Author's note: Back to the main gang.

Early in the morning, everyone in Atlas Academy was rudely woken up by an incredibly high-pitched scream. Soldiers were ready to fight whatever had caused someone to scream like that, and the students assembled in front of their rooms, weapons drawn, but still in pajamas.

"Jaune, what's wrong?" Ruby asked as she rushed into her friends' dorm room, where she saw Jaune and Ren stare at a bed, which had a gray wolf lying in it. Weiss, Blake and Yang also arrived at the room, and looked in shock when they noticed the predator.

"Is that what I think it is?" Blake asked.

"What is going on here?" Winter asked, looked into the room and said, "Pets aren't allowed on school premises, you know." The wolf started moving and waking up.

"It's not a pet," Jaune answered, "It just showed up in Nora's bed this morning. We have no idea where it came from, or what it's doing here."

"Or where Nora is," Ren added with worry in his voice. The wolf raised its head and looked around, drawing everyone's attention.

"Don't make any sudden moves," Blake said, and urged everyone to back away from the wolf. It looked around the room, then focused on Ren and rolled out of bed. The wolf seemed to try and stand on its hind legs, but fell onto all fours almost immediately. As its paws touched the floor, it stopped for a moment and looked at itself. The wolf spun around a few times, and Yang got a weird idea.

"Wait, hold up," Yang said and asked, "Nora? Is that you?" Everyone stared at Yang in surprise, then looked at the wolf, who sat down and looked happy.

"But how?" Winter asked.

"Probably Sirena," Ruby answered, "Something tells me she has something to do with that. Chances are, she used Pact to get Raven's magic in exchange for something, and then shared these powers with Nora because she knew she'd use them responsibly."

"So, what now?" Ren asked, "How can she turn back?"

"She just needs to focus," Yang answered.

"How do you know?" Winter asked.

"People don't call me a dragon for nothing," Yang answered with a smirk.

"Wait, what?" Winter asked, a look of shock and surprise on her face.

"I can show you later," Yang said, looked at Nora and said, "Now, Nora, focus on your human form. It's actually really easy once you know how to do it. Kind of like using your semblance." Nora grabbed her blanket with her teeth, pulled it over herself, and emerged in her human form, much to everyone's surprise. After the initial confusion was over, and Winter sent the soldiers back to their posts, the team got dressed and had breakfast a bit earlier than usual, since they were already awake.

~o~

A few hours later, when Ruby's Group and the Ace-Ops met for a strategy meeting, Ruby was just done explaining that she couldn't find anything on the music in the book Sirena wrote. However, she got a notification that the aquatic Manta was already done, at least its schematics, and that the swarm would start building it as soon as possible. Winter also brought up the wolf incident, and Qrow and Yang admitted to hiding that particular ability from the military.

"Anything else I should know about?" James asked, getting more serious.

"I have asked Raven to help me if I ever need her," Ruby answered, "And, I think I'd like to fuse with Penny again. Firefly's semblance is pretty useful, especially in combination with Raven's, so I'd like her to copy it."

"Fine by me," Penny said.

"And while we're on the topic, I'd like to fuse with Weiss," Maria said, "You know, to see what our fusion's semblance is."

"Sounds interesting," Weiss said, "Let's do it."

"Alright," Ruby said, "Yang, send a text to Raven and ask for a portal for Firefly. Weiss, Maria, you two fuse and see what your fusion's semblance does. The rest goes down to Mantle and kills any Grimm that try to attack the city."

"I think Blake should stay in Atlas," James said, "The people of Mantle aren't too happy with faunus right now, especially her, so it's safer for all if she stays here. Her presence could draw in more Grimm."

"But we need her," Ruby said.

"What we need is to protect the people," Blake said, "And he's right, the people think I'm dangerous, and project that onto any other faunus. Humans fear me because of the rabies rumor, and faunus hate me for making it seem like we're a threat to humans. I just wouldn't be safe down there. Marrow neither."

"I guess you're right," Ruby said, "Everyone else, get down to Mantle. Weiss, Maria, we'll test your fusion in action. But don't worry, Firefly will stay with you." She and Penny fused into Firefly again, and the entire group, minus the faunus, left for Mantle. As usual, Firefly had silver eyes and dark orange hair, which was a bit shorter than Penny's, with an orange bow on the head, which had a black and red rose pattern on it. She also wore black boots with red laces, a red, black and green combat skirt, and a white long-sleeved shirt under a black corset, as well as black elbow gloves. The fusion had a large light gray metal belt around her waist, with a single light green line running across its middle. Her weapon was a staff with a leaf-like blade on either end.

