Grimm Posing Squad

After catching, tying, and beating Qrow and Zack black and blue, Winter and Raven finally calmed down. They did intend to cut those two's third legs but Glynda reasoned with them for an hour straight.

After that, when Raven saw Ozpin looking at her in a knowing look, she instantly left via her portal. The rest grew curious at that but she didn't give them time to react so they looked in Ozpin's direction.

Ozpin didn't say anything at first as he sipped his coffee but as Zack and Qrow broke free from their bindings, Ozpin placed down his mug and looked at them.

"..."

*Sigh* "Alright, I will be frank about it, Raven is currently… the spring maiden," Ozpin said to them directly.

"!!!"

Everyone except for Zack widened their eyes at that information.

"W-what!? How?" Qrow immediately asked as he now realized when she was chasing them both earlier, she was using elemental attacks but he reasoned with himself at that time that it was from the use of Dust.

"I do not know… All I can say, I know Raven's power to be that of the spring maiden, I should know, I gave them those…" Ozpin stated seriously as he placed his hand over his forehead.

"Then, we should find her immediately, she needs to be protected from Salem!" Glynda quickly proposed as she now knows what a maiden power entails.

"Heh, then good luck with that! My sister rarely shows herself when she wants to…" Qrow replied as he took a seat while waiting for his Aura to heal him completely.

Zack didn't say anything as he knows Raven has a hobby of watching over Yang and that he has her number but he did promise Raven that he wouldn't tell anyone about it. He was a man of his word, so obviously, he was going to follow it like any honorable SOLDIER and now Huntsman would… and it didn't matter that Raven threatened him that she will destroy every chocolate factory on Remnant if he didn't comply.

"Ozpin... if Raven is really the spring maiden, we need to find her and protect her as Glynda suggests," Ironwood commented as he looked at Ozpin.

"Of course… but this is Raven we're talking about…but anyway Qrow, contact her and tell her about it. As of right now, we shouldn't be overconfident in capturing her spies as I know better than anyone Salem's reactions when it comes to failures. James, Zack, I want your soldiers and minions spread out in the city until the Vytal Festival is over," Ozpin said.

Everyone nodded at him as Ironwood and Winter went out first but not before shooting Zack a glare that promised pain.

As soon as Winter went through the door, Qrow couldn't hold it anymore and asked Zack.

"Hey brat, what exactly did you do to Ice Queen for her to hate you so much?" Qrow asked as Glynda and Ozpin listened in as well as they were curious.

Zack, seeing them looking at him, didn't have a choice except for telling them the truth.

*Cough* *Cough*

"It's a long story… a story about excitement, danger, and about a young ma-" Zack dramatically acted but before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Get on with it!" Qrow cut him off.

"Alright, alright, geez pops, on a warm sunny day, there I was, minding my own business," Zack said seriously.

'Bullsh*t' Glynda and Ozpin thought of.

"Bullsh*t!" Qrow quickly interjected.

"But I waaaassss," Zack defended weakly.

"Then what exactly happened while you were 'minding your own business'?" Qrow narrowed his eyes on Zack.

"Well there I was, after days… months even… traveling around Remnant I finally ran out of my basic sustenance (One day after he set out of Patch, he finally noticed that his chocolates stored on his motorbike then was eaten by a certain dog)... that's when I finally decided to procure more supplies at the nearest establishment of these said supplies," Zack said as he acted like he was reliving his adventure.

"..."

"Therein that establishment, I have been informed that the last of their products have been procured by the lady eating and sitting on a nearby table," Zack continued.

"So I, being a gentleman and a future Huntsman at that time, did the only sensible thing I could do in that manner, I politely asked that bitc-I mean lady, to kindly give me some. She was surprised at my arrival and request but as she contemplated my situation back then, she agreed to give me some but for some inconceivable reason, after I have taken my supply, her face started turning red then she quickly brought out her weapon and chased me with the intent to kill, Oh woe is me!" Zack dramatically said as he told them the story like he was the innocent victim.

"..."

*BAM!!*

Suddenly the doors blasted open by a red-faced Winter staring at Zack with killing intent with her sword and semblance Glyphs at the ready.

"Y-Y-YOU SHAMELESS BASTARD!!!" Winter barged in while kicking the door open.

