It wasn't bragging, more of a statement of fact, that Rider was the best combatant to deal with Hyde's werewolf form. Blackened like Grimm, piercing red eyes, and hitting with both ferocity and force comparable to Berserker, there was no denying that Hyde was not someone they could take lightly and one that Rider is especially grateful to have on their side. He didn't have the time to even wonder if Hyde was holding back at all.
Ferociously attacking him in particular, Rider had no qualms at his current predicament. He was better on the defense than he ever was on offense, he realized time and time again, courtesy of every claw swipe and attempted bite at his person. Paper Pleasers came and were immediately torn apart.
He heard Pyrrha's pained noise. She had been shot. The bullets weren't lethal and meant more for opposing aura users but they still would have hurt.
"I may be made of metal, miss Nikos." Ironwood had his gun pointed at her. "But that doesn't give you any inherent advantage." His eyes went to the side. "And Harriet has comparable speeds to yourself, miss Rose." Metal arm intercepted the blade of Crescent Rose.
Ironwood took hold of Ruby and flung her towards Pyrrha. He jumped back as a Glyph appeared beneath him. Penny was there almost immediately.
Hyde broke free from his engagement with Rider and intercepted Penny who was swiftly closing the gap between herself and Ironwood. More shots were fired, aimed at Weiss. She brought forth Glyphs and brought a wall of ice.
"Hyde," Ironwood commanded.
There was no response beyond a monstrous roar. Hyde broke down the ice wall, revealing three shocked huntresses, attempting to recuperate and interrupting whatever on-the-field plans that they would have made.
Rider was the closest and moved the fastest. He brought out Juniper and had her antlers face off against Hyde's powerful claws. He would have had his broken sword into his shield for longer reach with the longer and heavier two-hander. But Hyde's ferocity put into Rider's mind that defense was not something he should trade away.
Hyde moved with the wildness of a caged animal set free. A desperate beast that have longed for freedom, only to have it be slowed by another being bent on keeping it tame; it was willing to do whatever it took in pursuit of that freedom.
Lancer came from one side. Penny came from another. Hyde only managed to swipe one of them away, and it focused on Penny.
Penny's new robot body had really been upgraded, being able to take a direct hit from a Servant. Though there was clear damage, Penny seemed to still be capable.
"Damage report," Weiss said suddenly.
"Mild dents and scratches," Penny responded quickly. "Systems still functional. Pseudo-Servant Core, undamaged."
Weiss sighed relief. But it didn't last long. A warning shot came for them. It was close that Weiss jumped back on instinct.
"Do not expose your backs to your enemies," Ironwood said.
Lancer wasn't able to take full advantage of the situation as Hyde had kept himself spinning. Using that momentum, Hyde took hold of Lancer and slammed her against Rider. Even Lancer's Preflexes were slower than Hyde.
"Sorry!" Rider apologized as he allowed Lancer to be impacted against his shield as he parried Lancer away.
Broken sword slashed at the Hyde's hides, drawing some blood. There was a pained cry as Hyde slashed at him again. It wasn't anything vital but Hyde was in perpetual frenzy. He was coming alive with each passing second.
Just last, Rider reminded himself. The elixir should wear off at some point. Just last. Push his elixir to its limits.
Whatever wound he had just inflicted had healed. Rider cursed. Hyde's speedy recovery was insane for something that doesn't have any healing boosts or the like.
Hyde's claws clashed with Rider's sword and shield. If it wasn't him, Hyde was dealing with either Penny or Lancer.
Penny weaved beneath Hyde's massive claw swing. Penny swung her sword upwards, cutting off some of Hyde's hairs. Hyde came down on Penny, using his massive size to crush her. But Penny had strength to resist and braced her legs as she pushed Hyde back up.
Lancer came in for the head. She wasn't disregarding the training part as she struck Hyde with the blunt of her weapon.
An animal's whine escaped Hyde as he was struck off of Penny. Rider wasn't letting it go to waste as he kicked at Hyde's exposed side.