~o~

Down in Mantle, Weiss fused with Maria. As their fusion's light blue aura faded, it revealed a young woman with a single white streak running through her shoulder-long black hair, and silver eyes. She wore light brown leather boots, a dark blue combat skirt with white tulle underneath, and a laced waist cincher over a long light blue tunic. Her long, light teal sleeves were cinched just above her elbows, and she wore dark brown thick leather gloves.

"You can call me Angela," Angela said when she noticed the others looking in awe, "Now, let's see what I can do." She drew her weapon, a single staff with white skulls on each end, which had blue lines running across them, and extended a bladed tip from the top of either skull, and a bladed hook from their backs. The staff had a revolving dust magazine under each skull, with the six cylinders being half the size of Myrtenaster's.

"Sure, let's go," Firefly said, "And don't worry, I've got your back if anything happens."

"If," Angela said with a smirk and charged a pack of Sabyr. She hooked the first one and threw it to the ground, then used the blades on either end of her weapon to kill the remaining ones. Every time she hit a Grimm, a pea-sized white orb came out of its body and floated around in a small circle, seemingly waiting for something. A woman running from the Grimm tripped and twisted her ankle as she fell, and the orbs homed in on her. As soon as the first one reached her, it disappeared into her ankle, and a yellow aura covered the ankle for a second. A few more orbs followed, keeping the localized aura active, until they suddenly stopped moving and resumed their circling.

"Are you alright?" Yang asked as she hurried over to the woman.

"Y- yes, I think so," the woman answered and tested her ankle. She got up and put some pressure on it, and looked in awe when she realized that it had fully healed.

"Now that's nice," Angela said and continued killing Grimm, while the woman continued running from the Grimm. After the Grimm were gone, and the sirens fell silent again, a red portal opened next to Yang, and Raven walked out of it.

"You know, it's usually the early bird that catches the worms," Yang said.

"I gave my powers to Sirena yesterday," Raven said, "Anyway, I got your message, and now I'm here." Suddenly, a copy of Blake and Marrow appeared next to Yang, and the two faunus manifested beside her.

"Sorry, I know we said we shouldn't come, but we can't just hide up there," Blake said while everyone else was surprised by the duo's sudden appearance.

"It's fine, really," Angela said, "You two, and a lot of others, can stay with me and copy this super cool semblance, while Raven copies Firefly's. And then leaves." In the last sentence, Weiss' voice was more pronounced than Maria's.

"Wait," Firefly said, turned to Raven and asked, "What did you get from Sirena in return for your powers?"

"My tribe is stronger now," Raven answered, "They all got elevated to the skill of a fresh Beacon graduate last night, and can use their semblances and enter their soul cores."

"Then… do you want your men to copy Angela's semblance?" Firefly asked.

"That was the plan, yes," Raven answered.

"Hold up," Angela said, with Weiss' voice being more prominent, "I never agreed to helping you."

"But it's a good idea," Angela said, with Maria's voice being more prominent.

"We have the semblance of a frontline support fighter," Angela said, "Not some bandit who abandons her own daughter."

"I'm trying to be better," Raven said, "So please, let my tribe copy your semblance."

"You can decide later," Firefly said, "Now, Grimm are coming." She and Raven headed towards another pack of Grimm that approached the city's walls, and as soon as the Grimm were in range, Firefly used her silver eyes to petrify them and copy Raven's semblance. Raven sat down and entered her soul core to find Firefly's emblem and learn how to use her semblance. When she returned, she focused on Angela, and drew her blade.

"What are you doing?" Angela asked, more confused than anything.

"We'll fight," Raven answered, "If I win, you let my men copy your semblance. If you win, I'll leave."

"I really don't think this is a good idea," Angela said, with both voices being equal.

"Let's just go and see," Raven said, "I won't lose so easily, even without maiden powers."

