No One's Pov
At Beacon, passing a large and unnerving ship as it descends upon a landing pad. Two Bullheads fly by as ant-like swarms of people on the paths around Beacon. The camera shifts to the top of a tower veiled behind clouds. Ozpin and Glynda can be seen through the window into Ozpin's office.
"Ironwood certainly loves bringing his work wherever he travels." Glynda comment
"Well, running an academy and a military makes him a busy man. Ozpin said as three more Bullheads flew in. "But yes, those are a bit of an eyesore." A chirping beep sounds repeatedly. Ozpin turns to see a hollow message, "Access Requested," on his desk. "Come in."
Then, it switches to a low perspective beyond Ozpin's desk and facing the doors as they slide open to reveal Ironwood as Ozpin approaches to greet him.
"Ozpin!" Ironwood said cordially.
Ozpin stands at attention.
"Hello, General." Ozpin greeted.
"Please, drop the formalities." Ironwood said as both men approached each other and shook hands as Glynda also approached. "It's been too long. And Glynda! It has certainly been too long since we last met."
"Oh, James!" Glynda said as she gave a personable wave and then dropped all pleasantries. "I'll be outside." She walks away.
"Well, she hasn't changed a bit." Ironwood remarks.
"So, what in the world has brought you all the way down from Atlas?" He picks up a mug and a kettle, pouring as he speaks. "Headmasters don't typically travel with their students for the Vytal Festival." He turns and offers the cup to Ironwood.
Ironwood took the mug, and the clink sound was heard. "Well, you know how much I love Vale this time of year." Ironwood said then produces a canteen from his inside coat pocket and pours its contents into his mug. "Besides, with you hosting, I thought that this might be a good opportunity for us to catch up." Ozpin walks around to his desk, kettle, and a new mug in hand.
Ozpin sits and pours himself some coffee. "I can certainly appreciate the quality time between friends. However, a small fleet outside my window has me concerned."
"Well, concern is what brought them here." Ironwood replied.
"I understand that travel between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult." Ozpin said.
"Oz, you and I both know why I brought those men." Ironwood retorted.
Ozpin takes a drink and sets down his mug. "We are in a time of peace. Shows of power like this are just going to give off the wrong impression."
"But if what Qrow said is true..." Ironwood remarks
If what Qrow said is true, then we will handle it tactfully. Ozpin said as he emphasized this as he held up an index finger. "It's the Vytal Festival. It is a time to celebrate unity and peace. So I suggest that you not scare people by transporting hundreds of soldiers halfway across the continent."
"I'm just being cautious." Ironwood replied.
"As am I. This is why we will continue to train the best Huntsmen and Huntresses we can." Ozpin responded.
"Believe me, I am." Ironwood turns and walks away. He stops near the door and looks back at Ozpin. "But ask yourself this: Do you honestly believe your children can win a war?" He continues on his way to the exit.
"I hope they never have to." Ozpin said to himself.
"Also, I heard you have a student here who is a faunus with the same traits as him." Ironwood said.
"No, James." Ozpin retorted.
"Oz with him, we could finally end her and bring peace to the world." Ironwood replied.
"Before or after you try to kill him by dropping the prototype of the Payload bomb onto the Atoll Islands turning him into the being that you see today beside Serizawa and Monarch will never allow you to use him as a weapon and I agree with them." Ozpin explained as Ironwood left.
Meanwhile, in the Beacon Academy library, Team RWBY is playing Remnant: The Game. The camera pans from Weiss to Yang Xiao Long, then to Blake, who is obviously distracted, before finally landing on Ruby, who has been contemplating her next move with Kanji sitting next to her watching them
"Hmmmmm.... All right... All right! Ruby said, pointing at Yang. "Yang Xiao Long, prepare your kingdom for battle!"
Yang was thrusting her elbow down as she balled her fist. "Bring it on!"
"I deploy the Atlesian Air Fleet! Ruby said as she slapped her card down on the table. Yang feigns a look of shock. "Looks like I get to fly right over your Ursai and attack your walls directly!" She made some noises like airplanes flying and bombing as she made a bird with her hands as Kanji chuckled.
Yang was feigning indignance as she pointed at Ruby. "You fiend!"
Ruby is now ducked at one end of the table. across the table shows the board and its player pieces in detail. "And since Atlas is part of Mantle, my repair time is only one turn." Ruby peaks her head up. She gives a look of surprise as Yang can be heard laughing arrogantly.
Yang raises a card. "Pretty sneaky, sis, but you just activated my trap card!" Yang shows the card.
Ruby is visibly disturbed. "Whaaat?!"
"Giant Nevermore!" Yang said as she slammed the card down on the table. "If I roll a seven or higher, fatal feathers will slice your fleet in two!"
A scene of a Nevermore flying over a field of swords impaled in the ground plays over the conversation.
Ruby points at Yang. "But, if you roll a six or lower, the Nevermore will turn on your own forces!" The Nevermore is shown to be turning back toward Yang.
"That's just a chance I'm willing to take." Yang replied as the two sisters glared at each other. Yang is heard shouting triumphantly
Team JNPR is shown as Yang and Ruby banter about the game. Ren and Pyrrha are studying, and Nora's snot bubble inflates and deflates as she sleeps.
"Nooooo!!! My fearless soldiers!" Ruby shouted.
"Eh, most of them were probably androids." Yang remarked.
"Goodbye, my friends, you will be avenged." Ruby said.
"Not until I draw my rewards! Which are double this round thanks to the Mistral Trade Route!" Yang retorted.
"Bah!" Ruby replies.
Nora was snoring and talking in her sleep. "Oh. Have pancakes."
"Oh, and what's this? The Smugglers of Wind Path?" Yang asked.
Pyrrha clears her throat and then confiscates a comic book Jaune is reading, trading it for a textbook.
