"Hey, Rich." I greeted, but he bowled past my seat and clasped the drunk on the shoulder. I was a little annoyed at that, but I imagined a history between the two that took precedence over whatever our relationship was.

Even if I was paying him, I didn't exactly need a pilot right now.

"You fucker, you were supposed to call when you got back in town."

Qrow chuckled into his glass. "Yea, I suppose I was."

Richard slugged him on the shoulder, though Qrow barely moved. He did raise an eyebrow though. "You been lifting weights, or are they just making it that hard to fly a Bullhead these days?"

Richard blanched and took a step back, eyes wide. I stepped in. "I unlocked his aura."

Qrow gave me a half-lidded once over. "Dumb move kid, he's gonna get himself into trouble."

"You're one to talk." Richard slunk into the empty seat between Qrow and I with a relieved sigh. A glance at my team showed me that they didn't quite care so much about this new fellow, though Ren and Nora were busy with their order. To be fair, they did have a bunch of toppings to choose from.

A short glass was placed in front of me and filled to the brim with delicious golden liquid. The colour seemed a tad off, but that would be true for meads in Skyrim as well if they weren't brewed right. A sniff told me of the added nuts and berries to the mixture, and a sip reaffirmed my guess.

It was acceptable. Still had an odd chemical taste that most drinks in Remnant seemed to have, but beyond that it was fantastic and brought back wonderful memories.

I let out a sigh and allowed my posture to relax, taking another sip. I swished it around in my mouth as I lay my head back, closing my eyes. If I focussed, I could almost feel the pitted wooden chair, the radiating heat and smoke of the hearthfire, the strums of a lut-

"I'm talki' to ya kid!" I was jostled out of my reminiscing, and I bit back a pang of frustration.

"Yes?" I gritted out, determined not to cause a scene. I would not be losing this, no matter what drunk idiot couldn't see when someone was busy.

"You're Torga, right?"

I bristled, and slowly started moving a hand behind my back to access my inventory if I needed to. There weren't many actual weapons left, but I had a few surprises still left in there. Ruby's Gift - I really did need to rename that - still sat in my rocket locker back at Amity Arena. "Yes. Who's asking?"

Qrow looked at me oddly. He then ruined the image with a lopsided squint. "Does it matter? You're on TV, everyone knows your name."

"I was trying to be polite. What do you want from me, and what makes you think you're in any state to get it?"

Qrow poured himself another glass. "Funny way of being polite."

I took a sip of my mead in answer.

He drained half of his portion before sighing heavily. "Y'know, you remind me of Oz. Sitting there with your drink, thinking a sip is some kind of answer."

"Yea but I don't hate myself enough to piss off Goodwitch directly. I just do it with deniable actions. What did you want?"

"Like smelting a literal half-tonne of gold using the most restricted Flash Forges in the Kingdom?" Qrows apparent drunkenness vanished, and he glared at me steadily.

Luckily - or, unluckily, if you asked me - alcohol counted as a poison and my poison resistance had gone up plenty from fighting Neo on the train. I wasn't feeling the slightest buzz at all. As such, I returned his steady glare.

"Well I couldn't do it by hand."

"Pfft!" Pyrrha covered her mouth, nursing her own glass of mead.

"I also hear you've been dealing with Jakkins Turner."

"Not by choice."

"Sounds like an interesting story."

"It is."

"I'd like to hear it."

"I'm sure." I answered with a smile, though I felt nothing close to amicable right now and from his tone, he didn't either.

"You can tell Ozpin that he was too drunk to give any answers, if that helps?" Ren held up a finger from the corner of the bar.

"You're all sober."

"Yes, Ren, we are quite sober." Pyrrha - the second glass already? - was smiling and blushing as if holding some great secret. "This is delicious. Like honey, but without the overbearing sweetness!"

"You take that back!" Nora seemed personally offended at something being called too sweet.

'Well, can't get out done by an Imperial, even if she isn't actually one.'

