Chapter Sixteen

1.

There is a voice. A woman. "What is your real name?"

She looks her dead in the eye, balls of sarcasm behind her teeth, and replies, "Ostridge."

Annoyance. Blue.

Astrid shoots up with a gasp, eyes wide and barely seeing in the dark. She breathes heavy as her mind tries to organize into order.

"Nightmare?" Ozpin asks.

It takes a moment. To look. Astrid swings her legs over the side of the bed, fake smile under the blue light the relic gives off. It's under a black sheet, but it floats. She's almost mirroring her cousin except her shoulders are hunched. "Yah. Too much excitement for one day."

He hums. Looks to the floating sheet. "There will be more to come."

A moment. "Are you alright, Ozpin?"

A second. "I will be."

Astrid switches bed, his eyes following. She leans against the wall, at the end of the mattress. Between the sheet and her cousin. "So, Atlas?"

"Yes."

"Gonna to tell me why?"

He fiddles with the cane handle. "The Grimm will sense the relic more now that it's free. Because we're so high up, the worst will be the few single air-born Grimm that drift towards the city. Once we're on the ground, however…"

She wants to swear. Doesn't. "I guess that's gud enough a reason ta burry the relic under a mountain village. The Atlas military is definitely a plus. I will warn ya that it's gonna take at least a couple weeks ta secure us all transportation to Atlas."

Ozpin frowns. "If we go to Argus, we can find something there."

Astrid slides forward, arm slinging around him. "I don't think ya quite understand the situation we're in, cuz."

"Astrid-"

"Nope," she bops his nose. "Not only are we stuck 'til the police clear us, there's settin' up travel to get us to an Atlas port. Then there's the problem of travellin' a group our size into a closed borders kingdom. We'll also need commendations when we land, and a plan on how ta contact your friends in Atlas. Won't surprise me ta be stuck here over a month."

He's shaking under her arm. "We don't have that much time."

"Then we'll make time." A squeeze and then settling back against the wall. "Re-lax. The worst is over an' we can deal with the fallout."

"I don't think the worst is over," he mutters, hands squeezing together.

"Then we'll deal with the worst." Astrid stands. "And once it's dealt with, we're taking a long vacation somewhere warm an' sunny."

He tries not to grimace, "I'm not sure it will ever be over."

"Everything has an end, Ozpin," Astrid grins, hand out. "Now, promise me we can sit on a beach with fruity drinks after visiting the cold, cold north."

He hesitates, something softening the edges. Ozpin takes the hand with the yearning of someone who hasn't stopped running the world in ages. "I conditionally promise."

"That's the spirit." She clicks a chain to the too-bright relic on her way by.

Ozpin looks to be suffering as she pulls the floating object along behind them. "Where are we going?"

"Ta watch bad movies until we fall asleep again. If I have ta suffer through Oscar's Fighting Rangers show, ya do to."

2.

They are under house arrest.

Well, not really. Not all of them. They're stuck in the house for their own protection, being guarded by a rotation of flamingo and rabbit masks. An officer must be called to escort them out, and trying to leave results with them waking up in their rooms having no idea how they got there.

Except for Astrid. She has too many friends, too much to do. Late, late, for a very important date. The masked guards stare when the others try to use the phrase, though Nora ended up breaking into song and got a smile from them the first time. Since Astrid doesn't trust others with her cousin, there's always a mouse or clam masked person keeping an eye on him and appearing when everyone leaves him alone. They don't blink twice when Ozpin takes over for a game of chess or taijitu and ladders.

Where she was always there before, the last forty-eight hours it seems that Astrid has no time to stay. Especially as it's day two of house arrest, when a pink cat mask dons her face.

Captain Midori looks old, throwing the files of undercover agents on the table.

"We tried to get out who we could," Ecila sits across from the cat mask agent. There are several cards she's toying with, a nervous habit. "Most were unwilling, of course. The Leader slaughtered the rest. Nonsense, nonsense… does not deserve the title…"

A picture is slammed onto the table. Blood and bodies decorating the hall where White Fang Leaders used to take audiences.

"'Only a few recognize the way,'" Astrid quotes the Cheshire Cat from videogames not of here, "'some don't find it when they do – some… don't ever want to.'"

"Dee and Dudley are busy with the terrorists," Captain Midori grounds out, "so we've called in the Joker."

The Jailor. Astrid's impressed they're pulling out all the stops. "The Queen let him go?"

Midori grimaces. The hedgehog quills that make Ecila's hair puff as she smiles, "She wishes him dead."

"Justice first," Midori reminds her.

