“I’m sorry, but all CCTS Public Channels have been suspended due to a state of emergency order by the Central Council. Due to the nature of the emergency, there is no ETA when Public Use is restored. Thank you for your understanding.”

Yang Xiao-Long, a young, athletic woman with blonde hair, clicks her tongue and looks at the screen of her scroll. “Time Elapsed - 0:00” flashes underneath the image of a raven, the words “Womb Loaner” listed underneath the avatar.

“Thanks a lot…” She mumbles. “What a great birthday present you got me. Nothing but a downed phone line and regret of ever having even the slightest iota of trust in you.” Sirens began sounding. Those who were on the streets began rushing inside in a panic. “And now there’s a damn attack…”

As she was throwing her tantrum, a white car pulls up in front. The window lowers and a white-haired woman, wearing Atlessian Service Dress peers out. Maturely, she asks. “Miss Yang Branwen?”

“Um… it’s Xiao-Long.” Yang said, taking a step back out of caution. “I took my father’s surname when my parents separated.”

The woman smiles. “I apologize. I had assumed… oh, never mind.” She clears her throat. “I work with your mother and have been sent to escort you.”

Yang looks at the woman, raising an eyebrow. Seeing the disbelief in the teenager’s eyes, the woman reaches for her badge and shows it to the blondie.

“Winter Schnee, Operations Commander, FABLE.”

“FABLE, huh? I guess that is my… birth giver’s place of work.” Yang went to the passenger side door and opens it up, backing up as she realized the car door was a gull-wing. Once secured, Willow put petal to the metal, speeding on down the road.

“Yang, your mother did send me to pick you up. She says she wants you to work for her.”

The young woman looks to the driver. “Now of all things?”

Winter turns the car sharply onto a sideroad leading out to the Forever Fall Forest. A brief alarm went off. Glancing at the console, the woman reaches for Yang. “Brace yourself, Miss Xiao-Long.” She warned as she pushes her passenger down before bracing herself. It didn’t take long before a blast from some form of explosive tossed the car off the road, tumbling before crashing into one of the scarlet trees.

Deep below the Island of Patch –

Commander Raven Branwen sat in her usual spot in the Operations Center, high above all. Her hands were folded in front of her face with ex-husband Taiyang watching from the shadows.

Above her was a panel of military leaders, barking out orders while below, her own Operations Staff was monitoring certain things.

“Blood Type Black. It’s a Grimm!” came from below.

“Launch the N2 Mines” came from above.

All she could do is wait for the one pawn in her plan. Her daughter, Yang Xiao-Long.

“Glynda, how are the preparations to Unit 01?”

A woman with short blond hair, wearing all white and holding a riding crop looks back. “Commander Branwen, Unit 01 is ready for the Third Child when she arrives.”

“Good. Dismissed for now.”

The woman walks out of the Operations Center with a purpose.

Yang’s anger and aura sharply rose, surrounding the teenager in a yellowish glow while her eyes glow a deep red. “WHAT. THE. HELL?!” Yang’s nostrils flare in rage as she looks at the woman.

Winter clicks her tongue. “Oh, just an N2 Mine. Nothing to be worried about.”

“NOTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT?! HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN TO YOU?!” Yang continued, her voice dripping with indignation.

“Young lady, once you’ve served through Officer Training School in Atlas, then being near a mine explosion is nothing new.” Winter’s hand reaches for the gear shift, placing the car in Reverse a few times to correct the car and then continues on through the forest. Soon, the two were approaching a tunnel. “Here we are, FABLE Main Gate. Open the Glove Compartment. Your Welcome Packet is located inside.”

Yang had calmed down enough to look at Winter before doing as asked. Inside was a manilla folder, containing several documents that required her to read and sign. “Do I need some sort of ID card or something?”

“Well, you be the judge of that. If you stick around, we’ll get your Common Access Card set up in the morning and get you on Huntsman Life Insurance and Atlas TRILEAF.” Winter opens both doors with a push of a button. Two guards spot Winter approach and salute, giving the proper call. “At ease.” She mumbles. “And allow my guest through.”

One of the guards nod. “They are waiting for you, Captain, in the Holding Pen for 01.” Acknowledging the guard, Winter gestures for Yang to follow along.

Minutes of silence pass, Yang looking through the various materials provided to her. “So, what is my mother working on?” As she asked the question, the sight of buildings underground come into view.

“Welcome to Beacon-02, Yang Xiao-Long.” Winter says, a note of whimsy in her voice. “Beautiful, isn’t it? The entire island of Patch was the site of an old caldera. We found a way to convert it to keep the new Beacon Academy safe from harm. It was the idea of my grandfather, Nicholas Schnee. Or as we jokingly love to refer to him in our family, Big Nicholas.”

