (Sun). Nice to meet you all. So if you don't mind my asking, why are the members of three different teams down in the city without the rest of your teams?"

Aran glanced at Blake, who shrugged.

"I had a disagreement with one of my team members. Aran suggested coming down to Vale yesterday, so here we are. What about your team?"

"Eh, they're fine without me. They'll be here tomorrow night most likely. Only one that might be annoyed with me is Scarlet, but he'll complain about anything if given the chance."

The Warrior shoved aside her concern for the boy's team; their dynamic might be similar to the Scions, where Thancred often goes off on his own. Such was her hope. They arrived back at their hotel, where she directed the faunus to the receptionist before making her way to her shared room.

When they arrived in the room, Aran found Ardbert standing at the window. When she approached him, she failed to see Blake's eyes follow her when the faunus recognized the look Aran bore on the rooftops.

"Ozpin's been speaking with a few people." Ardbert began. "I can't claim to know exactly what about, but I know I've heard the name James more than once. He also speaks about maidens, though the tone I've been hearing makes me think it's something more than just a young woman. Like titles."

Aran nodded slowly, attempting to appear as if she were just looking out the window.

"More importantly, he's of the opinion that your lover is one of these maidens. While you've been away, he attempted to speak to her."

Aran smirked. Y'Shtola was no fool. She knew everything Aran did. The warrior wished she was there to hear what choice words and mental scarring the woman had caused Ozpin, her mind traveling back to the 'Little Sun Incident', as she had taken to calling it.

"I dare say that Ozpin will not be attempting to manipulate her directly again. Something about time lived not necessarily equating to intelligence? Point being, you'll need to be on your guard. Another name to watch out for is-"

"So, who are you talking to?" Blake interrupted, making Pyrrha look over at the faunus in confusion.

Aran turned around, eyebrow raised.

"Who said I was talking to anyone?"

The faunus shook her head with a smile.

"I've seen you on the rooftop. I sit in the shadows and read some nights. I'd say you're insane, but that's the only time I've seen you carry on a conversation with someone I can't seem to hear. And, you seem pretty sane to me otherwise."

The Warrior glanced at Pyrrha, who's heard about Ardbert, but not about his still being around.

"Well, that's a little complicated." Aran replied. She saw Blake frown and raised a hand to forestall her. "And I get that you've shared some sensitive information about yourself. Please understand that my past is even more strange than yours, however."

Pyrrha chuckled, but motioned for them to continue.

"But if you insist. I'm talking to a fragment of my soul named Ardbert."

The faunus stared at Aran, mentally prodding her to continue.

"A long time ago, we were once one. Something happened that split my soul apart. You know how my Aura is spotty at best? I suppose you could say that this is because of this event, in a roundabout way. Anyhow, I can see him because he's essentially me."

"If you're part of the same person, what's stopping you from becoming one again?" Blake asked, curiosity peaked. The story the woman in front of her was telling reminded her of one of the books she had read in the past.

The Warrior blinked, then looked over at Ardbert to find him sharing the same look of wonder on his face that Aran was now adopting.

"I… we never tried?" Aran muttered. "This bears some looking into. I'll need Y'Shtola's expertise before I form any definitive conclusions. I may be a far more powerful… combatant," Aran changed what she had been about to say with a quick glance at Blake, "than her, but she will forever understand the intricacies better than I."

Pyrrha nodded in understanding. She had, after all, seen Aran's immense destructive power as a Black Mage herself through the Echo. A fact that she was slowly becoming accustomed to as she spent more time in Aran's memories. What had previously been absolute horror, now bordered merely on a feeling of disgust as she viewed the Viera's memories of gore-covered battlefields.

"A thought for future digestion." Aran finished, looking back over to Ardbert. "The name?"

The Warrior of the First shook his head at the camaraderie displayed.

"Qrow Branwen. You shouldn't need to worry about him yet, though I'll keep an eye on the old man just in case. I'll give you some privacy."

And then he was gone, leaving the three women alone once more. Aran and Pyrrha sent a message to their teams, stating that they would be back Monday morning. Y'Shtola and Ryne merely told her to be careful with the Light within her, while Pyrrha's team questioned her further. They only stopped when Aran messaged them with what training she expected them to do with her own team.

Luckily for the trio in Vale, they had all brought their weapons.