I drained my glass, slammed it down on the counter, then tossed the first of what would be many Lien on the counter.

Richard swept it off the counter. "They're on my tab. I told you all we were going out to celebrate, so it's my treat."

"I pay you anyway." I reminded him as I watched him put the card in his bag.

"God damnit… I worked for it. I got paid. The money isn't yours, it's mine, and I'm choosing to use it on you. Shut the fuck up and accept it."

I was halfway done with my second glass, so I just gave him a thumbs up, apparently some sort of confirmation gesture in Vale.

"Hey!" Qrow shouted, and I saw him glaring across the bar to Ren. "Why'd you bring up Oz?"

I cut in with a roll of my eyes at him. "Because you brought him up with a nickname, implying you know him well, and because we haven't seen a single licensed Huntsman since this whole festival began, which makes us assume they're overworked with assignments. Something we've already discussed. From there, we j-" A finger slammed against my lips.

"Shhhh." Qrow shushed. "Coulda just said you knew, nerd."

"Pfft!" Richard had to move his ale from his mouth. "Heh. Nerd."

I grit my teeth. "So, what, did Oz expect a fight or something?" I reached for my third glass but it was swept off the counter right as my fingertips brushed against it. I snarled and prepared to leap over the bar, but the bartender was just pointing at the TV where the tournament had finished its last match and the commentary panel was going over the highlights. With a sigh, I slumped.

"Bottle me." Richard sighed.

The bartender pointed aggressively at a sign that said 'No Underage Patrons'.

"Bottle me before I grab it myself." He pushed. Qrow bristled a little at that.

"Whoa there flyboy, it's just a drink."

Flight Lieutenant Richard Mavis could not have embodied the word 'Really?' any more than he did right then. "I'll pretend I didn't just hear that from Qrow Branwen, thanks. He unlocked my aura, so technically he's the one buying alcohol for a minor anyways. Considering you can't charge a minor with doing something for a minor, we should be fine, and it's his fault if it isn't. Just say I was all threatening with my aura and shit."

Qrow perked up, having been reminded. "You unlock your semblance yet?"

Richard shook his head. "Haven't done much fighting since I joined up with these ones. Mostly just flying, though let me tell you this: while hitting things harder doesn't matter behind the yoke of a Bullhead, resisting damage definitely does. I can pull manoeuvres that would have shortened my spine in a heartbeat."

"Could be a passive." Qrow mentioned.

Richard shrugged. "Could be. How'd you find yours?"

Qrow drained his glass, then stumbled to his feet and threw a Lien card onto the bar, presumably to pay for his drinks. He lifted a limp arm to gesture out the open front of the building. "Hey, would you look at that, my ride's here."

I didn't see anything out there but a few ships from the air fleet, a few ships from the sea shipping fleet, and a single airship with some ribbons trailing from it and some symbols on the side.

A bottle dropped in front of me, and the bartender held out his hand, pointing out the front of the shop with the other. Before I could do anything, Richard had dropped some more Lien, grabbed the bottle, and yanked me up by the shoulder. "C'mon kids, let's get going. One thing to buy a bottle, another to drink it right in front of the guy."

Nora and Ren appeared happy to have just gone out together to do something. Pyrrha had panicked shortly after we left, realising she was still holding the empty glass she had been drinking out of, though I told her we could pay him back for it and we needed one for our bottle. She seemed to enjoy that idea, and held the glass close as if it were a baby. After seeing that, Richard gave her the bottle to carry as well.

Qrow had left around the same time as us, though him and Richard walked behind as we drank our way down the docks in the middle of the afternoon. It was a long trip back to Beacon in the Bullhead, especially as Richard had decided to both give the drunk a ride and had engaged the auto-pilot.

"Shouldn't drink and fly, even if I already feel myself sobering up." He commented. "Hey, when are you kids going to do something fun again!? I miss my new baby!"

I didn't. While its performance couldn't be denied, its comfortability left a lot to be desired. I tried to answer anyway. "How do the Kingdoms find Dust?"