"Bah! Bah, I say!" Ruby said.
"I say, it looks like I'm taking two cards in my hand!" Ruby remarks.
As Pyrrha reads Jaune's comic, a Nevermore player piece is tossed over Jaune's shoulder. Another piece bounces off of his head.
"Have you no heart?" Ruby asked as she collapsed on the table, groaning. "Nooo!"
"Don't worry, Ruby, you will be avenged." Kanji replied.
"Well, Weiss, it's your turn." Yang said.
"I have... I absolutely have no idea what's going on." Weiss replied.
Yang slides up beside her and puts her hand on her shoulder. "Look, it's easy! You're playing as a Vacuo, which means that all Vacuo-based cards come with a bonus."
"That sounds dumb." Yang said.
Yang starts looking through Weiss' cards. See, you've got Sandstorm, Desert Scavenge... Oh, oh! " She pulls up a card to show Weiss. "Resourceful Raider! See, now you can take Ruby's discarded Air Fleet-"
Ruby was crying. "Nooo!"
"-and put it in your hand!" Yang added.
"Okay." Weiss said
"And since Vacuo warriors have an endurance against Natural-based hazards, you can use Sandstorm to disable my ground forces and simultaneously infiltrate my kingdom!" Yang explained as she pointed a finger at Weiss."Just know that I will not forget this declaration of war." She pulls away and returns to her seat.
"And that means..." Weiss remarks
"You're just three moves away from conquering Remnant!" Ruby said.
Weiss stands, and a thunder clap accompanies Weiss' overjoyed psychotic laughter. " Y-yes! Fear the almighty power of my forces! Cower as they pillage your homes and weep as they take your children from your very arms!"
"Trap card..." Yang said, her arm appearing holding the card.
"Huh?" Weiss asked.
Yang shuffles the pieces on the board, Weiss' pieces disappearing in a puff of smoke. "Your armies have been destroyed."
Weiss slumps in her chair, cries and whines."I hate this game of emotions we play!"
Ruby hops into Weiss' lap.
"Stay strong, Weiss! We'll make it through this together!" Ruby said.
"Shut up!" Weiss said as she hugged Ruby. "Don't touch me!"
"Good grief." Kanji remarks.
"Alright Blake, you're up!" Yang said, putting her arms up behind her head.
"Oh, um, sorry, what am I doing?" Blake asked.
"You're playing as Vale, trying to conquer the Kingdoms of Remnant!" Yang explained
"Right." Blake replied.
Jaune then approaches the table. "Hey! Can I play?"
"Sorry Jaune, we've already got 4 people." Ruby said.
"What about Kanji?" Jaune asked.
"I am just watching them play." Kanji answered.
"Besides, this game requires a certain level of tactical cunning that I seriously doubt that you possess." Weiss said
"Uhh, you attacked your own naval fleet 2 turns ago." Yang remarks as Weiss makes an annoyed sound.
"Bring it on, Ice Queen! I'll have you know that I have been told that I am a natural born leader!"
"By whom? Your mother?" Weiss asked.
"A-and Pyrrha!" Jaune added.
Pyrrha was waving. "Hello again!"
Jaune was begging with both hands folded together. "Come on, let me play your hand for a turn!"
"I'm not trusting you with the good citizens of Vacuo!" Weiss remarks.
"Why not? You've trusted me with way more important stuff before. I mean, you told us all that Blake is secretly a Fa-" Jaune started to say, but Pyrrha darts over and slaps a hand over Jaune's mouth. "Fun-loving person, whom we all admire and respect." Pyrrha said as Jaune laughed nervously.
Everyone looks nervously at Blake, who looks obviously annoyed that her secret is out.
"Right. That. Ladies, enjoy your battle." Jaune bows as Pyrrha walks away.
'Sup losers." A voice called out.
Sun appears, holding his fingers in a "peace" sign.
"Hey, Sun!" Ruby greeted.
Then the scene shifts to show that Neptune is next to Sun.
"Ruby, Yang, Blake... Ice Queen... God of Destruction." Sun said.
"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" Weiss asked.
"You called me that again. I will rip off your tail and make you eat it." Kanji threatened.
"I never got a chance to formally introduce you to my old friend." Sun said.
"Uhh, aren't libraries for reading?" Neptune asked.
Ren was throwing his arms up. "Thank you!"
Nora then pops her head up. "Pancakes!"
"Shut up. Don't be a nerd." Sun said
Neptune then shakes a finger at Sun. "Geh, geh, geh, geh! "Intellectual, okay? Thank you. I'm Neptune."
"So Neptune, where are you from?" Weiss asked.
"Haven." Neptune said as he walked up to Weiss. "And I don't believe I've caught your name, snow angel."
"Um, I'm Weiss." Weiss introduced herself.
"Are you kidding me!?" Jaune asked.
"Pleasure to meet you."
"I never took you as the board game playing type." Sun said to Blake.
"Right, well, I think I'm done playing, actually. I'll see you guys later." Blake said as she speaks, she shoves Sun aside and leaves the room
Nora shrugs. "Women."
Kanji's pov
It was a few days after the meeting with Sun and Neptune that I was done taking a shower. As I wiped the mirror, I saw a huge reptile-like creature staring back at me.
"Godzilla." I said
Then the reflection roared back at me, which freaked me out and left the bathroom, then got my pants and combat boots on when I heard a knock on my door.
I opened the door and saw Ruby holding a medium-sized box.
"Hey Kanji." Ruby said.
"Oh, hello, Ruby." I said.
I saw Ruby blushing for some reason, and then I soon realized I had no shirt on, and I blushed as I quickly got a shirt on.
"So what going on, Ruby?" I asked.
"Well, the rest of the team are going on an investigation on Roman Torchwick, so you want to come along also. You have to wear a different outfit." Ruby explained.
