Chapter 27: Start of Separated Adventures
Pokey shuffled a little as his footsteps thudded against the hard floor of Salem's castle headquarters. The place reeked of eerie settings, dark red and black bricks, and a red storm hovering above.
He could hear the sounds of newly created Grimm emerging from Salem's pools and lurking off to find more trouble, or cause chaos. Hopefully picking off more hunters and huntresses.
He eventually made his way to a door, which very slowly creaked open as he approached it, pointing him in the direction of a large table, Emerald, Mercury both were already standing next to Cinder, who, much to his amazement, had survived the blast of Silver Light from that weird red pipsqueak.
Rhea, was on the far end of the table, where his seat sat across from her, the Saint gave him a wicked looking glare, he swore, everytime he came and looked at her, she looked more and more inhumane and more like the Immaculate one.
In between both Rhea and Cinder, sat another man, Hazel Rainart, who was essentially Salem's hired muscle. He had dark skin and stood at a 6'4 height. He had a large and broad body shape, with short, dark brown hair, and like his name suggested, hazel eyes that reminded him way too much of Moon's nerdy freak friend. Not helped by his wearing of a primarily olive green for a vest.
On his side of the table, there were two more men, the closest to him being Tyrian Callows, a man who's insane mental state rivaled that of his own, perfectly fitting for the Faunus for who took the white fang down such a terroristic route before he was overthrown. Tyrian wore a modest amount of white that covered up most parts of his body, save for the large black scorpion tail that stuck out of him. He had golden eyes and a brown ponytail that he braided to resemble his scorpion tail.
Lastly, Arthur Watts, he was slim figured and slightly tanned skin, he had short black hair with a thick well-groomed mustache and eyebrows. His narrow green eyes gave him a very serious, yet almost arrogant neutral expression. He wore a gray overcoat and pants with yellow linings, a yellow dress shirt and black tie, and red fingerless gloves where you could make out eight strange looking rings on his fingers.
As he walked past Watts and Tyrian, he could feel the glaring eyesight of everyone. He knew very well that, despite all of them working under Salem, the natives of Remnant did not care for him and Rhea. Thankfully, none of them had any say in the matter.
As he took his seat at Salem's round table, he could hear the faint cough from Cinder, making his rotting lip twitch.
"Can I help you?!" He asked dully. "Is there something you'd like to say, little miss prissy maiden? Got something you want to say while your grimm mistress isn't here?"
Cinder's amber eye flashed as she slammed her left arm against the table making a hissing voice at him. Which Pokey, along with everyone else, took a smug sort of satisfaction in seeing, even despite Emerald and Mercury's poorly hidden anger.
"She wouldn't need to, if you had just taken her with you when you fled from Beacon!" Emerald shot back at him. "You could've gotten her killed, which would've defeated the point of obtaining the fall maiden powers! What were you so afraid of anyway? I thought you couldn't die!"
Pokey just chuckled. "Even if your worthless little mommy had perished, Emerald, the maiden powers would've just gone to you anyway. Unless Cinder fucked up and was thinking of the little wannabe warrior."
"Not to mention." Rhea continued, giving Emerald a snarky glare. "Salem has informed you all that mine and Pokey's capture would be far more detrimental to our goal. Because unlike the rest of you, we have to suffer the wrath of our own creations. Even though Pokey is immortal, he can still be injured. Especially now that they know we're here and working with Salem."
"And you're not the least bit concerned about us?!" Mercury scoffed, "Now that those little freaks you've created know the three of us are aligned with you as well, don't you think they'll be just as aggressive with us as you?"
"Maybe not you, to them, you're just a rat." Pokey hissed, before directing his eyesight at Emerald and Cinder. "But for YOU two certainly might want to tread carefully. Directly taunting Moon with the horrific visions of his past just to prevent him from reading your minds and jeopardizing the whole mission because Cinder here couldn't figure out how to block him from reading her thoughts? Horrific visions of specific things that haunt him that I TOLD YOU about? He knows damn well now that you two were fully compliant and informed about him, and Salem's missions."
