Some time later, RWBYA are walking through the streets of Vale, looking around the decorations for the Vytal Festival. Streamers of different colors decorated all around the buildings, with balloons also hanging in strategic spots. A sign is being put up by an elderly Shopkeep that reads in bright red letters, "WELCOME TO VALE!", for all the foreign newcomers from their respective kingdoms of Remnant.

Weiss beams with enthusiasm, "The Vytal Festival! Oh this is absolutely wonderful!"

Ruby spoke up with bewilderment that this was coming from her teams personal ice queen.

"I don't think I ever seen you smile this much Weiss." She cringes. "It's kinda weirding me out."

"How could you not smile? A festival dedicated to the cultures of the world! There will be dances! Parades! A tournament! The amount of planning and organizing that goes to this event is simply breathtaking!"

Yang sighs in boredom. "You really know how to make a good thing and make it sound boring..."

"Quiet you!" Weiss responds as they all walk through the city.

As they walk in silence for a moment, Aiden speaks, "I must agree with Weiss' first statement, it IS beautiful. Never been to a festival before..." Aiden says in a bit of deep thought.

Weiss smirks. "Well your fortunate to be around for this one!" She said, brimming with pride, "Especially with me finally competing."

Blake then spoke up. "Ever modest as usual." Weiss pouts to that small comment.

"Your arrogance blinds you..." Aiden says bluntly, "I'll be sure to desecrate you if we do happen to go against one another." Aiden says, and he'd then sniff the air, "Y'all smell..."

Ruby would then cover her own nose, as she smelled fish from the docks. Yang would notice where they are around the docks. "Why are we waiting around some old dock?" Weiss was still pissed at Aiden's insult, but recoiled at the stench as well.

They look at ships transferring people. Blake then notices the people that are completely new, "People from different states and kingdoms..."

"Why are we here?" Aiden presses.

Yang puts her hands behind her head. "I can imagine the tournament."

"Whoa." Ruby notices a crime scene being covered up by some yellow tape. She walk up to a detective. "What happened here?"

"Robbery. Second Dust shop to be hit this week. This place is turning into a jungle." He replied.

Yang sighs sadly. "That's terrible."

Another detective would call out. "They left all the money again."

The first detective hears him, "Yeah, just doesn't make a lick of sense. Who needs that much Dust?"

"I don't know, an army?"

"You thinking the White Fang?" The detective would continue their conversation as Team RWBY stand there to wonder. Aiden would also wonder what could be going on. The 2nd detective would speak up, removing his sunglasses,

"Yeah, I'm thinking we don't get paid enough."

Weiss can't help but show disgust. "Hmph! The White Fang... What a bunch of degenerates..."

Blake would feel annoyed by her comment, while Aiden just gave an annoyed look, "What's your problem?" Blake would ask.

"My problem? I don't particularly care for the criminally insane." Weiss said bluntly.

"The White Fang is hardly a bunch of psychopaths. They're a collection of misguided Faunus." Blake shows sensitivity towards Weiss and stands her ground on her stance of the group.

Weiss is not having it though, "Misguided?! They are trying to wipe humanity off the face of the planet!"

"So then they are 'very' misguided! Either way, it still doesn't explain why they would rob a Dust shop in the middle of downtown Vale."

Aiden would glare at Weiss, but would turn to Blake, "You do have a point... But who could it be?" Ruby would then add that they haven't found the man named Torchwick yet, to which Aiden nods, "That IS true..."

Weiss crosses her arms. "Well that still doesn't change the fact that the White Fang are nothing but scum! Those Faunus do nothing but lie, cheat, and steal." Blake was now starting to get mad.

Yang would speak up to Weiss, "That's not necessarily true."

Just as she said that, they hear a commotion in one of the boats. A blonde haired monkey Faunus would run away from the boats' sailors, then the detectives. He would run past Blake and give her a wink, having her surprised for a bit. Yang finds herself standing corrected, "Well... He's not White Fang... I think?"

Weiss would then rush there, "Stop that stowaway!" Everyone follows her, but the chase would be stopped once the heiress bumps into someone. An unusually dressed ginger girl would smile at Weiss despite her being down to the ground.

"Salutations!"

Ruby walks up to the downed girl while Weiss gets up in bewilderment. "Um... Hello?" Aiden was unsure of the situation, and would look at Blake, then at where the perpetrator was running, unsure on what to do.

Yang is more focused on the new girl they met though. "Um... Are you okay?"

The ginger girl is still laying on the floor like its normal. "I'm quite fine, thank you for asking." She headsprings suddenly, startling the whole team. "My name is Penny. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ruby starts introducing herself. "Hi Penny, I'm Ruby."

"I'm Weiss."

"Blake."

"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" Blake hits Yang's arm. "Ow! I'm Yang..."

"It's a pleasure to meet you all!" Penny said happily.

Weiss raises her brow. "You've already said that."

Penny paused. "... That I did!"

Aiden was silent for a moment, Penny looking at Aiden, "Aiden..." He bluntly said, looking Penny up and down, before walking off.

