Halo, it's time for the next chapter. Enjoy the reading.


The next morning Lance and Ruby were summoned to the principal's office to give a detailed report of last night incident where an unknown woman and a White Fang soldier had infiltrated the school and the CCT-tower.

- What do you think, - Lance asked after the elevator closed and started going up. – will we be penalized for not reporting the matter on time?

- What? - Ruby wasn't paying much attention to Lance because she was pressing all the buttons except the middle one.

- Seriously? – Lance looked tiredly at the buttons and Ruby noticed it too.

- Sorry. - She immediately pressed the last one that didn't light up. – I missed one.

- So, what do you think, - Lance just shook his head after the elevator started and stopped on the first floor. – do we get punishment?

- I hope not. – Ruby wriggled her fingers nervously as she swung her feet up and down and they arrived at the second floor.

- I mean, it was a White Fang soldier that I fought but who could have been the one that went to the control center?

- I have no idea but it's clear that they were together. - The third floor was next.

- Yes, one of them job was to hold us up, so the other could do something up there. - The fourth.


Finally, slowly but surely, they reached the top floor where Headmaster Ozpin, Professor Goodwitch and General Ironwood were already waiting for them but they seemed to be arguing about something.

- Sorry for being late, - Ruby stepped out of the elevator in shame. – but someone pressed the buttons for all the floors.

- It was you! - Lance spoke up.

- I didn't say you. - Ruby quickly saved herself.

- Thanks for coming, Ruby, Lance. – The general greeted them. - How do you feel?

- I'm fine, I guess. - Ruby shrugged.

- There's not pointy sword pierced through my chest this time, so I'm fine too. - Lance was fine too.

- I'd be better off if my bad guy's score wasn't minus three. - Ruby joked nervously.

- At least you didn't end up in the infirmary. - Lance tried to cheer her up but the teachers just stared at the two students.

- Okay, I guess, - Ruby scratched her head nervously. - joking will not work.

- Ruby, Lance, - Ironwood approached the two students. – I want you to know, - He put one hand on Ruby's shoulder and the other on Lance's shoulder. – that what you did yesterday is exactly what we expect from a Hunter. - He smiled happily. – You discovered the threat, acted and did what you could.

- Thank you, sir. - Ruby smiled too.

- Now, - Ozpin took over. – the general already informed us about yesterday's... incident. Now that you've rested, you might be able to put things together better.

- Were there others with them? - Goodwitch got to the point. – Did they look familiar, their fighting style or their faces. – Ruby was thinking but Lance was very familiar with the White Fang soldier's weapon and style. He saw his teammate Lynda's weapon and style in that woman but something wasn't right and he didn't want to start a witch hunt right away because of a hunch and a feeling.

- I… - Ruby continued to search her memories but nothing came to mind. - I don't know. She wore a mask and said nothing to me. But I know she shot glass and fire, although I don't think it was her Semblance and her outfit lit up every time she attacked.

- With fire and glass? - Goodwitch thought of something. - That's familiar. She sounds like the woman I fought when we met Ruby.

- And covering your clothes with Dust is an age-old trick. - Ironwood explained. - It could have been anyone.

- Maybe, - The teachers now turned to Lance. – you know something about the girl you fought with.

- Well… - Lance spoke after a moment of thought. – I know she was fast and not easy to catch and she only came to hold us up.

- Lance, - Ozpin looked into Lance's eyes now as if he knew he was trying to hide something. – is there something you want to say?

- No, headmaster. Nothing.

- Excuse me, - Ruby asked. – but is that girl related to Torchwick and the White Fang? - Ironwood and Goodwitch looked at Ozpin.

- Possible. - Ozpin replied. - Although this doesn't necessarily prove anything. It's possible that this was just a private act and it may not have anything to do with Torchwick.

- I see. - Ruby lowered her head but quickly picked it up because she remembered something. - I think she mentioned something about a hiding place or something. In the southeast. Outside the kingdom's borders.

- Interesting. - Ozpin smiled.

- I thought you said the intruder wasn't…" - Goodwitch reminded but Ozpin quickly cut her off.

- Thank you for your cooperation, Ruby, Lance. Why don't you spend some time with your team? After all, you're going to have a great day.