"W-w-wait!! I already told you that was an accident! How was I supposed to know that was gonna happen!?" Zack immediately pleaded like he was innocent.

"You still dare lie through your teeth, you SCOUNDREL!!" Winter exclaimed as she readied her sword and Glyphs.

*Cough* *Cough*

"Excuse me, Ms.Schnee, can you please enlighten us? As it seems that young Mr.Fair left something out," Ozpin quickly called out before they were interrupted again.

*Grrr* "Fine!, one day, that bastard suddenly came into one of my favorite dessert establishments and demanded their famous limited chocolate desserts but as he and I noticed that I happened to get hold of the last one, that bastard came to me and begged me to give him some. I told him to go away as I was about to eat it, the bastard actually has the audacity to take it from without any warning!!" Winter raged out as she went closer to Zack and placed her hands on his shirt's collar while glaring.

"Oh, that doesn't sound too bad I guess…" Qrow commented but before anyone said anything more, they were cut off by Winter.

"This BASTARD took the dessert from me while… IT WAS ON MY MOUTH USING HIS OWN MOUTH!!!" Winter shouted in rage as her glare on Zack intensified.

"..."

Zack by now was sweating profusely while looking anywhere but Winter.

"Well I guess you do deserve some compensation about that… I'll give you both 2 hours," Ozpin said seriously as he sipped his coffee while everyone else in the room looked at Zack like the moron he is.

At that remark, Zack paled again while Winter grinned maliciously at him then started dragging him out of there but before she could fully exit the office, she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder belonging to Glynda, much to the annoyance of Winter and Zack's relief.

"...Be sure he can still participate for tomorrow… he still has a match," Glynda said.

"Oh, I will, sir Ironwood sir, I request a day worth leave of absence," Winter grinned happily while Zack grew paler.

"Uh, alright then," Ironwood said as he nodded hesitantly towards his officer beaming happily while dragging a squirming pale Zack.

Everyone grew quiet while watching both of them leaving the office.

"I said it before but I'll say it again, the brat definitely has balls of steel, hah! He finally took something from me after all these years!" Qrow boasted proudly.

"Of course, and by the way Qrow…" Ozpin said as he interrupted Qrow's happiness.

"Hmm?" Qrow looked at everyone as they were all looking at him akin to a dead man walking.

"Congratulations on the engagement," Ozpin said as he and everyone else smiled at him.

Qrow suddenly shivered terribly but before he could run away, a female arm immediately captured him in place. He trembled as he didn't have to look to know whose arm this is.

"I finally found you honey… well excuse us, we still have a wedding to plan, Oh and Glynda, thanks for the tip," Akari 'The Demon' said as she gripped hard on Qrow's shoulder.

She dragged a pale white Qrow out of the office as Qrow shot everyone in the room as a sign of help but all he got was Ozpin and Ironwood looking away from him while Glynda smiled innocently at him.

"..."

"Now that I see that, I can finally say that both of them are really like father and son… Ozpin, are you really sure they're not biological?" Ironwood commented while looking at Ozpin curiously.

*Sigh* "Yes James, they're definitely not... I triple checked it myself," Ozpin replied as he looked at the beautiful sky while ignoring two distinct males screaming inside his school.

…

Meanwhile at the Land of Darkness at Salem's castle.

Salem called her remaining loyal pawns as they needed to reorganize another plan for taking down Vale.

Soon Arthur Watts, a tall middle-aged man with a slim build, slightly tanned skin and has short black and gray hair as well as a thick mustache and eyebrows, and green eyes were the first to arrive.

He was followed by a tall and muscular middle-aged man and he also has short brown hair, a beard, and hazel eyes, Hazel Rainart. Behind him was Salem's craziest devotee, Tyrian Callows but his left arm and leg as well as his stinger on his back are in metal prosthetics.

"""Your majesty!"""" The three of them exclaimed while bowing a little towards Salem.

"Hmm, I have gathered you all here today... as it seems that my dear little Cinder and her little group were captured by Ozpin," Salem stated as she motioned her hand for them to stand straight.

"Hah! I knew it! Those little pesky brats were way over their heads! Your Majesty!! I request you may send me in and finally cut those loose ends once and for all!!" Tyrian quickly exclaimed while having a big crazy grin on his face.

