Anima...
Yang Xiao Long is riding Bumblebee with the Shady Man through a forest in Anima, "How much further, pal?"
"This should just about do it." Shay D. Mann said, as Yang stops her bike at a clearing. "You wait here. I'll go up ahead and make sure the coast is clear."
The Shady Man dismounts from the bike and runs into the bushes. Yang shakes her head in annoyance and discards her sunglasses, sleeve and coat tails before stretching a little. Suddenly, someone pulls the trigger of a gun and Yang blocks the shot with her arm.
The Shady Man reappears with several bandits in tow, "I can't believe you were dumb enough to let me lead you here."
The bandits present all have their weapons drawn at Yang.
"Is this everyone?" Yang asked.
"Yes, little lady. This is it. Well, unless you count the whole rest of the camp back that way." Shay D. Mann said, chuckling.
He gestures behind him with his thumb.
Yang points a finger in the same direction, "That way?"
"Yes. That way." Shay D. Mann said, grunting in confusion and looking at his tribe mates first.
"Good to know. Thanks." Yang said.
"Now to pay me back for this tooth, we're going to take your bike. And you're going to take your lumps…" Shay D. Mann said, as he punches his fist as he says this.
Yang engages Ember Celica on her left arm. The bandits get cautious and keep their weapons trained on her.
"You got the jump on me last time, sweetheart. But you really ought to think twice about fighting all…" Shay D. Mann said, aiming for his gun.
He cuts off when Yang engages the gun on her robotic arm. The rest of the bandits gasp.
"Alright...get her!" Shay D. Mann said.
The bandits attack, and Yang defeats them. After the fight, Yang's left hand is shaking once again, but she calms herself down before walking back to her motorcycle.
"Who are you? It doesn't even matter. When Raven finds out what you did, you're dead!" Shay D. Mann said, coughing as he struggled to get up.
"Possibly. But I doubt it. I am her daughter, after all." Yang said.
"I'm dead." Shay D. Mann said, wide-eyed.
The Shady Man falls to the ground.
Mistral...
Oscar Pine and Ruby Rose are training hand to hand combat whilst Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Lie Ren, and Jared Shay are looking on.
"Man, Oz wasn't kidding. Oscar's picking up on this stuff fast." Jaune said.
"Way faster than me. When it came to opening up." Jared said, smirking. "I have to admit, he's good."
Oscar hits Ruby straight in her face. Ruby recoils from the blow and looks visibly angry.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" Oscar said, shocked.
Ruby hits Oscar back and he lands a few feet away on ground as Jaune and Nora wince.
"Ha! Yes! I did it!" Ruby said, and her brief moment of cheering is replaced with concern as she looks back. "Oscar?"
"Oscar, you forgot to engage your Aura, again." Ozpin said, through the telepathic connection between him, Oscar, and Jared.
"You really did. I was like that too." Jared said, drinking a cup of pumpkin spice latte. "At the beginning. During my early days in Beacon."
"Why didn't either of you tell me?" Oscar asked.
"Because it's more fun. Watching you be in my shoes."
"No, Jared, you're wrong in that aspect. But at the same time, you're kind of right. Because this method makes you less likely to forget." Ozpin said, mentally.
Oscar groans and gets to his feet.
"Mind if I give it a shot?" Ozpin asked, mentally.
"Oh, this will be good." Jared said, enjoying the latte he is drinking. "Ozpin against Little Red."
Oscar stiffens briefly while his eyes glow in a yellow light.
"Not bad, Miss Rose. But Oscar doesn't have the years of training that you do. Or I do." Ozpin said.
Oscar's body shimmers green as Ozpin engages their Aura. Jaune, Nora, and Jared realize what Ruby is in for.
"Crap!" Jared said, his eyes widening. "I forgot that I didn't do some hand to hand. After the star whale. I immediately brought her home."
"Ya think?" Ruby asked, as Oscar determinedly approaches her.
"Sorry! I have had some adventures since then with the Doctor."
"Oh, ha, well, maybe we should uh...take a break." Ruby said, nervously.
Ozpin attacks Ruby with a few punches aimed at her head, forcing her onto the defensive until he lands a blow to her face which knocks her back several feet. Ozpin closes the gap with a leap and kicks her in the face. Ruby leaps at Ozpin to throw a left cross which Ozpin evades by ducking and retaliates with a headbutt from below.
