We see a shot of Beacon Academy the next day following the Beacon Dance, then cut to inside Ozpin's office, with Ironwood and Glynda keeping the headmaster company.
"They were here... Ozpin, they were here!" Ironwood said, raising his voice and angrily slamming his fist against Ozpin's desk.
"We're very much aware of that! Thank you, James." Glynda said.
"Fantastic! You're aware! Now are we going to do something about it or should we just stay the course and continue to ignore what's right in front of us?!" Ironwood demanded.
An alert sound played, signifying that someone had arrived on the elevator. "Come in." Ozpin answered.
Ruby and Kratos stepped out and into the room. "Sorry it took so long. Someone accidentally hit all the buttons on the elevator on the way up here." Ruby apologized, Kratos looking at her as she paused before quickly explaining herself. "It wasn't me." She added, Kratos facepalming.
"We were late. And we apologize for that." Kratos said with a small bow of his head.
"Kratos, Ruby. Thank you for coming. How are you feeling?" Ozping asked.
"I'm fine, thank you. My injuries weren't that bad. My aura healed them once it returned." Kratos said.
"I'm okay, I guess. I'd feel better if my bad-guy-catching record wasn't O-for-three." Ruby said, raising three fingers.
Everyone stared silently at her. "Is that really appropriate right now?" Kratos asked.
Ruby scratched the back of her head and looked down at this. "Okay, so that's the tone we're going for, got it." She said.
"Ruby, Kratos, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you two did last night is exactly what being a Huntress or Huntsman is all about. You recognized a threat. You took action. And you did the very best you could." Ironwood commended them.
"Thank you, sir." They said together.
"Now, the general here has already informed of the events that... transpired last night, but now that you've rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add." Ozpin asked.
"Was anyone else with her? Did she look familiar to you at all?" Glynda asked Ruby.
"Well, there was that guy with her that Kratos fought." Ruby said, looking to her pale friend.
"He called himself Dio. He had apparently attacked Bayonetta and Dante previously, although they managed to drive them off. But, other than the girl and that strange figure with him that kept reappearing and disappearing, he was alone. That's all I can say for certain." Kratos said, looking back to Ruby.
"Yeah. But as for the girl herself, I... I don't know. She was wearing a mask, and she never said anything to me. But I know she fought with glass. I don't think that was her Semblance, though. Her clothing lit up whenever she attacked." Ruby explained.
"Save for the glass, that sounds like the woman I fought the night we met Ruby." Glynda surmised.
"Embedding Dust into clothing is an age-old technique. It could have been anyone." Ironwood countered.
"Wait. You think this girl is connected to Torchwick and the White Fang?" Ruby asked.
"It's possible. But we still lack the required evidence to link the two together." Ozpin explained.
"Wait. I seem to remember that Dio character speaking of some organization in the Southeast of the kingdom he works for." Kratos added.
"Interesting. Thank you for your cooperation, Kratos. You as well, Ruby. Why don't you go and spend some time with your teams? You both have a big day ahead of you." Ozpin said.
"Of course. Thank you headmaster." Kratos said politely and bowed his head again, before leaving.
"Any time." Ruby said, leaving.
"And Miss Rose, Mister Nikos, please try and be ... discreet about this matter." Ozpin added.
"Yes sir." They said together.
The door to Team RWBY's dorm room opened, revealing the remainders of Teams RWBY and SCRN inside. Yang, Weiss, Bayonetta and Blake zoomed over to Ruby and Kratos as they stepped into the dorm, while they calm and collected Dante and Ryu simply turned their attention to their friend and teammate walked into the room.
"What happened?" Yang asked.
"You're not in trouble, are you?" Bayonetta asked worriedly.
"Uh... well, um..." Ruby said, laughing nervously.
The scene cut back to Ozpin's office. "Well there we have it. We send as many troops as we can to the southeast, find out exactly what's going on, and eradicate any forces that stand in our way.
