Author's Note:
I do not own Library of Ruina or RWBY. These series belong to Project Moon and RoosterTeeth respectively. Everything I say is to not be taken as canon, they are merely add-ons to the story to flesh it out.
Yo, what's up? I've recently had time to work on the story so here it is. Although, all I can say is that this chapter was edited multiple times. I was going to have a lot of things in this chapter but decided to remove them entirely or place them in future chapters. A lot of things will probably not flow well, but it's at least something. Either way, let's talk about the recent things happening like traffic stats not working at all. Man, when are they gonna fix that, it's been like 3 weeks since I wrote this. I don't know if I received new reviews or had someone follow the story, and it makes me worried. So, this chapter will come out when things get better or when I decide to just release it anyways.
Like always, thanks for reading my story. I look forward to continuing this.
Reviews:
The Dark Hour - Gonna be honest with you, that joke was created the moment I thought about the concept of this fanfic. I just didn't know where to put it, thankfully I executed it perfectly.
Argorok - WhiteNight is a b!$&*, but he does give a god-tier E.G.O set, so I kinda like him for that.
VGBlackwing - Ah don't worry, I don't plan to give out E.G.O... unless...
TetSuoRai - Netzach is really underrated sometimes (his personality, at least). He just doesn't give a flying fuck sometimes.
Emm - Working for either Ozpin or Salem is just a death sentence, and even staying in the middle is still a nightmare. The Wizard of Oz abnos are coming up, as well as the magical girls, but I'm still deciding where to place them.
MagicienEX - Thanks for reading! Distorted Yan isn't something I considered, but I'll consider it whenever I need it.
Spaghetti Anon - Giving MoSB a burger is cursed af. Moreover, regarding the unfightable ones, abnormalities like Naked Nest and 1.76 MHz aren't going to be added to the story, they are too chaotic and nonsensical. I prefer to talk about the ones that actually do breach containment because I get to see their attacks and how they move or target people. It's just a preference.
Scifive - His shoulders do be hurting.
–FLOOR OF LITERATURE, THE LIBRARY–
In the middle of the brown and brightly lit orange floor, a certain brown-haired girl was seen carrying books back and forth to a cart. Hod was requested to bring a bunch of books about fairy tales to Angela per her request for some reason she didn't know. Maybe the robotic librarian wanted to know what children liked to read? Regardless, Hod was happy to help Angela.
While picking up one of the books, she instantly recognized it. It was "The Girl Who Fell Through The World," one of her personal favorites. She really enjoyed the characters in the story and Alyx's journey to return home to her family. Among the characters, her favorite has to be the Rusted Knight–a mysterious armored knight covered in rust, who fought for the residents of the Ever After. She couldn't help but imagine how handsome and intriguing the Rusted Knight was.
After carefully placing the book on top of the cart, Hod returned to the shelves to select more books. It didn't take long before she heard footsteps approaching from the main hall. Intrigued by the noise, Hod moved herself to see who came onto her floor.
As soon as she recognized the person, the brown-haired girl greeted her friend, "Hello, Gebura."
"Yo, Hod," Gebura responded, extinguishing her cigarette with her hands and tucking it into her pocket. "Sorry for bringing smoke into here, I know you don't like the smoke getting everywhere."
Hod reassured the red-haired librarian, "It's alright. I don't mind as much." She continued, curious about Gebura's unexpected visit, "So, what brings you here? You usually don't come without a reason."
Gebura huffed and moved to one of the chairs. "Some of the kids keep complaining about how hot my floor gets," she explained. Turning the chair around, she sat down, resting her arms on its back. "Not my fault they can't handle some heat. They'll just have to wait till Angela puts up an AC or something. In the meantime, I'm here to chill for a bit."
"Not everyone has your resilience, Gebura," Hod chuckled, continuing to gather the remaining fairy tale books.
On the other hand, the red-haired woman couldn't resist her curiosity about the books Hod was gathering. With a bored look, Gebura reached over and randomly picked up a book from the cart. As she held it in her hand, she noticed its bluish hue and a striking illustration on the cover. The image depicted a woman standing amidst a forest under a starry night sky. The woman had dark skin, curly auburn-black gradient hair with hints of white, and a sword with a uniquely curved tip, resembling a claw. Her expression was filled with some scornful emotions. Whatever this book was, Gebura couldn't help but think about how unappealing the cover was, but as one of the librarians put it: "Don't judge a book by its cover," so she decided to look through it.
Meanwhile, Hod glanced over and noticed Gebura engrossing herself in the bluish book. The timid librarian's face lit up with recognition, as she remembered the story. Smiling, Hod returned to her work, appreciating that Gebura was actually reading something.
–A FEW MINUTES LATER–
After skimming the fairy tale, Gebura tossed it back to the cart. Even though she was able to read, albeit at a relatively slow rate, she could get the main idea of the story.
'Don't fight alone, but don't rely on people too much, yadda yadda yadda,' Gebura mentally groaned. Gebura had always preferred going it alone, free from the distractions and fear-filled gazes of those who fought alongside her. It allowed her to unleash her full potential whenever she desired. However, she reluctantly acknowledged that having people around actually made her stronger. She didn't seek strength for power or personal gain but rather to protect those she cared about.
However, it seemed like life always liked fucking her ideas up. The people she swore to protect back when she started out as a fixer, robbed her; the person who brought light back into her eyes killed herself; even in the Library, that brainless power given by that Abnormality kills all her allies just to give herself more power. She felt bad whenever all of the assistants perished in an instant because of her.
Dismissing those troubling thoughts, Gebura refocused her attention on the book. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of dissatisfaction with how the Warrior Woman fought alone and ultimately met her demise in the Grimm-infested woods. That was like living in the Outskirts naked. No one to help you, nor anyone to talk to. It was a lonely tale.
In the book, the woman mentioned that her family was hunted by other humans. For what though? The reason wasn't explained. Although, Gebura recalled a mention of something significant at the end of the book—a reference to silver eyes and how a boy fell for her because of them.
"Ha," Gebura let out a short, dry laugh. Hod noticed her outburst but chose to disregard it. 'Love was a recipe for disaster. People do the craziest shit for love,' Gebura thought to herself. She couldn't help but remember Xiao and Roland, even that thing made from Tommy and Merry. Those three became monsters because of love. Love, in Gebura's eyes, was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. She had no desire to want to 'romanticize' someone because of that.
"Gebura?," Hod randomly called out, breaking Gebura's focus.
"Hmm? Yes?" she responded, ready to answer whatever question Hod had in mind.
"What do you think about all of this?" Hod asked.
"About what?"
"Remnant. Vale. Beacon. All of it," Hod explained. "It doesn't feel real to me. The world is beautiful, the food is delicious, there's a lot of diversity, and this place has some quirky people. It feels like a dream."
Gebura nodded in understanding, replying, "Yeah, I get that sometimes too. Although, this place is too peaceful for Fixers like me. Even with the Grimm, it doesn't feel like they're the big threats. I just can't help but think there's something else out there."
"Like what?"
"Something like..." Gebura paused, grabbing Hod's attention.
"Um, something like...?" She inquired, turning to face Gebura.
"I don't know. It's a Fixer thing. I just get the chills sometimes."
Hod chuckled a little, "There's something that scares Gebura? The world must be ending."
Gebura let out a tired sigh, leaning back in her chair and propping her feet up on the table. Was there something that scared her? Maybe it was losing her friends or not being able to live a peaceful life. Suddenly, she remembered the story she read. The villagers in the story could've had a peaceful life if they had people with silver eyes protecting them from the Grimm. Those silver eyes of that woman could mean something. Deep down, she knew that most fairy tales held a grain of truth, albeit heavily embellished. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
"I think one of those kids has silver eyes..." Gebura murmured to herself, making a mental note to investigate further at a later time. "Hey Hod, can I borrow this book for a bit?"
