Don't ever expect me to be on time for anything ever.

Count von Waldersee sighed to himself but smiled nonetheless at the many faunus children that were looking out their windows and doors to look in amazement at the column of pickelhaube clad troops that marched just behind him, a few units of cavalry followed by infantry, artillery and then some more infantry. The children were often familiar faces, most of them were admirers of the Prussian garrison at had essentially occupied the continent of Menagerie since the alliance between the two was formed just after the Great War.

Unfortunately, there was a large amount of what were essentially 'refugees' from places like Atlas and northern Mistral that had fled to escape racial persecution and held a grudge against humans, whether they were treated fairly by them or not.

The count let his smile drop when he remembered ten years before when an angry mob of the 'refugees' had attacked and killed a few people in a small group of innocent human tourists that the mob thought had harassed and sexually assaulted a young faunus woman the night before. It had later turned out that the woman had merely been catcalled and had gotten so angry she made up the rest.

Von Waldersee blinked when he saw the chieftains home, it was built in a style that most Prussians would describe as Oriental, although few citizens of Menagerie actually were oriental. It was a large home, seemingly larger on the inside as it looked beautiful, if of a modest size when observed from the outside.

The count turned to speak to an aide, "Go to the telegraph office and inform Berlin that the bandit problem on the north of the continent has been taken care of."

"Yes, sir!" the blonde-haired aide saluted and began to trot away towards the building down the street that held the telegraph office that connected Menagerie to Prussia, and due to the nearest CCT tower being very far out of range, the rest of the world.

He handed his horse to another aide and walked up the steps leading to the house. Kali Belladonna herself was waiting for him at the top of said stairs.

"Good afternoon Alfred!" she called to him as he reached the top. "Would you like some tea? Perhaps some coffee?"

"Oh, tea would be grand Frau Belladonna." The count responded.

Kali giggled a little bit and offered him her hand once he reached her, "Very well, I'll put a kettle on the stove right away! Oh, and please, if I'm going to call you Alfred, I must insist that you call me Kali."

He smiled and kissed her knuckles, "Very well Kali. May I ask where your husband is?"

She waved him inside to sit in the parlor, "Oh, he will be out directly Alfred. He's just making sure he doesn't look like a barbarian while you two talk." she sat him down in a rather comfortable chair. "You sit right here while I go make the tea." She left him there.

Von Waldersee sighed and leaned back into the chair, the day of riding, planning, attacking, and then more riding had taken quite a bit out of him, and he decided to allow himself a few minutes rest while he waited for Ghira to arrive.

The bandits that he had attacked had been terrorizing a few small settlements farther inland for a few months now, and Ghira would undoubtedly be elated to find that they had been taken care of. Said bandits were actually given the opportunity to surrender and receive reduced sentences, but few had surrendered or turned themselves in and that had resulted in massive casualties for them in the final attack on their small, improvised wooden fort.

'Bandits…' the count thought to himself. The Branwen twins were related to several infamous Remnantian bandits, most of whom led the tribes they were a part of. Raven Branwen, the sister of the husband of the previous head of the von Habsburgs, had even been offered leadership of the largest bandit tribe on the continent of Anima by her cousin, Ivory Branwen. The fact that the Crown Prince was to marry a niece of the woman was quite concerning. But she hadn't done anything bad, and the marriage contract had been made even before the children were born.

His musings on topics that currently weren't essential for him to ponder were interrupted by Ghira Belladonna walking through one of the doors that led to the parlor. The large man was dressed in a black suit that appeared quite strange on him given his usual attire.

"Alfred! I'm glad you have arrived! Has Berlin sent you any telegrams?" the large man said and asked as he put his hand out for a handshake.

The count took his outstretched hand. "It's good to see you Ghira. I'm not sure about any telegrams, the man I sent to the office has yet to-"

His response was cut off by the aide he had sent to the telegraph office entering the room after being led in by one of the Belladonna's very few servants. The man saluted once he saw the two.

"Sir! I have sent the telegram as you asked. This message was waiting for you at the office for when you arrived." He handed von Waldersee the envelope in his hands and stood at attention.

"Thank you, Wachtmeister Müller, you may return to your duties." the count said as he took the piece of paper.