Ruby would be the last one to speak to her as they all leave. "Take care, friend!" They continue to walk off.

Yang would speak quietly to her team, "Well she was weird."

Weiss refocuses. "Now where did that Faunus riffraff ran off to?"

But then they were stopped once they see Penny in their way now. "What did you call me?" Penny sounded very surprised.

Yang waves her hands in defense. "Oh, I'm really sorry! I didn't think you heard me!" While Weiss was bewildered with how she was behind them a second ago, and now in front of them.

Penny then walks past Yang, "No. Not you." Then in front of Ruby. "You."

"Me?! I... I don't know I..." She stutters.

"You called me friend. Am I really your friend?"

"Um..." Ruby then looks behind the ginger and see's everyone trying to signal her no. Aiden just shrugged at Ruby, neutral to the entire situation.

Ultimately she just says, "Yeah, sure. Why not?" This gets her team to just fall on the ground on defeat and disappointment.

Penny however was completely happy. "Sensational!" We can paint our nails, try on clothes, and talk about cute boys!"

Ruby can't help but be weirded out. She notices Weiss getting up first. "Is this what it was like when you first met me?"

"No. She seems far more coordinated." Weiss replies, with Ruby doubting the heiresses words.

Yang would ask Penny what she was doing in Vale. Penny would reveal she is going to be a part of the tournament.

Weiss was skeptical, "Wait, you're fighting in the tournament?"

"I'm combat ready!" Penny salutes with conviction.

"Forgive me, but you hardly look the part."

Blake responds to Weiss, "Said the one wearing a dress?"

The heiress however has a response. "It's- a combat skirt!"

Ruby then dashes next to her. "Yeah!" The two would then high five in agreement.

Aiden, pushing up imaginary glasses, would go in between Weiss and Ruby and exclaim, "I must also add they are very tactical, and very stylish for combat." He says holding up a finger.

He'd then shake his hands in a jazzy motion, "Hunting Grimm... With style." He says, then breaking into a chuckle.

Yang crosses her arms and smirks to that. "Yeah!"

Weiss then interrupts. "Wait a minute. If your here for the tournament, then do you know that monkey tailed... Rapscallion?!" Blake is notably gritting in anger.

Penny tilts her head. "The who?"

Weiss then brings out a clearly drawn in seconds replication of the monkey Faunus they saw just now. "This filthy Faunus on the boat!"

"Why do you keep saying that?!" Blake finally lets out her thoughts.

"Huh?!"

"Stop calling him a rapscallion! Stop calling him a degenerate! He's a person!"

"Oh I'm sorry! Would you like for me to stop referring the trash can as a trash can? Or a lamp post a lamp post?!"

"Stop it!"

"Stop what?! He clearly broke the law! Give him time, and he'll join up with the White Fang!"

Blake's fist clenches.

"AGH! You ignorant little brat!" She walks off in anger.

Weiss begins to get offended, "How dare you say that to your partner!" They continue to argue as the rest of her team awkwardly watch.

Yang would whisper to Ruby, "We should probably go."

Penny slides in behind them, "Go where?" The argument continues.

Aiden would get in front of the heiress, and gives a murderous glare at Weiss, one that tells her to stay back, then would rush to follow Blake to try to comfort her as she stormed off, "Blake, wait for me!" He says as he goes to follow her.

Weiss was still baffled and just can't understand what this guy's problem is, "What is that guy's problem?!"

Ruby was worried for Blake and Aiden. As much as she wants to get involved, she has no idea why Blake is like this and Aiden just does not like Weiss for… Obvious reasons.

Aiden follows closely behind Blake, as they walked quickly in silence, before Aiden grabs her hand, and takes her to a bench in a different location to sit alone to cool down after an intense session of argument. They both sit in silence for a moment, before Aiden speaks, "Hey... I... Understand where you come from..." Aiden says, a little fidgety, "I'm... Sorry this happened..." He says as he hung his head low. "Personally, I've met many great Faunus before... And to hear someone say such things..." He shakes his head. "My father... Well... He too is a Faunus. I'm his adoptive son... I took what she said as an insult to my father... He's one of the wisest people I know..." He sighs, remembering his past, "I've never had many friends due to what kids thought of my father... I thought Ruby was one of those kids at first... But... Well, you can see how that turned out, heh." He said with a small grin, as he turned his head to her.

She was unprepared for him suddenly taking her out on a bench and learn from him, but she takes it in stride, "Yeah... I would like to meet your father one of these days."

He smiles warmly, blushing, "I think he'd like you very much..." He'd look around, "Wanna get something to eat, before the 'storm' comes again?" He said, indicating to having to go back to the others in the team, while adjusting his tie.

She nods. "Sure." She finds this rather nice after the rough day she had.

From the shadows, the stowaway looks at the two as they walk and converse, narrowing his eyes, before running off.

Later in the day, the team still awkwardly waits for Blake and Aiden in their room. "So-" Ruby speaks, until Weiss interrupts.