The night was spent with Aran talking more about her past with Blake, being careful to omit any details about coming from a different Shard. Rest came fairly early.

They rose with the sun the next day, beelining down for the harbor. Along the way, they met Sun once more. Despite Aran's efforts of telling him off kindly, he stuck around them, unintentionally annoying the Warrior. Shaking her head, she decided ignoring him was the best choice.

Surveying the harbor turned out to be a good idea. Even with Aran growing more accustomed to being around what she mentally thought of magitek, it still set off the defensive instinct in her. So, she used the exposure to it now to settle herself for later that night.

Leaving the harbor led them back to Vale proper, where the three had a close call with RWBY.

Aran spotted them first, being taller than most people around them. She quickly motioned Blake off, who was followed by Sun. Just in time, the Warrior thought to herself when Ruby vanished in a flurry of rose petals and ended up only a foot away from her.

"Hey Aran! You wouldn't happen to have seen Blake around, would you?"

"Why is it important?" Aran answered with her own question.

"Oh, well… she kinda ran off Friday night after a disagreement. We've been searching for her everywhere, and someone said they thought they saw someone matching her description with someone that matches your description?"

"My description?" Aran wondered aloud.

"Oh! Yeah! It definitely sounds like you. Tall rabbit faunus wearing armor with black and purple hair!" Ruby's cheeks tinted as she scowled. "Well, that's what it equates to, after the slurs…"

Aran chuckled and patted Ruby's head. Behind the girl, Weiss and Yang finally caught up.

"Don't worry about the slurs, Ruby. I've probably been called far worse for much less."

"But they were saying mean things! And they were trying to report you to the police as an armed member of the White Fang!"

Behind Ruby, Weiss huffed.

"And can you blame them? Look at her! Put a mask on her and she could be one of those filthy terrorists! Who is to say she wasn't part of them before Beacon? Who knows, maybe that's what she was doing in Vale all weekend anyways! You heard what Ryne said."

Ruby whirled on the girl with impressive speed and an even more impressive look of fury.

"WEISS! Stop antagonizing our friends! And you're taking what she said completely out of context! So what if Aran can be brutal? So what if she knows how to fight humans? You have absolutely no proof that she's White Fang, so please stop saying things like that!"

Aran cocked her head and placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder, stopping her tirade and drawing attention to herself.

"You have an issue with people knowing how to defend themselves?" Aran asked the heiress.

"No. I take issue with people like you who show no compassion in their actions. There is absolutely no reason for people to be as cruel as you displayed if they're defending themselves. Ergo, you've done it before, likely in service to the White Fang." Weiss answered, arms crossed.

Pyrrha moved to interrupt, but was stopped when Aran placed her arm in front of her.

"Oh. I think I see the problem. You have an idea in your head that anyone who fights with what I assume you would call dishonesty can't be a good person. If that's the case, then let me ask you something, Schnee. How would you put down a rebellion?"

Wiess glared at Aran before answering.

"If faunus were to launch a full-scale rebellion-"

"Tut-tut. I said nothing about a faunus rebellion or revolution. I mean a general rebellion, human and faunus together."

"Why would humans take part in a rebellion?"

Aran crossed her own arms and mirrored Weiss's pose.

"Why indeed. That in itself should say enough about the mistreatment. Let's take away the rebellion, and instead say that a village is being terrorized by bandits for an explanation of my skills. What should the village do?"

"Defend themselves, of course."

"And what if the bandits are too powerful? The terror of the villagers is increasing Grimm attacks on the village walls. What do they do?"

"Send a message to their Kingdom's capital."

"The capital is too far away. They are positioned along the border of another kingdom, where there are other villages."

"Then they're dead. Another kingdom will not aid the village due to its allegiance. This was proven in the Great War."

Aran raised a finger. "Perhaps. But, what if the villagers were to ask for succor from the nearest village in the other kingdom?"

"The villagers would ignore their petition for aid."

Yang frowned as she stepped into the conversation.

"That's not how we operate, Weiss. If a village near Patch were to ask for help, my dad and Uncle Qrow would rush over there to help, even if it was from another kingdom."

"Point to Yang," Aran stated. "You may understand politics and how to run a business, Schnee, but you do not understand survival and those that must survive. The other village would provide succor, because if the first village were to fall, the bandits would turn their sights on them. And then the Grimm would follow."

