Gamer4 in. I'm gonna go ahead and put up a poll in my profile as to which faction of BLADE Childhood's End Jaune ought to join. Obviously, it's not nearly as important as which house to join in 3 Houses, say, but I thought it would be a fun little detail for people to vote on. On another note, looking over the previous episode, I think my sleep-deprived self introduced new reactors, then left me behind to deal with the consequences. Okay... let's see what we can make happen here. On with the show!
Episode XVII
The Road to Shambhala
The Flamebringer
It was difficult to say who panicked more at Adam's appearance- Blake or the younger Schnees. Blake immediately attempted to hide behind Yang, while Whitley practically leapt across the room to get as far from the mask-wearing bull faunus as he could. Winter narrowed her eyes, cold as steel. Yang hardly noticed Blake's flight- she was busy narrowing her eyes at Raven Branwen, who was herself in a mutual glaring contest with her brother Qrow.
"Well, this is fun," Torchwick commented wryly, reaching into his pocket for a cigar. He frowned when he realized he had none.
"I'll have none of that in my house." It was Vanessa, but her voice had grown cold.
"Er... but this isn't your-" Pyrrha started to point out, but fell silent when the ice chips that were Vanessa's eyes turned towards her.
"I've been left in charge of this house, and as long as you're here, you're under my rules!"
"Well, I'm perfectly pleased to go, in that case," Raven brushed her hair and made for the front door.
"No point walking out the front door, if your goal is to get home," Vanessas commented. "We're all stuck here until we finish going through these worlds."
"Going... through... worlds," Torchwick met her gaze with half-lidded eyes. "Any idea what this crazy girl's talking about, Neo?"
Neo shook her head fervently.
"We're not in Remnant anymore," Ozpin supplied, his voice rather calm for the situation they found themselves in. "We've landed in an... in-between space controlled by this young lady and her friends. It would seem the only way out is to observe several connected worlds that they call 'the Xenoverse.' It would seem, until such time as we complete this task, we will remain here."
"That's absurd," Adam growled, turning on Vanessa. "You can't keep us here!"
"Believe me, it wasn't my choice," Vanessa met his gaze unflinchingly. "Blame Lana and whatever absurd notion overtook her to drag you here. I'll be honest... I hate you. And I hate her even more." She punctuated this with a jerk of a thumb towards Raven, who glared right back. "And those two... well, I actually find the duo of A Clockwork Orange and Ice Cream Girl amusing, so they're off the hook."
"So glad you think so," Torchwick bowed sarcastically.
"But..." Vanessa paused, clenching her hands together as if in prayer and took a deep breath, "we of Project Solaris believe that everyone is worthy of a chance of salvation. So instead of doing what other showrunners might and using this opportunity to make your lives hell for my own amusement, I only ask that you sit down and watch these worlds. It's a helluva longshot, but maybe it might even do you some good, seeing things from a... higher perspective."
"This is ridiculous," Raven hissed. "I'm leaving." She turned around and attempted to open a portal.
Nothing happened.
"Funny story, that," Qrow chuckled. "This world doesn't have semblances, so your little 'runaway' strat isn't gonna fly here."
"You're more foolish than you look if you think I'll place myself under a human's constraints!" Adam roared, reaching for his sword- but it wasn't there.
Vanessa sighed. "Jack, if you please..."
Jack appeared with a grin, and pushed the uncooperative guests onto a pair of chairs. "Take a seat, have a drink! And a kitty!"
Nia the fat white cat appeared and hopped up onto Adam's lap- he groaned and struggled to get out from under her, but made no headway.
"Nala!" Vanessa called to the ether. "Black-hair here said she's planning on seducing the Hand!"
A black cat teleported in from nowhere and leapt, hissing into Raven's lap, glaring and growling. Where Nia was happy just to sit in anyone's lap and not have to move, this cat would ensure that Raven didn't move anywhere near her beloved master.
"Huh, finally found someone as stubborn as you," Qrow chuckled harshly.
"Takin' away her chance to run away? Yeah, I like that," Yang nodded, directing a glare at her mother. She attempted to glare back, but something in her seemed to be wilting somewhat.
"Are... you okay, Whitley?" Ruby asked, glancing to her left.
"I... just feel like sitting over here, now. That's all."
Ruby glanced between him and Adam- her mouth opened into an 'O,' and she nodded. "Right... that spot's probably more comfortable."
"You wanna try any tricks, Clockwork Orange?" Vanessa asked, finally getting her breath back as she turned to Torchwick.
Torchwick shared a bemused glance with Neo, then shrugged. "Eh, sounds like you want us to watch a couple flicks, then we get to go home, huh? Hell, beats the cell Jimmy was cartin' me off to when that crazy broad snatched me."
"I'm glad to find you so cooperative," Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Jack, do you have the-"
"Here ya go!" Jack had snuck up behind Neo and, at Vanessa's command, gleefully smacked a patch of some sort right onto her neck.
"Ow- what do you think- wait..." Neo gasped as she realized she was speaking. "I... is that... my voice?"
"Sector-brand Voice Synthesizer!" Jack beamed proudly. "Giving voice to the voiceless since 2885 TE!"
Neither Torchwick nor Neo seemed to notice. If Torchwick had been holding a cigar, he'd have dropped it. "Is that... what your voice sounded like?" he asked.
Neo nodded. "R...Roman?"
Torchwick's lips pulled up into a genuine smile. "Well, ain't that a helluva thing. Maybe this day won't turn out so bad after all."
"Glad to see someone's enjoying themselves," Adam grumbled as he felt his legs going dead due to lack of bloodflow. Nia shifted a little, nearly breaking a bone as she placed her chin on one arm.
"Your seats," Jack appeared again, pushing a loveseat into the room for the Duo of Larceny.
"You might wanna chain them up somehow, too," Nora recommended.
"Or I can go ahead and break their legs for ya," Yang growled, eyeing Neo in particular, who stuck her tongue out in response.
"Only if they misbehave," Vanessa sighed. "For now... since we have Adam among us, why don't we go back to the world where he's most prominent?"
"You mean the one where he stabbed me in the back?" Jack asked.
