Raider quietly sat, drinking some morning juice, when all the other students began to pile into the room, looking all tired but hopefully refreshed. "Hey, Raider, I've been meaning to ask," Jaune pondered, "If time isn't a thing here, then how would you know when it's nighttime?" Raider paused, drinking what was left in her cup, and dragged a hand down her face.
"Jaune, I appreciate your curiosity and all, but it's waaaay too early to get into questions like those. Besides, like I said before, time is irrelevant in the plane. I sent you all off to bed because you need the rest and emotional recharge after that bomb of a season finale." Jaune seemed to accept the answer, but that might have been due to him still remaining tired. Some of the others stretched and noticed the seating setup was a little bit different. There were now two enormous couches that curved into semicircles. One of them was still elevated from the first couch and they both came with more pillows. Each pillow had a respective name and design across it, probably to indicate the seating placement.
"Woah! Yang, look at the pillows!" Ruby rushed over, picking up her own and ecstatically looking over it. It was in her signature colors with her rose emblem in the middle and over that was her name. It might have not been much but Ruby loved the thought of getting her own customized pillow. She sat down and immediately melted into the couch, it felt like sitting on a cloud with the softest fabric. "These couches are amazing!" Yang sat to her left and she was quickly overcome by the plushness of the cushions.
Yang placed an arm on the back of the couch and looked at her own couch pillow. It was black and yellow with her fireheart emblem on the front. Yang thought that was that until Raider told her to turn it over. She gasped in joy when it was her quote starting off the second semester. "I always kick my semester's off with a Yang!" That is what it said. Yang loved it so much.
Everyone else followed, taking their seats and observing their pillows. The seating chart was a tad similar, just that other people were sitting in different places. Weiss and Sun were on the outsides of the lower couch with Ruby next to Weiss, Blake next to Sun, and Yang sitting in the middle. On the higher couch, Ren and Jaune are on the outsides, Nora beside Ren, Pyrrha next to Jaune, and Oscar in the middle. Oscar assumed it was to get himself a bit more acquainted with the group, but he just felt a little bit awkward.
Raider refilled her previous drink and took a sip, pulling out the remote to begin the first episode of Volume 5. "Oh, before I forget, for the first four episodes, we'll be watching a short that correlates one's own motivations. There's a fifth one, having to do with Adam, but that won't be until the end of the volume. There's a scene at the end that gives away spoilers and I'm not gonna show you most of it and the last thirty seconds or so at the end. Because that would be a hassle and stupid."
The others felt slightly uneasy at the mention of him, especially Blake and Yang, meaning that he was going to make an appearance in this volume. Judging by how she phrased it, it sounded like he was significant to the plot of this volume. "Hey," Yang whispered to grab Blake's attention, "If you feel uncomfortable, I'm right here."
Blake smiled, "And same to you." The two smiled at each other for a long moment before it was broken by Weiss, asking if they were done now. The two embarrassingly looked away from each other and Weiss shook her head, exasperated at the two. Honestly, it's obvious at this point. A few of her friends smirked at her, loving watching the irony in front of them. To them it seemed like Weiss should be the last one to react that way, has she seriously not been noticing how she and Ruby interact?
Everything was black as began to speak, starting with the city of Mistral, much to Nora's happiness. The group walked through a creepy hallway, only lit by candles. Nora asked whose idea it was to walk.
The first thing the students were hit with was the question of where they even were. Where in Mistral was that, underground? It sure looked that way with all the stone and ominous lights. But, they guessed their question would have quickly been answered if they had given it just a little more time.
"Well, we did face many obstacles," Ren begins to reason, "Broken airships, destroyed settlements."
"Oh, and you know, all those people and monsters who tried to kill us," Jaune adds.
Now the group was wondering what started this conversation. Wasn't Qrow just about to give them more information on…whatever it is they were wanting info on? They all wanted to know what led to all this as it seemed they plopped right in the middle.
Ruby brushed off Jaune's concerns, commenting that only one of them almost died.
So it has either been long enough for them to joke about it or they got over the whole ordeal of Qrow almost being poisoned to death! Rather quickly. They were going to go with the fact that Qrow is healthy now and they know he's gonna be fine.
Nora put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes on Ren, causing him to react the same way as Qrow.
"Hey," Ren copied, getting a few laughs from around the room.
Jaune asked how much farther it was to Haven Academy.
The students were all dumbfounded. That was the way to Haven Academy? They could have a least gone with a route that had a bit more light to it, not a set someone would use for a horror movie.
"Almost there, but I figured I'd take you kids on the scenic route," Qrow replies.
"Your uncle's got a weird perception of scenic," Nora leans down to loudly whisper. Yang and Ruby didn't argue as they two were wondering about his choices at the moment.
The group stops at two very large doors. Qrow opens them and waves of light flood into the hall. Ruby runs out, absolutely enraptured by the view, "This. Is. Awesome!"
The students were just as blown away. The fact that the hall simply led to all of that made a lot more sense now.
The people of Mistral went about their day as Qrow spoke, showing everything the city had to offer. "It's certainly something," Qrow was cut short by Ruby raving from the weapons.
"Ruby," Yang chuckled. She shook her head good-naturedly as her sister went on about how she wanted to see the weapons now, wishing it would show her one scene. She complained that her future self was having all the fun. Yang patted her sister's head as she pouted.