"Excellent work," Ironwood praised. He was still shooting at the Masters. "It would have been fatal had you went for the kill."
Somehow, Rider felt it was more like a might have been fatal. Lancer seemed to agree.
But Hyde wasn't quite finished yet. He quickly recovered and pounced for them again. This time, Rider and Juniper were there, meeting him head on. Juniper took Hyde's weight onto her antlers and threw him in the air.
Penny was the only one who could go there and she slashed as many times as she could while Hyde could only struggle in the air, flailing wildly in an attempt to ward Penny off. Penny backed away the moment Hyde landed.
On the Master's side, Pyrrha was the most difficult opponent for Ironwood to face. Being made of metal himself meant that part of him was always under Pyrrha's control. However, Ironwood had the experience and tactics meant to handle against such foes.
"You can control metal, miss Nikos," said Ironwood. "But your professor Goodwitch could control people as she saw fit." The non-metal fist struck hard at Pyrrha's abdomen. "And believe me, she was much worse."
Ruby came in from behind. Weiss came in from the side. But with their time apart, their teamwork wasn't in perfect sync. Weiss came in seconds behind Ruby; her Glyphs weren't matched with Ruby's Petal Burst.
A bullet forced Ruby out of her Petal Burst as she had to defend against it with Crescent Rose. Weiss's attempts of matching Ruby's speed cost her as her momentum was used against her; Ironwood stepped to the side and let her pass, one arm raised at the same level as her head.
Bronze shield flew like a deadly disk towards Ironwood. He caught it with his metal hand. Pyrrha pulled herself to the shield and Ironwood nearly stumbled at the sudden pull. Pyrrha managed to land a hit on Ironwood's face.
"Not bad." Ironwood nodded approval. "Not bad at all."
But he managed to return with his own strike. Pyrrha had stayed close for too long.
"You should have pressed your advantage there," Ironwood reminded.
Rider heard Pyrrha's curse. Something about forgetting her basics in that moment and that Chiron was similar in that teaching method.
Hyde gripped on the shield and twisted Rider's shield arm. If it wasn't for his armor, Rider would have had his flesh torn apart. As such, the horrid sounds from the claw scratching the armor nearly made him deaf. It was like nails on a chalkboard with his ears being too close to the chalkboard. Rider desperately tried to break free but Hyde's grip was tight.
"Lancer!" Ruby commanded. She spun Crescent Rose, deflecting a bullet.
Behind Hyde appeared Lancer, kamas in full swing. With that moment's distraction, Rider's foot pushed Hyde's head as far back as it could stretch. Both he and Hyde were caught by Lancer's swing but in the succeeding roll, Rider broke free from Hyde.
It was Lancer that took advantage. With her Preflexes, she was better able to tell Hyde's attacks. But Hyde was faster, Lancer had to make choices on a tighter window.
Though Hyde was a feral beast with animalistic tendencies, there was a strategic mind in him. He knew of Lancer's Preflexes and adjusted accordingly. Feints were thrown among them that threw Lancer off of her own personal skill. With better speed and power, Lancer was thrown on the back end.
Penny intercepted a claw swipe with her sword. She buckled under the weight of Hyde's arms but held on. The whirring coming from her was still there.
To the sides, Winter's Maiden powers were in full display as she hovered above them all, watching both the battlefield and what lies beyond it. The Ace-Ops were of similar nature.
"Grimm," said the man named Clover. "Guess even I'm not that lucky."
"Bet you that's because of me," Qrow replied, drawing his weapon.
"Not quite," Clover said. "Once Hyde is out, Grimm are drawn in. It's why we're all here and away from Mantle."
The Ace-Ops drew their weapons and quelled with the stray Grimm that neared their area. Rider managed to catch Ironwood nodding in his approval. Whether that had been for the Ace-Ops or for Pyrrha, Ruby, and Weiss, Rider didn't know.
