Ron’s Journey Through Remnant

As the day began, Gaster found himself in Ozpin's office, where he was meeting both the headmaster and Glynda Goodwitch. The offer to join Ozpin's inner circle had taken Gaster by surprise, and while Glynda had her reservations, she seemed more open to the idea after hearing about his unique abilities and inventions.

[Gaster]: So, you're telling me that I'll meet the rest of the circle... Well, that explains the giant Atlas ship hovering over Vale.

Both Ozpin and Glynda sighed in unison, their shared exasperation evident.

[Glynda]: Ironwood certainly loves bringing his work wherever he travels.

[Ozpin]: (nodding) Running an academy and a military makes him a very busy man.

As they spoke, Gaster glanced out of the window, where three more airships were visible approaching the academy.

[Ozpin]: (with a slight frown) But yes, those are a bit of an eyesore.

Suddenly, a soft, chirping beep filled the room, drawing their attention. Ozpin turned to his desk, where a hologram message flashed with the words "Access Requested."

[Ozpin]: (glancing at the message) It seems we have a visitor. If you'll excuse me for a moment, Gaster.

As Ozpin moved to address the incoming communication, Glynda turned to Gaster with a more measured look.

[Glynda]: If you're going to be a part of this, Gaster, understand that this isn't just about inventions or power. We're dealing with very real threats—ones that could change the fate of this world.

[Gaster]: (nodding seriously) I'm aware. And I'm ready to help however I can.

Glynda studied him for a moment longer before nodding in return, seeming to accept his determination.

[Ozpin]: (finishing up with the hologram) It seems General Ironwood has arrived earlier than expected. This may be a good opportunity for you to meet him, Gaster.

The door to Ozpin's office slid open, and in walked a tall, imposing figure clad in a pristine military uniform. His presence was immediately commanding, and the room seemed to quiet as he entered.

[Ironwood]: (with a firm nod) Ozpin, Glynda. And you must be the one I've heard so much about—Dr. Gaster.

Gaster stood up, offering a respectful nod in return.

[Gaster]: General Ironwood. I've heard a great deal about you as well.

[Ironwood]: (with a faint smile) Then it seems we're both in for an interesting day. Welcome to the inner circle.

He then turned his attention to Glynda, his smile growing a bit more genuine.

[Ironwood]: And Glynda! It has certainly been too long since we last met.

Glynda, momentarily caught off guard by the familiarity in his tone, responded with a slightly flustered smile.

[Glynda]: Oh, James!

There was a brief, unspoken connection between the two, a hint of shared history that neither dwelled on for long.

[Glynda]: I'll be outside.

Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room, her steps echoing softly against the polished floor. Ironwood watched her leave, his expression thoughtful.

[Ironwood]: (chuckling lightly) Well, she hasn't changed a bit.

As Glynda exited, Ozpin took a moment to watch her go, his eyes reflecting a quiet understanding. He then turned back to Ironwood, who was now focused entirely on him.

[Ozpin]: So, what in the world has brought you all the way down from Atlas?

Ozpin moved with practiced ease, pouring two cups of coffee from a nearby carafe. He handed one to the general, who accepted it with a nod of thanks.

[Ironwood]: (with a hint of humor) Well, you know how much I love Vale this time of year.

Ironwood reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek canteen. With a practiced motion, he unscrewed the top and poured a generous amount of its contents into his coffee. The aroma suggested it was something far stronger than what was in Ozpin's cup.

[Ironwood]: (sipping his fortified coffee) Besides, with you hosting, I thought this might be a good opportunity for us to catch up.

Ozpin offered a small, knowing smile as he walked back around to his desk, coffee mug in hand. His gaze shifted momentarily to Gaster, who had been observing the exchange with keen interest.

[Ozpin]: (gesturing to Gaster) General Ironwood, this is Dr. Gaster. I believe he'll be a valuable addition to our efforts here in Vale.

Ironwood turned his attention fully to Gaster, his expression assessing but not unkind.

