Blake was not having a good day or week. The walls of Beacon Academy felt strangely oppressive, like a cage she had willingly entered. Not long ago, she and her team, along with other friends, had been in a White Fang rally where Roman Torchwick appeared, and it seemed that they were planning something big, but it seemed like nothing had changed. Or maybe it had but for the worse.

Faunuses were being kidnapped and found dead, bearing signs of torture. Were they attacked by humans who hated Faunus? That would only fuel the White Fang's cause. But Blake knew how the White Fang treated deserters, so maybe these were Faunus who had tried to escape and paid the price. The Vale police claimed they were investigating, but Blake had a hunch that made her doubt they would give it the attention it deserved. After all, they were just Faunus.

She wanted to believe in the police, to trust that they were doing everything they could, but her instincts told her otherwise. These thoughts weighed heavily on her mind, pressing down on her shoulders. She wanted to know more and help stop the White Fang because it seemed like something big was happening, something only she could see. But she felt utterly alone when it came to the matters of the White Fang. Maybe if she hadn't left the White Fang, she may have some way to stop them from the inside.

Blake continued down the hallway toward her team's room, her mind racing. Her teammates were still in the library, playing a board game she knew nothing about. She couldn't sit idly by while the threat was over them all. She had excused herself from the library without explanation, leaving her team behind. They meant well, but they didn't grasp the depth of her connection to the White Fang or the weight of the responsibility she felt. This was her burden to bear.

The feeling that even her teammates couldn't understand her situation made her feel like an outcast. Then, ahead of her, she noticed Team NCCL's leader walking alone with a bag of sodas. She had fought the White Fang and Roman Torchwick at the docks, too, yet she and her team acted as if nothing had happened. Even Lupusregina looked unperturbed by what was happening.

Without realizing it, Blake stopped and stared at Neia, who noticed and approached her. "Hello, can I help you?"

Blake blinked, realizing she had been staring. "No, sorry."

Neia nodded but didn't walk away. She studied Blake's tired face and asked, "Are you alright?"

Blake woke up from her mind after she was addressed. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied, but she did not sound really convincing.

Neia sighed while her mind started to recall the haunted faces of the citizens in the Holy Kingdom after Jaldabaoth's attack. "Remember, you need to take care of your body to stay strong. The skirmish at the bridge won't be the last, and we need to be at our best for whatever comes next."

Blake frowned slightly, unsure of what Neia was getting at. Neia offered a sympathetic smile. "I should remind you that weakness is a sin."

Blake's frown deepened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Neia stepped closer, her voice calm and measured. "Ainz Ooal Gown fought twice against the demon lord Jaldabaoth. In their first battle, he was weakened because he had been helping others, and he wasn't strong enough to defeat him. It wasn't until his return that he was able to claim victory. But his initial defeat was due to the weakness of those who were supposed to defend themselves." Neia clenched her fist.

Blake didn't respond, but Neia's words seemed to cut through her defenses as if she was speaking directly about Blake's current predicament. The Faunus died because she wasn't strong enough.

Neia continued with a firm tone. "Unlike us, Ainz Ooal Gown knew the full extent of his strength and returned to save others. He showed once more that he was the incarnation of justice, and his actions showed that weakness is a sin, and that's why we must become strong, not just in body, but in spirit. To falter, to hesitate in the face of adversity, is to invite destruction. But strength must be wielded with purpose, not recklessly. It is through discipline and focus that we become worthy of following him."

A shiver ran down Blake's spine at Neia's words. There was a fervor in Neia's voice, an almost infectious conviction.

Blake couldn't help but ask, "Does that mean you support the White Fang? That their strength and attacks are necessary to achieve their goals?"

Neia shook her head. "No. Justice without power is meaningless, but power wielded by those like the White Fang is not justice either. True justice is using strength to aid others, not to dominate or destroy."

Blake remained silent, her mind turning over Neia's words. Slowly, she nodded as if the path she had been searching for all this time was finally being revealed. The weight on her shoulders lightened a bit.

Neia smiled once more. "Rest when you can and be ready for anything that may happen. Keep striving to become stronger."

