Another chapter for the metaphorical books! I know I've kept you all waiting for this one, but that's partially because I've been planning out how to end the Volume 3 Arc (which, hint, hint, will be done within two chapters). As always, I am open to constructive criticism and questions. But until next time!
Note: I do not own either RWBY or Fairy Tail. Those are owned by Rooster Teeth and Hiro Mashima (and FUNimation). Please support the official release.
Note two: Bolded text indicates telepathic dialogue. Italic text indicates a flashback.
"So, you and your team are feeling ready for the first round of the Vytal Festival?" An increasingly familiar voice filled her ears.
If Cinder hadn't been so terrified by Salem–and what she might have done to the future Fall Maiden if she had disobeyed her–Cinder would have burned this stupid academy to the ground.
And crush Ruby Rose into a pile of ash already.
Because by Oum that girl was annoying. She and her team had been bugging Cinder nonstop for the last few weeks. The plan had been originally to get Emerald to be the one to interact with Team RWBY, but all that had gone out the window now. Nearly every other day, either that Atlesian brat, blonde bimbo, or White Fang deserter (probably Adam's ex, given how much he raged about the girl), would corner her between classes, at lunch, and dinner, pestering her about who she was, where she was from, what her favorite damn pop star was. It had gotten to the point she couldn't debrief with her subordinates, and learn how the White Fang were doing unless she was in the dorm rooms–and Neo especially had a habit of not showing up until well into the night.
But none of them compared to Ruby. She was always so bubbly and…annoyingly naive about everything–like a starry-eyed child. Every single time she spoke, Cinder could just sense the naked optimism flowing through her. Clearly, nothing ever bad had happened to the fifteen-year-old.
And she had a pretty good idea of who had caused the increased scrutiny.
"I suppose," she finally answered Ruby, looking past the girl to the pair seated by the window. The blonde girl Roman had mentioned to her (Mavis, was it?) and Zeref leaned against the other, the former doodling something on a piece of scratch paper. She still had to account for those two in her plan. "It would be a shame to have traveled all the way from Mistral, only to be knocked out in the first round."
"I can't see that happening," Ruby grinned at her. What did she have to be so happy about? "Like, the other day, when Mercury went toe to toe with Pyrrha–that was fricken cool, cause only one other person's managed to fight her to that point."
"Really?" Cinder raised an eyebrow. From what the gray-haired assassin had told her, Pyrrha Nikos's reputation was well deserved, not just a bunch of hot air spewed out by the press. Even she'd have trouble fighting the redhead in her current state. "Who?"
The black-haired girl pointed to the petite blonde by the window. "She's right there!"
"Mavis defeated the Invincible Girl?" Cinder's mouth tasted like ash, using the Mistrali girl's nickname. She'd seen Mavis wielding her bow during Torchwick's botched Grimm invasion of Vale. "Was Pyrrha not able to block or dodge Mavis's projectiles?"
"Hmmm, kind of," Ruby answered. "Pyrrha's hoplite shield isn't really meant for blocking arrows on the regular, especially not massive dust ones. And", she lowered her voice conspiratorially, "this is something Mavis told only me, but her bow is completely made up of titanium, so Pyrrha couldn't use her Semblance to change its direction." Interesting. It was probably too late to try it now, but she'd have to ask Mercury about the makeup of his prosthetic legs.
Perhaps the Invincible GIrl wasn't so strong without her Semblance.
"That is surprisingly useful information," she smirked. "Thank you for that."
"Hey," Ruby held up a finger in her face. "Now it's your turn to tell me something."
"And why should I?" Cinder was unimpressed.
"Well, it's not fair if I let you in on a secret and not get anything in return."
"But I didn't ask for any of that. You offered it to me."
"But–well," Ruby sputtered for a moment, "can you at least tell me what your teammate's Semblances are?"
"Will you leave me alone for the rest of the Vytal Festival?"
"..." Ruby sat there for a shocking amount of time. Cinder half-expected the hyperactive girl to have said no immediately. "Can I at least still talk to Emerald?"
"I don't police who my teammates talk to," she lied through the skin of her teeth, smirking. "By all means, keep annoying her."
"Okay!" Ruby exclaimed a little too loudly, drawing the attention of some of the surrounding students. She cleared her throat. "I mean, what were you going to say?"
"Hmmm…Mercury doesn't have a Semblance." There wasn't much Mavis or Zeref would gleam from that. Maybe she'd thrown her silver assassin under the bus slightly, but it wasn't as if it was important information anyway. "Now about that promise you made?"
"Yep!" She shot her a thumbs up. "Going silent now."
Ruby mercifully only hummed for the rest of the study hall, giving Cinder time to think. The initial question Ruby asked her popped back into her head. She had spent some time sifting through Vale's CCT servers, coming upon all of the functions controlling Amity Coliseum and tournament-related software. That was all well and good, but what Cinder needed access to was the Atlas military network, which had been encrypted. For all of Watt's bragging, it was clear even to someone who only got their first Scroll a few months ago, he was having trouble breaking in.
Still, there had to be something Cinder could do with the access she had now, to sow the seeds of unrest and anger to prepare for the invasion. Perhaps…Cinder stole another glance at the student advisors, who both seemed to be engrossed in the paper in front of them, sets of pens scattered around. If they didn't want to enter the tournament, she might have to nudge them in.
The first step? Planting the right idea in the right head.
Cinder glanced at Ruby. She'd do.
And as for ensuring Mavis and Zeref had no choice but to compete?
That was simple.
All it would take was an "unfortunate accident" to remove another team from the bracket.
Again.
Weiss closed her eyes, picturing the empty glyph—a blank slate. One stroke. Then another.
Her thoughts drifted to the Armored Gigas her father had forced her to fight, the towering mass of steel that nearly killed her. She remembered its sheer presence, the crushing weight behind each swing, the sharp bite of metal against her skin. She unconsciously traced the faint scar on her cheek.
