MLTI VRSE Chapter 11: A Jolly Good Return to Chaos, a RWBY + X-overs Crossover fanfic

Chapter 11: A Jolly Good Return to Chaos

I'll start off with saying how ENORMOUSLY SORRY I AM! An update took too long from me, and I deviated from my update schedule for this. So much crap going on. I got a job, so I'm getting money at least. And my aunt got cancer. Oh, and my grandfather that was in the hospital earlier this year? Yeah, he's back there again, and I'm not afraid to admit I was crying. Merry-Fuckin' Christmas, huh? Life sucks so much. This has been too much, too fast.

I hear you there, dude. Nothing can really get you down like the suffering of loved ones.

But I'm here, with this chapter...and an important update concerning Multiversers. There's been a handful of others who have taken the name Multiverser. This has always been an open invitation and always will be. I haven't patented the name (Not yet, at least. Don't get any ideas). But...some of the guys that have taken the name have taken liberties I wasn't aware of. Changed things about us I didn't approve of. Or just flat out tried to one up me. And even made the Multiversers seem like...'common' OCs.

I don't want that. When you read a Multiverser story, what I envisioned for them, I want you to see the 'Ultimate Gary Stu'. Does some of the same things you'd expect, but better in a way and then things you don't. And, AND! I want to begin showing my readers the more likely scenario of what happens to men who become Gods. Like what Watchmen did with Dr. Manhattan...only with more hair, and clothes, and emotion.

So for the time being, the guys listed in my bio are 'canon' Multiverser. About as canon as a bunch of grossly overpowered OCs can get. That means they're the ones that have made a significant impact on making the whole Multiverser thing and are going to star in my partner ShepardisaBOSS' Amalgaverser saga. And afterwards, my finale; Multiverser: Apocalypse.

Any other Multiverser, for the time being, are 'spin-off.' Of course, now they are no longer limited by any actions I or my colleagues do. So you can go in whatever direction you feel fit. But I've already got things pretty set in concrete right now. We've got the end planned out, an enemy worthy enough for Verser, and more. But, please...

Don't stop writing.

Anyways...just so everyone knows, this chapter chronologically takes place after ShepardisaBOSS' stories The Antiverser and Chapter 1 of Love is Multiversal: The Love of the Hunt. So for some context for the beginning, please go and read those stories.

Leaving a review or comment in those stories would also be appreciated. Just saying.

Also, I'll be officially working as beta reader for this story, clearing up any and all typos made in writing. You may rest easy now.

Dick. With that out of the way, I just want to say that neither of us owns RWBY in any way, shape or form. If we did...we'd still let Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum do their thing, because they are fucking geniuses.

NOW LET'S DO THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS!

Duncan's POV:

It was a beautiful day at Beacon Academy. The sun was shining, students were going about their daily routines, and I was laughing my ass off at the expense of my friend, protege, and adopted brother, Michael.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAAA!"

"IT'S NOT THAT FUNNY, DUNCAN!" exclaimed Michael, a noticeable tic mark on his forehead matched by a slight blush.

"Uh, no, it is extremely funny," I replied, trying my best to stifle my laughter. "Seriously, you went on a date with someone you didn't even know was an antagonist! And managed to screw her brains out hard enough to give her a slight limp! That is both awesome and hilarious at the exact same time!"

Michael hung his head in sorrow as I continued my laughter. "I hate you so much," he stated.

"I bask in your hatred," I replied with a smile.

Yeah, Michael had gotten back from a date early in the morning with one Emerald Sustrai. The two managed to hit it off pretty well (and Michael got to beat the living shit out of some scumbags who tried to rape one Miltiades Malachite. Scumbags that I paid a...personal visit to, without Michael's knowledge after he told the story), and wound up getting laid like a boss. And the next morning, he discovered that she was one of the bad guys.

And, as I said, I laughed my ass off when he finally learned the truth.

After that, I decided to help get him up to speed about RWBY, in order to help him be prepared for whatever happened next. He was surprised about quite a few things (like Raven Branwen, Oobleck's thermos, and Team CFVY, for starters), but he took to it rather well. Now, he'd be preparing himself for the future, and so would I. Though I also had to worry about a new player in the game.

This Antiverser… They should be extinct, though it's natural that they'd appear again if Multiversers did. But his arrival seems… quick. How could one be created so fast? And a better question…

Who the fuck is he? I'll have to keep my eyes open.

Right now, though, I'm preparing for when General Ironwood finally arrives with the others from Atlas.

Which should be in about an hour or so.

"So, why exactly are we going to Ozpin's office, Duncan?" Michael asked. We were currently taking the elevator up to said headmaster's office, listening to some catchy elevator music of my choice.

"Because I want to be there when Ironwood arrives to greet Ozpin," I responded. "Plus, I also wanted to play some chess with him while we wait."

"That doesn't explain why I'm being brought along, though."

"Oh, I have my reasons."

Mainly because I remember how Michael and Miss Goodwitch acted around each other when they met. One of his classes would be taught by Miss Goodwitch herself, so I decided to introduce the two prior to classes, to try and give a good first impression for my "younger brother." Michael was rather respectful of her, and- as I said- did his best to not stare down her chest like most hormone-charged teenage boys would do when around her (a bit difficult, though manageable). His attitude, along with his offer to help with her work, actually seemed to give her some respect for my adorable little protege.

And also a certain look in her eye. One that I'd be sure to work to both their advantage as a match maker. They can thank me later.

[Why is it that you notice when others seem to have feelings for each other, yet you're completely blind to when others are falling for you?]

I sighed upon hearing my partner's voice. 'Well, nice of you to join the land of the living, Ddraig. And give one example of-'

[Blake, Yang, Ino, Bastilla, Chun-Li...do I need to go on?] the former Red Dragon Emperor asked in a smug tone.

'Keep it up, Ddraig. We'll see how funny you are when you're getting the Oppai Dragon treatment.'

[Again, I'm fucking bulletproof, dumbass. You'd have to suffer the humiliation as well. What do you have to say to that, eh?]

Only two words: Be ready.

[Anyways, what's the plan for now?]

'I'd say follow canon, for the most part,' I answered the dragon that was my left arm. 'Help the others do recon and beat up whoever uses that mech suit.'

[Mike's also going to have to bring Torchwick to you,] Ddraig noted. [At least to set some ground rules for their arrangement.]

'Noted.'

Later, in Ozpin's office...

Outside the prestigious Beacon Academy, where all manner of Hunters and Huntresses train...was an army. A fleet of Atlas airships, more precisely. Not exactly something people would enjoy seeing to start their day off.

Inside the tallest tower of Beacon, a room full of gears and clock pieces moving in perfect synchronization, was Professors Ozpin and his right hand, Glynda Goodwitch.

"Ironwood certainly loves bringing his work wherever he travels," Glynda grumbled, staring at the fleet through the clock face window.

"Well...running an academy and a military makes him a busy man..." Ozpin spoke, playing the Devil's advocate. "But yes, those are a bit of an eyesore," he admitted before a beep came from behind, signaling a guest. "Come in."

The elevator doors opened to reveal a well-aged man in a white business suit. Short, well-kept black hair that was slightly greyed, with a metal rectangle just next to the gray above his right eye.

"Ozpin!" the man greeted.

"Hello, General..." Ozpin responded, respectfully.

"Please drop the formalities," General Ironwood asked kindly. "It's been too long! And Glynda!" he greeted, noticing the 'witch.' "It has certainly been too long since we last met."

"Oh, James..." Glynda feigned happiness, before returning to her usual demeanor. "I'll be outside," she told Ozpin before leaving the room.

"...Well, she hasn't changed a bit," Ironwood noted. Not even noticing the blonde-haired figure of one Michael Verser standing behind him, making bunny ears above Ironwood's head before heading into the elevator with Glynda (who couldn't help but roll her eyes at the sight, yet also slightly smile a bit at it). Turning to face a dark corner, he mouthed 'I'll be in the library,' before the door slid shut.

"So..." Ozpin began, smirking at the scene that played out behind Ironwood as he walked back to his desk to grab coffee for he and his guest. "What in the world has brought you all the way down from Atlas? Headmasters don't typically travel with their students for the Vytal Festival."

"Well, you know how much I love Vale this time of year," Ironwood deflected, accepting the mug while adding his own addition from his personal flask. "Besides, with you hosting? I thought this would be a good opportunity for us to catch up."

"I can certainly appreciate quality time between friends..." Ozpin smiled slightly. "However...the small fleet outside my window has me somewhat concerned."

"Well...concern is what brought them here."

"I understand travel between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult-"

"Oz..." James interrupted, his tone becoming a bit more somber. "You and I both know why I brought those men."

Ozpin finished his current sip before sighing. "We are in a time of peace. Shows of power like this," he gestures to his window, "they're just going to give the wrong impression."

"But if what Qrow said is true-"

"And you know what my reply to that was."

"Ah...yes." James grimaced, reaching into his jacket. "That brings up another concern," he said, placing a scroll onto the table.

It had pictures of Duncan on it.

"'Duncan Verser?' I believe that's his name?" The General began, receiving a nod from Ozpin. "I'll be frank with you, Oz: Who. Is. He?"

"He's a student here."

"Oz, I'm not an idiot," Ironwood sighed, shaking his head. "It's blatantly obvious that this 'kid' is no simple Huntsman-in-training. The way he moves, his skill in swordsmanship, his weapons, and the fact he executed a known criminal in front of White Fang terrorists AND six minors. Four of whom are students of yours."

"I am aware of what Duncan has done, James," Ozpin smoothly replied. "I know all of this, and I am perfectly capable of handling the situation, make no mistake."

"Then why is he still here?" Ironwood asked, making Ozpin raise an eyebrow. "Schnee dust robberies become daily news, White Fang attacks more blatant than ever, and suddenly this immensely capable and apparently very powerful Hunter-to-be comes to save the day? That didn't come off as convenient to you?"