Before Hyde could pounce on Penny, Rider braced himself with his shield ready. Rider bore Hyde's weight on one arm. But before Rider could retaliate, Hyde already bounced away, Rider nearly fell because of it.
"Thank you, friend Rider!" Penny said. How is it that she was the one most unbothered by it? Rider and Lancer were proper Servants and Penny is still being Penny.
"Anytime," Rider replied.
The distance between him and Hyde only shrunk. Rider was prepared for Hyde as he quickly let go of his shield the moment Hyde took hold of it again.
"Not this time." Without the shield, Rider may be more exposed, but he already had a fist ready. Fairytale Knight was taking over as he fought with both hand and blade, a bit flashy and showy but it was still himself for the most part.
Against Hyde, Rider could allow himself to be closer to that Fairytale Knight. After all, Hyde is essentially the unrestrained instincts found in every human being, made manifest as the evil monster that lurks behind even the gentlest of faces, and fighting against those monsters is what a Rusted Knight should do.
Should have done that earlier. Regret entered his mind. Had he went for it, he might have bested Berserker soon enough. None of that now, Rider!
Hyde's swipe failed to lift Rider's feet off the ground. He may not have his shield with him but Rider was still a capable fighter without it. Paper Pleasers subtly folded themselves into something akin to a rope and held him in place.
Paper Pleasers began to grip around Hyde's hind legs. With him almost always on two feet, Hyde's mobility was still that of humanoids. Only Hyde's arms proved to be constant threat to them. His jaws never really bit down hard enough, just enough to get a grip.
Bladed edges from three different sources all came slashing on Hyde's hides, Penny on one side, Rider from the front, and Lancer from the back.
"Hyde!" Ironwood called out. "Exchange!"
"Wait," Pyrrha exclaimed. "What?"
Lancer was thrown off of Hyde's back as both he and Ironwood exchanged places. With Hyde aiming for the Masters, Rider, Lancer, and Penny all chased after Hyde. But Ironwood managed to keep them occupied for that one moment.
A flash bang blinded them and Rider caught Penny's surprised noise as metal had been struck by metal.
Rider felt it. Hyde had targeted Pyrrha first. Paper Pleasers caught her as Rider followed her scream.
"You alright?" Rider asked the moment he got near.
Pyrrha shook her head. "No. Who has their Servant attack the Master?"
"It is strategy, miss Nikos," Ironwood explained. Already, Hyde was by his side. Neither party moved from their spot. "Masters are just as much a target as Servants. For those who aren't as combat oriented, say an Assassin-class, perhaps the Master is the only option."
Ironwood stepped forward. Hyde was ready to pounce once more.
"Though Masters would struggle against Servants, that doesn't mean that they have some means of combating them, even for a while." Ironwood got into his stance again.
Hyde quickly closed the distance. A combination of Rider's shield and Paper Pleaser's, easily torn apart as they barely slowed Hyde's charge, had kept Pyrrha out of harm's way.
Ironwood came from the side. But Pyrrha forced him away with her semblance.
"Can't be subtle anymore," she said. "Rider, uh, keep Hyde occupied."
"On it," Rider said, Aura Amplification in full swing. Pyrrha's reserves needed to be at their best with how liberal he was being.
"Lancer," Ruby added. "Stay on Hyde's backside."
"You got it, Little Red!" Lancer drew her weapons and went for it. "Big Bad Wolf's going down."
"Penny," Weiss commanded. "Keep Hyde off-balance."
"Order: acknowledged," Penny replied.
"Excellent." Ironwood burst himself back into the fight, slamming hard against Ruby. "Now then, Hyde. Let loose a little more."
Qrow's voice was heard in the distance. "I swear, Jimmy, if you're being too hard on Ruby on purpose, I will make your day miserable!"
Hyde let loose a roar and charged at them with speeds greater than he had showed them earlier. Rider had been the target and even with his shield and footing as solid as he could manage, Hyde's momentum took him off of his feet.
