~Chapter 9: Expected Man, Unexpected Task~

The city of Vale stirs alive as the sun, citizens walking and chatting amongst one another as visitors from other kingdoms mingle with the locals, creating a crockpot of multiple cultures present in one district.

Pyrrha: "Wow...Vale looks lovely this time of day"

Y/n: "It is. Thanks because the Vytal Festival is fast approaching"

Y/n and Pyrrha step out onto the sidewalk after exiting an establishment, ditching their Beacon and Battle attire to a more casual attire, able to blend in amongst the crowd so as to not arouse suspicion.

Pyrrha opted to refrain from any colors close to her everyday garments, as shown by her white blouse detailed with black palm trees along with jean shorts and sandals.

As for Y/n, he went to embrace the purple found in his uniform. Experimenting with a royal purple shirt slightly unbuttoned with its sleeves rolled up just above his forearms, accompanied by a pair of boots and dark black jeans with sunglasses to block the rays of sun from hitting his eyes.

Pyrrha: "I'm enjoying our time together so far, Y/n"

Y/n: "As do I, but..."

As the two walked, Y/n looked over to his arms, seeing multiple plastic bags worth of food taken out from local shops in the districts.

Y/n: "Must we stop at EVERY food shop in Vale?"

Pyrrha: "It's because I heard such good things about Vale's cuisine that I thought I should try along with my friends. Plus, you remember the terms of the favor I asked of you"

Y/n: *sigh* "I remembered. It just took me by surprise is all. I expected I'd be carrying clothes and jewelry, not cuisines"

Pyrrha: "I'm not normally a big fan of jewelry, and I have plenty of other clothes from my sponsors"

Y/n: "Those aren't clothes Pyrrha, they're merchandise"

Pyrrha: "I wear them on my body, so it counts"

Y/n: "Yes...but normally people don't wear head-to-toe in Pumpkin Pete attire"

Pyrrha: "Jaune does. Every night before going to bed"

Y/n: "Really?"

Pyrrha: "Oohh~ Let's try that one over there!"

Pyrrha quickly grabbed Y/n by the arm before herring towards another food stall.

Throughout the day, Y/n and Pyrrha ran all around Vale, trying different foods much to Y/n's begrudgement as he's been on the receiving end of a spoonfed.

Stopping to admire any tourist spots they come across, taking pictures in front of infrastructure, getting to play with small animals, and participating in a photo booth along with any other activities, before quickly resuming their food tour.

Y/n: "Hey, wait..."

Y/n pulls Pyrrha back as he spots a small crowd forming in the distance.

Pyrrha: "Is something wrong?"

Y/n: "I'm not sure yet. Come on, let's go see"

Y/n led Pyrrha to the forming crowd to find that they were gathered around a crime scene of a burglary of a Dust Shop. The shop had its large window panel shattered as its inventory was snuffed clean.

Hearing footsteps heading in their direction, Y/n and Pyrrha look over to see Ruby and her team running over to the scene as well.

Y/n: "Team RWBY?"

Ruby: "Mr. Y/n, Pyrrha? What are you doing here?"

Yang: "Were you two interrupted during your little activities together~?"

Y/n: "We were"

Pyrrha lets out a silent 'eep' as Y/n continues to survey the scene in front of them.

Yang: "Ooohh~ Scandalous"

Pyrrha: *blush* "I-It's nothing like that!"

Y/n glances at Pyrrha before back to the scene of the crime, eavesdropping on the two detectives that are currently investigating the robbery.

Detective #1: "Robbery. Second Dust shop to be hit this week. This place is turning into a jungle"

The detective walked over to his partner as Yang sighed solemnly.

Yang: "That's terrible..."

Detective #2: "They left all the money again.

Detective #1: Yeah, just doesn't make a lick of sense. Who needs that much Dust?

Detective #2: "I don't know, an army?"

Detective #1: "You thinking the White Fang?"

Detective #2: "Yeah, I think we don't get paid enough"

At the mention of the White Fang, Weiss crosses her arms before scowling in disdain.

Weiss: "Hmph! The White Fang. What an awful bunch of degenerates!"

Blake: "What's your problem!?"