"Considering how Seteth and Flayn ended up…I truly do pity you." Rhea hissed. "I would've ended up just like them if that traitor Edelgard and Sapphire didn't convince him otherwise."
Emerald and Cinder both gave the two non-Remnant's harsh glares, before they turned their attention to Watts, as he chuckled in a sarcastic way.
"I must implore you to respect the Mistress' two longer time allies, Cinder." Watts said, folding his arms against his chest. "After all, if it wasn't for Pokey's meddling with Qrow when you three had the brilliant idea to attack Autumn, all three of your identities would've been exposed. So, best to keep your…posse, in check."
Mercury growled and went to make a move, before Emerald halted him. As both looked over to Cinder, they watched her furiously slam the table again, her voice still hissing.
"You hear that?" Watts asked, looking at the two. "Silence, I'd have half the mind to thank the little girl who did wreck you so badly in your display of arrogance, now look at you, your hair had to be cut, the entire upper-half of your left body was left eviscerated, and, had it not been for Salem infusing you with that Grimm arm, it's unlikely you'd be able to have recovered and have a chance to continue being useful. Not that you should hurry, I enjoy you now a lot more."
"If I were you…hehe…" Tyrian chuckled in an almost sadistic sounding tone. "I'd go hunt her down…find her…and well…she took your eye…didn't she?" When Cinder just glared in response, the Scorpion Faunus began laughing maniacally.
Emerald leaned into her boss as Cinder began to attempt to whisper to Pokey's best knowledge. However, there was no chance to wait, as the door finally creaked open and Salem stepped in, followed closely by another Seer. The Grimm communicator floated behind Salem, as she stepped to the left side, past Hazel, Cinder, and Rhea. Before stopping at the far end.
"Now Watt's…" Salem said, her voice was calm, yet there was a vague threatening undertone to her. "Do you find such malignance necessary?"
"My apologies ma'am," Watts replied. "I'm just not very fond of failure."
"If that's the case, then I see no reason for your cruelty towards Cinder. She is now our fall maiden, she destroyed Beacon Tower, and, most importantly, she killed dear Ozpin. The world has been taken so aback that the three nation's leaders have all gone into panic mode trying to defend their borders from our little pets. So, I ask you again, why the cruelty."
"Well…what about retrieving your children?" Watts asked. "Were they not part of the plan as well? She and Pokey had two of them, the ones I'd argue you'd actually want the most. Yet they managed to escape."
"That's just a mild inconvenience." Salem replied calmly. "Besides, with all the damage that Oz caused with those unfortunate four that Cinder and Pokey killed trying to take Moon and Sarah out before I could get them first. Our dear little children now have validation that those who are closest to Oz can't be trusted."
"Then what about the girl with Silver eyes? Is she not another problem?" Watts asked.
"I agree…" Everyone looked at Hazel, the first time the man had spoken. "We've dealt with plenty of her kind before Cinder included. How is it that a novice was able to beat her?"
"With the powers I gave to Cinder in order to be able to obtain the maiden powers, brings a crippling weakness to the Silver eyes. Make no mistake, Cinder is still part of the key to our victory. Which is why she will be staying here while she recovers."
Pokey grumbled something, which Salem caught notice of.
"Watts, please go take Cinder's place and meet with our informant in Mistral. Make sure he's still…cooperating…with us."
"Hazel, I need you to go meet with Adam Taurus," Salem continued. "While the leader of the white fang has remained loyal, I question his tolerance. Ensure he doesn't figure out what's going on here."
"And as for you, Tyrian, you and Pokey can continue to look for the Spring mai-"
Salem was cut off by Cinder's sudden rasping voice. Emerald quickly caught on and leaned in so Cinder could mouth whatever it was to her. Upon nodding her head, Emerald backed away.
"Cinder…wants to know…about the silver-eyed girl."
"What about her exactly?" Watts asked. "That sounds like a problem for you, Cinder."