"Oh, yeah, he did do that, didn't he?" Nora remembered, glaring in his direction.
"I haven't had the pleasure," Adam snarled back.
"Correct- it was a different Adam," Vanessa reminded her. "Now, I think we've had enough arguing- let's just get to the world before I have a damn aneurysm."
Blake and Sun led Jaune, Ozpin and Pyrrha towards a side alley. "You know, if you're going to try and make it to Shambhala, maybe you should consider resonating with another blade or two."
"A-hem... would you like to back up a bit, please?" Neo asked in a rather sarcastic tone of voice- it sounded like she was talking to hear herself speak as much as anything, which, admittedly, none of the others could begrudge her. "What is she talking about? Blades? Shambhala?"
"Oh, right, I suppose we should... catch you... up..." Pyrrha felt very awkward. "Er... Ren, can you explain it?"
Ren sighed and cleared his throat. "As far as we can tell, it all begins when a bunch of apes discovered a large, gold monolith..."
XXXX
"-and it was during that song that you joined us," Ren concluded.
The villains stared at him for a while. Raven and Adam were particularly taken with the story of the boy so powerful he'd destroyed his hometown by accident- they found their eyes straying towards Jaune, who looked nervous as he felt their gazes. Could such a scrawny-looking boy really possess such strength?
Torchwick, meanwhile, laughed. "These are some wild-soundin' worlds you got goin' here! Still, I think the craziest has to be Neo makin' eyes as blondie over there!"
Neo threw a glance at Jaune, sizing him up. She tilted her head and shrugged- voice or no voice, she'd already mastered the art of body language.
"Thanks... for that...?" Jaune didn't know how to begin feeling about that.
"Now that they're all caught up, can we get back to the world, please? Thank you," Vanessa pressed.
"Resonate with... another blade?" Jaune tilted his head. "Is that possible?"
"Quite possible," Ozpin confirmed from the helmet behind Jaune's head. "If a driver has the potential, there is no limit to the number of blades he can awaken."
"Oh, is Fearless Leader gonna be in charge of an army by the end of this?" Nora asked eagerly.
"I think... that's a little beyond my scope," Jaune shifted uncomfortably.
"Nonsense, I'm sure you'd make a fine tactician!" Pyrrha praised, only causing him to flush further.
"I see..." Jaune scratched at the back of his head. "I still don't really get how this all works, this... touching the crystal and awakening blades, stuff."
"Well... in the beginning, blades are formless, only bound to the world through our core crystal," Pyrrha began, gently touching the crystal in question on her own chest.
"Yup, there's the Zohar shape!" Nora crossed her arms and nodded proudly.
"It's missing an X shape," Ren observed. "Presumably the portion that she gave to- ah, yes, there it is, on Jaune's chest."
"They're Zohar buddies!" Nora cheered.
"It takes the touch of a driver that grants us form and being," Pyrrha continued.
"Form... and being?" Jaune still seemed confused.
"The exact relationship isn't entirely understood," Ozpin spoke up behind him. "However, it is generally agreed that a blade's form and persona are often tied to those that awaken them- most particularly their first awakener."
"What a wretched system," Adam snarled. "One I'm sure the humans will swiftly turn to their advantage."
"Well, faunus can be drivers, too," Jaune felt the urge to point out.
"Irrelevant," Adam sneered. "This is surely a system devised by humans, for humans."
"There's no point arguing with him on this," Blake whispered, still trying to remain as hidden as possible, considering Adam already knew where she was. "He'll die on any hill that involved the faunus."
"And that's coming from Kit-Kat!" Yang arched her brows.
"Okay, I kinda get what you're saying," Jaune scratched absently at his head. "But... why does it work that way?"
"I'm not entirely certain anybody could answer that," Ozpin shook his head. "That's simply how it's been, since time immemorial."
"I suppose the only one who could answer a question like that would be the Architect herself," Ren mused.
"Guess that all explains why we're so diverse," Sun supposed casually, his head leaning back in his hands. "Really takes all shapes and sizes when you're dealin' with blades!"
"The resonance between blade and driver is truly mysterious," Pyrrha smiled.
Jaune kept his gaze on her, suddenly flashing back to their first meeting, in that strange dreamscape she'd called Shambhala.
Back there... she was crying. I didn't awaken her... but was she awoken like a normal blade, at first? Everyone's calling her the Grail, but what does that actually mean?
"Maybe it's just the booze talkin', but ain't a grail a sorta cup?" Qrow wondered aloud. "Which part of her is supposed to be the cup? Her, or the sword?"
"We've been wonderin' that ourselves," Yang admitted.
"Wonder how much lien a sword like that would go for..." Torchwick wondered, habitually going for a cigar before remembering he had none.
"Keep your grubby hands off of our Pyrrha!" Nora growled.
"Relax, kid, I wouldn't deal with it anyways- I'm no human trafficker." The others weren't sure if it was a coincidence that he placed a tight hand on Neo's shoulder as he said so.
"HALT! Nobody move!"
Out of nowhere, the group was surrounded by five soldiers in Atlas white armor.
"You can always count on Atlas to make things worse," Qrow chuckled.
"Can we listen to them before we decide they are villains?" Winter demanded coldly.
"Did we do something wrong?" Jaune asked, looking around in surprise.
"As if you don't know!" declared the largest soldier, who seemed to be the captain. "Walking around Menagerie with a known member of the Children of Zemuria!"
"Er... Children of... Zemuria?" Ruby tilted her head.
"That must be what Adam and Cardin are calling their team," Blake pieced together, chewing on a nail.
"So, I'm working with this... Cardin, am I?" Adam asked. "What sort of faunus is he?"
Blake almost cracked at the question. "He's... not."
"Hm?" Adam raised a brow.
"Oh, don't pretend like you're above working with humans," Torchwick chuckled. "Who was it who basically handled the reins of your little operation over to me and Fire Bitch, any..." He pursed his lips when he realized he was maybe giving too much away, earning a giggle from Ruby.
"No point trying to keep quiet, we already know about Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury."
Torchwick looked horrified for a moment... then chuckled. "Y'know what? Fine by me. Hated the lot of them anyways."
"Children... of..." Jaune seemed to come to the same realization. "You mean Blake?"