Weiss: "MY problem? I simply don't care for the criminally insane"

Blake: "The White Fang is hardly a bunch of psychopaths. They're a collection of misguided Faunus"

Weiss: "Misguided? They want to wipe Humanity off the face of the planet!"

Blake: "So then they're VERY misguided. Either way, it doesn't explain why they would rob a Dust shop in the middle of downtown Vale!"

Ruby: "Hmm... Blake's got a point. Besides, the police never caught that Torchwick guy I ran into a few months ago... Maybe it was him"

Weiss: "That still doesn't change the fact that the White Fang are a bunch of scum. (to Blake's growing anger) Those Faunus only know how to lie, cheat, and steal"

Yang: "That's not necessarily true..."

Sailor #1: *distant* "Hey, stop that Faunus!"

As the team overhears the cry for help and rushes over to investigate, a Faunus with a golden monkey tail is seen running down the length of the boat and leaping onto the edge as the two sailors are about to apprehend him.

Monkey Faunus: "Thanks for the ride, guys! Haha!"

The faunus looks back to his pursuers before jumping off and hitting the dock running.

Sailor #2: "You no-good stowaway!"

The Faunus uses his tail to hang on a lamppost while he peels back a banana.

Monkey Faunus: Hey! A 'no-good' stowaway would've been caught! I'm a GREAT stowaway!"

Before he eats, one of the detectives down below throws a stone at him to get his attention

Detective #1: "Hey! Get down from there this instant!"

The Monkey Faunus drops the banana peel on the detective's face, who growls in return. He then twirls up to crouch on the lamppost, laughs in amusement, and proceeds to leap off and run away from the detectives. As he runs past Team RWBY, he winks at an astonished Blake before he continues to be chased by the officers.

Yang: "Well, Weiss, you wanted to see the competition, and there it goes..."

Weiss: "Quick! We have to observe him!"

Weiss, Yang, and Ruby give chase. Blake stands still, lost in thought, then comes back to reality and follows her friends.

Y/n then receives a notification from his scroll. Upon retrieving the device, he sees that he has received a message from Ozpin, asking for his presence back in Beacon.

Y/n: "We should get going too"

Pyrrha looks over at Y/n right as he pockets his scroll.

Pyrrha: "Was that work-related?"

Y/n: "Yes, but it doesn't sound too urgent. We don't have to take the earliest Bullhead back"

Pyrrha: "No, I think we have enough fun for today"

Y/n: "I'm sorry about this Pyrrha"

Pyrrha: "Don't be. I enjoyed our time together"

Y/n: "Then at least let me take you back to Beacon"

Pyrrha: "I'd like that"

With their hangout cut short, they changed course back to the nearest Bullhead back to Beacon.

Upon his return, Y/n headed straight to Beacon Tower where Ozpin's office was located.

As the elevator reached the designated floor, Y/n walked out to see Ozpin standing in front of the map of Vale.

Ozpin: "Ah! You have arrived"

Hearing Y/n's arrival, Ozpin turns to greet the Headmaster-in-training.

Ozpin: "I'm sorry for interrupting your time with Ms. Nikos. Normally I wouldn't do such a thing if it wasn't a matter of utmost importance"

Y/n: "Let's just hear it first, then we'll go from there"

Ozpin: *nods* "Very well"

Turning back to the map of the city, Ozpin took out a tablet before opening a different display to a student profile of Blake.

Ozpin: "You are aware of Ms. Blake Belladona, correct?"

Y/n: "We've interacted a few times, but yes I'm aware of her"

Ozpin: "Including the fact that she is of Faunus descent?"

Y/n: "...I'm afraid I don't follow"

Ozpin: "Recently there has also been an increased rate of robbery cases, particularly dust-related robberies"

Y/n: "The Detectives earlier said the same thing. But they also speculate the Faunus group 'White Fang' is behind all of it"

Ozpin: "Most likely..."

Y/n fell deep in thought, looking back and forth between the map of Vale, which now highlights the areas where the recent dust robberies had taken place, and Blake's student profile.

Y/n: "Headmaster, I'm not one for politics...but are you insinuating that-"

Ozpin: "Ms. Belladona has an affiliation with The White Fang, but I'm not saying that she is colluding with them. I'm concerned that tonight she might do something rash"

Y/n: "What makes you say that? And why tonight?"

