Beacon Locker Rooms
Right now, Pyrrha Nikos was putting on her equipment in a dark locker room and proceeded down a hallway into the arena, as time passsd, as she was battling with Team CRDL
She was now running and shifting Miló from Rifle to Spear form to confront Cardin during her spar against him and his team.
Starting the fight, she launched her spear at Dove and then knocked Sky to the ground as Cardin unleashed a short column of Fire from the Red Dust crystal in his Mace before he and Sky attempt to double-team Pyrrha.
Pyrrha threw her shield, which hit Cardin in the face and bounced back to hit Sky as well. She then flipped backwards through the air to land on Sky, incapacitating him.
Dove and Russel rushed her together, but she was able to drive them back as Cardin leapt in to smash at her with his mace.
Pyrrha opened fire with rifle-form Miló, but Russel covers Cardin, deflecting every shot with his daggers.
He and Dove charge at Pyrrha, with Russel leaping into the air and performing a triple somersault; however, the attack is easily deflected.
Russel and Dove proceeded to strike at Pyrrha together, demonstrating precision through their ability to avoid hitting one another during the attack.
Cardin attempted to capitalize on the distraction, but was unable to keep up with Pyrrha. Russel ducks in under Cardin for a surprise attack, but also proves himself unable to wear her down.
Dove moves in after Russel is knocked to the ground. After a couple of deflected swipes, he fires on her with his sword, but she is able to bull right through using her shield.
Although he is able to avoid her attack, Dove finds himself knocked out of the fight by an errant swing from Cardin, who moves in for one final assault.
Pyrrha knocks Cardin into the air and then leaps to slam him into the ground, ending the fight.
"And that's the match." Glynda announced, approaching from behind Cardin who is clutching his ribs.
"Lucky shot." Cardin mumbled before he collapsed.
"Well done, Miss Nikos. You should have no problem qualifying for the tournament." Glynda praised her student.
"Thank you, professor." Pyrrha replied.
"Alright, now I know that's a tough act to follow, but we have time for one more sparring match." Glynda stated, scrolling through her Scroll.
"Any volunteers? Ms. Belladonna?" Glynda asked, causing Blake to slam her book shut with wide eyes, looking paler than usually with dark circles around her eyes, making her resemble a panda.
"You've been rather docile for the past few classes. Why don't you –." Glynda began until Mercury raised his hand.
"I'll do it." Mercury said, volunteering for the next match.
"Mercury, is it? Very well, let's find you an opponent." Glynda said, trying to keep a neutral face towards the only male attack her friend.
"Actually, I wanna fight..." Mercury trailed off as he looked around until his eye landed on Rex, just sitting and not paying attention to him.
"I want to fight you." Mercury said, pointing to Rex, eager to test his powers.
"Are you sure about that, Mr Black" said Glynda, knowing full well of what Rex was capable of.
"Yep. I am" smirked Mercury.
Rex was admittedly skeptical since he had no idea what this kid have for abilities but he figured he would just wing it and have some fun.
"Then it is decided. Mr. Salazar will fight Mr. Black." Glynda said, hoping to see what Mercury is capable of.
Going down to the changing room the two boys continued to glare at each other ready to beat the crap out of each other since they have some kind of unnatural hatred for one another.
Coming out of the changing room, Mercury was waiting for the "Metal boy" to come out.
Smirking when he heard footsteps, Mercury uncrossed his arms, ready to try and beat Rex as well as gathering information of his builds for Cinder's plan.
Coming out, everyone turned to see Rex, casually walking towards the arena.
"How many builds do you have?" Mercury asked, trying to gather information on Rex.
Rex just smirked as he said "Enough to beat you" as he pulled his hands out of his pockets and got ready to fight.
"Now Mr Salazar, to insure the safety of Mr Mercury here, I am restraining you to two of your builds. No more than that" said Glynda.
Rex shrugged his shoulders and decided to use his big hands. It was all he needed.
The two stared at each other and waited to begin.
"Begin" said Glynda.
Upon the chant, Mercury charged at Rex and swung his legs at him but Rex moved his hands and quick as he could and blocked his attack. Mercury then jumped back and dashed away.
