The continuation of our story begins now. But before that have you ladies and gentlemen been watching RWBY? God I'm so worried about Jaune and Neo. They are just so similar at times, like how they both lost an irreplacable partner in their lives and were both dedicated to getting revenge on the one's who took them. While Jaune took the path to reach out for a better future, Neo drowned in the hate and anger she was left in. It's pretty sad all things considered.

Sure Neo has killed scores of people but if anyone of us were raised in the same enviroment she was with those people as their role models then I'm sure we'd be just as deranged. I mean she was literally raised by corrupt parents who stored dust underneath her bed, showed how little they even cared about her, then was bullied and found a little ray of hope in a thief of all people. Yeah, I could go on and on about Neo's tragic life but that's why it's so imperitive that she be rescued from such a fate as death or being left behind.

I can't help but believe it will be Jaune who helps her in the end. He's gone through the same thing as her but the biggest difference that helped him find a better path was the fact that he had his friends at his side through the worst of it. Neo doesn't have that in her life and I truly doubt anyone on team RWBY could feel for her after everything she's done. Also leaving her behind wouldn't really fix the problem because as with Jaune she'd be left there alone with nothing to help her move forward in her life.

Jaune spent years in the everafter and never once came close to acceptance until his friends arrived to help him. Neo could literaly spend her entire life there and never find peace, in fact it could make her go even more insane as time went on. Jaune knows this and could become that piller in her life that could help her move forward. (sigh) Their duality is just perfect...am I a silent knight shipper? I think I am. We'll just have to see how things go with this last episode.


"Ggrrh" Weiss's anger was in full bloom so she turned away from the most detrimental thing to her health and stormed off before she did something she'd regret. It was bad enough she'd nearly been blown off the side of Beacon her very first day but now she had to take orders from the very same person who did it?! Did the world hate her or something? Had she done something in her past life to warrant such misery? She really didn't know and didn't have anyone she could talk to about it.

If she told Winter of her problems the elder Schnee would no doubt look at her with disappointment because a) she wasn't made team leader and b) because she was letting some little girl get to her. Weiss's heels clicked against the tiles and she ignored everyone who was in her way as she climbed up a staircase that led to an open roof. She'd been here before when the very first day began and her annoying partner continued to invade her personal space for no other reason than because she could do so so quickly. Against the railing she hunched over it and sighed.

She popped her scroll out and started looking through her photos until she came to one that she was looking for. There her old team had paused for the camera with her alongside her former partner. It was suppose to be the perfect photo but Jaune forgot he had some cake on his fingers and accidentally got it on her shoulder when he threw an arm around her. At the time she went ballistic and chased him down to smear cake all over his face, but to Winter and the Generals dismay they'd accidentally set the food wars off in full motion.

Weiss smiled fondly at the memory and giggled a little when she remembered her older sister getting struck down by a chicken leg. That one act of Marrow's unleashed the dogs of war and no one was left safe from the specialists fury.

"Is this a bad time"?

Weiss's smile disappeared quickly as she turned to face her partners annoying older sister. "Even if I said it was I doubt you'd leave me be. So what do you want Xiao Long"?

Yang Xiao Long, the sister of their young team leader let out a sigh and joined the heiress by the hand rail. She leaned her back against the metal bar and placed her right forearm on the rail as she looked to the heiress. "Just wanted to see if you were okay and to ask that you not be so hard on ruby. I know she can be a lot to handle sometimes but she's still only 15 years old and she not exactly the best at talking to people she doesn't know all that well". Weiss stood up straight and met her teammates eyes, "did you think I didn't know that already"?

Yang shrugged and nodded making the heiress roll her eyes. "I knew all that, I mean it wasn't exactly hard to figure out what with Ruby talking a million miles a minute about absolutely nothing. Her social paranoia is literally on full display everyday and that's only reinforced by how your pushing her to break out of her shell". Yang looked a little offended and crossed her arms, after all she was only doing so for her sisters benefit. "Well if you know all that then why do you keep pushing her away every time she tries to get closer you as a friend"?

