As Ruby opened her eyes, all she could make out was darkness until it all slowly adjusted. She sat up from her bed and stretched, hearing some light pops in her joints. She looked over and found Weiss still peacefully sleeping, facing toward her. A blush crept up her neck as Weiss was just so beautiful, even when resting, Ruby didn't understand why it took so long for her to realize her feelings. Ruby laid back down on her bed and stared at the ceiling, still not fully coming to terms that Weiss Schnee was her girlfriend and she was Weiss's. A giddy smile grew on her face and she restrained herself from excitedly kicking her feet less she wanted to risk waking Weiss up.
Ruby glanced at Weiss one more time and everlasting warmth filled her. Ruby vowed to herself that she would always be there for Weiss, no matter what, come hell or high water, she would do her best to be the lover that Weiss deserved. The girl across from her grumbled as she slowly started to come to and the first thing she saw was Ruby gazing with such love and adoration. Weiss slowly got up as a blush spread across her cheeks, "Mm, what is it?" Her voice was a little groggy as her body hadn't fully awakened. Ruby, realizing she's been caught and doesn't want to seem like a creep, sputtered for a response.
"Oh, um, I, um, was just–." Nothing was coming out right and Ruby was spiraling. She was so deep in trying to come up with an explanation that she hadn't even noticed that Weiss walked over to her side of the room. The rambling girl was quickly quieted with a kiss and Weiss walked back over to her side, not registering the puddle she made of Ruby. Weiss looked over her shoulder and turned back around, shaking her head and muttering 'Dolt'. Ruby missed Weiss's loving smile as she did so.
Ruby shook herself out of her reverie and the two got to changing before stepping outside. Walking into the theater room they noticed that Ren, Blake, and Pyrrha were already up. Blake and Ren were having their own cup of tea while Pyrrha had herself a bowl of fruit. Ruby waved to her friends, but kept her voice soft, "Good morning!" They all silently greeted back and Ruby rushed into the kitchen. Weiss scolded her as she went, but she was already out of earshot. Weiss sighed and took her seat, noticing a new pillow in between her and Ruby's spot. She looked it over and it was a wonderful mix of white and red with the name 'Whiterose' stitched in the middle.
Blake smirked as she sipped her tea, "Yes, it was there when I walked in. I'm assuming it's there because of your official relationship." Weiss felt her blush deepen, but she wasn't opposed to it. She then looked up at Pyrrha who was in the middle of taking a bite.
"If that's the case then how come you and Jaune don't have one?" Pyrrha's eyes widened and she choked on her fruit. Ren and they got up to do something, but Pyrrha spit the piece into a napkin. She waved her hands, shaking her head.
"Oh, no, Jaune and I never made things official," No matter how much Pyrrha wished for the case, "We agreed to go on a few dates when we got back and go from there." All their expressions became that of understanding as Ruby walked back into the room. She carried a tray with two coffee mugs, a plate of cookies, and a small bowl of blueberry frozen yogurt. She sat next to Weiss and in front of them, a table appeared. Ruby set the tray down and handed Weiss her coffee and froyo.
"Oh, thank you, Ruby." Weiss looked surprised when she saw the frozen yogurt.
"I remember you telling me it was your favorite and I made your coffee just the way you like it." Weiss felt touched that Ruby remembered all of this. Weiss pecked Ruby's cheek, causing the girl to giggle.
The group heard a fake gag as Yang walked into the room, "Geez, not this early in the morning." Both girls rolled their eyes, a smile on both of their lips. She sat plopped herself next to Blake and everyone else was slowly joining them. No one questioned when Jaune came up and hugged Pyrrha, startling the girl. The dirty dishes were taken as they all talked about moments from the previous volume. They were all nervous about the next one and what it would entail. The only thing Raider had told them was that it would reveal many secrets. She was never specific about who's or what, so it was pretty vague, but they had to be ready anyway.
Snow whipped through the air and a train's horn rang out. A blast of fire was directed at a manticore Grimm as the group fought on top of the train.
"Woah! Getting straight into it!" Yang exclaimed. She would have thought they'd get some buildup or something, but to jump right it was something they weren't anticipating.
"How were the Grimm even attracted?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah, how did it even get to this point?" Weiss added.
Ruby sliced it with Crescent Rose and asked who was next as another manticore was flying behind her, heading for her.
"Ruby!" Both Weiss and Yang yelled, reprimanding the girl to be more aware.
Weiss creates a wall that the manticore slams into, flying off the train.
Both girls released a sigh of relief as they gave Ruby hard stares. Ruby laughed nervously with a shrug. Not even a minute into the episode Ruby already almost got herself killed. This was a great way to start things!
Weiss skated with her glyphs, telling Ruby to thank her later.
Ruby kissed Weiss, "How about I thank you now?" Weiss blushed at the action.
Weiss destroyed two more manticores as Blake and Yang were fighting one. Blake swung Gambol Shroud, bringing herself into the air before throwing it, yelling 'in coming' to Yang. She easily smashed through it and Yang was glad to see that she wasn't rusty.
The dynamic between the two didn't seem too bad, but then again they were in the middle of a Grimm fight so they really couldn't have their feelings comprise everyone's safety.
Further up the train, Ren, Nora, Oscar, and Jaune were just climbing up. Oscar ran ahead and Nora complained why it always had to be something.
"Yeah, why couldn't have just had a nice, peaceful trip to Atlas? You know? Where nothing ever happens!" Nora shouts. Man, do they wish it could be that way.