With that, Neia walked away, leaving Blake standing in the hallway, her thoughts in chaos.

Neia, on her part, entered her team's room and found Chizu with her hand in his temple. Meanwhile, Lupusregina was playing a videogame with her scroll. Clementine, on the other hand, was doing maintenance on her weapon.

Chizu nodded from the corner where she was, but her gaze wasn't directed to her teammates but to the wall, as if she was facing someone far away. "Understood," Chizu said, "I will make sure to do it as soon as possible." After that, she remained silent for a few seconds before talking again, "Understood. I will postpone it until further instructions." Another seconds passed before she spoke again, "Yes. Have a good evening, Shalltear-sama." Soon after, CZ removed her hand from her temple.

Neia turned to see her, expecting to get information about their mission, but CZ remained silent and walked to the desk to do homework.

"Ah-Chizu-sempai," called Neia. "Was there any new instruction?"

The gynoid turned to see her team leader with her always stoic doll face. "No, I called to update them regarding our last battle class so they can have more information regarding the huntsmen and huntresses."

Neia nodded slowly, "I see… Did they say anything about our performances?"

CZ stopped and thought for a moment. "They mentioned that they would have liked the battles of Clementine and Lupusregina to last for longer so they could have more information regarding semblances outside the theories we have been sending."

Lupusregina, still playing her videogame, flinched for a moment but continued playing her game. Neia nodded and then passed the soda thin can to Lupusregina, who smiled while taking the soda.

Suddenly, all of them heard Clementine saving her weapons on her waist and walking to the door. When she opened it, Neptune was on the other side, with his hand up, ready to knock on the door, and eyes wide open in surprise.

"I-I, ah…" Neptune articulated before recovering and trying to come back to his suave personality. "Hello, Clementine, right?" Clementine did not answer and only stood there with her face frowning.

"Do you happen to know where Lupusregina is?" asked Neptune with a smirk.

Clementine raised her eyebrow before stepping to one side, showing the braided redhead playing with her scroll. "Oha! Lupusregina here!" said the werewolf.

"Hey!" greeted Neptune, gathering all his bravery. "I was thinking about the coming dance. We could be a perfect couple, you know?"

The brown-skinned maid tilted her head with a smile but did not reply.

"So, what do you say?" asked Neptune.

Lupusregina sat and crossed her arms as if she was thinking hard. She closed her eyes while tilting her head from one side to the other. "I don't know. Do you think you can keep up with me on the dancefloor?"

At that moment, Clementine scowled and pushed Neptune to walk out of the room while the guy was having second thoughts regarding the dance. As soon as she did that, Neia turned to Chizu, nodding at her. CZ understood and walked out of the room to follow Clementine.

Clementine walked down the hallways with a face that showed boredom. Her keen senses made her realize that several eyes were in her direction, especially from males. Then, with no surprise, several boys approached her. Their smiles were genuine, their words sincere, but Clementine wanted to kill them at that moment.

A few steps later, a boy approached her with a nervous grin. "Hey, Clementine," he said with a shaking voice. "Um... I was wondering if you'd go to the dance with me..." His words trailed off as he watched her expressionless gaze. She was looking down on him as if he was an insect that passed in front of her and needed to be squashed.

The seconds felt like hours for the boy who closed his eyes, waiting to get the answer, but in return, he just received a breeze. When he opened his eyes, he realized that she had left and continued walking.

As she walked further, another boy stepped forward, this time a senior, taller than the deceased Cardin. He cleared his throat nervously before speaking. "Clementine? Uh, I heard you're not spoken for the upcoming dance. Well, I was hoping maybe we could... You know, go together," His eyes pleaded, but Clementine's cold stare cut through him.

She just clicked her tongue, annoyed, and continued walking. At the side of the hallway, a small group of girls giggled conspiratorially, whispering among themselves.

Chizu remained silent throughout all those exchanges, watching closely from behind Clementine.

Just as Clementine was about to reach the end of the hallway, the two boys approached her once more, determined to persuade her. The young one spoke first, with a desperate voice.