"What is taking them so long?!"

Yang found it impressive that she held off this topic for hours. "I'm sure they have a good reason for being out this late."

"They better! Those two have been acting weird lately!"

After a bit of waiting, the door opens, and they see Blake walk in, laughing with Aiden, as he stands outside, "Ok, ok. Well I'm glad to take your mind off things. Let's hang out again sometime." At this, Blake agreed with a slight blush, "If you need me" Aiden continued, pointing down the hall, "I'll be in my room. You are always welcome to come over." He said with a smile and wink, and Blake nodded, as she closed the door, looking down at the door with a smile, and sighs, as she turned to see her team looking at her. The team also notice a silver cross necklace on her neck. Blake feels uncomfortable by her team staring strangely at her.

"Um..."

Ruby would speak up, "So... How was your day?"

"It was-"

"Where were you?!" Weiss shouts.

Blake rolls her eyes, "With Aiden."

Ruby chimes in. "That's cool! Knew him since I was a kid. He's a cool dude!"

Yang was curious. "So what did you guys talk about?"

Blake sits on her bed and goes to her books. "Stuff."

The three move closer to her space. Both Ruby and Yang curious, while Weiss is more serious about this, "What stuff?" Yang asks.

Blake grabs her book, and covers her face with it. "Just stuff."

This gets them to move in closer, Ruby thinks about it. "So um... Like cool stuff?"

Blake is still undeterred. "Sure."

Yang sighs. "Man, why so reserved. You know we're your teammates right?"

"I know." Blake bluntly replies. "We were talking about stuff."

As Ruby and Yang tires to figure this out, Weiss however is starting to feel paranoid. Since those two shows dislike for her personally, she begins to wonder if they are having it out for her in some way. She only glares at Blake at the moment.

Weiss would drag Ruby out of the room. "Whoa! Weiss?!"

They walk off the dorm and outside so Yang and Blake won't hear them.

"Listen Ruby... You're… My leader. I made peace with that, as you know."

"Uuuuuuum." Ruby wasn't sure where Weiss is going with this.

"And that means I have no choice but to trust you."

Ruby could tell Weiss's tone is serious at that moment. "You can totally trust me."

"Good. Cause I don't think I can in good faith trust Blake."

Ruby can tell, and is still confused to that. "But why?"

"Well you heard how she defended the White Fang! Those terrorists!"

Ruby didn't want to say anything to upset Weiss or make herself look racist. "I mean... I'm sure she has her reasons..."

Weiss scowls. "I doubt it. She has no idea what they have done!"

Ruby begins to now understand that this is more than just some hate on a race. "What did they do?"

Weiss hesitates. She never would have thought she'd share anything personal to Ruby of all people. But she needs her to be on her side on this.

"You want to know why I despise the White Fang or particularly trust the Faunus? Because they've been at war with my family for years. War, as in actual bloodshed." This shocks Ruby. "My Grandfathers company has had a target painted across its 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 care full of Dust... Stolen..." Her anger turns to sadness. Then reverts back to anger. "And everyday, my father would come home furious. And that made for a very difficult childhood." She clenches her fist.

The door would then open, as Blake had heard everything

Ruby would be startled. "Blake! Um! Hi! You... Heard, everything... Haven't you?"

Blake felt remorseful. "Weiss... I didn't know..."

Weiss didn't think she would show sympathy. But was still angry. "Right. You don't know! You never had to lose people and have your childhood influenced by their crimes!"

Ruby tries to calm her down. "Weiss, calm down!"

Weiss is too mad. "How can you even defend them?!"

Blake was also mad. "Well maybe we're tired of being pushed around!" She pushes Weiss.

She gasped. "... We're...?" Ruby was also surprised.

"Blake?" She can't help but find that suspicious. The dark clad huntress realizes her mistake and just runs away. "Blake wait!"

Blake runs off of the dorms and outside. She see's the statues of the knights of old. And the Grimm below them. She can't help but compare them to her race as the beasts. She wonders if her behavior justified it. She couldn't stand the lies she made to herself and the team. They would have caught on anyways. So slowly, but surely, she unites her ribbon and reveals her cat ears she hid from Beacon.

"I knew you looked better without the bow." Blake jolted and turns to see this person.

A few days later at Beacon, Ruby, wakes up from her sleep, yawning in the process. She looks over at Blake's empty bunk, and groans sadly. Ruby, Weiss, and Yang walking through the empty streets of Vale. Aiden isn't with them, as, the next morning since Blake left and he noticed, and him calling Weiss an idiot, he went out on his own to hunt down Blake, much to Ruby's displeasure, and they haven't seen Aiden since. Aiden and Blake have been gone for the whole weekend.

The trio would walk around town. Weiss showing a lot of suspicion over Blake's statement. Despite that, Ruby wants to find her regardless of who she is. During this, Blake would be at a café along with her fellow Faunus back from the dock.

Blake would start, "You wanna know more about me?"

"Finally, she speaks!"