"Ouch." Nora said.
"Yeah, that's got to hurt." Jared said, frowning.
"The next time you want to throw a left cross, remember to push off with the appropriate foot. And as always, do be aware of any openings." Ozpin said.
"Gooooot it." Ruby said, strained as she sits up.
"Ruby!" Jared said, running up to Ruby. "Want some chocolate chip cookies? Or do you want to take a knack at the chocolate fondue?"
"Fondue?"
"Yes. I left a fondue fountain downstairs about an hour or two ago."
Ozpin relinquishes his control and Oscar falls to the ground, panting.
"Oh! Hey. Are you okay?" Ruby asked, looking over at Oscar.
"How is this so exhausting?" Oscar asked.
"Your body isn't used to this kind of training, not to mention generating a defensive Aura on your own. It takes intense concentration at first, but in time it will become second nature, allowing you to deflect attacks and gradually heal your wounds. After that, you can begin focusing on your Semblance, whatever that may be." Ren said.
"Semblance?" Oscar asked.
"Oh, I know!" Jared said, lifting Ruby off the ground. "It's like your very own superpower! I was shocked when I found out that I had a Semblance. Since I spent a lot of time here. I sort of got one overtime."
"And everybody's got one. It's just a matter of finding it and mastering it. Ruby moves super fast, Electricity makes me stronger, Ren can mask emotions, Jared can go invisible, and Jaune...can, uh, um. Hmm." Nora said.
"I can't do anyth…" Jaune said.
"Jaune's like you!" Ruby said, taking Oscar by the hand and leads him over to Jaune. "He hasn't found his Semblance yet, but we all know he will. And you will, too. We all just have to try and help each other get stronger."
"Cool." Oscar said.
"A common philosophy is that a warrior's Semblance is a part of who they are. Some say your personality and character can define your Semblance while some claim that it is the other way around. Of course, there are still many who don't see a connection at all." Ren said.
"It's hard to know when you know sometimes. Ren's Semblance was unlocked from intense stress." Nora said.
"And mine kicked in during training one day." Ruby said.
"I found out mine when I was traveling with the Doctor and Team RWBY. Oh boy, right when it was against a Dalek or a Cybermen too." Jared said, laughing a little. "It was right after Donna, and before Martha."
"And what about you?" Oscar asked, looking over at Nora.
"Oh. Struck by lightning. Didn't die. Craaaazy Thursday." Nora said.
"I just don't understand what's wrong with me. I train. I meditate." Jaune said.
Oscar's eyes glow momentarily as Ozpin takes control of his body again.
"Don't worry, Mr. Arc. Your journey is far from over. And the same might be said for all of you. Unlocking your Semblance isn't the end. It can still grow and evolve. Providing you're willing to put in the work, who knows what could happen." Ozpin said.
"Then let's get back to it." Ruby said, smiling.
Bandit camp...
Yang finally enters the camp, escorted by a few bruised bandits who she had roughed up earlier. She notices more bandits lining up along the path, giving angry glares at her. Vernal steps out of her tent to see what the commotion is about. The two bandits guarding Weiss Schnee are playing cards with each other, before joining the rest of their tribe to see Yang walk in. Weiss notices this and once again summons a small Arma Gigas, who begins to get to work on freeing her from her confinement. Yang and her escorts arrive at the camp's main tent. Raven emerges from it with her mask on.
"Mom." Yang said.
"Yang." Raven said, removing her mask to reveal that she is smiling. "So, after all this time you finally decided to visit me."
Yang feels her left hand shaking once again, but she uses her robotic hand to calm it down, "You know that I searched for you. I spent years looking for you."
"And you've found me. You were patient, determined, and strong enough to make your dream a reality. Well done, Yang. But did you have to be so rough with my men?" Raven asked.
"I didn't want a fight. They started it." Yang said.
"Well, you certainly finished it." Raven said, getting complete silence. "Right. I'm sure this is all very overwhelming. But I must admit that you've proven yourself. So any questions you have I'll be happy to answer. You can stay with us tonight. I'll even have the cooks whip up something for you."
"That's not why I am here." Yang said.
The bandits react to Yang's irreverence.
"What was that?" Raven asked.