- Anytime! - Ruby turned carelessly and she and Lance got into the elevator but this time Lance wouldn't let her touch the buttons.

- Oh, would you handle this matter, - Ozpin said to the two students before the elevator closed. –discreetly?

- Yes.

The elevator closed and Ruby and Lance separated and went back to their dorm rooms.


Lance was eagerly awaited by his team.

- So, what happened?! - Lynda was the one bouncing the red knight around and looking very excited and happy. He wasn't nervous at all.

- Well... Ruby and I were summoned by the headmaster...

- The point! Have the perpetrators been caught?! - Lynda demanded.

- No, but, - Lance looked into Lynda's eyes but saw no sign of deception, which could mean Lynda was innocent or that she was very good at lying. He couldn't decide which one. – but we had to report everything to Oz.

- Even about our adopted faunus son, Chedric, and our night in the warehouse?! - Mike was nervous.

- What?! - Lynda could hardly believe her ears.

- It's a long story and it really doesn't fit here. - Lance shook his head. - Ruby cleverly hinted that Torchwick and the White Fang were up to something in the southeast. If I had to guess, they will send a team there.

- If we're lucky, maybe they'll send us! - Lynda slammed one of her fists into her palm.

- Anyway, I have good news! – Mike took out a large box which he began to unpack. - My mom sent me a surprise that always makes me happy! - He unpacked the box.

- What, maybe your favorite food catalog? - Lynda joked but Mike just raised his eyebrows in confusion.

- Lynda, that was pretty weak of you.

- You're right. - Mandy added. – This is 3 and a half points out of 10.

- You can't always be on top. – Lynda just crossed her arms offended. - Well, what is it?

- Princess Madeleine! - He took a pet cage out of the box.

- Who?! – His three teammates snapped at him at the same time.

- Princess Madeleine. – He repeated and after a slight phase delay Lynda spoke again.

- Who? - The faunus girl shook her head.

- Princess Madeleine. – Mike took out a fat, white kitten from the cage which had a pink bow tied on its head. Its green eyes gave off such an indifference that anyone would have thought it was just a stuffed cat. - My kitten. My best friend. - He hugged it tightly to his face but the cat didn't react. - My precious.

- I see... - Lance didn't know what to say.

- Aren't you allergic to animal fur? - Mandy asked. - I mean, Lynda's fur also caused your allergy.

- Hey! - Lynda snapped angrily. - Stop talking about me like an animal!

- That's right, - Mandy shot back. – you shed your fur, make a mess in the bathroom and chew my shoes!

- It's starting. – Lance and Mike just moved into the background to watch the two faunus argue from the lodge.

- I studied a lot for the exams and when I'm thinking, I have to chew something and I've run out of crunches! Speaking of which, - Lynda glared at the other faunus girl. – I don't think you have the right to complain about me shedding my fur since the shower was full of yours last time!

- What are you talking about?! - Mandy shook her head. – I clean my shed fur, unlike you and I don't dry myself by shaking myself getting everything wet!

- To settle this argument, - Mike reported. – it really wasn't Mandy's fur, it was mine.

- Yours?! - Lynda shook her head.

- Yes, I shaved my back for the prom and forgot to clean the shower.

- I'll pretend you didn't say anything and we can forget about this bickering. - Lynda was shaken by the cold, took a step back, disgusted and gagging.

- So, Mike, - Lance, seeing that the storm had stopped, returned to the original topic. – what about this… cat?

- Princess Madeleine? My mom is leaving town for a while, so I have to take care of her. - He took out another mailbox that contained at least as much medicine as his own. - Awesome! She sent her medicine and toiletries!

- Come on, has your cat better health insurance than me?! - Lynda was nervous at the sight of so many medicines.

- Did your mother rob a pet pharmacy? – Lance was reminded of the big package of animal medicine when Mike brought a ton of medicine with him to Beacon.

- No, she only put the most important things in, the vitamin pills, the fur remover, which Lynda wouldn't mind taking either, the stomach clamp, the laxative, the anti-inflammatory ointment, the joint oil, the skin care ointment, the eye drops, the shampoo, the hypoallergenic food and the suppository. She only sent the most important things.

- Got it, - Lance scratched the back of his head. – but you know that we are going on a dangerous mission and may be away for a week.

