Enjoy the chibis!

At least as young as they are now!

The 1st Arc is officially written and taken care of.

I've moved on to the next portion of the story at about 90,000 words into it.

We're in the last third of this arc, so still time to enjoy them!

And I'm going to stick with Saturday updates for now since no one really said anything.

Gives everyone a few days to read and me time to respond on my first day off.

So with that, hope you enjoy these chapters!

They're flying on my end for now, even with my tighter and longer work schedule, so all is good here!

I'm already working on September's chapters!

Every review, follow, & fav just makes it easier to keep going!

Appreciate all the support!


Guest 1 - Yes, Sacred not Tailed. This will be explained further when more information is eventually given, but for now, just think of it in the RWBY context. Everything is a Fairy Tale, and stories must be told.

Guest 2 - Not really, given he'd be more wondering why they were given such a name in the first place after everything he knows about them in his timeline.

And agreed. Which is why we're going to have the Kyle trying to 'Kick the Baby' South Park moment.


"You need me for something?"

"I just learned of some unpleasant activity in Mistral. It's only a hunch, but I expect involvement."

"I see… Your timing is horrible. You know that?"

"I am well aware of your peculiar interest in the Vanilles, and I will always trust your instincts about them. I also must say that their girl's connection with him is quite intriguing. I've begun to investigate her, and the girl seems quite extraordinary."

"What? How do you know…"

"Lien talks, my friend and former staff are easily paid off for information."

"You know, sometimes I don't like how quickly you work and gather intelligence…"

"Years of experience. But for now, let's focus on the mission. I've already talked to Henry, and he's approved of your absence."

"Ah, that's why you wanted me at Signal. While Henry might not be a member…"

"Is aware that you and I work closely together in some capacity. And he was aware there would be times you would have to take leaves of absence for business."

"I see. I'm on it then. Give me a few weeks, and I'll have something."

"You always do. Just don't forget to call. You have a scroll for a reason."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll try and remember."

"Well, this is great," Qrow muttered as he put down his scroll and took a shot from his flask. "Guess I better call Tai and see if he can cover for me here…"

"At least he's doing better this time than last time I left for a job. I barely made it back on time…" Qrow somberly fired another shot before groaning as another thought came to mind. "Oh, wonderful. This is just what I needed after seeing her again."

"A visit back home." Qrow finished downing his flask and tossing it on his table. "Lovely."

"Hope somehow this doesn't run me into the tribe, as that would complete this nightmare."


"I am impressed with your commitment." Jim looked appeased as he sat in his study, scanning a progress sheet of his daughter's academic progress for the week.

He then placed the sheet on the desk and folded his hands as he looked across and down at his daughter, who leered at his sight. "Aurelia has stated you have done well this week and passed your weekly exams with excellent marks."

"And I have yet to hear any odd sightings around the house or find any priceless antiques, decorations, or paintings destroyed by your incessant antics." Jim had a bemused expression on his face. "My dear, is the boy bringing this out of you?"

As Trivia scowled and chattered silently, her lips moving but words refusing to come as her throat burned, Jim sighed as he placed her scroll down on the desk so she could access it. "Well, whatever the case may be, you have earned your hour outside during your visit. I look forward to seeing if this drive of yours continues, dear. If such a small change is necessary to bring out your full potential, so be it."

Snatching up her scroll, as her dear father had obtained it from her earlier and had not given it back, Trivia refused to show satisfaction, and she loured in disgust. She was ready to take her leave, her appeasement of him done so she could continue her…

"However, note that it won't be his father bringing him over for the next couple of weeks. It will be his uncle, and he'll have his two nieces with him."

What? No…

Trivia froze in step upon hearing that. Her visage turned ghostly pale.

Not her.

The interrupter.

The accuser!

Where did the drunk disappear to? She couldn't deal with her! Anyone but her!

Not Little Red.

The Demon.


Get back, demon! Back!

Sneering at the little one from behind Naruto's shoulder, using him as a human shield from her powers of positivity, Trivia mouthed off as Ruby skipped along in front of them.