"Vendors here will sell you just about anything, whether they should or not," Qrow continued. Jaune was amazed at how they made the most out of the mountains.
Jaune now was just as enthralled. The people of Mistral didn't let it deter them and they used them all to their advantage. Using the nature around them to improve the city's architecture.
"Every inch, but stay away from the lower levels. The higher up you go, the nicer it gets."
At first, they thought Qrow was referring danger-wise, as it was much more dangerous to live closer to the bottom cause that would have been where most disasters would have happened. But, he meant society-wise, where things that shouldn't be done, are dealt.
Nora points to the sky, declaring that they're going up! The more it went up, it switched to the same dust carrier Weiss got on to leave Atlas. "So, how much farther?" Weiss asks the pilot. He answers that they're in the home stretch, which means no more stops from there to Mistral.
Weiss sat in her seat, excited. She was going to see her sister again and she couldn't wait for the reunion between her and her friends. She could just picture how happy she was gonna be when she saw them again.
"Sorry, for the long trip, keeping us off the radar has been harder than I thought. Lots of air traffic around northern Anima." Weiss said it was fine, but she just hoped she wasn't being a burden.
"Weiss, you could never be a burden," Ruby says. Weiss laughed.
"Did you not watch how I acted the first couple of volumes? It was horrendous seeing all that again." Ruby laughed alongside her, the two unknowingly having a bit of a moment. Nora and Yang smirked.
Yeah, Weiss, you're definitely one of the last people to be done with Yang and Blake, Nora thought.
The pilot chuckles, commenting that she and her money are more than welcome on the ship. The pilot's attention is brought to the radio when it begins to erratically go off. He tried tuning it to hear clearly when Weiss asked if everything was okay.
"You guys are in the middle of nowhere, how are you picking up a signal?" Sun shouts. This got the students on edge as something didn't feel right. This was definitely a bad sign, but they had a feeling they weren't going to be swarmed by other ships, so they were nervous about what it was.
"I don't know, we're still over Lake Monsue, shouldn't be picking up broadcasts this far from Mistral. Someone must be close." The screams of another pilot's voice break the silence.
"Mayday! Mayday! We are a small passenger line and our huntress is down! We aren't equipped to deal with this!" A woman cries . The pilot does not want to go through this and Weiss listens carefully as the woman shouts the coordinates.
"Weiss, do you know your coordinates at the moment," Ruby asks rhetorically.
This was just typical, one moment they're actually enjoying themselves for once while watching this episode and of course, things have to quickly take a turn for their worst! When would this cycle end for them or is it going to be a recurring thing no matter what volume or episode they watch?!
Whatever Weiss is about to encounter, most likely Grimm, they all hope she comes out of it safe and sound.
"The Grimm here are 400 clicks north of the southern shoreline. Ah! Get them off us!" She yells to someone else, causing Weiss to jump. " If anyone can hear this–!" The pilot turns the radio off.
"Those people, they need help!" Pyrrha yells, sitting in disbelief that the pilot would just turn off the broadcast. If she was able to make that message then they're still alive and those people could be saved.
The pilot straightens out the carrier as Weiss walks closer, "We're going to help them, right?"
"What? No, I'm trying to avoid them," He retorts.
"So you would just leave them to die? Those innocent people sent you a cry for help and you just ignore them?" Blake was more than outraged. Did he think those people were going to turn them in? They just wanted help and he turned the other way without a second glance.
Weiss whispers that they'll die. The pilot attempts to ease her mind saying that someone else might have picked up the transmission.
But there wasn't a guarantee that those other people would have made it in time. Or if there were other people around, to begin with.
"Besides, this is a cargo ship, she's not much good in a fight."
The others agreed that didn't seem like a good enough reason to deny a person's cry for help when their very lives were at stake. Something could have at least been done, even if it was small because that small something could have probably made a big difference in ensuring that those people could've made it out alive.
The pilot just wants to finish his job and get home. Weiss stares off into space, sadly thinking over how people could be dead because they decided to be complacent. No, how the pilot decided to be complacent.
Weiss planned on changing that outcome if she ever got to that point with the man. There wasn't a single chance she was going to leave those poor people to die.
Team RNJR and Qrow stopped in front of one of Haven's buildings, more than likely where Professor Lionheart's office resided.
All the kids marveled at the academy, loving how everything just looked so beautiful and scenic. It few seconds later that uncomfortable and awkward feeling overcame them. They were about to witness an interaction between them and Headmaster Lionheart. They haven't forgotten and won't forget how Professor Lionheart betrayed Professor Ozpin and is likely going to be lying through his teeth for the entirety of the conversation.
Knowing this only fueled aggravation for the man who was meant to be protecting his school and all the students in it. Instead, he's working behind everyone's backs and is now going to be a spy for the very same person that they're supposed to be up against. "Traitor," Yang mumbled under her breath.
Ruby sighs in relief, they had finally made it. Jaune places a hand on her shoulder. The four of them then head straight in. Qrow looks around, getting the feeling that something isn't right.
"What is it now?" Nora whined. The first time they were given a bad feeling other people's lives had to pay the price. Everyone hoped it was something minor.
Ruby called out in the halls, for anyone, but no one answered. She tries again then Nora suggests that she do it louder.
"I doubt if it worked the first two times you yelled like that, I don't think it will work a third time," Weiss comments as she rolls her eyes.
