Epilogue

Time passed and things returned to normal. Team RWBY went to Beacon knowing they could not tell anyone about what had happened. If they did, everyone would think they were crazy. Well, crazier at least. Then, one day in the dining hall, things took a bit of a turn.

It was a normal lunch. The food was not special, just the same selection available every day. They sat in the same seats and talked to the same people. Nora regaled everyone with tall tales while Ren made sure to sort fiction from reality for all who cared to listen. Jaune ate absentmindedly while Pyrrha was lost in thought. Blake did not bother to stop studying while she ate and for some reason Weiss seemed more irritable than usual. Yang was enthralled by Nora's latest story and Ruby was happy to eat quietly in the company of good friends.

"So, you guys hear about that crazy rumor?" Jaune asked.

"What rumor?" Pyrrha asked.

"The one about the weird stuff that happens at night." Jaune replied.

"I know this one!" Nora said excitedly.

"Go ahead and tell them." Jaune yielded to his excitable teammate.

"So, at the stroke of midnight, the buildings around Beacon change." Nora said dramatically. "The locked doors all around campus unlock and become portals to whole other worlds." Ruby almost did a spit take. Blake looked up from her notes. Yang's expression suddenly shifted. Weiss almost fell off her seat. "To top it off, the Tower grows into a twisted labyrinth! All these places are populated by monsters out for human blood!" Team RWBY was in shock. It all sounded a little too familiar, even if they would not say anything.

"That's the rumor." Ren said. "I don't know about the human blood bit, but that's about it."

"Weird isn't it?" Jaune said. He noticed the shocked looks on the faces of Team RWBY. "Are you guys okay?"

"Fine." Ruby said less than convincingly. "That's a crazy story alright."

"We should check it out!" Nora shouted excitedly.

"It's just a story." Ren said. "There's nothing to check out."

"Oh come on." Nora pleaded. "It'll be fun."

"Students shouldn't be out so late." Ren said.

"What's the big deal Ren?" Jaune asked. "Let's have a look, get it out of her system."

"I just don't want you to be disappointed when we don't find anything strange." Ren said to Nora. "Besides, it's past your bedtime."

"Please." Nora said with puppy-dog eyes.

"Even I think it could be fun." Pyrrha said.

"Alright." Ren conceded.

"You guys want to come?" Jaune asked Team RWBY.

"That's okay, we're busy tonight." Blake said.

"Oh well, I guess it's just us then." Jaune said.

Team RWBY was very concerned. It sounded a bit like the shadow world had arrived at Beacon, with a few difference of course. Only at midnight? A labyrinthine tower? It sounded too bizarre to be true, but so did what they had experienced. They really did have plans, but they would have to keep an eye on the situation.

Official Shadow Operatives Report

Classification: Top Secret, For Operative #1 (Kirijo M.) Only

Report Type: Preliminary

Investigation: Inaba Incident

Investigation Lead: Operative #1 (Kirijo M.)

Reporting Operative: Operative #5 (Aigis)

Following the incidents in Inaba involving Labrys and Minazuki S. I have been making periodic visits to Inaba to further the investigation into the events that took place there prior to direct intervention of the Shadow Operatives. Using Labrys' desire to spend time with her new friends as cover, I have spent several days in Inaba asking around about the shadow-related incidents that occurred there. So far, no new information about those incidents, or the later incidents directly involving the Shadow Operatives, has come to light.

On my current visit to Inaba, I became aware of a strange door in the Inaba Central Shopping District. Given my prior experience, I knew it to be an entrance to the Velvet Room. I had not seen this door before, so I assumed it had appeared for a specific reason. I approached it, but was grabbed by the arm before I could enter. I recognized the person who grabbed me as Margaret, a resident of the Velvet Room. Our conversation was as follows:

-Aigis – Oh, Margaret, hello.

-Margaret – Hello Aigis, I was not expecting you.

-A – What is going on? This entrance to the Velvet Room was not here earlier. Is something wrong?

-M – Yes actually. It is a bit difficult to explain though. If you're busy, there is no need to concern yourself.

-A – Please explain. I am not busy. I am just visiting Inaba with my sister so she can visit her friends.

-M – Has Yu or his friends told you about the other shadow incident they dealt with? The one outside of Inaba to be specific.

