Chapter 44

Pressure

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Flashback

"Scroll Communications / Tv"

Location / Date / Time Change

Training Room

Blake and Yang jumped around and dodged hits from Mary's rockets before they exploded the hard-light structures. Vergil stabbed at Lightning before she turned and blocked Ryuko's attack. Natsu punched at Gray furiously who blocked every hit with his guns. Aerith batted some balls back against the wall, working on her staff speed. With one last swing, she punctured the ball, making the air hiss out.

"Not bad." Weiss chuckled, a ball trapped on the end of her sword.

Oscar watched as Ruby zoomed past the two and suddenly split into three red orbs before reforming behind it. "Have... you always been able to do that?" He asked.

"Honestly, I don't know." She chuckled as she walked over. "I don't really think it through that much."

"You've all improved so much, and I still haven't found out my Semblance." Oscar dejectedly said.

"You can't force something like this, Oscar." Aerith said. "When it happens, it will happen. And it will be amazing when it does."

The door to the room opened, letting Ironwood and Clover walk into the room. "You weren't kidding, Clover. They really are giving this their all." The General said.

"We have too." Ruby replied. "With the way things are going, we'll need to be better than ever."

"Yes... we will." Ironwood pulled out his Scroll and flicked up the poll.

"Look, Robyn Hill is better than Jacques Schnee." Yang said as the group stepped forward. "She actually cares about people more money."

"I won't deny that." The general replied. "Either way, this election doesn't bode well for our stability."

"It could be a chance to work with Robyn." Ruby suggested. "Maybe get Mantle on your side."

Ironwood closed out the tab and put his Scroll away. "The chances of that happening-"

"She's right." Natsu said, stepping forward. "Mantle needs help and needs it now. If you can get Robyn to trust you and explain your plan, maybe she'll understand that you're being framed."

"Perhaps..." The general replied, pinching his brow. "But she needs to be open as well."

"So, are you here for new mission assignments or just to talk?" Ryuko asked.

"Neither, actually." Clover said, speaking up for the first time. "The general and I want you all to take the rest of the night to recuperate."

"You're... giving us the night off?" Blake asked in shock.

"Ordering it." James replied. "After tonight, we'll be waking up to a very different Atlas tomorrow. I need you rested and ready, for whatever that might be."

Atlas Academy

Team RWBY's Room

All nine teens sat around Weiss as they watched her screen, playing the news interview Robyn Hill on her Scroll. "Although the riots in Mantle have finally been put under control, how does it feel to know that most involved were your supporters?"

"I don't condone any type of violence, especially with all the hardships our city has been facing. What Jacques Schnee is doing is holding this city hostage, trying to force people to vote for him. I understand their anger, but ask that instead of showing it in the streets, show it at the polls today."

"We still have hours to go, but as votes come in, it looks more and more like Robyn Hill will be your newest council member."

"There's no way my father could think layoffs would do anything but hurt him." Weiss mumbled as she walked around the room. "So why announce this the day before an election?"

"A power play to force people to vote for him?" Yang suggested.

"No, I think he was just being greedy and wanted to keep his money." Ryuko said as she hung off a bed.

"Who cares, it won't matter in an hour or two." Natsu said, standing up. "Let's get going."

Yang climbed off her bed, catching Ruby's attention. "Where are you guys going?" The younger sister asked.

"Team FNKI invited us to a dance club." Yang answered. "It's a twofer; distract ourselves from the election and I finally get to take Natsu to a club that WON'T kick us out."

"I didn't know you buried the hatchet with Neon..." Ruby said in confusion.

"Oh, no. I'm still mad at her." Her sister replied." But that's why we're going to a dance club: We can't hear them."

"We should probably get going too." Ryuko said as she jumped off the bed. "You two ready?"

"I still can't believe you four are going to that thing." Weiss said.

"Hey, just because Ironwood doesn't like Robyn doesn't mean we all have to." Ryuko replied. "From where I see things, both are trying to help this kingdom. As for who is doing a better job..."

"But a victory party?" Weiss asked as Ruby and Vergil walked past her.

"Invite is still open if you want it." Her partner offered. "Penny really want's to see Mantle and it seems like fun. It shows that we support her."

Weiss glanced at Natsu trying to dance, making Yang laugh with how bad it was. Oscar popped in the door way, nodding to Aerith. "Well, you could join me and Oscar at the movies if you-"

"Not a problem." She replied, walking next to Aerith as they left the room.