Ruby yells for them to just meet them towards the back. The three join the fight, Nora saving Jaune by blasting a close manticore. Nora shouts to run and the man puts out his hand. Nora takes it and Ren swings her around until she's soaring toward another Grimm, changing her weapon to its hammer form and smashing the Grimm's head.
Nora cheered, feeling the exhilaration of that one even if she wasn't currently there. They all were, it felt as if the snow lashing in their faces. They this was probably going to be the most normal out of the volume they were going to get so they planned to enjoy it.
"TUNNEL!" Oscar screams.
All of their eyes widened, but they knew it was going to come at some point or another. But of course, it had to be when they were all up there!
All of them began rushing, but when Weiss followed a fireball was shot near her feet and she stumbled, almost falling off if it weren't for Ruby. "Thank me later!"
Ruby used her semblance and it affected both her and Weiss.
The group was amazed. They didn't know Ruby could do that! Ruby didn't either, she's never tried it before. Now that she knows, though, it will definitely come in handy. "Did you know you could use it with someone else?" Oscar asked. Ruby shook her head.
Ruby quickly went in between two cars as the tunnel arrived everything went black. A woman's voice echoed in the darkness, "I can't believe he turned his back on us."
Who turned on their backs? And who did this voice belong to? Maybe then they could have a clearer answer.
"He just!" The voice was cut off, showcasing an open door to a hallway with a red carpet.
That was the White Fang base, wasn't it? The person they were talking about made perfect sense now.
Adam demanded that they step away from his throne as they had work to do.
"You abandoned the White Fang when you ran away, no way are they going to let you keep it!" Sun shouted.
"There's no way that they plan to continue following you, does he still think he's entitled to it?" Jaune questioned. Apparently so, and knowing him he probably still thinks there will be no consequences for leaving all of them. They're surprised he even had the guts to go back.
"We'? Everyone knows what you did! You abandoned your brothers at Haven." Adam tries again, telling them to step away when he gets cut off by another member, telling him that they're not taking orders from him.
"We heard you folded the moment you got sassed from the Belladonna girl."
All of them couldn't help their laughs. They mean, the guy isn't exactly wrong, he didn't really put up much of a fight against Blake and Sun. Unfortunately, they could tell they were starting to anger the wrong kind of guy.
He guessed she had more control over him, but his sentence was cut off as was everyone else. Bodies were strewn across the steps leading up to the throne where Adam sits.
All of them were in shock, seeing all the bodies of the White Fang members. They knew they were upsetting him, and that they should have expected this from Adam, but it still brought cold swear over all of them.
"'The Belladonna girl'..." Adam stood from the throne, "Blake…" He slashed the chair and screamed. Everything darkened until a bustling train station appeared.
Blake felt chills run through her body. Back then she was scared of facing Adam again, and now she got that same feeling. Yang noticed and rested a hand on her shoulder, "We'll make sure he doesn't get anywhere near you."
"It's been two weeks since the attack on Haven, " Qrow narrated.
They didn't think it would have been that long from now to then.
"The official report states that the plot to destroy Mistral's CCT tower was thwarted by Ghira Belladonna and the Faunus militia group from Menagerie ."
They felt a little underappreciated for all they went through for the reports to say nothing about them. But, it must have been due to the fact they probably wanted to keep events related to Relics and Maiden powers away from the public's eye. So, never mind, but they still felt a little sour that they weren't mentioned once, even if they could have left out those particular things.
"Huntsmen and some students coincidentally visiting the headmaster were also able to lend some assistance ."
"What? Why are they not mentioning that Professor Lionheart was on their side?" Nora asked in outrage. And they guessed they were brought up but the story was twisted a little to hide the real reason they were all there.
"Maybe for the same reason they're hiding why we were all there," Ren stated. Nora huffed as she guessed that made sense. But, wouldn't it be better for people to know about Salem so they can all be properly prepared for when she does decide to attack the people?
"Unfortunately ," Qrow sighed, " Leonardo Lionheart lost his life in trying to defend the school ."
"Even our uncle doesn't like that this isn't being told to the people." Ruby frowned, also thinking that the people should be aware. She's aware that the panic would cause Grimm all over, but Grimm is what will be coming anyway, and saying it now would give the people time to be prepared.
"And those responsible for organizing the attack managed to escape. As I'm sure you can guess, there's a lot more to this report than I'm willing to say in this letter. "
Is Qrow writing this letter to General Ironwood, prepping him for their arrival? That would make the most sense as the General would need to let them inside the borders as well that being where they head next.
"But for now, what I'm trying to say is that we're on our way to Atlas, James. "
Yep, the letter is to General Ironwood.
"There's a good chance we'll get there before this letter does, but in case we don't, I need you to know we're bringing a lot more than bad news with us. See you soon, Qrow ." Qrow mails the letter and is bumped by an excited Ruby.
Another thing came to mind, why is he not telling General Ironwood about Lionheart's betrayal? Shouldn't he know or is he trying to keep paranoia down about others?
Qrow asks her what the running is for. "What's with the standing?! It's almost time!" Ruby shouts, running off.
Almost time for what? What's got Ruby so thrilled? Weiss couldn't help but smile fondly, Ruby just looked so cute when she was happy.
Ruby uses her semblance to dash around the station, grinning frantically in front of her friends, bouncing.
All of them laughed and got excited themselves, wondering what's got Ruby so cheerful.
"And?" Yang asks. Ruby pulls out a small paper bag, and Weiss rolls her eyes, calling this an absolute waste of time when Yang happily cuts her off, "What did you get me?" Ruby sticks her tongue out, telling her sister she'll have to wait and see. "No fair!"
