Team RNJR, now joined by Sun and Neptune, were on an airbus headed directly for Haven Academy.
"Ok! So, I just checked with the pilot. It'll be at least four hours before we get to Haven," Neptune said as he returned to the group.
"Now...you said you guys had fought Wraiths?" Sun asked Ruby as the stopped the story and waited for Neptune to return.
"Yep," the red-cloaked girl said, popping the p.
"Wait wait wait," Neptune interrupted, "Wraiths? As in the old Atlesian legend?"
"That's what Malcolm said too! He said they were supposed to be Atlas' boogeyman or something," Nora said.
"That's an understatement. Wraiths were...are...according to legend, an entire group of Huntsmen that got corrupted by some kind of darkness. Some people even said that the Wraiths were made by whatever created the Grimm."
"Human-Grimm hybrids. Of course. Lemme guess, there's also a giant suit of armor possessed by a Grimm?"
"Actually...those ARE real things. Well...now I guess the Wraiths are too but...besides the point."
"Anyway," Ruby spoke up, "after we dealt with the Wraiths and the Jaeger we went to their base in the village. We found out it was run by a skeleton crew and found out that Razael planned to test a massive weapon made by Dr. Merlot that destroy ANY being with Aura."
"Merlot? You mean that guy who made the mutant Grimm?"
"Yep, that's him. I have no idea why he's working with the demons but if the guy's making mutant Grimm…"
"He's already kiiiiiiiiinda insane," Nora interrupted.
"Like that even needs to be said about that guy," Sun added in.
Ruby continued her story for the remaining four hours of the trip. Sun and Neptune were both fascinated by the tale. A tale that would have to be repeated for the headmistress of Haven.
Four hours later, the air-bus had landed at Haven Academy and the six teens disembarked. Haven Academy was a perfect example of Mistralian architecture. Around them, students were going about their normal day dressed in the Haven uniform.
The six students proceeded to the combat room where Reese Chloris and Nadir Shiko of team ABRN were fighting against Sage Ayana and Scarlet David. This was actually round two after a short break to allow the four to regain their Aura and catch their breath. Among the onlookers are the combat teacher and the Headmistress of Haven herself, taking a sip of tea. The combat teacher was a rather average man named Azuro Fiume with white hair, brown eyes, and wearing armor that looked like a Roman centurion without the helmet. The headmistress' name was Maggio Lago. She was a rather tall woman with tanned skin, blonde hair, and golden eyes. She was clad in a white button-up shirt and a green skirt. She took another sip of her tea and adjusted her glasses.
When Ruby saw Maggio take sips of her tea she thought of Ozpin. What is it with the headmasters having a thing for drinks? That's really the only question...well besides what awesome weapon she's got!
"Ok. You guys stay here for a minute. I'll go get her," Neptune said as he quickly walked over to the tan woman. The woman set aside her tea for a moment to let Neptune explain. She turned to Azuro and nodded to him. She received a nod back as the centurion continued to monitor the fight and the headmistress walked over to the four new arrivals.
"So, these are members of team RNJR. I'm not surprised that it's Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, and Lie Ren. Yes, I know your names. Both from Ozpin himself and from the tournament," the Headmistress said.
Ruby's eyes were shining like stars at this point. The great Maggio Lago knew her name! Ruby was mentally fangirling.
"So...you know why we're here then?" Lie asked the headmistress.
"I do. You're seeking the ones responsible for what happened in Vale. Neptune here also tells me you have quite the story to tell. I suppose we'll have to decide who tells their story first," the tan skinned huntress gave a light smile to the group.
"We'll go first. Trust me, this story will take a while to explain," Jaune said.
"As will mine. But for now, let's get you a room to rest in. I'm certain we have a vacant room available. Follow me. Oh and Mr. Wukong, Mr. Vasilias? You two still have to fight the next two members of team ABRN."
Maggio turned and motioned for the four members of team RNJR to follow as the monkey Faunus and his partner groaned at the idea. Before they could complain, they heard Azuro clear his throat, standing behind them, arms crossed, and ready to toss them into the ring if need be.
Maggio led the team to the dorm rooms of Haven Academy. Each one was eerily similar to Beacon, bringing back happier memories for all four of them.
"I know you must be getting flashbacks from how similar the rooms are here and at Beacon. Ozpin and I...had similar styles when it came to this," the tanned headmistress, feeling each of the young students look into the dorms that had their doors open. "Ah. Here we are. Room 343."
