Chapter 12

Ren's shout snapped Nora out of her trance. She gently laid Ren on his back and grabbed Magnhild. She stood and faced her double who was laughing hysterically as her shadows archers chipped away at the barrier protecting RWBY and YYRN. "Leave them alone!" Nora screamed. She swung Magnhild with all her might, slamming the hammer into Queen Nora's chest. The impact smashed Queen Nora through the back of the throne and sent her flying into the wall behind. With a look of terror and confusion on its face, Queen Nora lay on her back. Nora approached, and stood over the downed shadow. "Ren will never abandon me!" She shouted. She raised Magnhild high over her head and slammed it down onto the shadow's head, smashing it into a puddle of black fluid. Queen Nora melted and evaporated, followed soon after by her shadow archers.

"Nora, are you alright?" Ruby asked.

"I'm okay if Ren's okay." Nora said, smiling. "Ren, let's go home." But Ren was unconscious again. Nora rushed to his side, joining Rise who was already there. "Is he okay?" She asked nervously.

"He's just resting." Rise said. It was not the whole truth. "He'll be fine but we need to get him to a hospital. You should go too."

"I hate hospitals." Nora shuddered. "Do we have to go to the hospital?"

"It's for the best." Blake said. "You should get checked out just to be safe. Jaune and Pyrrha are already there waiting for you."

"Are they alright?" Nora asked. "I was the first one knocked out, so I don't know what happened."

"Pyrrha's a little beat up but she's getting better." Yang said. "Jaune's only there to be at Pyrrha's side."

"So are those two together-together now?" Nora asked hopefully.

"Somehow, no." Yang replied. "That boy's dumb as a rock."

"Jaune's not so…well…never mind." Ruby said. "Let's just get out of here."

"It seems the rest of Team JNPR has surfaced." Glynda reported.

Ozpin nodded and took a sip of his coffee. "Accompanied by RWBY and YYRN I trust?" He said.

"Yes." Glynda confirmed. "Nora Valkyrie has some minor injuries and Lie Ren is in serious but stable condition. It looks as if they'll all recover."

"Very good." Ozpin said. "I hope their psychological wounds will heal as easily."

"Now that JNPR is safe, I think it's time we confronted YYRN and found out what they know." Glynda suggested. "They clearly have inside knowledge of the situation that we simply do not possess."

"If you insist." Ozpin said. "Have them come by tomorrow after their class with you."

Pyrrha's head hurt badly now. The painkillers then hospital had been giving her were effective, but she preferred being lucid to being pain free. She could deal with the pain. "They just brought Nora and Ren in." Jaune said. The sound of his voice hurt Pyrrha's head, but any sound did that. "It looks like they'll be alright. They're down the hall, so we can go visit them whenever you're ready."

"That's great." Pyrrha said, doing her best to hide her pain. She felt ready now but the doctors would have none of that. "Jaune, why are you still here? You're not injured and I'm sure you're tired. You should go and get some rest."

"I can't just leave you here alone." Jaune replied. "It's bad enough to be stuck here; you'd go crazy without someone to talk to." He paused. "I'm worried about you too. When you first came in, the doctors looked really concerned. They wouldn't say it but I don't think they were very confident about your condition. I just want to be sure you're alright."

"That's very kind." Pyrrha said. She hoped Jaune was turning a corner. Maybe he was beginning to understand. "You're a great friend."

"I could be better though." Jaune frowned.

"Where did that come from?" Pyrrha asked.

"Am I a burden?" Jaune asked. "I know I'm a lousy fighter, and you've taken so much time to train with me. Maybe you'd be better off focusing on yourself."

"Don't be silly." Pyrrha said. "I love training with you. It's not like I don't get a benefit as well. All my life I've been the center of attention. It's nice to be the one giving attention for a change. You could never be a burden to me. Just seeing you brightens my day."

"I just hope you're not wasting your time." Jaune said. "I would hate it if I turned out not to be the friend you hoped I'd be."

