"…and of course." Jekyll got to his knees to meet Jack in the eye. "I can trust you to look after your mother, Jack?"

Jack saluted, earning slight amusement from Winter.

"That's my little specialist." Jekyll patted Jack's head.

As the apparent parents of Jack, Jekyll and Winter had to keep up that façade of theirs. It was especially important given Jacques' run for a seat in the council and there were those looking, in any way, to tear him down. Robyn herself wasn't doing anything but would be forced to if asked. At least, it was one of the easiest masks that they could wear.

"Will you call?" Jack asked.

"On the weekends," Jekyll replied. "Every weekend."

Winter nodded. She already made those arrangements herself.

Qrow had his eyes on something flashing somewhere beyond them. "You might want to give each other some special goodbyes."

Jekyll and Winter sighed. They got closer and Jekyll raised a jacket. They heard a soft and distant curse.

"We can't rely on the jacket forever, Winter," Jekyll said. "We also can't use an umbrella either. They'll start asking questions."

"For once," Winter replied. "Father is actually willing to support this façade considering how he feels about you. You'd think he would actually like you given the similarities as far as he's aware."

"He himself only married into the family for business purposes. Jacques at least elevated the SDC to higher status while I'm only attaching myself to the name. Far as he's concerned, I'm a parasite with nothing else to offer."

The jacket was put down and their distance grew as Jekyll waved his apparent family behind. Team RWBY were already inside and were waiting for the flight back to Beacon to call for them.

Jekyll, Qrow, and team RWBY were all there waiting with Qrow using that time to sleep off the hungover he was suffering. Ever a drunk, ever a hungover. For Jekyll himself, he slept once the flight began.

When he had opened his eyes, he was still there in the skies though Atlas was long past behind them and Vale's borders were coming into view. Ruby and Yang's excitement were proof of that. Weiss' attempts at keeping those two under control only made it certain with Blake's avoidance of being involved removing any doubts that could have remained.

Given their destination, Beacon Academy was the first thing they saw in regards to Vale. The docking bay for the airships were mostly open with only a few airships, all of them Beacon's, resting there. The school year had yet to start and there was no one else around save for those who came early and those who had to make up their deficiencies in the last school year.

The airship made its stop and Jekyll still waited until given the signal. Everyone else had varying levels of compliance. Some were already standing and trying to get their luggage and others simply had their seatbelts undone. It was when everyone else had begun to vacate the airship did Jekyll himself stand up. It didn't matter to him if he were first or last to leave; he was still going to leave the airship either way.

Team RWBY showed different levels of excitement of being back. Ruby herself was as excitable as an energetic with Yang almost matching that same level of energy. Weiss and Blake were restrained in their expression but had a hurried pace in their steps.

"Welp," Qrow said as he pulled his own luggage. His was surprisingly light. "Guess this is going to be it for me. Signal isn't going to teach itself. See you all back in Atlas once the Vytal Festival kicks off, if you all make it that is."

Ruby and Yang waved Qrow farewell as he went his separate way from them. As for Jekyll, he was made guardian of the four girls. At least Blake and Weiss proved themselves to be the behaved ones. Ruby and Yang were behaved, but they acted more like tourists than natives. They must have missed their home more than anyone realized.

Then, that was when Jekyll saw those three again. They had caught him unaware with all of them being present but it warms him that they did. All of team MGHT were together again.

Ann Greene, professor of Stealth and Security, hadn't been a surprise in the slightest. That red hair and freckles on her cheeks stood out in the ground. But most of all, she wasn't wearing any of her many hooded coats that she would have used for her stealth missions. Instead, she had a straw hat on and appeared much closer to a farm girl. A farm girl too clean and too accustomed to city life but a farm girl still.

Harold Mulberry, professor of Weapon Crafting and Upkeep, had his dark purple hair covered by his own wide-brimmed hat. Jekyll had to do a double take with the outfit he was wearing now. While still fashionable, he was closer to a rogue with some flamboyance as part of his décor. He had a kerchief around his neck. He wore a coat that reached to his knees in length.

"Uh." Jekyll raised a finger. "What?"

"Old outfit," he said. "Let's just say I'm been meaning to get back into spirits since Greene and I have a team again. Even brought back my old weapon though I didn't bring it here."

Next to him, Greene looked away and shook her head.