"Please, I really-"

Before he could finish, the senior interrupted, "Don't listen to him! I know you may not want to go with a weakling like him. But I am almost already a real Huntsman. Maybe you want to change your mind?"

Clementine closed her eyes in annoyance and tried to calm herself from the circus happening in front of her.

Clementine was moving slowly to her back to reach one of her stilettos while the boys were still talking, but when her hand touched the handle of her weapon, another figure appeared in front of them. This time, it was Yang who, with a big smile, hugged Clementine's shoulder, placing herself at Clementine's side and pushing her closer.

"Alright, you guys!" Yang exclaimed, her voice booming. "Listen up. Clementine here has got family obligations, right?" Before either boys or Clementine could respond, Yang added, "That's right, she's taking her cousins to the dance." She pointed at herself with a proud smile. "So there's no need to bother her anymore, got it?"

The boys blinked at Yang's sudden appearance and quick resolution, and their faces showed their defeat.

"Well, good luck with your cousins," one of the boys muttered before turning on his heel and heading back to his friends.

Chizu stayed close, observing as Yang led Clementine out of the hallway.

Inside, Clementine's mind raced with thoughts of how best to escape from Yang. Behind her, Chizu kept a careful eye, ready to step in should Clementine show signs of acting violently.

"Say, Clemy-tan," said Yang, who flinched right away when she saw Clementine's murderous gaze. Understanding that she did not like the nickname, Yang made a mental note and then continued what she wanted to ask. "Do you have a dress for the dance?"

Clementine did not answer but remained with her face frowning.

"I'll take that as a no." Yang did not skip a beat and smiled. "You and your team could come to Vale with us. We are going to do some hunt shopping, as none of us has dresses for the occasion." She then turned to see Chizu, who was still standing not far away from them. "What do you think, Chizu?"

Unperturbed, Chizu tilted her head, thinking about the possibilities this could bring. 'Going out shopping with friends sounds like a normal thing to do. This can also help investigate the normal life of the citizens of this place.'

"I think my team would benefit from your offer," CZ said with a straight face, even when Clementine turned to see her with a frown.

"Great!" exclaimed Yang. "See you guys on Friday after class."

Now, the murderous gaze from Clementine was directed to Chizu, who remained calm and stoic as ever.

/

The sound of the bullhead's engines hummed softly in the background as Team RYBY, still wearing their uniform, stood on the docking platform, waiting for Team NCCL to arrive. Yang leaned against a railing, tapping her foot with impatience, while Ruby was practically bouncing with excitement.

"They're late," Weiss said, glancing at her scroll for the time. Her tone was sharp, but she maintained her usual composed demeanor.

"Don't worry, Weiss, they'll be here," Yang said, smirking. "Besides, this is supposed to be fun. We're shopping for dresses! What's there to stress about?"

Weiss frowned and looked at Yang. "I am still not sure why we are going to buy dresses with them."

"Well," Yang started, leaning on a wall. "I wanted to invite Clementine to bond over something, you know."

"First, you could have gone with her and Ruby alone to do that," Weiss pointed out. "And second, if you wanted our support, then why didn't you just invite her instead of inviting her whole team?"

Yang smiled sheepishly while caressing the back of her head. "Wel… I don't think she would come if I had invited her alone, so… I invited her team, so she has to come too."

Weiss said nothing; she just rolled her eyes and folded her arms tightly.

Ruby tugged on Yang's sleeve. "Do you think Clementine's gonna be in a good mood today?"

Yang grinned. "I mean, she's family, so she has to be, right? Maybe we can bond over something."

Ruby nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! She is probably super cool when you get to know her!"

Blake, standing a little apart from her team, glanced toward one side. She wasn't joining in the conversation, but her bow twitched slightly.

Team NCCL appeared moments later, approaching them casually.

"Finally!" Weiss muttered under her breath.

Ruby greeted them, waving enthusiastically. "Hey! Ready to shop?"

"Absolutely," Lupusregina replied cheerfully as ever. She flashed a grin and added, "Been looking forward to this all day."

Clementine rolled her eyes. But said nothing.