–TRAINING HALL, BEACON ACADEMY–
"Velvet, you cannot be serious right now girl," Coco exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief. They had just finished their lunch, and now Velvet was dragging her towards one of the training rooms.
The rabbit faunus perked up, "Come on, Coco! You heard all the news about Mr. Roland becoming a combat instructor. There are stories of him using all types of weapons and being able to teach anyone how to properly use them! I also heard tha–"
"He uses techniques that are virtually unknown to anyone, I heard."
"Exactly! You see why I'm so excited!" Velvet exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Coco let out a sigh, "Velvet, we don't even know if he's even here. Let alone if he allows you to copy his stuff. And we don't even know which room is his."
As Coco finished speaking, the doors to the training room swung open, catching their attention. Coco and Velvet exchanged a quick glance, one filled with excitement and the other with confusion. Their attention shifted to the figures emerging from the room. They all appeared physically unharmed, but their defeated expressions spoke volumes about their shattered egos.
"Cardin, you sure we should keep doing this?" a guy with a light-green mohawk questioned.
The next to speak was a guy with dark blue hair. "Yeah, this new professor is just too much for us. He's on a different level; he's stronger and faster. We can't keep up."
The team leader chimed in, breaking the silence. "Well, this is the best path for us. You've heard what others are saying: 'Team RWBY and Team JNPR are the top freshman teams this year.' We don't want to be left behind. We need to get stronger if we want to stand a chance in the tournament."
"We get that," the guy with light-brown hair acknowledged, "but it's not like we have the talent. Those guys are just naturally gifted. Why can't we go back to picking on the smaller fry? You used to boast about your strength, but we're just getting our asses kicked by that librarian."
Cardin glared at him, before speaking, "Dove, that's why we're getting additional training from this guy. Goodwitch's classes aren't good enough for all of us; if we keep fighting the extras, then we won't get stronger. It's just better for us to fight stronger people." With that, Cardin walked down the hallway towards the cafeteria. It was at that moment that Cardin and his team noticed the presence of the two upperclassmen from Team CFVY. Both groups paused, locking eyes and sizing each other up.
"I see you hurt her or anyone else ever again, I will rip your dicks off," Coco affirmed, glaring into the boys' very souls. "This ain't no threat, this is a motherfucking promise. Don't play with me."
While Coco seethed with anger, projecting murderous intent onto Team CRDL, only Cardin seemed to be unaffected. The rest of his team wore nervous expressions on their faces, clearly affected by Coco's menacing aura. Velvet, on the other hand, looked at them with concern, silently hoping that Coco wouldn't actually resort to dismembering their members. After a moment, Cardin resumed walking, but he stopped shortly before reaching Velvet and Coco.
Without saying a word, Cardin solemnly nodded his head, an action that left both members of Team CFVY and his own team puzzled. Ignoring their bewilderment, Cardin proceeded on his way towards the cafeteria. Immediately, his team hurriedly followed suit, leaving the two remaining individuals to watch as Team CRDL disappeared around the corner.
"I still hate them," Coco spoke up, her disdain evident in her voice.
Velvet, however, offered a different perspective. "Well, at least Cardin's showing some improvement."
With that matter settled, it became evident from Team CRDL's conversation that Roland was indeed inside the room. Coco allowed Velvet to take the lead, and the faunus girl pulled on the door handle. As they entered the room, their eyes immediately fell upon the black fixer, who was busy maintaining his weapons. Velvet couldn't contain her excitement and emitted a barely audible squeal that only her team leader could hear.
After setting down Zelkova Workshop's handaxe, Roland picked up his own weapon and began to wipe it with a cloth, applying oil. Midway through his task, he noticed the presence of the two visitors and paused, temporarily halting his polishing. "Velvet and... Coco, right?"
"Yep," the girl with sunglasses confirmed. "Why, hello Professor Roland."
"Hah," the black fixer let out a chuckle in response. "Hah, I'm not even qualified to be a true professor. I'm just a librarian who happens to know how to fight. That's all there is to it." He finished wiping Durandal down with a cloth. "So, what brings you to my humble workplace?"
Coco turned towards Velvet, considering that she was the one who had wanted to come here in the first place. However, Velvet seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, her gaze fixated on Roland's impressive array of weapons. Behind him stood an axe, a massive blade, and a pair of twin swords, while he held a sleek, blackened sword in his hands that exuded a captivating beauty.
"Uh, Velvet?" Roland asked, concerned by her distant expression. When she failed to respond, Coco nudged her gently.
Startled, Velvet instantly snapped out of her reverie. "Eh! Uh, sorry! I was just... uh, admiring your weapons."
"Oh, well, thank you," Roland replied with a hint of amusement. He watched as Velvet pulled out a camera that had a retro design, crafted from yellow metal and brown wood, with a blue lens. Although the style was outdated compared to the ones found in the City, Roland could still recognize it as a camera.
"C-Can I ask you a question?" Velvet asked timidly.
Roland smirked and replied, "You just did." Coco couldn't help but audibly boo him, while Velvet let out a small laugh causing the black fixer to be pleased with himself. "Since you're not as nervous as before, go ahead and ask," Roland suggested.
Velvet extended her camera towards Roland, even though he could already see it. "CanItakesomephotosofthem?" she hurriedly spoke, but then slowed down. "If you don't mind."
Although she spoke a bit too quickly, Roland understood her request. He consented, "Sure, I don't mind. It's actually the first time anyone has asked to take pictures of them." Instantly, the usually timid girl transformed into a whirlwind of snapping photos of the blackened weapons. Roland could hear hundreds of clicks as he walked over to the leader of Team CFVY. Both of them exchanged glances before redirecting their focus to Velvet, who was meticulously inspecting each weapon and capturing multiple angles with her camera.
"Weapon nut?"
"Weapon nut."
"I see."
"Yeah…"
"Is she always like this?"
"Not always. I usually just wait it out," Coco explained. "By the way, if you have any other... weapons, keep them hidden. I don't want to wait another hour." The beret-wearing girl said that last part with a whisper.
"Sure."
"And Oum forgive if she asks you to give a demonstration. It'll take even longer."
"Huh, is how you're feeling what she feels whenever you drag her clothes shopping?" Roland asked.
"You know," Coco realized as she observed Velvet shaking her head at the photos and then starting the photography session all over again. "Maybe I should ease up on the shopping."
–AN HOUR LATER–
"Okay!" Velvet exclaimed, her face beaming. "I'm finished!"
Both Roland and Coco let out sighs of relief as their conversation came to an end. The main topic revolved around their respective weapons, as there wasn't much else to discuss. Although his were rather basic, Velvet proudly presented her weapon, which she referred to as a minigun, but Roland deemed it a violation of everything he believed a gun should be.
Roland had never seen anything like it in the City, considering the fact that they put a bunch of restrictions on firearms—the length of the barrel can't be longer than the caliber's size, limitations on the amount of gunpowder used, it can't penetrate steel or building walls, no silencer, couldn't be concealed, and that's not even all. Plus, they imposed heavy manufacturing laws on making ammunition so it was expensive to even use a gun.
While he didn't blabber about the Head or the City to Coco, he was certain the Head would have a stroke if it saw what was happening on Remnant. This world was just too gun crazy.
"Usually, I'm the one asked for my number," Coco remarked as she pulled out her Scroll. "But here, add your contact information, just in case." The black fixer had no objections to that. He took the Scroll, registered himself, and handed it back to her. Coco glanced at it briefly before tucking it away. "Come on, Velvet, we have other things to do today," she commanded, striding towards the doors.
