3rd Person POV:
In a dark passageway, Qrow along with Team RNJR and Y/N are seen walking down the path with the only source of light being translucent lanterns.
Qrow: The City of Mistral...
Nora: Ugh! It's about time!
Nora: Whose idea was it to walk again?
Ren: Well, we did face many obstacles. Broken airships, destroyed settlements...
Jaune: Oh, and, you know, all those people and monsters that tried to murder us.
Ruby: Pfft, we were fine. (looking at Qrow and Y/N with a smile) Only two of us almost died.
Y/N & Qrow: (looking at Ruby, smiling back) Hey.
Nora puts her hands on her hips and looks at Ren.
Ren: (looking at Nora) Hey.
Nora giggles in response.
Jaune: So, how much farther to Haven Academy?
Qrow: Almost there. But I figured I'd take you kids on the scenic route.
The group approaches a pair of large, wooden double doors, which Qrow opens, flooding the tunnel with sunlight.
Ruby drags Y/N out with her as both run onto massive platform that doubles as an elevator, stopping at the railing to gaze out over the city in wide-eyed awe.
Ruby: Wow!
Y/N: It's so lively!
The others join her to take in the view of buildings and stone stairways perched on mountains.
Ruby: This... is... awesome!
Below them, large crowds of people are going about their day - walking around, talking and buying merchandise legally and illegally.
Qrow: It's certainly something.
Ruby: (noticing a kiosk selling weapons) Oh my gosh, look at all the weapons!
Qrow: Vendors here will sell you just about anything...whether they should or not.
Jaune: They really made the most out of these mountains.
Qrow: Every inch. Stay away from the lower levels. The higher up you go, the nicer it gets.
Nora: And we are going up! (pointing upward)
Suddenly an Atlesian cargo airship flies over an enormous lake.
Weiss: (leaning against the wall in the cockpit) So, how much farther?
Pilot: We're in the home stretch now.
Pilot: No more stops from here to Mistral. Sorry for the long trip. Keeping us off the radar's been harder than I thought. Lots of air traffic around northern Anima.
Weiss: It's fine. I...just hope I haven't been a burden.
Pilot: (chuckles) You and your money are more than welcome on this ship, kid.
The ship's radio suddenly picks up a transmission.
Pilot: (looking at it) What the...?
He reaches over and adjusts a slider, evening out the wavelengths on the screen.
Weiss: Is everything okay?
Pilot: I don't know. We're still over Lake Matsu. Shouldn't be picking up broadcasts this far from Mistral. Someone must be close.
A female Mistral pilot begins speaking over the radio in a panic. Hearing this, Weiss stands up straight and listens closely.
Mistral Pilot: Mayday, mayday! We are a small passenger flight, and our Huntress is down! We aren't equipped to deal with this!
Pilot: Oh man.
Mistral Pilot: The Grimm hit us 400 klicks north of the southern shoreline!
Weiss's eyes widen in shock from the sudden sound of an explosion happening as the Mistral Pilot gasps from the impact.
Mistral Pilot: Get them off us! If anyone can hear this-- Ah!
She cries out as another explosion can be heard before the transmission abruptly ends. The Atlas pilot turns off his radio and turns the ship. Weiss walks over to him and grabs onto a handle in the ceiling.
Weiss: We're going to help them, right?
Pilot: What? No. I'm trying to avoid them.
Weiss: But...they'll die.
Pilot: Look, if we picked up their transmission, I'm sure someone else did, too. Besides, this is a cargo ship. She's not much good in a fight. I just wanna finish this job and get home. Sorry, kid. My ship, my rules.
Weiss closes her eyes holding onto Y/N's necklace before gazing out the windshield as the ship turns to the right and continues flying over the lake.
Back at Mistral RNJR and Qrow enter the campus grounds of Haven Academy, which is devoid of any other people. They stop in a courtyard, where Ruby smiles and wipes a tear from her eye as Y/N holds her hand giving her a smile.
Ruby: We made it.
Qrow stops behind them, and while they continue on their way, he takes a moment to glance around and lets out a sigh.
Ruby: Hello?
Inside a hallway, RNJR is following Qrow, and Ruby calls out once again, louder this time.
Ruby: Hello?!
Nora: Maybe try louder?
Ren: There doesn't seem to be anyone here.
Jaune: Well, I guess school isn't really in session right now. Maybe that's it.
Y/N: I thought that at least some Huntsmen and Teachers would be here.
Qrow: No, this isn't right. Come on.