"I wouldn't worry about that." Pyrrha encouraged him.

"Team YYRN, I'd like to speak with you." Glynda said as she dismissed the rest of the students. The conversation did not sound optional.

"We'll meet up with you later." Ruby said as she and her team departed.

"What do you want to discuss?" Yu asked Glynda.

"Not here." Glynda said. "Ozpin would like to speak with you as well."

Yang's scroll beeped and she answered it. "Hello?" She answered.

"Blondie?" Junior said. "Good. I have some important information for you regarding Torchwick and the White Fang. Come to the club."

"Can't you just tell me over the phone?" Yang asked.

"No." Junior replied. "Hurry, it's important." He hung up.

"That was Junior." Yang said to her team. "He says he has info and wants us to meet him at the club."

"Let's go then." Weiss said.

"Shouldn't we wait for team YYRN?" Ruby asked. "I'm sure they'll want to know too."

"I don't think it can wait." Yang said. "It sounded like it was urgent."

"We can fill them in when we get back." Blake said.

"I think you know why you're here." Ozpin said. He was not confrontational or intimidating. "Team JNPR disappeared, only for you to find them. The man you're chasing, Adachi, seems to be responsible for their disappearance. I just want to know if there's anything you're not telling me."

"The only information we have on Adachi is that he seems to be working for the White Fang." Naoto said. "We don't know why he went after JNPR. Perhaps we were the intended target."

"I don't know how he would know we were here though." Yosuke added. "We've kept a pretty low profile."

"Perhaps he had another reason for being here." Ozpin suggested. "His motives aside, I'd like to know where you located Team JNPR. They were unable or unwilling to tell me, and my own search came up empty."

"You wouldn't believe it if we told you." Rise said.

"Try me." Ozpin said. "I think you'll find I'm capable of believing quite a lot."

"For lack of a better way to describe it, they were in another dimension." Naoto said. Ozpin raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for further explanation. "Where we're from, some people like ourselves and Adachi have the power to access a parallel universe. This includes the ability to force others into it. That world can be a very dangerous place for the unprepared. It is full of deadly monsters and preys on your insecurities."

"Do you seriously believe them?" Glynda asked incredulously. Ozpin waved her off.

"We entered that world and with Team RWBY's help rescued Team JNPR." Yu said. "We also successfully captured and detained the other individual we were searching for, Sho Minazuki. While we were dealing with Sho, Adachi attacked JNPR."

"If you're telling the truth, and I have no reason to suspect otherwise, it sounds like the four of you are the only ones capable of effectively combatting Adachi." Ozpin said. "I have one other concern I hope you can clear up. Adachi managed to overwhelm the entirety of Team JNPR. JNPR is one of the most talented teams at Beacon, so this is quite a feat. Is Adachi that powerful or did he use some sort of trick?"

"I can't say for sure." Yu replied. "The last time we met he was no match for me, but he has a talent for gathering power from…unconventional sources. He's clever, so I wouldn't rule out his using some sort of ruse, but I'd lean toward him being powerful. As for how he gained that power, I can't say."

"Well, thank you for answering my questions." Ozpin said. "Good luck."

Yang led the rest of Team RWBY into Junior's club. This time of day it would normally be open, but the place was quiet and empty. Maybe whatever Junior found was important enough to shut the place down for. Still, it was ominous. Yang looked around for Junior. He was usually standing at the bar but she did not see him. She did not see anyone for that matter. His henchmen and the twins were nowhere to be seen. Yang approached the bar, the rest of her team close behind. There was something spilled on it which was weird. Junior was usually pretty good about keeping the place clean.

"Junior?" Yang called.

A groan came from behind the bar. "Blondie?" Junior said weakly. Yang jumped over the bar to find Junior slumped on the floor behind it. His face was bruised bloodied.

"What happened?" Yang asked.

"Blondie, I'm sorry." Junior said. Then he lost consciousness.

"Well, well, well." An unfamiliar voice said from the direction of the entrance. "If it isn't Team RWBY." They turned to see a lanky man in a wrinkled suit. It had to be Adachi.