Weiss's eyes fluttered open, Myrtenaster dipping as frustration boiled inside her. Every other glyph had come easily, even time dilation. But it was this one that she still couldn't do. What made it worse was that she knew why.
"I see you're still practicing," Professor August's voice filtered into her head. She flinched at the appearance of the wizened man leaning against the wall, notebook in hand. "I believe study hall began five minutes ago."
Weiss straightened, smoothing her uniform. "Professor—I lost track of time. I'll leave if I'm being disruptive." Then, after a pause, she asked something she wouldn't have at the start of the school year. "Why do you always carry that notebook?"
"This old thing?" A small smile crept onto his face. "It's a research notebook of sorts on Semblances and Aura."
"How old is that?" She stepped closer, eyes drawn to the worn leather cover. A speck of sand clung between the pages.
"I've had it with me since I started here as a Professor." August opened up to one of the pages, the paper crinkling at the movement. "Do you know a man by the name of Dr. Polendina?"
"Yes," Weiss recalled that name at a company board meeting while eavesdropping with WInter. "He's the Atlas Military's head scientist and creator of the world's first Artificial Aura Generator."
"Then I assume you'll recognize what this is," he said, handing her the notebook, which opened to a two-page spread. She sheathed her rapier before gingerly resting her hands on the book. The leather felt surprisingly solid, given its alleged age. It took a moment for Weiss to realize what Professor August had handed her.
"How do you have the original design of an Atlas invention?" the Heiress paused. " No, did you help design the AAG?"
"I just gave Polendina some pointers on how to convert electricity to Aura. The doctor quite frankly deserves his position, which I can't say for his predecessor." Weiss had somewhat tuned out his words, flipping forward into the book. Every page was crammed with small text, with the occasional hand-drawn illustration of former Beacon students. That's a little strange. But she didn't think much of it.
Before she came across her own face, her name was in neat but tiny letters.
"Professor," she slowly pointed to the page. "What is this?"
"I tend to record the Semblance of my students–ones that I find particularly interesting. You just happen to be one of those few. The hereditary aspect initially."
"Then what have you learned about my Semblance?" Weiss scanned the notebook. It was a surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly, given the Professor's field of study) accurate description of her glyphs, the many types, the ability to use different dusts, and even a basic sketch of a blank glyph.
August leaned on his staff. "Your glyphs are a language."
Weiss frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Take your platform glyphs." Professor August unhooked the wooden staff from his back, using the thin end to create a basic glyph. "Explain to me what each part of it means."
Oh. No one—not even Winter—had asked her that before.
"Well," Weiss ventured, "the large snowflake represents the glyph element, ice. The two circles serve to stabilize the glyph and help magnify its area of effect. And the pattern between the circles gives the glyph its function."
"Then what about this one?" August tapped his staff against the glyph slightly, causing the pattern to change slightly. "And, I would take a step back."
She stepped back. Less than a second later, multiple ice shards shot out from the glowing circle, embedding themselves into the ceiling. Weiss could only blink. She had almost been killed–perhaps she was exaggerating a touch–but still, to die via her own Semblance…
"Ms. Schnee?" The Professor gestured to the glyph again. "Do you notice anything different?"
"I would like a minute Professor," she instinctively shot him a glare, "to process the fact that you attempted to attack me with my own Semblance." He stifled a small laugh. If she wasn't already used to Mavis and Ruby's antics…
"Take as much time as you need," he smirked slightly. Weiss let out a slow breath, before focusing back on the glyph.
"Well, the pattern's changed," She traced the new symbols with her finger, "to fit its new function." But now that she looked at it, she could notice certain symbols had stayed the same.
"So you've noticed it," The professor observed, "the language of the glyphs."
"I…I can see what you mean now," Weiss finally said. "Do you know what each of them mean?"
He scratched at his beard. "While that is certainly an interesting question, I'm sure that one, your family's library has a book of translations somewhere, but more importantly, the meaning isn't important as of right now, but rather the fact in it of itself. Try to think through how you've been trying to create a summon, and where you fail."
Weiss's mind raced, trying to piece together Professor August's cryptic suggestion. A language within the glyphs? It wasn't something her family had ever mentioned—if it was even a known aspect of their Semblance.
Her attention snapped back as Professor August continued, his staff hovering above the altered glyph. "Focus on the structure you just described, Weiss. Imagine you're revising it, not building from scratch. Let the pieces you need fill themselves in."
Weiss hesitated. Building a glyph was second nature, but this felt different. It wasn't just about constructing a platform or firing ice shards; she needed to define her intent.
She exhaled, gripping Myrtenaster tighter. The rapier's chamber spun, locking into place with a quiet click. Dust infused her next glyph, casting a cold blue light across the floor. She traced the symbol's edges, pausing where her earlier attempt had failed.
It shattered again. A soft groan escaped her lips.
August sighed, stepping closer. "Don't rush. Think of the glyph as a spell, Weiss, not as a static tool. Summoning isn't a perfect replication of your will. It's a translation of your intention into your Semblance."
"I've tried that," Weiss retorted, frustration edging her voice. "It never works."
He chuckled softly, not unkindly. "You've tried it through your family's teachings. Try it my way."
"My family's way works just fine," she countered, though doubt crept in. Still, she humored him. "What's different about your way?"
"Intent." He tapped the floor with his staff, forming a glyph of his own—a crude imitation of hers, flickering but functional. "Instead of commanding, invite."
A melody? Weiss frowned. Writing wasn't something she had been passionate in–not like the Professor. But singing? That just might work. Weiss closed her eyes. Myrtenaster spun, loading a Dust chamber. Instead of constructing the glyph piece by piece, she imagined it as a song, notes blending into a seamless whole. She breathed, slow and steady, channeling her Aura into the rhythm.
The glyph hummed. It didn't shatter
When she opened her eyes, a faint, flickering outline of a tiny Armored Gigas stood within the glyph.