"Thank you for showing me your weapons," Velvet expressed her gratitude.
Roland smiled warmly and replied, "It's no problem at all."
He observed as the two of them headed towards the doors. However, just as they were about to open the door, it swung open on its own. Standing in the doorway was the white-haired pilot. Coco and Velvet stepped aside to allow her entry and noticed a blush on her otherwise pure, whitish face. Angelina expressed her gratitude to the members of Team CFVY and began walking towards Roland. Before Coco and Velvet could leave, Coco gave Roland a thumbs-up and the biggest smirk he had ever seen.
Roland felt his eyebrow twitch but managed to calm himself down. It hadn't been long since he shared information about the City with Angelina, so she must have had more questions. He could handle this; he had already anticipated some of the questions that might arise. After all, being prepared is the key to success...
"Roland, come out with me for dinner."
…Most of the time.
"Sure," Roland responded without thinking, instinctively agreeing to it. Maybe it was because he had already dug himself into this hole mentally, so he might as well go along with it. "What for?" he asked, assuming it was a platonic invitation.
"I just want to learn more about the City," Angelina explained. Quickly, Roland wiped the sweat off his face and let out a sigh of relief. "And... about you," she added, her face turning slightly red with each word.
Never mind, this was turning against him.
"I... Uh... Yeah," Roland stammered, caught off guard by her sudden confession. "Sure, sure. What time?"
Angelina pondered for a moment before saying, "Today, at 6:00." Roland looked at her, expecting an explanation for why it was so early, but she continued speaking. "I want to explore more of the Vytal Festival first, and then we can go eat later." She pulled out her Scroll, presumably to check the events happening in Vale.
Thoughts raced through Roland's mind, but he ultimately accepted what was coming his way once again. "Alright then, I'll see you later," he replied. As soon as Angelina was out of sight, he let out a deep sigh. "Me and my big mouth. Talking without my permission."
Was he excited about the idea of going out to dinner with Angelina? They were colleagues, and he had no intentions beyond maintaining a platonic relationship with her. Whatever, he wasn't some hormonal teenager, so he pushed those thoughts aside and considered it a friendly conversation between two adults. Roland checked the time and realized he had a few hours before 6:00, so he decided to relax until then.
Then it hit him what Angelina meant by exploring more of the Vytal Festival: he would have to carry bags. He put away his weapons and reluctantly made his way towards the door. But just as he was about to leave, someone opened the door, causing him to slump and cover his face in annoyance.
"Geez, this makes it like eighteen people today. How many more people are coming?" Roland grumbled quietly to himself.
"Just two of us." Roland saw the black bow on the girl's head. Right, Faunus hearing.
Roland sighed, "Except when you're with your team, you don't usually come here, Blake; let alone with someone else." He glanced at the person standing behind her. "What's up, Sun?"
"Yo," the blond Faunus greeted, hands nonchalantly resting behind his head.
"Can you do us a favor?" Blake spoke up.
"A favor, huh?" Roland rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's kind of a terrible idea to owe a favor to someone like me. What kind of favor are we talking about here?"
"We need to borrow your mask," Blake requested.
Roland's eyes widened in surprise, immediately questioning, "Why?"
"We..." Blake hesitated for a moment, looking away briefly. "We need it for a school project."
"A mask that can disguise anyone as a passerby is needed for a school project," Roland responded skeptically. "A mask that conceals the wearer's identity and characteristics, and it just so happens that you need it. Yeah... I'm not buying it."
"Please," the cat Faunus pleaded. "It's for something important."
The black fixer contemplated his options. He could outright refuse or reluctantly lend them the mask, but an idea popped into his head. Roland noticed that both of them were geared up for something. Smirking, he headed towards where the masks were kept, ready to play along.
"Here, take 'em," Roland offered.
"That fast? I thought it would take longer to convince you," Sun remarked, earning himself an elbow to the stomach from Blake.
Blake coughed and recentered herself as if she didn't hit the monkey faunus next to her, expressing her gratitude, "Thank you, Roland."
"Don't mention it," Roland smiled. "Just make sure you both get back safe and try not to get into too much trouble. I still have Goodwitch chewing me out from the incident at the docks. I may be able to dodge bullets and fight monsters bigger than me, but I can't deal with angry women." Why were all the women he knew strong?
"That's a promise I can't keep," Sun boasted, puffing his chest. "Trouble is my middle name." However, before he could say anything else, Blake shot him a glare that immediately silenced him. Roland couldn't help but pity the guy.
When Blake noticed there were two masks, she couldn't help but express her confusion. "Two?"
"Yeah," Roland acknowledged her confusion. "I always carry an extra mask after one of them broke before." As Blake reached out to grab the masks, Roland pulled them back slightly. "But what's in it for me? I'm doing you a favor, so what will you do for me?"
Blake paused, trying to think of what she could offer Roland in return. She realized he didn't have many interests besides food, so maybe she could treat him to a meal. Lost in her thoughts, she was brought back to reality when Sun chimed in.
"Well, you did say you wanted us to 'get back safe,' so I'd say that's our favor to you," Sun cheekily declared. Blake hadn't considered turning Roland's words against him, so she smiled and shook her head. Meanwhile, Roland facepalmed himself in disbelief.
After Blake and Sun left with the masks, Roland turned his frown into a smile. He had hoped for this outcome, even if he didn't expect Sun to catch on before Blake. It seemed like they were determined to do something risky with or without his involvement, so he might as well help prepare them. Besides, it was an opportunity for him to assist without interfering. After all, experience is the best teacher.
Additionally, the black fixer had always wanted to be the cool teacher at the school, so earning some points with them was a good start. "Crazy kids, all of them," he spoke aloud, breaking into a smile. "But I can't say I dislike them."
–VALE–
–? POV–
"Ah crap," my partner cursed beside me, quickly pocketing his Scroll.
Currently, we were caught up in an incident against this old guy. Because of us, well… especially someone connected to us, forcibly stopped his car and ran away. Although she acted to protect someone, it still caused some damage that my partner and I had to take care of.
"What is it?" I asked, curious about my partner's reaction.
His white helmet turned towards me as he replied, "The Staff Sergeant's gonna make us pay for the damages if we don't find her."
Scrunching up my face, I could already feel the money draining from my wallet. This was supposed to be an easy assignment: just watch the girl. Following her shouldn't have been too difficult. Except when said girl is literally designed to be a war machine dressed up like a normal kid is what makes this difficult. Other soldiers didn't have it as tough when they had to babysit someone.
"Come on," my partner called out to me. "Tell the old man to bill the military and we'll get going."
"Okay..." I made my way back to where the old man was seated. Crouching down, I provided him with a Scroll number to contact a financial manager. They would handle the compensation for the damages. "Here, just contact them, and you'll be compensated for the damages."
Although he didn't speak and his eyes remained closed, I could sense his agreement. Letting out a sigh, I returned to my partner's side.
"Is she still in there?" I inquired.
"Don't know, didn't go in yet. I don't know how far she got. Plus, that random girl ran after her too," my partner replied.
Letting out another sigh, we stepped into the barren alleyway and began searching. The numerous connected alleyways made our task more challenging than necessary. We even had to check some doors and boxes just to be safe.
"This is it. This is the end, I could tell," my partner admitted, giving up. "That specialist is going to feed us to Ironwood's dogs."
"Do you really believe he has dogs?" I asked, genuinely curious. "And I don't think the Schnee would actually feed us to dogs... She's not that scary. I think."
"'I think' this guy says," he scoffed.
As we passed by one of the alleyways, we caught faint voices. It could have been her, or maybe not, but it was worth investigating.
"Check down here!" My partner shouted, his voice echoing through the alley.
I instinctively clutched the left side of my head. "You don't need to scream, I'm right next to you."
