Investigations and Missing Families

After Yang was calmed down, Ruby had some time to coo over babypon who seemed apprehensive about the silver eyed stranger. "I just wanna squeeze you until you pop!" Ruby squealed as she spread her arms to do just that. But her attempts were thwarted by Yang using one arm to keep Ruby away from her lap were babypon currently was.

The said baby was turned to Yang and hugged her new mamapon for dear life. "Ruby, stop. You're scaring her." Yang said calmly while using her free hand to stroke babypon's head soothingly.

"Oh...sorry." Ruby apologized meekly and backed away, which seemed to calm the Nopon baby down.

Roze shook his head before turning to look at Dragunov who still hadn't recovered from being called dadapon. "Do I need to get a bucket to get you moving?" The reaper Blade was getting more worried when Dragunov didn't react.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Yang warned with a smile, still finding amusement in her Blade's state. "I already used a bucket to wake him up today, and he thankfully hasn't set my butt on fire yet."

"So, what should we do?" Blake asked, looking a little weirded out at Yang mothering babypon like it was natural to her. Sure, Yang likes cute things like any other sane person, but caring for a baby is a huge responsibility. One that Blake wasn't sure Yang could handle, despite seeming to have done well so far.

"I actually have a back-up plan. Blake, hold this for me." Yang said before practically shoving babypon to the shocked faunus' arms.

"Wait, Yang! I can't-" But Yang had already gotten up and walked back to her room, not hearing Blake's protests. Which left Blake to stare at the small yellow ball of fur in her arms like she was holding a bomb. Blakes cat ears folded in alarm when babypon let out a small sniffle.

"Oh great, here we go." Qrow muttered before plugging his ears just in time to cover himself from the worst of the fog siren that was a wailing babypon.

"Mamapooon!" The baby cried out while flailing in Blake's arms. It was a miracle Blake didn't move her arms to her ears in an attempt to block the crying despite knowing that she would drop the baby in doing so. Fortunately for Blake, Nox came and covered her cat ears which were already flat against her scalp.

"Urgh, silence it. I can't take it." Perceval complained as he held his own ears.

"I'm baack!" Yang let out loudly in sing-song voice as she moved towards Dragunov with a red colored pastry in hand. "Yoohoo." Yang sang as she waved the thing close to the sulking dragon's head. If the babypon's yelling wasn't so loud, Yang would've picked up the sound of Dragunov sniffing the air.

Finally, the dragon raised his head and saw the treat in front of him. "Ember Cake." Dragunov said as he released his legs and reached out for the spicy cake. Normally these things would only be found in Tantal, but since the nation has started to open up to other nations, traders have been moving about. One of which sold freshly made Ember Cakes and have been used by Yang to get Dragunov to stop sulking every now and then.

"Works every time." Yang grinned as she allowed her Blade to get the treat and munch on it. After that, Yang moved to Blake and retrieved her charge. "It's okay, it's okay. Auntie Yang's here." Yang said as she bounced the baby in her arms, instantly calming it.

"...Should I be worried about you being a natural at this?" Qrow asked apprehensively as Nox released Blake's ears.

"Oh, don't you start with me too." Yang said in a warning tone as she rocked the now calm baby back and forth.

"Too?" Kasandra tilted her head.

"Drag and I already had this conversation." Yang said as she looked to her visibly cheered up Blade. "Isn't that right, dadapon?" Yang smiled evilly. Ruby and Roze covered their mouths to hide their laughter that demanded to break out.

"Yeah we did...mamapon." Dragunov replied with a strained smile. Then he turned to address everyone else while making a large fireball in his hand, "If any of you makes a joke about this, I'm more than ready to shove this fireball down your throats." Dragunov said as he twirled the said fireball in his hand.

Everyone wisely kept their mouths shut about that, so instead...

"I appreciate you guys coming all the way here to check up on me." Yang said with a smile.

Ruby instantly caught up on the change of subject, "Duh! We were worried about you!"

"But that's not the only reason we're here." Blake then said, earning a questioning look from Yang.

"What are you talking about?"

Qrow decided to take over, "Team JNPR was attacked last night."

"What?!" Yang let out, "Are they okay?"

