Wild Hunt

by Author Nicholas Drew

Sometimes, all that is needed to change history is a single moment. When an unexpected arrival ruins Cinder's plans to destroy Beacon, history is changed and Team RWBY finds themselves together instead of divided. However, they also discover that the darkness of Remnant goes beyond the one named Salem.

12. Chapter 12: Things That Go Bump

Chapter 12: Things That Go Bump in the Night

For the past year, there had been a rumor circulating around Remnant. It was a very credible rumor, in fact. They say that when the criminal element of Remnant wants to frighten each other, they tell stories of the Blue Demon, the one who came onto the scene a year ago and began hunting down gang after gang, criminal after criminal, uncaring of who he angered along the way; all in the name of a personal vendetta against the shadowy terrorist organization known as Gray Jackal.

We know the Blue Demon as Hansel Kobalt, the temperamental but well-meaning professor of combat at Beacon Academy. But as for the stories of Hansel's other job as the criminal underworld's potentially worst nightmare? All of it was and still is quite true. Hansel bore a tremendous hatred for the criminal element. Not necessarily the street rats who populated Atlas' slums. He had plenty of sympathy for them.

No, Hansel's hate for criminals came from his effort to judge each person as their own individual rather than paint with a broad brush. Sure, he claimed politicians and nobles were scumbags, but that was because he had yet to meet decent ones. And until he personally met the good ones, he could only go on his own opinion.

Anyway to him, if someone made the decision to inconvenience another person for their own sake, whether it was petty thievery, assault, or much, much worse, they frankly deserved a very painful lesson in why they should not do that. People trapped in the slums were one thing, but the ones who chose crime? He just could not understand them. He did not want to understand them. It was not that Hansel thought that all criminals were bad people. He just thought they needed to take responsibility for their decision.

To him, it really did not matter who they were, be it human or faunus, man or woman, anything. If your idea of living involves making life difficult for others, then why should you get any sympathy? That sympathy should be for the ones you hurt with your choice.

For Hansel, it only got more complicated when it came to large-scale criminal organizations, like Don Anthonio Corleone's syndicate. Not complicated in the sense that it changed the way Hansel dealt with matters. No, the way Hansel dealt with problems was always simple, head on and with all the force he could muster until each and every person involved is down for the count.

No, it became complicated because taking on an entire criminal organization meant passing judgement on a lot of people. He knew that Corleone held a lot of his subordinates in an iron grip. Not all of them were bad guys, just scared. However, it did not change the fact they were following a sociopath who ruined the lives of a lot of innocent people. No matter how good they really were, no matter how scared they were, choosing to follow someone like that…he could not ignore it.

Especially now that Corleone was in Gray Jackal's pocket. Hansel definitely could not just stand by when they were involved. Gray Jackal needed to be destroyed, no matter what, and if that meant taking on the most dangerous man in Remnant's criminal underworld, then so be it. Corleone is one thing, but Gray Jackal…well that was a story for another time.

The point was, Hansel Kobalt, well-meaning he may be, and as much as he hates the name 'Blue Demon,' it was a name he definitely earned when hunting. 122 solo criminals caught, 12 gangs wiped out, and from those numbers, an insane amount of hospitalized criminals with undisclosed injuries. That was Hansel's record as a Huntsman earned in a single year of active duty. And it not only terrified criminals, but it also terrified the populace, who could not help but wonder what would happen if the young Huntsman went rogue and turned his power against the innocents of the world.

At the end of the day, Hansel was just a skilled Huntsman with terrible PR, feared by friend and foe alike. Not that he cared, of course. Hansel never cared how other people felt about him, just the mission. The only two people who honestly understood him, and knew he was nowhere near as bad as his reputation stated, were his two parental figures, Ozpin and Glynda. However, to everyone else, he was the frightening Blue Demon.

And tonight, he was going to add to that terrifying legend, hunting down the dangerous Don Anthonio Corleone and his men.

When hunting men, Hansel had a very simple method: march right in and attack. This was not a time to be subtle. Gathering information was when subtlety was needed, not when eliminating evil. No, when eliminating evil, the simplest method was always the best. Take them out with direct force.

The sentries watched in utter bafflement as a figure in blue emerged into view. "The hell is this?" The lead sentry demanded in disbelief. "Who is this guy?"

"Hold up, he's dressed in blue…that's not the Blue Demon is he?" A younger sentry asked in fear. "Oh shit, did he find us?"

Hansel then stopped ten feet in front of the sentries, giving them an unreadable expression. "Evening gentlemen," Hansel greeted them, "I've got two questions for you. How's your health plan? And, where's the Don?"

The sentries gazed at Hansel in utter bewilderment. "Take aim!" The lead sentry yelled as the group trained their weapons on the Blue Demon.

