The streets of Vale around the docks were more crowded than their last trip into the city although this was to be expected with the Vytal festival in the upcoming weeks, it was still rather early in the morning many of the stores had just opened and a group of workers were busy raising a sign at the end of the road Mikael and Amber walked side by side making their way down the sidewalk Mikael had left his Nightingale armor at the academy deciding on the set he had acquired from the Red Barron in hopes of not attracting any unwanted attention or if he encountered the three from the roadside, giving him the upper hand.

"You know I always wanted to come to see the Vytal festival" she said glancing up at the decorations "I've never been able to see it let alone be in the same kingdom until now"

"Remind me what is the Vytal festival?" Mikael said, true he had heard talk among the students about the festival along with some discussion with the other staff but nothing really beyond the tournament.

"The Vytal festival is a celebration of peace between the four kingdoms after the great war, every two years one of the four is chosen to hold the Vytal tournament people from every corner of the globe come to experience their cultures "

"Interesting The last time I saw a celebration even close to this was the festival of Blades" Mikael mused, while Amber looked at him quizzically "The festival is celebrated by the people of Alik'r Desert after the first Redguard victory against a race of giant Goblins, or so the story goes" Mikael stated with a chuckle

"Giant goblins" Amber said giggling slightly. "That sounds rather farfetched"

"Perhaps, but never the less it is still a very popular holiday. The first time I saw it I was there searching for a client the thieves' guild had to collect the payment for a previous job I found the lad piss drunk two day's latter in a barmaid's bed, he had enjoyed the festival to say the least." Mikael said.

"Wow" Amber said her face darkening slightly at the mental image

"Quite" Mikael responded, a moment of silence passed the two a stray thought coming to the front of Amber's mind

"How did you get involved with the Guild?" Amber asked. Mikael stopped for a moment thinking back to his first encounter with one of his closest friends and trusted ally Brynjolf.

"I was young at the time when my journey to slay Alduin had first begun, I needed the aid of a man called Esbern a scholar and former member of the blades who was in hiding beneath Riften during my search I encountered a man by the name of Brynjolf a member of the thieves guild, after a small 'exchange' in the market square he took notice I had a knack for sleight of hand and offered me a place among them along with the promise of information, we met later in the Guilds hideout and in exchange for a few jobs he helped me find the man I was looking for." Mikael explained

"In a way he helped you save your home" Amber said

"In a sense I suppose." Mikael responded as the two continued their journey into the city passing by Mikael found himself glancing at each one, he would never get used to this. The two continued down the sidewalk rounding the corner Mikael came to a stop Amber following suit a few feet ahead

"What is it?" She asked following Mikael's gaze, further down the opposite street a small crowd had gathered around what appeared to be a dust shop, or what was left of one the two approached the scene the damage now visible to them the walls were blackened by fire pieces of melted metal and shards of glass decorated the interior of the store.

outside two officers analyzed the scene, Mikael stared at the scene his face emotionless although one word came to mind describing the scene before him 'Sloppy' He inwardly mused the scene held all the signs of a robbery gone wrong whoever the thief was they were clearly an amateur. This level of destruction would leave the business inoperable for the foreseeable future or perhaps cause it to close completely the owner taking his business elsewhere.

In the guild actions causing this level of destruction would not only cost the thief their payment and then some but also remove a possible area of revenue for the guild, true the Guild was no stranger to damaging property for intimidation purposes, but even that was limited to a small percentage going this far would only be di disastrous for business.

"Excuse me, pardon me" A young voice spoke up as a familiar silver eyed girl in red made her way to the front of the crowd following behind were three other multi colored girls

"Wow, what the heck happened here?" Yang asked as she came to a stop beside her sister, her statement caught the attention of one of the officers at the scene.

Robbery happened, kid" he called out before turning to face his partner " Second dust shop hit this week, this palace is starting to turn into a jungle."

"Doesn't make a lick of sense, they turned this place upside down the dust's gone, but they left all the money behind?" the other man responded, before his partner turned to face him.