Blake wouldn't find his witty banter charming- although she tolerated it knowing he is the only person who can relate to her in this town. Except Aiden. Although, as much as she trusts him, he was close to the team, feeling he may try to force her back, and she isn't ready to face them with the truth. This Faunus was named Sun Wukong. "Sun, have you heard of the White Fang?"

"Of course I do! I don't there is any Faunus out there that doesn't know them! Bunch of freaks if you ask me!" Sun said with confidence.

Blake would act calm as she sips her cup of tea. Then reveals something, "I was once a member."

This gets Sun to almost choke on his drink. "Wait... You were a member of the White Fang?!"

Blake would finally explain her past. "Yes. I was a member for as long as I can remember. You can say I was born into it. Back then, things were different. In the ashes of war, the White Fang was meant to be a symbol of peace and unity between humans and Faunus. Of course, despite being promised equality, the Faunus was subjected to discrimination and hate. The humans still thought of us as lesser beings. And so, the White Fang rose up as the voice of our people. And I was there. In front of rally's, took part on every boycott. And I thought I was making a difference… But I was just a young optimist... Five years ago, our leader stepped down, and a new one took his place. Our peaceful protests become more organized attacks. Setting fires to shops that refuse us. Sabotaging cargo for slave labor. The worst part? It seemed to be working. We were becoming more equal to the humans. Not out of respect, but fear. So I left. I don't want to a part of their violent movement. So I decided to be a huntress."

Sun would realize the gravity of her situation. "Have you told your friends?" Blake looked down in contemplation.

"No... But she HAS told me..." Aiden says as he approached, and hugged Blake, "I was so... Don't do that again." He says as he hugged her, with genuine concern in his voice.

Blake smiled a bit, but a little embarrassed though. Sun sees this. "So… He your boyfriend?"

Blake almost spilled her tea. "What?!"

Aiden also perked up, "W-what? N-no! W-we're... We're friends!" He says with his hands up, and red like a tomato.

Blake was mad. "Yes! What's wrong with you?"

Sun rubs his head. "Yeesh…"

Aiden looks at Blake while her attention is on Sun, and he sighs, a bit disappointed, but he shakes it off, "So... Who's this guy?" Aiden asks taking a seat next to Blake.

Blake sighs, "His name is Sun."

He waves, "What's up?"

"Right..." He says eyeing him, "Well, I want to say you two are quick, took a very long time to track you down... But I had forgotten to look here." He said looking around. "Now then... I assume you won't be coming back for a bit... So, since I'm here, would you mind if I tagged along for whatever ride you're on?" Aiden offers.

Blake thought about it, a bit taken aback, and would ask, "Wouldn't you be better off being with your childhood friend?" Referencing Ruby.

He shrugs, "I'm sure she'll be fine. She'll find us eventually, if all else fails. Besides, it seems you may need some help here, and I need to make sure you two don't get into any trouble... And also..." He says looking at Sun, "I don't seem to trust you... At least not yet... I'm not saying you are inherently bad... I just don't know you. Surely, you can understand." He says casually to Sun.

Sun wasn't sure what to think of that. "Um... Okay?"

Meanwhile, back with Ruby, Weiss, and Yang, they are trying to find Blake and Aiden.

"Blaaaake! Aideeeeen!" Ruby shouts.

"Blaaaake!" Yang shouts. She noticed Weiss not saying anything. "Think you can help a bit?"

Weiss replies with a not so genuine tone. "I believe the police could help."

Ruby didn't like her idea, "Weiss!" She says in an angry tone.

"What? It's just an idea!" Weiss defends herself.

Ruby clearly disapproves. "Yeah, a bad one..."

Yang tries to calm them both. "Lets not jump into conclusions and hear her out."

"And when you hear it, you'll realize I'm right!"

"And I think Weiss' hair looks wonderful today!"

Everyone jumps in shock to see the same ginger girl they met before is back. "Agh! Penny?! What are you doing here?!" Ruby asks.

Penny waves. "Hello friends! What are you up to?"

"Uuuuuh..." Ruby just can't find the words after the baffling appearance.

Yang has her back though. "We're looking for our friend."

"Ooooh! You mean the Faunus girl!"

Penny's words would have them take pause, until Ruby spoke in skepticism. "Wait. How did you know about that?"

"The cat ears!" Penny replies.

Yang spoke up. "What cat ears? She wears... A... Bow..." The realization begins as the whole group just stood there in silence.

Afterwhile, Ruby would whisper. "She does like a lot of tuna..."

Penny continues. "Where is she?"

Ruby shakes her head. "We don't know. She's been missing since Friday!"

Just then the ginger grabs Ruby's arms and gasps. "That's terrible! Don't you worry, Ruby! I will not rest until your teammate is found!"

Ruby nervously smiles. "Uh... Thank you Penny! Really, thank you! But we got this! We're okay! Right guys?"

She then noticed them gone. More silence of wind. "It sure is windy today." Penny commented.

Blake, Aiden, and Sun walk down an alleyway, with Sun having his hands behind his head. He'd ask what Blake's plan is, and Aiden listens silently.