Hansel rolled his eyes, placing his hand on the hilt of Wolf Fang. "Apparently, the health plan is great." He noted, drawing Wolf Fang and charging the sentries.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" The sentries yelled, firing at Hansel.

Hansel parried the volley of bullets by swinging his katana around as he sped towards the sentries. Meanwhile, inside of the Neverland Gorge, Don Anthonio Corleone was immediately alerted to the sound of gunfire. "Is there an intruder?" A young mobster wondered out loud.

"No, boy, the sentries are just doing a little target practice." Corleone sarcastically responded. "Who has the balls to attack us?"

"Don, I think we both know who that is." Vito Capone lumbered up, his subordinates still wincing at the sight of his horrifically burnt form. "It appears the Blue Demon has found us."

This immediately caused a panic among Corleone's subordinates. Things only worsened when the gunfire from the sentries were suddenly cut off. "Silence!" Corleone yelled. His men immediately followed that single order.

"Are you men, or mice?" Corleone demanded. "You are part of the mightiest criminal family in all of Remnant, and you're scared of a damn boogeyman? You bring shame to my name with your fear, and that makes me weep, gentlemen."

"Don…" A few mobsters muttered, ashamed of themselves.

"I don't know how that brat found us, but he's not going to ruin this. I want every man available on him. Let's see how our boogeyman likes it when everyone here comes out to say hello."

"But Don," a young mobster spoke up, "it's the Blue Demon, Hansel Kobalt. He's taken out how many of our boys? And that's not even mentioning all the other people he's put in the emergency room."

A few mobsters nodded in agreement at the young man's statement. Corleone nodded in understanding. "Okay, I get it, we've got some naysayers among us. You're scared, I get it. He is called a demon…and considering the blood that runs through his veins, he probably is some kind of demon."

"But see, it's not him who should scare you." Corleone explained. "You don't believe me? Well, why don't we make this into a little game, you boys love games, right?"

The mobsters all nodded nervously while they heard the sounds of Hansel cutting down more sentries. "It's a little game I call: 'Kill or be Killed.'" Corleone told them. "And it's quite simple. You boys ready?"

"Either you kill that damn demon, or I kill you! Understand?"

The mobsters all whimpered. Corleone then gave them all a pleasant, fatherly smile. "Don't worry, boys, I'm a reasonable guy, and I'll make sure you're compensated." Corleone assured them. "The person who kills Hansel Kobalt gets a big fat bonus. And I'm not just talking your average Christmas bonus, boys. I'm talking the kind of bonus that will allow you to retire in a few years. But it only goes to the one who kills Hansel."

This seemed to return the fighting spirit to the mobsters. "See? Everyone likes money." Corleone said pleasantly. "Now, if you would just go and kill that annoyance, that would be great."

The mobsters nodded and ran off. However, Corleone stopped one mobster and gave him one extra order. "Go and get the Boarbatusk Brothers, I need their skills for this."

"Yes, Don," the mobster said obediently and ran to get those three.

"Don, I want to be the one to kill Hansel." Capone growled. "Look at what he did to me."

"I know, my boy, I know." Corleone assured him. "You'll get your chance, but that little bastard has been causing a lot of trouble for us, and frankly, I'd rather give all my boys a fair chance to remove the little prick that's been a thorn in our side."

"If you want to kill him so badly, then go out and do it. Nobody's stopping you, so go." Corleone told him. "Chop, chop!"

Capone nodded and ran to join his fellow mobsters. "Now then," Corleone growled under his breath, "time to gather my things. If he's here causing chaos, then the Grimm won't be far behind, and that's somehow not as bad as if the authorities are alerted to the commotion."

Corleone walked into his personal tent. "That brat just has to ruin everything." He growled. "Damn little prick. He'll pay for this one of these days. Until then, I need to get the advance pay from Gray Jackal outta here. I will not have all my efforts go to waste!"

While Corleone resolved himself to flee the area with his money, Hansel continued his one man assault on Corleone's Neverland Gorge headquarters. "Stand your ground!" A mobster in the lead of a line of gangsters yelled, firing on Hansel. "He may be a monster, but you can still blow his head off like everyone else! So don't stop shooting!"

Hansel deflected the volley of gunfire with ease thanks to his Wolf Fang. "Just bring me the Don, and I'll leave you alone!" Hansel warned them. "I will only offer this once!"

The mobsters ignored Hansel and continued firing on him. "Is the gunfire drowning out my voice?" Hansel wondered. "Okay, don't say I didn't warn you."

Black flames appeared around Hansel's hand. "Don't blame me for what happens next!" Hansel yelled. "This is your own damn fault!"

With that, Hansel fired a powerful blast of flames that enveloped the mobsters. Hansel sighed as he heard the screams of the mobsters as they were incinerated. "You damn fools," he muttered, "is the Don really worth third degree burns?"