[Ironwood]: (with a nod) I've heard of your work, Dr. Gaster. It seems your expertise will be well-suited to the challenges we're facing.

Gaster inclined his head respectfully, meeting Ironwood's gaze with calm determination.

[Gaster]: I'm here to do whatever is necessary to ensure our success.

Ironwood seemed satisfied with that response, taking another sip of his enhanced coffee before turning back to Ozpin.

[Ironwood]: (seriously) The situation in Atlas is... complex, to say the least. I'm here to make sure everything is in order before things get out of hand. And from what I've heard, Vale isn't without its own share of troubles.

[Ozpin]: (nodding thoughtfully) Indeed. The White Fang, Roman Torchwick... there are forces at play here that we need to keep a close eye on.

Ironwood set his mug down on the desk, his demeanor growing more intense.

[Ironwood]: That's exactly why I'm here. I've brought a contingent of my best troops and specialists. We're ready to assist however we can.

Ozpin leaned back in his chair, considering Ironwood's words carefully.

[Ozpin]: I appreciate the offer, James. But we must tread carefully. The people of Vale are already uneasy with the increased presence of Atlas forces. We don't want to escalate things unnecessarily.

[Ironwood]: (nodding in agreement) Of course. But I'll make sure my people stay out of sight unless they're absolutely needed.

There was a moment of shared understanding between the two leaders. Though their methods differed, their goals were aligned.

[Ozpin]: (turning to Gaster) Dr. Gaster, your inventions and unique abilities could be key in helping us stay ahead of whatever is coming. We'll need to work closely together to ensure that Vale—and the world—remain safe.

Gaster nodded, fully aware of the weight of responsibility now resting on his shoulders.

[Gaster]: I'm ready to contribute in any way I can. We'll make sure that Vale is prepared for whatever comes next. Also, can you tell me about 'Her' and her pawns

[Library/ Beacon]

In the library, the calm atmosphere was punctuated by the animated chatter of Team RWBY, who were fully engrossed in a lively session of Remnant: The Game. Dice clattered across the board, and pieces shifted with every enthusiastic move as Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Weiss strategized their next moves.

At a nearby table, the members of Team JNPR and GRAM—minus Gaster, who was off attending to other matters—were focused on their own activities. Books were spread out before them, covering various subjects from combat techniques to history, as they delved into their reading. Jaune, however, was finding it hard to concentrate. His gaze kept drifting over to the game, his interest piqued.

Jaune finally decided to make his move, casually approaching Team RWBY with a hopeful smile.

[Jaune]: Hey, mind if I join in?

Ruby glanced up from her cards, a slightly apologetic look on her face.

[Ruby]: Sorry, Jaune, we've already got four players. Maybe next time?

Jaune tried to hide his disappointment, but before he could respond, Adrian, who was seated nearby, looked up from his book.

[Adrian]: Jaune, instead of playing, you should really focus on mastering more sword and shield techniques. You've been improving, but there's still a lot to learn.

Jaune sighed, knowing Adrian was right.

[Jaune]: (grumbling) Yeah, I guess…

Weiss, who had been observing the exchange, couldn't resist throwing in her own comment.

[Weiss]: (smirking) Besides, with your track record, you'd probably just lose anyway.

Jaune shot her a playful glare.

[Jaune]: (mockingly) Oh, very funny, Ice Queen.

The banter continued between the two, their familiar back-and-forth drawing the attention of the others. As they exchanged jabs, Jaune absentmindedly mentioned something that made everyone freeze.

[Jaune]: (casually) You know, Weiss, it's not like you're one to keep secrets either. I mean, you told us all about Blake being a Faunus.

The room seemed to grow quieter as the weight of his words sank in. Blake's ears twitched beneath her bow, her expression shifting from one of mild interest to discomfort. Weiss' face paled as she realized what Jaune had just let slip.

[Weiss]: (frantically) Jaune! I—uh...

Blake stood up, her movements controlled but tense, her eyes narrowed slightly.

[Blake]: (calmly) I need some air.

Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving an awkward silence in her wake. Sun Wukong, who had just arrived and was about to greet her, watched in confusion as she passed by him.

[Sun]: (scratching his head) Uh, Blake? Did I miss something?

Neptune Vasilias, who had accompanied Sun, took the opportunity to make his grand entrance. His gaze immediately locked onto Weiss, and with a confident smile, he sauntered over to introduce himself.

[Neptune]: (charmingly) Hey there, Snow Angel. Name's Neptune. You must be Weiss.

Weiss, still flustered from the earlier exchange, blinked at Neptune, trying to regain her composure.

[Weiss]: (stammering) I—uh, yes, I'm Weiss.

Sun, still perplexed by Blake's abrupt departure, turned to the rest of Team RWBY.

[Sun]: (confused) What just happened? Why'd Blake leave?

Ruby, sensing the tension, tried to smooth things over, giving Sun a reassuring smile.

[Ruby]: (gently) It's... complicated. But don't worry, she'll be fine.

Ron watched as Team RWBY and Adrian got up, Adrian quietly slipping away to follow Blake after she had left the table. Maple noticed that Ruby had abandoned her game board in the midst of the chaos, and without hesitation, she picked it up and dashed after Ruby.

Ron, concerned, decided to follow Maple. As he turned a corner, he saw Maple bump into a girl with green hair named Emerald. They exchanged a few words, and Maple appeared to relax a bit. But Ron's focus was on another figure standing nearby—a woman with an unsettling presence, dressed in black and red. Her name was Cinder, and Ron's instincts told him she was trouble.

After exchanging a brief, cautious greeting, Ron guided Maple away from the pair, making sure they were out of earshot before speaking.

[Ron]: (serious) Maple, those people are dangerous, especially that Cinder girl. And as for Emerald and the other one, I'm pretty sure they're the ones Tukson warned us about—the ones who broke into his old book shop before he started working in the kitchen.

Maple's expression turned sad, her shoulders slumping under the weight of yet another worry.

[Maple]: (voice trembling) Why can't we just have a normal school life?

Seeing her distress, Ron softened his tone. He reached out and gently patted Maple's head, trying to offer some comfort.

[Ron]: (reassuring) I know, Maple. I wish things could be simpler too. But we'll get through this, together.

Maple leaned into the comforting gesture, a small smile returning to her face despite the situation. As they continued down the hallway, Ron pulled out his scroll and dialed Gaster, who was currently deep in discussion with General Ironwood about building defenses.

[Gaster]: (answering) Hello, Ron. Why are you calling me on this line?

[Ron]: (calmly but with urgency) A snake is in the bird's nest.

Gaster immediately understood the coded message. His expression shifted to one of seriousness, and he quickly turned his attention to Ozpin and General Ironwood, who were still in the room.

[Gaster]: (serious) Headmaster, it looks like the 'Queen's' pawns are closer than we thought. They're already inside the academy, and there's a possibility some of them are within this very circle.

Both Ozpin and General Ironwood's expressions darkened at the news. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, the weight of the situation pressing down on them.

[Ozpin]: (grimly) This is worse than I anticipated. We need to act quickly and carefully.

[Ironwood]: (nodding) Agreed. We can't let this go unchecked. We'll need to strengthen security and be vigilant about who we trust.

Gaster's mind raced as he considered the implications of the situation. The presence of Cinder and her associates within the academy was a clear and present danger, and it was only a matter of time before their plans would come to fruition. He knew they had to be ready for whatever was coming.

[Gaster]: (determined) I'll get in touch with Ron and the rest of Team GRAM. We'll keep an eye on the situation from our end.

Ozpin nodded, his gaze steady.

[Ozpin]: (resolute) We'll do everything we can to protect this academy and the students within it. But we must tread carefully—one wrong move, and the enemy might strike before we're ready.

As Gaster ended the call, the seriousness of the situation hung in the air. Ron and Maple continued down the hallway, unaware of the intense conversation that had just taken place

[Chapter end]