Glynda growled in frustration. "Why must your answer to everything involve a triumphant display of military bravado!? You treat every situation like it's a contest of measuring di—!" She started.
"Glynda!" Ozpin snapped, cutting her off from swearing.
"Well, he does." She said.
"She's right. As much as I too would love to end this situation once and for all, we must remember that this may go beyond Vale. Beyond Beacon. And if this truly is part of some master plan for which we know not the final move, we mustn't be so bold. Nor can we risk the spread of panic." Ozpin explained wisely.
"I have served you faithfully for years... but if you mean to tell me that your plan is to really hold the defenses, and wait—!" Ironwood started.
Ozpin abruptly stood up from his chair "It is not! You're a general, James. So tell me, when you prepare to go to war, which do you send in first? The flag bearers, or the scouts?" He asked.
The scene cut back to Team RWBY's dorm. "That was a risky move." Weiss asked.
"Come on, sis. What's life without a little risk?" Dante asked.
"Safe." She responded.
"You mean boring." Dante countered.
"Actually, I think you handled it well." Blake said.
"I hope so." Ruby said.
"I'm sure everything will be alright, Ruby." Yang said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"It always does, we're just lucky like that." Bayonetta said.
"You think?" Ruby asked.
"I know." Bayonetta said with a smile, getting a small one from Ruby, but she still seemed a bit down.
"Oh, I know what will cheer you up!" Yang said, producing a cylindrical package the length of her forearm.
"What's that?" Ruby asked.
"I don't know yet. Dad sent it to us. I thought we could open it together!" Yang said.
"Ooooh! Something from home!" Ruby squealed excitedly, zooming over to Yang and wrapping herself around Yang, trying to take the cylinder from her. The package opened, and another cylinder, hairy and black, fell out onto the floor and started to shake. The object suddenly transformed into a corgi. Teams RWBY and SCRN leaned in, staring at it.
The animal barked twice. While Weiss and Blake reacted with great shock, Ruby, Bayonetta and Yang react excitedly, as the three boys in the room were left dumbfounded the dog fit in such a small parcel.
Ruby shouted in joy as she jumped into the air. "Zwei!" She cheered as she posed, while still airborne, was depicted among a changing blue background and four shots of the dog, two full body shots and two headshots.
"He sent a dog?" Blake asked in horror.
"In the mail?" Weiss asked in disbelief.
"Oh, he does stuff like this all the time!" Yang said as Ruby held the dog and giggled as he licked her face, Bayonetta petting his head.
Blake disappeared, shown now to be on Ruby's bunk. "Your father or your dog?" She asked.
"What the?! How the?!" Ryu asked, pointing to her current position from where she stood. Even he couldn't see when she moved so quick.
"A dog, huh? We always wanted on, but dear old dad said they were nothing but mangy, filthy animals he'd never allow in the mansion." Dante said, before smirking. "I hope he enjoyed his father's day gift." He said.
The Schnee Mansion, on Father's day after Dante and Weiss left...
"DANTEEEEE!" Jacques shouted as the half dozen Puli puppies charged around his office, rolling on the carpet, biting and tearing at pillows on the chairs in front of his desk and one of them even peeing on the desk itself.
Back to them...
"Dogs are useful companions. Both my clan and my old enemy clan used to use ninja wolves that could use swords and throw kunai." Ryu remembered.
"Are you telling me that this mangy..." Weiss started angrily, looking at the dog.
"Weiss. You are about to cross some lines and I won't be responsible for my actions." Bayonetta said, pulling out her pistols.
The Ice Queen ignored this, however. "drooling... mutt..." She continued.
"That does it. Ruby, you'll have to find someone else with a W in their name." Bayonetta said, aiming at Weiss.
is going to wiv wif us foweva? Oh, yes he is, yes he is! Oh, isn't he adorable!" The heiress finished, completely breaking down into baby talk as she loved on the corgi.
"Oh... Fair enough." Bayonetta said, putting away her guns.
"Please keep it away from my belongings." Blake said.