"I suppose I can't change your mind," Angela said and got ready to fight. As soon as she assumed her fighting stance, Raven charged at her. Angela caught Omen's red blade on one of her weapon's hooks and forced the other side down. Raven's sword was forced upwards and Angela used her weapon, planted firmly in the ground, as support to kick Raven in her stomach with both feet. Raven slid across the snow outside the city and lost her weapon. Angela collapsed the blades of her weapon and ignited the skulls with fire-dust. Raven ejected her lightning-dust blade from her weapon's scabbard, but it was hit by a fireball from Angela's weapon and exploded right in front of her. Before she could recover, Angela was in her face and began hitting her with her weapon's flaming ends. After a flurry of heavy blows, Raven's aura broke and she stumbled backwards.

"And… that's that," Yang said as she, Blake, Marrow and Firefly approached to duo.

"No," Raven said, surprising everyone, "I can still stand. The fight goes on."

"And, what do you say, you two?" Firefly asked, looking at Angela, "Did she pass the test?"

"Wait, test?" Raven asked.

"You know us too well," Angela said, looking at Ruby, then turned to Raven and answered, "But yes, I was testing you. To see if you were serious about letting your tribe copy my semblance. And while Retaliation did help you, without training, you only reflected part of the damage you took, which wasn't really enough against someone like me. Anyway, if you want, I can let your tribe copy my semblance now." She flung a fireball into an oncoming pack of Sabyr, killing them all, and a wave of white orbs homed in on Raven, recharging her aura two percent at a time.

"Thank you," Raven said shyly. After the orbs had all disappeared into her and her aura was half full again, she recovered her sword and opened a portal to her tribe. She walked through, and Angela followed her. The portal closed behind them, leaving Firefly, Blake, Yang and Marrow alone in the tundra, just outside Mantle.

~o~

On the other side of the portal, in Raven's camp, Angela saw the bandits that Weiss had met already. They looked stronger somehow, though she couldn't tell how exactly. They all looked at her when she stepped out of the portal, and their expressions became almost cheerful.

"Hello there," Argent said as he walked up to Angela from behind, and Angela turned around, where she saw the snake faunus, with Sirena standing beside him.

"Argent? What are you doing here?" Angela asked, "And why is Sirena here?"

"I want to see how silver-eyed warriors petrify Grimm," Argent answered.

"And I need a semblance to protect my people," Sirena answered.

"I see," Angela said, "Alright then, let's do this." She walked ahead, leaving the camp, and the bandits, Argent and Sirena followed her. They walked for a few minutes, with Argent using his seismic sense to detect Grimm and Sirena building up fear to draw them in, and were quickly surrounded by a large pack. Angela unleashed the light of her silver eyes, and everyone present copied her semblance. When the light was gone, Argent and the bandits looked around in awe.

"And you could do that for years?" Argent asked, looking at Sirena, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because of Salem," Sirena answered, "The more people know of this, and that I can use these powers, the more likely it is that Salem's minions learned of it, and then everyone around me would be in grave danger. Especially me. And without me, my people would have perished."

"So, how do I use this semblance?" Argent asked.

"It's a flip semblance," Angela answered, "It takes some aura to activate, but then it acts like a passive semblance. Once it's active, just hurt Grimm, and it'll do its thing. Also, I kind of feel like calling it Spectral Healing. The amount of aura it restores is fixed, so weaker attacks are better for it, since you can get more out of Grimm if you kill them slowly."

"But, if you want, I can teach you how to access your soul core," Sirena said and held up her right hand.

"Sure, thanks," Argent said. Sirena put her right hand on his shoulder and used Mentor to teach him how to enter his soul core.

"Anyway, I'll go and see if I copied any semblances I like," Angela said, sat down and retreated into her soul core. She returned after a few minutes, and saw that the bandits had already moved the petrified Grimm to surround and protect their camp even more. After she helped them finish up, Raven opened a portal back to Yang for her.

~o~

Firefly, Blake, Yang, Jaune, Ren, Nora, the Ace-Ops and the Happy Huntresses were standing in the tundra, waiting for both Angela and Grimm to show up. Just as a pack of Sabyr, Beowolves and Ursai surrounded them, a red portal opened and Angela stepped out of it before it closed behind her. She quickly assessed the situation, realized Firefly's plan, and activated her silver eyes again.

"You know, I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing this," Robyn said when she looked at the petrified Grimm.

"So, what now?" Elm asked, "Any tips on how to use this semblance?"