"They're fine. They managed to repel the attacker." Qrow waved Yang off, "But this morning they called us and asked us to ask the acting chairman of Argentum about someone called Bana."

"Why? Does this Bana guy have something to do with the attack? Oh, I'm gonna hunt him down and let him have it." Yang pumped her fist in anticipation.

"Easy there, Yang." Blake said, "We were told to check if Bana was still locked up."

"So, he's not directly involved?" Dragunov asked next as Yang deflated a little.

"Jaune hoped we might get a hint to as to what the attacker was after." Ruby said with small measure of hope, "Meanwhile, Jaune and the others are going to Mor Ardain to find a lead."

"Why there?" Yang asked while babypon managed to grab a wingful of her hair and lightly pull on it. It took every ounce of Yang's self-control not to get mad about it.

"Because that's where the attacker claimed to be from." Blake said, fearing about the baby pulling the hair trigger. To everyone's relief, babypon instead brought as much of Yang's hair as possible near herself and started cuddling it with her tiny hands like it was a stuffed animal.

"Okay, so what're we waiting for? Let's go see if this Bana knows anything." Yang said as she managed to loosen her hair in babypon's grip just enough to avoid the risk of it being yanked off.

"Then let's go check with Niranira." Roze said, "He's the current Chairman of Argentum."

With that, the gang started moving downstairs. Including Yang and Dragunov. Once they reached the door to the Chairman's Room, which was right next to the stairs that lead back down to the bazaar.

The door was of course guarded, but when Qrow stated their business, they were told that the Chairman was expecting them. This surprised them a little, but they all entered the Chairman's office. The walls of the room rounded up to the ceiling which was high enough for even Dragunov to stand straight with room to spare. The the floor was completely covered by red carpet with black patterns. Towards the left of the door was two red sofas with a coffee table in front of it, most likely for negotiations. Towards the back wall was a small rise with the Chairman's desk with books and papers around it. Behind that desk was a large comfy chair with Niranira sitting on it. Behind the acting chairman on the back wall was a red wall drape with the symbol of Argentum Trade Guild on it in white.

"Niranira expected you." the yellow Nopon in brown leather jacket and beret said in surprisingly deep voice.

"How'd you know we were coming?" Qrow asked in mild suspicion.

"Because Niranira receive message from Queen Raqura stating a group coming to check on ex-Chairman Bana." Niranira explained before getting out of the seat and waddling from behind the desk to the gang. "The request strange, so Niranira must ask why friends need to see Bana."

"We've got some questions for the guy." Qrow began easily, "An incident happened which we believe he might be able to shed some light on."

Niranira gave the veteran huntsman a calculating look, tiny hands on the hips of his round body. "Very well, Niranira show you Bana. Friends follow Niranira." With that Niranira waddled past the group to the outside, with everyone following suit.

Niranira led the gang up a different walkway that led them above the Rumbletum Canteen and to a hallway. On that hallway to their right was a large door that was locked. Niranira quickly produced a key from his jacket. Nox idly noted how the key had a very peculiar shape. Meaning that the lock would most likely be a challenge for him to pick if he felt like trying.

"This Energy Room, where all energy that Argentum needs produced." Niranira said as he put the key into the lock and twisted it.

As Niranira opened the door, everyone had varying levels of interest on what was going to be beyond this door. Argentum was a big ship, and from what they have seen, there is electricity in here that powers lights, heating and other necessities and comforts. Since there is no Dust in here, the gang couldn't help but wonder what kind of power source was being used here. Maybe some kind of Ether Reactor? Or maybe some super-secret Nopon contraption that other nations would love to get their hands on. Ruby especially wanted to see what kind of super advanced contraption might be powering this ship.

"Here we are." Niranira said as he opened the door for all to see the marvels of Nopon know-how.

"Are you shitting me?!" Dragunov was the first to shout out.

"What?!" Ruby made a face at what was inside.

Yang's jaw dropped at the impossible sight.

Blake was pretty sure she was dreaming. Because something like this just can't be real. Unlike the feline Driver, Nox just rubbed his lone eye in disbelief.

