Beacon...
A large and unnerving ship as it descends upon a landing pad. Two Bullheads fly by as the camera slowly lowers to show ant-like swarms of people on the paths around Beacon. 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 said.
"Well, running an academy and a military makes him a busy man." Ozpin said, as three more Bullheads fly 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."
The door slides open to reveal Ironwood as Ozpin approaches to greet him.
"Ozpin!" Ozpin said, cordially.
Ozpin stands at attention, "Hello, General."
"Please, drop the formalities." Ironwood said, approaching Ozpin as they shake hands as Glynda also approaches. "It's been too long. And Glynda! It has certainly been too long since we last met."
"Oh, James!" Glynda said, giving a personable wave and then drops all pleasantries. "I'll be outside."
Glynda walks away.
"Well, she hasn't changed a bit." Ironwood said.
Glynda is walking behind Ozpin and Ironwood as she exits the room.
"So, what in the world has brought you all the way down from Atlas?" Ozpin asked, and he turns to his desk as he picks up a mug and a kettle, pouring as he speaks. "Headmasters don't typically travel with their students, for the Vytal Festival."
Ozpin turns and offers the cup to Ironwood.
"Well, you know how much I love Vale this time of year." Ironwood said, grabbing the mug from Ozpin, and a clink is heard. He 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.
"I can certainly appreciate the quality time between friends, however, a small fleet outside my window has me concerned." Ozpin said, sitting and pours himself some coffee.
"Well, concerned is what brought them here."
"I understand that travel between kingdoms has become increasingly difficult."
"Oz, you and I both know why I brought those men."
"We are in a time of peace." Ozpin said, taking a drink as he sets down his mug. "Shows of power like this are just going to give off the wrong impression."
"But if what Qrow said is true…" Ironwood said, setting his mug down.
"If what Qrow said is true, then we will handle it tactfully." Ozpin said, emphasizing this as he holds up an index finger. "It's the Vytal Festival. 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."
"As am I. Which is why we will continue to train the best Huntsmen and Huntresses we can."
"Believe me, I am." Ironwood said, turning 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?"
Ironwood continues on his way to the exit.
"I hope they never have to." Ozpin said.
Beacon Academy library…
Team RWBY are playing Remnant: The Game. Jared has his Augma on his head, looking at Weiss to Yang Xiao Long, then to Blake, who is obviously distracted, before finally landing on Ruby, who has been contemplating her next move.
"Hmmmmm....all right...all right!" Ruby said, pointing a finger Yang. "Yang Xiao Long, prepare your kingdom for battle!"
"Bring it on!" Yang said, thrusting her elbow down as she balls her fist.
"I deploy the Atlesian Air Fleet!" Ruby said, slapping 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!"
"So, this is like that game you play on your phone." Yui said, as Ruby makes noises like airplanes flying and bombing as she makes a bird with her hands. "Risk?"
"Definitely like Risk." Jared said, laughing a lot. "God, I love this battle so much. I hate it when my brother and my cousin takes my land from them!"
"You fiend!" Yang said, feigning indignance as she points a finger at Ruby.
Ruby is now ducked at one end of the table.
"What will Ruby do now?" Yui, as she flew in her pixie form across the table to look at the board and its player pieces in detail. "Will she win?"
"Spoilers." Jared said, smiling. "Not telling you, Yui."
"And since Atlas is part of Mantle, my repair time is only one turn." Ruby said, peaking her head up.
"I like this game!" Yui said, as Ruby gives a look of surprise as.
"And Ruby just messed up big time." Jared said, and Yang is laughing arrogantly. "This is just a combination of Risk and Paladins. I think."
"Pretty sneaky, sis, but you just activated my trap card!" Yang said, raising a card to show it to Yui and Jared.
"I don't know if I like that card." Yui said, as she and Ruby are visibly disturbed.
"Giant Nevermore!" Yang said, slamming the card down on the table. "If I roll a seven or higher, fatal feathers will slice your fleet in two!"
"Let me enhance my viewing experience." Jared said, enabling some augmented reality features of the Augma to watch this board game come to life. "It looks boring."
"How about a visual image of a Nevermore?" Yui asked, flying in front of Jared, as a scene of a Nevermore flying over a field of swords impaled in the ground. "Do you like it?"
"I love it."
"But, if you roll a six or lower, the Nevermore will turn on your own forces!" Ruby said, pointing a finger at Yang.
"I love augmented reality as much virtual reality." Jared said, and he's watching the augmented reality Nevermore turning back toward Yang. "This is so cool."
"That's just a chance I'm willing to take." Yang said, while she and Ruby glare at each other.
"Did she win?" Yui asked, and Yang is shouting triumphantly.
"I'm sorry about you being away from Kirito and Asuna." Jared said, while he looked at Team JNPR. "I really am."