"Oh, it's her alright- cat faunus driver, monkey faunus blade! Identical to her wanted poster!" He produced and flourished a copy of the poster in question, showing Blake in her bizarre, mostly-feline state.
"I seriously hate that thing," Blake groaned.
"They will die a thousand deaths for such a slight against faunuskind," Adam growled.
Jaune blinked. "That's... Blake?" Unbidden, a smirk made its way onto his face.
"Something funny, Jaune?" Blake growled as she glanced over at him.
"No, of course not!" Jaune quickly fought the grin down. "Look, who cares if it looks just like her-"
Blake hissed at him, her lips pulling back to reveal fangs as she bore her nails like claws.
"I don't know, Blakey, if you're trying to fight stereotypes, you're not doin' the best job!" Yang was making no effort to fight back her chuckles.
"I hate you all," Blake pouted.
The captain turned towards Jaune. "Hm, you look like a driver yourself," he observed, glancing between Jaune and Pyrrha. "State your registration number!"
Jaune gulped. "Er... Forty-two?"
"Really?" Weiss facepalmed.
"I mean... it is the answer," Jaune shrugged helplessly.
"Very funny," the captain crossed his arms. "If you haven't registered with the Praetorium, we have no choice but to consider you a rogue!"
"It's not like that!" Jaune protested.
"The lot of you are coming with us!" the soldier proclaimed. "We'll see what Consul Torchwick has to say about this!"
"Me, a politician?" Torchwick wrinkled his nose.
"I'd have thought you'd be thrilled to be placed in such a position of power," Winter crossed her arms.
"Hell no. I'm a gentleman thief, lady, I have standards."
Jaune drew the Grail Sword, while Blake drew her own. Both Pyrrha and Sun dropped into combat stances.
"This is our fight, Jaune," Blake whispered to him. "Sun and I will hold them off- you make a run for it."
"This is our problem, too," Jaune fired back. "He's trying to arrest all of us!"
"Stubborn, aren't you?"
"Gramps always said so."
"Fine, have it your way. We'll take the ones on the left, you take the ones on the right."
"You're going to resist?!" The captain sounded taken aback. "Seriously- you think you can take me?"
"Not like I've got any choice!" Jaune growled, rushing forward with his sword drawn- a gold thread formed between it and Pyrrha as she began filling it with the power of ether.
"Okay, this should be a good fight!" Yang grinned.
"Hm, I'd certainly like to observe the tactics at pla-" Ozpin started, but was cut off as yells filled the air.
"THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?!"
Each and every soldier was shouting it as they rushed into the battle, screaming it at the top of their voices. Nobody could even pay attention to what was happening- they were too caught off guard by the repetitive chant.
"THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! DON'T FORGET ME! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME?! DON'T FORGET ME!"
Everyone stared in stunned silence for a solid minute.
"I... that was..."
"I don't know what to..."
Another minute of blessed silence.
"Is that some sort of... technique they're practicing over in Atlas?" Neo asked. "Just... pester everyone into compliance?"
"No... not that I'm aware of," Winter shook her head, staggered and taken aback. "I... that..."
"Hm, let us agree never to speak of this again," Ren decided.
"What was... what was happening again?" Whitley asked, still stuck in a daze.
When they finally caught up, it was to see Jaune and Blake successfully pushing their enemy back.
"Two against five, and they're winning?" the lead soldier grumbled. "Drivers, indeed!"
"The way is open!" Blake called. "With me!"
"Right!" Jaune nodded, chasing Blake further down the alley- until a wall of searing white flames appeared, cutting off their escape.
"The hell?!" he gasped, digging in his heels to come to a halt.
"I thought I heard a commotion," came a new voice- the group turned to see a woman walking up behind the soldiers, flawlessly stepping into the lead. Her hair was long, and white... and turned to flames at the tips. She wore a matching white dress that also turned to flames at the edges, and carried in her hands two rapiers, each of which were coated in fire. "And here I thought I could finally enjoy some peace and quiet."
"...Sister?" Weiss asked, staring.
"What... is all that?"Winter blinked, truly taken aback.
"It would seem that you have all the characteristics of a blade," Ozpin surmised.
Adam snorted. "A Schnee, placed in absolute subservience to another. How... delightful."
Winter ignored him. "But... if I'm a blade, then... where's my... driver?" The others could tell how strange the words felt on her tongue.
"Hmm..." Nora looked close, even raising her hands over her eyes like binoculars. (It works. As Ren would tell the others when they asked, 'It's Nora, don't question it.') "Ahah! There's her crystal, at least!"
It was right there, just below her collarbone, much as it was for Pyrrha, in the shape of a small flame.
"Well, guess I can't call this version of her the Ice Queen," Qrow chuckled.
"What I want to know is why she's keeping her eyes closed," Whitley pointed out.
Indeed, she kept her eyes shut even as she approached the scene and turned to the captain for a report.
"Ah, Lady Winter!" The captain in question was quick to perform an odd sort of half-bow.
"Winter!" Pyrrha gasped.
"Do I... know her?" Pyrrha tilted her head.
"Well... she is a blade. I suppose it's not entirely out of the realms of possibility that she was around before you went to sleep," Ren supposed.
"She's a blade, but... where's her driver?" Jaune wondered- search though he might, he couldn't make out the gold thread that was supposed to bind blade and driver.
"My driver is busy," Winter answered casually. "I have come alone."
"A blade... acting alone?" Jaune asked, glancing at Pyrrha- but it was Ozpin that answered.
"It is possible, though she won't be able to draw on her full strength."
"HAHAHAHA!" The captain roared with laughter. "As if she needs her full strength- Winter is the Jewel of Atlas- the empire's strongest blade!"
"Pretty cocky to step in with a handicap like that," Torchwick chuckled. "Let's see if she's got what it takes to back it up."
"Milady, these miscreants are working with the Children of Zemuria! Please, lend us your strength and bring them to justice!"
"Zemuria, you say?" Winter repeated. Though she didn't open her eyes, it still seemed as though she was scanning them- until she settled on Pyrrha. "Ah... an emerald core crystal. I'd heard rumors that the Grail had awoken." She brandished her rapiers, sending waves of fire down the blades. "Captain Dudley, they are to be taken in alive."