"It's simple, really," Angela answered, "It's a flip semblance, so you have to turn it on first. But then, every hit you deal to a Grimm releases one orb that homes in on the nearest ally that needs help, within a hundred meter radius, and restores 2% of their aura. Continuous damage counts as one hit, but if the damage is dealt automatically in fixed intervals or whenever special conditions are met, then it counts as multiple hits."

"So, electrocution counts as one hit, right?" Nora asked.

"Exactly," Angela answered.

"What about caltrops?" Ren asked.

"They count as consecutive hits, because they only hurt when Grimm step on them," Angela answered, "As do thorny vines, since they only hurt when Grimm move. Deathzone also counts as consecutive damage, though Safezone deals constant damage, so it's one hit."

"And what if there are no allies in need?" Robyn asked.

"Then the orb will remain circling in place for five minutes, and disappear afterwards," Angela answered, "If another person within a hundred meters needs help, it'll go to them, but if that person leaves its range before it can reach them, it'll continue circling and the timer will reset."

"So, in general, less damage is better, right?" Marrow asked.

"Yes, less damage per hit is better with this semblance," Angela answered, "However, you also have to be able to avoid taking damage, otherwise the benefits will quickly become useless. But in any case, let's get back to Atlas." Clover sent a message to the base, and a Manta came to pick them up. Along the way, Blake created a Combat Drone, augmented with incendiary-goo, and sent it towards a Megoliath and some other Grimm she saw on the ground. The explosive shots dealt some serious damage and killed the Grimm, creating a lot of healing orbs that homed in on the others in the Manta and restored some of their auras.

~o~

Taiyang was walking through Vale, with Zwei by his side. He had decided to no longer just sit around and wait for his girls to come back, but instead do something with his free time. And as a huntsman, killing Grimm was the most obvious choice. He came across Glynda, Peter and Bartholomew fighting Grimm on all sides, and rushed to help them. He formed a ball of yellow energy in his hands and flung it at an Ursa, killing it in one hit.

"Need some help?" Taiyang asked when the teachers turned to see where the attack came from.

"Tai, good to see you," Bartholomew said and asked, "How are you?"

"You know, the usual," Taiyang answered and asked, "And you?"

"We're actually pretty roughed up," Glynda answered, "This constant fighting isn't doing our auras any favors, and we've been at this for half an hour already. And they just won't stop coming."

"Then we just won't stop fighting," Taiyang said and assumed a fighting stance. His fists lit up in yellow energy. He rushed the enemies and began punching Grimm left and right, and sometimes shot blasts or arcs of energy into the enemies. Unbeknownst to him, Raven was watching. When he fell back to catch his breath, she created a Safezone around him.

"What is this?" Glynda asked and looked at the lime green lines on the ground, and Taiyang got a message on his scroll, but he didn't know the number.

"Check your aura," the message read, "Also, you're welcome." Taiyang checked everyone's auras, and saw that they were regenerating faster than usual. A Beowolf ran up to the four huntsmen, but as soon as it crossed the line, it began burning green, and a white orb came out of its body. It homed in on Glynda and disappeared into her chest, and Taiyang saw that her aura regenerated a bit as it did so.

"This circle is somehow regenerating our auras faster," Taiyang said, "And those orbs give a little boost, too."

"Is this Sirena's doing?" Bartholomew asked. Taiyang killed the Beowolf when it came within range.

"I don't know," Glynda answered, "But whatever it is, let's not let it go to waste." She pulled nearby Beowolves into the area, and Bartholomew, Peter and Taiyang took turns killing the Grimm. Their auras regenerated fully, and the four kept killing Grimm, occasionally returning to the area if they needed a break. Occasionally, a few orbs were waiting for them.

~o~

Penny was walking through Atlas Academy, thinking of new ways to help the kingdom and its people. She had her processors run at full capacity, using her maiden powers to supplement her cooling systems and allow for maximum efficiency. She realized that, historically, a ruler would oversee their people, yet the Atlas council was unable to do so. She quickly decided that this was a threat to the people of Mantle, as the council was not aware of the damage it caused, and devised a plan to correct the mistake. Penny put her right hand on a communication console and used her semblance to take control of the floating city's computer systems, then forced every screen in the kingdom to broadcast her message.

