As Neptune walked by Professor Rumpole, he nodded. “Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she said, her eyes narrowed. She grabbed his arm and her eyes flashed gold.

Neptune felt his arm stiffen and grow heavy. Suddenly he couldn’t move.

The spectators gasped and fell silent.

Fox stopped walking. “What? What happened? What’s wrong with Neptune?”

“I’m okay,” Neptune managed. “I think.”

His arm was covered in gold. No, it was gold—at least the sleeve of his jacket was. In fact, so was the whole jacket. Was that why he felt so heavy?

“She turned him into gold,” Yatsuhashi said in disbelief.

“My clothes, anyway,” Neptune said. Neptune suddenly lurched backward as someone picked him up.

“We’re going,” Yatsuhashi said.

“Uh, Yatsuhashi. Put me down!” Neptune said. “I don’t like this!”

“Fight’s not over,” Rumpole said. She swung her wheel toward Yatsuhashi, but he blocked her with Neptune. Metal clanged. Neptune felt the shock of the impact. Fox dove back into battle.

“Put! Me! Down!” Neptune said.

Yatsuhashi threw Neptune toward Rumpole.

“Not what I meant!” Neptune called.

Rumpole took the full force of the blow and went down for the first time—good. Then Neptune’s left glove turned to gold—not so good.

Neptune yelled, “Don’t let her touch me anymore!”

- RWBY: Before the Dawn, Chapter 11