"And... what does she want with Pyrrha?" Jaune asked, his eyes narrowing.
"She certainly seems to know more about what the Grail actually is than any of you," Whitley commented.
"If it's anything as strong as they've been makin' out... yeah, best keep it as far away from Atlas as you can," Qrow drummed his fingers.
"Understood!" the Captain nodded. "Men, bring out our secret weapon!"
His soldiers saluted and dashed off.
Jaune looked Winter in the eye. "I don't suppose we're going to be able to talk this out?"
"Only if you wish to offer your unconditional surrender."
"I was afraid of that," Jaune grunted. He raised his sword.
Winter's answer was swift- she sliced her blades through the air, creating a white, flaming X that tore towards Jaune- he struck with his own blade, sending his own line of scarlet fire that caused Winter's attack to dissipate- though not quietly. The interaction sent a shockwave out from the epicenter that forced Jaune to cover his eyes.
"So fast..." Jaune choked out. "If I'd been half a second later..."
"Strong, too," Pyrrha agreed. "I had to put everything into deflecting that strike!"
"Without a driver, no less," Ozpin mused.
"Not the time to be talking, you two!" Blake roared- she leapt up in the air, bringing her sword down, Sun matching her movements with his fists. Strangely, Winter made no move to defend herself.
The answer became obvious when a pair of glowing yellow nets were fired from behind her, wrapping up first the blade, then the driver. Both landed, groaning on the ground, suddenly flushed and panting as though they'd run several miles. Blake immediately looked towards her blade- with her arms pinned to her side, all she could do was attempt to crawl towards him like a caterpillar. "S...Sun... are you okay?"
"Not gonna lie... I've been better..." Sun groaned.
"What is that crap?" Yang stared.
As if in answer, Captain Dudley yelled, "This is an ether net!"
"...Oh," Yang blinked. "Er... thanks?"
"I am very glad she doesn't have the technical knowledge to understand that pun," Weiss sighed.
"Of course they would treat faunus so disgracefully," Adam growled.
"Oh, zip it," Neo rolled her eyes. "Roman and I have had our share of nets fired at us over the years, and last I checked, I don't have any animal traits- nor does he." A note of mischief flashed in her eyes.
"Little difficult for you to fight at full effectiveness when you're cut off from atmospheric ether!" Captain Dudley cackled.
"A blade's reliance on ether is its greatest weakness," Winter commented as casually as if she were discussing the weather. "Cut off that flow, and they lose all power."
"Blake! Sun!" Jaune looked around, searching for a way out of this situation.
"Run, Jaune! Save yourself!" Blake demanded.
"And leave you here?!" Jaune sounded affronted at the idea.
"You've got your own mission- get to it!" Blake ordered.
"There's nothing we can do for her right now," Ozpin backed her up. "The best thing to do now is retreat and regroup."
"You speak as though he has any choice in the matter," Winter countered- she raised her blades, and the wall of fire was back, cutting off all chance of escape.
"Crap!" Jaune almost swore, looking around for any other avenue of escape- until he saw an orb sailing overhead, moving so quickly he didn't catch its shape. It slammed into a pipe arching above them and exploded, rupturing it and letting loose a solid stream of water.
"Um... what?" Nora tilted her head.
Winter was the nearest, and was thoroughly drenched- and she screamed as the fire surrounding her was dampened.
"Oh- water beats fire!" Jaune slammed his right fist into his left hand. "Any pokemon trainer will tell you that!"
"I'd appreciate you not comparing me to a pocket monster," Winter crossed her arms.
"He's right, though," Qrow realized. "The water's putting her out... it's weakening her. Which means..."
Sure enough, as Winter pulled away from the stream, the wall of flames she'd just summoned went out.
"Time to go, Jaune," Pyrrha instructed.
"Alright... but first, we have to make sure she can't follow us!"
Pyrrha nodded, placing her hand over Jaune's on their sword, raising it up as fire gathered around it.
"BURNING SWORD!" they cried, bringing it down and sending a wave of flames towards the weakened Winter, knocking her to the ground. By the time she'd pulled herself up, the duo had vanished.
"Don't let them escape!" Dudley commanded. "After them!"
"Go, Jaune..." Blake whispered, looking as though she was on the verge of passing out. "Run... never... look back..."
"You'd know a thing or two about that, wouldn't you, my dear?" Adam turned to stare at her- she leaned back, burying herself behind a glaring Yang.
"No personal digs, if you please," Vanessa instructed. "We're trying to have a constructive experience here."
Jaune and Pyrrha swung around the first corner they saw, attempting to shake off their pursuers- they were halfway down a new alley when they heard a soft voice calling out, "Hey, hey!"
They turned towards where they thought they'd heard the voice, and were taken aback when what seemed like a wall suddenly swung open like a door. Out of the small crack leaned a nopon, beckoning with its wings. "This way, friends, this way! Ruby help you escape!"
Torchwick burst into laughter. "That's Little Red?! Well, she'd definitely be more manageable at that size! Kick the Ruby!"
He felt a hand descend on his shoulder, and looked up to see two towers of rage above him- one male, and smelling strongly of alcohol, the other female, and looking as though she'd be on fire herself if she still had the capability. "Don't kick the Ruby," they growled in harmony.
"Okay, okay, don't kick her, I got it, geez!" He was actually cowed into silence for a change.
"What the hell is she, anyways?" Raven finally spoke, wrinkling at her nose at the sight of such a weak-looking creature.
"Oh- those are nopon," Nora answered jauntily. "Aren't they just the cutest?"
"So those are the nopon you told us about," Winter crossed her arms. "I must say, this isn't what I imagined at all when you described them as another race."
"I said the same," Blake wearily raised a hand.
"And who're you?" Jaune asked, clearly still on guard.
"At least the boy has some brains in his head," Raven scoffed.
"Don't care, didn't ask," Yang hissed at her.
"No time for explain!" Ruby the nopon shook her head quickly. "Come quick! Come quick!"
"Didn't think it was possible, but her voice is even higher pitched as a... nopon," Neo observed.