The group adored the dynamic between Yang and Ruby, it was moments like these that were just so wholesome and sweet.
Yang tries to swipe at it but Nora gets in between the two.
"Hey! I want to see what you got me!" Yang yelled, disappointed while crossing her arms.
"I don't even know what I got you, so tough luck," Ruby retorted.
"Oh! I can't believe we're taking the train to Argus!" Nora bounced.
"Oh, we're going to Argus? Hey, maybe we'll see my sister, Saphron. It'll be nice to see her again, plus you might meet my nephew Adrian."
There were several who gasped at the thought of meeting Jaune's family. "Oh! How old is your nephew?"
"Well, he's a toddler, so–"
Weiss and Yang gasped, "A baby? Even better!"
"Beautiful northern coastline. You think it's too early for beach season?"
"Judging by the temperature around you and Argus, yes, I'm gonna say so," Pyrrha said. Nora immediately deflated.
Ren imagined himself in a beach setting, holding a beachball, when it pops, "Unfortunately."
Nora's cheeks burned red when she saw the image. She snapped out of it, reminding herself that they've been friends for a long time and it would be really word to think of him in that particular way.
"But, we will be one step closer to Atlas."
"Well, I'm glad you're all excited, but I don't think you appreciate the trouble I went through to leave Atlas," Weiss said.
"Of course, we appreciate it," Yang says. They saw for themselves all the sneaking around and danger she was put through to make it to Mistral. The crashes, the Grimm…Raven. It was a good thing Yang found her the way she did or Weiss could have been trapped in that cage for who knows how long.
"I know you're worried, Weiss, but trust us, Team RWBY won't leave your side for a second. I promise." Weiss softly smiled at Ruby, but the atmosphere was ruined by two cocky huntsmen.
Weiss remembers when Ruby told her that they were all still watching the first few volumes. Now, it felt more meaningful than ever.
"Is it just me, but whenever Weiss softly smiles it's always directed at Ruby?" Jaune asked.
"Yeah, like back in the previous volume when they were all reminiscing about their Beacon days and she was looking at her like that when Ruby was laughing," Sun added. Both Weiss and Ruby blushed as they'd never really noticed that. Ruby felt a sense of specialness as that meant that smiles were always meant for her.
"No one's gotta be worried with us around," The huntsmen on the left said.
"And who might they be?" Yang deadpans as she can already so where is this about to go. Their attitude and the music in the background make it very obvious.
Nora asks who the two are. "Why, Dee and Dudley, of course," Says Dee.
No one was going to say it out loud but with names like those they were guessing they were twins or friends who happened to meet by coincidence, and that their parents were horrible at naming children.
"Argus Limited's very own huntsmen, we'll be keeping everyone safe as we pass through Grimm territory."
"But, for a generous tip, we can make sure your passenger cart gets extra special attention, should things get dangerous." Dudley finished with a wink.
"I think I'd rather take my chances with the Grimm," Blake said. Everyone in the room had about the same expression as the ones showing on the girls' faces.
"I'm with Blake," Ruby said. Everyone agreed as they seemed like the type to try and flirt during a fight.
Weiss, Nora, Yang, and Ruby all gave the two blank stares. "Hey, I got a tip for ya', buzz off," Qrow says, surprising the men, "Looks like Mistral's scraping the bottom of the barrels these days." Behind Qrow, Ruby and Yang are both openly mocking the two, making faces and gestures.
Both Weiss and Blake shook their heads. To themselves they were both thinking, yep, that's the person I'm in love with.
"Hey, you're talking to a–" Dee pointed angrily, but Qrow didn't care.
"A professional huntsman, right," Qrow raised his license and Dee deflated. "Well, it seems one of you heroes left the staff entrance to the caboose wide open."
Yang chuckled, "Geez, how embarrassing."
The two looked at the door. "Be a shame to lose your job before it even started." Dudley exclaimed that he didn't do and Dee hits his shoulder as they leave, the man telling his friend that he didn't do it either.
"Idohopethose weren't Beacon graduates." Ozpin thought.
"If they are then that's just sad, that's gonna be Cardin one day," Nora states. With a personality like those two, Cardin could fit into their little duo and make it a trio.
"Even Ozpin is disappointed with those two," Ruby laughed.
"You know, sometimes the burden of saving the world feels overwhelming, but then people like that come along and make me grateful that it's our job and not theirs." Everyone unanimously agrees with Oscar.
"Oh yeah, sad to say but they might accidentally leave a door open for Salem to come and take the Relic." The group laughed as Ren's assertion was probably true, but they were going to give those two more hope than that.
"So, you kids ready to go? Bike all loaded up?" Qrow asked. Yang affirmed and Ruby was about to shout when Weiss told him that they were waiting on Blake, as usual.
"'As usual'?" Blake questioned with a playful lilt. Weiss hummed, she said what she said.
Blake and Ilia stand on the balcony, Ilia feeling like she doesn't deserve the freedom she and Blake's family granted her.
"You deserve freedom just as much as the next person, Ilia." Blake could tell this was a goodbye and she was hoping it wouldn't come so soon, but she was going to miss her friend. She's still so happy that she got her Ilia back after all that time. She will always wish her the best.
"I know you two are about to have your moment, but can we appreciate for a second how good Ilia's outfit looks? I love the black incorporated, it looks great on her," Yang commented.