"So speed seems to be something he can do" thought Rex as he turned around quickly to see Mercury raising his foot again at him. Rex swung his hands back around and knocked Mercury back.
Just before he could land a powerful kick, he was knocked down. Recovering quickly, he deflected an attack and began trading blows with Rex's giant hands until he knocked him back with spinning punch.
In the bleachers, Ruby turned towards Emerald sitting behind her.
"Hey, your friend's doing pretty good." Ruby complimented the Secret Master Thief who gave her a fake smile and then rolled her eyes as Ruby turned her back.
Mercury then unleashes a series of powerful strikes, but Rex just held up his hand and allowed his kicks to slam against his forearm
While he was attacking one of his arms, he brought his other one around and managed to knock Mercury hard to the ground, ending this Match as Mercury quickly forfeited.
"If you're going to offer to fight next time, Actually, stay and fight." Rex warned as Mercury walked away.
"Next time, I'll pick someone that I would have a better chance against." Mercury replied nonchalantly as the bell rings, waking Blake up.
"That is all for today. And remember, the dance is this weekend. But you all have your first mission on Monday. I will not accept any excuses." Glynda said as everyone got up to leave except for Mercury and Emerald.
"Learning is so much fun." Mercury said in a sarcastic way.
Outside of the Front Entrance of Beacon Academy
Outside the entrance of Beacon, Team RRWBY, Sun and Neptune were standing at the entrance as Team RRWBY walked past until Sun notices Blake and ran after her.
"Hey, Blake! You uh, doing okay?" Sun asked, noticing how Blake has been acting.
"I'm fine." Blake replied, closing her book and showing her panda-like face.
"So I hear there's this dance going on this weekend... ah, sounds pretty lame, but you and me, I'm thinking, not as lame, huh?" Sun asked, confusing Blake.
"What?" Blake asked in confusion.
"The dance! This weekend! You wanna go, or what?" Sun asked, hoping for a yes.
"I don't have time for a stupid dance. I thought you of all people would get that." Blake replied, walking away past her team and making Sun sink from his rejection.
"Don't worry, Sun, we'll talk to her." Rex said, placing a comforting hand on the Monkey Faunus's shoulder.
In Team RWBY's dorm room.
"You what?" Blake demanded.
"We want you to go to the dance." Ruby stated, ignoring how her sister's partner just screamed at them.
"That's ridiculous." Blake replied, refusing to go.
"Blake we're all worried about you. This investigation is starting to mess with your head. You haven't been sleeping or eating and you been constantly sticking your head in that book, and to be honest, your grades have been suffering." Weiss stated counting enough all the problems that her Cat Faunus teammate is having.
"You think I care about grades? People's lives are at stake!" Blake cried, pointing towards the window as if to prove a point.
"We know, and we're all still trying to figure out what the White Fang is up to." Yang replied.
"Thanks to you and Sun, we know they're operating somewhere outside of southeast Vale." Ruby added.
"And, both company records singled out Vale as the primary target for Dust robberies over the last few months." Weiss said.
"Don't forget about their missing military tech too." Yang added.
"But there's still unanswered questions!" Blake complained.
"Yes, we know that Blake. But what good is trying to find them if you can't keep your eyes open. Seriously, you've got more bags under your eyes than a girl on a shopping spree" said Rex making Ruby and Yang snicker.
"Seriously. You're making jokes at a time like this" complained Blake.
"I'm just trying to lift your sour mood is all" said Rex in his defense.
Ruby stopped her snickering and said "Blake, you won't be able to find anything if you can't even keep your eyes open!" Ruby stated, worried for her teammate.
"All we're asking is that you take it easy for one day. Not just for us, but for the kids also." Yang explained, knowing that Kirby and Kitty are already concerned for their godmother.
"It will be fun! Yang and I will make sure of it." Weiss added.
"Yeah! We're planning the whole event!" Yang exclaimed, pumping her fists which caused the couch to bounce Blake.
"Excuse me?" Blake asked confusedly.
"Team CFVY's away mission lasted longer than expected." Weiss explained.
"So, Weiss and I were asked to pick up where they left off. And now we can make sure you have the perfect night." Yang explained.