"You!" Yang growled. She leapt over the bar and charged at Adachi. She reared back and unleashed a punch but he side-stepped her attack, tripping her as she passed. Yang fell flat on her face as Adachi chuckled. He reached out an arm toward the rest of the team and unleashed a massive storm of lightning, hitting them before they could even draw their weapons. The current arced from his hand and coursed through Ruby, Blake and Weiss. They screamed and writhed before falling silent and still. Yang jumped back to her feet but Adachi grabbed her by the throat.

"This was a lot easier than I was expecting." Adachi said with an evil grin. Electricity coursed through his hand and into Yang. She convulsed until Adachi let her fall to the ground.

"Good work." Adam said, entering the club flanked by two White Fang thugs.

"I'll just dispose of them." Adachi said. He walked over to the bar, reached behind it, and grabbed a television screen he had placed there. He set it up on the bar. Ruby lay unconscious nearby. Adachi picked her up and roughly tossed her through the screen. One of the White Fang thugs dragged Yang over and Adachi tossed her in too. He started with Weiss, but Adam stopped him.

"Hold on." Adam said. "I'm going to have a little fun before we get rid of her. It's time to get some revenge on this Schnee bitch."

"Whatever gets you off." Adachi said with a shrug.

Blake stirred and groaned in pain. Adam noticed and with a wave directed his thugs to her. Each picked her up by and arm. They lifted her up face-to-face with Adam. "Hello Blake." Adam said. "It's been a long time."

"Adam…I…" Blake stammered.

"You betrayed the White Fang." Adam said. "Worse, you betrayed me." He directed Adachi to lift up Weiss. He picked her up by the back of the neck. "And you've been hanging around with a Schnee of all people. I thought I taught you better."

"You're a monster." Blake said.

"Humans are the monsters." Adam countered. "No offence." He said to Adachi. Adachi just smiled. "I'm going to show you what happens to those who betray the White Fang, but first, I think I'll show you what we do to Schnees."

Weiss's eyes blinked open. "What's going on?" She groaned.

"Shut her up." Adam commanded. Adachi unleashed a blast of electricity into Weiss. She screamed and shook, then fell silent. "Thank you." Adam walked over to Adachi and Weiss. "Adachi, do you have a knife?"

"Of course." Adachi replied. He handed Adam a small switchblade.

Adam opened the blade and held it to Weiss's face. "Well now, she's got quite the scar already." Adam said, pushing Weiss's hair back with the blade. "I think I'll give her one to match on the other side."

"Leave her alone!" Blake shouted.

"Now you're defending the Schnee." Adam said with disappointment. "You truly are lost. I guess I'll have to kill you after all. Don't worry though; your death will be far less painful than hers."

Suddenly, Blake wrenched free from the White Fang thugs. She grabbed Gambol Shroud, spun and fired. The round struck one of the thugs in the forehead, blowing off the top of his head in a shower of blood and brains. Blake quickly thrust the blade back and stabbed the other thug through the chest, holding his lifeless body between her and Adam and Adachi. Adachi dropped Weiss to counter the new threat, reached out his arm and launched electricity at Blake. The dead thug's body absorbed the attack as Blake charged. At the last moment she shoved the body into Adam, knocking him to the ground. Adachi punched at her, but she dove to the side, leaving a frozen decoy behind. Adachi's punch hit the decoy and his hand was frozen in place.

Blake grabbed Weiss and raced for the bar. She needed to get to cover. Adachi grunted and wrenched his hand free of the ice. He drew his revolver, leveled it at Blake and fired. The bullet slammed into her right calf, shredding flesh and muscle as it punched through. Blake screamed and tripped, dropping Weiss and slamming chest-first into the bar. Adachi aimed for a second shot.

"I want her alive!" Adam shouted, knocking Adachi's hand aside. His shot flew well wide.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Adachi shouted.