"It's okay." Yui said, as Yang and Ruby banter on about the game. "You'll bring me back to them later."
Ren and Pyrrha are studying, and Nora's snot bubble inflates and deflates as she sleeps.
"Nooooo!!! My fearless soldiers!" Ruby said, sadly.
"Eh, most of them were probably androids." Yang said.
"Goodbye my friends, you will be avenged."
"Not until I draw my rewards! Which are double this round thanks to the Mistral Trade Route!"
"Bah!"
"Oh. Have pancakes." Nora said, snoring and talking in her sleep.
"Oh, and what's this? The Smugglers of Wind Path?" Yang asked, looking at a card.
"It looks like Ruby is losing." Yui said, flying around the game board to look at the results.
"Yang has the upper hand." Jared said, frowning. "This is why I hate board games."
Pyrrha clears her throat and then confiscates a comic book Jaune is reading, trading it for a textbook.
"Bah! Bah, I say!" Ruby said, annoyed.
"I say, it looks like I'm taking two cards in my hand!" Yang said, happily.
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, collapsing on the table, groaning. "Nooo!"
"Ruby lost!" Yui said, crossing her arms and pouting. "She should have won that!"
"It's okay." Jared said, as he started crying. "Maybe next time."
"Well, Weiss, it's your turn." Yang said, looking over at Weiss.
"I have...absolutely no idea what's going on." Weiss said.
Yang slides up beside Weiss and puts her hand on her shoulder, "Look, it's easy! You're playing as Vacuo which means that all Vacuo-based cards come with a bonus."
"That sounds dumb."
"See, you've got Sandstorm, Desert Scavenge…" Yang said, as she started looking through Weiss' cards. "Oh, oh!" She pulls up a card to show Weiss. "Resourceful Raider! See, now you can take Ruby's discarded Air Fleet…"
"Nooo!" Ruby said, crying.
"...and put it in your hand!"
"Okay..." Weiss said, as she is starting to get it.
"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 said, pointing a finger at Weiss. "Just know that I will not forget this declaration of war."
Yang pulls away and returns to her seat.
"And that means…" Weiss said, her eyes widening.
"You're just three moves away from conquering Remnant!" Ruby said, annoyed.
"Like I said, this is Risk." Jared said, sadly.
"Y...yes!" Weiss said, standing up, and a thunder clap accompanies her overjoyed psychotic laughter. "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 on the table, and she is holding up the card.
"Huh?"
"Your armies have been destroyed." Yang said, shuffling the pieces on the board, and Weiss' pieces disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I hate this game of emotions we play." Weiss said, slumping into her chair, cries and whines.
"Me too!" Jared said, as he and Ruby hopped into Weiss' lap. "It sucks so hard. This is why I don't play board games!"
"Stay strong, Weiss, Jared! We'll make it through this together!" Ruby said, as she is also letting out some tears.
"Shut up!" Weiss said, hugging Ruby and Jared. "Don't touch me!"
"Risk is an annoying game." Jared said, looking at Ruby and Weiss. "And this is combined with Dungeons and Dragons. I hate losing to my cousins. I can't conquer the continents of my world!"
"So, Ruby and Weiss are out." Yui said, flying around the game board. "Does that mean that Blake and Yang are head to head?"
"Yeah."
"Ooo, Yang will win the whole thing. I know she will."
"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!"
"Right…"
"Hey! Can I play?" Jaune asked, approaching the table.
"Sorry Jaune, we've already got 4 people." Ruby said, frowning.
"Besides, this game requires a certain level of tactical cunning that I seriously doubt that you possess." Weiss said, looking up at Jaune.
"Weiss, you attacked your own naval fleet 2 turns ago." Yui said, flying towards Weiss, and the ice queen makes an annoyed sound. "I've been keeping track of the turns."
"Bring it on, Ice Queen! I'll have you know that I have been told that I am a natural born leader!" Jaune said, happily.
"By who? Your mother?" Weiss asked.
"A...and Pyrrha!" Jaune said.
"Hello again!" Pyrrha said, waving her hand.
"Come on, let me play your hand for a turn!" Jaune said, begging with both hands folded together.
"I'm not trusting you with the good citizens of Vacuo!" Weiss said, angrily.
"Why not? You've trusted me with way more important stuff before. I mean, you told us all that Blake is secretly a Fa…"
"Fun-loving person, whom we all admire and respect." Pyrrha said, running over to Jaune to slap a hand over his mouth.
Jaune laughs nervously.
"You told your parents, didn't you?" Jared asked, looking over at Yui. "And the rest of the SAO survivors."
"Yeah. I did!" Yui said, frowning. "I'm sorry."
Everyone looks nervously at Blake who looks obviously annoyed that her secret is out.