Jekyll simply took it for what it was. His next attention came to the third and final member. It would have been hard to miss her if he looked straight ahead, though he would never say it out loud.

Peach-colored hair, large wings of a swan indicating her faunus status, and a white lab-coat deliberately too big for her, Thumbelina Peach, professor of Plant Science and his teammate and partner, was fanning herself against the heat.

"I would have asked why you're insisted on wearing a coat but then there's Mulberry," Jekyll commented.

"Perfect for Vacuo's weather if you ask me," Mulberry defended.

"Shame you won't be using it for that anytime soon," Peach replied. "So, doctor Jekyll, how was Atlas?"

Jekyll returned with his own smirk. "Well, doctor Peach, it was quite pleasant. It was certainly cooler than Vale."

The two of them went from chuckle to laugh with the rest of the two members sharing their own. None of them minded that they were in front of their own students. They were, all of them, equals once out there on the field. Only experience and action determined any leadership among them.

For the time being, team MGHT acted as guides with Mulberry even offering to take most of team RWBY's hand carried luggage. It wasn't going to be a long trip since they were headed so close to Beacon to begin with.

Team RWBY split from team MGHT once they arrived at their dorms. Jekyll heard a cry of disappointment and frustration, followed by a sound of construction noises.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous it was to leave an entire bed hanging entirely by ropes to a ceiling?" Peach asked. "Or how a strong enough wind or earthquake could collapse a hastily made bunkbed only divided by equally stacking books? Honestly, I'm surprised it was still hanging on for these years"

"I'm more surprised we let it happen at all," Mulberry added.

"In their defense," said Greene. "None of us knew nor did anyone report. Blame Ozpin."

The other three all sighed. Jekyll was the only who didn't. Ozpin wasn't playing favorites, was he? Jekyll felt that it was more to do with Salem and her group. Now that he gave it much thought, Ozpin probably does in order to earn their trust.

"But let's not think about that now!" Mulberry declared. "Team MGHT is having our own little reunion, and I have no doubt our other doctor over here is probably exhausted."

Jekyll will make no denials about that.

"Timing too," Greene said. "Ozpin says he has need of you."

"Already?" Jekyll asked. "What for?"

"This year's initiation," Greene replied. "Figured that with you around, you could use your special talent and clear out the Grimm while Mulberry and I set the relics for this year. Well, you, Peach, Mulberry, and Ozpin's new kid."

"Ozpin has a kid?" Jekyll asked. "Since when? I never heard of the man getting engaged."

"Like you?" Mulberry replied. "We're still waiting for the invitations, dear teammate."

"Well, kid is more of the fact that he did bring her to life," Peach said, ignoring Mulberry's comment. "You'll see once you get to the flower gardens. On the bright side, I got me a new assistant on the flower gardens. Communication is a bit iffy but she has a white board and marker. Good writing too."

"Wait." Jekyll raised a hand. "When you say kid, you don't mean…"

Peach only gave him a smile. "If it helps, she's a new addition and isn't exactly part of the staff. More of a ward, officially."

"I see," Jekyll lied. He could already feel a migraine coming. Must remember to tell Winter and Jack.

"Hint of advice," Peach said. "Might want to conserve electricity whenever possible."

"Don't we already do that?" Jekyll asked.

"Won't hurt to be reminded every once in a while."

"How did that even happen?"

"A gamble," Mulberry explained. "Ozpin has been irritating everyone with that tapping cane of his, storing all that energy, and he came close to failing mind you. If even you don't know how it really works then I'm saving everyone's breath wanting to ask you about it."

Team MGHT stopped by their respective dorms. Unlike the students, the professors had their own individual dorms with their respective doors being neighbors to one another.

Opening his own door, Jekyll felt waves of nostalgia hit him despite the plain and impersonal appearance of his dorm. He had some essentials there like that steamer he used for the suit during the Vytal Festival years ago. He had some spare clothes already there and that knife that Greene gave him when he lost his own. For the most part, his room was just as he had left it. But someone had come in to clean it for him and left everything as undisturbed as they could allow.

"It's no Schnee manor," Peach said. "But we hope it does well."

"Except I never really stayed at the Schnee manor," Jekyll replied.

"You haven't? How's the kid?" Peach asked. She sounded genuinely surprised.

