An evening of writing open for me. That's been a while and given that I'm slowly progressing on my more, let's say bigger fics, this one came out on top. I also don't wanna game right now given that I'm stuck on my games or that I have some downloading to do.

I'm done with working for now and busy learning for my reexam next Monday but I'm free in the evening. I got some more time before I have to go back to school. About three weeks, so those will be my holiday.

And because things have been worked out in my head, this will be something that I'll write on. Also gotta make a lot up to an old friend of mine when I have the chance that I don't die of a headache right now.

This fic got some positive critics and results. So we'll continue forward on this path.

Also, for the anime fans among you. I hear that Crunchyroll went down a path that a lot of us are fearful about. Guys, let me tell you one thing. No matter what sort of political agenda you try to push in a work of entertainment if the work sucks, the work sucks and will be badly received.

Hence ceasing any sort of profit which will cause fans to rethink their choices. Enough cases and points in that regard. Just something I noticed. I am not on Crunchyroll. I don't watch that much anime anymore compared to my high school days so I'm not going to pay every month an amount of money for something that I rarely use.

Pyrrha walked back after the talk with the objects of her affections older cousins. While she was a bit shaken from the words, she had an idea that those guys were just leaving a warning for her to keep those words in mind.

Not that she would hurt Jaune. Well, not when she didn't have to. To say that she was affronted by the words that the two had left on her, was an understatement but she could guess that somehow those guys felt responsible for Jaune and didn't want to see him hurt. And she wouldn't. She had her feelings for Jaune and she would treasure those and keep them close to her. The idea she would spit on Jaune was something she couldn't imagine.

Pyrrha? Hurting Jaune Arc? That was the last thing on her mind.

She smiled at the group as Jaune handled the weapon with the utmost care. Looks like she could do some extra lessons of teaching him how to use the rifle. Sure, no one in their group used an assault rifle. The gun users were either SMG's like Ren or Blake, shotguns like Yang or Sun or pure rifle like she and Ruby. But her weapon was the closest to Jaune like his sword and her Xiphos. So she could teach him.

Jaune looked over the mags he got and sighed. He had no way to store them so for the time, he guessed there should be some alterations to his battle outfit. But the buzz in the cafeteria was back to normal and Pyrrha guessed it wasn't that special. Good. Jaune didn't like it when people made a ruckus.

She took her seat back and the group wasn't forgetting the two strangers. "Well, Jaune. Looks like you got some new surprises." Pyrrha said while her partner turned to her. Noticing that he was happy that whatever his cousins said to her wasn't that big of a deal that she didn't seem too disturbed was a good sign. With a sigh, he owned her and everyone some explanation.

"Those guys were the ones who helped me out and give me some training. You can say that those guys helped me out big time."

The remark from Weiss was cold. "So why have you never told us about them?" Jaune sighed again which caused Pyrrha to throw a small glare at the residence Ice queen and Ruby to give her a jab in the ribs.

"Weiss, isn't that obvious. Those guys are freelancers. They don't like it when Huntsmen know of them. It surprises me that they went all the way to this school. Hey, Pyrrha. What were they talking about?"

Cursing on Jaune's question which was fairly innocent, she couldn't really tell him. He was the only one as Ren raised an eyebrow, Yang, Ruby, Nora (and Sun if guys could) giggle, Blake to roll her eyes and Neptune and Weiss to sigh. The details wouldn't be clear but the basic line would be clearly obvious.

"Nothing special. Just some information about me. Brushed them off fast." She was not ready to tell Jaune about it and she was not going to let Yang or anyone for that matter tease her again. Despite being a four-time champion, her social skills were as bad as Ruby's. Socially awkward as hell. Another reason why she was happy that Jaune was her partner.

Jaune let it die and the group just resumed their talk about Jaune who let out some info about those guys. Yang, in particular, seemed really interested. At least in Mitch. He looked like something fun but Jaune told her about his taken status and that the person that owned his heart (and most likely a lot more of him) was a Huntress that had graduated five years ago.

The day was just spent easily with small talk, Jaune testing out his rifle at the firing range. Due to some gentle persuasion of Yang, Jaune could use his rifle for the first time. Trying out his rifle on full auto wasn't a good idea as he felt the recoil of the full powered cartridge nearly ripping the gun out his hands.