"Blood." Qrow answered cynically, getting another punch to the shoulder for his trouble.

"Hunters investigate prospects. It's a fairly standard mission." Ren informed me. He seemed to be amusedly watching Pyrrha, who was holding the remaining half of the mead with the utmost caution. I noticed the glass she had taken was nowhere to be found.

"Right, but how do they get the prospects?"

"Them." Qrow pointed out the front window at the unique ship I'd seen before. We appeared to be following it at first, but I realised it was also headed for Beacon. "The Schnee Dust Company." He sneered. "Actually, do you think you could set us down on the visitor's pad?"

Richard looked over to me, and I shrugged. "Makes no difference to me."

Qrow grinned. "Good."

Our pilot went up to the cockpit and disabled the auto-pilot, adjusting our course the slightest amount. "With the size of that thing, it's likely to use both pads."

I called up. "Does it have to?"

"No, but that doesn't mean a lick to the SDC, they'll just take them anyways."

"What if one is occupied?"

Richard laughed, and I was thrown to the floor in a burst of acceleration. Cursing, I pulled my way onto a seat and grabbed onto the restraint bar to not get tumbled out again. Qrow seemed pretty unaffected by the change of velocity, and stayed standing with little more than a stumble.

I glanced out the front just in time to see our Bullhead scream past the white ship. Richard twisted the ship mid-air, and flared the engines to bring us to a rumbling stop, and with a clang, we landed. It was difficult to appreciate just how skilled he was, but when I saw the other ship hover over the other pad and slowly begin its descent…

"What a coward." I noted idly.

The sound of flipping switches and engines spooling down was interrupted by Richard from the cabin. "Nah, I'm just that good."

Qrow held up a hand. "Wait to get off." He peered out the narrow view slit on the side door.

"Why?"

"I wanna mess with a Schnee." He answered simply, taking a hip flask from inside his slim grey coat and taking a swig.

"Can I help?" I asked. I hadn't gotten to mess with Weiss in too long. Not since… the dinner last night, I believed. Like I said, too long.

Qrow chuckled. "Sure, kid, just follow my lead." I ignored the kid remark again, knowing what I looked like. With Ozpin it was one thing, as he knew better, but this Hunter saw me as a teenaged Hunter in training.

I did let my eyes widen as I saw Ruby and Weiss arrive, the latter adopting a formal pose as she waited patiently for the ship to land.

"Just a quick question: Are we going to come out looking like the good guys?"

"That's the plan."

I nudged Alan. "Make sure to record this, then."

He grinned. "My contract says I can't stop. It even surpasses the network's NDA with the SDC."

"That's… robust." Pyrrha noted, seeming to need a moment to find the word.

"You live across the hall from the heiress, it was pretty much necessary."

We watched as Weiss' sister emerged from the ship. Well, I think it was her sister, considering Weiss never mentioned any other family. That, and the title above her head, had me convinced.

Winter Schnee
The White Flame
Lvl: 85

I suddenly had a bit of trepidation around antagonising this particular person, though again the Gamer's Mind dragged that away, leaving me with the cold hard fact that Qrow was stronger. Well, I couldn't see his level at least, whereas I could hers. Winter disembarked flanked by multiple Atlesian Knights, the newer models. They held assault rifles in their robotic arms.

The Schnee Family reunion was short, and I laughed when Weiss actually got hit by her sister for something. Ruby was laughing too, so I figured it couldn't be too bad. Qrow slammed the door button with a fist, slicked his hair back, and put on his drunken airs as he stumbled from the Bullhead.

Huh, interesting start.

He then ruined all hope of surprise by attacking the rear guard. It wasn't much more than a punch and a twist, barely visible, before the two robots fell to pieces in the middle of the courtyard. What crowd was here stepped away from him, and by virtue of that, me. The slowly forming circle began to draw more of the passer's by and we soon had an audience.