"Maybe the black is meant to be a reference to Blake," Ren suggested. If that was the case, the gesture was going to bring Blake to tears. Too late, Blake wiped at one of her eyes, "I'm going to miss her." Yang and Sun comforted her.
"We all will, she's on a better path now, thanks to you," Yang reassured.
"Yeah, and she's going to change others' lives just like you did to hers," Sun added. Blake nodded, it was just she was going to miss seeing her friend as this was the only way she could, for now.
"Well, you're gonna have to get over it, Ilia. Saving Haven had a huge impact on how Faunus are seen in Mistral," Blake replies with a hand placed on her hip.
Both Blake and Sun smiled in triumph, that's a great step towards the equality of Faunus, they take it one kingdom at a time.
"Now, it's up to you all to take the progress and keep running with it."
"Right. The White Fang may have been a failure, but with your father starting up a new movement, I've got more faith than ever before."
"That's great news! I don't think we should think of moving on from the White Fang as trying to forget it, but it should represent a symbol of an old chapter that turns the page into a new one. And your dad's movement is a great way to do that." Ruby's way of saying has to be the best way that it could have been put, it's moving on to a different chapter for the Faunus. The fall of the White Fang just showed them what needs to be improved in the new Faunus movement.
Ilia hesitates for a second before going through it and hugging Blake, thanking her, for everything. Blake reciprocates the hug and Ilia wishes she didn't have to go.
Blake wishes she didn't have to leave Ilia again, but she's leaving her in a much better than what it was in the past, and Blake couldn't be more happy. It was only the first episode and Blake was already getting so emotional.
"Don't think of it as a goodbye, Blake. More of a…see you later," Oscar reworded.
"I know, but my team needs me. We're going to track down the people responsible for the attack onHavenand the Fall of Beacon." Ilia laughs as Blake is always trying to save the world. "More than you realize."
"Hey, I know your parents already saw you off, but where's–?"
"Sun?" Sun himself said.
"Me? Yeah, where am I?"
"Oh, he's right here!" Sun announces. Blake walks towards him as Sun leans on the glass with his hand, "What? You didn't think I was gonna miss your big send-off, did ya?"
"Wait? Sun isn't coming with us?" Jaune asked. "Why?"
Neptune appeared behind him and explained, "He definitely overslept and definitely almost missed this."
"Dude!" Sun exclaimed. "Even if that were the case, and probably wasn't and Neptune is just making stuff up, I would never miss something like this." Also, Neptune, what the hell man?
Sun angrily looked at his friend and shushed him.
"I'm gonna take a guess that that's what happened?" Blake inquired, looking over at the boy, smiling. Sun waved off the accusation.
"What? No way!"
Blake giggled and Neptune shoved Sun closer. "Hey, Blake. Now would you hurry up, need I remind you we have our own trip to plan."
Ah, so that would explain why he isn't coming. Bummer, would have been fun to have him stick around, they never got to interact with him much in the past few seasons.
Neptune notices Ilia awkwardly standing off the side. He didn't know she was going to be here. He suavely walks over, saying he didn't see her there, because of her camouflage, and that she's a chameleon Faunus. Blake reaches out her hand, wanting to stop him as Sun shakes his head.
All of them laughed, knowing full well of Ilia's sexuality. "Oh, that's gonna be some rejection for him," Yang said as she chuckled. Sun did the same as his counterpart.
That's gonna go well, I'm sure, Blake sarcastically thought to herself.
"Wrong tree," Blake muttered.
That was when everyone truly began to laugh. That might have been one of the best responses.
Sun said he'll figure it out.
"Oh, he'll figure out real quick when he sees that his moves are doing absolutely nothing, and the cherry on top will be she tells him," Sun says through his laughs.
"So, you're really going to Vacuo?" Blake asks.
"That's right! Seeing you reunite with the rest of Team RWBY really made me realize something. I'm like, the worst team leader ever!"
Ah, he followed Blake and has been with her on Menagerie, away from his team and duties, for months. He guessed it was about time he went back to properly fill that title of 'leader'.
"Me and the boys were a little cool with a hiatus, but we gotta make up for lost time. Shade Academy's not dealing with any problems like Haven right now, plus that means I can show the guys around my old stomping grounds," Sun punctuates, fisting his palm.
"I have to admit, I think I was kinda getting used to having you around." The space around emanates a yellow, heroic glow around Sun. He tells Blake he's going where he's needed.
Sun plans to go back to Vacuo because that's where he's needed most, and since Blake is back with her team, she doesn't require his help anymore.
"And, you don't need me anymore." Blake's ears flatten as when he says it like that it sounds sad.
"Yeah…" Blake could feel her own ears flattening, but at least she had Sun next to her now. Blake was sure that if Sun didn't need to be here then Raider would have sent him back home. She would have done that before the episode started.
"Look," Sun starts, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Despite the drama and the fighting andthe numerous attempts on my life, I had a lot of fun. But, you're with who you're supposed to be now." Sun and Blake look down at her friends below who are chatting away.
"Sun, I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough. I'm still um…"
"You're still working a lot of things out, I know, but you can do it with them. Annnd, in the future, who knows? I've got a feeling you haven't seen the last of me." Blake certainly hopes not, giving her last goodbye with a kiss on the cheek.
Yang tried to push the feelings away. Sun was both their friends and it was just a kiss on the cheek. She can choose whomever she wishes. Yang still felt a saddening feeling, wishing it was her that Blake gave a kiss on the cheek. Yang remained impassive so as to not give her emotions away, but both Ruby and Blake could sense something a little off with Yang after it happened.
