Chapter Ten – Defanged


I strode up to my destination and faintly heard dance music emanating from the structure. According to rumors, 'The Three Bears' dance club was only a front for a criminal organization… …as well as a valuable source of both information and, potentially, employees. As I approached the entrance, I inwardly laughed when I saw the doorman hunched over in his chair, sleeping.

I flicked him in the forehead. "Hey dingus, wake up." I commanded.

He jolted awake with a snort. "Wha-? Hey! Who are you?!"

I smirked under my mask. "Call me Sierra." I crossed my arms. "Now, I have business in the club, would ya be gentleman and open the door for me? Or do I have to bust it down myself?"

He gulped and opened his scroll. "Yea, Junior? There's this freakishly muscular chick out here callin' herself 'Sierra', she's not on the list." He paused while waiting for a response. "All black, cyan eyes, got a fedora for some reason." He paused again. "Okay boss." He hung up and turned to me. "Boss says you can come in, but don't cause any trouble."

"Heh, no promises, henchie." I said as he opened the door for me and I went through. I waded through the crowd towards the bar where the owner was working. I sat down. "How's about nice cold one?" I said, giving the coded phrase that I was looking to hire someone for something shady. "No ice." Not a hitman.

He nodded. "I think we've got somethin' in the back, red."

We both walked away. He disappeared behind an 'employees only' door and I headed towards a door with a red light above it. Walking through, I saw a waiting henchman who nodded at me and started to lead me to another room. I entered what appeared to be a conference room, though I was alone for the time being. My escort left and told me that Junior would be here shortly.

Roughly two minutes later, the man in question entered the room and sat down opposite me. "So, what're you lookin' for?"

"Someone with very good infiltration skills, needs to have an unlocked aura though I'm not picky when it comes to actual fighting skills. Also, they need to be a faunus."

"That's very specific, what did you have in mind?"

"Heh, wouldn't you like to know?"

His face hardened. "Actually, I would. Seeing as skilled men are hard to come by these days, I can't just be sending them out on suicide missions."

I relented. "Very well, I'm looking for someone to infiltrate the White Fang." He opened his mouth to object, but I cut him off. "Your guy won't be doing any of the actual fighting, all I need is information. Me and my… associates will handle the rest."

He paused for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I have a person in mind… but her services do not come cheap."

I took out a few hundred-Lien cards. "Oh, trust me, cost is not an issue here."

His eyes widened before a small smirk tugged at his lips. "Wait here. I'll go get her."

I nodded and laid back in my chair as he left. A few minutes later, he returned with a- "YOU?!" The newly-revealed doe-tailed faunus shouted.

I raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you? You seem familiar somehow." I said, still relaxed in my chair.

Junior seemed confused. "Do you know her, Cel?"

"Know her?! She's the leader of the Suncrushers!"

I snapped my fingers. "Oh yea! Now I remember! You were that doe faunus in the warehouse we hit last month."

Junior blinked. "Wait, you're the leader of the Suncrushers?"

I nodded. "Yep," I said popping the 'P'. "that's the name the public's given us."

His face broke into a wide smile. "Well why didn't cha say so? I had Cel here tryin' to take 'em down when you showed up. Blazing Sun's been cuttin' into my profits for years now and suddenly you guys come in and wreck 'em!" He laughed heartily. "How's about we make a deal: You keep doin' what you're doin', and I'll pay for half of her services."

I blinked for a moment before grinning madly and extending my hand. "Junior my friend, I think you've got yourself a deal." We shook, and I turned to my new employee before handing her an envelope I had tucked away in my clothes. "Alright, Cel was it?" She nodded. "You can call me Sierra from now on, the details of your assignment are enclosed in that envelope as well as reporting procedures." I stood up, motioning to leave. "Plus your first payment, of course." I giggled. "We'll be in touch."