Perceval on the other hand looked at his gourd before giving an accusing look to everyone else, "Okay, which one of you spiked my drink?"

As for Roze, his eyes seemed to try and bug out. "What kind of method is there to that madness?"

"...Kasandra, how much have I drunk today?" Qrow asked with a look of disbelief.

"You haven't." Kasandra said, as she looked around everyone, "Why is everyone looking like that?" It seemed like Kasandra was the only one who didn't find the sight weird.

"What friends waiting for? Come in." Niranira said, seemingly not understanding what the problem was.

Despite the madness that they were looking at everyone moved inside the energy room that had multiple Nopon guards, all looking at the largest Nopon they had ever seen. The Nopon was as tall as Poppi in her alpha form, but much wider. The Nopon's body was turquoise in color, and he had a large tuft of lilac hair tied upwards. He also had matching colored moustache and tiny beard. The Nopon was wearing brown pants with gold trims with a white shirt and over it a red tabard with Argentum's symbol in pink. The wings of the Nopon were adorned with golden jewelry with multiple gems inlaid to the the gold. Curiously this Nopon had a red monocle over the right eye.

But it wasn't the Nopon that shocked the gang, or maybe that was part of the reason, but still only part. What they were shocked about was that this Nopon, who they can assume is Bana, was working the generator of this ship. Which was a giant hamster wheel that the giant Nopon was running on. Panting as he did.

"This is Bana, the ex-Chairman of Argentum Trade Guild. Among numerous crimes are selling weapons to Torna, numerous other shady dealings, and attempted assassination of both Queen of Uraya and Emperor of Mor Ardain." Niranira explained.

"Uh-huh." everyone was able to say, still staring at the hamster wheel that was somehow generating all the power this ship needs. For some reason they all knew Weiss would lose her mind at the sight of this. And maybe Penny and Kos-Mos might glitch.

Ultimately it was Qrow who decided that he was just done with the weirdness that is Nopon and their know-how. The veteran immediately got in front of the hamster wheel as the guards looked at him in suspicion. But a quick reassurance from Niranira made them relax ever so slightly.

"You're Bana right?" Qrow started casually.

"Who asking?" Bana questioned back, slightly out of breath.

"Just someone who has a few questions." Qrow continued.

"What questions?" Bana sounded a little irritated.

"Last night a Blade claiming to be from Mor Ardain tried to kill Queen Raqura. Know anyone who would want that?" Qrow asked.

Bana managed to scoff at this, "Why would Bana know? Go ask the Emperor!"

"Wait, what?" Yang suddenly realized what was being talked about, "But I thought-"

"Team JNPR stopped the attack." Blake quickly said. It wasn't like she could talk about stuff like that back in a public space like that.

"Look pal, we know for a fact that the Emperor wouldn't authorize that attack, so why don't you make this easy for us all and tell us who would order the attack?" Qrow said, slightly more impatient, but still very measured.

"Bana still not know." Bana insisted between gasps of breath, "The list too long for Ardainians who want to harm Uraya."

Qrow let out a weary sigh, the Nopon had a point, except he still had one more angle to go on, "What about out of Mor Ardain. It's possible the attacker was trying to manipulate the two nations against each other. The Blade seemed really sneaky."

"That not narrow it down at all." Bana complained.

Qrow let out a weary sigh. "Well, thank you for your time." The man then ran his hand through his hair before addressing Niranira and the rest of the gang. "We're done here."

"But Uncle Qrow, he has to know-" "Even if he did, he's clearly not keen on talking." Qrow interrupted, "Besides, it's not like we're out of leads."

"So, what's the plan now?" Yang asked as she adjusted her grip on babypon that slept through all this.

"The plan was to then go to Mor Ardain and regroup with JNPR to see if they got any leads." Qrow explained, "We're leaving as soon as the next ship going to Mor Ardain is available.

"Friends may want to wait until 1:35." Niranira butted in.

"Why is that?" Blake asked the acting Chairman.

"Because the ship that will bring Moomoo's parents should arrive then." Niranira said.

"Moomoo?" Yang asked, resisting a chuckle at the name.

Niranira pointed at Yang's chest with a leather clad wing in response. The blonde brawler looked down to see the only thing pressed against her chest. The babypon.

