Going Forward

-Mistral-

Blake and Sun are still in Mistral. Looking around for any evidence of Marcus Black, in addition to searching for Mercury Black, who could still be staking around the city.

"I have seen that young man before. He was beating around a few thugs for fun. I hadn't seen him in a while until I saw him on TV." The noodleshop owner replied to their questions upon seeing a photo of Mercury on Blake's scroll.

"By any chance. Do you know anything about his father Marcus Black?" Blake asked.

"I'd say you be careful. From what I heard, he care none about life. And has the semblance to take away people's other semblances permanently. I have no idea he has some relation to him. Let alone a kid who does nothing but hurt people." Said the noodleshop owner.

"Okay, thank you for speaking to us." Blake said.

The two walked our of the noodleshop for today. Sun was beyond furious that Merceury is related to an assassin, and seemed to be following in his father's footsteps.

"I don't believe this! Mercury's Dad, an assassin?! All the more reason he should be beaten up!" Sun slammed his fist into his palm. Wanting to give Mercury a piece of his mind for the pain he, Cinder and Emerald caused.

"We can worry about it later. Right now we have to get back to Menagerie. We must've been taking too long to search for clues." Blake told him, wanting to check if everything is okay in Menagerie. Wondering how long they have taken. And didn't want anything to go wrong.

Sun on the other hand is worrying about his best friend. "But, what about Neptune? He could be in Atlas for who knows what he is doing. What if the Ice Queen's dad got him and tortured him?!" Blake snapped him out of his panicking state by smacking him behind his head.

"Sun, calm down! If anything, I'm sure Weiss got him covered. Besides, there are some things where she can pull a few strings. But it might take some time before they get back." Blake assured, not wanting him to worry too much.

"Besides, I don't like the SDC president either. Never met him, but still don't like him. But neither of us would stoop to the level of him or the White Fang." Blake explained. "And Neptune is making a choice for once. I get you care about him, but you shouldn't treat him like a kid. Any chance he's there, him and Weiss might have to find things to figure out."

Sun thought about it for a few seconds. He took a deep breath and just sighed. "You're right. I shouldn't worry much. I'll admit cause he's more like a little brother even if we're the same age." Blake then places a hand on his shoulder.

"We'll check again another day. We need to keep searching a little." Blake assured him. Sun was surprised to see how much she has already softened up. It made him happy that she is taking things bit-by-bit.

"Not to make you feel any pressure. But are you thinking about calling your friends?" Sun doesn't want to pressure Blake into talking to her team. But he thinks it's better to let her get some time.

"Just not today, Sun. Cause right now, I don't think I have the right time for this." Blake replied, softly.

Sun nodded. Understandably, Blake can't bring herself to do so right now.

Weiss and Neptune continued to watch the news about the updates of the aftermath of the Fall of Beacon. But it was not just that, there were also reports of huntsmen and huntresses being killed by an assailant.

"5 more huntsman have been reported dead. And if that wasn't enough, there are numerous more going missing. This not the outcome we expect. One of them is a huntress named Heather Shields, who was reported missing by her family."

"I hope Winter is okay. With that killer still at large, the thought of Winter fighting him or her. I'd be lying if I said I am not worried." Weiss sighs, Neptune held her hand, to keep her feel safe.

"I can say the same for my dad. I guess whoever planned the Fall of Beacon is also planning this." Neptune adds. He silently prays that his father is alive and well. He hoped to tell him the truth about everything that has happened. He didn't tell him about the devastations he held over the years. Weiss wondered if she has to tell her sister that she was already removed as heiress. On the one hand, she would be proud of her for not letting their father take control of her anymore. But on the other hand, Weiss feels too embarrassed for what has happened.

And the thought of telling Winter about Neptune would be complicated. But that would be talked about for another day.

"Hey, Weiss. I know it's a bit early for gifts. But I want to give you something." Neptune gives Weiss a gift wrapped in dark blue wrapper. "You don't have to open it right now. But it was a present I hope to give to you through delivery , but I doubt your dad would give it to you."

Weiss giggle. "You're right. But it was thoughtful of you, Neptune. I'll take it for safe-keeping to open it later." Before Weiss can proceed to kiss him, she is interrupted when her scroll rings. The two backed off from each other as Weiss takes the scroll.

"I need to take this." Weiss told him. Neptune nods and turned back to the news to give Weiss time to talk on her scroll. Probably a family member worrying for her, her sister at least.

Weiss takes her moment in Neptune's bedroom. As she looks at her scroll, it was Winter. Her older sister must've found out about her going missing and called to see.

Weiss answers the call and it reveals a small holographic version of Winter.

"Weiss, where are you? Are you okay? I heard from General Ironwood that you left..."

"Winter, you're okay! I'm fine, I'm in Mistral with a friend."

"Thank Remnant, you're... Wait, you're in Mistral?!"

"Winter, is something wrong?" Weiss asked, seeing her sister being too worries for the first time since she was little.

"Weiss there is no time to explain. But you need to get out of Mistral and find somewhere to hide!"

"What are you talking about?" Asked Weiss.

"The Black Vipers, the White Fang, they're all in Mistral. And it's not safe here anymore."

"I know. But I can handle myself. Because you taught me. Let me know where you are and we'll–"

"No! If they see me with you, they'll kill us both. I'm gonna have to fend off as possible. You have to find somewhere to remain hidden till it's safe to come out."

"But, Winter..."

"No buts. Just head to Vale and I'll meet you there, once the task is done."