"-ther news, the Suncrushers strike again! This time raiding two hideouts simultaneously, one in the Diamond Hills district and another in a relatively secluded part of the Willow Creek district. Authorities received their usual anonymous tips at 9:42pm and 9:47pm respectively. No casualties were reported during either incident. Public opinion on the officially-unnamed group varies from person to person, though most agree that The Kingdom is a safer place with the Blazing Sun's influence being drastically reduced. Now to Perry with the weathe-"

I shut off the TV after hearing what I wanted to. "Heh, its always fun seeing their reactions." I said to my partner.

My partner looked up from inventorying her newly-acquired dust. "I don't disagree with you in that regard." She strode over to the couch and plopped down. "While I still detest this shack, I have to admit it is… homey, I guess would be the correct term."

"Told ya you'd warm up to it eventually. Heh, no pun intended, Ice Queen."

She rolled her eyes before changing the subject. "How did the meeting with Junior go?"

"Pretty well, all things considered." I said, taking out my colored contacts. "But we'll go over the details when Team Bumblebee gets back."

She pinched her nose. "I still don't understand why Yang insisted on these team names… Or why you agreed to them."

I shrugged. "Eh, better than 'team one' and 'team two', don't cha think?"

"I suppose, but 'Weiss Rose' sounds like we married and I took your name." She said, a slight blush playing at her cheeks.

I raised an eyebrow. "Uhh, it was never Weiss Rose, it's Whiterose." A smirk crossed my face. "Unless you want it to be…"

Her blush deepened. "Umm… No, I think Whiterose sounds… acceptable. I must have just misheard you."

Before I could tease her further, the door opened and the two missing members of Team RWBY strode through, the spoils of war on their backs. "So, uhh, how'd yours go?"

"Well, Weiss got her usual mountain of dust and I got a few thousand Lien. So, I'd say pretty well."

Blake set her bag down before diving into the pantry. "Ours went pretty well too."

Weiss gave Blake a sideways glance. "I don't intend to sound racist… but just how much of your behavior is due to your faunus nature?"

Blake threw an empty tuna can into a garbage full of more empty tuna cans. She raised an eyebrow. "This is because of my eating habits, isn't it?"

"Partially… Looking back, I've noticed that you seem curl up next to heaters quite often. Also, there was the laser pointer incident last week."

"Its not my fault they keep the school about ten degrees too cold… Also, Jaune doesn't remember anything happening."

I laughed. "Yea, 'cause you gave him a concussion."

"I'm sure he's fine." She sighed. "Anyways, can we move on from this subject?" She turned to me. "How did Junior's go?"

"I'd say it was a success." Suddenly, my scroll vibrated. I hummed. "Damn, she works fast. She's already in."

"I can believe it." Blake chimed in. "The White Fang never really vetted applicants beyond asking if they would do anything for the 'advancement of faunuskind'." She said with airquotes.

I shrugged. "Yea, standard terrorist MO."

Blake looked unimpressed. "I still don't see why I couldn't just go."

"Heh, two reasons, Blakey." I started, earning a glare. "1) They know you. 2) You'd be missed here, not just by your team, but also by professors. And the last thing we want is for Ozzy to be asking questions."

She crossed her arms. "I suppose you have a point."

I grinned. "Well, it's not like I'm new at this, Ninjagirl."

She raised an eyebrow before a smirk played at her lips. "I actually think that's a fitting nickname for once."

"Heh, of course it is, I came up with it, after all."

There was a pregnant pause before my sister spoke up. "So, did you uhh… did you get anything on Ozpin yet?"

I sighed. "Not really. I've gone into his office a few times now, but it looks like a lot of his secrets aren't written down."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "If they aren't written down, how do you know they exist in the first place?"

"Well, a lot of his written things do mention things that just don't make sense if he wasn't keeping secrets. For instance, under every female student's file, there's a field called 'candidacy', though nothing mentions for what." I let out a small giggle. "Whatever it is, he thinks I'm quote-unquote 'too unpredictable' for it."

"Perhaps he is looking for a successor?" My partner suggested.

"Maybe, but I kinda doubt it. He had Pyrrha as his 'most promising' candidate, and I really don't think she'd be cut out for the administrative side of the job. Also, he seems a bit young for that, don't you think?"

She put her hand to her chin in thought. "Now that you mention it, I don't even think he's fifty yet." She shook her head. "No, there are far more important things for him to do than appoint a successor at this time."