"Jawohl!" the aide replied as he saluted, a few seconds after he walked out of the door.

Von Waldersee turned to Ghira, "Please give me a moment to read this."

"No trouble at all."

The older man reached into a pocket on the front of his uniform jacket, pulled out a pair of spectacles and began to read the telegram.

At that moment, Kali came back in with tea and cups to go with it. "Hello, you two!"

The men responded with greetings of their own.

Kali silently poured three cups of tea, a small smile never leaving her face as she did so. When she was finished she took a cup, announced that she was off to do some writing and left.

The count spoke a few seconds after she left, "It says here that I am to represent the Prussian Empire in the negotiations of the vassalization of the chiefdom of Menagerie."

The chieftain nodded, "I was hoping they would choose you, It will be much easier to negotiate with someone friendly."

The count nodded back, "I am glad as well." a small smile graced his features, "Well, would you like to begin?"

Richard panted lightly as he finished off a couple of Ursa Major. The attack on Herbst by the Grimm was appearing to near its end, after starting forty-five minutes before.

He looked into the distance at Herbst, specifically at the tower that contained his adorable fiance. The shining of the reflection of her scope told him she was still keeping an eye on him. He smiled at her.

Richard placed his Gewehr 98 back in its scabbard on his back and set his left hand on the handle of his sword.

"Well, time to head back, machine gun fire and artillery will finish off any stragglers, thank god there were only a few Behemoths."

He placed two fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill whistle. A few seconds later Kriegsbrand came galloping through the treeline. The crown prince smiled as he saw one of his faithful mounts approach.

"Hallo boy, let's head back to Ruby eh?" he asked as he got on the horses back. The horse knickered after he did so and began to canter back to the castle.

At the castle, things were beginning to calm down as Richard arrived, most machine gun emplacements and artillery pieces had tarps thrown on them, ammo boxes were being returned to the armory or the small munitions shed in the courtyard. Several custodians were assisted by a few Gefreiters on cleaning duty in picking up the various shell casings from the ground and battlements, whether they were spent artillery shells or empty bullet casings. It was a tedious job and Richard sure didn't envy them.

After he handed the reins to another Gefreiter. Jaune walked up to him.

"Richard! It's good to see you back safe. I've given back direct command to the Kommandant and let me tell you, I am very ready to relax." Jaunes shoulders dropped a little as he finished his statement.

Richard smiled, "Well, now that the attack is over, I think it's a perfectly good time to engage in recreational activities wouldn't you say?"

"Oh, I could not agree more if God himself told me to."

Their conversation was interrupted prematurely when a black and red missile impacted Richard's chest. Causing him to fall backward with an Oof!

"Richie! I'm so glad you're back!" Ruby squealed into him as she tightened her grip around his torso. A few soldiers chuckled quietly at their Crown Prince's antics with his eventual wife.

Richard chuckled and squeezed her back. "I'm glad too, even if I was gone for less than an hour. Where is Yang?"

Jaune spoke up for Ruby, who was busy wagging her tail back and forth at the speed of sound. "Yang was slightly disheveled by a few fights and has gone inside to wash up."

Richard nodded and picked Ruby up bridal style. "Well Ruby, shall we head back to our chambers?"

His only response was the happy panting of the girl in his arms as he scratched a specific spot behind her wolf ears. 'You are so cute.' Richard briefly thought as he began to walk away after saying 'See you soon' to Jaune.

Unfortunately, his walk to their chambers was prevented by a soldier with a telegram.

"Your Highness! You have received a telegram from Headmaster Ozpin." he paused, and seeing the expectant look on his superiors face, continued, "It says that due to the attack on our castle, the Beacon school year will begin in ten days rather than its usual schedule."

The crown prince sighed and allowed himself one crass word, "Damnit."

Finally, a chapter that is of reasonable length!

So, we saw the beginning of the vassalization of Menagerie, and the aftermath of the attack on Herbst!

Next time will mark the beginning of the show, and very soon we'll see initiation.

So! PLEASE REVIEW GOD DAMMIT, with questions, statements, complaints, or compliments, and I'll try to address them with a Review Reply at the end of the chapter, or I'll DM you.

Next chapter, a few days to a week, maybe a little longer depending on my motivation.