Blake only had a moment, and it was clear she could not win a fight. She looked up. The television beckoned. She lifted Weiss as best she could and tossed her through the screen. She took a deep breath and, pushing off her uninjured leg, front flipped through after her.

"You moron!" Adachi shouted. "You let them escape."

"You were going to kill her, against my orders." Adam growled.

"I was going to shoot the screen so they couldn't escape." Adachi said. "Well, it's not a total loss. They'll die in that deathtrap."

"You mean like Team JNPR?" Adam said sarcastically.

"What about them?" Adachi asked.

"They're alive you idiot." Adam said. "My contacts at the hospital said Team RWBY and Team YYRN brought them in."

"Who the hell is Team YYRN?" Adachi asked.

"I have no idea." Adam replied. "All I know is they're new around here. They showed up about the same time you did."

"YYRN?" Adachi pondered. "Oh shit. Of course."

"What?" Adam asked.

"I think I know what our problem is." Adachi answered. "Or more precisely, who our problem is."

"That wasn't so bad." Rise said. "When Glynda called us in I thought we were in for trouble."

"Do you think Ozpin really believes us?" Yosuke asked.

"I don't think it matters." Naoto replied. "He believes we're on the same side. That's what matters."

Rise's scroll beeped. She retrieved it and took a look. "It's Yang." She said as she answered the call. "Hello."

"Hello?" A man's voice said on the other end. His breathing was labored.

"Who is this?" Rise asked. "Why do you have Yang's scroll?"

"Are you the girl that was singing here?" The man asked. "Yang's friend?"

"Junior?" Rise said.

"Yeah, it's Junior." He said. He sounded like he was in pain. "You need to come to the club now."

"Why, what happened?" Rise asked with growing concern.

"I'm so sorry." Junior said. He hung up.

"We need to go to Junior's club now!" Rise said. "Something's really wrong!"

Sitting in the hospital was so boring. The bandages on her hands were annoying too. She did not even need them. Her aura was healing the burns just fine. They did not even hurt. Nora just sat there at Ren's side, waiting for him to wake up. Nora did not like the look of the bandage on his head, but it was better than watching him bleed. He would be okay. He had to be. He would wake up soon and when he did, Nora would be there. All she had to do was wait.

Jaune and Pyrrha had stopped by what seemed like hours ago. That had been exciting and really broke up the boredom. It was so nice to see them, even if Pyrrha did not look very good. At least she seemed happy. Nora looked at the clock. It had been fifteen minutes since the visit. She was hungry. The food at the hospital was terrible. She wanted Ren's pancakes. When he got better they'd make them together. All she had to do was wait.

Team YYRN entered Junior's bar, finding him sitting on a barstool and covered in blood. "I'm so sorry." He said, shaking his head and not looking at the new arrivals.

"What happened?" Yosuke asked. "Where's Team RWBY."

"I'm sorry." Junior repeated. "He was going to kill the twins if I didn't do it."

"Who was?" Naoto asked. "Do what?"

"It was Adachi." Junior said. "He found out I knew Team RWBY. He made me lure them here then he beat me up. When I came to the only thing left was Yang's scroll. That and the blood." Ominous puddles of blood stained the dancefloor.

"What did he do with them?" Rise asked.

"I don't know." Junior answered. "I was unconscious."

"Did he say anything?" Naoto asked. "Did he do anything strange while you were conscious?"

"When he came in he was carrying that screen." Junior said. A broken television lay on the bar.

"I think we know what he did then." Yosuke said. "This is bad."

"Did he say anything about us?" Naoto asked.

"No, he was only interested in Team RWBY." Junior replied. "He said the White Fang wanted them dealt with."

"So he doesn't know about us?" Rise said.

"I guess not." Junior said. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done it. I got those innocent girls killed."

"I don't think they're dead yet." Yu said. "We're going to save them."

*Note: Because I'm evil, I will now take a week off from posting chapters of this story. Consider this a season finale. Next week I'll be posting some one-offs that I may go back to at some point, but the week after that I'll be back to your regularly scheduled programming. Thanks for reading!