I sighed. "I'll see about gettin' my hands on a bug, but right now, its time you guys got some rest. We'll start on our secondary weapons tomorrow."

They all nodded and filed out.


-clank clank whoosh-

"Not bad, tinman."

-clank whoosh clank-

"Heh, not so bad yourself, birdman."

-whoosh clank whoosh-

"You're getting better. I might even break a sweat."

-clank scrape thud-

"Guess I win, good match." I said as I extended my hand to my grounded uncle.

He grinned and accepted my hand before I pulled him up. "Yea, still don't know where you learned that."

"Heh, too old to learn a new trick?"

"I am not old." He said defensively. "Sure, I might not exactly be young anymore, but old's pushin' it."

"Whatever you say, Qrow." I said as an alarm went off on my scroll. "Ah, forgot about that…" My uncle raised an eyebrow. "My team just finished making new weapons and today we're gonna test 'em out."

"New weapons? What, did they break their old ones when I wasn't lookin'?"

"Nah, they're just meant to solve our range problem…" I shrugged. "Also, it never hurts to have an extra gun if you need it."

"Well, can't say I disagree with ya on that one." He hummed. "Mind if I join you? I haven't gotten to spend much time with my nieces lately."

I shrugged. "Eh, sure, why not. I'm sure Weiss and Blake won't mind."

He gave a curt nod. "Thanks kiddo, I just have to stop by my room quick."

"Alright, we still have about ten minutes anyway." I said before following him. As we were walking, I decided to ask him a question. "So, does Dad know about me yet?"

"Probably not. He kinda became a shut-in after…" He trailed off.

"…After me and mom died, yea."

We walked in silence for a bit before he opened his mouth. "Do you think she's-"

"No." I sighed. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news… but one of the few things I remember is mom's bleeding and broken body lying next to me."

He shuddered. "That was an image I could've gone without picturing…" He sighed. "But for what its worth, I'm sorry you had to go through it."

I gave him a sad smile. "Its okay…" I pulled out my rose emblem. "It was years ago and… well… I like to think she hears me whenever I talk to this…"

He offered his own sad smile. "You know… Sum would do the same thing." I raised an eyebrow. "That emblem was originally her mom's. She died protecting Summer when she was ten." He paused. "You're named after her, you know."

"Huh, didn't know that." I said before examining the emblem, eventually settling on the ancient engraving on the back. "In loving memory of… Evelyn Rose? 1043 – 1081."

"Woah. That thing's a lot older than Summer let on…" I raised an eyebrow, not knowing exactly what year it was currently by Remnant standards. "If this is to be believed, she died exactly five-hundred years ago."

"Huh, well isn't that something…" I said as we stopped in front of a door.

"This'll only take a second." He said, slipping inside the room. A minute later, he came back out and we were on our way. A few minutes after that, we opened the door to the shooting range. "Hey Firecracker." He greeted.

Yang turned around before giving a slight smile. "Hey birdman."

He groaned. "Oh, not you too…" A slight smirk played at his lips as he started to turn around. "Well, if your gonna be that way…" He produced an envelope from one of his shirt pockets. "…I guess you'll just have to wait for your birthday present…"

Her eyes widened. "What?! No! I'm sorry!"

"Wait what?" I said. "Its Yang's birthday?" The rest of the team, who were also present, shared my confusion.

"Not yet," Qrow answered. "she's a new year's baby." He said while keeping the envelope away from my sister. "But I won't be around when it actually happens, so I thought I'd give it to her a week early." He smirked. "Now Yang, this is for you and you only. So, open it when you're alone. Got it?"

She quit trying to desperately grab the envelope from our uncle. "O- Okay…" She said a little sheepishly. Qrow relented and handed her the envelope. "I'll uhh… I'll be right back, guys." A small bit of melancholy seeping into her voice as she walked out the door.

I raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"

He shrugged. "Every year, I give her a… well, I guess you could call it a clue." He took a swig from his flask. "If ya wanna know about what, you'll have to ask her."