Blake ponders, "I don't believe the White Fang caused those robberies. They've never needed that much Dust before."

Sun then spoke up. "What if they did? I mean... The only way to prove they didn't do it, is to go to the place where they would most likely to go if they were to do it and not find them there. Right?"

Blake looks down. "The only thing is... I don't know where that is..."

"Well, while I was on that boat, I heard these guys talking about offloading a 'huge' shipment of Dust."

"How huge?"

"'Huge!' Like Schnee Company freighter!"

Aiden and Blake look at each other in common understanding. "Whatever you have planned, I'm sticking with you." Aiden said, putting faith in Blake. Blake nods to that. She hopes they could pull this off, cause this whole thing started to tear the team apart in the first place. She has to get to the bottom of this.

Hours later, its night. They see the boat as they see the Schnee Dust cargo. "They offloaded the crates from the boat. Now they're just sitting there."

"Cool. Stole you guys some food." Sun brought some in between the time.

Blake raises a brow. "Do you always break the law without a second thought?"

"Hey, weren't you in a cult or something?" Sun replies. Which earned Sun a glare from both Blake and Aiden, "Okay too soon."

Just as he says this, the winds blows all around them, and they look up to see a Bullhead's searchlights flashing around for a landing spot, descending in the middle of the cargo containers and extending a ramp for a black hooded individual with a metallic fanged mask to come out of.

"Shit..." Aiden quietly said

"Is that them?" Sun asked.

"Yes... It's them..." Blake dreaded this.

"You guys didn't think they were behind it, did you?"

"No. I think deep down I knew. I just didn't want to be right..." Blake admitted in shame.

"Yeah… This just doesn't seem to add up…" Aiden said, having an uneasy feeling.

"Hey! What's the hold up?!" They overhear an orange haired man in a white suit and black hat.

"We're not the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves at the moment so why don't you animals pick up the pace?"

Blake is now all kinds of confusion. "This isn't right. The White Fang would never work with a human." She gets up, ready to jump in. "Especially not one like that..."

Aiden narrows his eyes and grits his teeth, as he and Blake nod, and drops gently onto the ground below, as they both hid behind one of the containers, Aiden's hand over the hilt of the sword on his back. Roman is busy berating a White Fang member whom is holding a coil of rope.

"Ready?" He asks Blake, with a serious expression. She nods with her own serious expression. They move out as she puts her blade on Roman's throat.

"Wha-?! Oh for fu-"

"Nobody move!" Blake shouts as the White Fang members points her guns at her and her hostage.

Aiden points his sword, the barrel aiming at Roman, "No sudden movements! Or I'll blow you into kingdom come!" He says as he inputs a vial of fire dust into the chamber of his rifle/sword.

Blake would notice them closing in, ready to shoot. Realizing this, she tears out her ribbon and reveals her cat ears. "Brothers of the White Fang, why are you aiding this scum?!" The members begin to falter with her words.

However Roman is confident. "Oh kid, didn't you get the memo?"

"What are you talking about?" She angerly replies.

"The White Fang and I are going on a joint business venture together."

Aiden looks around in a bewildered expression, as he hears turbines, "Blake... We need to go..." But Blake ignores Aiden, as he orders Roman to tell her what it is, or she ends his operation, to which Roman chuckled, as two more Bullheads are hovering above the heist, and as Blake watches in horror. Aiden, shoving Blake aside, would say "DOWN!" He says as he fires his gun, colliding with the projectile Roman fired from his cane, creating a huge blast, sending everyone back.

Blake rolls back and dodges his fire attacks. Aiden then gets attacked by the White Fang soldiers after he recovered from the explosion he made. Roman was focusing on hunting down Blake, until he gets hit by a banana peel. On cue, Sun flips in. Roman finds himself aided by more White Fang.

"Your really not the brightest banana in the bunch, are you kid?" The soldiers would rush in only to all easily get knocked over by Sun's surprising skills. Aiden and Sun find themselves back to back as they find themselves surrounded. They both look each other through the corner of their eyes, and they flip, punch, and kick any foe that steps forwards. The two worked together flawlessly. Meanwhile, in a distance from where the fight is, Penny and Ruby turn around upon hearing the noise, seeing the smoke rise from the docking bay just a few buildings away.

Ruby and Penny went there as fast as they could, knowing Blake could be in trouble. Her intuition was true once she sees the same robber she met before going to Beacon, "Hey!"

Torchwick recognizes her, "Oh, hello Little Red! Isn't it past your bedtime?" He taunts.

"Are they your friends?" Penny walks in.

"Penny, get back!" Ruby said in concern.

Seeing her distracted, Roman takes advantage and shoots her with an explosive fire ball, sending her past Penny. Roman laughs at Ruby's pain, which has Penny jerk her head to Roman in anger.

Ruby rubs her head in pain, only to see Penny talk past her. "Penny, no! Wait!"

"Do not worry, Ruby. I'm combat ready." Penny was sure of herself. As she reveals her own weapon... Or weapons.

