Chapter 13

Headmaster's Office

High above in his office that touched the clouds, Ozpin gazed down the window at the docking bays of the massive school. Military-grade ships were docking at Beacon, and Ozpin only hardened his expression at the sight of the massive vehicles.

Glynda scoffed at the sight. "Ironwood certainly loves to bring his work wherever he travels."

"Running an academy as well as Remnant's most advanced military power makes him a busy man, but yes. Those are a bit of an eyesore." Ozpin agreed with her.

A screen on Ozpin's desk began to blink, signifying that a visitor was coming up. He pressed a button, letting the visitor in, revealing a tall man. He was dressed in white pants and a white military coat. Under, he wore a gray vest with a red tie. Above his right eyebrow was a metal plate, under his graying black hair.

"Ozpin!" Ironwood greeted the old man.

"Hello, general." Ozpin politely returned his gesture.

"Please, drop the formalities. It's been too long!" Ironwood kindly held out his hand for him to shake, before turning to the side to greet the woman in the room.

"And Glynda! It's certainly been too long since we last met!"

"Oh, James! I'll be outside." Goodwitch sarcastically said before leaving.

"Well she hasn't changed a bit." Ironwood commented.

Ozpin turned to his clockwork-designed desk, pouring some tea into a couple of mugs. "So, James, what in the world has brought you all the way down from Atlas? Headmasters don't typically travel with their students for the Vytal Festival."

Ozpin handed Ironwood a mug, which he took with his gloved hand, before pulling out a flask from his coat and pouring its contents inside. "Well, you know how much I love Vale this time of year. Besides, with you hosting, I thought this would be a good opportunity for us to catch up.

Ozpin smiled and returned to his chair, pouring a drink for himself. "Well, I can certainly appreciate quality time between friends. However, the small fleet outside my window has me and the students quite concerned."

"Well, concern is what brought them here." Ironwood replied.

"I can understand travel between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult-" Ozpin continued, before the general cut him off.

"Oz… you and I both know why I brought those men."

Ozpin sipped from his mug and sighed. "We are in a time of peace. Shows of power like this are likely to give a wrong impression."

"But if what Qrow said is true, and if Kano comes here-"

"If what Qrow said is true, we will handle it tactfully. Besides, it's the Vytal Festival; a time to celebrate unity and peace. So, I suggest you not scare people by transporting hundreds of soldiers halfway across the planet." Ozpin explained.

"I'm just trying to be cautious." Ironwood insisted.

"As am I. Which is why we will continue to train the best Huntsmen and Huntresses we can. I've seen Haytham's work. He's a remarkable success of your mentorship, James." Ozpin said.

"Thank you, Ozpin. But… ask yourself this; Do you honestly believe your children can win a war?" Ironwood asked him before leaving.

Ozpin stared at him blankly with a solemn expression. "I hope they never have to."

Library

"Yang Xiao Long, prepare your kingdom for battle!" Ruby proclaimed.

"You won't know what's comin' to ya, sister!" Yang challenged her back.

"I deploy… the Altesian Air Fleet!" Ruby yelled, raising her card high.

"You wouldn't!" Yang gasped.

"Looks like I get to fly over your Ursai and attack your walls directly!"

"You monster!" Yang cried.

"And since Atlas is part of Mantle, my repair time only lasts one turn!" Ruby said confidently, until she heard Yang cackling to herself.

"Nice try… but you've just activated my trap card!" Yang yelled, holding out a card.

"WHAAAAAT?!"

"Giant Nevermore! If I roll a seven or higher, Fatal Feathers will tear your pathetic ships to shreds!" Yang slammed her fist on the table.

"But if you roll a six or lower, the Nevermore will turn on your own forces!" Ruby pointed out.

"It's a chance I'm willing to take!" Yang confidently proclaimed, before rolling the die, landing a perfect twelve.

"HA! Ahahahahahaaaa!" Yang cackled wickedly.

"NOOOO! MY FEARLESS SOLDIERS…." Ruby grieved for her poor lost comrades.

"Eh, most of them were probably androids to begin with." Yang pointed out.

"Goodbye, my friends. You will be avenged!"

"Not until I draw my rewards, which are DOUBLED this round, thanks to the Mistral trade route!" Yang laughed cruelly, much to Ruby's misery.

"HAVE YOU NO HEART, VILLAIN?!"

As Team RWBY played Ruby's board game, the rest of the gang were around the building. Johnny was playing on his scroll with Smoke, Kung Lao and Nora were fast asleep, with Ren reading a book beside her while the rest were busy studying.