"Ah, it won't kill you," he excused himself. As we walked further down the alley, we could make out the figure with orange hair in the distance. "Look, there she is!"
Penny turned around and immediately recognized us. "Salutations, officers!" she greeted us with a salute.
"Why were you running? And what happened to the other girl?" My partner questioned. That's right. There was another girl, but she wasn't here right now.
"What girl? I've been by myself all day!" Penny hiccuped before quickly placing her hands behind her back.
My partner and I looked at each other. The documents did say that Penny had a habit of hiccuping when she was lying, but we spent a good enough time with her to acknowledge that she had no ill intentions whenever she lied. So, the main procedure was to just ignore it and continue with the order.
"You shouldn't cause such a scene," my partner reprimanded her.
"Other than that, are you okay?" I asked, concerned since she stopped a truck with her bare hands.
Penny lowered her hands, revealing that the "skin" of her hands had been scraped off, exposing the metal underneath. Internally, I felt a tinge of frustration. When we returned, my partner and I would likely face a pay cut because Penny had almost exposed her true nature. If only I hadn't lost sight of her, none of this would have happened.
As an orphan, all I wanted was to be useful. Despite not being able to get into Beacon due to my mediocre Aura and Semblance, I joined the Atlas Military because they were renowned as the best military force in all of Remnant. If there was something I could do to help others, I was determined to do it. However, over time, I realized that I was merely a small cog in a larger machine. My efforts felt insignificant compared to others, even the Privates displayed more potential than me. While everyone else was fighting the Grimm or training for some impending threat, I was stuck here, babysitting.
My partner, perhaps sharing a similar frustration, sighed in exasperation. "Penny, your father won't be pleased with this," he warned her. Though we couldn't scold her outright, we still needed to maintain a firm approach with her, despite her childlike nature.
"Please, just come with us," I ordered, hoping to get back on track.
"Sure thing, Sergeant Phil!" Penny saluted.
"Penny... You don't need to address me so formally," I sighed, feeling undeserving of my rank. It was merely given to me after spending a considerable amount of time in the military. And so, we began to walk back towards the streets, hoping that nothing else would go wrong today.
However, my train of thought was abruptly interrupted by a loud noise. It sounded like a rat screeching followed by something falling over. I turned around, scanning the surroundings, but everything seemed in order. Shaking my head, I muttered to myself, "I don't like rats."
–HOURS LATER–
–SOMEWHERE IN VALE–
–THIRD PERSON POV–
The new recruits of the White Fang marched in a somber line, their footsteps reverberating through the vast hall. They formed a decently sized group, though their numbers paled in comparison to the sea of white vests and black hoods worn by the seasoned soldiers of the White Fang. From the balconies above, some of these soldiers observed their every move, casting an imposing shadow over the young initiates.
At the front of the stage stood a figure, completely masked, unlike the others in the White Fang, his identity concealed. Behind him, a large sheet covered something huge, only showing the emblem of the White Fang. As the recruits stopped moving, the masked man's voice resonated through the room, commanding attention, "Thank you all for coming. For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours! I can assure you, he is the key to obtaining what we have fought for, for so long!"
With a smirk, Roman Torchwick made his appearance, cane in hand, as he confidently strode across the stage.
As the crowd started to protest, Torchwick ignored them and started to talk. "Thank you, thank you!" Behind him and the massive sheet, Neo walked out and stared at the crowd as well. Jay also revealed himself up in the catwalks watching everything from above. "Please, hold your applause!"
"What's a human doing here?!" Someone from the crowd shouted out loud.
Roman turned to look at the person, and seeing her horns, he jokes, "I'm glad you asked, 'deerie'! Now, I'll be the first to admit… humans are the worst." He mockingly saluted to himself before continuing with his speech.
While the thief captivated the crowd with their performance, behind the scenes, Jay and Neo kept a watchful eye for any potential issues. Even though this was a secretive event, there still could've been any rats that got in, and not the Faunus kind of rats.
Although all three of them could listen through their earpieces, it was much more tedious to communicate with Neo because she had to send messages. Well, she mainly sent emojis because they were faster and easier to understand.
"Neo, status report," Jay requested.
[Neo: thumbs up bored]
"It won't be much longer. Just make sure you don't do anything unnecessary," Jay cautioned. Just as he finished speaking, the sheet covering their secret was unveiled.
As the sheets were pulled back, they revealed the magnificent sight of Atlas's newest creation: the prototype of the Atlesian Paladin-290. This formidable machine was armed with two 20mm rapid-fire Dust cannons, missile pods at the rear, extendable arms for close-quarters combat, and numerous machine guns to fend off any threats. The pilot inside the machine had a clear view in all directions with automatic tracking capabilities. Needless to say, this thing was a monster on legs, capable of warding off any Grimm, or people…
In a moment of contemplation, Jay wondered how he ended up in this situation. He was originally on a mission to search for his missing brother and sister, yet here he was, involved in the distribution of stolen military weaponry to an insurrectionist group. Cinder did promise to help him find them, but it seemed like she was the type of person to go back on her word. However, his thoughts quickly shifted back to the events that transpired on the night he encountered the Blood Huntress.
–JAY POV–
Lena Crimson. A name that perfectly befits the huntress of blood. However, there's something about that name that triggers an inexplicable sensation in my mind. It's neither terrible nor pleasant to hear. The first words that escaped her lips were a question, asking if we had crossed paths before.
She appeared to be around my age, with dark brown hair cascading down to her shoulders and piercing red eyes. Her pale complexion only heightened the impression that she resembled the lifeless. It made me wonder if her pallor was a result of her Semblance. Regardless, her inquiry mirrored the thoughts that had been swirling in my own mind. Had we encountered each other in the past?
In a seemingly serendipitous response to my musings, she mentioned having seen me on a train. The mention of a train triggered fragments of a memory, although no train on Remnant resembled the one she described. However, as she delved into the train's details, certain glimpses of recollection flickered in my consciousness. I could vaguely recall cryogenic pods lining up, but nothing else remained distinct.
Curiously, she also possessed memories of this train, despite never having experienced anything like it herself. If there was one common thread between us, it was that we both harbored alternate memories alongside our current ones, and most of these memories seemed to revolve around... a City.
Before I could delve deeper into the mystery at hand, my attention was abruptly diverted by a disturbance that pulled on a wire I had strategically laid out. The interruption originated from behind the imposing figure of the Paladin. Curiosity piqued, I leaned over the edge to catch a glimpse of the source, but all I could perceive was a blurry presence. It seemed both invisible and tangible at the same time.
Using my Semblance, I manipulated some of the strings there to wrap around anything. Despite its imperceptibility, the strings latched onto something, allowing me to tighten them and hoist the unknown entity into the air.
"Neo, I've caught something lurking behind the Paladin," I called out to her. "Go check it out."
[Neo: thumbs up]
The pink-and-brown-haired girl nonchalantly strolled over to the designated area. Once she arrived, she witnessed the same enigmatic sight, as confirmed by her next message.
[Neo: ?]
The confusion evident in her message, the wire suddenly began to stir. It wriggled as if there was someone or something trapped within its grasp. It was an indistinct being or creature, something that my mind struggled to comprehend. I swiftly maneuvered the strings to envelop its entire upper body to prevent its escape. Was it a person utilizing their Semblance, or perhaps a new breed of Grimm capable of camouflage? The answer eluded me, leaving us to ponder the nature of this mysterious presence.
–THIRD PERSON POV–
"Neo, can you hit it for me? A little experiment," Jay nicely asked.
[Neo: :3 ]
One smack later a voice rang out.
"Ow! That's my rib!" A voice exclaimed. Neo seemed to revel in that response and decided to punch whatever it was again.
