The sunrise was still painting the sky a brilliant orange as the sun itself barely crested the far mountains. In a small courtyard in a far corner of Beacon campus, Ruby and Weiss were well into their morning drills. Weiss had never been one for physical activity first thing in the morning, but she was starting to see its appeal. It was very basic, more for the exercise rather than actual training, but it was always good to reinforce the basics.
Weiss noticed that there was something off that morning. Her combat style required a slower pace and more careful strikes compared to Ruby, and as a result Ruby was usually more active than her in the mornings. This morning, however, whenever Weiss looked Ruby's way the redhead was completely still. By the third or forth time Weiss could clearly see Ruby was lost in her own head somewhere. Silver eyes stared, unfocused, past her weapon and into the distance.
Weiss lowered her weapon and stepped to her partner's side. "Ruby?"
Ruby's eyes snapped back into focus. She shook her head and dispelled her Keyblade. "Sorry. I think I'm going to skip today. Feel free to keep going without me."
Weiss frowned after her partner. Deciding there was little point in her training alone, she sheathed her blade and followed Ruby. The young leader's bad mood persisted throughout the morning. Her head dropped onto the cafeteria tables at breakfast, where Yang finally saw her for the first time that morning. "You alright, sis?" Yang asked as she sat next to her sister.
"Not really," Ruby admitted.
"Why not? The second semester of Beacon starts tomorrow!" Yang announced excitedly, "we survived the first half of our first year!"
"That's just it," Ruby pointed out. "It's almost the second semester already. I've been here for months now, and nothing..."
Weiss caught on before Yang. "You didn't think you would be here this long, did you?"
"It shouldn't have taken her this long to get back to me..." Ruby confirmed.
"How dangerous was Kairi's mission?" Blake asked, inching toward a certain conclusion.
"She's still alive," Ruby shut that train of thought down. "I can feel it. But the connection does seem weaker..."
Blake and Weiss exchanged a glance. "Connection?" Blake voiced.
Ruby did not have to come up with an answer for that. As she looked up, she noticed someone approaching them. "Sun!" Ruby was thankful for the easy distraction.
"Hey all," Sun nodded, taking a seat next to Blake. He noticed Ruby's mood. "I guess you've already heard?"
The four girls looked to each other. None of them knew what he was talking about. "Heard what?" Ruby asked.
"So that's not the reason you're depressed?" Sun seemed surprised. "Than what does got you down?"
"Nothing important," Ruby deflected, "what have we not heard?"
"That girl you arrested at the docks a few weeks ago? Apparently, she's escaped. No one knows how she managed it either," Sun explained. "Not just that, the cops think she took that Torchwick guy with her!"
"So both of the people I helped arrest are wandering free now?" Ruby sighed. "That's great..."
"It's not like the Dust robberies stopped even when they were behind bars," Blake lamented. "Did any of it mean anything…?"
The group fell silent. No one knew how to pick the conversation back up, though it turned out they didn't have to. A commotion began to rise through the rest of the student body in the dining hall. "What's going on?" Yang wondered aloud, watching the other students gather at the windows. Team RWBY, with Sun in tow, joined and watched through the glass as a veritable fleet inched into Beacon's airspace.
"That's a whole lot of airships..." Sun voiced.
"The Atlas kids are scheduled to show up today," Yang reminded them.
"That's still more than they need for visiting students," Blake pointed out, a hint of venom in her voice.
"Those aren't just airships," Weiss elaborated Blake's point for the rest of them. "Those are Atlesian Warships. Joined by General James Ironwood's flagship, no less."
"Doesn't he run Atlas's school and military?" Yang recalled.
"That still doesn't justify him bringing his military to a peace festival," Blake countered, the venom in her voice more pronounced. "Doesn't he see this is exactly the kind of thing aggravating the faunus!?"
"Blake..." Weiss warned softly, placing a friendly hand on the hidden faunus's shoulder.
Blake's eyes softened as she remembered where she was. "Right. Thanks, Weiss..."
Throughout the exchange, Ruby kept an eye on the airships and an ear on the crowd around her. Many of them shared the same thoughts. Why bring an army?
Ozpin held similar concerns as he viewed the warships from his office atop Beacon's tallest tower. He spun his chair back around to his desk and reached out for a kettle. He poured two cups, one for himself, and one for his visitor. A large and burly gentleman with grayed temples, a square jaw, and spotless white military dress. General Ironwood himself.
"So, what in the world has brought you all the way down from Atlas?" Ozpin asked as he pushed the General his cup. "Headmasters don't typically travel with their students for the Vytal Festival."