Astrid holds the picture. "Then justice he shall see."

3.

Meanwhile, Ozpin walks into the living room with the relic on his hip.

Nora makes a joke only Ren understands.

Everyone has questions they want answered. Nobody asks. The power contained within the lamp floats it, changes its size, and calls to them all.

It's Ruby who stares at it more than most.

4.

Emerald Sustrai still isn't sure how she got here. Oh, she knows why they're in prison cells, but the details on how they got here are nothing more than a black space. There is an ache in her body from semblance overuse, a numb and awful tearing realization that Cinder is most certainly dead. She can hope, but only fools do that.

But maybe they're all fools here.

Mercury sits with his back against his cell wall, watching closely as their two prison guards play a game of Go Fish. He had tried antagonizing them, but that left him with a black eye and no one to care. Her own protests at the treatment were halted by the guard with a spiked club informing them that not even the police will come from them here.

Hazel got very quiet at the mention of being in Wonderland. The ex-headmaster started crying.

Defenseless in an aura-repressing cell, Emerald isn't even sure how she'd escape. Mercury can't without his legs. Leonardo was useless to begin with, but Hazel hasn't even tried to move around in his cell.

"Why does Wonderland want us?" Mercury asks after the guards joke about their draw. Apparently, some cards are missing. It makes Emerald seethe, even if she can barely muster the energy to keep her eyes open. She thinks Hazel is glaring at the young man, while the ex-headmaster is most definitely turning away. "It doesn't make any sense. We didn't do anything to you guys."

The one with a gun doesn't look over, pulling out a fresh deck. The one with a club is grinning, but it isn't nice. He looks ready to commit murder, "Oh, trust me, you've done more than enough."

Emerald finds the strength to croak, "What is wonderland?"

"They call themselves protectors," Mercury spits out, hands clenching and unclenching in his lap. Emerald can't help but stare at the empty space by his torn pantlegs, she's so tired. "But the only things they protect are the last monarchs of Mistral."

The cards are being dealt, a mutter, "And they call us stupid."

Hazel speaks, head bowing to look at his ruined arms and ask, "How many were killed because of Cinder's actions at Beacon?"

"We don't know the exact number," a smile that could murder the room, "but enough to screw you all at least ten times over."

"'That's logic,'" mutters the dealer. He brushes some hair back with a grin. "You're move."

Emerald misses the warning Hazel passes to them, exhaustion pulling her under once more.

5.

What becomes blatantly clear is the teacher shortage. Classes begin in two weeks and schools throughout Vacuo and Atlas are already filled to the brim with those from Vale. Not every hunter and huntress could be moved to Shade or Atlas Academy, just as not every university major could transfer into the scant few spots open in academia schools. The Kingdom of Vale is a mess without its capital, and all others have their own problems to deal with.

The Kingdom of Vacuo is only beginning to stabilize thanks to the Order. Bandits, rebels, and resistances are slimming in numbers every year, while Grimm can no longer breach the edges of cities and villages. Quick construction has led way to communal housing for universities and collages, as well as for those seeking jobs in the Advancement Centers. As it stands, this is the safest and busiest Vacuo has been in centuries.

The request, plans, and updates from Hazel Potter and her second in command only add to the business of the Order. As they've taken over Shade Academy in all but name, it's their problem to deal with the influx of trainees.

Yondu scowls at her leader's choices of outside help. As de-facto vice principal, it's her job to pick the final candidates and teaching division. Why did she even take this job? It would have been a lot less stress monitoring the building wars between the Jedi and Sith Observatories.

Then she catches sight of a name everyone in-the-know has heard of. She picks it because why not? Everything will be much more interesting with a known terrorist around. One actually accepted by Loulou instead of hunted down. Sure, Yondu and a bunch of others are going to lose a bet – and two-hundred lien – but the shock and horror is bound to be worth it. She's not the actual administrator, after all. She won't have to justify the decision.

The way it is now, Vacuo could be a couple years away from becoming a stabilized, peaceful kingdom. This decision, however, could spark conflict with their ally from the last Great War. Could spark conflict across the world.

But old habits die hard. Better a lesson then a missed opportunity. Who knows, the candidates might not even say yes. All Yondu is doing is providing the best opportunity for the students. No matter what the rest of the world would have you believe, Vacuo is the toughest kingdom of them all. They learn survival young, early, and often. Every person is equal.

The Order is not to be messed with.

Yondu messages Team Sith supporter, Lief Kohana, because even a kingdom away and through snail mail she still the school's best chance of pulling off this hiring.

6.