- I know what you mean and of course, I won't take Princess Madeleine with me on a dangerous journey. I will take her to a shelter where hopefully she won't be missed too much. - Mike's tears flowed. - I know this will be very difficult for you now, but... - He sniffed. - it will be the best. I barely got you but we have to part already. – The cat just looked in front of him with an unmoved face as if it didn't even perceive the world around it.

- I think, - Lynda whispered something to her companions. – something is very wrong with this cat.

- I agree. - Mandy couldn't take her eyes off Madeleine's blank gaze. - There's something creepy about it.

- Maybe you should take it to the vet. - Lance didn't like the cat any more than the two faunus girls did.

- What are you talking about, she's cute and comforting if you pet her! – Mike just stroked her but the cat didn't react to anything, didn't even purr, it just sat still, motionless with a blank look.

- I'd rather skip it. - Lynda kept her distance.

- Don't even listen to her, Princess, - He whispered quietly. - her dog blood makes her so.


The team LLMM gathered themselves, put on combat gear, prepared their weapons and after Mike dropped Madeleine off at a shelter, where he left detailed instructions but still it was hard to tear him away from his pet, they returned to Beacon where all the students and exchange students had gathered so that they can go on their first official mission.

They gathered in the large hall where the principal and teachers welcomed the students from all 4 schools with a speech.

- Quiet Please! – Professor Goodwitch instructed the students in order. - Headmaster Ozpin would like to have a few words with you before we begin. - Ozpin stepped in front of the microphone.

- Today we stand together. Unitedly. - He looked towards the army of students in black and gray uniforms. – Mistral, - Towards the white and gray uniforms. – Atlas, - For students in casual clothes. – Vacuo – Finally to the black and red uniforms and our heroes. – and Vale. 4 Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, 80 years ago, the greatest war in history ended. It was a war born of ignorance, of greed and narrow-mindedness. A war that was about more than boundaries, mistakes and blaming each other but more about what happens when individuals selfishly think only of themselves instead of the community. They fought over many things, one being that one side would destroy those who disagreed with it and the only thing they understood was the word of arms. And as you all know, very many did not survive. In order to put this past mistake behind us and to express our own artistic selves, many people have named their children after colors. It was one way of expressing that not only do we not tolerate this kind of behavior, but neither will the next generation. This became a fad that has remained to this day. We are all unique individuals with our own desires and needs, yet we face difficulties together. As I mentioned, today we stand together, united, but this bond did not just happen by itself. It was created at the cost of an incredible amount of effort, and even more must be preserved. That is why one of the reasons for the world to celebrate unity and peace together is that Hunters and Huntresses fight together for a good cause. As a first year, - A large monitor appeared on the wall to the side, on which you could see what kind of missions you could choose from. – you can choose your first mission. Maybe you could leave the kingdom for several days, participate in the defense and maintenance of the wall and stay in the city to help the local law enforcement forces keep the peace. Whichever path you choose, remember your training and the most important lesson, unity is strength, take care of each other and help each other. - He finished his speech with that, which was followed by a storm of applause.

Team RWBY and LLMM teamed up to somehow get out to the southeast.

- It's easy! - Ruby was excited. - We just have to take on a mission in the southeast and we'll be fine from there.

- This is it! - Yang liked the idea. - We'll wait for the night and sneak away from our instructor in the dark!

- Then choose the search and destroy type.

- As long as we remain united, there should be no problem. – Lance was also with team RWBY as was the whole team LLMM.

The two teams approached the monitor to select the appropriate mission.

- This will be perfect! – Ruby immediately spotted a suitable mission. - A good bit of Grimm cleaning.

- Well, it's in the southeast. - Blake noted.

- Perfect! - Yang supported it.

Ruby selected the mission as the machine waited for the team names, she typed in RWBY and LLMM. The computer said in red letters, "The mission is not available to first-year students."

- Great. - Lance crossed his arms nervously.

- Amazing! - Weiss just rolled her eyes.

- Any other ideas? - Blake asked.

- Let's send ourselves by post! - Ruby suggested.

- That's also a solution. – Suddenly, Ozpin appeared behind them who had been listening to their conversation the whole time and was perfectly aware of the intentions of the two teams. – We judged that the concentration of Grimm in that area was too high and dangerous for first-year students. – He was looking at his Scroll and smiling, his eyes wandered over to the two teams. - It seems that you are very interested in that area and I have a sneaking suspicion that it doesn't matter what task I assign you to, you'll definitely want to go there.