"What does this hypothetical situation have to do with your brutality?" Weiss asked.

"It has everything to do with my actions. When you feel you understand what that means, then come speak to me again. Until that time, I suggest you listen to your teammates."

Aran turned and began walking away, followed by Pyrrha. After several steps, Aran looked over her shoulder.

"I have seen Blake. In fact, I've spent this weekend fixing your mess. Good job showing your teeth, Ruby. I promise Blake will be fine, and return to the academy on Monday."

A crowd of people consumed the pair, leaving Weiss to look after Aran in thought.

Blake and Sun rejoined the pair several minutes later, continuing their exploration of the city. The sun began to sink when they were wandering the industrial sector, ignoring the looks being cast their way and the occasional person that recognized Pyrrha

The group unanimously agreed to head back to the harbor, though Aran had tried to tell Sun off once more.

"This may not attract the right kind of attention, Sun." Aran tried to explain. "Nor can I guarantee your safety. It would be best if you weren't around for this, particularly if it gets loud."

Sun shrugged.

"Doesn't matter to me. I don't have anything better to be doing, and I find it rather hard to believe that you guys will be aiding any of the illegal markets. Unless you're like… prostituting yourselves out."

Blake and Pyrrha's cheeks turned red, while Aran didn't react at all beyond a chuckle. It caused all three of them to stare at her, jaws agape.

"Erm… you're joking. Right? There's no way someone like you lowered yourself to that level?" Sun asked for all three of them.

"I have lived a very colorful past, with a healthy portion of it spent doing things I could not do in my village with my sisters. Take what you will from it, I shall not be expanding upon it."

Sun gulped when he closed his mouth, curiosity peaked.

"How old did you say you were?" The blonde asked.

"I didn't. But old enough."

Pyrrha chuckled slightly.

"She hasn't told anyone, don't take it as an insult. I think the only person that might know is Y'Shtola, her partner."

The Warrior shook her head.

"She has an idea, but not an exact number."

"Sheesh, you guard your age like you're some old woman that doesn't want to admit that she's old." Sun muttered, oblivious to the twitch in Aran's eye. "There's no way you're older than twenty one though, or you'd have graduated. How has your partner not guessed your age?"

Blake smacked the back of the monkey's head.

"First off, we don't have to give our age to you if we don't want to. Second, Aran and her team are a special case this year. They're a three-man team that came from Erza."

Sun looked at the Viera with renewed interest.

"Wait, you're one of the Ezrans? I suppose that explains your accent. How are you here now, if Erza was destroyed? I thought that like, everyone over there kinda… died?"

As he spoke, the stench of the harbor began to wash over them.

"Actually, my accent is due to my being a Viera. To answer the question that raises, we're faunus native to the forests of Erza. My team does not possess my accent. And yes, Erza was destroyed. I cannot answer more than that right now, as I don't really know how to explain our being here now. Now be silent, chatty monkey, so we can discuss a plan of action for tonight."

The monkey faunus looked as if he wanted to press for more information, but bit his tongue to stop himself and nodded towards her.

A thankful smile came to Aran's lips as they began to debate on the best course of action. They settled on splitting into two teams, where Blake and Sun would watch the port via rooftop, while Aran and Pyrrha would stick the shadows.

The question of the champion's ability to be stealthy came into being until she reassured them that she was no stranger to hunting, having been taught by her father.

They waited in silence, having linked their scrolls to show each other's Aura. Similar to combat class, Aran's meter fluctuated though Sun refrained from asking about it. Then they took their positions throughout the harbor, Aran having found a shipping container that hadn't been closed properly.

And so they waited, ignoring the sound of the city.

"I expected us to only need to wait for maybe an hour," Pyrrha stated as midnight struck. It earned a small chuckle from Aran.

"Ops like this are ninety-five percent waiting, five percent action." The Warrior responded as her ear twitched. "Lucky for you, I can hear airship engines."

Her hearing proved correct. A minute later, they heard several engines approach and turn off.

"I counted four engines," Aran stated lowly to Pyrrha. "Twenty passengers at most, if they stick to the five passenger limit and still want room for cargo."

Before Pyrrha could reply, a muted voice came from just to the side of the container followed by the clatter of metal being dropped. A louder voice made its way through the walls, able to be deciphered.