Ruby glanced towards her sister and uncle. "Aren't you gonna...?"
"We're protective, not in denial, Pipsqueak," Qrow chuckled.
"You really do sound like you spend all day huffing helium," Yang admitted begrudgingly, earning a pout.
Jaune and Pyrrha glanced at each other, but seeing no other option, dashed into the offered escape route. Ruby quickly closed the door behind them, blending it in perfectly with the outside wall. On the other side, they could hear the soldiers storming by, none the wiser to the secret door inches away.
As they turned, their eyes starting to adjust, they were able to take in more details. They were standing in a sturdy wooden hall, lit by a dim bulb hanging from the ceiling, and standing before them was the nopon who had saved them. She was short and squat, per the nature of nopon- her fur was in a pattern of red and orange stripes, and was dressed in a set of overalls. Her eyes were shining as she looked up at the driver and blade she'd just pulled off the street.
"So... cuuuuuute!" Yang squealed.
"I wouldn't mind havin' a niece like that," Qrow chuckled.
"Um, Weiss?" Ruby looked up. Weiss was looking away, struggling to hide her reddening face. Funnily enough, so was Whitley.
"I appreciate you saving us," Jaune bowed his head- about the best he could manage in such close quarters. "But... why?"
Ruby coughed into one of her wings. "Er... no reason."
"Hmm, just as poor a liar as our Ruby," Ren observed.
"I want a plush of her," Nora declared, starry-eyed.
"No reason?" Jaune repeated, crossing his arms.
"Er... sorry, that not true," Ruby admitted, scratching at the back of her head with one of her wings. "Ruby not like those bully soldiers. Wanted to test out shiny Boom Biter on big bullies, and see friends running from them! End up missing and hitting water pipe instead, but... no argue with results, right?"
"She missed?" Winter bristled. "She ended up hitting my one weakness and allowing them an escape... by accident?"
"First time?" Torchwick rolled his eyes.
"So it was you who broke the pipe," Jaune realized.
"That right!"
"And... you said your name was Ruby?"
"Ruby Rose!" She bowed as well as her stout body could allow.
"So... adorable..." Pyrrha looked away, covering her face.
"Well, I'm Jaune Arc, and this is Pyrrha..." He glanced over at her uncertainly.
"Just Pyrrha," she assured him. She turned a smile towards Ruby. "Lovely to meet you, Ruby."
"Good to meeting!" Ruby beamed.
"Don't... do that... too pure!" Yang wailed, dramatically shielding her face.
"Oh... Ruby must say... Ruby have other reason for saving," she admitted, tapping the tips of her wings together. "Er... come into house of Ruby?"
"Uh- sure," Jaune shrugged. Ruby turned and led them further down the hallway- quite literally down, as it led to a set of steps ending in a door on the left that she opened.
"Wonder if that place used to be some sort of smuggling operation," Torchwick pondered aloud. "Right type of setup, that's for sure."
"I... I'm sure my other isn't a smuggler!" Ruby shook her head quickly.
The scene changed to a lavish office, inside of which stood two men- one was Torchwick, the other Captain Dudley, who seemed to be delivering a report. "The driver and blade who seemed to be working with them got away, but rest assured that we have the terrorist and her blade in custody! I believe we can consider Menagerie sa-"
Torchwick interrupted him. "Dudley... do you recall my orders?"
"...Sir?"
"I told you that the top priority was to capture the blade with the emerald core crystal. Or am I... imagining that?"
"No, you're not, sir, I do recall you issuing such orders!"
"Good, good," Torchwick nodded. "Now, do you recall me ever placing any priority on some cat faunus whose bounty barely breaks into quadruple digits?"
"For calling her a terrorist, they don't seem to take her all that seriously," Ozpin noted with a raised brow.
"Well, Torchwick doesn't, at least," Yang noted. "Good track to getting his ass kicked."
"Ugh... if there was any benefit to being a politician, I would have hoped it would be having slightly more competent subordinates," Torchwick groaned. "I guess I'm doomed to only have Neo as decent help for all time."
"You need more than me?" Neo put on an exaggerated pout.
"Neo, you are my one saving grace in this garbage heap of a world."
"Perhaps not, but sir, she's a Child of Zem-"
"I didn't ask," Torchwick cut him off. "I'm going to repeat myself, in the hopes of penetrating that thick skull of yours- Capture. The. Blade. With. The. EMERALD. Core. Crystal!"
"Understood, sir!" Dudley saluted. "Er... what's emerald, again?"
"Urgh, how did this man achieve the rank of captain?" Winter facepalmed.
"Says a lot about Atlesian hiring practices, don't it?" Qrow chuckled.
Torchwick's eye twitched. Then he exploded.
"YOU MORON! OH, ARCHITECT, GIVE ME STRENGTH! IT'S GREEN, YOU DULLARD! EMERALD IS GREEN!" He reached out and grabbed a green vase from the windowsill. "THIS! THIS IS GREEN! GREEN IS EMERALD! EMERALD! IS! GREEN!" He punctuated this last by smashing the vase against the ground.
"I hope that wasn't a beloved Menagerie heirloom," Blake narrowed her eyes.
"Nah, it was a fake," Torchwick shook his head. "...What?" he asked, when everyone turned to him with raised eyebrows (except Neo.) "You could tell by the cross-section. If a thief can't tell the value of what he steals, he's a disgrace to the profession!"
If Dudley was intimidated, it didn't come through in his voice. "Ohhhh, green! I get it now! So, emerald is green, is it? Say, that redheaded blade had a green core crystal!"
"THEN SHE'S THE ONE YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN!" Torchwick threw his hands up. "NOT SOME... GORILLA!"
"Is this guy... an actual member of the Atlesian military?" Pyrrha asked, caught between humor and sheer awe at the stupidity on display.
"For his sake, I hope not," Winter crossed her arms. "Otherwise, I'm going to have some words with him when we get back."
"Well, technically sir, I don't think he's a gorilla," Dudley spoke up. "Gorillas don't have tails, y'see, they're not really monkeys, just a similar-"
"DID! I! ASK?!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Well, no sir, I don't believe you-"
"NO, I DID NOT!" Torchwick grabbed another vase and smashed it over his head- by the lack of reaction, the impact didn't seem to get through Dudley's helmet.