"Oof! Hey! That was close to the no-no zone!" their voice protested. Another blow, this time aimed at their head. Upon impact, a black object detached itself from the figure's head, revealing a spiky-haired, blonde boy. He wore an open, loose-collared white jacket with no shirt underneath.
"Fascinating," Jay mumbled to himself, intrigued by the revelation.
"Ow! You hit pretty hard for a little girl," Sun said as he winced in pain. Despite being entangled in the strings, he still had the audacity to boast, "Just you wait until I'm free. You'll receive an invisible spanking. Call me Mr. Invisible-Girl-Spanker, because that's what I do best." He nodded confidently to himself as if it were something impressive.
Once the girl in front of him displayed a disgusted expression, Sun's own countenance fell. "The mask is gone, isn't it?" he questioned.
Neo nodded slowly.
"You're gonna hurt me, now. Right?" His voice trembled.
Again, Neo nodded.
"Please be gentle," Sun pleaded, his tone laced with nervousness.
Neo shook her head with a devious smile.
"Hehehe" Sun nervously chuckled.
The commotion caused by their conversation drew the attention of nearly everyone around them. The thief, recognizing Sun, approached the duo. "Neo, what's going on?" he inquired as he joined them.
"U-Uh... H-Hi, Torchwick," Sun stammered, greeting the person he had once playfully thrown a banana peel at.
"Oh, what do we have here? I thought monkey business was reserved for the playground," Roman quipped, offering a nod to Neo. "Make it quick, I have an audience to entertain." Turning back to face the crowd, Torchwick resumed his speech. Meanwhile, Sun glanced at Neo, who now held her parasol firmly.
"Uh, can I phone a friend?" Sun innocently pleaded.
Sporting a sinister grin, Neo unsheathed her weapon and advanced toward Sun. Despite his best efforts, he struggled to free himself from the bindings, failing with each attempt. As Neo aimed to strike him with her blade, the lights in the building suddenly went out, causing her to pause mid-attack.
In the darkness, Neo felt a force connect with her face, propelling her backward. Shaking off the impact, she realized too late that someone had punched her. Disoriented and unable to see anything in the absence of light, she struggled to mount a counterattack.
"Neo, are you alright?" Jay's concerned voice came through the earpiece. He was worried because his strings had been cut as soon as darkness fell. Neo quickly pulled out her scroll and sent a response.
[Neo: where]
"I can't see either, but—" Jay's sentence was cut short as a window within the building shattered. All eyes turned to witness two shadowy figures leaping out from the crowd and disappearing through the broken window. The moonlight revealed a glimpse of the building, illuminating the path of their escape.
Grunting and bearing his teeth in the dark, Torchwick found the Paladin and climbed it. Upon opening the hatch, light from inside the machine illuminated his face. Opening the hatch, the light from within the machine illuminated his face. Before entering, Roman called out to his team, "Take care of things here, I've got some pests to deal with." Once inside the Paladin, mechanical whirring and activation sounds filled the air. The colossal robot charged toward the wall where the two fugitives had made their escape, crashing through it in pursuit.
As the giant robot thundered through the streets of Vale, Neo and Jay surveyed the aftermath of the White Fang event. Only a few soldiers remained, but no fresh recruits. It seemed that the recruitment efforts had failed, likely due to the attack on this secret gathering, making it too risky for potential members to join.
Jay descended from the catwalk and approached Neo, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Take a bullhead and go after Torchwick. I have a feeling he'll need it," the former Spider instructed her. Neo heeded his advice and took one of the remaining White Fang members to pilot the aircraft.
With that out of the way, Jay walked over to where the blonde boy was captured. As he scanned the area, his gaze fell upon the black mask lying on the ground. Bending down, he picked it up, and a disquieting sensation washed over him. He recognized this as another memory, and he patiently awaited what it would reveal.
In the memory, Jay found himself in a laboratory engulfed in flames. Amidst the chaos, a figure, much like the blurry faunus boy, stood cloaked in obscurity. Another person lay on the ground, bleeding and desperately pleading for their child's life. Strangely, this person bore a striking resemblance to Jay himself. Then, a flash to a scene where there's a group of people wearing black and blue in someplace.
Shaking off the unsettling revelation, Jay carefully concealed the mask within his coat. Since his teenage years, he had been haunted by these enigmatic memories. Now, he was at most determined to understand these memories, starting with the mask.
–STREETS OF VALE–
In mid-air, the cat faunus removed her mask and secured it safely on her person. "You know you're an idiot, right!?" Blake shouted at Sun as they leaped and somersaulted across the rooftops.
Once they were next to each other, Sun voiced his complaint, "I thought the masks made us invisible! Also, you can't see out crap of the damn mask!"
"Roland told us that the masks make us look like someone in the corner of their eyes. If they focus enough, they can see us!" Blake explained. "But you just had to try and steal the robot! And where's your mask!?"
"Hey! Just so you know, it's every little boy's dream to play with mechs, and every man's dream to pilot one! Also, I don't know!" Sun defended himself. As they continued to flee from Torchwick, who was steadily closing in on them, Sun posed a question, "So you wouldn't have to have… oh, I don't know… some form of BACKUP!?"
Blake pulled out her Scroll, complying, "Got it," she replied before placing the device next to her ear. Once the call connected to the others, she calmly relayed the situation, "Everyone! If you can hear me, we need–"
"HEELLLPPP!" Sun screamed, interrupting her.
–SOMEWHERE ELSE IN VALE–
Even amidst the bustling excitement of the Vytal Festival, an event widely filled with vibrant attractions and entertainment, there existed a quieter, more luxurious haven. This exclusive oasis took the form of an upscale restaurant that continued to draw dozens of patrons. Approaching its grand entrance, Roland and Angelina were greeted by the elegant display of towering marble columns that framed the doorway. Soft, warm golden light cascaded down from ornate fixtures suspended above, casting an inviting glow upon the scene.
The melodious strains of an orchestra playing within the restaurant resonated outward, creating an enchanting melody that reached the ears of the black fixer and white pilot. The captivating sounds had some sort of magnetic pull, piquing the curiosity of those wandering by and coaxing them inside. However, it was not just the music that lured them; it was the tantalizing scent wafting from the restaurant's bustling kitchen. The aromatics were powerful enough to make Roland pull out his wallet and start throwing money.
Just right when he was about to walk closer to the doors, he got pulled along by Angelina. Although he was definitely stronger than her, he couldn't free himself as he watched the golden entrance get further and further away.
"Isn't that where we're eating?" Roland questioned.
Angelina, still dragging him, responded, "No? That place is expensive. What do you think I am? Made out of lien?" After a few seconds, she continued to talk. "Now this place is where we're eating. Totally the best food money can get!"
When Angelina finally released her grip, Roland slouched over and saw a humble shack transformed into a noodle bar. Above it, the stall proudly displayed its name: "A Simple Wok." It was an open-air noodle bar with just four barstools. Adjacent to the noodle bar stood the grand restaurant they had initially approached.
Roland let out a small sigh as he guided himself onto one of the chairs. Angelina had already taken a seat and began perusing the menu. As Roland glanced up, he noticed an old man running the stall, eagerly awaiting their orders. Reluctantly, Roland picked up a menu and ordered a serving of spicy noodles and a glass of water.
"Although there was more to see, we didn't get a lot of stuff," Angelina commented, noticing that they only had a single bag of goodies. While she continued talking, Roland couldn't help but gaze at her outfit.
She wore a white sundress adorned with intricate lace patterns. The pure fabric beautifully complemented her fair complexion, and the dress's detailed design added a touch of elegance. A slender belt accentuated her waist, highlighting her figure and her blue eyes added a captivating charm to her appearance. Even in this noodle bar, Angelina's outfit made him remember some things. A time long ago.