"Ok, but outside my Beacon uniform and my standard outfit, I have nothing else." I replied
Ruby looked away for a moment and closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and handed me the box.
"I've made this for you." She said.
I took it, and she was gone, leaving a trail of rose petals.
I looked, and I opened the box and saw a ghillie suit with glowing blue accents for the ghillie suit and Godzilla mask, and then I closed the door.
No One's Pov
Ruby's hands as she straps the red laces of her shoes Switch to a closeup of Weiss' hand gripping the handle of Myrtenaster strapped to her side. Switch to a closeup of Yang's Ember Celica over her left forearm as she slides the chamber. Switch to a closeup of Blake tightening the black ribbons around her arms. Switch to full view of Team RWBY's preparations, revealing their new outfits.
Ruby was wearing her slayer outfit, which consists of a long-sleeve, light gray shirt with black belted cuffs near the ends of the sleeves. Over top of the gray shirt is a black pinafore with two vertical lines of red stitching that resemble the lacing on a corset. She wears a red skirt with a large black print of her emblem on the side and matching black tulle underneath.
Her stockings and shoes remain the same as her original outfit, though the boots lack the red trim that decorated the top. A few pieces of metal arranged in the shape of a rose are attached to the shoulder of her left sleeve, and her cloak's hood has been wrapped around her neck in a scarf-like fashion, while the rest hangs down like normal.
Weiss was wearing her Snowpea, which consisted of a white, double-breasted pea coat with black piping, cuffs, and buttons over a white, pleated full skirt with black lace trim. She also wears a pair of white, thigh-high boots with black heels and lace-topped black stockings.
Blake was wearing her Intruder outfit, which consists of a white, v-neck, zip-up crop shirt with a black hem and three-quarter sleeves. Her emblem is printed off-white on the left side of the shirt. She wears black pants that have a vertical gray stripe on the outer side of each leg and a black belt. Attached to the rear of the belt is a black piece of fabric that covers her from hip to hip. Underneath this is a longer, translucent, purple piece of fabric. She also wears black high-heel boots with two straps and buckles and purple under roles, reaching mid-calf. She retains the black ribbons on her forearms and her black bow.
Yang was wearing her Hunter outfit which consists of a deep-collared cream vest worn over a low cut black shirt; both are covered by a dark gray shrug with a raised collar, three-quarter sleeves adorned with a single black stripe down the outside of each sleeve, and gold cuffs. A black mini skirt is worn under the cream vest. A pair of crooked black belts with gold accents are slung around her hip, with a purple piece of fabric attached to the left-rear section of the lower belt. She wears thigh-high stockings attached to her miniskirt by garter-belts on the front and back of each thigh, decorated with four golden studs above her knee and her emblem on the outside of each thigh in gold. She also wears black ankle boots with multiple buckles and white ribbons on the back tied in a bow. Around her neck is a purple pendant set in silver.
Blake was approaching her bunk as she tightened her wraps. "I thought that class would never end."
"Alright, guys, today's the day! The investigation begins! Ruby said from her position, sitting on the hanging bed
Happily, Ruby leaps off her mattress and onto the floor, arms raised excitedly. She almost lands on Weiss, who is on the bottom bunk.
"I'm glad to see we're taking this so seriously." Weiss said sarcastically.
"Hey, we've got a plan! That's... moderately serious." Yang replied.
Right!" Ruby said as she looked around at her teammates. "Everyone remembers their roles?" Weiss stands up as quickly shifts left to each member who states their objective.
"You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other dust robberies or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem." Weiss said to Ruby.
"The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. If I can get in, I can hopefully find out what they're planning." Blake said.
"I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard..."
"Great! We'll meet up tonight near Yang to go over what we found. Ruby said, pumping her fist. "Let's do this!"
"Yeah!" A voice called out, and they shifted their attention right to a smiling Sun Wukong as he hung upside-down by his tail in their open window. The whole team is taken aback.
Blake was surprised and alarmed. "Sun!"
"How did you get up there?" Yang asked.
"Ah, it's easy; I do it all the time." Sun replied.
"You do what?!" Weiss asked.
"I climb trees all the time!" Sun said. Without reacting to Weiss' scowl, he flips into the dorm room. "So, are we finally getting back at that Torchwick guy?"
Blake then steps forward. "We are going to investigate the situation... as a team."
"Sorry, Sun. We don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to." Ruby said
"Psh! That's dumb! We should always get friends involved! That's why I brought Neptune!" Sun retorted, gesturing out the window
The girls lean out the window on top of one another cartoon-style to see the aforementioned teammate of Sun's standing outside, cool as can be.
"'Sup?" Neptune asked.
"How did you even get up here?" Ruby asked.
Neptune: I have my ways.
Then they saw him standing on a very thin ledge circling the building under the windows.
"Seriously, though, can I come in? We're like, really high up right now." Neptune said nervously.
Inside the dorm room, the group is standing in a circle as Ruby lays down the new plan.
"Alright, I'll go with Weiss; Sun, you can go with Blake." Ruby said as she pushed Neptune past Weiss, he slips her a wink. Weiss looks mildly shocked but then comes to her senses quickly. "And Neptune, you can go with Yang since she doesn't have a partner. Everyone good?"
"Actually, Ruby, why don't you go with Yang? After all, she is your sister." Weiss suggested.
Ruby pushed Neptune, who is stiff as a board, up next to yang. When she is done pushing him, he rocks back and forth, looking nervous. Yang put her hand on his shoulder to stop him from rocking.
"But, Weiss, who would go with you, then?" Ruby
"Well... I guess Neptune could come with me." Weiss replied.
Neptune puts on a suave look and points at Weiss as the team leader cracks up.
"Hahaha, nah!" Ruby replies.
Weiss is obviously less than amused, yet
it is powerless to stop Ruby from pulling her by the back out the door.
