Chapter 18: This Town Could Really Use A Remodelling


-Ozpin's office-

The members of ASHNRWBY aligned themselves in front of Ozpin, they had to come up the elevator in batches, perhaps in hindsight getting everyone together before coming was a bad idea.

"What's the deal Oz, we've only been out of mission for a week and you're already calling on us? What's up with that?" Nova said folding his arms. He was rather annoyed, all he wanted was to go to class like a normal fire breathing prince of dragons, but everything seemed to want to stop him. Seriously, could he just go, one full month, without some incident dragging him and his friends into mortal danger.

"Trust me I don't like this any more than you do but it's important." Ozpin said with his arms folded across his chin in his usual pose.

"Oz, I appreciate the help you gave us last time, but I figured we'd upheld our end of the bargain, my team and I aren't here to fight your battles." Nova retorted. He was grateful to Ozpin for allowing them to stay, but becoming the headmaster's pet wasn't on his agenda. He needed to establish their standing before the authority got carried away.

"I understand that, but coincidentally your interests and mine overlap." Ozpin countered with a smile. He'd been expecting the rebuttal from the young dragon, the leader's dislike for authoritative figures...despite being one himself... was all too predictable.

"It has to do with Onyx." Randolf said as he and Qrow stepped out of the elevator, both clad in their signature looks, except Wulf wasn't wearing his white fur coat, but a long silver tailcoat with an armoured guard around his right arm. "Sorry we're late, someone here refused to move off the couch." He pointed at Qrow who just took a swig from his flask and chuckled, "Mornin' kids," Qrow said groggily. His hair stood up in ends and it looked like he slept in those clothes.

"What about Onyx?" Nova and Luna both asked simultaneously, trying to get back to the matter at hand. All traces of joking had left their faces.

"While I was out in the field digging up clues, I found some rather interesting information, coupled with the information Miss Magenta sent us... we've managed to pinpoint the location of our enemy." Wulf said folding his arms. All eyes in the room turned to Hex. "It seems Onyx himself is holed up not too far from here. We were a bit skeptical about the information since there was no way to tell our 'informant' was telling the truth... but when we saw that all the decoded call logs from the CCT Tower were routed all to one specific location, it fit. Heavy White Fang activity around the outskirts, shipments of cargo and unknown crates being delivered to one place… Mount Glenn." Randolf pushed up his glasses.

Nova shot Hex a look that said, 'Why didn't you alert me first?' to which she just responded, "Sorry cap'n, you were rather... out of it... and it was high priority information..."

Ozpin raised his eyebrow at the interaction, "Out of it?"

Nova instantly turned red, along with everyone else in the room, "T-That's not important right now... what's important is the current situation."

"Yeah old man, what do you want from us?" Yang asked gesturing to everyone, this mission again, sounded like it was required for professional huntsmen, and she'd rather not see her friends in a similar state to what Nova was in the last time they went out.

"Well firecracker, we need your joint team to run a covert op' at Mount Glenn, we can't send soldiers because they're too conspicuous. In terms of available professional huntsmen... there are none we trust to handle this information." Qrow said after taking another drink from his flask.

"Can you not drink right now? This is serious!" Wulf berates his friend but Qrow just waves him off.

"Okay... so will you be accompanying us again?" Luna asked looking hopeful that she'd get to spend another field mission with her beloved uncle. The older man just chuckled and tussled her hair, "Sorry blue, I've got my own solo mission to run."

"If you're not going with us then who will?" Ruby voiced in looking to Ozpin.

"Well, it is that time of the semester where student teams will be shadowing professional huntsmen in their line of work, it is a form of apprenticeship of sorts. No doubt questions will be asked as to why team ASHNRWBY are the only ones not following suit. In accordance, you will be shadowing Dr. Oobleck and a specialist from Atlas," Ozpin informed the team.

"Specialist from Atlas? Who in the world?" Weiss asked.

"I believe you are very familiar... That being said, I expect you to act professionally on the field. I feel the need to say this, given the err...relationship between your leaders..." Ozpin said coughing into his hand. Everyone just stared at two snickering behind their hands.

