"So what do we do?" Marcelle asked Ruby, the girl thinking. "A grimm so large is impossible to stop for long with thin shields like that…" Marcelle muttered as they flew towards the monster. As the comm tower communicated with the ship, Ruby made a declaration.

"Then we'll do it ourselves if we have to!" Alone? My what a reckless girl Ruby Rose was turning out to be. As the others began their attack, Marcelle walked to the door.

"Ne, Oscar?"

"Yeah…?" he turned, seeing her standing back to the open door.

"I'll be back… so don't vanish without me." She winked, diving back out of the ship and landing atop another atlas flier. "Borrowing your ship." She told the pilot, smiling. He noticed her emblem, shocked.

"Merci…? But how…?"

"Just fly, please." She smiled. "You flew pretty well before, so don't let me down."

"Y-yes!" he exclaimed, avoiding another monster as they flew around, trying to take down the rest of the grimm. "What brings you back here?"

"Just the usual life or death situation, is all." She replied, opening up Umbra Falsa to its spearhead form.

"… You don't look a day older, though…"

"Of course, I don't." she smiled. "I can't give off how old I am… that would be bad." She chuckled, slashing at the grimm that charged her before jumping off the ship and firing shots to slow down the other grimm, giving the military a chance to shoot them down. She landed back on the ship's top, the pilot laughing.

"Man you're crazy."

"I was raised a grimm hunting machine… this is my favorite activity." She replied. "I'll let the others take out that grimm, since your military is so blatantly refusing to support them." She added. "Besides… they're a good group of kids."

"Kids, huh? You must really have faith in them, then."

"… I do…" she replied, slamming Umbra Falsa straight into an oncoming grimm's mask. "And strangely, I don't mind… relying on them…"

"But here you are fighting alone, huh?" he asked, making her pause. It was true… she was fighting alone… but she shook her head.

"Not alone… just supporting them from a distance…" she fired off a few more shots. "After all… they need to accomplish things themselves… that's what he told me…"

"He?"

"Someone I put all my faith in…" she replied, kneeling as she closed up Umbra Falsa. "… Someone I trust above all else." She added, the pilot surprised. But then again, the last time he ran into her was when she was a student… so maybe she'd found something… no, someone to trust.

"You're one tough cookie." He told her, watching as Grimm began falling out of the sky. "Better get back to your group. Looks like it's over."

"… Yeah." She smiled. "Thanks."

"No problem. Always happy to help out family." He replied. "Even if I married in."

"Even if you did, you're still family… see you around." She jumped off the roof of his ship, the "enemy" ship flying out and away. He removed his helmet for a moment, smiling a little. His dark purple eyes and pale blonde hair standing out in the grey ship.

"… Man, you're still crazy strong, Merci…" he sighed. "I hope the others don't hear about it too soon… you'll get scolded for being so reckless…" he flew his ship back towards the base, putting his helmet back on.

On their way to Atlas, Marcelle was beginning to fall asleep when she heard the kids start talking again. About Ruby being reckless… the girl trying to turn it on Oscar. But then he mentioned that Ozpin helped guide him in landing the ship. "That mean he's been watching us this whole time?" Yang asked.

"I dunno… but at least it means he was watching out for us?"

"Watching out for us, huh…?" Marcelle whispered after the others went to see the upcoming view of Atlas. She turned to Oscar, the boy looking nervous. "… What is it?"

"He asked me to tell you something…"

"He can do it himself." She replied immediately, making Oscar jump. "… It's not fair for you to be messenger." She added. "… Besides…" she took his hand, causing Oscar to stare at her. "If it's something you both want to say, then you should just say it…"

"… I saw you fighting." He gripped her hand, leaning back against the wall. "You're… just like he remembers… when you fight… but I still had this nagging sensation of… I dunno, worry?" he asked softly, looking over at her.

"Hehe… sorry." She ruffled his hair. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"Just… next time take me with you? Or if you can't… then tell me the plan?"

"… Okay." She smiled. "So long as you do the same, okay?"

"Got it." He nodded, glad that she agreed so readily. They looked up as the communication tower made contact and welcomed them, Marcelle sighing. "What's wrong?"

"Atlas… is somewhere most of the family never wanted to step foot in again… guess I'm apprehensive… since I'm the only one carrying the name right now."

"It must be hard…"

"It is but… gotta face my fears eventually… gotta be the family lead… even though I never wanted to…" she said, Oscar nodding as she stared out the window. Atlas was always a strange place to Marcelle, since her grandfather associated it with greedy people looking to get their hands on the weaponry the Lune family produced while also being the place that they were the most famous. She looked down at her clothes, sighing a little. "Geez, I'm a wreck, huh…? How can I represent the family like this?" she muttered to herself, Oscar smiling a little at her. She was nervous, but she was taking strides, according to what Ozpin was feeling. They did, however, need to land the ship away from the dock. They dropped it off in an inconspicuous area of the city and disembarked, Marcelle seeming very on edge about everything. Maria showed them the way to her "friend", and the group followed. Oscar fell in line with Marcelle, the girl smiling at him as he did so.

"You're bothered."

"Just… not used to this atmosphere… its tense." She added. Even if they weren't in Atlas itself, it was still too tense for her.

"No, not just that." Oscar said, noting her shivering. "You're still cold."

"Unfortunately, this might be a cold." She chuckled, coughing a little. "I'll live." She added. They met with the doctor and Maria's friend, having a chat about things when there was a crash outside. Oscar ran out with the others, but the doctor had Marcelle wait where she was sitting.

"You're already sick." He stated. "Let them handle it." She sighed at this, the Doctor smiling. "Henry's certainly taught you well. You had no hesitation to go after them even in your condition. How long were you hiding that cold?"