Qrow got started. "Hey!" he called out with a slur, tossing the decapitated head of one of the knights to the ground. The metal bounced with a few clangs, by the end of which the courtyard was silent. Slowly, Winter Schnee turned, and a flash of recognition lit her face. Her eyes glazed over me, once, then went back to Qrow. I bristled at the insult.

'Think I'm not to worry about, do you?'

"Yea, I'm talkin' to you, Ice Queen."

One of the Knights lifted its rifle and advanced a a step, but halted in place when the elder Schnee raised a hand. "Halt!" A crisp, commanding voice, though not one without hints of emotion.

I looked down at my feet then Qrow's. We hadn't moved an inch since he started. "We are?"

"Do you have any idea who you're speaking to?"

I pretended to wrack my brain as Weiss stomped up to us. "We…. Wa… Wilma? Wilma Schnee, it's so good to see you again!"

Weiss rolled her eyes at me then continued her advance on Qrow. She was just about to launch into one of her famous Schnee tirades when Qrow put a hand right on her face.

Her look of shock was priceless, and I couldn't help but look back to see if we were still recording.

"Shhhhhhhh. Not you." Qrow pushed Weiss aside to take another pair of steps, and I noticed how he intentionally staggered the first one to continue his portrayal. "You."

Winter took some form of military stance, hands clasped behind her back, but was interrupted when she opened her mouth to speak.

"Saw that gaudy ship of yours in town. I guess you're here too."

She quirked an eyebrow. "I'm standing right in front of you."

Qrow squinted and leaned forward. "So it would seem."

"You do realise you just destroyed Atlas Military property?"

Qrow looked at the metal parts surrounding us. "Oh, oh I'm sorry. See, I mistook this for some sort of... sentient garbage."

"I don't have time for your immature games, Qrow."

Weiss finally shook off her surprise at being suddenly manhandled. "Wait, you two know each other?"

Qrow ignored her, as I often do. "You Atlas Specialists think you're so special, don't you?"

Winter rolled her eyes. "It's in the title."

From where they stood, about 10 metres apart, it was clear there would be a fight. Neither approached, but both were light on their feet, knees bent and ready to take off in any direction. Not obviously but enough for me to notice, which meant it was more than enough for Qrow to notice.

Qrow nudged me. "Don't listen to her, they're all a bunch of sellouts, especially their boss."

Winter finally abandoned her stance, putting her arms by her side. From Qrow's smirk, I assumed this was part of what he wanted. "Ah, I see. Don't worry Mr. Qrow, I'll make sure not to trust them."

Winter's face pinkened slightly. "I'm not sure what it is you think you are teaching your students, but I have heard enough."

Qrow straightened back up, though he planted a hand on my shoulder. "Oh, I've heard too! I heard ol' Ironwood finally turned his back on Ozpin."

I looked up at him in surprise. The two always seemed to get along, though that was with myself present. Could Vale and Atlas really be going through troubles? It wouldn't be so crazy, this government was very particular about its secrets so I wouldn't expect I would know either way.

I heard another indignant squawk as Weiss was again pushed aside, this time by her sister. I hadn't heard anything but apparently Qrow did. "Listen to your big sister, Schnee. She'll protect you. Just like Atlas will protect everyone, is that right?"

The whispering grate of steel being drawn was his response, though he did get an actual verbal response as well. "If you will not hold your tongue, I will gladly cut it out!" With the razor-sharp sabre she held before her, I found myself doubting her ability to do so. Sure, she may be a high level, but a curved sword? What an amatuer.

"Alright then." Qrow shrugged, slicked his hair back, and gave a taunting smile that I only wish I could emulate. "Come and take it then."

He whispered out the corner of his mouth. "Don't interfere but if her sister does, you do too. Got it?"

I nodded as a student would to a teacher. "Yes, Mr. Qrow."