This caused Nova and Ruby to blush madly, "AH SIR NO! WE AREN'T LIKE THAT!" they both tried to defend simultaneously.

"Oh, well I do apologize, I thought you were given, how close you two seem," Ozpin admitted.

"See! Even Ozpin thinks you two should hook up," Hex giggled, jabbing her elbow into Nitro's side causing the boy to flinch away.

"What was that?" Nova asked feigning to ignorance as he looked on at his friends.

"Nothin' cap!" Hex snickered. Yang just high fived her girlfriend.

Nova didn't like the idea of putting his friends' lives in danger for their sake... Nitro, Hex, RWBY, they have nothing to gain from this yet they're being forced to fight.

"Nova, I know what I signed up for when I wanted to be a huntress. We made our choice long ago, when we decided to become your friends. We're with you 'til the end, this is our fight now to." she said as if reading his mind. He just blinked in surprise, "But Ruby..."

"No buts! We will not be accepting any posteriors here! We're all a team, we fight together." She said emphasizing the word with a fist triumphant fist to the sky. Nova just smiled warmly, "Well... not like I could stop you anyway."

Randolf elbowed Qrow, "Seems our young protege and your niece are..."

"Would make a good couple? In love with each other? I've known since our first mission, I'm not even a Faunus and I can smell the pheromones these two are giving off. The only ones who can't see it are themselves." Qrow snorted, he was trying to keep his voice low so they didn't hear him. Ozpin watched the two leaders interact curiously, he had to wonder if being a dragon made the individual's skull thicker than it needed to be.

"Alright, when do we start?" The dragon leader relented, turning back to the headmaster.

"Today actually, you are to pack up and head straight to Mt. Glenn, you will receive contact and rendezvous as you see fit, Dr. Oobleck and Winter Schnee will be accompanying you as I mentioned previously," Ozpin said as he laid out the information.

"MY SISTER IS COMING?!" Weiss said a little too loudly, sending a buzz through everyone's ear. The two dragons and the cat in the room flinched from the sudden increase in volume.

"Ah yes, I do believe I forgot to mention it. Ms Schnee was recommended directly by the good general." Ozpin admitted. This left Weiss stunned.

"Well this is going to be interesting…" Nova thought.


-RWBY Dorm-

"I can't believe we're being sent out on a mission barely two weeks after we just got back!" Weiss fumed as she face planted onto her bed. "And to make matters worse... my sister is going to be here..." her voice was muffled by her pillow.

The rest of RWBY, and AS followed in. "Got something against your sister Weiss?" Luna asked sitting on the bed with her petting her back. Weiss instantly shot up, "Against her?! NO! It's just that... she's always so busy, and I never really see her... and she has all these expectations..."

"Oh so Ice Princess has a sister complex... that actually explains a lot..." Nova said smirking at the red heiress. "N-No! I just... greatly admire her." She refuted.

"Well I know what'll cheer you guys up... well... more or less just me and Ruby." Yang said zipping in. They all turned to see her holding a small brown cylinder. "MAIL FROM DAD!"

Ruby squealed with delight, "OOOH SOMETHING FROM HOME! OPEN IT! OPEN ITTT!"

Everyone leaned in curiously as Yang opened the brown cylinder and emptied its contents. They weren't really sure what they were expecting but it certainly wasn't a black roll of... fluff? And it was moving?

"What is..." Nova started but stopped himself when the roll on the floor let out an 'ARF!'. They all watched incredulously as it unfurled into what appeared to be a black, grey and white coated corgi.

"ZWEI!" Ruby squealed picking up the dog.

"He sent a dog?!" Blake asked looking rather, annoyed.

"Oh he does stuff like this all the time!" Yang said as if this was completely normal.

"Your father... or your dog?" Nova asked curiously, eyeing the puppy who just looked at him absolutely enamoured. Instantly Zwei jumped off of Ruby and landed on Nova and began licking him profusely. "AW! HE LIKES YOU!" Ruby squealed watching Nova struggle under the raw power of the boot sized hairball. "Dog...saliva... too... powerful..." He choked out before fake dying.