Then it clicked for everyone, "Wait, you know this babypon?!" Yang let out in surprise.

"Mohmoh and Muumuu old friends of Niranira." Niranira explained. "They go on a business trip but couldn't bring Moomoo with them, so they leave Moomoo with a babysitter. But the babysitter eaten by an Aligo when taking a stroll near back docks."

That earned several horrified looks from everyone.

"Come to think of it, I did find her at the back docks." Yang said, now wondering how the little one didn't get eaten too. But then something else hit her, "Wait, I asked around about the parents and no one seemed to know anything!"

"You never ask Niranira." Niranira pointed out, "But Niranira hear about Moomoos predicament so send courier to parents post-haste. Knowing Muumuu, Mohmoh busy stopping her from swimming here all the way from Momon Trade Guild."

"Why didn't you come to tell me?" Yang demanded, "I was afraid she was abandoned." At the last word, Yang squeezed the now named Moomoo tighter against her chest.

"Niranira sorry." Niranira apologized, "But Niranira busy with investigations on Bana's businesses that informing friend slip Niranira's mind."

Yang let out a sigh as she loosened her grip on Moomoo. "I guess I'm just happy that this isn't abandonment." Yang smiled in relief, "Hear that, Moomoo. You're gonna get back to your parents." Yang stroked the still sleeping babypon's head.

"Wait, what about the babysitter? Are we just going to ignore that?" Ruby pointed out.

"Friend no worry, Niranira send a team to slay the Aligo and save the babysitter." Niranira said.

"But if the Aligo ate the babysitter, then-" "Eyewitness accounts say that the babysitter swallowed whole. So the babysitter may still be alive." Niranira interrupted.

"Nopon are sturdier than they look." Kasandra chimed in with a smile.

Everyone gave the lucky Blade a stare at that.

Finally, Dragunov let out a weary sigh, "Let's just agree that everything is covered and move on."

Nox rolled out his scroll, "Agreed."

"Agreed," Perceval added in.

The girls reluctantly agreed as they moved out of the energy room. Yang wouldn't have to wait much longer before she could finally get rid of this yellow furball.

The gang managed to kill some time before the time got close to 1:35. Which was why they were now at the arrival docks waiting for Moomoo's parents. According to Niranira, they would know when they saw the mamapon, if they didn't hear her first.

Finally, a ship did dock, and when the exit ramp was lowered, "Moomoo!" a highly distressed purple Nopon practically flew out of the ship and ran on the docks, right into Yang's shins. The purple Nopon who they guessed was the mamapon bounced off of the sudden obstacle before getting up. "Where is Moomoo?! Is Muumuu's baby okay-okay?!"

Yang lowered the now awake babypon to the purple Nopon's level. "No worries, she's fine and healthy." Yang said with a smile.

"Mamapon!" Moomoo immediately cheered up at the sight of her mother.

Muumuu quickly took her baby and hugged tightly, with the babypon hugging back while giggling. "Muumuu so relieved. When hear that babysitter eaten and leaving Moomoo alone, drop everything and get the next earliest ship. Forget about business."

Yang couldn't help smiling as she watched the real mamapon hugging her baby like she was afraid she might disappear.

"Muumuu slow down. Mohmoh can't keep up." said a slightly larger green Nopon that waddled as fast as he could.

"Dadapon!" Moomoo cheered at the sight of her dadapon.

"Muumuu so grateful for friends taking care of Moomoo. How can Muumuu repay kindness?" Muumuu looked into Yang directly.

The blonde bombshell was smiling from ear to ear as she answered. "No need for that, I'm just happy to return the baby to her loving family."

"Thank you, thank you." Muumuu thanked profusely before turning to Mohmoh. "Hubbypon, we leave back to Momon. This time, Moomoo come with us."

"But Muumuu, we have no accomodations for-" "Muumuu not care! Muumuu not letting Moomoo out of sight ever again!" Muumuu interrupted with a tone of finality.

"...Mohmoh try to make it work." Mohmoh said in defeated tone before the two Nopon moved into Argentum itself to probably figure out the next ship that would leave for Momon.