Cinder slammed her grimm arm against the table, which this time, actually rocked back and forth a little bit. Watts just smugly smiled back at her.
Salem simply frowned. "Fine…change of plan. I suppose the Spring Maiden can wait. Tyrian, go find the little silver eyed girl, and bring her to me."
"Alive?" Tyrian asked, tilting his head.
"Yes…alive." Salem retorted. The scorpion Faunus frowned immensely.
The seer faunus next to Salem suddenly began glowing, which Salem glanced over at, her black beady eyes flashed a little.
"Seiros, accompany Tyrian on his search…it appears our little children and their friend are accompanying her. I guess they realized they might need her in case Cinder shows back up. Our children are of no priority, they're of no use without Erick. All I ask is for the girl."
Rhea and Tyrian both looked at each other. Pokey had to admit, given Seiros' new personality and life, that it was certainly a match made in hell…
"And as for YOU Pokey." Salem glared. "You will be staying here with me and Cinder. And I advise that you try and help me out with guiding her recovery."
Ruby shifted her legs on the edge of a balcony. She, along with Moon, Sarah, and Sapphire had stopped off in a local blacksmith's near the edge of Vale for the night before they would begin a trek through the unguarded areas of Remnant, or, as she had been called about them in school. "The uninhabitables."
Traditionally, people in Remnant never stepped foot outside of the walled borders of the cities unless they were huntsmen. Though…with all the huntsmen in Vale currently spread out due to the mass destruction, and negativity caused by Beacon's fall. So the hope was the four of them could sneak out through.
"You changed your outfit, huh?"
She jumped a little as Moon sat down next to her. He was right, she had decided to change just slightly. After all, she was traveling outside of her home. She now wore a white high-neck décolletage blouse with brown studded wristbands on the arms. While her outfit retained the black combat skirt skirt with red tulle underneath, somewhat similar to her original outfit, her waist cincher has been replaced with an overbust corset with a red strip holding it in place. As well as a black belt with red holding the magnetic clip for Crescent Rose and its ammunition. It was only a bit different from what she wore at Beacon. As she still had her red cloak hood, much like Moon.
"Yeah…I've never really gone outside of Vale before. No one really does unless they're a hunter going on missions to secure Grimm habitats. So I figured I'd change just in case."
Moon simply nodded his head as he plopped himself down next to her. "Yeah…I can understand that. You were the one who noticed I was the one who changed my appearance from my video game you played. After I got my eye nearly torn out, I had to change my appearance to better suit it."
The girl looked outward as a bit of silence crept over them.
"So uh…" Moon asked, looking over at her. "Do you know what happened with your silver eyes? That light freaked my senses out enough that I had to have Dark Moon temporarily take over to break free of Pokey's magic hold on us."
"You uh…you weren't going to let out Dark Moon to save Sarah and yourself?" Ruby asked, tilting her head. "But…in the game…you were willing to let your dark side out to save Sarah…I know that what happened in that game differs from what happened in your life. After all, Sapphire's presence confirms Crimson Flower is the canon route."
"Yeah…well…that's how life is for ya, not really a fairytale." Moon replied boredly. "If it was, my friends and I wouldn't be here."
Ruby just shrugged, "Well…maybe you could try asking your Dark Sides about the Silver Eyes."
"They wouldn't know." Moon replied back. "Your world is unfamiliar to us. For all I know, your silver eyes could kill all the Smash Brothers. Which would make you public enemy number 1 to us."
The silver-eyed girl chuckled. "Well that would certainly be a thought."
"I'm being serious." Moon replied. "The Smash Council takes threats to our safety seriously. Part of the reason why villains like Bowser, Ganondorf, and Ridley end up being allowed onto the council is so we can keep them contained in their own world. Ozpin has told us consistently that there is nothing here for us to be concerned about, yet, as I just had to register to the Smash Brothers, your silver eyes are something to be concerned about if even my Dark Sides wanted nothing to do with them."
