"Ren? Are you okay?" Nora walked closer to Ren who is meditating away from Jaune and Pyrrha who were sparring.
Ren's eyes pinched as if forcing himself to meditate.
"Ren?" She heard a sigh.
"I don't know what to say Nora." Nora looked at Ren's conflicted face.
"Just say what you want to say." Nora said as she hugged Ren.
"Plus I'm jere so you're not alone, you can speak with me if you feel lonely!!" Ren smiled as his hand held Nora's.
Ren basked in Nora's embrace unknown to him was that Nora is blushing. She's as red as Pyrrha's hair.
"A-a-a-anyway w-we can always hang out just the two of us if you want! hehe!" She awkwardly laugh.
"Yes we can do it sometimes. Thank you Nora."
"N-no problem!!" Nora looked away only to see Jaune and Pyrrha smiling at them.
"I'm going break your legs!" She mouthed at them.
Only for them to shrug and go back to sparring.
"As of today I'm going to assign you into groups that consisted of people from different teams." Bartholomew Oobleck the History teacher of Beacon said as he sipped coffee from his mug.
"The deadline of this project is the days before the dance with is a month and a half from now." He again sipped from his mug after saying this.
He went through different names that came from different teams.
"Ruby Rose, Emerald Sustrai, Nora Valkyrie, And Pyrrha Nikos."
"Weiss Schnee, Yang Xiao Long, Blake Belladonna, Mercury Black."
"Lie Ren, Cinder Falls, Nestle Mint and Jaune Arc." After saying the following names he continued.
Ren and Jaune went to their group mates, Ren and Jaune looked at each other and gave each other a nod.
"Ren." Jaune gave him a small smile.
"Jaune... forgive me for what I did."
"None of that we're cool. I feel Abit better when you said you were jealous of me." Jaune gave him a smug
"I guess that gave you a bit of confidence boost." Ren chuckled at Jaune.
"Yep, though I still want to apologize for putting you in danger."
"I accept this apology but remember we're a team we face things together Ambushes are included to that everything." Ren sat next to Jaune and just as they were about to continue on talking the Leader of team FEMN walked towards them.
"Hello Jaune Arc and Lie Ren. I'm Cinder Fall it's nice to meet you two." Cinder gave them a charming smile as she held her hand.
"Nice to meet you." Jaune held her hand.
'Such warm hands.' Jaune thought as he shook her hand.
Ren followed after Jaune with a handshake.
"As you have said I'm Lie Ren and forgive me for what I did during the spar." Ren bowed his head in apology.
Cinder only smiled at him.
"No one got hurt so I guess there nothing to apologize for, though next we won't lose." Ren chuckled and let go of her hand.
Then a woman with black hair with green strips and mint green eyes step forward.
On her hand is a scroll.
Hello! I'm Nestle Mint! Nice to meet you two! Ren and Jaune saw what was written in the scroll.
"Nice to meet you Mint." Jaune greeted Ren gave her a nod.
"Is she?"
"Mint is mute, that's the reason why she was sent here late, that and because she forgot to do some of the exams." Cinder answered.
"Oohhhh."
"Shall we start this group session now?" Cinder said as she smiled at them.
"Sure let us do that, the project that Professor Oobleck gave us is about our understanding of Aura." Jaune said as he took look at his scroll.
"Woah he even included some research materials that we can use" Jaune kept scrolling down.
"That's...a lot." Ren added as he saw Jaune scrolling down.
"It's not like we're going to be making a research paper right?" Jaune's nervously asked his group mates.
...
A soulless body of Jaune Arc and Nestle Mint lay on the table of the library Infront of them are the mountain of books.
"I've seen my fair share of paper but this. This is too much." Jaune muttered as he looked at the fine looking Ren and Cinder.
"How are you two holding up?!" He spoke only for Cinder to jolt awake and look around and for Ren turn a page.
She was sleeping with her eyes open!! Mint's expression turned into surprise as she put her scroll Infront of Jaune.
"Wait she was?!" Jaune and Mint looked at Cinder who acted dignified.
"Ehem." They both paused as Cinder looked at them. Her smile is not one that is happy.
Sorry. Mint wrote in her scroll.