Team RNJR walks in and sets their bags down, Ruby and Nora jumping down onto their respective beds and letting out relieved sighs.
"Soooooooo soooooooooooft," Nora cooed as she hugged her pillow.
"I second that opinion!" Ruby raised her hand as she did the same.
Jaune and Ren smiled at the girls' appreciation of soft beds and pillows.
A few hours later, the four hunters had fallen asleep in Haven. But once again, they were about to be attacked. From atop the CCT tower of Haven, Mercury, Neo, and Emerald knelt before a hologram of Belail.
"And you're CERTAIN it's just them?" the demon asked.
Neo nodded in response and typed a message into her scroll. [Just them my lord. No sign of the Queen at all. Either she's not here like we thought or she's even better at hiding than I am.]
"I don't doubt that. I taught her everything she knows of the art of stealth after all. But...in case of either scenario...Emerald. I'm sending you a set of coordinates to your scroll. This will be a rendevous point for you and an entire platoon of soldiers. You are to guard the location with your LIFE. There's some very...important...information there that Cinder will no doubt go after if she hasn't already."
Emerald nodded and said quietly, "Of course...Lord Belail." The green haired girl then sped off after opening a portal using a strange pulsating purple gem and jumping through.
"Neo. With their presence here we will need to speed up the plan. Give the word to the White Fang in the city...the time has come to begin their revolution. Once enough chaos has been caused under your guidance, proceed to Phase Two."
Neo simply smirked and instantly vanished, setting out to do her new master's work.
"And finally...Mercury. I'm putting your skills as an assassin to good use. Your targets: the four brats in room 343. But...you will not be alone in this endeavor. A portal will open shortly with reinforcements."
"Reinforcements? Like I need help with-" Mercury began to boast.
"Do not underestimate them. Four on one WILL lead to your downfall if you try it. Besides...this will be a WONDERFUL field test for Dr. Merlot's latest robotic warrior."
"Ohhhhh Dust not another tin can."
"THIS 'tin can' ,as you call it, will be one of the greatest additions to the Fourth Legion but I MUST see its work."
The portal Belail mentioned earlier opens and through steps three beings. The first bears the familiar armor of a Jaeger, sword included. However he carried himself in an entirely different manner. The way he moved suggested he was a hardened professional, unlike the cocky attitude the previous Jaeger demonstrated.
The next figure to emerge was anything BUT human. The creature did walk on two legs and was vaguely humanoid but aside from that it was a monster. The head of the creature resembled that of a monstrous bat, small eyes, large ears, and even a sort of beard hanging from the creature's chin. It's hands ended in scythe-like claws that were already stained with dried blood.
The third and final figure was the latest creation of Merlot. The android resembled a woman made of metal, a large disk was floating above her back by magnets built into her fram. The android woman's green optics scanned the area, her two companions, and then Mercury. Her HUD showed her all the information she had on all three of them, taken right from Belail's own database. The bat monster was identified as a Katakan,a form of higher vampire from another world. The database also gave her intel on the Jaeger Order and the history Mercury's induction into the Fourth Legion.
"So...I know about the Jaeger there," Mercury began, "but what's up with the robo-chick and Batman over there?"
The Katakan turned to Mercury and hissed at him.
"The creature is a higher vampire. A Katakan to be exact. As for the machine, this is Amaterasu, Doctor Merlot's latest android creation," the Lord of Lies stated.
"Remind me to ask the good doctor about what he DOES in his spare time if he can make robo-women."
Belail gave Mercury a deadpan look which was followed by a facepalm.
"JUST. GET IT. DONE," the demon lord barked at the assassin.
'Relax boss, I've got this."
Belail gave him a skeptical look before the hologram vanished. Mercury turned to his new team and smirked. "Alright then...who's ready to kill some people?"
However, unbeknownst to the would-be assassins, amber eyes watched their every move as a bow of glass formed, arrows at the ready. All that was left for her to do was wait for the right time.
(A/N: And thus the next chapter is finally up! Sorry this is late but you know, life can get busy. Especially with schoolwork. This sadly might be how the whole posting schedule might be from now on. Anyway, this will be my first two part-er chapter and I do hope that was a good enough cliffhanger. I think so. Also if nobody got the Witcher reference in the last chapter, it should be seen here with Mercury's new "teammate". As always, read, review, and enjoy.)