"Oh look it came with a letter..." Yang said as she unfurled a piece of paper that floated out of the cylinder. "

"Dear girls, I've got to leave the island for a few days, so I'm sending Zwei to you. Enclosed is all the food you should need. Love you both- Taiyang" the blonde said before holding out the cylinder and shaking it. Out popped an absolute mountain of canned dog food that realistically looked impossible to fit inside.

"What is he supposed to do with all that?" Weiss asked curiously, just as a can opener fell onto the pile, like the last drop of a pipe. "Oh..."

"So... we have a dog now?" Luna asked getting up and carefully approaching the corgi. The dog curiously looked at her before waddling up and licking her hands. The blue girl just gushed with joy and petted him on the head.

"You mean to tell me this mangy... drooling... mutt... Is going to wiv wif us foweva? Who's a good boy! It's you! Yes it's you!" Everyone just looked appalled at Weiss' sudden change in demeanor with her speech devolving into baby speak. She did have a weakness for the small and cute after all.

"Do whatever, just keep him AWAY from my stuff...and me." Blake said shrinking away into her bunk... in the corner... hissing.

Nova was confused for a moment before it clicked, "Oh right. Cats and Dogs... that's actually hilarious." He said before snickering.

"What're we supposed to do with him? We can't just leave him here while we're gone for a week..." Weiss pointed out.

"We don't really have a choice... it's not like we can take him with us. Come on we need to head to the amphitheatre for our briefing with the rest of the school. Zwei will be here when we get back!" Yang said beckoning everyone to follow her out.

Ruby lingered back and so did Nova as a result. She eyed the dog carefully. "Ruby... don't you dare..."

She just shot him a shit eating grin. "I have an idea..."

"No you don't. Zwei will be here... please do not do what I think you're going to do..."

"Try and stop me!"


-Airship Landing Zone-

Team ASHNRWBY were all lined up with their bags prepped, standing in formation at the airship dock, awaiting their guides. "So... how long are they going to make us..." Nitro left the rest of the sentence hanging since everyone understood the unspoken words.

"AHA! The infamous joint team ASHNRWBY, I hope you're all prepared?" Dr. Oobleck's voice pierced the air as the blur of green whizzed past them, spinning everyone in the process. They all just stood dizzy and wobbly, "We're all...here and...accounted for..." Ruby said raising her index finger to the air, though her voice was shaking from dizziness.

"EXCELLENT! Now you won't be needing those bags people, since you've opted to shadow a huntsman on what's essentially a reconnaissance mission, we will NOT be establishing a single base of operations, rather we will be traversing the hazardous wasteland and making camp at any suitable location we may happen upon. I've taken the liberty of packing all our essentials in the air ship." The green haired doctor spoke rather quickly... too quickly, one had to wonder if he was in need of decaf.

"Professor Oobleck is correct. Those bags won't be quite necessary. I've ensured we have ample means to proceed..." A mature feminine voice said. They all turned around to see an woman who looked like an older version of Weiss step forward. She was wearing a standard white Atlas military uniform and had her hair tied in a neat bun, a single strang falling onto her face. Her eyes were the same piercing blue and like all Schnees, had sparkling white hair.

"SISTER!" Weiss exclaimed rather loudly, bolting herself at attention.

"Greetings to you to Weiss. Is this the team you've told me so much about? And the leaders?" She eyed Nova and Ruby carefully. The two leaders stood at attention as well, out of pure instinct, and stiffly nodded. "They don't look like much... strangely these two have hair like the Schnees..." She gestured to Nova and Luna who quirked their eyebrows, unsure how to respond to the specialist.

"COME QUICKLY CHILDREN! According to my schedule we are... three minutes behind schedule!" Oobleck zoomed onto the ship faster than Ruby's semblance. Winter followed suit.

