"Why is it that girls usually try taking my shirts off?"

"Damn, you really are an idiot."

"Oh be quiet."

"I'm sorry." Pyrrha muttered as she set the empty ointment container on the table and just walked up to Gales and set herself down on the bed. Neo just rolled over on the bed to make room for the taller girl as she laid on her belly and went back to messing with her school. "I just wanted to help."

"I know." Gales just smiled at Pyrrha as he raised a hand, and lightly hit her in the shoulder. "That's why I'm not mad at you." He paused as he gestured to Neo. "Anything I'm mad at her." Neo just looked at him with a smirk. "She's the one who took my shirt off."

"Would you have preferred if me and Red took our shirts off too?"

"...No~" Was Gales' eventual response.

"The way you said that sounded more like a maybe to a yes."

'Shut up~" Gales told his other half as Pyrrha read the message and flushed a deep red.

"Neo!" Neo simply smirked.

"I hear it puts people at ease."

"More like makes people horny." Gales just "discretely" glanced at Pyrrha's chest and nodded his head. That was right before his fist suddenly collided with his own cheek, surprising one of the two girls.

"Ow!"

'Progress… oh and don't look so openly.'

"Gales? Are you alright?" Pyrrha immediately raised a hand to the teens reddening cheek as Neo snapped a picture.

"I'm fine…" Gales muttered as he looked at Pyrrha and released a weaker smile. Pyrrha just slowly nodded her head before her eyes seemed to drift, finally noticing something about his room. It was… normal to say the least. It looked alot like JNPR's room, minus the three other beds to take up room. But it was what was in the room that caught her attention.

"What is that?"

"What's what?" Gales asked as he followed Pyrrha's gaze to something that was on resting at the edge of the room. A greatsword just taller than he was. "Oh that's Gandora."

"Gandora?" Neo turned to look at the mammoth blade and stared at it curiously.

"It's the blade I used before coming here, you know, the one I can't use anymore." Pyrrha just stared at the giant blade before nodding. On impulse she got to her feet and walked over to the weapon. Neo followed her and Gales followed Neo, letting the three gather around the blade and take in its appearance. "What do you think?"

"It looks… strange." Pyrrha stated as she ran her fingers along the edge of the weapon and blinked in surprise at the feel.

"I guess Gandora would look a little weird wouldn't it?" Gales admitted. "I mean compared to Remnant weapons." Neo just nodded her head as she felt the weapon herself.

"Are these…" Pyrrha began. "Are these… scales?" Pyrrha looked at Gales as he nodded. "This is organic?"

"Mostly." Gales admitted as he crouched down and stared at his weapon. "There's a bit of metal welded in there to keep Gandora together, but he's mostly scale, bone, and nail." Neo made a muted whistle.

"How though? What animal could you have made this out of?" Pyrrha paused as soon as she said those words, a shrieking roar echoing from her memories. "That Rathalos…" She whispered as she looked to Gales. "It's made from that creature's parts."

"Not that one but you're close." Gales admitted with a weak smile. "Astalos' horn, part of Ukanlos jaw, and the scales of a Sergios." His smile grows tight. "Took me about five months to gather all the material for this." He looked at his bandaged chest. "And way to many close calls."

Pyrrha didn't say anything for a while, just looking at her friend in silence. Something in her head clicked as she stared at the dozens of old wounds that rested on his form. "You've been fighting monsters like that Rathalos for a while haven't you?"

"Just a year really." The teen admitted as he got to his feat and headed over to the discarded shirt and started at it for a moment. Deciding against putting it on Gales just put it on his desk, deciding to just use the bandages on his chest as a substitute. "But I've seen and learned a lot in that one year." He made a noise. "Most of it reminds me just how low on the food-chain we really are." Gales adjusted the shirt before smiling at Pyrrha. "But… I'm happy knowing *that* too." He scratched his head at Pyrrha's confusion.

"I don't understand."

"It guess it sounds stupid but well…" Gales paused trying to find the right words. "Just look at us, look at Vale." He gestured to the surrounding room and took to looking out the window. "We're not the apex predator; we got no claws or fangs or wings or any biological adaptations that make us special, but look at all we can *do*. Using brains and tenacity, through blood and sweat and tears, through trial and error; we accomplished so much." He paused again as he smiled. " We built homes, built whole cities, learned to domesticate animals and even found a way to fly without wings." He glanced at Gandora as Neo turned away from the massive weapon and just sat on the floor. "We even learned how to protect ourselves from even the fiercest of beasts." He paused again as he leaned against the wall. "I find that's amazing you know." He looked to Pyrrha. "The sheer potential that all of humanity possesses despite low low we stand on the totem pole."