Pyrrha fast enough to catch it, scolded Jaune for testing it out like that. Ashamed of himself, Jaune put the gun on semi auto to test it out. While the bullets still had a hit, at least, the gun didn't fling out his hands again. Looks like something new they could work on. Hoping for some training evening, Jaune got a call on his scroll.

It was from Ozpin who said he wanted to see them. And not just them. Turned out Ruby got the same message. On their way, it was clear that Weiss, Blake, Yang, Nora, and Ren got the message. In Blake's and Weiss' message, it even asked them to bring along Sun and Neptune. Arriving at the clockwork room of the headmaster, was always an experience.

Ozpin was the Headmaster of Beacon. He was the one who brought Ruby into the school and he was a benevolent Headmaster to say the least.

He was a middle aged man with tousled silver hair. His eyes behind glasses where of a thin brown line. While he had a sharp face, his face was often kind and caring. This time, not so much. It was more strict.

Wearing his usual outfit, a black unzipped suit over a green shirt, he was sitting, waiting on the ten Huntsmen and Huntress in training. He wasn't alone either. Glynda Goodwitch, his second in command so to speak was there as well.

She was a middle aged woman with light blond hair, ended up in a bun. Like Ozpin, she wore glasses that covered her green eyes. She wore her usual outfit as well. A white top that had long sleeves with a wide keyhole on the neck and her lower body was a black skirt.

"You wanted to see us, Sir?" Ruby asked, a bit frightful. The message didn't leave room to argue and frankly, none of them wanted to do so. Especially with the mood in the room. It was heavy. No other way to describe it.

It left something even on Blake and Weiss who were seen as the most mature members of their group.

"Indeed Miss Rose. I have called your team and Team JNPR as well as mister Vasilias and mister Wukong. I am afraid that I can't say too much about this and that there are just orders that I will have to give you. Something that normally would be left on graduated members but I am afraid that I have no other option right now. I am also afraid that you can't refuse the next time I am going to ask. Know that I do not like this as headmaster but please know that I have thought over every other option"

That caused the group to gulp and to shut up. They had an idea that this wasn't the best thing they had heard so far.

"Listen up. I can't tell you too much given the risk involved in this. The one thing is that you guys will be sent on a mission, the ten of you. I can't tell you about the details but it will go on for several days. One of you will get a message that will have the details. I want you to share the person with only the ones involved and that won't involve the use of technology. Luckily your dorm rooms are next to each other so you shouldn't have problems communicating that message. I can tell you that this mission will involve an extended period of time. Don't worry, your absences are excused."

For the kids, it was like they had just been plunged in a very cold and deep pool and they had to swim or sink. Sun raised his hand.

"Eh, sir. Not that I want to refuse but the two of us belong to Haven Academy. Do they know that we are involved in this mission?" Ozpin nodded on that question. "I have informed your headmaster in Haven about the mission. He knows of the situation and he knows there is no other way than this. Mr. Wukong, I would like you and Mr. Vasilias not to go back to the guest dorms but to stay in Team RWBY's room. I have the idea that no one of you have any problems with that."

Sun wasn't surprised about the request. After all, mixed gender Teams weren't unusual and this was no time to play.

"No, sir. Not at all." Ozpin nodded on that. "When you received the message, you will leave to the destination that is mentioned. You will receive more information there. Please stock up on ammo, weapons, and clothes but please pack only the essentials. When you have done, you will sit and wait. Is that understood? Mr. Wukong. You and Mr. Vasilias will do the same and when you are done, you will go to the dorm. That is all. I can only wish you good luck. See yourselves out." Ozpin closed the briefing and the group left themselves out as requested.

They left the room with the same heavy mood after the mission they were given. None of them found the right words to say and none of them actually wanted to speak. When they ended up at the dorms, they split ways with Sun and Neptune who took the route to their dorms. At their own bedrooms, wordlessly, they entered the room and began packing. All of them took some proper clothes for the next five days, weapons and armor were put on. Jaune thought of taking a comic X-Ray and Vav but he knew better. Meanwhile, Ren was lucky that for once, Nora didn't request him to pack flour, milk and eggs.

On the other room, the girls also packed in. Prepared for this, Ruby had bought Weiss a backpack that would better suited for this than the heavy suitcases. Weiss on the other hand was making sure that Ruby wouldn't be taking Zwei along this trip.