"She's scary." Jaune whispered to Mint.
Mint nods her head in agreement.
They then heard a closing of a book. Ren had finished reading.
"Done, we can start doing the project now so that we can put our focus on the dance." Ren said as the others looked at him in astonishment.
"How was it?" Cinder asked her teammates.
"Pyrrha Nikos is the best example of a perfect girl. Strong, caring, kind but she's too soft even with her strength." Emerald answered.
"Ruby Rose is a prodigy with silver eyes she has the skills but she's too naive, always believing on what is right and just."
"Last but not least is Nora Valkyrie a walking time bomb. I'd say She's one of the most destructive out of the three I'd say that we should choose her as a target but she's so unpredictable that I advice not to target her or her teammates." Emerald added as she shivered when she asked about Ren, the look that Nora gave her made her body freeze on the spot.
"I see. What about you Mercury?"
"Some blonde goody-two shoes with an anger management issue, and an anti social ex-terrorist and a arrogant brat." Mercury said.
"If you're thinking of causing negativity then I'd say Blonde is the best bet since the anti social is too alert and guarded especially if it isn't from team JNPR or RWBY while the Schnee is too controlled and knows how to act."
"Good work Mercury." Hearing this Mercury gave Emerald a smug smile.
"What about you boss?" Cinder and Mint/Neo perked up.
Jaune Arc is unknown to be honest, sometimes he's acting goofy and playing and joking with us but often times he's so serious. Too many unknown variables on him, not only that but from what I've heard he has one of the strongest semblance here. They saw what Neo wrote.
"What is his semblance?"
Wind Control, Aero Kinesis, Wind Manipulation student gave it too many names but the idea is that he can use wind to enhance his or his teammates attacks or use it as a distraction or as an attack or as a defense. Basically a super versatile semblance.
Emerald, Mercury and even Cinder fell silent at this.
And not to mention his control, I had to hire someone to hack the recordings during the initiation they found this. She showed them the video of Jaune commanding the seven people while fighting a Deathstalker and while also supporting each and everyone of those people.
He can command and support at the same time while fighting. I'd say he's as dangerous as Lie Ren who is a man with 2 semblance btw 0-0 She added.
"So what you're saying is that Team JNPR is much dangerous than Team RWBY?" Mercury asked to which Neo only nodded.
"That means we can't assassinate any of them, all we can do is to have them make some mistakes or make some plans that will put them out of commission when we execute our plan." Cinder said.
"Assassination will only put us on a dangerous position especially since Team JNPR is much capable than Team RWBY but if we remove Team RWBY then Team JNPR will hunt us down and vice versa which will put only our plans into jeopardy."
"I'd say our top priority is to spread the virus first boss. The rest can go during the Vytal Festival." Mercury suggested.
"I can use my semblance to cause some problems for their teams during the event." Emerald added.
"I agree with this, Neo keep an eye on them for now, more specifically Lie Ren and Jaune Arc." Cinder narrowed her eyes at the mismatched eyes.
Who only raise a brow at her and sighed.
"Sooooooo... Who are you going with?" Nora went close to Jaune as he ate his breakfast.
"On?"
"The Vytal dance it's going to happen this weekend."
"I kinda forgot to ask someone." Jaune answered.
"Oh."
"Well I can just go and ask Ruby but If she doesn't want to attend then I'll just go alone." Jaune glanced at the girl who was shaking her head and pulling away from her sister.
"How about Pyrrha? Have you ask Pyrrha?"
"I mean isn't Pyrrha a champion of some sort of tournament? I bet many has asked her already."
Nora face palmed as she heard this.
"You're just as dense as Ren." She muttered.
"Did you say something?" Ren who was minding his own business asked.
"Nothing!" Immediately retorted She then turn to Jaune
"As your Pancake master I order you to ask Pyrrha to accompany you to the dance!!" She pointed at Jaune.
"...Alright then."
...
Jaune looked at Pyrrha who was communicating with Ruby and Weiss.
'Here goes nothing.' Jaune moved
"Uh hey! Pyr. I...Have something to ask of you." Ruby looked at Pyrrha and gave a happy smile.
Pyrrha just sat as her eyes widens.
"Um...Pyr?"