"Come on guys... this won't be so bad... we're going to save the world with Winter Schnee and...doctor Oobleck... yeah now that I say it out loud it sounds ridiculous..." Ruby said leaning onto her knees.

"It'll be fine, we have the esteemed Winter Schnee on board with us." Nova said as he patted his crush's shoulder.


The flight to Mt. Glenn was rather interesting. While seemingly not out of the ordinary, Weiss spent the entire ride glued to her older sister's side. Nova had to admit, he had met the elder Schnee briefly before but this was their first real interaction. Supposedly the only person who was allowed bags was Hex, and that was due to the mass of equipment she had to carry around for recon. Nova on the other hand was still showing strange behaviours, though they were few and far between, like him wanting to carry three different soaps and shampoos on the trip and frequently asking himself if he needed makeup… which he never used.

"Tell me, team leaders," Winter said garnering the attention of Ruby and Nova. Both teams sat around a rather large conference table in the airship. "What are your plans of strategy, remember this is a recon mission, observe and report, engagement with the enemy is to be kept minimal if not completely avoided." Winter eyed the two young leaders.

Nova could feel her thoughts, she assessed them as being inexperienced and too young to understand the true extent of the battlefield. Dr. Oobleck on the other hand took a swig from his thermos and leaned in, pushing up his glasses, "Yes do pray tell Mr. Flareheart, team RWBY I am familiar with, your team on the other hand is quite the mystery... and now that you're all a joint team... I'm even more intrigued."

"First of all, Hex came equipped with untraceable radio receivers, sonar mapping and signal scramblers, essentially on the communications grid we are ghosted. Luna and I are fully equipped for stealth operations, we were trained as assassins before we became huntsmen in training. We are fully capable of tactical espionage." He leaned back into his chair looking Winter directly in the eye, Ruby just observed the two nervously as she could feel the tension between them.
"Nitro isn't built for getting in and getting out unseen, he is reliable but not very stealthy. He can create a solid diversion and enough chaos to be a failsafe should things go wrong." Nova finished gesturing to the red headed teen.

"My tech is fool proof and reliable in case you were wondering, made 'em myself." Hex said proudly displaying her various gadgets.

Nitro flexed his gauntlets, "I might not be the quietest person here, but I can sure as hell cause damage." He said with a smile and a fist pump.

"Do we fit your needs Misss Specialist?" Nova gave her a solid glare, as if challenging her. Winter just chuckled, a rare occurrence to any Schnee, Weiss was especially flabbergasted. They made her sister... THE Winter Schnee... laugh. That was it for her, she'd thoroughly lost as a sister.

"Impressive, I'll take your word for it. Ozpin told me you were good, he showed me your records. I have to admit, four successful field missions, no casualties, no failures or severe injuries and you even stuck to time limits." Winter said impressed. Weiss just continued to gawk, "Dear sister you should close your mouth... you'll catch flies." Winter said causing everyone to snicker at the heiress' expense.

"WHA?! B-BUT YOU…YOU NEVER COMPLIMENT ANYONE!" Weiss pointed accusingly while Yang just snickered.

"Looks like someone's jealous," the blonde said smugly.

"Shut up…" Weiss sulked. Nova felt bad for his friend, she did seem to be trying her best to impress her sister but all attempts were in vain. He was just thankful his sibling was kind and caring.

"While I do appreciate the praise, Miss Schnee, you are wrong in one department," he said folding his arms. Winter raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"You said no severe injuries, but we did have near fatal ones," Nova said pointing to his eye, where the three clawed marks ran down.

"Ah yes the Phantom, I've heard the rumours but this is the first time I've met someone with actual proof." She said intrigued, her hand on her chin looking thoughtful. "Tell me, is there any truth to the rumors?"

"Tall, ghostly, fades in and out of the shadows like it was never there, similar to a Geist, long three clawed hands and a scream that sounds like hell itself? Yeah those are all true. What they don't tell you is its face looks like a human skull with a tooth missing on its left upper jaw. The mask is strange as it can actually move… I saw it briefly before it took my eye but I can't forget it." Nova said bitterly.