"You don't know, third time's always the charm," Nora refutes.
Ren states that it doesn't seem like anyone is here. Jaune tries to reason that maybe school isn't in session.
Nora puts her hands on the back of her head, "Yeah, that probably makes more sense. I mean, who would want to send their kids to an academy after what happened to Beacon, afraid that the same thing is going to happen to it."
"And, unfortunately, it will, because that's what Salem is planning," Ruby says dejectedly.
Qrow mutters that what's happening isn't right. He gestures for the kids to follow and they all run to the door that leads into the headmaster's office.
Everyone was tense in their seats, some even clutching onto their pillows as they waited for whatever horrible event to come up next.
Qrow orders the kids to get ready as there could be trouble behind the door. Weapons prepared, Qrow kicks open the door, startling Professor Lionheart into screaming as he was just behind the door. His shout causes everyone to shriek. Qrow is on one leg before he loses his balance and falls to the floor.
The students sat, waiting for something to happen.
Lionheart falls back from the scare and then proceeds to reprimand the man.
Nothing?
"Qrow, for crying out loud! Nearly scared me half to death!"
They all collectively relaxed when nothing bad was going to happen. They were curious, was this one of those comedic moments again? Because in all honesty, it didn't land. That must have been due to all of them sitting scared and apprehensively waiting for something horrifying to jump out at them.
"Me?" Qrow starts as he stands up, "Why weren't you waiting for us at the entrance?"
That would explain why Qrow was on edge, looking around like something was amiss earlier.
Professor Lionheart pulled out his watch and apologized as time seemed to have slipped away from him.
"All that scare, for losing track of time? Are you kidding me!" Yang shouts, holding a hand over her heart as she thought her sister and friends were about to get into another fight with another one of Salem's goons.
Qrow asks that he's joking. Nora wonders where everyone is while they all put away their weapons as there's no threat. Professor Lionheart finally addresses the students behind Qrow.
"Yes sir, Ruby Rose," She salutes.
"Jaune Arc."
"Nora Valkyrie."
"Lie Ren."
Professor Lionheart chuckles, "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Leonardo Lionheart, at your service."
Some of the students scoffed upon hearing that. Yeah, at the service of Salem is what he meant!
"I'm afraid most of my staff is currently away until classes resume, but–" He's interrupted by Qrow, getting into his face.
"What? Leo, you can't be serious, who's guarding the Relic?" Leo scolds the man as Ruby and others are there. "Already know, I filled them in. What do you mean your staff is away?" Professor Lionheart is surprised that Qrow told them.
"Sooo, is this going how anyone thought it would?" Nora asked, leaning toward Ruby.
This wasn't what they exactly had in mind, but a couple of them honed in on his reaction to Qrow telling the headmaster about the Relics. Sure, surprised would be the correct term at the moment, but he also seemed worried or nervous. Nervous that Salem's main enemy knows about the Relics and wants to protect them?
They all glared at the screen, keeping their eyes on the professor.
The Belladonna household is peaceful, tranquil. That is until Ghira and Sun burst through the front doors, Kali silently standing in the doorway as they both shout, "We can't let them get away with this!"
"Well, at least you two can finally agree on something," Kali comments.
"Mom…" Blake mumbles. Sun shrugged because her mom wasn't exactly wrong.
The two went quiet for a moment before Sun chuckled Ghira grunted. Later that night, Blake walked out of her father's office to be greeted by a guard, asking if she wanted anything.
The group was able to see what Sun meant about the White Fang members in Menagerie never wearing masks.
Blake asks for some time alone. The guard grants it and walks inside, closing the door. "You need better security," Ilia says, landing on the balcony rails.
"What does she want?" Sun asks. Still, rightfully, feeling sour about the stunt she pulled the last time he saw her.
Blake inches her hand to the door, Ilia tells her she just wants to talk. "How could you take the fall for them, Ilia?" Ilia wants to get a word in, but Blake keeps going. "Corsic and Fennic blamed you. We confronted them tonight and they denied knowing anything and everything we found on your scroll it t-talked about how disappointed they were to hear that you sided with Adam. But you and I both know they're guilty."
Ilia is silent then saying that she couldn't prove anything.
They all hated how she had a point. It was Blake's word against theirs, the authorities wouldn't have concrete evidence that they were the ones behind all of that. Still, what does Ilia gain by doing any of this? What does she want in all of this?
Blake knows it's not enough for the two arrested, but it's enough evidence to convince the people of Menagerie. "When we go public tomorrow, they're not going to stand for it, and neither should you."
Ilia removes her mask, voice saddened, "Your plan isn't gonna work Blake. Please…just leave Menagerie before it's too late."
You know I can't do that, Ilia. Blake felt a pain in her chest. She hated being on opposite sides with her friend, just wishing she would leave like she did. She could come with them, join their party. It doesn't matter what, just that she gets out of that environment with Adam.
Blake's eyes narrow, "You're gonna have to make me."
"I know…" Hurt, Ilia puts the mask back on and leaves. Blake remains there, angry, before that feeling changes to sadness.
That's another thing Blake plans to do once they get back. She promises to help her friend, to help her escape and join her. She doesn't care how long it's going to take or how much she might have to get through to her, but she's going to do it.