"Oh! Uhh sure!!" She accepted abit giggly and excited.
They then walked out of the cafeteria people looked at the door as they left.
"I bet a hundred lien that it's about the dance." Both Yang and Nora said
"I bet fifty lien that it's about training" someone answered and people followed suit Weiss just shook her head and face palmed at the development.
...
"Pyr can you be my partner during the dance?"
"Yes!" Jaune was shocked at her immediate answer.
"Yes." She coughed and calmly said though hiding her embarrassed expression with her hand.
Jaune looked at her.
"Great! I hope we can have some fun in the dance!" Jaune smiled at her as he waved her a goodbye, Pyrrha unconsciously gave a wave back.
Pyrrha was woken by a loud "Damn it!" and groans and a happy screech?
A lightning fast slashes hit a training dummy as Ren stood behind it.
'I need to refine it some more.' Ren looked at the sword that he was holding.
It was a standard weapon made for students who are trying to practice different weapon or lost their main weapon and need something as a temporary replacement.
It's blade was sharp and it's made of strong metal but now the said blade has chips and cracks and a jagged edges due to the overload of electricity it faced.
"I'm gonna have to pay for this aren't I?" He muttered as he put the blade down softly on the ground as he meditated.
The Musou no Hitotachi one of the greatest sword technique of the otherworld.
A very strong sword technique that is said to be able to slay even gods.
'But even after seeing it in Rai's memories I can't pinpoint what I need to improve on. The technique seemed simple, it's just fast slashes but how many? Rai's body died from the first two slashes but his spirit remained alive until it was pulverized together with his body.' Ren massaged his eyes as he hit another dead end.
Ren stood up and took another blade.
...
Unseen by the naked eye Neo watched as Ren practice.
The way his blade cut the dummy made her shiver in fright not only is his attacks sharp but it's also devastating.
'This is different from the other Huntsmen in training I've fought, one mistake and we might die.'
Slashes went through the dummies as Neo began to imagine a scenario where she or Roman was ever hit by it and it made her shudder.
'I really need to kill him here. If he's alive Roman might die.' Neo thought as she unsheathed the blade of her weapon, Hush.
As she was about to lunged. The blade in Ren's hand moved. Faster than the eyes could see, a loud cry was heard as if thunder was his weapon.
A blade coated with lightning almost hit her. Neo backed away still invisible as she stayed from afar, Neo felt how the blade cut through the air.
"There was nothing? I must be tired." He sighed as he lowered the blade and put it back in its sheath, then he went to the broken blade and went out of the training hall.
Cracks appeared around Neo as she got out of her invisibility.
She gasped and immediately left the room.
'I have to report to Roman and get him out of this mess as soon as possible.' She moved as fast as she could.
"Neo left?" Cinder said as she looked at her companions.
"Seems so, but she left a message." Mercury showed his scroll.
Got something to do brb ;p
"Let her go for now she will be back." Cinder said with confidence.
"But if she didn't? Come back I mean." Mercury said as he leaned back from the bed.
"Will you stop questioning Cinder!" Emerald angrily looked at him.
"Then I'll just have to deal with her after I get what I want here." Cinder gave a menacing glare at Mercury.
"Sheesh I'm just saying what if she's gone and left us behind and roped Torchwick on backing out too?" Mercury put his hands up.
"Then I'll deal with them after this IF they ever betray us." Cinder answered Mercury only rolled his eyes, he then looked at his scroll.
"Neo sent a video. I guess she didn't leave us." He said which made the others perk up.
I'm the scroll they saw Ren's training. With a whistle Mercury watched in amazement.
"That's some strong semblance there, dangerous even." he said as he watch Ren slice the dummy into pieces.
"Kinda unfair." Mercury muttered.
"We really need a plan to incapacitated him and his team especially during the Vytal Festival." Emerald said as she saw the video. They all looked at Cinder who is deep in thought.
"The infiltration will go on. We'll deal with them during the Vytal Tournament." Both her companions nodded.
"For now Mercury will be watching Lie Ren and Jaune Arc since Neo isn't here." Cinder added only for Mercury to groan.
...
Sitting on a couch in one of his safehouse is Roman Torchwick.