"And once it's all over, we'll return for our search, rested and ready." Weiss assured.
"So what do ya think?" Ruby asked, hoping for a good answer from their Cat Faunus teammate.
"I think this is a colossal waste of time." Blake replied, shooting it down before walking away from the group and opening the dorm door.
"I'll be in the library." Blake added as she walked out of the room.
"Great." Yang said sarcastically.
"She can't keep going on like this." Weiss said, knowing something has to be done before they hear a knock at the door as Weiss approaches and opens it to reveal Jaune with a guitar.
"Weeeeiiissss" sung Jaune as he strummed his guitar.
"And just like that, I'm out" said Rex as jumped out the window and flew away, not wanting to hear the song.
Attempting to sing, Jaune was disappointed when the door was slammed at his face.
"Oh, come on, open the door! I promise not to sing." Jaune said to his crush.
"That was cold even for you." Yang said, feeling bad for her fellow blonde.
"All my life, boys have only cared about the perks of my last name. Besides, I already have a date in mind." Weiss replied, thinking of her blue haired crush.
"Date or no date, none of this will matter if we can't get Blake to go." Ruby added, still feeling down.
Meanwhile
"And Pyrrha Nikos" said Emerald.
"Ah yes. The invincible girl" said Cinder.
"She's smart. But she's not invincible" said mercury as he was currently fixing his legs.
"Oh. Do tell" questioned Cinder.
"Her semblance is polarity. I've seen how when she used it against Cardins mace and directed it away from her. She's been able to direct her opponents weapons away from her" said emerald.
"Hmm. Intriguing. But what about you mercury. How did you end up in this state."
He looked up at Cinder with an angry and annoyed expression saying "Rex Salazar".
This intrigued Cinder saying "oh. And what were you able to find out find your, supposed battle."
"Well he's strong, I'll give him that. Powerful maybe. All I could draw from it is that he could pose a threat to our plans" said Mercury finishing his leg.
Cinder sighed saying "I figured as much but I have yet to see him fight in full view. I have a feeling that there might be more to him then meets the eye."
"How can you tell exactly" asked Emerald.
"Well from what Torchwick and Mercury here told me, he acts like a one man army. Like he could give old Ironwoods army a run for their money."
"Or run away with their money" joked Mercury.
"Indeed. He could be able to do that but he doesn't seem like the boy to do that. If he could he could destroy Beacon on his own but yet he chooses to stay with that team of his" said cinder as she began to get lost in thought about future plans.
She turned to her team and said "add him to the list" as Emerald did so.
"Now I want you two to keep an eye on him and Nikkos. If there's any new information about them, tell me immediately. Especially Salazar. If we are able to find his weak spot then he won't be a difficult opponent to defeat" said cinder in a sinister tone.
"You should be able to take down Nikkos but Rex. I feel like he'll be a tough nut to crack" said mercury.
"It's not about overpowering the enemy. It's about taking away what powers they have and Rex Salazar is definitely going to be one that I'll have fun...
...Taking away what makes him so unique
The Next Morning
Beacon Academy Ballroom
It has been a few days since Team RRWBY tried to invite Blake to the Beacon Dance, and things have gotten worse for their Cat Faunus teammate.
First, she is sleeping even less, sometimes not sleeping at all.
And, she hardly eats even when Fish is involved.
Right now, Ruby Rose was glumly resting her head on her hand, and staring into the distance before she's startled by someone slamming their palms on the table she's at.
Looking up, she sees a smiling Weiss Schnee placing table cloths with very similar shades of White.
"I need you to pick a tablecloth." Weiss stated, confusing Ruby.
"Aren't they both the same?" Ruby asked, confused that they are both shades of White.
"I don't even know why I asked!" Weiss groaned, frustrated with Ruby's lack of detail.
Walking away, Yang came in carrying massive sound speakers on their shoulders, which bounces her half-sister, causing the table she's moping on again to jump in the air when they drop it on the ground.
"So, have you picked out a dress yet?" Yang asked her baby sister.
"What's the point? Who cares about the dance if Blake isn't going?" Ruby asked, continuing to mope.
