Weiss: Previously, on The Defenders of Remnant...

"Uh, what are you doing?" Ruby asked. A wide smile grew on Weiss's lips as well of excitement and happiness filled up inside her.

"She's here…"

"Winter!" Weiss called. The woman, Winter, turned to see Weiss, Ruby and Peter all rushing towards her, Weiss at the head of course. "Winter, I'm so happy to see you!"

"So, what are you doing here?" Weiss asked.

"Classified," Winter simply replied.

"Oh, right. Well… how long are you staying?"

"Classified," Winter repeated.

"Of course," Weiss nodded.

"Man, real fun at parties, this one," Peter muttered.

"Greetings, Ruby Rose, Peter Parker. I wish to thank you for taking an interest in my sister," Winter thanked.

"I'm talking to you, Ice Queen."

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

"I'm standing right here right before you," Winter replied with a furrowed brow.

"So it would seem," Qrow smirked.

"Weiss, it's time for you to go," Winter said, pushing her sister further back and away from the conflict.

"What?"

"Listen to big sister, Weiss," Qrow cut in, "She'll protect you. Just like Atlas is gonna protect all of us, huh?"

"If you won't hold your tongue," Winter hissed. She drew her sword immediately, a silvery blade with a slight curve and intricate handguard like a rapier. "Then I'll gladly remove it for you!"

"Schnee!" Ironwood's voice echoed in the courtyard. Winter stopped dead, the point of her blade a mere inch from Qrow's neck.

Ironwood stepped closer so only Qrow could hear him speak. "What are you doing here?" Ironwood muttered.

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

"Hey, webhead," Logan said, catching Peter's attention.

"Logan?"

Peter's head ached. His vision was a blurry mess, and it felt like the whole world was spinning. He felt weightless, as if he had no body at all. It was like an out of body experience.

Then he suddenly started seeing flashes, visions, images. A surge of pain flared up in what he felt to be his arm injury. Even though the images were brief, instantaneous even, he saw each clear as day.

It was back in the destroyed, flaming Vale. He was seeing the woman in red, her face obscured, with a bow in hand, aiming it down at a figure on their knees. He couldn't tell who the second figure was, because its form was constantly shifting. One moment it was Pyrrha, then the next it was Peter himself.

And it didn't stop shifting. It constantly changed back and forth.

Pyrrha.

Peter.

Pyrrha.

Peter.

Pyrrha.

Peter.

Pyrrha.

The shifting went faster and faster, becoming too much for the eye to track-

Peter started convulsing as his arm felt like it was on fire. He tossed back and forth until his body slammed onto the floor.

"Peter!" Ruby exclaimed.

"Oh my god…" Weiss shuddered. Meanwhile, the wound kept pulsing and writhing.

The Defenders of Remnant
Chapter 39: Consequences

The roars of Amity Arena were harsh on Cardin's ears. Or rather, they were harsh on the ears of the symbiote that called his body home, one of its key weaknesses being sound, and with thousands of people filling the seats of the colosseum, it was more than enough volume to make the symbiote shudder.

Cardin, can we please go? Venom whined. Why can't we just watch the match from home like we did with the others?

"Because unlike the others, I owe it to Velvet and her team to show up. Fox and Yatsuhashi hate me, so I'm doing this as a show of good faith," Cardin answered.

But it hurts being here!

"Well suck it up. Once the match is over, we'll leave, but I'm sure you'll live the next ten minutes, now can it!" Cardin snapped. The symbiote growled and writhed beneath his skin, causing even more discomfort. He was walking through the stands and finally eyed Velvet and Fox sat next to one another. Cardin put on his friendliest smile and waved at Velvet. "Hey!"

The faunus girl looked up and a smile grew across her lips. "Hello, Cardin!" She waved back. Cardin looked over at Fox, who's blank blind eyes never landed on him.

"And hi to you too, Fox," Cardin said sarcastically before taking a seat on the other side of Velvet, a blank space between her and Ruby, who seemed otherwise distracted.

"I'm blind, not deaf. I'm just ignoring you," Fox said.

"Yeah, great," Cardin deadpanned.

"Just ignore it, Cardin. They'll come around eventually," Velvet assured him.

"Nope," Fox said.

"Hey, we're all here to watch Coco and Yatsuhashi in the ring, right? I'm on your side, rooting for your team. Can we get along for just a few minutes?" Cardin said.

Fox sighed. "Fine."

"See? Getting better already!" Velvet cheerfully said. Then the Arena's alarm sounded, signifying the start of the battle. Cardin and Velvet both leaned forward in their seats to see Coco and Yatsu in the ring against Emerald and Mercury. The holograms depicting the potential environments of the arena started to spin up

"Emerald and Mercury of Haven versus Coco and Yatsuhashi of Beacon!" Port announced.

"Good luck you two!" Velvet called out.

"Knock 'em dead, Coco!" Cardin added.

The dials spun and landed, except now the arena was being divided into four sections of terrain. From one corner raised a mesa biome with a single tree, golden blades of grass, and a few large rocks. From another raised an entropied city environment, not unlike the appearance of Mountain Glenn. In the third can a rocky terrain with geysers, flowing water and bright blue crystals jutting from the ground. Finally in the fourth corner came a simple green forest.

Coco smirked and lowered her shades to examine Emerald's outfit. "Hey, love the outfit, kid!" She complimented.