"Aw, don't be like that," Yang said to Clementine. "This'll be fun! I mean, we're family, right? Gotta stick together!"

Clementine just scowled. "Whatever."

As the teams boarded the bullhead, Weiss moved toward a seat near the window, deliberately placing herself a few spots away from Lupusregina. She stared out at the landscape as the craft lifted off, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

Ruby and Yang, meanwhile, tried their best to engage Clementine in conversation. Their chatter about dress styles and the dance filled the cabin, even if Clementine didn't reply to anything.

Blake, sitting quietly near the window, glanced at Neia, who was seated across from her. For a moment, she hesitated, her hand resting on her knee as she debated whether to speak. Finally, she broke the silence.

"Neia," Blake said.

Neia, who had been quietly observing the others, turned to see Blake. "Yes?"

Blake met her gaze. "I never thanked you. Back when... you talked to me back in the hallway."

Neia looked at Blake for a moment before responding. "You don't have to thank me, Blake. Your heart and mind are in the right place, but you can't forget about yourself."

The rest of Team RWBY fell silent at the unexpected conversation. Yang, who was mid-sentence about Clementine's dress choices, paused to glance over. Weiss looked up from her scroll with a slight frown.

Blake's ears twitched slightly. "Still, it wasn't something I could have done alone. You... gave me perspective when I needed it. I'm not sure I'd even be here right now if you hadn't."

Neia smiled, a warm smile that Blake's mind couldn't recognize, as if Neia's intimidating face had become soft and friendly out of nowhere. "You can be stronger than you think, Blake. You just needed a reminder of what justice is."

Blake nodded, a small but genuine smile touching her lips. "I still think about what you said. About Ainz Ooal Gown. That sense of purpose. It made me realize I couldn't keep running from mine."

Yang leaned at Ruby. "I was wondering why Blake has a change of heart."

Blake shot Yang a look but didn't seem annoyed. Ruby, meanwhile, clasped her hands together, beaming.

Weiss raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, her focus drifting briefly to Lupusregina, who was listening intently to the conversation. She smiled wider, then, she said. "That's our faceless prea-ouch." She was interrupted by CZ's elbow on her ribs.

Ruby, giggling from the scene, turned back to Clementine. "Hey, Clem, what kind of dresses do you think we'll find in Vale? Do you think they have something in red? Or maybe something really sparkly!"

Clementine groaned. "Stop calling me that."

Yang laughed, leaning back with a smug grin. "What? I think something sparkly can combine well with your red eyes."

Clementine narrowed her eyes, making the sisters flinch.

"Ok, got it. No nicknames for you. Jeez!" Yang said finally.

The pilot's voice came over the intercom, announcing their approach to Vale. Everyone turned their attention to the windows as the sprawling city came into view, its streets bustling with activity.

"We're almost there!" Ruby said excitedly, bouncing in her seat.

Weiss stood, smoothing out her skirt. "Let's try to stay focused, shall we? We're here for dresses, not chaos."

Yang winked. "Chaos is a bonus."

The bullhead descended smoothly, its engines humming as it touched down on the platform. The doors opened, and the bustling streets of Vale greeted the teams as they stepped off the bullhead.

"Alright," Yang grinned. "Time to find the dresses that'll make us look so good we'll knock everyone's eyes off."

Weiss sighed, already scanning the street for promising stores. "Let's not waste time with vulgar dresses, Yang. We will be attending a ball dance in Beacon Academy, and as their hosts, we need to project the right image."

Blake followed the group at a measured pace, her gaze drifting over the shop windows but not lingering long. Team NCCL trailed close behind, each member adopting their own approach to the outing. Lupusregina strolled with an easy confidence, her golden eyes flicking curiously over the various storefronts. Neia walked at the back, keeping an eye on the group as a whole. Chizu walked quietly beside her, occasionally scanning her surroundings with a tactician's focus. Meanwhile, Clementine kept herself in the middle of the group, blending with no problem, although her face looked bored.

As they moved down the busy street, Weiss couldn't help but glance at Lupusregina every so often. Lupusregina, apparently unaware of the scrutiny, was chatting lightly with Yang about the dance, her laughter ringing out over the street noise. Weiss tightened her grip on her scroll and turned her gaze firmly forward.