Hansel calmly stepped over the burnt bodies of the mobsters he incinerated. "Sorry, this is just how things had to be. Don't blame me, blame your douche-bag boss that got you mixed up in this bullshit in the first place, and blame yourselves for deciding to stick around."

"Get him!" Hansel heard the sound of more mobsters running towards him, drawing what seemed to be riot sticks.

"Fucking A." Hansel groaned in annoyance.

The sticks then sparked with electricity. "Oh, electric riot sticks." Hansel raised an eyebrow at their weapons. "Fucking A…"

And with that, Hansel stood his ground in a perfect fencer's stance. When the first mobster swung his riot stick at Hansel. Hansel easily blocked the first swing. He did not even flinch as the electricity traveled down the blade and into his arm. "Oh shit." The mobster muttered, realizing he might have screwed up.

"Yeah, that's a pretty accurate way to sum things up." Hansel told him.

Hansel then forced the mobster off his feet, stepped into the man's personal space and cut him across the midsection. Hansel then stepped to the side and avoided another swing from a different riot stick.

"Yeah, no," Hansel muttered, stabbing that mobster in the knee and then silencing his cry of pain with an elbow to the jaw, knocking the mobster to the ground.

"You guys have no discipline, like a certain blonde brat that loves to get on my nerves for no fucking reason." Hansel noted, rolling his eyes at the memory of Yang Xiao Long. "And I'm actually starting to wonder if that pisses me off even more."

"You swing with only power, no sense of control. If someone dodged one of your attacks…" Hansel was interrupted by another riot stick, which made him duck underneath the attack, "…Don't you interrupt me, dickhead."

Unfortunately, it would appear that the Don offering a "bonus" to whoever killed Hansel, made the mobsters a bit too gung-ho. And it was showing. They were pushing and shoving each other, trying to get to Hansel first. Hansel did not care, he was simply focusing on the one currently attacking him.

Hansel smacked the guy in the stomach, making him bend over. He then knocked him out with the hilt of Wolf Fang. "Now, as I was saying," Hansel continued, "because you swing those sticks of yours with no sense of control, if someone dodged one of your attacks, you'd get countered easily."

Hansel stepped around another mobster who swung his riot stick at him and stabbed him in the back, avoiding his spine, and hearing a loud thud as the mobster's body hit the floor. Then, Hansel stabbed another in the stomach, not even bothering letting him attack. Then he jumped into the air, spinning and avoiding two simultaneous swings from mobsters. Landing, Hansel acted quickly. He delivered a quick palm-strike to one crook's kneecap, shattering it, and then slicing the legs of the other. Both mobsters fell over in an instant.

Then, Hansel turned his attention to the last of the mobsters, who was holding his riot stick out in front of him, gazing at him fearfully. Hansel gave him a deadpan stare that said he was absolutely done with their shit. "Dude, do you really know who you are fucking with here?"

The mobster nodded fearfully. "Okay," Hansel nodded, "and do you really wanna try fighting me? I mean, you do know I've taken out a lot of goons like you, right? I mean look at you, you're already shaking in your boots."

The mobster nodded again. "Okay, yeah, you should probably just drop the weapon and lay down, okay?" Hansel told him.

"Okay." The mobster whimpered, dropping his riot stick and laying down.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. So, in conclusion," Hansel said, stepping over that particular mobster "you guys are a bunch of thugs with no discipline. I may have the reputation of a demon, but I fight like a man, not some savage. Class dismissed."

Hansel then blinked as though he were coming back to his senses. "Agh, damn it," he cursed, "are you kidding me? Am I already so used to my new job that I'm treating it like it's an everyday part of my life! AGH! That is such bullshit!"

"What are you talking about?" The mobster laying down asked.

"Did I say you could talk to me?" Hansel snapped at the mobster.

The mobster just whimpered, realizing that Hansel never gave him permission to speak. "Yeah, that's what I thought." Hansel nodded. He then saw more mobsters coming towards him and rolled his eyes. "Okay, who's next?"

"HANSEL KOBALT!" A raspy voice screamed in rage and determination.

Hansel winced at the burnt man leading the bunch. "You do not look so good." He muttered.

"I've waited way too long for this, Kobalt!" Vito Capone glared at him. "Don't think I haven't forgotten what you did to me! I look like hell thanks to you!"

"But I'm going to have my revenge, you bastard! You took everything from me back in Mistral! And now…you better believe revenge is going to taste sweet!"

Hansel gazed at Capone in sheer confusion. Then, he raised an eyebrow and asked a completely innocent question. "I'm sorry, who are you again?" Yeah, he had honestly forgotten who this guy was.

Capone let out a furious, raspy growl. "Kill this son of a bitch!" He yelled at the goons behind him.

"Okay, I guess asking for the Don is out of the question." Hansel muttered, igniting his hand with black flames once more.