"What's the matter, Blake-y? Is the kitty afraid of the dog?" Dante teased, Blake hissing at him and raising her hand to claw him like a cat.
"Would all first-year students please report to the amphitheater?" Glynda announced over the intercom.
"Well, we can't exactly leave him here while we're gone for the week." Weiss asked.
Ruby set Zwei down and he walked over to Blake, still on the top bunk and barked as she aimed her claws at the corgi instead of Dante.
"Look, there's a letter!" Yang said as Zwei arrived in front of her. "Dear girls, I've got to leave the island for a few days, so I'm sending Zwei to you to take care of. Enclosed is all the food you should need. Love you both, Taiyang." She read, tipping the parcel upside down. Dozens of cans of dog food spilled out of the small package, piling up around Zwei.
"What is he supposed to do with that?" Weiss asked. A can opener fell from the package, bouncing off Zwei's head.
"Well, that settles it! Come on girls, Zwei will be here when we get back!" Yang said.
"Did she just imply the corgi could use a can opener?" Ryu asked.
"Wouldn't be as surprising as wolves with swords." Kratos said, walking out of the room.
"Zwei's an amazing dog. You'd have an easier time counting the things he CAN'T do." Bayonetta said, petting the dog's head as she walked past.
"Oh, I'll miss you so much, we're going to be best friends, I can't wait to see you." Weiss said to Zwei as she left, her speech deteriorating into incomprehensible baby talk, petting him until she had to back away too far for her arms to reach him.
Meanwhile, Blake jumped down from Ruby's bunk and jumped across the table, avoiding Zwei.
Ruby stared at Zwei for a moment, before smiling sneakily.
Ruby was wearing a large backpack as she entered the auditorium with other students. She then put it down next to other students luggage before rejoining her team, who were standing in front of Team JNPR.
"Quiet! Quiet please. Professor Ozpin would like to share a few words before we begin." Glynda announced.
"Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression." Ozpin started.
"Dad probably would've been on that side." Dante whispered to Weiss, who shushed him, but couldn't help letting out a quiet giggle.
"And as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: color." Ozpin continued, Ruby smiling at this. "It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither were the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond cannot exist without effort. Which is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it. As first year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best." Ozpin finally finished and stepped away as the students all began to file out of the amphitheater.
"I relish the challenge!" Kratos said confidently.
"Where was the challenge? The being safe part, or the part where we're being chaperoned?" Ryu asked.
"You ruin everything." Kratos said, deflating.
"This is perfect! All we have to do is shadow a couple of Huntsmen working in the southeast!" Ruby said.
"Hopefully we can find two different Huntsman going to the southeast." Bayonetta said.
"Yeah! We'll follow them around by day and give them the slip by night!" Yang said.
"That's one of the best things I've ever heard you say." Ryu said.
"What about my puns?" She asked.
"I said best things, not worst things." He said, earning a playful punch in the shoulder.
"Let's check 'search and destroy!'" Weiss suggested.
"Good thinking, sis. Just about everywhere needs some Grimm booted out. The southeast is no exception." Dante said as Teams RWBY and SCRN approached a hologram screen.
"As always." She said proudly.
"Here we go! Quadrant 5 needs two teams to get the Grimm cleared out!" Ruby said.
"Well, it's in the southeast!" Blake said.
"Sounds perfect!" Yang said.
Ruby and Dante selected it and typed in their team names. However, the screen said that first years were not allowed to take this mission. "Wonderful!" Weiss said angrily and sarcastically.
"Any other ideas?" Blake asked.
"Sneak in on a Pelican passing over the area, ninja style." Ryu offered.
"What if no Pelicans are passing over the area?" Kratos asked.
"We mail ourselves there!" Ruby said.
"Well, that's one option." Ozpin said from off-screen as he suddenly appeared. "Unfortunately, we determined that the concentration of Grimm was too extreme for first-year students. It seems that particular region is rather popular. In fact, I have the sneaking suspicion that you four will make your way there no matter which job you choose."