"Oh, don't worry; she's going." Yang replied before she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.
"Weiss! I thought we agreed: No Doilies!" Yang cried as Weiss walked over towards her, putting her finger in her face.
"If I don't get doilies, you don't get fog machines!" Weiss stated with emphasis.
"Your dance is gonna have fog machines?" Neptune asked.
Rex was surprised at their argument as he said"You're seriously having fog machines in a dance."
"Yeah. It's going to make the dance more awesome than ever."
"We were thinking about it..." Weiss said, trailing off and suddenly acting nice.
"That's pretty cool." Neptune replied.
"You ladies all excited for dress-up?" Sun asked, much to the annoyance of Weiss.
"Pfft... Yeah, right!" Ruby replied.
"Laugh all you want. I'll be turning heads tomorrow night! And I'm already going with the best looking man in this academy" said Yang in a seductive voice.
"Yea. Who's that going to be" asked Neptune.
"Three, two, one" counted Rex in his head as he felt Yang clinging to his arm.
"This little stud muffin here" teased Yang.
"Called it" thought Rex.
"And I agreed to go with you, when" said Rex.
"You did just know."
"I did?"
"See. He agreed" teased Yang.
Rex thought for a few seconds until he said "oh. I see what you do there. Very funny" in an annoyed tone.
"Admit it. You want to go with me" said Yang as she draped her arm over his shoulder.
*sigh*. "If I say yes, will you stop being a tease" said Rex.
"Maybe" said Yang, but not in a very convincing way.
"So then that's probably a no" he thought. "Fine. Alright I'll go."
"Yes" exclaimed Yang.
"What's the point in going if Blake won't go. I still don't know how we could convince her" groaned Ruby.
"Guys trust me, she'll be there" said Yang.
"Sure, I guess" said Ruby.
Beacon Library
Blake was busy working on the computer and trying to stay awake until she saw a red dot form on the screen.
The dot began moving around on the screen and it bugged Blake. It went away but then it came back and Blake, being the cat she is, she began following it Eventually, she went behind a bookshelf to find Yang and Rex standing behind it.
"Heeeellllooooo" chortled Yang.
"We need to talk" said Yang as she grabbed both of their arms and dragged them away.
Beacon Academy Lecture Hall
Yang had brought Blake with her into one of the rooms and Blake protested about being there.
"Yang, if you're going to tell me to stop, you may as well save your breath." said Blake.
Yang sat cross-legged on the central desk of the empty classroom they were in with an orange light shining across her calm features. "I don't want you to stop; I want you to slow down."
Blake continued to pace around with her arms crossed, still irritated as she said " I don't have the luxury to slow down."
"It's not a luxury; it's a necessity" said Yang as she tried to convince Blake.
"The "necessity" is stopping Torchwick" said Blake.
"And we're going to. But first you have to sit down and listen to what I have to say" said Yang as she patted the part of the desk across from her. Blake just looked away for a moment until she gave up and draped her legs over the desk's edge and said "Fine."
Yang turned turned around to face her as she began telling her story.
"Ruby and I grew up in Patch, an island off the coast of Vale. Our parents were Huntsmen. Our dad taught at Signal, and our mom took on missions around the kingdom. Her name was , and she was, like... Super-Mom: Baker of cookies and slayer of giant monsters. And then... one day she left for a mission and never came back" said Yang as she looked down as she said this, and Blake looked sorry for her.
"It was tough. Ruby was really torn up, but... I think she was still too young to really get what was going on, y'know? And my dad just kind of... shut down. It wasn't long before I learned why. Summer wasn't the first love he lost; she was the second. The first... was my mom."
Blake's eyes widen in amazement at this information as Yang kept talking "He wouldn't tell me everything, but I learned that the two of them had been on a together with Summer and Qrow, and that she'd left me with him right after I was born. No one had seen her since."
"Why did she leave you?" asked Blake.
Yang sighed as she then turned to the chalkboard "That question... Why?"as she got off the desk and walked to the chalkboard, picking up a piece of chalk saying "I didn't know an answer, but I was determined to find out. It was all I thought about. I would ask anyone I could about what they knew about her."