"Hmm, If my observation on Cinder's little group is accurate then I'm afraid that you are already too late to do anything. Their kids, sooner or later, they will break, my money is on that grey-haired kid," Arthur commented with a smirk on his face.

"Regardless, our operation on Vale is already compromised. Continuing on our plan now will be more difficult than ever and besides Ironwood is in there, you know better than anyone Ironwood is capable of, Arthur," Hazel said seriously while looking at Arthur.

"Tsk," Arthur frowned when he heard this.

"That would've been the case if my aim is still the destruction of Vale…" Salem said as she looked at every one of them.

Everyone grew curious at their Queen's statement.

"Instead, I order you all to get me this young man, alive at all cost," Salem commanded while a picture of Zack appeared beside her.

"Hmm, I may your Majesty… who is this?" Arthur asked with Hazel listening in while Tyrian glared at the picture.

"...Zack Fair!" Tyrian bellowed out as soon as he saw the picture.

Arthur and Hazel looked on Tyrian curiously.

"He is the one who did this to me! I'll kill him!!!" Tyrian raged out but suddenly all three of them felt a heavy pressure emanating from Salem.

"In case I didn't make myself clear Tyrian… I said that I want him alive! UNDERSTAND!!" Salem said as her voice reverberated to the entire Castle.

"Y-YES, YOUR MAJESTY!!" Tyrian quickly answered while his face paled.

Salem redirected her sight on Arthur and Hazel as they both bowed slightly to confirm they understand as well.

"Good, now you may go," Salem said as she looked back at Zack's picture.

"... Your Majesty, what of Cinder and her group?" Hazel asked curiously before they took their leave.

"Hmm, free them, capture them, or even kill them, just bring me Cinder alive, whether she's missing a few limbs or not, we still need her, she still has the half of the Fall maiden but remember your top priority," Salem replied as she didn't even spare them a glance while talking about Cinder.

"Yes, your Majesty," All three of them nodded at her then quickly left.

"Fufufufufu, just a little more time and we'll finally meet in person," Salem said to herself while looking at Zack's picture. At that exact time, Zack shivered instinctively and looked around everywhere like some assassin was ought to get him.

….

The next day.

The teams that won their fights are able to participate in the second round but they have to select two of their members only in representing their team.

Team RWBY's representative was Ruby and Weiss.

Despite Ruby's age, her skills in utilizing her semblance with her scythe were almost impossible to beat if one can't follow it with their eyes.

Weiss insisted to fight as well as she felt she needed to prevent Ruby from embarrassing their team from her usual antics and that she felt she could further improve her usage of Glyphs on this fight.

The fight didn't disappoint the audience as soon as the fight began, Ruby and her opponent, a Faunus girl in skateboard/Pistols, battled it out all over the sides of the arena. Weiss and her opponent, a guy with a trumpet as a weapon, were facing each other.

As the fight continued on, Ruby destroyed her opponent's weapon and quickly went on to assist Weiss but she was blown away by Weiss's opponent and Weiss, seeing her leader being blasted away, finally put her heart on using her summoning Glyph. This time instead of just the torso of Arma Gigas, she summoned its whole body.

It shocked everyone watching but then despite its size, Weiss's Arma Gigas moved swiftly and brought down its sword at her distracted opponent and knocked him out instantly. As soon as Weiss saw her opponent down, she immediately canceled her summon as it drained her stamina greatly that she would've fallen down if it weren't for Ruby catching her in time.

Everyone cheered for the fight as even though Ruby and Weiss were dead tired, they were smiling and laughing while they were tackled by Yang and Blake who joined in the celebration.

After a few more fights, it was finally team ZPNR against team CFVY.

Everyone who was remotely familiar with both teams knows that this fight will be worth the watch.

Team CFVY's representative was Coco Adel and Yatsuhashi Daichi while on team ZPNR was Nora and Zack much to the shock of others that know Zack's status. Everyone questioned this as they heard the headmaster's decision but Ozpin didn't say any of his reasons and kept his silence over the matter.

Meanwhile, on the betting pool, everyone noticed that the alias by the name of "Immortal Coffee" suddenly doubled his bet on team ZPNR much to the shock of everyone there but they all reasoned that maybe it was just some drunk so they didn't dwell on it.

