*Atlas Academy, Remnant; August 7, 2018; 10:35 AM*

The present members of Unity had gathered into an abandoned classroom to discuss what might be happening.

"Where the hay is Kat! She should be here by now!" Rainbow Dash moaned.

"You guys asked Kat? I thought she was busy with political stuff." Ruby tilted her head.

"I see what might be going on! The Federation's leader might have sent her to stop whatever's about to happen because he wants leverage over Atlas! The Federation owes Atlas a lot of money and I guess Smith's looking for a way out!" Weiss concluded.

"I guess Smith does know how to make a deal.." Blake commented.

"Sorry I'm late! I brought company!" Kat announced, Flurry and Cade in tow.

"Who are they?" Yang asked.

"Flurry?! I thought you were-" Twilight gasped.

"Back at the Crystal Empire safe with Mom and Dad, I know.." Flurry wing-hugged her aunt.

"We'll explain everything later, but for right now, let's discuss the facts." Cade said.

"What are you staring at me for?" Ruby asked looking at Cade.

"Ruby, This is Cade. Cade, I think you already know who she is.." Kat smiled.

"But, this is impossible! Age-related magic can only be used by highly advanced-level unicorns! Did you meet Starlight?" Twilight asked.

"No, Aunt Twilight. It's something else entirely.." Flurry sighed.

"Yang... Do you remember how Alpha was able to fight Captain Walker because he used time travel?" Cade asked.

"Alpha was a time traveller?!" Kat gasped.

"Actually, he was also our son..." Yang sheepishly admitted.

"Your WHAT?!" Weiss gaped.

"My brain is so full of f**k right now.." Delirious groaned, holding his head.

"Time travel? I guess it makes sense, remember how we used time travel to get that plunger in Der Eisendrache?" Terroriser nodded.

"How about that one episode of Spongebob where Squidward went into the future?" Nogla added.

"FUUUTURRRE..!" Wildcat imitated.

"WILDCAT THIS IS SERIOUS!!" Cade yelled.

"So, future googling-man, what's the future like in the year 2183?" Vanoss asked.

"We aren't that far." Flurry groaned.

"Then where are you from?" Applejack asked.

"Don't you mean WHEN are they from?!" Pinkie and Delirious said at the same time.

"Ugh... 2040." Cade replied.

"So, what's it like, and why did you go back?" Twilight asked.

"It's... Well.." Flurry began.

"It's a complete and utter shit hole." Cade finished.

"Let's see... Shitty future..." Basically thought.

"Bad hair.." Droidd added.

"F**k off!" Cade almost yelled.

"The sword and the tacky clothes.." Nogla continued.

"Nogla, if you don't stop, no doctor will be able to fix what I'll do to you." Cade seethed.

"Yep. Cade is literally a Future Trunks knockoff." Vanoss concluded.

"And... Shit, you got me." Cade sighed.

"What, next you're going to tell us that your dad was a villain?" Mini Ladd asked.

"Not exactly.." Cade scoffed.

"Yep, they pegged you, Trunks." Flurry snickered.

"Wait, does she watch Dragonball Z?" Delirious asked.

"Can we please get back on topic?" Rarity begged, rolling her eyes.

"Fine! The reason we came back was to help you kill Cinder Fall!" Cade yelled.

"I thought you were going to say Androids, but whatever." Luis shrugged.

"He's being serious! By the time we came back, Cinder didn't just have the Fall Maiden's powers, but all of them combined! She killed Twilight, Celestia, Ozpin, and even Alex Walker and Yang at full-power!" Flurry yelled.

The room took a collective gasp.

"We only had enough fuel for a one-way trip just so our Cinder wouldn't follow us!" Cade added.

"We can't let Cinder get that powerful!" Ruby gaped.

"And that's why we have to stop her. Permanently. But before we do that, we have to find her mole. He or she already killed Carmine, and it's only a matter of time before this mole strikes again." Flurry declared.

"So. Any ideas on who this guy is?" Rainbow asked.

"Well, if I were to guess, I'd say it would have to be Tyrian.. He keeps giving us really weird looks.." Weiss figured.

"He did challenge Yang just to forfeit.. Just like Mercury did with Pyrrha.. He turned out to be an Inquisitor." Twilight continued.

"Hold on, just because he might be a little nuts doesn't mean he's the mole.." Rainbow defended.

"The weapons he was using could've broken Yang's Aura with the force-field bullet. It explains the gunshot to the leg." Ruby shrugged.

"And the barrel was sharp enough to cut my hair." Yang seethed.

"I don't think it's safe to accuse only Tyrian." Kat decided.

"Besides, I can't think of why a mole would kill a random huntsman like that.." Vanoss thought.

"He's trying to scare us. Let everyone know that there's something more going on than we know." Weiss decided.

"It was a White Fang scare tactic to kill one or two people in a village before ransacking and pillaging it for Dust. And who was controlling the White Fang?" Blake asked.

"Cinder." Applejack sighed.

"Well. We figured him out... What do we do now..?" Ruby asked.

"We can't kill him or turn him in to the authorities yet. Not before we see what's really going on here.. One person can't be it. Besides, the CIA look for patterns in other people's killings." Kat figured.

"She isn't wrong.. We have to let them make the next move before we do something." Yang added.

"But still... Who's next..?"

