Chapter 7: Time to Ketchup
Remnant, Kingdom of Vale, Beacon Academy
POV: Beacon Library
Premise: Team RWBY begins their grow suspicious of the mysterious group that has halted many of the White Fang operations outside Vale. As the Reds and Blues search for a cure to Wash's condition, the helpless troopers begin to uncover secrets that could be devastating.
"Hmm...Alright...oh alright...Yang Xiao-Long! Prepare your kingdom for battle!" Ruby Rose shouted at her sister
"Bring it on!" Yang shouted back while pumping a fist.
"I deploy the Atlesian Airfleet!" Ruby announced, slamming a card down on the table.
Yang did a faux gasp in response.
"Looks like I get to fly over your Ursa and attack your wall directly." Ruby explained, the reaper proceeded to make an airplane noise while flapping her arms as if they were wings.
"You fiend!" Yang shouted while pointing at her sister
Ruby continued her monologue, "And since Atlas is part of Mantle, my repair time only lasts: one turn."
"Heheh, pretty sneaky sis." Yang said holding up a card, "But you just activated my trap card!"
"Wwhhaatt?" Ruby gasped
"Giant Nevermore!" Yang shouted as she slammed the card down on the table, "If I roll a seven or higher, feather will slice your fleet in two!"
"But." Ruby spoke up, "You roll a six or lower, the Nevermore will turn on your forces."
"That's just a chance I'm willing to take." Yang shot back.
Team RWBY was currently in the library of Beacon Academy playing a board game, although it was Ruby and Yang that were doing most of the playing. Weiss Schnee was just watching in utter confusion, while Blake Belladonna was staring deep into space. Their sister team, JNPR was sitting at another table nearby. Lie Ren was reading a book, while his partner Nora Valkyrie was sleeping loudly. Jaune Arc was reading a comic book called X-Ray & Vav, while his partner Pyrrha Nikos was studying. She took notice of Jaune and took the comic from him, replacing it with a textbook. Only to start reading the comic herself.
"Alright Weiss, it's your turn." Yang said to the dreaded Ice Queen
"I have...absolutely no idea what is happening." Weiss honestly replied
"Look it's easy." Yang explained as she observed her cards, "You're playing as Vacuo which means that all Vacuo-based cards come with a bonus."
"Well that sounds dumb." Weiss muttered
Yang then continued, "See, you've got Sandstorm, Desert Scavenge... Oh, oh! Resourceful Raider! See, now you can take Ruby's discarded Air Fleet—"
"Nooo!" Ruby faux cried
"—and put it in your hand!" Yang continued
"Okay.." Weiss replied, still ot sure what she was doing
"And since Vacuo warriors have an endurance against Natural-based hazards, you can use Sandstorm to disable my ground forces and simultaneously infiltrate my kingdom!" Yang explained
The brawler then got close to Weiss face for saying, "Just know that I will not forget this declaration of war."
"And that means…" Weiss questioned
"You're just three moves away from conquering Remnant!" Ruby explained
Weiss stood up and laughed psychotically, "Y-yes! Fear the almighty power of my forces! Cower as they pillage your homes and weep as they take your children from your very arms!"
"Trap card." Yang said while holding up a card. The brawler proceeded to shuffle all of Weiss' forces before they were gone.
"Your armies have been destroyed." Yang announced
Weiss slumped down in her chair and started to whine, "I hate this game of emotions we play!"
Ruby then sat on Weiss' lap and hugged her, "Stay strong, Weiss! We'll make it through this together!"
"Shut up, don't touch me!" Weiss replied, but hugged her back anyway
Yang then looked at Blake, "Alright Blake, you're up."
The secret faunus looked up, "Oh, um, sorry, what am I doing?"
"You're playing as Vale." Yang explained, "Trying to conquer the Kingdoms of Remnant!"
Blake looked at her cards, "Right."
Jaune then got up from his seat and walked over to Team RWBY's table, "Hey! Can I play?"
"Sorry Jaune, we already got four players." Ruby replied glumly
"Besides, this game requires a certain level of tactical cunning that I seriously doubt that you possess." Weiss rudely added
"Uhh, you attacked your own naval fleet 2 turns ago." Yang countered Weiss' claim, causing the Ice Queen to huff in annoyance.
"Bring it on, Ice Queen!" Jaune chuckled, "I'll have you know that I have been told that I am a natural born leader!"