Sun blushed and playfully leaned down, "Am I gonna get one too?" A spike of fear rose in Yang, but it went away as soon as it came as Blake pushed him away.
"Nope." Sun pouted but it was all in good fun.
"I don't know man, it just feels like you're letting her go," Neptune said, hands behind his head as he and Sun walked down the steps.
"It was never about that, brainiac! Besides, now that your leader's back and pardoned from battle, I gotta focus all of my time into gettin' you boys ready for the wastelands!" Neptune sighs and Sun doesn't understand the reaction.
"What? The desert isn't that bad!" Sun exclaimed.
"Thank you, Sun, for what you said to Neptune."
Sun rubs the back of his head. "It was no big deal." Blake shakes her head, it was a big deal to her and it meant a lot.
The train ride was peaceful, cruising on the tracks.
"What a wonderful, domestic moment, when will it be ruined?" Weiss sighed.
As people were walking past Team RWBY's passenger room, an old woman stuck out.
"That old lady, will she come back at some point? Because it seemed like she actually had a character design to her?" Ruby looked behind her and Raider simply shrugged. Why do they always turn around and ask questions they knew they weren't going to get an answer to? Judging by the response, since Raider knew everything that would happen, that had to be a yes. If so, how was the older woman going to be relevant?
They're starting to get a lot smarter.
Team RWBY was minding their own business. Weiss was reading a book, getting thrown off by Ruby's cape as it fell off the side of the bunk while she played on her scroll, Yang was going through a magazine, and Blake was staring out the window.
"Whatcha' thinkin' about?" Yang asked, knowing they'd be shown it, but playfully asked anyway.
"Alright girls, I think it's time for an official team exercise!" Ruby announces.
What would they be able to do, there's a limited amount of stuff to do on a train ride.
"If you're referring to matches on our scrolls, then I guess I can kick your butt," Yang says confidently. Were they really going to play video games as a team exercise? Count on Ruby to think of that.
"Who wants to play video games!"
"I mean, if you want me to kick your butt, yeah sure, let me just grab my scroll." Yang gets off her bunk and goes to get her bag, but Blake comes up behind her, planning to help her, but instead simply does it herself.
"Blake, you really didn't have to do that," Yang says. Blake is about to respond, but the exchange they were about to have happens on screen.
"Blake you don't have to do that."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Her ears flatten atop her head.
"I'm fine, we're gonna be fine. It's just gonna be a bit til things are back to normal, but am glad we're all back together." Blake and Yang smile at one another, and Weiss and Ruby appear behind Yang.
From the back of the room, Nora shouts, "Get a room!" Both Yang and Blake's faces burn red as they hear Weiss and Ruby laugh.
"I never thought I'd be a third wheel, yet there I am."
Ruby laughed, "And I never thought I'd be a fourth wheel."
Yang and Blake deliberately avoided looking at one another.
At this point the feelings should have been obvious to both, what was stopping the two of them?
Footsteps came up behind them and Qrow found the scene touching, holding a glass in his hand.
If there's one thing I remember from this volume it was Qrow's drinking ass spiral! My God!
Ruby asks if he wants to play video games with them as well.
"I guess this is turning into a group exercise, but I'll put all of you in the ground," Yang exclaimed. Ruby turned in her seat.
"I'd like to see you try!"
"Oh really? You want a repeat from back in volume 3? I'll show it to you!" Those two needed to be stopped now or it would never end.
"Kick your butts?" Qrow thought about it for a fake second, "Sure!" His answer was interrupted by the train shaking.
Here was the moment I was referring to, Weiss thought while rolling her eyes.
People were running to the back of the train and Yang asked what that was.
If they had to guess, Grimm, and big ones too.
Weiss says it's exactly what it sounds like. Blake calls it her luck and Qrow corrects her that it's not hers. "Grab your weapons!" He barked.
Of course, they couldn't have a single nice trip.
Qrow climbs up the side of the car and sees a hoard of manticores flying in their direction. Dee and Dudley are having trouble with the swarm around them. Sphynx landed on the back car, letting out a shriek.
A sphynx Grimm as well? Wasn't that just peachy? They were all in for a real fight now.
Electricity was produced from Dee's weapon and he charged but he was swiftly taken into a manticore's claws, being flown off the train.
All of them gasped as they hoped he would be okay. Unfortunately, his rates of survival weren't very high.
Dudley shouted for his friend and the sphynx released an ear-splitting cry. All of them got ready and Blake asked Ruby what the plan was. "Don't let anyone else die."
Yes, that's a necessity for every fight, but what was the actual plan?
All of them rushed forward and from inside one of the cars, Oscar opened the window, moving his head back when a manticore flew by him. Ozpin asked if he should fight, but Oscar was keeping control. Jaune asked what was going on when Oscar bumped into him.
They thought it was pretty obvious, all the weapons firing and Grimm screeches. Did they really have to say? Even Jaune himself thought the question was a little redundant.
Team RWBY and Qrow were doing quick work of the Grimm while Dudley ran to the front cars.
"What is he doing? We could use his help right about now!" Yang shouted. Now wasn't the time to run away, especially when it was on top of a moving train!
Dudley jumped as fireballs made their way to him. He rapidly reached for his scroll and swiped across the screen to activate the defensives on the train car's windows and the cars themselves.
Oh, Yang will take back her earlier statement, that is helping a lot. The group tried to remain optimistic as that would at least, they hoped, keep all the passengers safe.