"I'll try not to get blood on it," Emerald smirked.

Yatsu sat up from hsi criss-crossed position next to his leader and cracked his neck, letting out a groan. "I can't promise you'll leave without a scratch," he warned as he pulled his large blade off his back.

"I won't be the one bleeding," Emerald replied.

"Oh, I like her," Coco said to her teammate.

"Three… two… one… Begin!" Port called. Emerald and MErcury immediately began to back away from their adversaries into the mesa biome, soon being hidden by the abnormally tall blades of grass. The two members of Team CFVY traded glances and smirks before Coco transformed her suitcase into its ranged form, her massive minigun, which she then used to swiftly cut the entire biome down, leaving not a single blade of grass standing. Emerald and Mercury were nowhere to be seen, however. Yatsu and Coco immediately went on their guard, and Yatsu saw the threat before his leader did. He pushed Coco out of the way and used the flat side of his blade to stop the incoming Mercury, before launching him away.

With a few graceful flips, Mercury landed on his feet away from the two and skid to a stop. Coco quickly took aim and began firing at Mercury, who sped just ahead of the bulletstorm and circled back to them. He leapt over them as they both simultaneously swung at him, landed on his feet, before flipping towards Yatsu and kicking him in the head twice, stunning the bulky swordsman. Mercury glanced over his shoulder to see the barrel of Coco's minigun rotating up to speed. He flipped backwards just before bullets obliterated the position where he was standing and landed on the weapon itself. Yatsu took a wide swing that Mercury avoided before backflipping again over Coco herself. He grabbed onto her shoulder and kicked the barrel of her weapon into Yatsu's stomach. Yatsu paused and glanced at Coco, but his leader didn't pull the trigger, and instead transformed the weapon back into a case and back swinging at Mercury.

Mercury acrobatically avoided it by flipping backwards again three times to not only avoid the attack, but put distance between him and them. On the third flip, he landed on his back, feet up, to reveal gun barrels in his boots. He fired both simultaneously and flipped back up to his feet as the two searing white projectiles sped for their targets. Both members of TEam CFVY swatted them away quickly, making them speed past and blow up far behind them. When they looked forward again, Mercury was firing more and more, but not at them; around himself. He was twirling as he fired them, creating a twister of white projectiles around himself before sending the entire storm their way. It stunned the two Beacon huntsmen and created a thick white mist, giving Mercury enough time to zoom and take a position behind them.

Yatsu and Coco turned and each threw a punch, but Mercury caught both attacks and kicked their torso's back and forth with a single leg before pushing Yatsu back with one, then in the same movement wrapping his leg around Coco's neck and flipping her flat onto the ground, winding her. She coughed harshly before getting back to her feet. She was about to transform her weapon again when a long chain shot form the green forest terrain, wrapped around her waist, and promptly yanked her into the green.

"Coco!" Yatsu called, then his jaw was struck with the steel tip of Mercury's boot, making him stumble. Yatsu gritted his teeth and swiftly grabbed his opponent by his collar then launched him into the geyser biome. Yatsu leapt high up, holding his sword above his head, then brought it down onto his target, but Mercury equaled it by pushing back with just the soles of his boots. He kicked back and flipped back onto his feet. The two each traded quick attacks at one another. Mercury then flipped forward and slammed a kick down into the rock, launching up rocks the size of Yatsu's head, one of which Mercury quickly launched towards his opponent. It connected with the side of Yatsu's face, making him spin around, but in the same movement. Yatsu flipped the holding of his blade and slashed outwards at Mercury.

Mercury countered the attack before dropping low and spinning on the ground, with each passing by of his foot firing another round of Dust at Yatsu. It eventually made Yatsu stumble enough for Mercury to opportunize on an opening. Mercury got close and used one leg to kick Yatsu in his right ribs, followed by flipping back and connecting the other with his jaw. Yatsu fell backwards, and his head landed just perfectly on one of the vents for the many geysers populating the terrain. It blasted on him, the searing hot water and air taking away his senses. He clumsily made it to his feet and began to stumble around, his vision returning only for Mercury's boot to make everything black.

"Oh, and with that final blow, Yatsuhashi is eliminated!" Port announced.

"Damn. That Mercury guy is good…" Cardin remarked.

"Oh, Yatsu…" Velvet frowned. "Well I'm sure Coco-"

With a loud impact, Coco launched from the trees in the forest terrain, spinning through the air, before landing flat on the ground out cold next to her unconscious teammate.

"Coco!" Velvet exclaimed.

"And with an amazing upset, Emerald and Mercury are victorious!" Oobleck announced.

"I'm sorry, Velvet," Cardin shook his head. Fox nodded and placed his hand on Velvet's shoulder, then looked at Cardin. "I'm sorry to you too. I was rooting for them."

"So you say. And so you've proven," Fox said. Cardin smiled a bit, but Venom, even though he was inhibited by the roars and boos of the audience, felt something off. He just barely poked out of Cardin's back to see a woman with dark hair and bright amber eyes stand up and leave immediately with a smirk on her face. Something about her seemed off, but he receded back into Cardin quietly, taking note for later.

Cardin looked to his other side to see Ruby, although clearly surprised by the match's outcome as well, still seemingly distracted, her mind on something else. "Hey, Ruby, you alright?" He asked.