"James, please," Ozpin assured. "It's almost time for the Vytal Festival. If I wasn't paying attention to such things, I would not be worthy of being Headmaster to Beacon, much less hosting the Festival. I'm taking care of the situation...subtly. Just know that Duncan is not a threat, nor a risk to the school."

Ironwood sighed again, shaking his head. "You know that this won't be the last of this. There's something coming, and you have...someone who's likely more involved in all of it than I'm comfortable with. Tell me Ozpin...are your students ready to face a war?" he asked, then left the room.

"...I pray that they'll never have to," Ozpin said to himself.

"Enlightening conversation, don't you agree?" a new voice asked. The Headmaster of Beacon turned his gaze ever so slightly to see Duncan phase through the wall Michael was talking at before leaving, hands in his pockets. "At least someone outside of Vale pays attention to the outside world."

"And his gaze is on you," Ozpin smirked. "You do so love attention, don't you?"

"Guilty as charged," Duncan smiled, before taking a more serious tone. "I am sorry that my team saw that. And that two others saw my...episode. I don't normally lose my temper like that."

"I believe you," Ozpin said, holding up a hand. "You've been very forthcoming with me these last few weeks...'Multiverser,'" he said, testing the word. "A somewhat... unoriginal name."

"Hey, don't look at me," Duncan shrugged, chuckling. "I'm not the one that came up with the name. (A/N: No, I did. And I'm fully aware it sounds extremely cheesy/corny. Don't judge me) Blame the Ancient Multiversers."

"Indeed," Ozpin chuckled. "Is there anything else you want to discuss or tell me?"

"Not at this time," The King of the Multiversers shook his head. "Just a few things easily carried out that I'll tell you about soon afterwards."

"I see. Well I look forward to it," he said, smiled knowingly. "Chess this weekend?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Duncan smirked, turning to leave.

"Are you ever going to play me seriously?" Ozpin asked, making Duncan turn to show his ever-present smirk.

"Never." And then he left.

Michael's POV, Library:

Honestly, this had to be the largest library I've ever seen in my life. Well, the largest human-made library. There were students all over the place, on both floors. The floor I was currently on had one particular section that I was heading for. In that section, were two of my favorite teams.

Closer to the wall was Team JNPR, who were busy with different things: Ren and Pyrrha- the latter of whom is a favorite character of mine- were busy studying; Jaune was reading a comic of "X-Ray and Vav;" and Nora was sleeping like a baby on a page of Ren's book, complete with drool and snot bubble.

Team RWBY, meanwhile, were busy playing "Remnant: The Game," a board game where one plays as one of the four kingdoms of Remnant and tries to conquer the other three. Ruby and Yang were really getting into it, Weiss had no idea how to play, and Blake was just not that into it (due to her ind being focused on what happened at the docks).

After Ruby and Yang finished their battle (with one of the pieces hitting Jaune in the head), Yang finished explaining things to the Schnee heiress. "And that means..."

"You're just three moves away from conquering Remnant!" Ruby exclaimed, tears still rolling down her cheeks in an anime style, a result of losing in her battle against Yang's forces.

Weiss simply sat there for a moment, processing that tidbit. Cue overjoyed, yet psychotic laughter (followed by thunderclap). "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 states, showing said card to Weiss.

"Huh?"

"Trap card," I repeated. "As in, you just walked into a trap."

"I-I know that! But what does it mean?!"

Rearranging the board at high speeds, Weiss' pieces were all gone as Yang continued "It means, your armies have been destroyed."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Damn, Weiss! You just got played like a fiddle!"

"I hate this game of emotions we play!" Weiss exclaimed as she slumped back into her chair, anime-style tears now running down her cheeks.

"Stay strong, Weiss," Ruby said as she hugged her teammate, "we'll get through this together!"

"Shut up, don't touch me!"

"And yet, you're returning the hug," I observed. "Just saying."

"Have you no respect for the suffering of your teammates?!" cried out a crying Ruby in a dramatic fashion.

"Well, technically, I'm not a part of your team," I explained. "I'm a member of Unit VRSE. And although I'm allowed to help out Team RWBY, I'm also assigned to help out Team JNPR most of the time just as Duncan assists Team RWBY. Duncan felt like it wouldn't exactly be fair if two Multiversers spent all their time helping one team."

"Makes sense, I guess," Blake stated.

"Can't you multiply yourself like Duncan, though?" Yang asked.

"...How exactly did you know he and I could do that?"

"Uh, he told us?" Yang said, just as well saying 'Are you an idiot?' for my question.

It wouldn't be until a few days later that I would find out that they were...very well acquainted with more than one Duncan in a room.

Coughing, Yang said "Anyway, Blake, its your turn."

"Oh, um...what am I doing again?"

"You're playing as Vale," Yang explained, "trying to conquer the kingdoms of Remnant."

"Can I play?" Jaune asked.

"Sorry, Jaune, we've already got four people," Ruby apologized.

"Besides," Weiss continued, "this game requires a certain amount of tactical cunning, that I seriously doubt you possess."

"That's cold, Ice Queen," I stated, earning a glare from her.

"Speaking of 'tactical cunning,'" Yang added, "didn't you attack your own naval fleet two turns ago?" Which earned an annoyed growl from Weiss.

"And from what I saw, you led your cavalry into a trap three turns ago," I threw in. "And also-"

"Okay, I get the point!" Weiss exclaimed. "But I'm not entrusting the good citizens of Vacuo to you," she said to Jaune.

"Why not?" he asked. "You already entrusted me with way more important stuff, like when you told us that Duncan was practically a living God, or the fact that Blake is secretly a Fa-"

"Fun-loving person," Pyrrha interrupted, placing her hand over Jaune's mouth hurriedly, "whom we all admire and respect." As Jaune chuckled nervously, Blake simply glared at Weiss, obviously not amused that her secret was outed by her own teammate.

"Loose lips sink ships, Jaune," I whispered to him. "Do good to remember that."

"Right. Ladies, enjoy your battle," Jaune said with a bow, with Pyrrha not far behind.

"'Sup, losers?" Sun greeted, hand raised in the "Peace" sign as Neptune came up to join his friend.

"Hey Sun."

"Ruby, Yang, Blake, Michael...Ice Queen."

"Why does everyone keep calling me that?!"

"Because you're cold as Ice, Weiss," I deadpanned. "Hey, I'm a poet, and I didn't even know it." That earned a book thrown at my head, courtesy of Yang.

"And I thought Yang's puns were bad," Ruby muttered, earning the redhead a glare from her older sister.

"Um, I thought libraries were for reading?" Neptune inquired.

"Thank you!" Ren exclaimed, arms thrown up in the air.

"Michael!" Nora said as she woke up.

"Pancakes!" I threw in, wanting to add to the randomness. Realizing what Nora said, though, I asked "Wait, what?"

"Uh, nothing," she waved off, face a bit red. "Just a crazy dream."

I simply raised an eyebrow at that, before shrugging it off as her being odd. Though for some reason, I thought I could hear Sterling, Jack and the others in my head groaning and wanting to hit me upside the head.

"Anyway," Sun said to his friend, "stop being a nerd."

"Geh, geh, geh, geh!" Neptune interrupted. "Intellectual, okay? Thank you."

"So, Neptune," Weiss began, "you never told us where you and Sun came from."

"Haven," he responded as he approached Weiss, soft jazz music seeming to play in the background. "And I don't believe I've caught your name, snow angel."

"I'm Weiss," she responded politely without a beat.

"Are you kidding me!?"

Sighing, I patted Jaune's back and said "Just let it go, Jaune. It's not worth it."

Noticing the game, Sun said to Blake "Never took you as the board game playing type."

Blake then shoved Sun aside and leaves the room while saying "I think I'm done playing, actually. I'll see you guys later." Leaving the monkey Faunus to shrug at her behavior.

Nora simply shrugged, saying "Women." Which got the rest of us to stare at the grenadier/hammer wielder.

"Indeed," Duncan said as he popped up behind me, causing me to try and grab him by the arm and judo-flip him right onto the table. With a resounding *CRACK*, the table split in half as the King of the Multiversers reversed the judo-flip before I even made contact with him.

"OW!" I exclaimed. "What the fuck, Duncan?!"

"Never try any martial arts on me," he smugly told me. "Thought you'd remember that."

"Oh, I do now," I groaned.

"So, what'd I miss?"

"Blake's kinda focused on something, Yang is pwning everyone in 'Remnant: The Game' rather well, Neptune just one-upped Jaune, and Nora's acting a bit odd due to a weird dream she apparently had. So, not much, really."

"Ah," he nodded, before looking around. "I take it Blake left?"

"Yeah, just a couple seconds ago," Yang told him.

"I'll have to see what's eating her later," he said to himself. "Wanna join, Yang? She's your partner."

"Yeah, of course I will."

'Is it just me, or did they just have a totally different conversation but what we heard is what we can interpret?' Akima asked me, though no one else heard.

'Yeah, I think they did.'

Third Person's POV, Later...

Within the room of Team RWBY, Blake Belladonna sat. Reminiscing, trying to get her thoughts together on past and recent events.

'Look, there's no real reason we can't work this out.'

*Schlict!*

*Thud.*

'CINDER! IS! NEXT!'

She just couldn't get that night out of her head. She absolutely was not ashamed to know and be with Duncan...but his temper was closer to her former mentor's than she was comfortable with. Only this time, it was directed at people who wrong anyone, regardless of race. It was just a, complicated thing for her right now.

And then Michael went and brought Torchwick back, even if it was an accident.