Yang then began reminiscing about when she was young and she knocked over a photo frame and it smashed to the floor. She then remembered looking at the photo found in the smashed picture frame.
"Then, one day, I found something. What I thought was a clue that could lead me to answers, or maybe even my mother. I waited for Dad to leave the house, put Ruby in a wagon, and headed out. I must've walked for hours. I had cuts and bruises, I was totally exhausted, but I wasn't gonna let anything stop me. When we finally got there, I could barely stand, but I didn't care; I had made it. And then I saw them. Those burning red eyes... I thought it was my mom, but no. It was.... a grimm."
"There we were: A toddler sleeping in the back of a wagon and a stupid girl too exhausted to even cry for help. We might as well have been served on a silver platter. But, as luck would have it, our uncle showed up just in time."
"My stubbornness should've gotten us killed that night" said Yang as she finished drawing a clockwork eye.
"Yang... I'm sorry that happened to you. Who else knows about this" asked Blake.
"Only my family and Rex" replied Yang.
"When did that happen" asked Blake.
"When we had that semester break after your fight at the docks" said Yang.
Blake looked down at her hands as she then said "I understand what you're trying to tell me, but this is different. I'm not a child, and this isn't just a search for answers! I can't just-"
Yang clenched her fists as she said "I told you: I'm not telling you to stop! I haven't! To this day, I stillwant to know what happened to my mother and why she left me, but I will never let that search control me. We're going to find the answers we're looking for, Blake. But if we destroy ourselves in the process, what good are we?"
"You don't understand! I'm the only one who can do this!" yelled Blake.
"No, you don't understand!" yelled yang as her eyes went red. "If Roman Torchwick walked through that door, what would you do?"
"I'd fight him!" replied Blake
"You'd lose!" said Yang as she pushed Blake away.
"If Rex came into this room and he was a bad guy, neither one of us would stand a chance" yelled Yang.
"Maybe but he's not and he has nothing to do with this now" said Blake.
"Maybe not, but it proves that you can't stop them in your state" yelled Yang.
"You don't understand. I'm the only one that can do this. You guys don't understand what it's like to be the only one that doesn't have the answers and want nothing more than to find them." yelled Blake.
"Actually, I know what that's like" said a voice that came from out of nowhere. The two girls turned their heads and saw Rex, standing at the top of the stairs.
"Rex. When did you get here" asked Yang as her eyes changed back to purple.
"Ever since I heard yelling and screaming" said Rex. "And just to answer your statement Blake, I do know what its like to not have all the answers."
"What" said Blake.
"I think that bow must be muffling our voices to you because you haven't listened to a thing me or Yang have told you."
"What's that suppose to mean" said Blake.
Rex internally sighed as he knew he had to lie to them again. Well, almost. He then began walking down the stairs as he said "Did you forget that I told you I don't have any memory of my past self. That my memories aren't the best right now. How I don't remember anything from 6 or 7 years ago." Blake internally gasped at what he was saying as she remembered him saying that.
"I don't remember much about myself, or most of my life, but do you see me distancing myself from you guys. No. I'm taking the time to at least have some fun in this academy. I still want the answers, yes but I'm not gonna let it consume me or how I want to spend my time. So you think you've got problems Blake. I have a curse with me. My powers may be amazing but they come at a price. If I use them at their full power, I could lose who I am. It scares me that we may never know what we face and I might. So for the last time, just listen. Just take it slow. The answers will come out eventually but not if you keep dragging yourself around like this. Just be patient I know it's not gonna be easy but it's the best course of action for you Blake" said Rex as he stood up.
The two girls were shocked at the news and Blake wanted to try and argue that she couldn't until he came up and hugged her.
"Just take it slow" was all he said.
Blake knew that the two of them were right. She had been working herself to the bone and she needed to take it slow. She then felt Yang hug her as well and heard her say
"And don't forget you have your team to help you. So don't do this alone."
Blake accepted their hugs and decided to give the dance a chance. She left the two alone and Rex began to leave until he felt Yang grab his sleeve. He looked back to see Yang with a concerned face as she said "so then why do you continue to fight, if you're afraid of losing your own memories" stopping him in his tracks.