"Hm? Oh, um… yeah, I'm fine, Cardin. Thanks," She replied. Cardin glanced past her and saw her teammates seemed otherwise mentally occupied.

"Is something on your guys' mind?" He asked.

"Well…" Ruby started.

"We're concerned about Peter," Yang finished.

"Parker? What's happened to him now?"

While Weiss left the others to go meet her sister, the other three members of Team RWBY brought Cardin outside a secluded medical room, farther away from the others, where Peter lay unconscious with a resting face of constant pain. His blackened arm wound was visible for them to see.

"What the hell happened?" Cardin asked.

"We're not sure," Ruby answered. "We think he got hurt on his last mission."

"He didn't seem bothered by it at all on our way back to the school. Maybe it was the adrenaline," Blake guessed. "But even after he realized he had it, he didn't tell us."

"He must've not wanted to worry us. With the tournament, and everything else going on, we had so much to think about," Yang suggested.

"He always puts everyone before himself. Especially us," Ruby said.

"But he promised no more secrets," Blake frowned.

"Maybe whatever's happening to him, even he doesn't understand it," Cardin added. "I mean, what's to tell if he doesn't know?"

"Even if he didn't know whatever this side effect is, he could've told us about the injury itself," Blake replied, furrowing her brow firmly.

"I wouldn't hold it against him, kid," A gruff voice said. The other four turned to see Logan approach and join them outside the window. "Webhead never thinks for himself, just his friends. Sometimes that puts him in a jam he can't get out of."

"You're… Logan, right?" Yang asked.

"Yeah. And you three must be team RWBY. Where's the heiress?" Logan questioned.

"She went to go talk to her sister," Ruby said before putting her hand out to the X-Man. "I'm Ruby!"

"Nice to meetcha kid," Logan replied, shaking her hand in his brawny own, a small smile coming to his face. "Murdock told me about all of ya. Seems you've helped Peter a lot."

"Not as much as he's helped us," Yang said.

"You have no idea, do ya kid?" Logan chuckled.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

"Don't worry about it. Have you guys gone in to see him?"

"No. The only people allowed in are Ozpin, Goodwitch, and the Defenders," Blake answered.

"Well, they can bite me," Logan growled before opening the door and holding it open for them. "You comin'?"

The girls traded glances before brushing past Logan to enter the room. Cardin didn't follow. "Yeah, I'd rather not be back on Goodwitch's bad side, so I think I'll pass," he said. "Besides, I have places to be. Say hi to him for me though." Logan nodded, and Cardin left the medical wing.

The huntresses stood quietly next to Peter's bedside, not sure of anything to say while he laid there unconscious.

"Hey, I'm gonna stay out here, give you guys some privacy," Logan said before stepping out and closing the door.

The three huntresses looked down at their bedridden friend, not sure what to say. They all just wanted to see him, make sure he was okay. Was he? That answer they didn't know. He'd been in and out of this medical wing the entire time they'd known him, and even though they knew he'd find a way to get back on his feet in no time, it was a question of when. And with all that was going on, what if he got better too late? What if-

"About time," Peter suddenly groaned. "I thought you guys would never show up." All three huntresses were caught off guard, but Blake and Yang had immediate reactions by simultaneously slugging him in the uninjured arm. "Ow! What the heck?!"

"Have you been awake this whole time?!" Blake exclaimed.

"I woke up just before you guys got here. I'm not in a coma or anything! Ouch…" Peter rubbed the limb they struck tenderly. "That was really unnecessary."

"Maybe you deserve it, for not telling us about that." Yang nodded to the blackened wound on his other arm.

"Hard to talk about something I can't explain," Peter replied.

"That's what Cardin said. Maybe you guys are being too hard on him," Ruby defended.

"You had an injury you didn't tell us about, one that is clearly abnormal. You got it at the collider, didn't you?" Blake questioned.

Peter sighed. "Yeah, I did. One of the pieces of debris when it blew up got my arm. But it wasn't that bad at all when we left. But by yesterday, it had gotten way worse. I don't know what's wrong with it. Maybe some of the extra-dimensional energy residue from the collider activation made its way into my body."

"And that wasn't concerning enough for you to talk to somebody about it?" Yang asked. "Even if not us right away, if it's a medical emergency like this, you should've gone to someone!"

"You're right, I should've. But aside from a bit of pain, I'm fine," Peter assured.

"I wouldn't call convulsing on your bedroom floor fine!" Blake exclaimed.

"I think what they're trying to say is," Ruby cut in, putting herself between Peter and her teammates, "Is that you worried us, is all. You told us no more secrets, and you kept something this dangerous to yourself. You're our friend, and we don't want to see you get hurt."

Peter thought to himself after that, and remembered that vision that put him into this state in the first place; a few flashes of images he barely remembered now, but also the one that was clear as day: the red woman with her amber eyes aiming an arrow at the heart of Pyrrha, then of him in Pyrrha's position, then the rapid switching between the two. He knew this vision meant something, it couldn't just be dismissed. He or Pyrrha were in direct danger from the red woman, and he felt it was soon that the vision would become reality.

"I get it, guys. I do. I should've told you, and that's on me," Peter frowned. "So… how's the tournament going?"

"Coco and Yatsuhashi just lost to Mercury and Emerald this morning," Blake answered. At this, Peter frowned more.