"I have to say Qrow, this all seems very reckless, even for you," Professor Lionheart says as all six are in his office.
"No, reckless is leaving one of the Relics completely unguarded, it's not checking in with Oz for ages!"
"There was nothing to check in about before the Fall of Beacon, but since that day, Mistral has been in chaos!" Professor Lionheart retorts.
"Are you sure, didn't think to check in with Professor Ozpin when you decided to turn your back on him and work with the enemy!" Nora shouts.
"So was the rest of the world, and Atlas, and he still made an effort to turn in his reports every now and then!" Yang adds.
"Vale wasn't the only kingdom to suffer that night. Everyone was watching, every house, and every kingdom saw that poor girl ripped to pieces."
Ruby held onto the pillow as Pyrrha averted her gaze from the screen in guilt. She felt a hand on hers and instantly relaxed. It was Jaune's way of telling her that what happened that night wasn't her fault.
"Saw monsters, crawling over the city, Atlesian knights attacking citizens, and then nothing…you could feel the dread in the air. With all that negativity you can imagine what it was like when the Grimm came for us," Professor Lionheart his back to them, facing out the window, "Mistral's controlled territory is the widest reaching in the world, you know and that makes it infinitely harder to protect. We lost so many great huntsmen."
They all stared at the ground, silent to remember all the lives that were taken that night. All the damage that's been done to the world. All of it because of Salem, of Cinder, and Emerald and Mercury. They are all to blame for it.
"Teachers from this very institution, and it's only gotten worse." Ruby asks what he's referring to. "We may have dealt with Grimm but the Mistral Council is still at odds with representatives from Atlas. First, it was the dust embargo, and now the closing of borders. I'm not sure what happened to James in Vale but it seems to have only worsened some of his more unfortunate tendencies," Professor Lionheart releases a sigh, "On top of everything, we still don't know where the Spring Maiden is."
"All the more reason we need the huntsmen and huntresses here," Qrow reiterates. Ruby steps in when she sees this is going to turn into a massive fight.
A few kids let out their own sighs, if that had continued it would have turned into a fight between the two and would have attracted Grimm to the academy. So, it's best if everyone calms down for a second and get their heads straight.
"Okay, okay! Things are bad, they're bad, but we can figure this out. Why is the Spring Maiden so important?" Upon hearing the question, Professor Lionheart thought that Qrow had filled them in.
So there was still some information he withheld from us, but why? What information could he not have told them then? Judging by Professor Lionheart's reaction it must have been an important one. Honestly, what knowledge about the Maidens at the moment isn't important?
Qrow filled them in, mostly, but there's a lot to cover, and he decided that they'd heard enough for one night. And he needed the rest. "I quit teaching for a reason," Qrow finishes, taking out his canteen to drink.
Professor Lionheart was tired but filled in what Qrow didn't. "The Four Maidens each have the power to perform feats of magic, and they are the only ones capable of reaching the Relics."
So, now that Cinder has the Fall Maiden powers, she has the ability to go into any of the academy vaults and take that Relic. This doesn't give them any comfort but they know that Professor Lionheart isn't done. "Guess he has to continue playing the part," Oscar mumbles.
"The Relics are each locked inside a chamber that can only be opened by a specific Maiden," Qrow explains, "Winter for the gift of creation; summer for destruction; fall for choice; and spring for knowledge. Spring is the problem." Ren asks about what happened to her.
"She was determined at first when she inherited her powers, but the weight of responsibility proved to be too much for the child."
Qrow looks so sad … Ruby noticed. She wanted to know why her uncle seemed so down. Did the Spring Maiden happen to have a personal connection with Qrow? If that's the case it must not have been the best connection between the two.
"She…ran, abandoned her training, everyone. That was over a decade ago, there's no telling where she could be now."
Bells were starting to go off in Yang's head like that whole scenario seemed all too familiar. She was going to hang on to that hunch and wanted to wait until she was proven right. Though, knowing her suspect, that probably made it all the more correct.
Qrow knows, or at least, he has a pretty good idea. Professor Lionheart stands from his chair, asking if he's serious.
This only made Yang feel like her assumption was even more correct. Ruby looked over at her sister and noticed her expression. Yang thinks she's starting to catch on as well.
Qrow wouldn't call it good news though. "What are you talking about? This is incredible news! After all these years, where?" Qrow pushes Professor Lionheart away, saying he's done some digging, and that after she ran away she was picked up by bandits. Specifically, the Brawen Tribe.
There it was. "Mother," Yang muttered. She really should have more of a surprised reaction, and she would have if it weren't for the fact that she knew it was her mother because of the same abandoning story.
"Your mom is the Spring Maiden?!" Sun yells in shock. Well, it made sense for some to be more surprised than others. Yang nods, crossing her arms. Raider floated in the back, she wasn't gonna let it slip that they were right, but they were also wrong at the same time. She wasn't going to get into how that's possible.
Professor Lionheart narrows it to Raven, shocking the others. Jaune clarifies, asking that it's Yang's mom. "Right," Qrow moves toward the desk to set down his scroll so a map can be projected, "That's about where they've set up their main camp. It's where they fall back to after raids and scouting missions."
"'Main'? As in, there's multiple camps?" Sun asks, looking over to Yang as if she had an answer.
The girl shook her head, "How should I know? Probably in that timeline, I've only just known about the main one for about a few weeks at most."