Aiden, finishing off a grunt, would look up in shock. "What the-"

As Penny would unleash her many swords coming out of her back with strings as she would make quick work on the White Fang and even their own cargo ships, preventing them from escaping. Even shooting beams out of them, destroying two ships at once, which Ruby watches in awe. Seeing the Bullhead's flight fall under Penny's control, Roman grimaces and turns to run towards the last transport.

"These kids keep getting weirder!" He comments as he escape in an aircraft, while one of them would get dragged by Penny's swords and strings.

Later, a handful of police cars are at the docks, where Ruby, Blake, Aiden, Sun, and Penny are sitting on boxes in silence. That is, until Weiss and Yang appear on the scene.

Ruby would try to defend Blake knowing Weiss is gonna point fingers again. "Look Weiss it's not what you think. She explained the whole thing. You see she doesn't actually wear a bow, she has kitty ears and their actually kinda cute-"

Weiss just walks past Ruby and she looks mad. The black clad Faunus would explain herself,

"Weiss. I want you to know that I'm no longer associated with the White Fang. Back when I was-"

"Stop." Weiss interrupts. "Do you have any idea how long we've been searching for you?" Blake paused for a bit. "Twelve hours. That means I've had twelve hours to think about this. And in that twelve hours I've decided..." Everyone was in suspense of her answer. "... I don't care!"

"You don't care?" Blake asked.

"You said you aren't one of them anymore, right?

"No. I-I haven't been since I was youn-"

"Upupupupup! I don't want to hear it. All I want to know is that next time something this big comes up... You come to your teammates. And not some… Someone else." She turns to Sun.

Blake didn't know what to say. She would turn to see Ruby and Yang who are smiling. She wipes her eye that had a little tear. She would nod. "Of course..." This would have Weiss smile in turn.

Ruby cheers.

"Yeah! Team RWBY is back together!"

Aiden just stands in the sidelines, "And me..." He says in mock enthusiasm, as he felt left out.

Ruby then dashes to hug him. "Of course, you too!"

Sun grins to this, until Weiss points at him. "I'm still not quite sure how to feel about you!" Which has him laugh nervously.

Ruby then notices someone missing. "Wait... Where's Penny?"

From the darkened back seat of a limo, Penny watches the group of friends reuniting with each other. She was told to not go off wondering around, as she sadly complies. She wishes to see her friends again. As everything seems to be wrapping up. With Ruby's team closer than before. Despite their backgrounds, or differing personalities, they all felt solace in each other. But this is only the start of their intertwining fates.

Meanwhile, back at Beacon, Ozpin is holding a Scroll showing a "LIVE FEED" of Ruby at the docks. He closes the video and opens up a communication with Qrow, whose team name and other information is left blank and his only message is: "QUEEN HAS PAWNS."

In a distant location, Salem roams, until she hears a cold voice from behind her, "Salem..." The voice said said, and she turned to see a cloaked man, one who radiated dark aura, nevertheless she was ready to attack, "I have come with... An accord for you." The figure said, revealing his purple, demonic eyes, as he gave a sharp toothed grin. He laughs, his laugh seeming to echo in the air, as we go back to Vale, as the owner of the Dust shop "From Dust Till Dawn" is hanging a sign declaring its re-opening. As he climbs down from his ladder, he stumbles and falls. Emerald Sustrai appears next to him.

"Sorry, I'm not from around here." She helps him up. "Can you point me to the direction of this shop?" She asks as he gives her the direction she needs. She would walk past a grey haired guy.

"I knew you were lost."

She would point at him. "Mercury. I will pay you to shut up."

"Nope. Not your money anyways." He smirks as he follows her.

They both walk towards the shop where they meet a man in a sharp looking side burns. "Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade. Home to every book under the sun. How may I help you?"

Emerald asks. "Actually, do you have a copy of The Thief and the Butcher?"

"Yes, we do."

"That's great!"

"Would you like a copy?"

"No. Just wondering..." Emerald would begin to smirk deviously. "What about the Third Cursade?"

"Umm..." The store owner is unsure what they are getting on, but is not liking this. "I... Don't believe we carry that one..." Mercury who was browsing around is now closing the windows.

Emerald speaks, "What was this place called again?" To this, Tukson responds,

"Tukson's Book Trade."

"And you're Tukson?"

"That's right." He seems to grow more weary as the conversation goes on.

"So then I take it that you're the one that came up with the catchphrase?"

"Yes."

"And, what was it again?"

"Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun."

"Except- the Third Crusade."

"It's just a catchphrase."

"It's false advertising!"

Emerald ominously speaks, as Mercury is finished, "You shouldn't make a promise you can't keep, Tukson. I hear that you're planning on leaving, moving all the way to Vacuo. Your brothers in the White Fang won't be happy to hear that..." Mercury creepily smiles at Tukson, "And neither are we... You know who we are, don't you?"

"Yes"

"And you know why we're here?"

"Yes"

"So... Are you going to fight back?" In response, Tukson produces claws from his fingers.