As the reunited family walked off, Moomoo looked at Yang and waved a wing, "Yayapon!"

"Yayapon?" Blake chuckled before looking to Yang who looked stunned.

Ruby noticed it too, "Yang?"

"That's so unfair." Yang said almost sadly, "I tried to get her to call me Yang and now that she finally leaves, she finally calls me that."

"Yang, please tell me you're not getting a baby rabies." Dragunov said in worry.

"...Drag, I swear, I'm gonna throw you into the ocean." Yang threatened.

"You don't have the strength to yeet me without your semblance." Dragunov replied smugly, taking Yang's reply as a no.

"I don't have to be that strong, I just have to get you over the edge." Yang bumped her fists with an evil grin.

"Oh, what're you gonna do, Drag me there?" Dragunov punned.

And just like that, the two laughed.

All the while the rest of the gang stared at them. "Uhh... what just happened?" Ruby asked, turning to Roze. The reaper Blade could only raise his arms in the universal sign of, "I don't know."

"Well, that leaves us to get to Mor Ardain now." Blake then said, wondering if she should try to call team JNPR and ask about their progress.


In Mor Ardain, Jaune, Pyrrha, Joana, Oscar and Herald had made it to Gyro's apartment. The leader of JNPR knocked on the door quickly. Ren and Nora meanwhile were at the palace, hoping to have some insight from Mòrag.

The door was answered by Theory.

"Hey, is Gyro home?" Jaune asked carefully.

"Yes." Theory said in monotone.

"...Could you fetch him for us?" Jaune asked after it looked like Theory wasn't going to move.

Theory turned into the apartment, "Gyro, we have guests!"

It didn't take long until Gyro came to the front door. "Oh, you guys again." Gyro said in surprise, "What brings you here?"

"Well... We have some questions," Jaune began, trying to be nonchalant.

"What about?"

At that moment, Joana stepped forward, "Your brother, was he a Driver?"

Gyro looked surprised at the question," Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Because recently we faced a female Blade in white uniform, wielding a Chroma Katana." Joana continued.

Gyro's eyes widened at this, "Did she have a permanent scowl on her face? What did her Core Crystal look like?"

Jaune took over again, "Well yeah, when it wasn't a fierce grin. And her Core Crystal looked like half a scissor."

"That's Satsuki!" Gyro yelled before grabbing Jaune by the shoulders and started shaking him violently, "Where was this? Where is she?! Was Ryuko with her?!"

Pyrrha quickly moved in and yanked Jaune out of Gyro's desperate grip.

"We saw her at Uraya." Herald began answering, "We don't know where she is now. And who is Ryuko?"

"Azure's other Blade." Gyro said, now shaking in place, "Ever since the two were lost, Pierce and I had been trying to find clues to find them, but we haven't had any luck. Please, if you have any idea where they might be you have to tell me!"

"We don't know." Pyrrha butted in as she was keeping Jaune steady. "We came here to find out about her. Were they... important to you?"

"Important?" Gyro asked like Pyrrha claimed the sky to be green, "When our parents died, Azure practically raised us. And Ryuko and Satsuki were the closest things we had to a mom."

"I... find that hard to believe." Jaune said, now having recovered from being shaken. "The uniformed Blade didn't seem very motherly when we fought her."

"Wait, you fought Satsuki? Why?!" Now Gyro was worried.

"It's... a long story." Pyrrha said, now wondering if this was a good idea after all.

"Theory, stand back." Gyro quickly said and the short ice Blade did as told before Gyro did the same, "Come inside, we have a lot to talk about."

The five shared a look between each other before taking the invitation.

Inside Gyro's apartment, the gang was led to the living room. "Sorry about not offering snacks, I didn't expect guests today." Gyro apologized as he took a seat on an easy chair in the middle of a small living room with a kitchenette at one end of the wall. In front of the said easy chair was a coffee table that was currently empty, and on the other side of it was a small sofa. The sofa was occupied by Jaune, Pyrrha and Oscar, while Joana and Herald were behind the sofa.

"It's okay. "Pyrrha said reassuringly, "So... umm... What was Satsuki like?"

"I wanna know why you guys fought her first." Gyro said firmly.