Yang and Ruby were also intrigued. Hearing this from their uncle, they were also getting to know more about Qrow and his past. Judging from what they've heard so far, it didn't sound the most pleasant. As well as, the last time they saw Yang, she drove off in one of the directions of the camps.
"Raven's managed to gain a lot of followers since she's returned to the tribe and I'm sure when the Spring Maiden showed up it only made things easier."
"Qrow, I've got to hand it to you, with these coordinates, we can mount a retrieval force and head out in a few weeks." Qrow wants to make sure he heard right when he repeated Lionheart's words of a few weeks. "That's right."
Yang scoffed, with something as valuable as the Spring Maiden in her camp, it would surely take more than 'A few weeks', if not ever, for her mother to hand over the Spring Maiden to them. Also, who's to say the Spring Maiden would even go with them? If she's in Raven's tribe then they wouldn't even come close to first in priorities.
It's really a little laughable how easy Professor Lionheart is thinking it's going to be. There's no way Raven Branwen would give them the Spring Maiden, not without a fight or at least some kind of exchange.
"Leo, maybe you didn't hear me. My sister has the Spring Maiden and I know where she is, we need to go as soon as possible." With his words, Qrow shoves a stack of books off Professor Lionheart's desk.
"Perhaps you didn'thearme. This kingdom is in shambles, as soon as possible does not mean tomorrow, it means as soon as I can convince the rest of the Council that I need huntsmen more than they do. Unfortunately, bandit tribes aren't very high on their list of priorities when the threat of war is just on the horizon."
"Then damn the Council, we'll do it ourselves. You and I are trained huntsmen and these kids aren't exactly pushovers," Qrow gestures to the students behind him.
"Yeah, if you see the stuff thrown at us you'd agree that we're tough as nails!" Ruby exclaims.
"What she said, we took down a nuckelavee for crying out loud, and survived all the way from Vale to Mistral," Jaune adds.
Nora agrees with Ruby showing her muscles. Ren suggests there might be a more peaceful approach.
"Come on, Ren, where's your teeth?" Nora asks. Ren doesn't understand for a moment, about to answer in his mouth before stopping, realizing what she meant.
"We need to get Spring as far away from here as possible. Raven isn't going to give up her most prized possession without a fight."
"Unfortunately, you and your sister are evenly matched, and I'm not the fighter I used to be," Professor Lionheart says sadly.
"We'll say, you sure didn't seem to put up much of a fight with your chat with Watts," Sun comments.
"No offense, but these students and I can't take on an entire bandit tribe and a Maiden that's no doubt had years to hone her skills."
"Tch, hate to admit but we'd get our asses whooped in that fight," Yang says. Despite their dislike for the man, currently, he makes a strong argument against Qrow's attacks.
"We need to be positive we can apprehend Spring because if we fail, Raven and her tribe will scatter, they will be lost. Wegetoneshotat this, and it needs to be perfect."
Qrow sighs, giving in, "You know Oz wouldn't be happy with any of this if he were here."
"Perhaps you're right, but he's not. I'm doing the very best I can." Ruby pitches in, thinking there has to be something the rest of them could do. Jaune asks about Cinder as she came with Emerald and Mercury from Haven, wondering if they had anything on them.
That would be really helpful, even if it was the smallest information, they could find a way to go off it for some kind of lead.
"We pulled their files after the Fall of Beacon, noting but lies and forgeries," Professor Lionheart responds. Jaune's fists clenched, angry when he got nothing.
"Well, I can't say this has been a warm reunion, Leo." Professor Lionheart apologizes to Qrow and the kids as he knows they've travelled a long way. He plans to do everything in his power to help. "Sure, we'll stay in the city for the time being. Local coms are still up, keep in touch." Qrow pulls out his scroll and waves it. He turns around and gestures for him and the others to follow. Ruby pauses, turning to say that it was nice meeting him. Professor Lionheart agrees and in that same minute, Watts calls.
"Oh, Leo, we have got to work on your improvisational skills."
"Watts was listening to that conversation the whole time?!" Ruby yells. It appears so, and all of that talk was just improvising? Ugh, if they ever met him in real person, they'd be sure to pick up on what was real and what was fake.
Another, even bigger notion hit all of them. SALEM KNOWS WHERE THE SPRING MAIDEN IS! Panic set around the room. Their future selves needed to get to her before she did.
The five walk through the halls and Nora asks about what they plan to do now. "You four head back to the house, I need a drink." The kids look at each other as Qrow walks off.
You've been doing that the entire time in the headmaster's office. Ruby grumbles, getting annoyed with her uncle's habits.
Qrow sits in a bar and then hears footsteps behind him. He turns around to see Oscar.
This got them curious, didn't they already see this at the very end of Volume 4? Raider answers their question before they can ask it, "Yes, you've seen this before and I showed it to seeing as I thought it would be important." As well as my dumb butt not taking into account that this would come up again. "Anyways, seeing as you've already watched this bit, you sit back and relax for a minute.
The man eyed him and informed him that he didn't think they allowed kids like him. Oscar stands there awkwardly for a moment then tells himself to be quiet, most likely telling that to Ozpin. He then speaks up, "Um, I'm supposed to tell you...I'd like my cane back?" He was confused by those words, but Qrow understood. Standing up and saying, "It's good to see you again, Oz." Qrow tosses the cane over to Oscar. It unfurls and Oscar looks down at it.