"Ya think the White Fang were involved." Two members of the girl's team took notice of this statement, one narrowed her eyes voicing her scorn

"The White Fang" Weiss said in disdain, a large frown present on her face "What a bunch of degenerates" Mikael was not surprised in the least by her anger, the Schnee family had been the primary target of the White Fang's for years, employees, members of the board...family members had been executed by the Faunus group.

But by no part were the Schnee's innocent in all this, there had been much controversy discussing the harsh labor and prejudges that the Faunus under the SDC's employment had been subjected too, the Faunus had every right to be angry that could not be denied, but the actions taken by the white fang was a rather large step in the wrong direction, the more blood they spilled the more hatred they created would only bring more harm to their people, in layman terms they were basically shooting themselves in the foot.

"What is your problem" Blake said her tone neutral despite then anger Mikael could feel the anger buried within.

"My problem?" Weiss began "I simply don't care for the criminally insane"

"The White Fang is hardly a bunch of 're a collection of misguided Faunus.

"Misguided! They want to wipe humanity off the face of the planet" Weiss cried in outrage

"I think you've made your point miss Schnee" The white-haired girl jumped in slight alarm spinning around finding Mikael and Amber approaching their group. "From what I know of the White fang they usually leave markings at the scene to inspire fear in the people, let's try not to throw around accusations without evidence to back it up first "

The heiress grew quiet her face turned a similar red to when they had first spoken "Weiss he does have a point. I mean they never did catch that Torchwick guy" Ruby said

Weiss turned to look to Mikael "With all due respect, it still doesn't change the fact the white Fang are a bunch of scum. Those Faunus only know how to lie cheat and steal" Mikael inwardly sighed he needed to stop this before Miss Belladonna could snap no one else seemed to have noticed but the usual stoic girl was giving an admirable effort to keep herself in check, but Blake's posture showed she was one snide remark from an outburst towards the White-haired girl.

"That not fair Weiss" Yang stepped in before her partner could lash out. "I mean they're not all like..."

"Hey, stop that Faunus!"

The entire group blinked before turning towards one of the piers. Young man effortlessly dodged every attempt that was made to apprehend him

"Thanks for the ride guy's" He said the boy mad blond hair with tanned with a prehensile tail and a rather large disregard for authority as he hung from a lamppost taunting his pursuers, the whole scene was rather amusing although his timing couldn't be any worse, he really didn't need another reason for Weiss to press her argument.

Finally growing tired of his pursuers, the boy leapt off the lamppost landing a few feet away from the surprised group dashing through them throwing a wink at Blake.

"Uh, that was weird..." Ruby said not quite sure what just happened.

"After him!" Weiss cried, Ruby dashing off after her Blake and Yang soon following, Mikael and amber looked at each other in slight confusion

"I have a feeling this is going to become a trend with these girl" Mikael said, the two quickly joined the chase, Mikael watched as the boy abandoned the road leaping up onto lamppost and signs that hung outside stores using his superior agility to his advantage in all honesty he was rather impressed, he could incapacitate the boy with paralysis or a lightning bolt then again this was more interesting along with allowing him to gauge the Faunus boy's abilities in case they happened to cross paths again.

"At this rate we'll lose him professor can't you do something" Weiss called out as they ran through the street, Mikael glanced up at the boy at the rate he was currently going any attempt to subdue him with paralysis or a swift lightning bolt to disorientate him would most likely end in property or civilian casualties.

"Not at this distance" Mikael responded.

The young man rounded the corner taking to the rooftops vanishing out of sight, Weiss sprinted ahead of the others rounding the corner and colliding with another girl "Oof" Weiss groaned as she and the other girl toppled over, the distraction allowed the monkey Faunus the chance to escape.

"He got away" Weiss grumbled as the other came to a stop behind her

'Unfortunate, yet not to be un expected' Mikael inwardly mused glancing down at the heiress who currently had another young girl pinned beneath her.