After a while, Yang pointed to a sleek storefront with gleaming windows that displayed mannequins dressed in elegant, high-fashion gowns. "There! That's the place Coco from Team CFVY told me about. She said they've got killer dresses."

Inside, the store exuded sophistication. Racks of dresses lined the walls, arranged by color and style, while soft instrumental music played in the background. Ruby's eyes went wide as she looked inside the store, marveling at the sophistication of the place. Yang entered the store and went directly to one rack; she then moved out, holding up a shimmering golden dress and posing dramatically in front of a mirror.

Neia's amazement was cut short as Blake called her, advising her to look for dresses in a quieter corner, where simpler yet elegant dresses were displayed.

Clementine and Chizu stood out from the group as Clementine leaned against a wall near the entrance, watching the group with a detached expression. Chizu, on the other hand, walked the isles of dresses with a critical eye, not stopping for any of them, as they were nothing but pieces of cloth that were nothing compared to the dresses and clothes she was given by her creator.

Weiss, on the other hand, moved to a rack near the center of the store. She pretended to browse, but her gaze flicked toward Lupusregina, who was examining a deep red gown with an air of casual interest. Weiss frowned slightly, but her mind was interrupted by her team leader.

Ruby approached Weiss quietly, peeking at the dress Weiss was holding before leaning in closer. "Hey, Weiss," she whispered. "What's wrong? You've been acting kind of weird."

Weiss's eyes look at Ruby for a moment before returning to the dress. She then hung the dress back on the rack. "Nothing's wrong, Ruby," she said curtly.

Before Ruby could press further, Blake, who had moved closer to them, spoke in a low voice. "She's jealous."

Ruby blinked, caught off guard. "Jealous? Of what?"

Blake glanced at Weiss briefly before pretending that she was inspecting a dress. "Of Lupusregina."

Ruby's eyes went wide, "Of Lupu? Why?"

"Because Neptune asked her out instead of Weiss." Replied Blake while she took another dress.

Ruby's eyes widened as she turned back to Weiss. "Wait, is that true?"

Weiss looked at Blake with frown eyes before closing them and taking a steadying breath before replying. "It's... childish," she admitted. "I know it's ridiculous to feel this way, but I can't help it. And before you ask, no, I don't plan to act on it. I'm perfectly capable of managing my emotions."

"But it's not ridiculous, Weiss," Ruby said, worried that her partner's heart was hurt. "It's normal to feel stuff like that."

Weiss gave a small, mirthless laugh. "I won't allow those feelings to dictate my actions that I refuse to do."

Yang, who had walked to the same rack and was also pretending to be looking for a dress, spoke. "Sounds like Weiss has a little crush on Neptune," she teased, elbowing Weiss lightly.

Weiss shot her a sharp look. "It's not a crush, Yang. And even if it were, it's irrelevant."

"Sure, sure," Yang said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "But, hey, if it makes you feel any better, I don't think Neptune's good enough for you anyway."

Weiss raised an eyebrow but didn't respond, her focus returning to the dresses in front of her.

Suddenly, a voice broke the small team conversation and made them realize where they were.

"Oooh, Why is your whole team here? Are there good dresses, and you want to monopolize them?" Lupusregina said with a cheerful voice and a smile.

The team went quiet, but it was Weiss who replied fully composed. "Not really. Or at least not the style I am searching for."

Lupusregina tilted her head and then started to scan the rack, her index finger touching dresses until she stopped and took one out. "What about this one, Weissy?"

Yang, Ruby, and Blake's eyes went wide, and they turned to Weiss, who narrowed her eyes and took the dress. "I guess I lost nothing by trying it on."

As Weiss walked toward the dressing room, Lupusregina turned her attention to Yang with an excited grin. "So, Yang-chii," she began with a mischievous smile. "What kind of dress are you looking for?"

Yang smirked, crossing her arms confidently. "Something that'll make guys and gals look my way at the dance. Think you can top that?"