Hansel waved his hand out in front of him, setting the ground in front of him on fire, stopping the mobsters dead in their tracks. Capone in particular seemed frightened at the sight of the flames that had turned him into a Freddy Krueger lookalike.

Meanwhile, Team RWBY finally arrived in the clearing, where the Neverland Gorge was about a hundred yards away. They then discovered, much to their surprise and confusion, what appeared to be black light coming from the gorge. "Whoa, we are missing one hell of a party down there." Yang noted.

"You don't think the professor's…doing a job, is he?" Blake wondered.

"Do you…think it's possible that the professor brought us out here so he could do whatever it is he's doing right now?" Weiss asked.

"Well, maybe it's some super-secret mission that Professor Ozpin gave him?" Ruby suggested.

"Okay, so we know what the professor is up to." Blake nodded, already satisfied. "Can we all go back to bed now?"

Yang looked at Ruby, who was gazing at the gorge with a look of single-minded determination on her face. "Ah, geez," Yang groaned, "girls, I don't think we'll be getting any sleep tonight."

Weiss sighed in resignation. "…Because we'll be keeping watch in Professor Kobalt's place, right?" Blake sounded like she was in denial.

"Okay, fearless leader, lead on." Weiss said, resigned to helping Ruby through another harebrained scheme of hers.

"Forward march, Team RWBY, we're going to assist Professor Kobalt in anything he may need."

"…You know, I seriously doubt he needs assistance from a bunch of students." Blake pointed out as the rest of Team RWBY began moving towards the entrance to the gorge. Blake sighed, knowing there was no turning back. "Yeah, sure, why listen to me? I've only got animal instincts that are telling me to go the other way…back to camp."

"Aww, come on, Blake." Yang teased. "Everything's going to be fine. I promise, this won't be a cat-tastrophe."

"Yang, in all seriousness, and with all the love I can muster, please shut up." Just so we're clear, that was actually Ruby telling Yang that, and not Blake. Even Ruby hated her puns.

Weiss gazed at the gorge, feeling a slight sense of impending doom. "So…why do people fear the Neverland Gorge so much?"

"Well, back when I was…operating in Vale with the White Fang." Blake began, cringing at those old memories. "We were specifically ordered to never enter the gorge. Apparently the place is crawling with Grimm. Rumor has it, there's a particularly dangerous one that roams as the gorge's 'ruler.'"

"…Great, and we're just going to march right into it." Weiss muttered sarcastically.

"As much as I love beating up Grimm, I don't think we have to worry too much." Yang pointed out. "Whoever Teach is fighting, they seem to have already cleared the place out."

"Yang, I don't think that makes our situation any better." Weiss told her. "That means, we're walking into a fight against enemies strong enough to take over the gorge."

"Hey, don't talk to me about it, take it up with Ruby. This was her idea, after all." Yang pointed out.

"Ruby, are you absolutely certain you want to do this?" Blake asked. "I mean, Professor Kobalt is a professional Huntsman. He can take care of himself."

"I'm sure he can." Ruby nodded. "If he's every bit the professional Uncle Qrow is, then I've got no reason to worry about him."

"So why…"

"But we're going to help him anyway, because there's strength in numbers. And even professionals need a hand sometimes." Ruby pointed out sagely. "I just want to make sure that he comes back okay, just like I want us all to come back alive."

"I…guess that's sound logic." Blake noted. "I just hope he sees it that way when he yells at us for ignoring his orders."

"At this point I don't think Ruby cares." Yang admitted. "She's always been this way."

Sure, she was shy growing up, always hiding behind me when she could…but as soon as someone was in trouble, no matter who it was, she'd just leap into action and come to that person's defense. She cares about people…she gets that from Summer.

"Everyone stay close." Ruby ordered. "We're only here to find Professor Kobalt and offer our assistance. Take out any stragglers, but don't stray too far from the rest of the team."

"Seriously, the professor is a professional. He doesn't need our help." Blake tried to get everyone to see reason, only to realize that nobody was going to listen to her. "Ugh, I give up, fine, lets do this."

"That's the spirit Blake!" Ruby cheered, completely missing the fact that Blake wanted no part of this.

Just like Blake said though, Hansel was definitely in no need of any help. Capone screamed in pain as Hansel reappeared behind him, blade drawn. The mobster then groaned as he fell over, cut down and put out of his misery by Hansel. "Sorry," Hansel said, "I did remember you…briefly. Blame yourself, Capone, you made the choice to work for Corleone. Don't blame me for being the only one ballsy enough to make you pay for walking such a terrible career path."

"Fuck…you…" Capone groaned as life left his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, heard it all before." Hansel rolled his eyes. He definitely would not lose any sleep over this guy's death. Not for Corleone's right hand man.

At that point, Hansel had honestly lost count of how many guys he had cut down since entering the gorge. Had Corleone sent his entire force after him just to try and gain some semblance of safety? That was just cowardly as hell. At that point, Hansel was sick of fighting his peons.