"Jack is doing as well as she could be, given the circumstances," Jekyll replied. "Speaking off, I'll need to inform them. Otherwise, Jack would get mad."

Jekyll left the luggage there and made it his priority to inform Winter and the rest as soon as possible. That came in the form of a text message since Winter should still be during work. Jack should be at the Schnee manor and he doubts that even Whitley or Klein would give in and let Jack have a scroll that early.

"Now that that is done," Jekyll said. "Ozpin said he wanted to see me?"

"Pretty much." Peach nodded. "Why don't you rest for now? You know how Greene and Mulberry could be."

"Speaking of those two," Jekyll replied. "Was that really how Mulberry used to be?"

Peach shrugged. "Only Greene can answer that. By the time I got here, Mulberry already wore the other outfit."

Jekyll managed nearly melted into the bed before he was called by the rest of his team.

Peach had no change to her outfit with the only difference being her long firearm with attached bayonet called Steadfast.

Greene wore a bright and colorful coat. She had many knives on her belt and a pouch that had to be full of Dust explosives. She had a shovel that Jekyll knew turns into a gun. Almost every weapon in Remnant could become one.

Once again, Mulberry had the strangest new addition of them all. On his back was a pair of large scissors that would split into dual blades.

As he was, Jekyll was out there stretching his muscles and cracking his joints. He was stiffer than he initially gave credit. I need a massage. No. I want to be free for a while . Calm down. No wonder Ozpin wanted him to handle the Grimm excursion for this year's initiation.

The elevator doors dinged and team MGHT stepped into Ozpin's office. Jekyll's coordination with the rest was broken at the sight of Ozpin standing next to his chair; there was someone else sitting there and Ozpin appeared busy as he pointed to what appeared to be a children's book.

"See." Ozpin must be reading through the words individually. "Jane. Run."

Jekyll's eyes trailed to the person sitting on Ozpin's desk. She was also reading that children's book. "See…" she repeated. "Jane… Run…"

"Excellent." Ozpin appeared genuinely proud. "You'll be able to communicate properly in no time."

Said girl pointed to herself. "Fran… Fran."

"Fran." Ozpin's eyes sparkled. "Is that your name?"

Fran nodded eagerly, like a child.

Fran, Jekyll thought. Frankenstein. Frankenstein's Creation. The Man behind the Curtains brought forth Frankenstein's Creation.

"Ah, doctor Jekyll!" Ozpin said, finally noticing their arrival. "Forgive me, I was occupied."

Fran looked to Jekyll. He couldn't tell if her eyes were narrowing since they covered behind bangs.

"Fran," Ozpin said. "This is doctor Jekyll. Or have you two already met?"

Fran only stared at Jekyll.

"In a sense," Jekyll replied. He looked to Ozpin. "Didn't expect you of all people to summon a Servant." Let alone Fran of all people.

Ozpin showed his cane. "It's mostly worthless now, and I'll need many, many lifetimes to have this cane be back to where it used to be. I could probably speed the process but I'm certain that Glynda's patience would run out before then."

"Not just Glynda." Mulberry had his finger in his own ear. "I can still hear the ringing, Ozpin."

Ozpin's laughter was that of renewed love for life. "I couldn't ask more of your forgiveness other than what you can give me. But everyone here in this room, and the rest of the faculty really, are all aware of my circumstances. You'd think you've seen it all had you been in my shoes. But Fran here is proof beyond any doubt that there are things that even I am ignorant about."

Ignoring that Jekyll came to Remnant first, Jekyll noticed the glow that surrounded Fran. Despite being the one seated, she was tall and beaming with pride.

Reminds me of Jack, Jekyll thought. His eyes went to Ozpin. Nope. Not going to ask. If he wants to be a father, that's on him. Fran could use one.

Mulberry continued. "Well, we're here, headmaster. You said to come to you in regards to this year's initiation."

"Ah yes, of course!" Ozpin drew a case from the drawer. "I'm thinking of taking a trip down memory lane and have these as the relics this year again."

"Chess pieces again?" Peach commented. "At least it you didn't purchase a new set."

Fran got up and her hammer manifested. She looked determined.

"I hope you're not planning on launching us again?" Jekyll asked. Part of him was excited since that meant a quick jumpstart.

"Do you want to?" Ozpin replied. "I could have it arranged."

