Jaune looked at Pyrrha a second time, making sure that he heard her correctly; Pyrrha was sure that was the case. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Jaune, I'm sure." Pyrrha nodded. "Think of it as going as friends. You just need to be seen coming together and then we'll partner up as usual. Call it an excuse since team RWBY is invited here as our date."
That. The fact that Pyrrha called it date was what made it a concern in the first place. "But Weiss?"
"I know it sounds bad for me, but it's fine."
Doctor Jekyll didn't want Jaune and Weiss to separate. With Phantom's involvement targeting the two, he believed it to be the best choice that they stay close to another. Pyrrha didn't have much time to think of a plan and went with this one. In hindsight, it really does sound bad for anyone remotely aware of her and Jaune's relationships. Pyrrha could have taken Weiss with Jaune taking Ruby; there were less alarms there.
Jaune, bless his loyal and good soul, had proven himself quite the considerate boyfriend already. He was unsure, uncomfortable, and frankly didn't want to. But since Pyrrha asked him to, he complied. She made a mental note of repaying him for this some other time.
Even Weiss appeared uncomfortable at the thought. The only other one uncomfortable was Blake but that was because Ren had taken her as his date while Nora took Yang. Pyrrha could still see the slight coldness in Nora's eyes and the hairs on Blake's head stood like a terrified cat. Only Ruby appeared fine and unbothered by it.
"Besides," Pyrrha added. "We're wearing masks. We technically shouldn't know each other."
"That doesn't really do anything, Pyr."
Ruby was Pyrrha's savior, surprising Yang. "Come on, let's go! We're going to be late!"
No one could argue against Ruby and so they all went along with her. Klein, Weiss' butler, was waiting for them in the limousine. Jacques Schnee, Weiss' father, was absent. Jekyll, Winter, and Jack had separate rentals for theirs and had already gone ahead.
The trip in Atlas' night sky was filled with the colorful pops of fireworks. Black skies turned to a rainbow of colors while cats and dogs all fled for cover to cover their poor ears. Others were busy enjoying the sights and foods. Even the closed windows of the limousine could only muffle the noise coming from the outside.
Traffic was hectic as Atlas did not shy away from the fanciful theme that was this year's Vytal Festival. Ever since the opera house had been chosen, others followed suit to showcase that Atlas' culture was one of culture. Even at their early hour, the two teams were held back by it.
Ruby and Nora had their eyes glued to the windows as she took in those colorful fireworks. Yang was enjoying the snacks and drinks provided; she especially emptied the Strawberry Sunrise, no ice. Ren and Blake savored their moments of peace and quiet before the inevitable loud noises and blaring of music. Weiss maintained her composure. Jaune eventually relaxed enough.
But Pyrrha? Her instincts kept telling her to keep her guard up. Doctor Jekyll's alert didn't allow her to relax in the slightest. She hid it as jitters and a kind of withdrawal at having all the flashing lights again; her celebrity status was still there but it wanes here in Atlas.
I'm surprised that no one has offered me anything for an endorsement, yet. A distraction was nice. She mustn't be on alert all the time and the limousine was mostly safe, courtesy of the fact that Klein had another companion in one doctor Peach.
As promised, once they were seen entering together, Jaune left Weiss' arms and took Pyrrha's. He looked more at ease and Weiss didn't seem offended at the action. It was still early and most of the other students were still arriving and getting through traffic of their own.
The opera house was beautifully designed. While it still maintained Atlas' general lacking of colors, it only served to emphasize the colors of the guests and everyone there. Many had worn plain masks with some decorations here and there. Others had gone fanciful with how intricate their dresses and suits were like. Still, there were a few who didn't take it as a solemn event and went with funny masks and costumes; Pyrrha was half-sure that some of them were just cosplay.
Pyrrha's own mask hid her eyes from going all over the place. She quickly zoned in on one guest, evaluated their threat to either Jaune or Weiss, dismissed them, and looked for the next to repeat the cycle again. Feather masks, half-face masks, animal masks, even White Fang-inspired masks could be seen there; Blake stiffened at the sight of the last one especially.