The girl continued to chuckle before seeing the dead look in the boy's one exposed eye. Before her chuckling died down.
"You uh…wow…Yang was right…you do take your job way too seriously."
"And you don't…" Moon replied flatly. "I'm not trying to be mean…but your whole school just got destroyed. Your headmaster is dead. Your teammates got separated. Your own sister's arm got sliced off. Penny got destroyed. And your sister team was all killed."
"That's kind of the life of the huntsmen." Ruby replied to Moon. "I've been born in this world, I grew up listening to the stories of the huntsmen. I know that this is part of the job."
Moon just blinked a little bit, before sighing. "Well then, if you do have any problems, let us know. We may not be the best at giving life advice…but after everything that happened…I'd have thought you'd be a bit…worse off."
"Are…are you sure you're going to be okay?" Ruby asked. "You seem overly concerned about me. Which…is way out of character for you."
"Yes well, when I promise your sister that I would ensure you remain safe. Given my entire track record, you can imagine why I'd be concerned you won't have a mental breakdown in the middle of our travels. I'm glad you're accompanying us since you might be our only way of stopping Cinder. But still…there's reason to be concerned."
"Well then…at least you've got me. I'll try my best to not be too much of a burden."
"And maybe then I can learn a few things from you and the Smash Bros about being a good leader."
"We can certainly hope." Moon whispered under his breath.
"Oh, Moon." He blinked as Ruby looked over at him. "If…if your worlds…the uh…the Smash Multiverses…are canon to our world through video games? Are…are we canon to your worlds as well? Like…is our story already a thing?"
Her opposing leader tilted his head in confusion.
"Even if your story was…canonized…to the rest of our worlds." Moon replied. "I find it very unlikely that whatever has happened was a canon event. So, even if your story was already a thing, we've already fucked up the timeline. I can have the Smash Brothers look into any stories about your world. However, I sincerely doubt we'd come up strong, and if we did…well the timeline's been fucked from the start since we got involved."
"My head hurts from your sense of logic."
Moon just simply shrugged in response. "That's on us to figure out…for now…we need to start making our way to Haven academy." the boy paused for a moment. "You uh…you did tell your uncle and dad that you were leaving with us? Right?"
The silver eyed-girl just blinked in response to that.
Yang grunted as she sat upright in her bed. Each day was basically as down as the last, each day she kept waking up, hoping to find herself back in her bunk at Beacon, with both of her arms still attached to her body, and, it seemed like each day, it only got more depressing to see the nubbed bandages across her arm.
She just glanced out the window as she heard her bedroom door creak open. Her cat faunus teammate just silently placed a cup of coffee on the nightstand next to her.
"Yang…"
"What do you want? Blake?" the golden haired girl grunted in frustration.
"I…I just want to make sure you are feeling okay." She replied calmly.
"OKAY?" Yang snapped, her lilac eyes flared as she turned to Blake. "Do I LOOK OKAY?" She waved her sliced off arm in frustration.
Blake's two cat ears just folded as her body backed up a little bit. "It's just that…I didn't mean for it too…"
"In what world would you ever think that I'm doing okay when I'm missing my arm!" Yang growled. "Look at what that…that creepy ex boyfriend of yours did to me!"
Blake's face flushed red. "Adam…Adam's not my boyfriend…we've never had any romantic interest in one another. We were just teammates back when I was still a part of the White Fang."
"I swear…that little bastard better not show his creepy face around here again. If he thinks he's going to get away with what he…"
"Yang…you can't speak out about this!"
"WHY NOT?!" Blake flinched a little as Yang's eyes flashed again. "I mean! JUST LOOK AT THIS!" She pointed her finger at a newspaper that Blake looked over at.
In a move that has shocked very radical anti-Faunus huntsmen groups. The White Fang issued its own lended support to the spread out huntsmen and Vale itself during the crisis at Beacon Academy and the currently problematic aftermath.
When speaking to current White Fang leader, Adam Taurus, the bull faunus had this to say to us.