"Roland, Roland?" Angelina's voice brought him back to reality.
"Huh?" He snapped out of his reverie. "What's up?"
"I was asking about you," she said with a sigh. "You told me that the City was terrible, but you and the others seem nice. What's the deal with that?"
"Oh, that." Roland scratched his head, searching for the right words. "Well, I can't speak for the other Librarians, but I'm not exactly the embodiment of positivity. I had to do... a lot of things to survive."
"Oh… I see." The pilot looked a little distraught. Apparently, the old man working here works fast. He dished out both of their orders in no time. With their food now in front of them, Angelina continued her line of questioning. "Even so, you must have had some good memories back home, right?"
Roland struck a thoughtful pose, sifting through his memories. He could say something random, but that would feel too disingenuous. Roland looked at Angelina, realizing the one moment when daylight broke into his world. Mustering up the courage, he spoke.
"...The day of my wedding."
"Oh... If this is too personal, you don't have to-" Angelina began, but Roland interrupted her.
"No, it's alright," he reassured her. "I don't often get the chance to talk about her. There aren't many people left who remember her these days."
Angelina felt a pang of guilt but also a strong desire to bring some happiness to Roland's recollections. "Was the wedding fun?" she asked, hoping to spark positive thoughts. Roland understood her intentions and decided to indulge her.
"It was right around February that it was held. Me and my pals rented out an old, small church in District 14 for the ceremony," Roland spoke with nostalgia. "We got there early to clean the place up and set things up. Since the party was mostly our friends because she and I didn't have much family except for her brother, it was a small gathering, but that didn't matter."
The black fixer found himself lost in the memories of that unforgettable day. In the moments leading up to the ceremony, Roland disregarded his black suit, in exchange for something different. He was dressed in almost all gray, as a symbol of how Angelica, his beacon of light, had broken into his world. On the altar, he stood there wearing a tailored gray suit and trousers paired with a dark charcoal vest and a sleek black tie.
When the doors opened wide, revealing the soon-to-be bride, Angelica walked in, accompanied by her brother. Roland commented on how beautiful she looked. The pure white, ivory dress of hers drew attention to her blue eyes, covered by the wedding veil. As if to show that they were connected, Angelica gave Roland one of her gloves and they both wore it to the ceremony.
"Right when she got up close to me, Argalia gave me the biggest glare of his life," Roland chuckled, reminiscing about the moment. "He started to go off saying 'how I don't deserve Angelica' and 'how she would be better off with him.' Needless to say, Angelica hit him in the head so hard that he flew into the ceiling. It took three of us to get him down." He ended that with a laugh.
Angelina joined in the laughter. "He sounds like quite the character."
Roland saw how perfect Angelina looked while saying that. It felt like the real Angelica was here. Pushing those thoughts away, he continued, "Yeah, and you wouldn't guess what he did later."
"What?"
"He duct taped himself to the ceiling of the apartment me and Angelica were staying at!" Roland ludicrously spoke. "He stayed there for about two hours until we spotted him. Then, he jumped down and started to pick a fight with me. It didn't last long until Angelica made him sit down in shame. It was probably the first time he was treated like a dog, but it wasn't the last time he would bother me. One time when we were trying to move to a Nest, Argalia showed up and offered to–"
"–smuggle Angelica and only Angelica to the… Nest," Angelina said abruptly. Both she and Roland were surprised by what she said. "...How do I know that?"
"Angelina… you…" Roland started to speak before he bit his tongue.
Angela said that it would be better to do it now rather than later, but the black fixer couldn't help but feel terrible about it. Sure, Angelina would remember who she was before, but that comes with remembering all the atrocities the City committed on her and her friends and family. Roland didn't know how far her 'experiments' went, but it tormented her enough to still have had it many years later.
"Roland, am I–"
Before Angelina could finish that, explosions and gunfire were heard in the distance. While she remained seated, Roland swiftly stood up and hurriedly left the noodle bar. Something was happening, and it seemed to be occurring at a terribly opportune and unfortunate moment. Tuning in to the direction of the sounds, Roland looked up at the highway. After a few seconds, two figures, one yellow and the other blue came hurtling off the highway, their screams piercing the air.
Realizing who it was, Roland walked over to where they would land and saw a trash can. With a swift motion, he knocked it over, causing several trash bags to spill out, creating a makeshift cushion. He patiently waited as the sounds of screaming drew nearer, one voice noticeably higher-pitched than the other. Eventually, both Neptune and Sun crashed into the pile of trash bags, their fall softened by the unexpected landing.
"Hey, um, Neptune? You alright?" Sun asked, a banana peel resting on his face.
Neptune, the blue boy, responded upside down, "Yeah, a little sore. Thank Oum this trash was here."
"Ahem."
Both boys jolted at the sound, turning their attention to Roland, who gave them a deadpan look. Sun immediately began sweating under the gaze, while the oblivious Neptune simply got to his feet and expressed his gratitude towards Roland. "Thanks, dude."
"You're welcome," Roland replied, extending a hand to help Sun up. The blonde faunus accepted the black fixer's hand and was effortlessly pulled to his feet. "Where's Blake?" Roland asked, his expression turning serious.
"Uh... shopping," Sun responded hesitantly.
"..."
"No, wait! Karaoke!"
"..."
"Uh...Sleeping?"
"..."
"She's fighting a giant robot with her team," Sun admitted. As if on cue, Roland saw the giant Paladin fall off the highway. Letting out a sigh, he pulled out his gloves and mask.
"Alright, head over there and wait. Make sure Angelina knows too," he instructed, pointing towards A Simple Wok. Putting on his mask and gloves, Roland vanished into a dark alleyway. Sun and Neptune, filled with regret over their recent actions, trudged over to the noodle bar. Upon spotting the white-haired pilot, they took seats on her left and placed their weapons next to them. She noticed the two students and realized that Roland wasn't with them.
Curious, Angelina asked, "Where's Roland?"
Sun replied with a groan, "He's fixing our mistakes." He then turned to the elderly man and placed an order. "One lo mein, please."
Meanwhile, Neptune, being his usual self, leaned slightly closer to Angelina. After placing his own dinner order, he decided to work his "magic." "So, Angelina, right? I have to say, you must've descended from heaven to brighten up my day."
As Roland made his way towards the location where the Paladin had fallen, assuming that Team RWBY would be present, he suddenly heard a resounding slap originating from the direction of the noodle bar. Since there was no further commotion, he figured that everything was fine back there.
Back at A Simple Wok, Neptune sported a giant red handprint on his face. Sun, being the supportive friend he was, patted his back in reassurance. Angelina calmly enjoyed her meal, patiently awaiting Roland's return.
–UNDER A HIGHWAY, VALE–
"Freezer Burn!" Ruby shouted, signaling her team to launch their attack. While Ruby and Blake quickly moved back, Weiss and Yang positioned themselves in front of the Paladin. Yang leaped into the air while Weiss stabbed the ground, causing it to freeze over. As Yang descended, she crashed into the frozen ground, creating a wave of mist that covered the area.
In response, Roman immediately activated the Paladin's laser targeting system. He moved around to see if he could spot any of the kids, but the mist proved far too dense to see through. To make matters worse, something struck the Paladin, causing one of the screens to go offline. Roman realized that an ice shard had penetrated one of the right arm's sensors. Suddenly, another ice shard crashed into him, shattering another camera in the topmost position.
"Shit, those brats are taking out my eyes," Roman grumbled. When he started to move to dodge it, he heard more shots being fired and hitting the ground below him, but he couldn't see because of the mist. Instantly, the thief came up with a solution to the mist. "How about this!"