I nodded and turned to the other two members of my team. "Alright, then. Let's get started." I said as I walked over to my locker and picked up my MA5B, now named 'Onyx Rose'.

Weiss strode forward and grasped her BR55 before inspecting it. She nodded and opened up a slot within the foregrip, exposing a slot for a single 40mm dust capsule. She loaded it with Ice dust and took aim at a straw dummy down range. She squeezed the trigger, sending a burst of three unaugmented rounds into the target. With a smirk, she thumbed the selector switch and squeezed off another burst, this time, coated with ice dust. The dummy froze and shattered. "Well, I would say my weapon is functional." Weiss commented.

"Heh, you could say that again, Ice Queen." She let out a 'Hmf'. "Well, you're up, Blake." I said, turning to the person in question.

The noirette nodded and shouldered her suppressed DMR, looking through its iron sights. She squeezed the trigger three times, sending three rounds straight into another dummy's head. "Seems accurate." She commented while slotting the scope into place. Normally, the scope on an M392 DMR would only possess a x3 magnification feature, but I thought it appropriate to give her the scope on my, currently useless, SRS99-AM; enabling her to use either x2 or x10 magnification. She squeezed off another few rounds before humming. "I like it."

I smirked. "See? I knew you'd warm up to the idea. By the way, how good is the suppressor?" I asked, secretly asking 'how effective is it against faunus with ear traits?'

She hummed. "Against things like nevermores and deathstalkers, its perfect." 'Good against people without hearing enhancements' went unsaid. "But beowolves would be able to hear it as if it wasn't suppressed at all." 'Hearing enhancements make it useless'.

"Hmm, good to know." I commented. "Alright, lets keep practicing, team!" They all nodded and got to work.


/-\


I blearily opened my eyes with a groan… …only to immediately shut them as a blinding light seared into my eyes. I buried my face into the furry pillow I was snug- 'Wait, furry pillow?' My eyes shot open and I saw that what I was snuggling was not a furry pillow, but instead, a mass of long, pitch black hair. I paused for a moment, trying to figure out just who it belonged to… …before shooting back towards the wall.

The head turned towards me, revealing the amber-eyed face of my partner. "Morning." She smirked. "Sleep well?"

I paled, just now realizing the implications of waking up in bed with my partner. "D- Did we…?" I trailed off.

"No, what happened was far more innocent than what you're suggesting." Her smirk widened at my confusion. "How much of last night do you remember, birthday girl?"

I tried to concentrate, but everything seemed foggy. "I… I think we were on an airship going to Vale. I remember bright lights, loud music, uhh…" Suddenly, I broke out into a fit of laughter. "Someone threw up on Weiss."

I heard a sigh come from the other side of the room. "That was you, you dolt…"

I blinked. "O- Oh… Uhh… sorry?" I turned back to my partner, who, by this point, had gotten out of bed and was stowing the book she was reading. "Soooo, what happened?"

She crossed her arms. "Well, we were in Vale and walked by a nightclub hosting a New Year's Day party. You got a bit curious, saying you'd never been to one before, and we went in. Eventually, you realized you could legally drink and ordered a Strawberry Sunrise. At some point, someone must've drugged it and you started acting really crazy. You threw up on Weiss, we got kicked out, then on the airship back you started rambling about my ears and wouldn't let go of me." I flushed in embarrassment. "When we got back to the dorm, you dragged me into my own bed and trapped me there before falling asleep."

I buried my face in my hands. "I am so… so sorry…"

She waved me off. "You were high. Its not like you knew what you were doing." She paused. "Oh, I left out the part where you caught a raven and started shouting at it for some reason. You're surprisingly agile while high."

I blinked. "Uhh… Thank you?" I said in a questioning tone.

She shrugged. "Anyways, I think its time for a show-"

The door burst open. "Alright ladies!" My sister announced. "Our armor's done and we should probably pick it up today. No tellin' when Cel'll find something."