She couldn't help but remember her own discussion with Ozpin the night it all happened (before she and Yang preformed...extracurricular activities with Duncan, of course). Ozpin knew right off the bat that she was a Faunus, and it was pretty obvious he knew she was formerly a White Fang member, but he understood that she didn't want to talk about it and offered his ear whenever she needed. Including talking about Duncan's actions which obviously be traumatizing to most people. Again, she refused.

She needed to sort this out on her own, for the most part. At least for now.

"Any good thoughts?"

Almost jumping out of bed, the startled Cat Faunus turned to her right to see Duncan sitting right next to her. "Dammit, Duncan. Why do you do that?"

"Because you just look too cute when you're startled," he smiled, and she glared. Albeit it was done half-heartedly, and she was blushing while doing so. "In all seriousness, though. I am worried about you. You mean a lot to me."

"I know, Duncan," she sighed, looking down and holding her legs to her chest. "I've just been thinking about all of this. Everything's been so crazy, and it's just now really coming to me that this is real. How...How did you get through this kind of stuff? In the beginning, I mean."

For a few moments, Duncan was silent. Afterwards, he nodded his head and turned to her. "I can't really tell you how I handled it before, but I can help show you how I cope now."

With that, he raised his hand and cupped Blake's face. Moving in closer, he touched his forehead to hers… And then, it was like she wasn't in the room anymore.

She was in a blackness, or sorts. There was no beginning to it, nor was there an end. "Duncan?!"

And then, there was light. Many lights actually. Swirling masses of light, what she assumed were whole realities. Different galaxies, and universes, and star systems, the whole she-bang. And above each of these different realities were different versions of Duncan; all moving, talking, fighting, dressed differently.

"This is me, Blake." Duncan, her Duncan, said after appearing next to her. "My mind, at least. In a way that you can perceive. I'm not showing you every nitty and gritty detail, or my memories, or things like that, but I am showing you how I deal with it all at once."

"Duncan..." Blake gaped, staring at the whole spectacle. "This is...just..."

"Every one of them is me, and I am them," he continued, spreading his arms out. "What they see, I see. What they know, I know. What they do, I do. Etcetera, etcetera. And all of it is happening at once for me. Even time doesn't truly apply to me, or my brothers. Our perception of it is different from every other sentient and non-sentient being."

"Duncan, what does this have-"

"Ap, ap, ap! I wasn't finished." He chuckled, interrupting her. "But first, let me give you a rundown. See them all? That me? He's in the middle of hunting down a galactic threat, and in the next three years, he'll have to fake his own death, come back and stop colony abductions then fight a galaxy-wide war while negotiating with multiple species at each other's throats. Him? He's hunting down his former apprentice alongside people who don't know he's the person that actually started the conflict they're in right now. And that one? On a journey to bring coexistence to a word filled with humans and...monsters. Oh, and him? Hunting a God of Destruction, fighting vampires, and a foiling a rogue Cult Priest's dreams of grandeur, among other things. Oh, and that one? Well, that's where I'm Spider-Man," he chuckled again. "But you wanna see what they all have in common?"

"What?" she raised an eyebrow curiously.

"This moment."

And as soon as the word 'moment', each Duncan stopped and...relaxed. Whatever they were doing, was all timed so perfectly, that all of them managed to step back and stop.

"What are they...?"

"Every now and again, even I who doesn't really need it, takes a breather," Duncan explained. "You see all this, and you see a massive pile of chaos. All of this action, these events, this drama, all of it, and throughout it all? I still step back every now and again, take a breath, get my bearings, and come back refreshed. Ready to take whatever comes my way next...even though I usually know what's coming to me."

Blake quickly figured out what Duncan was getting at, and he was right. Yang would probably do the same thing, saying something like how she's not asking her to stop, just to slow down. And after seeing all this? A small break wasn't beyond her.

But then another thought came to her. This. All of this, this representation of Duncan, all at once. It begged the question. "Why?"

"Hmm?"

"Why, Duncan?" Blake reiterated. "This, all of this. I'm actually seeing it now, seeing you! Why would you even bother with people who are, for all intents and purposes, beneath you? Who you can meet countless times. Different versions of the same people! Even...even us..."

"...In the words of an old friend of mine...'You are the only mystery worth solving,'" he said as he smiled softly at the bowed Cat.

Reassured of her importance to him, Blake leaned in to kiss her boyfriend. An action which he mirrored. However...

*Click*

And like that, Blake and Duncan separated, returned to reality, and assumed casual poses as the rest of Team RWBY and Michael entered the room.

"Ugh!" Yang groaned in complete frustration. "I knew we shouldn't have let the new guy play!"

"You're just mad because he beat you," Ruby snickered at her sister.

"You should've let me given it a whirl," Michael told them, shrugging.

"Never happening," Weiss quickly shot down. "One; you're new, too."

"And dare I ask what 'Two' is?"

"You and Duncan are the Embodiments of All Cheating," RWY all said at the exact same time, making Michael slump his shoulders. And making Duncan laugh at the sight of his protege.

"Hey, guys," Duncan greeted, getting their attention. "Neptune won, didn't he?"

"Shut up, Duncan," Yang instantly commanded.

"I take it whatever had gotten into Blake is over with?" Weiss asked, having noticed Blake looked less...out of it.

"Not exactly," the Faunus in disguise told the heiress. "But, I'll try to lay off on things. A little."

"Buuuuuut," Duncan interjected. "There is something we can do to muck up operations for the Fang and cohorts. A couple little errands to run tomorrow."

"And that would be...?" Ruby asked, tilting her head.

"Small stuff that'll lead up to a big robot fight," Duncan shrugged, causing RWBY to drop their jaws at him. "It'll be like Monday moved to the weekend just once."

"Okay, that escalation's a little annoying," Yang began, before a grin split her face. "But I'm game!"

"You do realize none of us have-"

"Weiss, I've been here for less than a week," Michael interrupted the Schnee girl. "And if you bring up the 'Not ready yet' card, then your memory is crap because 1; there are two walking Deus Ex Machinas in the room that are connected to your team. And two; I'm pretty sure Duncan's submitted you to some of his...'training' by now," he listed off, making himself and all four girls shudder and Duncan to grumble to himself. "I think you'll be fine."

"Sooooooo..." Ruby began after composing herself. "All in favor of being the youngest Huntresses- plus Duncan and Michael- to single-handedly bring down a corrupt organization conspiring against the Kingdom of Vale, say 'Aye'," she said in one breath.

"Yes! Bring it on!" Yang clenched her fist in excitement.

"Well, since I was already hoping for something like this, I'm in," Blake added in, surprised but not unhappy at the current choice.

"We're in," Duncan spoke for himself and Mike, who grumbled about how 'He could speak for himself'. Silly boy.

Weiss found herself outvoted- Again- and decided to roll with it. Again.

"Let's hatch a plan!" Ruby said.

"Yeah!" Yang agreed.

"OH! I left my board game in the library!" Ruby recalled, rushing for the door and the library.

"We're doomed." Weiss face-palmed.

"I'll be right back!"

In the hallway, Ruby quickly ran into someone, causing herself to be knocked down.

"Oooh, sorry." She apologized. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Emerald said, reaching down to help Ruby up. "Just, watch where you're going."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry," Ruby sheepishly apologized. "Um, I'm Ruby. Are you new?"

"Visiting from Haven, actually," Cinder said, moving between Emerald and Mercury.

"Oooh, you're here for the Festival," was the conclusion the young huntress came to. "Oh, but exchange students have their own dormitories."

"I guess we just got turned around." Mercury shrugged.

"Oh, don't worry," came the voice of Duncan, accompanied by Michael as they were leaving Team RWBY's room to lean on the doorframe. "I'm certain you'll figure out where you're supposed to be...and where you're not, soon enough," he grinned.

Their presence was enough to put the three on edge, though Ruby didn't notice.

"Your dorms are...to the east," Duncan pointed. "Make sure you get there safely." The trio began to move slightly faster, though they kept casual. "Hope Michael didn't leave you too sore," Duncan whispered so only Emerald would hear, making her blush.

As soon as they were out of ear shot, Michael faced his mentor with a slight blush. "Really, Dunc?"

"Couldn't resist," he shrugged. "Just go."

"Wha-"

"It doesn't take a Multiverser to know you want to talk with her," Duncan interrupted. "Look, you can talk with her, try to smooth things out between you two as best you can. Just be careful, okay? Last thing I need is you accidentally making things harder for me in the future."

"When did I-"

"Torchwick." That shut him up, as he slumped his head down and walked off in Cinder, Emerald and Mercury's direction.

"Wait," Ruby said, making Duncan realize she was still there. "Was that girl with green hair...?"

"The girl Michael went on a date with? Yep." Duncan couldn't help but smirk a bit as Ruby gained a jealous look in her eyes, and silently chuckled at the conflict that Michael unknowingly created.

[You are a sadistic bastard, Duncan,] Ddraig commented. [You realize that, right?]

'Oh, you know me too well,' I thought back. The soon-to-be Oppai Dragon Emperor simply shook his head, muttering about how his host was an asshole.

A few hours later...

"Jesus H. Christ, what took you so long?!" Duncan exclaimed, Michael finally making his way back to the room just as I finished going over the plan with RWBY. His hair looked a bit ruffled, covering his face a bit as he looked down, and his clothes looked a bit wrinkled.

Taking a few whiffs, Weiss covered her nose and asked "And what in the name of Dust is that smell?"

"...Shame, Weiss," Michael answered softly. "Pure...unadulterated...shame."

...

[...Wow,] Ddraig commented. [He's catching up to you, Duncan. As my host- as well as Issei's- you ought to be ashamed of your-]

'Utter one more word, Ddraig, and you'll see just how sadistic I can be.'

Chuckling, Yang said "Got lucky, huh?" Leaving Ruby to wonder what that meant, Blake to stare incredulously at Duncan's brother/student, and Weiss face-palming herself as she muttered something about maturity.