"Attention people of Atlas. I, Penny Polendina, have great news for you all," Penny said, "For too long, the Atlas council has hidden from the consequences of its actions and decisions, harming the city of Mantle. As Mantle's protector, I have decided to end this tyranny right now. In three hours, the city of Atlas will descend and return to where it belongs. But be not afraid, for I have taken the necessary precautions to allow this process to take place without injuries. I have already mapped out evacuation routes and uploaded them to the necessary servers, allowing both military vessels and SDC freighters to evacuate those in the high-risk locations. Please remain calm, gather all your bearings, and prepare to be taken to safety, so that you do not get harmed when I restore this kingdom to its ideal state." After the broadcast, she locked everyone but herself out of the computer systems and then headed to the vault in order to claim the staff once more. The Atlesian Knights still stationed in Mantle headed to the Mantle crater to recover all smaller objects, which were then sent to Atlas with the pipes. As she approached the elevator to the vault, just as the time limit was up, she was stopped by the Ace-Ops, Winter, and James, all of whom appeared to be upset.

"Penny, what was that?" Harriet asked.

"What James asked me to do," Penny answered, "Now please move aside, I have a job to do."

"I never told you to do this," James said, "Stop it."

"You made me to protect Mantle," Penny explained, "Mantle is suffering under your decisions. I have concluded that you are blind to the damage you cause, due to hiding up here. To protect Mantle from your ignorance, I have concluded that it is best if this city comes back down. Furthermore, there is no fail-safe in case someone else removes the staff. If Salem got her hands on the staff, this city would become a ballistic projectile, and I will not let this happen." General Ironwood shot Penny in the forehead, luckily just ripping off her skin without damaging her reinforced carbon nanotube skull.

"Final warning," General Ironwood said, "Stop this madness."

"No," Penny said, unfazed by the attack, and energy flared up around her eyes, "Winter, Ace Operatives, please move away from this sad excuse of a machine."

"Stay," Marrow said, stopping Penny with his semblance, "Sorry, but we have to stay calm." Out of nowhere, three throwing knives made from hard-light hit Marrow, disrupting his semblance and setting Penny free.

"Need some help?" Talia asked, appearing behind Penny.

"I would appreciate that, thank you," Penny answered, "I cannot use my maiden powers to help Salem, so if they are truly my allies, they will be immune."

"Got it," Talia said and activated her aura traits, "After you, then." Harriet used her super speed to run along the wall and jumped, trying to punch Talia in the side. Talia jumped up with a barrel flip and used her tail like a whip to hit her behind the ear. Harriet lost focus and crashed against a wall at full speed, where she promptly passed out from the impact. Penny shot lightning at their opponents, but only Ironwood and Elm seemed affected. Elm grew her roots into the floor and covered the floor, wall and ceiling with creeping roots that emitted poisonous spored.

"Penny, stop this at once," Elm said, "The people of Atlas need a sign of a brighter future."

"And forget the crimes of their past?" Winter asked. While the others were surprised by Winter's question, Penny blew a powerful icy gale through the hallways, freezing the roots and breaking Elm's aura. Winter, Marrow, Clover and Vine were completely unharmed, and General Ironwood kept himself safe behind them. Seeing Elm go down, Vine decided to step up and tried to take Talia as hostage with his vines once the cold wind died down. Talia used a double palm thrust and aura shockwave to disperse his vine as soon as it came close enough, and put in some extra aura to break his.

"Marrow, do something already," General Ironwood said, "Stop this fight immediately."

"Alright," Marrow said, "Stay." Using his semblance, he stopped General Ironwood from moving, putting more focus on his metallic parts, since they were the strongest limbs he had, and thus more likely to let him break free.

"Thanks, Marrow," Penny said as she headed down the elevator. She opened the vault and grabbed the staff, then summoned Ambrosius.

"At, it seems someone has come to engage my creative wiles," Ambrosius said after manifesting, "All I'll say is, it better be worth it after my last project. A floating city? How pedestrian."

"It is," Penny said, "Which is why I want you to put it back down. Gently."

"Wait, hold on a second," Ambrosius said when he saw Penny and made a jeweler's magnifying glass appear to inspect her, "Who, or what, are you? A person? But people aren't made from… but only a real person can… I just have to meet whoever made you."

"I can introduce you later," Penny said, "But now, I need this rock to go back where it belongs. Ideally without breaking it or the buildings around where it'll touch down."

"You got it," Ambrosius said and slowly lowered Atlas. The most immediate result was that the pipes supplying the city creaked and bent, until they broke and caused a cascade of debris to come crashing down into the crater. People in SDC freighters and Atlas military aircraft watched as their shoddy houses got crushed under the rubble, and within an hour, the massive city touched down.

