Ah man, Volume 3 is gonna be so cool! Winter and Qrow voiced by Major Kusanagi and Qrow by Edward Alric! Great choices! Okay, anyway, back to the story. It's coming along well (working on 5 right now) and I've had to do a lot of re-writes because things didn't sound right or flow right. However, it is coming together along nicely and it seems like y'all are really digging it, thanks for the positive reviews and those that have already favorited it, it makes me feel awesome! Also, Crusaders now has over 10,000+ views! Yay! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! Anyway, preview for next Monday is at the bottom, tad bit shorter this time but I think you guys will like it. Also, shout out to Kyle Andrews, Cinema Sleep and Lady Gaga for awesome songs that set up this chapter! Have a good week and I'll see you guys next Monday!

Chapter 2

Aero and Sebastian entered their apartment in Mistral, throwing their things on the couch in front of the moderate TV they owned in their light blue living room and walked into the adjoining kitchen. There they found their friend cooking dinner for the three of them.

"Ah, glad to see you guys are okay," Lila Evergreen said in her light voice to the two of them, stirring a tomato sauce as both Sebastian and Aero hugged her.

"Thanks Lila. Where's Vincent?" Aero asked, referencing her boyfriend of a few months, as he looked at what she was cooking.

"Back at HQ for a meeting," his friend of nine years replied with a smile that Aero returned. The two of them had been part of the same recruitment group and had quickly become fast friends and better partners during missions. Lila was wearing a black long sleeve shirt, dark green slacks and had her brown hair in a short ponytail as her orange eyes stared at the food that she was cooking.

"Damn that looks so good."

"And smells just as good," Sebastian said as he set the table, "Thank God you can cook or me and Aero would be so boned."

"Hey, I can make a mean macaroni and cheese."

"Oh, okay, so we wouldn't be able to shit properly if you cooked, still bad," Sebastian retorted, Lila laughing as Aero punched him in the shoulder.

"Whatever smartass," Aero said, bringing the tomato sauce to the table across from the yellow kitchen as Lila brought the chicken, "So, what is this I hear that you want to start a rockband young lady?" Aero joked.

"Young lady? I'm two years older than you."

"Don't take that tone with me!" Aero yelled, the three sharing a laugh and enjoying the cooked food as they chatted about recent news and other things going on in their lives.

"Seriously, though, Seb said you're in for this idea for my next mission."

"Oh yeah. I mean, come on, who hasn't dreamed of having their own band and touring Remnant? Of course, it helps that I'm a huge fan of the Vav's."

"Of course," Aero replied, shaking his head as they continued to eat, "One question remains: Who's doing what? Because Seb said he can play a guitar, which I doubt-"

"Hey!"

"Just saying. We need a singer, couple of guitarists and drummer. Not to mention songs to play."

"Well, I was thinking about that when you guys left," Lila began, wiping her mouth with a napkin, "One, we could pass as a cover band, thus no need to write lyrics. Two, we could grab some instruments and strum them but play the song in the background."

"Making it look like we're playing when in reality it's the song."

"You got it. And I think we could all pass for singers… possibly. We just need to pick the right songs."

"How many songs can we play?"

"Up to five," Sebastian said, looking over something on his Scroll.

"How about we do three? Each of us picks one and is the lead singer for it, the other two play whatever instruments they have to," Lila said, Aero and Sebastian liking the idea.

"Okay, let's pick songs then we'll get a few instruments. It's in Vale right?" Aero asked with Sebastian nodding his head in response, "Then we have to get out of here by tonight."

"Agreed," Sebastian said as the three got up, put the dishes up and went into the living room, where Lila stopped and looked at the two of them.

"Really guys? Just throwing your shit on the couch?"

"It was just for a quick minute Lila," Aero said quickly, grabbing his stuff, knowing full and well Lila's anger when it comes to their apartment being dirty. Aero went into his and Sebastian's room and threw his gear on his bed, looking around the dark green room and closing his eyes, relaxing and laying on his bed. He pulled his Scroll out, plugged in his headphones and started listening to music, trying to find a song to play. He listened for nearly an hour before grinning as an indie rock song blared in his headphones. He got up and walked out to the well-lit living room to find Sebastian and Lila listening to music as well, both having lists next to them. Aero shook his head as he left the apartment quietly, leaving a note for them as he walked in the capital city of Mistral, taking in the sights and sounds of a kingdom that looked both old and new, a kingdom he had fallen in love with after leaving his home of Atlas. Aero soon found a music store, bought instruments and equipment then slowly and cumbersomly returned to the apartment, were Lila and Sebastian were still listening.