"I… I did it." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"You started to." August's tone was kind but firm. "Your Aura isn't strong enough to maintain a summon yet. But the foundation is there."
Her chest swelled with pride, tempered by determination. She could feel the drain in her Aura already, and the knight wavered before dissipating entirely. The effort left her breathless.
August's expression softened. "Don't push too hard. The rest will come with time."
"But—" she started before he cut her off.
"Time, Ms. Schnee. That's your greatest teacher now." He gestured toward the clock. "And for now, study hall."
Weiss hesitated before nodding. "Thank you, Professor."
Weiss felt a spark she hadn't before as she gathered her things. She was going to have to try this again after dinner.
So deep in thought, Weiss nearly collided with Ruby.
"What the–Weiss!" Ruby's voice shook the Heiress out of her head. "You nearly ran into me! You okay?"
"Hmm?" She blinked. "Yes. Everything's fine. Professor August just helped me with my Summoning. I was actually going to ask you if you'd be willing to help me test this after dinner today."
"Uh, yeah!" She grinned. "Assuming I can finish all of my homework before then. But I also wanted to talk to you about the thing."
"We can't talk about that here," she hissed in Ruby's ear, before dragging her partner into the nearby restroom. Thankfully, it was empty. "Zeref and Mavis trusted us with this, again, secret mission, Ruby!"
"Yeah, I know, but I think something's up with Cinder—more than usual. She asked about Pyrrha's Semblance and then stared at Zeref and Mavis all evil-like." She made a face.
"Do you think they might try something during the Vytal Festival?" Weiss was still skeptical about that possibility. "It seems a little extreme for just a few nasty glances and comments."
"It's not just that. I overheard her whisper something to Emerald right after study hall." Ruby leaned into her ear. "She mentioned that the 'Queen' was expecting results soon."
"Well now that just sounds like a trap," Weiss shook her head. "Cinder's been playing the long game with whatever she and her team plan to do. Why let something out now?"
"Well, trap or not, it's something I think we need to look into!" Her partner boldly declared. "I mean, we already took down a terrorist group. What would make this any harder?"
"It was technically only one cell and we didn't get their leader," Weiss tried to temper Ruby's excitement. But even she couldn't help but feel some of her partner's eagerness. "But, if we were to investigate Cinder ourselves, we have to be a lot more careful than we were last time and not…do something like tear up all of downtown again."
"How would we do that again?" Ruby tilted her head. "Cinder's operating in Beacon only."
"It's just an example–" Weiss started, before realizing who she was talking to. "Oh, never mind. We can discuss this with the rest of the team after the first round of the Vytal Festival. No point in distracting ourselves before our match."
"But–"
"I don't see Team JNPR getting sidetracked. And I would rather die than let Jaune of all people do better than us."
"Ehhh, are you sure about that?" Ruby winced. "I don't think I'm ready to die over something like that, Partner."
That caught Weiss off guard, and she couldn't help but laugh. "Pffff, let's just get ready."
Great things had always been expected of Pyrrha Nikos, ever since she was a child. That much was clear when her parents hired a personal tutor for her at the age of five, again when she was accepted into Sanctum Academy the moment she turned twelve, , again when she won Mistral's regional fighting tournament four times, and again when she got asked to be the mascot of a cereal brand.
And…she had been fine with it. Well, perhaps that was the wrong phrasing. Pyrrha had simply never felt the pressure, the expectations that most other people might feel in her shoes. It was hard to say why that was the case. The 'Invincible Girl' hadn't really cared for any of the dozen awards and trophies displayed in her family's sitting room. For her, it had always been about being able to help people–making the world just a little brighter than before.
But now? Pyrrha could feel her hands slightly shake. She could feel small beads of sweat collecting against the metal of her headband, cooling quickly. Stop it. This is just another exhibition match. In truth though, it wasn't the match she was truly worried about.
It had been late, the halls of Beacon quiet save for the occasional sound of muffled laughter or the faint creak of doors opening and closing. Pyrrha had just finished depositing her weapons in the locker during a late training session when Zeref approached her. He had been nearly silent as if he were gliding over the ground. She paused mid-stretch, her green eyes meeting his dark ones.
"Zeref," she greeted, pulling her hair over one shoulder. "Is something wrong?"
For a moment, he said nothing, his expression inscrutable as he leaned against the doorway. Then, after a breath, he straightened. "I need to ask a favor, Pyrrha."
"Of course," she said without hesitation. Most of her doubts related to Zeref had melted away after that phone call to the warehouse on the docks. Most of them. She still was suspicious of how they knew the location of Blake to begin with. "What do you need?"
"I need you to meet with Professor Ozpin after your match tomorrow." His tone was calm, but his words carried a weight that Pyrrha wasn't used to hearing from him.
She blinked, puzzled. "After the match? What's this about?"
Zeref's hesitation was brief but noticeable. "It's... important. More important than you can imagine." His jaw tightened, and he pushed off the wall, stepping closer. "This isn't about Beacon. It's a matter…much larger than the school."
Pyrrha frowned. "What do you mean?"
He folded his arms, his dark eyes locking with hers. "There's something you need to know about this world—and about the role you might play in its preservation. But... it's not my place to say. Ozpin will explain everything."
Pyrrha's stomach twisted, and for the first time that evening, she felt the undercurrent of fear in his words. "Zeref, you're starting to worry me. What are you trying to tell me?"
His gaze softened, though his voice didn't lose its gravity. "Pyrrha, I trust you. That's why I'm telling you this much. But it's a truth that could change everything for you. For the rest of us, too. And I don't believe it would be fair to your team if I dump everything on you now."
She hesitated, her mind racing. Then she nodded. "Alright. I'll meet with him."
Zeref exhaled as if he had been holding his breath, his shoulders loosening slightly. "Thank you. And Pyrrha..." He hesitated, glancing away. "Just be prepared for whatever comes next."
