Chp. 14: Separate Travels Pt. 1
Remnant
Beacon Academy, Vale
Landing Docks
May 16, 2020
The next day early in the morning, Teams RWBY, JNPR, GRMA, CFDT, and CFVY were all at the landing docks, as they were preparing to depart.
"Welp, today is the day we all go our separate ways," Britney said.
"Yeah, at least for a while," Jacob said.
"Well if this is what it takes to save the world, then so be it," Ruby said.
"So are you sure you'll be okay?" Kendra asked Robert.
"I'll be fine. Just worry about yourself when you get to Vacuo. It may be a hot zone out there, but Vacuo is not as hot as you," Robert said.
"Keep telling me that," Kendra said with a smirk before kissing Robert.
"Jaune, are you doing alright?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah, it's just that I just don't want anything to happen to you during our mission," Jaune replied.
"Jaune, I promise I'll stay by your side and not let anything happen to us," Pyrrha said as she then kisses Jaune.
"Awww," a voice cooed.
Jaune and Pyrrha both turned to see Nora with a huge grin on her face with Ren behind her, giving a smile.
"We're with you guys too," Ren said.
"Yeah!" Nora exclaimed.
"Thanks guys," Pyrrha said.
"This is gonna be good," Coco said.
"It's gonna be awesome hanging around with you guys," Kelly said.
"I'm sure things will be a lot more interesting," Yatsuhashi said.
"Hey guys," a voice called to everyone.
Everyone turned to see Keaton and the rest of his team all carrying backpacks, alongside Ozpin, Oscar, Glynda, Ironwood, and Qrow. Cassandra, Alex, and Steel all have different outfits on instead of their military uniforms.
Steel had a red buttoned up Hawaiian t-shirt with white flower patterns all over it, a pair of light blue pants, and a pair of brown shoes.
Cassandra's hair is down and is wearing a pair of brown boots, a light brown pair of cargo pants, and a light green tank top, showing off a tattoo of a dagger with a snake wrapped around it on her left shoulder. She also wears a pair of black fingerless gloves, a red bandana over her head, and a pair of sunglasses.
Alex wears a pair of grey and black sneakers, blue jeans, and a brown jacket with a white undershirt.
"Is everyone ready to leave?" Ozpin asked.
"Yep. All the stuff we need is in the bullheads," Ricky answered.
"Then let's get going," Alex said.
"Good luck out there, kids. You're gonna need it," Keaton said as the teams, Cassandra, Alex, Steel, and Qrow all got into their bullheads.
"Be careful, students," Ozpin said.
As the hatch doors on the bullheads closed, the bullheads began to take off and fly off in different directions.
"What happens now?" Oscar asked.
"You are going to do some training under my supervision," Ozpin answered. "And as for the others, all we can do is hope things will operate smoothly without any hiccups."
City of Vacuo
A few hours had passed and the bullhead carrying Team CFVY, Kelly, Kendra, and Cassandra was starting to fly over the city of Vacuo. The buildings mostly consist of two to three story buildings and the city takes the appearance of a labyrinth of alleyways that all look identical due to being an improvised city.
The most noticeable feature in the city is right in the middle of it and the heart of it all, Shade Academy. The academy is vertically stacked three three tiers and the top tier houses the CCT transmitter. The outer wall of the academy is a low guard wall that distinguishes its borders.
"Check this city out," Kendra said.
"So this is what Shade Academy and the city look like," Kelly said.
"Yes, but remember what the books said, the people in the city and Shade are rather rude to people from the other kingdoms," Yatsuhashi said.
"Hopefully we won't have to stay very long because of our mission," Velvet said.
"As soon as we report to Professor Theodore, we can rest up for the night and get going to Feldspar tomorrow," Cassandra said.
The bullhead starts hovering over Shade and then makes its landing. After the bullhead lands, Team CFVY, Kelly, Kendra, and Cassandra all stepped off and saw two people standing a few feet in front of them.
The first person is a woman with a deep tan, whose age is hard to tell due to her short stature, standing at about four feet tall, and of her fine features and mischievous expression. Her sandy brown hair reaches her ankles, in a long braid bound by a golden cord. She has a wide, squarish frame that exaggerated her shortness, and she wore brown pants with a loose, dark green tunic cinched with a brown leather belt at her waist. The most notable part of her outfit is a sleeveless long coat, dark brown and coarse on the outside with glittering flecks, and pyrite-infused rocks or cloth studded with Dust and a silky, gold lining. It is both rustic and gaudy and likely costing a fortune. This is Shade's history teacher Professor Xanthe Rumpole.
The other person is a man in his mid-forties that is "putting everything out there," looking like he's having worked hard to get his body into peak physical condition and wanting to show it off. He has dark, close cut hair which is almost shaved off, and a checkered vest shows off his wiry frame thin but with sharp lines of muscle like he had been chiseled from stone. He wears an ankle length, grey-blue cape likened to the color of a storm sky which is clasped onto his shoulders with a silver chain, a silver belt with a round buckle, matching boots, and bright white slacks with deep side pockets. He also wears red gloves which are decorated in Dust crystals; his weapon of choice. This is Shade Academy's headmaster, Professor Theodore.
"Hello, and welcome to Shade Academy. We hope your trip coming here went smoothly," Rumpole greeted.
"Glad you kids can make it," Theodore said as he high-fives each Beacon student.
"Sup," Kelly said.
"Hello," Velvet waved.
"Professors, I'm Sergeant Cassandra Rogers, United States Marines," Cassandra introduced, shaking Rumpole's hand.
As Cassandra went up to shake Theodore's hand, the headmaster just slapped the palm of her hand. Cassandra then just shrugged.
"Now if you all follow me to my office," Theodore said.
As the Shade headmaster starts to walk inside, everyone else starts to follow him inside.