- What makes you think that? - Ruby asked, innocently, though it was clear that Ozpin saw through her completely.

- I'm still wondering how you got to the docks last semester and how you found a clue about this particular hideout in the southeast and I haven't found an answer as to why rose petals and robot parts were found in a dance club recently.

- Um… - Ruby was completely cornered but Ozpin kept to just smile.

- I'm afraid I'll never get answers to these questions. - He got to the point. - How about instead of breaking the rules, we just bend them? – He pressed a few buttons on his Scroll before Team RWBY got permission but LLMM didn't.

- What about us? - Lance asked.

- I want to give you another task. Consider it a favor in return. This is also a mission that's not recommended for first-years but I have confidence in your abilities.

- Thank you, headmaster. - Ruby was confident. - We won't let you down!

- Neither do we! - Lance also encouraged the director.

- Don't thank me. Teamwork and trust in each other got you this far. But you must understand what awaits you outside the walls will not interest you. I will assign a professional Hunter to both of your teams who will look after you but be very careful and do what they tell you. They will monitor and evaluate you on these missions and can send you back whenever they see fit. Good luck.

The two teams set off to the academy's courtyard, from where the students could set off on their first mission.

- Where are you going? - Yang asked.

- North, on a research mission. - Lance looked at his Scroll. - Good luck in the Southeast.

- Good luck to you in the north. - Ruby said goodbye.

They got separated and the team LLMM found their assigned carrier and got nervous.

- Don't worry, - Lance encouraged his team. - we can do it.

- I'm still worried. This is my first time leaving the kingdom. - Mike was nervous.

- I'll watch you! - Lynda just laughed and punched the fat boy in the shoulder.

- Ozpin wouldn't send us on a mission where we could die. - Mandy tried to think logically.

- Besides, a professional Hunter will be with us! - Lance reminded them before even Mike regained his confidence.

The confidence of the team LLMM immediately fell to the bottom when they saw who the "professional" Hunter who would accompany them would be.

- Greetings, my young fellow warriors! - It was Professor Port. The boring, conceited, always self-glowing, big-moustached Professor Port, whose lectures will make you fall asleep. - I hope you're ready for an amazing adventure that you can tell your friends about!


The CMEE team also had to take their share of missions if they didn't want to fall out of line.

- We need something simple. - Mercury searched among the missions. – How about, helping old ladies across the road, picking up garbage or monitoring traffic.

- I'd rather have something exciting that won't bore us to death. - Emerald wanted more excitement. - How about become Junior Detectives? We might even get a badge.

- Ugh, not my like. - Mercury didn't like it. - What do you think, Neo? What would you like to do? – He looked towards the short girl who was just staring longingly at the map, more precisely the part southeast of Vale.

- You think about Roman. - Emerald made it up.

- Look, Neo, - Cinder stepped in front of the short girl. – I know you miss him but the job is the most important thing right now. A few more weeks and the plan will enter the next phase. Then you can be with Roman again. – Cinder got a message on her Scroll. - Maybe sooner than I thought. - She smiled as she read the message.

- Is that Mandy? - Emerald was interested.

- What did she write? - Mercury asked.

- Ozpin sent a team to the southeast, apparently to track down Roman and the White Fang. - Cinder answered and Neo raised her head. – Such arrogance and irresponsibility to send a group of first-years on such a dangerous mission. – Neo began to stomp nervously to get Cinder's attention. - Yes, Neo, you can go southeast to warn Roman. - Neo smiled excitedly. - We'll come up with an excuse, just go.

Neo didn't need any more, she excitedly scurried away from Beacon, going to the lower, darker part of Vale, where she removed her disguise and put on her own brown, pink hair, eyes, and clothes again.

She hadn't seen or spoken to Roman in weeks, ever since she rescued him from under the freeway after being cornered by team RWBY. Roman assured her that it would be fine just follow the plan.

She returned to Roman's old warehouse which the White Fang used as a hiding place, informed them that they needed to warn Roman and their brothers and sisters about the scouts and then they set off in a transport to the southeast.


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