Yang raises an eyebrow. What was this woman talking about. The two descend even deeper until they get to an elevator. Winter pulls out her ID card and swipes it into the elevator panel, watching the doors swing open. “After you.”

The phone in the operations center rang as the screens displayed the sight of a raging inferno, only to die and fade, revealing the sight of a giant bear-like creature. Taiyang briskly walked to the phone and picked it up.

“The mines didn’t work!” One of the military commanders slammed the desk.

Raven stood up and looked right at the panel, getting a nod from the blond haired gentleman. “It seems, gentlemen, that your plan has failed.”

“And what do you plan on doing, Branwen?”

“Simple. I shall do what you failed to achieve. All you need to do is relinquish command to me.”

The panel looks at each other and deliberates. “Very well, Branwen. We’ll leave this to you.”

Relieved, the woman walked to a platform. The space of floor she was standing soon began to descend. “Taiyang, you have the conn. I shall.. welcome our new arrival.”

The elevator came to a brief stop. The doors open up. Yang looks out onto the floor, spotting a giant mechanical object soaking in an orange fluid.

Winter steps out, hands behind her back. “This, Miss Xiao-Long, is an Evangelion. A giant machine designed to fight off the threat we are currently facing… and we would like you to pilot it.”

Yang follows behind, a bit bewildered at what the woman was asking. “You want me… to be my mother’s pawn… and use this giant thing to fight off some monster attacking Vale? Fuck no! As you said, we don’t see eye-to-eye, especially since she abandoned me to the wolves and even my dad barely paid attention to me, always in his study.”

“Only a weakling demands the attention of her parents at this age.” Came a firm, feminine voice from behind and above. Turning around, Yang caught the sight of Raven Branwen for the first time in many years.

“Who the fuck are you calling a weakling?” Yang asked, nearly about to lose control of her semblance.

“You, clearly. You are weak. To be honest, I’m disappointed I have a daughter who has such a quality. Weak.” Raven’s attention diverts. “Glynda? Is Miss Polendina awake?”

“Um… Yes Commander. She just came to.”

“Perfect.” Raven looks to the other side. “Penny darling. It seems Plan A is a mistake. Are you well enough to pilot Unit 01?”

A chipper voice came from the direction Raven was speaking in. “I’m Combat Ready, as always.”

“Wonderful. Please prepare yourself.”

Yang looks around. It wouldn’t belong before a girl with copper hair, wearing a green, formfitting suit with clips in her hair is pushed in on a gurney.

“What the fuck, Mother? She looks hurt, and you want her going back in??”

Raven glares at Yang. “Watch your language, young lady. Even though I see you as no daughter of mine, I will demand your respect.”

“You really want me to pilot that thing? Fine. I’ll do it. I’m tired of your insults and lack of care for the day. But after that, I will be going home.”

Raven nods, turning around and walking away, leaving her daughter in the hands of her team.

Yang looks up at her mother. Her hands ball up into fists, enraged at how seemingly uncaring her mother acted toward her. She reaches down to pick a pebble up, as if to throw at the Commander, when a hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder. Swiftly, she looks back to see Glynda’s face looking at hers.

“Come along, Yang. We have to get you into the Entry Plug”

Yang rolls her shoulder, almost in defiance as the woman touches her on the shoulder. The two walked through another corridor and into a changing room. Reaching into her labcoat, Glynda produces two small yellow clips to put in Yang’s hair. “These will allow us to monitor your vital signs. In return, you will have an easier time controlling Unit 01.” She explains. “As for a proper plugsuit, as you are on a probationary period recommended by Captain Schnee and Commander Branwen, you do not yet have one made. Stick around and we’ll do that once everything checks out.”

“You’re talking as if I am staying.” Yang says, raising an eyebrow.

Glynda smiles. “And I thought, based on your dossier, you are a thrillseeker. Just riding the Eva to surface is something that might excite you.”

Yang blinks. “I mean, yes. I do have a motorcycle back home.” Taking a deep breath, she gives a sigh. “Fine.”

Glynda nods and leads her to another door. Next to said door was a window looking out toward a giant metal tube labeled “EVA - 01” along the side. On the opposite end of the tube was the mark of a rose. A port on the side was open, with a seat protruding out. “When ready, just sit down on the seat, we’ll walk you through the rest once inside.”

The door opens up, leading to the dock where the tube and the chair of the tube stands, waiting to accept her pilot. Walking out, Yang strides toward the tube. The pit the giant machine was located in began draining, revealing more of the lanky giant robot. The colors were, much like the head, white with red accents. As Yang takes a seat, she was pulled in to the tube, the door closing and sealing.