"I see." Pyrrha smiled. "I guess you have a point." She stepped up to him. "Humanity… and all it can accomplish is amazing." Neo seemed to frown as she whipped out her scroll and typed something. Gales found his buzzing not a minute later.

"Would you say that knowing how messed up humanity can be?"

Gales just looked at Neo.

"Humanity may seem great and all, but it's actually one of the worst."

Neo texted. "Neo." Pyrrha began.

"Jealousy, prejudice, and racism fuel runs deep in "humanity". Just look at what drove the White Fang to be what they are. Even if you disregard them, there's the those abandoned in the streets that people overlook."

Neo paused.

"We might not be as "monstrous" as the Grimm, but there's things about us that make us worse."

For a moment neither said anything, Neo just looking at the two teens as they looked back at her. "I'm sorry to say it but Neo has a point." Pyrrha eventually spoke up. "I've read in history and listened to old news podcasts talking about how bad things use to during wartime and the founding of the Four Kingdoms, and that's without the Grim being involved."

"You're both right." Gales admitted. "Humanity can and will do some pretty messed up stuff. We can build up a nation and tear it that's part of what we are right.?" Gales stated weakly. "We have to take the good with the bad."

"There's a lot of bad though."

Gales just laughed, but it wasn't humorous or anything. It was honest, but almost forced. "Ain't that the truth." He stopped laughing. "There's so much bad in humanity that sometimes it's impossible to see what's good in it. That doesn't mean it's not there though." He paused as if in thought. "We just need to coax it out of hiding. Inspire people to be better and stuff."

"You think that's possible?"

"I think even the smallest of actions can change the world around us." Gales' smile became more honest. "We don't have to be the best or a "hero" to change the world. If our intentions are good those changes are for the better."

"With that logic, then we can change the world for the worse with bad intentions." Pyrrha got a sigh and a nod as Gales crossed his arms. "And as much as I hate to say it, there's many people with bad intentions in the world."

"You're right." Gales just continued to smile. "If you want to change the world with good intentions, it's almost like the world itself is against you." His smile turned into a grin. "But it wouldn't be fair otherwise, right?"

"I guess so." It was Pyrrha's turn to smile. "Lights shine brightest in the darkest of times."

"Mhm." Gales nodded as his hands moved behind his head. "And it's in those dark times that we show our true worth. We'll climb out of it and press forward, or fall into despair." Gales stared out his window. "And when that time comes, I wonder what kind of person I'll turn out to be.

"Anyone can be strong when things go your way." Pyrrha stated. "It's another thing to be strong when things go wrong." Pyrrha put a hand on Gales shoulder. "Gales, I'm happy to of met you."

"Me too." Gales just looked at Pyrrha as Neo just looked between them and got to her feet. Pulling on the taller pairs sleeves she drew their attention before holding up her scroll.

"So should I leave while you two make out or can I stay and record it?"

Pyrrha read the message before her eyes widened as she turned a shade of red. She glanced at Gales seeing that he had turned a shade himself and was scratching his cheek.

"Well~"

"Not funny Neo." Pyrrha spoke up as she looked at her smaller counterpart. "Friends…" She hesitated, as if trying to find the right words. "Friends don't kiss friends." She nodded to herself. She didn't really have friends before coming to Beacon, but even Pyrrha understood "that" much about friendship. Friends don't kiss friends, no matter how much she wanted to. Yes she found Gales attractive, and she considered herself close to him after all the months she spent with him before Beacon, but she understood that he only saw her as a friend and as nothing more.

'For now.' An unexpected, almost conspicuous voice called out in her mind as she paused.

Gales just looked at Pyrrha as she quickly pulled herself out of that sudden silence. "I'm sorry what was that Gales?"

"Sorry to interrupt your thoughts it's just… friends don't kiss friends here in Vale?"

A silence washed over the room as she just stared at the boy.