Winter ended the call. But Weiss isn't going to listen to her sister's orders and came out of the bedroom. Instead, she is fueled with determination to see her sister safe. Neptune is still in the living room, watching the updates on the news.

But he turned to ask with the look of concern.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"It's Winter, she's in Mistral after all. We need to search again. She could be in danger." Weiss told him. They grabbed their weapons to search one more time.

"Alright. We'll try again tonight." Neptune agrees.

-Anima-

Ruby and her friends, along with their new ally, Tigress — the mysterious huntress – continued to travel to Mistral in the hopes of reaching Haven Academy to talk to the headmastsr. Tigress is still able to move thanks to Sage's cream that holds off the poison so that it would give time to head to the city and head to Mistral.

"How long have you known our parents?" Sage asked the huntress.

Tigress tried to look away, hoping that he did not feel any familiarity to her. "As much as I want to tell more. I cannot say much. But what I can tell you was that I was your age when I met them all. Summer Rose, Qrow and Raven Branwen, Taiyang Xiao Long, Saturn Vasilias, Li and Mai Ren, even your father, Tamaku."

"Then you have any idea for who my mother could be, right?" Asked Sage. Tigress closed her eyes to not bring herself to answer this. So she tries changing the subject with a small answer. "No, I'm sorry. Maybe it's better you don't know." She lied. But Sage isn't falling for it. Knowing she knew more than he realized. He will have to talk to his father if he comes back.

"How are you feeling so far?" Asked Sage.

"I'm feeling better, briefly. But how long would the medicine last?" Tigress asked.

"Those Chiyu Leaves acted as medicine. So it's temporary for about 4 days." Sage explains. Hoping to get to the city in time to get the medicine for Tigress. Chiyu Leaves are the opposite counterpart of poison ivy. Instead of rashes, the Chiyu Leaves serves as a medicine for others to make as a remedy to keep the patients healed temporarily until it wears off. Tigress doesn't care about the medicine, cause she still feels at fault for previous events to happened.

And what matters to her was getting the young huntsmen trainees to safety in Mistral. "None of you should be involved in those matters."

"Why not? We have gotten this far." Jaune scoffed.

"Because the more you get involved, Salem will sent an army next time." Tigress warned, not wanting to risk the safety of Summer's daughter, her son, nor of their friends. She could remembered the last time she saw Summer, she laid dead at the hands of Salem. Sacrificing herself for Sai/Tigress to escape. The images in her memories were too haunting for her. She shook her head. Continuing her reasons not to let the teenagers involved.

"Trust me when I say this. If you study in Haven Academy, you might progress your training more than you can imagine. Engaging at the true enemy now, all will be lost. Especially you, Jaune Arc." Jaune shook his head in shock. It felt his heart skipped a beat when he heard his own name. As if she had read his mind. "How did you...?"

"You think I've never saw your father - Jaden Arc - from my younger days?" Jaune had forgotten his father was a student from Beacon Academy. Tigress then eyed on the family crest on his sword. "Good man, but a much stubborn being at your age." Tigress concludes. She never knew Jaden Arc much, but she knew his family is well-known as a warrior legacy since the Great War. "Oh." Jaune said.

Tigress approaches the blonde swords his weapon to show him the symbol that he has been wearing since his time in Beacon. "You of all the eight children of the Arc. You wear this because you chose to. Your friend decided to fight till the end because she chose to, despite her own fear. Now it is your turn to face your fear. Do no waste this chance." Tigress said. "Everyone has a choice. I chose to hide and run before, but my mind is set. So I am taking you all to Haven Academy. And once we get there, we part ways. Those of you who came from Beacon will transfer to the school in Mistral, until you train more, and graduate."

"And who decided that you'd be the boss of us?!" Scarlet protested, not wanting to be put up on who gets to decided. And there will be no answers.

"Because I said so!" Tigress said firmly. "I only want what is best for the next generation. Huntsmen are being hunted down. And you're not huntsmen. None of you are ready." Tigress explains.

"But, we are ready." Ruby tried to protest.

"Ruby, I hate to say this. But she is right. Maybe we are not ready, yet." Ren said. Much to Nora's dismay because of a disagreement.

"Aw, Ren! You're supposed to back us up!" Nora shouted. Ren took the statements calmly. Like Jaune, he doesn't like the idea of loss. But not the way he felt. It was only for his friends to take precautions. If they were to come into battle, unprepared, they would perish before they see the day Remnant will unite. "Nora, as much as I disagree with Tigress. She does make a point. With Beacon was already destroyed, and we are two years away before graduation." Ren stated.Then Tigress/Sai saw another vision from another night.

A young girl with blonde hair and silver eyes raised Croceo Mors in declaration to her fellow huntsmen. She wears a knight armor plate on the top while also wearing grey jeans and black boots. She wears a yellow cape.

The crowd cheered for her. While the world became apocalyptic, the crowd looked to her as their leader and warrior. The sky is red. But it was shofted to the gradient of orange color as the sun shines.

Sai knew that the future may be in vain. But there is still hope that no one will back down from a fight against Salem. And if the children of huntsmen keep fighting, the queen of darkness won't stand a chance.

It is implied in the future that Salem might keep winning, but she will not longer get a hold on the fear on huntsmen and huntresses. As a mysterious character makes an uprising against her.

In the present timeline before that, worrying for the safety of the teenagers, Sai/Tigress thought it was best that they transfer to Haven Academy in order for them ro be prepared. But things will not go as planned for the.