"The fuck guys, really?!" he yelled so they could hear him over their music. The two turned to their friend, looking at him as he hauled a large bag on his back, two guitars with straps hanging off his shoulders and in his hands were a couple of amps.

"Oh, hey Aero," Sebastian replied.

"Oh hey?! I'm gonna kill you Seb," Aero said, setting everything down and shaking his head as he forcibly moved Sebastian over so he could sit on the couch, breathing heavily and rubbing his arms as Sebastian patted his shoulder.

"Don't touch me Mr. oh hey," Aero said with a smile, Sebastian chuckling at his friend as he handed Aero a list.

"I told you we were all gonna go get instruments."

"You know me, I just wanted to get them."

"Uh huh. These are the songs we're doing. You first, then me and lastly Lila. Lila's song has a perfect moment for us to kill the lights, allowing you to get through the crowd, kill him then get back on stage. Also… uh…"

"What?"

"Lila has apparently already picked our band name."

"It's Indigo Connect," Lila said with a smile.

"Oh come off it," Aero said as Lila's smile disappeared and glared at him.

"What's wrong with it? I thought of it when you guys left and I even got matching outfits."

"Oh boy, can't wait to see those," Aero said, leaning back to avoid Lila's gaze.

"Well, everything is set. Go get your weapons and let's head out," Sebastian said, getting up and looking over the instruments as Lila and Aero walked to his room, where Aero flipped a light switch near his bed. From underneath his bed slid out a chest, which opened up to reveal Aero's full arsenal: his sword, throwing knives, collapsible baton, two short blades, two hidden blades, his pistols, his sniper rifle and assault rifle along with a hefty amount of ammunition.

"Damn Aero, I don't have nearly as much," Lila said as he walked up to the chest and looked over his weapons.

"Yeah, but you know me, being prepared for any and all," he said as he grabbed a pistol, his baton and the hidden blades.

"I'll go grab a couple of my own," Lila said as she walked next door to her room and grabbed her own blades and a couple of throwing knives from a large wardrobe she had next to her bed, "Need anything else?" Lila asked Aero as the two walked out of their rooms.

"Did you pack apple slices for lunch?"

"Of course dear."

"Thanks mom," Aero said in a joking tone, the two nudging each other as the three grabbed the instruments and walked out, ready for the next mission.

"Oh come on Weiss, cheer up! This will be fun!" Ruby said loudly as her and her partner walked down the sidewalk flanked by their teammates.

"Okay I will just calm down!" Weiss shouted back at her friend, making Ruby giggle as Yang and Blake observed with smiles on their faces. Since their graduation and take down of Cinder and Roman, team RWBY had enjoyed successful Hunts, helping the people of Remnant while maintaining many of their friendships, especially with team JNPR.

"Cheer up Weiss, you know how Ruby is," Blake said, patting her friends shoulder, "Besides, we all know how much you like the Vav's."

"Yeah, we can hear you singing the songs whenever we head to missions," Yang said with a grin, making the heiress stare at her, her friends chuckling at her as they approached the arena on the outskirts of Vale. The building itself was a dome that housed multiple events throughout the year and could seat 30,000 people and matched Vale's classic look.

Ruby was wearing her combat boots, black leggings, a red skirt, a black and grey long sleeve shirt and her red cape, her hair still the same as it had been when she started at Beacon. Yang had maintained her hair length and wore dark yellow shorts, brown boots, a yellow crop top and a rust colored light scarf that draped around her neck and shoulders. Blake had forgone her bow after the fight with Roman and Cinder and wore black tights, matching high heels and a dark purple shirt. Her hair was in a ponytail that reached the middle of her back and her silver wedding ring, with two diamonds in the middle, from Sun glistened in the setting sunlight. Weiss still had the off-kilter ponytail and the tiara and wore white slacks, white heels and a light blue buttoned down long sleeve shirt. Each wore different amounts of makeup with their colors to accentuate their features and carried their weapons as a force of habit, making some turn their heads as they made their way inside.