"Because I'm trying not to make the same mistakes as before".

Yang was shocked by the sudden confession. What did she mean that she didn't want to make the same mistakes again? Her answer came as Weiss continued.

"Ruby and my interactions haven't exactly been all sunshine and rainbows you know, or did you forget she nearly blew me up before Beacon even started. Then there was that whole thing where Ruby jumped in front of my attack in the Emerald forest. I could have seriously hurt her but she didn't care and continued to act recklessly in spite of that, not to mention I set the forest on fire trying not to set her on fire. Even now with all that's happened she refuses to take even the school work we do in class seriously. These lessons are to prepare us for when we head out into the world to help the people and if she doesn't know them she'll be lost when people ask her for help on anything other then killing Grimm".

Weiss squeezed the railing in frustration. "You probably don't know this but I had a team before this one and a partner before Ruby". Yangs eyes widened in surprise cause Weiss was really dropping some bombs on her today. "Just like Ruby my old partner got on my nerves a lot and we ended up hating each other for a bit. Time passed and things happened that brought us together as friends, best friends in fact. And do you know what I realized when it was almost time for us to go our separate ways"? Weiss looked to her teammate and smiled sadly, "that if we had worked out our problems sooner we could've enjoyed the time we had together more".

"That's...wow, I don't know what to say to that". Yang ran a hand through her hair while she thought of a response until a thought came to mind that seemed to stick out. "If your old partner is like Ruby then shouldn't that make it easier for the two of you to get along with each other"?

Weiss hunched over the railing again and sighed. "Ruby and my old partner are alike in some aspects, but there is a big difference between them. Or at least one thing that's changed their outlook on what it takes to be a hunter. You see unlike Ruby, my old partner didn't train for as long as we did growing up. Usually huntsmen and huntresses start their training from a young age and learn what they need to by asking their parents or teachers that are training them. My old partner on the other hand hasn't even held a sword for a full year yet".

Yang nearly fell over but quickly caught herself, "not even a year"! She yelled in surprise.

Weiss nodded and stared out into the distance. "Yeah, I was just as surprised as you when I first learned of it. I didn't take it well at first, thinking that there was no way it would even be possible for him to catch up with us. I mean come on what's 6 months compared to years of intense training"? A small smile spread across her face as she thought back on the fight with her sister. "Luckily he proved me wrong since we ended up defeating my sister, who I might add is by far the greatest specialist in Atlas". Weiss looked incredibly proud of that fact.

"Anyways what I'm trying to get at is that my old partner went above and beyond to do things others wouldn't have ever dreamed of. He was dedicated, and that made others want to believe in him. Our team, the teachers and even the Atlesian council have faith in him like I've never seen before. Compared to him Ruby is -" Weiss cut herself off after remembering who she was talking to.

Yang raised a brow but didn't push the heiress to continue knowing it would only make her angry. Instead she threw her head back and stared up at the sky, thinking back on everything her teammate had told her. "When you put it like that this old partner of yours sounds like the ideal partner for you". All of a sudden Yang looked over to her with a questioning gaze, "so why leave if you believed in him so much"? It was a good question but had a very complicated answer that she wasn't ready to give up yet. It was partly a family matter but also a personal one.

Schnee do not follow or so her father would say but it was more than that. She didn't want any special treatment for just being a Schnee. What she wanted was to be like everyone else so that when she finally did succeed it would be do to her own merits. "I have my reasons" she finally said after a minute of silence.

The lack of an answer annoyed the blonde but she knew that everyone had their secrets. She had a few herself and if she had her way they'd stay just that...a secret. "Hmph, well that's all in the past now since your a part of team RWBY. And as a part of the soon to be best team at Beacon we all need to get along, and that means you and my sister". Yang grabbed Weiss by the wrist and started to drag her back to their dorm room.