"Normally, I'd appreciate the jokes, Yang," Michael continued in a monotone voice. "But please, for the sake of decency, let's just get on with our planning. Come on out, Roman."

On cue, the spectral image of Roman Torchwick floated up through the floor, before he took a bow and said "Guess who, kiddies?" As soon as he said that, he came face to face with Samantha, Crescent Rose, Gambol Shroud, Ember Celia, and Myrtenaster aimed right at him. "Tough crowd."

"What're you doing here, Torchwick?" Yang growled.

"Well, blondie, if you'd all be so kind as to lower your weapons, I'd love to tell you," the ghost replied, unfazed by the threat of being attacked.

"Its okay, guys," Michael said. "I'll vouch for him."

Duncan simply stared at the man he killed, obviously wanting nothing more than to kill him all over again. However, this time he managed to curve back his temper as he put away Samantha. "So, what brings you here?" he asked through his teeth.

"Simple," Torchwick answered. "As Michael may have told you, I am now working for him. And- by association- Duncan Verser."

"First I've heard of it," Blake said as she glared at her boyfriend and his fellow Multiverser.

"Regardless, I'm here to help," he continued, not missing a beat. "You see, I've been making a bit of progress in finding a way to get you kiddies some info. Which is hard, seeing as I was never told what the whole plan was by my...associate."

"And you aren't telling us who this person is because...?" Ruby trailed off.

Shrugging, Torchwick answered "I just don't want to mess up continuity, Red."

The girls raised their eyebrows at that, while Duncan simply glared at Michael, figuring out that he told Torchwick a bit more than he probably should have. Clearing his throat, Michael continued "Anyway, after hacking into a secure channel..."

Two Days Ago...

"Hey, Cinder!" a very familiar voice said over the raven-haired woman's scroll. "Guess who?"

Cinder, Emerald and Mercury- along with any White Fang members close enough to hear- stopped dead in their tracks at the amplified voice, staring right at the scroll. Being the first to regain her bearings, Cinder said "Roman...how in the world are you still alive? People have a hard time surviving decapitation, last I heard."

Scoffing, Torchwick replied "Please, I didn't get to where I am without taking some...precautions concerning deals. Long story short, I had a feeling the dust robbery would go south, so I sent in a very convincing body double. My instincts proved to be right, it seems."

"Sneaky, Torchwick," Mercury commented. "I like. But that doesn't exactly explain why you didn't show your face afterwards."

"Well, here's the thing," the criminal said. "You see, after that whole incident, Verser proved that he had people. People who have some connections, which were used to make sure I was actually dead. I had to literally live off of garbage in order to keep a low enough profile until it was safe to come back up for air."

"So, the fact that you're calling us now means..."

"I'm back and ready for business! Which reminds me...WHERE THE HELL IS ALL THE DUST?!" Torchwick yelled, causing Mercury and Emerald to jump back a bit from the sudden outburst. "The warehouse is completely empty!"

"We recently had to move operations in order to initiate Phase 2," Cinder replied.

"Well, that's all fine and dandy," he said sarcastically. "Except I have no idea where everyone is now!"

"Calm down, Roman," Cinder spoke calmly. "Now, I assume you have a scroll?"

"Am I talking with you right now?"

"Then wait a few days, and I'll send you coordinates for an upcoming White Fang meeting. We'll be displaying a little toy we managed to...acquire from General Ironwood a week ago, which was significantly more difficult without you- and I need someone to make a...demonstration for new recruits. I understand that Neo would be positively thrilled to see you again."

Chuckling, Torchwick said "Yeah, that'll definitely be a welcome sight. Well then, until next time." And with that, Cinder hung up, an evil smirk gracing her lips. Things were about to get interesting again.

"Think she bought it?" Michael asked his ghostly acquaintance.

"Uh, I think I sold that," he replied smugly. "Nice idea with the body double cover-up."

"I have my moments. So, now that that's all taken care of, what now?"

"Hmm...wanna drive a kick-ass car through the streets?"

"Bitching."

(Play "Ludacris - Move Bitch (Dirty) *LYRICS*" at 0:10)

On the highway, cars tried desperately to swerve and turn the the sides, just as a blood red Lamborghini zoomed right on by. If one looked closely, they could see a person in a black and blue jacket and a featureless metal mask behind the wheel, as a transparent man wearing a white jacket and a bowler hat covering his orange hair laughed like a maniac.

"MOVE, BITCH, GET OUT THE WAY! GET OUT THE WAY, BITCH! GET OUT THE WAY!"

Roman laughed as Michael pressed the pedal to the metal, causing the two to speed onward through the night. "So, you said Duncan does this kind of shit all the time?" he asked over the radio.

"Yeah, and I can finally understand why," Michael responded with a manic grin. "I feel so alive!"

Right behind them, a squadron of police cars- accompanied by a couple of Bullheads- blared their sirens continuously. "So, what do we do about them?" the ghost known as Roman Torchwick asked.

"You see that red lever?"

"Yeah, I see it."

"Pull it." A second later, a barrel was flung out the trunk, exploding in a ball of flames and causing the cars to skid to a halt and topple onto each other. Miraculously, no one sustained any lasting injuries.

The remaining cars managed to barrel through, just as Michael took notice of a truck with a ramp on it. Into the distance, he also noticed a blockade of cars waiting for them. "Hey, Roman!"

"Yeah?"

"Remember yesterday, when I showed you 'The Dukes of Hazard'?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Push the blue button." He did so, and a small rocket flew out from the grill, hitting the back of the truck and causing the ramp to come down. Just as the truck stopped at the blockade, Michael sped up the Lambo and drove it right up the ramp, sending it flying over the cars. The police could only watch in awe as the Lambo touched down behind them, before speeding off and leaving them in the dust.

However, as they heard a duo laughing into the night before they resumed the chase, the Vale City Police had to wonder: who in the name of Remnant was the driver of "The Crimson Fucker," and how did he manage to make a car fly over a blockade?

(End "Ludacris - Move Bitch (Dirty) *LYRICS*")

Present Day...

"I finally managed to lose them a few hours later, though not before I accidentally crashed into a statue. After hightailing it out of there, I brought the wreckage back and made it good as new. The next day, I pranked Duncan with an itching powder bomb, went on a date, and got laid," Michael finished, with Roman smiling widely at the memories. Team RWBY, meanwhile, had their jaws touching the floor as Duncan's right eye gained a nasty twitch.

"YOU STOLE MY FUCKING LAMBO?!" he roared. "YOU WRECKED MY FUCKING LAMBO?!"

"Eheh...I-I put it right back, afterwards...I've made a terrible mistake, haven't I?"

"...I was willing to let the Multiversal Prank War go, Michael," Duncan evenly stated. "You brought it to the next level." The young Multiverser could only shiver in fear, just now fully realizing the horror he had unleashed upon himself.

Duncan shook his head, sighing. He walked over to the closest chair and sat down. As a very obvious intimidation factor, he unsheathed Bright Shadow and used it as a cane. The effect was instant, as Roman nervously began massaging his throat.

"Before this gets started, you will know how I feel about this," Duncan said, his voice deadlier than Michael or RWBY ever heard. "I don't like you, not even remotely. The fact you almost killed my friends- who are technically still minors- pisses me off to no end. In any and every other situation, I'd kill you where you stand. But Michael's vouching for you, so I'll leave you in his hands."

"Well, now that that's-," Roman tried to speed up.

"But..." Duncan continued. "If you do anything out of line, anything that poses a threat to me, my friends, and allies...I'm going to send you back there. You already know that place was not of one of death, but a place of punishment. And while Prime will be your jailer...I will be your disciplinary. And you will find that there are new ways to die...even in death."

...

Everyone remained silent in the tense atmosphere.

"Rule one: You listen to Michael, primarily. But orders given by me or another Multiverser are all equally important," Duncan began. "Rule two: Illegal activity not sanctioned by us are grounds for punishment, though there are exceptions depending on the situation. Rule three: There are rewards. One reward per assignment, though the reward depends on how big said assignment was. Rule four: I am quite aware of how you treated the Faunus under you. Never again, towards any Faunus, or it will be severe. And Rule five...never divulge the secrets of our work, unless allowed to."

"In numerical order." Roman began. "Yes, though under protest. I can live with that. Woohoo. Crystal clear. And duh."

For a few moments, Duncan didn't do anything other than his thousand mile stare, until he snapped his finger and suddenly Roman was no longer see-through. The now-corporeal former crime lord began heavily stumbling, having to readjust to having a sense of gravity. Michael helped him steady himself until he regained his footing.

"Blake?" Duncan asked the cat-ninja. "Does it work?"

For a few seconds, she stared at Duncan. Her face filled with confusion at his question and remnants of anger at Roman's resurrection. Then she figured out Duncan's meaning and she looked...

Giddy.

And then proceeded to walk up to Roman...and socked him square in the jaw really, really hard, knocking him back to the floor.

"OW!" Roman yelled, holding his jaw. "The fuck?!"

"Yeah, it works," Blake smirked as RWY chuckled at the sight.

"I think we're good then," Duncan smiled.

The Next Day...

"I thought that class would never end," Blake exclaimed. She- along with RWY- were dressed in their Slayer outfits; Duncan was wearing the very outfit he wore when first arriving at Beacon, a black turtleneck and faded jeans with combat boots (except this time, he wasn't disguising any of his weapons); and Michael was simply dressed in his casual attire of a red jacket, black shirt and black pants, though he had a red hood covering his blond hair. Roman was in the room as well, though was leaning against the wall next to the window.

"All right, guys, today's the day," Ruby said excitedly. "The investigation begins!" She jumped off of the bed as she said this, arms stretched out and a smile on her face.

"I'm glad we're taking this seriously," Weiss said sarcastically.

"Hey, we've got a plan. That's...moderately serious," Yang defended.

