Qrow: The City of Mistral...

Nora: Ugh! It's about time!

Xero: preach girl

Qrow and Team RNJR are walking through a stone brick tunnel illuminated by translucent lanterns.

Nora: Whose idea was it to walk again?

Ren: Well, we did face many obstacles. Broken airships, destroyed settlements...

Jaune: Oh, and, you know, all those people and monsters that tried to murder us.

Ruby: Pfft, we were fine. 

Qrow: (looking at Ruby, smiling back) Hey.

Nora puts her hands on her hips and looks at Ren.

Ren: (looking at Nora) Hey.

Nora giggles in response.

Jaune: So, how much farther to Haven Academy?

Qrow: Almost there. But I figured I'd take you kids on the scenic route.

The group approaches a pair of large, wooden double doors, which Qrow opens, flooding the tunnel with sunlight. Ruby runs out onto a massive platform that doubles as an elevator, stopping at the railing to gaze out over the city in wide-eyed awe with Eve catching up.

Ruby: Wow!

Eve: Well now. Beacon has nothing on this.

The others join her to take in the view of buildings and stone stairways perched on mountains.

Ruby: This... is... awesome!

Below them, large crowds of people are going about their day - walking around, talking and buying merchandise legally and illegally.

Qrow: It's certainly something.

Ruby: (noticing a kiosk selling weapons) Oh my gosh, look at all the weapons!

Qrow: Vendors here'll sell you just about anything... whether they should or not.

Jaune: They really made the most out of these mountains.

Qrow: Every inch. Stay away from the lower levels. The higher up you go, the nicer it gets.

Nora: And we are going up! (pointing upward)

(with Omega)

Weiss: So, how much farther?

Pilot: We're in the home stretch now.

Omega: Good to know.

(with Xero and Askad)

The Team enter the campus grounds of Haven Academy, which is devoid of any other people. They stop in a courtyard, where Ruby smiles and wipes a tear from her eye. Jaune places a hand on her shoulder, and she sighs.

Ruby: We made it.

Qrow stops behind them, and while they continue on their way, he takes a moment to glance around and lets out a sigh.

Ruby: Hello?

Inside a hallway, The Team is following Qrow, and Ruby calls out once again, louder this time.

Ruby: Hello?!

Xero: Could you do it a bit louder. I think My ears are almost deaf.

Ren: There doesn't seem to be anyone here.

Jaune: Well, I guess school isn't really in session right now. Maybe that's it.

Qrow: No, this isn't right. Come on.

Qrow hurries ahead.

Ruby: Wait for us!

Xero: If your Uncle has that... Meaning. (summons Slicer and spins it before placing it on his Shoulders) That means We need to be ready.

Soon the rest Meet with Qrow hands on there weapons.

Qrow: Get ready. There could be trouble.

Just like that weapons are out With Eve Turning them into their Melee State. Qrow brings up his foot and kicks the door open. Just on the other side, Leonardo Lionheart widens his eyes, throws his hands into the air, and lets out a frightened scream. Jaune, Ruby, and Nora widen their eyes and scream as well, while Ren gives the headmaster a confused stare. Standing on one foot with his eyes wide, Qrow suddenly looks down, loses his balance, and falls. Shortly after, Lionheart makes a noise and briefly faints.

Xero: this guy is suppose to be one of the last lines of defense of the relics. Fucking Pussy.

Lionheart: Qrow! For crying out loud, you nearly scared me half to death!

Qrow stands up with a growl.

Qrow: Me? Why weren't you waiting for us at the entrance?

Lionheart: Huh? (pulling a pocket watch from his coat and checking it) Oh, right. Apologies. I guess time slipped away from me.

Qrow: You're joking.

Xero: Ya. He's Joking. (whispers to Askad) Askad I need you to run that Program.

Askad (whispers back to Xero): Affirmative

Soon Askad Then actives the CCT defenses An looks at the same W. He set's it aside to Review later.

Nora: Where is everybody?

Lionheart: Ah, you must be the students Qrow mentioned.

Xero: Don't change the Subject! WHERE THE FUCK ARE-

Ruby: Yes, sir. (giving a loose salute) Ruby Rose.

Jaune: Jaune Arc.