"Hey! I can walk back myself".

Yang grinned but didn't let go. "I know you can but I don't know when your planning to. Procrastinating like that when there's a problem like this ain't gonna get us anywhere so I say let's just rip that Band-Aid off already. Weiss's continued struggle ended in vain and by the time they nearly arrived at their dorm she'd all but given up on escaping. In her mind she couldn't help but wonder what her old team was up to while she was being tormented like this.

/

"No! Please! Anything but that"! Jaune tried to pull away but no matter how hard he tried the person behind him kept him from escaping. Both his arms were being held behind him and the evil creature closing in on him was too close for his comfort.

"This will only hurt for a moment" Ilia hissed as she pushed the spoon closer to the blondes face. Jaune tried to explain it wasn't his fault but Ilia heard none of it as she took the chance to shove the spoonfull of food into his opened and unprotected mouth. His face turned a sickly green color and he was released to spit out the gross food Ilia had forced into him. Cottage cheese. He'd never had anything so insanely gross in all his life. A cup was placed right next to him and he quickly grabbed it and threw it back, hoping to wash the taste from his mouth.

The second he did the burning in his nose began and he quickly spit the putrid drink across the table. Jaune's hand shot up trying to stop his mistake but the damage had already been done at that point. Across from him Ciel slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath before picking up her napkin to clean herself off. The vein popping out of her forehead instantly told him just how pissed off she was so the only thing he could think to make it right was to bow his head and plead for forgiveness.

Ciel finished cleaning off her face and turned to look at him with a brow raised. "Hmm, if that's what you want".

He wasn't the only one at the table to feel confused about their teammates sudden forgiveness. Ilia had actually stopped her giggling fit from the shock alone. It was while they sat in silence that Ciel took Jaunes napkin from the table and started drying off her hair. A shower was definitely going to be needed before their next class so Ciel was going to have to cut her lunch short if she didn't want to be late. The dark haired girl placed the napkin on her tray and stood to leave.

"Jaune" Ciel said as she stood in place with her back turned to him. "My homework from history class needs to be completed before tomorrow morning and my clothes need washing as well". What went unsaid was that he was going to be the one to complete those and that this was the punishment she had for him. "And Ilia I'm going to need a punching bag to test my new mechashift weapon".

"What?! Why do I h-"

Ciel turned towards the faunus with a cold fire in her eyes that caused everyone at the table who saw to go silent out of fear of angering her further. Ilia avoided her glare by breaking eye contact and worked up the courage to correct the dark haired girl on one thing. "You meant sparring partner right? Of course you do, I mean punching bag sounds just a little brutal don't you think"? Ciel raised a brow along with a sinister grin, "no I'm pretty sure I haven't misspoken. Sure Jaunes punishment isn't as bad as yours but then again it was because of you that Jaune spit that horseradish mixed drink at me".

Ilia recoiled at the truth she was slapped with and wracked her brain for another excuse. She could have easily blamed Penny for giving Jaune the drink but then that would be ratting out her teammate when it was she who asked the red head for help. She really didn't want to put Penny in that position because the girl was only trying to be friendly to her. "Karma really is messed up" Ilia grrumbled as she gave up on trying to find a way out of her mess.

"That's what I drank"? The sound of disgust at hearing what was in his drink made the blonde go pale. He turned to Penny with a confused and hurt expression.

"I apologize Jaune. I never wanted to hurt you but I agreed to help Ilia before I knew what she was planning to do. When she told me what she wanted I realized I had duty bound myself to this task and couldn't take it back without breaking Ilia's trust in me".

Ilia choked at the strange confession and was glared at by both Ciel and her team leader. Now all the blame was on her and she couldn't believe this was happening, but when she saw Penny's guilty stricken face break with a small smirk she knew she was set up for failure. And here she thought Penny was the most innocent of the group. Guess it turned out that she learned a bit more from the heiress then any one of them knew about. It was her loss. "Gah, fine. I'm sorry for all the trouble, I'm clearly a very troubled person and it won't happen again I promise".