"Now that's just poor taste," commented Weiss. "I like it."
"What?" Blake had to clean her ears.
"Do you have any idea how I wished I could have worn one? Think about how that would look on me."
"Hey-yo!" Yang liked what she had just heard. "Weiss Queen's letting loose early tonight."
That loosened everyone that Pyrrha didn't even know they were stiff in the first place. Though it did raise a question if this really was Weiss letting loose. She especially felt herself suddenly tired as her own muscles relaxed. How long had she held that tension in her?
Some even brought fans to add into their costumes. Others had hats on with prop weapons on their hips. Further in, not everyone had brought their masks but made up for it with some other prop or design.
Few have already begun to dance while others went straight for the snack tables. There were dining tables set on the side, each one having their own array of snacks. Teams RWBY and JNPR took their spot.
Atlas soldiers stationed away from everyone's immediate sight were the only ones that did deliberately did not follow the theme of the opera. They wore suits and had their communication devices on their ears. They were armed but not with their usual equipment: handguns with those further away from the main halls being allowed to carry rifles. They all wore shades and routinely communicated with one another.
Pyrrha managed to catch sight of Jekyll and Winter. Neither of the two were dancing together; they were too focused on their duties. Jack didn't seem to mind it as she was playing along, even becoming some kind of vigilante with her observance.
Her eyes went elsewhere and everywhere in the halls. Ozpin and Fran were on one side of the Opera house. Ironwood and that professor Nitocris of Vacuo was on another, up above on those galleries. Students were welcome there too and Pyrrha was sure that there were soldiers stationed there just to make sure that no couple dared to be frisky this night; anyone who did had to be within sight with the doors open. They weren't here to watch a drama.
Jaune, ever the gentleman, went ahead and gave drinks for everyone along with Ren. The punch was of a tropical fruit, unfit for the northern Atlas. But they were students; legal age they may be, but they were still not allowed it on school grounds and on school functions. The Vytal dance is a school function.
"Surprisingly," Weiss said. "I do not see mister Ball anywhere. Would have made it easier to find this patron but father isn't here nor does he plan to come here at all."
"Your father wants to give you privacy?" Yang tried to answer as if Weiss wanted an explanation.
Weiss didn't seem to mind. "He will give some token speech how it is our night and that a civilian like him shouldn't impose and was simply happy to offer it for this year's Vytal festival but that would be done in an interview somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if he already did. What I'm still interested in is the patroness of this opera house."
Pyrrha gulped. Given what she knew and had to keep secret, she could already guess the identity of this patroness.
"I'm more concerned about our own professors," Blake commented; her eyes were on the professors. "The general was more relaxed than Beacon. I get that Atlas puts a lot of focus on security but this is a bit much, isn't it?"
"Election cycle gets rather hectic." Weiss waved her hand in dismissal. "Like I said, father would say his token speech and it wouldn't surprise me if his enemies would use this chance to do something."
"Robyn Hill doesn't strike me as the type to do that, though."
"I didn't say it was Robyn Hill, Blake. And no, I do not mean the White Fang either, even if this was the perfect opportunity to hide in plain sight."
Suddenly, Pyrrha felt her scroll vibrate. "Excuse me," she said, standing up.
"Pyrrha?" Jaune asked. "Are you sure everything is alright?"
"Don't worry about it." Pyrrha felt the pain in her chest in lying to him. Not here, not in front of everyone else. "Probably my agent or something."
Jaune nodded but that look on his face showed that he wanted answers. He wouldn't pry if Pyrrha didn't want to; she knew that. But Pyrrha would make a poor showing if she kept it a secret. She'll ask doctor Jekyll if Jaune could be in the know of this.
Speaking of doctor Jekyll, the call had come from him. "Stay alert, Winter, Jack, and I are going to make our exit. If anything happens, miss Nikos, contact Ozpin or Ironwood."
The call ended there. Pyrrha nearly bumped into mister Vlad of Mistral. He didn't wear a mask either. Pale in color, Vlad was akin to a Grimm underneath the beams of Remnant's moonlight. Had his eyes been a piercing red, it would have been a menacing look. But instead, Vlad's eyes were sickly yellow.