"Weiss" Amber said the heiress looked down at the girl she had unexpectedly crashed into greeted by her smiling face yelping in surprise Weiss leapt up off her.

The girl had bright green eyes and curly orange hair with a pink bow she wore a white blouse, compared to the others one could consider her attire somewhat old-fashioned. She stared up at them with a cheerful expression

"Sal-u-tations!" She said from her still prone position.

"Uh... hello" Ruby said hesitantly

"Are you alright" Yang asked wondering about the strange girl

"I am wonderful! Thank you for asking" She replied remaining in her position on the pavement earning some strange look's and a raised eyebrow from those around her.

'She certainly is a strange one' Mikael thought, there was something off about this one. Never the less Mikael approached her and held out a hand.

She stared at it quizzically for a moment seemingly confused by his actions, before her eye's widened in realization reaching out and excepting the offer pulling herself up to her feat, she dusted herself off looking up to the Nightingale

"While it may not have been necessary thank you for your assistance."

"Think nothing of it" Mikael replied, glancing down at the girl he clenched his hand for a moment, despite her small size there was some weight to her.

"Umm" Ruby began uncertain of her action "Sorry about that. Are you ok."

"I am fantastic! Thank you for your concern "The ginger said " My name is Penny. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Ruby stepped forward introducing herself, "Hi Penny, I'm Ruby"

"Weiss"

"Blake"

"Are you sure you didn't hit your head" Yang asked, Blake swiftly struck her in the chest "Ow! I'm Yang."

"Mikael"

"Amber"

"A pleasure to meet you" Penny repeated not losing her smile.

"Didn't you already say that" Amber said

Penny paused for a moment in thought ", So I did!" A tense moment of awkward silence followed, Mikael glanced over to Amber who simply shrugged Penny continued to smile brightly despite the somewhat uncomfortable scene.

"Well...as amusing as this all was "Weiss interjected "We really must be going"

"Uhh right" Ruby said uncertainly as she and the others began to walk off "Take care, friend" Ruby called out over her shoulder as she and the other continued down their own path, Mikael glanced once more at the girl who seemed frozen in somewhat shock.

They had taken a few steps away from their encounter before Yang spoke up "She was... weird."

Weiss shook her head "Now where did that Faunas riff-raff run off to?" Only to stop cold alongside the others as a familiar ginger haired girl stood in front of them.

"What in oblivion." Mikael muttered

Amber looked back to where the girl once stood and then back her mind still trying to comprehend what had just happened "I... how... the...what!" she stuttered staring at the orange haired girl in confusion.

"What did you call me" The girl said in a rather serious tone. The heiress spun her head back and forth similar to Amber trying to understand how the girls unnatural speed even compared to Ruby's own semblance was possible, all the while yang stumbled to form an apology "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't think you heard me."

Penny shook her head "Not you" she walked past Yang pointing directly at Ruby "You."

"Me" Ruby squeaked while her mind was desperately trying to understand what she had done wrong to upset the girl

"You called me 'friend'" Penny clarified "Am I really your friend?"

"Uuuuuuuuumm" Ruby glanced over to the others Weiss Yang and Blake each shook their heads and waved their arms 'No' Ruby glanced over to Amber who simply stared at penny in confusion finally turning to the Mikael he glanced to Penny raising an eyebrow before turning his head to Ruby giving her a look as if saying 'It's your call'

"Sure" Ruby said her teammates instantly face palmed while penny looked nothing short of ecstatic.

"Sensational! We can paint our nails and try on new cloths and talk about cute boy's "Penny rambled on while Ruby leaned in towards Weiss " Is this what it was like when you met me."

"No" The heiress said, "She seems FAR more coordinated"

"Sooo, what are you doing here in Vale" Yang ventured

"I'm here to fight in the tournament." Penny stated

"Wait, your here to fight in the tournament?" Weiss asked, believing she had misheard the girl

"Forgive me, but you hardly look the part" Weiss said

"You're wearing a skirt" Yang said

"It's a combat skirt! " Weiss said, Ruby slid up to her in agreement the two high-fived before Weiss realized something "Wait a minute" She walked up placing her hands in Penny's shoulders "If your here for the tournament, does that mean you know that monkey tailed rapscallion that passed through here "she said

"Here we go again." Amber muttered exasperated, their little argument was even starting to test Mikael's patience.