A layer of multicolored paper appeared and shielded Pyrrha as Rider and Hyde flew above her. Lancer went for Ironwood with Ruby being the general's main target.
Ruby's overall inexperience and lack of options made her vulnerable once Ironwood got past the blade of Crescent Rose. She could use it as a quarterstaff but the weight distribution of it was rather uneven and would disturb the inner mechanisms of the complicated weapon. Ruby had to keep her distance and keep Ironwood within that range.
Weiss' Glyphs proved enough to slow Ironwood down. Combine that with Ruby's own speed and the control of distance was in favor of Ruby and Weiss. With Lancer around, Ironwood was forced to retreat but a few shots still came for them which Lancer deflected.
Lancer didn't return to the fight and aimed for Ironwood.
"Penny!" Weiss commanded. "Keep Hyde in place."
"Order: acknowledged."
"Rider!" Pyrrha wasn't about to be left behind.
"Already on it." Rider met with Hyde head on.
Hyde took the role as though he were a proper Servant. Right now, his acting Master was in danger. Lancer was slowed though, constantly choosing between closing that distance or protecting Ruby.
Ironwood never once let up on Ruby. Against Pyrrha's magnetism and Weiss Glyphs, his main target to exploit was clear. Rider had his Aura Amplification which offset much of Pyrrha's reserves. Penny didn't really need Weiss' own and was independent.
Then, there was a buzzing sound.
"Ruby Rose's aura reserves is in the red!" Winter declared. "She has lost the match and must leave the area immediately."
Lancer was still manifested but heard that declaration. With Hyde still on Rider, Rider couldn't come in and give Ruby any sort of boost. Lancer took that opportunity to take a frustrated Ruby out of the battlefield and towards the sidelines, where Ren and Nora were.
There weren't that many Grimm drawn to them. The battlefield must have chosen ahead of time.
With Ruby out of the match, Ironwood's next target was Weiss and Penny. Those two were a case of familiarity. Ironwood knew of Penny's mechanisms and schematics, he had too. With how he was moving past Penny's sword swings only proved it.
Against Weiss, Ironwood had the experience against Glyphs. Rider managed to catch Winter showing some kind of disapproval. Ironwood must have known that Winter trained Weiss. The older Schnee's habit were passed down to the younger.
Hyde and Rider were fully locked against one another. Pyrrha could only focus on Ironwood, taking control of his metallic parts before Ironwood would find some way of breaking free from her control.
"Predictable," Ironwood commented. "Think more on your feet, miss Nikos." A bullet came for her heel. "You've focused on the forms too much."
Pyrrha bounced back. Frustration building inside of her as she was holding back.
Then, a loud sound of metal was heard. Ironwood had been lifted into the air. Yet, Ironwood didn't look worried nor did he appear remotely surprised.
"Not quite."
Rider felt a sudden shift on the weight on his shield. Hyde's shadow loomed over him for only a second.
"Master!" Rider called out.
Pyrrha's momentary distraction had dropped Ironwood from the ground. Weiss and Penny managed to take what advantage that they could as they struck hard.
Meanwhile, many Paper Pleasers gripped on Hyde tight as Pyrrha fell on her back. Hyde's claws nearly close to her arms if it wasn't for the Paper Pleasers holding it back. They were formed a colorful paper rope with Rider gripping the end tight with one hand while the other dug his broken sword into the ground.
Ironwood managed to get back up and while Penny was proving herself to be the biggest threat, Weiss had been the primary target. Almost putting Weiss in danger, Penny had to hold back and couldn't just charge in without threatening her own acting Master.
"Hostages, Jimmy?" Qrow demanded answers. "Oh great, Mettle is in full swing."
Pyrrha got back up and rushed to be behind Rider. A few shots were fired at Ironwood until Weiss managed to break free.
Penny kept Ironwood busy while Weiss was recuperating. Weiss looked at Ironwood then Hyde and back. Then, she thrust her sword into the ground.