"A few weeks…" she muttered, coughing again. "I can't stay here. Ace Ops will-" as if on cue, she heard the others get caught and Maria, the Doc, and Marcelle headed outside. She wanted to beat these "ace-ops" brats into the floor for laying hands on these kids, but she coughed again, unable to do much right now. As they were carted away, Marcelle was about to follow when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whipped around, eyes wide.

"Evening, Merci." That snow-white head of hair and green eyes…

"Yuugato…?"

"Welcome, Miss Lune!" the armed guards all stated, Marcelle flinching at the comment.

"Miss is unfitting a title." She stated. "Just call me Merci… it's easier…" she walked into the transport ship with her younger cousin, the older man smiling.

"Welcome back, Merci." He ruffled her hair, making her pout.

"Yuugato… what are you doing here?"

"What else?" he smiled. "Luca called me."

"Your husband needs to come home and tell you these things, not call it over to you…"

"We're both busy, so I don't mind." He chuckled. "Now, dear Merci, let's get you changed. Ironwood will be waiting at Atlas Academy for you and your friends."

"Ugh… of course." She grumbled. "Formal wear…"

"Haha, don't look so down. Misa went and designed it especially for you~ And it's combat vetted material too." He added, smiling. Marcelle sighed and accepted the package, knowing that Yuugato's daughter-in-law only made the best. She made sure he was turned away before she switched out into the new clothes. Long sleeves that clung to her skin and kept her warm, leggings that were thicker than what she'd been wearing, all still black of course. She then put on the combat skirt and vest, and then the coat over it. It was warm… she smiled at the symbol she saw on the armband and cufflinks. The Lune Family symbol. On top of that though, she noticed something embroidered into the end of her scarf. She smiled at it. Gears.

"You told Misa about that?"

"She asked… thought it would motivate her." Yuugato smiled. Once changed, they landed at the Academy and headed inside, Ironwood welcoming them both. "It's been a long time, James." Yyuugato smiled as Winter bowed her head to Marcelle, the woman doing the same.

"That it has." He turned to Marcelle, bowing. "Your friends will be here shortly."

"In cuffs." Marcelle grumbled. "You'd best reprimand your Ace Ops for this, Ironwood." The man seemed confused until he noticed them being escorted in. He glanced at Winter and she immediately gave the escorts 10 seconds to release the group. Qrow greeted the white-haired man with a smirk and a handshake as the others introduced themselves. Yuugato smiled and greeted them all in return, stopping at Oscar. "And you are Oscar, correct?" he asked softly. Oscar nodded his head, smiling.

"Nice to meet you..." He stated, Yuugato nodding his head.

"You as well." He smiled, turning back to Marcelle. "Merci here tells me that you're all friends. I'm only sorry we couldn't have met under better circumstances." He added. "For those unaware, my name is Yuugato. I run Lucifern Academy in the outskirts of Mantle."

"Lucifern… Academy…? As in THE Lucifern Academy?!" Ruby exclaimed, eyes wide along with Yang and Weiss.

"What's that?"

"It's a small elite Academy." Marcelle stated. "Its little known unless you're from Atlas or from nearby. I'd assume Tai Yang and Qrow mentioned it before to Yang and Ruby." She added. "It's graduates include quite a few notable huntresses and huntsmen, but they usually prefer working in places they are appreciated and not places they gain publicity." She coughed again, Yuugato patting her back.

"As much as I tried, Merci wouldn't join us." He chuckled. "But I'm glad that she spent her four years at Beacon. Ozpin taught her well." He added, glancing at Oscar before letting the conversation go on between the group again. Marcelle was trying to keep her cough down, but it seemed to get worse as time went on. Oscar moved to stand next to her and rubbed her back, feeling how cold she was getting.

"While Penny shows you around campus, I'll have a doctor attend to Miss Lune." Ironwood stated, Oscar seeming reluctant to leave.

"I'll be fine." She smiled softly. "Go on." She shooed him with the others, holding it together until they left the room before breaking down in a coughing fit, Winter checking her vitals. "Sorry…"

"Don't be." Winter replied, waiting with her for the doctor. "Why didn't you tell them you were sick?"

"I didn't want to impede them." She replied. "Besides, I knew the best care I could get would be here in Atlas." She smiled a little, coughing again. Once the doctors arrived, she was taken to a room where she could rest, Winter relaying the information to General Ironwood and Qrow.

"Why didn't you seek medical treatment?" she glared at Qrow.

"Because she was insistent." Qrow retorted. "On top of that, she didn't want to slow everyone down. I got her over the counter stuff so she could keep it suppressed but that was all she'd let me do." He added. "Girl's damn stubborn."

"Always." Ironwood sighed. "And you said you heard her talking to Ozpin?"

"Only briefly. He's still drawn to her." Qrow replied. "But she is trying to protect him." He added.

"Does he still…?" Qrow only nodded, Ironwood sighing. "What is he thinking?"

"They're both older than they seem, its probably for the better isn't it?" Qrow sighed. "Besides… Marci being sick means she can try talking to Oz while they both stay here in Atlas… and maybe continue his training too."

"… True… Very well. Marcelle will stay behind with Oscar and catch him up to the others as far as their training goes alongside myself." Ironwood stated. "As well as receiving her own treatment for that cold."

"Understood, sir." Winter replied.

"You're gonna help her train him?"

"Yes." The General replied. "Is that a problem?"

"No… just don't get in the way of her trying to communicate with Oz or she might be mad." Qrow smirked, headed off on his own again. "She's REAL protective of him."

((It's been a long time~ Things have been busy so hopefully soon I'll be able to post again more often.
The group has made it to Atlas! Now, how will they face the trials to come?

-Winter Cheshire))