Penny put the finishing touches by placing a hand on Jaunes arm and tugging on it gently to catch his attention. "A-are we still friends"? It was so well executed that Ilia could only stare in silence as Jaune placed his hand over her's and smiled warmly. "Of course we are Penny. There's no way a small prank like this would make me not want to be your friend". Penny's face lit up and she jumped at the blonde and enveloped him in a tight hug. "Thank you Jaune" she said before giving Ilia a wink behind his back that not even Ciel could catch.

"Crafty little devil" Ilia grumbled miserably.

When Penny pulled away their scrolls started to go off at the same time. Ciel was the first to respond and pulled her scroll out to see what was happening. "Team ASSP report to the headmasters office for official mission briefing signed Winter Schnee, specialist of the Atlas military". Jaune shot to his feet, a nervous smile spread across his face. "Our first official mission as team Aspire huh? I knew we'd be getting one sooner or later" he stepped away from the table with his back to them "so what are we waiting for? Time to move out team".

Everyone could feel his nervousness as easily as they could see it but that was more of a reason to have his back then ever. "Yes sir"! The rest of his team said and quickly followed him out of the cafeteria.

A few tables down Isaac chuckled at the display. "So did they say anything important of note"? Beside him his teammate Desmond materialized out of thin air and picked up a drink that Annabelle left for him. "Besides some crude pranks there really wasn't much to their interaction. Actually it seems like the girl with the red hair knows how to play her leader like a fiddle. Other then that their on their way to their first mission if I heard correctly". Isaac nodded and silently took a sip of apple juice while deep in thought.

"Whats the call boss"?

Isaac looked to his crew and eyed Desmond. "You dissappear. We'll cover for you until your return and make sure you aren't discovered". Desmond polished off his drink and stood up, "then I'd better get a move on". With a two fingered salute he vanished just as easily as he appeared, leaving the rest of his team in the cafeteria.

/

They had been there several times before but you never really could get used to being called to the principals office...or in this case the headmasters as it were. Jaune knocked on the door and waited until they were called to enter from the inside. Leading his team in the blonde saw the General sat at his desk with Winter on his right just a little bit behind him. Sure it had only been a few day since he'd last saw her but when you got used to seeing someone everyday the lack of their presence becomes really noticeable.

The feeling must have been mutual because as soon as Winter saw them enter a small but warm smile spread across her face.

Any greetings were forgotten when another within the room spoke. "Well well if it is the the great hero of Atlas" a dark skinned man said with no heat in his voice. Jaune inspected the man and couldn't help but recognize him from somewhere. Like a bulb going off in his head the blonde finally put a name to the face in front of him, "Flynt, right"? Flynt raised a brow and smiled. "Was that a question I heard? Who else looks this good"? Flynt chuckled and any tension in the air quickly vanished as he stepped forward. "I'm only messin my guy, but what about you? Finding out about you over the news was a real surprise".

The two shook hands and Jaune returned the smile. "Eh, the news is just blowing things out of proportion. Honestly I didn't even know I took down that guy Adam until I heard the White Fang announce it. At the time I was trying to get out of their alive with my teammates. You wouldn't believe the stress I was under at the time".

Flynt laughed at the thought. "Trust me you aren't the only one who's gone through that...the stress I mean. It's something every leader goes through because our team is trusting us to get them through the rough times. But hey, we do what we gotta".

Jaune noticed the others, possibly Flynts team, nod with their leaders words

"And on that note it would be advantages to hear exactly what your mission for today will be". Everyone turned to the General as he stood from his desk and made his way to the center of the room. Ironwood pulled out a remote and clicked on it causing the floor to open up and a holographic projector to turn on, showing a village the blonde had never seen before. "This is Shelter, a village created in between two mountains and in front of a third that has stood the test of time for the past 100 years. The name this village holds is a testament to the very first founders of Atlas academy who moved away and started this village".