"So, Weiss and Yui told everyone." Blake said, annoyed. "Great…"
"Right. That. Ladies, enjoy your battle." Jaune said, bowing as Pyrrha walks away.
"'Sup losers." Sun said, walking up to them, and he is holding his fingers in a 'peace' sign.
"Hey Sun!" Ruby said, smiling.
"Hi" Jared said, excitedly looking at Sun and Neptune. "Man, I've been waiting for this."
"Ruby, Yang, Blake, Jared…" Sun said, as Neptune is next to him. "Ice Queen."
"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" Weiss asked.
"I never got a chance to formally introduce you to my old friend."
"Uhh, aren't libraries for reading?" Neptune asked.
"Thank you!" Ren said, throwing his arms up.
"Pancakes!" Nora said, popping her head up.
"Shut up. Don't be a nerd." Sun said, looking at Neptune.
"Geh, geh, geh, geh!" Neptune said, shaking a finger at Sun. "'Intellectual', okay? Thank you." He waved his hand to introduce himself. "I'm Neptune."
"So Neptune, where are you from?" Weiss asked, looking at Neptune.
"Haven." Neptune said, approaching Weiss. "And I don't believe I've caught your name, snow angel."
"Um, I'm Weiss."
"Are you kidding me!?" Jaune exclaimed, shocked.
"Yeah, Neptune isn't on the level of Jack." Jared said, as Yui floating back towards him. "But it's still close."
"At least he isn't like daddy who doesn't know how to talk with girls." Yui said, and Jared nodded his head.
"Pleasure to meet you." Neptune said, looking at Weiss.
"I never took you as the board game playing type." Sun said, looking over at Blake.
"She's under a lot of stress." Jared said, as Blake speaks. "I know her like every other member of Team RWBY."
"Right, well, I think I'm done playing actually." Blake said, shoving Sun aside and she left the room. "I'll see you guys later."
"Women." Nora said, shrugging her shoulders.
Team RWBY's room...
It's nighttime, and Blake is sitting with her knees folded to her chest on her bed. Voices can be heard echoing in her head.
"Brothers of the White Fang, why are you aiding this scum?" Blake asked.
"The White Fang and I are going in on a joint business venture together." Roman said.
The sounds of battle including slashes, grunts, gunfire, and Torchwick's laughter.
"Well, this has certainly been an eventful evening." Ozpin said, entering Team RWBY's room.
"Hmph." Blake said.
Interviewing office...
Blake is sitting in an interviewing office as Ozpin enters. The cat Faunus quietly acknowledges his statement.
"I'm sure that after a night of thwarting attempted robbery, you probably just want to go home and take a nap. But, I was hoping that maybe we could have a chance to talk." Ozpin said.
"Of course." Blake said.
"Wonderful. As you know, in order to enroll at my academy, students must first pass a rigorous entrance exam. Most applicants spend years of preparation training at one of the many combat schools around the world. You are one of the few that did not. And you passed the exam with flying colors."
"I was raised outside the kingdoms. If you can't fight, you can't survive."
"Well, you have most certainly survived, Blake. I admire your drive. And I am proud to run a school that accepts individuals from all walks of life. Rich, poor, Human…" Ozpin said, sipping his coffee. "Faunus…" Blake glares at him. "Why do you wear that bow, Blake? Why hide who you are?"
"You may be willing to accept the Faunus, Professor Ozpin, but your species is not."
"True, but we are continuing to take strides to lessen the divide."
"With all due respect, you need to start taking some larger strides. Until then, I'd rather avoid any unnecessary attention. I want people to see me for who I am, not what I am."
"And what are you?"
"I don't understand what you're asking."
"How did you know the White Fang would be at the shipyard tonight?" Ozpin asked.
"I didn't. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time." Blake said.
"You wouldn't have been the first. But what happened tonight was not an isolated incident. I may be your headmaster, but I am also a Huntsman, and it is my sworn duty to protect this world from the forces that conspire against it. Blake, are you sure there is nothing else you would like to tell me?"
"I'm sure."
"Very well. Thank you for your time, Ms. Belladonna." Ozpin said, standing and he is walking to the door, but he stops and turns to Blake. "If you ever need to talk to me." He shuts the door behind him. "Please, don't hesitate to ask."
(Jared's POV)
Team RWBY's room...
I am entering Team RWBY's dorm room with the girls themselves.
"Ugh, we should have never let him play!" Yang said, angrily.
"You're just mad cuz' the new guy beat you! See, if you had just attacked when I told you none of this would have happened." Ruby said, annoyed.
"Ruby does have a point." Yui said, sitting on my shoulder, in her pixie form. "Neptune knows how to play this world's version of divide and conquer."