Weiss sticks her arms out fruitlessly , trying to get back to Neptune. "But! But!"
Then Ruby bumped her face first into someone's chest. She looked up and saw Kanji wearing the ghillie suit she made.
"Hi Ruby." Kanji greeted.
"Hi Kanji." Ruby smiles then she backs away still dragging Weiss.
"Where is the first stop in this investigation?" Kanji asked.
"The CCT." Ruby said.
"Ok." Kanji replied and went with Ruby and Weiss.
Meanwhile Weiss walks through the grand, glowing lobby of the tower with pride, avoiding the central terminal and heading straight for the elevator doors, which slide open automatically and close when she's inside. The voice of the CCT AI is projected from a panel near the door.
"Hello. Welcome to the CCT. How may I help you?" CCT AI asked.
"I'd like to go to the communications room, please." Weiss replied.
"Absolutely. Could you please place your Scroll on the terminal to verify your identity?" The CCT AI said as Weiss retrieves her Scroll and places it as directed. "Perfect! Thank you, Miss Schnee."
Upon the elevator's ascent, Weiss' expressions shifts from pleasant to serious. Upon entering the room, four symbols are seen on a computer - twin axes and wreaths, three flying swords pointing down, a spear and shield inside a fragmented circle, and a precise winged shape. Weiss walks up to the front desk where a holographic secretary appears in the seat.
CCT AI beeps are heard before the projection speaks in a polite manner. "Welcome to the Beacon Cross Continental Transmit center. How may I help you?"
"I need to make a call to the Schnee Company World Headquarters in Atlas." Weiss answered.
"Absolutely." CCT AI said then there was more beeping. "If you could head over to Terminal 3, I'll patch you through."
"Thank you!" Weiss replied.
Weiss smiles and nods before walking over to her assigned cubicle-like computer, passing a few Beacon students in uniform - one of which is talking to her mother and asking how things are going back in Signal Academy. She sits at her own display, taking a deep, unhappy breath to prepare for the call ahead. The face of a short-haired brunette appears on the monitor with the Schnee snowflake rotating behind her. She does not realize who she is talking to until she looks up.
"Thank you for calling the Atlas- Oh! Miss Schnee! Good afternoon! Would you like me to patch you through to your father? I think your sister Winter might be here as well." Schnee Corp Operator asked.
Weiss was pleased. "No, thank you! I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me. I've compiled a short list."
Weiss produces her Scroll, placing it into a slot on the keyboard, creating a series of noises as the Operator looks at the data from her side of the screen.
"I see. If you don't mind... What may I ask what this is for?" The Operator asked.
"School project." Weiss answered.
"Um... There are some sensitive documents on this list, ma'am." The Operator replied nervously
Weiss: Well, then, I'll be sure to treat them with care.
Operator was still nervous "Right... Very well." Then more noises were heard. "The data is being transferred to your Scroll now."
"Wonderful! That will be all, then." Weiss replied.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your father before you go?" The Operator asked.
Weiss loses her smile, but quickly replaces it.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Well, then... Have a nice day!" The Operator said.
The call is dropped, and so too is Weiss' happy act, seen in the screen's reflection.
Meanwhile Penny stands alone near a two-story building with patio furniture and she is looking around nervously when a hand grabs her shoulder, causing her to jump. She turns to see Ruby grinning and Kanji smirking. She smiles in return. The scene moves to the three strolling down the street.
"I wish I could help you guys but I don't know anything about those men." Penny said.
"Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together, and then you just disappeared! Were you kidnapped?" Ruby asked.
"Oh, no! Nothing like that!" Penny replied
"Then where did you go?" Kanji asked.
"I've never been to another kingdom before. My father asked me not to venture out too far, but... You have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot." Penny answered.
"Believe me, I know the feeling." Ruby grin and Penny grin back. "But why not let us know you were okay?"
"I... was asked not to talk to you guys. Or Weiss. Or Blake. Or Yang. Anybody, really." Penny said.
"Was your dad that upset?" Ruby asked.
"No, it wasn't my father…" Penny started to say but before she can continue, she and Ruby hear the sound of megaphones announcing something, turning around the corner to look at the platform in the center of a plaza where the holographic image of James Ironwood is seen before six AK-130 Androids, who are in turn standing in front of two large metal storage cases with the spear-and-shield emblem on their doors.
"The AK-130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't you agree?" Ironwood asked as the clapping of the gathered audience caused the drones to take a jerky bow. "But... the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine'... Well, that's just not good enough, is it? Presenting... the Atlesian Knight-200!" the doors to the cases roll up, and six new, bulkier, shinier automatons stand at attention before knocking their obsolete predecessors down to the applause of the watchers. "Smarter, sleeker, and admittedly, a little less scary." the robots flex and pose as a demonstration. "These models will become active later this year, but they won't be alone! Now, the Atlesian Military has always supported the idea of removing men from the dangers of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch."
The last line draws Ruby's attention.
"Ruby..?" Penny asked Ruby nervously.
"So, our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company, are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin!" The hologram introduced.
Ironwood's image is replaced with the hologram of a robotic white behemoth, featuring hinged piston legs, large guns for hands, and a rectangular head, standing at least twice as tall as the Knights below it.
Ironwood: (voice only) Now, we couldn't have them here for you today, but these mechanized battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year!"
Ruby was hunched in awe. " Whoa…"
Penny however was concerned "Ruby? Maybe we should go somewhere else."
"Guys I think we overstay our welcome." Kanji replied.
At the side of the stage, two armored soldiers see Penny, pointing her out and calling in backup. Penny backs away and then breaks into a dead run, same with Kanji, which snaps Ruby out of her weapon-awe-induced stupor.
"Penny! Kanji! Wait! Where are you going?" Ruby asked
Ruby turns to look back at the soldiers chasing after her friends, and realizing Penny's situation, swiftly follows her in an attempt to catch up down the winding alley.