Did they both have to come along? Why was he being used as a baby sister during her time? This wasn't fair! She needed an escape! Not to deal with two brats!

"Finally out of the house and away from that hero, sister stealing monster…" Yang muttered as she walked down the sidewalk and kicked a few pebbles into the street. "Only to find out there is another hero-stealer? Hate you. Hate you both."

Narrowing her eyes at the blonde one, she mouthed right back at her and rolled her eyes. Little Red Demon and Blonde Abomination it was! At least she could get away with punching this one in the street…

The blonde wasn't too much shorter than she was…

Oh, maybe a kick to her face!

Who is tapping on her shoulder? Blon, Naruto, what?

What do you mean no? Stop shaking your head at me! My intentions were not that obvious!

Whatever! What are we going to do with the two devils here? Wanted to check on the food vendors nearby, but with them…

Rather feed broken glass to them…

Rolling her eyes as Naruto acknowledged that food was an appropriate plan after signing her intentions, Trivia bitterly bit back her silent retort. At least their lessons over the scroll were going well. Their communication was improving.

He still didn't know much, and she had to simplify quite a bit. Thankfully he was learning to speak too, so she quickly capitalized on any words he picked up on. So at least she had that benefit despite everything else.

Sighing, Trivia gazed upon the annoyance of the red one skipping…

Where did she go?

"Girlfriend! Where we going?"

At that moment, a tick mark developed on her temple. She ground her teeth. Fire lit up in her eyes. Her step hitched, and she lined up her shot…

Naruto held her back.

Trivia was ready to punt a child.


She seemed happier now.

Wasn't glaring and mocking the little ones. She seemed much happier when she got that ice cream, although she was still upset.

He wondered what was wrong. He knew something was off. She seemed tense and upset, and that was before the Chibis were involved. There was something up, and he wanted to investigate, but…

Crow summoner had a mission elsewhere that apparently took him to a distant land. One that he couldn't let anyone else come on.

Naruto kind of wanted to check out to see what missions looked like in this strange place. Nothing seemed like his world anymore, and he wanted to see the differences. But one of the changes was the age when someone was allowed to head out on missions…

Most people his age were only starting to be prepped for the academy! They didn't start training until much later, it seemed!

They might do some training here and there with their kids so they would have the basics and could protect themselves, but they didn't train them to fight until they were his age and older! And there were two academies! One was terrible enough! Having to pass two would be a nightmare!

At least that is what Kali explained to him. It seemed the first academy wasn't technically necessary, just a fast track for those wanting to become the best in this day and age. He still wasn't sure how to feel about that but with no idea how he got here or what the fox did to send him here, his only plan of action was to adapt.

And try not and think about what his friends' lives must have been like. And what had happened? And…

Laughter broke his attention as Naruto saw Trivia scowl while Ruby giggled at Yang, making silly faces at her while they enjoyed their ice cream. He shook his head at the scene, smiling at the two's antics, and even found the mute girl's reaction amusing. Reminded him of how annoyed…

Naruto's expression took a dour note as he lazily scooped some ice cream.

It was going to be something else here. Away from all his friends. Everyone and everything he knew…

Suddenly feeling a tug at his arm, Naruto realized that Ruby wasn't in her seat. He looked down to see little Red beside him, looking up at him. Her eyes glowed, and she held up her empty ice cream scoop. "More peas…"

Understanding the simple question in the foreign language and the sincerity of her expression, he bit his lip and chuckled. Having been given a bit of cash by their pops, he turned to Yang, gave it to her, and grinned. She excitedly bounced from her chair to the counter to get another scoop.

Oh, their pops would regret allowing him to care for them. They were going to come back with a sugar rush. In fact…

He would regret it, but that was a problem for him to deal with in the future. For now, he shook his head and took a breath. Not much else he could do, and he kept moving forward until he had a goal. Learn this strange language, see these ruins…

Help Trivia because something was up with her parents. Who locked their daughter in a room like that? That was a mystery he had to solve! He and the crow summoner would get to the bottom of it soon!