"Well, you know how much I love Vale this time of year. Besides, with you hosting?" Ironwood spoke lightly. The general produced a flask from his coat and added an amber liquid to the offered coffee. "I thought that this might be a good opportunity for us to catch up," he continued more seriously.
Ozpin sipped from his own, untainted coffee. "I can certainly appreciate the quality time between friends. However, the small fleet outside my window has me concerned."
"Well, concern iswhat brought them here," Ironwood deadpanned.
Ozpin attempted to deflect. "I understand that travel between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult-"
Ironwood cut him off. "Oz, you and I both know why I brought those men."
Ozpin took a deeper sup of his mug and set his coffee down before addressing the general again. "We are in a time of peace," Ozpin finally implored. "Shows of power like this are just going to give off the wrong impression."
"Whoever tried to take Amber's power will return for the other half," Ironwood insisted. "It doesn't take a military analyst to realize the distractions of running the festival will the perfect time for them to strike."
"A festival celebrating unity and peace," Ozpin argued. "And here you come, scaring people by transporting hundreds of soldiers halfway across the continent."
"I'm just being cautious," Ironwood held his line. "Besides, they're already here, whether we like it or not. And I did not come to discuss my fleet."
Ozpin did not miss the implication. "Then what did you come to discuss?"
It was Ironwood's turn to take a moment collecting his thoughts. "Some weeks ago, I lent automated units to guard a high priority shipment of emergency goods to Vale. I'm sure you're aware of just what I am talking about."
"Dust, to replace that lost in the recent string of robberies," Ozpin nodded.
"A group of your students happened to be in the right place at the right time, and stopped that particular heist," Ironwood continued. "But that didn't mean I got to rest. I still had blanks to fill in. Nothing major, just crossing 't's, dotting 'i's, that kind of thing. Paperwork."
"Naturally," Ozpin was starting to guess what the general was getting at.
Ironwood took a deep breath to collect himself. "I came across a security feed showing the fight between one of your students and the robber's ringleader, a Ms. Neopolitan if the police report serves. And it was certainly a very interesting fight to watch."
"Whatever your assumptions, I promise you the truth is far more complicated," Ozpin explained.
"More complicated than a second rouge maiden?" Ironwood scowled.
"If you truly watched the same video I did, you saw that Ms. Rose is capable of things beyond what any maiden has ever achieved," Ozpin pointed out.
Ironwood narrowed his eyes. "What else could she possibly be if not a maiden?"
"I don't know," Ozpin answered honestly.
Ironwood didn't believe him. "When you invited me into this brotherhood, we agreed there would be no secrets between us secret-keepers. If I find out you're playing games with me now, of all times-!"
"I am not!" Ozpin shouted. The normally reserved headmaster managed to regain control of the conversation. "I told you the reality would be complicated, and that remains the truth. I haven't the faintest idea where Ruby's power comes from, nor it's true breadth. I have spent the better part of the school year attempting to foster a trust and divine what I can through subtle observation alone. However, as Professor Goodwitch is keen to point out time and again, such methods can only carry me so far..."
Ironwood took this new information in slowly. "So what you're saying, is that not only is Ms. Rose indeed magical, her magics may be even stronger than a maidens? And you allow her to walk your school freely?"
"Ms. Rose is no threat to us!" Ozpin quickly countered.
"You just admitted you don't know anything about her," Ironwood argued. "That makes her an unknown variable, Ozpin! Which can be even more dangerous than a known threat! If this were Atlas, she would be in a cell until she gave us answers!"
"I imagine she would be," Ozpin's voice was quiet and dark. "But I'm sure I don't have to remind you this isn't Atlas. You are now in a foreign kingdom, at my school, as my personal guest. So I expect you to follow my rules. If any of my students are inexplicably and unlawfully detained, I will not protect you."
Ironwood, for once, could see that he had crossed a line. He stood and straightened his coat. "Of course. Whatever you think is best, Oz. Though I would still advise preemptive measures of some kind. If Ms. Rose is an enemy, we don't want to be caught unprepared."
"And if she isn't an enemy, the last thing we want to do is make one of her." Ozpin stood and shook Ironwood's hand. "Despite the direction of our dialogue, it was nice to see you again."
"Likewise," Ironwood smiled and walked back to the elevator leaving the office. As he stepped inside, he pulled out his scroll to make some preparations. "I can be subtle, too, Oz."
Ruby wasn't the only one in a bad mood that day. Blake was also notably moody, something Weiss finally noticed when the team returned to the dorm and Blake immediately moved to leave.
"Stop," Weiss ordered, pointing at the faunus by the door. "Lately, you have been quiet, antisocial and moody."