"I knew all those years without your eye was rough on you..." Ruby said reaching up to touch his face. He leaned into her hand, to which Winter noted with scrutiny.

"Phantoms aside, I would hope you all remain strictly professional throughout this mission." Winter said glaring at Hex who was currently hugging Yang from behind.

The two in question instantly broke off embarrassed, "One hundred percent! you can count on it!" Yang said with a fist pump, referring to herself and Hex. Winter just rolled her eyes.


On the ground things were a bit different than what team RWBY had expected, ASHN already knew the state of the land, having done detailed research on Vale prior to their arrival. The broken buildings that perpetuated the never-ending grey landscape of what was once a thriving city gave off an eerie and unsettling image. Broken houses, collapsed stores and various other relics of a time when the city was once booming with life. The mere thought that people lived here sent a creeping uneasiness through everyone's minds. Such were the destructive capabilities of the Grimm.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, you may still be students but as of this moment onward, this is your second mission as huntsmen, and err huntresses." Oobleck started, his coffee ever present in his hands.

"Correct, from this point you are to listen to the two of us and do precisely as we say. Am I clear?" Winter said folding her arms and looking on at the young students sternly.

"Crystal clear, cap'n cold!" Nitro said, though, the last part a little softer so Winter didn't hear over the roar of the bullhead engine.

Hex and Yang just snickered while Nova rolled his eyes, "Would it kill you two to at least behave somewhat professional?".

"Sorry fearless leader, it's in our nature to be like this." Yang said as she fist bumped her girlfriend. Winter was about to berate them for getting sidetracked when Ruby's backpack rustled.

Blake, Nova and Luna instantly whipped their heads in the direction of Ruby. Their noses perked picking up a VERY familiar smell. Nova had completely forgotten Ruby packed the local canine unit.

"Ruby Rose…. You didn't…." Luna said a little disappointed.

"Young lady, that bag is awfully big, didn't I specifically instruct you leave all your major bags on the bullhead and walk with only what is necessary?" Oobleck asked angrily.

"Well you didn't tell us to listen to you yet so…I didn't." Ruby said trying to hide her guilt.

"She's not wrong…" Oobleck muttered to himself.

"Ruby you should leave that behind it will just slow you down," Winter instructed but the young leader refused. "What could you possibly have in that bag that…" Winter started but was interrupted when Zwei's head popped out it.

"Get back in the bag!" Ruby hush whispered.

"Young lady we are on a highly dangerous mission to explore enemy territory and you brought… a DOG?!" Oobleck asked rather loudly. This made Ruby rub her arm in shame and everyone flinch expecting her to get reprimanded.

"GENIUS!" Oobleck exclaimed as he zipped forward and picked up the corgi. "SERIOUSLY?!" Everyone said in surprise at the huntsman's actions.

"Canines are most notably known for their excellent hearing and sense of smell, GENIUS!" he reiterated.

Ruby was a little disoriented for a few moments but instantly recovered, giving herself a thumbs up, "That's right I'm a genius!". ASHNWBY just simultaneously face palmed.

"As you all know the south east area has been marked as a severe hotspot for activity. There are several speculations as to why this is but the primary cause is most likely, Grimm." Oobleck started speaking rapidly.

"Uhh… what?" Ruby asked in confusion.

"Well there is a Grimm, approximately a hundred yards from where we are." Winter noted.

"Couldn't we have started with that?" Nitro asked scratching his head, while the rest of the team readied their weapons.

"Wait, stay your weapons. There are a number of reasons why a Grimm would congregate in a specific area. Most of it is due to the negative emotions, emotions which our hidden adversaries are most likely harbouring." Oobleck stated, pushing up his glasses.

"So… what do we do?" Yang asked now even more confused.

"We wait, and observe it. Track it. It could lead us to its pack and in turn our prey" Winter concluded, reading the situation.

"Precisely." Oobleck responded.

"So… how long will this take?" Hex piped in.

"No one knows, it could be hours, days, weeks? Lone Grim have been known to stay isolated from their pack for uncertain amounts of time…. And there's the whole pack" Oobleck looked on.