"What's wrong?" Ruby asked.

"I… Honestly, Ruby, I don't entirely trust Emerald and Mercury, or the rest of their team. Something's felt off ever since I met them, and Pyrrha felt the same when she fought Mercury in training. I know you're friends with them, and I could very much be wrong, but… just be careful around them, okay?"

"Okay…" Ruby looked down, disappointed Peter would say something like that. Peter sat up and swung his legs off the bed before placing his hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Ruby, you're the kindest person I know. I think it's incredible that you are so willing to befriend anyone, believing that everyone is as pure of heart as you. That is one of the things that makes you not just the best huntress, but the best hero that Remnant will ever see," Peter said to her, making the young huntress smile and look back up at her brother figure. "And trust me, I'm happy to be wrong about them. All I'm saying is, prepare yourself in case they aren't all they seem."

"Okay," Ruby repeated, though with a bit more of a positive tone. "I understand."

Peter smiled and stood at his feet. "What do you think you're doing?" Yang asked.

"Did you really think I was gonna stay here? If I analyze my wound at the lab, extract anything not native to my body, I can figure out what's wrong faster than these doctors can," Peter answered.

"And you didn't do this before, why?" Blake asked.

"Actually, I did, but I didn't have enough time to finalize the results before I collapsed. Now with more hands on deck, I can hopefully fix myself up. Where's BT?"

"He slept in late, so he must still be at the dorm," Ruby said.

"We'll grab him before we head back to the lab," Peter said. "The last thing we need right now is to let him out of our sight."

"You're… leaving?" Weiss asked.

"Yes," Winter replied, setting her tea down. The two Schnee sisters were situated in a common garden area further off from the hustle and bustle of Beacon halls or the front place. Each had a cup of tea in front of them, as well as a large croissant on a platter between them. "I was merely needed to oversee the transition of additional units to Vale. Our last shipment was lost to an ambush. I believe you had a run-in with its cargo, actually. It's fortunate those Paladins were only in the prototype stage, otherwise your team might not have fared so well."

Weiss looked down. Winter had only been here a day, and she was already on her way out. Her family was cold, but ironically enough, Winter was a warm light in her family for her. She was ecstatic to spend even a little time with her, but this felt like too little. Winter spotted her downtrodden look and reached across the table to palm her younger sister's hand. "Weiss… you've done well, out here on your own. You should be proud." Weiss's frown turned to a smile, and she raised her head back up. Winter pulled her hand away and leaned back in her seat, her own formal guard falling now between her and her sibling. "I'll be honest, it was quite amusing seeing Father's face the day you left for Beacon."

"I can't wait to show him what I've learned," Weiss said confidently, crossing her arms.

Winter's eyebrows went up. "Oh? And what do you think you've learned?"

"What do you mean? I've been getting better and better with my glyphs, I've even started time dilation!"

"And what of your summoning?" Winter questioned.

"I-" Weiss started, but she let out a sigh. "You know I can't."

"Don't be ridiculous, every Schnee has the ability to summon. We have for generations."

"I've tried!' Weiss exclaimed. "It's just… It's the one thing I'm having trouble with."

"We Schnee's are unique. Unlike many, our semblance is hereditary. But that doesn't mean that it will come easily. Your semblance is like a muscle," Winter said before opening up her right palm, and in it formed a small glyph identical to Weiss's, "The more you practice with it, the stronger it will become. But if you only focus on one aspect of it, if you fail to test the limits of what you think is possible," The glyph then suddenly expanded in a bright flash, temporarily blinding Weiss. But when she opened her eyes again, behind Winter in a white ethereal form was a Beowulf, standing straight behind her. Weiss stared at it in awe. The Grimm bent down and Winter petted the side of its face gently. "... then you'll never truly grow."

"Well said, if I may say so." The two sisters looked up to see Danny enter the garden. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"

"Oh! Hello Danny!' Weiss greeted cheerfully.

"May I ask who this is?" Winter asked, the friendly Beowulf copy fading away behind her.

"Winter, meet Daniel Rand, another friend of mine and warrior of Vale," Weiss introduced.

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding," Danny apologized.

"We were discussing private matters," Winter frowned.

"Winter, Danny has been personally training as well outside of class," Weiss said.

"I see," Winter replied before eyeing up Danny. "And what qualifies him to do so?"

"I myself was trained from a young age as a warrior, younger than even those that go to combat schools and Huntsmen Academies in cities like Vale and Atlas," Danny said. "I thought it could help Weiss if I gave her some of that knowledge."

"What kind of knowledge?" Winter asked.

"How to calm her soul, and be aware of her surroundings even without her aura, at least to begin with. Lessons are far from finished, but Weiss is a quick learner, and I think it's important that any warrior, whether huntress or soldier, like yourself, have absolute awareness of a battle. One should never let the enemy choose the battlefield; always work from a position of strength."

Winter's frown changed to a small smile. "I'm impressed, Mister Rand. Beacon faculty normally doesn't think as such."

"Oh, I'm not a teacher. Just a friend," Danny said.

"What keeps you from being a teacher?" Winter asked, taking some interest.

"I believe I have much more road to journey before I can consider that, Miss Schnee," Danny chuckled.

"Really? You seem to have much wisdom about you. And surely, if you can teach Weiss your ways, you could teach more."