Atlas Soldier was gesturing to his partner. "Down here! She went this way!"
Penny, Kanji, and Ruby run across the street with the soldiers following them, though a honking car nearly runs one over. He manages to brace his hands against the hood, which somehow stops the vehicle, and his partner runs along after the girls.
Ruby is still trying to catch up with Penny and Kanji, but a high stack of crates on a flimsy support is easily cut down by Crescent Rose, causing a wooden avalanche of boxes to block the path. Seeing Penny and Kanji right ahead of her, Ruby leaps into the air and lands on the alley wall, ricocheting off to grab Penny and Kanji around the middle.
"This way!" Ruby said as she grimaced before the trio disappeared in a flash of red and rose petals.
Ruby dashes away as fast as she can while carrying Penny and Kanji, but the strain is too great, and they crash to the ground a short while later, with Ruby falling all the way into the street. She gets up slowly, and in her dazed state, she doesn't notice the large truck coming up from behind her until the honking is too late of a warning. She stands up just as she's about to be hit, but from out of nowhere, Penny pushes Ruby out of the way and holds her palms out.
In the split second where the two make contact, the ground beneath Penny cracks and crumbles into pieces, and the From Dust Till Dawn truck is lifted a little ways into the air by the girl's sheer strength. She puts it down, and the Shopkeep stares in awe at the crumples in his hood, just like the Huntress who got saved.
Ruby's eyes wide, terrified, uncertain. "Penny..?"
Penny asked the shopkeeper. "Are you okay?"
Shopkeep was nodding, obviously scared. "Uh-huh…"
Penny backs away, looking at Ruby's frightened expression while Kanji had a shock expression, then at the bystanders murmuring to each other in an attempt to understand what just happened. In her panic, she runs from the Atlas soldiers still chasing her down and bumps into Ruby, knocking the poor girl out of her stupor as her friend tries to get away again.
"Penny! Come back!" Ruby called out as she starts going after Penny with Kanji right behind as the people look at the destruction Penny caused with her bare hands and the soldiers find they lost their target
Penny was coming to a stop once she gets out of the alleyway, looking around for where to run next. "Um... Uh…"
Ruby and Kanji were coming up to Penny, Ruby was exasperated.
"Penny! Please! What is going on?! Why are you running? How did you do that?!" Ruby asked.
Penny was nervous again. " I-I can't! Everything's fine!" Penny replied but she starts to hiccup with each lie. "I-I don't want to talk about it! "(*hiccup*)
Penny, if you can just tell me what's wrong, we can help you!
Penny was retreating from her friends "No! No, no! You wouldn't understand…"
"Try us then." Kanji replied
"Kanji is right, you can trust us!" Ruby said.
Penny finally relents, coming up to Ruby's face desperately. "You're my friend, right? You promise you're my friend?!"
"I promise." Ruby said softly as Kanji nodded.
Penny was silent for a second, then, looking down at her hands. "Ruby… Kanji..I'm not a real girl."
Penny shows Ruby the toll of stopping the truck that would have killed her: Parts of her palm's skin have ripped away, revealing the gray metal underneath. Penny stares sadly at Ruby's face, now completely astounded by her friend's secret as all she can simply say before the screen goes black and the credits roll is...
"Oh." Ruby said as Kanji was shocked.
"Penny, I-I don't understand…"
"Most girls are born, but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura." Penny explained then turns her head to the side sadly. "I'm not real…"
Ruby then took Penny's hands in her own. Of course you are. You think just because you've got nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts makes you any less real than me?"
"Yeah it doesn't matter to us." Kanji said.
"I don't... um…" Penny said, then leaned in close to Ruby and Kanji's face. "You're... taking this extraordinarily well."
"You're not like those things we saw back there." Ruby said then taps her chest. "You've got a heart, and a soul; I can feel it!"
"Same and besides I've seen worse." Kanji replied
"Ooohh... oh Ruby, Kanji." Penny says, then grabs Ruby and Kanji into a hug and shakes her back and forth.) You're the best friend anyone could have!
Ruby muffled groaning. "I can see why your father would want to protect such a delicate flower!
Penny Releases Ruby and Kanji, fully back to her happy self. " Oh, he's very sweet! My father's the one that built me! I'm sure you guys would love him!"
"Wow." Ruby giggles. "He built you all by himself?"
"Well, almost! He had some help from Mr. Ironwood." Penny said.
"The General?! Wait... Is that why those soldiers were after you?" Ruby asked.
"They like to protect me, too!" Penny replied.
Ruby scoffs "They don't think you can protect yourself?"
"They're not sure if I'm ready yet... One day, it will be my job to save the world, but I still have a lot left to learn. That's why my father let me come to the Vytal Festival. I want to see what it's like in the rest of the world, and test myself in the Tournament." Penny explained.
"Penny, what are you talking about? Save the world from what? We're in a time of peace!" Ruby said.
Penny was confused. "That's not what Mr. Ironwood said…"
"Check down here!" One of the soldiers called out.
Penny grabs both Ruby and Kanji by their shoulders. "You guys have to hide!" Lifts Ruby and Kanji above her head effortlessly.
Ruby was struggles and screams as she and Kanji are carried toward the dumpster. "Penny, wait! What are you doing? You don't have to go with them! we can help you!"
"Let me go or you will be sorry." Kanji said angrily.
Penny then throws Ruby and Kanji in the trash and lifts the lid so she can still talk. It's okay, Ruby. They're not bad people; I just don't want to get you in trouble. Just promise me you won't tell anyone else my secret. Okay? Then gravely stares at Ruby and Kanji.
"I promise." Ruby said.
"Fine." Kanji replied
Ruby lowers her head into the garbage as the lid is put down, but she lifts it a little to peek at the scene outside.