"Without Beacon, and Professor Ozpin, I found it imperative that the White Fang must put aside any current issue we've had with Vale's current laws that deal with Faunus rights. While the headmaster of Beacon wasn't perfect, we here had a great deal of respect for his inclusivity of the acceptance of many different Faunus. As well as his forgiveness towards those of us brainwashed by a past we are still haunted by. Therefore, it's for the best that I encourage our members to put aside our current protests and show that we, as Faunus, can come together with humans in these desperate times when Grimm security is at an all time high."
Adam Taurus has been critical about Professor Ozpin's authority on the rights of Faunus here in Vale since he first assured control of the organization, while the kingdom is easily the most welcoming of Faunus, he still believed that more work needed to be done.
"He's such a bull-faced liar!" Yang hissed. "Look at him acting like he didn't just tell the two of us that he sent his own men to do good so he could take care of some unfinished personal business! Like he didn't just harm me after giving us probable cause for him."
Blake just stayed silent as her teammate's lilac eyes glared. She rubbed her arm a bit as she tried to find something to say.
"How could you even remotely think any of this is okay! You know how corrupt Adam is! We've got first hand experience! We can easily take care of this!"
"NO! We can't!" Blake replied, her tone was slowly rising. "Yang, we can't tell people about what Adam did to you!"
"WHY NOT?!" Yang shouted. "The White Fang has so much political power over the Faunus and here in Remnant! If you think people should be held accountable, and that the White Fang shouldn't harm humans to get their message! People need to know that-"
"Because you not talking about Adam is the only reason you're even still here! And it's the only way you won't be ostracized or even killed!" Blake snapped. Making Yang recoil in response.
"But…I thought you said that…"
"The white fang was reformed, but not in the way they make it out to be." Blake replied. "I should know, I was one of the people who helped Adam reform it!"
Her golden-haired teammate blinked in shock.
"I lied to Adam so he'd spare you for a reason." Blake shook her head, her voice was also starting to slightly crack. "His one condition being that you don't ever speak up about what happened to you. What you did to Adam, was supposed to be death for you. When you attack members of the white fang first, you aren't supposed to be left alive because you could spin the story against us and cause more Faunus hatred."
"But he-"
"I KNOW! YANG!" Blake shouted. "But you played exactly into what Adam wanted. You weren't supposed to be left alive. I begged Adam to spare you and lied to him about your family status to keep you alive. I'm not going to let you speak out against Adam! Even though people likely wouldn't believe you, Adam will make sure you're silenced through any means necessary."
"But Blake…this isn't fair for me…or for any-"
"I'm sorry Yang, not fair for YOU?!" Blake cried. "How do you think WE feel?! Adam's not perfect! But he's right! Everytime a human and faunus case happens, the media rushes to spin the story against the Faunus. Under his policy, that's not an option, the only thing you're left to assume is the Faunus exerting self-defense against someone who hates them. Use the exact same tactics used to put us down against them. So please, explain how it's not fair for YOU!"
Yang bit down on her lip, she was so used to Blake being so monotone and hard to read, so seeing her this angry and upset was certainly unnerving.
The cat faunus just shook her head in disappointment after locking eyes with her. Before turning to the door.
"Adam came to me in the Hospital to check up on you, you know." Blake said, her voice back to a disappointed monotone. "He asked me if I was certain in my decision to try and save you. Told me that I'd only be hurting the Faunus in the long run, I hate to think he might've been right."
"And this, will the room you will share with Mrs. Schnee."
Erick sighed in relief as the Schnee Butler brought him to a stop in front of the door to Weiss' room. Upon their arrival back to the large manor in the floating city of Atlas, Jacques had immediately split the two up and ordered their butler to take him on a tour around the manor.
He'd be lying if he said he wasn't impressed, the most he had ever known as a living space was the boarding school he'd been raised in since birth. To be fair, he didn't mind living there, but it wasn't like he had anywhere else to go.