Oscar and Ozpin are the last of the group to hear of Cinder's death. Ozpin takes over, quick to ask Qrow, "Do they know how she died?"

The man enters the room, taking a seat on Astrid's bed. He already knows what his friend is thinking, "They found her clothing at the bottom of the cave. That and some ice chunks. Official report is that she shattered when she hit the ground."

Ozpin buries his head in his hands, fist tight around the cane handle.

"Do you think the Fall Maiden-"

"While Raven was likely the last person she saw," Ozpin shakes his head, forcing himself back to straight up, "I don't think she has it, no. Even with… everything, I believe she would have told us before she left."

"I don't," Qrow is frowning. "You're giving Raven too much credit, Oz. I think she'll be staying as far away as she can. She fought me. Maiden powers or not, I don't think we'll be seeing her any time soon."

Astrid could find her, Oscar thinks. Ozpin doesn't believev it wise to tell Qrow that; not when there are other things to be done. With the relic out, finding the next Maiden can – unfortunately – wait.

"…You're right," Ozpin folds his hands together. "Still… if she died at impact then I do not believe the powers will be inherited by anyone close to us."

"Right, fine," Qrow sighs and leans on his knees. He's as impatient with the situation as Ozpin feels. "So, what? Do we just wait out house arrest and then make our way to Atlas?"

Oscar begins throwing around thoughts, knowledgeable and logical facts that Astrid has gone over with both of them what getting to Atlas now involves. How she has it covered. Ozpin is relieved that for once it isn't all on him to plan and plot out a route. A part of him does want to help, though. He'll have to explain everything to Qrow, however maybe they can help by- "How about we write a letter to James? Maybe he can assist our travel, and it would be beneficial to inform him of all that's happened."

Qrow makes a face, puts up light protest, but agrees in the end.

Oscar doesn't trust another headmaster so soon, but Ozpin knows they cannot proceed anywhere with no trust in their allies.

He knows all too well.

7.

Qrow and Oscar stare at the blank piece of paper. Every now and then one of them will pick up a pen, only to put it down.

"Why is this so hard?" Qrow wrings his hands.

Oscar shrugs.

How does one explain everything they've been through?

8.

The Cheshire Cat lounges on the throne. Astrid reminisces while she waits for her target.

Wonderland - unlike the Order, Guardians, or even the Fellowship - was in place before Astrid's networking went full-force. It was part of the Alphabet Soup Organization and had a large part in their downfall. Wonderland protects their own; getting in with them was the real kickstart to Hazel Potter's reputation.

A neutral party in a three-way territory dispute. A trickster rather than harm the outsiders. The door and the traveller.

The Cheshire Cat.

And once more, Wonderland is a branch of an Alphabet Soup Organization. Not directly under A, but working with Mistral's figurehead on their team. Peace and advancement for their goals. A's team gathers the reincarnates, the lost and weary, the hopeless. Wonderland are the enforcers of their territory. So are the Order, the Fellowship, and the Guardians.

The massacre around here would have never been allowed to happen with one of them in charge. A crude way of thinking – racism and prejudice do not simply disappear after coming back from death, can even slowly kill those who find themselves in a much different body – but Astrid would like to believe all her agents, connections, and fellow reincarnates understand that slaughter is not the answer.

Not like this.

The smell is awful and reminds her of too many memories. The only thing that Adam Taurus' – that Salems' – actions have done is unite the undead. For the first time since the fall of Alphabet Soup, Wonderland is united. This time, it might just stick.

The Cheshire cat hums and straightens up. The boots thud, the only sound of another person. He really did slaughter his followers.

Does not deserve the title.

Heartbeat pounding in her ears, Astrid makes sure to smile.

He pauses, the doors echoing open with a bang at his push. Obviously, he didn't intend to see another breathing body. This final visit was to admire his handywork. To reinstate why he's going stalk his ex, or maybe even hunt down new help. Astrid hasn't heard what comes in the next seasons, and the ones who can recite such are likely babies.

It does not matter. This is where Adam Taurus exits stage left, and she won't have to raise a finger.

"Who are you?" he demands, sword out and glowing a sickening red. Astrid forces the wider grin. "How dare you come in here wearing that mask?"

Pink and cat. He probably can't think straight. The Cheshire Cat keeps smiling, no reason to chat with those too far gone in their madness.

We're all mad here.

I growl when I'm pleased, Astrid thinks, quoting the true Cheshire Cat. She'll have to go out tonight. It's not often her favourite bar has karaoke night.