"HUH?!" Nova exclaimed, now quite alarmed.

"Aaand now they've spotted us." Oobleck noted.

"WELL DON'T JUST STAND THERE! Prepare to engage!" Winter yelled organizing the group.

Team RWBY accompanied by Oobleck took down half the pack while ASHN and Winter took the other half.

Three beowolves jumped for Ruby but she quickly ducked under using her semblance and carved them a new one. Weiss made beowolf popsicles while Yang and Nova made smores.

Nitro, Hex and Blake barely did anything as after a beowolf pounced and dirtied Luna's favourite cloak, she unleashed her battle axe and quite literally pummelled and lacerated every single one of the Grimm. The scene was so horrendous even Winter got chills looking at the mass murdering little girl.

"…. Well done everyone, we have a small ways before we get to the first checkpoint so saddle up and move out." Oobleck instructed trying to keep a straight face while looking at the blood covered blue dragon.

"Did he just say… saddle up?" Yang asked.

"Indeed I did Ms. Xialong." He responded making everyone just shrug, Zwei on the other hand happily hopped onto the doctor's backpack and hitched a ride the entire way.

During the scouting and scanning, Oobleck took each member of team ASHNRWBY separately and asked them a single question. Winter took on ASHN while Oobleck split off with RWBY.


-With RWBY-

"Tell me, Ms. Xiaolong, why did you choose to become a huntress?" he asked almost out of the blue as they scouted around the various ruins of the concrete jungle, narrowly ducking under steel beams and breaking through thin debris walls.

The blonde brawler turned around confused, "Uh… so I could fight monsters and…."

"No! That is what you do! I want to know your reasoning, why you chose this path." Oobleck stated.

"Oh… uh, well if I'm being honest, I'm a thrill seeker. I want to travel the world and get wrapped up in as many crazy adventures as I possibly can…. And if I help people along the way then that's great." She responded finally with a smile.

"I see, marvellous. And you Ms. Schnee, what say you? Why did you choose to become a huntress?" the professor continued. "A girl born into fame and fortune such as yourself shouldn't need the extra work. So why choose this over a cushy job in Atlas?"

"Just as you said, I'm a Schnee. I have a level of honour to uphold. When I found out I was capable of fighting, there was no longer a question as to what I would do with my life." Weiss responded, rather stiffly.

"Interesting, and now you Blake, you seem to carry yourself with a sense of purpose" He continued his line of questioning.

"There's too much wrong in this world to just stand by and do nothing. Inequality, corruption… I can't just stand by and do nothing, someone has to stop it." The girl in black responded.

"Very well… how?" Oobleck asked, to which the girl just looked down.

"I…" she as at a loss for words unsure of how to respond to him.


-With team ASHN-

"You all know me, at least somewhat remotely, yet I know nothing of you." Winter began trying to make conversation, to which Nitro snorted.

"The great Winter Schnee suddenly wants to 'get to know us'. Alright, I'll bite, whatcha wanna know?" Nitro quirked his eyebrow turning to their senior officer.

"Nitro, at ease. She is simply carrying out her job in the field, as an officer she is to be respected." Nova said sternly to which Nitro begrudgingly nodded, Winter took note of the level of authority the dragon leader commanded. The Zephyrs and the Schnees had a bitter history.

"Ahem, yes, I wish to know what drives you to be huntsmen. What made you choose the path you now walk?" She asked Nitro first.

"That's an interesting question. Well, I'm not sure if you noticed, but I'm a Zephyr. As in Zephyr Security. My family wanted at least one of their kids to be a huntsman and it just so happened that I didn't want to be part of the family business. Exploring the world is a dream of mine and I intend to do it on my own terms." He said.

"I thought your name sounded familiar, but I did not wish to draw rash conclusions. I find it quite admirable you chose the path you did, and I certainly hope that the bad history between our families does not cloud the mission." Winter said staring Nitro in the eye.