"Besides, you have two Multiversers on your side here," Michael deadpanned, all while pulling out a box from nowhere. "Unless they have like...a bajillion Grimm on their side, I think we'll be okay."

Eyebrow raised, Duncan asked "What's in the box?"

"Well, since my encounter with the Antiverser left me without my own Masamune or Avalon," Michael began, though cringed a bit at the memory (especially considering what happened to him with Adam recently), "I needed new weapons until further notice. Which is why I made some new little helpers."

He suddenly found himself extremely close to Ruby, whose eyes had become twinkling stars as she desperately reached for the box. "Oooooohhh! Let me see, let me see, let me see!"

"Whoa, Ruby," Michael said as he held the red-hooded leader back. "These are a surprise for later." She pouted at that, but smiled when Michael said "Buuuuuut...I'll let you see them later if you want. Just keep quiet until the robot fight."

"Which I'll be taking part in," said Roman. "And do keep in mind that I'll have to keep it convincing, so...don't be surprised if a few hits get a bit too close for comfort. Obviously I'll only just miss you."

"Better miss them," Duncan said with a glare.

"So, everyone remember their roles?" Ruby asked.

"You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies," Weiss began. "Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem."

"I'll be having doubles go with Blake and Yang for their objectives," Duncan said. "To both act as muscle and to make sure everything's on the up and up."

"The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members," Blake explained. "If Duncan and I can get in, then we can hopefully find out what they're planning."

"And thanks to my associate giving me the coordinates for the next meeting, they'll know exactly where to go," Roman continued. "Though you'll have to pass yourself of as a Faunus to get in. Considering what you can do, that'll be a piece of cake."

"Duncan and I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale," Yang continued. "Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard..."

"Which reminds me," Michael said. "I'm leaving a copy of mine to go with you two. Last thing I need to hear is that you burnt down a whole city block trying to get your info, so I'll be keeping you two in line."

Duncan pouted at that. "Party pooper."

"Better safe than sorry, Dunc."

"Great! We'll meet up near Yang tonight to go over what we found! Let's do this!"

"Yeah!" Everyone turned to face the window, taken aback (except for Duncan and Michael) at the sight of Sun hanging upside down by his tail.

"Sun?!"

"How did you get up there?" Yang asked.

"Eh, its easy," the monkey Faunus explained. "I do it all the time."

"You do what?!" Weiss asked/demanded.

"He climbs trees all the time," Michael explained. "Jeez, what did you think he meant, Ice Queen?...Okay, easy with the rapier...not the face. OW!"

Everyone sweatdropped at the sight of Weiss trying to turn Michael into a shishkabob. Flipping into the room, Sun asked "Soooo...anyone want to tell me why Torchwick's still alive? And why he's helping you?"

"Long story," Blake answered. "But we're doing this as a team."

"Sorry, Sun," Ruby apologized, "but we don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to."

"Psh! That's dumb!" Sun exclaimed. "We should always get friends involved. That's why I brought Neptune." Sure enough, RWBY, Duncan and Michael all checked outside (in cartoon-style), where Neptune was pressed against the wall.

"'Sup?"

"How did you even get up here?" Michael asked.

"I have my ways," Neptune replied. Nervously, he asked "Seriously, though, can I come in? We're like, really high up right now."

After pulling Neptune in, they eventually decided to let Sun and Neptune join in on the fun. The groups went as follows:

Team 1: Michael, Ruby, and Weiss

Team 2: Duncan, Blake, Sun, and Roman (though undercover as an "ally" of the White Fang)

Team 3: Duncan (clone), Michael (clone), Yang, and Neptune

Yeah, Weiss wasn't exactly happy at constantly being stuck with Ruby when it came to pairs. Nevertheless, she accompanied Ruby and Michael to the Cross Continental Transit System tower (something Ruby always wanted to go to, apparently).

"Woooooooowww!" Ruby marveled. "I forget how big the Transit tower looks up close!"

"You should see the one in Atlas," Weiss said.

"That was the first one, wasn't it?" Michael asked.

"Correct. Atlas developed the Cross Continental Transit System to allow the four kingdoms to communicate with each other," Weiss explained. "It was their gift after the Great War."

"Ooohh, look at me," Michael said in a pretentious tone, suddenly wearing clothes an heir from the 18th century would be wearing (complete with monocle). "I'm Weiss Schnee, and I know everything! I have more money than Scrooge McDuck! I am superior to all, and blah blah blah." His act earned him a giggle from Ruby, and a glare from Weiss.

"Don't be a pest," Weiss scolded. "You know, we didn't even have to come here, we could've just as easily made a call at the library."

"I know, but it's so cooool!" Ruby gushed. "I have to take a picture!" However, her scroll slipped from her hands, launching high into the sky.

Keeping his eyes on the device, Michael began running backwards, hands extended as he said "I got it, I got it, I got- OOF!" Right until he ran into someone, falling flat on his back and lying in a daze. The scroll landed in the palm of his hand, causing him to hold it up and say "Got it!" in a weary tone.

"You okay?" Ruby called out.

"Yeah, just...just give me a second to..." As he was getting up, he took notice of the person he ran into. A light-skinned girl with short, curly orange hair and bright green eyes, freckles on her face. She wore a pink bow, an old-fashioned blouse, feminine overalls, and black and green collar and stockings. She was also smiling at him, seemingly unaffected by getting slammed onto the ground.

"Sal-u-ta-tions!" greeted a cheerful Penny.

"...S...Salutations..." Michael greeted back, though a bit unsure. Recognizing who she was, he quickly got up and apologized "Um, sorry about ramming into you."

"That is quite alright. I should've been looking where I was going," she said, smile never leaving her face.

As Weiss and Ruby walked up, Michael said "So, do you, uh...want to get up now?"

She thought for a moment. "Yes!" she exclaimed, flipping up onto her feet.

"Huh, déjà vu," Michael muttered, remembering this sort of thing happening in Penny's first appearance. "Well, see you later cutie!" he said offhandedly. Yes, he thought she was cute. He was not afraid to admit it. "Here you go, Ruby."

"Thanks," she said. "Now then, let's-"

Suddenly, Penny appeared in front of the trio, causing Weiss to look back and forth in confusion as Penny asked "What did you call me?"

"Uh, what?"

"You called me 'cutie!' Do you really think I'm cute?"

'Saynosaynosaynosaynosaynosayno,' Jack muttered.

'Michael, I wouldn't,'Akima warned.

'Trust me on this, Mike...don't,' Tony advised.

"Of course I do," Michael said with an honest smile. "In fact, I wouldn't mind taking you out on a date sometime."

'IDIOT!'

Laughing excitedly, Penny exclaimed "Sen-sational!" Penny exclaimed. Clasping the young Multiverser's hands in her own, she said "Pardon me for being so forward, but would you mind accompanying me to-"

"Penny?!" Ruby exclaimed as she finally recognized the secret android.

Eyes widened in equal surprise, Penny simply said "Uuuh..."

"Where have you been?" she continued. "We haven't seen you since that night at the docks!"

"S-Sorry, but I think you must be confused," she said before hiccuping. "Uh...I have to go!" And like that, she began to walk away.

"...What was that all about?" Weiss asked.

Humming, Michael responded "There's only one way to find out: WeissyougoandmakeyourcallwhileRubyandIgofollowPennythanksforbeingsoconsideratebye!" he said in one breath, dragging Ruby along with him and leaving Weiss to yell at them for leaving her behind.

Catching up to the redhead, Ruby said "Penny! Where've you been? It's been weeks!"

"There seems to be a...misunderstanding," Penny said, obviously trying to get away from them.

Grabbing her arm lightly, Michael said "No, there isn't. Look, I don't know why you're trying to avoid her, but its pretty obvious she's genuinely worried about you."

"I-"

"Penny, please! Those guys we fought at the docks, we think they're up to something big, something bad!" Ruby explained. "I need you to tell me what happened that night! Please...as a friend."

With a sigh, Penny looked around before whispering "It isn't safe to talk here." With that said, the three of them walked away.

After meeting up with Penny at a different location, Michael and Ruby joined her in a walk down the street. "I wish I could help you, Ruby, but I don't know anything about those men," the redheaded android apologized.

"Well, what happened to you that night?" Ruby asked her friend. "We were all together, and then you just disappeared! Were you kidnapped?"

"Oh, no! Nothing like that!"

"Then where did you go?"

"I've never been to another kingdom before," Penny explained. "My father asked me not to venture out too far, but...you have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot."

"I know the feeling," Michael said with a chuckle, causing his female compatriots to do the same. "Still, why didn't you tell them you were okay? You're all friends, aren't you?"

"Yes, but...I...was asked not to talk to Ruby," she responded hesitantly. "Or Weiss. Or Blake. Or Yang. Anybody, really."

"Was your dad that upset?" Ruby asked.

"No, it wasn't my father..." Penny answered. Before she could continue, the sound of megaphones began announcing something. Michael, Ruby and Penny turned around the corner to look at a platform, where the hologram of Ironwood could be seen before six androids in front of two large storage cases with the symbol of Atlas on them. The General was explaining how these old models did a fine job.

"But...the kingdom of Atlas is, a kingdom of innovation. And 'fine'...well, that's just not good enough, is it?" As he said this, the storage crates slowly opened up, just as he said "Presenting...the Atlesian Knight-2.0!" just as six new, bulkier, and badasser androids stood at attention before knocking their obsolete predecessors down to the ground, drawing a round of applause. "Smarter, sleeker...and admittedly, a little less scary." To demonstrate, the robots each flexed and posed.

"I'm taking one," Michael suddenly stated, drawing Ruby and Penny's attention. "I am taking one of those with me."

"Uh, do you really plan on-"

"Yes, Penny. Yes I do. They are just that badass."