"Hey! What's the holdup? We're not exactly the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves at the moment, so why don't you animals try to hurry it up?"

Another muffled response from the first voice was responded to by the louder one.

"No you idiot, this isn't a leash!"

Aran's eyes rose as she then heard Blake's voice sound from the same place where the louder one was.

"Nobody move!"

Pyrrha began to move, but Aran's hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Whoa! Take it easy there little lady."

"Brothers of the White Fang! Why are you aiding this scum?"

As Blake addressed the White Fang, Aran slowly opened the door and stepped out into the shadows. She found Blake holding the man they were seeking, the smile on his face alerting Aran that he wasn't worried in the least.

"Oh, didn't you get the memo kid?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The White Fang and I are going in on a joint business venture together!"

The Warrior strode free from the shadows, catching his and Blake's attention.

"Not anymore, Torchwick. We have business to discuss on the behalf of Hei Xiong."

Roman frowned for a moment.

"What, is he starting a circus or something now? Hate to break it to you pretty lady, but -"

"Should I mention to these fine people around us that you killed the men you hired from him and left them to rot in a warehouse not too far from here?"

The White Fang grunts glanced at each other, before one of them stepped forward.

"Is that true?"

"Oh, most certainly. I don't know how many of you pay attention to current events happening in Vale, but there was a big report a couple weeks ago on a number of bodies being found with cut throats and fatal burns. Torchwick's work, Junior's goons. I may not be a prophet or seer, but even I know how this will end for you if you keep working with him. Perhaps he went above and spoke to your superiors. If that's the case, do they even care about you if they knew of Torchwick's actions? I'll promise you that if you keep working with him, you'll end up dead, be it by my hand or his. Walk away from here if you place any value upon your own lives. Now."

As she spoke, Aran strode confidently over towards Torchwick. Behind her, several of the grunts began to walk away until the grunt closest to Aran cursed at them.

"Get back here, you cowards! Adam promised us that our work is going to bring us -"

His words were silenced as he felt his throat separate. With his free hand, he reached up and grabbed at it. When he took it away, his hand was covered in crimson. When he fell to the ground, gurgling as he drowned in his own blood, Torchwick smiled once more.

"Ah, Neo! Glad you could join us!"

The man moved his cane to Blake's feet, then pulled on a trigger.

The detonation sent Aran's mind to work on instinct, drawing her gunblade and deflecting a sharp blade she had heard splitting the air at the last moment. She retaliated with a Demon Slice, the murderous arc revealing a petite girl wearing pink and brown that looked only marginally taller than Ruby with the sound of shattered glass. In her hands was a parasol with a blade extending from the center. Aran did not miss the crimson liquid dripping from it.

Then Neo was thrusting at Aran once more with the precision of a professional assassin. A fact that made Aran reveal her teeth with a bloodthirsty grin.

"A professional, I see. Good, I was tiring of the kiddy gloves I've been wearing since I came here."

As Neo began exchanging blows with Aran with the sound of shattering glass, Blake was saved from Torchwick's coup de grâce by Akoúo knocking his aim wide. A moment later saw Sun land right beside the man and attempt to sweep his feet. Torchwick caught himself with Melodic Cudgel and retaliated by planting his foot in the blonde's face, pushing him back towards Neo and Aran.

A fact that neither Aran nor Neo appreciated, as they broke apart and let him pass between them. The instant he was clear, Aran struck forward with near point-blank Rough Divide, this time not holding back her tremendous strength.

Neo's attempt to block was well timed, but the force behind the blow was something she was by far unprepared for as Aran's blade ripped through her defense and made impact with her midsection. The blow pushed her back several feet as she attempted to parry a Gnashing Fang and Jugular Rip, succeeding only partially. The first two that made the Gnashing Fang dug into and slammed aside Hush, leaving her open for the Jugular Rip to make impact with her body.

Air escaped her lungs when a knee followed through into her gut, and an articulated gauntlet grabbed the back of her head. Her vision swam as she attempted to break free until the other fist clutching a gunblade sailed into her skull with the force of what Neo decided was a truck.

The mute girl desperately kicked out at the woman in front of her, finding purchase on her stomach. She reeled her foot back a second time and struck again, twisting out of Aran's grip while wincing at the strands of hair she felt being ripped out of their folicals.