Signaling over to her a few signs she had been going over with him, she frowned at him and narrowed her eyes. She then signed back at him, mocking him with a mild glare. Then through playing a game of mixed signs and charades…

Trivia broke a slight grin and a snicker at the weird flailing Naruto had to go through to tell his story. She seemed to find it humorous, and he could tell her stress was easing slightly.

Well, at least he accomplished something!

"I'll be taking this."

"My ice cweam!"

"Hey, jerk! Give that back!"

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he heard Ruby and Yang's voices, along with an oddly familiar voice. Trivia did not seem pleased either as she turned to see the commotion and rolled her eyes. "Lovely, the three punk girls are back. Did they not learn their lesson?"

Stepping out of his chair, Naruto pocketed his hands in his white jacket. He thought he had put that one on since he was visiting Trivia as he glowered at the threesome. She joined his side, placing one hand on her hip, looking quite annoyed as they confronted the three, sharing a few signs in the process.

With difficulty, he focused on Cookie and spoke in their tongue. "Give back."

Or this will not end well.

With Trivia's follow-up, glass shards formed and shattered into existence behind them as Neo formed with a grin, looking at the three manically. As if to ask them to take action and give her a reason.

"The freaks? Oh, I'm dealing with this!" Mags cried and immediately dropped the ice cream to the floor, booking it for the door, and Cookie and Heather were directly behind.

Only to be tripped up by Neo as she stuck her leg out and caught her in the process of running. Her friends skidded to a stop to avoid the mess. Naruto frowned as he didn't wish to resort to such an action as it was only ice cream…

He said to give it back. Not drop it.

Trivia mocked the girl as she held up the scroll's communication board, stepping toward her as she silently chattered in annoyance. Naruto saw it quicker than she could react, but Mags retaliated as Cookie and Heather seemed ready for a fight again.

Mags kicked out Trivia's left ankle from underneath, her eyes widening briefly at the loss of balance from the sweep. Then she felt her balance training take over as she kicked backward. She placed her hands on the ground for a quick twist and flip to right herself and keep complete control of her balance.

And she grinned as she ran forward as an earlier idea came to her mind seeing the girl's vulnerable state.

Before Mags realized what had happened, a foot struck her in the nose, and a crimson liquid splattered the white floors of the ice cream parlor.

Naruto was impressed by how Trivia handled herself. She seemed to be putting in the effort in such a short period. He didn't feel like she could have done that when he first met her. And tying up Cookie as Heather screamed for mercy as Neo hammered her into the ground…

Okay, glass one! That's excessive! Not black and blue! It was just ice cream!

Pulling Neo off a defeated Heather, Naruto grimaced and shook his head at the scene. He would disable them if something came of it, as he wouldn't let them take the ice cream and get away with it and maybe knock them around to teach them a lesson. Nothing severe, and he held his punches back as they weren't threats…

But Trivia and pink one…

There might be some issues with her. He had a temper, but she had something else lurking inside her. The pink one seemed to enjoy inflicting pain and had a look in her eyes as she battered the other girl…

"For the love of Oum! I give you guys a moment alone and…"

"Pops?" Naruto turned to the door to see Taiyang grimace at the scene as Yang ran over to him with Ruby trailing behind.

"They were bullies! Took Ruby and my ice cream! Big bro stepped in, and a fight started!"

"Big meanies! Wanted more ice cweam!"

"Okay, I understand. I have an idea of what happened."

Naruto grimaced as Tai sighed as he walked over, and Neo dispersed in his grasp, shattering into glass. How did things keep ending up like this around Trivia? Was she a magnet for trouble?

Or was he?

Regardless, how would he explain...

"I think I can explain things better since I was here and saw exactly what happened." A voice that made Naruto's heart sink came from behind.

And as luck would have it…

Standing by the counter, Kali, wearing a hood over her head, sighed as her eyes gleamed over Naruto momentarily as she crossed her arms.

Naruto winced. Oh, his day was only getting more miserable.