He was like a noble specter of death. Fancily dressed with a flowing black cape. On his shoulder was that bird that he was always with. Raven Branwen never made her appearance.
Oh yeah, Pyrrha thought. Raven is Yang's mother. She never talked about her much when we first came here.
"Are you done staring, student?" Vlad raised an eyebrow. "Or am I simply a… hypnotizing presence?" It didn't sound like teasing at all; Vlad almost spat at the mention of hypnotism. "I suggest you keep in your presence some garlic or sacred relics."
"Sir?"
The bird pecked Vlad in the cheek. Vlad sighed. "Forgive an old man and his eccentricities. A night like this one sparks the imaginations of those with an interest of those that lurk in the night."
Pyrrha saw Jekyll, Winter, and Jack vacate the premises. Music kept going as no one noticed their absence. Those that did assumed that it was because Jack wanted to go home with how much Jack was acting out; Jack was throwing tantrums and was whining so much. The employees of the opera house were exchanging messages.
Eventually, she returned back to her table. Her excuse of it being her agent worked for the most part though she gave a look towards Jaune; in the morning, she'll tell him some more.
The dance kept going that the music even changed from the typical songs for their generation, with the occasional classical music to better fit the theme, to a disco of sorts. The song in particular used a synthesizer bassline and sound effects evoking old school horror films were played. Some of the older people knew the song with some of Pyrrha's peers having recognized it. Their dance moves were akin to zombies.
It was a fun night that Pyrrha began to wonder if her worry had been worth it. The midnight hour was close at hand, almost perfectly above them. Some have already begun to leave in favor of sleep. But team JNPR and RWBY remained for a while longer.
Then, Pyrrha was reminded of that worry. An overture was played, drowning out all noise. The lights dimmed to nothing as darkness filled the halls. Candles were lit, emitting a light of unnatural violet.
"Not again," Jaune said. His hand was already on his neck. Pyrrha held his hand and kept him close. Still, he said: "not again."
Pyrrha looked for Weiss. She sighed relief knowing that team RWBY was with Weiss.
Spotlights opened and focused on two people with masques like red deaths. Pyrrha could already guess who they were. The opera house turned cold, and two people its chillers.
From the corner of Pyrrha's eyes, she could see Ozpin and Fran move on one side while Ironwood and Nitocris were moving on the other. But Pyrrha saw Vlad intervene. Vlad had put himself in front of Ozpin and Fran while Nitocris was alone against the Phantom.
Right before them all, though only Pyrrha managed to notice, Fran, Nitocirs, and Vlad changed their outfits.
Phantom and Salem descended down from the stairs. It was Salem who spoke asking: "why so quiet, good sirs and madams? Am I a disturbance on this fine evening?" She turned to address Ozpin. "Have you missed me, good sir?"
The raven on Vlad's shoulders transformed into Raven Branwen, shocking everyone in the room. Yang was especially surprised. "Mom?"
Pyrrha could see that Raven's face was only of guilt. She looked away from everyone even Ozpin who was ready to face her as an opponent.
Ironwood would have intervened but Raven had moved herself to be between the two headmasters. Vlad kept Fran at a distance, no weapons were drawn and Nitocris was left alone against the Phantom. By now, everyone else would have noticed the change in attire, depending on who they were physically closer to.
Jaune was shaking in his shoes, the familiar face of the Phantom was chilling him down to his bones. Pyrrha kept close to his side; she had no weapon on her person but she wasn't going to let anything happen to him. Nora and Ren were already moving to his side.
"Fondest greeting to you all," sang the Phantom. There was no music to accompany his tune as he made it as he went. "A few things must be said before the musical starts."
Phantom strutted about in the room. Nitocris followed Phantom, not allowing to get close to anyone without the threat of a fight. Salem was approaching Fran and Pyrrha could not hear whatever conversation those two were having.
"First!" Phantom pulled out a sword and pointed it at Nitocris. "One must not trespass on someone's home." He pulled out dead insects and tossed it at her feet. "It is rude and one must not let their pets simply roam."