"There she is!" A voice called out.
"Sal-u-tations, officers!" Penny greeted
"Why were you running? And what happened to the other girl and the faunus boy?" The first soldier asked.
"What girl and faunus? I've been by myself all day! Penny said, then hiccups loudly, then smiles.
"You shouldn't cause such a scene." The first soldier
"Are you okay?" The second soldier asked.
Penny shows off her "injured" palms. "Just a scratch."
"Penny, your father isn't going to be happy about this." The first soldier replied.
"Please, just come with us." The second soldier said.
"Yes, sir!" Penny replied
Penny and the soldiers are heard walking away as Ruby looks on in sadness... until a rat screeches from below her feet, causing the young Huntress to fall on top of Kanji and close the lid on them.
In the ruined parts of Vale, the sound of an engine gets closer and closer until Bumblebee pulls into the street and stops just short of the camera, showing Yang Xiao Long behind the handlebars in her matching helmet.
Yang took off the helmet, talking to someone off-screen as she gestures with her thumb to the music playing nearby. ,"Come on, my friend's right in here!"
Yang gets off the bike to reveal Neptune sitting right behind her, hair and goggles messed up with a petrified expression of terror on his face.
Neptune was sounding dizzy. "Cool…" then he shakes his head, somehow perfectly fixing his appearance, and gets off the cycle, looking around worriedly. "And where exactly is... here?"
The music from Junior's Club gets louder once inside to show Junior behind the bar adjusting his cuffs as his Henchmen stock the bottles, carry boxes, and otherwise stand around on the dance floor, until...
Henchman 1 was running inside, shouting ,"Hurry, close the door - she's coming!" Then he and another Henchman proceed to roll the doors shut and keep them closed with their bodies.
Junior was walking out from the bar. "What are you two idiots doing?!"
The Henchmen shout incoherently until an explosion knocks them to the ground and forces the doors open, allowing a familiar face to walk in through the smoke as "I Burn" starts playing.
"Guess who's back!" Yang smiled.
Yang continues to smile and pose as eight guns are pointed in her face with an equal number of angry Henchmen behind them. Though this doesn't faze her, she stops and glares at the recording studio where the track is messing up until the frightened bear-headed DJ takes the needle off the record and retreats back under the table.
Neptune appears behind Yang as the Henchmen continue hoisting their guns. "Yeah, so could you define "friend" for me?"
"Stop, stop! Nobody shoot." Junior said as he cuts his way through the crowd of goons, straightening his tie. "Blondie, you're here! ...Why?"
"You still owe me a drink." Yang said as she grabs Junior by the arm and drags him to the bar through the hired guns.
"Whoa-ho-ho-ho, what a woman... " Neptune said then breaks from his lovestruck staring to see the twins Melanie and Miltia Malachite standing beside him. "'Sup?"
They harrumph. "Whatever." Then they walk away, noses in the air.
Meanwhile, Blake's fingers trace three scratch marks on a wall before peeking around its corner and seeing a pair of horned Faunus as they are ushered into a building by a bearded man. She turns to Sun next to her.
"This is it." Blake said.
"You sure?" Sun asked as Blake glares at him and starts moving towards the entrance while unfastening her bow. "Y'know, I'm just gonna take your word for it."
The two walk inside the building to a hallway filled with cases, seeing another man announcing "New recruits, keep to the right!" at the young pair as they follow.
"I don't get it." Sun said as he held out the half-mask in his hand. "If you believe what you're doing is right, why hide who you are?"
"The masks are a symbol. Humanity wanted to make monsters out of us, so we chose to don the faces of monsters." Blake explained.
"Grimm masks... That's kind of dark." Sun said.
"So was the guy who started it." Blake said as she put her mask on and walked on.
"Always sunshine and rainbows with you... " Sun said as he followed her lead.
The new recruits to the White Fang are moving in a line to the side of the stage, a mere few dozen compared to the hundreds of white-vested, black-hooded soldiers to their left and up above in the balconies. Blake and Sun look around themselves when they stop, and a fully-masked man with tattoos standing starts speaking before the large sheet emblazoned with the bloody wolf and claw marks.
"Thank you all for coming. For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours! I can assure you, he is the key to obtaining what we have fought for for so long!" The White Fang Lieutenant said
The dark pants and brown shoes step forward before the orange tip of the Melodic Cudgel taps on the stage. The camera pans up to reveal none other than Roman, smiling confidently even as the crowd starts protesting.
Roman was waving mockingly. "Thank you, thank you!" As he speaks, Neopolitan walks out from behind the sheet. "Please, hold your applause!"
An antler faunus was pointing at Roman from her place right in front of Blake and Sun. "What's a human doing here?!"
I'm glad you asked, "Deerie"! Now, I'll be the first to admit, humans... are the worst." Roman said as he salutes as an example. "Case in point. So, I understand why you would like to see us all locked away, or, better yet, killed!"
Sun was leaning over to Blake. "So, is he going somewhere with this?"
"What about the God of Destruction? He has powers far greater than we have." A faunus asked.
"But, before the claws come out, I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy: the ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms! Roman said as the crowd changes their tune and starts agreeing with him. "Government, military, even the schools: they're all to blame for your lot in life!" He said as he let the crowd cheer as the two heroes shared a look. "And they're all pests that need to be dealt with! Fortunately, I'm the best exterminator around... No offense to any rodents in the room."
With a snap of the fingers, the curtain falls, and the whole mass of Faunus applauds at the sight of the Atlesian Paladin-290 behind it, the mark of the White Fang painted on its shoulder.
"Whoa, that's a big robot…" Sun said.
"How did he get that?" Blake asked
As some of you may have heard, this right here... Roman said as he taps the giant mech. "...is Atlas' newest defense against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my "employer", we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, "hit the shelves". Now, many of your brothers have already moved down to our new operation in the southeast. If you'd rather stay within the city, that's fine... But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you with, even take out this God you fear. Any questions?" The White Fang's roaring applause tells him the answer.