"I think the difference is that I went to him," Weiss said. "I asked him to teach me so it would be less likely I'd be a liability in battle. I have yet to truly stand out, and I want my chance to do that."

Danny smiled. "I was taught that the best students are the ones that come to you, not the other way around."

"Even more wisdom. You have so much for my sister, what about me?" Winter asked.

"I'm sorry?"

"If you're really 'friends' with Weiss, then you know our family's reputation, and the public image each of us have set with our walks of life, especially my sister and I. What do you say to that?" This caught both Danny and Weiss off guard.

"Winter-" Weiss started to say.

"No, I apologize, that came out wrong. I mean to say, why go out of your way for Weiss given our family's reputation? Much of the world despises us. The only ones chummy with our father and our family's company are other pretentious rich folk."

"Well, 'pretentious' is a strong word, but you're not wrong, us rich folk stick together," Danny said while taking a seat between the two sisters.

"What?"

"Danny runs a company as well, though it's more of a… local company back home," Weiss said, while also lying on Danny's behalf, avoiding mentioning Earth at all.

"But I'm not friends with your sister just because rich stick with rich, I assure you," Danny said defensively. "I'm just as painfully aware as you both, money can make as many problems as it solves."

"How so?" Winter question. Weiss was about to cut her sister off, knowing the bloody backstory of Danny's journey to becoming the Iron Fist and CEO of Rand Enterprises back on his world, but Danny cut her off quickly, starting to answer with almost no hesitation.

"Well, when I was very young, I was in an accident alongside my parents and their business partner, and friend, Harold. Turns out Harold caused the accident, and killed my father himself. After that… Grimm took Harold and my mother. I was left alone until a nearby village took me in, then trained me in the ways of combat," Danny told.

"I… am sorry to hear of your loss," Winter said, "But why tell me this?"

"I'm treating you with respect by showing you who I truly am. I've found that many won't do the same," Danny said before taking a piece of the croissant in front of them and popping it in his mouth.

"I see…" Winter wasn't expecting this kind of answer. He was so upfront, direct. He didn't hesitate to be honest with her. "I appreciate your honesty, Mister Rand."

"Just call me Danny," He smiled.

"Danny," Winter corrected herself. "It seems my sister has found quite the teacher." Weiss relaxed and smiled as well. Winter was a formal and uptight specialist of the Atlas military, only letting the front go when it was just her and Weiss alone. But now she was guessing her sister was beginning to relate to Danny in a similar fashion Weiss herself had; children of wealthy empires with less than glamorous backstories that have dedicated themselves to becoming protectors of the innocent from the evils of their worlds.

"If anything, I've found quite the student," Danny said.

Weiss chuckled a bit before picking up her tea. "Much appreciated."

"A friend once told me it's the first responsibility of father's to paint for their children a beautiful lie to grow up in before introducing them to a harsh reality. I don't think either of our fathers ever did that for us."

"I suppose not," Winter agreed.

"You both have a legacy to uphold. If what I've heard about Jacques Schnee is true, he's not half the man you both are. It was difficult to uphold my family's legacy with no blood of my own left, but you have each other," Danny pointed out. "It won't be easy, but I know you'll both ensure your father won't be the end of your legacy. After you, the Schnees will go from being remembered as 'pretentious rich folk' to the strongest warrior family on the planet."

"You have a way with words, don't you Danny?" Weiss smiled.

"So it seems," Winter said.

Danny's scroll rang and he quickly stood up. "Sorry, I have to take this. Be right back." Danny walked away from the table to answer.

"You have gathered quite characters as your friends, Weiss," Winter said with a small smile.

"So you like Danny?" Weiss asked.

"I must admit, he makes an impression. His story mirrors ours so strongly as well. It's… uncanny," Winter chuckled.

"So… yes?" Weiss asked.

"I think I do. I'm glad you're learning from someone seemingly so capable. And, admittedly, handsome," Winter smirked before sipping her tea.

Weiss nearly spit out her own drink. "W-Winter!"

Winter laughed, a more full smile coming to her face. "Tell me I'm wrong." Weiss frowned at this.

"Unbelievable."

"I'm kidding, Weiss. Mostly. Besides, I am far too busy for men right now."

Danny came back and pocketed his scroll. "I apologize, but I have to go. It was a pleasure meeting you, Winter." Danny put his hand out and Winter shook it firmly.

"You as well, Danny. I do hope we can meet again someday," Winter said. Danny nodded back with a smile before turning and leaving the sisters behind in the gardens. Winter then turned to Weiss. "So, let's practice those summons of yours."

"Wait, now?" Weiss asked.

"Is there a problem with that?" Winter raised an eyebrow.

"N-No! Of course not," Weiss replied, quickly standing up and unsheathing Myrtenaster. She stood next to her sister and closed her eyes before aiming her sword out downward in front of her. One of her glyphs formed in the center of the canopy, and Weiss did her best to focus.

"Excellent form. Now think to your fallen foes, the ones that forced you to push yourself past who you were and become who you are now. Think of them, and watch as they come to your side," Winter said. Weiss was truly focusing, putting the effort in, but her glyph was blinking in and out of existence. She was becoming frustrated, impatient. This kind of attitude led the glyph to shrink and shrink until Weiss finally let it go.

"I can't!" Weiss exclaimed. Winter's hand met the back of her head.