The head lowers down and the spine of the mechanical monster snaps open. The tube descends slowly right into the hole in the spine. As soon as it was inserted, the rest of the system in the body began pulling on the tube, as if it were some sort of plug.

The voice of Glynda speaks up in the system. “We’re going to begin flooding the entry plug with a substance we call LCL. This will help with neural synchronization and provide oxygen. Don’t panic and please breath normally.” Once the communications ended, the orange fluid that once was in the pool the robot sat in began filling the plug. Instinctively, Yang began holding her breath. Once she ran out of breath, she took a deep breath, realizing Glynda was telling the truth. Once the plug completely filled, the walls surrounding her faded away, giving her sight of the world around from the mechanical beast’s point of view. Various HUD components litter the screen, including a clock, marked with “0:00 - Tethered”, off to the side.

“Aura Synchronization Rate Normal. Neural Synchronization to follow.”

The bridge officers in the operations room scrambled to get Unit 01’s startup sequence underway. Raven once more sat in her loft, overlooking as usual.

“All systems green. We are go for launch.”

Winter, standing behind the bridge officers, turns to face Raven. “Madame, Unit-01 is ready.”

“Very well. Carry on.” The stoic woman stated.

Turning her attention back to the screen, Winter inhales and speaks with a bark. “Unit-01… LAUNCH!”

As everything was checked by the Operations Center, Yang began to feel pulled backwards against a wall. The ceiling above her gave way, revealing it was a tunnel leading to the surface.

“Unit-01… LAUNCH!”

Without a moment of warning, the platform Yang was standing on shot up towards the sky, faster than the acceleration she experienced on her bike. Sure enough, Glynda’s promise of finding thrill did come to fruition. Adrenaline pulsed through the blonde teen as she was hurtled to the surface. “YAAAA-HOOOOOO!”

“Miss Xiao-Long, please try to act professional here.” Winter called over the communications system.

The rest of the trip was silent until it reaches the top. As Yang’s eyes adjusted, she looked around at the controls. Glynda speaks once more as she provides instruction. “This should be a literal walk. The pedals your feet rest on control the legs. Moving them like you are walking will cause the unit to move.”

Yang followed the instructions given. Slowly, the massive robot lurched clunkily, almost tripping as it moved forward. “Easy Yang. Deep breath and take it one step at a time.” She told herself. Once familiar, she spots the monster causing havok among Vale. A bear, standing 50 foot tall with a white mask with red markings. Her heart skip a beat, her feet freezing in place as the beast rushes toward her. Her mind was still deciding between fight or flight.

“Aura Desynchronizing! The pilot’s gone catatonic!”

“Disconnect! Disconnect!”

The Operations Center entered a flustured flurry as Yang’s mind raced to decide how to process the threat.

“Negative, Unit-01 is not responding.”

Winter’s hand slams into the nearest surface. “GODS DAMN IT, YANG! MOVE!”

The beast bears down upon Unit-01, taking a swipe right at the machine. As the pilot was still neurally synchronized, she felt the strike as if it tore right through her. She let out a scream of pain. The strike itself seemed to snap her out of her state, infuriating her. Aura rising once more, she grit her teeth. It was Fight and she was about to tap into Burn.

“Wait, Aura is resynchronizing once more.”

Winter let out a sigh of relief. However, that was short lived as sirens once more sound.

“Im… Impossible. Her aura’s overloading Unit-01…”

“What?” The Schnee lady raises an eyebrow. “That’s… not possible, is it?”

Their view of the situation shifted. The lanky machine that was once deep in their headquarters opened it’s jaw and let out a roar, a yellow aura surrounding it and eyes glowing a deep red.

“Emergency Shutdown, now!”

A cacophonous moment occured before Coco, a young woman with chestnut brown hair, wearing the typical Bridge Officer uniform, along with a stylish beret and a pair of sunglasses, called back. “Negative. Unit-01’s awake!”

“EJECT NOW!”

However, those words never reached Yang’s ears. Her sights were set on one thing, the monster who attacked her. The robot she piloted stood up and lowered itself to the ground before charging forward. The hand pulled back and drove right into the Grimm, ripping it from limb to limb with a roar of it’s own.

Yang felt something she had longed to feel for a long time. She felt some sensation of security as she watched the Grimm get beaten to death by those arms. It wasn’t her thought or actions that caused the fighting, even though it was her aura.