Out somewhere in Anima, at a gas station called Just Rite, Yang fills up Bumblebee.
Their attention was brought to Raider when they saw she was getting really excited, so something good must happen at this point. Seeing it at a place like this, they would be getting to see Yang. They didn't know if it was that or if Yang had done something to make Raider so amped.
Inside, the worker says, "Aren't you a little young to be drinking?" Yang takes off her shades, wanting water as it's hot out. The man understands and proceeds to get her one.
"Haha! Are you telling me you're too young to drink?" A man next to her comments, already becoming a bit too comfortable with the conversation.
Yang scoffs, thinking that this guy's approach could have been a lot better than that. It sounded like the man himself was drunk. Unbeknownst to Yang, beside her was a very upset Faunus and to her right, a very protective sister. Ruby knew Yang could hold her, she'd seen it herself, but that didn't stop the alarms from going off in her head.
Blake, on the other hand, was a different story. Yes, she felt protective of her partner, this guy was starting to be a bit of a creep. Coming off way too strong, could have been a lot more subtle if you asked her. But, she was feeling something else, something familiar.
A little…possessive?
That same voice was back. Blake tried to shake it off, she shouldn't be feeling any kind of possessiveness, Yang was her own woman and could choose who she wanted herself. Blake had no right to feel possessive over her partner, they were just friends. But you'd like to be more, wouldn't you? You want to be more than just friends, don't you? I mean, after you've seen all you've been through, why wouldn't some kind of feelings blossom? Admit it to yourself, you like your partner.
Blake's own mind went silent as if the voice was waiting for her to answer back. And she answered back. Yes…I do.
"You look like a regular huntress and a beauty at that." The man gets up and walks closer, Yang clearly stating that she's good and doesn't want anything to do with him. "Seriously, not too bulky, not too lean, you're–"
"Just right," Yang rolls her eyes, "Yep, like I said, I'm good." The man ignores her boundaries, getting closer.
"Take the damn hint buddy!" Yang shouts, really fed up with this guy. She swears if he decides to do anything else she'll…
"And your hair," He goes to reach for it but is immediately stopped by Yang grabbing his wrist, her eyes blazing red.
Welp, he's dead. I'm sure he had a good late 30's, maybe early 40's life. That kind of guy won't be missed.
"That's it, where is this twink? I wanna have a one-to-one chat about personal bubbles." Yang's teeth are gritted, eyes full of fury as she cracks her knuckles. Raider smiles wide as she knows what's next.
His eyes widen in surprise but it's too late, he's punched into next year. Bouncing off the floor and ceiling, his body will rest outside. Both the worker and Yang rise at the same time. He gives her the water for free, as he's been driving him crazy.
"Yeah, that's my sister!"
"Man, that guy had it coming!"
"God, I love watching that."
Comments spread all around as Yang watched her on-screen self proudly. She wishes she could have joined her in that action, she would have loved to give him a piece of her mind. Blake felt the same, a large part of her purring in smug satisfaction.
Yang reaches for the bottle but freezes when her left hand trembles.
The once happy feeling was gone now as they stared worriedly at Yang.
Yang stops the shaking with her other hand, letting out a breath, then flicking the cap off to drink the thing in one go. "So, what brings you around these parts?" Yang puts up a finger, telling him to give her a second as she finishes.
This got a few laughs out of some in the audience.
Yang thanks him for the water and tells him she's looking for someone. The worker chuckles, "Not many people come out here, too far from the kingdoms. Only person notin' around here is…well…Ra–" He trails off, but Yang finishes it for him.
"Raven Branwen." There's a moment of pause before Yang thanks him again.
"Now, missy, you don't want to go messin' with bandits! They're a world of trouble!" Yang doesn't look back and answers that she's heard.
Yang knew a thing or two about trouble. The group was a little worried for their friend, but they knew she'd be able to handle her own. Besides, she's Raven's daughter, which might stall her enough time on its own for her to think of a plan to get to Mistral.
Here's hoping for that.
The man from before is still holding onto his jaw as Yang walks to Bumblebee. She's about to drive off when the man gets her attention. "Seriously, this isn't over?" Yang exclaims, just wanting to leave.
"I've heard you're…looking for someone." He smiles, showing off the gap where one of his teeth once was.
"Ha, man, you did a number on him," Sun joked. Yang smirked, sitting proudly. She couldn't wait to do it again if that time came. Well, things would turn out a bit more differently but still.
At the house in Mistral, Team NJR was lounging about until they heard a knock on the door. They were all quiet, not expecting any company, so Jaune was slow as he made his way to the door.
"Who wants to bet that it's Oscar?" Nora asked, looking around the room. No one answered, seeing as it was a bit predictable, but one person, Blake, thought the music that played with the mystery sounded all too familiar. It sounded like the music that went with…Neopolitan!
Jaune opened the door and was surprised to see a young boy, Oscar, standing outside the door.
"Cute farm boy!" Nora yelled, getting a few chuckles. Oscar's cheeks burned from embarrassment.
Ren leaned over with a lighthearted smile, "I'm afraid this is something you're going to have to get used to." Oscar nodded, having known that fact for a bit.
Jaune asks if he can help him. "Um, yeah, is there a Ruby Rose?" Oscar's question immediately gets them suspicious. Before he can answer, Qrow pops out.