Qrow hurries ahead.
Ruby: Wait for us!
The ex-students up the pace to catch up, and soon, all six are running to a pair of wooden double doors. Qrow comes to a stop in front of them, draws his sword, and extends the blade.
Qrow: Get ready. There could be trouble.
RNJR and Y/N follow his lead and draw their weapons. Qrow brings up his foot and kicks the door open. Just on the other side, Professor Lionheart
widens his eyes, throws his hands into the air, and lets out a frightened scream.
Jaune, Ruby, and Nora widen their eyes and scream as well, while Ren and Y/N gives the headmaster a confused stare.
Qrow suddenly looks down, loses his balance, and falls. Shortly after, Lionheart makes a noise and briefly faints. Team RNJR along with Y/N let their weapons down and stare, dumbfounded, while Qrow sits up.
Ruby: Uh, Professor Lionheart?
Lionheart gasps and sits up.
Lionheart: Qrow! For crying out loud, you nearly scared me half to death!
Qrow stands up with a growl.
Qrow: Me? Why weren't you waiting for us at the entrance?
Lionheart: Huh? (pulling a pocket watch from his coat and checking it) Oh, right. Apologies. I guess time slipped away from me.
Qrow: You're joking.
While Lionheart stands up everyone puts their weapons away, as Nora asks a question.
Nora: Where is everybody?
Lionheart: Ah, you must be the students Qrow mentioned.
Ruby: Ruby: Yes, sir. (giving a loose salute) Ruby Rose.
Jaune: Jaune Arc.
Nora: (posing with her arms held stiffly out to the sides) Nora Valkyrie.
Ren: (putting his arms behind his back) Lie Ren.
Y/N: Yuimi Anna.
Lionheart: (chuckles) A pleasure to meet you all. Leonardo Lionheart, at your service. I'm afraid most of my staff is currently away until classes resume, but--
Hearing this, Qrow briefly clenches his fists and then leans in toward Lionheart.
Qrow: What? Leo, you can't be serious. Who's guarding the Relic?
Lionheart: Qrow, the children.
Qrow: Already know. I filled them in. What do you mean your staff is away?
Lionheart: (as this information sinks in) You... filled them in?
Nora: So, is this not going at all like anyone thought it would?
Y/N & Ruby: Definitely not.
In the entrance of the Belladonna Household, Ghira and Sun burst in through the front door, angry. Kali watches them from the front porch.
Ghira: Unbelievable!
Sun: Total garbage!
Ghira lets out a growl, and he and Sun turn to each other.
Ghira and Sun: We can't let them get away with this!
Kali: (smiling) Well, at least you two can finally agree on something.
They look at her, then back at each other. Sun gives an awkward chuckle while rubbing his head, and Ghira glares slightly and growls, fists clenched.
Blake: Guys.
They all turn to Blake, who's at the front porch with her mother.
Blake: Everything's gonna be okay.
A little while later, Blake exits her father's study, stepping out onto the balcony where an armored guard is standing. The guard turns and addresses her.
Menagerie Guard: Good evening, miss. Can I get you anything?
Blake: Just a little time to myself, if that's alright.
Menagerie Guard: Sure thing. Just call, if you need me.
The guard walks into Ghira's study, shutting the door behind her. Blake takes a deep sigh staring down on the ring Y/N gave her as she suddenly hears a familiar voice.
Ilia: You need better security.
Alarmed, Blake turns to see Ilia drop down onto the railing. She reaches for the door, but Ilia holds her hand up.
lia: Please! I-I just need to talk.
Blake slowly takes her hand away from the door.
Blake: How could you take the fall for them, Ilia?
Ilia: (standing up) Blake...
Blake: Corsac and Fennec blamed you. We confronted them tonight, and they deny knowing anything and everything found on your Scroll.
Blake: They talked about how disappointed they were to hear that you'd sided with Adam. But you and I both know they're guilty.
Ilia: You can't prove anything.
Blake: That Scroll might not have been enough to lock them up, but it's enough to sway the Faunus here.
Blake: When we go public tomorrow, they're not going to stand for any of it. And neither should you.
Ilia removes her mask, a solemn expression on her face.
Ilia: Your plan isn't gonna work, Blake. (looking at her) Please... just leave Menagerie before it's too late.
Blake stares at her in silence for a few moments.
Blake: You're going to have to make me, because I'm not leaving here until I make things right.
Ilia remains silent for a few moments before responding.
Ilia: (sadly) I know.