Nora: (posing with her arms held stiffly out to the sides) Nora Valkyrie.

Ren: (putting his arms behind his back) Lie Ren.

Pyrrha: I think you Know me

Xero, Askad and Eve Don't even Speak. Since unlike the others They know what is going on

Lionheart: (chuckles) A pleasure to meet you all. Leonardo Lionheart, at your service. I'm afraid most of my staff is currently away until classes resume, but--

Hearing this, Qrow briefly clenches his fists and then leans in toward Lionheart.

Qrow: What? Leo, you can't be serious. Who's guarding the Relic?

Lionheart: Qrow, the children.

Qrow: Already know. I filled them in. What do you mean your staff is away?

Lionheart: (as this information sinks in) You... filled them in?

Xero: Yes he Filled us in. Now Where the fuck are the-

Nora: So, is this not going at all like anyone thought it would?

Xero: FUCK ME!

Eve: Babe

Soon they Get to Leo's office.

Lionheart: I have to say, Qrow, this all seems very reckless, even for you.

Qrow: No, reckless is leaving one of the Relics completely unguarded. It's not checking in with Oz for ages!

Lionheart: There was nothing to check in about before the fall of Beacon, but since that day, Mistral has been in chaos! (standing from his chair, fists clenched) Vale wasn't the only Kingdom to suffer that night. Everyone was watching. Every house in every Kingdom saw that poor girl ripped to pieces, (Ruby looks away, upset) saw monsters crawling over the city (Jaune grimaces) and then nothing. You could feel the dread in the air. With all that negativity, you can imagine what it was like when the Grimm came for us. (walking to a window and looking outside) Mistral's territory is the widest reaching in the world, you know, and that makes it infinitely harder to protect. We lost so many great Huntsmen, teachers from this very institution. And it's only gotten worse.

Askad: and as Gaudian Of the Relic It is with Great responsibility for you to-

Lionheart: And what would you know Askad. Ironwood allowed you in the circle for---

Askad having enough and With his Robotic Hydraulics boosted by Soul of the Nuckelavee Slams his fist down Breaking the entire table. The electronics where destroyed and the table split in two. Leo in shock saw this and Kept his mouth Shut.

Askad: You think Me, Xero and Eve Are buying what your severing. The fact that the staff and students are missing Means Salem made her  move here before we even got here. Which means I must have M-Borf Robots here and Fast.

Qrow: and Huntsmen and Huntresses here as well!

Ruby: (moving closer to the two) Okay! Okay. Things are bad; they're bad. But we can figure this out. Why is the Spring Maiden so important?

Lionheart: (looking at Qrow) I thought you filled them in.

Askad: Mostly things that they Questioned. They Know about the Concept of the Maidens But not who is and why. But judging the fact that We have Two Fall Maidens. One good with 25% and one evil with 75%. I guess Oz's Story Can be bent a bit.

Lionheart: (sitting back down in his chair) The four Maidens each have the power to perform feats of magic, and they are the only ones capable of reaching the Relics.

Jaune: What?

Qrow: The Relics are each locked inside a chamber that can only be opened by a specific Maiden. Winter for the gift of Creation, Summer for Destruction, Fall for Choice and Spring for Knowledge. (taking another drink) Spring is the problem.

Askad: How big.

Lionheart: She was determined, at first, when she inherited her powers, but the weight of responsibility proved to be too much for the child. She... ran. Abandoned her training, everyone. That was over a decade ago. There's no telling where she could be now.

Qrow: I... know. At least... I have a pretty good idea.

Lionheart: (widening his eyes and standing up) Are you serious?

Qrow: It's not exactly good news.

Lionheart: (walking around to Qrow from behind his broken desk) What are you talking about? This is incredible news! (taking Qrow by the shoulders and shaking him) After all these years! Where?!

Qrow: (shoving him off) I did some digging around. Looks like, after Spring ran away, she was picked up by bandits, specifically the Branwen tribe.

Askad: And since you know the leader. Either two things. One. She is possibly part of the tribe or.

Xero: Executed By the leader at this point. Meaning

Lionheart: Raven.

Ruby lets out a small gasp of surprise.

Jaune: Yang's mom? She Has the powers?

Qrow: That's right.