Yang on the other hand made sure that Blake packed enough. She hadn't asked about her partner's past but she was used of travelling light. So that's why Yang looked after enough stuff that would make the trip easier on them.

When a knock was heard on the door, they tensed up. Not expecting to see JNPR so soon, the four ladies were a bit on edge. They were relieved to see that Sun and Neptune were packed and ready. Sun despite his tendencies of going shirtless had worn a sweater and Neptune bag was a little heavy when he moved it down, causing the ground to shake.

The tension was broken and the group settled down in waiting. This time, the silence wasn't as tense as before. On the other dorm, the silence was the same. JNPR sat down and waited. Either they got the message or the others would get it. It was playing the waiting game.

Meanwhile, Ozpin had bigger issues. He was happy that RWBY, JNRP, Sun and Neptune had agreed on this mission, he had one furious James Ironwood in front of him.

"Are you out of your mind? Sending children to…"

"James, we had no other option. Do you know anyone who we can trust with this mission? This mission can turn out with a high risk."

"Especially the reason why we shouldn't' send children?" General Ironwood cut the headmaster of Beacon off.

"And the reason why they go is someone of their own age. I don't know anyone else who we can give this mission."

"We could have sent a team of Atlas Specialists. That would have been better than sending those children away." Ozpin poured himself a cup of cocoa. He could use it right now. Gulping it down in one swoop, he had hoped he wouldn't have to deal with this.

"James. Don't you listen to me? The person they are after is someone of their own age. I think that a group of Huntsmen and Huntresses in training are a better choice in handling then military personnel. We're dealing with a civilian that has never been close to fighting. Or at least, on the scale we are used to. Team RWBY has shown to be the best Team of the first year."

"They I can understand. I have looked up Jaune Arc of that other Team. Do you know…"

"That he entered Beacon on false transcripts?" Glynda groaned on his answer. She would have expelled Jaune the moment this would become clear to Ozpin but instead of doing the logical thing, expelling the failure, Ozpin kept him here. And it turned out well. Jaune was an excellent leader who managed to take care of Pyrrha, Ren and Nora.

She hated it to admit but he did his job and he did it damn well.

"Then why?"

"The day before he came to Beacon, I had a visit of someone. A person me and my staff," he glanced at Glynda, "owned a very big deal. I had to allow Jaune in Beacon and could only expel him if it had nothing to do with his transcripts. Due to Miss Nikos training, Mr. Arc has managed to become the Huntsman he dreams of becoming. His character makes him suited for this mission as well. And before you make a comment, I am Headmaster of Beacon Academy, James. Not you."

The general glared at him but couldn't argue with that. "In any case. I have sent one specialist on this mission and they're accompanied by a veteran Huntsman. So James, let this mission play out and we'll talk when they are back."

Hoping it would end on a civil note, James Ironwood glared at him and closed down. "If you insists on going to down this foolish route, fine. Goodnight, Ozpin. Glynda." With a nod, the screen was closed down. But the evening wouldn't be over yet.

Glynda glared at him and when she glared like that, most of the student body or even the faculty would move away. Ozpin on the other hand didn't move an inch. Believe it or not, he had seen scarier stuff than an enraged Glynda Goodwitch and he was just going to wait and see.

"So you knew?" Glynda started with the rant that he would get.

"You're talking about Mr. Arc fake transcripts. Like I said, I knew from the start." Glynda was about to unleash unholy fury on this man and if he wasn't her boss, she most likely would have done so. She couldn't believe it. She was trying Jaune to get expelled from this school based on his poor grades and abdominal fighting and here Ozpin said, that he knew from the start.

"Ozpin, that boy has been a failure from the start and you have allowed him to stay here while?"

"Glynda. Jaune has been on the lower end of the student body in the beginning of the year but during the course of the first semester, he gradually improved to the point he can keep up easily. What Miss Nikos taught him, he soaked up like a sponge. In a couple of months, he was brought up to speed to the point that he can keep up with classes and combat. Besides that, Mr. Arc got the right mindset and heart. I think that is a bigger trait for becoming a Huntsman then some papers. Or do we have to look at Team CRDL? They have the right transcripts but if they can become the Huntsmen that Jaune Arc will ever come? I highly doubt that."