Jekyll, for a moment, wanted to nod. It really would be easy getting into Hyde. "No. I'm good."

Right before them, whatever clothes Fran initially had worn were replaced by her usual outfit, akin to that of a bride.

"James has mentioned in passing," Ozpin said. "That you've gotten better control of your other half, Jekyll. I was thinking that this would perhaps be the best moment to have Fran showcase herself with you being the means of comparison."

"I'm not sure how fair that would be," Jekyll replied. "I'm more of an in-between a huntsman and a Heroic Spirit given my circumstances. Secondly Ozpin, there is no other half. I am just as much Hyde as I am Jekyll."

Ozpin raised an eyebrow. "Have you now?"

"A work in progress."

"Well, I am proud of you nonetheless." Ozpin nodded and patted Jekyll's shoulders. He then turned to address Fran. "Fran, take good care of yourself, and of mister Arc."

"Mister Arc?" Mulberry asked.

"Volunteer," Fran answered. "Earlier."

Ozpin really couldn't contain the pride beaming from his face. He wiped a tear from his eye. "Apologies, I do not know what came over me. All these things being possible again is turning me to a young man once more, still ignorant of much that life has in store. I... was a father once... in my previous lives."

Must have been one of his incarnations, then.

Fran boldly took a step as she pressed the elevator button. Before the doors had dinged, she switched off the lights and unplugged the electrical connections.

Jekyll realized the intent soon after. Everyone was stepping inside the elevator. Fran was bobbing her head left and right as she listened to the elevator tunes. Meanwhile, Jekyll was doing his best to be comfortable in the elevator.

Peach's height would have been a blessing but those wings of hers made up for it. "Oi, I want to hear nothing from you." She saw his look. She aggressively pulled the coat from beneath Jekyll's feet.

"You know that's going to get in the way, right?" Greene said. "I said it many times."

"And most others would be too small." Peach fluttered her wings. "There aren't that many clothes that accommodate wings. The tails and ears are the lucky ones."

Fran had been the first to leave the elevator with her hammer held upright like she was a majorette leading a parade. She must not have had that many chances to fight ever since being summoned. At least, not enough to be considered a challenge. Not much could be had here in Beacon with the students and faculty using it as field training.

Surprising no one Jaune Arc was there waiting for them. He had his armor and weapon on. He was with the rest of his team, JNPR. Team RWBY were there too.

Ozpin addressed Fran. "I take it I shall entrust him to your care, Fran?"

Fran nodded.

Despite the assurance, Ozpin still addressed the others, "I'm pretty sure I don't have to say anything?"

"Of course." Mulberry nodded.

"I'll keep look out," Peach added.

"I'll…" Jekyll paused. "Actually, I think it's best that I keep my distance."

"I won't be a burden, professor!" Jaune protested. "Arc's word!"

"Trust me, young man," Ozpin answered for Jekyll. "I have faith that you won't be. But believe me when I say to trust Jekyll when he says that."

Pyrrha Nikos seemed to have second thoughts and the same could be said for Ruby. Blake did too but she hid it better.

Pyrrha shook her head "Good luck, Jaune!" she managed to say. While Jaune did gave an embrace to every member of his team and even team RWBY, there was a warm lingering between those two. Jekyll raised one eyebrow as those two didn't let each other go as fast as the others. Nora Valkyrie was chuckling to herself while the rest of RWBY appeared ignorant.

Nora and Ren were supportive of Pyrrha, whatever it was that was going on.

Jaune Arc's armor had been upgraded. He wore more metal pieces and it would appear that his weapon of choice has had some upgrades to them. Jekyll could see that it wasn't just the shining white anymore and that there were accents of bronze there.

With the young student with them, Greene had been the first to split from the group, carrying with her the case comprised of the chess pieces. Jekyll himself readied his own knife and twirled it. Unlike his old one, this one was closer to Remnant's own designs; it was also a handgun. Nothing too special or fancy, but something that would give him some range should he need it.

Beacon's Emerald Forest was located nearby. Students and teachers would usually come here periodically, both as training and for these excursions should the Grimm population become too plentiful. During times of initiation, those excursions were required since the initiation did not need to be overly difficult. First-year students needed to be capable in handling it.

