AN: Once more into the breach!... Good, I can check that off my list of cliche lines... and yes there is a list.

I kinda... disturbed the Commander when I brought this chapter up to him. Alcohol and Star Wars highs really mess up your perception. To be fair, I did talk about some very creepy niche parts of the FNDM.

Year 3: An Old Friend, A New Enemy

Azure's POV

Nothing quite like the noise of the city.

I walk down the street, relaxing in the anonymity of the crowd. A slight noise occurs to my side and I see a white haired boy stealing someone's wallet. I smirk. Every Kingdom's the same once you go low enough.

The pickpocket moves towards me and I have to hold back a laugh. He bumps into me. "My apologies, miss. I wa-" He stops short as I reveal I grabbed his wrist while he tried to search me.

"Better men than you have tried and failed, rookie."

I turn to face him. "You just tried to steal from a Huntress. Got any requests before I arrest yo-" I stare into red eyes... eyes I have seen before.

Unbidden, I start muttering. "Come now, open your eyes, look up to the flames in the skies. Come now, do not forget those embers are the final judge."

"Excuse me?"

I release his wrist before backing up. "Don't come anywhere near me." He takes a step and I Shift as far away as possible. I don't stop fleeing until I'm back in my room.

He shouldn't be here! That was two Kingdoms ago... Calm down, he didn't recognize you. Still, I can't take any chances. I pull out my makeup kit and begin looking at the dyes...

Jason's POV

Wait for it... NOW!

I lunge forward at the gap in Rex's defense only for him to spin out of the way of my strike. I feel his foot on my back and stumble into a roll from the kick.

"Why do insist on kicking me in the back?" I turn to face the smug smirk I've grown to tolerate.

"A wound to the back is a sign of cowardice. No true swordsman would ever willingly mark his opponent in such a disgrace manner." His smirk goes even wider. "Kicks are a different story entirely."

I smile myself. "Well, this was a nice warm-up. Are you ready for the real deal?" I loosen some slack on my weapons' chains.

He answers by charging forward, his left leg glowing black with aura. When he reaches me, he leaps up and brings his foot down in a flying ax kick. Bringing my blades up in an x shape, I catch him by the ankle. He brings his free hand down to catch himself and swings his sword at my legs, forcing me to back away.

I grab as much distance as I can. "Let's see you dodge this!" I swing out Wither and Blossom at his ankle and elbow, respectively. It was too low to duck under and too high to jump over, so I expected him to back out of the weapons' arc paths.

Instead he dives between the two blades. What is he doing?

I charge forward towards his prone body. He counters by spinning his body in an attempt to sweep me. I jump over his leg and land on his chest. Take that Rex!

I notice too late his chest and arms glowing black. Well, shit. He pushes off the ground and sends me up into the air. I throw Wither at him, only him to roll as he pulls his pistol out of his jacket. I take two bullets before I land, and quickly start catching the rest of his shots with Blossom.

Despite this, I'm smiling. These fights have moved past dominance... mostly. Now we just seek to push each other to new heights. As one, we speak aloud. "It's time to end this."

We charge, kusarigama meeting blade and gun. Rex kicks at my chest, only to be blocked and pushed back. He brings his sword downwards and I block it with Wither, bringing Blossom to his throat. Finally! "I win Rex."

He shakes his head slightly. "I would check again. I have a perfectly good headshot."

Headshot? My eyes follow his arm, ending with... his gun pointed at my groin. "That is so not tournament legal."

He smirks. "We never said anything about tournament rules. Draw?"

I nod. "Draw." Then I lose control and start laughing. Evil prick.

The two of us head to the dorm wing to pick up Azure before we head out to meet Haley. Rex knocks on the door only for it to open.

I stare. "...Azure?"

Haley's POV

I probably shouldn't have fallen asleep on the flight from Vale. I yawn as walk up to the school's entrance. Now where is everyone?