Mantle

Ryuko jumped back from a flying bottle as some drunk fell over. "Good to see Mantle is celebrating the only way they know how." She chuckled.

"You sure know your way around the city, Ryuko." Ruby observed.

"Used to sneak down here all the time when I was invited to some fancy ball." She said with a smirk. "Down here, you don't have to worry about stuff beyond getting everyone home safe."

A truck with Robyn supporters zoomed past the trio as they walked towards the meeting. "Weiss does have a point, a victory party seems a bit like bad luck." Vergil said.

"Come on, let them have one sure thing." Ryuko chuckled.

Ruby nodded as they past a tv with live results. "Probably the last sure thing that they'll ever have before Amity goes up and..."

"And the world learns all about Salem." Vergil finished for the hesitant girl. "It's weird. We spent so much time worrying about Ironwood would react to this, but never considered what happens after that."

"Jinn said she can't be killed." Ryuko added. "But we can still beat her. I mean, if we couldn't it, we wouldn't be here now, right?"

"Ryuko's right." Ruby nodded. "But... I honestly don't know how to do so."

"We should be coming up with plans." Vergil declared. "We don't have time for this."

"After everything we've done, we deserve some time off." Ryuko huffed as the two walked ahead of Ruby.

Arriving at the party, the three walked into the building just in time for Penny to see running over to them. "Hey, Penny." Ruby nervously chuckled.

"I'm so glad you all made it!" The synthetic girl cheered. "The only other person here is Marrow, so it will be nice to have some friends around. Where are the others?"

"Weiss went with Aerith and Oscar to the movies, Blake is catching up with some reading, and Natsu and Yang are out on the town." Ryuko replied, glaring at Vergil.

"It's good to see them back together." Vergil said. "Natsu hasn't been himself since he came back."

"Well, when two people have been through so much, it doesn't hurt to have someone close to you to help." Ryuko said, turning to Vergil. "Not that we would know anything about that."

"What does that mean?" Vergil asked as Ruby and Penny slowly backed away into the crowd.

"That... seemed to be more personal they were willing to admit." Penny said.

"I think it was." Ruby replied as they ended up backing into the stage.

"What are you doing here?" Marrow asked, catching the girls attention.

"What, I can't hang out with my friend on a night off?" Ruby asked back.

"Cute..." Marrow chuckled. "Look, this is a serious election. The last thing I need is to babysit you two when-"

"When what?" May Marigold asked, walking over to the three.

"When/if the psycho going around killing people decides to aim a little higher tonight." He replied.

"Funny, that's why we're here." She chuckled back. "So take a hike."

"Hey, the General is trying to help." The Ace-Op replied. "If you can't understand that-"

"Is there a problem here, Wags?" Robyn asked from behind. "Oh, and the pipsqueak and tin woman are here too."

"Look, whoever is going around killing people is targeting those who speak out against Ironwood." Marrow explained as Johanna walked over. "And you're one of the most outspoken opponents there is. The General is just scared that something might happen tonight. And he doesn't want to take that chance."

Robyn stared at him for a while before letting out a chuckle. "Fine, but stay to the side." She said, walking over to the stage. "If I win this election tonight, we're all going to have to learn to work together."

May huffed and walked away, making Marrow smile a bit. "Stay within the law and we'll get along just fine." He replied.

"The law isn't perfect." Robyn said. "And it's not exactly equal."

"Trust me, I know." Marrow snapped back, his tail wagging a bit.

"All I want is for the people of Mantle to get their fair share." The blonde replied. "Be they human or Faunus, everyone should have a fair shot at making their dreams come true."

"Sounds good to me." The Faunus said. A high pitch ring echoed out of the speakers as Fiona tapped the microphone. Marrow turned and walked away from the stage. "Move, I have a job to do."

He pushed the two aside and walked out from behind the curtain. Ruby stuck her tongue out and Penny chuckled before they walked back into the crowd.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say." Vergil said to Ryuko.

"And that's exactly what's the problem." She huffed out. "How can you not figure out what I'm trying to say? If it was any more obvious, it would slap you in the face."

"This is all because I said I would rather be coming up with a plan?" He asked back. "Ryuko, please, just tell me what's wrong?"

"Oh, now you wanna talk." Ryuko huffed.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked, starting to get annoyed.

"This!" She grabbed his coat and pulled him in for a kiss. Instantly, the two wrapped their arms around each other and kissed even deeper. "Just take a night off and have some fun." She said after leaving for air.