Jaune was reading an "X-Ray and Vav" comic, until Pyrrha took it away from him and shoved a textbook in his hands… before flipping the pages of the comic herself.

"Alright, Weiss! You're up!" Yang called out to the young woman.

"I… how do you play this again?" She asked in confusion.

"It's quite simple! You're playing as Vacuo, which means all Vacuo based cards come with a bonus!"

"Well, that sounds stupid." Weiss blankly said.

"See… you've got Sandstorm, Mohawk Beast Master, and Resourceful Raider? Now you can take Ruby's air fleet-"

"Whyyyyy…" Ruby cried as she buried her face into the table.

"-and put it in your hand! And since Vacuo warriors have an endurance boost in natural hazards, you can use Sandstorm to disable my ground forces and simultaneously infiltrate my kingdom!" Yang explained.

"But remember that would be a declaration of war to me…" Yang threatened Weiss .

"And that means…"

"You're only three moves away from conquering Remnant!" Ruby said between her sobs.

Weiss's eyes widened and began cackling evily. "AHAHAHA! YES, FEAR THE ALMIGHTY POWER OF MY FORCES! WATCH AS THEY PILLAGE YOUR HOMES AND TAKE YOUR CHILDREN FROM YOUR VERY A-"

"Trap card." Yang held up a card.

"Wait, wha-"

"Your armies belong to me now." Yang blankly said as she rearranged the pieces on the board.

"Why is the world so cruel?!" Weiss sobbed as she mourned her fallen.

"Okay, Blake, you're up!" Yang said

"Oh! Uhhh… What am I doing again?" Blake stuttered, not exactly processing what was going on around her.

"You're playing as Vale, trying to conquer the kingdoms of Remnant!" Yang explained.

"Hey, can I play?" Jaune asked.

"Sorry, Jaune! Four kingdoms only!" Yang told him.

"Besides, this game requires a certain level of tactical and strategic skill that I doubt you possess." Weiss continued.

"Bring it on, Ice Queen! I've been told that I'm a natural born leader!" Jaune said confidently.

"By whom, your mother?" Weiss asked sarcastically.

"!A-and Ruby! And Pyrrha…" Jaune awkwardly answered her.

"Hi again." Pyrrha waved

"I'm not trusting you with the good citizens of Vacuo!" Weiss said, bringing her cards closer to her chest.

"C'mon! You've trusted me with way more important stuff! I mean, you told us that Blake is secretly a fa-" Jaune began.

Before Jaune could finish Sub Zero stretched his hand towards Jaune freezing him. This didn't stop Blake from directing a deadly glare at the group, but sent a thank you to Sub Zero.

Using his power, he unfroze Jaune who smiled awkwardly

"'Sup, guys?"

The gang turned around to see Sun and Neptune approaching them.

"Hey, Sun!" Ruby greeted the Boy.

"Everyone. Ice Queen." Sun greeted them all, smirking mischievously at the last part.

"Why does everybody keep calling me that?!"

"I never got to introduce you to my friend!" Sun said.

"Aren't libraries for reading?" Neptune asked his friend.

"THANK YOU!" Ren and Scorpion called out.

"Don't be a nerd." Nora said, jabbing Ren with her elbow.

"Utututut… Intellectual." Neptune said to her, raising his finger in objection.

"I'm Neptune. Nice to meet you all." The blue-haired boy introduced himself.

"So Neptune… where are you from?" Weiss curiously asked him.

"Haven. I'm in Sun's team." Neptune answered her.

"By the way, Snow Angel… I don't believe I've caught your name…" Neptune walked up to Weiss with a slightly huskier tone of voice.

Weiss blushed and introduced herself. "I-I'm Weiss."

"Pleasure." Neptune smiled at her.

Headmaster's Office Several months ago

"Thank you for taking the time to meet me here, Kuai Liang." Ozpin greeted the young man as he sat down.

"The pleasure is mine. Now, what did you want to discuss with me?" Sub Zero asked him with a monotone voice.

Ozpin sighed. "As you know, in order to enroll in my academy, students must first pass through a rigorous entrance exam. Most applicants spend years training at one of the many combat schools. And yet, you are one of the few who did not, and you passed the exam with flying colors, and the same can be said for your entire team."

Sub Zero said eyeing the headmaster . "I trained myself to the bones to get to where I am ."

"Ah yes, the Lin Kuei?" Ozpin asked him.

Sub Zero didn't change his expression. "You know of us?"

Ozpin blinked and asked him blankly, "What business do the Lin Kuei have in my school?"