The Paladin extended its arms to the maximum length it could and then started to rapidly spin. Although Roman felt a bit lightheaded, the turbulence from the spinning caused almost all the mist to clear up. When the Paladin stopped spinning, Roman looked around to see that the Paladin's legs were encased in ice. In the corner of one of the screens, a shadowy figure dashed by, catching his attention.
Taking the opportunity, Torchwick raised one of the machine guns and opened fire. The bullets blew away the mist, only for the figure to be a clone of Blake. Roman scanned around the screens and saw that Blake was running under the Paladin. She swiftly darted beneath and above the machine, slicing through several machine guns on its back. In response, Roman spun the Paladin to shake off the unexpected attack.
The spinning motion caused the ice to break, forcing Blake to be thrown off the machine. Taking advantage of the situation, Roman prepared to deliver a punch, but the Paladin began to ascend as something delivered an uppercut, saving the faunus girl. Roman saw that it was the blonde brawler.
Continuing her assault, Yang kept punching the Paladin upward until she got above the Paladin and gave it a meaty right hook. Fire and flames came out as Yang continued her onslaught of punches.
"Don't mess with me!" Roman shouted angrily, grabbing Yang's foot mid-air and slamming her into the ground when they descended. Yang lay motionless in the resulting crater. Torchwick took satisfaction in taking down at least one of the opponents. However, in a flash of red, Ruby zoomed past the crater, and Yang was gone.
Realizing that Ruby used her Semblance, Roman scanned the environment using the lasers. Seeing the area, Roman concluded that they must be behind one of the pillars. The Paladin raised one of its missile pods and fired it onto the pillar. The pillar exploded, causing the entire thing to collapse.
"Not there," Torchwick muttered to himself. He looked around and saw that there were a little too many pillars to go through. Then, he had an idea. Activating the speakers, he demanded, "Little Red! If you and your team do not show your faces in the next five seconds, this entire highway comes crashing down! You could prevent the deaths of hundreds of innocent people driving back home to their families!"
The red-hooded girl and the blonde brawler found themselves pressed against a pillar, seeking cover. Yang, despite being slammed into the ground, was still in good condition. She questioned Ruby, "Are you sure this is going to work?"
Ruby reassured her sister, patting her shoulder, "If it's Blake and Weiss, I know they've got this." She gave Yang a confident smile, which was reciprocated. Yang was glad to see how quickly her younger sister had grown. However, their smiles faded as Torchwick began his countdown.
"Five!"
On one of the pillars above the Paladin, Blake held onto the sword form of Gambol Shroud, which was embedded into the pillar. Sitting on the ribbon attached to the sickle part of the weapon, also lodged into the pillar, was Weiss.
"Four!"
On cue, Weiss jumped off the ribbon and started to fall toward the Paladin. Mid-air, she remembered the school initiation. Mentally groaning, she swore to never do this type of stuff ever again.
"Three!"
Following her friend's lead, Blake positioned her feet on the pillar and propelled herself forward.
"Two!"
As Weiss conjured multiple glyphs in the air, the Paladin started to open its missile pods. Both Blake and Weiss noticed this, realizing they needed more time.
"One!"
Just right before Roman pressed the button to launch missiles, a gunshot rang out. The bullet hit the Paladin, causing Roman to stop.
"WAIT!" Ruby screamed at Torchwick, making him turn the Paladin toward the red leader. "That's not very nice of you!"
Roman sighed upon hearing that. Goodie-goodie two-shoes always said the most obvious things. "It wasn't nice of you to shoot at my property either," he countered.
"Why are you doing this?" Ruby questioned.
Roman scoffed, "Really? Are we doing this right now? I mean, come on! It's a little too early for this!"
"You're just a jerk who steals from the weak!"
"I agree! I am just a jerk, but at least I'm a winning jerk!" He pointed the lasers at Ruby, all of them pointing at different parts of her body. "Now, if your little team doesn't show their faces, it'll be very hard to differentiate the red on your clothes from you afterward. Checkmate, Red."
Ruby smirked, "You're right. It is Checkmate."
Suddenly, a flash of black surrounded the Paladin. The only thing that was heard was the sound of metal being sliced reverberating throughout the empty space they were in. The Paladin stood still as Torchwick processed what happened. Immediately, the Paladin fell apart except for the main body–the legs, the arms, and the weapons were destroyed instantly. Blake crouched right in front of the destruction, holding her sword in hand.
"I am not doing that. Ever again," Blake said as she stood up and walked toward Ruby. Then she started to wobble in place as the adrenaline in her body started to fade. After such a dizzying and nauseating experience, it was no surprise that she felt on the verge of being sick.
"Same," Weiss deadpanned as she descended from the sky. It seemed that she had developed a fear of heights from the plan.
"You have to admit, it was pretty amazing!" Yang exclaimed as she emerged from behind the pillar. She then pulled Ruby into a tight hug. "Oh, my little sister is a tactical genius! How did you even come up with a plan like that?" After releasing Ruby, Yang eagerly awaited an explanation.
"I came up with it when we were training against Roland. He was all, 'You're fast, but not faster than me,' and I was thinking, 'Hold on, what if we could all zoom around like me?' So, I thought, 'Let's use Weiss's Semblance the way she does, you know? Bounce between those glyphs to rev up our speed, then BAM! We'd shoot out like a bullet and go full-on attack mode!' Weiss, she's the real key player here, and Blake, she had to ninja her way up high enough so Torchwick couldn't even spot her. And me? Well, I was the decoy 'cause–"
"Okay, okay, that's enough from you," Weiss interjected, placing a hand over Ruby's mouth. For Weiss, placing all those Glyphs all over Torchwick's Paladin all while making sure that he didn't see them when he was distracted by Ruby was somewhat hard. She had to make sure all her concentration was on placing the Glyphs and not focusing on the fact that she was falling. Similarly, Blake had to ensure she hit the glyphs and targeted the Paladin's weapons without missing a beat. When she accomplished it, she could hardly believe her own success, as most of it was driven by pure instinct. Blake couldn't help but wonder how Ruby managed to use her Semblance so effortlessly.
"Congratulations, kiddos. It seems luck was on your side today." Torchwick's voice caught their attention, causing the girls to group up.
Blake sheathed her sword, her tone firm as she demanded, "It's over, Torchwick."
"Oh, you think you've won, do you?" He scoffed.
"We caught you," Ruby chimed in.
Torchwick responded with a mocking tone, "Catch these."
The nearly-destroyed Paladin suddenly raised one of its machine guns. Blake's eyes widened in dread–she missed one. Those machine guns had the power to rip through their Aura. Her heart sank as the barrels pointed at her and her team. A haunting realization washed over her, knowing that her mistake could cost them their lives. Then, a hail of bullets descended upon them. Helplessly, Blake could only watch as she regretted her decision to involve her team.
In an instant, a blur of red appeared before them. It was Ruby. She moved with breathtaking speed, slashing at the onslaught of bullets. Fragments of shattered projectiles scattered around the girl dressed in red and black. Ruby was completely focused on protecting her team. If she hesitated for even a fraction of a second, they could be harmed. It took a moment for Blake to comprehend what was happening, so she grabbed Weiss and Yang, pulling them away from Ruby.
As for Ruby, she was slowly losing steam, she didn't have the stamina to keep this up. She was on the verge of slipping up when suddenly another gunshot rang out, abruptly halting the Paladin's continuous machine gun fire. Ruby recognized that gunshot; it was the distinct sound of Roland's shotgun.
With the realization of Roland's presence, she knew that they won. To Ruby, it was cool to have someone like Roland be like a ghost in the wind. You know he's there, but you can't see him at all.