Upon Ironwood talking about how the "human" touch was still needed on the battlefield, Penny became a little nervous as Ruby paid more attention. "So," Ironwood continued, "our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company, are proud to introduce...the Atlesian Paladin!"

Ironwood's image was then replaced with the hologram of the robotic behemoth. Twice as big as a Knight, and definitely more armed, it could probably give Freckles a run for his money. Hell, it could probably serve as a replacement body for Freckles!

'Mental note: keep Caboose away from this thing.'

"Ruby?" Penny nervously asked her friend, who was haunched over in awe of the battle mech we'd soon be fighting. Backing up a bit, she continued "Maybe we should go somewhere else." As soon as she said this, two armored soldiers took notice of Penny, pointing her out and calling in backup.

"I agree," Michael said. Grabbing Penny and Ruby by the arms, he then teleported away from the plaza and into the middle of a street. As Ruby began heaving whatever food she had inside her, Michael gave a smart alec smirk and said "Thank you for using Verser Travels, the fastest way to travel across the kingdom. That'll be 1000 Lien, please."

Quickly taking in her surroundings, Penny nervously asked "How...did we get here?"

"He does that," Ruby responded, albeit a tad queasily. Michael helped her up, only noticing at the last second the large truck coming up from behind them from the honking. Michael stood in front, ready to take the hit...until Penny pushed them out of the way and held her palms out.

In the split second where the two make contact, the ground beneath Penny shattered into pieces as the truck was lifted a little ways into the air by the girl's sheer strength. Hitting the ground, the Shopkeep could only stare in awe at the crumples in his hood, just like the Huntress who got saved.

"Penny...?" Ruby asked, eyes wide with slight terror and uncertainty.

"Are you okay?" Penny asked the shopkeep, who could only nod in response, obviously stunned at what happened. As Penny took notice of Ruby's frightened expression, Michael's stunned expression, the bystanders murmuring to each other, she ran away from the Atlas soldiers still chasing her down and bumps into Ruby, knocking the poor girl out of her stupor as her friend tries to get away again.

"Penny! Come back!" The duo ran after her, catching up with er as she found herself cornered in an alleyway. "Penny! Please! What is going on?! Why are you running? How did you do that?!"

Nervous once again, Penny stuttered "I-I can't! Everything's fine!" Another hiccup. "I-I don't want to talk about it!" Another hiccup.

"Penny, if you can just tell me what's wrong, I can help you!"

"No!" Penny exclaimed, backing away from the two. "No, no! You wouldn't understand..."

She flinched as Michael placed a hand on her shoulder. "Penny," he began, a sympathetic look in his eyes. "Let me tell you a story: a long time ago, there was a boy. A boy who was different from everyone else, because he could do extraordinary things. But he never told anyone about what he was, because he was afraid of how they would react. Afraid that they would reject him.

"One day, however, everyone did find out what he was...and at that moment, he was truly alone. He was ostracized from everyone, and no one wanted to even have anything to do with him. Not simply because of what he was...but because he never trusted them with his secret. As he was left alone, he realized that if he had only trusted them enough to tell them the truth, he might've been able to stay with his friends.

"I know you're scared, Penny," Michael said, with the redheads hanging on every word, eyes wide in shock, "but you need to trust us. Otherwise...you'll end up just like the boy. Alone, and without friends."

Penny mulled over these words, before finally relenting and showing her palms. The skin was scraped away, revealing gray metal beneath. Staring sadly at her friend, the redheaded android said "Ruby...I'm not a real girl."

Ruby, stunned as she was, managed to get out "I-I don't understand."

"Most girls are born," Penny explained, "but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura. I'm...not real."

"Bullshit." The two girls looked at Michael, whose face became scrunched in anger at those words. "I've known plenty of people who were made. A good number of them are the closest to my heart. To say that they aren't real is the worst thing I could ever say to them! Now you listen and listen good, Penny: just because you have nuts and bolts instead of organs, doesn't make you any less real than me."

Taking Penny's hands in hers, Ruby smiled and said "Couldn't have said it any better myself."

"I...uh...you two are taking this extraordinarily well," Penny noted.

"When you've been through what I've been through- especially in Guatemala- you tend to not let these kinds of twists bother you."

Arching a brow at the Multiverser, Ruby went on to say "You're not like those things back there. You have a heart and soul, I can feel it."

"And never let anyone tell you differently, Penny."

Smiling brightly at that, she grabbed the two of them and hugged them tightly, saying "Oooh, you two are the best friends anyone could have!"

"I can see why your father would want to protect such a delicate flower," Ruby groaned.

Releasing them, Penny said "Oh, he's very sweet! He's the one who built me! I'm sure you two would love him!"

"Wow," Michael whistled. "Though I bet he didn't build you all by himself, did he?"

"Oh, Mr. Ironwood helped as well."

"The General?" Ruby inquired. "Is...that why those soldiers were chasing us?"

"They like to protect me too!"

"Psh! Considering you have a plethora of blades at your disposal, Herculean strength, and can shoot mothafuckin' lasers," Michael counted off, "I doubt you'd need much protection from others. Help, sure, but maybe not protection."

"They don't think I'm ready, yet," she revealed. "One day, it will be my turn to protect the world-"

"From what?" Ruby asked. "We're in a time of peace, the world is safe!"

"That's not what Mr. Ironwood said," Penny said.

"Check down here!"

Turning their attentions to the direction of the voices, Michael grumbled "Well, they're here early. Ah well. See you at the dance, Penny?" She smiled and nodded at that, as Michael grabbed Ruby and said "Oh, and one more thing: in the future, when you're about to fire that laser beam, cry out 'IMMA FIRIN MAH LAZER!' before you shoot. Okay?"

With a salute, Penny smiled and said "You got it! Cutie!" That got Michael to blush a bit, before he teleported to the top of the alley and watched as the soldiers caught up with Penny, leading her back to where they thought she'd be safer.

With a sigh, Ruby asked "So...what happened in this 'Guatemala' place?"

"...Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answers to..."

Elsewhere...

Having been left behind by Ruby and Michael, it fell to Weiss to actually complete their task. Typical, and looking back, predictable. Regardless. It would be more than simple for her to acquire the information they needed.

So, the second-born Heiress to the Schnee Dust company continued onward to the CCT to make her call. The basic protocol of using her scroll to identify herself and get to the communication floor, waiting the ride up, the small stuff.

Even now, she hoped she wouldn't end up talking to her father. That would not be pleasant. Especially if he found out about her current… research. God only knows what he'd think of the whole Duncan and Michael situation.

The elevator ride was too short. By the time her resolved had mostly gathered, the doors opened and she had to make the call.

"Welcome to the Beacon Cross Continental Transmit Center," the holographic greeter...greeted. "How can I help you?"

"I need to make a call to Schnee Company Headquarters in Atlas," she told the machine.

"Absolutely," the VI began typing into her console. "If you could head over to terminal 3, I'll patch you through."

"Thank you." Continuing pass the others using their terminals for whatever else they needed them for, she found her. All that was left to do was getting the information… and not talking with her father.

"Thank you for calling the Atlas- Oh! Ms. Schnee!" her father's assistant realized. "Good afternoon. Would you like me to patch you through to your father? I think your sister, Winter, is here as well."

"No thank you," Weiss replied without a beat. "I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me. I've compiled a short list," she told her, raising up her scroll and plugging it into her terminal.

The assistant quickly skimmed through the list on her end, and quickly became nervous. "...I see. If you don't mind, what might I ask is this for?"

"School project," the heiress lied smoothly.

"Um, there are some sensitive documents on this list ma'am."

"Well then, I'll be sure to handle them with care."

"Right. Very well," the assistant nodded. "The data's being transferred to your scroll now. Wait...that's strange. This data's been accessed recently...with your credentials, ma'am."

"I haven't asked for this data until today." Weiss began to internally panic. 'What's going on?!'

"I see...are you sure you don't want me to patch you through to your father?"

"Yes...I'm sure." She said as fast as she could. "I need to look into my credentials right now."

"Well then, have a nice day."

And now she had to ask Duncan if he sent her on a pointless trip...or if she'd been compromised.

Elsewhere...

The musical beats from Xiong's night club could be easily heard from outside. And what just came to the front were the people he least wanted to see ever again. And Neptune.

Yang gave Neptune a ride on her motorcycle (which made him incredibly dizzy), while Duncan and Michael kind skated there on equal speed. The reason being Duncan never letting Michael touch any of his vehicles for a year.

"Come on, he's just inside," Yang said, taking off her helmet and walking to the entrance.

"...Uh-huh..." Neptune replied, still dazed.

"Behave," Duncan quickly told Michael before catching up to Yang.

"..Yeah, well practice what you preach, asshole!"

The whole club was in full swing. Everyone was doing their jobs. Junior was ready to serve the drinks, the DJ was playing the music, Melanie and Miltia were looking pretty/providing security, as were the guards and bouncers. All they needed was customers.

Until two immensely scared bozos rushed into close and barricade the front doors with their bodies. "Hurry! Close the door! They're coming!"

"What are you two idiots doing?!" Xiong demanded.

"Junior! She's back!"

"So are the other two!"

"They're gonna wreck the club-"

And then there was an explosion knocking them back and opening the door. The "Yellow" trailer music began playing in the background as the silhouettes of Yang and Duncan came into view.

"Guess who's back?" they both asked simultaneously, no longer clouded in smoke.

All the guards in the building raised weapons at their faces. Silly boys.

But what pissed Yang off the most, was that her jam was playing off key. So she glared at the hiding DJ, signaling him to turn it off. An action he complied with, before slowing creeping back down.

"So...can you define 'friend' for me?" Neptune asked, nervously peeking out from cover/Yang and Duncan.

"More like...acquaintances," Michael answered him for the two. "Friendly acquaintances."