As expected, it was large and very spacious, there was a room for just about everything. Which he found incredibly ironic considering Weiss had no siblings living with her and Jacques. And there was only one Butler. Matter of fact, during his tour, he analyzed that some of the rooms hadn't been touched in what looked like years, or even decades.
The butler, Klein, was a short but headset looking man, shorter than both him and Weiss, with dark skin and balding brown hair. He had brownish eyes, which Erick keenly noted appeared to change color at times? Though it never seemed to make much of an impact.
"If you end up needing anything please let me know." He turned his head to Klein as the Butler gave him a quick bow, before leaning in and quietly whispering.
"And do please take care of Mrs. Schnee, I have more or less been her parental figure. I know that her father can be…well…I'm sure she's told you. I can only beg you won't treat her the same way as he did her mother."
Erick just silently nodded his head as Klein began to walk down the hall, he presumed to maybe go find Jacques.
He opened the door to Weiss' room, and was slightly taken aback, for two reasons.
The first, and least of his concerns, for how big Weiss' room was, it was certainly very empty. There was a small table and some chairs on one end near the corner that sat next to a large glass window overlooking the courtyard (Which was really nice considering Atlas was quite cold). As well as a large royal bed one would expect to see in a stereotypical mansion. But not much else of importance.
The second, and more pressing concern, was Weiss herself. Her hair, while still pulled back into a white ponytail with the strange tiara, was the only remotely similar thing about her. She was now wearing a short glittering dress of pale-grayish blue. A sweetheart neckline, and white tulle petticoat that showed off the top of her chest.
A white sash was wrapped multiple times around her waist, which still held Myrtenaster. Over the outfit was a slightly sheer long-sleeved gray blue bolero fastened at the collar with a large sapphire broach that had three pendants dangling from it. Completing her attire are gray blue wedge heels and sapphire drop earrings.
The heiress' icey blue eyes met with his for a few moments, before her pale face began to blush. She rubbed her now covered arm.
"Do you uh…not like it?" she asked.
The genius blinked a little bit behind his glasses before shuddering back to reality. "No I actually…really like it. You look a lot cuter." He paused for a second. "Not that you didn't look cute before…but…wow that dress looks amazing."
Weiss just giggled a little bit, though the redness in her face didn't settle down.
"So um…if you don't mind me asking…why'd…he pull you aside and not let you guide me around? He didn't…you know…hurt you?"
"Well…um…" Weiss shivered. The heiress then took out a scroll and pulled up something. "I hope that you can get in contact with that mindscape thing…I tried to tell him it was a bad idea…but um…"
Erick frowned as a clip of the news site on Remnant began playing. Showing what looked like a press conference with Jacques at a podium, he could see Weiss shyly trying to hide from flashing cameras. Two news anchors were talking on opposite sides of the video.
"In perhaps one of the most unexpected announcements today, following the return of Schnee Dust Company heiress, Weiss Schnee, from the now fallen Beacon Academy. Current president Jacques Schnee has announced that the heiress has found a partner."
"That's correct Lisa, and perhaps even more shocking, it seems the heiress has chosen to settle down with a teammate of Beacon's Team MESS, who gained public interest when a video showing two of their kind using psychic powers!" Footage of the leaked video showing Moon and Sarah fighting Ruby and Pyrrha.
"Former headmaster of Beacon Academy, Ozpin, had spoken out to the worldwide public as the video began to spiral into viral views. Telling the people of Remnant that, while Team MESS's parental origins were unknown, that Beacon would be housing the team of four to ensure that the powers could be fully investigated."
"Unfortunately, the public's desire to learn more about the mysterious team of four persisted, even past Beacon's strict regulations against news reports concerning students. Pictures from various students showing the four kids interacting with the likes of Team RWBY, containing the heiress, as well as Team JNPR and the unfortunately deceased Pyrrha Nickos were flooded all over the RemantX social media site. And the public had been speculating on any potential collusion between the two teams."