She activated her Semblance in an attempt to get away, leaving behind a copy of herself as she sprinted with burning lungs to get away. That plan was stopped when she felt a heavy impact between her shoulder blades followed by the shattering of her illusion around her.

"Come now, things were just getting fun!" She heard behind her. The tone was savage, sending a chill down her spine. Her reflexes saved her as she turned her stumble from the impact into a roll to the right. A thundering gunshot sounded, tearing apart the ground where she would have been, forcing the petite woman to turn and face her opponent. Hush opened up to deflect any bullets, but she realized she had miscalculated as she felt the fabric of her weapon's canopy give way to to Aran's Rough Divide. Time slowed in her mind as she realized the barrel of the gunblade was leaking fire.

Stunned as she was at her defense failing her once more, the only thing she had time to do was extend Hush's blade in a futile attempt to keep her attacker back before the blade made contact with her lithe frame. The armored form before her had unfortunately positioned herself well enough that the thrust was deflected from her throat to the side by her gorget. Then the detonation from Aran's Blasting Zone ripped her parasol from her grip and sent her into the side of a shipping container. Her Aura broke from the impact, letting her slide down to her knees with flickering vision and jumbled thoughts. She wasn't sure how to respond to the approaching figure, nor did she understand what to do when a sabaton made impact with the side of her skull, sending her into unconsciousness.

"Pity. I was hoping for something more," Aran scowled as she turned her attention to Torchwick. He was doing very well for his situation, bouncing back forth on a dime with his engagement with Blake and Pyrrha.

Turning towards Sun, she was amused to find him defending several White Fang members from others that seemed to share the deceased one's views. He could handle himself, she decided and returned her attention to Torchwick. Bending down, she grabbed Neo by her neck and approached the conflict before clearing her throat.

"Torchwick!"

The man stopped his riposte towards Blake, who jumped away. His eyes widened when he saw Neo in Aran's hand.

"Neo! Let her go, pretty lady, or I'm going to get pissed!"

Aran shrugged and held her up more clearly.

"All I want, Torchwick, is some answers. You can give them to me, or I can snap this pretty little thing's neck. Then I'm coming for you. Answer them, and I might even let you continue on your merry way, for a price."

At her words, Blake seemed to blanche, but Torchwick's scowl deepened as he lowered his weapon.

"Fine. Ask away, but I can't guarantee to have the answers you want."

Aran cocked her head. "Good. I'll ask Junior's question first." Aran stated as she withdrew her scroll. She navigated it quickly to start recording what was being said. "Why did you dispose of Junior's men?"

"They… outlived their usefulness. And they knew of several of my operations. A simple cleaning of the house was all it was. But while I may be a thief and a cheat, I do keep my word when I give it. I did provide him with the funds to rebuild his fancy little nightclub, as I promised."

Aran nodded to herself, lowering Neo a couple inches.

"Good. Now to my questions. You know something about Ozpin, or perhaps something about a movement against him." Roman paled as he heard her words. Was this woman another Cinder? "I want to know what you know."

"That's… not exactly something I can talk about." Aran raised Neo back up and squeezed slightly, causing Roman to hold his hand out in panic. "Wait! I may be the mastermind behind the lack of Dust in this city, but I'm not the head cheese. I can't say more than that."

In that moment, Aran's vision was replaced with the man in front of her talking to another man wearing a mask. His hair was red, with two small horns making themselves known. At his side was a katana. They were underground in some kind of ruined city.

"Look Taurus, I can't be babysitting your little play soldiers. They need to do what I tell them, when I tell them, so that she gets what she needs." Roman argued.

"And you will treat them with respect, human. I'd gut you now if I could."

Roman waved off the man's threat as he strode over to a crate full of Dust.

"Yadda yadda, threat against humans, talk talk talk. Seriously, lighten up. Maybe get laid or something. Better yet, do us all a favor and try talking to her that way, get yourself burned to a crisp."

Taurus clenched his fist as he stared at Torchwick.

"She isn't here right now, human. It'd be easy enough to toss your body to the Grimm."

"Ah, that is correct. But you're also forgetting that she somehow monitors all of us. Or at least you. See, I've found a way to get out of her sights for at least a couple hours. And while she may not be here right now, she will know what you did. Then you'll be just be fried carabeef. Or whatever it is you are. Either way, no revenge against us filthy humans. Long story short, your fodder will be doing my heavy lifting when I tell them to. If they don't listen, don't expect them to come back."