"By who?" Weiss questioned, "Your mother?"
"A-and Pyrrha." Jaune added
"Hello again!" Pyrrha waved from the table
"Oh, and might I ask that help a certain red soldier save your ass from an angry mercenary." Jaune commented, "Your welcome by the way."
"You got lucky, Arc." Weiss replied
"Uh, I helped as well, I deserve credit." Yang added to Jaune's comment.
None of them noticed Ruby tensing up slightly.
"Come on, let me play your hand for a turn!" Jaune begged
"I'm not trusting you with the good citizens of Vacuo!" Weiss continued to protest
"Why not?" Jaune asked, "You've trusted me with way more important stuff before. I mean, you told us all that Blake is secretly a Fa-"
Pyrrha ran over quickly to cover Jaune's mouth, "Funny loving person, whom we all admire and respect."
Everyone looked at Blake, who had a look of annoyance on her face.
"Right." Jaune muttered, "That. Ladies, enjoy your battle." he bowed and stepped away from the table.
"Sup losers." a voice said to them. Everyone looked up and noticed two boys walking towards them. The first had fair skin, spiky blonde hair, and light blue eyes. He wore a white button down shirt that was opened completely with the collar up, blue jeans, and sneakers. He also had a monkey tail. The other boy had tanned skin, electric blue hair, and brown eyes. He wore a white shirt and red jacket, and brown pants. He also had a pair of goggles with him.
"Hey Sun." Ruby replied to the blonde
The now identified as Sun then looked at the rest of Team RWBY.
"Yang, Blake...Ice Queen."
"Why does everyone keep calling me that!?" Weiss questioned
"I never got a chance to formally introduce you to my old friend." Sun said to everyone, while gesturing towards his friend.
"Uhh, aren't libraries for reading?" the boy questioned
"Thank you!" Ren shouted at him, causing Nora to wake up.
"Pancakes?" she muttered
"Shut up, don't be a nerd." Sun replied
"Geh, geh, geh, geh! 'Intellectual', okay? Thank you." the boy corrected him while waving his finger at Sun, "I'm Neptune."
"So Neptune, where are you from?" Weiss asked him
"Haven." Neptune replied, "And I don't believe I've caught your name, snow angel."
"Um, I'm Weiss." Weiss muttered, while blushing
"Are kidding me!?" Jaune whispered under his breath
"Pleasure to meet you." Neptune said to her
Sun then looked at Blake, "I never took you as the board game playing type."
Blake got up and shoved Sun aside and walked away, "Right, well, I think I'm done playing actually. I'll see you guys later."
"Women." Nora shrugged
"Whoa Ruby." Sun said to the young huntress, "What's with the getup?"
"Huh?" Ruby questioned
"Your clothes!" Sun explained, "You changed them! Hair two!"
Sun was right. Ruby did change her attire. The color scheme was originally made up of black and red. Now, the red was swapped with blue. She wore a skirt similar to her old design but the color scheme was inside out, being blue with a black outlining. Her waist clincher was the same except the laces were now blue. Her shirt was blue as well, but the sleeves were outlined in black. She had thick black stockings and new combat boots that replaced the red with blue. A gold belt was fastened around her waist along with a new emblem. A gold rose, the same design as her old one to be exact, in its center was an image of a funny-looking blue helmet. The red tips in her hair were dyed blue as well.
"Oh." Ruby stuttered, "Yeah."
"Interesting design." Sun said to her, "Where'd you get it?"
"Uhh…" Ruby muttered. She turned away slightly and pictured a soldier clad in blue armor before looking back, "From a friend."
"She even got a new weapon!" Nora shouted
"Oh right." Ruby said, as she showed it off. It was a bulky-looking pistol with a blue color scheme and white out lining. The handle was black with a rubber grip.
"It's called Sapphire's Rage." Ruby explained, "I made from an old pistol I found."
"Cool." Sun replied, he then looked at the seat where Blake sat, "Hey, mind if I take Blake's place?"
"Sure." Yang replied
"Seriously!?" Jaune shouted from his table
POV Change: Ozpin's Office
Ozpin sat at his desk staring at the head of the Atlas Military, James Ironwood. The latter himself was staring at a white helmet with a gold visor.
"So this is the helmet recovered from the dust incident?" Ironwood asked
"Yes, from the first one with Team RWBY." Ozpin replied, "The girls kept the helmet until one of the custodians found it."