The chameleon Faunus dons her mask once again and steps backward off the balcony. Blake turns away and gains an angry expression, her cat ears folding.
After a moment, the anger fades, and she sighs, taking on a saddened expression.
Blake: (I wish it didn't have to come to this Ilia...)
She touches her ring to calm herself before turning to the door and walks back into her house.
Back in Haven the confrontation between Qrow and Lionheart continues as Team RNJR and Y/N watch.
Lionheart: I have to say, Qrow, this all seems very reckless, even for you.
Qrow: No, reckless is leaving one of the Relics completely unguarded. It's not checking in with Oz for ages!
Lionheart: There was nothing to check in about before the fall of Beacon, but since that day, Mistral has been in chaos!
Lionheart: (standing from his chair, fists clenched) Vale wasn't the only Kingdom to suffer that night. Everyone was watching. Every house in every Kingdom saw that poor girl ripped to pieces, (Ruby and Y/N look down saddened) saw monsters crawling over the city, Atlesian Knights attacking citizens... (Jaune grimaces holding onto the hilt of his sword) and then nothing.
Lionheart: You could feel the dread in the air. With all that negativity, you can imagine what it was like when the Grimm came for us.
Lionheart: (walking to a window and looking outside) Mistral's territory is the widest reaching in the world, you know, and that makes it infinitely harder to protect.
Lionheart: We lost so many great Huntsmen, teachers from this very institution. And it's only gotten worse.
Ruby: What do you mean?
Lionheart: (leaning on the windowsill) We may have dealt with the Grimm, but the Mistral council's still at odds with representatives from Atlas.
Lionheart: First, it was the Dust embargo, now it's the closing of borders. (turning and looking at Qrow) I'm not sure what happened to James in Vale, but it seems to have only worsened some of his more unfortunate tendencies.
Lionheart: (sighs) And, on top of everything, we still don't know where the Spring Maiden is.
Qrow: All the more reason we need the Huntsmen and Huntresses here!
Ruby: (moving closer to the two) Okay! Okay. Things are bad; they're bad. But we can figure this out. Why is the Spring Maiden so important?
Lionheart: (looking at Qrow) I thought you filled them in.
Qrow: Mostly filled in. Look, there's a lot to cover, okay? I quit teaching for a reason. (removing his flask from his shirt and taking a drink)
Lionheart: (sitting back down in his chair) The four Maidens each have the power to perform feats of magic, and they are the only ones capable of reaching the Relics.
Jaune: What?
Qrow: The Relics are each locked inside a chamber that can only be opened by a specific Maiden. Winter for the gift of Creation, Summer for Destruction, Fall for Choice and Spring for Knowledge. (taking another drink) Spring is the problem.
Ren: What happened to her?
Lionheart: She was determined, at first, when she inherited her powers, but the weight of responsibility proved to be too much for the child. She... ran.
Lionheart: Abandoned her training, everyone. That was over a decade ago. There's no telling where she could be now.
Qrow: I... know. At least... I have a pretty good idea.
Lionheart: (widening his eyes and standing up) Are you serious?
Qrow: It's not exactly good news.
Lionheart: (walking around to Qrow from behind his desk) What are you talking about? This is incredible news!
Lionheart: (taking Qrow by the shoulders and shaking him) After all these years! Where?!
Qrow: (shoving him off) I did some digging around. Looks like, after Spring ran away, she was picked up by bandits, specifically the Branwen tribe.
Lionheart: Raven.
Y/N: (I'm surprised I haven't seen her the whole time I was there)
Sanae: (Maybe Raven was trying to keep her hidden from you since the moment you were told about the Maidens)
Yasuno: (It could be possible but why didn't Raven just use the Maiden to fight us in our deal instead of herself if she really wanted to keep us in the tribe...?)
Y/N: (I have a really bad feeling that the tribe is gonna do something terrible using the Maidens power)
Y/N clenches her fists with her eyes flickering black for a second as Team RNJR are in shock from the reveal.
Jaune: Yang's mom?
Qrow: That's right.
Qrow pulls out his Scroll, walking over to and placing it on Lionheart's desk. The hologram monitor on the desk displays a map of Remnant.
Qrow: (as the map pulls up a zoomed-in section) That's about where they've set up their main camp. It's where they fall back to after raids and scouting missions.
Qrow: Raven's managed to gain a lot of followers since she returned to the tribe, and I'm sure when the Spring Maiden showed up, it only made things easier.