"President Schnee has already announced a preplanned wedding dinner party at the Schnee Manor to show off the heiress and her new husband for the future of the SDC. Anyone who purchases tickets to this event will be allowed to meet one of the team members, we've been told that this was a last minute change after General Ironwood closed the Atlas borders in order to closely monitor Grimm Security."
"Is there anything your…father…won't do for money?" Erick asked. "I mean seriously, he's opening up a pre-wedding dinner with people you and I won't know so I can get asked questions I may not, or cannot, answer."
"I tried to tell him that, but it wasn't like he was going to listen…" Weiss shuffled. "Though, isn't this bad for you? The whole reason your friends decided not to stowaway was so Pokey and Seiros wouldn't know you'd been split up? I'd find it very hard to believe they don't have some way of getting the news."
"Honestly, that'll probably end up being the least of our concerns." Erick mumbled.
Weiss looked at him with a bit of concern. "I suppose…a more pressing concern would be you or I messing up and father throwing us out of the house. He's making a big PR stunt with this."
The genius just smiled as he took the heiress' hand. "Don't worry about that, I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you."
There was a sudden knock at the heiress' bedroom door, the two teens turned to it as Klein reentered. The man wiped a bit of sweat off his brow as he looked over at the two of them.
"I apologize for the intrusion…Mrs. Schnee. But your father demanded I come at once."
"Is…is something the matter, Klein?" Weiss asked. "Whatever father thinks Erick did, he absolutely didn't, you should know that."
"Oh, there is nothing to do with what your fiance did." Klein replied. "But Mr. Schnee has requested to speak with both of you, at once."
That's all for this month's chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it.
We've now entered the fourth volume of RWBY, a volume that, depending on your status of when you were first introduced to RWBY, was either the beginning of the end, or the beginning of the best.
Personally, I do like Volume 4 and 5, despite their flaws, I don't think they're nearly as bad as some people will claim. I say, totally slashing an entire arc of the whole volume out by changing Blake.
All of the girls did get changed designs for this volume, and, to the show's credit, I don't think they were all bad. As Erick's comment about Weiss' outfit probably told you, I think Volume 4 Weiss has the best design of the whole series (We won't talk about the Volume 7-9 hideous design that I will forever be angry with).
Oh yeah, we've finally been introduced to Salem's whole squad, another big point of the Volume that I like. Personally, I never liked entertaining the idea of Cinder being the big bad of the whole show. Even in the first 3 volumes, where most argue she was at her peak, I didn't find her all that threatening. And based on a few comments, a couple of you seem to share my sentiments.
Some people may be surprised I bothered to include them at all, you know, considering Pokey and Seiros could easily replace Watts, Hazel, and Tyrian. But, as some people have criticized, Salem's faction felt absurdly small. Doesn't help that the show clearly established Adam and the White Fang were simply being used a puppet meatshield.
But, beside the point, I do enjoy watching Watts and Tyrian in RWBY. Both of their voice actors, Christopher Sabat and Josh Grelle respectively do such a fantastic job with their lines. Such a shame that, given all the controversy's surrounding CRWBY and RT they aren't likely to return since we last saw them (Well, I guess we weren't ever getting Watts back, but losing Tyrian's VA is a big blow).
Regardless, this chapter gave you a bit of insight in what to expect for the upcoming few chapters. Blake and Yang, as I mentioned, have lost their connection arcs to Adam in this story. However, I'm going to go about transitioning away from Adam in this arc by leaving Blake here to talk with Yang about stuff.
I don't know how long I'm going to keep us in Volume 4, a lot of the volume is taken up a lot by cutting between the four girls, as well as Salem and another character who shall not be named for now. And with Blake and Yang's story essentially being pulled out of my ass, as well as Ruby no longer having Jaune, Ren, and Nora for the Volume 4 story, it's going to be a bit of focus on the original content as we dive deeper.
Anyway, that's about it, If you have anything you'd like to say, feel free too, I'll always respond to comments and criticisms if you have any.
See you all, next time.