"And you think this has something to do with the attack on the village the other day?" Ironwood questioned
"Only one way to find out." Ozpin muttered
The elevator opened and out stepped Blake holding several papers.
"Professor." she said to Ozpin
"Ms. Belladonna." Ozpin replied, getting up from his seat, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Professor Port wanted me to give you these." Blake explained as Ozpin took the papers.
"Right, thank you." Ozpin said to her
Blake then took notice of the helmet on the Headmaster's desk.
"What's that doing here?" Blake asked curiously
Glynda, who happened to be in the room as well, frowned at her, "Ms. Belladonna, that is none of your concern."
"That's alright Glynda." Ozpin spoke up, "I had the helmet recovered. Thought it might be useful in finding out what happened to you and your team."
"...Right." Blake muttered
"Oz if I may." Ironwood said to his colleague, "I could send a small task force after these vigilantes."
"Vigilantes?" Blake muttered
"We are trying to track down a bandit cell somewhere outside the kingdom." Ozpin replied
Blake frowned, "Why bandits? You should be focusing on the White Fang. We all know Torchwick is working with them, so they should be a primary target."
"Blake." Glynda said to her, "It's time for you to go."
"Actually Ms. Belladonna." Ozpin cut in, "These bandits have been targeting White Fang cells for the past few days. No survivors have been found from their assaults."
Blake's eyes widened, "What?"
"That is not true." Ironwood jumped in, "My men have found several survivors after a bandit raid. They said they didn't remember anything, and their aura was taking a while to regenerate."
Blake looked down, "That's terrible...who would do such a thing?"
"If I may, I don't think these people use these tactics to cause fear." Ozpin assured her, "I think it's for something else. Whoever they are, they have bad blood with the White Fang and Torchwick. Perhaps it is best bet someone finds these individuals and learns their motives."
Blake nodded, "Maybe you're right." and she left the office.
As Blake entered the elevator, she couldn't help but continue to stare at the helmet on Ozpin's desk. Even after the elevator door closed she could still see it.
She sighed as she shook her head. But soon she felt odd, the air suddenly became still. The elevator seemed to stop. She then heard a voice.
"Blake."
Blake looked around the small area, no one was there there.
"Blake."
Still no one.
"Blake, where were you? Why didn't you and your team come!?"
It was then she turned around and saw Lavernius Tucker with his sword out.
"Where were you when we needed you the most!?"
"I'm sorry!" Blake shouted, "We didn't mean to!"
"Liar!" Tucker slashed at Blake's chest, only for the faunus to feel a sudden jolt and everything went back to normal. The elevator door was now open and she walked out back to her dorm. Now thinking of the White Fang, Torchwick, the helmet, those vigilantes, and now...the Reds and Blues.
Back in his office, Ozpin was still conversing with his colleagues.
"Do you think that worked?" Glynda asked Ozpin
"I'm sure it did." Ozpin replied, "Team RWBY won't hesitate if they find evidence they're friends.
"I'm still not sure these bandits are connected to these...people I can barely call soldiers." Ironwood protested, gazing at several pictures of the Reds and Blues and Team RWBY in Blood Gulch, courtesy of the files found in the helmet. The photos recovered from Qrow were also displayed as well.
"It's still speculation James." Ozpin explained, "But I have a hunch that they do."
POV Change: The Reds and Blues
Simmons looked down as he leaned against a table filled with computer monitors. Two beds were in front of him. One had Wash on it, while the other had a White Fang soldier strapped to it.
"Simmons' log." the maroon said solemnly, "Subject G is a failure."
He then stopped his recording and turned to Lopez, who happened to be in the room.
"Have this bastard's memory wiped." he said to the robot, "Then throw him in the nearest inhabited village."
Lopez just nodded and the two left the room. With Lopez going to get the White Fang guy, and Simmons went to get Wash.
Simmons helped Wash into a cryo-tube so he could stay stable.
"Sorry Wash." he said to his friend
"It's fine." Wash replied, "We all knew this wasn't going to be easy."
Simmons closed the door on the pod and Wash went into stasis. The maroon soldier then left the room to join his other friends.
The rest of the team were in their newly established breakroom. It had a TV, pool table, a bar complete with chairs and any form of alcohol, every Xbox console, and a kitchen just in the next room.
"How'd it go?" Tucker asked from the bar, all while drinking a glass of scotch.