"I… what?" She shook her head. "No! Friends don't kiss friends, it's like an unwritten code of sorts." She paused as she looked at Gales' confused expression. "Gales…" She stared at the teen. "Have you kissed friends in the Old World?" A strange pit settled in her stomach.

"Well yeah." Gales admitted scratching his cheek, and the pit in Pyrrha's stomach grew. "I mean it's always on the cheek and sometimes on the hand or forehead, but yeah I've kissed friends before." The pit suddenly disappeared as Neo smacked her head. "Although I've never made out with anyone before."

Pyrrha sighed in… relief? "I see." She paused. "Were you… saving it for someone special?"

"I guess you could say that." Gales went back to scratching his cheek as he looked elsewhere for a moment. Was it just him or was the wall very interesting at this moment?

"It's just you."

"I guess you could say that." Gales admitted finally. "I mean a "first kiss" isn't something you just give out right. I don't know all the rules but you have to really like the person don't you? So that it's special?"

"Yes that's exactly right." Pyrrha stated as she started to fall silent, an awkward silence passed through the pair as Neo just watched and rolled her eyes.

Virgins, honestly.

Somehow the two heard that thought as they looked at Neo, one staring in embarrassment while the other was in indignation.

"Neo!"

"Hey I'm quite proud of holding onto my man cherry thank you." Pyrrha suddenly coughed as she turned her head to look at Gales.

"WHAT!?" Amazingly enough it wasn't her that said it. The three turned towards the door as they heard more voices.

"He's a virgin!?" That sounded oddly like Nora.

"With a body like that?!" "That one sounded like Yang.

"Shh~ they'll hear us." The three just stared at the door as they fell in silence. "They know we're here don't they?"

"Yes." Two voices stated as Gales walked up to the door and pulled it open.

"Hey Gales… hey Pyrrha." Jaune just scratched his head. "How's it going?"

"Great." Gales wasn't remotely bothered by the intrusion of privacy. "You guys wanna come in?"

"Yes~ Nora happily marched in as the others followed awkwardly, muttering something under their breath as they filed into the room. Without a word Gales closed the door to his room and leaned against it. There was a silence that passed through the room.

"So~" Ruby tried to start off with something, anything really as she just looked around trying to find something to bring up.

"You're a virgin?" Nora pipped in as Jaune just looked at her.

"Nora, you can't just ask that."

"I'm a virgin." Gales stated as Ruby turned her attention towards the weapon in the room. Without a word she started walking up to it.

"I find that really hard to believe." Nora admitted. "I mean look at you."

"What about me?" Gales tilted his head in confusion.

"Your hot!" Yang stated as Nora nodded her head. "You got a body that makes a girl thirsty."

"Not just the girls." Jaune muttered as Ren nodded his head.

"Yeah!" Nora paused before looking to Jaune. "Wait what?"

"What?" Was Jaune's intellectual response. Gales just stared at Yang though, raising a hand to say something before Ruby called out.

"Guys take a look at this!" Everyone turned, their eyes focusing on Gandora as Jaune made a noise.

"Holy-"

"Wow. Who's this bad boy?" Everyone but Pyrrha, Neo, and Gales himself gathered around the mammoth blade as they stared.

"Holy crap is this scale!?"

"Gales just shook his head, letting everyone get used to the weapon known as Gandora and set himself down on the bed.

Train

Abel just closed his eyes as he listened to the world just passing by. He wasn't sure how long they'd be traveling this way, but it would probably be for another hour or bad he was actually enjoying this form of travel. Almost as smooth as a ride across the sky or across the desert on a dragonship. 'I just wish it wasn't so cramped." Alex thought as he cracked an eye open and glanced at his side. Oscar. The boy had fallen asleep somehow, using his shoulder as a pillow of sorts and a book in his hand. It brought a smile to the teens face as he glanced to Lacus who seemed to be sketching something in a notepad. She glanced at him, smiling as she did before going back to her sketching. "What are you working on?"

"You and Oscar."Lacus stated simply. "You two look cute like this."

"Oh Kaiser…" Leo grumbled as Lacus stared at him with a smile.

"What, jealous?"

"Why would I be jealous of someone of a lower caste?" Leo grumbled as Lacus frowned.

"I wish you wouldn't say such things."

"I wish he didn't come along." Leo countered as he shrugged. " I guess we both are disappointed in something today."