The three shared a look between them. "We're not sure if we're allowed to tell you." Oscar said, averting his gaze from Gyro who looked like he was trying to peer into his very soul.

"Why not?" Gyro asked, now looking suspicious of them.

At that moment, Ozpin took over and met Gyro's gaze, "You must promise us that what you're going to hear, doesn't leave this apartment."

"I promise, and so does Theory." Gyro said, to which Theory nodded standing beside the easy chair Gyro occupied.

"Alright then, last night we met Queen Raqura and Satsuki barged in and tried to kill her." Ozpin explained.

"What?!" Gyro yelled out, "Why would she do that?!"

"We don't know," Ozpin replied, "She said something about Mor Ardain ruling this new world. However, the Queen believes that if someone from Mor Ardain was behind this, then it isn't the Emperor. Which was why we are currently investigating on who Satsuki might be working for."

Gyro looked torn at hearing this, "All this time... Satsuki was here and we didn't even know."

"It's also possible that she was lying about being from Mor Ardain." Jaune pointed out.

"That doesn't make me feel better." Gyro sighed out, looking a little depressed.

"You really miss them." Pyrrha said with a sympathetic look.

"I would assume so." Theory said before walking to a cheap glass cabinet in the corner of the room before retrieving a framed photo from it. "Considering how this is still around." The short Blade brought the picture for everyone to look at.

It was a picture of this very apartment, with a young man in Jaune and the others guessed to be of a young man in late teens sitting on the very sofa they were sitting on. On either side of him was a a female Blade each having one of the twins when they were kids in identical clothes on their lap. The young man had one arm around each of the women in a way that allowed his hand to rest on the head of each twin. The man had platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. On his right was the Blade they knew was Satsuki, but unlike the one they met, this one didn't have a permanent scowl but a small smile as she hugged the twin in her lap. On the man's left was another woman, who the five assumed to be Ryuko, also a Blade. But unlike Satsuki, she had a mischievous grin as she had her arms wrapped around the twin in her lap. The twins themselves had bright smiles in the picture. Honestly, Azure looked less like the twins' older brother and more like their father, not to mention the two Blades looked like the mothers... Or maybe a mother and aunt.

Gyro let out a chuckle as the gang looked at the photo, "That was the picture Azure put up, Pierce threatened to hate him forever if he put up the other one."

"What other one?" Jaune asked looking a little confused.

"One moment," Gyro said as he got up from the seat before moving to one door on the hallway that led to the front door. As Gyro moved out, the gang looked at what they could see of the picture.

Ryuko had neck-length blue tinted hair with a single red highlight on her left bang. She had blue eyes that seemed to have something odd about them, but it wasn't clear in the picture. She seemed to wear an odd sailor uniform without sleeves. The black crop top had wing-like extensions that extended over her shoulders. On the left wing was what looked like a yellow eye with red iris and yellow pupil. On the right one there seemed to be a gray eyepatch. Underneath the crop top seemed to be skintight black bodysuit that covered her neck up to the jaw, while from the armholes came black arm-length gloves with rectangular cuffs on wrists and upper arms. Below, she was wearing a skirt and black thigh-high boots with red heels. Joana also took note that from what little she could see of the side, given that one of the twins was in the way was that Ryuko's midriff seemed to be exposed at least from the sides.

"Okay, here I am." Gyro said as he returned from the room with a photo album in hand. He also had an evil smile, "Don't tell Pierce I showed you this. He'll kick my butt." And then he showed them the album from a particular page and pointed at one specific photo. It was the same as the framed one, except in that, Azure, Satsuki and the twin in Satsuki's lap, who they all now guessed was Gyro, looked to Ryuko in shock. The fiercer looking female Blade was now holding the other twin in a headlock and gave the now totally unamused kid a noogie. To Jaune, this scene reminded him a little of how his sisters treated him while Pyrrha was torn between cooing at how cute this looks and feeling pity for Pierce who didn't look happy. "Pierce pouted at Ryuko the rest of the day that picture was taken." Gyro said while chuckling.

"What was Ryuko like?" Oscar asked, being in control again, out of curiosity.