Simmons rubbed his fingers against his visor, "Failure." he muttered
"Jesus Christ." Tucker cursed under his breath
"Wash said we all knew this wasn't gonna be easy." Simmons repeated what Wash said to him earlier.
Tucker just huffed and took another sip of his drink, "Day after day, his condition gets worse. What else can we do?"
"We have to try." Carolina spoke up, "Simmons, what problems are you facing exactly?"
Simmons sighed before speaking, "Well, it's also like the aura is refusing to leave its host's body." he explained, "I only intend on transferring a small amount to heal Wash then transfer it back to its original host. But it feels like the aura will only leave unless the host offers to transfer it...it's kinda weird."
"Well, lets not worry about it right now." Sarge spoke up with hope, "We need to focus on our next raid on the White Fang, and find out what Torchwick wants with Ruby."
"Yeah, Locus has been looking through most of the files." Doc continued, "Pretty sure he found something."
Tucker put down his glass and turned to face everyone. At that moment, Kai entered the room from the kitchen, holding a tray with bowls.
"Hey guys, food up." she announced
"Well, its about time." Carolina muttered, "What took you two so long?"
"Still finding our way around the place." Grif said from the other room, "Besides, it's ramen noodles. Everybody will like them."
Kai handed everyone a bowl full of ramen. Each was the color of one's armor, and every single one fill with long strands of pasta.
"Despite being a vegetarian." Doc muttered, "Sometimes you just gotta spoil yourself."
"Muahahaha. Amen to that." O'Malley agreed
"Yay! Noodles!" Caboose shouted before digging into his bowls like an animal.
Sarge then turned to Locus, "Alright dirtbag. Whatcha find?"
Locus was going to reply, but had a mouthful of ramen. He swallowed quickly, and took out a datapad filled with files recovered from the CCT database.
"From what I found in the files." Locus began, "It appears Torchwick has a bigger role than just 'domestic terrorist'."
"Meaning?" Tucker questioned
"Torchwick has made a deal with the leader of the White Fang in Vale, Adam Taurus." Locus explained
"Red Bull." O'Malley muttered
Locus then continued, "Torchwick offered to give his assistance to the Fang such as money, weapons, etc. But he appears to be in league with three other individuals, ones I cannot find any information on."
"So 4 badguys huh?" Sarge muttered
"Kinda like the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Donut added his two cents, "Get that from the Bible."
"Or maybe the Bible got it from them." Locus replied, "This is where it gets odd."
"What do you mean?" Carolina asked
"Apparently, the other three quote-on-quote 'horsemen' have a connection to something codenamed 'The Black Queen'." Locus explained
The room went silent at what the former just said.
"The Black Queen?" Kai repeated
"Is that like a rock band?" Doc jokingly asked
Locus continued, "From what I researched, all I found was fairytales, and legends. All about some called 'maidens', 'two brothers', and 'four seasons'."
Sarge huffed, "These three other horse minotaur thingys are starting to sound like a cult. Probably a bunch of bulshit."
"Hey remember what we went through." Grif spoke up, his mouth filled with ramin, "Take this with a grain of salt at least."
"He's not wrong." Simmons agreed with him
"This has only opened up more questions." Tucker said to everyone, "We'll continue extracting data from the CCT. Sooner or later, Torchwick will be brought to justice."
"Amen." Sarge replied
POV Change: Team RWBY's dorm room
Blake sat on her bed with her knees folded to her chest, deep in thought.
"Brothers of the White Fang, why are you aiding this scum?" her voice echoed in her head
"The White Fang and I are going on a joint business venture together." Torchwick's voice echoed back
"You ever wonder why we're here?"
"It's one of life's great mysteries isn't it?"
Before meeting the Reds and Blues, during the final days of their first semester at Beacon. Team RWBY met Roman Torchwick, a mob boss and criminal who was behind major dust robberies in Vale in the last few months. Blake-who happened to be a former member of the terrorist organization called the White Fang-discovered that Torchwick wasn't making an arms deal with the Faunus radicals, but was actually working with them. Luckily for Team RWBY, they managed to put a slight halt in their plans. But it also trantrumized Blake, she wanted justice. This fear of no one doing anything deepened further after witnessing the death of the Meta on Sidewinder.
The door to the room opened and the rest of Team RWBY entered.
"Ugh, should have never let him play!" Yang groaned
"You're just mad cuz' the new guy beat you!" Ruby retorted, "See, if you had just attacked when I told you none of this would have happened."