"Corleone!" Hansel screamed. "Get your fat ass out here right now! Your boys couldn't stop me! So unless you want to get out of here alive, I suggest you man the hell up and get out here and fight me yourself!"

At that moment, Hansel heard the sound of clapping, sarcastic clapping, the kind of clapping Qrow would give him whenever he wanted to tease the boy. "Fat am I?" Don Anthonio Corleone stepped into view. He gazed down at his big gut and sighed, picking up a briefcase he had briefly set down to sarcastically applaud the boy. "Yeah, I guess I have been…enjoying the wealth a bit too much lately."

Hansel glared at the big man. "So, got tired of sending your flunkies to fight and die against me?"

"What a very rude greeting," Corleone spat, "you never learned any manners, huh?"

"Oh shut up," Hansel growled, not in the mood for Corleone's attitude, "if you're some sort of big-shot crime boss, you should act like it, not hide behind your pawns."

"You clearly don't understand what it means to operate in the underworld, boy." Corleone told him. "The only way to be successful is to survive. You Huntsmen may like to conduct yourself with dignity, but criminals do not have to follow such rules. Maybe that's why we're greater in numbers than you holier-than-thou fools."

Hansel narrowed his eyes. "So you claim," he growled, "but I'm afraid you're not going to be able to lay claim to such things when I'm done with you. Unless of course, you want to do something productive with your life for a change and tell me what you've been doing for Gray Jackal."

Corleone had to laugh at that. "Gray Jackal? Of all things to come after me for, that's why? Such a dumb boy, trying to be a hero and killing all the terrorists. A waste of time, if you ask me."

Corleone then smirked. "And you know what people say about time being money, right?

"As far as I'm concerned, you're the one wasting my time with corny dialogue," replied an annoyed Hansel.

"Guilty as charged," admitted a still-smiling Corleone, who shrugged off the insult with ease, "What can I say? What stands before you is a cultured gentleman with a fondness for the classics!"

Unimpressed with Corleone's grandstanding, Hansel snorted in disbelief. "What 'stands before me' is just another cliche thug in a suit who needs to be taken down. Nothing more, nothing less."

Corleone heaved an over-dramatic sigh. "You know, it really is too bad, if you hadn't ruined so many of my operations, I'd have asked you to join me, do something useful with your life for a change. We could've really painted Remnant red, kid."

"I wouldn't join you anyway." Hansel promised him. "So just shut up and tell me what I want to know, and maybe I'll let you keep your limbs. This is your one chance to get some undeserved mercy, Don, I suggest you take it!"

"Well, then I guess it's best for you to just die then." Corleone smirked. "So long."

Hansel narrowed his eyes. "Huh?"

At that moment, three shadows sped into sight. Hansel's eyes widened before being assaulted in three different places. Hansel grunted in pain as he was pushed back by the combined attack. "In case you haven't figured it out, I'm not going to be fighting you. The boss doesn't have to waste his time with annoying trash like you." Corleone taunted.

"You really are a piece of work, aren't you." Hansel growled. "Sending out more pawns to fight and die for you like that. What did you do, bribe these guys with a pay raise?"

"Actually, we're just doing what we were originally paid for, oink oink." A big, burly man with curly red hair and a headdress that oddly reminded Hansel of a Boarbatusk head.

"Bodyguards have gotta do what bodyguards have got to do, oink oink." A shorter, stouter man with short red hair in a crew-cut and a Boarbatusk headdress added.

"And not to brag but we're damn good bodyguards, oink oink." The shortest of the bunch, a skinny guy with shoulder length red hair and a headdress like his comrades finished.

What the hell's up with that oink oink, shit? Hansel wondered. Did I just step into a manga without knowing?

"Okay, and who the hell are you three?" Hansel groaned.

"The bodyguard trio that strikes fear into the hearts of all who would do our employers harm." The largest of the bunch introduced dramatically. "The Boarbatusk Brothers!"

"Boarbatusk Younger!" The shortest of the bunch introduced himself.

"Boarbatusk Middle!" The stout one continued.

"And Boarbatusk Elder!" The largest of the bunch concluded as they struck poses that oddly reminded Hansel of those masked hero shows he used to watch as a kid.

"…Why can't I just have one normal job?" Hansel groaned.

Then, the Boarbatusk Brothers drew their weapons: twin daggers that looked like boar tusks. "I don't know, but I can guarantee that this will be your last job!" Boarbatusk Elder declared.

"That was a rhetorical question." Hansel glared at the brothers in annoyance.

"Kill him and I'll double your pay." Corleone promised. "I can clearly afford it since my own men apparently can't hack it."

"It shall be done, Don." Boarbatusk Elder promised.

With that, Corleone lumbered past Hansel. Hansel narrowed his eyes furiously. "Don't you dare run from me, Corleone!" He called out to the man.

