I am so sorry, everyone! I fell asleep right after I got home last night, and totally forgot to post this chapter. My brain's been totally scrambled lately. Hopefully, it's just the heat.

Anyway, enjoy!

The flight back to Vale after the Festival was silent. It was an oppressive silence, that of a heavy fog slipping into several throats and blocking any and all sound from escaping.

Ruby sat next to Yang, leaning into her older sister's strong, familiar, warm, comforting form. She didn't sleep, because closing her eyes would force her to relive that split-second of disappointment, that look that had come to Ozpin's face right before he schooled his expression for her sake. She had seen it, though, in that brief moment. It was a combination of disappointment, regret, anger, and a deeper realization that this common goal of theirs had been irrevocably set back.

"It wasn't your fault, Miss Rose," he had insisted. Minutes later, Ruby overheard Ironwood yelling, asking why on earth Ozpin hadn't thought to take the device from Ruby before sending her away.

"It slipped my mind. I was focused on getting the crowds calm and taking Ragnar to the border!" Ozpin had shouted, though his voice rang with shame and regret.

"I'm starting to wonder just how competent you really are. Maybe the Council is on to something with replacing you."

Ruby had rushed away, unable to listen anymore.

Storm had been inconsolable, communicating only in sad whimpers and sniffles. She was probably the only one who knew just how alive Penny had been. Now, the machine was gone, and the sentient being she knew was inside it would never get the chance to see the world.

Teams JNPR and SSSN were waiting for their friends when the airship landed. They had seen what happened on TV and were all hugs and expressions of silent comfort when Team RWBY got off the ship.

The dragons were also milling about, talking amongst themselves.

"Too bad I wasn't there," Huo said puffing out his chest. "I would've killed that thief!"

"I'm more interested in the voice," Nymph murmured. "What exactly did it say?"

Storm, Fang, Pit, and Specter recited, to the best of their memories, what the voice on the loudspeakers had said.

There was silence as the dragons digested the information.

It was Huo who spoke first. "So, where do we sign up?"

The others gaped at him. "What are you saying?!" Nymph gasped.

Huo yawned, stretching out his wings. "Seems like this mysterious voice cares more about dragons than the Council does. And these dragonmasters sound like a bunch of pussies. Killing hatchlings and following orders from the people who killed their partner…I say screw them!"

"If they're so good, why did they steal Penny?" Storm snarled.

Behind her, a rumbling voice said: "They aren't good."

The dragonets all jumped guiltily, spinning around to look up at Ragnar.

"If I am correct," the old earth dragon continued. "These are the same people who injured Qrow and Salty. Whatever they say their ideals are, they are dangerous."

"Isn't a little danger worth it?" Pit asked, very aware in that moment of his own status as an illegal hybrid dragon. "If it means preventing another culling?"

A shadow of regret passed over Ragnar's face. "You must choose your battles. Some may seem noble but will actually make things worse in the long run." He looked at all of them, Pit in particular. "Leave this to the adults. Focus on your studies and become the best fighters you can be. That's all you can do." He walked away, pausing on his way to his stall when he noticed Ozpin talking to Glynda Goodwitch. His partner let out a visible sigh before hurrying toward the school.

The students, meanwhile, took their dragons into the yard to spend some much-needed quality time together.

….

Cardin was already in the waiting room when Ozpin returned to his office. Sporting a black eye, a swollen jaw, and several bandaged cuts, he waited with his arms spread across the backs of three chairs, his legs spread out, and an expression of utter unconcern decorating his bruised face.

Ozpin braced himself for the worst as he opened his door and allowed Cardin to take a seat in front of his desk.

It was a good thing he did, because the first thing Cardin asked was: "So, are you firing Sky, or what?"

Ozpin folded his hands. "I beg your pardon?"

"One of your workers attacked a student," Cardin pointed out. "Not exactly professional, don't you think?"

"You do remember who this 'worker' is, don't you?" Ozpin asked, his eyes narrowing. "I do believe he was your friend and teammate, who is currently suffering severe emotional and mental trauma due to losing his dragon." Ozpin sat back. "That being said, he has been placed on temporary probation, and has been given a warning against engaging in such actions again."