Glynda nursed her head with the headache coming up. Hating the facts when they showed them to her, she couldn't deny them. "I am not going to argue. But Ozpin. Who came to you about this ridiculous plan?" And with that, Glynda Goodwitch, the deputy of Beacon was stunned into silence after Ozpin's eyes glared up to her.

"Glynda, Jaune isn't the first Arc we had here. Do I have to tell you who was here and how I agreed on this? You don't have to ask, you know who. The same persons who dropped by this day." Glynda hadn't forgotten about that, she surely hadn't.

"We have lost one Arc in this school. If I could, I would be damned if I let another one go to waste." Glynda knew about who he was talking. She hadn't forgotten. She had almost forgotten who the person was.

"Why haven't you told James?" The tone of accusation was gone in her voice. She leaned over in the desk, forcing the man that was her boss to look at her. The tone was replaced with understanding and a hint of shame. She was no longer angry at Ozpin or even at Jaune.

She had a big debt to pay and that Jaune was a part of that debt, well, they couldn't complain.

Ozpin stood up and walked to the windows. He didn't need to see that Glynda had joined him watching the stars that were out there. "Still, Ozpin. About that idea you have. You think it was best to send Miss Rose out? If there is anything to go by, there's a high chance that the person you have in mind and she…" While working at a school caused all sort of stuff to pass by, Glynda knew the implications of sending nine seventeen year olds and one fifteen year old after a thirteen year old boy.

There was a very high chance that the person of thirteen would become close to the person who was closest to his age. And for all who knew Ruby, they would say the silver eyed prodigy was a late bloomer and had lots of growing up to do.

"I am kind of hoping for that." Turning to Glynda, he had looked at her pretty face and had taken in her features. "The chance that those two will become guardians is really close and I am hoping that will happen. You can say whatever you want but things worked out for us and they have more time than us. We owe them at least some happiness."

Pulling her arms around his neck, she was trying to glare at him but she couldn't. Not in those situations.

He did the same to her, hugging her close. If there was one thing that Glynda hoped that no one else should see, it was to see her crying.

"Why did I have to fall in love with you?" She said while Ozpin hugged the woman that has stolen his heart all those years ago. He was wondering about that and for now, the Headmaster of Beacon, of the greatest teachers in history, a prodigy himself, couldn't answer that question.

Team RWBY, Sun and Neptune had been sitting in the room, waiting on either a knock or a call that would get them to move. If they had known they had to wait till two o' clock in the morning, Ruby would have taken a nap by then. She was drowsy and leant in her older sister's crook, trying to fight the desperate need to sleep.

Speaking about that, Yang Xiao Long herself felt pretty damn tired. Just playing the waiting game wasn't much fun to do and it caused one to lose her instincts. Being up in a shady club all night long, easy. This. Far from it.

She had some material that could keep her busy. It was nearly adorable to see Neptune leaning into Weiss, the ashen haired girl herself not trying to lean in his shirt and fall asleep. She was somewhat lucky to have that guy. Despite his manners, he was a good guy. She, Ruby and Blake all approved of him. He was a bit of a flirt but he could act the gentleman and had explained the reason why he acted like such a jerk when he didn't ask her out for the dance.

Meanwhile, she saw Blake and she had found a better spot. Sun, who was fast asleep, had his head hitting the back of the bed and sleeping like a baby. A bit of drool escaped his lips but that wasn't the thing she found funny to see. Her anti-social, anti-clingy and hating any form of physical contact had crawled up in the lap of the monkey boy and had fallen asleep in his lap. Blake liked Sun and that was clear to see. Yang found it good to see this thing happening. She couldn't explain why but she was somewhat hoping she was sitting in Sun's place.

Not that she really could blame him. Sun was adamant of his attraction to her and she couldn't deny that his help was more than welcome but it didn't stop the tugs that her heart felt as she saw Blake sleeping in Sun's lap. But the deal wasn't struck between them and they were things that could happen in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, her pondering had to be cut short. She perked up to her a knocking and the half dead teens saw their position and scurried away from each other.

Yang moved Ruby away from her shoulder and moved to the door. Seeing an equally sleep deprived Pyrrha standing there made her wonder if the Invincible girl wasn't up more nights. She wasn't looking so invincible right now given her disheveled hair. Yang would pay good money to see what the situation in her room was.