"Keep your eyes on us, Boy!" Boarbatusk Elder yelled.

"Otherwise you're going to die!" Boarbatusks Middle and Younger added in unison.

Hansel gasped before blocking Boarbatusk Elder's two daggers with Wolf Fang. Boarbatusk Middle and Boarbatusk Younger charged Hansel's sides, trying to stab him in the spot he had left open thanks to their older brother's efforts.

"Oh fuck right off with that." Hansel growled, igniting his entire body on fire, forcing Boarbatusk Elder to fall back and keeping his younger brothers from attacking.

"So that's the infamous Kobalt Family Semblance," Boarbatusk Elder mused.

"What do we do, Brother? Those flames are intense." Boarbatusk Middle pointed out.

"Worry not, Brother, power like that comes with a massive cool-down." Boarbatusk Elder assured him. "Reality is an equalizer, after all."

Hansel let up his flames. Great, I let my guard down. Hansel criticized himself inwardly. Now I've gotta let my entire body recover before I can use my Semblance again. Can't believe I made a rookie mistake like that.

And Corleone's running away, too; he's got nowhere to run, but I need to end this, fast.

"Brothers," Boarbatusk Elder grinned, "we would be foolish not to take advantage of this golden opportunity. Without his Semblance, he's vulnerable. We have the chance to slay the Blue Demon. We would not only be famous…but also heroes in the criminal underworld."

"With such an act, we could triple our rates, Brother!" Boarbatusk Younger pointed out gleefully.

"Money is for greedy, naive fools like you, Little Brother." Boarbatusk Elder claimed. "Real men are after a much greater prize: respect."

With that, the Boarbatusk Brothers rushed Hansel again. Here they come! Hansel thought to himself.

Then, much to Hansel's confusion, the Boarbatusk Brothers jumped about. He then let out a surprised gasp when the brothers began jumping at tremendous speed and force. Hansel's eyes frantically darted about, trying to track the movements as the brothers jumped about like destructive balls. Hansel then realized just what was happening as the brothers began striking at him with their daggers.

A shared Semblance between the brothers! Hansel realized.

Indeed, the Boarbatusk Brothers, much like the Kobalts and the Schnees, shared their own Semblance, even though they lacked the noble pedigree. Their Semblance: Jump, a simple yet effective Semblance that allowed them to increase the force of their attacks simply through jumping around. As long as there are footholds for them to leap around in, they would continue to increase their strength and power. In a gorge like the Neverland Gorge, a Semblance like this is immensely dangerous.

Hansel swung his katana about, trying his best to block the attacks. He knew he could take it, but he could not allow them to chip away at his Aura, to the point where he would be left vulnerable to a fatal blow.

As his frantic defenses continued, Hansel felt the blows increase in force. He felt a kick to the back of the head that sent him forward. He managed to keep his balance, but found himself gritting his teeth, trying to keep the headache from coming on.

Then the next brother kicked drove his shoulder into Hansel's stomach while the eldest tried to stab him in the neck, only to frown when it failed to penetrate his Aura. However, they had all the time in the world.

After all, right now, there was nothing Hansel could do against them…

Meanwhile, Team RWBY came across what could best be described a horror show. Bodies were strewn about, bleeding. The ones who were still conscious were groaning in pain wishing they were either dead, or unconscious like the ones who had been. To them, being unconscious, even though there was a great mystery into what would happen after they fell into such a dark slumber. For them, it would be like taking a nap after a long day. And it was certainly preferable to just bleeding, feeling their open wounds.

"What happened here?" Yang wondered in disbelief.

"I think we know the answer to that." Blake muttered. "I knew the professor could be savage, but this…"

Ruby Rose shook her head, stunned at the brutality. "I mean, we've taken out plenty of Torchwick's goons, but I don't think we ever left them like this."

"What should we do, Ruby?" Weiss Schnee asked curiously.

"A part of me would really like to help these guys…but I know they've probably done some awful stuff too. Still, I'd love to know just who these guys are to make the professor do something like this to them."

"I think I recognize them." Weiss admitted with tremendous trepidation.

"You know these guys?" Yang asked in surprise.

"Not personally," Weiss shook her head, "but I know for a fact I've seen plenty of similarly dressed characters traversing the company's warehouses. I was always suspicious my father hired them in some under-the-table deals."

Ruby and Yang both looked at Weiss with sympathy. "Weiss, you don't know if your dad would stoop as low as to hire guys like these." Yang tried to reassure her friend.

"Yeah, I mean, maybe the fashion is popular in Atlas." Ruby offered.

"Ruby, Yang, I appreciate the thought, I really do." Weiss smiled weakly. "But I am in no position to pretend my father's a saint. If it would save him a lien or two, he'd hire criminals to protect company warehouses."

"But you were never able to confirm it, right?" Yang offered. "So you shouldn't pass judgement until you've got the proof."