He turned around and saw that Yang had a bit of a sad expression on her face. Thinking back on what she said he knew why she had that expression. Rex began to think deep in thought and gathered his will and said "There's an old saying I remember from a book I read."
Yang was curious as to what it was as she asked,
"What was it."
"With great powers comes great responsibility. That saying has stuck with me for some time and it made me notice something" said Rex as Yang looked at him as if something was about to happen.
"That I can be a great hero to this world. I have amazing abilities and if I have the ability to save people, then that's what I'm goin to do, though hopefully without losing my memories."
Yang was surprised by his words as she gasped lightly at what he said but to where he didn't hear her.
"So that's what drives you" said Yang.
"Yes it does" smirked Rex.
Yang knew there was something she liked about him. He had strength, passion, and awesome powers. And hearing his dedication to being a hero showed his greatness. She then lightly chuckled as she said
"I knew there was something great about you, Rex. It's cool to hear your dedication to being hero and I understand that you're scared about the future. But don't forget that you have your friends here to help you. Don't be like Blake and shut us out. Let us help you."
Rex looked to the side and began to think. "It's not that I don't want your help. It's just... I'm afraid to lose you guys" said Rex in a sad voice.
Yang's eyes widened a bit at what he said. Then she spoke "you don't have to worry about that. We can take care of ourselves."
"I know but I still can't help but worry."
"And that's sweet of you to do so but don't forget that we came to this academy to fight grimm and save people. So we know that we could get hurt but have faith that we can help you find your reasons" said Yang as she pulled him into another hug.
Rex accepted the hug and nodded at what she said.
"Ok. I'll give it a try. If you guys are willing to help me, then we'll do it together."
Yang smiled at his words and separated her from Rex as she held his hands. Rex swallowed his embarrassment and said.
"Tell you what. When this Vytal festival thing is done and out of the way, I'll take you out in that date we said we would give each other."
Yang internally squealed in excitement but just smirked on the outside saying "I'll take that as a promise" she said as she poked at his lips. (Guess the reference)
Rex smirked at what she was doing as he closed his eyes at her silliness then he felt something warm in his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw Yang gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I can't wait for tonight, stud" said Yang seductively as she began walking away from him in a sexy way.
Rex held his cheek where she kissed and just blushed. He shook his heading "what did I just get myself into" as he followed her. "Tomorrow's sure is going to be crazy" he thought.
The next night...
The sight of the lonely, abandoned rose turns into a large collection of the same flowers, one dropping outward, in a large vase behind Yang who was wearing her white dress as she stands at a podium.
Rex was walking towards the hall, wearing a typical black and white suit and he hated it. Too itchy, he complained. Eventually, he walked through the doors and immediately regretted it. yang saw him in his suit and gained a smirk as she strutted over to him and then began to trace her finger over his suit as she said "Well aren't you looking sexy tonight" in a seductive voice.
Then the doors in front of her open and she flipped out upon seeing who walked in.
"Ooohh, you look beautiful!" Yang exclaimed, seeing Ruby in her dress.
"Can we have a serious talk about how Weiss fights in these?" Ruby asked as she tried to maintain her balance in her newly bought high heels.
Yang just laughed as Ruby continued to stumble around as Yang began to help her inside the room.
Outside
Stupid... dumb... tie.... ?" Sun grumbled.
"I knew you'd look better in a tie." said the familiar voice of Blake.
Stopping his eternal struggle, Sun turned around to face Blake in her dress making him smile.
"So does this mean we're going.....together." Sun said.
"Technically, though my first dance is spoken for." Blake replied as she fixed his tie.
Inside the ballroom, streamers are hung through glass chandeliers, pink and blue balloons are everywhere, and students in dark suits and bright dresses are stepping with each other to the music between the white-clothed tables.
Blake was spun around by Yang before they curtsey to one another, and Sun comes up and takes his date's hands as Yang gestures for him to do so.
She goes to hang with Ruby, Rex, and Weiss in the back of the room, watching Blake laugh and enjoy herself before smiling at her team.
"I told you she would come." Yang said to her sister and friends
"Mission accomplished." Weiss added in agreement.