"I'm not here for you. Ruby is somewhere in Mistral. She's with Qrow and Jared, and she's going to need my help. Knowing Jared, he's gotten into some trouble with Ruby. I just need you to take me to her, to them." Yang said.
"And why would I do that?"
"Because we're family."
"Family." Raven said, scowling and muttering. "Only coming around when they need something."
Raven then projected how she feels about things, "I have to say, I'm disappointed. After all, you found me, didn't you? Why not take that drive and use it to find your little sister if she means that much to you?"
"Because you're going to save me time. Ruby was heading to Mistral, but there's no guarantee she's made it there. Especially since she might have gone to Earth a few times with Jared. She could have died for all I know. If she did, then the blame would all be on Jared. Looking for Ruby and Jared in Anima could take ages. But...Dad told me how your Semblance works." Yang said.
"Tai…" Raven said, under her breath.
"You can bond to certain people. And when you do, you could create a portal that takes you straight to them. You've got one for Dad. One for me. And you've got one for Qrow. He and Jared promised me they'd watch out for Ruby before they left. And I trust them. So, make a portal to my uncle, my sister, and one of my best friends, and I'll be on my way." Yang said.
"You know, it takes real strength to march in here and demand such a favor of me. I've got to say, I'm impressed. It's very noble to want to help out your sister. But if they're with Qrow, then they're already a lost cause." Raven said.
"What does that mean?"
"You don't want to get mixed up in all of that, Yang. Ozpin is not the man you think he is. And Qrow and Jared are fools for trusting him. I would know, I trusted him once, too."
"I don't care what you think." Yang said.
Vernal, holding Myrtenaster, looks on disdainfully, and places her right hand on her hip.
"Your choice is your own. All I'm suggesting is that instead of getting wrapped up in something too big for you, for any of us, that maybe you take a moment to wonder if you're already where you belong." Raven said.
"Save your breath. You can spout off whatever you want, but nothing is going to keep me from my sister and one of my best friends.�� Yang said.
"Well, aren't you stubborn."
"I get it from my mom."
"Well, if that's how you feel, then it sounds like we're done here. Take her away."
The bandits surround and begin to move in on Yang. Yang sees this, before turning her head back to Raven.
"Did you not hear me?" Yang asked, while Raven turned back around before she could enter her tent. "I said send me to Qrow and Jared, damn it!"
Yang's eyes turn red as she spouts her last statement.
"That's enough! You watch your mouth in front of our leader!" Bandit Two said, and some of the bandits tense up behind him.
"Make me." Yang said.
Bandit Two tries to attack Yang, Yang punches the Bandit into a tent, revealing Weiss in her cage.
"Yang?" Weiss asked.
"Weiss?" Yang asked.
Everyone else present is surprised that the two girls know each other.
"Alright, well, subtlety is out." Weiss said, talking to herself.
Weiss turns to her miniature Arma Gigas and makes it grow, destroying the cage in the process. She quickly makes her way towards Yang, with the now giant Arma Gigas following close behind.
"What is that?" Yang asked.
"Don't worry about it. What are you doing here?" Weiss asked.
"Well, that's my mom and she can take us to Ruby and Jared." Yang said, gesturing to Raven. "And I know Jared needs us by his side. With whatever trouble he started with Ruby."
"Ugh." Raven said.
"Your mom kidnapped me?!" Weiss exclaimed, incredulous.
"You kidnapped her?!" Yang exclaimed, looking at Raven.
Yang, Weiss and Weiss' summon turn and run to fight the bandits, but a lightning bolt appears, summoned by Vernal, stopping the fight before it starts.
"Enough!" Vernal said, her voice echoing throughout the camp.
"Thank you." Raven said, looking at Vernal before looking at everyone else. "If you people don't keep it together this place will be crawling with Grimm." She then looked back at Vernal. "Give the girl her weapon back."
Vernal looks surprised at the command, then tosses Myrtenaster to Weiss.
"You two. In my tent. Now." Raven said.
"Why?" Yang asked.
"If you're really going after your sister and one of your best friends, then you need to know the truth."
Raven enters her tent and the bandits go back to their own businesses. Weiss places her hand on her chest in relief.
"Sorry about…" Yang said, sadly.
Suddenly, Weiss drops Myrtenaster and strongly hugs Yang, "I missed you so much."
"I've missed you, too." Yang said, putting her hand on the back of Weiss' head and hugs back as her summon disappears.