"I'm getting drinks, anyone want any?" Yang asked as she took out a lien card.

"I'll have whatever you have," Blake said with a smile.

"Nah, I'm fine, what about you Weiss?" Ruby asked her friend, who shook her head, allowing Yang to walk away. Blake walked ahead of the two with their tickets, allowing Ruby to talk to Weiss.

"Hey," she said, nudging her partner, "you okay?"

"Of course," Weiss said, looking straight ahead at Blake, who was looking up at the signs that hung from the ceiling, pointing in the directions of the different sections.

"Weiss," Ruby responded quietly, nudging her friend again, who looked at her with tired ice blue eyes and sighed. In the three years since graduating from Beacon, Sun and Blake had gotten married while Ruby and Scarlet had started a relationship, both helping the team take down Cinder. Yang had enjoyed adventuring on her own, however Weiss had been different. Multiple times she found Neptune had been cheating on her and was constantly flirting with other women and partying. Eight months ago she had finally ended it and had remained quiet on the subject matter, reverting back to the coldness she exuded when she first arrived at Beacon seven years ago.

"Ruby, I'm fine," Weiss lied, the two walking up to Blake, who was holding a door open for the two of them. The three walked into the inner arena, taking in the noise from the people already seated, taking pictures and talking to one another. The stage for the concert was set up and at the far end, the mosh pit in front already filled with people. The area behind the stage was closed off and the remaining seats in the others decks around the arena were filling quickly.

"Let's see… section 113, row M, seats 17-20," Blake said to the other two as they walked around slowly, moving out of the way as others went to grab food and drinks.

"Man this can't start soon enough," Ruby gushed, a faint smile coming across Weiss's lips as they found their seats. Soon enough Yang returned with three beers, two for herself and one for Blake, which they both drank as they chatted about life while Ruby tried to get Weiss to open up.

"Maybe we could get dinner or drinks soon."

"Where at?"

"Um… You can choose, you know the good places," Ruby said with a chuckle as Weiss nodded her head, "Talk to me Weiss."

"What is there to say Ruby?"

"I… We know you're hurting Weiss, why do you think Yang and I got these tickets?" Ruby said, staring at her friend and waiting to continue until she stared back, "We want to cheer you up. We just want our old friend back, not the girl that felt alone and questioned her teammates when she was at Beacon," Ruby finished. Weiss sighed, looked down and nodded her head.

"I know Ruby and I'm sorry. We can have dinner next week. I'll do my best to enjoy myself tonight," Weiss said with a smile that Ruby took and smiled ecstatically at as she turned to her half-sister and joined her conversation with Blake. Weiss had appreciated what her friends had done and would take Ruby to dinner, yet she knew it would do little. She knew she would need time for herself and would that time soon, yet she would do her best to enjoy her night with her friends.

"Damn it all, we still don't have a fucking drummer," Aero said, groaning aloud as he leaned against a wall in a hallway behind the stage. Two groups had already performed in front of them and another was starting to wrap up its performance. All three knew they needed a drummer as pretending to play a guitar was easy, a drum was a lot harder and knew they would actually need someone to play, thus why they got the drum set. When they had arrived in Vale yesterday they sent out an ad for a drummer, hoping someone would reply quickly yet no one had replied.

"Well, we can tell the crowd 'hey, none of us know how to play the drums, deal with it,'" Sebastian said.

"We could," Aero said, leaning out and looking at the celebrating crowd. Aero had streaks of indigo in his hair, torn jeans, boots and a black and indigo shirt along with indigo fingerless gloves that went to his elbow. Lila wore an indigo wig with a matching dress and grey flats. Sebastian walked over to Aero in an indigo jacket, white shirt, jeans and boots, fake purple hair dye in his hair and Lila's. He stood next to his friend and took a picture out as Lila thumbed a few chords on a guitar.

"One Henrik Maza," he said as Aero took the photo from his friend's fingers and studied it then moved to the end of the hall to study the crowd. The man he was looking for had a tan complexion with brown eyes and matching hair. They both looked until Aero narrowed his eyes in the mosh pit.

