The weekend came swiftly, and with it, the culmination of their plans. Nora, Ren, Pyrrha, Ruby, Weiss, and Jaune found themselves sneaking out of Beacon under the cover of dawn. Each carried essentials strapped tightly to their backs — provisions, clothing, and a determination that none of them could fully articulate but all felt deeply.
Their mission was clear: Get Yang and Blake out of the mess they're in.
As they reached the outskirts of Vale, an airship awaited them, its somewhat sleek design a stark contrast to the rustic surroundings. It stood out, especially with the gleaming SDC logo on the hull made it unmistakably Weiss's doing. The heiress stood with her arms crossed, her expression a mix of irritation and reluctant resolve.
"You're welcome," Weiss said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, thanks for the escape vehicle," Ruby chimed in, her eyes sparkling as she took in the sight of the airship.
Pyrrha giggled as she adjusted her bag on her shoulder. "I can't help but feel like a bad girl lately."
"You're not bad!" Nora declared, her voice ringing with righteous conviction. She placed her hands on her hips, her stance as firm as her voice. "What's bad about saving our friends? If doing the right thing makes us 'bad,' then you know what? I'm proud to be bad. I'll be the baddest bad girl Beacon's ever seen!"
Ren sighed, but didn't bother arguing. Nora's logic, as strange as it often was, carried its own undeniable charm. Ruby, who had been only half-listening, nodded along enthusiastically.
"Enough," Weiss cut in, waving a hand. "Let's board. The sooner we leave, the better."
They filed into the airship, and Jaune produced a small bag filled with vials of liquid. He handed them out one by one, each potion shimmering faintly in the soft light.
"Bottoms up," Weiss instructed, taking her vial and downing it without hesitation.
The effects were immediate. Weiss's pristine white hair darkened to an inky black, and her icy-blue eyes turned a striking red. She glanced at her reflection in the polished surface of the airship's wall and frowned.
"Well, that's… unsettling," she muttered.
Pyrrha, who had hesitated for a moment, finally drank hers. To her surprise, her fiery red hair shifted into a gleaming bronze, as though it had been forged in molten metal. She ran a hand through the new color, her emerald eyes wide. "This is… different."
Jaune grinned at her. "You look good."
The simple compliment brought a faint blush to Pyrrha's cheeks, and she quickly busied herself adjusting her gear to hide it.
Ren drank his potion next, his dark hair lightening to a warm blond. Nora's orange locks shifted into a playful shade of pink, and she immediately began patting her head in search of a wolf's tail, tilting her head to glance at her backside.
"Do I have a tail?" Nora asked, her voice filled with wonder. She made an attempt to peek under her skirt, only to have Pyrrha grab her wrist with a sigh.
"Stop that," Pyrrha scolded gently.
Ruby, eager to join in, downed her potion and watched as her red-tipped hair deepened into a uniform crimson. Jaune followed last, his blond hair bleaching into snowy white and wolf's ears sprouting atop his head.
Nora grinned and spun around, her eyes sparkling as she observed everyone's new appearances. "This is amazing! We need code names. Cool code names!"
"What are you talking about now?" Weiss asked, rubbing her temples.
Nora ignored her. "Alright, Pyrrha, you're now Raya!"
"Raya?" Pyrrha echoed, blinking in confusion.
"Ren is Lee. Jaune is Rusty. Ruby's Red — obviously. Weiss…" Nora trailed off, a devilish grin spreading across her face. "You're Bleiss."
"Absolutely not," Weiss snapped, crossing her arms.
Nora smirked. "Potato, po-tah-to."
"And you?" Ren asked with a raised brow.
"I'm Valerie!" Nora declared triumphantly.
"W-what? How come yours is… simple!?" Weiss groaned, muttering something about professionalism, but Ruby giggled, already embracing her new alias.
As the airship ascended, the group settled into their roles. The hours passed quietly, the hum of the engines a steady backdrop to their thoughts. By the time the coastline of Anima came into view, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the edge of Mistral in a dusky glow.
Jaune stood near the cockpit, watching the distant land with a steady gaze.
"This is it," he said softly.
Pyrrha stepped beside him, her bronze hair gleaming in the dim light. "Are you ready?"
Jaune nodded, his wolf ears twitching slightly. "As ready as I'll ever be."
The rest of the group gathered behind them, their makeshift disguises blending them into an illusion of Faunus camaraderie.
"Time to go," Weiss said, her voice firm. "Menagerie awaits."
The airship's engines shifted to a quieter hum as they descended.