Nitocris brought forth her staff, appearing seemingly out of thin air. Students have begun to vacate the premises. However, the doors were suddenly shut tight. The students have begun to bang on the doors but it didn't budge.
Ironwood had begun to contact the other soldiers. They were stuck on the other side. No fight was breaking out and yet Pyrrha felt as though they were losing in this ambush.
Then, Phantom pointed the blade at Fran, already in her bridal outfit. "Second! One must be made aware of their father's past. No one knows when it could come back to bite him in the ass."
Pyrrha got between Jaune and the Phantom the moment that the sword pointed towards them next.
"Third. We meet again, Raoul the greedy thief. Our last meeting was rather brief. Is she not enough that you get another? Or has Christine revealed herself and become a bother?"
Pyrrha did not miss the look Phantom gave towards Weiss. Team RWBY acted on instinct and put themselves between the Phantom and her. Phantom only growled softly at the sight of it.
"Fourth." Phantom pointed at the closed the door. "It would seem that the lovely couple had to leave, on the double. Such a shame that they're not here but I suppose that a deal is a deal."
No one knows what that had meant, not even Pyrrha herself.
"Finally." Phantom still approached Weiss. But his sword was sheathed. "Christine Daaé. No doubt you'll do your best, it's true. But your voice is too good, not meant for the rest of you."
"Who?" Weiss asked.
Phantom's growl grew louder. "You still have much to learn my dear. And your memory is failing, I fear. Perhaps you need a refresher for you have forgotten your teacher."
"Teacher?" Weiss shook her head. "I had plenty of tutors and I don't remember father ever hiring someone like you."
Phantom would have turned violent there. But Salem's own hand had gentled him back into civilized restraint.
Nitocris had moved closer, even appearing with team RWBY as the butt of her staff struck the ground. "I will not allow you to step any closer on these students, Phantom. The quarrel is between ourselves and our Masters. Engage in this ludicrous drama any further and you will feel the wrathful might of Egypt itself."
Ozpin looked sad as he witnessed Salem's face. Fran did not draw her hammer and only placed a comforting hand on his shoulders. Pyrrha couldn't tell what Salem was feeling; her back was towards her. Vlad, on the other hand, was an open children's book with pretty pictures. Raven didn't even look at Ironwood in the eye.
"What's going on?" Weiss asked.
The students have already begun to calm down enough. Others have pulled out their scrolls and begun to record the events unfolding in front of them. Atlas' law enforcement should be arriving soon. This was going to be in the news, that's for sure.
Phantoms looked offended. "Does Christine not truly know? Or has everyone told her whole life no?"
"What?" Weiss' face was ugly as she tried to make sense of Phantom's words. "Who's Christine?"
Before Phantom could leap at them, team JNPR acted first. Jaune had commanded the four to get between them. With team RWBY, that is seven people between Weiss and Phantom. Jaune was at the lead which would have tempted Phantom further but Nitocris got between the two, making sure that Phantom could not get closer to Jaune without getting through to her.
"If your desire to harm comes first, then I will be first." Nitocris pointed her staff at Phantom. "I can assure you, Phantom. I will not go down quite so easily."
With a tap of her staff, many scarabs and… things in covered in white cloths had begun to appear. Rotting corpses covered in white also began to appear around them, scaring the other students. Ozpin and Ironwood had a defeated acceptance on their faces.
After this night, the secret is definitely out.
/-/
"Did I do good, mother?"
"The best actress I've ever seen." Winter had been genuinely convinced that Jack was throwing tantrums; it made it more natural for her to act. "You'd put the best theater students to shame."
Trying to leave early had been a difficult task. Hyde nearly took over and that was not a scandal they could handle. But a child throwing tantrums that forced them to leave? Well that was boring but also an acceptable excuse, not for Jacques and the elites but they didn't matter right now.
What mattered was that Peach had informed them of White Fang infiltrating the Schnee manor. Winter didn't have the time to change her clothes and had to tear her dress a little just to maximize movement. Jack went back to those rags of hers with her daggers ready. As for Jekyll, he didn't really need to.