Like Yang, Pyrrha wanted nothing more to sleep right now but business beckons. "Nora got the message. We're supposed to the last flight station of the Bullheads and we should get there in less then thirty minutes, starting five minutes ago." Yang's eyes were really close to flashing red. Just a bit more and she would have lashed out to anyone.

"I hope that the assholes got a good explanation for this. Because between us P-money if it didn't sound so serious, I would be swearing up a storm and flip the idiot off." Pyrrha, proud, polite and proper, was of the same mind as Yang that this was no fun and that the teens had waited the entire night for this message.

It was a group that moved through the dead of night to their ship. All of them were in some sort of awareness and sleep. Well, all of them.

Jaune, Ren, Nora and Pyrrha walked themselves what was more than could be said of the other group. The three smallest members, namely Ruby, Weiss and Blake were all carried by Yang, Neptune and Sun. In that order. While Sun and Neptune were somewhat happy but surprised that the two girls were asleep or at least, preferred that the guys carried them. They were supposed to be Beacon's top Team. If that's the case, well, the civilians would say that they were fucked.

With Ruby, it was a different story. Yang had no problem. From what Weiss and Blake gathered, Yang had been basically forced to become Ruby's mom after Summer, Ruby's mom and Yang's stepmom died.

"Okay, can we now know who is the sadistic fuck that called us here at this time to come to this place?" If she wasn't sure that Ruby would be a fast sleeper, everyone was sure that Yang would have used a different word. But no one spoke up. They all could somewhat or even in worse terms agree that the persons who did to them had to be some sort of sadistic fuck.

"Is that the way you speak around your little sister? I expected better of you, Firecracker." A rough male voice came out the ship that was at least familiar to three of the group.

"Uncle Qrow?" Yang asked in a baffled voice who came out the ship. And indeed, there was Qrow Branwen. Graduated Huntsman from Beacon who worked for Ozpin on several occasions, former teacher at Signal Academy and uncle to Yang and Ruby.

For JNPR, Blake, Sun and Neptune, it was the first time meeting the 'dusty old crow' like Ozpin described him. Well, this dusty old Qrow wasn't that old to begin with.

His hair was black, although you could see that a life of alcohol was not a kind one and it would continue to be one. His eyes were somewhat red, a bit like Yang's when she was mad. His cloak was red and tattered, much like Ruby's but than in a worse form. His clothes had a gray color with black at some other parts.

"Indeed, good to see you kids." He had his usual flask dumped in his mouth and the response was a mix of disgust and awe given of the smell of whatever it was that went in his system. "Although, most of you don't seem to know who I am." That were just the formerly mentioned ones who weren't sure about this whole thing.

"So, who is this guy?" Jaune asked the question, pressed on most of the lips.

"Guys, meet Qrow Branwen, mines and Ruby's Uncle. Qrow, meet our friends / collaborators Huntsmen. Team JNPR, led by Jaune Arc." Jaune waved to Qrow and unlike most of the time that he met an experienced Huntsmen, Qrow merely raised an eyebrow that had somewhat of an understanding of the kid.

"Nora Valerie, Pyrrha Nikos and Lie Ren." Yang's tone made it clear that she had just about enough BS and that she would like to handle this matter ASAP. "And those are our friends from Haven, Sun Wukong and his partner Neptune Vasilias. So Qrow, are you the one that Ozpin asked to come with us on this mission? If so, than hide your stash, cause I'm going to smash it."

Qrow had long been used to this treatment and he had to admit. She mixed so much of that man in her. Well, it was better than Yang took a lot more after Tai than his sis. That was not a bad thing. And he could get where Yang was coming from.

"Firecracker, if you touch my stash, I got a lot of pics that I can spread around Beacon. And for your questions, yes. I'm sorry that we have been such assholes about it but…" He would have continued if his flasks was never empty. Seriously, how much did that thing hold? "The mission that Ozpin gave you was something that was pretty important. I hate the way things played out. But would you rather have old Oobleck or Port doing this?"

The group thought about it and then shut up. They didn't know who this guy was but that only Yang and Ruby were related to him and that he was a drunk. "Now, we can have this interesting conversation now but there are beds in this aircraft so if you all want to catch a bit of sleep, I think we can do that now." It was like a magical word as the group crashed in the ship and made their way to the place.