Inside the train, passengers were panicking, and Dudley triggered the weapons on the train to come out and begin firing, already taking down a few manticores. Dudley pumped his fist in success.
They really don't think it's the time for triumph, that usually waits until all the Grimm are dead and gone!
Qrow raises Harbinger to deflect the attack from the head on the sphynx's tail. He turns in his crow form and comes down on its neck. He jumps back down and bullets from the train hit the Grimm. The giant creature shrieks and all the manticores fly down to destroy them.
As they would like to have more weapons out, they needed to get rid of those cannons as it could lead to the people who are in the upper train cars. "They need to turn those things off, they manticores getting too close to the citizens and it's causing panic!" Ruby shouted.
One of the manticores blasted fire and destroyed one of the cannons, causing beside inside to scream in terror.
"Ren, have you ever tried using your semblance on a whole group of people?" Oscar asked. The boy shook his head no.
"That would be too draining and it wouldn't last."
"Why not use Jaune's new semblance to give that boost, then is it possible to do it?" Sun asked. Hypothetically speaking, yes it would.
Qrow shouts at Dudley, asking what he's doing. Oscar runs atop the cars and Nora complains about why it's always something.
This is where they left at the beginning and before was the buildup.
Oscar asks how he can help. "You can get that idiot to shut off the turrets, they're just drawing the Grimm towards the passengers." Oscar speeds off, dodging the fire and an incoming manticore, making it to Dudley.
Oscar tells him that he has to turn off the turrets. "Are you crazy?! No way!" Dudley responded.
"No, we're all thinking logically here," Blake replied.
Dudley shoots another Grimm and is proud of himself for the kill. "Stop! You have to lure the Grimm to the back!" Dudley asks what does it matter if they're dead?
Because you're putting more people's lives in jeopardy due to your stupidity.
The sphynx gives a cry and all the Grimm fly off, but not far.
All were confused when it hit them. THE TUNNEL! This is when Oscar screams it!
Dudley asks where they're going and Oscar looks behind him to see an oncoming tunnel. "TUNNEL!" He screams running forward in between the cars. Dudley swings off the side and just barely misses, but cries out when there's a crack.
Everyone winced as just hearing the crack was enough.
Dudley is on the flooring, crying in pain while holding his arm when the group comes into the room. Qrow makes his way through and slams him in the door, "I said turn those damn turrets off!"
"Uncle Qrow, he's injured! Could you at least let him have it when he's properly tended to?" Ruby exclaimed.
Dudley defends that those things are keeping them alive. He and Qrow go into their argument while Ruby looks out the window and sees some manticores following them through the tunnel. Ruby looks back at all the scared people and seems to come to a decision, walking toward Qrow and stopping him midsentence.
Qrow steps aside. "Please just shut off the turrets," Ruby politely says.
Yang feels a well of pride filling her chest. Another great example of why Ruby is a great leader, turning and handling the situation calmly.
"Hate to break it to the guy, but we're better huntsmen than he is, and we don't even have our licenses!" Yang shouts. It just seems like in this situation he's doing it in all the wrong ways, bringing the Grimm to the people is one thing.
Jaune tells him to trust them, they know what they're doing. Jaune raises his hands and uses semblance to boost Dudley's aura to heal him. The man begrudgingly agrees and Nora asks Ren if he can use his semblance to mask everyone on the train with all the guns off and emotions hidden. The Grimm might lose track of them.
All of them nodded and felt proud of themselves, especially Ruby, that they thought of it before anyone else said anything.
"I've never attempted to affect this many people."
That doesn't it isn't possible and with Jaune's semblance, it can make it a lot easier and less draining.
Ruby says he's never had Jaune's help before. Weiss adds, "He can amplify your aura." Qrow calls it an alright plan and everyone begins to think more on it. Ozpin asks Oscar again if he can have control. Ozpin takes over and says there's one complication.
"Is Dudley going to realize that Oscar is now a completely different person?" Sun wondered. It's a possibility.
"Grimm are also attracted to this," Ozpin refers to the lamp hooked to him.
"So that would Ozpin would have to come with them," Ren concurred.
The students were shocked, but they didn't want to jump to conclusions about whether or not they had been informed.
Dudley asks what it was, but Qrow snaps that it wasn't his business. "Oz, are you serious?" Yang angrily yells why he didn't tell them this.
Well, there went that. If they'd had the lamp for two weeks and he's failed to mention that Grimm is attracted to it, doesn't he realize the danger he's put them in? What if a random horde of Grimm attacked and to their knowledge, unprovoked, any one of them could have gotten hurt! Or worse, what if it was in their sleep and they had no idea and they were all killed, no matter if they were in a building or not.
Ozpin was going to explain but Ruby cuts in, telling them it doesn't matter at the moment.
As annoyed as they all were, Ruby was right, they had more pressing matters to deal with at the moment.
"Also, like you're one to talk!" Yang yelled to herself. "You're upset that this was another thing Ozpin kept from you all but you're just as guilty." Now that Yang wasn't so plagued by her emotions she could properly comment her opinions on the issue. "It was to protect mom from Salem but that doesn't divert the fact that you're keeping secrets of your own."
Yang crosses her arms, Ruby's whole team is upset but they stay silent. "Every second we're aboard this train we're putting everyone else in danger. Get the passengers to the front cars, you'll still mask the emotions and kill the turrets, we just can't come with you. If we cut the back cars with us and the Relic on them, we can deal with the Grimm, you just make sure the rest of the train makes it safely to Argus."