I stared in awe at the three sets of armor in front of us. "Wow…"

Three suits stood before us on armor stands. One white, one black, and one yellow. Each obviously drew inspiration from the ODST armor we saw some soldiers wearing during the fall of Reach, though there were some notable differences. On each of the left shoulders, instead of the standard ODST pauldron, sat a flatter piece that adorned our respective huntress insignia. Mine looked to be slightly bulkier than the other two, Weiss's adorned a white combat skirt, and Blake's helmet was slightly more bulbous to accommodate her ears. Lastly, instead of the visors being black, like we were used to, they were silver.

"You could say that again." My partner commented.

"Heh, I think ya did good." My sister said to the armorsmith. "Why don't cha explain the armor features to their new owners?"

We all turned to him. "Alright, I'll go over the features that everyone has first, then I'll go over the individual modifications." He gestured to my armor on the wall, specifically the chest plate. "Everyone has a few… erm, 'ablative plates', as your leader calls them. Namely, the chest, shoulders, and stomach pieces. Instead of increasing the effectiveness of your aura like most huntsman armor, these pieces actually repel it completely, making sure they take damage before your aura does. If at any time they become too damaged to be functional, each individual piece has a quick-release that'll allow you to drop it. Though the rest of your armor functions the same as its traditional counterpart. Also, the ablative plates are laid over the normal armor." He paused for a moment.

"Everyone has their own old-fashioned radio in their helmets. I don't know why your leader chose to use that instead of the CCT, but its not my business to question. Also, every suit except the black one has built-in night vision. Lastly, each visor can either be transparent," He pressed a hidden button on the inside of the helmet. "Or mirrored." He pressed the button again before humming. "Oh yes! Everyone also has magnetic weapon clamps on both their backs and on each thigh. That's about all I can think of for this part… On to the individual modifications."

He gestured to the yellow suit, mine, if I were to guess. "This one has a bit thicker ablative armor plates," He thrust a thumb at my sister. "she said you wouldn't mind the extra weight." I shook my head as he strode over to the black suit and gestured to the helmet. "Hers has a bit of extra room on the inside." He shrugged. "I don't know why, but again, not my place to ask." He walked over to the white, and final, suit. "Lastly, the white one has an ablative skirt. It works the same as all the other ablative pieces, though." He stepped away from the suits of armor and addressed my sister. "Alright, why don't you ladies try on your new gear while me and your leader settle up."

We all gave our affirmations as the two left. About fifteen minutes later, we were finally dressed and Ruby came back in. "So, how's it all fit?" Blake spoke first, but it was too muffled to understand her. "Oh, right. Try the intercom function." She tilted her head, as if asking a question. "There should be a switch right about," Ruby pointed to her cheek. "here."

Eventually, Blake seemed to have gotten it. "Can you hear me now?"

"Yep! So, how's the ears?"

"Actually, pretty good. I'd say this is actually more comfortable than my bow." She said, a smirk visible behind her transparent visor.

"Good to hear, how's everyone else?"

"This is… surprisingly comfortable…" Weiss remarked.

"Yea, it feels like a second skin."

"Heh, you think that's comfortable, try MJOLNIR. I literally spent the last two years cooped up in there and I was comfortable the entire time." I blinked before she continued. "Anyways, we're all good to head out, let's get-" Her scroll buzzed. "Cel just got her report in." Her face turned serious as she read it. "Let's get back to base, its not safe to talk here."


/-\


"Comm check." I ordered as the team crawled up a hill overlooking our objective.

"Two, I read." My partner responded.

"Three here."

"Four, I'm good." My sister answered.

"Alright Team. We've got intel that the 'Fang are planning somethin' big. Without the Blazing Sun pumpin' 'em full of dust, they're starting to steal it themselves. We've also got reports that they're stockpiling weapons at this facility. It is possible that Roman Torchwick or Adam Taurus are present, if anyone gets eyes on either of them, report it to me. I'll handle it. Combatants are required to have an unlocked aura, but if you are engaged by 'Fangers out of uniform, go for non-lethal takedowns. Clear?"

"Crystal." / "Yes." / "Got it." Were their responses.