Someone I don't know walks up to me. "Oh my... miss Onyx, I am such a huge fan! Can I please get an autograph?"

Something nags me as I look at her. I feel like I should know her, but she has milk chocolate eyes, light pink hair, and has bright green feathers.

Fish for a name. "Uh... sure. Who should I make it out to?"

She giggles like a five year old. "Call me Cream."

The wind shifts, and suddenly I am assaulted by the smell of chemicals. I sniff, trying to figure it out. Is this... hair dye?

"Azure?"

A malicious smirk appears on her face. "Took you long enough." She turns around and calls out, "Jason, she recognized me. Pay up!"

Rex and Jason show up, Rex putting away several lein cards.

I stare at them. "You guys bet on me?"

Rex smirks. "Jason's bet. I told him the dye is too fresh and you'd smell it."

"I bought a dog whistle, Rex. Don't tempt me to use it."

"So I'm just going to bite." I turn to Azure. "Why did you dye your hair and feathers again? I thought we were past this."

She laughs. "I used to change my appearance every other week. believe me, I toned down a lot since I came to Sanctum. I... just had this urge to try this out. Eventually I'll switch back, don't worry about it."

My eye slowly glances over to Rex, who was completely calm. If it was serious, Rex would be signaling something was wrong. I refocus on Azure and nod. "So what's the plan?"

Rex tilts his head toward Jason. "He heard there was going to be a transfer from Atlas showing up today. I wanted to check him out along with the rest for the interesting ones."

Azure scoffs. "Atleasians."

I stare at her. "My father was from Atlas."

"And he got the fuck out and went to Vale like any decent person. Girl, you are Valean, not Atleasian."

"Rex, a little help?"

He shrugs. "Racism. Atlas is statistically the most anti-Faunus of the Kingdoms. That and the military leadership sends out her authority issues into overdrive."

"Who puts the military in control during a so-called time of peace?"

Jason points to a gathering group of students. "Not to interrupt the conversation or anything, but Artic is pulling his bullshit again with the first years. We're sending someone to stop him, right?"

He and Rex exchange looks before they start playing rock-paper-scissors. Jason wins and walks off with a fist pump. However, I catch Rex give a slight smile as he leaves.

Azure chuckles. "I thought you told him about that stuff."

Rex shrugs. "Jason needed his turn. It's quite cathartic. Let's find a good place to watch the crowd."

Jason's POV

I stand behind Artic. "Ahem."

He turns around. "You again, birdie?" He raises his fist in a move to punch me.

I simply yank my arms back, causing my chains to tighten around his legs. "Timber." Another yank and he hit the ground.

I kneel down to his face. "You had one last chance to not be an ass in front of the first years. One chance. Not so fun being on the other side of the ambush, is it? And. My. Name. Is. Jason."

He spits at my foot. "Screw you."

I smirk. "You're not my type." I turn to the new kids. "Sorry about this. Artic here is one of Sanctum's 'problem children.' Me and my friends make a point of keeping him in line, so don't worry. I hope the rest of your day is more pleasant."

One of the first years steps forward. "Excuse me, but what's your name?"

I give a calm smile. "My name is Jason Breech. Now if you excuse me, I need to get back to my friends." I nod and walk back to... Azure punching the Hell out of a guy. "Who is he and why are we trying to kill him?"

Haley's POV

The three of us find a nice place to sit, and we watch as more new students start to enter. It's amazing watching that same smile walk in on nearly every face, and then there are those who have that look of determination in their eyes. They are the ones who will reach even higher levels. I understand why Rex called them the 'meaningful' ones...

Then there were the bad apples... Those that came to Sanctum for personal profit. They give Hunters a bad name, and their inevitable wake-up call would be something I wish I could watch.

Azure was the first to see him. "Oh you have to be fucking with me..." I turn to see her already grabbing one of her daggers, and her eye started twitching.

Then I see just who walked in. He wore a reproduction of the Atlesian Military's officer uniform, the only difference were the blood red gloves he wore. Vain, much?