"Sooo, what do we do now?" Ruby asked her partner and older half-sister.
"Just have fun!" Yang replied before she and Weiss proceeded to walk away, with Yang pulling Rex with her, leaving Ruby alone.
Ruby looked from side to side and said "does that mean I can change out of these things and into my hood now" complained Ruby as she grumbled and said "Stupid lady stilts."
"Not enjoying yourself" said a voice, to which Ruby turned and saw Ozpin next to her.
Ruby grew nervous at the head master as she said "Oh..uh...no. Everything's fine."
"I'm just not much of a fancy, dancy, pansy girl" said Ruby.
"Well you can't spend your entire life on the battle field, even if you want to" said Ozpin.
"If you think about it, dancing isn't so much different from fighting. Two partners, interlocked. Though one wrong move could lead to a swollen foot" laughed Ozpin as he began walking away from Ruby.
Ruby just grumbled as she then began walking over to the punch bowl and just stared at the random students that were schmoozing at the Dance as Doctor Oobleck was listening intently as Professor Port laughed over some unheard story.
Ozpin was now standing off to the side with Glynda, until General Ironwood offered his hand for her to dance with Goodwitch, to which she grumbly accepted.
Rex and Yang were having fun dancing around on the floor, though Yang was probably having more fun than him.
Jaune who is still waiting for Pyrrha approached Ruby, who were standing near the refreshments tables, watching everyone else dance the night away.
"I see you're hiding at the punch bowl too." Jaune said, grabbing some punch for himself.
"Yep." Ruby replied with an audible *pop*.
"To the socially awkward." Jaune commented, making Ruby giggle as they clink glasses.
"Sorry things didn't work out with you and Weiss." Ruby said with a small sad look.
"Eh, its whatever. Neptune's pretty cool I guess" said Jaune, felling down
Ruby looked at him in question as she said "What do you mean. Weiss came alone"
Upon hearing this, Jaune choked on his drink and coughed as he looked to the side to see Weiss.
"Oh yeah, look over there." Ruby said, pointing at Weiss who is trying desperately to coax life out of a wilting white rose.
When she failed, it caused her to look visibly upset on the verge of tears.
"She said that she had too much to focus on to worry about boys." Ruby explained nervously, noticing how Jaune was getting angry before they all heard laughter.
Drawing Weiss's attention to Sun, Blake, and Neptune as the latter entertains the others with some impressions and other silly faces.
Now completely mad, Jaune said "Hold. My. Punch." leaving to have a word with the Aquaphobic member of Team SSSN of Haven Academy.
He made his way over to them as he cleared a path, straight to him, but then he stopped as he saw Pyrrha walking alone, and saw that she looked kind of down. HE wanted to confront Neptune but he knew Pyrrha needed help.
Meanwhile
Yang was upstairs to watch the dance, leaning on a handrail and overlooking the festivities from a second tier as Ruby and Rex approached her.
"You know? I think we really needed this." Yang said, watching as Blake and Sun were Slow Dancing while Ren and Nora appear to be Waltzing even Penny is here dancing alone guarded by two Atlas Human Soldiers dancing by herself.
"Yeah, and you did a great job planning it too!" Ruby added, enjoying the party.
"Aw, thanks!" Yang replied, crushing Ruby in a one-arm hug as she flails frantically.
"It wasn't all me, though. Weiss did a lot too." Yang added, looking at a much happier Weiss.
"Tomorrow it's back to work." Rex said.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Ruby asked.
"We're going on our First Mission." Yang explained but then looked down and began laughing. Rex and Ruby raised their eyebrows in question as they turned and started giggling too. There was Jaune, wearing a dress and everyone was getting a laugh out of it.
Soon Team JNPR began dancing to the song and everyone began cheering them on. Yang and Rex began heading down to join the fun, while Ruby began to walk outside to get some fresh air. But then she noticed someone was jumping on the roofs of the dorms.
Beacon Tower
Outside the Cross Continental Transmit System Tower at Beacon Tower, Cinder Fall was dressed as a Cat Burglar as she stealthily approached an armed guard.