"Good, our objective is to steal what we can and destroy whatever's left. I'll deal with any HVTs in the area. Let's move out." I ordered. Thunder sounded in the distance as our footsteps fell onto the dampened ground. Blake and I split off from the rest of the team, with Team Freezerburn going northward and the noirette going southward. I crouched behind a fallen tree.

"Freezerburn in position." Weiss announced.

"Same here." Blake announced from her overwatch position. "Looks like the compound's fairly lightly guarded. I don't think they were expecting us." Suddenly, the roar of an aircraft was heard overhead. "Bullhead, landing on the eastern pad." She paused. "Doors opening, its-" She gasped. "I- its him… Adam's here…"

"Copy, stay on overwatch for now. Operation BROKEN FANG is a go." I said, leaping from my position and charging the enemy base. I activated my intercom. "HEY ASSCLOWNS!" I shouted. Normally, this would be an extremely terrible idea to alert the enemy that they were being attacked, but the team really didn't want any enemy casualties. Thus, I elected to shout at them so they would raise their auras.

They all turned to me, though I didn't even bother to allow them a response, instead, I raised my rifle and opened fire. The two guards stationed at the eastern entrance fell, their auras flickering and dying, though their bodies unharmed. I heard the wale of klaxons, signifying their response. "Phase two is a go." I announced shortly before I heard Blake open fire from her elevated position.

I broke through the measly gate and was greeted by a equally meager defensive line still in the process of being set up. I opened fire, dropping one, then two, then three, then many 'Fangers.

My shield took a few hits from the right side. Turning, I saw a non-combatant unloading his pistol at me as fast as he could pull the trigger, an expression of complete and utter terror plastered on his face. I dashed over to him and knocked him out with one swift punch. My motion tracker registered an enemy swiftly moving towards me. I smirked, already knowing who it was, as I ducked under a slash from behind. Using the momentum from ducking, I kicked my legs upwards, hitting my would-be assailant in the chin.

He flew backwards with the grace of a flying brick. I turned off my intercom, now only speaking through my comms. "Phase three, I've engaged the HVT."

"Got it, on the way." My partner responded.

I smirked under my helmet and turned on my intercom once more. "Heh, Adam Taurus… Fancy meeting you here."

He stood opposite me, his hand on his sheathed sword. "So, you're the one that put Torchwick in his place." He smirked. "I can't wait to kill you."

"You're certainly welcome to try, Bulley-boy." He roared in anger and charged me, sending several slices my way. I dodged every one of them. "You're gonna have to do better than that." I said as I delivered several quick kicks. He dodged some, but most connected with either his legs or his chest, and he was flung back again.

While he was in the air, I quickly swapped magazines to a fresh one. Just as he landed, I shouldered my rifle, and unloaded the entire magazine into his form. His blade spun around in a blur of crimson, deflecting all but the first couple rounds. As the last round left the chamber, I reached into one of my front pockets and pulled out a single 40mm buckshot grenade before shoving it into the underslung grenade launcher on my weapon. I pulled the secondary trigger after aiming it just to the side of my foe, who was in the middle of re-sheathing his weapon.

I ducked into a corner just as I heard the grenade detonate, sending pellets everywhere. I heard my opponent yelp and I ducked out of cover, my knives at the ready. We danced like this for quite a few moments. Each of us throwing a strike only to be blocked by the other. He went high, I matched him and threw my own… …only to be matched and have a counterstrike thrown at me.

Realizing he couldn't win in a fair fight, he leapt back and planted his feet into the ground his hair adopting a crimson glow. My eyes widened as I realized what he was about to do, and I hit the ground in a flurry of rose petals… …just in time to duck under his moonslice.

The building behind me buckled and collapsed, its rubble blocking one of the narrow alleyways in the compound. I rolled to the side and avoided his blade plunging into my chest before retaliating with a kick, sending him to the ground while his sword remained embedded within the dirt.

I dove onto him, though he rolled out of the way just in time. As I was recovering, he aimed at me with Blush and a few rounds pinged off my shields. He and I had the same idea as we both went for his sword, but he made a mistake... Never engage a Spartan in a contest of physical strength.