"We should get out of here." Blake said to Sun.
White Fang Lieutenant: Will all new recruits, please come forward!
As the line surges forward with the two having to follow "Welp!" Sun sai
Back at the Club, Junior puts down his glass as he sits behind the bar separating him from his interrogator.
"I don't know!" Junior replied
"How can you not know?" Yang asked.
"I haven't talked to him! I haven't even seen him since the night you first came in here." Junior leaned over to point in Yang's face. "He paid up front, I lent him my men, and none of them ever. Came. Back." Junior answered.
Neptune then rushed to Yang's side to raise a question of his own. "So where did they go?"
"What kind of stupid question is that? They never came back!" Junior said To Yang. "Who is this guy?"
Yang was pushing Neptune out of the way with one hand. "Don't worry about him; worry about me" Yang said as Neptune straightens and stands to attention. If I don't find out what I want!
"I already told you everything! Torchwick hired my boys, and I guess he wasn't happy with them, which is something I can relate to!" Junior shouts this at his own men, who grumble and walk away in response.
"Come on, Neptune." Yang says and turns from the bar and walks away.
Neptune was following with his hands in his pockets. "Do we get everything we need?"
"Well, we got everything we can. Hopefully the rest of the team is having better luck." Yang replied.
The White Fang is still cheering loudly as the recruits are marched to the stage, with Blake and Sun having no choice but to follow along.
"What are we going to do?!" Sun asked, whispering to Blake.
"I'm thinking…" Blake replied.
Sun was watching Roman lean on the robot smoking his cigar and laughing with the girl beside him before he zeroes in on the two, frowning. "He sees us... " Sun said as he tries to smile and wave.
Blake then noticed the junction box on the wall. "He can't see in the dark."
With that, Blake unsheathes Gambol Shroud, transforms it into a pistol, and shoots at the box, making the lights go out for the whole building and turning the screen dark.
"Don't let them get away!" Roman called out.
"Sun! The window!"
"Stop them!" Roman ordered.
Before the two student Huntsmen crash through the window and start running as fast as they can, the mechanized sound of running power signals the Altesian Paladin's activation, and it crashes through the wall of the building in pursuit of the runaways, who leap off of a car and manage to get on the roofs. The Paladin follows beside them on the street as Blake and Sun run, jump, and flip from rooftop to rooftop.
Amidst twirls in the air Sun asked "So you wouldn't happen to have... oh, I don't know... some form of backup?!"
"On it!" Blake said as she grabs her Scroll and puts it to her ear as she continues to jump.
Weiss Schnee is seen leaving the Cross Continental Transmit tower's elevator when she grabs her own Scroll and listens to Blake's message.
Blake was on Scroll-call. "Everyone! If you can hear me, we need back-"
Sun was on Scroll-call, in the background. "HEEEELLLLP!"
Weiss rolls her eyes and starts running out the door, a little smile on her face as she does so.
Ruby and Kanji are still beside the dumpster which is boarded up, possibly to keep the rats imprisoned, staring at her Scroll.
Sun: (Scroll-call) Big robot! And it's big! Really big!
Ruby was excited. "Oh, I am not missing this!" Then runs off to join the fight.
"Ruby, wait for me." Kanji said running after her.
Yang is back on the motorcycle in her helmet and sunglasses with Neptune looking at the Scroll in her hand over her shoulder.
"That Torchwick guy is in it! But not, like, it didn't eat him; he's, like, controlling it or something!"
"Where are you guys?" Yang asked.
Right on cue, behind them, Blake and Sun can be seen running through the street with the Paladin hot on their heels before they all disappear from view.
"HURRYYYY!!!" Sun said In both person and on the Scroll
"I think that was them." Neptune said.
"Yeah, I got it." Yang replied the Scroll away, she quickly circles her ride around - much to Neptune's alarm - and drives off to follow them.
Blake and Sun somehow make it to the highways, jumping down into the busy street and continuing their escape by hopping on cars while the Paladin follows them by pushing vehicles out of the way. Sun pauses to look at their pursuer's path of destruction and offer a quick "Whoa!" before leaping onto more cars, much to the anger of Roman inside the robot, his face surrounded by blue holographic screens.
Yang and Neptune are able to follow the mech suit on their ride, coming up next to it as it runs.
"We've gotta slow it down!" Yang called out
"Got it!" Neptune replied.
Neptune reaches for his gun, but Roman notices the pair on his sensors and crashes into a multitude of cars with the Paladin's strong bulk, sending them flying towards his chasers.
"Hold on!" Yang said.
"Wuh-oh…" Neptune replied.
Yang swerves, leaning her bike to the side in avoidance of flying debris while Neptune flails in a panic. Back on two wheels again, Neptune unslings his weapon, aims as sparks start flying, and fires several bolts of blue electricity at the Paladin, causing Roman to grimace from the force of the attacks.
Switching strategies, Neptune flips the gun and it grows a shaft and an energy blade at the end, then jumps from Yang's bike as the spear's head splits in three and drives it into the top of the Paladin. Sun and Blake pause in their car-hopping to look back.
"Neptune, hang on!" Yang said.
Neptune is trying his best, but the mech keeps bucking and threatens to make him fall. Closing his eyes, Sun smashes his palms together, and from the golden Aura around him, his Semblance creates two glowing outlines that copy their creator, leaping off and going back over the tops of vehicles to collide into the Paladin's front. They explode into blinding light upon contact to let Sun leap forward with Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang held high, but Roman finally turns enough to send Neptune flying off and knocking into his leader, sending both of them off the highway.