He groaned. "At least use Mr. Br-" He grit his teeth as he was cut off, drawing his sword - thankfully straight-edged, unlike this other lunatic - from his back and blocking a stab against the flat of his admittedly oversized blade. My eyes widened at the precision of the manoeuvre. To block a thrust against a flat surface… The fact that the sword struck, quivered, and was repelled as opposed to just scratching off to the side told me volumes of both Qrow and Winter's skill, and I made the perfectly logical and respectable decision to leave the situation. With my team still on the bullhead with the doors closed - Pyrrha likely drinking while she watches - I made my way over to Weiss for lack of a better option.

"Hey Weiss."

"It's Weiss, not- Oh. Hello, Torga. Fancy meeting you hanging out with a degenerate like that." She quipped.

We watched as Qrow parried, countered with the force to drive Winter back, leapt up to the top of the pillars flanking the entryway, then withdrew a hip flask and took a drink.

"I'd be surprised if you were surprised."

"I'm not. Who is he?"

I shrugged, wishing I had Ren around to do the shrug justice. "No idea, we met him in a bar and my pilot knew him from before so we gave him a lift."

"Do you have a reason why you stood next to a homeless man while he committed crimes against Atlas?"

I gestured at the battle where Winter was summoning glowing white Nevermore to harry her opponent. "Schnee's are easy to rile up, and I'm not from Atlas."

"We are absolutely not! Schnee's are the image of grace and poise, an-" She stopped at my raised eyebrow.

"I… I find it pedestrian that you would engage in the willful discarding of one's composure for your own personal amusement."

I bit back a chuckle. "Do you even know me?" Turning to the fight, I raised my voice as loud as it would go. "Kick her pasty ass, Qrow!" The man had the time to grin and fire off a mocking two-fingered salute before being drawn back into the fight.

"That's my Uncle!"

Suddenly, Ruby Rose. She had a habit, now that she had more control over her semblance, of using it quite often. Thus, she could just appear without a moment's notice.

"That… explains a lot." Weiss sighed into her hand as Qrow was blasted back by a thrust-chamber-feint-kick combo, though when the smoke and debris cleared - for he did impact with enough force to tear up the stonework - he was standing there with that same taunting grin on his face.

A quick shake of his weapon forced a small depressurizing, and I watched with something approaching awe as the sections of his sword, each big enough to be a guillotine blade on its own, began to separate and extend. "No way…" I muttered.

Ruby seemed to be bouncing with excitement.

Weiss grit her teeth, then in an uncharacteristic move threw an arm out to point. "Teach him some respect, Winter!"

The Schnee in question smirked and hit a hidden switch on her weapon, causing a small, straight short sword to split off. The curved blade was hollow where the sword was removed, and I wondered how she managed to not bend and break the sabre when striking.

Qrow was fast, but the way he fought made it seem so easy. Almost like Pyrrha, in that there were no wasted moves, but then every so often he would throw in a feinting flourish. A bold move, if he didn't have the speed to cancel and parry if he had to. With his sword expanding and a glyph forming under Winter's feet, I felt like they were finally ready to take things seriously.

Which is why I was equal parts disappointed and amused when Qrow put his weapon away, leaned forward, and pointed at his jaw in a motion that said 'take your shot, I dare you'.

Winter Schnee did, cracking the pavement beneath her feet as she pushed off. I lost her in the speed of her advance, eyes flicking around the battlefield-

"SCHNEE!"

Weiss straightened instinctively, but the target of ire was not her. Winter also knew this, stopping her blade inches from Qrows throat and whirling about with impressive speed to stand stock straight like one of the Imperial Soldiers would during one of their idiotic medal ceremonies. "Sir!"

General Ironwood pushed his way through the crowd. "What in the world do you think you're doing?"

"Sir! He started the altercation, sir."

Qrow lifted a finger from where he was leaning back casually. Given the fighting seemed to be over, I made my way over to hear better. "That's actually not true. She attacked first."

Ironwood turned his glare onto Winter. "Is that right?"

"Sir, I…" Winter looked between Qrow, myself, and Weiss, then dropped her head in shame.