A massive Glyph had manifested. Hyde's frantic struggling eventually broke him free as paper were mercilessly torn apart. Penny had been swiped away from Ironwood as Hyde brought him further in that distance.
Hyde rushed at Weiss and her Glyphs. A hint of a metallic gauntlet appeared. Rider wasn't about to give Hyde that opportunity. He called for Juniper once more.
Both Rider and Juniper bore the weight of Hyde's approaching rampage and stopped him dead in his tracks. Juniper supported Rider's own weight as her legs pushed hard against the ground beneath.
Weiss' summons came in: it was an Arma Gigas, shaped as a large knight wielding a great sword almost as large as it was. It gave a massive swing which smacked Hyde to the side whose feet were not on the ground. But the grip on Rider's shield almost made Rider follow with Hyde.
Before they could react, metal clashes were heard once more as Pyrrha rushed in at Ironwood. Penny was there, keeping Ironwood grounded.
Then, Winter declared, "The general's aura reserves are in the red! Cease your battle immediately!"
Winter descended between them and Hyde, her Maiden eyes burning bright.
Ironwood did the same even though Penny would easily best him even now. All eyes were focused on the receding cloud of dust and a few debris that was Hyde.
They saw a large, shadowy figure shrink. Henry Jekyll was returned to them. He was stretching his arms as though he had just awoken from a nap. "I'm not lying when I said that I feel great. I finally got to stretch myself, you know?"
Lancer shook her head. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."
"It's just the feeling of being Edward Hyde," Jekyll explained. "It's hard to explain, and probably a bad thing, but it really is like coming alive for the first time again."
The Ace-Ops gathered around the general. Clover reported, "area is secure, sir. Practically no Grimm entered the area."
"Good," Ironwood said, dusting the debris off of himself. "Make a note that Hyde's influence has a limit on distance. Would be useful in the future."
"Was that it?" Ruby sounded so offended. "Oh, come on! I get knocked out and the match ends!"
Ruby pouted and stayed seated in her place that Lancer had to carry by the hood like hand-carry luggage. Ruby was visibly fuming.
"To your benefit, miss Rose," Ironwood explained. "It was a close match between yourself and miss Nikos when it came to dealing the most damage. I chose to prioritize you due to miss Nikos having the case of a semblance that puts me in a lot of danger."
"Didn't stop you from you dominating the girl, anyway," Lancer said.
"I said it before," Ironwood replied. "Glynda was much worse."
"On all of us," Qrow added. He looked like he was reliving horrid memories. "That's why we hope she's not trying half the time."
That didn't stop Ruby from being pouty. Despite being carried, she refused to change her posture.
Rider helped Pyrrha backed up.
"Rider," Pyrrha said. She didn't look at him in the eye.
"Master?" Rider asked.
Pyrrha looked like she wanted to say more. In the end, she let out, "you… you did well."
Rider nodded at the praise. "Thank you, Master. I'll win it next time, I swear it."
She wanted to say more. Rider could feel it. "Right," she managed to say. She went ahead.
Rider caught Winter staring. "What?" he asked. If he remembered, his Master did say she had a chat with Winter. He wondered what that was about?
"It is not mine to tell, Rider," Winter replied. She then addressed Ironwood. "General, I have the entire battle recorded and had it sent to Pietro. Any additional adjustment to Penny will be based on this output."
"Excellent work, specialist." Ironwood nodded.
"I made sure to push myself to the limits of my schematics!" Penny saluted. "I'm upgrade ready!"
"Not sure how much further we could take it," Jekyll said. "Don't get me wrong, there could be. Only our limitations of our current technologies isn't going to be able to match any bright idea."
"We will take what we can and make due," Winter replied. "We must seize whatever advantages that we could seize and use it to its fullest if we are to face down the brother gods."
"Only one," Lancer corrected. "Haven't heard nor seen any of darky anywhere."
"Doesn't mean that he might not get involved either," Ironwood replied. "We must make plans so that we won't be caught off-guard."