She was about to continue walking back to her room when a question popped in her head. "Hey, if you didn't want to worry me before the first round of the Vytal Festival, why tell me all of this the night before?"
"The Headmaster wanted to ambush you with this meeting right after your match, and given the gravity of what he's asking you to do, I thought it would be better to let you know in advance." Zeref turned his head, grinning. "Besides, I don't think Team JNPR's going to have much trouble winning their first match."
Ren noticed first.
He tapped Pyrrha's shoulder, his eyes full of quiet concern. "Something wrong?"
"Hmm?" She blinked. "Oh. No, I'm fine. Just thinking."
"You're pinching yourself."
Pyrrha glanced down at her fingers—sure enough, they were digging into her palm. She quickly relaxed them.
"If something's bothering you, tell us," Ren urged.
"Yeah!" Nora popped up beside her, grinning. "And if you don't want to tell us, at least tell Jaune! 'Cause we're not losing this match, and you need to be focused."
Pyrrha's eyes widened slightly. Tell Jaune? No. Not now. Not yet.
"Blegh."
Jaune groaned from where he sat, looking queasy. Perhaps ramen hadn't been the best pre-match meal.
"Did someone say my name?"
Nora, unbothered, smirked. "Oh, we were just talking about how Pyrrha has something important to tell you—"
Pyrrha yanked her into a headlock.
"We were discussing strategy," she corrected smoothly, ignoring the way Nora flailed. "Right, Nora?"
The hammer-wielding gremlin nodded furiously.
Jaune, clueless as ever, just blinked. "Are you sure, Pyrrha?" His tone was light, but there was an edge of genuine worry.
"It's nothing related to the match," she chose to say. "I'll talk about it after we win the first round. Right?"
"As long as I don't mess up," Team JNPR's leader straightened up, "then we got this, yeah."
"Don't think like that," Pyrrha placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've improved a lot since we started training."
Ren nodded. "You led us well in defending Vale. This is less dangerous."
"Alright, alright," he gently removed Pyrrha's hands, his face graced with a faint smile. "We can do this team. If we can handle a pack of Ursai, we can handle some Mistrali pushovers."
"Hey!" Nora called from the tournament platform. "Quit flirting and get over here! We've got a team to crush."
Jaune turned red. "We weren't flirting."
Pyrrha just chuckled, moving past him toward the arena.
Whatever was coming next, she'd face it when the time came.
For now?
She had a match to win.
Blake and Yang lingered in the stands as the next match was set to begin, their eyes trained on the arena below. Team JNPR was squaring off against an opposing team from Haven, but their attention wasn't solely on the fight. Across the way, Emerald and Mercury stood at their own vantage point, observing the battle with eerie stillness.
"Mercury's relaxed," Yang murmured, her elbow resting on her knee as she leaned forward. "But Emerald... she's way too focused on Pyrrha."
Blake followed Yang's gaze, noticing the green-haired girl's unwavering stare at the redhead. Normally, Emerald played the part of the smooth, confident infiltrator, but right now, she was silent, and tense. Almost... expectant.
Pyrrha, meanwhile, looked distracted. She moved with her usual precision, parrying and striking with calculated efficiency, but something about her was off. Every so often, she glanced behind her—brief, almost imperceptible flickers of uncertainty. It nearly cost her when one of the Haven huntresses lined up a shot from across the battlefield.
The crack of a sniper round split the air—
A bolt of pink lightning flashed past Pyrrha in an instant. Nora, electrified and grinning, swung Magnhild with a deafening BOOM, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. The sniper was blasted off their feet, their weapon clattering uselessly to the ground.
Yang let out a low whistle. "Okay, that was pretty awesome."
Blake, however, barely reacted. She had turned her attention away from the match, her eyes distant, thoughts heavy.
Yang caught it. "Alright, what's up? You're staring off like you just saw a ghost."
Blake hesitated but then exhaled. "I just... I can't stop thinking about Adam. He's still out there, and the White Fang is still causing trouble. And I know we have bigger problems right now, but—"
"Blake." Yang's voice was firm, cutting through Blake's spiraling thoughts. "I get it. He's dangerous, and he's not gonna stop. But you're not alone in this. You've got me, Ruby, Weiss—hell, Pyrrha, Jaune, Nora, and Ren–even Mavis and Zeref would probably help kick his ass if we asked."
Blake gave a small, tired smile at that.
Yang leaned back, rubbing the back of her head. "Actually... I kinda have my own thing to think about too. Qrow found Mom. Or, well, he knows where she is. But he wants me to talk it out with my team first before I do anything."
Blake blinked. "Wait—your mother? Raven?"
"Yeah." Yang huffed. "You know, the woman who ditched me as a baby, then popped back up just to mess with me before disappearing again? That one."
A long silence stretched between them before Blake spoke. "...Do you want to go?"
Yang swallowed, flexing her hands before clenching them into fists. "I don't know. Part of me wants answers. The other part..." She sighed. "Look, I don't wanna rush into this without thinking it through. But whatever happens, I promise you this—when we're done at Beacon, I'm gonna help you fix the White Fang."
Blake's breath hitched. "Yang—"
"And in return," Yang cut in, smirking slightly, "you're gonna come with me to find Raven. Deal?"
Blake stared at her, caught between disbelief and something almost like relief. Then, slowly, she extended her hand.
"Deal."
Yang grinned and took it, giving a firm shake before pulling Blake in for a side hug.
The sounds of the battle below faded as the two of them sat there, shoulders pressed together, a silent promise hanging between them. Yang brushed her head against Blake.
Then Yang tilted her head toward the arena, eyes sharp again. "Okay, so Emerald definitely did something to Pyrrha during that match."
Blake nodded. "It wasn't enough to make her throw the fight, though. She might just be testing the waters—figuring out how much influence she can exert before moving on to a bigger target."
"Or before Cinder moves on to one," Yang muttered.
They exchanged a glance.