"I'm hungry." Atalantia cut in as she continued clinging to the seat she was meant to sit in. "Too scared to see if there's a food cart though." Lacus just closed her sketchpad and reached into her side pocket, pulling out a piece of dried jerky and held it out to Atalantia. The girl in question just snapped her jaws at the meat before starting to chew, muttering a muted thank you as Lacus returned to sketching.

"I think he'll make a great traveling companion." Lacus stated. "He's quiet sure, but he's nice, and he reads." She paused for a moment looking at Alex as she seemed to make a noise. "Speaking of reading though." She paused. "Should we speak about what we just found out?"

"To many ears." Leo stated, and Alex just nodded his head.

"Agreed. "Wen we get to the next town we'll find a place to stay for the night and then we'll continue that discussion."

"As you wish." Lacus stated as she went back to sketching. "Shall Oscar take part in our discussion as well?"

"Hell no." Alex just looked to the younger boy leaning on him in his sleep.

"I think we should keep this a secret, at least for anyway." He stated as he sighed. "If we told him, he'll just think he left home with a couple of crazies."

"Well we can't leave him in the dark about this… can we?" Lacus asked as she looked to Alex.

"If we have to we will, but only if the situation calls for it." Alex stated. "And we would need proof to back up our words."

"Like what? Bringing him home?" Lacus asked as she looked at her counterpart. "Or if something follows us here." Leo just raised an eyebrow.

"You think something else might cross over?"

"It's possible." Alex stated. "I spoke with both Master Lucio and the Kaiser before we came here. "It appears that after the aether brought our brother here, the ripple it created traveled across the entire world." The teen explained. "Creatures not native to certain lands and continents seem to have unexpectedly started popping up in other locations." The teen stated. "And we - as it stands - aren't certain if it's isolated to just sending beasts across the planet."

"Youre saying some might pop up here?" Leo asked, leaning forward.

"It's possible. The Aether sent him here - across the stars - likely on *accident*." He stressed the last word. "And we're living proof that he isn't the only one capable of crossing."

"So it's likely something else got here too." Lacus got a nod.

"And vice-versa."

"Those shadow creatures." Leo got a nod this time. "I guess that's something to keep an eye out for then." The teen muttered as he crossed his arms.

"Agreed." Lacus admitted as she finished her sketch. "Creatures invading from one world to the next." She seemed to drift away in thought. "If that is the case… should we be worried about the beasts coming to our corner of reality?"

"Obviously." Alex muttered as he looked to Oscar and rubbed his hair affectionately. "We don't know much about the black beasts yet, that could be a huge problem on this side and the other one back home." The teen admitted as he stopped rubbing Oscars hair. "But if that's the case, we'll deal with them the way we do with all beasts."

"We cut them down."

Beacon

"So~" Jaunce looked at Gales watching the teen pat Neo's head as she sat in his lap with a grin. Everyone had chosen to take a seat on the floor sitting in a circle as the time passed on.

"So~" Gales repeated as he looked at Jaunce.

"We leave it alone?" Jaunce asked as Gales just nodded his head. "We leave a giant, fire breathing dragon-"

"Wyvern-"

"- in the emerald forest, alone?"

"Yep." The teen stated as he rested his chin on Neo's head.

"But isn't that… you know, dangerous?" Ruby asked as Gales glanced at her.

"Amazingly enough no." Gales stated. "It will disrupt the ecosystem a bit yes, but it won't come to Vale, let alone Beacon." He paused before taking a breath and explaining to them the same thing he had told Ozpin a bit earlier. When it was done the others just stared at him, unsure how to take that bit of information.

"So we don't bother it, it won't bother us." Blake paraphrased as Gales nodded. "But only when we're ready, will we go after it?"

"That's right." Gales stated. "Plenty of people die in this field just because they bite off more than they chew." Gales paused. "And as much as I'd *love* to go fight the big guy again. I don't want to run the risk of pissing him off and having others pay for my stupidity."

"What do you mean?" Gales just looked at Weiss, and she shivered. That wyvern-like eye of his was sad. "How can others pay for what you did?"

"There was a city once in the old world." Gales stated as he seemed to drift off. "I wasn't there when it happened, but I saw the aftermath." Gales grumbled as he tightened his grip on Neo. "A group of Hunters pushed their luck, and it came back to bite them *hard*." He stated. "The wyvern that they were supposed to hunt didn't just off them, it followed their scent back to the city they were staying at." Everyone froze at those words.