Penny tilted her head "Who?"

"That filthy Faunus from the boat!" Weiss said holding up a crudely drawn picture of the young man.

"Why do you keep saying that?" Blake shouted having heard enough" Stop calling him a rapscallion! Stop calling him a degenerate! he's a person"

"Oh, I'm sorry" Weiss said mockingly "Would you like me to stop calling a trash can a trash can. or a lamp post a lamp post while we're at it?"

"Stop that!" Blake shouted unable to keep her emotions at bay any further.

"Stop what?! He clearly broke the law! Give him time. He'll probably join up with those other Faunus in the white fang."

"You, ignorant little brat!"

"How dare you!?"

The argument quickly descended into a shouting match between the two.

"That's enough both of you!" Silence fell upon the group, the two girls staring at the source of the voice. Mikael pinched the bridge of his nose "The two of you need to stop this immediately." Mikael's voice was cold and commanding

"Miss Schnee" Weiss stiffened as Mikael turned his head his cold blue eye's staring at the white-haired girl "I understand your feelings towards the White Fang and what they have done to your family I can understand and even sympathies with you. "Weiss looked to Blake with a triumphant smirk which instantly vanished at his next words

"But you cannot be so blind as to believe you family is innocent in this matter either, judging an entire race for the actions of a select few is an incredibly short sighted and bigoted view. Tell me would you have condemned the children who have sought no harm towards you because of the actions of the White Fang."

The heiress looked downcast at his words.

"Miss Belladonna "Mikael began." I once again understand and sympathies with you, but attempting to defend a group that has proven time and time again the length they are willing to go for what they want to achieve" Mikael sighed heavily " I respect the White Fangs goal for equality but even you have to realize their actions are less the justifiable and continuing to defend them is foolhardy." Blake's eyes trailed to the floor refusing to look the Nightingale in the eye Mikael sighed regaining his calm demeanor he turned to Ruby

"Perhaps it would be best if you take your teammates back to Beacon to calm down before this escalates any further then it needs too" Mikael said as he gestured to the small group of people that had stopped and had been watching the whole scene making it rather uncomfortable, a wave of understanding washed over her as Ruby nodded

"Maybe we should start heading back" Ruby whispered to Yang who had also taken noticed of the multiple eyes staring at them

"Yeah" Yang said "Maybe we should let them cool down before this gets any worse" Yang said

While the two didn't respond verbally as they watched the group go, Amber and Mikael doubted that reality. Anger like the kind the girls had displayed was not easily quelled he could only hope the two would sort this mess out peacefully.

/

Mikael and Amber had returned to Beacon late in the evening the sun had already set the shattered moon hanging above in the star lit sky. The two had taken some extra time to take their mind of the debacle from that morning it had been rather pleasant leading up till now. Amber and Mikael disembarked from the bullhead making their way back towards the academy but even at this distance they were instantly made aware of the yelling coming from the student dormitory.

"There still at it?" Amber questioned as the two walked down the hall Mikael having changed back into his Nightingale armor.

"You know why miss Belladonna would be so passionate with her argument" Mikael said

"I know, but they're both letting things get out of hand" Amber said

"Either way this may only end badly for both of them." Mikael responded

The voices continued to get louder as they made their way down to the dorm room arriving outside the door they could hear the argument more clearly. knocking on the door a certain blond brawler answers "Hey teach" Yang greeted

"May we come in?" Mikael asked Yang stood aside allowing the two professors entry to witness the verbal battle between the two girls.

"You do realize your defending an organization that hates humanity, don't you?" Weiss said doing little to contain her outrage" The Faunus of the White Fang are pure evil!"