Aran's vision returned to normal, where she noticed the man giving her a strange look.

"Uh, right. So, as I was saying."

The man quickly glanced around before his gaze settled on the scorch mark from when he freed himself from Blake. He slowly moved over to it and began writing in the soot with his foot.

"And I certainly wouldn't sell out the people I'm working with." He glanced up at Aran and mimed taking a drink, then pointed to her.

"Sounds like something to drive someone to start drinking." Aran stated, taking the hint.

"Ha, you're pretty and all lady, but not even ten drinks would be enough for me to get over those ears. I answered your questions as best I can, now let Neo go."

Aran nodded, walking over to Torchwick and setting the woman gently into his arms and stopping her recording. In the distance, she could hear sirens.

"Thank you. Now get out of here before the police arrive."

The man scowled at her before darting into the nearest Bullhead. A few seconds later had the engines starting, and then it was gone.

The students watched him go for a brief moment, until Aran turned around. She was surprised to see a number of the White Fang had remained behind nervously, apparently the ones that were trying to leave. Seven in total she counted, while there were six more that were either unconscious or otherwise held in some form of restraints. Moving over to where Hush landed, Aran grabbed the damaged weapon and placed it into one of her enchanted bags.

"Finish rounding up the remaining White Fang. We'll do our best to get those who were non-combative a deal brokered with the police."

Then the Warrior broke away to look into the message the man wrote into the soot.

The Velvet Boudoir was written into it, along with a rising sun.

A quick swipe of her foot erased the message as she turned to her allies, watching them begin to round up the White Fang members. A glance at her scroll revealed it to be nearly one in the morning.

The sound of engines had stopped, allowing Aran to make out hurried footsteps and hushed orders being made.

When the officers arrived, they found the four students standing over the detained White Fang. They quickly began moving them towards their vehicles while the man that appeared to be in charge approached them.

"Captain Nathan Hale, Vale Police Department. Three of you match descriptions sent by Headmaster Ozpin, but I'm afraid I don't know the fourth."

"Ozpin sent our descriptions?" Aran asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes ma'am. Mission authorized by the Headmaster himself to protect the SDC delivery." He glanced over at the dead man with pursed lips, then turned back to her. "I'm afraid I'll need to see your student IDs to verify your identities, and then a statement about the fatality. After that, you three will likely be free to go. The blonde gentleman will need to come with us, however."

Blake stepped forward, disapproval clear on her face.

"If this is because he's a faunus -"

The captain merely raised his hand as his expression softened.

"No ma'am. It's just standard procedure when an altercation takes place. It becomes a bit more important when there is also a fatality. Was he working with you three to put a stop to the theft of this shipment?"

Aran nodded. "Yes sir. He's a student from Haven Academy, newly arrived for the Vytal Festival."

That caused the officer to look back at the blonde with suspicion.

"Your name wouldn't happen to be Sun Wukong, would it?"

The faunus smiled perhaps a bit too enthusiastically as he dug out his scroll to display his ID.

"Yes sir, that's me."

"Your team arrived this morning. We've been informed to keep an eye out for you and advise you to return to your team at Beacob before nightfall." The officer looked at his watch for a moment. "Correction, yesterday morning. They're probably still waiting for you at the airship docks. We'll probably be questioning you until early sunrise."

Sun's smile dropped.

Statements were given, as well as proof of identification, allowing the three women to leave. Once they were a fair distance away, Blake rounded on Aran.

"You just let him get go. Why did you do that?" She asked angrily.

"He has information that I need, Blake. And he gave me the time and place to meet him."

"And? You could have had him in police custody."

"Where I wouldn't be able to effectively question him.

Pyrrha shook her head, a clear look of exhaustion surrounding her form.

"That's going to be on you. I'm tired."

"That's for the best. You have class to attend, and it sounds like he's wanting to meet me in a brothel."

The redhead's cheeks tinted slightly, but she said nothing more on the matter.

"First airship to Beacon is at six. You girls should go get some rest."

"What about you?" Blake asked.

Aran looked down an alley then back to the faunus.

"I've got information to deliver to Junior. And then, I've got someone to meet."