"Stop! Stop!" Junior's said from behind all the goons, pushing them out of the way. "Nobody...shoot. Blondie...and, the other two. You're back...Why?" he asked, rather scared at the end.

"You still owe me a drink," she elaborated, before grabbing the bar owner and dragging him to his bar.

"Whoa...what a woman," Neptune admired.

"Don't even think about it," Duncan evenly commanded the blue-haired hunter-in-training. He then went to join the blonde boxer.

"Well...that was weird," Neptune said to himself, before turning to the side and noticing the Malachite twins. "'Sup."

"Hmph! Whatever," they replied simultaneously, and turning away. Though Miltia turned back to shyly wave at Michael. An action he returned, though he was absolutely oblivious to how she meant it. Neptune did know what it meant, and was glaring in jealousy at Michael. Who was oblivious to it.

Elsewhere...

The chalk marks on the wall were painted like claw marks. An easy giveaway that this was where a White Fang rally was taking place...at least, easy for those who knew the White Fang. And Blake most definitely did know them.

"This is the place," the cat ninja told her two compatriots.

"You're sure?" Sun asked, which made her glare. "You know, I'm just gonna take your word for it."

"Yeah, there's gonna be a change in plans," Duncan said, peeking behind the corner.

"Why?"

"They know my face," he explained, pointing to a White Fang kill order next to the entrance. And sure enough, Duncan's face was on it.

"So...can't you just change your face or something-?" Sun began to suggest, before Ddraig interrupted Duncan's thoughts.

[Okay, I've had it! Duncan, the thing's getting on my nerves! His- hers- its'- whatever's!- mood swings are pissing me off, and so is all the 'We' shit! Just let it out for a few minutes! Something, anything! I just don't want to keep hearing it!]

'You sure?'

[YES!]

"I could do that, but there seems to be an internal problem," Duncan answered, knocking on his skull. "I'm gonna have to try another method."

And then his clothes changed into black ooze. Said ooze then began to take new shape in the form of a leotard. Black, for the most part. There were patches of dark red, like the red V shape on his chest and shoulders that reached to his palms. And the red that outlined the big black bug-like eyes of a mostly featureless mask. The left forearm was the most strange. Instead of keeping with the rest of the color scheme, like it refused to look like the rest of the outfit, it instead looked reptilian. It was a dark gray that kind of shined like metal although it was organic, save for the crimson jewel on the top of the clawed hand and its' underside which glowed slightly, emitting slight malevolent intent.

All in all, Duncan looked ridiculous and somewhat intimidating.

"Wow, that's all kinds of creepy," Sun drawled. "Right, Blake?...Blake?"

Said girl didn't respond, as she was too busy staring at how much the costume showed off her boyfriend's muscles.

"Seriously?"

"...I'm sorry, what?" She asked after shaking her head.

"...And they say I'm the one to worry about," Sun said, rolling his eyes.

"I'll stick to the ceiling and keep an eye on things till we have to leave the place and give Roman's mech a quick thrashing," Duncan said, before jumping up and sticking to the side of the building and climbing up top.

'FrEe At LaSt...'

'Oh, don't even start.'

"...Okay, how's about we just go inside now?" Sun suggested, which Blake agreed with while pulling off her bow.

"New recruits, keep to the right," One of the guards said to the new blood down the hall.

"I don't get it," Sun started. "If you believe what you're doing is right, why hide who you are?"

"The masks are a symbol," Blake began to explain. "Humanity wanted to make monsters out of us, so we downed the faces of monsters." She sighed at the end.

"Grimm masks? That's...kinda dark."

"So was the guy who started it," she said, before they both put on the masks.

"Always sunshine and rainbows with you," the monkey-Faunus jested.

The two continued on into the main room, which was filled with current members and new recruits to the White Fang. The two seamlessly blended in with the huge crowd of new young initiates.

"Thank you all for coming," the rally leader began. "For those of you joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours." And that was when the newly resurrected Roman Torchwick came onto the stage. "I can assure you that he is the key to obtaining what we have fought for, for so long."

The crowd became outraged, demanding to know what a human was doing here and why they shouldn't kill him now. Oh, if they only knew.

"Thank you! Thank you! Please, hold your applause," Roman began keeping up his douchebag act quite well, as a certain neopolitian colored haired girl with dual-colored pink and brown eyes came from behind the stage curtains.

"What's a human doing here?!"

"I'm glad you asked, deary," Roman pointed to the girl before turning back to the crowd. "Now I'll be the first to admit humans...are, the worst. Case in point," he pointed to himself. "So I understand why you would want to see us all locked away or even...killed." He paused slightly at that. "But before the claws come out, I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy: the ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rottenhumans running our kingdoms." And that's when the crowd started to agree with what he said. "Government, military, even the schools. They're all to blame for your lot in life! And they're all pests that need to be dealt with! Fortunately...I'm the best exterminator around. No offense to any certain type of Faunus in the room," he quickly added before snapping his fingers.

And then the curtains were pulled down to reveal...an Atlesian Paladin in White Fang colors.

"How did they get that?" Blake asked herself.

'Wait for my signal, then jump through the windows while he gets in the robot,' Duncan's voice came into their thoughts.

'OKAY! That was a bit much!' Sun internally yelled.

'You get used to it,' Blake tried to assure him.

'I don't want to get used to it!'

"As some of you might have heard, this right here," Roman said, knocking on the Paladin's knee, "is Atlas' newest line of defense against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my...employers, we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, hit the shelves. Now, many of your brothers have moved down to our operation in the south-east. If you'd rather stay within the city...that's fine. But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you. Any, questions?"

The crowd cheered on Roman as the new recruits were directed to step forward.

'Just a little longer,' Duncan thought to them, hiding in the rafters.

At Junior's club...

"I don't know," Junior said, slamming a glass down while holding his head in his hand while the group of four stood in front of him.

"How can you not know?" Yang demanded to know.

"I haven't talked to him," he told her. "I haven't even seen him since the night you two first came in here. He paid up front, I lent him my men, and none of them ever came back."

"So where did they go?" Neptune quickly interjected, trying to look intimidating.

"..."

"...Really, Neptune?" Michael asked.

"What kind of stupid question is that?!" Junior complained. "They never came back. Who is this guy?"

"Don't worry about him," Yang said, smacking Neptune's hand off the counter. "Worry about me if I don't find out what I want!"

"I already told you everything!" Junior reiterated. "Torchwick hired my boys and I guess he wasn't happy with them...Which is something I can relate to!" he yelled, looking at his guards, who grumbled and walked away at that.

"C'mon, guys," Yang sighed.

"Not so fast, Yang," Duncan quickly said. "There's one last piece of business I need here."

"Oh, what now," Junior sighed into his hands.

"I want to hire you," Duncan told him, quick and to the point.

"..."

"...Come again?" Xiong asked.

"I find myself in the mood for some, aggressive expansion," the King of the Multiversers began. "And that includes getting some of the guys best in the business on my payroll. So I'd like you to join my little team; providing info, men, occasional smuggling...and a bar chain."

"...You come in here, keep asking me questions I've already answered, after having trashed the place a few months back...and you want to hire me?" Junior listed off to be sure. "Why, why on Remnant, would I say yes?"

Duncan was already holding out a scroll.

"What the hell is this thing...supposed...to..." And he finally noticed the number, eyes going wide. "Uh...are those numbers for real?"

"This will be the introductory pay," Duncan explained. "You can expect an amount like this biweekly, beginning as soon as you join on for the rest of your life."

"Junior, what are you doing?" Melanie Malachite drawled, accompanied by her sister Miltia. "You're actually considering-" Duncan just handed the twins two more scrolls without even looking. "...Oh, yeah, that would explain it."

"Separate paychecks," Duncan clarified. "Always need capable people for some wet work."

"Seriously?" Yang questioned, shocked. "You show them money and they just-" The three new employees just showed their new pay checks to Yang. "...Wait, no. I'm wrong. I'd cave, too."

"Ditto," Michael and Neptune monotoned, eyes the size of DVD discs upon seeing the numbers.

The White Fang Rally...

'Okay, Duncan,' Sun began to sweat. 'Anytime now, would be great!'

Roman, too, looked confused as to why Verser was taking so long, trying to motion the two Faunus to the power box using his eyes. But before they could react to that...

*Thwip!*

Duncan in his organic black and red suit came swinging from the ceiling on a black...webline? Jumping from the thread, the OP SI crouched on the wall above the power box. His mask peeled itself away to reveal his feral-looking face, albeit his teeth looked more like fangs now.

"Ladies! Gentlemen! Terrorists, all around! Time to spread the word!" he began, raising his left hand above the power box, the palms glowing with intense heat. "And the word is...chaos!"

His clawed hand swiped down, breaking the box and killing the lights. The only sound that could be heard clearly were gunshots, thwips, breaking glass...and a robot powering up.

The three began running away from the building just as Roman fully activated the Paladin, crashing straight through the wall as he ran in their direction. 'So,' he mentally communicated, 'what exactly is the plan?'

'Just keep on us, and don't lose sight of us,' Duncan replied. 'We're heading straight for the highway.'

'Why are we heading for the highway?!' Sun asked hysterically.

'Because every robot fight has to take place near the city,' he explained, as though talking to a five-year-old. As Sun stuttered, trying to come up with a response, Blake turned on her Scroll and brought it up to her ear.

Cross Continental Transit Tower...

Weiss was just leaving the building, having finished her little search. Someone definitely used her credentials earlier, a problem she immediately brought to the attention of her family (though she had to leave a message). While disturbed at that knowledge, she focused her attention on her incoming call from Blake.

"Everyone, if you can hear me, we-"

"GET HERE QUUUIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCKKKKKK!"

"Oh stop being such a baby, Sun!"

Weiss rolled her eyes at the message, though smiled as she ran off.