Blake looked at Weiss in sympathy before heaving a sad sigh. "Weiss…I can definitely confirm that these men are dangerous criminals."

Weiss nodded, knowing that was indeed the case. Blake sighed again. "They're mobsters. I had run-ins with plenty of these guys when I was with the White Fang. They used to steal from Dust companies quite a bit, and they took exception to a bunch of 'Faunus Freedom Fighters' trying to steal what they wanted for themselves."

Blake frowned at the memories. "We were always lucky to get out without any casualties. Wish I could've said the same about the employees at the warehouses. They definitely loved to get their licks in on the ones who weren't cooperative."

Blake left it at that. The less that was said about just what the mobsters did to those "uncooperative" folks, the better.

"But," Blake said quickly, trying to reassure Weiss, "that's not to say these men are part of the same organization that your father may or may not have hired."

Weiss smiled. "Thanks, Blake." She appreciated her friends for trying.

The quartet of Huntresses-in-training prepared to move on and try to find their teacher, only to be stopped dead in their tracks by the arrival of someone who was standing on his feet. "What the hell is this nonsense?" Demanded Don Anthonio Corleone, putting his briefcase down next to him.

Ruby and co. looked at Corleone in surprise. "Who the hell are you?" Yang asked.

"Listen, brat, I'll ask the questions, who are you?" Corleone growled. "Are you with that bastard who started attacking my men?"

"Well, that depends," Weiss shrugged, "is he tall, brooding, wears blue, and is kind of a jerk sometimes?"

"Yes," Corleone nodded.

"Does he wield a sword and really knows how to use it?" Blake asked.

"Yes," Corleone nodded again.

"Does he desperately need to get a sense of humor?" Yang frowned slightly. Hansel definitely did not appreciate her jokes as much as he should.

"Probably," Corleone shrugged.

"Is he actually a really nice guy when you get to know him?" Ruby offered.

Yang, Weiss and Blake looked at Ruby in disbelief, who just shrugged. "Fuck no!" Corleone yelled.

"…Is it a different swordsman in blue?" Ruby wondered out loud.

"Oh for God's sake, Ruby, we know it's Teach!" Yang told her.

"If you brats are with him, then it stands to reason I should kill you. Break his pride." Corleone gave a sadistic grin. "Make him pay for all the times he's ruined my operations."

"You really don't know Teach." Yang chuckled. "He'd probably mourn for a bit, but something tells me he wouldn't let it slow him down for too long."

Blake, however, was more focused on what Corleone said their professor had been doing to the man. Just what is the professor up to?

"Yang, now you're just being mean." Ruby muttered.

"Teach?" Corleone repeated. "Wait a minute, you brats are students, aren't you?"

"We're not just students!" Ruby clearly took offense at being called that.

"Oh, then what are you exactly?" Corleone curiously inquired.

Ruby gave a confident smile. "We are excellent students!" She proudly declared.

"Says the girl who still falls asleep in Professor Port's class on occasion." Weiss muttered.

"I don't care!" Corleone yelled, already having it with these brats, their professor, literally everything that was impeding his progress towards making a profit in this assignment. "I don't care what the boy is to you! I don't care if he's a teacher or not! All I know is, if you are connected with him in some way, you brats need to suffer for his sins while the Boarbatusk Brothers rip him a new one!"

Blake's eyes widened. The mercenary trio of brothers? They're here too?

Corleone then held up his hands, revealing that they were both metallic. Two prosthetic arms. He formed them into fists as they turned light blue. "Shouldn't be too hard to take out a bunch of brats."

"Don't be surprised when you're wrong." Yang taunted, while Team RWBY readied their weapons for battle.

Corleone growled. Might be good to get some backup, just in case. I didn't come here to fight. I came here to escape with my money. He thought to himself, reaching up to a headset by his ear.

Hansel Kobalt grunted in pain as he was forced towards a wall after being dealt two simultaneous kicks from Boarbatusk Middle and Boarbatusk Younger. The Boarbatusk Brothers laughed in glee as he got to his feet, dizzy from all the jumping, slicing and kicking. "I confess, I'm disappointed Blue Demon!" Boarbatusk Elder taunted. "Aren't you supposed to be some sort of prodigy."

Hansel glared at them. "Oh? It looks like you have a bit more fight in you." Boarbatusk Elder said with all the ham he could muster. "But, you're covered in bruises and slight lacerations. We may not be able to cause permanent damage now. But give it time, you'll find that we're quite persistent."

Hansel shook his head. "Sorry fellas, but I've got plenty of Aura in me. You're not going to be the death of me. You don't have the stamina."

Before Boarbatusk Elder could continue trading barbs with the younger man, he was suddenly contacted via his headset. "Oh? Would you mind holding that thought for just a moment, Blue Demon? I got a call from our employer."

"Yes, Don?"