Peach stayed behind at the opera house. Jekyll cursed when Peach had informed them of Phantoms reappearance alongside Salem's first ever in public. Vlad and Fran are engaged in a standoff with Nitocris getting between Phantom and the students.
"I can take care of myself, Jekyll," Winter said. "I have Jack with me, too. You can go back."
"I wish I could." Jekyll had yet to put down his scroll. "But the crowds are already gathering and law enforcement wouldn't let anyone in. Even if you gave the orders, I wouldn't make it in time. They've also barricaded themselves."
Winter threw away her heeled shoes. She slid across the ground as she made sheets of slippery ice, all the while removing the grime and dirt that would have gotten into her feet. Thrown nails and other sharp objects were being pushed to the sides as the three of them maintained their pace.
The Schnee manor was far from the opera house. Though they could see it with their naked eyes, they failed to notice that the White Fang had been following them. The stragglers have begun to coalesce and overtake them. Information was forwarded towards the other White Fang members that there was a notable army by the time the Schnee gates were in sight.
Winter's training as a soldier and commanding officer made her pull Jekyll and Jack to a corner before either of the two could do anything hasty. Assassin-class Servants these two may be and while they may be Servants, the White Fang have far too many numbers that to charge in was to risk her own family. Jekyll and Jack will be fine, it is the rest of her family that won't be if they acted to hastily.
Jacques was not a good father. Willow had abandoned them. But this was not the end that should befall them. Whitley was getting better by the day and Winter would damn herself if she couldn't see what Whitley would turn into. Klein was not just the family butler but the father figure that raised the entire Schnee household.
She held Jack in her arms. Jack was eager with her daggers, unfit for an Assassin. But this was her home. Jack made the Schnee manor a home.
Then, an announcement was made. The White Fang had taken over the news control and Adam's face was shown on screen.
"On this day!" Adam declared. "This day we faunus will have the righteous justice that we deserve! For too long we have been shackled while the humans feast away at their tables, only giving us what little scraps they couldn't stuff down their fat bellies! Faunus of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!"
On the screen, there displayed all members of the Schnee family. Jacques, Willow, and Whitley were held together in bondage. Willow was brought to the front. Whitley begged for them to stop while Jacques remained quiet as he tried to struggle free.
But then, Whitley mustered enough strength, resisted his captors, and stood up. His hands were still tied behind his back and he slammed Willow away as Adam's blade descended, making a deep cut into Whitley's back instead of Willow's neck.
Jack soon vanished from their sights, breaking free from Winter's hold.
Soon, fog began to flood the Schnee manor's gates.
"Oh bloody buggering hell," Jekyll cursed. Winter had to double check that it really was Jekyll. No Hyde this time. "We're going to be saving the White Fang from our own daughter."
Winter's eyes widened. She still had those dreams of Jack's past. Her eyes turned back to her home. The fog expanded from the gates and reached the manor itself. Soon, the entire Schnee manor would be covered in fog.
"London fog," Jekyll said. "I've missed you, don't get me wrong, but this is not the best time for to be taking a trip down memory lane!"
Tonight, Winter would see, along with everyone watching, the hand of Jack the Ripper.
/-/
A White Fang member was suddenly blinded by the thick fog that drowned the Schnee manor. She had been informed that strange abilities and semblances would be used by their enemies but she didn't expect this fog!
"Where are you?" she demanded as she drew her weapon, a mass-produced club.
Then she heard whistling noises coming from many children. The melody was of an unfamiliar song. It surrounded her and was of different volumes that she assumed that the children were close by. But her club only hit the fog that began to blind even her faunus eyes.
The whistling stopped. It had been replaced by singing but the melody remained the same. It wasn't a song that she had heard before.
London Bridge is falling down
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down
She swung her club at the fog. Still, her club hit nothing. She squinted her eyes into the foggy abyss.
A pair of red dots stared back.
My fair lady
AN: Given these characters' source materials being connected to the Halloween season (Universal Monsters), I couldn't think of a better way to name this chapter than the pop song most notably associated with the Halloween season. Correct me on this but have we had an event like this on FGO: namely, all of these characters involved and not separate events?