Whatever Cinder was planning, they needed to be ready.
James Ironwood wasn't sure what he had been expecting when his scroll alerted him to an intruder in his office—only for the alarm to shut off a moment later.
His first instinct was to assume some security breach, but if that were the case, the alert wouldn't have stopped so quickly. Whoever it was had experience with Atlas security.
Which meant…
He sighed. Mavis.
"Mind opening up, Mavis?" The Atlesian General let some of his annoyance seep into his tone. "This better be important for you to waltz onto a highly guarded military vessel without telling anyone—again." The metal door slid open to reveal the emerald-eyed girl, dressed in the Beacon school uniform–and the hat James wore to formal military events.
"Is that any way to speak to your commanding officer?" She crossed her arms, giving him her most disapproving look. Given the height difference, the effect was… negligible.
"It's good to see you too." He stepped around her into the room, taking the military cap off Mavis's head. "Mind informing me what brought you here?"
"I thought you might be interested in how our investigation's going." She gave him a cheeky grin. "But, if you aren't interested, I'll go spend time with my husband instead."
"I know for a fact Zeref is waiting in Ozpin's office to brief Nikos on her new role as the Fall Maiden." He took a seat at his desk, pressing a button under the table to close the metal door with a smooth click. "Now, either you write me a report in this room, or you tell me your progress and I'll write your report for you."
"I'm not required to listen to you anymore when I got discharged from Atlas's military. You weren't even a general then, James." She joked, walking over to his desk. It was only then that he noticed the girl had gone barefoot. She must've ditched her shoes while sneaking into his office.
Ironwood raised one eyebrow. "Are you done?" He could tolerate the teen's antics generally under normal circumstances, but these weren't normal circumstances.
Mavis's amused smile faded into a more neutral expression. "We've narrowed down the list of our prime suspects for sabotaging the CCT Tower." She gestured to the vanilla file folder he hadn't noticed immediately, as it sat on top of a different pile of paperwork he had been trying to get through.
Ironwood opened the file, the papers within crisply shifting under his hands. The title, printed in blocky letters, read CCT Sabotage – Preliminary Suspects. His blue eyes skimmed the page, absorbing the details, but his mind drifted to the persistent unease that had settled in his chest these past few months.
"We have a name," Mavis interrupted his thoughts, her tone softer than before. She slid into the chair opposite him, leaning forward slightly. He barely paid her any attention, his focus squarely on the sheet before him. "Cinder Fall. From what we've gathered, she's been operating around Mistral until recently. Her movements track to several incidents over the past decade—none of them minor."
Ironwood's expression darkened. "The warehouse fire in Mistral? The Dust heists in Vale?"
"And a string of unexplained Grimm attacks," Mavis confirmed, folding her hands atop the desk. "Ozpin's convinced she's working directly under Salem. That kind of coordination doesn't happen by chance."
Ironwood's jaw tightened as his mind raced. "So, she might even be the one who attacked Amber. And she's in Beacon's backyard. You want me to just sit back and let this play out?"
"Not sit back, no." Mavis's tone was steady. "I get it, James. You're a general. You've trained your whole life to respond to threats decisively. But this is different. She wants you to act rashly. To throw Atlas's strength around and alienate the other kingdoms. If you do that, you might win this battle—but you'll hand her the war."
Ironwood leaned back, his expression strained. "And what's the alternative, Mavis? Let her agents continue to sabotage our systems, put countless lives at risk, and hope your team can stop her in time? What if Cinder succeeds before you can act?"
Mavis exhaled, nodding slowly. "You're right to be cautious. I'd probably feel the same if I were in your position. But James, this isn't just about Atlas. If you move too soon—mobilize your forces, shut down communication—it sends a message of fear. Mistral is already distrustful of Atlas; don't make the rest of the world hate you too."
She softened her posture, leaning slightly closer. "You've always been a protector, and I respect that more than you know. But this is one of those times where strength isn't the answer. Precision is. We need to bait her into making a mistake, into revealing her hand. That's the only way we can stop her without playing right into Salem's game."
Ironwood rubbed his temples. His instincts roared against such a plan, filled with the passivity that made it hard to work with Ozpin.
"You're asking me to trust that your team can stop her before this escalates. That if I don't act now, I won't have even more to answer for when things go wrong."
Mavis's emerald eyes softened. "I am. But I'm not asking blindly. You've put your faith in people before, James, and it's paid off. Ozpin trusts me. Zeref and I have a track record of handling threats like this. I know it's hard—trust me, I do—but if we can't stop her by the end of the Festival, I'll stand with you in whatever measures you decide to take. Just... give us this window."
Ironwood studied her carefully, his blue eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt. There was none. Only determination, tempered by an understanding of what he carried on his shoulders.
"Fine," he said, at last, his voice quieter but no less firm. "You have until the end of the Festival. But Mavis..." His gaze sharpened. "If you fail, there won't be a second chance. I'll do what's necessary to protect the people of Atlas—even if it means sacrificing public perception."
Mavis nodded, standing up. "I wouldn't expect anything less." She paused at the door. "And, for what it's worth… I'll do everything I can to make sure you don't have to make that call."
Ironwood rubbed his temples, exhaling. "How did you even get this much information on her in a week?"
Mavis smirked over her shoulder. "Let's just say… we had a friend in Mistral do some digging."
And with that, she slipped out the door, leaving Ironwood alone with the file—and his thoughts.
Raven Branwen rested her head against the wooden wall of her parents' old cabin, arms crossed, watching as the sun dipped below the treeline.
It had been years since she'd last set foot here—since before Summer had dragged her into that doomed mission.
She inhaled deeply. Still smells the same.
A dry voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"What's the inside like?"
Raven turned to the porch chair beside her. Zera sat there, rocking back and forth lazily, arms folded behind her head.
"Ask Mavis yourself." Raven sighed. "I still don't get why this is where they wanted to meet."