"I'm sure that was a fake, too, right?" Nora giggled.
"Nope... that one was legit," Torchwick shook his head.
Another soldier rushed in. "Consul Torchwick, sir!"
"WHAT?!"
"It's Special Inquisitor Schnee! She's arriving from the fatherland!"
Torchwick froze, slowly turning to stare at the soldier, eye-to-eye. "Already? She wasn't scheduled for another two weeks!"
"Well, her ship just arrived at the docks!"
Torchwick's eye twitched again. The audience thought they might have seen a vessel rupture. "SON OF A-"
"Wait, Lady Schnee?" Ruby realized. "It doesn't sound like blades have last names, so they're not talking about Winter..."
"Besides which, I'm clearly already there," Winter pointed out with a roll of her eyes. "I clearly am not 'arriving.'"
"And Whitley's not a girl..."
"That we can tell," Yang smirked, earning a glare from the sole male Schnee present.
"So, does that mean we're finally gonna see Weiss for sure in one of these worlds?!" Ruby hopped up and down eagerly.
"Strictly speaking, I suppose it could be Mother," Weiss pointed out. "But... given all we've seen so far, I'm inclined to think that yes, it is me."
"I'm sure a Schnee will have no interest in assisting a lowly faunus," Adam spat.
Weiss shrank away. Blake looked on the verge of arguing on her behalf, but remained quiet when Weiss placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head.
The camera cut to the docks, where a large ship had, indeed arrived, earning the attention and awe of several of the faunus milling around the town. Onto the ramp stepped a woman in a military uniform, her hair long and white, the only lack of symmetry being her ponytail turned forty-five degrees to one side. She wore a hat with a sharp brim, and a longcoat over her uniform, her gloved hands interlocking behind her.
"Heheh... her hat looks like a train," Nora giggled.
"Let's not ruin the moment, Nora," Ren pleaded quietly.
"But... that's definitely Weiss," Jaune nodded, eyes wide in awe.
The camera returned to Ruby stepping through the door she'd just opened for Jaune and Pyrrha- it opened into a surprisingly large room, completely made of wood. "So, you live down here?" Jaune asked as he took it all in.
"Me take you from back door- front entrance that way," Ruby pointed as she took a seat at a table in what seemed like the kitchen they'd entered, filled as it was with appliances.
"That's about what I expected," Qrow nodded.
"Okay- I guess that makes- whoa!"
Jaune nearly fell back on his butt when he looked down and saw a sheer drop through a gap nearby, opening directly towards the fluffy white of the Cloud Sea. "How high up are we?!"
"It nice view," Ruby smiled. "Ruby like to relax and watch Cloud Sea sometimes."
"It's a wonderful home you have here," Pyrrha smiled, earning a bashful giggle from the nopon.
"Anyway... Jaune-Jaune?"
"Er, Jaune-Jaune?" Jaune tilted his head.
"Stealing my nickname, are you?" Nora eyed up Ruby reproachfully. "I really thought better of you, Little Red."
"Hey, now, don't go stealing my nicknames, Pinky," Torchwick objected.
"You're all idiots," Raven growled.
"Yes, Jaune-Jaune!" Ruby nodded. "Ruby did have other reason for help. Ruby... always want driver friends."
"Oh!" Jaune nodded. "I see- you're interested in drivers, are you?"
"Of course!" Ruby bounced up and down, the familiar energy filling her. "Nothing more amazing than driver and blade joining spirits to create big power! Ruby want to become sidekick of Jaune-Jaune!"
"Should have figured it was somethin' like that," Yang laughed. "Anything to be nearer to living weapons!"
"You make it sound evil," Ruby shifted uncomfortably.
"Er... my name is just Jaune. One Jaune, not two."
"And?"
"I mean, I guess there's nothing wrong with it," Jaune shrugged. "Just... a little different."
"It sign of Ruby's respect for great driver! Jaune-Jaune should be proud!"
"Well, the thing is, I've only been a driver for a day. I'm not sure I've really earned that kind of..." He trailed off as he looked into Ruby's wide, hopeful eyes. "Okay, call me whatever you want. But let's put this 'sidekick' stuff to the... side, okay? I'd rather just be friends."
"Really? Truly?" Ruby's eyes seemed to grow impossibly wider. "HURRAY! Ruby friends with Jaune-Jaune!"
"Such sentimental drivel," Raven rolled her eyes. "Put friendship in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills first."
"Hey, it's not the kid's fault nobody ever loved you," Qrow hissed back.
Jaune and Pyrrha laughed as they watched Ruby do a victory dance. "Funny creatures, aren't they?" Pyrrha giggled.
"Er, Ruby?" Jaune finally spoke up for her attention. "Would you say you know this town well?"
"Hope so- Ruby live here whole life!"
"Would you happen to know where the army takes their prisoners?"
Pyrrha blinked. "Wait, Jaune, you're not planning to-"
"Save Blake and Sun? Yes," Jaune confirmed before the words were rightly out of her mouth.
"I suppose we should have seen this coming," Ozpin commented from Jaune's helmet.
"It's not in an Arc's nature to leave a friend behind!" Jaune nodded fervently.
"I'm not sure they were together long enough to really count as 'friends,'" Blake shifted uncomfortably.
"You know, you are allowed to accept kindness when it's offered," Weiss crossed her arms.
"I suppose... I just have... trouble with it sometimes."
"You mean faunus-driver and blade with Jaune-Jaune before Ruby's daring rescue?"
"Those are the ones," Jaune agreed.
"Hmm, not sure- Ruby have to put ear to ground for that kind of info. But first, food! Rescue operation not go good on empty stomach!"
"I mean, you're not wrong," Yang groaned, "but I think we have to worry a little about timing here!"
"It's true, I don't believe we've eaten properly since our trip to Argentum," Ozpin recalled.
"Eating can wait," Jaune crossed his arms. "We need to get to Blake and Sun as quick as-"
His stomach cut him off with a growl worthy of an ursa major.
Ruby giggled. "Stomach of Jaune-Jaune tell different story!"