"I see a guy flanked by another in rocker gear. The first guy looks like him," Aero said, pointing at the man so Sebastian could help him.

"That's him, one of the files we have said he owns a beige jacket, which looks to be covering his shirt," Sebastian said, nodding as Aero went to one of the guitar cases and popped it open. He took the guitar out gently, set it to the side and took out his equipment, sliding his hidden blades on top of his forearms and locking them in place, his gun in the back of his pants and his baton behind his right thigh.

"Fuck we have to go up in a few minutes," Sebastian said, standing next to Aero as he looked over everything until the two heard a squeal. Said squeal was in delight and was the third of their group hugging a man tightly, who was laughing and returning the hug. The man she hugged was eight inches taller than Lila, four inches taller than Aero and wore an ensemble that Aero couldn't help but stare at.

The man appeared in his late thirties and had short brown hair that was partly covered because of a golden crown he wore that had jewels in the spires. He had green eyes and wore a black suit jacket, white undershirt that was buttoned up and red and black plaid shorts. He had a grin on his face as Aero walked over to him with a curious look while Lila took a snapshot of her and the man with her Scroll.

"Hey man, Jacob," Aero said, holding his hand out and shaking hands with the man.

"Sup, I'm-"

"How do you not recognize the drummer of the Vav's, the Mad King?!" Lila asked in a shocked tone.

"Sorry if I don't know band members!"

"Ah it's fine," the Mad King said with a smile, "Sorry for coming over and interrupting anything, I just couldn't help but overhear some guys saying that you all need a drummer."

"Know someone who can help? We had a guy but he ditched a month ago and haven't been able to get a new one since."

"Actually, I would love to help," the Mad King said with his deep voice, shocking the three, "I need a proper warm-up. What songs are you guys playing?"

"These three," Sebastian spoke up, handing him the list of songs.

"Nice! I know these three pretty well. You guys ready to rock?"

"Oh man, there's no way we can ask you to-"

"Jacob, dude," the Mad King said, gripping Aero's shoulder, "Chill, it's cool."

"This is so amazing!" Lila said, getting a guitar and jumping in excitement as the four of them stood at the bottom of a set of stairs behind the stage, ready to rock the crowd.

"Excuse me," a man said to Weiss, catching the attention of Ruby and her friends as the current act walked off the stage, "pardon me, but are you guys Team RWBY?"

"That we are. What about it?" Weiss asked with a raised eyebrow, making the young man nervous as he continued.

"I-It's just… uh, two of my f-friends got sick so the rest of us are heading out. Would you want our m-mosh pit tickets?" he asked, holding up five tickets with a shaking hand. Weiss turned to her friends for an answer.

"That's a helluva stroke of luck, I'm in," Yang said with a smile.

"Why not, the mosh pit always seems like fun," Blake said as Ruby nodded her head.

"We'll take them, thank you," Weiss said, grabbing the tickets and getting up while the rest of the team thanked the young man and were directed where to go. They had to walk around to a set of stairs, taking them to the ground floor and straight to the mosh pit. They moved their way around while staying together, trying to find a good vantage while four people came out, clad in varying amounts of indigo while the fourth was someone Ruby recognized.

"Is that the Mad King?!" Ruby said with excitement.

"It totally is!" Blake said, returning the excitement as the front-man, a bat faunus, stood in front of a microphone, a guitar resting in front of him thanks to a strap on his shoulder.

"Are you guys ready?!" he said, getting a roar of applause from the crowd, "I'm Jacob and these are my two best friends Jules and Sylvia and we are Indigo Connect! Special shout out to the one, the only, Mad King from the Vav's for being our drummer this evening!"

The crowd erupted in a frenzy at the Mad King, who waved to them and twirled drum sticks around in his hands as he sat in front of a set of drums. Aero looked at Sebastian, who nodded his head as he hit a switch in his pocket, playing the instrumentals of the first song, making it seem as if Lila and Aero could really play their guitars while Sebastian actually played his. The Mad King began beating his drums as Aero moved around, strumming chords but no music playing from his guitar while Lila pumped the crowd.

"Run away,

There's a bomb in the back of my head,

And if you stay,

You might end up cleaning up the mess," he began, shocking Lila and Sebastian at his singing voice, which sounded surprisingly good while he continued to strum his guitar, enjoying playing as a rockstar as he got into the mood for the chorus.