"Hm." Ironwood glared at her for a moment before turning his gaze to the Huntsman we came with. "And you." Qrow pointed at himself and looked over his shoulder, as if questioning whether he was being referred to. "What are you doing here?"

Qrow scoffed. "I could be asking you the same thing, Jimmy."

"It's Gen-"

"Schnee."

"But Sir!"

"Specialist?"

Winter caught her tongue, sheathed her swords, and stood behind and to the left of the general. "Sir."

"Now, now, everyone." Ozpin emerged from a split in the crowd, Glynda by his side and coffee mug in hand. I winced, realising we were likely in trouble. That realisation solidified when Glynda began to repair the damage with a scowl on her face. "There is a sanctioned fight going on just around the corner at the Coliseum that I assure you has much better seats… and popcorn." Ozpin swirled his mug with a small smile on his face, one that deepened ever so slightly when the crowd began to disperse.

A smile that faltered almost imperceptibly when Glynda also spoke. "Break it up everyone, we will take care of this mess."

The General and Winter turned, walking towards Beacon. I had a thought, and nudged Qrow. "So, they're going to fine Atlas for littering right? I mean, they did just leave their trash lying around the courtyard."

Qrow stifled a laugh, and raised an arm as if to call out exactly that when all of a sudden-

Ruby Rose. Again.

"Uncle Qrooooowwww!" This time appearing hanging off the older Huntsman by the arm, and I was again reminded of his strength when he waved it slightly as if to dislodge her. "Hi! What are you even doing here? Did ya miss me? Did ya?"

Qrow leaned in and ruffled her hair. "Nope." I could tell by both their grins he was just teasing.

"Qrow!" I whipped my gaze around to see Ozpin gazing back. "A word, please. Mr. Arc, yourself as well."

I moved a hand to my chest and looked behind me as Qrow did before the fight. "Me?"

Qrow nudged me. "Yep. Sorry, kid."

I wave it off. "I got it all on film, if needs be I can just threaten to release it if they want to be mad."

Qrow choked a little. "Yea no. Maybe don't go blackmailing Atlas. Rile them up all day, sure. That's innocent fun."

Glynda huffed from where she was still repairing the stonework.

I made sure that Ren and Nora would bring Pyrrha back to our room and make sure she saved me some mead. I then told Richard he should probably go put the ship through its paces before we went loading it up with armour and weapons, and he left in the Bullhead, presumably to return it.

I sighed and followed Qrow, the setting sun casting long shadows behind the decorative pillars lining the courtyard. Ahead of me, Ren and Nora facilitated Pyrrha as she looked around in wonder, an arm held by each of them to prevent any stumbles. Behind me, Ruby and Weiss walked side by each, and I could hear the arrhythmic cli-clacking of high heels behind me.

I grit my teeth and readied myself to defend my actions but for once, the tirade assaulting me as I exited the elevator into Oz's Tower was not meant for me, but for the fully realised Huntsman beside me.

It wasn't coming from Glynda, either, who it appeared had bigger issues to contend with for she wasn't even glaring at me during our long uncomfortable ride up the elevator.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Winter all but shouted as she whirled about to us. I slipped out the side of the elevator and took up a spot by the wall near where we entered, but her attention wasn't even close to me.

General Ironwood was veritably bristling. "If you were one of my men I'd have you shot."

"If I were one of your men-" Qrow paused, noticing that I had put a hand on his shoulder, and was squeezing hard. Close enough of a signal.

I cleared my throat and eyed the General pointedly. I'd done a little research, enough to know that the SDC held much more sway over Atlas than the General cared to admit, but more importantly that there were groups and factions within the Kingdom of Atlas who presume James to have too much power. So, I did the only acceptable thing I could do given the power disparity. I attacked his image.

"Did I just hear that correctly? You would murder your sub-ordinates?"

The room fell silent, even Ozpin faltering in his steps towards his desk, before the corners of his mouth twitched upwards and he took a seat, face neutral by the time he turned.