So, the group will be separated for who knows how many episodes, but they can at least hope at some point they'll meet again. Why was the first episode filled with so many 'see you later's?
Dudley's arm was healed and Jaune sadly walked up to Ruby, "Only if you promise you'll meet us there."
"I promise." Ruby was confident they'd all make it, they still had the rest of the volume to be and the next three.
Ruby promises. Jaune and Nora were directing everyone to the front cars, but a similar old woman paused and looked back.
If they were showing her again then she had to be important to this volume, they wouldn't keep showing her specifically otherwise. True, it's only been twice, but twice is enough to catch their suspicion. What role did she have to play? They were also curious about the tech over her eyes.
The turrets retracted and Blake cut the cars, getting a vision of Adam across from her in a recurring position. She pulled out Gambol Shroud but when she realized it wasn't real she put it back.
Blake felt her own fear heighten, afraid that she would see him again so soon. When it was all just her imagination she calmed down, but a stone feeling didn't leave.
Blake joined her team and Ruby looked down at her scroll with a small connection to Nora. They all heard the cries from the Grimm that exited the tunnel and cried 'now' into her scroll. Ren put his hand on the roof below him and Jaune placed his hand on Ren's shoulder. Car by car, the train was masked and coated in gray.
All of them cheered as it was working! The only thing they needed to worry about was taking down the Grimm.
Ozpin watched the cars go and was brought back by a manticore behind them at attempted to take a swipe. He stopped it with his cane and repeatedly smacked its head. Team RWBY were dealing with their own. One came charging at Yang but she stopped it in its tracks by grabbing onto its horns, turning its body into the car, and punching it.
Blake's catch of breath was covered by Yang's friends cheering in astonishment. They already knew she was strong but that was amazing! Blake felt her heart racing and a flush burning down to her neck. Blake didn't dare want anyone to know what she was thinking but if anyone were watching they'd see the quick lip bite.
"That's my sister!"
Blake released a breath, but others just assumed it was out of awe.
Blake swung Gambol Shroud. When Gambol was retracted, she ran forward and the manticore shot its tail to sting her, but Blake used her semblance to propel over and cut it. It let out a cry as its tail dissolved. Ruby killed her manticore by going for its legs, then decapitating the head. She bounded off the second one and shot it in the head.
"That's my sister!" Yang copied.
Ruby blocked a fireball, but it made her turn around and see the struggle Oscar was having. Ruby and Weiss kill two Grimm with one stone, eliminating both the manticore coming towards them and the one attacking Ozpin.
"Woo! Dream team!" Ruby exclaimed, raising her hand for a high-five. Weiss looks at it for a moment before giving in.
Qrow slashes away the sphynx and goes for the head but the tail knocks him back. He's blasted to the ground by one of its fireballs.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby and Yang yell in worry.
Weiss skates across her glyphs toward him and attacks the Grimm from close up while Ruby shoots at it from afar. Blake comes up behind Ruby and the girl wants Blake to see if she can ground it. Blake is on it and she calls out to Yang, the girl using the Grimm and Ember Celica to make her way to the other of the sphynx, sliding under it.
Blake tosses Gambol Shroud and Yang punches it so the weapon can wrap around the Grimm's body. She secures it into the ground and both Yang and Blake pull on the ribbon.
The group were all sitting in their seats with anticipation, and excitement filling them as this was the turning point of the battle.
Weiss stands in front of its head, creating ice glyphs on its wings that freeze them. Both of them were shattered by a shot from Ruby and Qrow. The two readied the scythes, running forward and spun. The sphynx was producing a fireball in its mouth while they did so.
"FINISH HIM!" Nora screamed at the top of her lungs!
The two wielders sliced through its stomach, killing it.
All of them cheered before they swiftly remembered the burning fire in the Grimm's mouth.
As the sphynx came down, the fire was released and landed on the tracks. Weiss quickly made gravity glyphs that held all of them as the train went off the tracks and into the snow.
"Despite us going off the rails," Yang tried, but it didn't really land, "I think we can all agree we got lucky that it wasn't a 50ft drop that could have potentially killed us all." While that last part could have been phrased better, Yang isn't wrong.
They could be thankful for that, at the very least. But then it would take them much longer to reach Argus.
Qrow slowly got up and asked if everyone was alright. Everyone was fine and accounted for until they heard an unfamiliar voice, "Still alive!" Coming out of the crashed train car was the old lady.
All of them stared at the screen in utter disbelief before everyone burst out with their questions.
"What the? Why was she in the back cars?"
"Why is she important?" One of them screened as she was now going to be sticking with them as they made their way to Argus
"Why did she follow us?"
"How is she alive?" Weiss didn't give her a gravity glyph as she didn't know she was there. She didn't look seriously injured.
"That is one tough old lady."
Raider laughed to herself as came one of her favorite characters since she's extremely sassy. Sassy characters were always the best, just like a green-powered villain and sidekick from another dimension.
"That sure was a close one, huh?" She asked as she walked out of the car. Everything went black.
The group was all pumped to see the volume 6 intro.
Crescent Rose was viewed from all angles as it went from its gun form to its scythe. Crescent Rose flashed into light then nothing over and over until it landed in Ruby's hands.
The room found the sequence really cool.
Blake landed beside Ruby, then revealed Yang to the right and Weiss in front of them, swinging Myrtenaster to create ice. The moon was full, introducing the volume when it shattered, moving downward to Ren sitting on a bench with Nora hugging him from behind, Qrow asleep, Oscar reading, and Jaune looking ready with his bag.