"Sophie, activate Mantle defense protocol Papa Charlie," Ruby said to the pilot of the airship she was on. Hard-light generators in the lamp posts all over Mantle sprung into action at once, creating an intricate labyrinth of barriers that was intended to funnel Grimm attacking the city into the crater, where they could be rounded up and defeated easily, or just split up larger groups into smaller pockets, but now dispersed the powerful winds of Atlas touching down, protecting the buildings in the lower city.

~o~

After the city had touched down, and most of the dust had settled, the civilians were let out again, and Fiona returned everyone's possessions to their rightful owner, as much as they could carry. When Ruby looked around, she saw an angry mob of rich people, led by General Ironwood, approach them. She and her group stepped between the rich elite and the people of Mantle, to make sure they would be safe. Jaune put extra effort into Preflexes, being ready to make a bunch of clones to stop any attack that might come.

"What is the meaning of this?" A woman in a black dress asked, "Why is Atlas on the ground?"

"Because General Ironwood needed resources for his plan," Willow piped up, catching everyone's attention, "He is obviously planning something big, and I decided to help. Due to this, and the embargo, the SDC can no longer provide the gravity-dust to keep this city afloat. Also, recent changes in leadership, and my approach to the safety of my workers, mean increased prices, which also contributed to the decision. You can be angry all you want, Miss Quartz, but this decision helps the Schnee Dust Company, in other words me, so be angry at me if you must."

"Who's that?" Ruby whispered to Weiss.

"Crystal Quartz, matriarch of Quartz Private Investigation," Weiss answered, "The SDC is their biggest client, and us asking them for dirt on any competitors accounts for three quarters of her income."

"I- wait," Ruby whispered and called out, "Everyone, get back!" The crowd dispersed in a panic and the huntsmen drew their weapons, just before a pack of Centinel burst out of the ground, accompanied by a Cenitaur. Blake immediately charged at the enemies, trying to get away from her friends to enact her plan.

"Someone, do something," Crystal shouted. Weiss saw the people stumble and fall, and made a decision to finally use Rallying, the semblance of her fusion with Ren. She unleashed a light purple wave of energy, turning everyone's fear into trust of her and her allies. Everyone in sight calmed down and got to safety in a more controlled manner, and some even helped others back up.

"Those things just keep getting uglier," Blake said as the Cenitaur spat acid at her, but only hit an incendiary-goo clone. The clone exploded and flung red-hot glass everywhere, harming dozens of Grimm and creating just as many healing orbs.

"Maria, get angry," Ruby said as she cut through several Grimm in a single swing.

"Why? And about what?" Maria asked while doing the same, albeit with more grace.

"I have plenty of things for that," Weiss said, "Let's go." She used a glyph to launch herself towards Maria, who caught her and initiated a fusion. Angela took a deep breath, and as soon as Maria saw some of Weiss' childhood memories, all the Grimm in the area focused on the fusion. Several Grimm, including the Cenitaur, burrowed underground, and while the Centinel came back up near Angela to attack her, their leader stayed hidden. The enemies got within range, and Angela unleashed all her rage at the injustices and abuse Weiss had faced at the hands of her father in a bright light, petrifying all the Grimm.

"That felt… awesome," Angela said, with Maria's voice being most prominent, then she sunk to her knees and all but passed out.

"What… was that?" Crystal asked, rubbing her eyes as she walked out from her hiding spot behind a nearby building, and her jaw dropped when she saw the petrified Grimm.

"What are you still doing here?" Yang asked, "Didn't Ruby tell you to get back?" Crystal was confused at first, then a bit intimidated by Yang, but quickly regained her composure and stood proudly.

"I'm an investigator," Crystal answered, "If something is going on, I want to know what it is. You can't just run from a job because it gets a bit dangerous, after all."

"You know, you'd make a good huntress with that mentality," Ruby said.

"Thanks, but I like my current job," Crystal said, "I can wear fancier clothes, and nobody expects me to do this when I'm cornered." She created a couple light pink crystal shards over her right hand and made them dance around a bit before flinging them into some petrified Grimm, breaking several with a penetrating shot.

"That's so cool," Ruby said in awe.