"Yes!" He says as he charges them.

Tukson leapt onto his counter in a threatening manner. Mercury and Emerald back up slightly and he leaps at Emerald and slashes at her, but she dodges. He looks forward and is surprised at Mercury as he raises one leg for a kick with his shotgun-greaves. Mercury and Emerald exit "Tukson's Book Trade". Emerald stretches her arms overhead. Mercury is carrying a comic.

"What's with that?" Emerald asks with curiosity

"I like the pictures." Mercury replied

Meanwhile back in Beacon, the students were in lunch, things were as normal as they can be for Ruby and her team. Aiden didn't seem to be there, as he seemed to have been called by Ozpin some time ago. Yang would be interested in what Blake was doing.

She would gaze at some drawings she drew. One, A lone man of her past, the other, a drawing of what looked to be Aiden… The blonde brawler of the team would move closer, "Whatya doing?"

Almost immediately, she closes her book.

"Nothing. Just going on some notes from last semester."

Yang would then catch a lima bean with her mouth, being thrown by Nora from a different table.

"Lame!" In response to Blake's mundane answer.

Just then, the team gets shook by a huge book that hit their table, being dropped by their leader. "'Ahem!' Sisters! Friends! Weiss..."

"Hey!"

"Four score and seven minutes ago, I had a dream."

Yang goes along with this speech. "This oughta be good..." Taking another bite from Nora's lunch.

Ruby continues. "A dream that one day, the four of us would come together, as a team, and have the most fun anyone has ever had... EVER!"

"Did you steal my binder?" Weiss asks, ignoring everything Ruby said.

Ruby slyly grins. "I'm not a crook..."

Blake speaks up, continuing the conversation. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about kicking off the semester with a bang!" Ruby answers with confidence.

Yang would move in for her signature move. "I always kick off my semesters off with a 'Yang!'"

Her bad puns. As her team would just go silent from it. "Eh? Am I right guys?" Only to get hit by Nora's tomato as she boos her.

Ruby comes back to her point. "Look guys, it's been a good two weeks, and between more exchange students arriving and the tournament at the end of the year, our second semester is going to be great! But classes start back up tomorrow. Which is why I've taken the time to schedule a series of wonderful events for us today!"

Weiss raises her brow. "I don't know whether I should be proud or scared of what you have in store." As Yang throws her apple to retaliate against Nora, only to get Ren on accident.

"I-I don't know guys, I think I should sit this one out." Blake would have some worry in her tone.

Weiss responds. "Sit out or not, I think however we spend the last day, we do it as a team." She gracefully and elegantly says. "I for one think th-" However she was unable to respond as she gets hit by a pie. The culprit being Nora. With both teams just standing there in shock of this development.

Outside the cafeteria, Sun, Aiden, and Neptune, are walking together as Sun relates the events which took place during their last encounter with White Fang, with Aiden affirming what Sun is saying. Neptune would remark that it was harsh, but Sun would remark,

"I know, we were all fighting side by side. She was super fast and I threw a banana at the guy, which sounds gross, but it was awesome! And then Aiden and I fought together, doing flips and kicks, it was so cool!"

Aiden would blush in embarrassment, "Well... We were just doing what we needed to... I will admit, it was pretty cool," He says, gently nudging Sun. Sun would then reveal that Blake is a Faunus, to which Aiden slaps the back of his head for revealing that, Sun giving an annoyed look in response, but would turn back to Neptune.

"But all of that's a secret!"

Neptune sighs. "Got it." Knowing Sun is going to make a big deal about it, and be proven right immediately.

"And not the 'I'm going to go tell Scarlet the second Sun turns his back' secret. I'm talking secret-secret!"

"Whoa, chill out man. I got it." Neptune assures his friend.

Sun points at him. "You better." Still feeling antsy about a previous mishap that he mentioned about Scarlet. "I just don't want screw up here. The people here are the coolest! Like Aiden here! No offense to your guys."

"None taken." As they walk, they fail to notice a massive food fight happening next to them, with the food being fired splattering the windows at their sides.

Sun would speak excitedly, "They're just in here. I'm really excited for you to meet them. So be cool, okay? You're gonna be cool, right?"

"Dude." Neptune replied, flashing a handsome smile, with an unimpressed Aiden raising a brow.

"Good point." Sun said. As they entered, they stopped in their tracks at the entrance as they watched the carnage, and a student yelled,

"Food Fight!" Many students stampede out the door past the trio, the latter of whom is looking quite worried.

"What… The hell?" Aiden exclaimed.

Team JNPR are standing atop a tower of tables stacked in a ramshackle manner, with Nora laughing.

Standing in defiance is Team RWBY with Ruby declaring, "Justice will be swift! Justice will be painful! It will be- delicious!" As her whole team howls out. With the whole team throwing watermelons at their opponents. Yang deflects them with her turkey gloves.

Blake assists with French bread as a sword. After Jaune gets easily taken down by Yang's turkey, Pyrrha and Blake duels with more French bread.