'That damned woman won't leave me alone.' He taps his finger on the small table as he smoke his cigar.
Then he saw cracks in the air and sound of glass breaking.
"Neo? What are you doing here?" Roman looked at her.
No time we need to go!! This gig is dangerous!!
"Are hearing yourself? That woman will find us and kill us."
We can still hide and with her eyes set on Beacon I'd have no problem since she will die there.
"What do you mean by that?"
Little Red's Team and the Champion's team are extraordinary Cinder will die fighting them especially if they fight that Ren guy.
"What Ren guy?" Neo showed him the video of Lie Ren training. Roman paused then watched it again and again.
"Are you sure this is a student and not a Hunter in disguise or a teacher?" Neo shook her head.
"Kids are really getting weirder these days." Roman lowered his hat. Remembering Jaune.
"Now I'm really not sure what to do." Roman massaged his forehead.
Well Vale is our home what if we try to contact the authorities?
"Like hell someone would believe us and they still don't know what we're going to use the dust we've gathered for."
We can contact Ozpin?
"And risk myself getting arrested again?" He sighed.
'Wait if it's Ozpin then.' Roman thought.
"Neo get me to Beacon I'd like to have some words with our dear headmaster."
Do I have to like literally guide you there or?
"Just give him a secured scroll one that he can't track." Neo nodded and left the safe house.
"Student Pyrrha Nikos vs Team CRDL(Cardinal)" Deputy headmistress of Beacon announced as the following students went to get their gear.
Students who are watching ready their Scrolls to see any weakness Pyrrha might make or just to record Pyrrha's fight and share it in the social media.
The combatants arrived as Goodwitch asked if they are ready. All of them nodded as the students around then tapped on the record button.
"Alright, all combatants ready. Fight." Dove Bronzewing of team CDRL made the first move by lunging a stab on Pyrrha but she used her shield to redirect it to another direction just as she was about to counter Sky Lark's halberd tried to get her of balance by yanking her Achilles but she dodged it by jumping backwards.
As she landed she immediately mechashifted Milo into a Xiphos(it's sword form) and counter the backstab of Russel Thrush.
As Pyrrha was being distracted by Russel Thrush, Cardin took the opportunity to hit her as hard a he could but Pyrrha saw him coming and managed to put her Shield up.
She then kicked Russel on the abdomen to keep him away from her. Cardin tried to swing at her again on for her to extend Milo into a Javelin and redirect his arm.
Gunshot were heard a Dove used his gun blade to distract Pyrrha again. Pyrrha put her shield up but instead of running or waiting to counter she ran towards Dove ignoring both Sky and Cardin. Her Javelin transformed into a rifle as she shot Dove while running towards him.
Dove seeing Pyrrha's charged ready his sword but Pyrrha threw her shield at him making him block the flying shield she then kicked his torso and neck.
Sky also used his Gun Halberd to try and get Pyrrha off Dove but she used Dove as a human shield turning Dove's already yellow aura level into Red.
She then saw Cardin charging and with a right timing she pushed the Dove towards Cardin who fell back due to Dove's weight.
Russel appeared again and had an exchange with Pyrrha with Sky Lark still shooting at her. Pyrrha again used Sky's teammates as shield while fighting which made Sky stop shooting and opted for Close Quarters.
Russel was easily defeated by Pyrrha and Dove was pulled out of the ring by Goodwitch to keep him safe.
Only Sky and Cardin remains.
Sky tried to copy Ruby's style of attack by shoot behind him to increase his speed. Then he jumped and used his downward momentum and swung towards Pyrrha who anticipated this and used her shield to block the strike though her knees buckled for bit she immediately followed up with a push.
Sky then started losing his center of gravity due to him being on air he tried to get away from Pyrrha only to be hit by a shield to the face and getting ring out.
Cardin growled as he charging again towards Pyrrha only for him to taste the floor as Pyrrha beat him to pulp.
"That's enough!" Goodwitch shouted which made all combatants stop.
...
In the stands Jaune watched as Pyrrha dismantle Team CRDL.
"Sword and shield huh?" he muttered.
"Maybe I should train more on using a sword and a shield, maybe Pyrrha can help me." Jaune's muttering was cut short as Goodwitch called Mercury Black of team FEMN.