"It doesn't matter," Adam tells himself, sword lifting higher, "who you are. I'm going to kill you, and then I'm going to kill everyone who's ever hurt me."

And wag my tail when I'm angry. Astrid breathes with the beat and waits.

Adam leaps forward with the power of aura in his step… only he doesn't move all that fast. The building of energy doesn't come. He's not too far gone he doesn't notice, but it's too late to stop. He doesn't want to stop. A human should not occupy the throne of the Faunus.

A sprint step. Another.

Astrid keeps smiling as he falls through the floor.

9.

Adam Taurus falls through the ceiling and into the cell next to Leonardo, hitting his head as he goes. It's a tangle of red carpet for a few seconds, before that is cut and the door that had appeared is closed by a person in a cat mask.

Just when Emerald and Mercury are about to make some noise, the only remaining door opens. In the lead is a woman with a heart-shaped mask, escorting a man wearing a jester's hat. Behind them are a small woman is being led by some guy in a top hat. They all wear mask, and Emerald hears Mercury swear while she's suddenly very awake. Their guards jostle to their feet, elbowing each other while giving greetings to the Queen, the Hatter, and the Alice.

Adam Taurus finally escapes the ball of fabric, head bruising an ugly colour and broken cracked mask between the rolls. Emerald can't help a shocked breath at the 'SDC' scarred deep over one eye.

He takes one look at them and swears. "Who are you?"

The lady in a heart mask takes a seat offered by the guards. "My, my. Did you truly kill Sienna without realizing the consequences?"

"You can't trust the White Fang these days," says the man in the top hat. "I'd call them sheeple, but that's a derogatory term here."

The last woman sits down, dainty and slight. There's something off, though. Emerald's on the other end of the cell rows, but she's given perfect view through the floor-to-ceiling metal bars.

"You're all humans, aren't you?" Adam snarls, looking more animal than even the time Cinder backed him into a corner. "Come to make me a sideshow, have you? Sent someone in a cat mask to mock me? To lock me up like you're better than me?"

"Oh dear," the heart woman slides a lien card to the jester. "Didn't even last five minutes without making it about race. Alice, be a dear."

The dainty woman takes off her mask. Emerald can't see well from here, but there are markings on her face. Small and moving with her hair.

"Adam Tauras," the Faunus outside the cell does not rise, does not cower. She is small and dainty, but the room stifles in her authority. Adam's threats and remarks have been silenced by it. "You have been charged with murder and treason. You have betrayed your kingdom and people. You have overstepped centuries of law placed in Mistral, and your actions have forced Wonderland together to clean up your mess.

"As The Alice, I am forbidding any hostile Faunus movement on my territory hence forth. The White Fang will cease to exist in Mistral, and any who claim they are such will be executed on sight."

"As The Hatter," top hat says from beside her, removing his own mask. The face beneath causes chill in the room, "I will allow hostile acts by Faunus on my territory."

"As The Queen of Hearts," whispers the woman, standing to glare down the man behind bars. "I say, off with his head."

The man with the jester hat, wearing a dull mask, grins and moves for the cell door.

Emerald turns away.

10.

On a warm sunny beach of a once-popular resort town between the kingdoms of Vale and Vacuo, Roman Torchwick and Neopolitan sit in their lawn chairs and sip fruity drinks. The winter nights are cold, but the days are hot. Retirement from a life of crime has been great.

Neo's phone buzzes. She lifts her sunglasses just enough to read the email. Rolls her eyes and shows Roman.

He howls with laughter, hat falling off, "That has to be the worst idea I've ever hear! What is she thinking?!"

Neo smirks, cradling her phone. Fingers start to move. The typed reply is a very definitive no way in-

"Tell her yes," Roman grins at the ocean.

Stunned silence.

"It's an awful idea and they must be getting desperate to ask us. What would we even teach, classes on pick-pocketing and sign language? Ha! You could hold up picket signs all class and call it a day!"

Neo takes off her sunglasses. Looks wholly unimpressed.

"Come on, it would be fun." Roman smirks. "I hate kids, you hate the system. Why not do our best to corrupt everyone from the inside?"

He keeps smiling, Neo's lips are pressed tight. The sunglasses go back on and she rewrites the reply. An hour later they get the message on what date and time they'll be picked up to be brought to Shade Academy.

They're going to be teaching hunters and huntresses. Neo never would have betted on this outcome.

-.

In another Kingdom, on a plane that's unheated and untraceable, Whitley Schnee slowly awakens to the sound of panicking.

"-slowing down!"