Lionheart: (walking over and patting Qrow on the back) Well, Qrow, I've got to hand it to you. With these coordinates, we can mount a retrieval force and head out in a few weeks.
Lionheart walks over to the computer, while Qrow clenches his fists.
Qrow: A few weeks?
Lionheart pulls up a hologram keyboard and taps a few keys, while Qrow's Scroll displays the text "COPYING FILES", followed by "DISCONNECTED".
Lionheart: That's right. (walking back around behind the desk)
Qrow: Leo, maybe you didn't hear me. My sister has the Spring Maiden, and I know where she is. (placing his hands on the desk) We need to go, as soon as possible! (knocking books off the desk)
Lionheart: (angrily) And perhaps you didn't hear me. This Kingdom is in shambles. "As soon as possible" does not mean tomorrow. It means, as soon as I can convince the council that I need Huntsmen more than they do.
Lionheart: Unfortunately, bandit tribes aren't very high on their list of priorities when the threat of war is just on the horizon.
Qrow: Then damn the council. We'll do it ourselves. You and I are trained Huntsmen and these kids aren't exactly pushovers, hell one of them beat Raven solo.
Nora: (jumping up while Ruby fistpumps) Yeah!
Ren: (standing) Perhaps there's a more peaceful way to approach this?
Qrow: We need to get Spring as far away from here as possible. And Raven isn't going to give up her most prized possession without a fight.
Lionheart: Even if we do manage to beat Raven we still have her tribe to deal with. I'm not the fighter I used to be and no offense, but these students and I can't take on an entire bandit tribe and a Maiden that's no doubt had years to hone her skills.
Lionheart: We need to be positive we can apprehend Spring, because if we fail Raven and her tribe will scatter. And we'll be lost. We get one shot at this. And it needs to be perfect.
Qrow: (staring several beats before sighing) You know Oz wouldn't be happy with any of this if he were here.
Lionheart: Perhaps you're right. But he's not. I'm doing the very best I can.
Ruby: There has to be something we can do.
Jaune: What about Cinder? She came with Emerald and Mercury from Haven. Do you have anything on them?
Lionheart: We pulled their files after the Fall of Beacon. Nothing but lies and forgeries.
Jaune tightens his fists and glares at the floor in anger. There's another beat of silence before Qrow speaks.
Qrow: Well, I can't say this has been a warm reunion, Leo.
Lionheart: I'm sorry. I know you've all traveled a long way. But I will do everything I can to help.
Qrow: Sure. We'll stay in the city for the time being. (taking out his Scroll and waggling it at Lionheart) Local comms are still up. Keep in touch. (turning away) Come on, kids.
They all begin to file out of the room. At the rear, Ruby turns around to face Lionheart again.
Ruby: It was nice meeting you, Professor.
Lionheart: (taking a moment to respond) Likewise.
After Ruby departs, Lionheart hangs his head, looking stressed. A holographic W projects up from his desk, followed by the sound of Watts voice.
Watts: Oh, Leo. We have got to work on your improvisational skills.
Qrow and RNJR walk back down the academy hallway. Nora is the first to stop and speak.
Nora: So, what do we do now?
Qrow: (sighing and turning around) You five head back to the house. I need a drink.
He walks off, leaving the four teenagers looking at each other with concern.
Qrow sits at a bar, alone and looking down at his glass, not drinking. Oscar Pine approaches him from behind.
Oscar: Excuse me.
Qrow: (turning) You know, I don't think they allow kids in here, pipsqueak.
Oscar looks at Qrow for a second before turning his head to the side and speaking softly.
Oscar: Shut up, I'm getting there.
He looks back up at Qrow, whose attention he now most definitely has. Qrow's eyes widen slightly and then narrow, suspicion dawning.
Oscar: Umm... I'm supposed to tell you... I'd like my cane back.
Qrow blinks and closes his eyes for a brief moment before nodding with a slight smile.
He stands up off of the bar stool and faces Oscar, causing Oscar to take a couple steps back. Qrow lifts the collapsed cane off of his hip.
Qrow: Hmm. It's good to see you again, Oz.
Qrow tosses it at Oscar, who catches it reflexively. The cane immediately extends itself out from the collapsed base when it touches Oscar's hand.
Oscar looks down at it, surprised. His other hand comes around to hold the shaft before he looks up at Qrow and blinks.
Yang's bike Bumblebee can be seen parked at a fuel station named "just Rite". Inside, a bartender cleans a glass.