"Tonight,

I'm going straight straight for your throat,

No you don't even know,

Whats coming,

Whats coming next!" he yelled into the microphone, feeding of the crowds energy as he stared at his target while singing the chorus. They finished the song with a small drum and guitar solo, receiving a loud ovation from everyone, including team RWBY. Aero and Sebastian switched places, all eyes now on Sebastian who didn't say a word but instead immediately played with the Mad King, turning to the drummer and playing his guitar. He jumped in the air and landed in front of the microphone, immediately going into the first verse.

"The glint in your eyes,

The warmth and the light,

Is everything you love,

Burning right before you,

The warmth, the light,

Is everything you love,

Burning right before you,"

The crowd was feeling the energy brought by everyone, especially after Lila and Aero played their guitars in front of one another, nodding at one another and grinning from ear to ear as they made it through the rest of Sebastian's song, getting another loud ovation from the audience. Aero removed his guitar and made a waving motion with his finger to a helper offstage, who rolled out a DJ table and keyboard and listened as Aero whispered him instructions.

"Alright, alright, I know how much you guys love rock and I'm right there with you," Lila began in her light voice as the crowd got quiet to listen, "But what about a little bit of pop huh?" she asked as the beat dropped on her song.

"I stand here waiting for you to bang the gong,

To crash the critics saying 'Is it right or is it wrong?'

If only fame had an IV, baby could I bear,

Being away from you, I found the vein, put it in here,

I live for the applause, applause, applause

I live for the applause-plause, live for the applause-plause,

Live for the way that you cheer and scream for me,

The applause, applause, applause,"

She kept singing and was joined by Aero, who was dancing around her and kept getting the crowd excited, going to the DJ table and keyboard and messing with them. Both the Mad King and Sebastian were feeling the beat and enjoying the song as Aero went back to Lila and danced with her as she sung until she hit the bridge, which killed the lights.

"Touch, touch

Touch, touch now"

Aero closed his eyes and clicked his tongue, getting back thousands of people and faces, looking over them and continually clicking his tongue until he saw his target, who had moved around from when he first spotted him. Aero slipped off the front of the stage as the song slowly picked up steam again, pushing past fans, some trying to stop him to take a photo with him. He lightly shoved them aside as the lights began to come back on. Aero ran forward as Henrik and his friend stared at Aero in fear. Henrik turned and ran, his friend standing in Aero's way as Henrik pushed by people, shouting for them to move aside.

Aero ran to his target's friend, ducked a punch and kneed him in the gut. The man went down gasping for air, looking up in time to see Aero's fist collide with his temple, knocking him out. Aero turned and saw people moving out of Henrik's way while staring at him as Lila finished her song. He charged forward, bulldozing people out of his way as Blake heard what was happening via her cat ears, turned and witnessed Aero bulldoze people down.

"Guys!" she yelled so her friends could hear her and pointed at the assassin. They all moved forward, Ruby using her semblance to race after him. Henrik continued to run until Aero leapt at him, using his shoulder to launch him and his target into a large janitor's closet. It was a spacious closet with equipment to the right and shelving with multiple chemicals and rags to the left. Both got up but Aero got to him first, punching him in his side, his stomach then grabbing his head and slamming it onto the shelving. Aero breathed heavily and shook his head, engaging his blades and standing over the groaning man.

"Sorry Mr. Maza, but you wanna screw with my people, you get- UGH!" Aero began then yelled as he was sent against the back wall, shaking his head as he looked with anger at who had attacked him, looking Ruby over and sighing

"Oh you gotta be fucking with me."

"Alright, fuck this," Aero said as he collapsed his baton, the other three getting up slowly as he put his baton behind his thigh and drew his pistol. He cocked it and aimed at Henrik's head, who cowered in fear as Aero put his finger on the trigger. Just as he disengaged the safety, Aero felt a surge of coldness on his right foot that traveled up his shin and the right side of his body until it got around his hand, encasing it and the gun in ice. Aero looked in sheer amazement and turned around to see Weiss holding Myrtenaster, a trail of ice from her foot to his.

"Oh come on!" he yelled as he banged his encased hand against the shelving, trying to shatter the ice.