The group made their way back towards Mantle. Ruby was still pouting and was being carried by Lancer even as they returned. Weiss tried to get Ruby to act "proper" as she called it, but Ruby wasn't budging in any regard that mattered.
Pyrrha walked silently beside him. With Nora and Ren there, it really was as though team JNPR was back together again. Rider sighed.
"We'll get 'em next time!" Nora declared.
"What do you mean, we?" Ren asked. "We weren't even asked to fight at all."
"Exactly!" Nora gave one big and long nod. "They were holding us back, once you and I get a chance to join in, they won't know what hit 'em!"
The rest of team JNPR joined in that chuckle and the Ace-Ops that didn't have the same amount of professionalism that Ironwood and Winter displayed with them.
"Oh yeah?" replied the muscled one, Elm Ederne if Rider remembered. "We got time. Care to back that up once we get back to Atlas Academy?"
"You can bet your thunder thighs we will!" Nora returned that same energy with her own.
Elm matched Nora's laughter. "Finally! Somebody who understands the importance of thunder thighs! I like you, kid! Let's have a match, just you and me!"
"Ederne," Ironwood interjected.
She stood stiff and straight. "Sir!"
Ironwood sighed. "Just… try not to break the arena."
Elem formed a smirk. "Yes, sir!"
Nora jumped in jubilation.
"Schnee," Ironwood said. "How soon could Polendina provide the updates."
"Another test run, sir?" Winter asked. "So soon?"
"Can it be done?"
"I'm still Servant ready!" Penny declared.
"Then, you will play the role of the Servant for the Ace-Ops." He then turned to Rider.
Rider didn't need to hear it. "Master?"
"Only if you think you could do it, Rider."
"Then, I bid you all adieu." Rider soon dematerialized. Pyrrha needed to recover what aura she could if she were train so suddenly again.
"Hey Vine!" Elm called out. "You in or what?"
"Marrow," Ironwood said. "You are to take the third position."
"Yes, sir." Marrow saluted.
/-/
In the end, it really was just Nora and Elm having the time of their lives. With Pyrrha already having come from a fight of her own and Penny's reserves being quite low and having expended whatever energy she managed to obtain, team JNPR had been somewhat babied by the Ace-Ops in that the latter held back a lot. Even then, with Rider around, their victory had been assured.
Winter was once again sending further information about Penny's performance for Pietro. If the last match had been how well Penny could keep with other Servants while facing against one, this had been purely how Penny could fare against an opposing Servant.
Ironwood was looking through the details himself this time as well.
Nora and Elm were still going at it. Elm might as well be a mentor for Nora and an enabler for her tendencies.
The two shared their camaraderie and had the fastest growing friendships known to Remnant. Not even Beacon's initiation could build friendships this fast.
As the adults, and Nora, were there on their own, the younger ones, including Penny and the Servants, except for Jekyll, were on the other end.
It was mostly because of Weiss and Ruby. Those two did their reminiscing and Ruby was making her obvious shock clear at Weiss' ability to command Penny.
"During my time here in Atlas," explained Weiss. "I never really stopped being a huntress. With Penny being reassigned more for this Grail War business, she needed someone to take the role of this Master thing that you and Pyrrha had going on."
"It was our first proper run as Master and Servant." Penny nodded. "And it was a unique experience and one that would be taken into account when I would be deployed into the field again."
"Still." Pyrrha shook her head in disbelief. "How are you able to keep up with Servants?"
"Not exactly," Lancer said. Rider nodded in agreement. "She's good. But on the lower end, at the moment."
"Limitations of my current mechanical parts." Penny made no disagreements. "I do not possess a proper core the same way proper Servants do. Mine is merely imitation and still limited by what aura I could absorb in the air."
"Excuse me?" Ren asked. "Did you just say that you could absorb aura in the air?"
"Excellent question, friend Ren!" Penny stood up. With how she was posing and gesturing, all Penny needed was a projector. "See, whenever we consume our aura, be it through combat, aura techniques, damage, and even semblance, we affect our immediate surroundings."