Suddenly, a streak of yellow dashed past Ruby and headed toward the now-defendless Paladin. Yang started to destroy the Paladin bit by bit, swinging jabs left and right, taking off chunks of metal with an uppercut, then finally slamming a fist into the cockpit. The force from the punch shattered the Paladin, causing the machine to break. Coming out from the rubble, Torchwick dizzily brushed off some dust on his coat.
"Just got this cleaned…" Roman grumbled, clearly annoyed.
Yang, still seething from being slammed into the ground, aimed a shot at the thief. Seeing that he was unarmed, Torchwick raised his hands in a futile attempt to protect himself. However, Neo suddenly appeared, dropping down and using her parasol to block the shot.
"Ladies, Ice Queen…" Torchwick greeted after regaining his composure.
"Hey!"
"Always a pleasure! Neo, if you would..." Roman requested, and the pink-and-brown-haired girl elegantly curtsied to the other girls.
"Oh no you don't!" Yang shouted as she charged towards the two. When she reached them, her fist shattered glass illusions of the thieves. The images disappeared just as the rest of Team RWBY caught up with Yang. In the distance, the girls watched as Roman and Neo escaped on a bullhead aircraft.
"So I guess he got a new henchman…" Yang commented.
"Yeah, I guess she really made our plans…" Using her big brain, Weiss knew what to say next. "Fall apart." She couldn't help but smile to herself, mentally applauding her own joke. Even Ruby let out a snicker.
"No. Just, no," Yang deadpanned as Blake walked away.
"Yeah, that was terrible."
Suddenly, all the girls turned their attention to Roland, who had quietly appeared with his mask still on. However, after making his presence known, he removed the black mask and gave the girls a small approving smile.
"The joke-making is gonna clash with the whole Ice Queen persona of yours," Roland pointed out.
Weiss huffed, "Well, at least I'm trying."
"Still, while I'm usually not the one dishing out the scolding, I'm still very disappointed in you girls tonight," Roland admonished the girls. He glanced over at the destroyed giant robot behind them, letting out a sigh, and then turned his attention to the cat faunus. "Blake, didn't I say to not get into trouble?"
"Sorry." Blake looked down.
"Yang. You're still going in recklessly. Tone it down a bit. You could have easily been taken hostage."
"'Kay."
"Wait, you were watching us?" Ruby asked, curious as to why Roland knew that.
"Yeah, I was," Roland confirmed.
"If you were watching, why didn't you help?" Weiss complained.
"I was busy cleaning up the mess you guys caused when cars and kids started falling off the highway," Roland explained.
"Oh," Weiss responded, realizing the gravity of the situation. All the girls have grim looks on their faces.
"Yeah, no one died, by the way," Roland reassured them.
"Well, that's a positive," Yang added, hoping to look on the bright side.
Disregarding that, Roland turned toward the leader of RWBY. "Ruby, your plan was good, but it took too long, and playing distraction doesn't work all the time. Regardless, good work blocking those shots. I needed to step in a little bit, but your reaction time and scythe skills are improving," he complimented.
"When did this turn into a lesson?" Weiss questioned.
"I felt like it," Roland admitted. "Plus, Goodwitch is gonna be the one chewing you guys out, so I don't have to." In response to that, Team RWBY shuttered and resigned themselves to their inevitable fate.
The Schnee shook herself out of it and asked, "What about me then?"
"Uhm…" Roland pondered for a moment. "You did fine; could've cast your Glyphs faster, but you knew your role well and executed it perfectly." He recalled the fact that Weiss mainly took out the Paladin's eyes and froze the legs, allowing most of the machine guns to be destroyed.
"Well, that's to be expected," Weiss smirked, satisfied with herself.
–A FEW MINUTES LATER–
After being called to the scene, Gebura and Glynda rode a bullhead to Roland's location. It was only those two disregarding the pilot. The blonde professor and red librarian sat on opposite sides of the aircraft, conversing with each other.
"I cannot believe this right now," Goodwitch exclaimed. "Those four are going to get it."
"You've said that about three times already," Gebura commented, wondering why she was brought along.
"I just can't comprehend what is going on through their minds! First, they try to arrest Roman Torchwick without even telling us; next, they're getting chased by a giant robot piloted by Torchwick on the highway! And Roland hasn't called us since then!" Glynda expressed her frustration, placing her head in her hands and rubbing her temples.
With a sigh, the red librarian prepared herself as the bullhead approached their destination. When the pilot notified them that they had arrived, Gebura and Goodwitch readied themselves. The side of the bullhead opened, and a ramp extended. Both of them stepped out to find Roland and Team RWBY waiting for them.
"Professor, I can explain."
"I take full responsibility for this."
"It was a team decision!"
"Yeah!"
"You four! Bullhead! Now!" Professor Goodwitch shouted. She was going to deal with them somewhere else.
Team RWBY collectively slumped and reluctantly made their way towards the aircraft. Gebura observed their dejected faces, noting their worry and fear, which was a natural response to being reprimanded. However, she couldn't help but notice a gleaming silver flash in one of the girls' eyes, which intrigued her. She smirked, wondering if there was some truth to that story.
"Roland, come here," Glynda demanded. Once the fixer did so, she interrogated him. "Did you know?"
"No," Roland replied.
"How many?"
"No casualties, although I did call an ambulance for one."
"What of Roman Torchwick?"
"He managed to escape," Roland admitted.
Glynda moved closer to his face, her expression stern. "You didn't do anything to stop him?!"
"Relax, I placed a tracker on his bullhead. I wasn't gonna show myself, because things didn't go my way last time. Plus, the girls handled themselves fine. Look." Roland gestured to the destroyed Paladin.
"Wait. That's a Paladin," Glynda recognized the design. She walked up to the machine, inspecting it closely. "It's the prototype of the Atlesian Paladin-290, why does Torchwick have Atlesian Military property?"
"Maybe that General is doing shady business," Roland bitterly suggested.
"No," Goodwitch firmly stated. "James is a good man. He wouldn't be involved in something like this."
"Y'know, it's always those words that mean the opposite," Roland added.
"Regardless, we need to report this to the Atlas Military," the professor declared as she took photos of the Paladin. As she moved to the rear side of the machine, she noticed the White Fang branding on the hull. "A White Fang mark... This needs to be reported immediately."
While Goodwitch ran off to make some calls, Roland and Gebura were left standing aside, so they walked back to the bullhead. While Gebura would get on, Roland would go back to Angelina. Along the way, they engaged in an enlightening conversation.
"Hey, you're training those girls, right?"
"Yeah, they're getting better."
"Let me in on that."
"Yes ma'am, but may I ask why?"
"It's just a hunch."
Author's Note:
A lot of things just happened. From Hod's floor to Roland to a random person's POV to Jae-heon's then back to Roland to Team RWBY. From random topics to another Ensemble member's appearance, it's all a confusing mess and I don't blame you if you complain about it. I write these chapters in periods of days, meaning that I write 1/3 of the chapter on Day 1, then write another 1/3 on Day 5, then finish it on Day 13. Before all of that, I write an outline of the chapter, so I try to follow that. Except when it takes like a week to write it, I tend to get other ideas and place them into the middle of the chapter, causing the chapter to not flow correctly. Then, it takes another few days to make everything connect.
Disregarding all of that, I hope that y'all like the chapter, even if it is somewhat canon-complainant (especially Team RWBY vs the Paladin; I tried to make it as if they were using different strategies and strengths because they trained with Roland), but I tried to mix up a few things. I'm not the best as you can read, but I try. Bigger changes will happen soon, so stay tuned for that. If you see a mistake or something wrong, just tell me and I'll be sure to correct them when I can. Also, if you want to see what Roland and Angelica looked like at their wedding, I referenced artwork from "To Ame Ha Yaiba", it looks beautiful.
Also, I'm planning to cross-post to AO3 because of this website's issues. Anyways, thanks for reading.