Zera hummed. "It's peaceful. Reminds me of where she and I grew up."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "I thought Tenrou was more… tropical."
Zera smirked. "And which one of us actually lived there?" Then, after a pause, she added, "It's the silence more than anything. No racket, no distractions. Well… until you showed up."
"Ha ha," Raven shook her head. "Has Mavis always been this chronically late?"
"Hmmm, there was nothing ever she could be late to." Then Zera paused. "There was one time though where she nearly forgot to send all of the paperwork to the Magic Cou–government of our world reaffirming the continued operation of Fairy Tail. She had to get one of her friends to run it over to them in a day. Otherwise, the guild would've been declared dark and any members arrested."
Then her expression hardened.
"Well, she can take her time. Gives me a chance to go over the plan one more time."
Zera sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Blend in. Watch over Team RWBY. Don't make a scene. And don't fully reveal Leo's betrayal."
"Good." Raven crossed her arms, fixing Zera with a sharp look. "I'm trusting you with this. Mavis and Zeref are too soft to make the hard calls, but I'm not. If things start going south—you pull out. Got it?"
Zera hesitated. Just for a second. Then she nodded. "Got it."
She wasn't convinced. Raven could see it in the way Zera's fingers twitched slightly against the armrest of the porch chair. She wanted to protest, to push back against the authority Raven was trying to exert. But Zera was smart. She knew that arguing would get her nowhere.
Before either of them could say anything else, the cabin door creaked open.
Zeref stepped onto the porch, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves as he had just walked out of a high-profile meeting instead of teleporting across Vale. His dark eyes met Raven's first before flicking over to Zera.
"As punctual as ever," he said dryly.
"You're late," Raven countered, watching as he leaned against the wooden railing.
"As if I had control over Ozpin's timing." Zeref's voice carried that same measured tone he always had when discussing the Headmaster. "He just finished briefing Pyrrha on her new...responsibilities."
Raven's expression darkened slightly. "And how's she handling it?"
"About as well as you'd expect from someone who's just been told they're meant to inherit a power that makes them a walking target." Zeref exhaled through his nose. "She's conflicted, but she'll take the responsibility. I doubt she sees another choice."
"That's because there isn't one," Raven muttered, shaking her head. "Ozpin never gives people choices. Just illusions of them."
Zeref's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't disagree.
"But we have more pressing matters," he continued, shifting his focus to Zera. "I need you to take over Team RWBY's job of keeping an eye on Cinder. They're already on her tail, but we need someone with a bit more... experience."
Zera raised an eyebrow. "Experience? I didn't know spying was something I put on my resume."
"You're sharp," Zeref said simply. "And you can stay unnoticed better than any of them."
Before Zera could respond, Raven straightened up. "Hold on," she said, her voice edged with irritation. "You want her to go from babysitting Team RWBY to tailing Cinder? You do realize that's a whole different level of danger."
Zera scoffed, tilting her head in amusement. "Oh, so now you're worried about me being in danger? That's funny, considering you had no problem throwing me into the festival just to keep tabs on your daughter."
Raven bristled. "That's different."
"How?" Zera challenged, her arms crossing. "Because Cinder's a real threat? Or because it means getting tangled in Ozpin's business?"
Raven's jaw tightened, but she didn't answer.
Zeref stepped in, his voice calmer but firm. "It's a risk, but Mavis wouldn't be willing to lose her friend again. Neither would I. You won't be alone in this, Zera."
Raven caught a flicker of something in Zeref's expression for the first time since he arrived—something tired. Guilt, maybe. Or regret.
Raven, for all her bravado, let her arms hang to her side. She glanced at Zera, face filled with determination once before sighing. "Fine. I'll let her do it. But if this goes sideways, I'm calling you first, not Ozpin."
Zeref gave a small nod, satisfied. "That's all I ask."
Raven exhaled sharply, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "You better keep your word, Zeref."
The dark-haired man gave her a knowing look. "I always do. And uh, Zera, I don't know you very well–"
"Likewise," Zera answered instantly.
"So I'll leave you to your own devices." He gestured to the empty door. "Mavis will stop by soon to check up on you later."
Raven watched as Zera stood, stretching lazily before heading toward the door. The girl had agreed, but Raven could tell she wasn't completely sold on it.
As Zera disappeared inside, Zeref lingered for a moment, his gaze settling on the darkening treeline.
"You know," he murmured, almost to himself, "you and Yang are more alike than you think."
Raven didn't respond immediately. Her fingers curled into a fist at her side, but she forced herself to relax.
"She's nothing like me," she finally muttered.
Zeref glanced at her, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "If that helps you sleep at night. You know where to find us if you need us."
And with that, he walked out toward the forest, disappearing into the darkness, leaving Raven alone with the night. She let out a long-held breath before drawing her sword. It was time she returned to her tribe.
After all, even she knew it was dangerous to stay out at night in a remote place like this. If only Summer had listened to me. Maybe she wouldn't hate this place nearly as much as she did.
The sun finally disappeared past the Valean skyline. It was time to get to work.
"Let's go, Mercury," Emerald elbowed her silver-haired companion.
"The hell was that for?" He grumbled, crouching down beside her on the roof of one of the many three-story buildings.
"For being a piece of shit," she rolled her eyes, scanning the busy streets below them. Emerald had only recently learned that Vale's council had passed a law that no building could exceed three stories early into its existence. It was probably passed to feed the ego of whoever the headmaster at Beacon was at the time.
"How am I a piece of shit?" Mercury scoffed. "When was the last time I pissed you off?"
"When you almost let that White Fang traitor get away because you were too busy looking at fucking manga—that garbage."
"One, I didn't. Two, I don't see why you need to be such a hardass about liking Mistrali comics."
"You know what?" She let out a harsh sigh, glancing over at a pair of people exiting one of the shops. "Never mind. I've got my eyes on the target. Get ready."