As Blake looks on from her spot, she hears a voice from her Scroll:
"Blake! I'm in position!" Weiss said through the scroll
She is seen twirling over a highway and landing in the middle of the road, holding Myrtenaster at the approaching Roman. He smiles as his robot charges the girl, but Weiss spins and plunges her blade into the ground, summoning a circle of ice across the pavement that causes the Paladin to slip and crash, actually flying over the young Huntress and falling off the ramp, landing further down before Ruby, already having her Crescent Rose out in scythe form.
The Paladin stands back up, and the rest of Team RWBY falls beside their leader to take up positions. Roman chuckles, moving the robot slowly towards the girls.
"Freezer Burn!" Ruby shouted.
Ruby and Blake jump back out of the way as Weiss performs her same ice-circle trick, but backs out of Yang's way when she jumps into the air and hits the epicenter with her Ember Celica, creating a wave of mist that surrounds Roman. Immediately, the Paladin activates its laser sensors to make up for the lost sight, but it barely sees the afterimage of Blake and narrowly misses the dashing Yang. A gun manages to fire at the area between Blake and Yang, but out from the blast comes Ruby, who slashes the metal with her blade, causing it to falter.
"Checkmate!" Ruby called out.
Blake and Weiss go in this time, each girl going for the feet until Weiss jumps up and stabs a sensor before leaping off of a white glyph. Roman lifts the Paladin's foot to crush Blake, but Weiss summons another glyph under her teammate to launch her backwards before the crushing blow can land. Roman growls and fires off the missiles, but Weiss and Blake flip backwards as the explosions merely hit where they were.
Finally, Weiss jumps up too high, and Roman fires a double energy blast at her. Myrtenaster absorbs the damage, but Weiss is thrown back, so she casts a beam of light from her weapon to the ground under Blake, forming a yellow clockwork circle that's absorbed into the Faunus girl and lets her slice through each launched missile with ease in a flurry of super-fast slashes.
Ruby was running into the fray. Ladybug!
Ruby shoots herself forward and cuts at the robot's legs, then turns as Blake aims herself at the giant's feet as well. They both dash forward and attack at the same time, circling each other around the Paladin with each strike until they both launch themselves into the air and come down together on the shoulder, cutting off the left arm entirely.
Yang doesn't waste a second, jumping onto the Paladin's back and punching the top with fiery shotgun blasts. Roman is knocked around in the cabin, but seeing as he can't reach her with his remaining mechanical arm, he runs backwards through two columns and leaves her embedded in a third before backing away and turning towards her. Just as she is falling down, the remaining arm extends a closed fist, and when it punches her, she flies through the column and doesn't get up.
"Yang!" Blake shouted.
Don't worry! With each hit she gets stronger, and she uses that energy to fight back! That's what makes her special.
Yang slowly gets back on her feet, hair burning a brilliant white as she clenches her fists. Sensing victory, Roman throws a punch, but Yang catches it in her own hand (despite the ground cracking beneath her) and, eyes red with rage, smashes her knuckles into the second arm, obliterating it under her force.
Getting desperate with his armless robot, Roman immediately kicks Yang to the side, but as she passes her sister and teammates...
"Bumblebee!" Ruby called out.
Blake throws her Gambol Shroud out for Yang to catch while flying, and the Faunus uses the momentum to swing the glowing girl around for a final hit to the robot. Roman, however, steps out of the way just in time to avoid complete destruction.
"We have to slow it down!" Ruby said.
"And how do you propose we do that?" Weiss asked.
Then they saw a blue light glowing as Kanji fired his atomic breath on Roman knocking his armor suit to the ground.
"Ice Flower!" Ruby called out.
Twirling their weapons so they both point at Roman, Weiss creates a series of glyphs in front of the scythe's sniper barrel, and a single shot through the circles creates a dazzling spiral of energy that creates large icicles upon impact with the Paladin. Ruby continues to shoot as Weiss freezes the fire, and as the ice completely envelops the robot's body, Blake swings her partner around in a circle one more time, but with Roman unable to move, the Paladin is hit by the speed and power of Yang's fists, flying into the air then got hit by another blast of Kanji's Atomic Breath before crashing down in a hundred pieces and a defeated criminal.
Roman was getting up, slightly dazed but unharmed, as he inspects the damage while brushing himself off Just got this thing cleaned...
He looks up just in time to see Yang, still burning with her absorbed power, fire a single shot at the defenseless thief, but he's saved at the last instant when the two-toned girl seen before drops in front of him and merely opens Hush, deflecting the blast entirely. The new arrival hangs the weapon over her shoulder as Roman addresses the victors.
"Ladies, God of Destruction, Ice Queen…" Roman said.
"Hey!" Weiss retorted.
"Always a pleasure! Neo, if you would…" Roman said.
The pink-and-brown girl curtsies her enemies with a bow, but Yang will have none of it, charging forth with fists raised to strike the outlaws... only to break their image as if made out of a mirror and turn just in time to see them escape in a Bullhead. Kanji and the rest of team RWBY runs up to Yang's side, now cooled down with the end of the fight.
"So I guess he got a new henchman…" Yang said.
"Yeah, I guess she really made our plans... fall apart!" Weiss jokes
While Weiss smiles, Ruby giggles, and Blake starts walking away, Yang simply statesNo. Just... no.
Weiss was getting mad. "What- But, you do it!"
"There's a time and a place for jokes." Yang replied.
"Was this not it?" Weiss asked.
"No, it just wasn't very good." Yang said as she followed Blake.
Weiss was walking with her teammates."Well, at least I'm trying!"
"You're not trying hard enough." Kanji answered
"Wait... Where are Sun and Neptune?" Ruby asked.
Sun and Neptune are sitting in the middle stools of the "A Simple Wok Noodle House" eating their plates of noodles with the Shopkeep behind the counter and their weapons leaning on the other two stools.
"They're probably fine, right?" Neptune asked.
"Probably." Sun answered.