Somewhere in the ocean between Southeast Sanus and Menagerie
Meanwhile somewhere in the ocean, a ship moves peacefully over the calm blue waters as passengers stroll around the upper and mid decks. Blake, Allen, Rebecca, Yang, and Steel were all resting their hands on the rails and stared out in the ocean.
"This is definitely a lovely voyage so far," Steel said.
"Other than the beautiful open sea, this trip seems pretty boring," Rebecca said.
"Hey, who knows? We could end up fighting some Grimm," Yang said.
"Yeah, remember Volume 4? We could end up running into the Sea Feilong along the way," Allen said.
"But there's a possibility that the Grimm may not show up because Beacon hasn't fallen and the people aren't that panicked," Steel said.
"Yeah, that is true, Steel," Allen said.
"Blake, you've been quiet the whole time, are you doing okay?" Yang asked.
"A lot of things are going in my mind right now. I haven't seen my parents in a long time, the fact that we have to take missions to protect our world and theirs... things are changing fast, Yang. And this just so much to take," Blake explained.
"Well, you may not be wrong on all that, but I'm sure we can figure all this out," Yang said.
"Yeah, and besides, you got us, and your friends," Rebecca said.
"You not alone, Blake. And together we can face any obstacle that is thrown at us," Allen said.
Blake stood in silence for a short moment. Blake reaches for the bow on top of her head and undoes her bow, revealing her black cat ears.
"What are you doing?" Yang asked.
"If I want to face anything that comes at us, then I won't be needing this," Blake replied as she dropped her ribbon in the ocean.
Yang, Allen, Rebecca, and Steel all smiled while Blake smiled back. They were all unaware that a hooded figure was watching them.
Shade Academy, Vacuo
Headmaster's Office
Back at Shade Academy, everybody is all inside Theodore's office. His office is a large space, led by two doors in the center of the room. The office has various portraits of people hung on the wall, including Professor Ozpin, General Ironwood, Qrow, and Professor Lionheart.
"So the Crown is slowly becoming just as dangerous as the White Fang and a good place to start is the settlement known as Feldspar?" Rumpole asked.
"That's right," Coco said.
"We have the second novel for you to check out. It has all the Information you two need," Kendra said, putting the book on Theodore's desk.
"So tomorrow you kids want to go and find the two rogue huntsmen and bring them in?" Theodore asked.
"Yeah, if they aren't dealt with soon, they'll just keep kidnapping people with powerful semblances in and outside of Vacuo until the Crown decides to invade Vacuo and eventually the world," Fox explained.
"And they might inadvertently get Salem's attention if possible," Kendra added.
Theodore clapped once and a crash of thunder sounded between his gloved hands.
"If that becomes the case, then okay," Theodore said as he strolled away.
"Wait seriously? Just like that?" Velvet asked.
"Yep," the headmaster replied, turning back to the group.
"I thought it would be a little more tough to convince you," Yatsuhashi said.
"Hey if you captured them like in the first novel, then you can do it in real life. Besides, it's gonna be a lot easier with Planet Dirt's help," Theodore said as he then struck in a fighting pose, fists raised. "Unless you want to take me on for the mission."
"Perhaps another time," Rumpole said, putting her hand on Theodore's shoulder. "They are all tired from the trip."
"Of course. That wouldn't be a fair fight. Another time. I look forward to it," Theodore said, putting his fists down.
"And while you guess are out, I'm gonna get in contact with the French to see if they can help us because I feel like we are going to need them," Cassandra said.
"Also here is a list of names of those who are actual members of the Crown," Kendra said, placing the list on the desk.
Cassandra turns to the two teachers.
"If you encounter any of these people, do not approach, do not provoke, and report immediately," Cassandra instructed.
"And most importantly, do not fight them, Theodore," Rumpole said.
"But why?" Theodore asked.
"To not let them know that we are onto them," Rumpole answered.
"Awww, you're no fun... but fine," Theodore groaned.
"I feel like Yang would want to fight him with no questions asked," Kelly thought.
"Yeah, she definitely would," Fox said to Kelly with his semblance.
"But we will find the best teams from our academy for this new organization you people are making," Rumpole said.
"Good. Tomorrow we go to Feldspar and do what we need to do," Kelly said.
Somewhere between Northern Saunus and Solitas
Meanwhile over the ocean, the bullhead carrying Weiss, Ricky, and Neo are all sitting inside on their flight.
"How long until we get to Atlas?" Ricky asked.
"Probably until the middle of the night," Weiss answered.
"So where are we going to stay when we get to Atlas?" Ricky asked.
"We're all staying at Atlas Academy and my father wants us to be at home tomorrow," Weiss answered.
"At least we all won't have to stay at the Schnee Manor. No offence," Ricky said.
Neo looked down in disappointment after hearing they won't be staying at the Schnee Manor. She wanted to live in luxury.
"Ricky, question for you. Why did you volunteer to accompany me back home?" Weiss asked.
"I know none of us like your father, even you, in the show you were alone. But now that's all changed and you're still going back, even if it is temporary, I feel like you shouldn't be alone and you shouldn't have to be," Ricky explained. "And we are he for you."
Weiss was silent for a moment, feeling touched by Ricky's answer before speaking.
"That's really sweet of you. Thank you," Weiss said.
Neo snapped her fingers, getting both Weiss and Ricky's attention. She points at the two, then makes and O with her finger and thumb on her left hand. She then sticks her right index finger back and forth through the O with a smirk on her face. Ricky and Weiss both release what Neo is saying and give out disgusted looks and their faces turned red.
"Neo!" Weiss and Ricky shouted.
"We aren't doing that, you weirdo!" Ricky shouted.
"You got it all wrong," Weiss said as Neo shrugged.