Landing softly in a secluded cove, its engines quieting as the group disembarked. Weiss instructed the pilot to wait for her orders and remain ready for a return flight and watched the airship go. Her icy demeanor belied the anxious energy swirling within her as she watched Jaune gather the group near his bag, which rested inconspicuously by the shoreline.
Jaune knelt down, his whitened hair catching the dim light of the moon. With careful movements, he pulled out a small pouch containing the shrinking potions. "Alright, everyone," he said, his voice steady. "This is where the real plan starts."
One by one, they took the vials, eyeing the shimmering liquid inside. Pyrrha hesitated for a moment, glancing at Weiss, who looked equally uncertain. Yet, both of them steeled themselves and drank.
The change was immediate. In a flash of light and a peculiar, weightless sensation, they found themselves shrinking down to the size of toy soldiers. The world around them expanded into an enormous landscape, and Jaune's towering form now loomed above them.
Weiss stumbled slightly, brushing herself off as she adjusted to the new perspective. "This is… disorienting," she muttered.
Ruby giggled, marveling at her tiny form. "This is so cool!"
Jaune crouched down, his massive hand moving toward them. Despite his size, his touch was gentle, his fingers carefully scooping them up one by one. He placed each of them into the prepared bag, lined with soft padding to ensure their comfort.
From within the bag, Pyrrha and Weiss couldn't help but glance up at Jaune as he worked. His movements were precise, almost tender, as if he feared he might hurt them. The way the moonlight framed his face didn't help either — it accentuated his strong jawline and the determined set of his features.
Both Pyrrha and Weiss found themselves blushing furiously, thankful for the dim light that hid their reddened cheeks.
"Comfortable in there?" Jaune asked softly.
"Surprisingly, yes," Ruby called out, her voice muffled by the bag.
Nora, as always, made her presence known. "This is so fun! Jaune, you're like a giant carrying his treasure!"
"Well, you guys are my treasure after all," Jaune chuckled, shaking his head as he zipped the bag shut, leaving a small gap for air and light.
With his friends secured, Jaune slung the bag over his shoulder, ensuring it rested gently. He adjusted his posture and approached the smuggler waiting near a weathered boat docked at the cove.
The smuggler was a mouse Faunus, his large ears twitching as he saw Jaune approach. The smuggler's sharp eyes noticed Jaune's wolf ears and white hair, and a flicker of recognition crossed his face.
"Well, well," the smuggler said, his voice nasally. "Another Faunus, huh? Didn't think you'd show up, Rusty."
"That's me," Jaune said evenly, extending a handful of Lien as payment. "You the man?"
The smuggler's eyes gleamed with greed as he weighed the money in his hand. "You know, I've been thinking. The price for this trip might've gone up recently."
Jaune's eyes narrowed, a low growl rumbling in his throat. His wolf ears twitched, and in a swift motion, he struck the jagged rock wall beside him with an aura-infused chop. The force left a clean scar in the stone, and the smuggler flinched, taking a step back.
"Is that so?" Jaune asked, his voice calm but dangerous.
The smuggler raised his hands in surrender, his ears folding back. "Alright, alright! No need to get aggressive. The price stays as we agreed."
"Good."
The smuggler motioned for Jaune to board the boat, muttering under his breath about "dangerous Faunus with aura."
As they departed, the small vessel glided through the calm waters, its engine humming softly. The smuggler, who introduced himself as Jerry, explained the route they'd take.
"We'll be weaving through the islands," Jerry said, steering the boat with a practiced hand. "It's safer that way. The waters around Menagerie are swarming with Grimm these days."
Jaune listened closely, his grip on the bag tightening.
"These islands aren't on any official maps," Jerry continued, his voice low. "Only those in the know use them. Keeps us out of sight."
The journey was uneventful at first, the boat weaving between towering jagged rocks and lush islets. But Jerry suddenly stopped the engine, his ears twitching.
"What's wrong?" Jaune asked, his hand moving instinctively to Crocea Mors.
"Sea Feilong," Jerry whispered, pointing to a shadow gliding beneath the water's surface.
The massive Grimm surfaced briefly, its serpentine body cutting through the waves like a knife. Its glowing red eyes scanned the area, searching for prey.
"Don't move," Jerry hissed. "Don't let it sense your aura or emotions."
Jaune gripped the hilt of his sword, every fiber of his being screaming to fight. But he heeded Jerry's warning and stayed still, his breath controlled and even. After what felt like an eternity, the Grimm disappeared into the depths, and Jerry restarted the engine.
They continued their journey until they reached a secluded island, its shores dotted with dense foliage and jagged rocks.