"You better not fuck up your part of the plan," Mercury muttered before moving away to the other half of the roof. As much as Emerald wanted to respond, he wasn't exactly wrong. Cinder had entrusted her with an important part of the whole plan, meaning this whole venture now lay solely on her shoulders. Emerald couldn't fail Cinder.
And also, she'd rather not let Mercury hang this over her head. Focusing back up, Emerald fixed her eyes upon the smaller figure of the two—the one with rabbit ears. Scarlet, she recalled. Emerald reached into her jacket and pulled out a familiar, grinning mask—the stark white of the White Fang, with red markings painted across the edges. She slipped it on over her face.
The former pickpocket then waited as the Faunus crossed the street with her partner before activating her Semblance.
"Help!" She mentally whimpered, mimicking as best she could the voice of a child. Scarlet's ears twitched. Bingo.
"Did you hear that, Yatsu?" Scarlet's Atlesian accent filled the air, tinged with slight worry.
Now came the hard part. Emerald switched her focus to the tall, hulking Mistrali native.
"Someone, please…" She lowered the volume of the child's voice. Yatsu's face gained a worried edge.
"Sounds like a hurt child," he said, concern creeping into his voice.
"Well, let's go help them!" Scarlet darted toward the alley, quick on her feet. Yatsu followed after a beat, his heavy footsteps thudding against the pavement. Emerald sucked in a breath and let them get just a little deeper before springing into action.
Mercury moved first.
With barely a whisper of sound, he leaped from the rooftop, landing on the alley's brick ledge before kicking off. He came down hard, aiming a spinning heel kick toward Scarlet's side. The rabbit Faunus barely reacted in time, twisting her body just enough for Mercury's boot to graze past her ribs instead of slamming into them full force. She staggered, rolling with the impact, and came up into a low stance, eyes sharp with instinct.
"Ambush!" she hissed, already moving, footwork quick and light.
Yatsu reacted a split-second later, pivoting and raising his arms. Emerald dropped down behind him, aiming to strike, but the hulking Mistrali warrior twisted just in time, his massive arm lashing out. Emerald barely ducked under the swing.
Shit. That was fast.
Scarlet dove low, closing the gap between her and Mercury, lashing out with a spinning kick toward his leg. He blocked it with his shin and retaliated with a sharp jab toward her face. She weaved under it, pivoting on her heel, and drove an elbow toward his ribs. Mercury barely blocked in time, sliding back with a grin.
"You're quick," he admitted. "I like it." Scarlet didn't answer. She launched herself toward him.
Emerald, meanwhile, had her own problems.
Yatsu was big, but he wasn't slow. His movements were precise, deliberate, and every punch carried enough force to cave in a wall. She dodged left, then right, barely avoiding a sweeping backhand that would have sent her flying. She tried to slip inside his guard, aiming a quick jab to his ribs, but it was like hitting stone.
He retaliated with a brutal downward strike. Emerald barely managed to block with both arms, but its force sent her skidding backward. Her Aura flickered in response, a sharp sting signaling that she'd just lost a significant chunk.
Damn it. They were tougher than she thought.
"Little help here?" she snapped.
Mercury smirked. "I dunno, Em. Looks like you've got it covered."
Emerald didn't have time to yell at him. Yatsu was already closing in. Alright. Time to cheat. Her Semblance flared.
Emerald watched as Scarlet blinked. Suddenly, Mercury wasn't Mercury anymore—he was Yatsuhashi, lunging at her with fists raised. The Faunus's breath hitched, instincts screaming. "What the—Yatsu?!"
At the same time, Yatsuhashi recoiled, startled as Emerald flickered into Scarlet's form in his eyes.
Confusion broke their rhythm.
Scarlet reacted purely on instinct, pivoting and lashing out with a fierce spinning kick. Yatsu, seeing an enemy instead of his teammate, raised his arm to block—and then retaliated, aiming a strike at what he thought was Emerald.
Except it was Scarlet. The rabbit Faunus barely had time to widen her eyes before Yatsu's fist slammed into her midsection, launching her backward. Her Aura flared weakly, the impact eating through the last reserves before she crashed against the alley wall with a sharp gasp.
"Why did you do that… Yatsu?" Scarlet wheezed, looking up, dazed.
Yatsu's eyes cleared, the illusion fading. Realization hit, and his face paled. "Scarlet?"
Mercury struck. With a savage kick to the head, Yatsu was down. The giant staggered before collapsing onto one knee.
Emerald didn't hesitate. She rushed forward, her fists wreathed in green energy, and slammed a final strike into his temple. Yatsu groaned—then slumped forward, unconscious. His Aura shattered the telltale shimmer around his body flickering out entirely.
Scarlet, still winded from the blow, tried to push herself up, but Mercury was on her before she could recover. He planted a boot against her shoulder, forcing her down.
"Better luck next time, bunny girl," he sneered.
Emerald flexed her fingers, her breathing steady as she scanned the alley. Both Yatsu and Scarlet were down.
"Nice job," Mercury's voice sounded a little muffled by the Grimm mask he was wearing.
"Let's just go," she muttered. "Before the cops show up."
For all the time Qrow had known Ozpin–which was probably too long to be healthy–the man had always, at least openly, never more than pursed his lips when things didn't go exactly as planned. Maybe it had to do something with him living so damn long, that he'd seen everything that could ever happen over the generations.
Even when Summer vanished…and no one, when not even his parents–could find her and then disappeared, when Tai shut down, left the kids to fend for themselves, leaving Qrow to take care of them, Ozpin treated the whole thing like an interesting mystery.
But, oh boy, when the huntsman found Oz in the infirmary, staring down at the two unconscious Beacon students, Qrow stopped in the doorway, mostly in shock.
The old man was…had he been crying? Ozpin's dark green eyes glistened under the sterile light. He gripped tightly onto his cane in one hand and covered his mouth with the other.
"Hey, Ozpin," Qrow cleared his throat, taking one step from the darker doorway. "Is everything okay?"