"'Something that has never happened since time immemorial- a man's stomach kept his secrets,'" Ozpin quoted.
"That's not how the quote goes," Winter pointed out.
"No, but it's close enough."
"Well, if it's alright with everyone, I'm sure I could cook something up real quick," Pyrrha offered, once she was done giggling herself.
"You can cook?" Jaune asked, turning to her.
"'Cook' might be a strong word," Ren crossed his arms.
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha buried her face in her hands.
"Renny, her cooking's fine, you just have stupidly high standards!" Nora rolled her eyes.
"I don't wish to hear about fine cooking from the girl who was instrumental in creating the appetiz-"
"NONONONONONO!" Jaune flailed his arms, before placing his hands on his head. "We must never... ever... speak of that again!"
Blade-Pyrrha, on the other hand, giggled again. "As long as fire's involved, I can do just about anything!" She snapped her fingers, summoning a fireball to the tips. Another snap sent it away. "Fry, steam, grill, you name it! Though... ice cream or popsicles are a different story. You might want a different blade for that." She glanced to one side. "I had a... good teacher, once."
"I wonder if that was Ren?" Weiss considered.
"Considering she's still emotionally stable... probably not," Nora admitted.
The camera cut ahead to the group eating what looked like small feast. "Oh, this is delicious!" Jaune praised, eagerly tearing into it.
"Yum-yummy!" Ruby eagerly nodded her agreement. "So super-very tasty!"
"Exquisite," Ozpin concurred as he ate from a smaller bowl of curry in front of him. "I haven't eaten something this appetizing in over a century!"
"I'm glad you like it!" Pyrrha beamed. "I was worried I might have gotten rusty over the years. I wonder what my teacher would think?"
"Aesthetically, it passes," Ren nodded his head in approval. "Obviously, I can't judge it further without an actual sample."
"Damn, is this your plan? To make us hungry and torment us with pictures of good food?" Torchwick groaned.
"One curry dinner, coming right up!" Jack eagerly leapt to his feet and dashed into the kitchen.
"Ruby curious," Ruby piped up. "Pyrrha fire blade, yes? Why Pyrrha's fire not go out with water, way Soldier-blade's did?"
"That... is actually a good point," Whitley admitted. "She and Jaune threw out one last attack for distraction- but shouldn't she have been just as powerless?"
"Well..." Pyrrha shifted uncomfortably as she suddenly found herself in the hotseat. "My powers don't... strictly speaking... come from fire."
"Not fire?" Ruby tilted her head. "Certainly look like flames!"
"It's... complicated," Pyrrha squirmed.
"That no problem!" Ruby declared in what she presumably thought was a reassuring voice. "Ruby love complicated things!"
"That's enough, Rubes," Jaune intervened. "You're making her uncomfortable!"
"I am baffled that it was up to Jaune to explain to someone else how Pyrrha was feeling," Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I mean, it's not all that surprising, is it? I mean, we're partners, after all!" Jaune objected.
"Yes... partners..." Pyrrha looked at the ground. "Just... partners."
"Everyone's entitled to a secret or two," Jaune continued.
"Yes... I'm sorry," Pyrrha apologized. "I... I do hope I can tell you everything... eventually."
"Don't worry about it," Jaune assured her. "Besides, right now, we need to focus on saving Blake."
"Step one to go around town and find all information we can!" Ruby planned.
"A more dangerous proposition than you likely realize," Ozpin pointed out. "I daresay Jaune and Pyrrha are likely wanted fugitives by now. Jaune may be able to go under the radar, but Pyrrha sticks out like a sore thumb."
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha apologized quickly.
"Dear god, woman, do you ever stop apologizing?" Neo crossed her arms.
"I'm sor- wait, no, I'm not going to apologize to someone who's a wanted criminal herself!" Pyrrha finally caught herself.
"For that, Ruby have idea!" Ruby clapped her wings together.
"Well, this can only go swimmingly," Weiss facepalmed.
Ruby went into her closet and foraged around for a bit before returning with a robe that absolutely fit in with the garb the rest of the faunus in town were wearing- the hood even had special pockets for a faunus's ears.
"That... may actually work!" Pyrrha visibly brightened.
"Yeah- good call, Rubes!" Jaune grinned. Pyrrha donned the robe, concealing her more blade-like features, and raised the hood so that only her face was visible. Nobody in passing would suspect that she was a blade at all, let alone the Grail.
"Good!" Ruby clapped her wings again. "Now to find friends!"
"Hmm, that is actually a clever solution," Whitley admitted. "Well done."
"Eheh... t'weren't nuthin..." Ruby flushed.
Whitley felt a hand descend on his shoulder and looked up to find a glaring Yang. "And what are your intentions with my sister, hmm, rich boy?"
"Yang, leave him alone!" Ruby pleaded. "It was just a compliment!"
Yang returned to her seat, flashing the classic 'I'm watching you' hand signal, to no effect- Whitley had fainted.
Torchwick was at the docks, greeting Weiss as she stepped off the ship. "Ah, Special Inquisitor Schnee!" he bowed in an overly-jaunty fashion. "To what do we owe this great pleasure?"
"Urgh, this is why I hate politicians- so insincere," Torchwick grumbled. "If you hate someone, at least have the balls to be honest about it!"
"Like you are with Fall?" Adam sneered.
"He's gotcha there," Neo giggled.
"I'm afraid, with your arrival coming on such short notice, we were unable to prepare suitable-"
"I did not come for a ceremony, Consul, I came to do my job," Weiss interrupted. "I suggest you stick to doing the same."
"Yeah-ha!" Yang grinned.
"You... remind me of myself," Winter admitted.
"That's all I aspire to be!" Weiss grinned.
"...I don't like it," Winter admitted again, to Weiss's shock.
Torchwick's smile faltered, but quickly recovered. "Ah, but surely a woman of your stature deserves to be treated-"
"You made impressive time- I didn't think you'd arrive until tomorrow."
Winter had arrived.
"Oh, so Winter is Weiss's blade!" Nora realized. "It all makes sense now!"
"One Schnee oppressing another... this should be good," Adam leaned forward as best he could with the wrecking ball of fur and fat still sticking stubbornly to his lap.