The Evangelion continued to beat and strike the Grimm in revenge for the attacks. The eyes of the machine went from the red brought on by Yang’s semblance to a illustrious silver. The expression of the Ursa shifted from rage to absolute fear. Raising it’s fists above the head, Unit-01 brings it right down on the mask, shattering it into pieces. A spark of light launched into the sky, only to explode into the shape of a crucifix. The beast disintegrates into dust in the aftermath of the explosion. Once complete, Unit-01 drops down to it’s knees. Yang began hyperventilating, unsure of what was going on. The world about her began to grow dark until she blacked out.

“Sync Rate normalized. Performing Emergency Shutdown.”

Winter looks at the image of the explosion with curiosity. The head drops down, revealing the entry port as the plug is fired into the sky. “Scramble the Recovery Teams.”

Raven looks down to the floor. “Winter? Call an emergency train. If Yang walks out, she best have a way home. Let her know that this is the only courtesy I’ll allow for her.”

“Aye, Madame.” Came Winter’s only response. The screen flickered, displaying a team pulling the plug back to Beacon. “Madame, may I ask exactly what happened?”

Raven tightens her fingers in thought. Her attention was turned to a flashing light on her desk. “Maybe later. I have something to tend to. Tai…”

The blonde gentleman nods, understanding what his ex-wife needed to do.

Minutes later –

The door opens into a darkened board room. Present is a silver haired gentleman sitting at the head of the table. To his right was a woman with alabaster skin and matching hair, dressed in a flowing black robe. The other three spots at the table were represented by black slabs, reading -SEELE: Audio Only-.

“Gentlemen…” Raven began.

The head of the table gestures to the other end. “Miss Branwen. We saw the test of Unit-01. The pilot… needs some work, however, we are quite pleased with the progress.”

The woman on the right nods. “Indeed. We shall press on with the project.”

Raven takes the seat as gestured. “That is good to hear. If we’re on your schedule, that means we are to recieve the Second Child. That is if the Third can be coerced to stay.”

The head of the table smiles. “I’m sure you can find a way to make her stay. After all, you are her mother. That is all we have to say. We’ll leave you to your business.”

Hours later –

Yang slowly comes to, sitting up with the same speed as her brain came to. She spotted Winter’s face off to the side, having a bit of a smile. “Easy does it, Yang. There we go.”

“Mmh… what happened?” The blonde woman asks with a groggy tone to her voice.

“Well, Miss Xiao-Long, we have successfully recovered the Entry Plug from the surface. You did pilot the giant robot and… well… were the human element that took down the Grimm attacking Vale.”

Yang rubs the back of her head. “I remember seeing some large monster and freezing up a bit before deciding to just wanting to destroy it before… feeling like I was getting a back massage.”

The other woman smiles, not catching that last bit. “Well, now it’s your call. Are you going to stay and help or will you head home?”

Yang takes a moment to think. “Does my mother still think me weak?”

Winter pauses a moment, sighing softly. “Well… yes.”

“Fuck yeah, I’m staying, then.” Yang says. “I want to spite her. I want to do so with every bone in my body. If I run now, she’ll be proven right. If I take my sweet time lingering here, it’ll piss her off and it’ll bring me joy.”

“That’s.. a little unconventional.” Winter admits. “But I’ll accept your answer.” Wiping her brow, she lets out a sigh of relief. “Honestly, there was an office betting pool that you might dash off and leave the place after what you went through, and honestly, I can’t blame you if you had any reservations about all of this.” She stretches out her hand. “Welcome to FABLE, Miss Xiao-Long. I’ll schedule in a moment to get a picture taken for your Common Access Card.”

Yang reached for the glass of water waiting for her on the closest counter. Raising the glass to her lips, she takes in a deep sip. Once she was told of the pool, she spits it all back at Winter. “You… what?” Her aura began to rise once more off her body. “I expect Raven not to have faith in me, but even you?”

Winter shakes her hands. “N…no… not at all! Some people had doubts, but not me of course!” Seeing as this quelled the wrath of the Brawny Brawler, she sighs. “Let’s get your ID made.”

Somewhere in the Ocean –

An aircraft carrier marked with the United Kingdoms Insignia moves on a predetermined route towards Patch. Standing on the deck is a young girl, no older than 15, dressed in a white combat skirt and matching blazer. Her hair is familiar to some people, yet pulled into a single ponytail off to an angle. Strapped to her hip was a rapier. Arms crossed, she looks off to the side.

“Tch… how much longer must I wait before I can see my beloved sister again?”

This work is a fan work, and as such, is not to be commercialized outside of any entity proving to be the original copyright holders.

RWBY, characters Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao-Long, Raven Branwen, Tai Xiao-Long, Winter Schnee, and Coco Adel are intellectual property of Viz Media.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is intellectual property of khara, Inc.