She knife-hands the back of his head, rendering him unconscious with a stunned grin on his face as she drags him behind some bushes before casually going inside the building as Cinder approaches more guards.
"Excuse me, no one's allowed in this area. Stop!" the Atlas soldier shouted as Cinder casually continued to walk even when he threw his gun.
The soldier opened fired when Cinder does not heed him.
She managed to overpower him, using his gun to take out another approaching soldier. She then throws him against a handrail. Two more soldiers rush her wielding batons. Cinder flash-forged a pair of black blades from Fire Dust and trounces them both.
"Hey, man, do you know the Wi-Fi password?" The Atlas soldier asked in the elevator.
"It's Beacon, but replace the E with a 3 and add a pound symbol to the end." The other Atlas soldier replied until the elevator doors opened to show Cinder waiting.
One of the guards noticed the fallen men outside as both guards grow apprehensive as Cinder casually walks onto the elevator, the doors closing as she turns around as thrashing sounds can be heard from outside the elevator.
Outside the building, Ruby approached and saw the unconscious guard, making Ruby gasp and pull out her Scroll.
She began dialing for her weapon locker which crashes into the courtyard and opens to reveal Crescent Rose.
Inside the building, the elevator doors open to show Cinder examining a Scroll as the two guards are knocked out.
"Oh! That's handy." Cinder commented, glad to have the Internet password.
She pocketed the Scroll and walked out of the elevator and toward the control consoles nearby.
"A party guest is leaving." Emerald warned through her earpiece.
"Which one?" Cinder asked, sighing.
"Ironwood." Emerald whispered.
"I guess the general's had enough fun for one night." Mercury commented.
Soon the computer screen began showing random codes but then it changed into a Queen chess piece.
"Should we intervene?" Mercury asked.
The other monitors in the room light up.
"No... we're done here." Cinder replied as she started to walk away, until she noticed the elevator doors opening. Ruby stepped out of the elevator slowly, brandishing their Weapons.
"Hello?" Ruby asked before she stumbled due to her high-heeled shoes.
"Is anyone there? Hello?" Ruby asked.
Knowing that there is nothing that she can do, Cinder rose from her hiding place and stepped out towards her.
"Excuse me? You know, it's not a masquerade party, so why don't you take off that-!" Ruby ordered, before Cinder smirked at her, causing her to be on their guard.
Cinder produces a container of dust from her belt expelling a cloud that glows. Condensing into glass shards that go flying at Ruby. A battle ensues as she defends herself then opens fire. Cinder blocks each shot with her hand as parts of the outfit glow. She once again summons a pair of blades, Ruby launches herself forward but Cinder dodges. Her eyes and outfit glow again as she combines the blades into a bow and fires three arrows. Ruby stumbles back from the resulting explosion and they stare each other down. But their fight is interrupted by the appearance of Ironwood on the nearby elevator.
Ruby is visibly glad to see him until she notices that Cinder has disappeared.
"Who was that" she thought.
Later
Having gotten away, Cinder discarded two bracelets and her mask to change from her stealth suit into a black dress and enters the dance. Two guards following her crush the bracelets underfoot and are visibly confused at the sight of the crowded dance hall. The screen pans over various people including Neptune dancing and having a good time as they walk back out.
Emerald and Mercury are still dancing together as Cinder taps Emerald's shoulder.
"Oh, may I cut in?" Cinder asked.
Emerald stepped aside.
"Of course." Emerald said.
Emerald left as Cinder began to dance with Mercury.
"And how's your night been?" Mercury asked.
"Mmm... a little more exciting than expected." Cinder Said.
"Should we be worried?" Mercury Asked.
"Hardly... They'll be scratching their heads long after we finished what we came here for." Cinder replied with a smirk.
"So what about our little issue concerning him?" Mercury asked.
"What about Rex. Find anything on him" asked Mercury.
"No. I searched everywhere. There seems to be no information on him. As if he just appeared out of nowhere. Just adding more to his curiousness" said Cinder in a smirking way."
"So does that change anything" asked Mercury as he and cinder continued to dance.
"Maybe. It certainly doesn't make me feel at ease knowing we have no new info on him. But I will say this...."
"....it certainly makes him more interesting."