"Have you met Blake?" Yang pointed out with a chuckle.
"Which I get is kind of your 'thing'," Weiss admitted, "but you've been doing it more than usual. Which quite frankly, is unacceptable."
Blake sighed. "I just don't understand how everyone can be so calm."
"You're still thinking about the robberies, aren't you?" Ruby deduced. "About the White Fang."
"The White Fang, Torchwick and his partner, all of it!" Blake nodded. "Something big is happening and no one is doing anything about it!"
"Ozpin told us not to worry," Yang reminded her. "Between the police and the Huntsmen, I'm sure they can handle it."
"Well, I'm not!" Blake confessed. "They don't know the White Fang like I do!"
"And let me guess, you're the only one who can stop them?" Weiss shook her head. "That is a very dangerous line of thinking. Need I remind you all we are still students? We're not ready to handle this kind of situation."
"Ruby is!" Blake gestured to their leader. "She has almost three years of proper training over the rest of us!"
"Even if she is, and it is an 'if',the rest of us aren't!" Weiss pointed out.
Ruby decided it was time for her to step forward. "Blake, I understand what you're feeling. But there's only so much we can do. And Weiss has a point, I'm not exactly ready for this kind of thing either."
Blake's hands curled into fists. "We know something is going on. And I refuse to sit back and forget about it if there's anything at all I can do to help."
Blake's words struck a chord with Ruby. Her mind wandered back to the Gummiphone. She saw the determination in Blake's eyes. The only difference between their two situations was that Blake could try and do something. "Alright."
Blake's fists relaxed. "Alright?"
"I told you I understand what you're feeling. So if you're dead set on doing this, you aren't doing it alone." Ruby turned to the others, "what do you say, team?"
Yang smiled, "Sounds like fun!"
"Certainly better than going it alone," Weiss agreed.
"Alright," Blake found herself smiling, "We're in this together."
A girl in a Haven uniform made her way to the guest dorms for the visiting students. Black pigtails bounced with each step, and her bright green eyes scanned every student she passed. Soon, she managed to find the door she was looking for and stepped inside to see three others in Haven dress, though they were far from students. Mercury Black, Emerald Sustrai, and Cinder Fall herself. Once the door was closed the four were alone, the sound of cracking glass accompanied a dispelling illusion over the ravenette, revealing a far more familiar quiet and multi-colored villain.
Emerald looked to Neopolitan with a frown. "Are you sure she should be here? She was in jail two weeks ago. The authorities know her."
"Academy teams require four students," Cinder reminded her follower. "And no one else can hide in plain sight as well as our fair Neo."
Emerald shot Neopolitan another glare, to which the petite criminal only winked in return.
"That being said," Cinder continued, "it likely would be prudent to be seen as little as possible."
It was Neopolitan's turn to scowl as Emerald stuck her tongue out at her.
"Don't worry, little one. You'll have your fun when the time is right," Cinder assured.
A dark smile stretched across Neopolitan's face.
"Unless, of course, it involves little red," Cinder clarified.
Neopolitan's eyes narrowed at her boss.
"I understand your desire to get back at her, but Ruby Rose is mine," Cinder laid down the law in no uncertain terms.
"Are you sure she's even here?" Mercury asked apathetically.
"Ruby Rose is the leader of first-year team RWBY alongside Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long," Emerald recounted as if she were reading lines off a paper. She shot a grin at her silver-haired partner, "since we are at a school, you could at least pretend to do your homework."
"I'd rather pretend you did mine for me," Mercury smirked.
"And what exactly would I pretend to get out of that deal?" Emerald asked.
"The piece of me you know you always wanted," Mercury gestured to his pants.
"Well, at least we all know that's pretend," Emerald scowled.
"That!" Cinder shouted, "is enough vulgarity for one day. Please proceed to be quiet. I have a plan to refine."
"And what exactly is the next step of our plan?" Emerald asked cautiously.
"Roman is coordinating the White Fang, along with our collected Dust reserves, to 'Site B'," Cinder explained. "As for us, it was important for our infiltration we arrive with the other students. Which, unfortunately, leaves us with a lot of 'downtime'. So keep your heads down, don't blow our covers, and be observant. You never know what you might overhear while sneaking about the enemy's headquarters."
"So, do nothing?" Mercury shrugged, "that is a job I can handle."
"As you say, Cinder," Emerald accepted dutifully.
Neopolitan sighed and frowned, but nodded her head.
Cinder smiled. She had already waited so long for this. She could wait a few more weeks. Soon, all the power Remnant has to offer will be mine.