"It could have honestly been worse," Tai sighed softly as he stood in the well-decorated manor, still very uncomfortable. "Luckily, those three have a track record of being local thugs, and the owner vouched…"

"Again?" Carmel's voice seemed very disapproving as she looked at her dejected daughter before her attention turned to Jimmy. "Thrice, she has left the house on her own, and every time she goes out, she gets into a mishap. She isn't ready to leave the house alone. This is why I disagree with your decision, Jim."

"That I concur with. Manners and decency still need to be taught, it seems." Jim stated with an affronted tone as his eyes shifted to his daughter momentarily, Trivia sinking under his vision before his eyes focused on Tai.

Then a smug look of satisfaction crossed his face. "However, you said that Trivia handled herself in the brawl? Took care of the thugs mostly alone?"

"Ah, yes, actually." Tai wearily responded upon seeing the look on the man's face, not sure how to feel about it, given how they lectured their daughter in the process.

"Hmph, I see." Jimmy nodded to himself, his eyes glancing down at his downtrodden daughter before catching Carmel's gaze. "I can very well see that I was correct in calling for a tutor for her. It is already paying dividends."

"That was never the point, Jim." Carmel narrowed her eyes before shaking her head and bowing lightly to Tai. "Please excuse us. Thank you for informing us what happened and bringing Trivia straight back."

Carmel quickly turned her attention to Trivia and snapped at her. "Upstairs to your room, young lady. We'll deal with you later."

"Yes, we'll have this sorted out shortly," Jim added with crossed arms before nodding in Tai's direction. "It was a pleasure, honored Huntsman, to meet you. Unfortunately, my dear daughter won't be able to visit with your nephew for quite some time until she shapes up."

Trivia's head snapped up, and her multi-colored eyes burned, tears welling at the corner of her eyes. She hunched over as her mouth opened, a violent scream trying to come, but no sound came. She then turned and ran up the stairs, the shimmers of her tears and what seemed to be shards of glittering glass trailing behind.

An unsettling feeling welled in Tai's stomach at watching her run and seeing the lack of response from Jim and the sullen expression crossing Carmel's features. After watching this interaction…

He wished he had said nothing at all.


"Okay, this doesn't look good."

"What happened here?" Qrow muttered as he surveyed the situation, grimacing as he knelt and examined the horrific scene. "Damn, what happened here? This doesn't look like a single Grimm's work, as the reports say. But what happened to the Hunters here? I know at least one Huntsman that came out to Oniyuri as the paychecks here were damn fine, so they should have had some defenses against a Grimm attack."

"Seriously, what happened here?"

Sighing as he stood in the wreckage of the Mistral town, trying to decipher what had happened. Looking at the damage and destruction of some half-finished buildings, walls, and even the completed ones, he snarled. "Was this a single Grimm's work? An adequate Huntsman would have at least managed to get the people out of here safely, so what gives?"

After walking from building to building, inspecting everything he could find, occasionally finding an unfortunate corpse left behind and marking it on his scroll, he shook his head. "Better inform Kuroyuri residents what happened here so they can prepare an adequate defense. Whatever Grimm did this can easily get past their walls, so they need better Huntsman protection."

"The hell did you expect me to find out here, Oz?" Qrow slicked his hand through his hair, preparing to transform and leave this place, having found nothing useful.

"Excuse me?" A gruff, male voice spoke behind him. "Can you say that name one more time?"

Qrow's eyes narrowed as he hadn't sensed anyone before. His eyes darted behind, and there stood a mountain of a man casually walking the streets behind him.

How did he not see him before? The man was a walking behemoth of muscle and a giant!

Was he too focused on his task and somehow didn't recognize…

Wait, did he recognize Oz's name? Oh, this was not going to end well.

"Fuck me. I think I found what I was looking for."


Chapter 17 Preview:

"La, la, la!" Ruby sang with a bright smile, wearing a weird red stocking on her head as she tried to help with decorations with Yang before running happily over to Naruto with a big red sock. "Decorate! Winter is here! Winter is here! Gifts and Qwokies!"

Naruto blinked as everything he was witnessing was simply odd and could not be comprehended.

What were these decorations? What was the point? Why were Kali and Blake helping? Why did pops bring a giant tree and place it in the room? Was it for the celebration of some kind of festival?