"Neptune wiped the floor between three of my favorite girls." I said, laughing a lot. "I am not happy about that."
"You guys didn't have to face Death Gun like daddy!" Yui said, happily.
As I enter the dorm room with the rest of Team RWBY, Blake approaches the door to leave.
"Stop." Weiss said, pointing a finger at Blake, and the cat Faunus' hand retracts from the door knob. "Lately you've been quiet, antisocial and moody!"
"Uh, have you met Blake?" Yang asked.
"Which I get is kind of your thing, but you've been doing it more than usual! Which quite frankly, is unacceptable! You made a promise to me, to all of us, that you would let us know if something was wrong!" Weiss said, flipping through the air as six copies of her glyphs fly through the air. "So, Blake Belladonna, what is wrong!?"
Weiss points her finger at Blake again and she is balancing precariously on a chair's back feet. She quickly puts the chair away and returns to stand near the girls.
"I just, I don't understand how everyone can be so calm." Blake said.
"You're still thinking about Torchwick?" Ruby asked, approaching Blake.
"Torchwick, the White Fang, all of it! Something big is happening and no one is doing anything about it!"
"Ozpin told us not to worry. Between the police and the Huntsmen, I'm sure they can handle it." Yang said, recalling what Ozpin said.
"Well I'm not! They don't know the White Fang like I do!"
"Okay, between blowing up nightclubs, stopping thieves, seeing all of time and space in a big blue box, and fighting for freedom, I'm sure the four of you think that you're all ready to go out and apprehend these ne'er-do-wells!" Weiss said, referring to Yang, Ruby, Blake, and I.
"Uh, who?" Ruby asked, looking at Weiss.
"She's talking about us." I said, still laughing. "I know what's next."
"But let me once again be the voice of reason. We're students! We're friends of the Doctor! We're not ready to handle this sort of situation!" Weiss said, determined.
"Well yeah, but…" Ruby said, frowning.
"We're not ready!"
"And we may never be ready! Our enemies aren't just going to sit around and wait for graduation day, or until we stop traveling with the Doctor." Blake said, pointing toward the door. "They're out there, somewhere, planning their next move, and none of us know what it is, but it's coming! Whether we're ready or not!"
"Okay, all in favor of becoming the youngest Huntresses to single-handedly taking down a corrupt organization conspiring against the Kingdom of Vale...say aye." Ruby said, raising her hands and does other random gestures, while looking manic.
"Yes! I love it when you're feisty!" Yang said, pumping her fist enthusiastically and points a finger at Blake.
"Well, I suppose it could be fun." Weiss said.
"It will be fun!" I said, calming down. "This will keep me occupied before going back to the TARDIS."
"None of you said aye!" Ruby said, annoyed.
"Alright then, we're in this together!" Blake said, smiling.
"Let's hatch a plan!" Ruby said, doing a gesture.
"Yeah!" Yang said, doing a double guns gesture at Ruby.
"I left my board game at the library!" Ruby said, gasping as she freaks out.
"We're doomed." Weiss said, placing her hand to her head.
"Nope." I said, as Ruby runs out of the room. "We're not, ice queen."
(Open POV)
Hallway…
Ruby runs down the hallway.
"I'll be right back!" Ruby ran into someone as Jared peeked his head out into the hallway. "Oo...oof! Oh g...!" She looks up at Emerald. "Sorry. Are you okay?"
The music score takes on an eerie tone.
"I'm fine." Emerald said, offering her hand to Ruby. "Just watch where you're going."
Ruby is slouched on the ground as she takes Emerald's hand. Mercury stands beside them, "Oh, right, sorry." She continues to speak as Emerald helps her to her feet. "Um, I'm Ruby! Are you new?"
Emerald steps aside to reveal Cinder as she approaches.
"Visiting from Haven, actually." Cinder said, and Emerald turns to look at her.
Ruby stares for a moment and Cinder stares back.
"Ooh! You're here for the festival! But exchange students have their own dormitory." Ruby said, sadly.
"Jared, I don't like this." Yui said, sitting on Jared's shoulder. "Who are they?"
"They're the bad guys." Jared said, looking at what is going on in the hallway. "They're weird."
"I guess we just got turned around." Mercury said, looking at Ruby.
"Hey, don't worry, it happens all the time." Ruby said, while Mercury and Emerald walk past her. "Uh, your building is just east of here."
"Thanks." Cinder said, walking past Ruby, gesturing in acknowledgement. "Maybe we'll see you around."
"Yeah, maybe!" Ruby said, and Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury are walking away.
"How are they the bad guys?" Yui asked, looking up at Jared.
"They just are, Yui." Jared said, while Ruby is waving to Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury.
"Oh, uh, and welcome to Beacon!" Ruby said, as Cinder grins evilly and her eyes glow menacingly.