-A – No, I am not aware of any other incidents involving shadows, at least none that involved that group.

-M – Shortly before resolution of the first Inaba incident, the one prior to your involvement, I transported the group to another world to help fight shadows there.

-A – Another world? What do you mean?

-M – I mean precisely that, another world. I transported them to another planet in another universe. There they assisted locals in defeating shadows and preventing a catastrophe. It seems the trouble there was not completely solved. Those on that world will need assistance again. I was expecting to send Yu and his friends again, but if you're willing to help, I would like to send you instead. They are just getting back to their lives, and I would like to avoid interfering with that if possible.

-A – I understand. How dangerous is the situation?

-M – If the situation is not dealt with, it could mean the end of that world, the effective death of everyone on the planet. Local Persona users may be able to handle it, but I am uncertain. Any assistance would be of great value.

-A – I will help. I have one request however.

-M – What do you need?

-A – I would like my sister to accompany me. We have only just met, and I do not want to leave her alone.

-M – That will not be a problem. I'm sure her assistance will be valuable as well. I would recommend you travel light.

-A – What do you mean by light?

-M – I suggest you limit your weaponry to the guns built into your hands. The ammunition used on that world is very different from what is used here on earth. You will have difficulty finding ammunition for any of your weapons, but there is an individual there who can make it for you. For her sake, you should limit your needs.

-A – I will leave my other armaments behind. Can Labrys bring her axe? I would not want her to be unarmed, but we should avoid standing out.

-M – Her axe will not stand out. You'll see what I mean. You will arrive near a village. A resident named Helia Anthos can put you in contact with the local Persona users you need to assist. Another resident named Amber Kelly can produce ammunition for you. Beyond that, it is up to you.

-A – I have some business to attend to before I go.

-M – I'll be here. Come back when you're ready.

I am sending in this report to inform the Shadow Operatives of Labrys' and my temporary departure. We will return when the mission is complete. I do not know how long that will take. Upon my return, I will submit a full report.

Signed: Operative #5 (Aigis)

"Are you ready?" Margaret asked.

"We are." Aigis replied. Margaret motioned with her arm and a door appeared. Aigis and Labrys stepped through and disappeared, heading for another world.

"Interesting." Naoto whispered to herself. "Very interesting." Tasked with investigating the Shadow Operatives, she had been keeping an eye on Aigis and Labrys. She knew Labrys was in Inaba to see her friends, but Aigis was a different story. If she was there too, the Shadow Operatives were involved. Naoto was very good at remaining unseen, and the pair she was following did not seem to notice her. Aigis had been asking around town, no doubt trying to gather some information about the incidents that had occurred in Inaba. Then Margaret entered the picture. If she was talking to Aigis, there was definitely something going on. When she produced a doorway and Aigis and Labrys passed through it, Naoto had a pretty good idea what that something was. Their friends on Remnant were in trouble, but Margaret did not want to inconvenience Yu and his friends now that they were living somewhat normal lives. It had been months, but she had been expecting this day to come. Something about the way things ended with Rosso and Tuonen Piika did not sit well with her. Most would have attributed the feeling to her tendency to become obsessed with her cases or her undying need to have all the answers, but she knew she was rarely wrong. "I need to inform Yu." She said to herself as she pulled out her phone.

"You're always investigating something aren't you?" Margaret asked casually. She had traversed the distance between them unexpectedly fast. Naoto had not even realized she had been noticed and had not seen Margaret coming. "I assume you've figured out what's going on."

"I have." Naoto confirmed. "Why not ask us?"

"You know why." Margaret replied. "I can't justify interrupting your lives and putting you all at risk again."

"Don't you think that's something we should decide?" Naoto countered. "I'm going to tell the others, and we'll make our decision."

"I have no doubt you will." Margaret said. "I also have no doubt as to what decision you will come to. You don't have to do this."

"You know us well enough to know I won't let this rest." Naoto said. "We won't let this rest. Our friends are in danger, we have to help."

Margaret sized Naoto up for a moment. Naoto met her stare, her determination was obvious. Margaret sighed. "Very well. Gather your friends, I'll be waiting."

They will return!

On 16 March 2015 in...

Shadows of Beacon