"Hurry up and finish the brat, you idiots! Some kids are standing in my way! I need to get out of here! Your bodyguards remember, so guard my body!"

"Of course, of course, don't worry, Don, we'll finish him off." Boarbatusk Elder assured him. "Then we'll come right to where you are and take care of those kids. I'm sure the three of us can handle some kids."

This caught Hansel's attention. Kids?

Boarbatusk Elder then surprisingly glared at Hansel. "You know, I always thought the so-called Blue Demon worked alone. And now I hear this news. I don't like unexpected surprises, boy."

"The fuck are you talking about?" Hansel demanded.

Boarbatusk Elder's glare became sharper. "I don't like it when people play dumb too." He growled. "Now, who are those brats you're working with?"

"I told you, I don't know what you're talking about." Hansel was really in denial at this point. "I work alone. I fight alone."

"Don't. Lie to me." Boarbatusk Elder said sternly. "My employer is no liar. And he says there are some kids who have impeded his escape. Now, you can tell me who the brats are, or I can kill you, go over there and find out myself."

"Brother, we're going there either way, it's not like we need him to tell us." Boarbatusk Younger pointed out.

"…Good point, little brother." Boarbatusk Elder nodded.

At that moment, Hansel realized that things were going wrong in every way. He had promised Professor Ozpin the students would not get involved. And what happens? A bunch of those brats follow him without him knowing. And now, they are in danger.

"Ugh, son of a bitch, son of a bitch, son of a bitch…" Hansel groaned in frustration.

"Don't worry about telling us anymore, Boy." Boarbatusk Elder brushed him off. "We're going to kill you and find out ourselves."

"No," Hansel said in exasperation, "no, I'm afraid I'm going to be the one who's walking away from this fight."

The brothers all laughed in amusement at that statement. "Is that right?" Boarbatusk Middle grinned. "You dumb ass, we've been dominating this fight! Where do you get off saying stuff like that, huh?"

Hansel responded by leaping into the air and perching himself atop a small cliff on the wall of the gorge. "Honestly? It's because I didn't really put my back into this fight. But, since a few dumb-ass teenagers have decided to be insubordinate, well…you get the idea."

"So you admit you know those brats!" Boarbatusk Elder noted.

"Yeah, so I do." Hansel shrugged as he began unbuttoning his poncho. "But, they don't work with me. This may surprise you, but I'm a teacher now. Surprised? So am I. I'm still getting used to it. And now a few idiot students of mine have gone and put themselves in danger. So I've gotta go save them."

"You won't be saving anyone, fool!" Boarbatusk Younger declared.

"Don't you get it." Hansel moved to the last button. "What part of 'not putting my back into this fight' do you not understand, huh?"

And with that, Hansel removed the poncho, revealing his skintight blue shirt that showed off his well-defined upper-body, and his black pants. "Let me offer you some insight, fellas." Hansel said to them. "This poncho? It's a weighted poncho. It pretty much slows me down to a crawl. I wear it almost everywhere I go so that I'm always training."

With that, Hansel dropped the poncho towards the ground, much to the amusement of Boarbatusk Younger. "A weighted poncho?" He laughed. "You've gotta be kidding! How heavy can a poncho be that-"

The poncho slammed to the ground, hard, creating a massive crater. The Boarbatusk Brothers all gave a spit-take in unison. "WHAT?!" They yelled in shock.

How the hell does someone walk around with that thing covering him? Boarbatusk Middle wondered in disbelief. Who would be crazy enough to wear that thing?

Hansel smirked as he flexed, stretching his body out. "Okay, let's do this." He said simply before vanishing into a slipstream.

The Boarbatusk Brothers gasped in unison. They could not longer follow his movements. "Oh shit-" Boarbatusk Elder began before him and his brothers were launched into the air by sudden strikes that were too fast to see coming.

Hansel reappeared behind the brothers. His katana out in front of him. He then sheathed his blade. "It's over."

Clink. And with that, all three Boarbatusk Brothers fell, cut down by Hansel's attack. Hansel walked over and heaved his poncho over his shoulder. "Can't just leave this thing, it was custom made and very expensive." He muttered.

He then took notice of the massive crates of what he could only assume to be Dust. "One hell of a score," he muttered, "I definitely don't feel bad for taking it back from them. I'll come back and secure it when I'm done."

"Now, time to find out who I'm going to be screaming at when this is over." Hansel narrowed his eyes as he began running back towards the entrance to the gorge. "Damn teenagers!"

A.N: Interesting thing about starter villains. You've gotta make 'em memorable in some way, otherwise they'll be forgotten or bore readers. Why? Because they're starter villains, they're not supposed to be huge threats. I mean, the Boarbatusk Brothers are just large hams (pun totally intended) with an impressive Semblance. But, they got taken out pretty easily. As for Corleone...well, you'll just have to wait and see what happens next chapter.