Alleyway...

Michael and Ruby, meanwhile, had just got done with the former- after much pestering from the red-hooded scyfle-wielding Huntress- explaining to her what happened in Guatemala. Suffice it to say, she'd be having nightmares for at least a week.

Though he made it up to her by showing her what was in the box, which caused her to drool in awe.

Soon afterwards, though, they were listening to the message on Ruby's Scroll. "Roman's following us in a giant robot!" Sun explained. "And it's big! Big robot!"

"Oh, we are not missing this!" Ruby exclaimed excitedly.

Smirking, Michael brought out the contents of the box, all while drawling out "Well then, let's get to it, little lady."

Junior's Club...

After getting over the shock of the size of Junior, Melanie and Miltia's new paychecks, Michael's double disappeared, leaving Duncan, Neptune and Yang ready to head out. At that moment, however, Yang got a call on her Scroll.

"Okay, where are you guys?" Yang asked. Her response was Duncan pointing to the right, just as another Duncan, Blake and Sun ran past them, the Paladin hot on their trail.

"I think that was them," Neptune pointed out.

"No shit, Sherlock," Duncan deadpanned, disappearing soon afterwards. Yang revved up her motorcycle, chasing after the Paladin and her teammates.

On the highway...

After managing to make it to the highways, Duncan, Blake and Sun were leaping from car to car, taking care to make sure Roman didn't accidentally kill anyone. Still, Roman had to make the chase look convincing, so he brushed the cars aside, leaving passengers alive, yet hurting (and stuck with repair bills). 'So, what now?" the former criminal asked.

"Now," Duncan said aloud, "HIGHWAY BATTLE!" He took out Samantha, blasting the Paladin a few times in the "face" as he leaped onto the next car. The shots managed to knock Roman off balance a bit, though he quickly regained his footing and charged onward.

Yang and Neptune pulled up right behind him, with Neptune taking out his weapon and using its rifle mode to blast the Paladin in the back. In response, Roman knocked a few cars in their direction, with Neptune leaping toward the mech and planting his weapon- now in Trident Form- into its back. Roman started shaking the mech back and forth as he ran, trying to shake the blue-haired Huntsman off of him.

Taking notice, Sun called out "Hang on, Neptune!" as he summoned up his Semblance, creating two glowing outlines of himself that ran towards the mech. The outlines then exploded upon impact, trying to knock down the Paladin (to no avail). Sun leaped forward, but was thrown off the highway after getting hit with Neptune.

At that moment, Weiss landed on the road, creating a circle of ice that Roman ran right into. Unfortunately, he managed to avoid slipping out of control, though was now at the edge of the road. "Seriously," Roman called out, "is that the best you-"

*BANG*

Two successive shots cut him off, sending the Paladin sprawling backwards and falling right off the highway. With a resounding *CRASH*, the ground shattered beneath the Paladin as it steadily got up. Inside the mech, Roman shook his head before crying out "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

"Sorry," Michael called out as he landed in front of Roman, Ruby right beside him. "I haven't really tested these things yet, but I didn't think they were that powerful."

As he said this, he brought up his hands to reveal the source of the shots. In both hands were two Optima .50 Caliber black powder pistols, identical to each other in all but color. The gun in his left hand was a bright red, with a scarlet grip and the word "Renegade" etched into the side in cursive; the gun in his right hand was a beautiful blue, with a sapphire grip and the word "Paragon" etched into it, also in cursive.

"Roman Torchwick," Michael began, "meet my two new best friends: Paragon and Renegade, the pistols with the impact of a shotgun!"

At that moment, Duncan and WBY dropped below to meet us, with Duncan eyeing the new guns. "Those Optima .50 Calibers?"

"Modified Optima .50 Calibers."

"...Nice," he said with a smile and a nod.

"Uh, hate to break up the moment," Roman began, "But we're kinda in the middle of a fight."

And with that, Ruby called out "Freezer Burn!" prompting the others to jump out of the way as Weiss created another circle of ice with Myrtenaster. Yang then leaped into the air, hitting the middle with Ember Celica and creating a mist that surrounded the area.

Roman activated the laser sensors, trying to get a lock on the others. After two near misses at Blake and Yang, the Paladin fired a blast at Duncan, who merely knocked the shot aside. Michael leaped off of his mentor's shoulders, firing two shots each from Paragon and Renegade at the ground in front of Roman. While distracted, Ruby used Duncan and Michael as stepping stones to get in a few shots.

"Checkmate!" Upon the command, Weiss and Blake charged forward, slashing at the feet until Weiss stabbed one of the sensors. Roman retaliated by using the Paladin's over-sized foot to kick the heiress and the Faunus away from him as he fired the missiles. The duo managed to backflip away from the salvos. Weiss leaped a bit too high, giving Roman the chance to hit her with a double-shot. Though Myrtenaster absorbed the damage, she was still launched backwards as Michael caught her while Duncan landed near Blake.

As they landed, Weiss cast another Glyph at the Multiverser and Faunus, allowing them to absorb the energy as they drew their blades. Another salvo of missiles came at them, though they effortlessly sliced them in half, creating an arc of explosions.

Running to the mech, Ruby called out "Ladybug!" as she shot herself toward the Paladin and sliced at the feet with Crescent Rose. Blake soon joined in, using Gambol Shroud to hack and slash at the feet while Duncan did the same up top. The duo below then launched themselves into the air, joining Duncan as they delivered a rapid series of slashes that eventually sever the left arm.

Yang took this opportunity to attack, joined alongside Michael as he holstered Paragon and Renegade and opted for Equinox. The two leaped into the fray, delivering blow after blow on the top of the mech. Michael managed to leap out of the way of the oncoming arm, which was unable to reach Yang from where she was.

Roman then drove the mech forward, remembering what Duncan said about her durability. He slammed her through two pillars, before embedding itself into the third, along with her. Pulling out, the mech threw a punch with its remaining arm as Yang fell out, slamming her through the pillar.

"Relax!" Ruby said to the others. "Every hit makes her stronger, and she uses that energy to fight back! That's what makes her special!"

"That's not the only thing," Duncan said to himself.

Picking herself up, Yang's hair burned brilliantly as Roman threw another punch. Yang caught it single-handedly, though the ground beneath her shattered from the impact. Smirking with red eyes, she reared her fist back and obliterated the last of the Paladin's arms.

As Yang leaped back toward the others- and narrowly missing getting kicked by the Paladin's foot- Ruby called out "Bumblebee!" Blake threw Gambol Shroud toward the blonde boxer, the two using the momentum to swing toward the mech. Roman managed to sidestep the attack, avoiding destruction.

"We need to slow it down!" Ruby called out.

"And how do you propose we do that?" Weiss asked.

"Ice Flower!"

The two then grouped together, Weiss creating a series of glyphs as Ruby fired through them, hitting the mech in the joints. Roman tried to move out of the way, but Michael kept him in place with continued shots from Renegade. As the Paladin began to freeze up, Yang came around for the finishing blow. One impact from Ember Celica later, and the Paladin was sent flying through the air, crashing into the ground and shattering into pieces.

An unscathed Roman picked himself up, brushing the dirt off of his suit as he grumbled "I just got this thing cleaned!"

Duncan and Yang each fired a shot at him, but before they could make contact, a small woman dropped in front of Roman, using a lacy pink umbrella shielding the blast. As the smoke cleared, the wielder of said umbrella revealed herself, being the pink, white and brown haired woman from the rally. Said woman was glaring a hole directly through Duncan's head at the moment.

Smirking, Roman said "Well, Boss, Verser, ladies, Ice Queen-"

"Hey!"

"-I think that this has definitely been an eventful evening," Roman continued, as Neo was left confused as to why Roman called one of them 'Boss.' "Neo, if you'd be so kind..."

Nonplussed, Torchwick's right hand assumed a pose with her umbrella. For some unknown reason, Yang didn't like it. And quickly rushed to punch in the face. Only succeeding in shattering an illusion like glass. While that happened, Roman and Neo were already in a chopper out of there.

"Well, I guess he got a new henchmen." Yang noted, looking displeased at having even seen the girl.

"Yeah, I guess she made our plans… fall apart?" Weiss giggled.

Everyone just stared.

"And I thought my puns were bad." Michael muttered.

"No… Just, no." Yang told her.

"What, but you do it!" Weiss tried to defend herself.

"There's a time and place for jokes." Yang elaborated to the heiress.

"Was this not it?"

"No, it just wasn't very good."

"Yeah, it was actually really bad." Duncan added 'helpfully'.

"Well, at least I'm trying!" She tried yet again to defend herself, to no avail.

"Wait… Where are Sun and Neptune?" Ruby asked as everyone began to leave.

A Simple Wok…

Sun and Neptune were actually quite okay. Enjoying good food, courtesy of our favorite shop keep.

"They're probably fine, right?" Neptune asked his partner as he ate ramen.

"Probably." Sun answered, eating his own dish.

"Yeah, they're fine." Duncan said, as he and Michael appeared out of nowhere eating their own bowls of ramen.

OKAY! I updated a story, gave my explanation, and told people the current Multiverser situation! And guess what else?

It's the Multiverser Anniversary!

Been at this for one year, today! Weird, ain't it?

Ah well… Anyways, I still have to make the Skyrim and KOTOR fic, along with updating everything else (Multiverse Devil is the next one planned right now), and the R+V fic was cancelled and is being replaced with a HOTD one instead! And as a bonus, me and the guys have been talking, and we're officially doing a short little combined fic before the Amalgaverser Saga and Apocalypse. I won't spoil the surprise now, per say… but it involves a certain current event going on right now involving the Multiverse. So, at least we've got a good plan for 2015!

Aside from that, Thank you all for your continued support, your views, favorites, follows, and especially those comments! Happy New Year, guys! Let's make it a good one!