"Why wasn't he visible when they opened the door?" Some shrugged as they didn't have an answer to Pyrrha's question. Ruby and Yang were having their own silent conversation.
You think he's drunk?
Ooh yeah.
"I found him! Pfft, haha!" Qrow shouts, stumbling back into the house.
"Is he–?" Weiss doesn't finish her question as Ruby nods, unamused.
Oscar thinks her uncle could use some help. Uncle Qrow plops himself on the couch, saying again that he's found him. "What in the world is going on in there?! Can't a girl read her comics in peace!" Ruby comes stomping out of the other room, faceplaming when she sees her uncle drunk on the couch. "Qrow, did you get drunk again?" The man answered with a drawn-out 'Maybe'.
Everyone else facepalms alongside Ruby.
Oscar comments that Ruby has silver eyes and that's when she finally takes notice of the new guest. "Who are you?" She asks. Oscar doesn't exactly know how to start but he begins by telling them who he is, but he says they probably know him as Professor Ozpin.
"It sounds really weird coming from him without actually hearing his voice in his head," Ruby says.
Qrow starts to laugh, saying he did it before falling onto the ground. Nora gasps and things transition to the volume intro.
A crow flies over the mountains into Mistral, leaving one of its feathers behind. Ruby stands on a rock, looking determined as her cloak flows, then breaks off into red rose petals.
The kids narrowed the crow down to be Qrow himself heading into Mistral. They all sat in their sets excitedly, pumped to see what else this volume intro had in store for them. They thought the idea of Ruby bursting into many petals in this was interesting.
Weiss looks out of the cargo ship window, determined. She's broken into white rose petals to show Blake looking troubled before she too explodes as black petals. Yang leans against Bumblebee, turning into yellow petals a moment later. Presenting RWBY and its creators, each member goes to grab their respective weapon.
Yang rides her bike along the dirt trails, and back in the Mistral house, Ren and Jaune sit on the outsides of a couch while Ruby is in the middle. Dangling upside from the ceiling is Nora, smiling.
They all sat confused, wondering how she was even able to do that in the first place. A couple wanted to think it was because it was the intro, but their more logical sides wanted to get to the bottom of how she was able to do that. Unless it wasn't from the lights in the room that shouldn't be possible.
She points at Qrow, who's unimpressed, seemingly trying to boop him, but she's not even close. They look over at Oscar who holds Ozpin's cane. He holds it ready and Ozpin's head phases behind him. One of the cane's clockworks moves and zones in on Professor Lionheart sitting at his desk with Watts smiling evilly behind him as many seer's tentacles head straight for him.
There was a faint part in all of them, thinking that Professor Lionheart was threatened and forced into his position. But that was washing away by the single fact that he's still working for Salem now and they were no longer allies.
Hazel and Adam stand side by side in the White Fang headquarters, as Sun and Blake look a bit bored down on a bridge in Menagerie. In the camp, Raven, and someone new stand face to face.
She looks new. For a moment they were trying to analyze who the new girl might be. She was glaring at Cinder, but only Cinder. She also seemed to be put with Cinder in the intro. Qrow had said that the Spring Maiden was in the Raven Tribe camp, so could that mean that this was really the Spring Maiden? They think back to what Qrow said and that was that Spring was in the camp, he never said it was Raven.
They thought it was Yang's mom so quickly because they didn't know anyone else who was in there. So, could this new person actually be who the Spring Maiden is? They wanted to know the answer to that, but they guessed they would just have to wait. Again.
If that's the case, then they know who the Spring Maiden is and they know who to keep out of Salem's grasp. The Spring Maiden and Cinder made more sense as Watts will inform Salem about the Maiden's whereabouts.
A raven flies between the two, showing Yang and Raven standing back to back. Raven is smirking as she looks over her shoulder and Yang looks bothered. In another room, Ilia looks at a painting and then turns behind her to see Corsic and Fennic.
Somewhere in Haven Academy, Weiss waves Myrtenaster around, creating a large Arma Gigas behind her. Nora swings Magnhild at Hazel, but he grabs it and throws her away.
So in this volume, they're going to face against him. No doubt that's going to be a part of the finale.
Ren retaliates with StormFlower. In Menagerie, Blake faces off against Ilia.
Blake knew it was going to come to that moment, no matter how badly she wanted it not to.
Yang fights against Mercury in the same Haven area as Ruby and Weiss fight alongside her. Blake appears as well, standing by their side.
They knew they were in the middle of a fight, but Weiss, Yang, and Ruby were so happy they were going to reunite with each other. Blake was a tad shocked and a little nervous. She was nervous about how that interaction was going to go with her team after she ran away without a word.
Ruby charges towards her enemies, smirking as the rest of her team joins her, but they stop as a large shadow of Salem towers over them.
They all quickly became scared. Were they going to fight against Salem in the volume finale? They weren't going to sugarcoat it, they weren't ready for that!
They face her anyway, but before they meet they turn into rose petals. Each of them their signature color.
Things go black for a second before the end credits start to roll. They began to get more comfortable as they waited for Raider to explain what the plan was. She mentioned they were going to watch a short about character motivations? Is what she said.