"Originally Atlas academy was named Shelter back in the old day's, but as times changed so too did the academy. Not wanting to forget the place where the founders built their hopes and dreams the people bestowed the village with its past name. With that little bit of history out of the way this is where your first mission of the year is taking place". Ironwood click on his controller once more and the display changed. "Over the past few years Shelter has had it's occasional run in with the Grimm that flow in from the caves at the mountains entrance. Those small numbers are usually dealt with by the locals who had some form of training, mostly from retired soldiers or huntsmen".

"Just like Ansel" the Jaune whispered to his teammates.

The General clicked on his controller once more and brought up images of several locals working together to gun down Grimm with coordinated strikes and teamwork. "With their training the locals occasionally clear out most of the Grimm to make a path for miners to go in and collect what dust they can which is then sent here to be processed by the S.D.C.. At least that was until a month ago". Another click and the display changed to show a row of 8 people with the words M.I.A covering their photos.

"We have reports from the village that one of their veteran teams went in to do a casual clean up that they've done many times before only to never return. As such the village as gone into high alert and has requested additional help in searching for their missing veterans". The General looked to each of them, "this is your mission. Search and rescue. Your job will be to take a bullhead out to the village, meet up with the commander of Shelters defense force and investigate the disappearance of their people. Your bullhead leaves within the hour so I recommend you prepare as best you can and-". The General sniffed the air and scrunched his nose, "maybe shower as well".

Ciel blushed greatly then glared towards her team who refused to meet her eyes for fear of additional punishment from the dark haired girl.

"One more thing to note is that the Grimm that the village has usually faced have all but vanished from the area. We don't know if this has anything to do with the disappearance of the veterans so you will need to keep a look out for anything that stands out. Winter will be joining you on this mission so if any of you find out anything of note you are to report it to her immediately". The display vanished and the machine sank back into the floor as the General crossed his arms behind is back. "Atlas is counting on you all, dismissed".

The teams saluted the General and made their way out of the room leaving Winter with her superior. Once the room was empty the specialists stood at her superiors side and spoke first. "Sir, I've never questioned your orders before but I can't help but question this one. These circumstances would no doubt call for a team of experienced huntsmen to tackle, so why these students? Flint and his team aren't at a level where they could handle this much less a rookie team which Jaune and his are".

Ironwood nodded, clearly he thought the same as she but there were outside factors pushing for this. "Atlas academy has fallen into third amongst the schools people wish to attend for their huntsmen qualifications. The council sees this as much as a problem as I do in that regards". Ironwood stepped away and took a seat behind his desk before placing a finger down and activating his terminal. On it he pulled up some figures and motioned for Winter to take a look.

Winter scanned over the data and saw that Beacon was of course on top of the list, following close behind was Haven academy, after that was Atlas and finally Vacuo. "Our academy is one of the most well funded schools of any kingdom and yet people hardly have a thought about wanting to come here. The council believes we need to show the people that we have what it takes to turn out outstanding huntsmen. Flynt Coal and his team have more than proven that fact but just one team isn't enough. With team FNKI being a second year we wanted to show that his team isn't a one off".

Ironwood massaged the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Jaunes team was the only logical choice because of what they'd already accomplished. Being first years on top of that only made it more enticing especially when councilman Grey brought it up. In his words Jaunes reputation is one we can build on". Winter's frown said it all and frankly he agreed, using a boy and students of his as mere pawns just to boost their reputation didn't sit right with him. Unfortunately the councils decision overruled his and left him where he was now. "Fortunately they won't be on their own" the General said as he looked to his specialist, "take good care of them".

Winter struck a picture perfect salute before she was dismissed to get ready.


Wanted to get this one out before the newest episode aired. Oh and look Flynt is back just like I said.