Cardin scowled. "Not good enough, if you ask me. And why am I even here, anyway? I'm the victim, here."

"You are here for several reasons, Mister Winchester," Ozpin replied sternly. "First of all, the stable hands have reported that you have stopped with your feeding and cleaning duties entirely, leaving your dragon's care entirely up to them."

"Isn't that what you're paying them for?"

"No. I am paying them to provide care to the broodies, to clean and feed when Riders are absent, and to maintain the barns and their food supplies," Ozpin replied. "And, as you are not absent or sick, there is no reason why you should not be doing your duty in caring for Mudslide."

"Hey, I got other stuff to do!" Cardin protested. "Maybe if your profs didn't assign so much freaking homework."

"Which you frequently never do," Ozpin finished, his face taking on a definite deadpan expression. "Most of your free time, I have noticed, has been spent bullying other students, who don't seem to have a problem with caring for their dragons or completing their academic assignments."

"Are you going to harp on that again?" Cardin groaned. "It's called off-the-record training. Those wimps'll thank me for making them and their dragons stronger."

"Don't act like you do this out of genuine love for any of the dragons here," Ozpin snapped, his fists clenching. He paused, taking a moment to regain his composure. "The other reason," he continued, his voice shaking with the effort it took to keep calm. "The other reason you are here is that you have proven yourself to be utterly incompetent at leading your team."

"Says who?!"

"Says your team," Ozpin said dryly. "Apparently, you were wholly unsympathetic toward Sky when he lost Tornado and when Tornado was first put under scrutiny, blatantly talked about the 'expendable' nature of dragons in front of your own dragon, and have driven the remaining Riders on your team to ask to be put into solo classes early. That's on top of the reports of bullying toward other students and neglect toward your dragon, which I already mentioned."

Cardin glared at the ground, already plotting just how badly he'd injure Russel and Dove when he left this office.

"This is very serious, Mister Winchester," Ozpin said. "And, if this continues, I will be forced to have Mudslide taken away from you."

Cardin gaped. "You can't do that!"

"I certainly can. I have held off on such drastic measures, due to the natural bond that forms between a dragon and Rider (a rather onesided one, in this case). A dragon being separated from its Rider causes great emotional trauma, which is better avoided in most scenarios. However, if this keeps up, I may decide that I'd rather invest in counseling and a nice broodery for Mudslide than in your further education at my school." Ozpin leaned forward on his desk. "Do I make myself clear?"

Cardin glared at him for a long moment, before suddenly sitting back with a short laugh. "You're bluffing. They'd cull her if you took her from me."

"She is stable, young, and has no visible disabilities," Ozpin said. "Between that, and the documentation I possess concerning your behavior, humane relocation would be all too easy."

Cardin sat there, grinding his teeth. Then, his expression suddenly turned into an easy smile as something occurred to him. "For her, maybe."

Ozpin raised an eyebrow, keeping his expression cool even as his heart sank. He did not like that tone or that smirk. "Excuse me?"

"Mudslide may be fine, but what about the other dragons here?" It was Cardin who leaned toward the desk this time. "Look, Ozpin. I go to school here. I'm a Beacon Dragon Rider. So, I have a certain sense of loyalty for this place. My dad always taught me to be loyal to a commanding officer, you know."

"Go on," Ozpin muttered.

"If you kicked me out and took my dragon…" Cardin shrugged. "I wouldn't have much reason to be loyal to you or this place, and I may feel an obligation to do my legal duty and talk about certain things I kept quiet about before out of that loyalty I just mentioned."

Ozpin narrowed his eyes, waiting for him to continue.

"Tornado was a crazed lunatic," Cardin said. "That's why he had to go. But, what about the other useless dragons that should probably be replaced? What about the runt? Or the gill-less reject? Or the fire dragon with no fire? I know all of them. I know their names. And I know the phone number to reach the Valean branch of the Council."