I picked up his sword with one arm and punched him, full force, in the face with the other. His aura flickered, but did not shatter, as he was flung through a building. I took a moment to pick up Blush from its resting place, sheathing Wilt within it.

I strode into the now-three-walled building, expecting to find an unconscious bull faunus within. However, I was greeted with the sight of a crumpled refrigerator and an open window. I immediately keyed my mic. "Be advised, Adam Taurus has escaped. You have permission to engage on sight."

"Copy." My partner answered. "We're almost done here. Charges are set, we're just moving the White Fang to a safe distance."

"I'm about done too." Blake interjected. "Command staff are hogtied and I'm gathering intel as we speak."

"Great, I'll make the call." I said as I looted a scroll from an unconscious 'Fanger. "Hello, emergency services? Yea, there's gonna be a massive explosion in the Emerald Forest in a couple minutes… Do get here when its over, the White Fang at the scene will need to be rounded up." I said, my voice modified, before hanging up and ditching the device. "Alright, cops are on the way. ETA to completion?"

"Freezerburn is done, moving to exfil."

"Same here." Blake responded.

"Alright, ladies! Let's roll!" I said.

Minutes later, a massive fireball engulfed the center building of the White Fang compound.


(A/N) So that was a totally expected thing, RWBY raiding the WF, that is. By the way, we are still almost two months before the docks incident is supposed to happen in cannon. According to the .txt file I've been using to keep track of what happens when, it is currently… The morning of Tuesday, January 4th. No, I didn't intentionally make a 'for me it was a Tuesday' joke, it just kinda… happened like that… There's also been quite a bit of time skipping in this chapter, with the first scene actually taking place a little under a month (Dec 6th) before the last one.

Also, we're not done with Volume One yet. Depending on how things go, there'll either be three or four chapters before Volume Two begins.

Hopefully the Adam vs Ruby fight was alright. Tbh, there really isn't much you can do to describe his style when he faces a skilled opponent.

Just to be clear: Cel is not Selini. Cel is actually a shortening of her real name, Celestia. And she will continue to feed RWBY info on the WF for the time being.

Anyways, Reviews!

TheFishKing – Tbh, I'm not really planning on it, no. At least, not anytime soon.

raw666 – I never thought of it that way, possibly in the future. With your second review, in my mind, Innies never posed enough of a threat to give her PTSD in the first place, though it is a good idea should the covvies show up.

pspreader – Yep, plans are definitely afoot, lol.

seraphimnight – Thanks!

Roboman – That got a good chuckle out of me too, though you're right. It was completely unintentional and I didn't even notice until you pointed it out. Suddenly, I'm imagining Mr. T beating Cardin for picking on Selini.

OrangeGalen – That's a solid line of thought. It, or a variation of, might show up later on.

Shadow Walker Of Fire – I'll admit, Mando Ruby is growing on me. Though I wont have time to write it between this story, The Fall of Reach, and another project that's already in the works. Also, Feet first into hell and back again!

Guest 01/02 – You make a good point that _WBY wouldn't be able to kill, though I kinda sidestepped the issue by making sure the actual combatants all have their auras unlocked… however weak they may be. Also, the point of her doing this isn't just to undermine the White Fang in particular, its to train her team for if the covvies find Remnant.

osterreicher97 – Thanks! And I always justified it as 'they covered it so long ago that by the time Blake came out of hiding, everyone already forgot about it.' Though, it doesn't explain why it wasn't covered later in the story. Oh well. I always pictured Mistral as having three unique cultures due to its size. Chinese in the east, Greco-Roman in the south, and Scandinavian in the north-west. You're partially right with how I see Atlas (a combination of German and American). Vale, in my eyes, is Western Europe. Vacuo is a not-war-torn middle east/north Africa. On the power leveling, I don't think an average Spartan-II could compete with a fully-fledged and experienced maiden like Raven, though if anyone could, it'd be Master Chief obviously.

red october 700 – Thanks! Hope you enjoyed it. Though this isn't the finale for V1 just yet.

And that's it for chapter ten! We're almost done with V1's Beacon arc now, and it'll be concluded in chapter eleven 'Homecoming'. Hope you all enjoyed.