"We will now be proceeding on our last fight for today. Miss Blake Belladonna you have been rather docile lately can you please come down here?"
"Teach I want to fight." Glynda sighed but agreed to his request.
"Alright Mr Black. Now then let's pick your opponent." After hearing this Mercury looked around.
"Can I pick who I want to fight?" Glynda was about o reprimand him but she just gave up since it's still about sparring.
"Feel free to pick whoever you want to spar with."
"Thanks" Mercury looked around to see who he's going to fight.
"I pick him." He pointed at Ren.
The Deputy headmistress looked at Ren and asked if he agrees on fighting Mercury.
Ren nodded and went to the lockers to get his equipments.
Mercury looked towards Emerald and gave her a wink. Emerald groaned and rolled her eyes.
"I've been wanting to fight you guys especially since that first spar we had." Mercury smugly said as he saw Ren's arrival.
Everyone looked at the approaching student.
Some have started recording to see how well he will perform.
"It was Nora who knocked you out." Ren said as Stormflower came out of his sleeves.
"Combatants ready!" Goodwitch announced.
As the timer gave it's countdown.
5...4...3...2...1
Mercury used his gun boots to propel himself to the air, then he gave Ren a flying axe kick.
Ren blocked the said kick with the blades of his pistols.
As the boot face Ren Mercury fire a shot which made Ren move his head to the side and for Mercury to reposition.
"Woah you dodged that?!" Mercury said in surprise." Mercury smirked as he tried to swipe Ren's feet but Ren used some sort of footwork to not only dodge the swipe but also counter Mercury with a kick of his own
A simple front kick hit Mercury in the face.
Which stunned him for a second. Ren saw the opening and followed up with a grapple and slammed Mercury to the floor.
Then he kicked Mercury on the side but Mercury blocked the kick with his arms.
Steadying himself as he prevented himself from being ring out again he looked at Ren who is on a his stance.
"Che.." Mercury also made his stance and provoked Ren by doing a beckoning sign.
Ren sighed as he ran towards Mercury with his pistols up Infront of him.
"Hello there, Headmaster." Roman's voice echoed throughout the room.
"Roman Torchwick, to what do I owe this visit?"
"Well I'm just here and there doing 'things'."
"And these 'things' are?"
"Stealing dust here and there for someone." Ozpin raised a brow at this but Roman continued.
"Anyways I'm here as a concerned citizen of Vale. As you have known from my activities I have been stealing dust, I can tell you who I work for but in return, I want me and my men to be under your protection and/or be sent away from Vale quietly without anyone knowing."
"And the reason as to why you're doing this is?"
"Easy, the job is too dangerous for me and my men. As you know I am someone who values my life and those around me more than any material things, that is why I'm putting my hands off this.
I'd do anything to survive and pulling out of a dangerous job is one of them."
"Understandable then may I ask why you're here, meeting me."
"Like I said protection and to give information." This piqued Ozpin's interest.
Roman smiled as he saw Ozpin's expression.
"Got your interest? Do we have a deal?"
Ozpin sighed.
"We have an agreement, Though I hope this information is trustworthy."
"Worry not, It's first hand information that I've managed to gain while working with my former client, Though I hope you can be subtle after hearing this information though I don't want them knowing that I sold them out."
"I'll do the best I can."
"That's great to hear! Now how about a handshake?"
Ozpin looked at Roman at the screen in confusion only to see a hand appear before him.
Qrow who was standing idly immediately put his weapon on the person who appeared.
"You are?" Ozpin looked at the woman Infront of him
"Oh I see you've met Nestle Mint or should I say Neopolitan."
Ozpin looked at Roman again.
"She's also connected to what I'm going to say and worry not I'll answer everything truthfully."
And thus the secret meeting of The Headmaster and the Master thief has begun.
I think this could be a good development. What do you guys think?
As to why I want Roman to live let's just say I may or may not have plans for him in the future and no it's definitely not because I like Roman and Neo nono.
You know what yes that one of the reason but I really have a plan maybe.
Just let me cook.
Anyways Happy New Year everyone!!!
And as always I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
Thank you for reading :D