I barely hear Rex muttering, "Already hate him."

Then he noticed me and started approaching me. Great, please don't be from the group who holds a grudge against my father.

"Hello, Haley Onyx?"

Damn, he's tall. Is this is what Azure feels like next to me? I am not short in the slightest, but he towered over me. "That's me."

He smiles and pulls off his glove before offering his hand. "Bushida Gwyntir. Nice to see another member of Atlas's elite in this school."

Not so bad. My father said the Gwyntir family was between the traditional and progressive lines in Atlas, but my instincts were getting a bad vibe from him. I doubt he'll be a friend, but at least he'll be pleasant.

"A pleasure." I grab his hand, and that's when it all went to Hell. My arm immediately went numb as he tightened his grip, and it quickly spread across the rest of my body. I fell to my knees and looked up. "Why?"

He smirks. "Because a half-breed mutt like you is a disgrace to Atleasian nobility."

Rex pulls his gun out and points it at Bushida. "Let her go. Now."

Azure has her daggers out. "I would if I were you... You're just another racist prick to us."

He laughs. "First Alexander abandons his duties, then he elopes with some animal. Then you have the gall to enter a tournament watched across the world and lost in the first round! Even now, you can't fight your own battles and need some beasts to do it for you. The Onyx family is pathetic."

I growl, and my dragons begin uncoiling from my arm. However, Azure beats them to the punch and tackles Bushida to the ground. Rex picks me up and supports me on his shoulder.

Azure pins Bushida's arms to the ground with her legs, and repeatedly slams her knife hilts into his face, speaking with every strike. "Don't! You! Dare! Touch! My! Friend! You! Racist! Piece! Of! Grimm! SHIT!" I hear a crack and his nose bends badly, clearly broken.

Jason finally returns and stands there for a second before speaking. "Who is he and why are we trying to kill him?"

Rex answers. "He attacked Haley and insulted her and her family."

Jason nods. "Alright. I believe it is your turn to beat up the asshole?"

He shakes his head. "Azure, get off him." Azure quickly stands up, brushing off her outfit. "Gwyntir, you will leave us alone. I don't care if you are from some high up family, I have no issues cutting you down. If you thought Azure was a problem, do realize that she merely studied the art of pain. I have lived and mastered it. I will haunt your dreams if you push me, so leave while you still have the option to do so."

I stepped away from Rex, Ivory staying between me and Bushida. Ebony was circling overhead, poised to strike.

Bushida got back on his feet and glared. He isn't actually?

He turned away. "This isn't worth my time."

As soon he was outta earshot, we all let out a sigh of relief. Then Azure started smiling like a madman. "Jason, I'm going to need your help for some payback. Everyone, let's head back to my room."

Jason's POV

We all find a seat before I turn to Azure. "So what exactly do you want me to do?"

Azure pulls a scroll out of her sleeve. "Do your tech magic and get me into the asshole's scroll. I can take care of everything after that."

She tosses it to me and I use my Semblance to start overriding his security. This should be interesting to say the least.

Haley turns her head. "You stole his scroll? Why would you do that... how did you do that?"

Azure smiled. "If there are two things I am good at, they are stealth and taking things that don't belong to me. As to how, it was a case of misdirection. When I tackled him, he was focused on the impact. In comparison to that, my hand entering his pocket to take the thing barely registered. The repeated hits to the face provided further distraction... and let me get my rage out."

I chuckle. "Beating up people like him is strangely relaxing, isn't it? Still, you realize that you could get in serious trouble right?"

Rex looks at me. "Says the guy who is casually tampering with stolen goods."

I shrug. "So I'm not completely rule-abiding myself. Doesn't change my point." I hand the unlocked scroll back to Azure. "So, what's your plan?"

She laughs and Rex facepalms, muttering under his breath. Me and Haley move in and try to see what Azure was trying to pull off. It was... disturbing to say the least.

I really wish I was surprised that this is actually a thing.