Sub Zero glanced up to meet his eye. "I came on my own accord."

"I won't force you to reveal your reason for coming here. But know before being a headmaster, I am a Huntsman and I will stop you if you threaten my school." Ozpin said before walking to leave

"You do not need to worry." Sub Zero standing up

"Also try keeping that Hanzo figure in check." Ozpin said finally

Team JKHL's Dorm

Sub Zero was pulled out of his thought as his teammates walked into the room

"YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME, PRETTY BOY!" Johnny yelled as he was being restrained by Liu Kang.

"Why is he so mad again?" Sub Zero asked Scorpion.

"Neptune beat him at Ruby's Board game." Scorpion answered.

"Ah."

"Wait…" Johnny stopped and raised his hand for silence.

As the room fell silent, the team ears caught a conversation taking place in Team RWBY's dorm next to them.

Team RWBY's Dorm

"Stop." Weiss said to Blake, who was reaching for the door.

"Lately, you've been quiet, anti-social and moody."

"Uhh… have you met Blake?" Yang joked.

"W-which I get is kinda "your thing", but you've been doing it more than usual, which quite frankly, is unacceptable! You made a promise to me, to all of us that you'd let us know if something was wrong! SO, BLAKE BELLADONNA…"

"…WHAT! IS! WRONG?!" Weiss dramatically asked her, finding herself balancing on top of a chair while pointing down at her, only to compose herself and wait for her answer.

"I just… don't understand why everyone can be so calm!" Blake said to her teammates.

"You still thinking about Torchwick?" Ruby asked her.

"Torchwick, the White Fang, all of it! Something big's coming, I just know it, but nobody's doing anything about it!"

"Hey, Ozpin told us not to worry. Between the police and the Huntsmen, I'm sure they can handle it." Yang attempted to reassure Blake.

"Well, I'm not! They don't know the White Fang like I do!" Blake insisted.

Ruby exchanged looks between Weiss and Yang for guidance, and Weiss spoke up. "Okay, between blowing up nightclubs, stopping thieves, and fighting for freedom, I'm sure the three of you think you're all ready to go out and apprehend these ne'er-do-wells…"

"Ne'er-do wha-?" Ruby asked confused

"…but let me once again be the voice of reason. We're students! We're not ready to go out and handle this sort of situation."

"Yeah, but-" Ruby began, but was interrupted by the heiress.

"We're not ready!

"And we may never be ready! Our enemies aren't going to sit around, waiting for graduation day! They're out there somewhere planning their next move and none of us may know what it is, but it's coming! Whether we're ready or not!" Blake yelled at her team.

Ruby then broke the silence. "Okay! All in favor of being the youngest huntresses to single-handedly bring down the corrupt organization conspiring against the Kingdom of Vale… say aye?"

"YES! I love it when you're feisty…" Yang shouted out enthusiastically.

"Well, I suppose it could be fun." Weiss said.

But then, they heard knocking on their door, causing each girl to turn towards the door. Ruby went to open it, revealing Johnny, raising his hand. "Aye. We're in."

Ruby smiled and was about to burst in joy, but stopped herself. "Sorry, Johnny. We don't want to get our friends involved!"

Liu Kang popped up from behind his teammate and asked her, "Don't you know it's rude not to invite your friends to help?"

"You know what they say, strength in numbers." Sub Zero continued.

All eyes turned to Scorpion who was outside silent. He the signed before saying "At this point why do I even bother."

"Alright! We're in this together!" Blake agreed.

"Let's hatch a plan! Ooooh nooo…. I left my board game in the library!" Ruby gasped, dashing out of the room.

"We're doomed." Scorpion joked.

"I'll be right bac- Dagh!" Ruby called back, before crashing into someone, falling down on the floor.

"Sorry…" Ruby apologized.

"It's fine. Just… watch where you're going." Emerald said back to her, extending a hand for Ruby.

"Thanks! I'm Ruby! Are you guys… new?" Ruby greeted them.

"Visiting from Haven, actually." Cinder said, dressed in a Haven uniform like her subordinates.

Ruby eyed the woman curiously before speaking. "Oooooh! You're here for the Festival! Oh! But exchange students have their own dormitory!"

"Oh, I guess we got turned around," Mercury said.

Ruby giggled. "Ah, don't worry. Happens all the time! Uh, your building is just… east of here!"

"Thanks. Maybe we'll se you around." Cinder said as she turned to leave with her comrades.

"Yeah, maybe! Oh! And err… welcome to Beacon!"