"Oh, I got a lot to say about her," Gyro laughed a little, "Let's start with the fact that Satsuki and Azure thought she was a bad influence on us."

"How so?" Joana asked, now curious herself.

"Well for one, she cursed like a sailor, I'm surprised Pierce and I never grew up cursing like her." Gyro said with a look of mirth. "And whenever the apartment needed cleaning, she would try to get out of it, but Satsuki wasn't having it. But then sometimes she or Satsuki would read us bedtime stories. Which reminds me." Gyro then took the album and flipped through a couple pages. "Azure showed this to us when the two weren't around." And then showed them a picture. Judging by the window in the back it was nighttime. In this one, Ryuko and Satsuki had fallen asleep on the sofa, one twin curled up against the side of each Blade. In this picture, they could now see clearly that Ryuko's skirt was held up by suspenders that disappeared under her crop top that indeed exposed her midriff. Also, her Core Crystal on her chest was in the shape of a half of a scissor, one that would form a complete scissor with the half on Satsuki's chest. "Though I think they found out eventually, because I remember Azure having a black eye few days later." Gyro explained with a chuckle. Then the boy looked sad, "But then the Core Crystal Hunters got Azure, and Ryuko and Satsuki were lost. Even after they were all rounded up, their Cores weren't recovered."

"I'm sorry." Pyrrha apologized, now understanding why Gyro got so desperate after hearing that they encountered Satsuki. "Well, Ren and Nora are asking Mòrag if she has any clues on where Satsuki might have ended up. Maybe Ryuko might be with her."

"I can only hope," Gyro said as he took the album and looked at the picture, tears welling up in his eyes, "But the thing is... even if they are retrieved now... The Ryuko and Satsuki that raised us alongside Azure are gone forever. Even so... we want them back home."


In Fonsett, Rex and Mythra had just finished grocery shopping for tonight's dinner.

"I could have carried them all you know." Rex told Mythra who carried most of the groceries.

"Yeah yeah, but I just felt like being nice." Mythra replied back. She had two large grocery bags on each arm while Rex only had one smaller bag.

"...If you say so." Rex had an inkling that arguing would be a bad idea. Most likely Mythra wanted to be useful since Pyra was prepping Corrine's kitchen for the dinner. "I'm still not used to the Archipelago not being on the Cloud Sea." Rex commented on the fact that Leftheria was on the new Ocean. Though the Fonsett Island was out in the sea while the other end of the islands connected to the land. But the oddest sight was that with the Cloud Sea gone, the tunnels that led to the other parts of the Archipelago had become less important in crossing the islands, for the ones that were floating in the air were now floating in the sea. Which meant that people have started building boats to cross between some of them. Though the connections between the individual islands did exist.

"Well, you better get used to it, because this is the new reality for Alrest." Mythra said with a small smile as the two reached Corrine's house. "Especially when- Look out!" Mythra suddenly dropped one grocery bag to put up a barrier above them.

"What?!" Rex quickly looked up to see that Mythra's barrier blocked an attack aimed at him. The assailant jumped off of Mythra's barrier and landed in the middle of the village road with multiple passerby's looking in surprise and slight fear.

"Tch, botched it." The assailant grumbled. A woman of around Mythra's height. She had neck-length dark blue tinted hair with a red highlight on the left side of her bangs. She had blue eyes with gear-like pupils. and a very annoyed frown on her face. Her outfit seemed like a strange navy-blue sailor uniform. A sleeveless crop top with a black undersuit coming out of the neckhole to cover her neck up to her jaw. On the shoulders were wing-like crests, one of which looked like a yellow eye with red iris and yellow pupil, the other looked like it had gray eyepatch. From beneath the missing sleeves came arm-length black gloves with rectangular cuffs around her wrists and upper arms. She also had a mid-thigh length skirt that was held up by suspenders that disappear under the crop top. On her legs she had thigh-high length skin-tight boots that had red heels. Above her modest bust was a Core Crystal in the shape of a half-of a scissor, identifying her as a Blade. Finally, her weapons, two swords. The right sword had a red blade made of ether energy and a red oval shaped handle. The left blade was slightly shorter and had a round handle. The two weapons looked like they were halves of a giant pair of scissors.