She floats to the front of the room and begins explaining. "So, you remember what I said before the episode started, yes? Alright, so the first short is going to be Blakes." Blake was a little bit confused because hadn't they already seen what her motivations were? That is unless it wasn't actually about her, but…someone that was in the same area as her. Ilia.
The vendors and shoppers of Menagerie mind their own business. Blake comes across a stall of flowers, and her mind begins to wander looking at them. "Can I ask you something?" Blake asks Ilia, going back in time when Blake was still a part of the White Fang.
"This short isn't about you, is it?" Yang asks her partner. The Faunus shook her head, not taking her eyes off the screen. Getting this answer, it didn't take long for them to put two and two together that this was about Ilia.
"Sure," Ilia replied. Blake started to ask but hesitated. Trying again, she got the question out: why did Ilia join the White Fang? "Same reason as you."
"But–"
"But why fight when I pass for human?"
Blake glares as she looks around the market. Sun comes up behind her and places a hand on her shoulder. " It's okay, you're not the first person to ask. I know I look just like any other human girl and for years that's how I was raised." Blake pulls out her scroll, pulling up a picture of the man they eying. "We lived in Mantle with the other Faunus working the mines, but my parents wanted something better for me." Blake and Sun nodded to each other, heading over to confront the guy.
The group assumed that was another Faunus on the same side as Adam, just blending in as a disguise. They weren't interested in him though, as troublesome as he could be for Blake and Sun. They were all listening intently to what Ilia had to say.
Blake had heard it before, and it brought the same disheartening feeling as did the first time.
"They managed to enroll me in an Atlas prep school. Heh, imagine that, a little Faunus girl from Mantle going to the city of dreams. I felt like a princess, but I had to follow a set of rules." In the Faunus's waistband was a gun and he paid the vendor for a switchblade.
Sun's eyes widened as Blake took out Gambol Shroud. The other Faunus immediately grabbed his weapon and fired before fleeing. Blake blocked it but quickly ran after him. "No bringing friends home, no talking about my parents, and absolutely, under no circumstances was I allowed to change colors." Ilia put up a finger for each of the rules mentioned.
That life must have been suffocating, to never be allowed to truly express yourself. Only for it to be done in the comfort of your own home.
"No one could know I was a Faunus." Blake thought that was terrible. "But it wasn't. It was confusing at first, but it wasn't hard." Sun and Blake chase after the Faunus, determined. He stopped to shoot but ran out of ammo two shots in. " Especially if it meant being in Atlas. Sometimes the other girls would say things about the Faunus, that they were animals, that they were dirty, or they lied." There was another Faunus, unaware as he was looking under a car. He pulled out his switchblade and used it to disconnect the cart so it would roll down the hill.
As much as Ilia talked about how she didn't mind that way of life, it sounded terrible. To be undercover and hear all of that from the people around you. It all just sounded so confining and trapping.
"And I'd say those things with them because I felt like I was one of them." The Faunus was still unaware of his cart rolling towards Blake and Sun.
It seemed like being in that environment was changing who she was, and it wasn't for the better. They all felt so awful. She wanted to feel like she belonged so badly that she was joining in with the antagonizing.
"And then, one day, there was a cave-in in the mines."
They all gasped. They just knew where this story was heading. They didn't want to hear any more of it now.
"I was at school when the news broke." Blake bent on one knee next to her. "Apparently, one of the workers tripped while handling some agitated dust crystals."
Weiss covered her mouth with her hand, tears brimming. She remembered her father yelling about that incident, either calling the Faunus cruel names for the accident or being angrily glad that they were all gone. It was always a back in forth, peeved that he lost some of his slaves, or happy that there were less Faunus in the world.
"The explosion caused a chain reaction, and my ' friends' ...snickered. "
How could anyone possibly laugh at that?! People were killed! Anger and sadness welled inside of all of them. Pain for those lives who were now lost and rage for those who dared to laugh at the deadly expense of others.
Sun bounced off Blake, using his semblance to stop the cart. Sun yelled for Blake to go as he and his clones held off the cart. She used Gambol Shroud to continue the chase. " I lost control…every inch of me turned blue as I wept. Then suddenly, all the girls that I laughed and played with were scared of me." Blake got a hold of his ankle, but as she was reeling him in, the line was cut. Blake got up and stared angrily. As Blake apologizes for what happened, Ilia stands up, her colors changing to red and yellow, showcasing her rage. "Don't be, I broke their teeth."
Well, a small part of them felt that those kids had it coming for laughing at her own family's death, but they weren't going to condone the violence either. No matter how appropriate the fire was.
Ilia was the one to cut it. She pointed her lance at Blake after removing her mask and was about to attack but a flash of remorse overcame her. She aimed higher instead and a weight of debris came crashing down. With the dust clouding Blake's vision, they were able to escape. Sun runs up behind Blake and asks what happened. She told him that he got away.
As Blake walks away, she apologizes. Sun looks back one more time then follows her. On the roof, Ilia watches them go but doesn't say anything. After but a moment she vacates the area.
From what the group summed up from watching this short, Ilia's actions are purely based on her emotions. That is what they are gaining from the video, but they all know there is going to be so much more than this the more they see her. Her emotions guiding her actions are simply the basis of it all. Seeing how Raider showed them this and Ilia making an appearance in the first episode, they would be getting a lot more of her.
They wondered who they would be watching next after the second episode, but they knew they would just have to wait and see.