"Stop doubting yourself!" Winter commanded.

"I'm trying!"

"If this is what you call trying, you have no hope of winning the tournament, let alone succeeding as a huntress. Why don't you just move back home? I'm sure Father would give you a nice job as a receptionist," Winter stressed.

"I don't need his charity," Weiss frowned.

"But you do need his money, don't you?" Winter smirked.

"What?! How did you know about that?" Weiss questioned.

"Lucky guess," Winter answered. "I may have been in a similar situation when I joined the military. So what have you done this time?" Winter then put her hands behind her back and walked around behind her sister.

"Well, that's the thing, I'm really not sure… I went to pay for lunch the other day, but my card didn't work."

"How embarrassing," Winter said sarcastically.

"I know!" Weiss said, turning around to see her sister with a neutral expression. "Well, it was. Why would he cut me off like that?"

"Perhaps so you'd stop avoiding him and call home," Winter suggested. Weiss frowned as that realization dawned on her, and she instantly snapped back into the spot and created another on the floor before them, her fury being tie dto her focus on creation.

Winter's hand fell onto Weiss's left shoulder. Weiss's fury quickly fell away as her sister anchored her. "Emotions can grant you strength, but you must never let them overpower you." Weiss sighed and let the glyph go before facing her sister again. "It sounds to me like you have two choices in front of you: You can call him, beg for his money back, and explain once again why you chose to study at Beacon over Atlas, or… you could continue to explore Remnant, discovering more about the world and, honestly? More about yourself." Weiss felt the words sink and slightly lowered her vision from her older sister's eyeline.

Winter sympathized with her younger sister, having to learn these lessons on her own. But she was here to help her, to make things easier for her. She pulled her hand off of Weiss's shoulder slowly. "It's time for me to go." Weiss looked back up at her, then Winter pulled her into a tender hug that she gratefully returned, a smile growing on her lips

"It was really good to see you, Winter," Weiss said softly as she pulled away.

"Until next time, sister," Winter smiled back. The two exited the gardens together before splitting off in their own directions. Unbeknownst to both of them where the glyph had been, lodged into the stone, was a small white blade that soon faded away.

"You'll never beat me, old man!" Ruby exclaimed.

"You're nothin, but talk, kid," Qrow smirked.

"You can do it, Ruby!" Yang cheered her sister on.

The health bar on Ruby's character in the game before them was depleted, signifying Qrow's victory over his young niece. The young huntress hung her head in defeat.

"By the way, don't ever call me old," Qrow said. Yang then quickly shoved her sister to the side and took the scroll in her hands.

"Okay, my turn!" She proclaimed.

"Now, where was I…?" Qrow said.

"You were telling us about your last mission!" Ruby exclaimed excitedly.

"Right right… Logan and I come across a small village in the swamps West of Mistral. Right off the bat, I knew somethin' wasn't right."

"What were you doing there?' Ruby asked in anticipation.

"I needed information," Qrow answered, "Tired from battling Grimm along the way, I decided to start my search at the town's inn. That place was crawling with lowlives and thugs, even a few Huntsmen that I can only assume had been hired by less than reputable people for less than respectable jobs. And that's when it happened…"

"What happened?' Yang asked.

"I was defeated by the mere sight… of the innkeeper's skirt length!" Qrow smirked. Yang threw a pillow directly for his head, which he dropped his scroll to catch, since he'd already won the match in the game.

"You are the worst!" Yang cried in disgust and disbelief. Qrow looked at Ruby, and both of them started cracking up in laughter.

"Best two out of three?" He asked Yang.

"So, Uncle Qrow," Ruby said, "did you get in trouble with Ozpin?"

Qrow answered, "Nah, me and Oz go way 're cool."

"Cool for an old guy," Yang chuckled.

"Not funny," Qrow deadpanned.

"Hey, so, what are you doing here anyways?" Ruby asked. "I thought Dad said you'd be away on a mission for, like, ever."

"Well, a professional huntsman like myself is expected to get results as soon as possible."

"Yeah, I get that. We're pretty much pros too," Ruby smiled confidently.

"Oh really?" Qrow questioned.

"Pssh, yeah! Read the news sometime. We totally saved Vale while you were gone," Yang added.

"Funny, because I heard Vale suffered a Grimm attack after you almost managed to stop a train," Qrow said before beating Yang at the game again, causing her to throw her hand sup in frustration. "But they don't give out medals for 'almost'."

"They do, and they're called silver!" Ruby countered.

"Well we helped take down Roman Torchwick. He's locked up in Ironwood's ship and crime's been down ever since. That's basically a bounty mission," Yang said.

"Sure, you may be acting like huntresses, but you're not thinking like one. You really think four girls and their superhero friends could end all crime in the kingdom?"

"I mean, I did until you said that…" Ruby replied, sounding defeated. "Wait, you know about-"

"Kid, I've been with one of them for the past few months. Logan and I saw the news from across the world. He filled me in on them after we met, and Oz caught me up to speed. I know how you all and Peter Parker have spent your nights, and it doesn't seem like any of you kids have caught on," Qrow said sternly. "Violence hasn't dropped since Roman got nabbed, it's stopped. Completely. No White Fang activity anywhere around the city. You cut off the head of a King Taijitu, but now the second head's calling the shots, and I don't think it's this Taskmaster punk. I think he's just an enforcer. That's what Ironwood can't get through that thick metal head of his."