"Really?" Crystal asked and said, "Thanks, I suppose. But it's better suited for distraction, since they don't deal much damage. However, once they're stuck, it takes a while for them to disappear, and moving with one of these shards stuck in you is pretty bad."

"I see," Ruby said and asked, "Did you look into that light just now?"

"I did, yes," Crystal answered and asked, "Why?"

"It's a bit difficult to explain," Ruby answered, "But long story short, if you hurt a Grimm, one of these orbs come out. And the damage over time means that more orbs will come out."

"I'm not sure I understand all that," Crystal said, "But if it means I can protect my clients from Grimm better, then that's all I need to know."

"That's pretty much what it means, yes," Ruby answered, "But wait, I thought you were a private investigator."

"Yes, that's what we are," Crystal answered, "However, I am trying to expand into the protection business as well. Mainly because, right now, the military is the only way for people to legally protect themselves, and as a businesswoman, I know that having a monopoly on anything means that the quality of the products will go down over time. Competition forces innovation, and keeps companies alive." The conversation was interrupted by Blake appearing in the middle of the petrified Grimm, after having made multiple explosive clones all over the place to take out Grimm.

"Is anyone hurt?" Blake asked, raising her voice to make sure everyone could hear her, "If you are, those orbs will heal you once you get close enough. Anyone who sees someone who can't walk, bring them over to the nearest cluster of orbs." A couple people, mostly Mantle civilians, began dragging the rich folk to the nearest cluster of orbs, even though they themselves looked to be in worse shape. The orbs immediately homed in on the rich people, healing any bruise, scrape, or other minor issue, before tending to the lower-class people, who could handle those injuries much better.

~o~

After the initial confusion about Atlas coming down had settled, and Penny returned control over the city's systems to the proper authorities, Ruby's Group, the Atlas military, and the Happy Huntresses met in front of Atlas Academy to talk to the civilians that had just lost their homes, as well as the few rich Atlesians that didn't like being on the ground, where they would be reminded of their kingdom's past.

"What do we do now?" A man asked.

"Where do we live?" A woman chipped in.

"Why wasn't the council informed?"

"What is the military's stance on this?"

"When can the city return to the sky?"

"Atlas will stay on the ground," Ruby said over the speakers, silencing everyone with her decisive tone, "I may not be the most experienced in a lot of things, but throughout history, I have seen a common theme. Those who don't learn from the past are always destined to repeat it."

"But what about our homes?" A woman piped up.

"I can help with that," Willow answered as she stepped toward the podium, "Many people here in Atlas have more rooms in their houses than they need. My own home has over two hundred rooms, fully furnished and maintained, for a family of currently four people. Each of those rooms can comfortably house two people, and that is by my standards."

"May I?" May asked, and Willow let her speak, "I grew up in this city, as some of you may know. I've seen single bedrooms, used by one person, that are bigger than some apartments in Mantle. Willow can easily house over two hundred families in her home, especially those that used to live in the crater." She stepped away from the microphone again and let Willow speak.

"I am… certainly surprised to hear that, and very sorry as well," Willow said, "But I am willing to house as many people as necessary, at no cost." Hearing that, the Mantle side of the crowd began cheering, and the Atlas side looked highly uncomfortable, for various reasons. Some were worried about the lower-class citizens living among them and ruining their pristine city, while others were more concerned about their reputation. If this became a trend, and they didn't join in time, they'd be copycats, but if they joined and it didn't become a trend, or backfired, they'd be to blame.

Author's note: Spectral Healing is based on one of the set bonuses for the Specter Armor from Terraria. If you wear the hood, any time you deal magic damage to an enemy, you regenerate some health.

However, the hood also has a 40% damage reduction, so you need to put in a ton of effort to deal enough damage for the enemies you encounter by the time you can make that armor. You can also buff your crit chance to ignore enemy defense or something, but that's not really reliable due to being random.

Your best bet is really to use that in multiplayer with a melee fighter who pulls aggro, so the enemies will leave you alone.

Or use the Specter Mask and deal more damage than you'll know what to do with.

Penny is supposed to come off as more robotic when having her processors run at maximum efficiency.

Crystal's semblance, Crystal Shoot, is based on Cure Dream's second solo finisher from Yes! Precure 5. 5 Teenage girls in admittedly not the best outfits in the show kicking and punching evil. I hadn't even planned to add that semblance. I just thought it'd be nice to have a character with this kind of ability, and then this happened.