"Speak to the General when spoken to!" Winter insisted.

I flicked my gaze over to her. "I will speak when, where, and how I please, and I would thank you to never suggest I stay silent again. I could easily take that as a threat considering my Semblance, which my producers would be oh so happy to hear about." I recalled a common saying of Deanna's. "Conflict attracts the consumers, after all."

"Mr. Arc, you will show the diplomatic delegation from Atlas due respect. Now, if this were the Atlas military I would be completely behind you in condemning their heavy-handed methods. Fortunately, despite the warships floating over my city and the soldiers in my streets, my good friend General-Headmaster Ironwood has assured me that this is diplomacy at its finest." Ozpin's voice held an edge of mirth.

"...from Atlas. I could do better with a cask of ale and a lute, and I can't even play a lute."

"Lute capabilities aside, you were brought up here for a reason. If our guests would remind themselves of who it is that they are in the presence of, I would like to expedite this meeting. James? Ms. Schnee?"

Winter was absolutely glowering. Weiss wouldn't have been caught dead looking so frustrated. Ironwood on the other hand seemed relieved.

"I don't see the point. Jimmy just outright admitted we shouldn't trust him to have anyone under his command that isn't bulletproof." Qrow said with a smirk.

Ozpin sighed. "Qrow…"

I gestured to the General who could not have been rolling his eyes any harder. "I think we should be fine. He hasn't shot Winter for starting that thing down in the courtyard."

Her eyes narrowed as she focussed on me, though Qrow's laugh broke the tension. "Yea, guess I beat him to it. What'd you call us up for Oz?"

Ozpin sipped in response - see, it's completely valid! - then spoke. "Why have you returned, Qrow?"

"You told me to track the enemy. I am."

"At a dive bar by the docks?" I asked incredulously.

He waved it off. "I was on break. Why is she even here? I didn't think we needed any more tin cans."

Ironwood stiffened. "Specialist Schnee has my full confidence."

"I'm still waiting for a reason." Qrow put a hand behind his ear mockingly. "Well, Jimmy?"

"Gen-"

"Schnee, we will discuss this incident back on my ship." James Ironwood, General of Atlas and Headmaster of a Huntsman Academy, folded before a drunk, an old man, a school teacher, and myself. All of a sudden, I felt a little bit more nervous about the jagged, blocky shapes hanging in the sky over my city.

"But sir!"

"Winter. Leave."

Her eyes flicked between the lot of us but with no protest on her behalf, she snapped off a rigid salute. "Yes, sir." She did give Qrow's shoulder a bump on her way by. There was pointed silence until the elevator doors closed, and the tension in the room was palpable, much more tense than anything should be.

"This… isn't about their fight, is it?" I ventured a guess. Glynda pinched the bridge of her nose.

"No, Mr. Arc, it is not. The purpose of this meeting is three-fold." Ozpin began. "Firstly, I intend to greet my good friend James Ironwood and allow him to explain why he has brought an army to my city. Secondly, we shall be discussing a further matter I intend to bring you in-"

"He's a child!"

"He's a monster!"

Ironwood and Glynda flinched, looked at each other after their mutual protest, looked away from each other, then let their gazes snap to Qrow in synchronicity, as if asking for confirmation. Qrow shrugged and pulled out his flask. "Not my clowns, not my circus."

"Ahem." Ozpin cleared his throat with a bemused grin. "Thirdly, this meeting will conclude with a small foray into the lesser known areas of Beacon. We have something to show you."

I pointed at my chest again, this time not for the humour but for the genuine question. "Me? Why me?"

Ozpin tapped something on his desk and a holo display came up. A small collage of four pictures showed up on the screen, though I realised they were videos as they began to silently play.

The first was a security camera from the docks, looping through a point in the fight when I had cut down three of the White Fang within as many seconds.

The second was a short clip from our second initiation, from a series of cameras hidden in the trees. I watched myself split the group, then it cut to when we reconvened after I had rediscovered my Thu'um.