Ruby would skateboard with a tray to knock down Pyrrha. Weiss slipping Ren with ketchup. Nora making a makeshift hammer with a pole and watermelon, she knocks both Ruby and Weiss down. Weiss' swordfish vs Nora's hammer with Weiss knocked out hard. Yang battles Ren with turkey vs celery, with Yang knocking Ren down. Nora then sends Yang through the roof.

Blake being the last one uses salami as a whip. Putting down Nora until she brings out the soda cans used as grenades. Pyrrha uses her ability of magnetism to its full potential to bring a tsunami of soda cans to overwhelm her.

Ruby stands up and finds herself the only one left. But undeterred, she makes a mad dash and build up as much speed as possible and the g-forces she would bring through her dash then carries JNPR and slam them to a wall and the cans and the rest of the food on the ground was also carried and they all hit team JNPR. In the end, Ruby is left standing with JNPR splattered across the wall.

Sun grins, "I love these guys." Said just before he noticed Neptune full of jam all over him. Aiden was clean though, until one soda can fell on his head, splattering its contents on top of him.

Aiden narrows his eyes, looking at Sun from the side, before he pinched his own nose in annoyance, "Fuckin'..."

The doors behind them slam open, and Glynda enters the room growling, which Aiden sidestepped to avoid getting in her way. She proceeded to use telekinesis to re-organize the room.

"Hm... Wish I could do that..." Aiden said silently.

She would try to hold back as much annoyance in her tone. "Children please. Do not play with your food."

Everyone would stand in attention. Until Yang crashes back down to the area with everyone laughing.

Glynda grumbles at their antics. Ozpin would approach Glynda from behind, and place a hand on her shoulder. Aiden, cleaned thanks to Glynda, would join up with the RWBY team to talk with them, while Glynda and Ozpin look on.

She would growl in anger. "Let it go." Ozpin reminds her.

Glynda would sigh. "They are supposed to be the defenders of the world."

"And they will be. But right now they're still children." As both grown ups watch them continue to enjoy themselves. "So why not let them play the part?" Ozpin would leave Glynda to think on it. "After all… It isn't a role they'll play forever..." After the recent message, he has a feeling the students will involve themselves in more serious matters sooner rather than later.

In the location Salem was approached, she'd ask what accord Nightmaratack could possibly offer her. He'd reply, "You see... I am not of this world, but from something... More... Those so called, 'gods' are nothing in comparison to me... If you help me gain my power back, I can give you everything you desire! The destruction of humanity... And a way to break your little curse. As you've sensed, I am able to... 'Modify' your little 'pets'." Nightmartack slyly said, as he walked around her, "At this rate... Failure will come soon, and eventually, you will be stopped. Those humans already have a powerful ally with them to assist them, one that even you cannot stop if they are to persist, but I am here as... Well, an 'equalizer' of sorts, you could say..." He says motioning a hand in the air. "We both have a common enemy, and maybe... Maybe we can work together to rid this world of their pestilence... I know what happened to you, and it's heartbreaking." Nightmare said in mock sadness, but then gets close to Salem once more, "But with me... Your true goals that I know you have will come into fruition, given time." He then slowly extends a hand for a handshake, "That is the deal... Join me, and I'll gradually tip the scales in your favor far quicker than expected... And you will be rid of your curse, and all of humanity shall be wiped, just for you. No strings attached." He said with a wide sinister smile. "And you may be asking... How do I know all this?" He chuckles, as the room began to slowly go darker, "Well... When you are a being of the darkness... You tend to hear and see many things." He says before the room goes back to normal. "So... Interested?" He says extending his hand once more.

She sits in her throne in interest. "You have my attention..."

Nightmaratack smiles deviously, "There's one small issue..." He then creates a projection of Aiden that is made of darkness, "My form is incomplete... My power, is incomplete. This boy is my vessel. My true vessel. I was able to gain physical form for a time, as you see... But I am still weaker than I am if I were whole. If we can bring this boy here... Then I can become whole once more." He says as the vision evaporates, "He will need to be captured alive, preferably... And there is another." He creates another projection of Olmotack, "This one has been sticking his nose into my matters, and I assume yours as well... We shall need to deal with this one accordingly, and carefully." He says.

She would reply with a confident air. "I have people that does everything I tell them. I'm sure they can handle gaining his trust and then taking him no problem."

"Maybe... But if it fails... We'll need more... 'Drastic' measures." Nightmaratack replies. "Perhaps we can target Olmotack first to join us... He could prove to be quite an ally, as he has proven to be one of the strongest huntsmen out there... I can be very... 'Convincing', if given the chance" Nightmaratack says, chuckling

"Oooh... I'm interested in how you do things." She grins.

Then it is a deal?" He offers his hand one final time, and she shakes it in agreement. The demon smiled ear to ear, "Soon you shall see." He says with a slight bow, "For now... I have other matters to attend to... I promise you, you won't be disappointed by the results." He said with a sinister grin, before fading into darkness with an echoing laugh, leaving Salem alone, as she ponders the full extent of her new ally.