Nora and Ren felt a blush, looking at their position. It was friendly and something any two best friends would do, but it felt more. Yang and Ruby shook their heads at their uncle, seeing it made sense for him to be napping. Pyrrha found Jaune adorable as he looked so determined and ready.
Jaune's sword touched Oscar's arm and it popped open as his shield, knocking the magazine out of Oscar's hands and onto Qrow's face. Jaune looks sheepish from Qrow's annoyed stare.
Jaune looked down at the ground as a few around him chuckled. Pyrrha tried to hide her giggles which only made Jaune feel more embarrassed.
In a train car, Weiss and Ruby happily played tag with one another, smiling as Blake watched them with a grin.
Everyone, besides the two girls themselves, had the most deadpan expressions. No one said anything further.
Yang was frowning, then looked out the window, distracted as a reflection of Adam appeared.
So, it is heavily confirmed that they will see him again at some point, but at what point? They don't know.
The train moves on and a sphynx covers it, having Ruby and Qrowing down until the old lady steps up. She smiles and goes through one of her eyes into Ruby's.
That seemed like a very specific transition between the two. They didn't think it was for the intro effect either, it seemed more than that.
Qrow seemed dazed as he drank from his flask, being then dragged down into darkness by long Grimm arms.
All of them were worried about how Qrow was drinking but it was then replaced by fear when they saw him get pulled down. They hoped it was metaphorical over literal, but even then that was terrible too. Qrow going down a drinking spiral and into the darkness was horrible. Though, they'd much rather have that than for Qrow to get killed.
In the darkness, red eyes gleamed all around and all their hands went and reached for Ruby who was down in an underground passage. She fended them off with Crescent Rose and her shot showed a woman walking in the rain with a cloak covering her face.
It was those same hands, and where the heck even was Ruby? All eyes widened when they saw the "mysterious figure", it was quite obvious that it was Cinder. Great, they would be seeing her as well, maybe then they could see how she survived from being shattered.
"Those Grimm arms that keep reappearing, they're probably some new Grimm that we'll have to face," Weiss studied. Her hand instinctively went to Ruby's for comfort as seeing those same Grimm attack her girlfriend made her frightened for her. Something about those Grimm didn't sit right with her, it was something about them that told her these were a lot different from the Grimm they're used to.
A bowler hat flies by, a familiar one, flies by the cloaked individual and is slashed by Adam's sword as he stands beside a burning White Fang flag.
Everyone's eyes widened as they recognized the hat anywhere. Roman, who's clearly been eaten by nevermores, so it couldn't be him…Neo! She was alive?!
All of Salem's henchmen appear in their own sections, the woman herself watching from one of her seers. She cries out as blue smoke releases behind her, introducing a blonde woman standing in front of a statue with a man possessing a cane.
The curious about the woman and the man in the statue looked like he resembled Ozpin. The cane only seemed to confirm their assumptions. They were more interested in the blonde woman, the way she looked at the statue was like one of…longing? And she also looked like a human version of Salem.
Three men were shown before coming to Ozpin who faded into Oscar.
It didn't take long for the group to figure out that those must have been Ozpin's past reincarnations.
Oscar seemed worried until Jaune, angrily, shoved him up against a wall.
"Woah, woah, woah! What was that?" Jaune shouted, utterly flabbergasted and wondering why he was doing that to Oscar. Or was that anger meant to be directed at Ozpin?
"What's all that about?" Ruby screamed.
Both Oscar and Jaune were as clueless as the next person. For Jaune to react like that it must have deeply upset him, but what?
Qrow fought against a sphynx on the train and the mysterious person was fighting someone else in a bar.
"Wait, are these flashes of what's going to happen later in the volume?" Blake asked. The one with Qrow had already passed, so the moments like the one with Cinder and Jaune were moments that were going to happen.
Yang punched a manticore, spinning, and sliding under to turn into Blake, who then became Weiss. Ruby was running forward, her teammates fighting with her, as the girl bounded off Weiss's glyphs. Ruby swung her scythe, the blade enveloping everything to Weiss helping Ruby stand up. Ruby's arm was over Weiss's shoulder and Weiss's was on Ruby's upper back. Everyone else was standing behind them, on their left and their right.
With the whole tag thing they could let go, it was highly likely the two were just having fun, but this? It was like it was trying to hint at something.
"The other part in the intro can be argued with that you two are just having fun, but we gotta talk about?" Nora said while crossing her arms. Ren was going to let everyone focus on Weiss and Ruby and not the fact that he himself had his hand on Nora's shoulder. He hoped people were too distracted with the other two to notice his blush.
Both Weiss and Ruby, had a blush on their cheeks as all their friends were giving them knowing looks. "If you guys weren't together already we would have pointed this out as something going on between you two," Sun said with a smirk. The two girls had a feeling this wasn't the only thing that might appear between them in this volume, and since this was in the intro then they would be getting relentlessly teased for it.
That was the end of the first episode and there was a lot to unpack, especially in that intro alone. The moment with Jaune and Oscar had to be the most shocking along with finding out that Neopolitan was alive. Cinder made her appearance, they were worried they were going to come across her again.
"Who is that woman though?" Yang asked. She could either be referring to the one in the episode or the blonde in the intro, both were up for discussion. Theories were spreading around them that the blonde was a human version of Salem. They don't fully believe that Salem was born with the powers she has.
Not to mention Adam making an appearance in both the intro and first episode. That worried all of them that he was still free. Well, they won't know more unless they all continue watching.