Ruby looked around and smiled at Penny as Marrow watched the crowd. "The polls are about to close." The tv shouted before everyone started counting down. A spiked appendage caught her attention and Ruby went wide eyed as she followed the limb, leading to the chuckling Tyrian.

The lights went out, catching Ryuko and Vergil's attention as Robyn took the mic. Everyone looked around in a panic before someone screamed in pain. People started running and someone sent Ruby crashing into the wall behind her. "Penny! Find the person doing this and stop them!" Marrow shouted through his comms.

Her eyes started glowing green as she looked around, seeing the madman killing people. Her blades popped out of her back and pointed them at Tyrian. "Put down your weapons and surrender!" She shouted, only for the man to suddenly vanish in the screaming crowd.

"This is Ace-Operative Marrow requesting assistance!" The operative shouted on his comms.

"Huntresses, to me!" Robyn shouted as she and Fiona stood back to back on the stage.

"Robyn, we need to get you out of here." The sheep Faunus said, only for her ears to twitch. She turned around and was hit with something that punched through her Aura before a sharp pain crossed her chest. A boot kicked the back of her head and pulled her away from Robyn.

Penny turned around and charged Tyrian, tackling him out of the air. Robyn turned around and pointed her bow at the red head, who turned around looking for the killer. The lights snapped back on and almost blinded the politician. She blinked in surprise of seeing Penny before a voice echoed from the tv.

"And the winner of the election is... Jacques Schnee."

Ruby looked around, sickened by the bodies on the ground. Ryuko and Vergil rushed over to her, weapons at the ready. "Ruby, what's going on?" Vergil asked, gripping his katana.

"It's Tyrian! He's here!" Ruby shouted, shocking the swordsman.

"Who the hell is Tyrian?" Ryuko asked.

"A complete and total psychopath." He replied, backing into her. "Stay close to me, no matter what."

"Ironwood's robot! She did this!" Someone shouted, stunning Penny.

Robyn studied the blades around the girl as they sank back into Penny. "I... I didn't." She muttered in fear.

The screen started playing live from the Schnee mansion, angering the crowd even more. Ruby jumped onto the stage and started clutching Fiona's wound. Ryuko and Vergil followed her, the crowd growing more and more furious. Marrow jumped on as well, just in time for the mob to charge them. "STAY!"

His Semblance kicked in and froze a large group, though it wasn't as easy as it looked. "Get Penny out of here. Now!" He shouted, making Ryuko pull her away. Ruby was the last to go as Robyn crawled over to Fiona. She glared at Marrow as he stepped forward, only for a shot to cut him off.

Ruby pulled on his arm as he reached out to Robyn. "This wasn't us." He called out before he was pulled off the stage. The group raced out of the building just as an alarm rang out through the city. "Penny, get back to Atlas. Back up is on the way." The girl just stared at the ground before her jet boots took off, heading back to the floating city.

"Grimm..." Ruby mumbled, taking out her weapons.

"Buckle up, we have a long night a head of us." Marrow said as he did the same before the four raced into the streets.

One Week Later

Ironwood's Office

The General slammed his fist onto his desk as he stared at the screen. "More people are dead, Penny has been framed, and somehow Jacques Schnee is sitting on the Council!" He shouted in anger.

"It's the second shipment that was hit just today." Clover spoke up, stepping forward. "Since election night, Robyn's gone from hometown hero to vigilante."

"I'm afraid that's only part of the complicated problem." Winter added.

Ironwood sighed as he stood up, pacing back and forth. "It seems Robyn has emboldened our suppliers in Mantle. And they refuse to sell us supplies until the city is adequately defended. With Robyn redistributing the supplies she STOLE, the Amity project has come to a stop."

"But we're so close! There has a way we can finish." Ruby said as she stepped forward.

"There is… declaring martial law." Winter replied, shocking the three teens and Qrow.

"You… You can't seriously be thinking about doing that, right?" Ryuko asked, glancing at the screen as it played the same footage of Penny. "You have to know Robyn's been calling this crap out. She saw no blood on Penny's blades. That proves she didn't do it."

"I don't care what Robyn has to say. It's her actions that garner attention." Ironwood replied as he stared out the window. "Besides, what's more important to Mantle: Establishing global communications, or rebuilding a few city blocks?"

"A FEW!?" Ryuko asked back. "There are giant chunks of the safety wall missing, turrets that aim at people, so many problems! You keep talking about 'a little more time', but Mantle doesn't have that luxury! People like us have never struggled to get by!"