"This is as far as I can take you," Jerry said, his voice tinged with regret. "The fighting near Menagerie's coast has made it too dangerous to go any further."
Jaune frowned but nodded. "Thanks for getting me this far."
He stepped off the boat, the bag still slung over his shoulder, and watched as Jerry sailed away, disappearing into the horizon.
Finding a secluded spot away from the shoreline, Jaune set the bag down and unzipped it. One by one, his friends emerged, stretching and adjusting to their regular size as they drank the parfait-potion antidote.
"Finally!" Nora exclaimed, shaking her arms out. "I was starting to feel like luggage."
Ruby looked around, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Where are we?"
Jaune crossed his arms, scanning the dense jungle ahead. "The smuggler couldn't take us directly to Menagerie. This island's as close as we're going to get."
Pyrrha stepped closer, her hand brushing Jaune's arm. "What's the plan?"
Jaune took a deep breath. "We find a way to Menagerie from here. But first, we figure out where we are and what we're dealing with."
The group then moved cautiously, their boots crunching softly against the sandy jungle floor. The dense foliage pressed in around them, casting shadows that danced in the faint sunlight filtering through the canopy. With air thick with the scent of earth and saltwater, and the occasional rustle of leaves kept everyone on edge.
Jaune led the way, his movements deliberate and practiced. His wolf ears twitched as he listened for any signs of danger. Behind him, the rest of the group followed, their weapons carefully disguised. Any emblem or insignia that could reveal their true identities had been removed or concealed.
"Stay close," Jaune murmured, glancing over his shoulder.
As they approached a clearing, Jaune's body tensed. Without warning, a volley of dust rounds and arrows burst from the shadows. Reacting instinctively, Jaune drew Crocea Mors, its blade glinting in the dim light as he deflected the incoming projectiles. The others followed suit, their disguised weapons flashing as they parried and deflected.
"Ambush!" Weiss hissed, her rapier gliding through the air to block an arrow.
"Why is it always ambushes?" Ruby groaned, Crescent Rose slicing through the undergrowth to intercept a dust round.
Nora grinned, hefting her hammer. "Looks like someone's looking for a fight!"
"Wait!" Jaune barked, his voice firm. "Hold your ground!"
The attackers remained hidden, their movements betrayed only by the shifting leaves and faint glimmers of light reflecting off weapons. A voice rang out from the shadows.
"This is Azure Island! State your business or leave!"
Jaune's eyes narrowed, his blade raised defensively. He had no patience for anyone attacking them. With a wolf-like growl that came naturally. He amped up his aura and, with a swift motion, swung Crocea Mors in a wide arc, the aura-infused blade slicing through a nearby tree. The trunks groaned before toppling to the side, revealing several figures crouched in the undergrowth.
"I'm Rusty," Jaune said, his tone steady but commanding. "We're looking for Blake Belladonna and her classmate! Yang Xiao Long!"
The figures hesitated, their weapons still trained on the group. One of them, a young woman with brown hair tied back in a ponytail, stepped forward. Her gray-blue eyes locked onto Jaune's, wary and calculating.
"And what's your affiliation with Blake?" she asked, her voice sharp. "Why should we trust you?"
"We're her friends," Jaune said evenly. "We came to help her."
The woman's eyes flickered with doubt, and for a moment, her skin shimmered, blending with the surrounding foliage. Then, with a sigh, she allowed her natural colors to return, stepping fully into the light.
"I'm Ilia Amitola," she said, lowering her weapon slightly. Her skin glistened faintly, evidence of her chameleon-like Faunus trait. "If you're really here for Blake, you've got a lot of explaining to do."
Jaune relaxed slightly, but didn't lower his weapon entirely. "This is my team," he said, gesturing to the others. "Raya, Lee, Valerie, Bleiss, and Red."
Ilia raised an eyebrow at the aliases but didn't comment. She studied them closely, her eyes lingering on their disguised Faunus traits.
"You're all aura-abled," she said, suspicion still clear in her tone. "What's your game?"
"No game," Jaune said. "Just trying to find our friend. If we wanted to hurt you, which we have every right after that attack, we would have."
Ilia's expression softened slightly, though her stance remained guarded. "Follow me. I'm sorry. It's just things lately have been."
"It's fine," Jaune growled at her, which oddly calmed her. "Let's just forget about that, okay?"
After a moment's hesitation, Ilia nodded and motioned for them to follow. The group exchanged wary glances before moving after her, their weapons still at the ready.
"Welcome to Azure Island," Ilia said as she led them deeper into the jungle. "The current base of operations of Menagerie Guard and the forefront of the Menagerie Island Liberation Front against the White Fang!"