"You mean…"

"In one night, about 2/3rds of the population died either on the spot or from the wounds they carried, the rest were left to try picking up the shattered remains of their lives in a destroyed city." Gales sighed in regret. "The worst part is that the reports said that the survivors were left as a message." Gales shook his head. "It maimed them, left them alive because it wanted a message sent; "Provoke me and this is what happens"..." He paused, taking a breath as he looked at the others. "That's probably the main thing I fear about the beasts; they're smart. Some believe they are as smart as humans, others believe they're smarter." He paused. "If we mess up, if we anger that Rathalos, our lives aren't just on the line, everyone is, and I don't want to have the Four Kingdoms, all but be reduced to three." He took a breath. "That's something I don't want on my conscience."

The rest of the group looked at each other in silence, seeming to let his words sink in. All of Vale was on the line if they provoked that wyvern. If they failed…

"How will we know if we're ready to fight it?" Surprisingly it was Nora who asked that question.

"We won't." Was Gales natural response. "There's no way of knowing if we'll ever be ready. But we *will* have to fight it again one day. By then, I just hope we're ready to deal with it; I hope we're smarter, I hope we're stronger… and beyond that I hope we meet on *our* terms." Gales stated as he looked at the sun. "Damn it's getting late." He muttered changing the subject. "We should all get some rest." He paused. "And I mean *actually* rest." Gales said softly. "You look like you haven't slept since I was gone." Pyrrha made to say something, only to yawn before the others followed. Even Gales wasn't safe from the contagious yawn as he raised an arm to his mouth.

"I guess sleep isn't a bad idea." Jaunce stated as Ren just nodded slightly. "It feels like it's been a long two days."

"I'll say." Ren stated as Yang stretched. "I'm gonna sleep like a log tonight… and tomorrow."

"Well we don't have class tomorrow." Blake admitted. "We can all take a day off to get some much needed rest."

"Yeah." Jaunce stated as Gales just looked at his friends. "So, will you be fine here on your own?" Gales looked at Jaunce with an eye roll and smiled.

"Yeah. I'm just gonna get some sleep myself. Taking a load off helps the body recover a bit." Gales stated as Neo got off his lap and nodded her head. "I'll see you guys tomorrow?"

"Definitely." Yang broke into a grin. "Too bad I won't see you most of the day tomorrow though." Gales blinked, tilting his head in confusion. "Remember, tomorrow's Saturday, you have a date with Ruby."

"It's not a date!" Ruby whined as she looked at her sister. "Don't tell me you're going to start this again."

"Relax Ruby I'm not." Yang patted her sister's shoulder as she started heading towards the door. "Seriously have fun tomorrow."

"I will." Gale stated as he looked to Ruby. "But are you still up for it tomorrow?"

"Well I mean, yeah." Ruby paused as she looked at Gales' chest, taking notice of the bandages on it. "Are you though, wouldn't it be better if you take a few days to rest first?"

"I'll be fine." Gales lightly patted his chest. "I heal fast and I'm sturdy. Besides, I can always take Sunday off." Gales stated as he stared at Ruby who just nodded slowly. She smiled a minute later as she lightly brushed her knuckle against his arm.

"Alright, then, I'll see you tomorrow." Yang just grinned as she walked out of the room. The others followed as Gales just watched them go. Pyrrha stayed behind for a moment, Giving Gales one last look.

"Good night Gales, and thank you for coming back."

"Night Pyrrha, it's good to be back." Pyrrha left after that, a light smile on her face as she closed the door behind her. Crossing his arms Gales just turned to Neo as he watched her smirk like usual. "Are you planning on leaving too?" Neo did a quick nod, followed by her doing an exaggerated bow. Once she was done she headed towards his window and sat on it. Leaning back she started to fall, and Gales let her disappear over the windowsill before walking over to check on her.

Already gone.

He smiled. "See you later Neo!" No response came and Gales casually pulled his window shut before hopping on his bed.

"Now time to take a much needed nap."

"Going to take a minute to speed up your recovery?"

Gales shook his head. "Nah, using it too much in one day does more harm than good." Gales admitted. "Lets just have nature take its course." He yawned. "Meanwhile, I'm a do good on that rest."