Team SCRN, Weiss, Blake, and Yang all glared at Ruby, who nervously rubbed her head. "Whatever makes you say that?" She asked.
"I'm still curious how you all found yourself at the docks last semester. I'm interested to know how you really learned about a hideout in the southeast. And I certainly wonder why witnesses reported seeing robots and rose petals in a dance club some time ago." He asked.
"Um... well..." Ruby started.
"Have you been to a lot of night clubs lately? They'll do anything lately. I remember once I went to a place that sprayed blood from the sprinkler system." Bayonetta said, shuddering at the memory. "That's why Yang's the clubber in the family and I just stay home like the good twin." She said.
Ruby coughed at this. "Liar!" She said, coughing again, Bayonetta glaring at her again.
Ozpin rolled his eyes at this before continuing. "I doubt I'll ever find the exact answers I'm looking for. So how about this: instead of waiting for you all to break the rules, why don't we just bend them?" He asked, selecting some things on his scroll, and the hologram screen making a noise.
"Thanks, headman. We'll have an evil organization wrapped up for you by the end of the week." Dante said.
"We won't let you down. Thank you, professor." Ruby said.
"Do not thank me for this. Teamwork and persistence have carried you far. But you must understand, the things that await you beyond the protection of the Kingdom will not care. Stay close to your Huntsmen at all times, and do exactly as they say. They will be leading you on this mission, and they can have you sent back to Beacon, if they find your skills to be unsatisfactory. Good luck." He said.
Teams RWBY and SCRN have left the auditorium and were on their way to the airships that would take them to Quadrant 5. "That wasn't exactly uplifting." Yang grumbled
"But it's the truth." Blake said.
"Having second thoughts, sis? I thought you were braver than that." Bayonetta smirked.
"Ooh, that sounds like a challenge! If it is, you better be ready to compete!" Yang countered.
"It's gonna to be tough, but I know we can do it!" Ruby said confidently.
A student ran past the team. "Hey! Team CFVY is back!" He called out as he and other Beacon students gathered around to witness the return of Team CFVY.
Blake went up to Velvet Scarlatina. "Velvet? Are you okay?" Blake asked.
"I'm fine. I had Yatsuhashi to look out for me." The bunny faunus explained, gesturing to her hulking teammate who walked past her.
"He is a formidable warrior. As is the rest of your team. I'm amazed you ere gone as long as you were." Kratos said.
"Exactly. Your mission was supposed to end a week ago! What happened?" Weiss asked
"Nothing happened. It was just ... there were just so many..." She said, shaking her head, before looking up and noticing Team RWBY's worried expressions. "Oh, but don't worry. You first-years are just shadowing Huntsmen, so you should be fine." She assured them.
"Right." Yang agreed.
"I should go. Be safe, okay?" She said as she went after her team.
"Well, that's reassuring." Bayonetta said.
"We can do this. We've never backed down before, and we're not going to start now." Ruby said.
"Right." Blake agreed.
"Besides, it won't only be us out there! We'll be fighting alongside a pair of genuine Huntsmen!" Ruby said excitedly.
"They'd better make sure that we don't show them up." Bayonetta said.
"Yeah!" Yang agreed.
The scene immediately cut to our two teams staring with various stunned expressions, having just discovered who RWBY will be shadowing.
"Why, hello Team RWBY! Who's ready to fight for their lives?" Oobleck asked eagerly. "Team SCRN, your Huntsman will be along shortly." He explained.
"Oh, great. Then who are we getting, Port?" Dante said, annoyed.
"If that happens, I'm stabbing you for saying that." Ryu added.
"I'll stab myself." Dante asked.
"Then who are we getting?" Kratos demanded.
"If they got Oobleck, I doubt we're getting much better. Probably someone who will freeze at the sight of a Grimm." Bayonetta ranted.
"I never freeze." A voice rang out from nowhere, our heroes looking to the side to find the source of this new voice.