He didn't react much except to slowly move both hands down until they rested on the top of the cane. "I will be alright. Just reflecting. Has any more information come in yet?"
"Some witnesses near the attack reportedly saw the assailants wearing White Fang masks." Qrow offered.
"James is already on the warpath I assume?" Beacon's headmaster asked tiredly.
"Glynda managed to talk him down, funny enough."
"I'll have to buy that new coffee machine for the break room then."
"I think she'd rather get more of that whatever fancy blend from Vacuo." Qrow reached for the flask on his belt. "So why are you here?"
"To reflect." He answered simply. "I highly doubt they were attacked by the White Fang. This was too targeted."
"Then, we know who did this," Qrow took a long drink.
"We do." Ozpin corrected, approaching the aging crow. "But now isn't the time to apprehend them. Any attempt against the Queen's agents will incite panic at the Festival. Rather, I believe we have the tools to contain Cinder and her crew." Then he grinned slightly. "Your nieces have been very proactive."
Qrow's scowl deepened as he crossed his arms, glaring at Ozpin from across the infirmary. "Dammit, Oz, are you seriously telling me that my nieces are already sniffing around Cinder on their own? And you didn't think to, I dunno, stop them?"
Ozpin, to his credit, remained impassive, though there was a tired edge to his expression. "Qrow, if you've taught them anything, it's that they don't sit still when they suspect something is wrong."
"That's not a compliment," Qrow shot back. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "We both know this isn't like taking down some gang in the docks. If Cinder figures out they're onto her, she won't hesitate."
"I am well aware of the risks," Ozpin responded evenly. "But I trust Ruby and Weiss to be cautious. They won't act recklessly, especially not after what happened during the White Fang incident."
Qrow pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, because tearing through half of Vale and blowing up a warehouse was so 'cautious.'"
Ozpin actually smirked at that. "In the end, their actions yielded results. And we learned valuable information."
"Yeah? And what happens when this time it gets them killed?" Qrow's voice had dropped into a quiet growl. Before Ozpin could answer, the doors to the infirmary burst open.
Coco and Fox strode in, Coco's usual confident swagger nowhere to be seen. Her sunglasses were pushed up onto her head, revealing a fury in her eyes that made Qrow instinctively step back. Fox, usually reserved, looked equally tense, his jaw clenched tightly.
Ozpin turned to face them, composed as always. "Miss Adel. Mr. Alistair."
Coco pointed a sharp finger at the unconscious bodies of Scarlet and Yatsuhashi. "What the hell happened to my team?" she demanded, her voice cold and controlled, but brimming with anger beneath the surface. Fox didn't speak, but the way his arms were crossed, his fingers digging into his biceps, spoke volumes.
Ozpin sighed, setting his cane down. "I understand your frustration—"
"No," Coco snapped, cutting him off. "You don't understand anything. Two of my teammates just got jumped, and nobody's telling me who did it or why." She turned her glare to Qrow. "Don't suppose you know anything?"
Qrow, uncharacteristically, held back the usual sarcastic remark. "We have a suspect."
"Oh, great. A suspect," Coco scoffed. "And what, you're just gonna let this slide? Let them get away with it?"
"No," Ozpin interjected. "We intend to act. But we must do so carefully."
Coco let out a bitter laugh. "Carefully. Right. Because 'careful' has worked so damn well so far."
Fox finally spoke, his voice low and firm. "We want in." Qrow and Ozpin exchanged a look.
"We'll discuss that later," Ozpin said. "But for now, there's something else we need to address."
Coco crossed her arms. "What."
Ozpin gestured to the unconscious Scarlet and Yatsuhashi. "With two members of your team unable to fight, you won't be able to participate in the first round of the Vytal Festival."
Coco's fingers twitched toward her handbag, as if she wanted to grab Gianduja and shoot something. "That's what you're worried about?"
"No," Ozpin corrected. "But there is a regulation in place for this exact situation. If a team cannot field its full roster for the first round, Beacon's designated substitutes will take their place."
Fox narrowed his eyes. "Substitutes?"
Qrow sighed, already dreading the answer. "Mavis and Zeref."
Coco blinked. Then she groaned, rubbing her temples. "You're kidding me."
"They are among the most capable students in the academy," Ozpin said smoothly. "This ensures that Beacon's slot in the tournament remains intact."
"Great," Coco muttered. "So my team's out, and now the tournament's gonna get even weirder."
"I understand your frustration," Ozpin said. "But I suggest you use this time to focus on your teammates' recovery. We will handle the rest."
Coco still looked like she wanted to punch something, but after another glance at Yatsuhashi's unmoving form, she let out a slow breath. "Fine. But if I find out who did this before you do?" She leaned forward slightly. "I'm not gonna be 'careful' about it."
With that, she turned sharply on her heel and strode toward the infirmary beds. Fox followed silently.
As soon as the door shut behind them, Qrow turned to Ozpin. "This is a mess."
Ozpin exhaled, rubbing his eyes. "Yes. It is."
For the first time, Qrow noticed the lines of exhaustion on his old friend's face. The way his shoulders sagged, just slightly. "…You having doubts?"
Ozpin was silent for a long moment. Then, softly, he admitted, "I wonder if I made the right call." Qrow frowned. Ozpin never voiced doubts like that.
The huntsman sighed, adjusting his coat. "Go talk to your friends."
Ozpin blinked at him. "Zeref and Mavis?"
Qrow sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I figure if anyone's gonna have some outside perspective on this whole mess, it's them. They've been playing the long game even longer than you have."
Ozpin considered that, then nodded. "Do what you think is best, Qrow."
The huntsman rolled his eyes. "Like I ever don't."
With that, he turned on his heel and walked out.
But as he stepped into the hall, Qrow couldn't shake the feeling that, for once, Ozpin wasn't as sure as he wanted everyone to believe.
And that? That worried him more than anything else.