Qrow pulls out his Scroll and shows the map

Qrow: (as the map pulls up a zoomed-in section) That's about where they've set up their main camp. It's where they fall back to after raids and scouting missions. Raven's managed to gain a lot of followers since she returned to the tribe. 

Askad: And If we are talking about Raven then we got two things. One. Revan's Huntress training was a way to find a way to kill one. Two. She has an entire tribe of people willing to sacrifice for her. Three. She has someone with her at all times meaning and is Female. If we even Mention the Maiden powers. She Will use her failsafe as means to hide it. Four. If Yang is to believe, Then She wears a Grimm mask To cover her face Which will be hard for a Person to see the colored eye flames jetting out of her. And five. Even will all that. She'll have  complete mastery of the powers. And Seeing what Cinder did With 75% of that power from One Maiden.

Lionheart: (walking over and patting Qrow on the back) Well, Qrow, I've got to hand it to you. With these coordinates, we can mount a retrieval force and head out in a few weeks.

Askad: A Few Weeks Will be enough for Salem to know. I say you Send me and Askad To Revan ASAP. Or get your shit together and Focus on Getting A retrieval team with Huntsmen with able combat abilities and semblances that are able to counter the Powers of a Mastered Maiden.

Lionheart: (angrily) And perhaps you didn't hear me. This Kingdom is in shambles. "As soon as possible" does not mean tomorrow. It means, as soon as I can convince the council that I need Huntsmen more than they do. Unfortunately, bandit tribes aren't very high on their list of priorities when the threat of war is just on the horizon.

Askad (now Pissed off): FUCK THE CONCIL! WHAT HAVE THEY EVER DONE GOOD WITH THE CIRCLE! MOST OF THERE CHOICES END UP WITH MORE HARM THEN GOOD!

Nora: (jumping up while Ruby fistpumps) Yeah!

Ren: (standing) Perhaps there's a more peaceful way to approach this?

Qrow: We need to get Spring as far away from here as possible. And Raven isn't going to give up her most prized possession without a fight.

Lionheart: Unfortunately, you and your sister are evenly matched. And I'm not the fighter I used to be. No offense, but these students and I can't take on an entire bandit tribe and a Maiden that's no doubt had years to hone her skills. We need to be positive we can apprehend Spring, because if we fail Raven and her tribe will scatter. And we'll be lost. We get one shot at this. And it needs to be perfect.

Askad: You got me. With my new body and soul core  installed I am able to Even Be able to beat Revan. Xero Also tech More better then what a few bandits can scavenge up. 

Qrow: (staring several beats before sighing) You know Oz wouldn't be happy with any of this if he were here.

Lionheart: Perhaps you're right. But he's not. I'm doing the very best I can.

Ruby: There has to be something we can do.

Askad: There is nothing you can do ruby. Your up against a fully trained Rouge Huntress. 

Jaune: What about Cinder? She came with Emerald and Mercury from Haven. Do you have anything on them?

Lionheart: We pulled their files after the Fall of Beacon. Nothing but lies and forgeries.

Jaune tightens his fists and glares at the floor in anger. 

Askad: And you let them In Leo. How can we trust you If you trust a forged document.

Qrow: Well, I can't say this has been a warm reunion, Leo.

Lionheart: I'm sorry. I know you've all traveled a long way. But I will do everything I can to help.

Askad: You better.

Qrow: Sure. We'll stay in the city for the time being. Come on team.

(outside)

Nora: So, what do we do now?

Qrow: (sighing and turning around) You four head back to the house. I need a drink.

He walks off, leaving the four teenagers looking at each other with concern.

Qrow sits at a bar, alone and looking down at his glass, not drinking. Oscar Pine approaches him from behind.

Oscar: Excuse me.

Qrow: (turning) You know, I don't think they allow kids in here, pipsqueak.

Oscar looks at Qrow for a second before turning his head to the side and speaking softly.

Oscar: Shut up, I'm getting there.

He looks back up at Qrow, whose attention he now most definitely has. Qrow's eyes widen slightly and then narrow, suspicion dawning.

Oscar: Umm... I'm supposed to tell you... I'd like my cane back.