"Are you trying to blackmail me, Mister Winchester?" Ozpin hissed, standing up slowly. "Because, if you are…"

"You'll expel me on the spot?" Cardin stood up, still smirking. "Unless you want a whole lot of dragons with spikes in their skulls, I wouldn't advise that."

"What about Barracuda?!" Ozpin asked, hating how desperate his voice sounded. "You know she'd be culled too due to her paws! Would you really betray Russel like that?"

"Sounds like he already betrayed me." Cardin turned and, without waiting for permission to leave, opened the door. "I think we're done here. Glad we understand each other…dragonmaster."

The door closed, and Ozpin just stood there, stiff as a board, his fists clenched and shaking, his eyes blazing with unrestrained fury under his glasses. Then, his hands opened. His knees gave out and he fell onto his chair with a grunt. Putting his face in his hands, he started to weep.

…

"So, how cute was that girl?" Nora asked, nudging Ruby, trying to change the subject to something happier.

A tiny smile returned to Ruby's face. "She was really pretty, and super nice. She gave me her number before we left."

"Oooh," Nora crowed.

"Look at my little sis," Yang chuckled, punching Ruby's arm lightly. "Taking after our uncle."

"Am not," Ruby protested, her cheeks flushing bright red.

"Did you try to set them up, Storm?" Twiggy asked. "I bet Ruby's the next one to get with someone!"

"No way," Ao Guang huffed. "Ren and Nora are gonna be next."

"No, it'll be Neptune and Sun," Nymph insisted.

Huo snorted. "Not a chance. Your Rider's too much of a weenie."

"Hey!"

"What about you, Weiss?" Sun asked. "Did you exchange numbers with that Mercury guy?"

"I did," Weiss admitted. "Though, I don't think anything will come of it."

They talked for a little while longer before the tired RWBY dragons were retired to their stalls. Just as Ruby was walking away, she heard a gentle rumble from Storm's throat.

"Rrrrr." Storm decided to try again. Meringue had told her that she should be able to do this by now. "Rrrrr…"

Ruby patted Storm's nose. "What is it, girl?"

"Rrr… Rrrrrr… Rrrrroo!" Storm finally said.

Ruby's mouth dropped open before she hugged her dragon tightly around the neck, squealing excitedly. "OMIGOSH! Storm, you are so smart! I love you so much!"

Storm rumbled proudly. Even if she had failed at the Festival, she was glad she could make her Rider happy this way. "Rrrroo. Rrroo. RRROO!"

Later on, the three teams went to Junior's club, which was packed with students just coming back from the Festival. While most of the others went to dance, Ruby, Blake, and Weiss sat at the bar, sipping their non-alcoholic beverages, sitting with their backs to the bar so they could watch their friends make fools of themselves on the dance floor.

They were stopped when a familiar "Psst" sounded behind them.

Turning around, they saw Junior staring at them intently. He leaned over the bar. "You know that Adam Taurus guy?" he asked without preamble.

Blake's blood went cold. "Yeah?"

"He knows where you are. Keep your eyes open and get out of town if you can." Then, just as quickly as he had been there, he was off taking an order while polishing a glass with a clean rag.

Blake nearly fell out of her stool. This news felt like a physical blow to the stomach. Her breaths became short. Her hands shook as her face turned hot. She let out a loud gasp.

Ruby immediately rushed off to find the others while Weiss wrapped her arms around her teammate.

"Hush, now. Take deep breaths," she urged, hating how frail Blake felt as she trembled in her arms. "We won't let him near you. We'll go home right now and tell Ozpin. He'll know what to do."

"He won't," Blake sobbed. "He won't! Adam will- He'll-" She shook her head, unable to say anything more.

She was familiar with how patterns like this went. Everything was starting to unravel. Tornado's death, the Festival, the theft of Penny, and now this were small moments leading to something even bigger and even more horrible.

Sooner or later, everything was going to fall apart.

Clearly, Cardin could have used a few more punches. Next week will be the last update before the hiatus. You'll get to see Sky, along with another character I've been waiting to bring in.

If you like what you see and want to show extra support while earning sweet rewards, my P/atreon is Solora Goldsun.

Peace out!