"You… know the General?" Yang asked.

"Hey, I know everybody to some extent. Remember, you're talking to a member of the coolest team to ever graduate Beacon!" Qrow pulled out a photo from his pocket and unfolded it in front of them. It was Team STRQ in their younger days. Yang stared intently at the photo of her mother, Raven. "Ahh, Team STRQ. That's when I met your parents. We were pretty well known back in the day."

"Well known for crummy fashion sense," Ruby smirked.

"Hey, we looked good!" Qrow replied. "And I have a number of inappropriate stories that'll back that up." Qrow looked from his younger niece to his older one, finally noticing Yang's glare at the photo. He realized it's reason and quickly took it out of sight and folded it back into his pocket, breaking Yang from her stupor, and stood up to his full height. "But I'll save those for when you're older."

"Ugh! Gross!" Ruby shook her head in a grossed out way.

"Anyway, I'm too old to be hanging out with a bunch of kids," He smiled as he headed for the door. "You're gonna cramp my style." He stopped at the door though and turned back around to face his nieces. "Look, just remember that you've still got a long way to go, and don't think for a second that graduating means you're done. Every day out there is worth a week in this place. You two, you're gonna go far, but only if you keep learning, if you never stop moving forward." Qrow then left the dorm, turning the corner and disappearing from sight.

"What do you think that was about?" Yang asked her sister.

"I dunno," Yang replied, "But it's getting late. We should go get BT and get him back here for the night."

Taiyang pulled his truck up to his home just as the sun was setting on the horizon and the moon was taking its place high above. He took the keys from the ignition and exited out his driver side door. He strolled up to his porch and started to unlock the front door.

"Tai…" A woman's voice said. He froze instantly, his key in the lock, halfway turned. He knew that voice. He never thought he'd hear it again. He slowly turned around to see Raven at the bottom of the porch stairs, her arms uncomfortably crossed and bags under her eyes. She quickly looked away, not meeting his eyes. She couldn't.

"R-Raven…?" Tai quivered, dropping his keys to the porch.

"Can… can we talk?"

Peter wrote down a few notes on the paper before putting a small block in his mouth, between his top and bottom teeth. "Alright, hit me!" He said. BT took a trigger shot into his hand before pressing it against Peter's wounded arm and pulled the trigger. "Ow!" Pete shook his arm and spat the block out. "Man, needles are never fun. Results, Blake?"

Blake was over at a monitor across the lab, looking at a display of Peter's bloodstream. "Foreign contaminants are dissolving. Some of them at least," She said. Peter looked again to the blackened wound, and some of the blackness receded, the strangeness of it less severe.

"Not a cure, but we're moving in the right direction," Peter noted.

"How bad could this have been?" BT asked.

"Much worse, if I had to guess. If we can hold it off long enough, I can fix it. Just need more time…" Peter said, rubbing his head. "I feel a migraine coming on."

"Hey, I didn't stop trying to kill you just for you to die on me anyway, Parker," BT said, making an attempt at a joke.

"I don't know whether to be flattered or threatened, but I get the sentiment. It's getting late, we should get you back to the dorm while no one's out and about. The last thing we need is you getting caught." A knock came at the door, and Blake went over to get it. Peter's migraine started to feel more intense. He looked up and saw the rest of Team RWBY entering, but the sound around him now seemed muffled, muted. He had to focus to hear anything.

"... it makes me wonder how Velvet felt. Coco and Yatsu fought real hard." Yang was discussing the tournament match that morning, Peter figured. His hearing dulled again and he tried to focus his mind, get his bearings again. He didn't know how long hsi senses were dulled, but they eventually came back when Weiss was trying to get his attention.

"Peter!" She exclaimed, as if she'd been calling his name multiple times.

"Hm? Sorry, I'm not all here right now…" Peter apologized. "What did you say?"

"I asked if we're done here for the night. You need some rest too," Weiss said.

"Uh… yeah, we're done. Sorry," Peter apologized again. "You guys go on and take BT. That serum is starting to kick my butt a little, but I'll make my way to my dorm just fine. You guys put the one-month-old to bed."

"Very funny," BT deadpanned.

"Oh! He's getting cranky!" Peter chuckled.

"I'll show you cranky, Parker…" BT muttered.

"Let's go, BT," Ruby said. The others went ahead for the exit, but Blake quickly took Peter's side.

"Peter…" She said in a cautious tone.

"Blake, I know. I just need these side effects to wear off, then I can head that way," Peter said. Blake didn't seem fully convinced.

"You promise a lot of things, Pete. And then you end up in the medical wing," Blake narrowed her eyes.

"If it makes you feel better, you can come back for me when BT is settled," Peter said.

"Or I can just stay here until you're ready," Blake said.

"Listen, we can't risk BT. I'd feel better if you were all with him getting him across campus. Please, Blake…"

Blake glared at him, then let out a heavy sigh. "Fine." She stepped away and began to follow, and Peter then felt her fingers pull away from his hand. He didn't even realize she had started holding his hand in the first place. The lab door slammed behind her, and he sighed, feeling guilty for angering her. He sat down to let the migraine pass.

The group was already halfway across campus, making their way towards Team RWBY's dorm room in the darkness of night, when they finally started to express more concern.

