“This is so weird,” Yatsuhashi said. “Velvet, we have to get Sun and get out of here.”

Velvet gave him an eerie stare. “I’m not going with you,” she said. “Now I know this is where I belong. The Crown wants me for who I am. Who I really am—not who CFVY or NOVA think I should be. Hey, you could join us, too!”

Yatsuhashi reached down and cupped Velvet’s face in one of his large hands. He really hated to do this, but it seemed he had no other choice. Someday she might even thank him.

“Sorry, V.” Yatsuhashi brushed his thumb against Velvet’s temple and caught her with his other hand as she went limp. Then he shook her gently. “Come on, Velvet. Wake up,” he said. “You need to wake up.”

Velvet’s eyes flew open and she stared at Yatsuhashi for a moment. Then she hugged him.

“Yatsu! Thank goodness!”

“Shhh,” Yatsuhashi said. “We don’t want to draw any attention.”

“When did you get here?” she whispered, like she hadn’t seen him before.

“Just now. I erased a few seconds from your memory, which somehow breaks the Crown’s mental control. Do you know what the Crown looks like? Is he here?” Yatsuhashi asked urgently.

“I—I can’t …” Velvet started to look around. She was still confused by the gap in her memory.

“Never mind. Velvet, you and Neptune need to get out of here. I’m going to try to get close to Sun and use my Semblance. I’m assuming he’s under the Crown’s control, too.”

Velvet grabbed Yatsuhashi’s arm. “We were captured together. And Umber’s here, too! We have to save her.”

Yatsuhashi sighed. “Okay. No one gets left behind. But you two get ready to go.” He glanced at Neptune. “Don’t wait for me.”

- RWBY: Before the Dawn, Chapter 12