The tall boy nodded, "I don't know the details of what happened in the past, nor do I care to continue that string of hatred. We are just two soldiers on the field fighting for the same cause."

Winter was very impressed by his maturity, and willingness to look past bad history, a trait many of our world leaders could do with. "Good, now Miss Magenta," she said turning to the purple haired girl.

"I was adopted by Nitro's parents. They picked me up off the streets, and while they were wonderful people, their line of work just wasn't for me. When Nitro decided he was leaving to be a huntsman, I saw it as my opportunity as well, and we left." Hex said without a hint of regret in her voice.

"Quite interesting…" Winter pondered on the girl's words. "But why do you want to be a huntress?"

Hex sighed before speaking, "I was an orphan, a street rat. I made money by working for gangs. There were tons of kids just like me, all doing the same thing just to survive. All of their parents were gone because of the same reason." She paused letting it sink into Winter's mind what she was saying. "They were all orphaned because of Grimm. If I can make a difference in this world, by protecting people from the Grimm, then maybe there will be kids who get to live happy lives because their parents didn't die by the hands of a Beowolf or an Ursa." She concluded.

"That's... very noble of you." Winter said in awe. Hex just brushed it off, "Thanks."

In reality, Hex and Nitro's reasonings were only half truths. The secret family business of the Zephyrs was undercover infiltration and espionage. Becoming huntsmen was just a means of training Hex and Nitro into becoming capable of toppling crime syndicates, but all that changed when the Nova and Luna fell into their lives... and their world became a lot wider... and dangerous.

"And now you Luna, what is your reasoning?" Winter turned to the small girl in blue.

"M-me?" Luna stammered out, she had never given her goals much thought, she took this path because she followed her older brother, because this was what she was trained to do. It was all she knew.

"I believe you are familiar with our past," she said gesturing to Nova, "As I'm sure Ozpin has already briefed you on our circumstances." Luna spoke with seriousness, unlike her original nervousness. "I chose this path because I follow my brother, but more importantly, to take revenge on the man that ruined our lives." she said with conviction.

Winter was taken aback by the sheer venom dripping from the smaller girl's voice, the words of revenge were uttered out as if just saying them held power.

"…. Ahem yes, a solid cause indeed." Winter said as she hurriedly tried to wrap up their excursion.

"Aren't you going to ask me now?" Nova quirked his eyebrow looking at the elder Schnee.

Winter folded her arms, "Unless there's something different, I believe your motive lies in the same boat as your sister correct?"

Nova felt a little embarrassed, "That's correct... but more importantly I have a new reason now."

Winter was interested, "Do tell."

"To rescue my parents."


"Team ASHNRWBY you set up camp in that building. Your leaders and I will be doing reconnaissance." Dr. Oobleck instructed, tossing the camp equipment to the WBYSHN.

"Aye, Professor…" Nova responded scratching his head and looking to Ruby for clarity but she to was confused.

"I will remain with the team to ensure nothing happens," Winter said as she accompanied the rest of the party into the nearby building.

Ruby and Nova followed Oobleck through the abandoned concrete jungle. Nova couldn't help but note the cryptic yet strangely appealing aesthetic the environment had. The ruined buildings and empty lots gave off an unsettling feeling, as though it were more than a simple attack that forced people to abandon this place, it was a tragedy. Suddenly Oobleck signaled for a halt and directed his finger toward the distance.

"Ruby, Nova, tell me, what do you see." The caffeinated scientist asked.

Ruby peered into the distance with a pair of binoculars and gasped. A herd of Grimm, monstrous in size, large tusks protruding from their faces, a long trunk hanging down like an elephant.

"What are those? Grimm?" Ruby asked, attempting to hand the Binoculars over to Nova, but he declined. After receiving the nanomachine mutations, his eyesight was much akin to that of a real dragon, sharp and precise.

"Goliaths. Am I correct Professor?" Nova folded his arms and observed.

"Quite correct Mr. Flareheart. Grimm that size have lived for hundreds maybe thousands of years. They possess near-human levels of intelligence, perhaps the older ones even more. And it's Doctor." Oobleck corrected.