Ozpin: "I suspect drama might brew within Team RWBY, more specifically with Ms. Schnee"

Ozpin brought up records of the Schnee Dust Company relating to the White Fang.

Ozpin: "As an heiress, I don't doubt the impact the group has on the company likely dominoes to Ms. Schnee's personal life as well"

Y/n: "Okay. What do you need me to do exactly?"

Ozpin: "What you've always been doing. Ensure the safety of the students of Beacon"

Y/n: "Right...another thing. If we're about to meddle with criminals. Shouldn't we just report it to the authorities?"

Ozpin: "Y/n. In the world of Huntsman and Huntresses, you won't only have to fight creatures of Grimm. Sooner or later you will fight adversaries of the human nature, not everyone sees eye-to-eye, I'm sure you know that"

Y/n: *sigh* "I suppose so..."

Ozpin: "What better way to start than now?"

Y/n: "Understood. Do we at least know where the hideout will be?"

Ozpin: "That is for YOU to uncover. What point is an investigation if the clues are already given to you early on?"

With a sigh, Y/n took his leave. Now aware of what his mission will be.

Ozpin: "Happy Vigilante-ing, Mr. Y/n"

Blake is sipping a cup of tea and sighing. She looks up at the Monkey Faunus from the docks, fittingly named Sun Wukong, sitting across from her, who holds his drink with his tail as his hand props his head up. He takes a sip when Blake puts her cup down.

Blake: "So, you want to know more about me..."

Sun: "Finally, she speaks! Nearly two days and you've given me nothing but small talk and weird looks!"

Blake gives Sun a firm look.

Sun: "Yeah, like that"

Blake rolls her eyes before closing them and looking at Sun sadly.

Blake: "Sun... Are you familiar with the White Fang?"

Sun: "Of course! I don't think there's a Faunus on the Planet who hasn't heard of them. Stupid, holier-than-thou creeps that use force to get whatever they want. Bunch of freaks, if you ask me!"

Blake sips her drink while listening until she speaks up.

Blake: "I was once a member of the White Fang"

Sun promptly goes cross-eyed and chokes on his drink, making him put it down and wipe his mouth as he holds up a hand to process this information.

Sun: "Wait a minute, YOU were a member of the White Fang?!"

Blake: "That's right. I was a member for most of my life, actually. You could almost say I was born into it..."

The scene shifts to a simple silhouetted flashback of fallen plunged into the ground - swords, guns, any number of combinations.

Blake (narration): "Back then, things were different. In the ashes of war, the White Fang was meant to be a symbol of peace and unity between Humans and the Faunus"

The scene shows the dark outlines of two trios - animal-eared and tailed Faunus on one side, regular Humans on the other - shaking hands and making peace after their struggle. This does not last long, as seen by a white Faunus cowering in fear of the gray-and-black aggressors harassing the hybrid. Later, more Faunus are pushing the crowd away from their bullied brethren.

Blake (narration): "Of course, despite being promised equality, the Faunus were subjected to discrimination and hate. Humanity still thought of us as lesser beings. And so, the White Fang rose up as a voice of our people. And I was there"

Silhouettes of Faunus protestors are revealed, and emerging from the shadows is a young girl with dark hair and cat ears.

Blake (narration): "I was at the front of every rally. I took part in every boycott. I actually thought we were making a difference. But I was just a youthful optimist"

Cutting from the child version of Blake, the blue flag of a white wolf with sad eyes and a circle behind its head is lowered, and raised in its stead is a red monster with three bloody scratches and teeth bared at the world.

Blake (narration): "Then, five years ago, our leader stepped down, and a new one took his place. A new leader, with a new way of thinking"

A quick series of images are shown - Faunus replacing their picket signs with axes and blades, windows being broken, thieves leaping on trains to steal their cargo.

Blake (narration): "Suddenly, our peaceful protests were being replaced with organized attacks. We were setting fire to shops that refused to serve us, hijacking cargo from companies that used Faunus labor. And the worst part was, it was working. We were being treated like equals. But not out of respect...out of fear"

The flashback shows one more image of three Faunus individuals standing in a dominating manner with malicious grins until Blake puts down her teacup in front of a stunned Sun.