The third was a still shot of myself going up against Pyrrha, my face alight with the throes of laughter as I endeavoured to get past her defence in any way I could. She also smiled, and I found myself really liking that picture.

The last was during the Breach incident, and it was slowed down, but clear. Myself absorbing the two basic Dust types and combining them into a Lesser Dust.

The room moved as Ironwood drew his pistol and soon he had a sword, a cane, a riding crop, and-

"Is that a baguette?" Qrow asked incredulously. "Can't you make like, a million swords out of thin air?"

I glowered as I pointed the stale bread at the General. "Shut up, I'm out right now."

"But not out of baguette-"

"By the order of Atlas an-"

The weapons - and baked goods - in the room bristled.

"James, we are well aware of the self-defence case of Mr. Arc. That is not why we are here."

"There's a case?" I asked.

"Yes, Mr. Arc, there is a case. Fortunately for civilization, people tend to notice when you murder people, even if they were terrorists. Also fortunate that Beacon has a plethora of lawyers and solicitors who have been able to stave off this attack."

"...The White Fang is fighting a legal battle?" Qrow still seemed surprised. "Against Beacon?"

"It's nowhere close to a fight." Glynda answered smugly.

"It is also not the point." James growled. "The point is that you are wanted by the SDC, and since Jacques pretty much owns the Council that means Atlas wants you too. We just didn't know it was you."

I shook my head. "Well, you can tell the SDC that I'd consider trading with them but if they want me captive, they'll be dragging back a dead body or nothing at all. I hope that's clear to anyone from Atlas who might have come up with… designs lacking the complete picture."

"They won't like that."

I stared down the barrel of his revolver, quirking an eyebrow. My aura could block the first shot easily, even if I couldn't let it go through to hit me in the head.

Oh, I could still survive, but aura-free headshots were crits on me and they did absolutely ludicrous amounts of damage. My head usually didn't go without an aura.

"I'm not too sure anyone likes this situation, Jimmy." Qrow said tentatively. "How about we hear Oz's spiel?"

Ozpin closed his eyes and hmm'd in agreement.

"So…" I reached out slowly and placed a finger on top of the revolver barrel, slowly pushing it down as I looked in the General's eyes. He allowed me to do so, for I held no doubts that should he have wished it he would not have budged an inch. "What does the SDC want?" Ironwood averted his gaze.

[Quest Complete!:] A General's Game I: Coin Toss

Keep an eye on things. Something doesn't seem right.

[Main Objective:] Observe the Vytal Festival [Completed]

[Side Objectives:] Advance to the Doubles bracket [Completed]
?

[Reward:] 500,000 XP, +10 Public Reputation , A General's Game II

Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one!

[Quest Alert:] A General's Game II: The Secret Siege!

You were right, something is definitely wrong. Discover the plot to destroy Beacon and save the day!

[Main Objective:] Ensure that at least 50% of Faction: Beacon survives the coming conflict.

[Side Objectives:] Advance to the Singles Bracket
Win the Vytal Tournament

Save Vale from destruction

[Reward:] 1 XP, +100 Public Reputation, 250,000L, Councillor's Boon

[Failure:] 1 XP, -10 Public Reputation, 50,000L, Quest: The Fall of Beacon

Accept? [Yes] [No]

I tapped yes and shivered as twelve whole levels flooded into me. I was so distracted by my 4 shout points, my 64 stat points, and my thoroughly vaulted HP and AP that I almost didn't hear Ozpin ask cryptically:

"What's your favourite fairy-tale?"

I'm not the happiest with how this turned out, but I ran out of time. Deadlines really suck, but without them I don't know if I ever would have finished this chapter.

Thank you to everyone who has read this far. We pass the 200k word mark with this chapter and when I started, I just wanted to be able to have my own story be visible when you sort by 100k+. I estimate 6-800k until we reach the end. If there were 7 parts, we would be wrapping up part 2. Things will move faster, especially after the timeskip. I have a fun plan for that ;)