"We have all had to make sacrifices." The General replied. "Mantle has had to bear a lot of the burden, but-"

"No, they're bearing all of it!" She snapped back. "The longer this goes on, the more holes are put in that defense grid, and the more people are going to DIE when this plan goes into effect. Mantle already hates your guts with your presence, and sending in more troops isn't going to help! These aren't robots who will follow your order no matter what! If you do this, you'll be serving all of these people up on a platter for the Grimm!"

The two stared each other down before Ironwood let out a sigh and sat down at the desk. "I know…"

"General, please." Ruby spoke up, walking forward. "This kind of devision plays right into Salem's hands. That's why Tyrian is here, killing these people to frame you."

"Right, that's the reason we called you here." Clover nodded, flicking his Scroll to make a projection. "You're SURE this is the man you say."

"Tyrian Callows was accused of murders all over Mantle." Winter explained. "A homicidal maniac who escaped justice when his transport was attacked by Grimm. After that, he was never seen again."

"Well, he works for Salem." Ruby declared. "And he's here."

"If there any doubts about Atlas being Salem's next target, I think they went up in smoke." Qrow declared.

"But now we have a suspect. We can tell the people-"

"That a long lost serial killer is lose in Mantle and the military has NO idea where he is?" Clover interrupted. "That might make things worse before they get better."

"Then let's start talking about what we CAN do!" Ryuko shouted. "How about we just talk to Robyn!? We tell her about Amity, about Salem-"

"WE. CAN'T!" Ironwood snapped back. "If we talk about Amity now, we risk Salem's forces, who we KNOW are here, working to sabotage it. If we talk about Salem, she'll attack with every Grimm she has and destroy us. We HAVE to finish the tower. I want Robyn Hill in custody. We can offer her a deal if she cooperates.

"Anyone not assisting with Robyn, I want focused on Tyrian. I wanna know who he's working with, where he's hiding, what he's planning, and just how in the hell that video of Penny got distributed all over MY kingdom." He demanded loudly as he walked past everyone before stopping and glancing back. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yessir." Winter and Clover replied, standing at attention. Vergil gripped his sword and hung his head as the General walked out of the room.

Mantle

Natsu and Yang sat in the back of a transport truck, guarding something. "Looks like we're approaching 51st." Yang told Clover over her Scroll.

"Thanks for the help, you three. How those pills treating you, Natsu?" The Ace-Ops leader asked.

"Well, I can walk in this thing again." The Faunus chuckled.

"I'll make sure Gray doesn't hide them on you." Clover joked back. "Just remember, we might be in separate trucks, but we need to be ready to act as one incase Robyn's team takes the bait. If that happens, pursue immediately. Everyone else will move in as fast as they can. Going radio silent, over."

The comms went dead as Natsu sat down. "Do you… do you think we should have told Ironwood about Salem?" Yang asked. "Before he put so much on the line for Amity?"

"I… I don't know…" He replied, his hand in his face.

"I trust Ruby, but I think he has a right to know what he's stepping into." The Maiden replied. "Jaune and the others did." Natsu let out a sigh as she suddenly turned to him. "You… don't agree?"

"Look around." He said back. "The embargo, the military presence, cracking down on public gatherings… I've known the General for a long time, but I've never seen him act like this."

"Hard to argue with that." His girlfriend replied. "Still, he didn't have a lot of good options."

"I don't think there are any good options left." Natsu replied, gripping his head. "For any of us. Keeping secrets, taking lives. It's just makes me wonder how far we're going to go to do what someone else tells us to."

"Natsu..." Yang spoke up, and he turned to her, tears starting to form in his eyes. "That wasn't you. That was Cinder and Salem controlling you."

He wiped a tear from his eyes and nodded before turning away. "I know. But back then, I had no control over my own body when that happened. It was like I was locked in the trunk of my own car, while they were hot-wiring it. I had never felt so scared in my life. And right now, I don't feel like I'm in control. Arresting a Huntress who's trying to help isn't something I dreamed of."

"…Then maybe we shouldn't." She replied, confusing the Faunus.

Atlas

Pietro's Lab

Penny stood at attention as some device scanned her. "How is she doing?" Aerith asked, standing next to Ruby and Weiss.

"She's confused, scared." Her father replied, staring at a projection of the news. "I've pulled the data I need from her memory banks, but the damage is already done. What people are saying about my girl… If it wasn't for her, Robyn would be-" A coughing fit over took him, cutting him off.