Blake stood up from the position on the bed "There's no such thing as pure evil! Why do you think they hate humanity so much? It's because of people like Cardin, people like you, that force the White Fang to take such drastic measures."

"People like ME!?" Weiss said in shock.

"You're a discriminator" Blake said

"I'm a victim!" Weiss cried out the whole room falling into silence "You want to know why I despise the White Fang? Why I particularly don't trust the Faunus? It's because they've been at war with my family for years"

Weiss turned looking out the window into the Night sky "War as in actual bloodshed. My grandfather's company has had a target painted across it's back for as long as I can remember. And ever since I was a child, I've watched family friends disappear. Board members, executed. An entire train car full of dust, stolen. And every day my father would come home furious and that made for a VERY difficult childhood."

Ruby approached her partner laying her hand out intent on comforting the white-haired girl "Weiss I-"

"No!" The heiress shouted spinning around glaring at Blake "You want to know why I despise the White Fang!? It's because their nothing but liars, thieves and murderers!"

"WELL MAYBE WE WE'RE JUST TIRED OF BEING PUSHED AROUND"

The silence that filled the room was practically suffocating. All eye's focused in on Blake her eye's glancing around the room only to widen in horror when she noticed Mikael and Amber present at the back of the room "I...I..."

She ran

"Blake wait, come back!" Ruby yelled hot on her friends heels Mikael Amber and Yang close behind her leaving Weiss alone in their room. In the hallway there was no sign of the Raven-haired girl "We need to find her, split up!" Yang to the library, Mikael to the rooftops Amber to the auditorium and Ruby to the courtyard.

Mikael arrived at the rooftop overlooking the academy he glanced around his eye's scanning every shadow for the Faunus girl Mikael sighed deeply stepping towards the edge his eye's scanned over the school ground's then he saw her Blake accompanied by the same young man from Vale were boarding a Bullhead together, just as Ruby arrived in the courtyard bellow the red reaper caught a glimpse of her friend sprinting towards the port as the Bullhead disembarked.

"Damn" Mikael said his fist tightening, as he watched the cursed aircraft headed towards Vale. a subtle chuckle emanated from behind him one he recognized and loathed "Have you come to taunt me demon" Mikael said

"You thin so low of me Champion" Mora mused "Dragonborn, I merely wish to make note of your progress, it has been most impressive" The Daedric prince examined the surrounding buildings focusing on the tower in the center of the school the large golden eye narrowing as he gave a small guttural laugh" Most impressive indeed, even here you find yourself drawn to a place of knowledge…and power."

"Do you expect some sort of praise? If not then leave you have exhausted my patience, and I have more pressing matters to deal with." Mikael turned towards the door leading back into the school

"The Belladonna girl" Mora's voice was almost mocking Mikael stopped turning to face the demon looking upon the mass of lack tendrils.

"What do you know of her?" Mikael demanded

"As I have said I have been watching and the others your beloved Amber included." Mora's eye narrowed, Mikael growled slightly as he looked at the prince of Fate "Their fate as well as your own are... intertwined, they are of value."

"Explain" Mikael said

The daedric prince chuckled his large golden eye focusing on the courtyard bellow on a certain Yong rose who had begun walking back to her dorm most likely to inform her teammates what had transpired "Tell me Dragonborn even you must sense it... the power that lies within her."

Mikael's head snapped towards the Daedra the temperature seemed to have risen slightly "Listen and listen well, I will make one thing clear to you Mora, if you bring harm to her or attempt to twist that girl into one of your puppets then you will answer to me." Mikael said his eye's blazing.

The Golden eye narrowed into what Mikael could assume was a smirk as Mora let loose a guttural laugh "So be it, I will be watching Dragonborn" The dark tendril receded back into the void dissipating into nothingness leaving Mikael alone on the rooftop

'What twisted game are you playing Mora' Mikael thought he turned his head looking back towards Vale his eye's focused on the Bullhead in-rout to the city, he sighed turning away from the edge vanishing from sight.

'To be continued'