"Oh, I know I can," Lupusregina replied, leaning closer with a playful challenge in her tone. "How about we make this interesting? Let's see who can find the most jaw-dropping dress for themselves. The winner buys the other's dress."

Yang's grin widened. "You're on. Get ready to pay."

Lupusregina chuckled, her sharp teeth showing. "We'll see about that, blondie."

The competition began in earnest. Yang darted toward one rack, scanning for dresses that matched her criteria. Meanwhile, Lupusregina gracefully moved between the racks, occasionally holding up a dress and considering it with an amused hum before discarding it.

"This one's too tame," Yang muttered, tossing aside a sleek black dress. "I need something that screams Yang Xiao Long!"

Lupusregina giggled from a nearby rack. "You might end up with something that screams 'trying too hard.'"

Yang shot her a playful glare. "Says the one who probably wants to wear something that will scare people to wet their pants!"

Lupusregina laughed. "Oh, it will make them wet their pants!"

As they searched, Yang stumbled upon a bright red dress with a high slit and a daring low neckline covered by a transparent black mesh. Holding it up, she glanced at Ruby, who had taken a seat near Neia.

"Hey, Rubes," Yang called, grinning. "What do you think about this one?"

Ruby groaned, her arms crossed. "That's for you, isn't it?"

"Nope," Yang replied, making the 'p' sound as a pop. "This one's for you."

"Yang!" Ruby whined. "Stop picking out dresses for me! I'm not even competing!"

"Exactly," Yang quipped. "You're my backup plan if I can't win with my looks alone!"

Ruby slumped against the bench, muttering complaints under her breath. Neia, who had been quietly browsing nearby, chuckled softly.

"You should be glad you're good-looking," Neia said, glancing at Ruby.

Ruby blinked, her face heating up. "W-what? No, I mean—uh—thank you? But you're good-looking too!"

Neia shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. "I'm not."

Ruby frowned, unsure how to respond.

Neia chuckled before talking again. "Don't worry. I am conscious of how my face looks." She looked at the dresses in front of her while a bunch of emotions came back to her. "I used to hate it," she chuckled again before continuing. "I hated my father because he was the one who gave me these eyes. But now… It's one of the few things I have left of him."

Ruby shifted awkwardly but managed a small. "Well, I think you look great. Like, really great."

Neia blinked, caught off guard by the compliment before a faint blush touched her cheeks. "Thanks. But you don't need to lie."

"I am not-"

Ruby was cut then by Neia. "I think you should pay attention. Your sister has piled some dresses already next to you for try."

Ruby groaned dramatically, looking at the pile of dresses.

Meanwhile, Lupusregina held up a slinky dark red dress with intricate lacework and a plunging neckline. She smirked and then turned to Yang, who was glancing over a golden dress that shimmered in the light; its asymmetrical design was bold and eye-catching.

The two stared each other down before bursting into laughter.

At that moment, Weiss stepped out of the dressing room, wearing the dress Lupusregina had chosen for her. The gradient of dark navy blue to pale blue, almost white, sparkled under the lights, the diamond-shaped cleavage in the center highlighting her graceful figure, and the sheer bolero added an elegant touch.

Ruby, Blake, and Yang froze, their jaws dropping.

Lupusregina paused and turned to her with a playful smile to admire Weiss's appearance. She stepped closer, her gaze appraising.

"Looking good, Weissy," Lupusregina said with the smile of a depredator looking at the prey. Then leaned forward and jerked the string of Weiss's white bra that peaked horizontally from the cleavage. "But you need to do something about this."

Weiss's cheeks flushed pink, and Lupusregina grinned. "I think it will be better if you skip the bra altogether."

Weiss's face turned scarlet as she turned on her heel to retreat to the dressing room. "I'm getting changed!"

Yang lean to whisper to Ruby and Blake, "I never thought I would see someone tease Weiss that way and survive."

"Alright!" Lupusregina said, turning back to Yang with a gleam in her eye. "Let's see who's winning this dress war."

Yang smiled. "Bring it," she replied enthusiastically.

The competition continued. The shop was filled with laughter, banter, and the occasional exasperated groan from Ruby as her pile of dresses grew.