To demonstrate her point, Penny made static electricity using only her fingers.
"Whenever we use our aura, there are excesses that remain in the atmosphere. Though small, my father was able to create a means of those little bits which are then stored for whenever I should ever engage against enemy Servants."
"Penny couldn't draw from other's aura like Lancer and Ja—Rider over here," Weiss added. "Nor is she like the Companion Servants."
"She has a Servant battery of sorts," concluded Rider.
"You could see it that way." Weiss nodded. "Efficiency has been our target as of late. Excess aura is fleeing and scarce."
"Rider?" Pyrrha asked.
He could already guess where that question was going. "I could probably do it. I don't know how it's going to work. But it's worth a shot. Harmless too, I think."
Then, they heard Qrow call out to them. "Alright, we're all gathered here, doc." With him was doctor Jekyll. "How are we bringing that birdbrain here?"
Rider, Lancer, and even Penny, on instinct, drew their weapons. Everyone there, barring Weiss, felt a sudden chill. Rider's focus was on Jekyll's eyes, Hyde's now.
Then, a portal appeared before them all. Out of it stepped Chiron saying, "hello everyone. I see that you've all made it safely."
"And I take it that you have secured Raven?" replied doctor Jekyll. The danger from him receded immediately.
"She felt a danger on Qrow. I assume that it was Hyde's doing?"
Raven soon appeared before them. One worried look towards Qrow gave it away; it surprised Qrow.
"Technically," Jekyll said. "I have always been Hyde."
"Of course, of course." Chiron nodded.
Ruby, Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora all had shocked faces. Weiss was more confused and a little curious at the new visitors. Rider and Lancer gave each other a look and the latter shrugged.
"Uh, teacher Chiron?" asked Pyrrha, raising a hand like she was a student in class. "What are you doing here exactly?"
"Other than a simple greeting and after securing a much quicker means of information that isn't the CCT, I have come to inform and bring you, except you Qrow, back to Vale."
Rider managed to catch Ruby's sudden interest.
"Yeah," Qrow said. "I figured that I would stick around here."
"We could use someone of your talents, Qrow," Jekyll said. "Hill and the Happy Huntresses could only go so far."
"Underground. Got it." Qrow gave them a thumbs up.
"So when do we leave?" Ruby asked. Rider could guess Ruby's own excitement. If Weiss came along, all she needed was a certain faunus and that team would be together again.
Next to him, Pyrrha tried to be happy for them. Rider saw it and sighed internally.
"You all mostly just arrived. I'll have Raven inform Ozpin and the others of your arrival. Once there, you all can make your preparations. Remnant's battle against the god of light is fast approaching."
"Yeah," Raven said in a manner similar to Qrow. Those two really are siblings. She addressed Chiron. "You better get back soon before Vernal decides the restrooms needed redecorating."
"She already began," Chiron said. "I don't need clairvoyance to see that coming. For the record, that's on you."
"You're the teacher." Raven avoided responsibility. "Anything she does is a reflection on your teaching skills."
Chiron rolled his eyes and stepped back into the portal. Raven remained as the portal closed.
Ironwood had been standing there on the side the whole time. "Branwen." Not one of the Ace-Ops had any niceties to give, Winter especially, by the looks of it. Raven was still a bandit and wanted criminal, and a known traitor to Ozpin's circle.
"What?" Raven spread her arms wide. "Can't turn over a new leaf for you guys? Can't see the error of my ways and make ammends?"
"If you were one of my soldiers, I'd have you shot," Ironwood said.
"If I was one of your soldiers, tin man," Raven returned. "I'd shoot myself."
Qrow chuckled to himself and shook his head. Those two really are siblings.
AN: As much as I would love to stick around for a while longer while here in Atlas, there isn't much for them to do that I could come up with without arbitrarily extending their stay. I also couldn't come up with ideas to prolong it, not even a small moment. I have plans for Atlas obviously but it has yet to come.