*Ironwood's office, Atlas Academy, Remnant; August 7, 2018; 5:30 PM*

Robin walked to Ironwood's office, he had said something about wanting to speak to her in private.

She opened the door to find Ironwood, Professor Ozpin, and Pyrrha Nikos.

"Hello, Ms. Corvus, we need to speak with you." Ironwood began.

"O-Okay." She sat down next to Pyrrha facing Ironwood and Ozpin.

"I believe you're both aware of the exact nature of this conversation, correct?" Opinion asked.

"Yes, Professor." Pyrrha nodded.

"As I'm sure you understand, the police came back with Carmine's autopsy. They suspect foul play, but we all know what has been happening." Ozpin began.

"Who do you think is behind all of this?" Robin was confused.

"It is our belief that an Inquisitor named Cinder Fall is the one behind the death of your friend." Ironwood explained.

"Cinder Fall? But how? Did she kill Carmine..?" Robin asked.

"No, she wasn't the killer, but we received word three days ago that there is a potential mole in our midst. She is looking for Pyrrha's Fall Maiden abilities, as we've discussed yesterday.." Ozpin replied.

"So, you're saying I need to keep a small amount of the Fall Maiden's power so Cinder doesn't do anything dangerous, right..?" Robin asked,

"Yes. I understand, it's only a small part of the Fall Maiden's full power, but if Cinder ever obtains this power, she will destroy Atlas." Ironwood added.

"Destroy Atlas?!" Robin gasped.

"Yes.. And as much as I hate to do this, I'll have to do a partial soul merge with you..." Pyrrha looked upset.

"A soul merge?"

"It was how we transferred Pyrrha the Fall Maiden's power in the first place. We did incidentally transfer the previous holder's mind, but she's since faded into her subconscious." Ironwood explained.

"Listen to me very carefully. If this mole finds you, they will kill you. And that goes for you as well, Pyrrha. Stay with your teams, and do not go anywhere alone for the duration of the Tournament." Ozpin instructed.

"Yes, Professor." Robin nodded.

"You may leave, but come back in two days." Ironwood told them as both girls left.

As soon as the door closed, Ozpin faced Ironwood.

"James, you know as well as I that transferring Pyrrha's powers might be catastrophic." Ozpin explained.

"I have no choice. I have to protect my kingdom, even if we're using one of your students to do it." Ironwood groaned.

"Do we have any leads on who this mole is..?" Ozpin asked.

"None yet." Ironwood replied grimly.

"We might have to shorten the duration of this year's Festival. It's for the safety of your people, James." Ozpin turned to face his equal.

"... Very well. I'm just happy we didn't have to involve Qrow, or god forbid, Captain Walker." Ironwood scowled.

*Outside Atlas Academy, Remnant; August 8, 2018; 12:35 AM*

Lime walked past the darkened building carrying a Scroll. He looked up at Atlas' Cross-Continental Transmit Tower, smiling slightly.

"Going somewhere, Lime?" A masculine voice asked from behind him.

"Who's there?!" Lime pulled out his weapon, a hammer with the symbol of a lime at the center.

"Ah, looks like you came prepared. You deserve an award." The figure pulled out a lever-action rifle.

"Don't come any closer, Tyrian!" Lime yelled.

Tyrian walked into view with the rifle in hand.

"I guess that makes two rewards for figuring me out, Lime." Tyrian smirked.

A force-field formed around the barrel of the rifle, and Lime swung the hammer hard.

Tyrian dodged the hammer, using his other lever-gun to keep the hammer away while he pulled the trigger.

Lime's Aura shattered instantly and the bullet pierced his chest. The husky young man coughed up blood as he fell to the ground.

"R-Russet.. He-He's the one..!" Lime called.

Tyrian heard someone fly in from behind him, he quickly turned around to find Russet swinging his glaive at him. Tyrian flipped backwards, grabbing the weapon and pointing it at his chest.

Russet grinned, flipping back the blade to reveal the cannon attachment as Russet pulled the trigger. Tyrian dodged just in time, as the bullet went into Tyrian's intended target: Lime.

Lime coughed loudly as Tyrian once again disappeared into the shadows.

Russet slowly reloaded the cannon as Tyrian pressed the rifle to his head.

Tyrian pulled the trigger, shooting Russet through the head, killing him.

Lime crawled up to Tyrian, grasping at Russet's leg.

"Y-You... You bastard... Why a-are you doing t-this..?" Lime coughed.

"What, did you think I fell for that whole act?" Tyrian scoffed.

"W-What act..?"

"Don't play dumb with me. I know exactly what you did." Tyrian laughed.

"Y-You figured that out, huh..?" Lime gagged.

"Hmm. I guess we're both pawns in a game. You just happened to be playing for the wrong side, Lime." Tyrian laughed.

"P-People will get s-s-us-suspicious... They'll hunt yo-you down..." Lime gasped.

"Hmm. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Now, where was I? Oh, yes." Tyrian continued as he pointed the gun against Lime's forehead.

"Checkmate."

Author's Notes:

I want to try and clear up something maybe a couple of you have already noticed.

The Vytal Festival, in RWBY Canon, usually happens around the end of the year, as the students have already gone through at least a semester or two. Due to circumstances at the end of the last story, though, they moved it after the last battle.

So why is it taking place in August?

They took advantage of the fact that their enemies were brushing off that major defeat, and almost two years later, they scheduled it again, making it the 41st festival.

-The Destoyer.