Blake: "So, I left. I decided I no longer wanted to use my skills to aid in their violence, and instead, I would dedicate my life to becoming a Huntress. So here I am: a criminal hiding in plain view, all with the help of a little black bow.

She wiggles her cat ears beneath the fashionable disguise to demonstrate.

Sun: "So... have you told your friends any of this?"

Blake merely looks down in shame and says nothing.

???: "And after all that time worrying about where I'll find you"

Hearing another voice join their conversation, Blake and Sun jumped as they look over to the source. Only to see Y/n holding a cup of hot chocolate.

Y/n: "Hello, Blake"

Sun: "Who are you!?"

Sun immediately raised his guard, only for Blake to put her arm over Sun, signalling him to stand down, much to his confusion.

Blake: "What are you doing here, Mr. Y/n?"

Sun: "Wait, you know this guy?"

Y/n: *sips drink* "It's a funny story..."

A few minutes prior

Sitting inside a cafe, Y/n took a seat in one of the far booths, giving him enough privacy to review all the intel that Ozpin has sent him.

Y/n: "If I were to take everything into account...seems like the best option is to find Blake and go from there"

Y/n looked out the window of the cafe, seeing that Vale is now in its nightlife.

Y/n: "I checked in with Team RWBY but they have no clue on where she is either...perhaps this is going to be harder than I thought..."

Just then, the bell to the cafe chimes, signalling the entrance of new customers. As if his thoughts were answered, Y/n noticed Blake along with the monkey faunus from the docks, walk over and sit in the booth next to his.

Blake and the faunus sat quietly as Blake was served a cup of tea before the server leaves.

Y/n: "And that leads us, to this"

Y/n now sat in his booth with Blake and Sun sitting opposite of him.

Blake: "So is that why you're here? To bring me back to Beacon?"

Y/n: "Quite the contrary, I'm here to help you"

Blake: *shocked* "You are?!"

Sun: "Wait, wait. How are we sure that you're here to help, I mean for all we know you could be one of the humans that hate faunuses"

Blake: "Sun!"

Y/n: "No, it's okay. I understand your concern"

Y/n finishes his hot chocolate before placing the cup to the side.

Y/n: "It is a Headmaster's responsibility to ensure the students of Beacon is safe during their stay"

Sun was taken aback by Y/n;s statement, as he had indirectly stated his position in the academy.

Y/n: "So, if Ms. Belladona doesn't wish to return to school premises and would instead put herself in possible danger. Then it is my responsibility to make sure that you are not in as danger as you should be"

Immediately, Sun shoots up from his seat and bowed towards Y/n, much to his shock and confusion.

Sun: "I am so sorry for my previous behavior, Headmaster sir!"

Y/n: "...Headmaster in training"

Sun pivots his head upwards to look at Y/n in shock.

Sun: "Headmaster...in...training?"

Y/n: "You can sit back down now"

Sun stood back upright before slowly falling to his seat, sinking further as the information he had sustained for the night proved to be too much in a single moment.

Y/n: "So...now that we're all here. Blake, do you have a plan in mind?"

Blake places her hands over her chin, diving into deep contemplation.

Blake: "I still don't believe the White Fang is behind these robberies. They've never needed that much Dust before"

Just then, Sun widens his eyes in realization.

Sun: "What if they did?"

Sun sits back upright as he continues his theory.

Sun: "I mean... the only way to prove that they DIDN'T do it, is to go to the place where they would most LIKELY go to if they WERE to do it, and not find them there! Right?"

Blake: "The only thing is, I've no idea where that would be"

Sun: "Well, while I was on the ship, I heard some guys talking about offloading a huge shipment of Dust coming in from Atlas"

Blake: "How huge?"

Sun: "HUGE. Big Schnee Company freighter"

Blake: "You're sure?"

Y/n: "Then what are we waiting for?"

Y/n steps out of the booth before standing in front of the two.

Y/n: "Shall we head off then?"

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There we go. One more chapter and it's a perfectly rounded chapter number, minus the prologue of course.

Finale of Volume 1 is upon us. Stay tuned tomorrow for the next chapter, of Another RWBY story and as always, you guys know the drill

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