Looked like this was an older ship as men and women slept in separate places. Yang would have joked about it but was now not in the mood for jokes. After taking over a sleeping (ice) princess and a kitten from Neptune and Sun, she had unceremoniously thrown them in their bunks, same with Ruby. Pyrrha and Nora were happy enough that they could sleep. Taking apart their luggage, they shut down as well.

The boys had six beds as well. Jaune had taken a higher one and Ren slept below him. Sun and Neptune did the same. They were not interested in changing their clothes and they weren't doing that right now. So the ship rose and it took off with ten Huntsmen and Huntress in training who were all too happy to catch some sleep before they would nag the heads off.

Qrow walked to the pilot. "All in?" A clear but authoritative voice asked the drunkard. He looked into the blue eyes that were as clear and authoritative as the voice. He nodded and settled next to Winter Schnee, the person that Ironwood took along. Qrow had made sure that he liked this as much as she did and that he, unlike her, bitched enough to Ozpin that this was something that wouldn't be forgotten any time soon.

Winter was taller than her little sister and that was shown there. A life in the military made her a proper and harsh individual. Her hair was tied up into a bun, although Qrow would guess that if you gave her a ponytail, she would be like her little sister. Her attire was a mix of blue, white and gray. Clothes that showed that she was a military personnel.

If she could speak her mind, she would have loved to meet her little sister now but there was nothing that could be done about that. She had to pilot the ship and there would have been plenty of time to catch up.

"Yep. You can see on those kids they were pissed off. Yang was the only one who opened her mouth and that could meant that the rest either is under her thumb which is a likely possibility or that they wholeheartedly agreed with her. And given the shit that Ozpin pulled, I don't guess the later. How you see or turn it, I am not looking forward to tomorrow."

"Why? Because you think that whoever we're picking up might cause a lot of problems."

"Ice queen, you got one 'Atlas Specialist', he didn't even need to cross his fingers "One Huntsman and two and half Teams with us. I don't think that the package will a problem. How will they react that the reason we pulled all this, just for a thirteen year old farmhand?"

Meanwhile, Ruby was dreaming. And she had a good dream. It wasn't involving puppy, kittens, strawberries or cookies. She was dreaming about a scenario. She walked through a garden that was filled with the most beautiful flowers one could think off. Her path wasn't clear but she just hummed and continued on her way.

At the end of the trail, she saw fences made out of wood but it wasn't just them. Underneath a lemon tree, a guy was sitting there. He had black hair, that was a mess. His clothes were a bit dirty and simple, with white shirts and olive pants. But it were his eyes that drew the silver eyed girl to him.

Those eyes. They were green with yellow around the pupils. He just looked at her and smiled. She smiled back at him and unlike most of the times, where her social awkwardness would take the better of her, she just sat down next to him. She was sure as hell. She had never seen this guy but she knew one thing for sure. This was someone she felt close to. She tried to remain in the dream world but the movement of the ship shook her awake.

Looking around, she saw that she wasn't in her dorm and that Weiss, Blake, Yang, Nora and Pyrrha were all there, all fast asleep.

With the cuteness of a lost puppy, she was dazed. "What was that?"

And with this, I'm going to end my chapter. I think I have done better work and for that, I apologize. My baby sister is on her first official trip and I'm here with my parents. My re exam is done and I'll be damned if I fail it again. But my midday classes have kicked in again, although it would be wrong to say that they are real classes. But besides those, I got a few things planned so I wanted to get this chapter posted because it would take a lot more days. That was the last thing I wanted.

And for those who are wondering. This could fit in, barely in the no Yuri, no yaoi section so you can guess what the ships will be that I'll have here besides the ones in the summary. I'm happy that things worked out and that I'll have some more time. It's fun to do something difficult sometime. Oh, about Qrow X Winter, that's going to be hard. We'll just have to wait and see but for now, it's not going to pass.

The good news is that Uplay is busy with loading a game that I owe a good friend and that is going to take a long while. So besides that, I'll be busy with writing chapters. Summer was worked away for me and if I can be honest, that's better than pissed away.

Thanks for reading and please, leave a review. Follow and favorites are nice but reviews are what drive us. So if you could do that, it would be really appreciated.

Saluut.