"I don't think Robyn was ever their target." Ruby mumbled. "Salem's goal has always been to divide us. And that mean, just like the Vytal Festival, she was exactly where they wanted her."

"And just like back then, someone is using our own technology against us." He said, having his chair turn him around. "That doctored footage of Penny came from all over Mantle, as well as the Festival."

"Ugh, this is why tech is more trouble than its worth." Maria spat out in disgust. "Why can't we go back to the days of settling our problems with fights to the death? Was simple enough, if you asked me."

"If we're dealing with the same enemy, hacking into Mantle would have been child's play." Pietro declared. "Good thing Atlas runs on it's own upgraded network."

"And how would somebody get access to that network?" Weiss asked.

"Only a few have that level of clearance." The inventor replied. "Ironwood, council members, security and servalunce teams. Maybe a few more who monitor over systems like sewage and heating."

"The heating grid run in partner with the SDC…" She mumbled, catching Ruby's attention.

"What are you thinking?" The team leader asked.

"It might be nothing, but something isn't right." The ex-heiress replied.

"Understatement of the century." Maira mumbled before turning to her old friend. "Pietro, are you holding up okay?"

"I might nit be if you hadn't helped me out." He replied as his chair marched forward. "Trying to restore global communications on it's own seems impossible, but now… hearing what the people want to do to my girl…"

He stared at her synthetic face before another coughing fit overcame him. "Even if the worst does happen, you can always reactivate her again." Ruby said. "So, that's one less thing to worry about."

The fit ended and he turned to the three girls. "There's a reason why Penny is the only one of her kind." He explained as his chair walked him over to his table, letting him pick up a photo. "When the General first challenged us find the next breakthrough in technology, most of my colleagues went the more… obvious route. Zeref went down his road and fell off the tracks, but I was one of the few who believed in looking inward for inspiration."

"You wanted a protector with a soul." Ruby smiled as the trio of girls walked over.

"I did, and the General decided he did too." Pietro chuckled. "Much to my surprise, the Penny Project was chosen over all the others."

"Why would you be surprised?" Weiss asked. "You managed to create an artificial Aura. That's the biggest breakthrough in the history of Remnant."

"Not quite." He confessed before flashing Aura, showing piece of it missing shocking everyone in the room.

"You… you split your own Aura." Aerith mumbled in shock.

"Each time I rebuild Penny, it takes a little more." The father continued. "If the people get their wish and she's destroyed, I won't be able to…"

The tears overwhelmed him and he started crying, forcing him to put the picture back. "Whoever did this, we'll find them." Ruby assured him, rubbing his back.

51st Street

Mary Marigold stood in the street and the transport truck stopped. Dealing with the drivers, Robyn and the Huntresses moved to the back, only to go wide eyed when they found Natsu and Yang standing up with their arms in the air. "Robyn, we just want to talk."

"Scramble!" The leader shouted, making them all run in different directions. "Split up and regroup at the hideout!"

"Go!" Natsu shouted as the two raced after the leader. He took off over the street cars and flew after Robyn. Seeing her in an alley, he dived at her only for the rebel leader to jump and then slam her feet down on him. Crashing to the ground, Natsu whipped his tail and tried to catch her legs, only for her to jump away and fire bolts from her crossbow.

Natsu rolled to the side and the bolts hit the ground as he stood up. "Would you just listen to-"

Robyn charged with her shield and cut him off, forcing Natsu to dodge. A downward strike forced Natsu to catch the weapon before he saw Yang diving down, gauntlets at the ready. The two separated and Yang fired off three rounds, forcing Robyn to block as the blast pushed her back into the end if the alley.

"If Ironwood wants me, he'll need to send more than a couple of love sick kids." She chuckled.

"Stoping the trucks alerted the Ace-Ops." Natsu warned. "We don't have long before they arrive so please, listen to us. You need to know the truth."

"Don't lie to my face. You're just stalling." Robyn snapped back.

"Would you just listen to us!?" Yang shouted back. "Amity Colosseum, the supply trucks, they're all for a new communications tower." The revelation shocked Robyn as she lowered her weapon. "And that means-"

"I know what an new tower means, Fisticuffs." Robyn cut her off, her face in deep thought. Stepping forward, she held out a hand and shut off her shield. "Scales, take my hand." The two stared at her in confusion as she reiterated her point. "Like you said, time is short. Either take it, or I'm gone."