Qrow blinks and closes his eyes for a brief moment before nodding with a slight smile. He stands up off of the bar stool and faces Oscar, causing Oscar to take a couple steps back. Qrow lifts the collapsed cane off of his hip.

Qrow: Hmm. It's good to see you again, Oz.

Qrow tosses it at Oscar, who catches it reflexively. The cane immediately extends itself out from the collapsed base when it touches Oscar's hand. Oscar looks down at it, surprised. His other hand comes around to hold the shaft before he looks up at Qrow and blinks.

Qrow: But your late. Askad did it again.

Ozpin (through Oscar): Well it's been ages since his last out burst. Allow him to have one. Since time is different. Did you inform them.

Qrow: Ya and they even got more info with Me and Leo's chat.

Ozpin (through Oscar): you  know you might need to Inform Ms. Schnee, Xiao long and Mr. Rose

Qrow: I know.

Bumblebee is parked at a fuel station named "Just Rite". Inside, a bartender cleans a glass.

Just Rite Bartender: Aren't you a little young to be drinking?

Yang Xiao Long takes off her aviator sunglasses.

Yang: A water. It's hot out.

Deira: Same here.

Just Rite Bartender: Ohhh. Sure.

Deira: Fuck me this heat is gonna kill me

Yang: Ya. Why did I think is was ok to wear this.

Deira: Because you wanted to "look Cool" As you said.

Yang: Your right.

Both Get there waters Deira Sips hers and Yang chugs hers down. Deira then orders a few more waters on the go. Which the bartender gives to Deira Who pays for it.

Yang: We should get going.

Deira: Ya.

Jaune, Ren and Nora are sitting on a pair of red couches in a living room when there's a knock on the door. They tense and look at each other before Jaune cautiously goes to open it. Oscar is on the other side, looking hesitant and uncomfortable. Jaune looks back over his shoulder at the other two, and Nora shrugs.

Jaune: Can I... help you?

Oscar: Um... yeah. Is there a Ruby Rose here?

Ren and Nora immediately stand up, tense and defensive.

Xero: Five Lien Says that Qrow picked up a stray.

Eve: ten saying he is important to this band of misfits.

Askad: Double or nothing. 30 lien For important.

Xero and Eve: DEAL!

Nora: (darkly) Why?

Oscar: Well...

He looks to his left and Qrow appears, moving drunkenly and grabbing Oscar by the shoulders.

Qrow: I found him!

Xero: Be more Specific Asshole There are like 5 million guys on this back water Kingdom that fit that description. Excluding the transgenders.

Qrow snorts into his hand and continues laughing as he stumbles into the house.

Oscar: I think her uncle could use some help.

Xero: I am not picking that mess up kid. Hell no.

Eve: Me neither.

Askad: Qrow Couch

Qrow almost makes it to the couch Jaune just vacated before he stumbles and saves his balance by falling backward onto the cushions.

Qrow: Whoa. Ugh. (settling onto his back and folding his arm over his eyes) I found him.

Ruby: (offscreen) What is going on out there?! (stomping into the living room) Can't a girl read her comics in peace?

Xero: No.

Qrow burps and chuckles, catching Ruby's attention. She sighs and puts a hand to her forehead exasperatedly.

Ruby: Qrow, did you get drunk again?

Askad and Xero: Did you need to know the answer of that (Xero: fucking) Question.

Qrow: Maybe.

Xero: yep

Eve: 100%

Askad: How isn't he dead form all that Liquor.

Oscar: Oh. (finally stepping in as he looks at Ruby) You have silver eyes.

Xero sighs in defeat before grabbing 10 lien form his wallet and gives it to Eve with the smuggest of faces.

Ruby looks at him, a touch surprised. She turns to Ren and Nora, who shrugs again, before looking back at Oscar.

Ruby: Who... are you?

Qrow chuckles from the couch.

Oscar: Uh... Well. My name is Oscar Pine.

Qrow: Wait for it...

Oscar: But you probably know me as... Professor Ozpin.

Every Not named Oscar and Qrow gasp, and look confused. Jaune takes a couple steps back. Qrow continues chuckling.

Qrow: (punching his fists into the air) I did it!

He falls off the couch onto the floor, startling Nora.

Nora: (hands going to her mouth) Ooh!

Askad: Well Oz. You better Tell them.