"Lady Winter!" Torchwick fought to keep his smile at the surprise, but neither woman seemed to be paying him much mind.
"Is it true?" Weiss asked, calmly but urgently. "Has the Grail truly reappeared?"
"I saw her with my own eyes- it is most certainly true," Winter nodded.
"Then we have no time to waste."
"No time to waste before... what?" Qrow asked.
"I... I wanna trust Weiss!" Ruby stood firm. "I'm sure she's out to do the right thing!"
"G-Grail?" Torchwick stammered. "How did you-"
"Is there a problem, Consul?" Weiss asked sternly.
"Oh, not at all, not at all!" Torchwick quickly bowed.
"I really hate this other," Torchwick grumbled. "Spineless little... urgh."
"Good," Weiss nodded curtly. "Now, I'm given to understand you captured a driver from the Children of Zemuria?"
"Yes, that we did."
"I am going to speak with her."
"Hm? Why would you want-"
"I apologize, Torchwick, I must have lost my memory of asking for your opinion," Weiss cut him off coldly.
"I'm sure Blake's in better hands with Weiss than Torchwick, at least," Pyrrha speculated. "But... until we know the full story..."
"Hey, as long as she keeps dishing out zingers like that, she's fine by me!" Yang chortled.
When the camera faded in next, it was to Weiss and Blake sitting on opposite sides of what looked to be Torchwick's desk. Blake was flanked by two Atlesian guards, while Winter stood dutifully at Weiss's side. On the desk itself was the fabled wanted poster.
"So, you're the Child of Zemuria I've heard about," Weiss began. Blake glanced up at Winter, then turned away with a huff. "I must say, you're not what I expected, based on your... poster."
"You're telling me," Blake hissed. "Whoever drew that should be the one in custody."
Weiss's lips twitched upwards. "Yes... I would be upset as well."
"At least Weiss sees how wrong it is," Blake groaned.
"Still thinks it's funny, though," Qrow chuckled, observing that lip-twitch.
Blake looked her in the eye. "I read a lot of books. I know what you're trying here- good guard, bad guard. You can drop the friendly act."
"Good guard, bad guard?" Ruby tilted her head.
"Known in our world as 'good-cop, bad-cop,'" Ren explained, as though reading from an encyclopedia. "A common tactic of interrogation in which one officer- the bad cop- is violent and verbally abusive towards the suspect, while the other behaves friendly in order to win the trust, confidence, and ideally the truth from the suspect in question. As Blake stated, a remarkably common tactic, so common that I don't believe the police actually practice it anymore. Then again, I don't believe that's actually what they're trying here- Torchwick and Weiss just put themselves naturally into those roles."
"It's a foolish tactic to begin with," Raven sneered. "Any criminal who falls for it couldn't have been guilty of much in the first place."
"So, you won't be telling us about your friends?" Weiss asked.
"I haven't really considered those goons 'friends' since they nearly destroyed two ships on a simple recovery mission," Blake dismissed.
"How easily you turn away," Adam said through narrowed eyes.
"How easily you pushed her away," Yang growled right back.
"I see... I apologize, I fear my introduction may have been misleading." Weiss cleared her throat. "When I say 'your friends,' I am not talking about the Children of Zemuria."
Blake's eyes widened. "You mean... Jaune and Pyrrha?"
"Hmm... that went simpler than I thought." Weiss's lips twitched upwards again.
Dammit! Blake thought to herself.
"Snitches get stitches, cat girl." Nora was wearing a terrifying grin, making a motion as though tapping her hammer against her other hand.
"Hmm... Captain Dudley, come here," Weiss beckoned him close. "I would like you to make a statement..."
"There was something... remarkably ominous in the way she said that," Pyrrha shuddered.
Jaune, Pyrrha, Ozpin, and Ruby were making their way through the streets when Captain Dudley appeared in the town square where the recruiter had stood earlier. "This is an announcement from the Atlesian Guard! Let it be known that the criminal captured earlier today, one Blake Belladonna, is now scheduled to be executed for crimes against the Vytalian Praetorium! This execution is to be carried out-"
Jaune didn't hear the rest- he was staggering under the weight of what he'd just heard. No! Blake? EXECUTED?
"No!" Ruby squealed.
"Wait, who's talking about executing Blake?"
Everyone turned towards the door, where Lana had come prancing in with yet another four members, a wide grin on her face. "Found that Taiyang Xiao Long you were looking for!"
"Um... no, none of those are him," Yang shook her head, eyes wide as she took in Sun Wukong, Neptune Vasilias, Velvet Scarlatina, and Penny Polendina- each looking more confused than the last.
"Sun?!" Blake blinked. "Neptune?!"
"Oh, hey, Velv!" Jaune waved, earning a violent blush.
"PENNY!" Ruby hopped to her feet and rushed to hug her friend.
"Oh- hello, Friend Ruby! Perhaps you could explain what is-"
"LANA!" Vanessa leapt to her feet, her blooshot eyes and frothing mouth making her look rabid. "LANA! LANAAAAAAA!"
"Oops- gotta go!" Lana gave a nervous laugh before dashing off again- this time with Vanessa in hot pursuit.
Jack circled the corner and immediately took everything in. "Oh, crap... um... I have plenty of curry in the kitchen! I'm gonna go try to keep V from killing Lana, if you wanna go ahead and fill in the new arrivals- gottagoquick, bye!"
He dashed off after the women, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
XXXX
This was originally intended to go on a little longer, but this one really got away from me. Okay, I promise I'm done introducing new characters for the moment- I think I've got just about everyone I want here anyways. Bringing in more would just be going headfirst into absurdity, if you don't think we're there already. Next episode, we'll... continue this chapter of Xenoblade 2. I'm planning on finishing it, but I was also planning on going much further in this one than I actually did, so... yeah. To be clear, there probably won't be a specific number of episodes I dedicate to one game before moving on- it's more of a case-by-case, where's a good place to leave off type thing, hence why there were four episodes of set-up dedicated to saga. We'll see how next episode turns out. Until then, go ahead and drop a review- it's for everyone's benefit- and don't you dare go hollow! Gamer4 out.