Natsu shared a nod with Yang and he stepped forward, lacing his scaled digits with Robyn's. Their hands began to glow purple as Robyn looked up at him. "Tell me again, what is Ironwood building out in the tundra?"

"A new communications tower." He repeated. "He wants to help everyone." Their hands turned green and Robyn pulled back in shock.

"You're telling the truth." She mumbled in surprise.

"Talk about a handy Semblance." Yang chuckled.

"Why keep that a secret?" Robyn asked.

"Because he's scared, and he doesn't know who to trust." Natsu answered. "Atlas isn't out to get anyone. The psycho behind all these murders is just trying to frame him. You of all people know that Penny isn't some kind of murder machine. If those people find out about Amity, they'll do everything in their power to destroy it."

"So who are 'they'?" The rebel asked. "Who's actually behind all this?"

A call came in for Yang from Lightning, alerting them to the time limit. "We can't tell you that yet." She replied, angering Robyn. "Look, we're trusting you, so trust us when we say that Amity needs to stay a secret until it's done. We just need a little more time."

Another truck pulled up and caught everyone's attention. "Run! We'll throw them off!" Natsu shouted before the two ran back towards the street, leaving Robyn alone.

Atlas Vault

Oscar stared at the massive doors to the Vault next to Ironwood in humble quite. "It's just behind that door." The General said. "The Staff of Creation. I had hoped bringing you down here would jog some memory. After all, it was Ozpin's idea to use the Staff to float the city."

"I.. I thought Gravity Dust kept Atlas afloat?" Oscar asked in surprise.

"That's the public story." Ironwood chuckled as he walked forward. "But with the Staff, we have a constant, limitless supply of energy. Ozpin speculated that we could take her as high as we wanted. To tell you the truth, that served as the inspiration for the Amity Tower. Get a communications tower in the sky, higher than any Grimm can reach. So that we never lose contact with each other again…"

"Then why not use the Staff to raise the tower?" Oscar asked.

"We can only use it to create one thing at a time." Ironwood explained. "We're going to have to do Amity the old fashion way, Dust and all."

"It feels strange, knowing a part of me helped create all this." Oscar confessed.

"You'll get used to it. Pretty soon, you won't even know who's who." The headmaster said, unknowingly scaring the boy. "We… didn't always see eye to eye. I just wish I could ask what he thought of all this."

"Well, I could tell you what I think." Oscar spoke up as he walked forward. "The path you're heading down, where you're the only one with the answers, where you do the thing you think is right no matter the cost, it's not going to take you anywhere good."

Ironwood stared at the Vault door in thought before his resolve steeled. "We have to stop Salem. Nothing matters more." He turned and walked back to the elevator.

"Some things matter more." Oscar declared, making the man stop. "Our humanity. It makes us different from her."

"Sometimes I think that's her greatest advantage." Ironwood confessed, continuing his walk. "Without humanity, does she still feel fear? Does she hesitate? When Salem hit Beacon, even with all my ships, all of my soldiers, I was no match for her. I will never forget how helpless she made me feel." He looked up as the platform reached him, snapping back to his normal self.

"It's okay to be afraid." Oscar said as he walked over. "But you can't let that fear control you."

"I am not going to end up like Lionheart." Ironwood declared. "Do you believe in me?"

"I do." The boy declared as he walked over. "But not only in you. I think the best thing you could do is sit down and talk to the people you're most afraid of."

Ironwood chuckled as a smile finally crossed his face. "Now you ARE starting to sound like him." He walked onto the platform and the two traveled back up the railing. They reached the door and it opened, showing a nervous Penny and a pacing Winter. "Winter, what is it?"

The specialist handed him a letter with the Schnee family seal on it. Ironwood opened it and quickly read it, staring up the two girls. "What's going on?" Oscar asked.

"My father's first act as a councilman." Winter explained. "We've been invited to dinner. where the general will be defending his seat on the council."

Damn, that was a heavy chapter. A lot of stuff happened, and not all of it good. It always bugged me that Robyn stared at Penny's blades, saw no blood, yet said NOTHING about it. So I put that in, as well as some more minor details that don't really help the plot, but fill the world out.

My beta reader pointed out that Ryuko and Vergil are in the roles of Ren and Nora in canon. I just wanna declare this: At NO point will they be exact copies of those two. I'll put my own spin on it and change things up enough that it'll seem similar, but still completely different.

See ya next time for a party.

Beta read by TheExcadrillComics