"What do you mean-"

"-not in control-"

"For f-"

"Hello there," chirps a voice. A… girl's voice. Over the radio. Whitley tries to make sense of everything, but there's a gag in his mouth and his hands are tied and, oh, the ship's spinning. "My sincere apologies for taking control of your ship, but as you were not opening communications after my repeated attempts, I could not simply let you go by."

The next few minutes are a stomach-in-throat experience that leaves the teenager daze. His head may have cracked on the wall a few times. Nothing feels good, and the screaming doesn't help.

But then he opens his eyes to the loveliest young lady he's ever seen. Bright orange hair and deep green eyes. Rather familiar…

"Oh," she straightens away and smiles. A real smile. He's… not used to that. "Hello! My name is Penny! Would you mind holding still a few more moments, and then I'll have you untied."

Well, no use arguing. The first thing Whitley asks with his mouth free, "What happened to the Faunus who kidnapped me?"

"They've been taken care of," grumbles a man's voice. Whitley jerks, realizing he's not alone with his saviour. The man at the front fiddles with controls. "Penny! Get up here and help me lift off!"

"Right away, Dr. Merlot!" Penny gives Whitley one more smile before skipping her way over. Within seconds, they're starting liftoff.

It kickstarts his brain. "Wait! Where are you taking me?!"

"We're going to Atlas, Mr. Schnee," the doctor turns and smiles. It isn't nice. "I'm teaching at the academy in a few weeks, and Ms. Polendina here is going to meet her new twin sister."

"Wait, what?"

"My father thought I was dead, so he tried to bring me back," Penny answers like nothing is wrong with that sentence. "There are reports of a me being seen around Atlas, but I've been assisting Dr. Merlot in creating my new body."

"I can't wait to rub my success in his face," Dr. Merlot cackles, and Whitley's realizing he might not be as saved as he thought he was when the glee turns on him. "In you're father's, too. Bet Jacques thought I was dead – he probably hoped for it – and I'm going to air out all the knowledge he stole on Grimm research."

Whitley bites down the automatic rebuke. Yes, he is not safe from the extremists yet. Only by dumb luck was the ship he was on the one they hailed. Speaking of, "How did you wrestle control from my captors."

"Oh, that was easy," Merlot waves and digs around for food. "Penny did it."

"We took some inspiration from the CCT hack for my new model," Penny smiles proudly and helps him into the co-pilot's chair. Whitley won't say it, but he appreciates her help settling here. Away from the crazy old man and watching a view he's never truly got to see. "If it can connect to the towers, I can connect to it."

"That…" Whitley is very much Not Prepared for an adventure. "Can you explain to me how that is possible?"

Dr. Merlot shouts at them, "She's an android."

"Oh…" that makes an alarming amount of sense. Why does her name sound so familiar? More importantly, why is it him in this situation?

Weiss probably got all the luck. She didn't get kidnapped and then brought back home by a stolen airship. She probably doesn't want to come home at all.

Has mother even realized he's missing?

"Can I come with you?" Whitley blurts out without meaning to. "I mean, if you have an… android sister running around, she'll likely be part of the military. My own sister is supposed to be docking soon, and it would be… nice," the word tastes like ash, "to see her."

"Of course you can come!" Penny cheers.

The old man just coughs in the background.

Whitley suddenly regrets trying to continue this… adventure.

A/N: Sometimes, things slip through the cracks. Sometimes… they never see the light of day again.

Happy Volume 7. First episode really has my hopes up.

Timelines are hard, confusing, or annoying. Point: if Ruby is 17 for Volume 6, then they spent all of October in Mistral. I'm not sure when Haven Academy would have normally begun the year, but if it starts beginning of October the latest, then they were in Mistral at least a month and Qrow sends a postal-mailed letter to James Ironwood the day they plan to leave for transportation.

This story assumes Haven begins late-August-early-September, which means there are a lot of things being covered before they even start for Atlas.

Thank you, RandomShtScinceWhenever, for your review! I'm glad to hear you liked it! Kali may also be getting Best Team Mother award in this fic, just saying. The Tweedles are the same! Great at guarding people, not so great at… being hunters. Again, thank you so much for the review, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Thank you, xenocanaan, for your review! I'm so glad to hear! I really hope you enjoyed the chapter and thank you again for reviewing!

Thank you, Minxiboo, for your review! There really is a lot going on, and still a bit more until volume six really begins. I'm so glad to hear you like it! Astrid has five different aliases (A, Gale, Hazel, Loulou, and Sauron), while the rest of her organization is made up of reincarnates from different places and made up of the people she's helped at one point or another; I hope this helps. Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

I hope everyone has a fantastic day