"I hope Peter is gonna be ok," BT said in concern.

"Yeah, me too. It seemed like he was doing better, but… I'm just worried," Ruby agreed.

"Peter's strong," Weiss said, "He'll make it through this."

"Is that why he left the hospital room?" A familiar voice said. They all froze instantly and turned to see Matt behind them, with the other three Defenders just behind. "And why you all helped him do it?"

"Oh, oh, Matt! Er- Professor Murdock-! Er… how are you today?" Ruby tried to cover. Yang quickly put BT behind herself, which didn't go unnoticed by the superheroes.

"Who's that?" Jessica questioned.

"A friend," Yang said. "Kind of… shy?"

"That doesn't answer the question," Jessica said.

"He kinda looks like Peter…" Luke noted.

"Yes, except they just spoke like Peter is, I assume, back at his lab, which is where we were going until we saw you five," Matt said. "So Yang, we're going to ask again, and remember that I know when you're lying. So… Who. Is. That?"

"He's uh…" Yang started, but BT slowly stepped out from behind her.

"What are you doing?" Blake questioned, but BT ignored her.

"My name is… Black Tarantula," BT shivered repeating his old name.

"Wait, you're that knock-off spider man from the night at Junior's!' Jessica exclaimed.

"What?!" Luke furrowed his brow.

"And you bear a certain resemblance to Peter Parker," Danny added.

"I…" BT looked at all the huntresses with uncertainty, but knew now that the cat was out of the bag. If it had been just another student or even a teacher, they could have lied their way through it. But with heroes who knew Peter very well? They wouldn't buy that BT was him. Besides, these were heroes, not Taskmaster. He had to come clean. "I am a genetic replica of Peter Parker, created by Taskmaster and the Tinkerer."

"For what purpose?" Matt asked.

"It doesn't matter, he left them behind!" Blake defended.

"For what purpose?" Matt repeated.

"To… To kill Spider-Man. To kill Peter Parker," BT answered with a shudder. "At least… it was."

"You killed the Prowler, Aaron Davis," Matt said.

"I didn't mean to! A-And once I did, I ran! I couldn't do it anymore!" BT cried.

"Hey, it's alright," Weiss said, gently patting BT's arm.

"You've kept this secret from us for how long now?" Luke questioned.

"Since after Jessica was sent to the hospital by Taskmaster," Blake answered.

"When BT tried to run, they sent that zappy guy to kill him!" Ruby added. "Penny saved him and brought him to us! We've been trying to keep him safe from Taskmaster ever since."

"And were you ever going to tell us?" Matt asked. No answer came, which of course was an answer in itself. "I'm not angry, girls. You saw a chance to redeem and protect a person, and you took it. That's what good people do. But that doesn't change the fact that there is blood on his hands. At the very least, we have to put him under arrest until we figure out how to deal with this." Matt thought he could be harsher, but the circumstances weren't all on his side. They were trying to do the right thing, but vigilantism aside, the law was the law, and needed to be enforced. At the very least, BT needed to be detained.

"I… understand, sir," BT said, looking down.

Matt nodded. "I'm sorry." He started for BT, who didn't move, seeming to accept there was no escaping it. Ruby, Yang and Blake looked away guiltily, thinking this was it.

Weiss had none of it. She quickly put herself between BT and Matt, to both their surprises. "No," She said sternly.

"What?" BT said.

"I'm sorry?" Matt said.

"I said," Weiss drew Myrtenaster and aimed its blade at Matt, who stopped short of its pointy end, "No."

"What do you think you're doing, Weiss?" Danny questioned.

"'I'm treating you with respect by showing you who I truly am'," Weiss answered, quoting Danny from earlier that day. "And who I am is a Huntress, protector of the innocent."

"He isn't innocent, Weiss. He killed a man in the same streets you live in," Luke frowned.

"Against his will," Weiss corrected. "He was made by them for one purpose, an evil purpose, yes. But he broke free from their control and tried to leave it behind because of the wrong he'd done."

"I am not disagreeing with you on that, Weiss, but the fact still remains he is a wanted fugitive. I believe in redemption, I do, and if he is on that path, that is wonderful, but part of redemption is facing the consequences of your actions," Matt said.

"Then he doesn't have to face them alone," Ruby said, firmly taking Weiss's side and taking Crescent Rose off her back and unfolding its large curved blade. "You aren't taking him." Blake and Yang quickly did the same, drawing their weapons and putting BT behind them, guarding him against their own friends and allies.

"Is this what you wanna do, Yang?" Luke asked.

"You went to prison for the wrong reasons once. I won't let the same happen to him," Yang replied.

"Except I didn't do the deed. He did," Luke replied.

"Weiss, please reconsider," Danny begged.

"I stand my ground," Weiss said firmly.

"We all do," Ruby added, taking the head of her team and eyeing Matt down. "We don't want to fight, but we will if you make us." The huntresses banded together, hoping this show of unity would be enough to deter the heroes now. They were friends. Hopefully they would understand.

Matt sighed heavily and collapsed his cane down to its long red handle, then split it apart into the two billy clubs that were his weapon of choice. "Then I guess we don't have a choice," He said.

The huntresses felt their hearts sink lower, but stood firm.

If they had to fight the Defenders to keep BT safe, then so be it.