Bartender: Aren't you a little young to be drinking?
Yang takes off her aviator sunglasses.
Yang: A water. It's hot out.
Bartender: Ohhh. Sure.
He disappears below the counter and laughter comes from the drunk man a few seats down from Yang.
Shay D. Mann: Are you telling me you're too young to drink? You look like a regular Huntress. And a beauty at that.
Yang: I'm good. Thanks, pal.
Shay: (approaching Yang undeterred) Seriously. Not too bulky. Not too lean. You're...
Yang: Just right. Yup. Like I said, I'm good.
The Bandit puts his hand on the countertop next to Yang with a smirk before reaching out with his other.
Shay: And your hair...
Yang grabs his wrist before he can touch her hair. When she turns to face him, her eyes are glowing red, startling him.
Shay: Huh?
He barely glances in the correct direction before Yang's metal fist slams into the side of his face.
Falling backward, a tooth knocked out of his mouth, the man hits the floor and continues to bounce floor-to-ceiling toward the exit like a pinball before disappearing through the doors.
As the doors close behind him, the "Open" sign flips around to "Closed".
Bartender: (straightening and setting the bottle of water on the counter) This one's on the house. He's been driving me crazy.
Yang reaches for it with her left hand, but it trembles. Her metal hand grabs and steadies it. She gives a long, shaky sigh before touching Y/N's gun fully calming herself down as she picks up the bottle and guzzling the water down.
Bartender: So, what brings you around these parts?
Yang holds up a finger, still guzzling until the water is gone.
Yang: Thanks. And I'm, uh, looking for someone.
Bartender: (chuckling) Not too many people come out here. Too far from the Kingdoms. Only person worth notin' around here is...well, Ra—
Yang: (cutting him off) Raven Branwen. (retrieving her glasses and heading out) Thanks again.
Bartender: N-now, missy! You don't want to go messin' with bandits! They're a world of trouble!
Yang: So I hear.
Outside, the Shady Man is on the ground holding his face, but he calls out to Yang as she straddles and engages Bumblebee.
Shady Man: Hey, girlie!
Yang: Seriously? This isn't over?
Shady Man: (getting to his feet) I heard you're... looking for someone. Heh.
He gives her a toothless grin as the scene changes back to Mistral.
Y/N: Ah~ R-Ruby~
Ruby: Hey, you said you weren't going to move.
Y/N: (shaking her head from the pleasure) I-I can't help it~!
It's revealed that Ruby and Y/N are laying down on a bed together as Ruby is using her left hand to flip through pages of a comic while her right is rubbing Y/N's wolf tail.
Ruby: You've gotten a lot more sensitive.
Y/N: T-That's because my tail hasn't been grabbed for seven months~
Ruby: I guess I'll count this as a good thing, since I can tease you more and more to make up for the time you've been gone~
Y/N: (failing to compose herself from the pleasure) P-Pwease don't~
Ruby: (sing-song) Denied~
Ruby starts rubbing her tail with a bit more force as Y/N continues to let out more moans losing herself to the sensation.
Before things could escalate further they suddenly hear more voices downstairs.
Ruby: (sigh) I guess we'll have to wait before I can tease you more.
She releases her wolf faunus girlfriends tail as Y/N let's out an relieved sigh before sitting up.
Y/N: Thank the gods...
Ruby: (pouty) Come on, let's go see what's happening.
Y/N: Yeah.
Y/N then gives Ruby a quick kiss causing her to be even more pouty that they can't keep going.
Ruby: What is going on out there?! (stomping into the living room) Can't a girl read her comics with her cute girlfriend in peace?
Qrow burps and chuckles, catching Ruby's attention. She sighs and puts a hand to her forehead exasperatedly.
Ruby: Qrow, did you get drunk again?
Qrow: Maybe.
Oscar: Oh. (finally stepping in as he looks at Ruby) You have silver eyes.
Ruby looks at him, a touch surprised. She turns to Ren and Nora, who shrugs again, before looking back at Oscar.
Ruby: Who... are you?
Qrow chuckles from the couch.
Oscar: Uh... Well. My name is Oscar Pine.
Qrow: Wait for it...
Oscar: But you probably know me as... Professor Ozpin.
RNJR and Y/N all gasp, and look confused. Jaune takes a couple steps back. Qrow continues chuckling.
Qrow: (punching his fists into the air) I did it!
He falls off the couch onto the floor, startling Nora.
Nora: (hands going to her mouth) Ooh!
Chapter End