As the three girls entered the room, Blake got up immediately and made her way to the door.
"Stop!" Weiss said to her while pointing, "Lately you've been quiet, antisocial and moody!"
"Uh, have you met Blake?" Yang questioned her
"Which I get is kind of your thing, but you've been doing it more than usual!" Weiss continued, "Which quite frankly, is unacceptable! You made a promise to me, to all of us, that you would let us know if something was wrong!"
Weiss then flipped onto a chair and pointed dramatically at Blake, "So, Blake Belladonna, what is wrong!?" she asked her before getting down from the furniture.
"I just, I don't understand how everyone can be so calm." Blake replied
Ruby approached her, "You're still thinking about Torchwick?"
"Torchwick, the White Fang, all of it!" Blake cried, "Something big is happening, and no one is doing anything about it!"
"Ozpin told us not to worry." Yang countered her claim, "Between the police and the Huntsmen, I'm sure they can handle it."
"Well I'm not!" Blake shouted, "They don't know the White Fang like I do!"
Weiss sighed, "Okay, between blowing up nightclubs, stopping thieves, and fighting for freedom, I'm sure the three of you think that you're all ready to go out and apprehend these ne'er-do-wells!"
"Uh who?" Ruby muttered
"But let me once again be the voice of reason." Weiss continued, "We're students! We're not ready to handle this sort of situation!"
"Well yeah, but…" Ruby muttered
"We're not ready!" Weiss protested
"And we may never be ready!" Blake retorted, "Our enemies aren't just going to sit around and wait for graduation day. They're out there, somewhere, planning their next move, and none of us know what it is, but it's coming! Whether we're ready or not! At least some people have the decency to try and stop them…"
Yang looked at her funny, "What do you mean?"
"Ozpin told there is a group of vigilantes causing trouble with the White Fang." Blake explained, "Whoever they are, they leave no survivors, and take only one prisoner after every raid. Rumor has it tha they try and strip them of thier aura."
"What?" Weiss questioned, "Why?"
"I don't know." Blake replied, "All I know is that they hate the White Fang to the bone."
Ruby then raised her hand up high, all while looking manic, "Okay, all in favor of becoming the youngest Huntresses to single-handedly taking down a corrupt organization conspiring against the Kingdom of Vale... say aye."
Yang pointed at Blake, "Yes! I love it when you're feisty."
"Well, I suppose it could be fun." Weiss muttered
"None of you said eye!" Ruby hissed
The four then stood quietly in awkward silence.
"Huh...I'm getting a sudden feeling of deja vu." Yang muttered
"Me too…" Weiss added
The four looked at one another, knowing exactly what they were thinking. But brushed it aside immediately.
"We can do this." Blake said to her team
"Let's hatch a plan." Ruby added
"Yeah!"
"Oh! I forgot my board game in the library!" Ruby shouted before flying out the door via her semblance.
"We're doomed." Weiss sighed as she facepalmed
Ruby ran through the halls of the dormitory building...only to run into someone and fall to the ground.
"Sorry." Ruby muttered, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." a girl replied as she held out for hand to help Ruby up. She had dark skin red eyes and mint green hair. She wore a black uniform and skirts. Behind her was a boy with grey hair and grey eyes, wearing a similar uniform but with pants.
"Just watch where you're going." she said to her
"Oh right sorry!" Ruby replied, "Um, I'm Ruby! Are you new?"
"Visiting from Haven actually." a voice said. Emerald then moved aside to reveal a girl with long black hair and amber eyes. She wore a uniform similar to the other girl.
"Oh you're here for the festival." Ruby muttered, "But exchange students have their own dormitory."
"I guess we just got turned around." the boy replied
"Don't worry it happens all the time." Ruby assured them, "Your building is just east of here."
"Thanks." the girl replied, "Maybe we'll see you around." she started to walk away with the rest of her team.
"Yeah maybe." Ruby said, "Oh, uh, welcome to Beacon!"
Ruby then made her way back to the library. Completely unaware that the girl was smiling sinisterly as she walked away.
"You sure she is one who has a connection with those armored assholes?" Mercury asked
"That is what Torchwick said." Cinder replied, "No matter, let Torchwick deal with them. We have our own agenda here…"
If people are wondering why Team RWBY hasn't talked about the Reds and Blues yet, that'll be explained later.