"So we kill it." Ruby said cocking her Crescent Rose.

"I'm afraid your sniper rifle will do little than to irritate those beasts," Oobleck stated lowering her weapon.

"So what do we do?" Ruby asked confused now,

"Leave them be, they aren't bothering anyone and even if we were to engage we would all most certainly die. Choose your fights wisely Ms. Rose" Oobleck said starting to sound like Ozpin.

"The main reason for this reconnaissance was to confirm somethings." Oobleck pushed up his glasses.

"Huh?" Nova hummed in curiousity.

"Ruby Rose, tell me, why is it you chose to become a huntress?" Oobleck asked the young leader.

"Well… When I was a kid, my mom used to read stories to me about heroes who upheld justice and protected the weak from the Grimm. I wanted to be like that, but mostly I wanted to help build a world of peace." Ruby said after much thought.

"Admirable goal, I respect that. Do know that what you are stating is difficult and you need to be willing to work toward it, no matter the cost." The older man said. "Mr. Flareheart, what possessed you to become a Huntsman?"

Nova inhaled long and deep. "That is a rather weighted question Doctor. One which I believed I answered to Miss Schnee" He said folding his arms.

"Yes I am quite aware, but something tells me that's not the whole truth. So I want to hear it from you, directly. why?"

"I didn't choose to be a huntsman, and I can say the same for Luna when I say, neither of us chose to become huntsmen. We took this path because we had no better option. We chose the path of survival, the path that would help us achieve our goals, at least my goals. My dear sister is dragged with me but that's just how things go for us. We were thrown into a mess against our wills and we sought to make the best of our situation. This may sound selfish but it is the truth." Nova said leaning against the cold concrete of a building.

Ruby stared at him, sympathy in her eyes. She never realized that becoming a huntsman was never a choice that he made, it was the only choice he was given, and if risking one's life daily was the best option available, then she didn't want to consider his alternatives.

"Quite int-" Oobleck started but Nova interrupted.

"However," The young leader said, "After meeting Hex, Nitro, my friends here at Beacon and most importantly… Ruby," he turned to the girl who blushed at the special mention.

"I realized that, being a huntsman didn't need to mean that I was limited to just surviving all the time. Being a huntsman could be whatever I want it to be, so to me, it means that I can make the world a better place for not just myself, but for my sister, my friends and those I have grown to care for. The relationships I've made, I want to see them flourish in a bright future. I want to make that future possible, that is why I REMAIN a huntsman." Nova finished.

Ruby looked on sparkles in her eyes, filled to the brim with a newfound admiration for her fellow leader.

"Very impressive Mr. Flareheart. I didn't think there were any students your age who possessed this level of maturity. One thing I am quite curious about, if you will permit me to ask." Oobleck leaned into the boy's personal space.

Nova backed off unconsciously, "Uh Sure…"

"Why is your team named ASHN, when your names go as NLHN(Nylon)?" Oobleck asked curiously. They were given the option to rename their team by Ozpin, since their real names were out in the open now.

"Um… well when we entered Beacon, we chose our own middle names as our aliases. So while the name isn't using our first names it is still viable. It does have a deeper meaning if that's what you're asking." Nova raised an eyebrow at Oobleck who just nodded for him to continue.

"All the members of team ASHN have once tasted the good life, had it turn into nothingness before them. All of us have experienced something in our lives that burnt all we knew to the ground, but we kept going. Each one of us, made the choice to get back up and push forward, but no matter where we go or what we do, the ashes of our past will follow us, the mistakes we made and the hardships we faced are layered into our beings, like a second skin. We wear our past as a reminder of what we work to prevent. We are ashen." Nova finally said.

"That was… incredible." Ruby said in awe. His reasoning was heroic, it sounded like the manifesto out of a book.

"Outstanding Mr. Flareheart. I believe in the future you will both be a fine huntsman." Oobleck smiled, for once.


This arc is going to be rather long, at least longer than last time. Some more backstory and exposition to come. Stay awesome everyone 3