With Fran and Jekyll around, Jekyll was confident in saying that it was overkill. Mulberry and Peach are professionals on their own right, and Jekyll had faith that young Jaune Arc must have had some better experience with his time as a Beacon student; him making it this far should be proof enough of that.

But Fran and Jekyll were heroic spirits. The former being closer to a proper one than the latter. Electrical sparks occasionally left Fran's hammer.

Jekyll heard Jaune whisper to himself, "just like Nora. I wonder if I should ask on her behalf?"

He smirked. The student was thinking of his team, that's sweet.

They found an open spot. Peach already flew up on the branches and readied her weapon. Meanwhile, Mulberry stayed close to Jaune while Fran was doing some kind of stretches. There was some eagerness to her that Jekyll couldn't help but feel a little competitive.

"So uh," Jaune asked. "What is it that we're going to do?"

"Right now, mister Arc," Mulberry replied. "We wait for the Grimm to come."

"Wait?" Jaune tilted his head. "How are we going to do that?"

"Did your partner not tell you of anything? Back when Beacon had been attacked?"

Jaune shook his head. "Pyrrha didn't say anything. I tried asking Ruby but I think she's just making them up."

Jekyll put some distance between himself and the rest of them. It wouldn't do if he went for them first. He wouldn't but he wasn't taking that chance. But he couldn't hold back that chuckle of his own.

"Mister Arc," said Jekyll. "I believe that it is in your best interest that you start believe in fairytales. Though, I must warn you: not every fairytale is a happy one. Mine certainly isn't."

Jekyll then began to breathe in meditative silence. It had been the method he used when he wanted to control himself. But it also allowed him to tap into it with some control. Jekyll had much practice while in Atlas.

Among Atlas' population, he could only tap a little. Outside of Atlas' civilized borders, he could let himself a little loose, only holding himself back since he wasn't alone there.

For Jekyll, everything around him turned quiet. The falling leaves and rustling branches went silent with nothing more than mere static that entered his ears. He could already feel whatever tight muscles he had loosening. His stiff joints cracked and he heard that satisfying crack when he moved his neck.

A soft sound of trees rustling reached his ears. His urges and that temptation of sin grew. He could feel the nails on his fingers grow. He felt his teeth sharpen. He could feel himself getting traveling further into the deepening ocean that got more violent as the seconds passed.

He opened his eyes; they were no longer green but red.

For everyone else, except Fran, the air about them chilled. The trees were disturbed and the ground shook as the Grimm were rushing in towards their location.

"Uh," asked Jaune. "What's going on?"

"That mister Arc," replied Professor Mulberry. "Is professor's Jekyll's doing. Remember that he said that he'll keep his distance?"

"How? Why?"

"Because mister Arc." He couldn't keep it all in. Part of that voice leaked out. It got louder until it was a war cry. "It feels good to be back!"

The first Grimm fell by his own hand. More came rushing in as everyone else readied themselves for the coming party.

Fran had been the first to move, electricity surging from her hammer as she excitedly took the first kill among them.

"Stay close to me, mister Arc," said Mulberry. His large pair of scissors split into two blades.

Jaune followed orders and deployed the shield. It was shiny and looked new.

Peach was already reloading her shots as more Grimm appeared faster than she can shoot them down from a distance.

Meanwhile, Hyde only had one thing to ask: "Did you miss me?"


AN: Fran and Ozpin. Initially, these two were meant to have their own fic separate from this one. However, the direction I wish to take with it is unchanged. That idea had been "what if Ozpin was given another chance to be a father?"

Sorry Moriarty. If it helps, I see no issue in Fran having more than one dad. Mordred has like twenty.

Finally, the change in Mulberry's description is mainly due to the image of Mulberry in my head being too similar to Ozpin and Roman. I essentially looked to Mat Cauthon (Wheel of Time) for the mental redesign. As for the weapons, Jack and Jill already exist in the form of Jax and Gillian Asturias, and that the weapon also reminds me too much of Ozpin and Roman. Direct influence came from Scissorman from Clock Tower and, to a lesser extent, Sweeney Todd whom I'm looking into as an addition to Mulberry considering his listed allusion only being a nursery rhyme (Round the Mulberry Bush). I was thinking of looking into the Green Gables since I pictured Mulberry and Greene as partners, but I haven't quite done so as of the posting of this chapter.