…

In the Arena present time.

The audience inside were all yelling and cheering for both of the teams but out of everyone there, there was one irregularity and that was a group of black and greenish-blue Grimms on the side waving banners flags with the words of Choco-Pancake on it.

At first, everyone was freaked out by this but after some time, their shock and fear subsided, they couldn't help get curious as the Grimms were waving their banners, all of them were posing at the same time.

At the front of Grimms is an Alpha Grimm with a Choco-Pancake headband on its heads while leading its brethren in posing every few seconds.

Coco and Yatsuhashi are already in the arena waiting for their opponents.

As Nora and Zack made their way towards the stage, all of the Grimms saluted at Zack's direction then spun simultaneously and posed in his direction.

Nora and Zack looked on seriously at this as they both took out similar pointy black shades, (A/N: similar to Kamina in Gurren Lagann) from out of nowhere and placed it on their faces then they both gave the Grimms a thumbs up.

"..."

Everyone didn't know how to react to this so eventually they just clapped while every one of Zack and Nora's friends sighed at these two.

After a few more moments the fight was officially started as Coco immediately took her Gianduja, a handbag that can transform into a rotary cannon, aimed and fired upon Zack and Nora producing a cloud of dust covering the both of them.

*tink* *tink* *tink* *tink* *tink*

Eventually, Coco stops as she heard that every shot she fired was being deflected.

Yatsuhashi and Coco got ready as they both know their opponents won't be going down just like that and they were right as the cloud of dust dissipates, they all saw Zack in front of Nora with his Fusion sword(Core blade + Hollow blade) at his right hand while on his feet are the rounds Coco fired.

"Hehehe, that wasn't nice," Zack said as his greenish-blue cat-like eyes were staring at both of them.

"Yeah! We didn't even get the chance of starting our secret handshake before the fight! For shame!!" Nora exclaimed seriously as she took out her Magnhild from her back.

"Hmph, they did say start so what did you expect, let you guys finish your little handshake?" Coco smirked at them.

"Yes… yes we did" Nora and Zack answered at the same time.

"..."

"Tsk, enough of this, time to fight!" Coco said as she aimed again her weapon at them with Yatsuhashi nodding at her and running towards them.

"Heh, that's the spirit! General Pancake, you take Coco!! The big guy is mine!" Zack said to Nora and started running at Yatsuhashi with his Fusion sword at the ready.

"Aye aye, Captain!" Nora replied while she transformed her Magnhild into her hammer and quickly slammed down at the ground creating a cloud of dust covering a large part of their area.

*BOOOM!*

*TINK!*

Yatsuhashi and Zack clashed at the center as they both used their strengths to overcome each other. Their clash quickly turned into an old-fashioned sword fight much to their satisfaction. They both have grins on their faces as they continued fighting with their swords

On Coco and Nora's side.

Coco waited but by the time the cloud of dust cleared out Nora was already gone.

Coco quickly looked around for Nora but she instantly jumped to the side to dodge a meteor called Nora coming from above.

*BOOM!*

Nora easily created a crater as she smiled in Coco's direction.

"Awww, you dodged it, no fair!" Nora pouted while lifting her hammer casually.

"Hmph! Why don't you dodge this!" Coco replied as she aimed and fired her weapon at Nora again.

"Alright!" Nora smiled at her response then her body was instantly covered by blue electric arcs then the next thing Coco sees is a hammer headed for her face.

Coco widened her eyes at that as she reflexly ducked down in time.

*Swooosh*

Coco could still feel the wind passing her head as she immediately made some distance from Nora. She won't admit it but her back was covered in a cold sweat right now.

At that point, the fight lasted 10 minutes with Nora flashing blue electric currents and Coco dodging most of the time until she got a few direct hits that her Aura eventually became in the Red.

While Yatsuhashi and Zack's sword fight was escalating quickly but it ended with Yatsuhashi's blade breaking in two as a result, he forfeited shortly after. Both of them shook each other's hands and promised on a rematch.

After that, the second day of the Vytal Festival was over.

Everyone couldn't help getting excited at the finals as the betting pool was overflowing with the remaining contestants namely the four competitors Ruby Rose on Team RWBY, Penny from Atlas, Sun Wukong on team SSSN, and Zack Fair on team ZPNR.