Haley is much more verbal. "What the fuck am I looking at?" I look at her and realize that she had called her dragons out on reflex. That, and she had turned redder than I thought she could.

I think you said it yourself. "Why... just... why?" Currently on screen was a rather detailed video of a woman and a beowolf displaying... urges. You know, this does not help with my issues with beowolves.

Azure sets the video to download before pulling up a similar one. "You see, in every society, there is a particular section of depraved fuckwads who find the idea of Grimm, Mankind's greatest enemy, banging people to be arousing. These sorts of videos cater to that particular fetish."

Haley gulps and starts petting one of the dragons in an attempt to calm herself. "Just... how do they pull this off? Grimm don't have... that."

Azure wiggles her fingers before answering in a drawling tone. "Semblance bullshit." She pulls up a new video, this one with an ursa. "They likely have someone with an illusion Semblance on the special effects team... or is the special effects team."

I clear my throat. "Please tell me there is more to this plan." Please.

Azure laughs again. "Imagine if a teacher were to find some student's scroll filled with such scandalous videos. It would ruin any hope of the faculty liking the student in question."

I raise an eyebrow. "You realize there are more efficient ways to get the same results?"

She smiles. "Ah... but this lets me maintain anonymity and plus there is always ...potential... for this to spread out to the student body... what would they think?"

She is a very scary person for an entirely different reason than Rex.

Haley stands up and starts to leave. "As enlightening as this discussion into the perverse nature of Grimm is, I getting out of it. If you like it, good for you. Please never involve me with this stuff again as I try to repress the last ten minutes."

Rex scoffs. "Never works."

"I can still try, Rex!" The door slams behind her.

I look at Azure as she slips the Scroll into her sleeve. "Why do you know about this?"

She shakes her head as she pushes me and Rex out the door. "I've met some messed up people. That's all I am going to say on the matter."

I turn to Rex only to get cut off. "Don't ask if you value your sanity."

I nod. "Okay... I'll see you in class." I turn and walk away from the craziness.

WN: I went to a weird place in this chapter, I'll admit that.

Admittedly, that's me taking a potshot at that part of the RWBY FNDM. Looking at it from a in-universe perspective, most people, especially Huntsman and Huntresses, would find that incredibly disturbing. I don't like it, but, as Haley said, if it works for you, have fun.

...Also, I believe that's the first time I made Haley swear. I try to keep consistency with little details, which actually includes any propensity to swear when I write them. Haley has, due to her family and upbringing, been the one least likely to start swearing in my eyes... Which makes her actually doing so all the more impactful.

As for Bushida Gwyntir, gwyn and tir are the Welsh words for 'white' and 'land', respectively and a hint to his Atlesian background. Bushida is actually a corruption of the term Bushido, a sign he does not follow the code he is named for. In other words, his name could be feasibly translated to 'The dishonorable warrior of the white land.' I've bought him in for a reason- Artic is not going to be in the fic in the last year. He's supposed to graduate at the end of this one, and the role of bastard enemy is being freed up.

On less related notes, Team PHNX has been working on a rather interesting meta-project behind the scenes for Dressed in DRAB and Phoenix Rose... Well most of us (I'm talking to you, you lazy Grey Jedi!). It still requires a bit more work before it's finished, but please look forward to it.

Adam's POV

I speak clearly into the scroll. "Report."

"Yes, sir! As is stands, I have managed to convince one of my fellow students to join our cause when the time is right. There are several others who I am planning to approach by the end of the year."

"Well done. now onto matters you were originally sent there for..."

"I already procured a list of Sanctum's most talented Hunters in the top two years. Unfortunately, any plans they may have on site are sealed away, out of my reach. About our... priority targets?"

"If you can arrange an accident, do so. If not, continue watching. You've done well."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

"Quiet! You know that I am not 'Uncle' when on operations... take care of yourself. It will only take one slip-up to ruin all this work."

"Yes, Un- sir!