"Who are you?!" Mythra demanded as she put down the other bag of groceries while Rex did the same and drew the Aegis Sword.

"A woman on a mission." the female Blade answered before charging the light Aegis and her Driver, both weapons ready.

"Everyone, get out of here!" Rex called to the passersby as he met the woman's charge with an overhead swing. The attacker brought her weapons in front to block the coming strike and the two struggled to overpower the other. All the while the streets quickly cleared of people who didn't want to get involved.

"Nothing personal, but I need you to die." the woman said with a determined look before shifting her weapons to the side for Aegis Sword to slip down so that she could use her right sword to lop Rex's head off. Rex barely backed away from the swing just enough for the tip of the blade to only graze his skin, but even that was blocked by his Aura that he still maintained after the Aegis Core on his chest was removed. Rex then closed in with a Rolling Smash, but the assailant backed away just in time to avoid it. Then she swung her left sword to again try and kill Rex, but the weapon got stuck into trident made of Ether energy. "What?!" The woman exclaimed just before getting a beastial fist to the face that sent her reeling backwards to the village gate.

"What is going on?!" Demanded Pyra who had gotten outside with her red Aegis Sword at the ready while Wulfric growled at their opponent he had just punched.

"She wants Rex dead." Mythra said while glaring at the assailant who got up while rubbing her face.

At that, Pyra also glared at the assailant, "Why do you want to kill Rex?!"

"Because the old fart wants the Aegis, it's not like I want to do this." The attacker said in annoyance as she glared at her opponents. "So just be a good little brat and die!"

"No way!" Rex said defiantly, "Besides, even if you kill me, Pyra and Mythra won't revert to their Cores like other Blades."

"You expect me to believe that, little shit!" the woman shouted in anger, "And even if that's true, then all I have to do is kick your asses and drag them back to the Empire."

"Someone's cocky." Mythra said with barely suppressed fury. "Rex, what do you say we teach her a lesson."

"Yeah." Rex said as he readied the Aegis Sword again.

The woman grit her teeth as she looked between Rex, Pyra, Mythra and Wulfric, all ready for battle. "Grr! Dammit all!" she screamed before running away and out of the archway that acted as the village's entrance.

"Get back here!" Wulfric roared as he ran after the female Blade.

"Wulfric, wait!" Rex called out.

"What?! She's getting away!" Wulfric growled out.

"Yeah, but we beat her off." Rex said, "She won't come after me again anytime soon. Besides, we know where she's going."

"We do?" Mythra quirked an eyebrow.

"Didn't you hear her, she said she was going to drag you and Pyra back to the Empire." Rex said.

"The Empire? Did she mean Mor Ardain?" Mythra said with a look of horror on her face. "Did the Emperor-"

"No. I don't believe it." Rex said firmly, "I trust Mòrag would stop anything like that."

"And we may have a clue on the Driver." Pyra chimed in, "Or at least whoever sent her."

"Old fart." Mythra muttered, "That might at least narrow down who wants us." The blonde Aegis shuddered a little at the thought. She wasn't sure why, but something about voicing what she said made it feel... wrong.

"I'm not letting that happen." Rex said with a determined look, "I won't let him take either of you." Rex shared a look between the Aegis sisters.

"Look at you being all manly." Mythra said with an amused look with her hands on her hips.

"But that's why we love you." Pyra said before moving in and planting a quick peck on Rex's cheek. The boy's face immediately lit up in bright red at the treatment.

"Hey!" Mythra looked offended at that, "I thought we agreed that we don't do that!"

"No, we agreed to limit it so as to not overwhelm Rex." Pyra argued back.

Wulfric shook his head at this before moving to pick up the dropped groceries. Things had gotten a little interesting between those three. The beastly Blade was counting days on when one of the sisters would make a man out of Rex, or both at once. Whichever happened first, though hopefully the latter because then Roc would owe him 100 gold.


AN: There we go. As some of you have guessed, the Blade is Satsuki from Kill la Kill. Personally I don't have much knowledge of the series, but I was inspired to give the gang one last adventure before returning to Remnant.

Speaking of which, the other one failed to take out Rex and had to fall back.